Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing in the Wild Wild West ❯ Idle Time ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter 14: Idle Time

Treize and Zechs stood on a low hill overlooking a rolling expanse of mature grape vines in neat rows.

“How beautiful!” Zechs exclaimed. “I thought you were making it up when you described this.”

“Haven't you seen a vineyard before?”

“We didn't grow grapes in the Sanc Kingdom. And you never took me to your estate,” he concluded somewhat reproachfully.

“Not for lack of desire,” Treize said. He put his arms around Zechs from behind. “But now I can't,” he said mournfully. “Since I'm officially dead, I can't go home. I wonder what happened to my estate.”

“I think Une turned it into a national park.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah.”

“I'd like to see that.”

“You can't go there. If someone recognized you it could get very unpleasant.”

“I know.” Treize nuzzled Zechs' ear. “But I imagine a vista like this would look just as lovely under a Martian sky with a glittering dome overhead.”

“I cannot devote an entire dome to a vineyard!”

“But just imagine! Martian wines could become the premium wines of the Earth Sphere.”

“How long does it take for vines to begin producing?” Zechs asked with stern practicality.

“Not that long.”

“And how long after that does the wine need to ripen before it's ready for drinking?”

“Oh, not that long at all!” Treize said airily. “It'll be fun! Let's do it!”

“I don't have any extra domes!”

Treize turned Zechs' head and kissed him warmly. “You could build one. I would only need fifty hectares or so.”

“Fifty hectares?! That's as large as my biggest dome!”

Treize kissed him again. “But you wouldn't need as much infrastructure. Just air, heat and water.”

“You don't call that much?!” Zechs exclaimed.

“I bet Heero's sprites would help.”

“That's not help! We have limited resources on Mars!”

Treize shifted around and kissed Zechs more deeply. “But it would give me something to do.”

“But…” Zechs protested weakly.

“Wouldn't it please you to see me happy?”

“You're not playing fair!”

Treize favored Zechs with another deep, loving kiss.

“Oh, all right!” Zechs gave in with a resigned but dreamy smile. “But I expect regular kisses like this to thank me for being such a softie.”

“Thank you!” Treize hugged Zechs happily. “Now I won't have to ask Quatre to bring me back here periodically so I could check on my investment.”

“What?!”

“I really like making wine.”

Zechs shook his head. “You are much sillier than I thought.”

“But you still love me.”

“Yes, I do,” Zechs chuckled. “Let's go find Hieronymus. It's about time we headed back to San Francisco.”

On the return trip, as they crossed the bay on the ferry, Zechs stood at the rail, his brow wrinkled in concentration.

“What are you doing, beloved?” Treize asked curiously.

“Trying to get Duo's attention. It's pretty far, but if he's listening he might hear me.”

Treize lifted an eyebrow. “Do you really think his telepathic ability extends this far?”

“Yes. I suspect Duo has not been completely forthright on how extensive his ability is. Aha!” Zechs smiled at Treize. “He just said hello.”

“We must still be over a dozen kilometers away!”

“Like I said: I think our dear Duo has been keeping secrets. One second.” Zechs' gaze turned inward. “Oh, how lovely!”

“What?”

“The house they rented. I know where it is.” He smiled at Treize. “We should enjoy the remainder of our stay in San Francisco.”

When they arrived on the doorstep of the beautiful house on the corner, Alexa burst out of the front door squealing happily. “Mommy! Daddy!” She leaped into Zechs' arms. “I missed you!”

“We missed you, too, sweetie!” Zechs kissed her cheek warmly. “This is a pretty house. Do you have a nice room?”

“Yeah! I'm sharing a room with Roku and Hadeya so the ghosts don't bother us.”

“Ghosts?!” Treize and Zechs exclaimed in unison.

“Yeah!” Alexa nodded excitedly. “It's a haunted house!”

Treize and Zechs exchanged a look.

“It's not as bad as it sounds,” Quatre said from the front door, where he appeared with Heero, Trowa, Wu-Fei and Hadeya.

“You rented a haunted house?” Zechs asked flatly.

“We got a really good deal.”

“I imagine you did.” Treize remarked.

Zechs scowled. “I knew I shouldn't have left my daughter with you. Who in their right mind thinks it's a good idea to move into a haunted house?”

“The ghosts are afraid of Roku,” Quatre said placatingly. “He keeps them under control.”

“Oh, really?” Zechs said icily.

“It's ok, Mommy,” Alexa giggled. “It's kind of fun!”

“Why don't you come in?” Quatre suggested. “It really is a beautiful home. It came fully furnished!”

Everyone went inside.

“Oh, my!” Treize exclaimed. “This is really beautiful!”

“Yes, it is,” Zechs admitted reluctantly.

“Hey, guys!” Duo came down the stairs with Jett on his hip, followed by Roku.

Treize and Zechs stared at the smiling baby.

“We've only been gone six days!” Treize exclaimed. “When did she get that big?”

Jett stared at them with big dark eyes. Her dark hair spilled around her shoulders. She pointed a stubby finger at Zechs. “Boo!” she squeaked.

Duo chuckled. “She's been following Roku around hunting ghosts.”

“She can crawl?!”

“Yup!” Duo said proudly. “She'll be walking soon.” He put her down and Jett immediately scuttled across the room to Heero. She grabbed the knee of his bike shorts and pulled herself to her feet.

“Da-da!” she shrieked. The chandelier overhead rattled alarmingly.

Heero scooped her up. “Keep it down, kid,” he grunted. He tapped her on the nose.

She giggled and grabbed his finger. “Da-da!” she repeated at a much more reasonable volume.

“Fortunately,” Quatre said, “she listens when Heero tells her to be quiet. Although it was touch and go when she had her last growth spurt,” he added with a chuckle.

“This place has a huge kitchen,” Wu-Fei said, “so we made sure it was fully stocked as soon as we moved in. We didn't quite run out of food that day.”

“She's eating solid food already?” Treize inquired curiously.

“When she had her growth spurt, milk alone wasn't cutting it,” Duo reported. “So we stuffed her full of porridge.”

“And now she eats all kinds of stuff,” Roku added.

Jett pointed at Roku. “Coo!” Heero put her down and she crawled over to Roku.

Roku licked her face, leaving her damp and giggling.

Zechs smiled. “Well, I'm glad to see my child is not the only one who gets liberally bathed in tiger spit.”

“Pretty soon she'll be big enough to play mobile suit attack,” Alexa said.

Hadeya paled.

“Don't worry, Hadeya,” Duo grinned, “we'll put her on your team. Then maybe you'll win one.”

Hadeya managed a sickly grin. “I am just hoping to not be drowned.”

“Don't be such a wuss, Hadeya,” Heero grumbled. “They're just little kids.”

“I think Heero just volunteered to bathe the kids tonight,” Wu-Fei said. He winked at Roku. “I'll put extra water in the bath.”

“Yippee!” Roku and Alexa cheered.

“There's a bathtub?” Zechs asked.

“There's a bathing chamber,” Wu-Fei said. “It has an actual tiled bathing pool. It's not too deep, but the kids manage to stir up some serious waves when they're playing.” He grinned maliciously at Heero. “And it looks like it's Heero's turn to supervise their bath.”

Heero scowled. “I've bathed the kids before. There's nothing to it.”

Hadeya blinked. “I'll watch from the door in case you need help.”

“Anyway,” Quatre said, “since we knew you were coming, we've planned a really nice dinner. Everyone go to the dining room. Trowa and I will serve.”

So, while everyone else took seats in the magnificent formal dining room, Trowa and Quatre brought out a delicious meal of roast chicken, boiled potatoes, fresh bread with butter and jam, lentil soup with green beans and red onions, and whole roast corn. The fancy chandelier hanging above the dining room table reflected the bright yellow light of the gas lamps mounted on the walls, casting glittering highlights on the gold-rimmed dinnerware and crystal goblets.

“These place settings are exquisite!” Treize exclaimed. “And so is this cutlery! Did these also come with the house?”

“Yes,” Quatre said. “You'll find everything in the house is of equal quality.”

“Yeah,” Duo added with a lascivious grin. “Even the sheets are silk!”

“Silk?” Zechs said. He glanced at Treize. “I don't believe I've ever slept on silk sheets. It sounds very luxurious.”

“Yes, it does,” Treize murmured.

“Eek!” Jett squealed from Duo's lap. She pounded on the table with her little fist.

“Jett says less talk, more eating,” Duo announced. He gave her a piece of bread dipped in the soup. She shoved it into her mouth and mashed it up happily.

“So what was the vineyard like?” Trowa asked. “Was it worth the investment?”

“Very much so!” Treize said happily. “It is a large estate with well-established vines and rather modern facilities, given the times. I was quite pleased with it.”

“Yes, so pleased that he blackmailed me into agreeing to build him a dome on Mars to plant grapes in,” Zechs grumbled sourly.

“I did not blackmail you,” Treize said archly. “I simply presented sound arguments that swayed you in my favor.”

“Meaning he kissed you until you gave in, right?” Trowa said knowingly.

Zechs refused to answer and Treize laughed.

“But you did agree!” Treize said. “Say Heero, do you think your sprites know anything about growing grapes?”

“They're not my sprites!”

“Nevertheless, I will need to go back up to Napa Valley once more before we leave to get cuttings,” Treize continued. “If I start with root stock from this era, I can produce wines no one has tasted in centuries. My dome will be paying for itself in no time.”

“Your dome?!” Zechs exclaimed.

“This should prove interesting,” Wu-Fei murmured. “I want to hear how he explains this to Noin.”

Zechs groaned. “Don't say her name! I can already hear her screaming at me!”

“I'll explain it to her,” Treize said magnanimously. “It is my idea after all.”

“Somehow I don't think that's going to stop the screaming,” Duo snickered.

“Can we change the subject?” Zechs moaned.

“Uncle Treize, can I help you grow grapes?” Roku piped up. “I want to see how wine gets made.”

“Of course, Roku. Alexa and Hadeya can help, too. And Jett as well, when she gets bigger. We'll make it a family vineyard.”

Zechs hung his head. “That's all I need.”

“Look at the bright side, Zechs,” Duo said cheerfully, “if Roku spends more time in this new dome, the number of tiger sightings in our residential dome might go down.”

“Do you have to remind me?”

“I don't get seen any more often than Papa Trowa's staff,” Roku pouted.

“Which is about every other day.” Quatre glanced pointedly at Trowa.

“It's not my fault! I try to remember to straighten it when I take it off.”

“So where is it now?”

“Um… well…”

Roku tilted his head to one side and listened. “It's slithering around on the second floor,” he reported. “I think it's trying to get out one of the windows.”

“Dammit!” Trowa exclaimed. “Excuse me!” He dashed off upstairs.

While all this talk was going on, Jett was diligently tucking away soup-soaked pieces of bread, mashed up potatoes and small pieces of chicken that Duo crumbled up for her. Now she let out a huge yawn and blinked sleepily up at him

“Looks like someone's about ready for bed,” Duo said with an affectionate smile. “But you need a quick bath first. We'll use the small tub in the kitchen and leave the bathroom for the big kids.” He took Jett into the kitchen, where he could be heard explaining the relative merits of large energy blades versus beam weapons while he filled the tub from the kitchen pump.

“I think it's time for your baths as well,” Quatre said to Roku and Alexa. “Although you're much cleaner than usual after eating. It must be the utensils.”

“We don't always get food on us, Uncle Quatre!” Alexa protested.

“Yes, you do,” said everyone else.

So on that note, Heero accompanied Alexa and Roku to the bathing room, followed by Wu-Fei and Hadeya.

“I'll warm up the water,” Wu-Fei said. He sprayed the bath water with a glowing stream of golden fire. “There you go. Have fun!”

“Yay!” Roku leaped into the water with a mighty splash.

“Yahoo!” Alexa cried. She flung clothes in all directions and leaped in after him.

Wu-Fei grinned at Heero. “So get in there and wash them.”

“Um… Yeah…” Heero stripped and slid into the bath.

“Papa Heero is the enemy mobile suit!” Roku cried and he disappeared under the water. A second later, Heero cried out in surprise as he was yanked out of sight.

“Get him!” Alexa shouted and she dived into the water where Heero had disappeared.

Several long seconds passed while the water churned so wildly that nothing at all could be seen underneath. Then Heero reappeared, gasping for breath. “Dammit! Those kids are insane!”

Alexa exploded out of the water. “Got you!” she shrieked. She clapped her hands together along the surface of the water and shot a stream of water into Heero's face.

He dove aside, spluttering, and an orange and black-striped streak rammed into his side, swamping him back under.

Wu-Fei patted Hadeya's shoulder as he walked out. “Make sure they don't drown him.”

“I will.”

Meanwhile, Quatre took Treize and Zechs upstairs to show them their room. “We picked this one out for you,” he said. “You being gentlemen by birth and all, we figured you would appreciate this the most.”

“Wow!”

The room was the master bedroom of the house. It was very large and boasted an elegant four post bed that would easily have slept four people. A high silk canopy draped from the ceiling. There was a fireplace with a carved marble mantle piece in one wall. Graceful French doors gave access to a narrow balcony overlooking the street out front.

“This is amazing!” Zechs exclaimed. “It reminds me of a bedroom in the mansion where I grew up.”

“I was thinking the same thing!” said Treize.

“Or,” Zechs murmured, and he turned large blue eyes on Treize, “it reminds me of the room where we first shared our passion.”

“Oh, yes!” Treize's eyes sparkled. “I remember that room.” He put his arms around Zechs. “It makes me think about how delightful you can be.”

“Me?” Zechs purred.

Quatre retreated from the room and closed the door.

Trowa was waiting outside. “So I take it they like the room.”

“Yup.” Quatre grinned. “And they seem to have forgotten about the ghosts.”

“All that racket from downstairs should keep them in the attic for awhile,” Trowa said. He took Quatre's hand. “It should be a while before the kids are done drowning Heero. Shall we spend a little time alone?”

Quatre smiled. “I don't see why not.”

Sometime later, though, when the house was quiet and everyone should have been sleeping, Quatre was awakened by the sound of paws and muted squealing. “Not again!” he groaned. He stamped out into the hallway just in time to see Roku lunge into a corner.

“Roku, what are you doing?”

“Mufhing,” Roku mumbled.

Treize and Zechs appeared and regarded Roku curiously.

Quatre frowned. “Spit that out right now, young man!”

Roku complied and dropped something that resembled a translucent soggy hairball from his mouth. It flopped wetly across the floor, emitting a pitiful moan, and then flew straight up and vanished through the ceiling with a mournful wail, leaving a wet spot on the boards.

“What did I say about chewing on the ghosts?” Quatre said sternly.

“He started it!” Roku muttered defensively. “He came sneaking out of the attic.”

“Say Roku,” Treize spoke up, “if you put a ghost in your storage space, would it be stuck there?”

Roku sat down on his haunches and blinked thoughtfully. “I'm not sure.”

Quatre put a hand over his face. “Did you have to suggest that? We do not need ancient ghosts blundering around the domes on Mars.”

Zechs lifted an eyebrow at Treize.

“I was just curious!”

Quatre pointed a finger at Roku. “I forbid you to put a ghost in your storage space.”

“Yes, Mama,” Roku said, sounding slightly disappointed.

Quatre sighed. “I'm going back to bed.”

“Me, too,” Zechs echoed. “Good night, Roku. And thank you for keeping the ghosts in line. But please don't bring any back to Mars.”

“I won't, Uncle Zechs. Good night.”