Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Family Curse Arc ❯ Family Secrets ( Chapter 8 )

Warning: Angst, Possible OCC, Yaoi

Disclaimer: I don't own the GW boys.

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Family Secrets

Faith headed straight for the L3 area where she knew that Cathy's circus was performing. Cathy was more than surprised to see her. Noting the bandages on her wrists, she raised an eyebrow at her niece. "What are you doing this far out by yourself sprat? Do your dad and Heero know you're here?" Faith shook her head. "I couldn't stay there any longer. The pressure was too much. I just need to lay low for awhile. I promise I can earn my keep. I'll do anything you need. Just let me hide out for awhile."

Cathy shook her head, rolled her eyes, and smiled. "I know your dad will kill me when he finds out I helped you, but I trust your instincts." Catherine thought for a moment. Then a gleam entered her eye. "Bella needs an assistant. She's not getting any younger." Faith hugged her aunt. "Thanks Aunt Cathy. You won't regret this." And ran off toward Bella's tent. Cathy watched he go. Under her breath she said "I truly hope I don't, but the legacy of Gundum pilots hiding here is not good."

Bella sat in her working tent, contemplating her crystal ball when Faith arrived. She smiled at the girl. "So you've finally come." She paced her hand on Faith's stomach. "Ah. So the child has come and gone." Faith looked surprised. "How did you know about Ophelia?" Bella gave a dry chuckle. "There are many things you must know little one. Yes, many secrets must come to light."

Faith sat down. "Tell me everything. I want to learn." Bella shook her head. "Most of these secrets are not mine to tell. But their source is in my care." She gestured toward a trunk in the corner. "Some one of much importance to you left these for you. Read carefully and learn. When you finish we will speak again." She handed Faith a key, got up, and left.

Faith turned to the trunk. Placing the key in the lock she turned it and lifted the lid. A picture of her mother greeted her. But she looked different, somehow younger than Faith had ever seen her. She gasped when she saw the small diary lying next to the picture. She picked it up and began to read the first entry.

June 3, AC 193

Dear Diary,

Mom's off with the troop again. I wish she'd let me come too. I know I don't have even half her talent, but I could do something. Cathy still needs a target. I bet I could do that. No fear. Mom says that's going to lead me too do some foolish things. I guess I'll understand when I'm older. Maybe it has something to do with the braided boy I keep seeing in my dreams. Oh well.

Hilde Schbeiker

Faith released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She put down the book and rummaged through the trunk some more. She needed answers. A picture album from underneath a stack of clothes held many of them, but Faith now knew who held the rest.

Faith entered Bella's living tent to find the cot she had always stayed on already set up. Bella sat on her own bed reading a book. Faith cleared her throat and Bella looked up. "You read fast child. I assume you have questions." Faith ran to her and wrapped her in a big hug. "Why didn't you ever tell me that you really are my grandmother?" Bella gave her a sad smile. "I wasn't sure if you were ready to know. Cathy and Trowa left it to me to tell you. I know things would have been different if your mother had lived, but then again she always was a free spirit."

Faith sat down next to her grandmother. "I guess I should start at the beginning. My full name is Bella Louse Falon-Schbeiker." She put her arm around Faith's shoulders. "We are descended from a long line of wise women and fortune tellers. The talent has been passed from mother to daughter for so many generations that we've sort of lost count. My sister and I grew up in this circus following our mother around. My sister never had any talent as a fortune teller, but she was quite the acrobat. When the Blooms joined us, they took her on and trained her with their son. Eventually, they married and had two children. I took in Cathy after they were killed, but we didn't find Triton until he returned to us calling himself Trowa Barton."

Faith gasped. "You mean it's true? They really are brother and sister? I had a vision as a child, but I wrote it off as fantasy. Does he know?" Bella's smile grew. "Yes child. Cathy and I approached him when he returned from the last conflict. That's when he started going by Bloom instead of Barton." Faith nodded. "That makes sense."

Bella reached under her pillow and pulled out another picture. In it, a smiling man sat with his arm around the shoulders of a younger Bella. At there feet sat a little Cathy with her arms wrapped around a small, dark haired girl. "Your grandfather, Hans, and I settled our little family down in the L2 cluster soon after your mother was born. She and Cathy were just like sisters. The two of them would usually stay home with him while I was on tour. Your mom never said anything, but I think she was a little hurt when Cathy started touring with the circus full time at twelve."

Faith interrupted again. "What happened to my grandfather?" Bella sighed and a tear rolled down her cheek. "When Hilde was about ten, our little colony got swept up into the war. I'm thankful that she was on summer break with me in the circus. Hans had a few things to do before he could join us. Our house got destroyed in a bombing raid on a rebel base down the street. By the time we got back, he had died in the rubble." Faith looked down. "Oh. I'm sorry grandma. I wish I could have known him."

Bella smiled again. "He would have loved a granddaughter like you. You're a lot like your mom. You've got spunk, but you also have something she didn't. You have the family gift. Sure you mom had a little. She'd seen your dad long before they ever met. That was why she trusted him so quickly. Well, that and she was madly in love with him." Faith's eyes grew wide. "Mama really was in love with daddy? But he told me she didn't mind his relationship with Otosan. Wasn't she jealous?" Bella shook her head. "Not at all. She was happy because your father was happy. Honestly, by the end of the war he was more like a brother to her. Of course she was delighted when she found out you were coming. At least at first."

Faith blinked. "Why only at first?" Bella sighed. "Like I said, your mom had some talent. But really, this part is not mine to tell you." She removed the back of the picture frame and pulled out an envelope. "She told me that when the time was right, I should give this to you. I've never read it. The contents of that note are solely between you and your mother." Faith hugged her grandmother again. "Thank you."

Cathy stuck her head into the tent. "Dinner's ready, but we have a problem. Quatre and Trowa are coming in tonight." Cathy shot Faith a glance. "How are we going to hide our little runaway?" Bella smiled. "Don't fret over it. I have a plan. Just send Trowa in as soon as he gets here. Alone." Cathy blinked. "Ok, sure. Anything else?" Bella shook her head. "That will do." She turned back to Faith as Cathy left. "In the bottom of the trunk in the corner you'll find the first of my many gifts." Faith went to the bottom of the trunk and pulled out a beautiful purple and silver dress with matching head scarf and face veil. "Keep the head scarf and veil on anytime you are outside out tent. While you are here, you'll be known as my granddaughter Grace. If anyone asks you it is just Grace. Everyone will be told that the head covering and veil are part of your training. You are now my apprentice." Faith hugged her grandmother. "You really mean it?" Bella nodded. "Yes, but Trowa will know you. I will speak with him in private, but you may still have to explain everything to him." Faith closed her eyes, lowered her head and sighed. "Yes grandma."

Faith dressed in her new clothes and went on to dinner. Trowa and Quatre arrived in the mess tent about the same time. Faith sat as far from them as possible and tried not to make eye contact. After dinner, Cathy swept Trowa away to Bella's tent. Faith, not knowing anywhere else to go, sat out side the tent and listened in.

"She's here? You're sending her back to her father right?" "No. She has her reasons for leaving. I'm not going to force her to do anything. Just play along. She'll go home when the time comes. For now I'm making her my apprentice. She needs to learn to control her powers any way. Give her some time." "I can give her time, but what about her father? He's conversed that she's gone out and finished what she started in the graveyard."

Faith walked in and ripped off her veil. "ok fine. I did a stupid thing. I don't know what got into me, but I would never do that again. I plan to let daddy know I'm alright very soon. Like grandma said, give me some time." Trowa spun around and stared at her. "You try to kill yourself, run away, and then expect everyone to coddle you. I don't think so young lady."

Faith turned her back to him. "I didn't expect you to understand. And I don't want to be coddled. Sure I'm only fifteen, but I have to ask you this. Where were you at fifteen?" Trowa's eyes widened. Memories if the war flashed through his mind. "Do you think I'm anything less than you or any of the others were at fifteen? I've been fighting my own battles sense I could walk. I just need some down time to regroup. I swear to you on everything I hold dear. I will go home one day." Her voice lowered to nearly a whisper. "Someone special is waiting for me there."

Trowa sighed and nodded. "Fine. I won't tell them where you are, but I am going to tell them that I saw you and your ok. Is that acceptable?" Faith turned and flung her arms around his neck. "Yes." She backed up. "I think now we have other things to discuss. How long are you staying?" Trowa tussled her hair. "Actually sweet pea, I was going to rejoin the troop tonight. Do you think that will give us enough time to talk?" "Sure cousin."

2BC…

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A/N: ok. I'm trying to slow this down some, but there's a lot of time left to cover. Are the time jumps too much? Let me know. Other wise they might get worse (evil grin). Any way, sorry this took so long. My muse and I had a falling out. I'm still not speaking to him. Slow is not a word he understands. SEND REVIEWS. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!