Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Purrfect Houseguest ❯ Chapter 12 ( Chapter 12 )

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The Purrfect Houseguest

Part 12

“What are you doing?”

The question startled Mariemaia. She was sitting at the desk in her room, so enthralled in her drawing that she hadn't even heard Zechs approach.

The tall neko looked over her shoulder at the picture she was coloring.

“Oh Zechs, don't sneak up on me like that.”

“I'm sorry; I didn't mean to scare you. Next time I'll try to be a little more noisy.” He smirked at her. “So, what are you doing?”

“Homework,” the girl explained. “Miss Harper, our art teacher, asked us to draw pictures of what we have been doing over the weekend.” She rummaged in her box of markers, picked up two colored pens and held them up for Zechs to see. “Which one should I use for Papa's hair?”

“Hmm…This one,” the Neko gestured at the slightly lighter color before leaning over the desk to get a better look at the picture. “So, this is your dad?” he pointed at the tallest figure in Marie's drawing. “Then who is the man next to him, Uncle Wufei?”

Mariemaia chuckled, and the neko gave her a questioning look. “What?”

“Nothing, its just sounds funny if you call him `Uncle Wufei' since you are older than him.”

“Hmm…” Zechs shrugged. “Maybe you are right. But anyway, am I going to be in your picture too?

“Of course.” Mariemaia nodded as she pointed at the drawing. “That's you, sitting right next to me.”

The neko frowned. “That's me? Why am I all furry and small?”

“Ahm… Papa said I can't tell anybody that you are a neko, so I drew you as a cat because I really wanted you to be in the picture, that's alright isn't it?”

“Sure it is,” Zechs smiled at her. “I think I look cute as a cat. But who is that scary looking woman?”

“Scary looking?” Now Mariemaia was frowning. “That's Doctor Po. She was here when you were sick, don't you remember?”

Zechs scratched his ear and cocked his head. “I remember Dr Po, but I don't recall her having horns.”

“Those aren't horns; they are pigtails,” Marie snorted in exasperation. “If you keep making fun of my picture I'll draw a large pink bow around your neck.”

“Oh no, not a pink bow,” the neko exclaimed in feigned horror.

###

A soft smile crossed Treize's face as he looked up from his newspaper when the sound of laughter and giggling reached him from upstairs. “Sounds like somebody is having fun up there.”

“Uhum,” Wufei mumbles in agreement. He was lying curled up on the couch, reading.

“I'm amazed how fast Zechs' health improved. Is that normal for nekos?”

Wufei shrugged. “I'm really not sure. From what I have read they are a lot more resilient than humans but I didn't expect him to recover this quickly either.”

Treize nodded. It had been not even forty-eight hours since Dr. Po had brought the neko the drugs he needed. His condition has improved almost over night after he took the medication. It had been difficult to make him stay in bed all day on Sunday, but luckily Mariemaia had found ways to keep the neko, and herself, occupied.

Wufei closed his book and stretched leisurely. “We probably should start packing if we don't want to hit rush-hour traffic on the way home,” he suggested.

“You are probably right,” his lover agreed. He folded up his paper and rose from his chair. “I'll go and check on Marie.”

As Treize walked upstairs he could hear more giggling underlined with deep bubbling laughter. I'm glad the two of them get along so well. I hope Zechs will stay with us even after he is fully recovered, for Marie's sake as much as for my own. I want to give him the life he had never known till now. This is my chance to make up for being such a coward when I was younger.

The door to Mariemaia's room stood wide open. She was at her desk drawing, while Zechs was sitting on the windowsills watching her.

“How is homework coming along?”

“Almost done,” Marie told him.

“Great. Wufei and I are going to start packing. Let me know when you are finished and I'll come and help you with your things.”

“You don't have to, Papa. Zechs will help me, won't you?”

The neko shrugged. “Sure, why not.”

“Alright then; just make sure you don't forget anything.”

#####

“We are home. Yay, we are finally home…”

Mariemaia was so excited that Zechs was afraid that she might jump out of the car before he even came to a full stop. Wufei's motorcycle was already standing in the driveway when they pulled in.

Through the tinted car windows the neko eyed the large, white house. So, this is home? Zechs never had a place he really considered `home' before. It was just something he heard other people talk about. When Treize offered him last night to stay with them for as long as he wished, part of him was only too happy to accept. But there was also another, bigger part of him that was wary. This sounded just too good to be true; and good things never lasted very long in his experience. So, why should this be any different?

A small hand suddenly reached for his, pulling him out of the car and jerking him from his gloomy thoughts.

“Let's go Zechs; I'll show you your room.”

“Mariemaia,” her father reprimanded. “Calm down. You can't treat people like rag dolls. Zechs will go with you when he is ready.”

Marie ducked her head slightly and gave the neko a somewhat sheepish grin. “I'm sorry. I think I got a little too excited.”

“It's alright,” Zechs assured her with a smile.

“Do you want me to show you your room now?”

“Hmm… sure, but shouldn't we help your dad to unload the car first?”

“Na,” Marie waved the suggestion away. “He will get it done much faster of we don't get in his way.”

Zechs gave her father a questioning look.

Treize chuckled. “I'm afraid she is probably right. You two go; Wufei ad I will take care of the luggage.”

“Let's go!”

Mariemaia was already running ahead and Zechs had to hurry to follow her. The moment he walked through the front door he noticed that the house was a lot more elegant than the cabin in the mountains. Everything was beautiful and stylish. He didn't have much time to look around though because Marie was already calling for him to come upstairs.

As she led him past several doors the young girl explained. “This is Papa's study; that's where he does most of his writing. This is Papa's and Uncle Wufei's bedroom…”

Finally when they almost reached the end of the hallway she stopped. “And here is your room.”

The neko took a few cautious steps inside the room and let his gaze wander. This was a far cry from the small, sterile, white chamber he had lived in at the research center. Two large windows flooded the room with golden sunlight. The bed was large; even wider than he one he had been sleeping in for the past few days. It looked soft and comfortable. There was a small table with two armchairs, a closet, a dresser and two nightstands.

“Look, you even have your own bathroom.” Mariemaia opened a door that let into small but elegant bathroom.

“So,” Treize asked as he walked into the room with several shopping bags. “What do you think?”

“The room is wonderful,” Zechs gave him a little smile.

“I'm glad you like it.” Treize set down the bags and stepped to one of the windows to open it. “It's a little stuffy in here; we haven't used the room for a while.”

“Not since Uncle Wufei moved into your bedroom,” his daughter confirmed earnestly. “You would think the two of them are old enough to sleep in their own beds, wouldn't you?”

Zechs frowned slightly. Did Treize actually blush a little at that statement or was he imagining things.

“Yah well…, I better get the rest of the stuff in the house. Marie will you help Zechs put his clothes away.” The tawny haired man gestured at the shopping bag.

On the way home they had stopped at a mall, and while Zechs and Mariemaia waited in the car, Treize had bought a few things like T-shirts, jeans, boxers and other personal items for the neko.

“Of course,” the little girl nodded.

“Alright, I'll leave you two then.” Treize headed for the door, but turned once more before he left. “I just remember we have a spare TV in the garage. We can bring it up later.”

Folding up and putting away a couple of boxers and T-shirt didn't take very long and they were done in no time at all.

“Do you want to see my room now?” Marie asks after she had put Zechs toiletries into the bathroom.

###

Mariemaia's room was downstairs. The girl was just showing Zechs her new computer when they heard her father call for them.

“In here, Papa,” she called out.

“Ah, there you are.” Treize walked into the room a short moment later. “Marie what would you like for dinner; grilled steak or fish?”

“How about pizza?”

“We just had pizza on Saturday,” her father pointed out.

“That one had peppers and mushrooms on it,” Marie crinkled her nose in distaste. “That doesn't count. I want a real pizza.”

“I see. And what does the princess consider a `real' pizza?” Treize asked in a mixture of amusement and sarcasm.

“A real pizza has just pepperonis and a lot of cheese. That's how I like it. Do you like pizza, Zechs?”

“Uhm…, yes I do. The pizza we had on Saturday was pretty good.”

“See, Papa, Zechs wants pizza too.”

“That's not exactly what he said, but alright,” her father gave in. “I'll ask Wufei to pick on up on the way back from the market.”

“Uncle Wufei is going to the market? Can I go too?”

“You'll have to ask him, not me.”

“And what about Zechs? Can I ask him if Zechs can come too? I don't think he has ever been at a supermarket, have you?”

The neko shook his head.

“Hold on Marie, I believe we talked about this already, didn't we? Zechs can't go anywhere where people can see him.”

“But…” The girl pouted, but it lasted no more a couple of seconds before she suddenly perked up and grinned. “I just got an idea. Don't go anywhere, I'm right back.”

Zechs chuckled as she dashed out of the room. “She has a lot of energy, doesn't she?”

“She sure does,” Treize agreed. “But you know, Zechs, when she gets a little carried away it's alright for you to tell her to slow down. Let her know if you want to spend some time by yourself.”

“That's alright. I really don't mind,” the neko replied. I have been spending way too much time by myself already.

When Mariemaia returned she had a blue baseball hat in her hand. Treize remembered picking it up somewhere on vacation a couple of years ago, but he thought it had ended up in the trash long ago.

“Bend down!” she ordered. When Zechs complied she put the cap on his head, making sure to tuck in both of his furry ears. She then took a step back, crocked her head and eyed her work. “There, that will do it. If he keeps his hands in his pockets when he is around people nobody will ever notice anything.”

“Marie, I don't know…” Treize still was hesitant, but when he noticed the pleading look in Zechs eyes he threw his hands up in defeat. “Alright, why don't we go all together to the market then?”

#####

“Papa,” Mariemaia tugged at her father's sleeve as they entered the market. “Can Zechs and I have some ice-cream?”

Treize gazed over to the food court. The tables were nearly empty. “Fine,” he agreed. “But only one scoop. It's close to dinner time and I don't want you to spoil your appetite.” He pulled out his wallet and handed his daughter a few bills. “Go, buy your ice-cream and stay here in the food-court with Zechs. We will pick you up when we are done with the shopping.”

Marie nodded. “Alright, and thank you, Papa.”

As she and the neko headed for the ice-cream counter Treize noticed a grin on his lover's face.

“What?” he asked.

Wufei shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” the tawny-haired man asked skeptical.

“Well, I was just thinking. Marie had you already wrapped around her little finger before, but now, between the two of them, you will never be able to say `no' to anything they want.”

Treize huffed. “I don't know what you are talking about,” he remarked, his face a perfectly serious mask.

###

“What flavor do you like?” Mariemaia looked up at the tall neko questioningly.

“Hmm…I'm not sure.” Zechs felt a little lost as he looked at the selection. He had only eaten plain vanilla and chocolate ice-cream before, but here he had dozens of options.

“That's alright,” Marie said. “They let you taste them first if you ask.” She went to the counter and pointed to several ice-cream containers when the sales lady asked her what she wanted. “We would like to try the pineapple-coconut, orange cream, pistachio, double chocolate fudge and berry swirl, please.”

“Wait, Marie, your dad said we should have only one scoop.” Zechs pointed out.

“I know,” the little girl grinned. “But he didn't say how many we could try first.”

When the neko have her a skeptical look she added. “Don't worry I won't spoil my appetite; not when we have pizza for dinner.”

After tasting a few flavors Marie picked the double chocolate fudge with even more chocolate chips sprinkled on top, while Zechs opted for a scoop of pineapple coconut. They settled down at one of the small tables.

“Do you like it?”

“It's very good.” The neko nodded.

For a while they indulged quietly in the sweet pleasure, before Zechs asked. “Marie?”

“Yes?!”

“I was wondering, what did your dad mean, earlier when he said that he has to take you home after dinner? I thought you were `home' at his house?”

“I am, but I also have another `home' where my grandparents live.” She explained.

The blond neko frowned slightly. “Why is that?”

“It's because when I was still very little, my mom and my dad didn't like each other anymore. They had a divorce, and mom and I moved to my grandparents' house. When my mom died and went to heaven she left me with grandpa and grandma. So now I stay with them during the week, and on weekends and when I don't have school I live with my Papa.”

“I see. So you will leave later tonight and won't come back till the weekend?”

“Yes, but today is already Monday. I'll be gone on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday…” she held up one sticky, ice-cream covered finger for each day. “Just three days. And Friday after school Papa will pick me up again.” After a short moment of hesitation she asked quietly. “Will you still be there when I come back?”

“I will,” Zechs assured her.

“Promise?”

“Promise!”

###

Treize Khushrenada raised one eyebrow in surprise as he checked out some of the items Wufei had been putting into the basket. “Whole grain pasta, fat free yogurt, tofu…are you planning on going on a health trip?”

“Those aren't for me.”

“Oh!” The tawny-haired man looked down on himself. “Are you trying to tell me something?” he asked, a humorous sparkle in his eyes.

His lover rolled his eyes. “No, not for you either. It's Zechs I'm worried about. Till now I'm sure he had been living on a very strict and healthy diet. I'm not sure how good it will be for him when he stuffs himself full of pizza, hamburgers and fried chicken all of a sudden.”

“Oh, come on Wufei. Let him have some fun. It's not like we are living on junk-food. A hamburger every now and then won't kill him.”

“Papa?!”

Both Treize and Wufei turned at the sound of Mariemaia's voice.

“Papa, have you seen Zechs?”

“What do you mean?” Her father frowned. “I thought I told the two of you to stay together and wait for us at the food court.”

“And we did,” Marie confirmed. “But I went to the bathroom to wash my hands and when I got back Zechs was gone.”

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T.B.C.

 

Author's Note: