Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Together ❯ One-Shot

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: The song and lyrics are not mine (surprised, aren't ya); Avril Lavigne and her people do. They lyrics are from the inside of the cover jacket. The characters are not mine. You know who owns them, but Duet is owned by a friend of mine. This is part of a story in “Restless Peace” on Aishiteru.

Pairing: 4xDC

Together

Dorothy stared out the window. She enjoyed watching the people mill around in the town below. It let her escape from her entrapment. Being a new mother was harder than she thought. At the moment, she watched the sunset as well as the people. No matter where she was or what the situation was, she always appreciated the sunset. Even during her stay in the Cinq Kingdom she had admired it. The baby stirred next to her in her bassinet, and her mother picked up the babe.

“So, you want to watch the sunset with me, huh?” she asked, “You're just like me, my little Duet. Let's watch the sunset together.” She held the child close to her and positioned her so that Duet could see the horizon as well. The baby giggled. She felt very content observing the people hurry into restaurants as she started feeding Duet. She hummed a tune, but she could not recall from where she heard it.

Something just isn't right

I can feel it inside

The truth isn't far behind me

You can't deny

When I turn the lights out

When I close my eyes

Reality overcomes me

I'm living a lie

Quatre was in another meeting, the fifth this week. He would say nothing, but she knew he had to be feeling the same as she; otherwise he would not spend so much time away. When he was around, he spent most of his time playing with the baby. When Duet was asleep or busy, he slept or prepared for speeches. The rarely spent too much intimate time anymore, even when Duet was away for the night. They kept up appearances in public, but sometimes it felt like they did the same in private to Dorothy. They both felt this way, but they were both afraid to say anything to the other.

“Your father will be home soon, darling,” she told the infant, “He'll be so happy to see you awake…if you are that is.” The babe's eyelids started to droop. Footsteps started ascending stairs, and she held her breath and a pit formed in her stomach as the door opened.

When I'm alone

I feel so much better

and when I'm around you

I don't feel

Together

It doesn't feel right at all

Together

Together we've built a wall

Together

Holding hands we'll fall

Hands we'll fall

“Ma'am,” a servant softly called, “a man called for you. He was called Orlando Player, and he requested that you call him back soon. If you don't mind my saying so, ma'am, I do not think an engaged woman, especially a mother, such as yourself should associate with a man like this.” Dorothy nodded, relieved at the person being a servant and not her husband-to-be. She dismissed the servant with thanks and made a mental note about the call. When Duet had her fill, she set her down back in the bassinet. She calmed her nerves as she pulled the blanket over her child. One day she hoped for another one, but she had problems seeing Quatre as the father now. Was that wrong?

She pulled the blinds and drew the curtains as the sun winked its last over the hills. She stripped off her clothes and slipped into loose pajama bottoms and a camisole then lounged onto the couch and turned on the television. A sappy romance movie from America captured her attention until her fiancé returned home.

“Good evening, dearest,” he called as he entered. He set his briefcase down and took off his jacket and shoes then kissed the top of her head. He started loosening his tie as he headed for the bathroom. She watched him and his routine with slight sadness. She used to enjoy and feel comfort from watching him. Now she felt nothing.

This has gone on too long

I realize that I need

Something good to rely on

Something for me

When I'm alone

I feel so much better

and when I'm around you

I don't feel

She moved to make room for him as he took his place next to her. He smiled and slipped an arm around her. He commented about her appearance, claiming he still found her attractive, but she no longer felt a flutter within herself. She doubted he meant his words anyway. Dorothy rested her head on his shoulder, and he held her closer. They watched the movie without comment until its end at midnight. They watched a little of the news, but it was the same as always: protests appearing all over the place and Preventers stretched as they struggled putting down the small rebellions, finding more before they started, and working with new recruits. They commented on it to each other, criticizing some parts and exalting others.

Together

It doesn't feel right at all

Together

Together we've built a wall

Together

Holding hands we'll fall

Hands we'll fall

He stood and changed into his bed attire. She observed him with the same morose expression.

“What is it?” he asked almost testily, “You always watch me with that expression. Is something wrong?” She wanted to say yes.

“I'm sorry. I'm tired from today,” she explained instead.

“Have a long day?” he asked and started to massage her shoulders, mumbling love phrases in Arabic. She nodded, and he told her she needed to take it easier. She smiled and leaned back on him. He wrapped his arms around her kissing her ear. She strained to bring up their relationship. “The best thing happened today,” he said happily. He then proceeded to relay his successful meeting and his help with the Preventers. He went into details, and he seemed very happy. Dorothy decided to wait until tomorrow to bring up their problems.

My heart is broken

I'm[lying]here

My thoughts are choking

On you, my dear

She lay in bed, thinking about their life together; it had been so short. They had agreed to go on the teen couple show and had decided to come out as a couple then, but that first kiss had not been planned, had been a spur of the moment. It had also produced the reaction for which she had hoped. When she had found about Duet, she had been scared and thrilled. What could be better than having the child of the man you love? The only problem was that they had only puppy love back then. Now it had dissolved, and a child would be stuck in the middle of the separation.

When I'm alone

I feel so much better

and when I'm around you

I don't feel

Together

It doesn't feel right at all

Together

Together we've built a wall

Together

Holding hands we'll fall

Hands we'll fall

“Come on, honey,” had coaxed Quatre, “Say `daddy,' or `papa,' or `baba.' You can say it.” He had pinched the babe's cheek lightly as the little girl had giggled. He had smiled at her.

“Quatre,” she had said, “she's much too young to talk. She won't take for months, maybe even a year.”

“A father can hope,” he had grinned. He enjoyed being a father so much. It was probably a way for him to connect to his own late father. He had picked up his little girl, holding her securely in his arms, and had spun around the room. Duet loved the game and had giggled rather loudly. She had flailed her arms in elation.

“She loves her daddy,” she had said indulgently, “¿Amas tu papi, no? Mi pequita Duet, eres maravillosa.”

“Speaking in Spanish?” he had questioned, “I hate when you do that. I can never understand.”

“Yes, well, you speak to her in Arabic, I'll talk to her in Spanish, and she'll be trilingual like we planned before you know it,” she had smiled.

When I'm alone

I feel so much better

and when I'm around you

I don't feel

“No, she'll be confused before you know it,” he had corrected. He had kissed the girl's stomach. She had chuckled and had grabbed his bangs, pulling on them hard. “Ah, Duet, la, la.”

She had smirked, “So she'll be confused, but you'll still tell her no in Arabic?” He had grinned as he had tried to pry his daughter off his hair. He had tried to hand Duet over to her mother, but her mother had been smarter than that. With her hair, Duet had a field day whenever she could. Dorothy had not had her hair tied up, so she had evaded Quatre's attempts at relinquishing the girl to her.

“You don't want your daughter?” he had asked, teasing her, “What kind of mother are you?” He had grinned mischievously, telling Duet about her neglectful mother who would leave her with her inept father.

“You're the one who's most thrilled about this. What kind of father are you?” she had laughed, “Duet loves you more anyway.”

“Oh ha, ha,” he had said, “She's getting hungry anyway.” She had taken her, but as soon as she had done so, Quatre had grinned, “Gotcha.” He had run away, and she had chased after him.

Together

It doesn't feel right at all

Together

Together we've built a wall

Together

Holding hands we'll fall

Hands we'll fall

Every night, Quatre got up and fed Duet. The only time Dorothy had ever had to get up in the middle of a night was during the first week and when Quatre had to go away for a night for business. As he fed the infant, he would sometimes sing, and other times he would just watch the people down below in the city. It was still summer, and the warm breeze soothed the baby. He particularly enjoyed watching the ladies.

One night, while they were staying in a hotel in New York City and he had been tending to Duet, she had told him she needed some air, dressed, and left to walk the streets. It was on the streets that she had met Orlando Player. He had offered to dance with her in a small club when she had had no partner. She had agreed, and they had started a friendship, and nothing more.

When I'm around you

I don't feel together, no

“So why are you in town alone?” he had asked.

“I'm not alone. I'm with my fiancé and daughter,” she had answered, “We're here on business and pleasure.”

“It's been my experience that you cannot do both at the same time,” he had smiled.

She had laughed, “Yes, it's hard to do both at the same time.” She had felt better with him than with Quatre. “But we're doing sightseeing playing tourist, and we'll just do work when it pops up.”

“What exactly are you doing here?” he had questioned. She had refused to answer, so instead he had inquired, “So where are your fiancé and daughter? I wouldn't let you go.” She had explained the situation, and in time, she had started to tell him a little about her engagement. After they had gotten to know each other, she had told him about the relationship in full. At first, he had been supportive and had insisted things would get better, that it had to be some aftereffect of the birth. Lately, he had begun to see things clearly like Dorothy, and he had told her the best thing to do that he could think was to leave her husband-to-be and to start anew.

When I'm around you

I don't feel together, no

She felt sleep starting to overtake her. Quatre was already breathing softly in sleep. She knew Orlando was right, and she knew it would be bad in the morning, but for now, things were good, happy. She closed her eyes, and one thought came to her mind as she drifted off to sleep.

I don't feel together