Disclaimer: I don’t own them except for the kids

Disclaimer: I don’t own them except for the kids!

Innocent Angel, Part 5

Trowa frowned slightly as he took in Isabella’s outfit. He raised one brow at her.

“What, dad?” Isabella asked as she propped her hands on her hips.

“The outfit.”

“Dad, it goes with what I’m singing tonight at the Arts Festival.”

His emerald eyes looked up and down again before looking back at her face. “I don’t like it.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh come on dad, its not too bad. Think of it this way, I’m not Randy and I’m not Veronica.”

“That’s a relief I must say,” Trowa muttered under his breath.

“But Randy did suggest the outfit,” Isabella stated as she picked up the music that she was singing to on the hall table.

“And she told you to wear an outfit like that?”

“I’m not showing anything!”

“What’s this than?” he asked as he turned her back towards the mirror.

She looked over her shoulder at the reflection. Her back was crisscrossed with a network of thin straps that tied together at her lower back. “It’s my back.”

“And it’s showing.”

Isabella dropped her head back. “Mom!”

Middi came down the steps, sliding a slender white gold bracelet on her wrist. “What is it dear?”

“Will you stop dad from freaking out over my outfit?” she asked as she turned for her mother.

Middi smiled and nodded her head in approval. “You look lovely dear, so grown up.” She glanced over at her husband. “Trowa, she looks very nice. It’s only showing her back off. There’s no crime in that,” she chided gently as she took his hands in hers.

“She’s still showing skin.”

“Only her back.”

“And when she raises her arms, her midriff shows,” Trowa grumbled as he looked back at his youngest child.

“Trowa, just tell her that she looks nice,” Middi sighed with some exasperation.

“You look nice Isabella, but I still don’t like that outfit,” he said begrudgingly as he let go of his wife’s hands and went over to her. He pressed a kiss on top of Isabella’s head. “I also don’t like that dress you came home with last night either, but you looked beautiful in it when you showed it to me and your mom.”

Isabella smiled and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you dad.”

Trowa slipped his arms around her and pressed another kiss on top of her moonlit hair. “And what’s this I hear about Jet from your brothers?”

Her eyes popped open at the mention of Jet and her brothers. “Whatever do you mean?” she asked innocently, her cheek pressed against the soft brown leather of his jacket.

“Miles and Donavon have said that he’s been staring at you an awful lot lately and paying you a lot more interest than he should to a seventeen year old girl.”

“It’s nothing, dad. Miles and Donavon are overreacting.”

Trowa arched his brow again and looked down at her. “They said he looked like he was going to kiss you the other night?”

She flushed a little and in a split second, thought of a million and one ways to kill both her brothers excruciatingly slow. “And what if he was?” she asked as she looked up into her father’s brilliant emerald eyes.

“I would have to have a few words with him, that’s what, angel,” Trowa said as he smoothed a hand over her silky hair. “You’re my youngest, it’s my job to scare off every guy.”

A slight smile crossed Isabella’s lips. “If you say so dad.”

Middi smiled as well. “Well come on, we don’t want to be late. Don’t forget the recorder, Trowa,” she said as she slipped on her own leather jacket. “I know how much you want this to go on your submissions for school.” She ruffled her daughter’s short locks.

Isabella smiled and was released from her father. “All right, let’s go. I got the disc with the music and the background vocals that Thad did for me.” She pulled on her black leather jacket and went outside.

Middi pressed a kiss on her husband’s cheek. “Trowa, don’t worry so much.” With that, she too made her way out the door.

Trowa frowned even more. “Worried? Who’s worried about their seventeen-year-old daughter showing skin and having some twenty-year-old guy try to kiss her? Now tell me who’s worried?” he muttered sarcastically under his breath as he picked up the recorder and locked the door behind him.

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Jet tapped his fingers on the chair he was sitting in outside the Sank Kingdom Performing Arts Pavilion. It was a clear night. The stars and the moon were shining brightly overhead, giving a mystical quality to the evening’s festivities. There were a lot of people here. Next to him, sat his father and mother. He shifted slightly in his chair. He looked back at the program in his lap. Isabella would be one of the last to sing. He could see that after her was Veronica Yuy, and than the last on the program was Vaughn, Donavon, and Randy. He sighed. Isabella was next after the group dancing on the stage.

Wufei turned to look at his son. “You seem anxious tonight.”

There was a shrug of Jet’s shoulders. “No reason.”

Wufei returned his eyes to the stage. “Your mother was lucky getting these front row seats. There isn’t anything blocking our view of the stage.”

“Yeah, lucky,” Jet murmured as he cast a glance towards the Bartons sitting a few seats away. His eyes met Trowa’s assessing look. A tremor of guilt raced through him and he quickly glanced away.

Wufei caught the look that Trowa was sending in his son’s direction. He didn’t blame the man. Isabella was the littlest angel of them all, being the youngest. And although his friend had never blinked much of an eye when Carin dated, there would be the slightest twitch of his brow when Isabella went out. It was somewhat amusing since Trowa was not the one to outwardly show what was going on. “What’s Trowa giving you looks for, Jet?” he asked finally.

Jet jumped a little in his chair at his father’s question. “I…I don’t…know,” he stammered as he shot another quick look in the older man’s direction. He was looking forwards again.

“I see,” Wufei commented, shaking his head. He turned his eyes back towards the stage. “A Chang and a Barton. At least that's a better combination than a Yuy and a Maxwell.” He glanced over at his oldest. Leigh was sitting with her husband’s arm draped over the back of her chair, his hand resting possessively on her shoulder. “And probably better than a Chang and a Maxwell.”

A sigh escaped Jet’s lips as he rested his elbows on his knees. He hadn’t seen Isabella yet. He supposed she was in the back getting ready. “I wonder what she chose to sing.”

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Isabella made sure that the earpiece she wore was secure since it did have the microphone attached to it. She frowned and looked back over her shoulder towards the dressing area. She hadn’t liked Veronica’s color. The older girl was paler than normal and she was going to perform right after her. “I hope she feels better when she comes out to sing,” she murmured as she smoothed her hand over her outfit. The silvery blue sequined top had a high neck, only leaving her back bared. It was several inches above the waistband of her gray leather pants that molded to her slim hips. The milky skin of her stomach showed between. She leaned out from behind the curtain. She could see Jet in the front row. A smile lit her face. “I wonder what he’ll think of the song I’ll sing?”

“Next up, Miss Isabella Barton,” the director of the nights’ festivities announced as he swept out his hand towards stage left.

“It’s about time,” Jet said as he turned his eyes towards the stage.

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Trowa looked away from Jet and looked through the recorder. “I still don’t like her outfit and I don’t like him almost kissing her or whatever it was.”

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The music started to play. Thad had recorded Isabella’s voice for the background vocals free of charge. Isabella took a deep breath and stepped out onto the stage, loving the feel of the spotlight on her. After all, she was a Barton, she loved to perform.

Under a lover's sky
I'm gonna be with you
And no one's gonna be around
If you think that you won't fall
Well just wait until, 'till the sun goes down
Underneath the starlight starlight
There's a magical feeling so right
It will steal your heart tonight

Jet’s mouth fell open as he looked at her. He couldn’t believe what she was wearing. She looked incredible. He couldn’t seem to tug his eyes away from her as they trailed over her slender figure in the body conscious clothes. “WOW.”

She could see him out of the corner of her eye as she walked back and forth on the stage, keeping time to the music. The expressions on his face made her want to laugh and jump up and down for joy. She poured her emotions concerning him into the song since she was singing this song especially for him.

You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know, but you know
That you, can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark you'll surrender your heart
But you know, but you know
That you, can't fight the moonlight,
No-o you can't fight it
It's gonna get to you’re heart

A smile crossed his lips as he watched her sing. It was obvious that she had true talent. She was a performer. She had such a powerful voice for someone her size. It made her presence even stronger.

Wufei stole a glance at his son. He saw the unguarded look on Jet’s face. “I thought so. The boy is interested.” He looked back up at Isabella. “And I know she’s interested in him as well.”

Isabella smiled at her father, who was holding up the recorder. She knew that this performance of hers was important. It was essential that this be one of her best performances to date. She had already recorded a piece that she had acted out from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” She still had to do another musical piece, which meant she had to play on the piano, and a dance number.

There's no escaping love
Once a gentle breeze (once a gentle breeze)
Sweeps it's spell upon your heart
And no matter what you think
It won't be to long
'Till your in my arms
Underneath the starlight starlight
We'll be lost in the rhythm so right
It will steal your heart tonight

Trowa couldn’t stop the smile that crossed his lips as he watched his daughter sing. She was going to be a star when she got older. This recording was going to be proof of that.

Isabella returned her eyes to Jet. She wanted him to know that this was for him.

Jet was momentarily startled when her eyes connected to his. He didn’t look away.

You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know, but you know
That you, can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark you'll surrender your heart
But you know, but you know
That you, can't fight the moonlight,
No-o you can't fight it
No-o matter what you do
The night is gonna get to you.

She smiled at his expression as she danced slowly across the stage, turning her back towards the audience. She looked over her shoulder at him.

His eyes went wide as he got a good look at her back. Her back was almost completely bare save for the network of straps. “Is she trying to drive me completely insane? She looks more like a temptress than an angel.”

(Your gonna know)
(That I know)
Don't try you're never gonna win

Isabella turned and walked down the few steps off of the stage to the first row. She stood directly in front of Jet, pulling him up with her hands. The spotlight was directly on them.

Jet was frozen. He had no idea what she was doing. Her eyes were sparkling like the sequins of her top. And for those few seconds, he forgot he had the eyes of the audience on him as well.

Underneath the starlight starlight
There's a magical feeling so right
It will steal your heart tonight

She reached up and cupped his face between her hands as she sang the lyrics.

All he could see was his reflection in her eyes. Her lips were scant inches away from his. His skin was tingling from her touch.

Trowa scowled from behind the recorder, as did Miles and Donavon.

Wufei rolled his eyes as a slightly amused smile crossed his lips.

You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know, but you know
That you, can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark you'll surrender your heart
But you know, but you know
That you, can't fight the moonlight,
No-o you can't fight it.

Isabella stepped away from him and went back up onto the stage. She was smiling inwardly. “I hope he gets the picture now. If that didn’t work, I don’t know what will.”

Jet fell back into his seat, his eyes wide. He glanced at her brothers. They were both sending him looks. He slunk down in his seat. His heart pounded with the rhythm of the music and his lips burned from almost being touched by hers.

The song ended with a roaring applause. She was breathing hard, but she felt completely exhilarated. She walked forwards and took a bow. She blew a kiss out to the audience and threw Jet a wink before exiting the stage. As soon as she reached a place she couldn’t be heard, she let out her suppressed laughter. “I think I got him!”

He was still sitting stock-still. He glanced up as she took her bow and he caught the wink sent in his direction. He flushed and looked about him, wearing a sheepish expression. His eyes fell on her father, who was giving him a reproachful look. Her brothers still looked like they were thinking of ways to kill him. “She’s turning out to be almost as bad as Randy when it comes to flirting, however, her methods are somewhat subtler than that bombshell.”

Wufei observed his son’s reaction. “Why don’t you go and see her?”

Jet turned startled eyes towards his father. “What?”

“And take this with you,” Wufei said as he handed his son the rose in his hand. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate the gesture.”

“But dad…”

“Go on boy, she was singing that song for you, if you haven’t already figured that out.”

Jet swallowed hard and looked towards the area behind the stage. “I don’t think that’s wise.” He shot a look towards Trowa, Miles and Donavon.

Wufei chuckled softly. “Isabella is their little sister and his youngest child, they’re always going to look like that. It’s the same way I look at your brother in law.”

Jet looked in the same direction as his father until they fell on Leigh and Jonathon. “I suppose,” he said hesitantly.

“Just go and give her the rose, boy, I’m not asking you to kiss her right now,” Wufei said with some exasperation. “Get going before Yuy’s youngest onna gets on the stage.” He gave his son a light shove.

Jet looked over his shoulder warily towards his father and walked towards the backstage area.

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Sally arched a brow at her husband. “What are you up to?” she whispered.

“Nothing onna, don’t worry about it. Just helping our son a little,” Wufei replied, patting her hand gently.

She rolled her eyes and gave a soft snort. She didn’t press the issue further.

Jet made his way backstage. He found her standing off to the side, watching Veronica. He cleared his throat awkwardly.

Isabella turned and saw him standing there in the shadows. Her lips turned up into a smile. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to…to give you this,” he stammered quietly as he handed her the pale pink rose.

“Oh, Jet,” she breathed as she took it. She sniffed the delicate scent. Her eyes met his over the top of it. “You didn’t have to.”

A slight smile worked its way across his face. “You sang wonderfully. You deserved it.”

Isabella smiled again and stood on her toes, pressing a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you so much.”

The feel of her against him, made him automatically put his arms around her. Jet held her tight, breathing in the violet fragrance from the wealth of platinum blonde hair. His hands pressed against the bare skin of her back, itching to move them. He wanted to know if her skin was as satiny smooth as it looked.

She buried her cheek against his chest as he hugged her. He felt so warm. She could hear his heartbeat under her cheek. “It was very sweet of you,” she commented softly.

Her words encouraged him somewhat. “It was for a very sweet young woman.”

A shot of happiness went through her at his comment.

He didn’t want to let go. He could go on forever, holding her just like this. She felt so good in his arms. He froze, however when someone cleared their throat behind him. He cringed as he let her go and dared to turn his head. He came face to face with Donavon. “Donavon,” he said uncertainly.

“Jet,” Donavon replied in a quiet low voice. He looked over at his sister. “You did spectacular tonight.” He went past Jet and picked up his sister, swinging her around before setting her down again.

Isabella was aware of the warning look her brother sent Jet, but she couldn’t help being pleased by his praise. “Thank you,” she replied as he set her down again.

Donavon’s eyes went back to Jet. “And what did you think of her performance?”

He felt slightly chilly from the look in the gray green eyes. “She was wonderful as usual. A true performer. She’ll make a good actress if she chooses to be one.”

Isabella flushed with pleasure at his compliments as well.

Donavon scrutinized the younger man in front of him. “That’s good to hear.” He turned his eyes back towards his little sister. “Why don’t you go back out front and sit with mom and dad now? I have to set up with Vaughn and Randy for our piece.”

“All right,” Isabella replied as she looked up at him. She looked over at Jet. “Are you coming with me?”

Jet looked into her sparkling blue gray eyes. He smiled. “Sure.”

“Could I have one word with you before you go? Go on out front Is,” Donavon said as he nodded at her.

Isabella’s lips twisted into a slight frown as she looked at Jet and her brother. She didn’t say anything, but went out to the front like he has asked her to.

Donavon looked back at Jet. “Just a word to the wise,” he said as he took one step towards him, “Tread very, very carefully.”

Jet swallowed audibly. “No problem,” he stammered at the underlying warning in the taller man’s tone.

“Good,” Donavon said as he gave Jet a smile. “Go on out front again the last three of us will be up soon.”

Jet nodded mutely as he walked out front. He cast a glance at Isabella, who was being hugged and congratulated by her parents. A wry smile touched his lips as he sat down next to his father again.

“And how did it go?” Wufei asked casually.

“It was fine. She liked the rose,” Jet answered, his eyes meeting his father’s. “But I did get warned.”

An amused twitch flitted across Wufei’s face. “I thought you might. But you will work through it I hope. You’re good enough for Barton’s youngest child. It will take some time however.”

“Are you trying to fix me up with her?”

“In a fashion. She is clearly interested in you, as you are her. Isabella will make a good girlfriend for you. You need someone like her. Every man needs a woman.”

Jet passed his father a shocked look. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, Jet, get out more. You spend too much time with your nose in books and you will miss the perfect woman. Isabella will suit you and you won’t cause Trowa to have that much of a heart attack,” Wufei said, nodding in the direction of his friend.

Jet shook his head. “I like her, but she’s too young for me. It won’t work.”

“Have some faith in yourself, she isn’t that little girl I know you’re trying to make believe she still is. She is a young woman now; all of us have to face our daughters growing up, no matter how distasteful it is. And don’t justify her age as the reason you won’t pursue her. Her age does not matter when you’re falling in love with her.”

Jet didn’t reply, but looked over at Isabella as the lights dimmed once again. “Am I falling in love with her? Is my dad right?”

Song “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” by Leanne Rimes

A/N: I know this took a while to get out, but school is taking up a lot of my time this semester. It’s a lot of work trying to graduate with honors! But I’ll be sure to update soon! XOXO!!