Disclaimer: See previous part(s).

 

Friday, December 27 AC 198

     Duo and Hilde dragged themselves back into their small house. Hilde collapsed onto the couch while Duo actually made it to a chair, Caitlyn in his lap. They left their luggage at the door. They had just returned from a hellish nightmare. Hilde had been on Earth when Duo got her, so their trip on the shuttle was quite long. In fact, the crying baby made it even longer.

     “Hilde,” Duo told her, “I don’t want to have anymore kids for awhile.”

     “Nor do I,” Hilde settled, her eyes still closed.

     “Caitlyn is enough for right now,” he explained, “How can something so little want and need so much?”

     “Someone could say the same about you,” Hilde pointed out.

     “Hey! That’s not funny.”

     “Yes, it is. We need a nursery now, Duo, and we don’t have anymore free rooms.”

     Duo got a mischievous smirk, “Well, since we need the room and we don’t really need two bedrooms right now, we could move into the same room and put Caitlyn in the free one.”

     She sat up, “That could work. Which room will be Caitlyn’s?”

     “Both rooms are about the same size…. So it doesn’t really matter, I guess.”

     “Duo, I’m not putting her in your room. After neglecting it for so long, it probably smells, so we’ll put her in my room.”

     He put Caitlyn in a small playpen and then pounced on Hilde, “We’ll see who rooms smells, babe.”

     “Duo!” Hilde shrieked. She squirmed under his tickling hands and tried to use her weight roll him over.

     “What are you going to do about it?” he asked, surprised when she actually succeeding in rolling over. However, he had momentum on his side, and the two kept rolling around the living room, bumping into different furniture.

     Hilde pulled on his braid, which caused him to tug on her bangs. This, in turn, had her smack him and had her continue the rolling. He tugged on her shirt, and she stuck her tongue out.

     “Careful,” Duo warned, “This is how we got Caitlyn.”

 

Saturday, December 28 AC 198-9:15

     Dorothy glared at the new papers in front of her. She had been so close. All the other paperwork had been handled, and she had been quite close to getting a vacation. On the other hand, the gods were against her at this time in her life, and they sent her more paperwork. With James Lee and Melita dead, she ended up controlling their assets.

     “Don’t they have any other relatives?” Dorothy questioned, “There are other people with the Khushrenada name.” She went back to the papers.

     She looked at all of the work. It was not a lovely sight. At this rate, she would not have a vacation until sometime in the spring. Perhaps she could go to different vacation spots and have Spring Break with others about her age. This made her smile.

     “I could just see everyone’s faces as I flash my breasts to the camera,” she laughed at imagining everyone’s reaction.

     “That would not be funny at all, Cousin Dorothy,” a man’s voice said from the door. Dorothy turned to face him and was pleasantly surprised.

     Vigo!” she cried and hugged him when he embraced her, “You came, why?”

     “Do I need a reason to visit my favorite model?” he asked, acting offended.

     “Yes, you do,” she told him, “Why did you come here?”

     “I was worried about you,” he informed, “The whole family is.” He glanced at her desk. “What’s this?”

     “It’s my doll, Kiara. I lost her when I was very little. It turns out that I accidentally gave her to Melita without realizing it,” Dorothy explained.

     “That’s nice,” he smiled, “Well, if you’re perfectly fine, then you won’t mind getting away from all those nasty papers and will let me take you away to use inspire some outfits.”

     “You don’t have to suggest it twice,” she assured him, “I’m ready to go now.”

     He smiled, “I’m glad. I have the best color for you.”

     “What’s that?”

     “Promise not to be too stubborn about it?”

     “What is it?”

     “You should wear just a tad of hot pink.”

 

Saturday, December 28 AC 198-12:00

     Quatre smiled at Amaya. She was coloring something on a sheet of paper. It was some sort of design.

     “Are you sure you don’t mind?” Quatre asked her again.

     “Quatre, really, I don’t care,” she told him, “I understand that you had to take the ring away. It was Duo’s anyway, including that crystal. It wasn’t mine to being with; I was just holding it for you.” She smiled at him and went back to coloring.

     “Thanks for being so understanding,” he said, “Most girls wouldn’t want to give up a ring like that.”

     She shrugged, “I guess not, but I’m just so amazing like that.” He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

     “Master Quatre, Abdul picked up the package like you wanted,” Rashid informed as he walked in the room and handed Quatre a small package.

     “Thank you,” Quatre took the container. Rashid smiled knowingly as he left.

     “Is that important business?” Amaya asked, looking up.

     “Sort of,” he smirked. She eyed him.

     “I’m beginning to doubt your word, Mr. Winner,” she told him, nodding towards the wall that separated them from her parents.

     “Back to Mr. Winner?”

     “We are as long as my parents can hear,” she said in a lower voice.

     “What are you coloring anyway?”

     “It’s just some doodles I made while I was captive,” she answered, “I just decided that I was bored enough to color them.”

     Quatre looked over her shoulder, “What is it?”

     She looked up, “Why thank you…. I don’t know…I can’t remember anymore.”

     He laughed, “That’s good.”

     “Oh yes, let’s all laugh at it. You know, I have half a mind to leave.”

     “No you don’t.”

     “Why not?” she asked. Quatre opened the package and revealed a ring for replacement.

 

Saturday, December 28 AC 198-13:15

     “Relena, you need to rest and to eat more,” Mrs. Darlian chastised.

     “Mother, I’m fine,” insisted Relena.

     “No, you’re not,” she told her, “You are taking a vacation.” She informed. She went out to Relena’s secretary, and the two came back in the room, taking out all the papers.

     “Those need to be taken care of,” protested Relena, “They need my signature right now!”

     “Relena, you’re only eighteen,” her mother reminded, “These can be done by other people. You’re not the only person in the government.”

     “Your mother is right,” Verdad told her, “It’s just like I told you a few months ago.”

     Relena gave up, “Alright! I surrender. Where are we going?”

     “It’s only a bit after noon, so we can go catch lunch,” her mother told her, “I know a lovely little café where we can have a delightful lunch.”

     Relena smiled, “That’d be great, Mother. Verdad, would you care to join us?”

     “Oh, I can’t do that right now, Miss Relena. I’m going out with your friend, Mr. Gerry. Remember you introducing us? We got closer during your captivation.”

     “That’s good…. Wait, you can’t go to lunch unless I am…. Did you two plan this?”

     “Relena, you are a lovely young lady,” her mother changed the subject, “At lunch, we need to talk about finding you a serious consort. You’re too young for marriage, but you don’t need to simply go out with friends or boys you don’t plan on having anything with.”

     “But, Mother,” she protested.

     “No buts, young lady,” her mother reprimanded, “I know many young men’s mothers, and they happened to have given me their pictures. I expect you to choose one or two by the end of the lunch hour.”

     “Mother!”

     “What? You don’t want to have a beau?”

     “Oh, Mother…just forget it. I’ll look at the boys.”

     Mrs. Darlian smiled, “Thank you. I’m glad you’re finally deciding to take this aspect of your life serious.”

     “Yes, Mother.”

 

Sunday, December 29 AC 198

     Jet kicked the computer. It probably was not the best thing for her to do, but it made her feel good.

     “You’re going to break it,” Heero informed her.

     “Shut up,” she commanded.

     “I just don’t see why you don’t fix it instead of just making it worse.”

     “This makes me feel good.”

     Heero decided to ignore her and went back to his computer.

     “Are you just going to ignore me then?”

     “Yes.”

     “And why is that?”

     “You’ll just get angry.”

     “I will not!”

     “Then will you let me try something?”

     “Why not?” she questioned. He leaned over her and pressed a few buttons. In a matter of seconds the computer did exactly what she had tried to get it to do.

     “That’s not fair!” she protested.

     “Well, it is when you know what to do.”

     She glared at him, and he could not help but glare back. They ended up in another glaring contest.

 

Monday, December 30 AC 198-12:45

     The lions roared. Trowa laughed.

     “You know, it’s still pretty weird to hear him laugh,” Midii admitted to Catherine. Catherine chuckled.

     “It’s not that weird.”

     “Maybe for you it isn’t, but it is for me.”

     “What’s weird?” Trowa asked as he walked up to them.

     “Midii think it’s weird to hear you laugh,” Catherine told him.

     “It’s weird to hear me laugh?”

     “Nanashi, I just haven’t heard you do it before,” Midii pointed out.

     He blinked at her.

     “There! That’s what I’m used to! Silence! He’s usually so quiet.”

     Catherine smiled, “I found out that if you get the right conditions, Trowa becomes quite the chatterbox.”

     Midii looked very interested, “What’re the conditions?”

     “Well,” started Catherine, “first you have to….” She was cut off by Trowa picking up Midii and carrying her inside the trailer.

     “What was that for?” Midii asked him.

     “I thought you wanted to catch up,” Trowa said with an ever so slight smirk.

     “Ooh, I do,” she replied with a kiss, “I really do.”

 

Monday, December 30 AC 198-14:30

     “Wufei, you need glasses,” Sally told him.

     “I do not. My contacts are fine how they are,” he retorted.

     “Then wear them,” she commanded.

     “I am wearing them.”

     “You’re a liar.”

     “You think I’d dishonor myself that way?”

     “I can tell, Wufei,” she told him, “You either need a stronger prescription or to actually wear them.”

     Wufei was saved by his daughter running in at that moment. He picked her up.

     “Have you ever thought that you may need to get Ling Ling checked out? Her eyesight, I mean,” Sally suggested.

     “What’s wrong with her eyesight?” Wufei questioned.

     “Nothing that I know of, but she could get her vision from you, you know,” she reminded.

     “Woman, there is nothing wrong with my daughter’s ability to see. She’s perfect.”

     “I’m sure she is,” muttered Sally.

     “What was that?”

     “Nothing, Wufei, nothing at all.”

     “Good, that’s what I thought.”

 

Monday, December 30 AC 198-16:50

     “So, did you get anything good for Weihnachten?” Carla asked Mariemaia.

     “I mainly got clothes,” she admitted, “But Mr. Winner gave me a new chess set, and Mr. Heero sent me the newest Battleship. Mr. Duo and Mr. Trowa just gave me gift cards. I don’t think they know what girls like. Mr. Wufei gave me a card and said that as soon as I tell him what I want, he’ll try to get it for me. The others gave me clothes.” Mariemaia showed her friend all of her new outfits.

     “Those are great,” Carla smiled at the younger girl, “I got gift cards from everyone. No one knows what a German teenage girl wants, I guess.” The two laughed.

     “Are you two ready?” asked Une, “It’s time to leave.”

     “Where are we going?” asked Carla.

     “We’re ready,” Mariemaia called down before answering her friend, “We’re taking you out to see a movie.”

     “Which movie are we seeing?”

     They started to descend the stairs, “We’re going to the new Dustin Wolf movie.”

     “Really? Oh, this is great!” Carla exclaimed, “I love him. You know I’m going to marry him.”

     “Are you?” Mariemaia asked.

     “I’m sure Carla will,” Une smiled. She got the girls inside the car and drove off to the movie theater.

     “Frau Une, did you ever get your job back?” inquired Carla politely.

     “Yes, I did,” she answered, “The president was impressed by the Preventers working through the crisis even after we were disbanded officially. He’s given us even more funding.”

     “That must be a relief,” Carla made conversation.

     “It is, very much so,” Une informed.

     “It means I get more gifts,” beamed Mariemaia. Une rolled her eyes.

     “Oh, Marie….”

 

Monday, December 30 AC 198-20:05

     “It’s good to be home,” Noin said, grinning.

     “Yes, it is,” agreed Zechs, “And we’re not leaving for a long time.”

     “Good, I’m glad. We better not.”

     “Someone else surely can’t overthrow the government for awhile.”

     “You’d think that.”

     “What do you mean?”

     “Every time we get settled here, someone rebels,” Noin pointed out.

     “Well, they surely can’t do it now…because we’re not going back for a couple of years.”

     “Don’t you want Relena to see the baby?”

     “She can come and visit,” Zechs told her, “I’m sure it’d even be a great publicity stunt for her to come all the way to Mars to see her little niece or nephew.” Noin chuckled and rolled her eyes.

 

Tuesday, December 31 AC 198-23:55

     “What a lovely party,” complimented a guest as Duo searched for his comrades amongst the dolled up party goers. He found them by the huge window. Relena was included in them, which was a bit funny since she was hiding at her own party.

     “Sorry I’m late,” he apologized as he joined them, “Pretty fancy place here.”

     Relena rolled her eyes, “It’s my mother’s doing. She wants me to find a suitor tonight.”

     “Better you than me,” Amaya said as she took a sip of her drink, non-alcoholic on Quatre’s request.

     “Just be glad she’s here to do it for you,” Sylvia pointed out, straining some to keep her smile. After some apologizing from Relena, they were back to normal. Hilde and Amaya were sporting new rings.

     “Yes,” Hilde informed them, “Duo proposed two days ago. Apparently those nuns knew before I did.”

     “Was he keeping tabs on you with them or something?” inquired Midii.

     Duo shook his head, “Not at all, not that way anyway. I was just making sure she was still alive and didn’t have any problems.”

     “Aw, that’s so nice of you,” Sally said, “Would you do that Wufei?”

     “For my daughter, yes,” he answered, “But for you, woman, it depends on what you said earlier.” She mockingly smacked him.

     “At least you were able to leave Hilde behind,” Heero said, becoming very interested in his drink.

     “What do you mean?” asked Dorothy.

     “Heero tried to lose me more than once,” Jet informed them.

     “Hey,” Catherine said, “You never told us how you were in love with Heero. You never told us about your relationship with him.”

     “Yeah, you never did,” Midii remembered.

     “You don’t want to know,” Heero cautioned them.

     “Yes, we do,” Sylvia said, curious.

     “I want to know, too,” Duo chimed up.

     “I am also curious to know,” Trowa admitted.

     “Why don’t you just tell us, Heero,” suggested Quatre. Heero shifted uneasily.

     “Well, he’s my—” Jet was cut off by the crowd counting down.

     “Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!” they all shouted. At midnight, they all had someone to kiss with the big crowd around them.

 

How was it? It’s over! I’m going to miss working on it, but now I can start those other stories…actually I still have a “missing scenes” thing to do for this, and then I’ll be done. Let me know about it!