Disclaimer: See prologue.
Pairings: 1xRP, 2xOC, 3xMU, 4xDC
Period: January 2, 197 to January 10, 197
Restless Peace: The
Catalonian Threat?
“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.” –Indira
Gandhi
“One is left with the horrible feeling now that war
settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one.” –Agatha
Christie
02
January AC 197—La mansión de la familia de
Cataluña (Catalonia Family Mansion),
“I can’t believe you did that,”
Quatre Raberba Winner ranted, “What were you thinking? What if something
happened to the baby?”
“Quatre,
I’m okay. Did you really think I was just going to sit around while you all
‘saved the day’?” countered Dorothy Catalonia.
Quatre’s
eyes softened as well as his disposition, “You’re strong-willed, I know that,
but I thought you would stay home, like I asked, for the sake of the child.” He
pulled her close with his arms around her, nuzzling her neck a bit, and she
smiled softly.
“The
baby’s fine,” she insisted, “I would never do anything to endanger our child.”
She stroked the nape of his neck.
“I know
you wouldn’t, not intentionally,” he ensured, falling more into her control,
“but what if something unexpected happened? Like a solider with a gun or
something? I couldn’t bare it if anything happened to you or our child.” Dorothy
smiled and reassured him that she was never that close to any of the fighting or
soldiers. To assure she was still with him, she brushed her lips against his
before firmly planting them on his. His arms instinctively went around her slim
frame, and his hands searched her body for the most pleasurable places to
reside. She moaned softly in his search and unbuttoned his shirt, never keeping
her lips too far from his. Knowing what would happen next, he steered them to
the couch, lowering them down onto it. Their breath became more ragged as their
bodies came closer and closer. It was in this moment that Relena Darlian walked
into the room; her face burned red immediately.
“Oh!”
she exclaimed with embarrassment, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just came to find
Dorothy.” Her cheeks became faintly pink. Quatre and Dorothy separated and took
different cushions; Quatre wiped some lipstick off his lips with the back of his
hand then smiled at Relena.
“It’s
okay, really, Miss Relena. You can steal her if you want, just be sure to return
her.”
“A
relative of hers is, well, asking for her up in Lady’s office, and he’s causing
quite a stir,” Relena explained, apologizing still in her face, “We only need
you for a bit. I promise. Lady thinks if you’re there, he may stop threatening
to assassinate everyone in the building.”
Dorothy
chuckled, “Let me guess. This man is about as tall as my grandfather, full head
of white hair. He has a leaner build, though, with a mustache only, and he is
probably wearing an old army uniform; however, you can’t really tell which army
it came from? His voice would be raspy but strong, and he leans on a cane with a
lion head for the handle. He’ll wave the cane around when he gets exceptionally
ill-tempered.”
“Yes,
how did you know?” Relena questioned, “You must know your relatives very
well.”
“Only
Tio Henry would come this quickly,” Dorothy informed getting up. She patted
Quatre’s head and put on her jacket leaving with Relena. They climbed into the
back of Relena’s limousine.
“So what exactly got my uncle so
upset? Not that it takes too much.”
“News
has spread of your engagement to Quatre and of your carrying his child. He is,
well, agitated that you didn’t call him to tell him, and he doesn’t quite
believe it either. He also wants to know what Lady did with your inheritance,”
Relena explained as the limousine sped along the superhighway to reach
“I can
understand about my engagement and pregnancy; he doesn’t watch television
anymore. It would probably be a couple weeks before the servants congratulated
him on it anyway. But what is this about my inheritance? I never gave Une
anything of the sort.”
“You
were given the remaining Romefeller troops, correct?”
“I
received more than that. However, yes, I was,” Dorothy assured, “But they are
gone. I think my fiancé and his friends took care of that, as well as your
government.” She smiled.
“Yes, I
know,” the Vice Foreign Minister sighed, “He sees that as they were under Une’s
orders. He blames her.”
“Well,
I’m not surprised he’s doing this,” she admitted, “However, I didn’t see this
coming.” They talked for a couple hours, but they slept for the last three hours
before finally arriving at
02
January AC 197—Preventers’ Headquarters,
Dorothy checked her hair in the
mirror one last time as the limousine slowed down in front of the Preventers
Headquarters. She and Relena slid across the seat; the duchess remembered her
old governess’ words about ladies and sliding across car seats as they came to
her ears. She put a hand over her eyebrows as she gazed up as the glass and
mirrored steel building. The sun set the white words “Headquarters of the
Department of Earth Sphere Defense and Investigation: Preventers’ Bureau”
ablaze.
The
ladies climbed the steps and entered the steps of the building. People strolled
through the lobby; children excitedly cried out, pointing to paintings, people,
and other random items that piqued their curiosity. A few youngsters, mainly
little girls, spotted Dorothy and Relena instantly. They jumped up and down,
tugging on their parent’s arm, and pointed toward the girls. They squealed and
begged to go over and to get an autograph or to talk to them, especially to
former Queen Relena Peacecraft. Relena smiled at the children benevolently, and
she sent the parents sympathetic glances. Dorothy inwardly sighed. She nodded to
the people who happened to recognize her, but she was fighting a sudden wave of
nausea. She went back through her last couple of meals, but she was unable to
find what caused this abrupt sickness. Morning sickness struck her as a thought
much later than it should have.
“It’ll
be okay,” Relena soothed as the elevator shuddered into life, “You can stop by
the restroom if you need to before we go in to see Une.” Dorothy nodded her
thanks as all her concentration was now on keeping her meals inside herself. It
was no wonder Relena knew what was wrong without even asking. The doors slid
open, and Dorothy bolted from Relena’s side into the restroom. She went too
quickly to notice that on this high of level there were only official
Preventers, higher officers at that. Inside the plush restroom, Dorothy threw up
into one of the immaculate toilet. She had only enough time and enough mind to
pull back her long blonde hair before she retched.
Relena
waited patiently outside the restroom doors. As ladies walked in and out of the
lavatory, mainly out, Relena could hear the vomiting. As it started to sicken
her, she moved to sit at an empty desk. Only two pictures sat on the desk. One
was a picture of an older, probably middle aged couple; they were in each
others’ arms with their cheeks touching each other, smiling at the camera. The
other photograph was one of a young girl, probably around four or five. With the
wind blowing her strawberry blonde hair, just like the man in the other picture,
behind her, the little girl seemed to be giggling with sparkling
eyes.
“Ah, uh,
miss?” asked a man in his early twenties, “I see you found a good resting
place.” He smiled at her; he had a sleek physical form that fit quite easily
into the Preventer’s uniform. He had slanted teal eyes that sparkled
mysteriously, and his hair was short and umber. Relena looked at him, and her
heart seemed to ache. He had an air of romance around him, and after all that
had happened in the past few months, she wanted some romance to take her mind
off things. Before Relena could respond, Dorothy barged out.
“I’m
ready, Miss Relena,” she announced, all redone to look presentable. She flipped
her hair back out of her way.
Relena
stood and nodded her head; reading his name on his desk, she apologized, “I’m
sorry for taking your desk for a few minutes, Mr. Logan.”
“My
pleasure, miss,” Carson Logan insisted, “I just hope you’ll let me say goodbye
when you leave.” He flashed a smile. Relena made a note to go visit him while
Dorothy was busy with her uncle. Walking down the corridor to Une’s office,
Relena noticed Dorothy glowed with motherhood for the first time. They whispered
reassurances to each other as the door to the Head Office came
closer.
“I demand that you produce my
niece this instant!”
“Dorothy
is on her way,” Lady Une assured the old man.
“Miss
“Tío
Henry, I’m here. What do you want?” Dorothy asked as she walked in the office.
Both Henry Catalonia and Lady Une stood as she entered the room with
Relena.
“Dorothy! ¡Mi sobrinita!” he called as he hugged her tightly, whisper in her
ear. Dorothy felt him smell her hair, probably checking to see how well she was
doing without family members suffocating her.
Relena
excused herself and left, her job done. Dorothy helped her uncle sit down back
in his chair and sat in the free one next to him. Lady set to arranging her
papers on her desk, letting uncle and niece get briefly
reacquainted.
“Lady, I
apologize for anything my uncle has said or done,” she explained, “Tio
Henry—”
“Oncle Henry,” he corrected.
“Oncle Henry,” she
continued, rolling her eyes some, and sped up her English so that the elderly
man could not keep up as well, “Sometimes he forgets how to behave properly.
He’s all alone in his house, except for servants, and he’s become quite senile.
His children died in the wars, and none of them lived long enough to give him
grandchildren. He’s become overly protective of his younger nephews and
nieces.”
Lady
nodded, “Je comprends.” She
switched to French in hopes of Henry not catching.
“You
understand what?” his head jerked up.
“Nada, Tio,” Dorothy told him
patronizingly, “Usted necesita ir a casa. Es hora para su siesta. ¡No hable con
Une en vez de mi primero!”
“Remember what I
said!” Henry spat at Une as he turned to leave with his niece. He took Dorothy’s
arm as soon as he heard a click of a door shutting. They got down the hall, and
she pressed the down button on the elevator. She got him into the elevator
glancing in time to see Relena talking to the man whose desk at which she had
been sitting. Relena gave a flip of her hair and the doors closed. Down in the
lobby, they crossed floor as quickly as Henry’s legs would allow. She was less
recognizable to the small children without the Vice Foreign Minister and
ex-Queen at her side. Once outside, Oncle Henry insisted on a walk by the small
park across the street before he got in the car for another five hour drive.
Dorothy decided to call Quatre and let him know what was happening while her
uncle’s bodyguards/servants helped him cross the busy street.
“Now,
what is with this rumor about you and the Winner heir?” Henry asked as they
walked on the sidewalk.
“Quatre
and I are having a baby,” she informed.
“And has
the boy proposed?”
“He
has.”
“And?”
“I
accepted.”
He
chocked and coughed, enough where Dorothy sat him down on a bench. As he caught
himself and a servant brought more oxygen, his eyes became more jagged and
sharper in their gaze at her. She inquired why.
“He was
a Gundam pilot, was he not?”
“Yes, he
was.”
“He is
responsible for killing your parents, grandfather, and your cousin! How can
you—cough—be with him?”
“He is
not like that at all. Quatre is very sweet, and…the war killed them, not the
Gundams.”
“Stupid
girl! Let the enemy seduce you so easily,” he chastised, then added again, “Noia
estupida!”
“The war
is over, Tio.”
“Bah!”
Cough. “Never give in, Dorothy. Never!”
05
January AC 197—
Midii Une lounged safely in her
new apartment. Her brothers were helping her mother and father with the family
mansion and her cousin down on Earth. Her boyfriend’s help with the Preventers
earned enough money to get a decent apartment with decent furniture. Though she
had been forced to miss out on the action a few weeks ago, her boyfriend, his
friend, and the friend’s girlfriend were at the apartment now. She had company
for the first time, and she was determined to have it go exceptionally
well.
“This
place is great,” Duo Maxwell’s girlfriend Niwanna Jones
complimented.
“Yeah,
the furniture is exactly how I like it,” grinned Trowa Barton
proudly.
“No thanks to you,” Midii
muttered. He teased her a bit, murmuring in her ear. His lips had been close to
her ear to where they brushed against her lobe as the parted and moved to form
the words. It caused her to shudder, which made him grin.
“So have
you two had time to, uh, break this place in?” Duo asked, grinning broadly. He
was lounged back in a chair with his feet resting on ottoman, crossed at the
ankles. Niwanna gave his stomach a smack to have him sit up straighter. He
beamed once more sending a wink to Niwanna. Trowa rolled his eyes when Midii
looked but gave his friend a smirk and a nod as she turned her
back.
“We
should probably get going, or we’ll never get to eat,” Trowa said,
standing.
“Yeah,
I’m starving,” Duo stretched as he rose, an arm slipping around Niwanna’s
waist.
“I need
to dab on a bit more lipstick before we go,” Niwanna excused herself and headed
for the bathroom. Duo groaned and rolled his eyes. Midii gave him a look that
needed no translation. The phone rang, and Midii answered it, quickly handing it
to her boyfriend.
“How are you and Niwanna getting
along?” Midii inquired of Duo. Trowa had found her six or seven months ago, but
she still had not spent much time with his friends and comrades from the war.
When they had first met up, he had been on a day trip. Trowa had been at
Preventers’ Headquarters, and he had been taking a trip around former
She has only met a
couple friends of his, mainly from the circus. Duo and a quiet man named Heero
Yuy were the only friends she had met personally. She knew Trowa was constantly
on the phone with Quatre, and the two met quite often. However, she had yet to
meet the former playboy, which was a funny title for him after Trowa explained
what he knew about Quatre.
“Things
are going well,” Duo said, nodding. “How’s your cousin?”
“He’s doing better. We’re hoping he
can be moved to my aunt’s house, his mother.”
“That’s
good. It’s a really, nice place you have. You’re good for Trowa, and Quatre says
he can’t wait to meet the girl that’s got Trowa talkative,” he grinned
mischievously.
She
chuckled, “I bet. I can’t wait
to meet one of the richest men in the Earth Sphere. My friends will absolutely
die.”
“Ah, let
me guess: they’ve practiced their kissing techniques with magazine pictures of
his?”
“Oui, as well as what they’ll say
when they’ll finally meet him,” she giggled, “They’re all convinced they shall
meet him somehow.” Duo shared a laugh with her and glanced at his watch
impatiently.
“How
long does it take to dab on lipstick? We’re never going to eat.”
Trowa
turned and returned to the conversation, “Don’t worry, Duo. I’m sure the airline
will have some lovely food.”
Duo made
a face of disgust, “That’s ok. We can eat here instead.” Trowa’s face was all
serious. “What is it? Who was on the phone?”
“Wufei,”
he answered, “There’s something serious going on down on Earth. They’re asking
for all of us.”
“Do you know what happened?”
Midii asked.
“Une got
a serious threat from someone, but Wufei wouldn’t tell me more, afraid someone
would tap into our conversation for some reason,” Trowa told them putting on his
jacket, “Mid, can you pack a bag for me real quick while I get the
tickets.”
“Only if you get me
one, too,” she said defiantly. He honestly did not want her along since
he knew there was a chance she could be hurt as someone was targeting him, but
she was determined and he did not have time. Instead, he nodded. Duo, who had
gone to check on Niwanna at some point, came back in the room. A strange
_expression was across his face.
“What is it?” Midii
asked.
“Niwanna’s refusing to come out of the bathroom,” he said slightly exasperated,
“Apparently it’s something about hating her hair.”
10
January AC 197—Preventers’ Headquarters,
Heero went over the note many
times in his strained head. They had been at it for days, and they had come up
with nothing. Wufei was getting frustrated, and Duo was beyond cranky. Trowa
seemed calm, but he rarely showed his emotions in situations like these. Quatre
had come to help, but Une, Heero suspected some politicians and other
bureaucrats as well, had insisted he stay out of it. Une and the Preventers
could be attacked at any moment, and they did not want to add more to the
scandal if Quatre were there and hurt as well.
“Who
sent the note?” asked Relena during her short visit to deliver some papers from
a colleague.
“It was
anonymous,” Heero answered dully. Who knows how many times they had answered
that question during the past five days. “Lady Une was doing some paperwork, and
she found the note underneath some papers. We don’t know who left it or when. No
one has seen anyone out of the ordinary. So far nothing has happened, not even
another note.”
Relena
nodded, “Well, she and I are going out for some lunch.” She smiled, “You boys
are welcome to join us.”
“Can you
bring us back some food?” suggested Wufei. “We have orders to stay here until
nightfall.” He smirked.
Relena
took their orders. “Do you want anything else, Duo?”
“Nah,
that’s all I need. I need to stay here anyway. Niwanna’s going to call me. She
could be coming out of the bathroom any minute now,” he muttered. She looked to
the others for an explanation, but they all seemed to think it was best not to
give the details. With nothing else left, Relena went back to Lady and took her
out of the building. They headed down the street, closely guarded of course, and
entered the restaurant.
“Miss Relena! Lady Une!” a voice
called out cheerily. The women turned.
“Quatre?” Relena said, “What are you doing here?”
“Well,
I’m helping keep Midii, that’s Trowa’s girlfriend…I’m helping keep her
entertained,” he clarified. “We both want to help, but we’re not allowed to.” He
smiled and looked over at the female restroom. “Here she comes with her friends,
Sylvia and Amaya. I insist that you ladies sit with us.” After few mild protests
from Relena and Lady, all six sat down at a table.
“What
will your fiancée think of you, Quatre? Sitting to lunch with five ladies,”
Relena smirked. Their waiter came, and Quatre ordered their food.
“Ah, she
knew I was lunching with three lovely ladies, but she may get jealous of five,
with no other man at the table,” his eyes sparkled with deviousness, “She may
have to drive a fencing sabre through my stomach again.” A few
of those present flinched involuntarily.
“Well, I
suppose we should get on with introductions,” Relena suggested.
Quatre
nodded, “Ladies, I would like to introduce you to Midii Une, Trowa’s girlfriend
and daughter of Philippe and Caroline Une, Sylvia Noventa, granddaughter of the
late Field Marshall Noventa, and Amaya Vandivier, daughter of General James and
Diana Vandivier. Girls, this is Lady Une, head of the Preventers, and Relena
Darlian, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
“Queen
Relena?” Amaya asked loudly, eyes wide.
“Well…yes,” Relena responded quietly, “but I’m not a queen anymore.” However,
Amaya stared at her still in awe and amazement.
“She had
the same reaction when she met me,” Quatre whispered to her.
“How is
your grandmother, Miss Sylvia?” inquired Lady, eating some of the bread offered
as an appetizer.
“She’s
fine, working out the rest of my grandfather’s affairs,” she
answered.
Sylvia
leaned back to allow the waiter to set her salad in front of her. “So how is
Heero Yuy? My grandmother and I were wondering that lately.”
“He
works for me,” Lady said, “At least on a part-time basis. He shows up to lend
his expertise and help on the more difficult missions, or when his new
girlfriend prompts him to come.” She smirked on the last comment.
“Oh?
Someone is brave enough to ‘train’ him?” Sylvia asked, delighted.
“Yes, I
am,” Relena smiled.
“You?”
asked Midii surprisingly. “For some reason, I did not picture you two
together.”
The
former queen shrugged, “Wars bring together odd pairs.” Everyone at the table
concurred.
“Some
people think we, Dorothy and I, are an odd pair as well, Miss Relena,” Quatre
consoled, “But I do not see either of us as such.”
“Thank
you,” Relena said, “Are you seeing anyone girls?”
Sylvia
giggled, “I just gave a boy my number in the girls’ restroom. His name’s Ben
Logan.”
“What
was he doing in there?” Quatre questioned with a frown.
“You
don’t want to know,” Midii shook her head.
Lady Une
chuckled, “What about you, Miss, uh, Amaya, is it?”
The girl
nodded, “Yes, and I’m not allowed to have a boyfriend yet. I have to be
eighteen, my family’s old fashioned rule. Anyway, I think the soldiers my father
insists escort me scare most of the boys away.”
“My
father was the same way,” Lady sympathized.
“What
about you, Lady?” Sylvia inquired.
“Oh, I
haven’t had time to date lately,” she said dismissively, “First putting His
Excellency’s affairs in order, then building the Preventers, and now Mariemaia
and I are getting to know one another. Not that I’m complaining.”
“Of
course not,” Quatre agreed.
While
munching on her salad, Relena glanced at Amaya. Something about the girl seemed
familiar. “Do I know you? I mean, have we met before?” Amaya blinked a couple
times as if trying to word her response.
“You may have seen her at your school
in the
“When I
helped place the students in safe homes after the battle, I don’t remember your
being there,” Quatre said then dipped a tear of bread into his soup and popped
it into his mouth. However, he though as he savored the flavor in his mouth,
most of the girls were blonde, or at least light-headed, and they eventually
looked the same to him.
“The,
uh, soldiers recognized me and offered to take me back to my father. I thought
that meant back home, so I agreed,” the girl explained then added almost
hastily, “It seemed the safest way.” The others nodded in approval of her
decision, so she returned to picking through her salad.
“Did
that turn out not to be the case?” inquired Lady, eating the last leaf of
lettuce with a crouton, “Where did you end up?” Amaya looked up again. Her face
appeared to be full of dread at the thought of speaking to them once
more.
“My
father, as it turned out, was stationed in
She
called in a loud voice for someone to explain. Duo Maxwell sauntered her way
through the crowd. He seemed slightly dazed.
“No one
was severely hurt,” he said almost automatically, “There’re a few minor
injuries, but the worst is a few scratches and a second-degree burn that Wufei
got. Oh, you’ll need to talk to Quatre.” He added as he pulled a piece of paper
out of a pocket; his eyes continued to be glazed over. “We got this note open
and read right before the bomb or whatever went off in your
office.”
The note
was simple and to the point, though elegantly written with a conditioned
hand:
To Whom It May
Concern:
Soon, or
perhaps awhile ago, you shall see what happens when you mess with my family.
Leave my niece alone, or I will strike again when Lady Une is in her office. Or,
perhaps I shall get the cute little “Vice Foreign
Minister.”
Leave
the family inheritance and business alone!
Remember my
words,
Henry
Catalonia
**Translation
Notes**
Spanish:
1)
Tio—Uncle
2)
¡Mi
sobrinita!—My little niece!
3)
Nada—Nothing
4)
Usted necesita ir a
casa—You need to go home (polite)
5)
Es hora para su
siesta—It’s time for your nap
6)
¡No hable con Une en
vez de mi primero!—Don’t talk with Une instead of me first!
(polite)
Catalan:
1)
Noia estupida!—Stupid girl!
2)
Oncle—Uncle
Other:
1)
Je comprends—I understand (French)
2)
832 km—517 miles