A.C. 205, December
Journal entry: 12/21/205
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever believe I could be this happy.
It's almost Christmas now, just a few more days. The move to the winter estate here in Germany wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Duo and Quatre both insisted we spend some time up north of Crete so the kids could experience cold weather and learn about the seasons. Personally I think they just wanted to have another snowball fight like the one we had while waiting for the trial to end, which I find myself looking forward to.
After all, I still owe Beathan for shoving that snow down my shirt.
The kids are about to drive everyone crazy. Calida is all the time asking Quatre if Santa is going to bring her a baby brother or sister this year. I don't think I've ever seen Trowa blush and Quatre stammer so much in all our years together, but they keep telling her maybe. I guess I'll just have to hack into Sally's medical records to see if my hunch is correct.
The twins are proving themselves to be excellent break and enter artists. Zechs and Duo have caught the pair three times sneaking peeks at the wrapped presents stored in the library closet. Seems Darius has inherited Duo's talent for picking locks. Maybe I should install a computer lock, just to see if he can break into that, too.
Beathan and Wufei's son, Iain, has started showing signs he might be a gifted child. It isn't very surprising when one thinks about who his parents are. He's only three and he's already speaking and reading like a child twice his age. He's also developed some sort of crush on Calida. It's kinda funny to see this little red-haired, black-eyed boy toddling along after Quatre's daughter with a look of absolute devotion on his face. Beathan thinks it's just a phase and he'll grow into that girl-hating period one day, but I and Wufei are not so sure. Quatre and Trowa just smile at the whole thing.
Shinigami, our resident hero and child-herder, has started his own family. We just learned today that Beathan's Corgi, Shenlong, is pregnant. Shin seems very pleased, he struts around the grounds like a king. Not that he didn't do this before, he was just a little less obvious about it.
My check up with Sally went well yesterday. She says everything is going just fine. They've all been so supportive, especially Duo and Zechs. I can never find enough words to say how much both have come to mean to me over the years-
"You don't have to say anything love, we know." Strong arms encircled his shoulders as, long platinum hair tickled his cheek.
"Zechs," Heero leaned back against his husband's sweater clad chest. "I thought you were at the meeting, still. Did it go well?"
"Well enough. I think I've finally convinced the council that I'll never take the throne of Sank nor will any of my children. Sank's a democratic state now, let it remain so."
"Did they bring up..?" Heero didn't have to voice aloud who he was thinking of.
Zechs nodded sadly. "They still want to know where she is."
"We can't ever tell them! It'll be the same as last time. Some fanatical aristocrat will break her out and she'll-"
"No, she won't. We took care of that. There will be no repeats of last year. Especially since we have these little ones to consider." Zechs smiled as his large hands cupped the graceful curve of Heero's belly, where his and Duo's children were growing.
He had initially been against Heero carrying twins so soon after the terrible events of the year before. But the Japanese youth was adamant on the matter. He would carry both his husbands' children and that was that. It hadn't taken very long for Zechs to learn that when Heero set his mind to something the best thing to do was nod your head and go along with it. Duo had tried to warn him, but like many of life's lessons Zechs had to learn this by himself.
"Where is everybody?" Zechs didn't hear the usual bedlam that announced the other members of his family were home.
Heero snorted. "Most of them are asleep. Quatre and Duo went shopping earlier and-"
"Not more presents! Any more and the floor's going to cave in!"
"I didn't see what they brought back, but since I haven't heard anything disastrous I don't think it was gifts."
"With those two you can never be sure of anything."
"Wufei and Beathan have to kids in their room. They're all piled on the bed together taking a nap. If you go to look be careful. Shinigami and Shenlong are in there and Shin's on guard duty. He actually growled at me." Heero muttered irriatably.
Zechs had to laugh. It was too much. Heero Yui, the Perfect Soldier, had been intimidated by a dog that didn't even weigh in at 30 pounds!
Not that it was hard to understand. Shin had a protective streak in him ten miles wide when it came to the kids. Nobody, not even their own parents, messed with the kids when the tri-colored Corgi was in his mother-hen mode.
"He probably just wanted to make sure you didn't wake them."
"Probably. But I tend to think he remembers I wouldn't share my snack with him last night. Dog holds a grudge."
"After seeing some of the things you've been eating lately Shin should be thankful that you didn't share. I'd hate to try and find a vet around here for a case of indigestion." Zechs chuckle was cut short by the pillow which Heero hit him with.
In the library the fireplace was going, filling the whole room with it's soft glow and comforting warmth. Two young men lay draped over the long sofa, shoes off, sipping cups of hot chocolate.
"Do you think they'll kill us?" The blonde asked softly, unwilling to raise his voice and spoil the peaceful atmosphere.
"Nah. Don't fret it Quatre." Duo took a sip of the warm beverage and smiled in appreciation.
"But we promised not to buy anything more-"
"For the KIDS Q-man, we promised not to buy anything more for the kids. We never said anything about presents for the adults." Duo pointed out with all the flair of a defense lawyer.
"That's wicked Duo!"
"Ain't it though!" He gave an evil little laugh. "I can't wait for everyone to see the big one."
Now Quatre was laughing. "I'm sure that one at least will go over well."
"Not a doubt there! Our only problem will be where to hang it, here or at one of our houses in Crete." He looked over at the huge wrapped portrait he'd commissioned painted of the whole gang, dogs and all.
Shinigami raised his head as one of the children stirred, rousing the sleeping form of his mate with this movement.
Little Iain Xun Chang-Lander carefully slipped off the bed so as not to wake the others. Wufei and Beathan's son was such a remarkable child with his oriental features, stunning red hair, and quick mind. Despite being the youngest of the children of the Gundam pilots his intelligence more than made up for the difference in years.
Right now however all he needed was to be quiet. He just had to use the bathroom, no need to wake everyone else for something he could take of himself.
As he made his way across the room, Iain was aware he had an escort.
"Sshhh. Shinigami be quiet." He cautioned the dog. "You might wake them."
Shinigami snorted and rolled his eyes. Who did the pup think he was talking to?
Once he finished in the bathroom Iain tiptoed back to the bed and crawled over to his previous position. Smiling happily the boy settled back down into slumber, little body draped over his father's warm chest.
Beathan opened his eyes just a crack to watch as his son went back to sleep. Once more he found himself counting all his blessings. Thanking every God and Goddess he knew for the wonderful being who had consented to be his mate, for the beautiful little dragon their union had produced, and the dear friends that had become his family.
Wufei stirred and opened his eyes. He smiled at the sight of the two most important men in his life laying one atop the other. Beathan's green orbs met his own black ones. There was no need for words between them, their love spoke volumes all by itself. Wufei's husband took his hand and lifted it to his lips, the soft texture as they brushed across his skin sending little shivers up and down Wufei's spine. It never ceased to amaze him what effects Beathan could draw from his body with so simple a gesture.
"Rest love," he whispered. "They'll be up and running soon enough."
"And just think, Christmas is only four days away." Came Wufei's equally soft reply.
Both men shared a little look of fear. Having 4 children and their 7 parents, 2 dogs, 40 Maguanacs, and 8 odd family members and friends under one roof was going to be quite a challenge to keep everything in order.
Heaven help them if the twins got of ahold of the candy early. It was bad enough dealing with Duo on a sugar high on Christmas. Having to deal with Duo AND his two children on a sugar rush was a task equal to attacking a heavily armed base alone; very exhausting, to say the least.
Both men drifted off, surrounded by the children, hands still clasped together.
On the floor by the foot of the bed Shinigami stood and shook himself.
He could sense the increasing air of anticipation that hung about the house and it was making him edgy.
Of course, this season was nothing new to the dog, he'd went through this, what did his Duo call it? Oh yes, Christmas. He'd been through Christmas before. There was always a lot of wrapped boxes around a strange tree that grew lights and odd shaped things on its branches that weren't fruit. He'd tried to eat one that first year. It didn't taste good at all and was far too tough. But the boxes beneath the tree were different. His sensitive nose had found out that one or two boxes had good scents coming from them. All he had to do was rip the paper off and tear through the box beneath to get to the goodies hidden inside. After Zechs and Duo caught him munching on his presents they kept his up out of the Corgi's reach till it was officially time to open them.
Shinigami didn't like that, but there were consolations. For one thing Christmas always meant a really big meal, and with the pups around he could count on little hands sneaking him lots of tidbits under the table. He looked forwards to showing his mate all the tricks he'd picked up over the years.
Shenlong raised her head and stared at her mate, whuffing a little query. The tri-colored Corgi was quick to reassure his mate that all was well. He just needed to check around the house as was his habit now. She'd be safe here with the her Beathan and Wufei and the pups.
It was his duty to protect his pack, and Shinigami took that duty seriously. He still held a bit of a grudge against Trowa, the long-banged one, for stopping him from eliminating the threat the female Relena posed for his Duo. If he'd only kept his paws out of it the bad thing that Heero, the newest member> of Shin's pack, had suffered wouldn't have been. Zechs had promised everything was okay now, but the loyal dog was taking no chances.
As he slipped out of the room some small part of the dog's mind wished the female would return. Then he could finish what he started that day the pups were born.
Throughout the warm house set amidst the snowy hills of Germany one family rested in preparation for the holiday. Bound together by bonds of friendship and love far stronger than many blood relatives possessed. They had passed through many dangers, overcome every obstacle. Now they could live their lives in peace.
Somewhere, far away from prying eyes, hidden deep in the bowels of the institute, a lone patient stared at the walls of her room. No visitors came to see her, no nurses or doctors tried to befriend her. She was classified as hopelessly insane and off limits to all but a few workers there.
Her tan-colored hair was cropped short for easier care, exposing the long scars that cut across her face and neck. Blue eyes, totally devoid of rational thought, seemed to be fixed on something only she could see. She rocked back and forth on her bed, holding her knees tightly to her chest. Her mouth moved every now and then, but the words were so soft one would have to be right on top of her to hear them.
"I want what is mine."
Over and over they were repeated, like a prayer, or a solemn promise.
"I want what is mine..."
"I want what is mine..."
"I want..."
End