Disclaimer: The characters belong to Sotsu, Sunrise, Bandai Entertainment, I neither claim them nor certainly make any money off them!
Pairing: 6x2
Rating: Lemony in places
Time Setting: Post-series, three years later (minus events in Ground Zero, Blind Target, Endless Waltz as when I started this, I hadn't seen or read about these yet)
Summary: A chance meeting leads to the recovery of a wounded heart.
"Mr. Peacecraft, we didn't expect you back today," Kausch greeted his boss as Zechs returned to the Peacegarden Orphanage a couple miles away. The old man had volunteered to fill in as administrator in Ginger Lyon's absence.
"Just need a quiet place to make a few calls, Kausch," Zechs replied kindly, then thought to wonder - he did feel kindness toward the former White Fang member who'd genuinely wanted to turn that organization around. [Duo's helping me see that in myself. Amazing...] "Thanks. How are things here?"
"Pretty good," Kausch chuckled. "I've become Grandpa K already."
That brought a smile to the younger man's lips. "You're perfect for the part. Excuse me, if you wouldn't mind."
"Of course not, sir," Kausch replied, looking at his boss with evident admiration.
In the second office that Zechs used when he was here, he sat at the desk and started up his computer. Soon he was putting in a call to Earth. In minutes, the face of a young woman came onto the viewscreen. "Milliardo!" she exclaimed in surprise.
"Hello, Relena," Zechs murmured, speaking to his sister for the first time in three years. He took a deep breath. "I imagine my call is a surprise."
"I was hoping you'd call," the young Minister replied quickly. "I... I heard from Heero just a few minutes ago. Oh, Milliardo... he was very impressed with you."
"He's an amazing young man himself," Zechs replied, gazing back at his sister - she'd changed so in three years! A graceful young woman, losing her girlishness... "You look well, little sister."
Relena grinned at him. "So do you!" Then she looked at him more seriously. "Are you all right? I'm sure it was terrible discovering that those horrible people were taking your money away from children."
He nodded solemnly. "I'm fine, Relena. And fortunately it was a very few people who were actually doing the stealing. Most of their organization are good people. They're going to help me in my projects in the colonies."
"I think you're doing a fine thing, Milliardo!" Relena exclaimed, her eyes bright. "I knew you were a good person all along, though it seemed for a while that you weren't. You were so kind to me on Libra..."
"It's in the past, Relena," Zechs murmured, shaking his head. "And I think I'm finally ready to leave it there. I... hadn't. I'd let my sins of the past eat away at me."
"And now?" Relena asked softly. Heero had told her about Duo; she'd been surprised, but relieved that her brother had someone to help him.
Zechs took a deep breath. "I think I'm ready to leave that behind. I have so much to do here in the colonies. And... I have help."
She smiled kindly. "Yes, I heard."
He looked into her blue eyes, studying them. "Relena... I'm sorry I haven't called you sooner. Very sorry. I've missed seeing you grow up. And now I am calling you with a favor to ask of you. If you don't think I'm horribly out of place, asking something of you..."
Her heart went out to him. "I've missed you, too, Brother. And please do ask me a favor - what is it?"
"I've reorganized my efforts here in outer space," Zechs began. The idea had just come to him, but it felt right. "Now there is the Peacecraft Foundation, which is to be devoted to the needs of the colonies and its citizens. Our public outreach is the Peacegarden Orphanages and our housing projects. I would like you to establish an office for the Foundation on Earth, Relena. If you would please consider it..."
Relena's eyes actually sparkled. "Oh, Brother... I would love to!"
They talked a few minutes more, then Relena was called away on business. But not before brother and sister promised to get together sometime soon. Relena's happiness at joining her brother's charitable enterprises sank deep into him. [I do good things... perhaps Duo is right...]
The next call was placed to the Peacegarden Orphanage on C-241. Zechs talked briefly with Miss Cherry, then waited while another party got on the line. A very welcome face appeared on his screen. "Hello, little one," he murmured, smiling.
"Papa Peace!" Deener exclaimed, clapping her hands together. Then she settled down as if she talked to him from another colony every day. "So, did you and Papa Duo get the bad guys? And are you coming back home yet?"
Home. Did he have such a thing? Or did it depend on the people he was with? "Yes, we got the bad guys. And found that most of them were still good."
"Hey, that's great!" She looked at him closely. "You're different."
"How's that?" Zechs asked quietly.
"You seem... better. Can I ask you something? I mean something personal?" Deener asked, scowling at him in puzzlement.
"Certainly," he replied.
Deener relaxed her stern look, easing into wistfulness. "Would you please marry Papa Duo?"
His eyes widened and he almost laughed at her, but he was well used to how serious she could be. "Maybe I will," he replied. "Deener, you say the most unexpected things sometimes..."
She shrugged then winked at him. "That's what Duo said."
[Deener,] Zechs thought affectionately. [Always perceptive.] "So, why are you so concerned about my marital status, Deener?"
"Oh, I dunno..." she replied coyly. "You know, sometimes people get married and they want to have kids... just wondering!"
[Oh, I see your plan...] Zechs chuckled. "Sometimes they do. That would be difficult for us, of course." [You deserve a good tease for that...]
Deener gave him a mock glare. "I don't mean have *babies*!"
Zechs had a quick image of a pregnant Duo, complete with mood swings, a pickle in one hand, and a bucket of ice cream in the other. He shuddered, half with laughter, half with horror. "Good! You have studied your biology, I hope."
"I know..." Deener didn't press it. [He's got to think of it himself, the old dense fool. He doesn't even know he loves Duo yet.] "So you're coming home when?"
[Whew, got out of that in one piece...] "In a few days, I hope. Still a little business left here. Then you can torment Duo some more when I go back to C-152."
"Oh, goody!" Deener rubbed her hands together in delight.
Zechs glanced over the top of the computer screen to see a small form in the doorway, watching him with big, dark blue eyes. "Deener, I have to go now, someone's waiting for me. Be good and help Miss Cherry, okay?"
"Yep! Love you, Papa Peace!"
"Love you, too, Deener," Zechs murmured, then shut down the console. Looking up at his silent observer, he turned to the side and patted his knee. "Come here, Judo."
The boy named Judo padded over and climbed up into his lap. Zechs, too, had noted the quiet boy's resemblance to Heero Yuy many times, and knew a special fondness for the war orphan. "That's nice," he murmured as the boy settled against him, wrapping his arms around his neck.
They sat there, not speaking, for a long while.