He say "I know you, you know me"
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
Come together right now over me
-Lyrics to 'Come Together' performed by the Beatles
Crimson Ties Part 73
Air rushed from Anna and Wufei's lungs as Sally's words set in. Wide-eyed and slack-jawed, they both sat in a complete state of numbness in their chairs as the world seemed to fall off kilter for a moment.
If they had any doubt that they'd heard the surgeon correctly, they were completely washed away at the sight of the happy tears that caused the eyes watching them to shimmer. Then reality truly set in for them.
They could conceive... bring their own little ones into the world when for many a decade leading up to that discovery they could not even dare to hope for such a gift. Thanks to Duo's blood and an unconscious wish, the impossible had become possible.
Finally coming out from her shock, Anna's head fell back as she let out a howl of a laugh that filled the office that was echoed by Chang and Po. Tears filling her eyes, she folded her hands before her face and turned to face her elated husband. "Oh my God, Wufei," she breathed, her throat constricting with a thick lump that prevented her from saying any more.
Sally bowed her head, grinning, "You both have my office for as long as you wish to have some time alone to react. Now that my shift is over, I'll be heading back to Treize and Lady Une's home to catch up on some much needed sleep. We can discuss this more once you've had a chance to process the news." That said, she rose to her feet along with the Vampires to embrace them with a whispered, "Congratulations to you both."
As the surgeon slipped from the room and closed the door behind her, the beaming couple's dampened eyes locked again.
Quickly closing the distance between them, Chang pulled his lover into a fierce embrace and kissed her deeply. Tears running down his scaly face when he pulled back, he rested their foreheads together. "I love you so damned much," he managed brokenly.
Cupping Anna's damp cheeks, he commented, "After all of the pain and nightmares that you have had to endure over the course of your existence, Celtic Rose, I cannot think of a more deserving creature to be blessed with such a blessed joy as this." He paused, drawing a shaky breath before he smiled lovingly, "You are going to be such a beautiful mother." The Irish Infected whimpered, her body trembling at those heartfelt words.
Wufei took a deep breath and smiled lovingly, "And I have the greatest honor in being able to share in this with you." Kissing her lips soundly, he chuckled when the gesture was returned tenfold as Anna poured every bit of appreciation and love into it as she could.
After a long exchange, the red-haired Vampire replied as quietly, "I love you." Giggling, she added, "You're going to be an amazing dad." With a soft laugh that broke as a bit of a sob, her scaly husband claimed her mouth for another searing kiss.
Reluctantly pulling back, Chang sighed, "We are going to have to be careful. Until Solo and the Others are taken care of, I would hate to have you carrying a baby when we're in the middle of a war."
Simply the thought of that sent a shiver running up his spine. He continued to stare at his bride in awe, looking on her in a whole new light that showed her as an even more precious creature than he had already seen before.
Her eyes growing, Anna shook her head vehemently, "I don't want that, either. We definitely have enough to worry about as it is."
Letting out a deep breath, she unconsciously ran a hand over her abdomen, she shrugged, "I suppose that we'll have to talk to Sally about the best birth control methods to keep that from happening." Even as she spoke those words, her eyes blinked and she giggled after a sobering pause, "Never thought I'd ever say that."
The scaly Infected snickered and cupped his partner's face and kissed her lips once again. Pulling away, he rested their foreheads together and smirked, "Let's go home and tell our family the wonderful news."
* * * * * *
It came as little surprise to Duo when he found a text waiting on his cell phone by the time his first class was over. He'd expected it, wanted it. His little display in the hallway earlier that morning couldn't have gone over better, nor the outcome more perfect.
The braided Companion smirked as he looked to his cell phone again to read the simple message:
'We need to talk. Clearing behind the administrative mansion at ten.'
Just as the distant clock tower's bells began to ring at the top of the hour, he heard the sound of footsteps crunching over the mix of ice and snow that led to the small, enclosed opening in the forest that had been picked out. Rounding the large trunk that blocked off the rest of the school, Trent appeared.
Lowering his backpack to the ground, the young Hunter's narrowed eyes stayed on Maxwell as he approached.
Shoulders taut and breath almost coming out in pants that plumed vapor in the air, he came to a sharp halt when he was nearly nose-to-nose with his violet-eyed classmate. "I found the bug that was set on my car," he gritted through his teeth. "How long have your Vampires been watching me?"
Duo smiled darkly, "Since you were overheard talking to Hilde in this very spot. You can't blame my family for wanting to protect themselves now that they know there are Hunters in their midst. And I'd warned you before that if you mess with them, you mess with me."
Skin paling and eyes growing, Trent's back went rigid at the gripping terror that set in. He was overheard. Then not only was Hilde exposed, but there was not a single argument that he could make to protect them and their clan. For all he knew, he could have been watched for weeks on end without knowing in.
Though the temperature was only just above freezing, the junior felt a roll of sweat run down the back of his neck and under the lining of the coat he was wearing.
Reality setting in, the Hunter's head shot up as he scanned the thick evergreen branches high over them. "It's just you and me," Duo informed, bringing his classmate's attention back to him. "I wanted this talk to just be between us."
Much to Trent's surprise, Maxwell's ire completely faded away as his lips were etched into a sad, concerned frown. "There are things that you need know," the Companion began. "And this was the only way that I could think to get you alone so that you could hear it." Drawing a deep breath, he said quietly, "We have a pretty good idea of what happened to your sister, Dorothy."
With a rush of air pouring from his lungs, the junior's eyes widened in disbelief. Shaking his head, he managed, "W-what did you just say?" Instantly, his tension returned tenfold as he remained locked where he stood.
Swallowing roughly, Duo replied, "There has been an investigation into the mysterious disappearances of... a lot of people that have taken place over the last few years. After your conversation with Hilde, my family looked into your past and it looks as if Dorothy's vanishing is related."
"I-investigation?" Trent frowned, blinking as he shook his head in confusion. "You meant that Vampires look into cases involving livings?" His surprise subsiding, the anger returned and he glared on his 'friend.' Gritting through his teeth, he demanded, "And what the hell right do they have looking into my story or my sister's?"
The hybrid raised his hands, insisting, "There are a lot of things about the Infected that you don't know about... things that we're all willing to trust you with because we want to help you find your sister and all the victims involved. But you're going to have to trust us back if we're going to get anywhere in putting an end to this."
Not losing a bit of his rage, Greyson snorted bitterly, "And I'm just supposed to believe them when their own are responsible for what happened to my sister?! Maybe I'm not nearly the extremist that the members in my clan are, but I'm nowhere near ready to accept the Infected when there are monsters within their race that are killing my own! You're in too deep with those blood-suckers to see the dangers that their kind are to society!"
Working very hard to keep himself calm, Duo took a deep breath. "Look," he drew in a low rumble, "I went out on a limb here for you by suggesting to the others that you be brought into the loop on what's really going on. You've been good enough to not expose the location of my family to the other Hunters and I want to help you, not just to return the favor, but because I still consider you a friend."
Slowly stepping back, the Reformer folded his arms across his chest as he added, "And I'm hoping that your not selling my family out to your fellow Hunters was out of the same respect instead of your being afraid of our connection to the Khushrenadas and the Merquises of the Vampire Council."
At having a lot to process, Trent couldn't help but wish that there was nothing but sincerity in his classmate's words. "Let's just say I remotely believe that your Infected have livings' best interest in mind," he responded quietly, the hesitation dripping in his tone. "What do they know about Dorothy's disappearance that would be of any help to me and what do they intend to do about any of this?"
"That's were you're going to have to show us a little trust back," Maxwell responded. "If you want to know any of that, you're best off sitting down with all of us so that we can discuss everything. My suggestion would be the sooner the better, so you have an open invitation to follow me and Heero home at the end of our classes."
Setting foot back in Yuy's household after what had transpired at Duo's party was not something that Trent had ever planned on doing again. And there was surely even more trepidation over the idea now that he knew he was a confirmed Hunter walking into the midst of Vampires.
But he had to admit that his interest was piqued in possibly having some answers to what had become of his sister. Whether or not he would believe anything told to him would be of his choosing later.
If there was anything more important to Greyson than his own safety, it was learning everything that he possibly could when it came to Dorothy. Trust could be met so long as it meant there might actually be something to go on in her case.
Chewing on the inside of his cheek, the junior released a deep sight and relented, "Fine." A finger raising, he growled, "But so help me, if this is some kind of trick and I'm just walking into a trap, I am going to be missed by the others and they'll find a way of getting to your Infected regardless of who they know."
The corner of his mouth curling up, Duo nodded firmly, "Fair enough." 'Not there's a real concern needed even if they did become trouble,' he thought to himself in amusement. Were the Hunters to rise up, the Companion was more than certain that his friends and family of immortals could handle them.
Of course, there was no need for worry over the possibility of something like that to happen at all. This was a mere opening of a door to communication between the two clans- the Vampires and the living. If there could be any common ground found between them, then there might be yet another advantage in the fight against Solo and his Others.
"You can follow us out of the library parking lot at four, then," Maxwell offered. Grunting in acknowledgment, Trent nodded and turned on his heels to gather his backpack again. Without looking back, he disappeared down the trail hidden by the cover of the trees around.
Maxwell's small smile spread across his face. So far, it looked as though what he'd planned might pan out after all.
Now all that he could hope was that their meeting would go just as smoothly later that night.
* * * * * *
"You have to know what's happened to him," Solo demanded through his gnashing teeth. Shaking his head, he pointed to the opening in the wall of his throne room, stating, "You told me that you could still sense him when my brother's presence around him disappeared."
Dorothy stood before her master with her head low as her body trembled in the wake of his growing anger. Swallowing roughly, she replied, "Y-yes, Sire. However, he's lost to me now... just as I am sure you've noticed the change as well."
The hybrid sucked in a deep breath at that, turning away from his Seer when the fires of his frustration rose to a threatening level. Fists clenching at his sides, he squeezed his silver-ringed eyes closed and forced himself to calm down lest he say or do something that Dorothy did not deserve.
It wasn't her fault that something had severed their connection to Josh.
Leaning against the wall beside the throne, Meiran folded her arms as she huffed impatiently, "He was lost to us the moment he was captured. What difference does it really matter whether or not you can sense him any more?"
With a glare over her shoulder, Dorothy chided, "Obviously, this is beyond your realm of reason to understand just how grave this situation could be. Along with my not being able to see Josh, there are other players in the mix that I can no longer envision... and I highly doubt that Duo is constantly in their presence to be the explanation behind it."
Irate as she normally would have been at the insult made at her expense, the raven-haired Vampire reigned in her rage before it got her in trouble. Drawing a deep breath, she asked, "What 'players' are you referring to specifically?"
"Nearly your whole family," the Seer answered. "Your cousin, Noin, fell from my sight but I did not think there was reason for alarm over that until Treize, Lady Une and Zechs recently joined her. Relena is the only one that I can still see when she is not blocked by Duo's shroud."
Her gold-and-onyx eyes growing, Meiran's back straightened. Most of her family had 'disappeared'? How had that happened and what did that possibly mean for her? Judging by how concerned her host was, the matter did bring on cause for alarm.
Biting her lip, the Seer faced her maker when he turned back to meet her gaze. "I am so sorry, master," she frowned deeply, ice-cold dread over what might befall her setting in. A quiet whimper breaking from her, she wailed, "I've failed you."
At the sight of the tears that began to fill her eyes, Solo lost his edge and closed the distance between them to cup the sides of her face. "You haven't failed me, Dorothy," he reassured quietly, now battling a new urge thanks to his close proximity to the beautiful girl.
Lightly rubbing the pad of his thumbs along her cheekbones, he sighed deeply, "Somehow my brother is involved in this. We still have no idea to what exactly he's capable of." Eyes narrowing, he promised in a hiss, "Mark my word that he will not remain in our way forever. We'll simply have to make do with what we do know and proceed accordingly."
Surprised and grateful that she was not about to receive a swift and brutal punishment from her maker, the Other's shoulders sagged with her relief. With a small smile, she blinked away the shimmer from her eyes and nodded firmly.
Chuckling deeply, Solo ran a hand over her long hair as he requested in a near purr, "What I need from you now is for you to focus on finding me more prospects. Considering how events have been unfolding, I have a feeling that things are going to be coming to a head sooner rather than later and we need every soul we can bring into our army to be ready."
As always, the Seer was all too pleased to know that she was still of use to her master. So long as there was something she could give him, he would be happy. All that she wanted was for him to be happy. Grinning, she nodded, "Of course, sire."
* * * * * *
Heero stepped out of the library at the end of his shift to find his Companion taking the last couple of steps to join him at the top. A loving smile curling his lips, the Infected pulled the braided hybrid into his arms and kissed him soundly.
Sighing against his lover's mouth, Duo's violet eyes drifted closed as he returned the greeting with as much fervor as he could muster. It had only been a couple of hours since they had a little time to see each other between his classes, but for the Reformer it may as well have been days.
Ever since their joining, Maxwell could never seem to get enough of his Vampire. And he knew that Yuy shared his same loathing any time they were parted.
Reluctantly pulling back so that their heavy-lidded eyes could lock, the hybrid grinned, "Missed you." Humming an affirmative that served as a return of the sentiment, the Infected leaned in for a chaste kiss that brushed away the last of his lover's longing that had built up to that moment.
His mouth spreading into a relieved smile, Duo asked, "Did you get Anna's text that she and Wufei are heading back home?"
"Yea. I read it when I saw Quatre and Catherine off when Relena and Trowa collected them not too long ago," Heero nodded, a small grin of his own. "It doesn't explain what took them away, but at least we know that whatever it was it couldn't have been that bad. We'll have to catch up with them as soon as we handle our more pressing matter."
Gazing around, the Vampire inquired, "Speaking of which, how did your talk with Trent go?" No sooner had he said the words did a red sports car roll up from the direction of the main student parking lot. When the vehicle came to a stop before the library, the pair noticed the young Hunter watching them expectantly at the wheel.
Maxwell smirked as he turned in his Chosen's arms to look into his blinking eyes. "Good enough that he's willing to at least listen, it appears," he shrugged. Chewing on the inside of his cheek, he all but whispered, "Thank you for trusting me to give him a chance, 'Ro."
Gold-and-cobalt eyes setting back on Trent, Yuy responded just as softly, "No need to thank me for that. I know that you would never have made this suggestion if you didn't think there was sound reason to behind it. You never have to worry about me questioning where your loyalties lie."
Left unsaid was how there was still a fair amount of doubt to where the Hunter would stand once everything was disclosed to him.
Duo didn't need to hear the comment, he could feel the tension harboring in his lover. Squeezing his Vampire's waist, he urged, "Put yourself in his shoes. If it was Anna that had disappeared, you would do any and everything in your power to find her, right?"
"Heaven and Earth would never be the same after I turned them upside down looking for her," Heero declared without hesitance as he looked on his Other, a fierce determination in his golden, cobalt oceans.
Understanding washing over him, his unease melted away as he added, "And yes, I would even subject myself to taking audience with who I believed to be my enemies if it meant the chance of at the very least knowing what happened to her."
Gently nudging his Infected, Maxwell said, "Well, that's all Trent wants. He's been looking for answers ever since Dorothy was taken away and now he's finally going to be led in the right direction."
"Then let's not keep him waiting any longer than he already has," Yuy suggested. Looping an arm through his partner's, he led the way down the side ramp to descend into the parking lot.
In minutes, the couple was sealed in their vehicle and they pulled out into the street to pass the Hunter's car. Once their guest was following close, Heero put his foot to the gas pedal to push on their commute from the campus grounds.
* * * * * *
"This is absolutely remarkable," Treize muttered in awe as he stared at the glowing ball of flame in his cupped hands. Laughing, he sent another wave of thought through his new gift that turned the burning globe into crystalline ice that fell into his palms.
Giggling as she raised a hand to make the frozen bulb float towards her, Lady Une remained reclined in the living room recliner, commenting, "I don't see this getting old any time soon." Just before the ball of ice reached her outstretched hand, she made it separate into three smaller globes that juggled in midair at her command.
At the sound of a car rolling into the garage, the lot only had a second to recognize it before the kitchen door to the estate flew open at the same time that Anna materialized from her blurred state. Scanning the company around, her anxious gaze fell on her brother on the couch across from her. "Heero!" she cheered as the Original rose to his feet.
Flinging herself at her creator to hook her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, she exclaimed in a rush, "I've been coming apart at the seams to tell you the wonderful news!" When the arms holding her back shook with the deep chuckle that rose from her sibling, she blinked and frowned in confusion.
Suddenly, Heero grew taller, his hair longer as it turned a pale hue of blonde until the creature that the Irish Infected was holding onto returned to his true form. "Zechs," the redhead breathed in disbelief, only then noticing that her 'brother' had been seated next to a very amused Noin. Quickly realizing what was happening, she gasped, "Shape-shifting."
Merquise gave the redhead a quick squeeze and smirked, "Forgive me for the rouge, sweetheart. I couldn't help but want to see if I could convince you that I was Heero." Wufei was already in the doorway and having a fit of a time at not laughing outright at the shock that remained on his wife's face as she lowered herself back to the floor.
Finally coming out of her stupor, Anna lightly slapped the Speaker's arm, laughing, "You're forgiven, brat." Cupping the sides of her face, she grinned, "It was a good trick, seeing as how good your ability works. Even your voice sounded like my brother's."
"What else have you acquired?" Chang asked as he looked to his Commanders.
Raising a hand, Treize smiled, "I can control the elements and weather."
Lady Une bowed her head, sharing, "Telekinetic control." Folding her arms, she hovered high over the recliner as she beamed, "It even works on me."
Anna stared up at the Councilwoman, whispering, "So damn cool." Of course, as appealing as all of those gifts were, she had to smile to herself in knowing that she could never be happier with her own little surprise.
Suddenly, the room became even fuller when Trowa, Midi, Relena, Quatre and Catherine appeared in the center of the space from nowhere. For the Latin Infected's wife and mortal friends that transported for the first time, their wide eyes took in their new surroundings while their linked arms fell to their sides.
Like a kid at an amusement park, Winner spun towards Barton wide-eyed and cheering, "Can we do that again?!" Midi and Catherine nodded enthusiastically, their own interest in another trip shining in their eyes. His head falling back, Trowa laughed hysterically.
Hearing a pair of cars approaching the mansion, the Vampires and living alike moved to the widow to watch the red car that was following the black SUV towards the center mansion. "I-I can't believe that Duo actually talked Trent into coming here," Bloom stammered, amidst the circle of her equally shocked friends.
"This is Preventer's business. I'll go and check on our guests from across the pond to see how they're fairing," Relena offered just before she sailed from the room in a blink.
All too happy to leave what was sure to be a very tense atmosphere in a matter of moments, the mortals faced Midi to implore their silent request. "Come along," the 'little mother' grinned. "I'll get dinner started for the two of you." Ushering the scientists from the room, she cast a worried glance over her shoulder to her husband that he met with a small, reassuring smile.
Wufei straightened himself, gaze locked on the young living that was stepping from his parked car to join Heero and Duo on the sidewalk. "This is going to be a first," he murmured. "An official meeting between Vampires and a Hunter."
If there were any doubts now over whether or not this gathering was a good idea or not, they had to be pushed aside when Trent ascended the front porch behind their fellow Infected.
There was no going back now.
TBC...
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