The Meaning of Life Part 20
All was quite in the Yuy-Merquise-Neko estate the night prior to the big return to school for the college students. Everyone that had plans to return had their bags packed and loaded in their vehicles for an early leave the following morning.
For Heero and his childhood friends, there was the added excitement of knowing that they were embarking their last year before achieving their bachelor's degrees. After all of their years of studies, they would finally be ready to take on their professional careers.
Both a scary and exciting prospect for all of them. The most reassuring thing for all of them was the fact that they had found the courage to take on the paths in life that they wanted and not what had been decided for them by their parents and other influences. All thanks to a certain, braided, neko that had come into their lives.
Duo had opened their eyes to knowing that their lives were their own and they needed to make the best of them if they were to be truly happy.
His head propped just beside his lover's growing stomach, Heero finished reading from the book in his hand, "And Snow White and her prince lived happily ever after."
Propping himself up on an elbow, the artist stretched his neck to kiss the bare abdomen three times. "Good night, loves," he whispered. "Make sure you give your okaa-san a chance to get some rest tonight."
Braided head already resting on a pillow while he lay stretched out on his back, Duo smirked, "Yes, please, little ones." Lowering his night shirt back in place, he gently rubbed the bulge that was his stomach as he said, "Your father and I have a busy day tomorrow, so as little movement as possible tonight would be a nice change."
A small smile on his face, Heero closed the book in his hands and shifted so that he could set it on the small table beside the bed. Several other children's books were piled onto the same surface as he had made it the nightly habit to read to his children every night.
From the moment that he knew that the babies were able to make out voices, the father-to-be decided that he was going to communicate with them often as he could.
Removing his own night shirt, Heero moved to lift the light bedding over his husband and turned out the lamp. "Comfortable?" he asked, curling up onto his side to drape an arm across the neko's chest.
Lightly purring, Duo nodded, "Yea." With a snicker, he added, "As comfortable as I can be like this." Sleeping on his back was becoming quite the adjustment. After so many nights of being able to lie on his side to spoon and curl up to Heero, it took some getting used to with not physically being able to do that for the time being.
What was more, this being what a normal human pregnancy would be week twenty-nine, the movement that did come from the little ones was much more forceful and could sap the air from the cat-eared boy's lungs. More often than not, that movement made an already uncomfortable sleep that much more difficult.
Still, all was looking fine for the babies and their development. While knowing that used to be enough to put up with every less-than-pleasant experience before, Duo was finding himself looking more and more forward to being at the end of the pregnancy all together.
Temporary conditions or not, he was looking forward to feeling more like he was in his own skin without the leg cramps, indigestion, mood swings, shortness of breath and other aches and pains that he was dealing with.
Luckily for the neko, Heero was as patient and supportive as a partner could be.
After sharing a good night kiss and whispering their 'sweet dreams'' and other wishes, the pair settled down to rest... or, at least one of them did. Somehow feeling unsettled, Duo stared up to the ceiling, his hands resting over his stomach.
Just as Heero's breath began to even out beside him, the neko continued to stare overhead as he whispered, "Does it bother you that our babies are going to be born out of wedlock?"
Humming into alertness, the artist pushed himself up on an elbow with a worried frown. "You know that it doesn't," he answered quietly, trying to make his sincerity clear in his tone. "Our babies will know that we love each other more than anything, and that is all that matters."
Lightly chewing on the inside of his cheek in thought, Duo finally nodded, "Yea. Sorry, I just can't help but think sometimes..." His voice trailed off when he couldn't find the right words.
The expectant father leaned in to kiss his husband's cheek. "I understand," he reassured gently. "Of course, it would have been nice to have some form of ceremony, but we really don't need that."
It took a bit of effort for Duo to smile in the dim street light seeping through the drawn blinds. His overwhelming emotional state on account of his hell-raised hormones were working him over once again. Really, he knew that he was happy with their known commitment... but he could not help but want more for his children.
When their little ones grew, they would have a challenge enough at being different as it was. And to have two parents that had been denied a chance to unify through any form of recognized ceremony... it would just be another oddity in their lives.
Not knowing the first thing of how to change the situation, the neko replied, "You're right. Sorry, I just-" He was cut off when a firm pair of lips pressed against his own.
Pulling back, Heero grinned, "No need to apologize." With the arm he was not leaning on, he reached over to run his fingers through his partner's bangs. "Just try and get some rest," he soothed. "We have a busy day tomorrow."
Unable to argue that, nor keep his heavy eyelids from drifting closed, Duo purred quietly as he was lulled into slumber.
The world and its challenges would just have to wait another night as it was the first peaceful night's sleep that he had had the pleasure of experiencing in over a week.
* * * * * *
The following morning...
Duo received an awkward, one-armed embrace from Solo as the blonde snickered, "We're going to have to resort to just handshakes before long. It's getting hard to get around you."
Swatting the back of his friend's head, the braided teenager rolled his violet eyes. Solo's head fell back as he laughed loudly at the well-deserved slap.
Cassie shook her head and smirked at her boyfriend, "You're terrible." Shrugging, the blonde nodded in agreement. Giggling, the female neko managed to wrap her arms around Duo's neck, albeit with a bit of stretching. With a wide grin, she announced, "See, it's not that bad."
A smile on his own face, the braided teenager returned the hug. "Thanks, Cass," he told her quietly, their tails twining together. All around, the scene was similar with the large gathering of their friends embracing and wishing each other well until they saw each other again for their Fall Break.
"Make sure you keep us all updated on Duo and the kits," Relena told Heero as they shared a tight hug. As she pulled away, she commented, "If there is anything that either of you need, don't hesitate to ask. I'll do whatever I can to help out."
Standing closely by with little Leslie in his arms, Trowa nodded, "That goes for all of us." His head turning to face his little girl, he smiled, "Right, kiddo?"
The child giggled as she reached for her father's face, muttering, "Dada... Dadada." Glowing at that, her father held her closer against his chest while pressing the tips of their noses together and kissed her forehead.
Heero's own grin widened at the sight, anxious for the day when he had moments like that with his own children. Lightly patting the girl's head, he asked, "Can I have a hug, too, before I get going?" Without hesitating, Leslie turned in her dad's arms and threw her own around the artist's neck.
Once the girl released his lover, Duo cheered, "My turn!" Purring deeply he took up a tight squeeze from the giggling child.
Little-by-little, the small army of people all had their chance to say 'good bye' to one another before they parted and went their separate ways. Those significant others exchanged kisses and longer hugs before they headed off for their own schools.
Being the last to leave, Heero and Duo made sure to exctend their appreciation to their parents for all they had done for them over the summer.
Danielle tearfully embraced her son, knowing that this would be the last semester he would be in her home. Between that and his becoming a father, things were going to be very different for all involved from that time forward. "Be sure to call often," she requested, fighting the lump in her throat as she held him.
"We will," Heero reassured softly before kissing her cheek. "Thank you for everything." There were similar words exchanged between Duo and his parents. Quietly, the grand-parents bade their warm wishes to the babies as well.
Trent walked up to the artist, holding out a hand as he said, "Best of luck this semester, Heero." Smirking, he shrugged, "Even though I don't believe you'll need it."
Smiling warmly, his step-son moved in to embrace him instead of accepting the offered handshake. "Thanks... dad," he replied quietly to the stunned lawyer.
Briefly taken aback, Trent blinked his wide eyes before grinning and returning the hug. Watching the exchange, Danielle wiped a stray tear from her glowing face.
Swapping places, the couple had a chance to say their farewells to their 'in-laws.' All the while, Danny was waiting patiently by their bags to be the last one that saw them off. He grinned widely when his brother and 'brother-in-law' approached.
Carefully kneeling, Duo pulled the smaller neko close with a quiet, "Love ya, kiddo." Pulling back, he rubbed the top of the boy's head and told him, "I expect to hear good things from you when your school year gets going again."
Danny saluted smartly, "Yes, sir!" Bending at the waist, he whispered to the babies, "Love you guys, too. Be good for your okaa-san since I can't look after him while he's away." The braided neko fought off the sting of tears that came with the sweet sentiments. Kissing the top of his brother's head, he stood back up with Heero's assistance.
A wide grin on his face, Danny opened his arms for the hug given by his brother-in-law. "It won't be much longer before you're finally an uncle," Heero smirked. Pulling away, he winked, "And I couldn't think of a better guy for the job."
"Yep!" the boy nodded, his tail swishing back and forth contently behind him. Snickering, the couple reached for their bags, Duo taking the two luggage pieces on wheels.
Their last good-byes said, Heero and Duo made their way into the attached, sealed-off garage. Trent and Zechs followed with the last of their bags.
Packed up and seated in their car, the pair waited for the garage door to open and they pulled out into the street. Following them were Wufei and Quatre in a shared vehicle as part of their plan to help sneak Duo back into his shared apartment with Heero.
Once they were on the highway with over an hour to drive, the neko wrapped his tail around Heero's closest wrist at the wheel. Glancing over to his husband, the artist gave him a loving smile before focusing on the road once again.
It was the start of yet another school year. And already, they knew it would be far unlike any other they'd experienced before.
* * * * * *
Just as expected, there were few to no other students moving back into their dormitory/apartment building as early in the day as it was when Heero and Duo arrived. Still, Quatre and Wufei made a protective shield around the neko.
Everything that they did had a purpose as to not draw too much attention to them. While every one of their friends wished to assist in the move, too many people would have turned some heads.
More than that, there were specific people that had to be excluded- like Dorothy as one of the academic directors at Duo's school. There would have been repercussions if she was helping one of her students.
Also, after the neko's publicized collapse, it would have looked odd to many if either doctor was present to help with the move when they had not been there in the past.
No doubt tongues would have been flapping that perhaps the braided teenager was not as well as they has said. That would have spurred another undesired run-in with the press without question.
So, when every possibility was weighed, it was decided that only two would be needed. And those two chosen were Quatre and Wufei- two of the bunch that would raised the least eyebrows if they were spotted.
Their efforts and planning all paid off as they stepped into the living room without having brought on any unwanted attention.
Lowering the boxes in their hands, Quatre and Wufei assisted Heero in finishing with the last of the items still in the car as Duo remained inside to do some very light unpacking.
When they were finished, the couple's friends offered embraces and handshakes. "Considering how much closer you are to Howard and the hospital where Treize, Sally and Hilde work, this is probably right where you should be up until the delivery," the Arab commented as he pulled away from the neko.
Nodding his braided head, the teenager replied, "That's been the plan. At least now, it's only a few minutes away from any one of them in case we need them."
A finger raised in caution, Wufei stated, "Just be sure to call them if anything does come up. And if Sally wasn't working right now, you know she would be here warning you to take it easy. So, I just have to do that for her."
Duo chuckled, "Yes, sir." Purring, he hugged his Chinese friend as best he could with his swollen abdomen. Wufei smirked as he patted the neko's back.
There was another round of handshakes and words of appreciation shared before Heero and Duo said good bye to their aid.
When the door closed to seal the pair away in their place, the cat-eared boy sank into the soft couch in the living room filled with boxes and bags. "That went well," he sighed in relief.
"Yes, it did," Heero agreed as he sat beside his husband. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes and stated, "It's been a long day already, but there's still the unpacking that needs to be finished."
Purring quietly, Duo leaned against his lover while suggesting, "It can wait." That said, he pressed the small button on the arm rest beside him. Underneath them, the couch shifted until it converted over to a soft, flat mattress for them to lay on.
Despite how badly he wanted to be finished moving back into their apartment, the artist could not fight off how tired he was after the last hectic few days. Sighing, he lay down on his side to curl up as close to his lover as he could with the neko resting on his back.
His head pillowed on a shoulder and a hand on his husband's active abdomen, Heero yawned, "Love you." Cobalt eyes still closed, he heard Duo snicker and felt a soft kiss on his forehead before his lover whispered the sentiment back. Once he heard those words, he was able to drift off.
* * * * * *
The following evening, their bags and boxes unpacked, the pair sat at their living room table preparing for their first day of classes the next morning. Aside from the obvious differences from this night to any other night before school in the past, everything once again held a sense of normalcy for them.
Going over his art supplies and securing them in his backpack, Heero made a mental note of everything he needed for his morning advanced watercolor course.
Across from him, Duo was skimming through pages of one of his thicker textbooks. "You know," the neko began, his tail swaying lazily behind him, "I have been going through all of these books that discuss the High Courts of the Supreme Justices to have a better understanding of them. Did you know that there is a way to appeal a ruling of theirs?"
Still focused on packing his needed items, Heero nodded, "Yes, my mother told me about that a long time ago when she was still preparing me to become a lawyer. There need to be two conditions for a High Court appeal."
Zipping his backpack closed, he said, "First, the original verdict of the Supreme Justices could not be unanimous. Second, there needs to be new information regarding the case that they did not hear the first time."
Cobalt eyes widening as a realization hit him, the artist slowly looked up at his lover. "Y-you're not asking because...?" he stammered. Shaking his head, he frowned, "You're not actually thinking that we should...?"
A sly grin on his face, the neko shrugged, "Both conditions are there in our case. So, I am seriously considering an appeal."
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page