The Meaning of Life Part 25

On the television screen, A female reporter smiled as she announced to the camera, "Millions are anxiously awaiting the appeal of the high profile case that will determine whether or not a neko, namely the infamous Duo Maxwell, will have the right to marry a normal human. That appeal will be held within the High Courts tomorrow morning."

In the dining room of his parents' estate, that said braided neko gasped widely with a smile on his face as Noin brought in a plate for him. The waffles presented had been buttered and covered in syrup for him.

Tail swishing excitedly behind him, Duo gripped a fork in one hand and a knife in the other. His tall ears remained twitched towards the doorway so he could hear the news broadcast playing in the living room.

Violet eyes wide, the teenager eagerly cut into the short stack of waffles and dug right in. Seated across from his lover, Heero snickered and shook his head in amusement along with Noin. Mouth full, the neko mumbled, "Wha? Da babief are hungwy." Swallowing, he quickly filled his fork for another bite of his breakfast.

"Yes, dear, but try not to make yourself ill by eating too much too quickly," the young mother warned gently as she rounded the table to kiss the top of her son's braided head. "That's certainly the last thing you would need right about now."

Swallowing his second mouthful of waffles, Duo smiled sheepishly up at her, "Yes, ma." Certain to mind her words, he slowed himself enough to actually enjoy the meal she had prepared for him. Heero just smirked at him and politely thanked Noin when she presented him his own plate of food.

Danny hummed his approval as he finished the last bit of his meal, seated at the head of the table. Looking over to his big brother beside him, the red-haired child asked, "Are ya nervous about tomorrow?"

With a shrug, the braided neko answered honestly, "A little, but I'm anxious for the appeal to get started so it can be finished." Nodding, the little boy shifted himself closer to the other neko to lean against him in support.

A smile tugged Duo's lips as he leaned back against his little brother, purring softly in appreciation. Reaching over, he rubbed the top of the smaller neko's head as their tails twined together for a hug.

For as long as they had known each other, Danny had been the one leaning against him. Now that the tables were turned, the cat-eared boy was making it known that he would happily return the favor.

Like so many other times, Heero smirked and shook his head in amusement over the child's innate ability to somehow make a situation better with a simple smile and a sweet gesture. In a very short time, he had taken very much after his big brother.

The smile on Noin's face and the wink that she gave the artist told him how she was thinking exactly the same thing.

When the sounds of the television in the living room abruptly stopped, Zechs entered soon after. Running a hand through his long bangs, he sighed and sat beside his wife. "I would advise, for all of our sanity, that we avoid the television for the rest of the day," he commented. "Just about every station is talking about tomorrow's appeal."

Heero took a deep breath and replied, "We pretty much figured that would be the case. If the first hearing didn't draw enough attention, this fight against the Justices' ruling is going to bring every journalist out of the woodwork."

Lacing her hand together with her husband's, Noin shared a look with him while a suggestive smile tugged her lips. Zechs returned the grin and gave her a small nod. Clearing her throat, the retired maid turned to face their sons and son-in-law. "Well," she began, "on a much lighter note, we do have something to announce."

Duo raised his head as he swallowed another mouthful of waffles, his ears peeked in interest along with Danny. Folding his arms on the edge of the table, Heero looked to the couple, also eager for some good news.

Unable to hold back the tears she had been fighting, Noin said quietly, "We're having a baby." Gasping, the three young men blinked in shock.

"Really?!" the braided teenager exclaimed, his tail waving feverishly. When his parents nodded, proud smiles radiating from their faces, he stood and rounded the table as quickly as he could to embrace his mother tightly. Danny quickly followed suit, opening his arms to their father so he could be scooped up for an enthusiastic hug.

Giggling, the child cheered, "I'm gonna be an older brother now!" Everyone around had a good laugh over that excited cry.

Heero patiently waited for his chance to congratulate the mother-to-be with a kiss on the cheek. "Congratulations," he told the couple sincerely. Offering his hand to Zechs, he gave him a one-armed embrace and settled back down with the nekos.

Gently placing a hand over his abdomen to feel the babies inside him kicking and shifting away, Duo returned to his seat. Clearing his throat, he wiped a stray tear and quickly asked Noin, "So how far along are you, ma?"

"A little over a month," the young woman answered. Leaning against her husband, she stated, "We wanted to give it all some time to sink in even for us before we went sharing the news." Gesturing to their sons, she smirked, "And of course we wanted to wait until we could tell the two of you first."

With his tail still swishing excitedly behind him, Danny smiled wistfully, "So cool. I'm gonna be an uncle and an older brother soon."

Folding his arms behind his head, Heero snickered, "This certainly is a good time for some good news with everything that's been going on. Knowing how long you've been looking to have babies of your own, I'm very happy for the both of you."

Zechs bowed his head as he responded quietly, "Thank you, Heero." Looking to his boys, he smirked, "Seeing how well the two of you have turned out, we've had a great start in this parenting business."

Nervously chewing on the inside of her cheek, Noin questioned Duo, "I certainly hope that you would not mind helping me out with this. You already have more experience with pregnancy than I ever had."

Snickering, the braided youth scratched the back of his head as he admitted, "Truth be told, I'm still getting used to this pregnancy stuff, myself." He grinned warmly to his mother and reassured, "But I'll be honored to help anyway I can." More than pleased with that, Noin nodded to express her gratitude.

For the remainder of their breakfast together, the small lot spoke excitedly about the news of another little one joining their family.

*   *   *   *   *   *

To break up the tension building that afternoon, Hilde made a visit to her patient and former classmate with some news. Accompanied by Howard, the obstetrician smiled in greeting when Heero and Duo entered the living room after Danielle had called on them.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise," the artist grinned. Quickly spotting the laptop bag along with some other packet items at their friends' feet, he became concerned and inquired, "So this is more of a medical visit than a social one?"

Howard chuckled reassuringly, "Actually, it is a bit of both. But, what we need to cover with the medical aspect is nothing to be worried over." Instantly, the tension in the young mens' shoulders eased with a heavy sag.

Quietly sighing in relief, Duo took his place on the soft recliner across from their guests. His stomach was protruding so that he had to take his time as Heero easily took the chair beside him. "Well, let's get the medical part out of the way, then," he requested.

More than happy to oblige, Hilde replied, "The test results on that milk your body is producing are in. We just thought it best to come in person and inform you of what we found." Intrigued, the couple looked to one another before facing their guests, the questions clear on their faces.

Back into 'scientist mode,' Howard leaned forward on the couch and folded his hands together. "It turns out that the milk has exactly the same qualities of a woman's breast milk," he stated. "Now, Hilde explained to me your interest in possibly pumping some of what you are producing and I would have to highly recommend that notion."

Taking up the reins from there, Hilde went on, "See, there are other aspects of your milk that would benefit your babies as it also has the enzymes and immunities a mother cat has in their milk."

"Obviously, since there would not be a way of duplicating your unique combination of human and feline immunities combined, it would be most beneficial for the babies if they had even a little of that mixed with a formula for at least the first six months of their lives."

Any embarrassment that Duo may have had over this particular topic was instantly wiped away. Instead, now knowing how this aspect of him would help his little ones, he had a sense of duty. Sitting up in the recliner, he wrapped his arms around his belly and grinned, "All right. I'm in."

Heero smiled proudly as his husband and reached over to squeeze his hand. "We can both learn from this," he commented softly. "I'll help wherever I can." The braided teenager squeezed his hand back with a loving, appreciative grin.

"Excellent," Hilde sighed contentedly, clapping her hands together. Reaching for one of her bags, she suggested, "Let's get a new ultrasound out of the way. From there, I can give the two of you a lesson in how to use a pump effectively."

Raising his hands in the air, Howard huffed, "I will be more than happy to sit out of that part." Heero and Duo snickered in amusement as they led the way to one of the more private rooms down the hall.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Later that evening, Danielle and Trent cooked up a feast to congratulate Noin and Zechs on the news of their own little bundle to come into the world. Lucky they made such a large meal, as they were all soon joined by Heero and Duo's friends, including the other nekos, who made a surprise arrival to the estate.

Just when they did not think they could be more moved by the people they had grown up with, the expectant fathers-to-be were taken aback once again. Wanting to be physically present for the expectant parents, the lot had taken leave of their classes and busy lives to be available for the appeal.

And just like the last time they gathered together the night before the initial hearing, the small army was gathered in the living room with their sleeping bags. Passing around large bowls of popcorn, they enjoyed a couple of movies before making it a relatively early night so that they would have no trouble waking early the following morning.

When his eyesight had adjusted to make out his lover's face in the dim glow from the street lamps outside, Heero turned on his side towards him. Lightly brushing back the long bangs from the neko's eyes staring at the ceiling, he whispered, "You never did tell me what that nightmare last night was all about."

Smirking, Duo breathed back, "I was about to go into the courtroom when I think I went into early labor."

There was a long pause before the artist shuddered and suggested quietly, "Try not to do that tomorrow." He smiled when he was rewarded with the soft, purred laugh he had been looking from his partner.

His braided head turning, Duo's violet eyes locked with the cobalt orbs on him as he smirked, "Good advice." Carefully shifting closer to the Japanese youth, he muttered, "Don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight."

Resuming the light running of his fingers through the neko's hair, Heero whispered, "Just try. Think about anything but tomorrow. Think about the babies, or our house that's almost finished. Think about something that makes you happy."

A small smile tugged the corners of the teenager's mouth at that. Closing his eyes, Duo leaned his head up into his husband's touch as he purred softly with every exhale. Losing himself in a vision of what their possible wedding would look like, the neko finally went off into the peaceful void that had been eluding him.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Susan smiled proudly as she stepped up and into the balcony seating that overlooked the courtroom of the Supreme Justices. As she stood at the railing, the young journalist blinked her emerald eyes at the wonder of the view around her.

This was where the rulings that made up the laws for both the Earth and the Colonies were decided. And from the cathedral-like ceiling to the finest of oak floors that bore not a single blemish, the remarkable room was every bit as prestigious as the men and women that presided in it.

Never before had Weathers felt as humbled as she did standing there in that moment.

With a deep breath, Susan turned on her heeled shoes and slid into a free place on one of the benches behind her. Quickly fishing out a recorder, pen and paper from her large purse, the blonde reporter looked every bit as professional as those other paper and news station representatives seated around her.

Gazing down to the front of the courtroom, she could easily make out Septum making his way to his table. Back to the audience, the raven-haired man opened his briefcase to remove his notes and files in preparation of what was to come.

Once he was finished with his work, the prosecutor smiled smugly to himself and took his seat. Slowly tapping his foot, he hummed quietly to himself.

After all of the late nights and staff meetings, Septum could not have been more confident that he would be able to make a stern argument against whatever little surprise Danielle and Trent had for their case.

They were most certainly going to be sorry that they decided to challenge him. Before long, they would be the ones to disappear on account of their public humiliation before the Justices.

Yes, this was going to be another grand victory.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Meanwhile, out in the hallway just beyond the closed courtroom doors, the large human ring that had hidden Duo on their way past the media and swarms of people outside broke apart when the coast was clear.

Finally able to take in a deep breath, the neko looked back to the glass doors that led outside. "There's way more people out there now than we've ever dealt with."

"Well, with any luck, this will be the last time you will ever have to put up with this," Danielle smiled kindly.

One-by-one, starting with Trowa and Dorothy as they held little Leslie, Duo was embraced and wished the best by his friends. From there, the nekos moved in, adding their little tail wraps as another form of embrace.

It took everything within the braided teenager not to become emotional when he was left with his parents and little brother.

Kissing her son's cheek, Noin whispered by a tall ear, "We'll be right behind you, as always." She straightened with a wink as Duo mouthed a 'thank you, ma.' Offering their support once more, his family followed after the others that had already filed into the courtroom.

Last but not least, Heero took a deep breath and approached his husband. Wrapping him up as tightly as he could, the artist breathed, "I love you. Whatever happens, you know that won't change, right?"

Chuckling quietly at the déjà vu, the braided neko returned the embrace and replied as quietly, "I know. Love you, too."

When they finally pulled back, the couple exchanged a sound kiss. Squeezing his partner's hand, Heero gave a proud smile before turning and entering the closed off room.

Trent turned to the cat-tailed youth and smirked, "Just remember to breathe. The appeal will start the same way we've gone over. You're going to be fine."

Lightly rubbing her son-in-law's back, Danielle soothed, "You just let us know when you're ready to go in."

Placing a hand over his active stomach, Duo breathed a small sigh of relief at not feeling anything out of the ordinary. Silently sending a thankful prayer that his dream was not a foretelling, he slowly took a breath to fill his lungs and released it.

'One last time,' he thought to himself. Whatever happened with this appeal, this would be the last time he would have to endure fighting for himself and his family.

That in mind, he adjusted the deep purple top and gray suit coat over it. Looking to the lawyers, he nodded firmly, "I'm ready."

Her smile growing, Danielle returned the nod and led the way to the closed doors. Gripping one of the handles, she announced, "Here we go." Not allowing another second slip by lest any of them lose their nerve, she pulled the door open and stepped into the room with Trent right behind her.

With one last, calming breath, Duo entered last to the sound of startled gasps and cries inside the courtroom.

TBC...

 

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