[Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten]
--- Lyrics to 'Unwritten' performed by Natasha Bedingfield
A Silver Lining Epilogue
Adjusting the long, deep blue tie of his gray suit as he and Heero walked quickly down the halls of the courthouse, Duo said quietly, "I hope that we didn't miss it. That meeting ran a lot longer than I thought it would."
With a look to his watch, the ex-Wing pilot stated, "We're cutting it close, but we should make it in time." Nearing the end of the hall, Heero gestured to the court room coming up on their right. "This is the one," he announced softly as he tweaked his own, deep red tie to his tan business suit. Pulling one of the two wooden doors opened, he stepped aside for his braided lover to slip into the room ahead of him.
Inside, the visitor benches were nearly filled when the two retired pilots entered. Glancing around, Duo spotted Quatre's smiling face and waving hand in the front row. Beside the blonde agent, Relena looked up and beamed to her friends as she adjusted the tiny baby in her arms. Down the line, Zechs, Noin, Sally, Wufei, and Lady Une all looked back and grinned to Heero and Duo as they quickly made their way towards them.
The group slid down to make room for the couple to take the end of the bench. Quatre nodded in greeting to them as they took their seats beside him. "Just in time," he whispered. "They're just about to be called."
Smiling in relief at that, Heero and Duo looked ahead to the long table just past the wooden railing that separated the guests from the participants of the hearing. Trowa and Anna sat at that table, their back to the others until the redhead looked over her shoulder. Her face clear of the scratches she suffered months prior, her blue eyes brightened along with the wide grin that tugged at her lips in seeing that the remainder of their 'family' made it in time. The Latin pilot peered back and grinned widely to his two friends.
"All rise," the tall bailiff called in a bellowing voice that filled he room. Everyone present followed the order as the judge's chamber door opened. A lovely, African American woman in a long, black robe with shimmering diamonds that lined the collar stepped into the court room. In her right hand, she held tightly to a thick file. "The honorable Judge Marissa Leon presiding," the dark-haired bailiff announced.
Trowa and Anna watched the young woman stepped up to the judge's bench. Their hands found each other and held on tightly as they held their breaths. As she sat in her tall leather seat, the judge addressed the small crowd gathered, "Please be seated." Moving as one, all present lowered themselves back into their chairs and benches.
Judge Leon turned to the couple that remained standing at their table. Her lips tugged up in a small smile as she greeted, "Trowa and Anna Barton. This certainly has been a long six months for the two of you, I know.
"Your cooperation and dedication through these procedures, along with your eloping recently to further simplify the process speaks worlds of how devoted you are to see this through." She nodded to the officer standing at the back of the room and stated, "That said, let's finish with the red tape so that you can move on."
At the nod, the officer opened one of the double doors at the back of the room. Stepping into the room was the gray-haired Sister Grace from the Saint Peter's Orphanage that had been destroyed by the White Out Organization. The aging woman smiled warmly at the familiar faces at the front of the room before stepping aside so that her little charge could walk into the room before her.
Dressed in a yellow sundress with multi-colored flowers printed around the material, Rachel walked down towards the swinging doors at the railing just behind Trowa and Anna. The young couple matched the child's brilliant smile as they gazed to each other.
Chuckling deeply, Judge Leon grinned warmly and gestured to the girl, "Come up here with me, Rachel. We need to have a talk." The brunette child bit her lip nervously before pushing the swinging doors open. Passing the table where Trowa and Anna watched, she scurried around the witness bench and up to the Judge's seat. With another deep chuckle, the young woman bent down to scoop her up and sit her in her lap.
Never losing her smile, the judge gestured to the couple at the table and asked, "You know why we're here today, child?" Small tears filled Rachel's brown eyes in anticipation. Without looking away from the pair, she nodded excitedly. "You know that Trowa and Anna are hoping to take you in as their own by adopting you then?" Leon continued as she gently stroked the girl's shoulder-length hair. "Would you like that?"
Quickly turning to look up to the kind judge, Rachel answered, "Yes, ma- I mean your Honor. I would like that more than anything," she answered brokenly. The band of friends at the bench chuckled deeply amongst themselves. Anna wiped a stray tear with her free hand as Trowa smiled from ear-to-ear in pride at the little one's answer.
"Well," Leon winked, "I am more than happy to grant that to you. After working with the two of them, I have no doubt that they will make more than fitting parents for you." Gently squeezing the child around her waist, she continued, "There are many others like you, children without their mommies or daddies to look after them. You're one of the few lucky ones to have found not just one, but two people who love you as much as they do." Lightly tapping a long index finger on the child's round nose, she told her, "I don't ever want you to forget that."
Shaking her head, Rachel met her gaze and replied sincerely in little more than a whisper, "I won't, Your Honor."
Gently kissing her charge's head, the judge smiled warmly, "Good little one." Straightening in her seat, she looked to the anxious couple and announced, "From this day forward, at her request, the Earth and Colonies will recognize this precious one as Rachel Barton, the daughter of Trowa and Anna Barton."
Duo was the first one to cheer out, quickly followed by his friends as they applauded excitedly as they rose from their seats. Rachel was almost trembling in the judge's arms as she bit her lip. "Go to your parents, child," the young woman spoke quietly in her ear.
With a sharp cry, Rachel jumped from her lap and down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, Trowa was right there with tears in his eyes as he lifted her in his arms, holding her tight as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Kissing her head, he whispered, "Welcome home, little one."
Anna was soon there to kiss her head as she rubbed the girl's small back. Pulling back with tears rolling down her face, Rachel held onto her red-headed mother's neck tightly. Back at the witness benches, the friends of the new family smiled as a few wiped their own eyes as they continued to applaud.
Smiling brightly at them, the judge nodded firmly when the new parents met her gaze. With an arm around his wife's waist and his free arm holding his daughter at his hip, Trowa led them past the swinging doors to their awaiting friends to receive their warm regards.
* * * * * *
Following the adoption hearing, the group of friends all stopped for lunch together on that beautiful May afternoon. Sitting between her new parents, Rachel was enjoying her ice cream sundae while trying not to ruin her dress.
"So you have enough to hang the President with when his trial starts," Duo asked anxiously, as Relena carefully handed her son over to him. When the baby cooed up at him, he peered down and cooed back, "Who's a good little Samuel?" The boy laughed and kicked his little feet as best he could while wrapped in the light blanket.
Lady Une nodded with a satisfied grin. "His associates don't want to fry alone and so nearly all of them agreed to testify against him," she stated. "We won't have any trouble getting a guilty verdict. The only question will be whether he gets life in prison or the death penalty for treason and the lives lost by his organization." The relief was evident amongst everyone at the round table.
Raising an eyebrow at the new family, the Commander commented, "Now, I have to replace two more of my best agents with Trowa and Anna leaving the Preventers."
The tall pilot chuckled deeply, "Hey, I'm a family man now." Lightly patting his daughter's head, he continued, "It wouldn't do Rachel, here, any good to have her parents running off and risking their lives."
Anna nodded and mock-glared at the young woman as she added, "Besides, when Heero and Duo retired, you didn't give them half the guilt trip that you've been giving us, Commander."
Laughing at that, Lady Une replied, "That's because I gained two new Preventers at their recommendation soon after. I have to go through quite a lot of work finding replacements like that for the two of you."
With a small smile on his face as he gave Samuel his finger to grip in his two tiny hands, Heero looked up and asked, "How are Jasmine and Dawn doing, anyway? Last I heard, their training went very well."
"They're coming along beautifully," Wufei answered after swallowing a bite of his sandwich. "I've been keeping tabs and they'll be ready for a mission before long. They're picking up a lot faster than a lot of our new recruits." Both Heero and Duo grinned at that news, grateful that the two young women were starting to get their lives in order.
Beside the Chinese pilot, Sally tilted her head and asked the couple across from her, "So will the two of you be returning to Mars anytime soon? I know that you said you wanted to spend time with your nephew."
Gazing over to her husband next to her, Noin smirked, "Actually, we both decided to take up residence here on the Earth." She addressed the surprised faces watching them and shrugged, "We both missed working for the Preventers and we're not in a rush to have children of our own, yet." She chuckled, "So, we'll get to live that through proxy with Quatre and Relena."
The said Vice-Foreign Minister raised an eyebrow at that and asked, "You intend to breastfeed as well, then?" She and the others laughed loudly at the shocked faces that her brother and sister-in-law gave her. "Sorry," she giggled, "Too much information."
Zechs threw a napkin at her and exclaimed, "Entirely too much! I don't need to know that about my little sister!" The loud laughter filled the room again. When everyone calmed down again, he shook his head in amusement and held out his arms to his braided friend in a silent request for his nephew. Chuckling deeply, Duo carefully handed the baby over.
After another sip from his water, Quatre folded his arms behind his head and grinned wistfully, "This is a pretty busy month for us. First Trowa and Anna elope quickly followed by Rachel's adoption. Relena and I get married the end of this month." He winked to his beaming lover at the mention of them. Nodding over to Wufei and Sally, he went on, "Then your wedding is finally coming up next month." The happy couple shared warm smiled and nodded at that.
Lastly turning to the happy couple near the end of the table, the Arab consultant asked, "And your big day is next weekend."
His smile threatening to split his face, Duo nodded excitedly, "That's right. The meeting went well this morning, so we're all set. You're all going to be there, right?" All around the table, the others gave their affirmatives. Heero gently squeezed his lover's leg with a small grin of anticipation of his own.
Anna and Trowa shared a glance. The tall ex-Heavyarms pilot nodded to his wife. Turning to the group, the redhead beamed, "Well, since we're all here, we should let you all know." Gently resting a hand on her daughter's shoulder, she announced, "Trowa and I just found out that Rachel has a little brother or sister on the way."
Wide eyes, wide smiles and applause of elation surrounded the newlyweds as Rachel gaped up to them, "Really!?" Trowa chuckled deeply and nodded along with his wife to her. After a round of hugs, handshakes and congratulations for the expecting couple, the little girl looked up to her father and asked, "Um, Daddy?"
Looking down at her with a lopsided smirk, Trowa replied, "Yes, angel?"
Rachel tilted her head and asked, "Where do babies come from, anyway?"
Both Trowa and Anna turned to each other with horrified looks on their paling faces at the innocent question. Their mouths opened and closed with little more than 'Uh's' and 'Oh's' coming from them. All around, their friends burst into hysterical laughter at their first glimpse into parenthood.
* * * * * *
It turned out to be a beautiful spring afternoon for Heero and Duo's big day. His free arm wrapped around his lover's waist, Heero smirked into his ear, "Ready?" Meeting the cobalt gaze, Duo smiled excitedly.
Together, they pushed the handles of the large scissors together to cut the large, red ribbon as thunderous applause filled the air.
Stepping forward, the pair looked back to the large estate that Quatre had designed for their establishment. To the side, an extensive playground that was sheltered to be used at any kind of weather stood proudly.
The large crowd of children, press and the officials responsible for the opening walked about them. With tears in his eyes, Duo smiled wistfully, "It... it really is beautiful, isn't it?" Unable to put to words what he wanted to say, Heero could only nod.
Quatre was the first of their friends that was able to reach them through the crowd and hugged them both tightly. "This is wonderful, you guys," he grinned brightly when he pulled back. "I never would have thought that this is what the two of you would do with your lives, but it's more than fitting."
With their child in her arms, Relena walked up and nodded, "Between the children from Saint Peter's Orphanage and the little ones that have been recovered the last few weeks, those rooms are going to be filled pretty quickly with children orphaned by the White Out Organization."
At that, Heero nodded firmly, "We'll take them all." Gently kissing the blonde young woman's cheek, he told the couple softly, "And we cannot thank either of you enough for helping us fund this place." Beside him, Duo nodded as he swallowed past the lump in his throat.
Both Quatre and Relena smiled warmly. "It's been our pleasure," the Arab said sincerely. The remainder of their 'family' pressed through the maze of people to exchange their congratulations to the owners of the new orphanage.
Sister Grace was wiping her eyes as she approached her new employers. Taking either of their hands into hers, she whispered brokenly, "This is far more than we could have hoped for these lost souls. Thank you both for giving us a place where we can care for them."
Heero squeezed his lover's hand when it seemed like he might lose his fight against the tears in his violet eyes at the nun's heartfelt words. Clearing his throat, Duo nodded and grinned, "No thanks needed." At that, Sister Grace bowed her head before ushering the staff of sisters towards the large, elaborate estate with their bags.
With Rachel in her arms and Trowa at her side, Anna smiled, "Well, everyone, let's go take a look inside." The others nodded and followed her lead into the building as Duo and Heero remained behind to wait for the last arrivals that were due to arrive.
Over the sand, a bus rolled up to the waiting couple. Turning to face it, Heero grinned, "Here they come." Duo's heart leapt in his throat as he watched the approaching vehicle.
When the bus stopped ahead of them, the doors opened. One brave, little face peered out before she ran out with her small bag of few belongings. At the sight of the large estate, she stopped and gasped with wide green eyes as she brushed her blowing blonde hair from her face. Behind her, a handful of more children stepped from the bus to gape at the orphanage in awe.
Running once more to stop before the tall adults, the blonde child looked up with outstretched arms and exclaimed, "Mister Heero! Mister Duo! Is this really where we're going to be staying!?"
Duo chuckled deeply and lifted her in his arms as he replied, "Sure is, Megan! And you can just call us Heero and Duo." Behind him, Heero grinned and nodded to the little girl that they came to know during their stay on the Preventer ship where he was recovering from his bullet wounds suffered from recovering the transport carrying the children.
An excited bark filled the air as a familiar collie bounded up the sand from the estate. Their smiles glowing, the children called excitedly, "Yuuki!" Running up to the growing dog, they played with her merrily as she yelped and licked their little faces.
The braided ex-pilot chuckled deeply to the children, "See, I told you all that we'd be back together again. Only, this is way better than just a visit." All around, the little ones nodded excitedly and hugged their saviors' legs. Stunned only for a moment, Heero smiled warmly and reached down to pat a few of their heads.
"Wow," "Cool," were among the many comments made by the awestruck children as they filed from the bus. Duo carefully lowered Megan to join her friends so that she could continue to stare at her new home.
Looking over to his lover, the braided American bit his lip and asked quietly, "Are you sure that you want this, Heero? I know that this is a lot to ask-"
Gently resting a hand over his partner's lips, Heero smirked, "Hush. Of course I want this. I told you that I'll be happy doing anything as long as I'm with you." He gestured to the orphanage and commented, "Besides, Quatre was right. Doing this is somehow... fitting. For both of us." Meeting his love's eyes, he concluded, "We're giving children the second chance that we never had." A brilliant grin tugged at Duo's lips at that and he nodded.
Carefully leaning in, Heero whispered, "I know that Sister Helen and Father Maxwell would be very proud of you. But even then, they couldn't be nearly as proud of you as I am."
"Heero," was all that Duo could manage brokenly. Tears in his violet eyes, he pressed his lips tightly against his partner's in a sound kiss. The exchange was quickly broken to a chorus of 'Eeewwws' from the children around them. Laughing along with the ex-Wing pilot, the American mock glared to them, "All right, ankle biters, inside so that the sisters can get your rooms set up."
The children cheered loudly at that and with Yuuki, they ran to their new residence. Watching their little charges run off ahead of them, Heero and Duo shook their heads in amusement with small smiles on their faces.
As he held out his hand, Heero winked to his lover, "Ready to start this new life, love?"
"With you there, of course," Duo replied sincerely as he took the offered hand. Together, their hands squeezing together tight, they walked over the sandy stretch to their new home.
At the top of the massive residence along the shoreline where their house once stood, the bold letter of the sign read 'The Silver Lining Orphanage' in silver letters that captured the bright sunlight.
The wording shimmered brilliantly to be seen for miles, announcing a safe haven for those who had none.
...Announcing where hope could be found when all had been lost.
OWARI
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page