Woke Up One Morning... Part 29
Our first night back home was a relaxing and simple one. Both too tired physically and mentally after our mission in Lugano, we opted for simply watching a movie curled up together on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a blanket.
It was perfect the perfect end to our all-too exciting trip.
A light, steady drizzle is beating against the bedroom window when I come to after my fitful sleep. Heero is still blissfully slumbering with his arms looped around me, a hand holding onto my braid draped over us. Nothing but content where I am, I just lay here watching him and peering out of our opened window to the blue-gray scene outside.
The summer is coming to a swift end and the cooler air is setting in. Such is life, constantly moving on and changing. And for the first time in a very long time for me, my life is actually making sense and heading in the right direction. Funny how the right person can take someone with my kind of dark history and actually make the future look bright... make it something to look forward to.
With the light pattering against the window and roof making a soothing mantra, I'm fighting the urge to fall asleep again when Heero takes a deep breath to alert me he's about to wake up. Blinking his cobalt eyes open, he gives me a tired smile before kissing me instead of giving some verbal 'good morning.'
"Sleep well?" he mumbles when he pulls away, eyes still heavy-lidded and voice deeper than usual at being used for the first time today. He is just absolutely adorable.
Humming an affirmative, I nod and ask, "You?" 'Ro nods back and tightens his hold around me to pull me closer against his bare chest. The hand gripping my braid doesn't bother to let go.
Lightly running a finger over his bare chest, I decide against the morning rituals of visiting the bathroom and making breakfast. There's still plenty of time for all of that before we have to report back in at headquarters. I would much rather stay here and absorb as much of this warmth and attention as possible.
And so, I come up with a conversation starter.
Grinning, I look back up at my husband's face and comment, "You know, back during the wars, we never talked about the future since we never knew if we would make it through to see it. Even I never brought the subject up because I was afraid I'd jinx my chances."
Slowly becoming more alert, and clearly interested by my opening, Heero nods as his eyes stay on me. Opening his right hand to release my braid, he reaches up to brush my bangs back with an affectionate touch. Finished with that, he wraps a long, stray hair of mine around his finger and unwinds it then repeats the process.
"Now that we have a pretty clear idea of some things that are going to happen when this case is over, what are some things that you want to do?" I ask. Shrugging, I add, "You know, besides the honeymoon and our move to L2 and things we've already discussed already?"
Pausing in his wrapping and unwrapping my hair around his finger, Heero smiles wistfully at the question. "I think... that I'd like to own a dog, A lab, or a similar breed," he answers quietly.
I can't help but gape at that as my eyes widen. Knowing his past with a certain little girl and her puppy, I certainly was never expecting that. "Really?" I manage when my voice finally works after a couple of attempts to speak.
'Ro laughs softly at my surprise, to my relief as I was afraid that my reaction may have stirred up the wrong feelings in him. Of course, I'll always support whatever he wants. And I am certainly never going to talk him out of a dog, since I've always been a fan of those four-legged animals. I just was completely taken aback by his interest- especially with that type of breed since labs and golden retrievers are so similar.
"Well, nothing like tackling a challenge, right?" my husband shrugs, smirking. He's quick to remind, "A couple of the Maguanacs that work at Quatre's estates have dogs and I've become used to their being around. They're good companions."
At the mention of the Maguanacs' pets, I do remember one incident when I caught Heero actually approaching and working with one of the black labs. He would approach slowly before reaching out with a shaking hand to pet it.
Eventually, the trembling stopped and he actually smiled as the dog turned its head to lick the side of his face when he bent down low enough. I never did tell him that I had watched when he thought no one else was around.
Yet another moment when 'Ro was absolutely, heart-wrenchingly adorable.
Smiling widely, I nod firmly, "Alright. So, we'll own a dog, then. You don't have to twist my arm on that idea." His own smile grows at my approval and support.
A brief moment passes as we just stare at each other when my husband's face twists up into something I can't read, other than knowing his thoughts have darkened. My own smile fades as Heero reaches up to run his fingers over my jaw line tenderly.
Before I can ask what's wrong, he frowns, "I'm still very angry with myself for allowing you to be put in danger the way you were. I should have remembered that vase situation, rethought the idea of your finishing off that wine so Krutza could leave you alone for a while. There were so many things going through my head at the time that I never stepped back to see the whole picture."
Sighing, I remind him, "Yea, well, I could have seen that, myself. If I hadn't distracted Trowa and Wufei with my antics, they would have seen my glass tampered with. And I forgot about that vase bit, too."
To make sure that he is hearing me, I cup the side of his face and tell him, "What happened was not your fault. We all dropped the ball in one sense or another, but it all turned out fine." Pressing our foreheads together, I say matter-of-factly, "I'm fine."
It takes a moment for those dark clouds in those cobalt eyes to pull back. Finally, they clear away and 'Ro gives a small nod. I knew that he had been a shaken more by what happened at Krutza's home than he had been letting on. That night we made the arrest, I could feel him watching me most of the night even in my own sleep... as if he was making sure that I was actually alright.
But Heero had to come around on his own to tell me and let it out. Now that he has, it's a clear weight off his shoulders and a relief for myself as well. While I would normally be put off by that kind of protectiveness, it's actually endearing coming from him.
At least he has been demonstrating that he trusts me even in light of that urge to shield me from everything.
Reaching up again, 'Ro traces the side of my face as he whispers, "I know you're alright. It's just..." A shudder runs through him as he breathes, "I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you."
I blink in surprise. Over the course of our marriage, he has managed to say many things that have taken me aback. To know that I mean so much to Heero Yuy- who I've been pining after since pretty much the moment I met him... it's absolutely mind-blowing.
Slowly losing the distance between us, I claim his mouth with mine in a deep kiss meant to force away the last of those lingering demons. He gasps when our tongues meet and my eyes drift closed as he returns the favor ten-fold.
There is no reason for anymore words over the matter anymore. We've both said what needed to be said and all that is left now is for our actions to clear up the rest.
Panting when we finally part a sweet eternity later, I suggest with a shrug, "Since we have time before we have to return to headquarters, we could call the others and maybe meet up for brunch. It's been a while since we've all been together."
"Not a bad idea. I'm sure we won't have to do too much arm twisting on their parts," Heero replies. Smirking, he adds, "Although you may have to do more convincing for me. I'm pretty reluctant to leave you and this bed right now."
The side of my own mouth curls up into a mischievous grin as I respond, "Oh, don't worry. We still have time to make the most of the bed before we have to get up at all."
And that is as much as I am able to get out before Heero closes the distance between us to hold me to that promise.
* * * * * *
Just as Heero and I thought, we did not have to work on convincing the other members of our family to get together. Band-aids back over our rings, we are currently sitting together at a large table in a private room in one of the local restaurants with our friends as we catching back up on how things are in our lives.
"So how much longer do you have to go, Sally?" Quatre asks from his place across from her. "You have to be getting pretty close to your due date now."
Beaming, the braided doctor rests a hand on her swollen belly and answers, "A little over two weeks." Her eyes rolling, she sighs, "I cannot wait for this pregnancy to be over. Nine months is more than long enough to have to go through this."
Wufei smiles lovingly beside her and comments, "Not much longer, love." Leaning over, he whispers to their baby, "Just make sure that you're ready to finally introduce yourself to us when I'm around." His wife chuckles and nods.
It is a concern for all of us... the fact that Chang may be called away to duty with this case when the baby is born. This investigation will be lasting longer than two weeks considering the scale that it is. But somehow, I am sure that Lady Une will make sure that the married couple will be together when the delivery date rolls in.
"And how are things with the selection process for the opened Assembly seats?" Sal questions our blonde friend. "I imagine the whole process has been pretty challenging these last few weeks."
Letting out a long sigh, Quat sags a bit in his chair and smiles tiredly, "We just finished swearing in the new members two days ago. It's the only reason that I was able to get away to be here now." Trowa has clearly already been told this, since he is the only one not straightening in their chair with their eyes and or jaws wide open over the announcement.
The first to break out of my stupor, I exclaim, "That's great! One less big thing for you to have to worry about! Will there be an official announcement to who they are soon, then?"
Grinning, our Arabian counterpart nods, "In a couple of days, yes. We wanted to give them time to get settled into their new roles and duties. Relena is one of the current members showing them the ropes as we speak. It's all something that they do not need me around for before our first official meeting is called to order."
We all know that the first order of business when that meeting is called will be to decide on what Colonies will receive the Assembly support to rebuild and grow. My stomach is knotting over wondering how close my home Colony will be to receiving that nod.
Heero bends forward to see Quatre at my other side and inquires, "Any idea on what L2's chances may be to receive aid now?" I turn to flash him a small smile of appreciation. No doubt he was reading my mind again and decided to ask what I was too afraid to ask on my own.
Smiling as if he was expecting the question, Winner replies, "L2 certainly has a better chance of being looked at than it had in the past. Three of the new Assembly members have voiced that they are making that Colony their own personal goals to support."
With a wince, he frowns, "Of course, there are still those adamantly opposed to the idea that had fought against those members being brought on in the first place for that same reason. So, really, only time will tell if there will be enough votes to change things."
As I fold my arms, I can't help but snort bitterly, "Let me guess. The same people who were so quick to put blame on me for the attack are the same ones fighting the L2 cause." The flash of pain across Quat's face is all the answer I need.
Goddamn it! What the hell do I have to do to prove myself to those assholes?!
His fists clenching, a deep rumble of a growl rolls in Heero's chest. I look back at him to see that he's staring out at nothing, eyes narrow as he is lost in his own frustration over the situation. Having personally seen what those hands are capable of, I would not wish for any of those Assembly members to run across him in the near future.
"I am sorry, Duo," Quatre whispers sadly, the defeat clear in his eyes when I face him again. "People believe what they want to believe. And sadly, there are few people more stubborn in their ways than many of the members on the Assembly. They tend to focus on the negatives. Many of them still see me as a terrorist and hate the fact that they have to work alongside me."
Sally shakes her head with a glare of her own as she snaps, "Well, it's time they just got the hell over it and grow the fuck up!"
Not one to usually use any such language or harshness in her words, her eyes widen and she flashes a sheepish smile when we all watch her with wide eyes. Snickering, she shrugs, "Um, sorry. Hormones."
Trowa laughs, "Hormones or not, I could not have said it better, myself."
Clearly at the end of her restraint, the doc frowns, "I just get as offended as the rest of you over this situation."
Her eyes focus on me as she comments, "You're like family to me, too, Duo. And knowing the kind of person you are, I really can't understand how those..." Judging by her pause, she was censoring herself before continuing, "...people can't see you how I see you."
I'm sincerely touched by that. Sally has become a more than welcome addition to our group even before she had married 'Fei. And she has been there for all of us without hesitation if we ever needed someone to turn to. Far as I've been concerned, she's as much a sister to me as Hilde.
A wide smile on my face, I bow my head and tell her, "Thanks for that, Sal. In all honesty, your opinion of me is one of the few that I really give a damn about. Considering our roles in the war, none of us expected that we would be popular with everyone." Heero and our 'brothers' all nod their heads in agreement on that last note.
Shaking my head, I mutter, "It's when those in power use their personal opinions of one person to affect other lives that it's not right. No one on L2 deserves to pay for that. They have nothing to do with who I am in the Assembly member's eyes." As I lower my head down, I notice how my own hands have been clenching and unclenching in my lap.
Heero's hand reaches over, under the table, to cover my fists to squeeze them gently. I give him a small smile of appreciation that the others seem to miss.
"Well, you know that Relena and I will continue to do whatever we can to see it does not stay that way," Quatre offers with a sad grin. Chuckling quietly, I wink and nod to him to let him know I have no doubt of that.
My husband checks his watch and announces, "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, everyone, but we better get going if we plan on making it to headquarters in time for Lady Une's meeting."
The lot of us rise to our feet and as we move out for the parking lot, I notice that Quat and Trowa are sharing the same car. Spotting my look of curiosity as we approach our side-by-side vehicles, my blond friend informs, "Lady Une approved my presence at the debriefing. Since I'm personally invested in this case as a member of the Assembly , she wants me to feel as much a part of this as possible."
I'm sure the fact that he is also a part of our unit as a former Gundam pilot helped Une come to that decision. That woman never ceases to amaze me with how caring she is towards all of us.
During the ride to headquarters, I lock away the discussion over brunch to focus on the case and Krutza. For as big a step in the right direction that bastard's capture is, we still have a ways to go before we can step away from this investigation.
And it is certainly not a time for any of us to be thinking about our own personal issues right now.
* * * * * *
Gathered in Kathie's office just past Lady Une's closed off room, those of us that had been send to Lugano have a pleasant reunion along with Danielle, Penelope and Adam. Not long after we have all had a chance to exchange handshakes and quick catch ups, the receptionist announces that the Commander is ready for us.
Heading into Une's office, we fine that the two rows of chairs both have an extra seat in them to account for the addition of Quatre and Bryant in this meeting. Agent Stone takes the back row alongside Tyson while Winner sits beside Barton in the front so that we just happen to be seated in the same order of our former pilot numbers.
I can't help the wide smile on my face as I look along my row to see the five of us together again. And I am not the only one to notice. There is a pleased expression on all of our faces up front while in the back I can here some excited whispering and my eyes catch a couple of wide-eyed, awe-filled faces.
Also smiling, her brown eyes scanning our section, is Lady Une. "I must say that this is a treat for me to see," she begins while folding her hands on her desk. Our heads high, we all give a small nod or another sign of agreement.
"Well," she begins as she takes in the whole group before her. "Just to bring everyone that is here up to speed, I will give a brief history for Mister Winner so that he knows exactly what we are facing. After that, I want a full verbal report from those who had been in Lugano on what transpired so that the other members of your team can learn where we stand now."
Sitting up at full attention, Quatre listens very closely to the shortened version of what we are up against in this case. Trowa was good to not mention any of the classified information to him before, it only would have worried him more over the course of the Lugano mission. Once the scale of it all really sets in, our friend's face pales and his eyes widen a little more with everything he learns.
When the Commander is finished, he breaths a worried, "Allah..." Yea. Like us, he had no idea just what a hornet's nest was stirred up with that attack against the Assembly weeks ago.
Heero takes the helm of the meeting from there, being the one to give a clear and concise rundown of what happened in our watch over Krutza before capturing the man. I received a swat to the back of the head from Quat when my husband got to the part about how I volunteered myself as bait. Should have had better reflexes when I noticed Trowa duck away just before the hit came.
In the back row, Adam in particular has been writing in his notepad feverishly as to not miss anything that he may need to know while his own team sifts through Krutza's personals. That means they haven't had much luck in cracking any of the strange coding that seemed to be the only language used between our prisoner and his contacts.
So, we will have to hope that the bastard in holding will be able to spell out what we're looking for, himself.
At the end of Heero's telling of our experience in Lugano, Lady Une focus on those of us that were involved in the take-down. "I know that I expressed my appreciation to all of you last night," she grins. "Now allow me to tell you, again, what a wonderful job you all did. This is the first pieces of the puzzle that we are looking to solve. With any luck, we will have the other links soon."
Opening the folder that has been sitting on her desk, she informs, "With the exception of Agent Wing and Agent Scythe, you may all go home for the remainder of the day."
I blink at that. What the hell did we do now?
She offers a nod to Trowa and Quatre as she says, "I will be keeping you both informed when there is further progress in this case. Should we ever need your assistance-"
Trowa rises from his seat along with Quatre before she even needs to finish her question and smirks, "You need only call us. We will make ourselves available to offer our services whenever need be."
His lover nods enthusiastically and adds, "After the attack that had taken place, many of the Assembly members are in a rush to gather together for a meeting any time in the near future. My resources and influences are yours as well."
As the group begins to part, hand shakes and warm wishes are exchanged. Giving my visiting friends a one-armed embrace, I offer them a safe trip home. Then, in only a few minutes, Heero and I are left alone with the Commander when the office door slides closed after the others.
My eyes catch the equally confused look on my partner's face when our eyes meet briefly. Returning to our seats, we sit in waiting as Une regards us for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she states, "We have a bit of a situation."
Great. Just great.
Nothing is ever easy.
TBC...
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