Title: ESO Notes: Thanks for the support to continue this! Especially Angel Ikari, Alma (my Ala Meda), Jeanne, Liz Frommer, RavynFyre, Kireina, Kateri Marie, Matty, Alexe, Hikaru, Kritsie Yu, Herosdame, Alexe, Darkflame, Liandrin, Shi-chan, Laekin, Andrea, Gina, Djinn, Tyr,Yoiko, Athena, Congyun, Anne... Last of the Epilogs.
Author: bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) and vonceia (vonceia@yahoo.com)
Archive: GW Addiction http://www.oocities.org/fenris_wolf0/
Category: yaoi, AU? Epic Saga...
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: 1x2x5, 3x4, 6x9
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Warnings: LEMON. Yaoi. Old guys. Original characters. AU? You decide... OOC? Same.
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Spoilers: Everything. I mean it, everything, series, EW, Ep. Zero, etc.
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners. Our stuff is ours. No money being made here. While our goal is to stay as in character as possible, any discrepancies are our mistakes.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
Zechs found that the Tallgeese had been given minimal repairs, enough to get him back to the other shuttle. Howard waved him off, telling him he better come by and say hi to him in Hawaii or he'd figure Zechs was going to destroy the world again.
The other pilots came down to the bay to take their Gundams back to the station. As they were making preparations, they saw Oma come into the bay, on her way to the small shuttle she was taking back. Alfa was walking beside her, slowly, but dressed and refusing to be wheeled out on a gurney.
Heero walked over to Alfa. For a moment, he just looked into her eyes. "I need to talk to you once we get to the station. I know you're in pain 'cause you look like what I look like in pain. Great job, Alfa," he said and leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
Alfa permitted the kiss. "So I'm in pain, huh? You think Oma'd let me be in pain? I'm just trying to keep my spleen from falling out my ass." To the 'great job' she said, "Yeah, yeah, thank god it's over. You guys did all the work. We're heading back to the station. You guys are welcome to stay and regroup or whatever. I'll be there for a few days, anyway. I need my lab for a little while longer. Let's get dirtside, then we can talk or whatever."
Heero nodded. He listened carefully and then remarked, "Yeah we'll regroup.. or something. As far as Oma letting you be in pain, what choice does she have? I would hug you to test it out, but you'd probably kill me."
"Try your luck, if you don't mind having a bloody spleen land on your foot," Alfa said. "I'm not killing anybody for a while, kid. But let's save the incestual relationship for another time, okay?"
"Yeah, ok," Heero said and then turned to go. "You can explain how that works on the station."
Alfa rolled her eyes. "See what you started?" Oma said.
"That boy has no home training. Remind me again to kill Jacob," Alfa grumbled.
Wufei came over quickly and simply kissed Alfa on the cheek, in pretty much the same spot Heero had. Before he could frisk away, Alfa's hand shot out, showing she hadn't lost her reflexes, and grabbed his wrist.
"You look very... well exercised," she remarked.
Wufei's eyes widened and he blushed.
"That clinches it," she nodded. "Finally got your grubby hands on my son, didn't you?"
Wufei bowed his head, nodded slightly, then looked up and smiled.
"Good shot," Alfa said. "Beat it."
Wufei bowed and ran off to Dragon.
In short order, all passengers had debarked the Mantasail and Howard left the system.
On the Preventers ship, Noin was waiting for Zechs as he brought the Tallgeese in.
"Hi!" she said enthusiastically, hugging him. "It's good to see you back in one piece!"
Zechs wrapped his arms around Noin and hugged back. He lifted her a few inches from the floor before setting her down on her feet again. "It's good to be back," he said, "It's good to see you."
Please with this answer, Noin decided to kiss him thoroughly.
Zechs' eyes widened and then closed slowly as he kissed back, holding Noin tightly. After a few moments, he hugged her again and then smiled down at her. "I need to speak with Lady Une and then perhaps we can talk too?" he asked.
Noin sighed to herself... well, it started good. But there he went with the business-first attitude that he was so well known for. It would have been so nice if he'd put the talk with her first just this once. Oh well.
"Sure," she said, wrapping her arm around his waist so she could walk with him. He probably had no idea how seeing him in jeans affected her. Oh well.
"How are the boys?" she asked as they walked to the shuttle's main cockpit. "And... what's her name, that Alfa lady?"
Pictures flashed through Zechs' mind and he mis-stepped a bit, then shook his head. "Everyone is fine. Alfa got a bit banged up, but I'll tell you all about it over some wine. How are you? Any problems here?" he asked, squeezing Noin's shoulder as they walked.
"No problems," Noin answered, "Other than being bombarded with messages from Relena asking for more details. She wants to have a big parade and have Alfa and the pilots and you ride big cars festooned with carnation swags down main street as confetti flies through the air, under a big banner that says, "EVIL ALIENS DESTROYED - EARTH SAFE AT LAST!" Noin grinned. "Une is using her extensive diplomatic skills to deal with this notion but it's touch and go right at the moment."
Zechs listened carefully and shook his head. "I will speak to Relena. This is not going to happen," he said.
Noin took advantage of her arm around his waist to poke him in the side. "Well, duh!" she said.
Zechs chuckled. Reaching down, he gave Noin a pat on the butt. "Now behave. We have to set an example," he said.
Sally looked up at them as they came. "You already do," she said. You set an example of two people who really need to lighten up once in a while - you especially, Zechs."
Zechs looked at Sally and tilted his head. "We're... light," he said, "Oh.. uh.. Wufei says to tell you hello."
Sally stared at Zechs. Is he blushing? "Uh, thanks," she said, catching Noin's eye and glancing back at Zech's fair cheeks.
Noin noticed the heightened color. Oh my god, she thought. Zechs!
Poking him, hard, she let go and went over to Lady Une. "Here he is, Preventer Wind, back from the edge of the universe."
Lady Une turned around and nodded to Zechs. "We need to depart. I wanted to go down to the station and meet Alfa, but Relena..." she shrugged. "Is very urgently interested in having our report in person, so I'll have to try and do that another time. How are you? Did you get any rest?"
Zechs looked at Noin as he rubbed the place she had poked. "I'm fine," he said, "Would you mind if I spoke to Relena? Noin tells me she wants a parade or something."
"I can deal with Relena," Une said firmly. "Having 'big brother' add his advice will only put her back up further."
"Agreed," Zechs said. "How long until we depart?" he asked.
Une looked at Sally, who said, "We're ready to leave."
Une nodded. "Then let us do so."
Zechs hauled his bag up from the floor and looked at Lady Une. "I would like to speak to you concerning the matter we discussed, but would you mind giving me a few hours?" he asked and glanced at Noin.
"Of course," Lady Une said.
"Thank you," Zechs said and then looked at Noin. "Miss Noin?" he said, politely, fully expecting to ask her about the poke.
"Yes, Preventer Wind?" Noin said.
"Would you mind speaking with me in my cabin?" Zechs said, wondering at the change in temperament. 'What did I do?' he thought.
"Certainly," Noin answered smoothly, preceding him out the door and down the short hall to said cabin. She stood in the small space, arms behind her back like a cadet.
Zechs dropped his bag on the floor and then turned to Noin. He placed his hands on his hip and looked down at her. "So who did I kill?" he asked.
"Pardon me?" Noin said politely.
Zechs walked over to her. "Why did you poke me in the side?" he asked, a few steps away.
"Was I overly familiar, sir?" she said. "I can't remember... no, I don't think you outrank me any more, do you? So you can't bring me up on charges of poking a superior officer."
"I did not mind the poke in the side," Zechs said, moving closer, "What did I do that made you suddenly ... unfriendly?"
Noin thought it over and decided to tell him. What the hell, it's not like things could get worse.
"You... you blushed when you said Wufei Chang's name," she said, lifting her chin defiantly.
Zechs' eyes widened. "I did?" he said.
"Yes you did! Sally saw it too," she said by way of providing proof that she didn't imagine it.
Starting to pace, she burst out, "For crying out loud, Zechs! First Treize, then... god knows who... and now, poor Wufei? What *is* it with you?!"
Zechs closed his eyes in shock, humiliation and astonishment. 'Did Treize say...' he thought, feeling his head begin to swim.
Seeing his expression, she stopped pacing, planting her hands on her well-shaped hips. "Well did you think I was BLIND? Or just plain stupid? Am I supposed to continue to go along with the charade that you and I have some kind of relationship, even though we both know we don't, in order to be your... your... BEARD? If only you could have just talked to me yourself, I would have understood... at least, I hope I would... I care for you... but the way you go on just trying to leave me out altogether... It makes me feel stupid and useless, did you know that? I'm not oblivious!!!"
Zechs felt his shoulders slump as the bottom of his world rocked underneath him. He took a couple of deep breaths and turned around to face Noin. "I am sorry," he said, knowing just that was inadequate, "I suppose His Excellency spoke to you at some time..."
"Are you SERIOUS?" Noin said, trying to stifle a hysterical laugh. "Treize? Speak to ME? I don't *think* so!" she said. Trying to decide if she should give him the other barrel, she decided, what the hell, it was hitting the fan, night as well. "No, he did not. Lady Une... Colonel Une at the time, introduced me to your... activities... in the form of a concealed monitor in Treize's study!"
Zechs closed his eyes and once again his hand rose to his face to touch the mask that was not there. "A concealed monitor... so, you and Lady Une spied.. together... "
"Don't take that righteous tone with me Zechs Merquise, or Milliardo Pearcraft or whoever you want to be today!" Noin said, eyes blazing. "It was... one of the best things anyone ever did for me. She opened my eyes, eyes you would have been happier to keep closed forever, right? Do you want to know *when* it was? I'll tell you - it was after the battle in Siberia! Yes! THAT long ago! And what did I do? I got up the next morning with a hell of a hangover, washed my face, and went back to walking at your side, or one pace behind. I helped you get your duel with 01, and I took on the responsibility of protecting your little sister. I did everything I could for you, hoping that once, just once you come to me and tell me what was going on in that impossibly thick skull of yours... and you know what? I'm still waiting. But I can see that it's never going to happen, is it?" she said, and turned around, wiping angry tears from her eyes impatiently.
A million thoughts ran through Zechs' mind as he stood in the sudden silence. Finally, he said, "You are correct. If there has been anyone in my life that has stood by me, it has been you. "
"Do you understand, Zechs? I have stood by you, knowing all the time about your careful secret. Knowing that I would never be able to make you happy because I don't have the right... equipment!" she spat the last word out. Then her eyes softened. "Do you have any idea why? It's simple. Because I love you."
Zechs lowered his head a moment and then walked over to Noin. He wrapped his arms around her. "Yes," he said, "I don't and never understood fully why you did, but I have known it, yes. I did not tell you about my... flaw, because I was ashamed. You deserve much more, and someone more whole than a man who does not live under his own name and compromises everything because of some notion in his head."
Noin allowed him to put his arms around her, then beat her fists on his chest when he began to talk about his 'flaw'. "I know what I deserve, damn it, Zechs! I deserve a man who will *talk* to me! Who will share his flaws with me, if that's all he has to share, because I'm willing to share mine with him! I deserve someone who has time to look outside himself for at least one minute every day! Zechs... love isn't something you get because you deserve it! It's something to strive to be worthy of... without ever knowing if you'll succeed!"
Zechs listened carefully and nodded. "I can understand that," he said, "Lucrezia, there is nothing wrong with your.. equipment. You're a beautiful woman. You should know, I have appreciated your hips for a very long time now. So, why would you not call me Zechs before?"
Noin shook her head. "Because I was waiting for you to kiss me. I decided I would not call you by your first name until you did. Of course, after Lady Une showed me what you were into, I decided my vow was a foolish one. Then... well, after the war... I guess I should call you Agent Wind or something but I'll be damned if I do that. Zechs is good enough. It's what I called you in school. So if you ever decided to go by Prince Peacecraft, forget it from me, because I won't use it."
"Ok," Zechs said, "I talked with Alfa, and that is a very long story, but I now feel that I understand what I am... sexually."
Noin's eyebrows shot up. "Um... what? Let me guess... promiscuous?"
Zechs thought about the recent few hours aboard the Mantasail with Trowa and Quatre. "Hn," he remarked, "Perhaps, but I don't think so... I'm bisexual."
"Hello!" Noin said. "Tell me something I didn't know. Or are you trying to say you aren't *just* gay? You like women too? Prove it... where have you got a girlfriend stashed away? Huh?"
"Noin," Zechs said, raising her face to his, "I don't have a girlfriend besides you anywhere. I don't have a boyfriend stashed away as well!"
Noin wanted to continue to needle him about this, but decided to change tactics. "Oh well... hey, what do you mean, besides me? I'm your friend, not your girlfriend. Sally has been very patient with me, but I feel like I should take more responsibility for myself. Instead of expecting her to understand that things could possibly change someday... if you ever decide to come to your senses..."
Cupping his hands around Noin's face, Zechs looked into her eyes. "You're sleeping with Sally," he said.
Noin stared back. "Yes... sometimes I sleep with Sally. So what?"
Zechs smiled. Leaning forward, he kissed Noin deeply and slowly building heat between them. "I think the boys would say we're pretty fucked up," he said.
Noin wiggled a little in his arms, not giving in to the kiss immediately - she was still very angry with him, and it was built up over a long time. But his mouth felt so good... his arms were so strong, his chest so solid... his tongue so...
Giving up, Noin threw herself wholeheartedly into the liplock. When he lifted his lips to speak, she looked up, a little frown in her eyes. "The... boys?" she said. "Damn you, Zechs... I bet those boys have managed to get closer to you than I have. That pisses me off!"
Zechs took Noin's hand in his and placed it over the bulge in his jeans. "You're beautiful when you're pissed off," he said, "Come get close."
Noin's eye flew open, and her hand stroked the front of the soft cotton jeans. "You better not tease me, Zechs," she said. "I bet I could still break your arm or something if it turns out you are... not... really..." her voice trailed off as she used her thumb to un button the top metal button, and slid his zipper down slowly. She felt his hot flesh trying to spring out of confinement... oh god he's not wearing underwear... I always knew he was so... hot... oh god...
Her fingers wrapped around him, stroking the velvety flesh lightly. "Zechs... is this... are you... for real... this time...?" she breathed, her voice husky with desire.
Zechs inhaled sharply as he felt Noin's fingers close around him. Her stroking nearly drove him insane with need and he felt his flesh harden even more in her hand. Reaching out, he smoothed his hands around her rear and then reached in front to unfasten Noin's pants. He bent down to kiss her as he touched the smooth skin of her stomach and then moved his hands down inside and between her legs.
Noin gasped, and her hand gripped him more tightly, as she felt his long, strong fingers invade her private places. Knowing she was already moist from the excitement of touching him, she tilted her pelvis a little, spreading her legs apart wider. If he had done this a year ago... not, better not to think about that. She'd have been shocked, and maybe even hurt. Now she was simply very, very aroused. There was nothing in the way he was touching her that suggested she didn't have his whole attention for once. I always fantasized about him is if he were a prince, she thought. But the truth is, he's a soldier... his needs... are base... thank god, because so are mine, now that I've grown up...
She continued to stroke him, bringing him to full erection and pumping him slowly, even as she squirmed under his touch.
Zechs kissed Noin's neck, moaning a little as she touched him. He moved his fingers inside of her warm body and gasped as she gripped him harder. Moving back a little, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of his jeans and pulled them off. Then removed the t-shirt he wore to stand naked before Noin. Moving closer, he did the same with her pants as his eyes admired the view.
Noin let her eyes roam over his body. She'd seen him this way before... but this time she could do more than just look. Unfastening her jacket, she dropped it to the floor, now wearing only a brief camisole. Coming close to him, she ran her hands over his chest and shoulders, then down his flat stomach, feeling his well-defined abs. Her hands moved lower, taking his cock and stroking it again, a little more urgently this time.
Zechs gasped again feeling Noin stroking him again. He moved his hands to the camisole and squeezed her well-shaped breasts and circled her nipples with his thumbs. "Lucrezia," he moaned feeling his hips begin to rock slightly.
"Oh, Zechs!" Noin moaned, leaning into his hands are he touched her breasts. He certainly wasn't acting like someone who didn't know what to do with a woman's body. She felt his hips rock and wanted to feel that motion against her body. She released him, and stepped back, looking up through her dark bangs. She backed up a step, and another, and then the cabin's bunk was behind her. She sat, then lay back on its surface, looking up, wondering if he would follow.
Zechs moved to the bunk and covered Noin's body with his own. His hands parted her thighs as he moved himself deeply into her body. "Lucrezia," he moaned moving his hips slowly. He looked down at Noin and captured her mouth once again.
Noin gasped, feeling Zech's cock enter her warm, wet body. She wrapped her long legs around his, lifting her hips to meet him. "Oh... oh Zechs!" she gasped, as his mouth came down on hers. Her body rocked against his as they coupled together on the narrow bunk.
Lady Une turned from the small monitor on the console. She looked up at Sally and raised her eyebrows.
"Well all I can say is it's about damn time!" Sally said, the corner of her mouth twitching to contain a smile. "I guess it's just going to be you and me for poker tonight. I'll bring my tape collection."
Lady Une nodded. "That sounds like a wonderful idea," she said, nodding approvingly to Sally as she turned off the monitor... but not the recording.
The station seemed very quiet, by comparison to when they had left only... twenty or so hours ago? In point of fact, a few of the small staff of technicians had already left, having communicated with Alfa on the ship before departing. Of the scientists, only Dr. J was left. The others had departed for whereabouts unknown, taking Master O with them.
The pilots found that their rooms in the quadrangle had been cleaned and there were fresh flowers in each room. The commissary was still stocked, and a couple of people stayed to take care of routine maintenance details.
Alfa went to her lab, with Oma watching her closely. After an hour she emerged, looking a little better, and made her way to the hangar to check on Jacob. Oma stopped her on her way out.
"You can't keep using gene therapy like a band-aid," she said, looking into Alfa's eyes.
"I know. I just have to make a clean getaway. Then I promise, I will settle down and get old. I'll probably do nothing but eat bonbons and put on lots of weight," Alfa answered.
"Yeah right," Oma said, shaking her head.
Dr. J was waiting for her in the hangar.
"So..." he said. "You *were* right. And you did it. I suppose I owe you an apology."
Alfa glared at him but it was down a few decibels from her most intense. "Yeah, you owe me one. However it doesn't matter anymore, does it? You did what I asked you to do in the end, so I guess we can call it even. There is one last thing I have to tell you, after which you may stay or depart. You can have this station if you want it, I don't care. Give me a few days to move out."
"What do you want to tell me?" he said, thinking how odd it was that, though he could see she was hurt, see the exhaustion, see even the age in her eyes, he found her as beautiful as the day they met. Cursed woman.
"I want to tell you that you lost," she said, her cobalt blue eyes glittering.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Dr. J said calmly.
"Did you think I did not know what you were doing?" she said softly. "What you tried to do to my son? You used my mission to accomplish your own. You used my son to deliver your own revenge. Revenge! Ha. Revenge for Heero Yuy. You and your cronies... I'm just as to blame, I know that. I let you. I thought I had to. I thought if I tried to protect him, he'd fail to be strong enough when the real time came. I thought I could use him like a tool and not care... and you used my blindness. I've seen the twisted path of your little bits of revenge and jealousy. I'd have deserved it if you accomplished what you tried to do. But you failed, Jacob. You failed. You failed to condition his father out of him. You failed to wipe Heero Yuy out of my child. You failed to take his heart. Thank god. It wasn't because of me. But perhaps there is a god somewhere. We both failed, you and I. We both failed... but only you loose."
Dr. J stared out of the goggle eyes, his expression like stone.
"I did nothing that the times didn't call for," he said finally. "I kept him alive, as I promised I would."
"That he lives has little to do with you, Jacob," she answered him. "As little as the fact that he has surpassed us all. I think I will find a little church somewhere, of any denomination. I think I will find a place I can kneel and thank whatever god loves him. This is your justice, Jacob. You have to live with your failure. I hope it keeps you company for a long time."
She tuned to go. He reached out, not quite connecting with his claw arm.
"Alfa.." he said.
"Alma... Alma Midori... I loved you... I still love you... I did what I did because you..."
The woman known as Alfa turned around, and fixed him with a very cold look... and a slight smile.
"Jacob... you're fired."
It was Quatre's idea to pull the mattresses out into the middle of the Quadrangle. Wufei even dragged the ones from the empty rooms out, and then went to collect food and drink from the commissary, bringing it to the area in a big box. Duo tinkered with the lights until he got a nice low setting. When they thought everything was as it should be, they sent Heero to invite the two guests...
Heero found Alfa talking to Doctor J. He didn't interrupt their conversation, but found the subject matter interesting. Finally, he walked out of the shadows and looked up at Alfa. "I'm supposed to bring you and Oma for the little party we're throwing in the quad. Come on, let's go," he said, and took Alfa's hand.
Alfa squeezed his hand, blinking the last bit of moisture from her eyes. "A party.... cool. I haven't been to one of those in... about twenty years I guess..."
Oma was easy to find, in the lab. "Come on, old woman," Alfa said. "The kids are having a sleepover."
"Fine," Oma said. "Let me collect my jammies."
Heero looked at both of the women. 'Should I tell them about.... Nah,' he thought and escorted them down to the quad for the party and concert given by Trowa and Quatre.
Quatre was feeling very happy. Whatever bleedover he was getting from the people around him was all nicely positive. He felt a slight, distant disturbance just about the time Heero left to get Alfa, but it was too distant to disturb the cushion of warm thoughts and feelings immediately around him. He opened his bag and took out the violin case, opening it and tuning the fine instrument. Trowa already had his flute.
"Too bad you don't have a guitar in there," Duo said. Quatre looked up, thinking how interesting... Duo played guitar? He rummaged in his bag.
"Nope, no guitar," he said. "But see what you can do with this," he added, tossing a small tambourine at the braided pilot.
Duo caught the tambourine, grinning widely. "Cool!"
Trowa looked down at the flute. "Wufei sings," he said, matter-of-factly, "It's a secret, but he does sing very well. "
Quatre smiled delightedly, looking at the Chinese boy, who simply smiled, and scuffed a shoe on the floor.
Heero arrived with the two ladies, and Oma looked around, put down her bundle of nightclothes, and said, "I'll be right back."
Alfa smiled, knowing where her partner was going. She looked around, grinning at the haphazard party space. "Looks like a rave," she said. She found an unoccupied mattress and staked it out, grabbing her nightclothes from the pile Oma left.
The African-American woman came back with a small synthesizer.
Quatre jumped up, "Cool!" he said, coming over. "A D-5000! I haven't seen one of these in a while - they are collector's items!"
"So are we, dear," Oma said, setting it up on a mattress. She turned on the power and flexed her fingers over the keys, bringing a ripple of sound from the machine."
Quatre grabbed the violin and began playing a melody, and Oma listened for a little while and then began improvising an accompaniment.
Trowa joined them on flute and soon a small intergalactic jam session began.
Duo shook the tambourine, coming up to Heero and dancing around him. occasionally hitting him lightly with the percussive instrument on various parts of his body, such as his butt.
Heero stood with his arms folded and allowed himself to be utilized. He enjoyed the music while planning how to best take his suitable revenge on the braided boy.
After a few moments, he went to sit next to Alfa. "So, we're both alive. You have plans, I suppose," he said.
Alfa tilted her head towards him, still listening with a relaxed smile to the improvised music. "Yes," she said. "I plan to find a quiet spot and stay there. I have things for you. I have the files I told you about, information about all of you, everything I collected. It's yours now. I won't even keep a copy. I have a record of everything I did or made a note of in the last fifteen years. That's yours too. Keep it, destroy it, I don't care."
Heero nodded as he listened to her. "If you need me... for anything.. let me know," he said and smoothed Alfa's hair back.
She wrinkled her nose at him, shaking it back into the usual tumble. "I will. You are the only person I am going to trust with my whereabouts. And... if you need me for anything, let me know. I can't make up for the last fifteen years and I'm not going to try. But I have no other priorities."
Heero leaned back on the mattress and looked up at Alfa. "Ok, are you ready to begin?" he asked. "I've been thinking about it and there's just few things to tell you. Sorry, I don't want to do the entire last fifteen years. The last three or four have been intense. I'm going to pick up with the last year or so. Is the doctor in?"
Alfa smiled, leaning back against the wall. "The doctor is in. As much or little as you wish," she said.
"Ok, I'll just start with this. I love all of these guys. There are two in particular. Don't tell 'em because they'd only make me want to hurt 'em. Then, there's this girl.. I don't care for her in the same way, but she's there. I think Zechs could be ok, and I guess he'll mellow out once he gets jumped some more... Watch out for Trowa... I suspect he's a little crazy, but he is loosening up a lot. Thanks for telling me about the sex thing. Between Duo and Wufei, I think I'm on the right track..." Heero began.
Alfa nodded. "Love is love, child," she said softly. Then she spoke to the face that seemed to be with her in her mind whenever she looked at her son. 'Heero' she thought, 'He loves... our son loves.'
Wufei's voice lifted with the music, and everyone listened in surprise as the clear, beautiful sound filled the quadrangle, lifted on the strains of the violin, synthesizer and flute.
"Exposing my heart to the wind called freedom
Faster than light,
I rise to the sky, oh yeah!
More than the dream in front of our eyes
We pursue the dangerous game
We are knocking on the door to a faraway tomorrow"
Listening, Alfa smiled, feeling a peace that she had never imagined possible.
Taking Heero's hand, she said softly. "My name is Alma Midori. My mother was Portuguese and my father was Japanese. There are no birth records for you, no official ones. But I have a piece of paper I wrote and signed, which says when you were born and where, and gives your name as Heero Yuy Midori. I took the name Alfa because my designation in the project was Alpha 1. Oma's real, full name is Omega. Isn't it funny?" she says, grinning at Heero.
"Beginning and End," Heero said, "No, that about covers it all. Thank you. I like my name."
After a short while, Trowa came over and looked at Alfa. "I think you are the best person to ask this," he said. "You knew my Mother?"
Alfa reached out and touched Trowa's face gently. "I knew her. Not well. I have a file for you to read, Heero will have it. I met her briefly, before you were born. We were both pregnant, she was further along than I. Which means you are probably older than Heero," she said, tugging her son's hair. "She let me call her Mei. She was a delicate creature, but very strong in her love for you. You were the center of her world."
"Wow," Trowa said and smiled. "Thank you Alfa. That is all I needed to know. I am Mei's son. I can take her name with me and know that I'm not just here by accident."
"There's a little more that I can tell you," she said. "I did try to keep tabs on all of you as best I could. I lost track of you fairly quickly and for a while until Seigfreid alerted me that you had found your way to his project. The last thing I had a record of was that Mei was released from the camp we met in, just after you were born. She was taken in by a group of circus people. I don't know if they were relatives or just kind. I tried to keep up with them but they ended up in a battle zone and apparently lost you. I never found out what happened to Mei either. I thought you were dead for a long time... the only one I thought I'd truly lost."
Trowa shrugged, thinking about all that Alfa had said to him. He then turned to her and smiled. "I'm like that," he said, "I just kind of turn up places. Thanks again. That's all I need to know, really. Anything else would tend to break the spell."
Alfa smiled. "Trowa... I'm kind of like that too," she said. "Wait and see."
Duo came over and sat down, passing out hot dogs.
"Talking about histories and stuff?" he said. Alfa nodded. "Hn... I'll read mine in your files later. I did want to ask you something, though. You said you... messed with our genetics, right? The age-thing... you look so young. Is that gonna happen with us too? And are there any nasty consequences we should know about?"
Alfa considered a moment, then spoke. "You will probably have healthier than normal lives... that is if we manage to avoid any more situations like wars and invasions and so on. You may retain the benefits of youth a little longer than usual. I don't expect any nasty consequences. I was careful with all of you. More careful than with myself, and that couldn't be helped, in my judgment. You might live a little longer... if so, just a little. Let's hope you end up having to find out."
Duo looked into her eyes, trying to gauge whether she was telling the truth. Finally he sighed and nodded.
Quatre had come over, drawn by Trowa's presence, listening to his conversation with Alfa. He felt a glow from the feelings of everyone there.
"I wonder if I'll be able to handle this," he said aloud, not really asking, just kind of slipping from thought to words.
Alfa looked up at the blond and contemplated him for a long time. "Quatre..." she said at last. "I can try... I don't know if I can do it, but I can try to remove the factors that have resulted in your increased sensitivity. Do you want me to try?"
Quatre tilted his head, remembering all the trouble he'd gotten into that morning... then he smiled. "No.." he said. "I want to see if I can make this work. But there is a question I have wanted to ask you..."
Alfa gestured. "This seems to be the time for it."
"Can you tell me... why... how you were so sure, that the ESO was real... in spite of everything that seemed to be going against it?" Quatre asked.
Alfa closed her eyes briefly, then opened them. "Yes, I'll tell you. Now that it's over. I told this once before, and was certified for it. The reason is simple. When I was twenty, I had a dream. It was a very vivid dream. I felt as if I were in a vast empty void, a sea between stars. I felt that it was my home. I sensed, far away, an energy, which seemed to follow an intelligent pattern. I knew it was time to go to that signal, and test what I found there... I woke from the dream shaking. I felt I had somehow had thoughts not my own. They felt alien and strange."
Quatre's eyes widened and he gasped, nodding.
"A week later I heard about the supposed return signal that would later be refuted. I knew that signal was real. I couldn't prove it, and I never again had such a dream, such an experience. But it was so real, so unlike anything..."
"Yes..." Quatre said softly. "I... I know..."
Alfa nodded. "I'm sorry, Quatre," she said. "I'm sorry I used you... all of you. But... well... no point in repeating what you already know. But that is the answer to your question. I was driven by knowledge I couldn't verify or prove. The only person who ever heard that story and took it seriously was a man named Heero Yuy."
Quatre sat beside her and put his arms around her, hugging her. "Thank you for answering," he said. "Allah... or whoever... someone was looking out for us."
Alfa shook her head. "Maybe. I haven't believed in god for a long time but you... all of you... well. I know what I had to do with, and what I didn't. The plan was a poor one. It shouldn't have worked. It did. I guess that's all that matters."
Heero shrugged. "That's ok," he said. "I haven't seen a plan yet that worked the way it was supposed to. We all made it back. That's the important thing," Heero added.
"That and the sex," Heero said into the small silence.
Alfa chuckled. "Keep sight of what's important, I always say," she nodded.
Wufei leaned against the wall nearby, with his arms crossed. "The circle ends where it begins... which means it never really ends at all." he glanced at Heero. "You know, kind of like the sex."
Heero nodded. "Hn," he remarked allowing his eyes to move up and down Wufei's body.
"Dibs," Duo said suddenly, smirking at Heero as he got up and went over to the Chinese boy. He took Wufei's hand and pulled him over to the far corner of the big room.
"Bedtime for me," Alfa announced, curling up with a blanket. "I feel like I could sleep through anything..."
"I suspect you'll have to," Oma whispered softly, snuggling against her.
"Good thing," Heero said, "Did I mention my friends have no class?"
Alfa smiled, but her eyes stayed closed.
"Duo!" Wufei said softly, but loud enough to carry. "I will *not* get a tattoo there!"
"Tattoo?" Quatre said, getting up to wander over. "Duo! When did you get that? Trowa, look at this..."
"Cool," Trowa remarked joining the group.
The last to wander over was Heero. "Thought I'd get one right here," he said to Quatre, indicating his butt.
Quatre laughed. "Heero! You wouldn't..."
Duo grinned. "I bet he will. What's it gonna say, Heero? 'Relena's sweetie'?"
"I was thinking something like 'Wu was here' or maybe just ESO," he said.
"No way," Wufei said firmly, blushing.
"How about Shingami's Pillow'?" Duo suggested.
"I liked ESO," Trowa said, "Like if Heero wants to 'moon' someone he's set up, right?"
"Heero, don't take advice on a tattoo from a circus clown, okay?" Quatre said.
"Oh I got your 'circus clown' right here, Winner," Trowa said. "You can find him in my pants!"
Quatre squealed as Trowa began chasing him, then turned and tripped Trowa onto one of the mattresses. "Hush! You'll keep Alfa awake!"
"Okay here's the game, here are the rules," Duo announced. "Anybody can jump anybody but the rules are no one makes a sound. No screaming, no laughing, no moaning louder than a whisper. Okay, got it? Game starts now!"
-fin-
Translated lyrics to 'Asu e no door wo tatake' <Knock On Morning´s Door> from http://www.oocities.org/Tokyo/Bridge/2526/
Here ends the saga known as ESO. The characters will probably return in the near future. Thanks from both of us to everyone who has been reading, who kept up with this through thick and thin, angst and fluff, battles and lemons, orgies and plot exposition... we had no idea what we were getting into when we started this, but it has been an incredible ride for us, and we hope, for you.
From all the guys, Alfa and Oma, and us, thanks.
Look for a post soon, with a little ESO quiz on it, for anyone who hasn't quite had enough...
love, love and more love
bonnejeanne and vonceia
Comments? Email bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com
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