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"With A Childs Heart"Written By: Dùlin
Disclaimer : Not mine. Just playin', will give
them right back, yadda yadda ... you know the drill. And I'm broke.
Really. Rating : R Warnings : Post-EW, humor, yaoi romance and sap, bit of lime and implied lemon, language, violence, child abduction Pairings : 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xS, references to past 6x5 and 6x9 Author’s Note : an extra-special thanks to
Lisou-chan, my little sister, who agreed to lend her physical six-year-old
looks and part of her character to the little Alice in the fic. Well,
the truth is she nagged me until I accepted to have her being adopted
by Trowa and Quatre, so everyone’s happy now !
"With a Childs Heart" Part 2 Alice was sitting between Trowa and Quatre in the back seat of the car that was getting them to the spatioport. She was avidly looking at everything she saw with wide green and golden eyes, and asking a lot of questions in her little voice. “We’re going to take a shuttle ?” “Yes”, Quatre said with a smile. “This colony is in the L2 colony cluster. We live on L4. It’s a 20 hour-long journey.” “I took a shuttle once”, Alice said very seriously suddenly. “To come here. And then, Mom and Dad got killed, and I stayed there.” Trowa shot a look at Quatre, then put one of his arms around Alice. The girl settled more comfortably against him. “I can’t remember them very well”, she kept on quietly. Her tone clearly indicated that she was over that tragedy. Even Quatre was astonished. Of course, children heal fast, but that kind of mental wound at such a young age was something awful, he was one to know about it. But Alice could talk about her dead parents with a quiet smile. The sadness of their death had disappeared, apparently leaving only the happy memories she could have of her parents. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to”, Quatre said in low tones. “I don’t mind”, Alice answered. “They were nice people, and they were killed because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s what miss Lizzie told me.” Trowa and Quatre looked at each other, completely amazed this time, but said nothing. “You’re going to take care of me forever ?” Alice asked, a bit of anxiety in her voice. “Of course, sweetie”, Trowa answered. “That’s what we want.” Alice looked into Quatre’s eyes. Trowa had the distinct feeling that something was happening between those two that he didn’t quite understand, although he suspected something. Once in the shuttle, Alice looked at the stars for a while. Then, she yawned, and curled up like a cat, she fell asleep. “I think you found an angel, Quatre”, Trowa whispered. “I didn’t find her, Trowa”, Quatre said. “She caught me. Didn’t you notice ?” “What ? That thing like you don’t need to talk to understand each other ?” “Exactly. I didn’t expect to find another empath just there and now. But then, we don’t know why some people are like this, do we ? Maybe it’s because she had a rough childhood.” “Nonsense, love. If that was true, then all of us Gundam pilots would be empaths too. None of our childhoods were heaven on Earth. Believe me, you two are very special.” “You’re probably right”, Quatre said, yawning. “See now ? You even get tired when she is. Am I going to find a league of empaths against me at home ?” Trowa asked in a laugh. “Hey, we love you !” “I know. Just sleep, now.” Quatre snuggled himself into Trowa’s arms, his head resting on his lover’s chest. He fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes. Trowa looked at the two sleeping figures. The two persons he loved more than his own life. Two angels fallen from heaven, and he had the luck to have them both. He held Quatre a bit closer and closed his eyes too. A limo was waiting for them at the spatioport on L4. Quatre took the still sleeping Alice in his arms while Trowa was getting their bags. The little girl only awoke once in the car. “We’re there already ?” “Yes”, Quatre said. “We’ll be home in fifteen minutes.” “You are very rich, aren’t you ?” Alice suddenly asked. That made Quatre laugh. “How do you know ?” “I saw you on TV once, and on a magazine miss Lizzie was reading. And Duo told us about you also”, she added with a bright smile. “You like Duo ?” Trowa asked. “I don’t know him very well. He was not a lot with us the youngest children, we were not allowed to go out too much. But I think I like him.” Trowa let out a snort of laughter, earning a puzzled look from both Quatre and Alice. “What ?” the little girl asked. Trowa took her chin in one of his hand. “It’s just that you speak like a book. It’s so cute.” He kissed her on the cheek before letting go. Alice turned back to Quatre. “So we are going to live in the big house I saw on TV ? Just the three of us ?” “Not just us”, Quatre said. “There’s Catherine, Trowa’s sister, who is living with us.” “I have an aunt ?” Alice asked eagerly. “Actually, you have thirty aunts.” “Thirty ? That’s huge ! But if Catherine is Trowa’s sister, then …” “Yes”, Quatre admitted, “the twenty-nine others are my elder sisters.” This left Alice thoughtful for a moment. “If I have thirty aunts, then I must have a lot of cousins”, she started again. “Eighty-four”, Quatre said. “They’re all waiting for us at home, in fact. They want to welcome you.” Alice looked at Quatre, then at Trowa, then a miserable expression appeared on her face. “I can’t count how much people there are in my family. It’s too much”, she whined. “Don’t worry”, Trowa said, “you’ll soon know. And you’ll see, there’s something much funnier to do.” “What ? Tell me !” “Trying to remember everyone’s name”, Towa said deadpan. Quatre elbowed him. “Don’t try to make it sound difficult because you haven’t figured it out yet”, he said with a smile. “I’m sure you’ll do fine at this game, Alice honey. It’s not that hard.” Alice looked at Trowa from the corner of her eyes. “I bet I’ll beat you at this”, she finally said triumphantly. “That’s for sure”, Trowa admitted. “But let’s play and see who wins, okay ?”
Quatre, Trowa and Catherine led her to the room they had prepared for her. She was yawning already, and her eyes were drooling. That house was so big, she was sure she would get lost. She looked up at the tall woman at her side. Catherine looked back, gave her a great smile, and picked her up. “Is it better that way ?” she said. “Yes.” “You look exhausted, sweetheart”, Catherine said kindly. “You have a good long night of sleep, and tomorrow you can begin to explore the place.” “It’s very big.” “Yes. But I can show you around, if you want.” “My daddies have to go back to work.” “Yes. But I’m sure they will do their best to spend plenty of time with you. And when they can’t, you can just stay with me, or we’ll invite some of your cousins over. And then, maybe you’ll go to school.” Alice didn’t answer. She was fingering Catherine’s auburn hair, half-asleep. Quatre opened the door of the bedroom and switched the lights on. Alice looked at the huge bedroom with wide eyes. “Is it really my room ?” “Yes”, Quatre said with a smile. “Do you like it ?” “Oh yeah ! It’s so beautiful here !” Alice wanted to add something, but a big wide yawn stopped her. “OK, bedtime now”, Trowa said. “We can speak of everything you wish tomorrow.” Trowa put Alice’s clothes in the drawers while Quatre was helping her to change into a night gown. When this was down, the little girl gave a great hug to Trowa. “Good night, Papa”, she said. She did the same to Quatre. “Good night, Daddy.” Then, she hugged Catherine. “Good night, auntie Cathy.” “Good night, Alice”, Catherine answered. Alice got into her bed, and fell asleep very quickly. Quatre pulled the blankets up on her, switched the lights off, and they all left the room. They went to the living-room almost automatically, not saying a word. Quatre seemed in a kind of state of shock. “She’s amazing”, Catherine finally said. “She’s so sweet. And it’s just awesome how much she looks like the two of you !” “You noticed that too, uh ?” Trowa said. “In the shuttle, I had had the feeling I had one little Quatre in front of me.” “Cathy is right, though, Trowa”, Quatre said. “She looks a lot like you too.” “I hope she will be happy here”, Catherine sighed. “God knows she deserves it, from what you told me.” “No worry about that, Cathy”, Trowa said. “She kidnapped our hearts, and it looks like she caught yours too.” “Yes”, Catherine said thoughtfully. “And it was the same for everyone else. She got in, and everyone was crazy about her.” Quatre suddenly let out a big yawn. “Sorry, Cathy”, Trowa laughed, “I have to put my second empath into bed, or he’ll collapse in my arms.” “Not funny”, Quatre groaned sleepily. **** Trowa was woken up by something strange. Someone was climbing in the bed. He opened one of his eyes, and blinked. A little blond figure was looking at him with a quiet smile. Quatre was still asleep. Trowa beckoned to Alice to come closer, and she lied down between them, into Trowa’s arms. She shot a look at Quatre, and suddenly, the blue eyes opened. They met Alice’s green and golden gaze, and Quatre smiled to her. “Hello.” “Will you stop that, you two ?” Trowa said in an indignant whisper. “Stop what ?” Quatre asked. “That empathic communication or whatever you wish to call it.” Alice chuckled. “We can’t”, she said. “It just happens. You’re not mad at us, are you ?” “How could I ?” Trowa said with a tender smile. He reached out to Quatre and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. “You want breakfast ?” “Yes”, Quatre said. “I have a meeting later this morning.” “I’ll get you something. What do you wanna eat, sweetie ?” he asked Alice. “Can I go to the kitchen with you ?” “Sure.” “So what”, Quatre interrupted, “you’re gonna leave me here alone ? No way ! If you both go downstairs, then I’m coming with you, and we all have breakfast on the terrace with Cathy.” That first breakfast was a very enjoyable affair. Alice chattered all the way through it, asking questions and questions and questions. The three adults tried to answer each of them, chuckling. Then, Catherine took Alice to the bathroom, leaving Quatre and Trowa a moment of peace. “This house will never be silent again”, Trowa sighed. “Thank God.” Quatre kissed him hungrily. “Hey, what’s up, you ?” Trowa asked, giggling. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for at least an hour. I was too tired last night, but I intend to make it up to you.” Trowa raised an eyebrow, his eyes silently questioning. “I need to take a shower”, Quatre said rising. “Come with me ?” He didn’t wait for the answer, and went back into the house. Trowa made up his mind in about three seconds, and followed. **** “A party ?” Alice asked. They were all sitting in the living-room for tea. Alice was on the carpet with sheets of papers and pencils, drawing. And apparently listening to every word that was said, although she really looked to be into her quiet game. “That’s right, honey”, Quatre said. “We would like you to meet our friends.” “What are they like ?” “I think you’ll come up with your own opinion on this, dear. But they are our closest friends. We fought together during the war.” “Gundam pilots”, Alice simply said. “How on Earth can you know about Gundams ?” Catherine asked with wide eyes. “I listened to the people when they came to the orphanage. They talked a lot about Gundams, and how they helped to free the colonies. But I didn’t really understand what this was about. I’m too young.” “Yes, I think you are, miss”, Trowa said seriously. “There will be plenty of time for you to learn about those things.” Alice looked up at Trowa. The young man gazed back. That little girl was definitely very mature. Maybe too much for her age. That’s what comes out of being hurt when you’re a child, he thought, his gaze fleeting towards Quatre. Now, he had to take care of those two. And if he could protect Alice from the horrors of the war, he would do it. Alice was a bit worried to hear Trowa sound this serious, but she understood that he was concerned about her. She climbed on his knees and locked her arms around his neck. Trowa closed his own arms around the little body, instinctively using the same movements he was doing when he was with Quatre. Suddenly, Alice whispered something in his ear. “I’m safe with you.” She then turned to Quatre and Catherine. “Who is coming to the party ?” she asked brightly. “There will be Duo, and his partner Heero. I called Wufei and Sally, and Milliardo too. That’s pretty much all. They are all impatiently waiting to know you.” Alice sat back down on the floor. “I want to meet them too. I’d like to see Duo again, he’s nice.” “Then it’s settled”, Quatre said. He sat down with Alice on the carpet. “Now, I’m spending some time with you. Trowa and Catherine need to practice with the troop, so we’ll try to have our fun without them.” “Oh, I’m sure you’ll find something to do”, Trowa snickered. “Go back where you belong, circus freak”, Quatre joked. “Don’t I get a kiss before I go ?” Trowa asked. Alice ran into his arms and planted a kiss on his cheek, but Quatre made no move to get up. He looked innocently at Trowa. But the fun was on him this time. Trowa smiled an left the room, followed by a giggling Catherine, and leaving a very frustrated Quatre on the carpet. As soon as they were out, Alice laughed. “Too bad for you, Daddy ! You didn’t get a kiss ! I had one.” “Well, I suppose Trowa will see to it later, sweetheart”, Quatre said lightly. “You’re disappointed.” “Not really. It’s just a game, you know.” “A game ?” “Yes. We’re teasing each other, but it’s only because we love each other very much. I don’t know what I would do without him.” He suddenly noticed the tear that was rolling down Alice’s cheek. “What’s wrong, Alice ? Why are you crying ?” “You’re not going to die, are you ?” Alice sobbed. “Because, everything is so wonderful here, and I love you and Papa, and I don’t want you to die.” “Come here”, Quatre said, pulling her into his arms. Alice calmed down a little. “We will never leave you, okay ? And even if we’re
parted, we’ll always find some way to be with you. We will protect
you. You will never be alone again, I promise.” “I love you, Daddy”, she whispered. “I love you too. Feel better ?” “Yes.” “You’re not afraid anymore ?” “No.” “Good. I’m suggesting some ice-cream, and then we can go outside and watch Cathy and Trowa practice. How does that sound ?” “Yummy !” Suddenly a bundle of energy again, Alice ran to the terrace. Quatre waited a while before he followed. Alice reminded him of himself so much. It was almost painful in some ways. The girl was just as intense and caring as he was. Which meant she could get as hurt as him. Yet, she was also so strong. Which was understandable since she was a survivor, just like him and his friends. Still, her wounds were not completely healed. ‘I’ll have to be careful about that’ Quatre thought. ‘She’s just a child after all.’ ~ * ~ |
