"The Meaning of
Life"
Written By: SkyLark
Pairings: 1x2x1
Warnings: AU, Neko, male pregnancy, sap, angst
Rating: R
Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*
Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm
and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters.
I just love playing with them.
Third fic in the Neko series
"The Meaning of Life"
Sighing, Danielle peered out through the drawn shades
of her living room window. "It's been some time since we've
had this to worry about," she frowned. Inwardly groaning, her
son and his lover were peering over her shoulders to watch the scene
unfolding outside.
Not even hours after the breaking story of a likely engagement between
Heero and Duo had been released, a swarm of journalists were making
their way up her front lawn with microphones in hand and cameras following
them.
Quietly laughing, the retired lawyer smirked, "Clearly, they
still do not know me very well." Turning to the boys just behind
her, she reassured with a wink, "Don't worry. Trent and I will
take care of the vultures." Already on his feet and at her
side, her husband nodded firmly in acceptance of the task at hand.
It certainly was not the first time the pair had had to fend off the
press.
Before stepping out, Danielle made it a point to focus on the
cat-eared boy and cupped his cheek, urging quietly, "You relax
and try not to cause yourself anymore stress over this."
Purring softly, Duo gave her a thankful smile and nodded firmly at
her polite order. Despite how difficult it was for him to not
be upset and worried over the situation, he was not about to cause
any harm to himself or the baby he was carrying by making
himself sick with worry.
"Try not to give them too much of a scare," Heero smirked
to his mother. Instantly rethinking his words at the sight of camera
flashes pouring through the thin, pale green drapes, he snorted, "Then
again, give them hell."
Danielle chuckled and kissed her son's cheek. "Consider it taken
care of," Trent stated with a low growl as he headed for
the door with his wife. To the sound of the reporters talking and
shutters snapping, they stepped out and sealed the door behind them
to effectively keep the world at bay.
Taking up the tabloid that started all of the trouble, Wufei shook
his head in frustration, "It's just too bad that there can't
be something done about this Susan Weathers for writing this."
Seated beside him on the couch, Sally shrugged, "Unfortunately,
nothing in this article is fabricated. As Danielle and Trent said,
anyone happening to overhear the conversation that started this buzz
is not doing anything wrong in addressing it." Folding her arms,
she leaned back against the soft cushions and glared at the wall across
from her with a grumbled, "Freedom of the press."
Zechs pushed himself up from the door frame that he had been leaning
against and thought aloud, "It still is not sitting right with
me that a tabloid writer just so happened to catch them when they
were walking around. I wouldn't be surprised if she was sitting
around somewhere waiting for something to expose. It was already mentioned
that there was no one in the streets to pick up on their conversation."
As she silently urged their braided son to sit, Noin replied, "Even
if she had been hiding and waiting, there really is nothing that can
be done about it. Nothing in that whole story was slanderous that
could be argued. We would only be fighting the truth."
Within moments, the flashes from outside stopped and a low rumbling
of frustrated reporters could be heard. Looking very pleased with
themselves, Danielle and Trent stepped back into their home. "That
was fun," the young man smirked to his bride.
"I almost forgot how entertaining that was," the redhead
snickered. Addressing the group gathered in the living room, she announced,
"Well, there is nothing that we can really do now besides just
getting on with our lives." Her cobalt eyes falling on her guests,
she offered, "You are both more than welcome to stay for dinner."
Sharing a glance with his grinning lover, Wufei turned back to their
host and responded sincerely, "That is very kind of you, thank
you." Sally nodded in appreciation.
The front door opened in a sudden gust as Solo all but ran in, the
fur on his ears and tail bushy in his agitation. Panting, he
automatically slammed the door behind himself and leaned his back
against it. "Okay," he managed between pulls of breath when
he looked into the crowded living room. "Can someone please explain
why I got mobbed by a bunch of reporters at the park today over the
engagement?"
Wincing, Heero patted one of the few empty chairs in the room and
sighed, "Have a seat. We'll wait for the others to come back
from their outings so we can fill you all in at the same time."
His white fur slowly easing back down as he relaxed, Solo sat himself
down amongst his family and friends. Judging by the tired looks on
everyone's faces, he had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
* * * *
Everything besides the baby was discussed over dinner so that the
nekos could all be filled in. By the time the dishes were
cleared and set aside, there was not a reporter to be found anywhere
near the residence. Wufei and Sally took their leave from that cue.
Solo and Danny were still practically bouncing around the house after
being asked by Duo to be his Best Man and Ring Bearer for the ceremony
before they read about it or saw it on the news the way Quatre had. Luckily,
the Arab had been too thrilled at being asked to be Heero's Best Man
to care how he found out about it.
Politely excusing themselves for some time alone, Heero and Duo headed
up to their room and curled up together in their bed. It had been
an emotionally draining few days and the latest bit of excitement
was less than helpful.
Out of curiosity, the artist reached for the remote to turn the on
the flat-paneled television on the wall across from them. Sitting
up and leaning back against the headboard, the pair scanned through
the channels until they hit a news broadcast.
The same image of them walking hand-in-hand a few days ago was displayed
on the monitor behind a blonde anchorwoman. "Word of
this likely engagement between Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell is causing
quite the stir," she smiled, her red lipstick and blue eyes shining
in the lights focused on her.
"If this engagement is real, many are questioning whether it
is right that even a civil union would be granted. After all, while
Duo Maxwell has been given the same rights as any human being, he
is still a neko- a creature that is not specifically mentioned in
the terms of agreement in a marriage or civil union."
Closing his violet eyes, Duo turned his head into Heero's shoulder.
"Turn it off... please," he begged quietly. "I don't
want to think about any of this anymore tonight."
Not needing another word, the artist turned the television back off
and set the remote back on the small table beside the bed. Gently
kissing the top of his lover's braided head, he whispered, "Everything
is going to work out."
Try as he might to believe those words, the neko couldn't help the
bad feeling he had in the pit of his stomach. Still, he nodded shallowly
against the shoulder his face was buried in.
Carefully settling them both down beneath the covers, Heero reached
back to the table behind him and turned the lamp off. In the darkness,
he said quietly, "Everything will be fine." Whispering more
reassurances, he gently ran his hand over Duo's head.
A quiet purr rumbling in his throat, the cat-eared teenager's eyes
drifted closed as he was lulled into much needed sleep.
* * * *
Over the course of the week, they had completely
avoided watching any television and news stands. When they were out
in public, they donned caps and sunglasses while Duo resorted to his
old ways of wrapping his tail around his waist to conceal it lest
they be recognized and approached.
All that they could do was hope that enough time would pass with no
new story involving them that the interest would shift back off of
them so they could go about their lives normally again. The best way
of seeing that happen was to not make any statements and simply fade
away for a while.
The smell of breakfast cooking the following morning brought about
another spell of morning sickness. Now knowing the reason behind
his ailment, Duo stopped taking any medicine for his stomach at Sally's
suggestion to just let 'nature take its course.'
At least the bouts were still pretty far between, and not nearly as
difficult to handle as they had been at the beginning of his
pregnancy.
Uncurling himself from his hunched position over the toilet, the neko
accepted the cool rag handed to him from behind. With a sigh of relief,
he wiped his mouth while Heero kept his braid back to dab his neck
with another washcloth.
Smiling when his lover turned his head to meet his gaze, the artist dropped
his arms to his sides and asked softly, "Better?"
Duo hummed an affirmative and nodded his disheveled, braided head.
Carefully, he was assisted back onto his feet before moving to the
sink to rinse out his mouth. Once he'd finished brushing his teeth,
he muttered, "I'll be glad when this stage passes. Nothing against
our baby, but I really do not like being sick."
"I don't think that they would take any offense to that,"
Heero snickered while adjusting his lover's rumpled sleep pants and
shirt. “No one ever wants to be sick like this.” Tossing
the washcloths into the small hamper beside him, he raised his hands
to brush back the sweat-soaked bangs from his partner’s brow.
Like so many times before, the artist’s heart skipped
when those violet eyes locked with his own gaze as that heart-shaped
face smiled lovingly at him. Unable to help himself, Heero leaned
in to bring their lips together in a gentle kiss.
When they pulled back, Duo’s smile grew as he chuckled
quietly, “How did you know I needed that?”
Shrugging, the Japanese youth smirked, “Because
I needed it, too.” Quickly kissing the top of the other boy’s
braided head between his tall ears, he suggested, “We better
head down for breakfast. Think you’re up to eating at all?”
At that, Duo snorted, “Of course. I smelled waffles. I’m
always up for that.” Shaking his head in amusement, Heero led
the way out of the bathroom and down the hall for the stairs.
In the dining room, Trent and Danielle were gathered
at the table. Engaged in a quiet conversation, they were hunched closely
together side-by-side while speaking in little more than whispers.
Spotting the boys entering together, the pair quickly sat up and flashed
them wide smiles.
That sudden change in mood had both Heero and Duo’s
hair standing on end. Something was not right.
“Well, good morning,” the young mother was
first to greet as she rose from her chair. Kissing each young man’s
cheek, she asked, “What can I make up for the two of you?”
Gently griping his mother’s arms, the artist forced
her to meet his gaze. “What’s going on?” he asked,
the tone in his voice making it clear that he did not want the issue
avoided. Just behind him, the neko focused on the young woman with
the same determination in his violet eyes.
Peering over her shoulder to her husband, Danielle silently
pleaded for assistance. Trent rose to his feet without hesitating
to stand beside his wife. Instead of trying to sugar-coat the
situation at hand, he took a deep breath and informed the couple
before him with a deep frown, "We just received a call this morning
that the Supreme Justices are arguing over what rights you would have
if you were to be joined through a service."
Wide-eyed, the expecting parents gasped. His skin paling, Duo moved
alongside his lover to sit at the table. "I-I don't understand?"
he stammered. "I was deemed a human being like anyone else, so
I would have the same rights as any other human being that was joined
to another in a civil service, right?"
Biting her lip, Danielle sat across from her boys and explained quietly,
"I am afraid that it is not so simple. You are to be considered
a human, but you are still first and foremost a neko. There is no
law that speaks of what a neko is allowed or denied when they are
united with another. And because you are still publicly viewed differently,
many people seem to feel that there should be different measures taken
should you ever wish to be joined with.. for lack of a better term...
one of 'them' at all."
There was no need to what she meant by the word 'them.' 'They'
were other, normal humans. Heero and Duo sat stiffly, numb to
everything around them as it all sank in.
With a sigh, Trent responded, "Sadly, that's just the tip of
the iceberg. The Supreme Justices are being put in a tight, political spot
right now. Of every branch of government, the high courts are to be
free of any and all prejudice. Therefore, the only rights that they
can allow, if any, is for you to be able to marry the same as
a straight couple. And I don't believe that I need to tell you the
Pandora's box that is opening with that reality."
"My God," Heero breathed as he ran a hand through his
hair. "Gay marriages as a whole would have to be allowed if we're
granted the right to marry. Otherwise, it would be hypocritical to
deny any other same-sex marriage."
The silence from his parents that followed spoke a million words.
For anyone to say that this was Pandora's Box was putting the
situation all too lightly.
Either Heero and Duo would be denied the chance to wed, or every gay
couple like them would be allowed after decades of being denied that
opportunity by the government.
Looking from one face to the other, Duo asked quietly, "Do we
know when the Justices will call the case?"
Trent paused to glance to his wife when she did not answer right away.
When she looked back, he could tell she was on the verge of fighting
back tears. Rubbing her back, the young man turned to face the
neko to answer quietly, "We are not sure when at this time,
but I expect that a hearing will be scheduled in the next couple
of weeks."
His tail and ears drooping, a small whimper escaped the
braided teenager.
Regaining her composure, Danielle reached across
the table to take a limp hand from each boy in both of her own. "I
promise that we are taking every measure to be prepared in defending you,"
she vowed. "Nothing is going to get in the way of your happiness
so long as we have any say in it."
Finally coming out of his shocked and worried state, Heero squeezed
her hand and nodded firmly. He did not dare try to use his voice
at the moment. Wrapping his tail around the hand in his, Duo bit his
lip and nodded as well.
Neither of them doubted that Trent and Danielle would fight with everything
they had to see everything turned out in their favor. It just hurt
that they had to fight at all.
There was a long pause before a nagging thought brought
Heero to inquire, "So who will be presenting the public's case
against our union? If this is going to be going before the Supreme
Justices, there would have to be someone set with that role."
Her cobalt eyes narrowing in a glare, Danielle sat back in her seat
wth a hissed, "Septum. That son of a bitch jumped at the opportunity
to be the prosecutor in this case as soon as it was in the beginning
talks stage."
Snorting, Trent folded his arms and grumbled, "Not that it was
a complete shock to us when we found out. Septum was quite... disappointed
to have lost one of the biggest cases in his career to us. No doubt
he has been lying in wait for the opportunity to redeem himself."
"Now he has that chance," Duo frowned. His defense team
nodded their heads solemnly. It took everything in the neko to keep
his head about him and not fall apart right there.
The first case before the Supreme Justices only affected one life-
his own. What this trial centered around was not only affecting Heero
as well, but thousands of others based on how the ruling went.
If the odds had not been against them in the past, they certainly
were now.
Despite his fears and frustration over the matter, Duo refused to
allow his health to be affected over the matter. There really was
little that could be done aside from waiting for the trial.
Most important to him was the wellbeing of the baby he was carrying.
It was going to be a strenuous few months ahead and there was no sense
in worsening that by any further undue stress.
Breaking the long silence that had fallen on the room, the neko's
ears perked back up as his tail swayed behind him. With a small smile,
Duo turned to the red-haired woman and said, "I think I could
go for some blueberry waffles, Ma."
Danielle blinked her cobalt eyes and instantly brightened at the
slight return to the normal routine of the morning. Grinning warmly,
she chuckled, "I'll get right on that for you, dear one."
Trent rose along with her, a small smile on his own face as they headed
to the kitchen in[to] complete the meal they had started earlier.
Alone, Heero looked every bit as relieved as his parents for the break
in their conversation. Turning in his chair, he wrapped his arms around
his lover while resting his head on a shoulder.
Gladly returning the embrace, the neko wrapped his tail around his
partner's waist. Lowering his own head down on a strong shoulder,
he asked in little more than a whisper, "How did you know I needed
that?"
Smiling sadly, the artist replied just as quietly, "Because I
needed it, too."
His violet eyes closing, Duo swallowed roughly as they left it at
that. Both needing the support, they remained entwined like that for
as long as they could.
TBC
chapter 11
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