Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own Gundam Wing, or anything associated with the AC universe. I am gaining NOTHING monetary from this story.
AN: Okay, so here's the first chapter. Boy, am I nervous! It's been so long since I've actually written a story for this forum! Ummm -- Like I said in the prologue, it's going to be a little while before we really delve into the problems that Quatre is having with his life. Right now is just the setup (obviously). So, I hope that you enjoy!
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?Hey Quatre!? Duo?s jubilant voice rang in the air. ?Quatre, over here!? Duo was waving his hands in the air in a redundant attempt to get Quatre?s attention, for Quatre had noticed Duo the first time that he heard his name called.
?Sit down, you fool,? chided Wufei. ?I?m sure Quatre can spot us without you waving your arms about like a rag doll.?
?You know what your problem is, Wufei?? Duo said, putting his hands on his hips in a mocking fashion. ?You need to lighten up.?
?You guys,? Quatre smiled, ?I haven?t been here for more than a minute and you?re already arguing. Let?s try a few minutes of civility for once.?
?If you?d been here on time, you?d have seen how civil we were being!?
?Oh really? I?m sure that I would have loved being a part of that awkward silence. Besides, the host of this little get-together still hasn?t arrived. So, I?m off the hook.?
?Oh yeah, I forgot about that.? Duo took his seat once again. ?I wonder where princess is anyway. I haven?t seen her in months. How about you Quatre??
?I saw her last month at a meeting in the L-1 cluster. I didn?t really get the chance to catch up with her, though.?
?Princess is always so busy?? Duo mused.
?How have you been Trowa?? Quatre asked his long-time friend.
Trowa had been sitting to the side, quietly observing the interaction as he always had.
?I?m fine, Quatre,? he replied. ?I?ve been visiting Catherine at the circus's off-season location for the past month.?
?Oh how is she? It?s been a year I last saw her, I think.?
?She?s fine,? Trowa replied, always one for words.
?You?re right,? Duo dropped in. ?She IS fine! Let me tell you, if I weren?t madly in love with Hilde, I?d totally be hitting on your sister!? He playfully nudged Trowa with his elbow, getting only a glare from Trowa in response.
?Duo, show some respect!? Quatre exclaimed.
?Oh come on! I was just joking!?
?I see you?re still up to your old games, Duo.? No one had noticed the couple approaching.
?Heero! Relena! Hello!? Quatre greeted the two enthusiastically.
Relena flashed one of her reserved smiles while Heero acknowledged the others with a nod.
Relena began speaking, ?Quatre, Duo, Trowa, Wufei, it?s such a delight to see you outside of work!?
?Princess!? Duo rushed up and enveloped Relena in a giant bear hug. ?Quit being so polite! You know you only missed me!? He gave her one of his signature playful grins.
Relena giggled, ?Well, life surely has been very boring without you around.?
?Don?t encourage him,? Heero growled.
?Come on, buddy,? Duo turned his attention to Heero, ?you know you missed me!?
Heero grunted and glared at Duo while Relena simply sweat-dropped.
?Come on, you two,? she started to intervene, ?play nice. I didn?t ask you all here so you could bicker.?
All attention was given to Relena. ?Oh yeah,? Duo remembered once again, ?why did you invite us all here in the first place??
Relena grinned almost devilishly, ?Let?s all get something to eat first. I?ll tell you my reason when we get settled inside.?
The group walked into the caf? that they had congregated outside of. No one noticed the tender exchange between Heero and Relena (AN: So, I won?t go into detail. HA HA!).
After have their drinks brought to them and their food order taken, Relena teased the group with petty conversation.
?So, Trowa,? she started after finishing the quick catch up with Duo, ?how have Catherine and the circus been coming along??
The pilot chose his words carefully, he did not want another outburst from Duo. ?Catherine has been handling the circus great. I?m sure that Manager couldn?t have asked for a better replacement.?
?Is she still with ? what?s his name again??
Quatre and Duo?s ears pricked up. Trowa scowled, ?Jason? No. She caught the ungrateful bastard in bed with another woman and left him.? He sighed. ?I hate to say it, but I saw it coming. I told her that you just can?t trust circus people like that.?
?Oh,? Relena replied, feeling sad for the woman she had only recently learned to call friend, ?I?m so sorry for her.?
?Weren?t you a part of those circus people?? Duo joked, but Trowa only responded with a glare and a growl. ?Whoa, I was only joking. Besides, I?m sure he won?t be like that after the beating you gave him.?
Trowa shook his head, ?No. I didn?t get to do anything to him. She wouldn?t let me. She said ? she said that would be giving him too much satisfaction.?
Quatre?s eyes filled with sympathy for his friend. He knew how important Catherine was to Trowa. He knew the girl as well and knew that she could never do anything to deserve such treatment. He had to switch the topic quickly, not wanting to cause Trowa any more pain by lingering on the subject.
?So, Relena,? Quatre said after casually taking a sip of his tea, ?what was it you brought us here for again??
Relena sighed slightly with relief and blushed a little, ?Oh yes, I supposed I?ve dodged the subject and tortured you all long enough.? She paused. ?I ? I mean, Heero and I have an announcement to make.? Everyone?s eyes widened, not exactly sure what to expect, but all still expecting the same thing. Relena reached into her right jacket pocket and pulled out a ring. ?We?re getting married!? She said while putting the small, but absolutely stunning diamond ring on her left ring finger.
Every jaw, save for Heero?s and Relena?s dropped a little. Relena was beaming with an excited smile across her face. It was infectious. It was Quatre who recovered first, ?Congratulations you two!? He exclaimed.
?Oh my ? Princess is getting married?? Duo was completely stunned. His eyes watered a bit. He knew that the day would come, but it was still a bit of a shock, Relena was like a kid sister to him. ?Are you two sure that you?re ready for that? I mean ? marriage is a really big step!?
?Duo, come off it,? Quatre scoffed playfully, ?you know as well as I do that these two were destined for each other.?
Trowa momentarily forgot about his sister?s woes and smiled. Relena had gotten close to him as well. He nodded to Heero in his own way of congratulating him, and he nodded back. ?I?m truly happy for the two of you,? Trowa said quietly. ?Tell me, Heero, have you told Zechs about this yet??
Heero grimaced a bit, but Relena answered, ?We wanted to let you guys know first. You are our family, blood or not.?
?Hmph,? Wufei broke his silence with a grunt. ?More like we?re your test subjects.?
Relena grinned sheepishly, ?Well, that may be part of why we?re waiting??
Duo wiped away a small tear, ?He won?t mind. I?m certain that he would because he knows the devotion that they two of you have for each other. And, if he doesn?t, I?ll use my own means of persuasion to convince him otherwise. I have only one other thing to say. Heero, if you even THINK of hurting my Princess, I?ll snap your neck before you can say ?Shinigami.?? His eyes squinted threateningly.
There was a new tension in the small group. Duo had never threatened Heero like this before ? well, seriously at least.
Heero nodded, ?Roger that.? Everyone tensed, fearing that Heero simply saw this as another mission to finish. But he alleviated that with a playful wink in Duo?s direction, which caused Duo to be taken aback.
Relena giggled again, ?Duo, you silly-ass, I can assure you that I won?t let him do such a thing.?
?Yeah, that and I?m sure Zechs will get to me first,? Heero chimed in.
Duo smirked, ?I guess you?re right, and there?s nothing I can do about it.?
?Duo,? Heero decided to finally put his own voice in the matter, ?there is one small favour that Relena and me would like to ask of you.?
?What is that??
?Can you marry us??
Duo was astonished. ?Me?! You want ME to marry you?!?
?Would you prefer it if I picked someone else?? Heero asked flatly.
?No, I?m honoured that you picked me. I just figured that you would go for an actual minister or something like that.?
?Well, don?t question it and just accept it.?
Duo nodded, ?Of course! That would make me the second happiest man in the world! The happiest man being you, Heero, hopefully.?
Heero then turned to Trowa, ?I would also like to have you as my best man, Trowa, if that is all right with you.?
?I would like that very much, although I can?t promise that I would throw a very good bachelor?s party??
There was a silence before the party burst into a small fit of laughter. Trowa didn?t quite get it, but he figured that he wouldn?t ask. He was just happy that Heero was laughing. He was truly happy with Relena.
Heero recovered and wiped a small tear from his eye, ?I want the rest of you to be my entourage thing ? groom?s party. I don?t know what they?re called.?
Wufei and Quatre nodded. It didn?t surprise them that Heero asked them to at least do that. They all had to wonder if a big ceremony was actually what Heero wanted to do.
?Well,? Duo chimed in, putting his arms around the shoulders of the happy couple, ?I guess that means we have a wedding to plan!?
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All right, so this is the first chapter. I hope that you likey likey. If you don't, let me know. There may be some things that I can change to make it better. Who knows?!
As I said at the end of the Prologue, it may be a while before I can update this again. I know that it won't be too long, but it will be at least a couple of weeks... A month at the most (if I'm lucky). So, I'll see you guys then!
Peace out!
