The Master Work
Chapter 3: Welcome, Dr.
Pairings: 1xR, 2xH, 3xMU, 4xDC, 5xSP
Italics indicate thought.
It was a clear March day when the Maxwells arrived on L1, two days before the meeting with the mysterious curator. Relena was on her doorstep, eager to greet them. Heero stood behind her, a bit more reserved but content seeing his wife so happy.
Finally the cab pulled up to the front gate, and Relena rushed forward, Heero following at a slower pace. She bounded down the front walkway like a six year old, tossing open the gate and almost knocking Duo out of the way to hug Hilde.
?I?m so glad you made it! I was worried about you flying in your condition,? Relena clasped her friend?s arms. ?I told Heero I felt so silly for insisting you come-?
?No worries!? Hilde laughed. ?I still have two months of flying left in me.?
?Hey, don?t I get a hello?? Duo pouted. Relena laughed and hugged her husband?s comrade. By then, of course, Heero had reached the group, and he and Duo shared a firm handshake. ?Hey buddy, how?s life??
?It?s going,? Heero nodded as Relena guided Hilde towards the house, insisting her expectant friend lie down. ?The trip??
Duo cringed at the question as he collected the bags. He turned to Heero with a desperate look in his wide eyes. ?Listen to me,? he hauled their large duffel up onto his shoulder. ?Don?t EVER fly with a woman when she?s knocked up. You wanna relive self-detonating? Take Relena on a shuttle when she?s pregnant.?
Heero rolled his eyes. Duo?s dramatic tone was ridiculous, but nevertheless he filed the tip away for later use.
?So,? the braided man continued, his jovial tone returning. ?You and Relena gonna start popping out mini Heero?s soon??
Heero glared at his companion, who put his free hand up in defense. ?Hey, just askin?!?
?Do you have to use that kind of language?? Heero growled.
?Aw, you know I?m just joking,? Duo grinned. A thought passed through his mind, one that made his already wide smile grow to anime proportions. ?She?s asked you already, hasn?t she??
?What?? Heero?s eyes widened in embarrassed surprise.
?She wants a kid, huh? Come on, buddy, you can tell me!?
?Fine,? he conceded reluctantly. ?Yes, she?s asked.?
?Wow,? Duo whistled as they entered the house. ?You? A dad? I?d pay to see it.?
?What makes you think you?ll be any better?? Heero smacked his friend upside the head.
?Ow! I didn?t mean it like that! You?ll be fine. As soon as you see the princess pop like Hil, it?ll be over. You?ll be a pile of mush!? Duo laughed at his own joke, imagining the Perfect Soldier fawning over a pregnant Relena.
Heero could only shake his head.
~^~
?So when are the others getting here?? Hilde asked, sipping the warm milk Relena brought her.
?Trowa and Cathy should be arriving soon, and Quatre is coming this evening.? The blonde replied, sitting on the couch. ?I can?t wait to see everyone again.?
?I can?t wait to see Cathy?s face when she sees me!? Hilde grinned.
?Cathy doesn?t know??
?What don?t I know?? Both women turned to see Catherine in the doorway, her smiling face framed by her familiar auburn curls. Her eyes went from Relena to Hilde, settling on her stomach-
The older woman shrieked. ?Hilde! You?re-?
?Five months along,? Hilde grinned. ?Getting bigger every day, feels like.?
?I can?t believe you didn?t know!? Relena shook her head at Hilde. ?How could you not tell her??
?It?s my fault,? Cathy came and sat with them on the couch. ?We?ve been moving around too much on this new tour- but wow! Congratulations!?
?Thanks. Where?s Trowa?? Hilde asked, shifting positions.
?Putting our stuff in the guest room,? she lowered her voice to a conspiratory whisper. ?He?ll probably need some alone time to talk to Middi too.?
?Middi?? Both women spoke at once, leaning towards Cathy. The older woman grinned.
?Yeah- his new girlfriend,? Cathy broke out in a grin.
?Oh my god!? Hilde covered her mouth to stifle her laugh. ?Trowa- in love? I can?t wait to see this.?
?You might have to wait a bit. He doesn?t talk about her very much- but I can hear him with her on the phone sometimes. I?ve never heard Trowa laugh so much!?
The two wives looked at each other in surprise. ?So who is she?? Relena asked.
?Middi? All I know is Trowa knew her before the war, when they were younger. She came to our show in Corsica a few years back. She?s a pretty girl, really great skin. Really tiny, like you, Hilde. Anyway- I wouldn?t have noticed anything if Trowa hadn?t been whistling in the kitchen two weeks ago.?
?Whistling?? Hilde gasped in mock astonishment. ?I didn?t know Trowa knew how.?
Cathy and Relena laughed. ?I tried grilling him on her but he won?t budge! I?m hoping she?ll visit soon so I can get to know her.?
?She must be something,? Relena nodded. ?These boys aren?t easy to get to.?
~^~
As Relena promised, evening brought the Winners to L1, and the entire group was able to dine at the Yuys. The evening also brought along a surprise, in the form of a large diamond ring on Sally?s hand and a smiling (yes, smiling) Wufei.
?Dam, Wuffers, didn?t know you had it in ya!? Duo clapped the Chinese man on the back. ?That thing is huge!?
?Maxwell,? Wufei warned, but only half-heartedly. He was too content to actually put Duo in his place. The couple hoped that everyone could make it to the wedding next spring, and with the news spread talk turned to the prospective exhibit.
?So who is this mysterious curator?? Dorothy asked, leaning her chin into an elegant hand. ?I imagine Heero?s run a full background check??
?You know him too well,? Relena rolled her eyes, ignoring her husband?s peeved glare. ?She?s actually new to the museum. I?ve heard she?s quite brilliant.?
?Brilliant or not, she?ll have to put up a pretty good argument to get these guys to agree to anything,? Hilde poked Duo with her spoon.
?Um- we?re right here, you know,? he stuck his tongue out at her. ?Hate to see what you say about us in private!?
~^~
The day of the meeting dawned bright and clear. Relena sat outside on her deck with Hilde and Dorothy, watching their husbands play monkey in the middle with Elena. Cathy was upstairs with Trowa, helping him get over a migraine.
?Madam,? Marie came out onto the deck. ?Dr. Marianelli is here.?
?Fantastic,? Relena smiled. ?Show her out here please.?
?We finally get to meet the mysterious curator,? Dorothy said, checking her nails. ?I hope she?s not too boring.?
?She won?t be,? Relena answered.
?Vice Minister Yuy??
The three women looked up. Hilde?s mouth fell open. Dorothy arched an eyebrow.
?Dr. Marianelli,? Relena stood and greeted the woman at the patio door. ?It?s good to see you again.?
?Likewise. Thank you for having me. And please, call me Fatima,? the curator shook Relena?s hand warmly. Dr. Marianelli was young, and lovely. Her thick black hair curled around her shoulders, contrasting with brilliant green eyes and pale skin. A curvaceous body was held stylishly in a smart power dress and Mary Jane pumps. Hilde and Dorothy glanced at each other, feeling suddenly inadequate.
Fatima?s eyes went to the two women, whom she smiled at, then to the boys. ?I see your husband is here too. Are they two of the pilots?? She asked Relena.
?Oh- yes, actually.?
?They?re very handsome,? she blushed. ?I wasn?t expecting that. Are they single??
Hilde and Dorothy shared a look. Relena cleared her throat. ?Erm, Fatima, allow me to introduce my friends,? she took the curator to the table. ?This is Hilde Maxwell, and Dorothy Winner.?
?Our husbands are playing on the lawn with my daughter,? Dorothy said pointedly, gesturing with her left hand.
?Oh- oh! I see,? Dr. Marianelli blushed, realizing her mistake. ?I had no idea the pilots were married. Except for Mr. Yuy of course,? she added quickly, trying in vain to cover her blunder. Relena felt sorry for her, but the other two wives only gazed at her coldly. The boys were called over, and introductions were passed.
?It?s such an honor,? Fatima gushed as she shook Quatre?s hand. ?It?s so surreal.?
Hilde rolled her eyes at Dorothy. Give me a break. She?s acting like a groupie for God?s sake.?And this,? Quatre hoisted up his little girl. ?Is my daughter, Elena.?
?Pleased to meet you,? Dr. Marianelli smiled at the child.
?Indeed, the pleasure is mine,? Elena replied slowly, earning a smile of approval from her mother.
?Go on and play, Elena,? Quatre put his daughter down as everyone else sat. ?See if Auntie Relena still has ladybugs in her garden. Yala, yala.?
?Yes, Papa,? Elena waved charmingly to the other adults and dashed off, a cherubic fairy in an ice blue smock.
?So,? Dorothy said coolly. ?You look a little young to be a curator.? She twisted the massive heirloom engagement ring and engraved wedding band on her hand, eyes flashing as if to say, Don?t get any ideas.
?Yeah, I thought they were supposed to be much older,? Hilde put in, laying her left hand on top of her belly. Her sapphire bridal set glittered in the colony sunlight.
?You?re right- I?m the youngest curator the museum has ever had. But don?t worry, I know my stuff!? She laughed nervously, and Relena cringed. Dorothy and Hilde were grilling this poor woman. The boys were oblivious.
?I?m sure you do,? Dorothy said casually.
?Are the other two pilots here?? Dr. Marianelli asked.
?They?ll join us for lunch in an hour,? Relena assured her.
?Great- I?m so excited about discussing the exhibit with you all,? Fatima grinned.
Hilde glanced at Dorothy. I?m sure you are.
~^~
?Relena,? Hilde pulled the Vice Foreign Minister aside on their way to lunch. ?Please tell me the women are going to sit in on this meeting.?
?I don?t see why,? Relena said, surprised. ?I was hoping we could have some time all together while the boys discussed the exhibit. They can handle themselves.?
?You?re going to put my Quatre in a room with that- Jezebel?? Dorothy overheard and came over, indignant.
?Ok, so she thought they were- attractive. She didn?t know you were all married! You two are completely overreacting.?
?Excuse me, but you?re husband didn?t get a once over,? Hilde pointed out. ?Did you see the way she ate Duo up??
?Exactly,? Dorothy nodded.
?Duo and Quatre love you both,? Relena tried to placate them. ?Have some faith.?
?Oh- I trust Duo,? Hilde said. ?It?s her I don't trust.?
?Indeed. And besides, Quatre?s too na?ve to know when he?s being hit on. I should know.?
Relena pressed her fingertips to her temples. ?Look, girls, I know you were expecting someone?Uglier? Nerdier? older, but she?s a complete professional. I really think this will be good for the boys, so lets try to be nice? I?m positive she?s not trying to steal anyone?s husband. Besides,? she allowed herself a smile. ?It?s not our fault we?re married to gorgeous men.?
The other two wives looked at each other.
?She?s got a point,? Dorothy told Hilde.
?Duo and Quatre are good looking men,? Hilde conceded. ?You?re right, Relena. They?ll be ok.?
~~~^~~~
I am a nerd, so I didn't mean it offensively back there. Also, I was entertained with the thought of Dorothy and Hilde being possesive- come on, if you were married to any of those guys, wouldn't you be?
Relena: I'm married to Heero, but I don't get jealous!
MarvelGirl09: Relena, you're a HORRIBLE LIAR.
Next chapter?The pilots have conditions for the curator?Dr. Marianelli takes interviews?Relena takes a test.
Please drop me a line, tell me if it?s good. Thanks to all who have reviewed, and thanks to all who have read!
