"Well in that case I believe I was giving Heero too much credit. I thought he was the most sane one of us all." -Chang Wufei
I sat at the computer desk, watching the screen saver go by, and contemplated all that had happened a few moments earlier. Duo had just poured his heart out to me and walked off crying, acting like it was nothing...
What was all that he said about my father?
Why did he insinuate that their relationship was...
No. It couldn’t have been. Father wasn’t like that. I saw how he and Mother were. It couldn’t be. Never.
I pushed those absurd thoughts from my mind immediately, completely in denial. ‘I wonder how to play this Star Craft game...’ I figured if I busied myself, I wouldn’t think about it...
Boy was I wrong.
While looking around on Duo’s computer, I stumbled across a folder titled Heero, and since that happened to be my father, I got nosy and opened it.
Then I realized why Duo was so upset talking about Father. And I wished I hadn’t ever opened that folder.
What I found were pictures of him and my father, about fifty of them. At first, they just seemed to be shots of friends, but the more I looked at, the more it clicked into place. They started turning into pictures of them at the beach, splashing each other, or pictures of them at dinner together, by themselves. As I scanned through these, the truth became clear. Then there was a saved email message turned into a text document in the folder, at the bottom. Opening it, I read what sounded the saddest note I’ve ever read.
Duo:
The past couple months have been enjoyable. You know I love you. But something has come up. I don’t think it will work. I’ve noticed your increased time spent with Hilde, and you know I’ve been doing more things with Relena lately. It was fun while it lasted, but...I think we both knew it wouldn’t go on forever. I’ll never stop loving you, but I think we know this lifestyle isn’t for us. We both need a female touch around. Stay in touch.
Always,
H.
Duo had been dumped, and worse of all, by my...father?
My father was...
The tears wouldn’t stop, no matter what I tried. I grabbed the tissues nearby, but they couldn’t stop the flow, just clean it up. Pushing myself away from the computer, I stood up, cursing my father for not being what I thought he was. ‘How could you!?’ was all I thought, furious at him.
"You bastard!"
I don’t know how long I ran, but it seemed an eternity as I left the house and made my way through the woods behind it, not caring what bush I ran through or what tree I side-swiped, until I finally got to the clearing Duo had first taken me to when I arrived there the day before. I collapsed on one of the benches, sobbing out my anger at my father, when my tears subsided and I watched the coy in the pond below, swimming around each other playfully. "First, he forgets to mention the fact that my mother was the Queen of the World...now he forgets to say that he was...another man’s lover? How many lies did he tell me? Is my name really Sarah? Is he my real fucking father?" I choked out, eyes shut as I turned my face skywards, still maddened by the deceit that was my father. ‘My father...’
"Sarah...I’m sure he never meant for you to find out like this." The hatred I felt must have been reflected in my eyes, for as soon as I turned to Duo, he cowered away at my gaze, face distorted as he looked away. At the time, I didn’t care. I didn’t care that he didn’t have anything to do with the fact that my father kept so many secrets from me, his only child, I was still angry at the world. Why did I have to be born into such a confusing place? Why couldn’t my father have raised me like every other normal person?
Once again, my thoughts came through to my mouth and were heard by another, at which he responded, coming forward to place his arms around me as I collapsed again, a weeping mess. "Because you are not a normal person, Sarah. No one is. You are exceptional in the fact that you are Heero and Relena’s daughter. You have the best of them both in you, and I envy their ability to create such a wonderful child. You should feel proud that you were raised the way you were, because I don’t know anyone who could have been raised like you were. Not even Heero. The way he was brought up was different, uncaring. You care, otherwise you wouldn’t be here crying in my arms." Duo reached down and brought my face up to look at his, which only expressed sympathy. "It’s not his fault."
Those words echoed in my head until I realized that it wasn’t. It wasn’t his fault.
"I’ll tell you the whole story, if you are willing to listen." he offered, handing me a tissue. I sniffled and wiped my eyes, clearing my head, and nodded. Might as well. "Your father and I met while he was being held hostage by Oz and Lieutenant Noin, whom you have already met. I broke him out and since then we were together on missions, but we hadn’t really given any thought to..." he blushed at this, looking away, but continued when he saw my stony face. "Us. After Operation Meteor was over is when we got closer, and it continued throughout the Mariemaia incident. A few days after that ended is when I received that letter from him. A week after I got that letter, I proposed to Hilde, and I haven’t seen him since. He didn’t even come to our wedding. I didn’t know that he and Relena got married, not until you showed up and said you were their kid. I hope that explains it all."
So it was nothing more than...a fling? Something they were just experimenting with? "Did it mean anything to you?"
His turn to get stone-faced. "Of course it meant something. I loved your father. And I believe he loved me, but I think it was hard for him to love anyone at the time. I’m surprised he went to Relena that soon after, but...I think everyone expected it, so there weren’t any questions asked. I miss him, but...he was right. We knew that lifestyle wasn’t for us. And now I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and it seems he’s doing well too." I handed the tissue to him, knowing he would need it more than I would at that point.
Suddenly he turned around to face me, a huge grin on his face, and the sparkle back in his eyes.
"So, hungry for lunch?"
I smiled. What else could I do? "Do you always mask your pain?" I asked, linking my arm with his. He laughed, voice echoing off the surrounding trees.
"Not always. Sometimes I really am happy! Especially when..." he brought his voice to a whisper, leaning in close to me. I was expecting something really serious, when he yelled, "IT’S LUNCH TIME!" and knocked me over, almost falling into the pond. Thank god for my quick reflexes, otherwise I’d need a blow-dryer and my gun real quick. Blow-dryer for obvious reasons, the gun, on the other hand?
So I could shoot that braided baka as he ran off towards the house, ducking and rolling like a true soldier would when being pursued.
~*~
I found my way back to the house, and walked calmly in, bypassing Duo and Hilde, who were already at the table, heading straight for my car. As I reached the door, intent on obtaining my long needed gun, I bumped into Trente, who was just coming inside from the store with a bag of candy. "Whoa, Sarah, where’s the fire? What did Dad do now?"
He really did know his father all too well. I laughed it off and allowed him to lead me back inside, forgetting my previous death wish for Duo, and sat down with him, once again amazed at the spread Hilde had prepared.
After lunch, I thankfully restrained myself from killing Duo, and decided to accompany Trente on a trip to the mall. I had never been to a mall before, and it just seemed like a fun place to be with the boy of my dreams alone. Little did I know that malls have hundreds of people in them. We spent the afternoon there, hanging out and enjoying each other’s company, until Hilde called us and said that dinner would be ready soon. It was at dinner I decided that I needed to move on. I already knew enough about Duo, I didn’t need to know any more about what the Gundams did to him. I announced this, as I had at the other houses I had, and received the same response.
"Why?"
I smiled, taking a sip of juice. "I have to move on. I need to make it home. I realize Father gave me the whole summer, but I want to go home quickly so I can surprise him. And, before I go home, I know I’ll have to think of what I am going to tell him. I have had so much fun here, and I thank you for your hospitality, but I have to leave." I stated, getting up to clear my place. Duo and Hilde just stared, mouths open, and Trente looked down at his plate, seemingly upset. The events that took place next surprised me more than finding out about my father’s previous relationship with his fellow teammate.
"I’m going with you."
All eyes turned to Trente, who had the most serious look of determination on his face I don’t think even my father would have challenged him. "You...are?" I asked, eyes wide as I dropped the plate I was holding. It fell to the floor, shattering, which brought everyone back to reality as the pieces flew in all directions, prompting many apologies from me to Hilde.
Trente just nodded and came to help me pick it up, looking me straight in the eye. "Yes. I am."
I was speechless. It seemed he had that affect on me at the most inopportune times. Regaining my voice and continuing to clean up the plate, I nodded my approval.
"Okay."
***************************
AN: Alright, not too much Yaoi, right? Just a hint? *looks hopeful* I hope it wasn’t too bad...did you endure it? If you are reading this, then you did! Please, no flames, I’ve been doing so well with this story, a flame might make me have to stop it! How did you like this chapter? Review review review! I would really appreciate it...if you didn’t like it, please, PLEASE, write CC, not a flame. Flames are for the weak minded. Can I have some real criticism? Arigato!
And here is my solemn promise: NO MORE YAOI!!! At all! I won’t say a thing more about it! Sarah might have some problems with it and could possibly think about it, but the newest addition to her little search party for the Gundam Pilots, I don’t think her mind will be thinking about her father’s previous relationship, more likely her future one with this boy-god! And, for Cim, no evil eyebrow witch! You have my authoress word, okay? Gosh, you guys are making me give away all the hints to the future chapters...*sighs* Yeah right there are a lot more plot twists left! *grins*
~*Home*~
~*Back to Fan Fiction*~