Chapter Text
“And that’s how it happened.” Cathy slapped her knee as if to punctuate her statement. “Quite a tale, don’t you think?”
“Very much so,” Une said, shaking her head. “Those Gundam pilots… And Miss Darlian, too. Or is it Maxwell now?”
“She kept her name,” Hilde said.
“Well, she’s as determined as the rest of them, in any case. They’re all going to do exactly what they want to do, and nothing will persuade them otherwise.”
“We’re lucky it turned out so well for us,” Hilde said. “I mean, it’s not perfect. Wufei’s still in and out…”
“Mostly in,” Cathy said. “He has a room here now, you know. And he actually calls it ‘his room,’ none of that ‘guestroom’ crap.”
“He might as well,” Hilde said. “You see how big this place is? He’d be stupid not to take advantage of it.”
It was indeed a large home, but they were a large hive – and they were only growing. No sooner had their second been born than Duo was pregnant again, this time with twins. They would probably end up needing every square meter of Quatre’s new Brussels manor.
The three betas were sitting on the back patio, which was paved in a durable white stone that appeared delicate but would withstand years of the wear and tear it was going to get. There were a few little white iron tables scattered around, with spindly iron chairs that were stronger than they looked. Everything in the house was made to last, with a refined façade to it.
“It’s a lovely place,” Une remarked, gazing out over the back lawn and the little path that led to the greenhouse. The only mark against it was the dirt patch fenced off by wire mesh. “That’s going to be a pool, isn’t it?” She could see the imprint of it dug out already.
“Yeah, they say it’ll be finished by summer, but it’s already pretty warm.”
“We’re betting it’ll be ready just as Duo gives birth,” Cathy said with a teasing little wrinkle of her nose.
“Are they going to schedule a C-section?” Une asked.
“Yes, that’s much safer with twins,” Hilde said. “Oh, of course, you would know.” Millie and Naina had been born to the Peacecraft hive just the previous year.
“Speaking of, how are the kids doing?” Une took a sip of her tea.
“Hiromi’s being a little terror, of course,” Cathy sighed. “Potty training.”
“It’s cute to see how Tressa adores him, though,” Hilde said enthusiastically. “She’s just had her first birthday, but she’s already starting to pull herself up and follow him around. She’s walking a lot faster than he was!”
“That’ll happen with siblings,” Une said. “The younger ones learn from their elders.”
“He does encourage her a lot,” Cathy said. “Those two are like peas in a pod. They’re always together now that she’s moving around more freely.”
“Oh! Here they are!” Hilde had turned to the panel of floor-to-ceiling glass, a portion of which had slid aside to allow Heero to walk out with Tressa perched in his arm. Hiromi followed, toddling after with one hand gripping his father’s pant leg.
When he saw the betas sitting there, Hiromi frowned, his expression so stern that he looked like Heero in miniature. “Aunties, le’s p’ay!” he said, waving to them. “Come on!”
“Leave your aunties alone,” Heero said, then nodded to them. “Hello, Une.”
“Good to see you again, Maxwell,” Une said, offering him a little smile. “Have you been hiding from me? Afraid I’m going to chastise you for quitting?”
“I was waking Tressa from her nap.” He bounced the child on his hip, a substantial little girl with thick swirls of dark blonde hair framing her face.
“Oh, how adorable!” Une exclaimed, standing and going to have a closer look. “She has Duo’s eyes!”
“And Relena’s stubbornness,” Heero said flatly. “… Duo’s, too, actually.”
“I saw Duo briefly when I arrived,” Une said. “He’s gone upstairs to lie down, but he looked good.”
“He feels awful lately,” Cathy said. “About ready to pop, and it’s only seven months!”
“Exactly how it was for Zechs. He had the worst trouble with our twins.”
“Daddy, come ooooon!” Hiromi was tugging on Heero’s pants.
Taking the hint, Une stepped back. “Well, it was lovely meeting you, Tressa.” Une took the girl’s tiny hand and shook it gently, and those indigo eyes hardened as wispy brows turned down in an unmistakable Relena Frown. “Hmhm… My, I didn’t mean to offend.” Une had to suppress her laughter.
Heero gave her another nod and led his son across the patio, carefully down the stairs, and onto the lawn. Une returned to her seat and watched as he took the blue blanket tucked under his arm and spread it out on the grass, setting Tressa atop it as Hiromi ran around them.
“He’s articulate for his age,” Une remarked, watching as Hiromi babbled something to Tressa.
“He’s Duo’s kid,” Cathy snorted. “Are you surprised? He practically came out talking.”
“It’s adorable,” Une said, smiling softly. “I saw Relena’s press conference before coming over here, by the way. Will she be returning soon?”
“She’s due back in tomorrow,” Hilde said. “She’s been anxious to stay home ever since Duo got pregnant again.”
“Quatre and Trowa, too,” Cathy said. “They had this trip planned way before for their anniversary, but they both were making noise about cancelling it! I told them, ‘You’d better go on that trip and enjoy yourselves, or I’ll drag you onto that plane myself!’”
“I think they’re having a good time,” Hilde said. “Though Quatre checks in every day.”
“Is one of the twins his, or do you know yet?” Une asked.
“We think they’re Wufei’s,” Hilde said. “Duo says he can tell. I dunno how true that is, though…”
“It doesn’t really matter,” Cathy said. “We’re not one of those hives that separates kids based on who the father is. Can you believe some people do that?”
“A shame,” Hilde agreed, shaking her head. “It’s so much more fun when all the dads are involved.”
“Even Wufei,” Cathy tittered. “He’s great with them. You wouldn’t think so, based on how he acts, but he’s a real softie.”
Une knew very well how Wufei was with kids. He spent as much time at their house helping to care for the children as he did “caring” for Zechs. His bond with their omega was weaker, and it was fed by something toxic that Une didn’t even want to examine, but he was always kind to the children. Kathy called him Uncle Wuwu, and he allowed it with a grace that he had never shown to any adult.
“Where’s Dorothy?” Une asked in the interest of changing the subject.
“With Relena, of course,” Catherine said. “Dorothy assigned herself as Relena’s official caretaker, so she follows her everywhere.”
“Good thing, too,” Hilde said with a huff. “She’s not much help around here.”
“Neither is Howard,” Cathy pointed out.
“Howard’s at least pleasant to talk to!”
Une had no doubt that Dorothy was right where she wanted to be, and it did her heart good to think of it. The war had destroyed so many lives – not just the ones it had taken, but also the ones who had survived it. She was glad to see that they were all rebuilding, both individually and as a society. Heero quitting Preventers to become a stay-at-home dad had not been much of a shock. Dorothy remaining by Relena’s side was expected. Quatre and Trowa were happy in their relationship within the hive, and Wufei was allowing himself exactly as much family bonding as he could stand.
The two betas across from her, who were now chatting animatedly about the upcoming pool, seemed happy, too. They had been gracious to allow her to come visit, and to entertain her as she silently scoped out the living situation. All was well with the Maxwell hive, and Une had no doubt that they would continue to thrive on into the future, just as the rest of society would.