Dragons on the Doorstep
~*~ P
“Good morning, Duo. How are you today?”
“Very well. Slept good. No kicking.”
Quatre laughed. “Yes, I understand that any night where the baby doesn’t kick you is a good night. How is the baby this morning?”
“Is awake and kicking! Little shit,” he said affectionately.
“Ready to go? Excellent,” said Wufei.
“Oh, Wufei! Going with?”
“Yes. You, in combination with the bakery, make Heero twitch, so I offered to escort you.” He cocked his head with a smile. “It won’t be forever, just until his therapy gives him back his confidence.”
“Okay. Don’t want Chosen twitching. Might set drapes on fire.”
Wufei and Quatre laughed. “He might indeed!” smiled Wufei.
It didn’t take long to get the buns. Wufei bought two cinnamon buns for himself, then led them to the little sushi stall. “Does anyone want another futomaki roll? Hiroshi starts making them early for his breakfast customers.”
“Oooh! I’ll take another one!” said Quatre. “I planned on having the one from yesterday for breakfast today. Another for lunch would be very nice.”
“Duo? Would you like a hand roll?”
“Would love futomaki roll, but baby says ‘no’.” He rolled his eyes and rubbed his stomach. “Little shit.”
“After the baby is here, then, I’ll buy you a hand roll for breakfast.”
“Okay. Makes happy.”
They arrived home and set out their breakfast. Quatre made tea without thinking, then started the coffee for Heero, and seated himself with his hand roll slices. Duo munched his way through his chocolate-filled buns. Wufei had his own sushi roll and his cinnamon buns. Heero entered the kitchen, fully dressed, but looking half asleep. “Coffee?”
“Started,” said Quatre.
“Ahhh… Thank you, Healer. I was up half the night talking to New York City. I do not believe I will be doing business with them. Combative gits.” He poured his coffee and took a sip. “Ahhh… Excellent! Again Quatre, thank you.” He came to give Duo a kiss good morning. “You’ve been out already?”
“And we brought you sushi for breakfast,” said Wufei.
“And sticky buns,” added Duo.
“Thank you! Just what I was hoping for.”
Quatre waited for everyone to finish before he cleared his throat. “I have something to tell you,” he said to Duo and Heero. “Nothing about the baby; the baby is fine. This is personal, but you both need to know.” He sipped at his tea. Oh, he really didn’t want to do this! It was just so embarrassing…
“I talked to Trowa last night. We’ve broken up. He’s met someone else at the settlement. He’s going to stay there.”
“Oh no! Friend Quatre! Bad news! Or is? Quatre wanted? Quatre decided? Or Trowa decide?”
“It started with Trowa, but I’m the one who put an end to it. He would’ve let it drag out forever. I just wanted closure, and now I have it. I can move on.”
“Quatre, I am so sorry to hear that,” said Heero sympathetically. “It’s always hard to end a relationship.”
“I’m just sorry that the collective had extended a job offer and he didn’t bother to turn it down in a timely manner. That’s just bad manners.”
“Well, he’s had a difficult year. I think I can sympathize to a certain extent. But now we need to advertise for a Mage.”
“Handled,” said Wufei. “The advert comes out today, worldwide.”
“Quatre is all right?”
“I am all right. I think I had a suspicion that something else was going on. It was and wasn’t a surprise, if that makes any sense. I think I always knew it wasn’t going to work. Anyway. That’s what’s happened, and I’ll get over it. I have much work to do here and at home.”
Duo hugged Quatre tightly, whispering, “So sorry! Trowa idiot to let go. Never find better. Annoyed with Trowa.”
“It’s all right, sweetie. I sort of knew something like this was coming. I just wish it had come a little sooner. Well!” He got up and began to clear the table.
“Tomorrow is my day to go home for a week, so I'll set everything up for you for the week. Duo, I've already talked to Healer Paliehai and he will monitor you. If anything changes, call me and I'll portal immediately. If you should go into labor, I'll be back instantly. Heero, I'll bring Turkish coffee. My sister loves it and tells me that it's a little like espresso. I expect to be gone by morning.”
Wufei cleared his throat. “Quatre, would you like some company? I would love to watch you work.”
“Oh! You know, I think I would! That would be lovely! Can you take time away, though?”
“I can. My assistant can handle the books, as long as Heero doesn't do anything crazy.” He smirked at Heero and received an eye roll in return.
“Is okay,” declared Duo. “Will keep eye on everything. No problems this week. Not allowed.” He hugged Quatre again. “Will have good visit, heal many children.”
Quatre hugged the little Kewpie. “Thank you.”
Wufei and Heero slipped out to the office. With the door closed, Heero asked, “What are you up to? I smell sneaky.”
Wufei sighed. “I need to speak to his elder sister. I would like to court our Healer.”
“You would?! When did this happen?”
“When he opened the door to me in Willowmarsh. I took one look… and just… fell. And now he's free, so I want to try.”
“Well, damn. Good luck. Hm… You realize that would be good for the collective, as well.”
Wufei nodded. “That was a consideration… about tenth on the list,” he smirked.
“And you will probably be expected to spend time in the kingdom.”
“Not a problem. I can work remotely, and portal reports to you.”
“That you can.”
“And I can work to increase the wealth of the kingdom. Can’t we,” he said archly.
Heero laughed. “Indeed we can! You must offer something to his people since you will be taking up his time.”
“What an excellent idea, my dear friend!”
“Take a nice gift for the sister.”