Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 77
With a deep sigh as a hand ran over his bare, damp back, Duo chuckled, "Remind me to risk my neck like that more often." Heero snickered and kissed a trail from the back of his lover's neck down to the top of the cleft between his perfect globes.
The moment they returned home from that evening's victory celebration with their team, family and friends, the couple made for their room for an enthusiastic round of love making. His hair down and splayed all around them, Duo turned onto his side to pull his partner in for a fierce kiss that left them both breathless when they pulled away.
Smirking, Heero commented, "Well, I did promise 'later' during halftime. And you know that I am a man of my word." Carefully shifting their naked bodies so that the running back could nestle his head on a shoulder, he brushed the long bangs from those violet eyes and kissed his forehead.
For a long moment, the pair just lied together in silence. Wrapping a few strands of chestnut hair around his fingers just before drifting off, Heero shared, "I took the liberty of calling Coach Newbright at Green Bay."
Instantly stiffening at that, Duo looked up to his teammate's face with wide eyes. "W-what did you call him about?" he managed in little more than a whisper.
With a shrug, the quarterback answered, "I asked if he would be willing to discuss a package deal for you and me when the postseason is finished." Laughing quietly, he commented, "I thought the man was going to have a heart attack over the phone at knowing that we are both looking to sign with him."
Unable to trust his voice, the running back lunged up to claim his lover's lips once more. Tears in his eyes when he pulled back, he breathed, "Are you really sure about this?"
"Of course," Heero replied without hesitation. "I've already said that my home is with you and the children. I meant every word of that." Reaching a hand up, he caressed a stray tear from his partner's cheek. "You've sacrificed so much over the years to see that your family had the best of the best. I'm not about to take that away from any one of you."
Still struggling with words, a few choking sound escaped Duo. Only smiling more widely at that, the team captain ran a hand through his long tresses and said, "I also thought that it might be a good idea to take advantage of the next two days off to go and see the progress on the house that's being built out there. After all of this time, I'm sure you're anxious to see how your dream home is shaping up."
Reduced to quiet sobs, Duo wrapped his arms tightly around his partner tightly. His own arms slipping around the trembling body that clung to him, Heero asked softly, "I take it that works for you, then?" He chuckled when the head against his shoulder nodded fervently.
It was not long before they drifted off into a peaceful slumber, still dreaming of their future together.
* * * * * *
The following morning, Dorothy was enjoying a quiet breakfast with her parents at their favorite diner in Pittsburgh. It was quite a shock to the regulars there to see such a wealthy and famous family at such a humble eatery. Polite to everyone who came up to congratulate them on their team's success, they exchanged handshakes and even a few autographs.
Most of the compliments given were directed to the only daughter of the Catalonias at how well she was handling the pressures of being one of very few female owners in history. Over the season, she had become as much a celebrity as her athletes with all of the media surrounding her.
Along with those encouragements, there were also wishes of luck for the upcoming game against the Boars. The Wolverines going up against the returning national football league champions was quite the stir amongst the once sleepy city of Pittsburgh. Whatever the outcome, their team had proven their worth by earning the right to go toe-to-toe with the best of the best.
When their breakfast was finished, the family headed out to the parking lot together before having to part ways once again. Kissing his wife on the cheek, the 'old man' politely requested a moment alone with his daughter. Gently taking his little girl's arm in his, the balding retired owner walked her toward her car and stated, "I must make a confession."
Blinking in confusion, Dorothy looked over her father, from whom she inherited most of her features. "A confession?" she repeated quietly. "Whatever of?"
Hesitating, her father paused in his footsteps and turned to face her. "When I handed over the role of owner to you, I had many doubts," he began. "I honestly thought that I was making a mistake in trusting you with such a responsibility." The young woman swallowed roughly at that as she lowered her head and nodded.
Gently lifting her head from under her chin, he smiled sadly, "And recently I realized that I had felt that way because I never really took the time to know you. I was so wrapped up in my role that I never really got to see just how strong and grounded you are. There is no one more fit for carrying on my legacy than you."
Taken aback by his words, Dorothy's eyes filled with tears and a small whimper escaped her. Fighting the shimmer in his own eyes, her father cleared his throat and whispered, "I am so very, very proud of you, child. And I am sorry that I never said those words sooner."
Sniffling, the team owner threw her arms around his neck. "Just promise me that you won't make the same mistakes that I did," he requested of her when they pulled back. Lightly running a hand over her golden hair, the tall man stated, "Don't become so wrapped in your work that you forget what matters most in this life. Football seasons come and go but family... friends... those things are irreplaceable. Don't let those things come and go."
"I promise, Daddy," his daughter nodded, her voice cracking. Sharing another round of tight embraces and exchanging 'love you's', the family went their separate ways.
All the way back to her estate, Dorothy was grinning from ear-to-ear. She had finally heard her father say that he was proud of her. Never having heard those words from him before, it would be some time before she would get over it actually happening. Above whatever her team or her fans thought of her, she was more worried of her father's opinion of her. Now... no she felt fulfilled in what she was doing.
It was only a moment later when Dorothy reached the grounds. Approaching the large, closed gates that protected her estate, she frowned in finding an unfamiliar car parked outside in waiting. Just before she was about to try and pass the other vehicle, she brought herself to a stop when the driver's door opened to reveal her guest.
Her eyes wide, she blinked in surprise, "Sylvia?"
* * * * * *
Pouring two cups of steaming tea, Dorothy admitted, "This is quite the unexpected surprise. I certainly never expected to have you make a visit to my home." As she gathered up the saucers under the cups, she headed to the small kitchen table.
Sunlight peered through the glass sliding doors to brighten the space. The beautiful day did little to cheer a clearly distraught Sylvia. With a quiet 'thank you,' the visitor accepted the offered cup and set it down to cool a bit.
A frown of worry on her face, Dorothy tilted her head and said, "There must be something truly bothering you if you've come to see me for any help. It's no secret that your family has not been very fond of me ever since Treize became involved with you."
Feeling sick to her stomach at that remark, Sylvia swallowed against the bit of bile that rose in her throat. "He had made quite a few accusations regarding you and your family." The team owner did not look the least bit surprised as she sipped from her own tea. Taking a deep breath, Noventa shook her head, "I'm beginning to wonder if those were not lies as well."
Unclear as to what her guest was getting at, the look of confusion on Dorothy's face only grew. Their families once friends before, she always knew the only Noventa child to be one of virtue and naiveté. Perhaps she had been wrong about the latter. There was something very different about this Sylvia sitting across from her.
"I've been observing things over the last few months," her visitor began, her eyes staring out at nothing and losing focus. "Treize always seemed to be a loving and good man. And there was never a time that he could tell me something that I would not believe. But there has been a certain chain of events during the course of this season that have made me begin to question him more and more."
Her hands folding on the table, the team owner nodded firmly, "I see. And I would imagine that the televised threat I made last week was something that sparked some concern if you have been noticing things." Biting her lip, the Noventa girl returned a small and unsure nod when their eyes met.
There was a brief silence before Sylvia laughed bitterly, "When I told him that I was going away for some time to be alone, he never even asked me where I was going. He didn't even seem to care... about me." With a small gasp when her voice broke, she felt the sharp sting of tears in her eyes.
She took a small sip from her tea without really tasting it before continuing, "It just made me think over our whole relationship. I thought of everything that he said and did to come across as a loving husband. And I found that just maybe he never really cared about me."
Just wanting to have her fears confirmed, she fixed her cousin with a stern look and came right out to ask, "Was Treize's marriage to me nothing more than a ploy to gain ownership over my father's team? Am I the glass house that he should not be throwing stones at?"
As if reading her cousin's thoughts, Sylvia smirked, "One of the benefits of having everyone think you're clueless is they have no idea you're more aware of things than they realize. It's what will keep Treize and my father from having even a small concern that I might be up to something during this spontaneous trip of mine. They'll just assume that it's another one of my 'private ventures to see the world'."
Chuckling, the team owner offered, "Well, if there is anything that I could do that may help in your search for answers, please don't be afraid to ask. You know better than anyone that there is no love lost between your husband and me."
A relieved and grateful smile lit Sylvia's face as she sat beside her. Taking the other young woman's hands into her own to squeeze them, she told her quietly, "It's so very nice to finally get to know you, Dorothy."
"You as well, Sylvia," her cousin grinned widely. "You as well." Neither one in a rush to part ways, they enjoyed a quiet conversation to catch up on the years that they had lost as friends and family.
* * * * * *
Jamie had latched onto Heero's leg, refusing to let go ever since learning of the trip that her parents-to-be had planned. The quarterback just smiled and waddled around without complaint. When he finished packing his things after an hour of that, he carefully extracted her and lowered her onto the closed suitcase atop his bed.
Leaning in so their noses nearly touched, he smiled, "It's only going to be an overnight stay for us, sweetheart. We'll be back home before you know it."
Her big brown eyes blinking, Jamie mumbled, "Pwomise? You'll be back tomowow?" The child's concern was understandable. It was the first time since Marcus's incident that Duo and Heero had left the kids behind for a whole night.
Kneeling before her, the quarterback grinned, "I promise. Your Uncle Quatre, Aunt Hilde, Uncle Solo and Aunt Une are going to be here. Nothing bad will happen. You know that this place is safe, right?"
The little girl sat up straight and nodded firmly. "Good," Heero chuckled. Wrapping her up in a tight embrace, he vowed, "Your Daddy and I would never let anything bad happen to you or the others. I know that you'll be a brave girl while we're away." Jamie nodded again as she twined her own little arms around his neck.
Duo entered the doorway to the scene and smiled, "So someone finally decided to let your leg get its circulation back, huh, 'Ro?" His lover and daughter laughed quietly as they pulled away. Humping onto the bed, the running back opened his arms to the child with a warm, "Come here, munchkin."
Giggling, Jamie crawled into his lap and hold he kissed her head. The diversion was to enough that Heero was able to do a thorough check of the room to see that he had not forgotten anything. Before doing so, he gave his partner a grateful smile.
Lightly working his fingers through his little girl's brown hair, Duo grinned, "Are you and your siblings looking forward to your sleep over that we're throwing?"
Instantly brightening and forgetting her fears, Jamie nodded excitedly, "Yea! I can't wait! My friends that I in- in..." She hesitated on the word before speaking it slowly, "in-vi-ted talk about it at school all the time!"
"Ah, well then, maybe you could work with your Aunt Hilde and Uncle Solo on some of the planning for that," the running back suggested. "I'm sure that you have all kinds of ideas for the party." From where he was searching his dresser drawers, Heero smirked as he shook his head in amusement and wonder at how well his teammate handled their kids' worries.
Beaming, Jamie gasped, "I do! I got lotsa ideas! I could help!"
With a few pats to her head, the braided athlete told her, "Yes, you can. Now don't forget that you have your brothers and sisters that are having friends over, too. You can't leave them out, so make sure to get their thoughts as well. Then, we can all go over the plans together as soon as your Otou-san and I get back tomorrow. So, make sure that you don't forget anything while we're away."
That was sure to be more than enough to keep her preoccupied during the trip.
Her green eyes filling with determination, the child replied, "Okay, Daddy. I won fowgot anything!" Kneeling in his lap, she reached up to hug his neck tightly. Chuckling deeply, her guardian returned the embrace and kissed her cheek.
"There you are," Tai acknowledged from the doorway. Stepping into the room, he opened his arms to his little sister and said gently, "Come on, Jamie. Let's give Daddy and Otou-san some space so they won't be late for their flight."
The little, freckle-faced girl put up no resistance as she shifted so that she could be lifted up by her brother. Both Heero and Duo gave the teenager an appreciative smile and nod before he headed out.
When they were alone, the quarterback sat beside his partner and commented, "It's still hard for me to get over how good you are with the kids. I never would have thought of that to take Jamie's mind off our leaving."
Shrugging, the running back responded, "I've had a lot more time with them to figure out little tricks like that." He took up his lover's hand for a squeeze as he reassured, "For someone who's still new at this parenting stuff, you're doing a great job with them, 'Ro." That earned him a sound kiss on the lips.
Reluctantly parting, Heero looked to his watch and suggested, "We better get going so we'll be at the airport in time to grab something to eat before we're seated." Offering a hand, he aided Duo to his feet and they ran one last quick check over the room.
Suitcases in hand shortly after, they stepped from their bedroom while closing the door behind them.
* * * * * *
Moments later...
Their shoulders sagging and frowns marring their faces as they watched the red car carrying Heero and Duo head from the lot, the children all looked to one another.
As the leader of the pack when their guardians were not around, all eyes eventually fell on Marcus. Quietly, he announced, "Meeting." Leading the way, he took them to the second level den and pulled the door closed.
In a very official way, the oldest of the lot sat at the front of the group and began, "I know that no one likes the thought of moving away from here." Sighing, he shrugged, "Even I don't like it. We have friends and people who care about us here. But the house that Dad has been planning for us is already in the process of being built."
Flora bit her lip and frowned, "If we had known that Otou-san was going to be our Otou-san before the construction started, we may have been able to do something. It would be pretty selfish of us to say anything now after everything that he's done for us."
Shaking his head, Tai added, "We could always make new friends in Green Bay and we'll be happy there just like we are here." A thought crossing his mind, he shuddered, "It would kill him if we told him that all of the work he's put into getting us to Green Bay was basically for nothing."
On behalf if the youngest of the lot, Abdul said quietly, "I don't want Daddy to be sad. If moving makes him happy, we'll move." Without hesitation, Hope, Jamie, Sun and Camille nodded in agreement.
Pleased with his siblings, Marcus smiled and declared, "All right. Then from here out, we're not going to be upset about having to leave. For Dad's sake. Is everyone all right with that?" Everyone in the room nodded.
Taking a deep breath, the African American boy grinned, "Good meeting, everyone." With a group hug, the tight band of brothers and sisters adjourned.
TBC...
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