The Meaning of Life Part 23

"The appeal was approved?!" Septum exclaimed, his face red as he rose from his leather chair. Propping his hands at either side of his desk, he leaned over the intercom before him. "What could Danielle have possibly brought to the table that would allow that to go through?!" he shouted.

Over the line, his assistant's voice answered nervously, "I... I don't know, sir. The message just came in, but the Justices would not elaborate at this time what is so new to the case that they agreed to rehear the trial."

Slowly sitting back down, the prosecutor dry-washed his face with his hands. With a deep sigh, he worked to control himself enough to say calmly, "All right. It is what it is and we will have to deal. I'll be pulling the team together so that we can go over this and prepare. I want further information on when we need to be back in court as well as what you do know for a board meeting in an hour."

The relief was more than evident in the young woman's voice as she responded, "Very good. I will have everything prepared, then." Not waiting to give the man a chance to say anything further, in the fear that he was still less than pleased over the situation, she disconnected her end of the line to end the call.

Leaning back heavily in his chair, Septum rocked his seat back and forth a bit as he folded his arms across his chest. Deep in thought, he chewed on the inside of his cheek as he mulled over the disturbing news he'd received.

It would have been a grave understatement to say that he was unhappy. He was livid. No, he was enraged. More so than he ever had been.

After finally having his victory over Danielle Yuy-Clark and her equally successful husband, they were trying to rip the rug right out from under him again. So, it was pretty clear that they were more than sore losers if they felt the need to make such a bold move.

But then there was something that actually had Septum worried... the Supreme Justices agreed to the appeal. Even if the rare appeals that were heard before the judges did not change the initial ruling, they were still compelled by something new in the case that they wanted to review their decision to deny a neko to marry a human.

That unknown 'something' worried him. That 'something' would remain unknown until they were back in the High Courts, as such was how an appeal worked. Which ever side of the court appealed had the burden of changing the Justices' opinions, and so they had the right to withhold whatever new piece of information they had until the trial.

Whatever that 'something' was, Septum would have to think on his feet. That was to his advantage, as he was the best at that in the business. He would just rather not have to make his case in such a manner.

Running a hand over his dark hair, the lawyer sighed, "What the hell do you two have up your sleeves?" That very question was going to have him on edge until the next time they all met once again.

In the end, Septum decided that there was little more that he could do aside from preparing himself with what he did know. Everything else would be revealed in time. He would be patient until then.

Smirking, he was already looking forward to making Danielle and Trent regret trying to cross him. He did not care what it was going to take- they would both be terribly sorry for testing him this way.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Danielle laughed, "I just wish I could have seen Septum's face when he got word about the appeal being approved." Rubbing her hands together, she leaned back in the couch and smirked, "I want to make that man regret interfering in our lives the way he did."

Beside her, Trent chuckled and shook his head, "I would just be happy to have all of this behind us with a win. Septum's losing to us again would just be the icing on the cake." Raising a finger of warning to his bride, he stated, "Let's just not lose sight of the fact that we still have to get our case together. The odds are still against us in this hearing, even with the pregnancy."

Seated across from them on the love seat, Duo looked over to his 'husband' with a nervous frown. With a squeeze of their jointed hands, he faced his 'in-laws' and announced, "Actually, there is something that I needed to discuss with both of you about our case."

Their eyes meeting the violet gaze on them, the lawyers blinked in surprise. Danielle tilted her head and replied, "Yes, Duo. Whatever concerns you have, we'll be happy to help however we can."

His throat tight, Duo swallowed roughly. Confused himself, Heero frowned as he watched his partner. Giving the neko's hand a reassuring squeeze, he asked softly, "What is it, love?"

Clearing his throat, the neko announced, "I decided that I would really like to exercise my right to defend myself in this appeal." At the stunned, wide eyes on him all around, he explained, "I know that it's a risk, but I really want to have my own voice heard by the Justices."

Nearly winded by the news as though a fist landed in his gut, Trent stammered, "Duo... you really don't know Septum and the punches he'll be throwing. He'll be pulling out everything he has to make sure the ruling sticks while being able to attack you, personally. That kind of stress would not be the best thing for you or the babies when you're so late in your pregnancy."

"It's not like I'm completely helpless," the neko retorted almost heatedly. Taking a deep breath, his arms and tail wrapped around his swollen stomach as he forced himself to calm down.

Biting her lip, Danielle said quietly, "Duo, if this is because of how we let you down this last time..." Her voice trailed off when a small sob caught up with her and her cobalt eyes filled with tears.

Instantly, the braided teenager was on his feet and kneeling before her as he told her sincerely, "You did not let me down in that first trial. There was not a thing that either of you did wrong in defending me."

Hardly keeping the shimmer in his violet gaze back, Duo continued, "It's just that... this may be the last shot I have to finally be able to get my own feelings across..." Pointing to his chest, he whispered, "From here. And I know the odds are against me in this, but I would still like to go out knowing that I spoke on my own behalf."

Behind the neko, Heero remained in his seat while fending off the watery shield in his own vision. At odds with his personal feelings on the subject, it took every ounce of strength in him to keep in his place. But, this was what his 'husband' needed to get out. And so, he let him go on.

Forcing a deep, relaxing breath, Duo looked from one lawyer's face to the next as he stated, "Besides taking care of my family, I am going to be devoted to defending other people without voices so that they can be accepted. How can I do that if I don't even try to do the same for myself? I need to do this and defend what is the most important thing to me."

Right then, both Danielle and Trent's eyes widened as a new light dawned on them. Had there been any further argument against the boy's wishes, they were cleared away in that moment. Still, the decision was not theirs to make.

Slowly raising her head, the red-haired young woman looked to her son and asked softly, "What do you think, Heero?" Ears dropping, Duo turned his head back over his shoulder to face his partner.

Clearing his throat, the artist ignored the stray tear that had found its way down his cheek. Resolved, he nodded firmly in a clear voice, "I think that Duo should go through with this. He would never endanger himself or the babies if he didn't think he was up to this."

In a rush, the neko breathed out a deep sigh mixed with a whimper before he moved back to his husband's side as quickly as he could. Wrapping him up, Heero kissed the top of the neko's braided head as he sobbed in relief against his shoulder.

What lay ahead may be more than a little frightening, but it was the right thing to do. Even if the outcome of the appeal did not turn out how he wanted, at least Duo would have his own voice heard.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Zechs chewed on the inside of his cheek worriedly after waving his son and Heero off as they headed back to their college campus. Turning to face Danielle, he asked, "Are you sure this is a good idea, letting Duo defend himself?"

"Honestly, I don't know," Danielle admitted as she and her friends stepped back into the house. "But, I can understand his wish to do so."

Much as she wanted to protect her son from what may come of his decision, even Noin nodded, "So can I." Looking down to Danny, she smirked, "We all just have to keep trusting him, right?"

Grinning from ear-to-ear, the boy cheered, "Yep! I know my brother. He'll do great!" The pairs of parents chuckled at the little neko's enthusiasm.

Trent piped in, "We'll all have to make sure that those boys know we have that same conviction leading up to this appeal. Now that it's scheduled less than a week away, they'll need all of the support that they can get."

No argument rose from that sentiment.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Later that evening...

Blinking in shock, Susan frowned, "Maxwell's defense is making an appeal that has been approved?" Her eyes narrowing in thought, she shook her head, "What in the world could be so new to their case that would have the Justices willing to take another look at their ruling?"

With a shrug, Bobby pushed himself from her office doorframe that he had been leaning against. "Don't know," he answered, "and it doesn't matter. By the morning, the announcement will be on every newspaper stand and in every news broadcast."

As he approached the desk his best reporter was sitting behind, he smirked, "And we are going to have a seat in that closed-door hearing along with a few other journalists."

Gasping, Weathers nearly fell back in her seat. Emerald eyed widened anew, she sputtered, "H-how did you manage to pull that off? We were never able to have access to a High Court case like this before."

Her editor-in-chief waved a hand and responded, "I pulled some of the right strings. The fact that you had the first story out that opened up this whole commotion in the first place was a huge help."

Still mentally reeling over what this meant for their publication agency, Susan's slack jaw snapped closed. Never before was a tabloid columnist able to set foot in the prestigious double marble doors of the High Courts. Something like this was truly the opportunity of a lifetime for whomever that lucky person that filled their one seat was.

Bobby's smirk grew as he leaned forward further to announce quietly, "I was able to make it that you will be the person representing us in the court room."

All sound at that moment stopped as Weathers stared in disbelief at the man across from her. When the ringing in her ears finally died down, she fought to fill her lungs with air. "W-what did you just say?" she breathed, not able to believe that she'd heard correctly.

Straightening himself, the editor repeated, "You are going to be filling the one seat that we have for the appeal of the century. There is no one else that I, or anyone above me, feel more comfortable in giving the responsibility to."

Finally regaining her senses, Susan blinked rapidly and began breathing normally again. This was, indeed, a huge responsibility. And it was one that she had been working long and hard to earn. She swallowed roughly and made a couple of failed attempts to speak before she whispered, "I... I don't know what to say."

Raising a dark eyebrow, Bob responded coolly, "Just say that you won't allow your feelings or conscious get in the way of this story. Since your return from you little break a couple of weeks ago, you've been the Susan I always knew when it came to your work. I certainly hope that will remain the case in this situation."

Without hesitating, the blonde reporter nodded, "Of course." Pulling her shoulders back to sit up proudly, she promised, "I will not let you down with this."

A small smile tugged the man's lips as he told her, "I know that you won't. Because this is a High Court case, part of the agreement in having a seat available to us was that we will give an accurate telling of what actually happens in that room. Whatever personal spin you want to spin on whatever happens after the fact is up to you from there."

Susan smirked, "And I do not need to know what your advice would be on that- the juicier the better."

Chuckling, Bob winked, "That's my girl." As he turned to head from the room, he tapped the edge of her desk and stated, "The appeal starts next Thursday bright and early. It should wrap up in plenty of time for the following week's publication. Make sure that your story is in my email for editing before the weekend."

"Never missed a deadline before," the journalist grinned. "Hell would have to freeze over for me to miss this one."

On his way to the office door, the editor smiled back, "Good to gave you back, Weathers." That said, he stepped through the sliding door and out into the hallway.

As soon as the door slid closed after him, his star reporter sunk heavily in her seat to reel over her new assignment.

The High Courts. She- Susan Weathers- was actually going to be sitting in the courtroom of the Supreme Justices for one of the most anticipated hearings of her lifetime.

...A hearing that may never have come about had been had it not been for her influence.

Growling deeply, Susan placed her finger tips against her temples at that nagging thought. She had done so well to hold off her guilt over the first trial. Over the last couple of weeks, her writing had never been better- her stories never more captivating.

Now, with such a huge honor of an assignment, she was not about to allow her conscience to get the better of her. Not a chance.

Other journalists would have killed to be in the position that she was in. And Susan was not about to allow guilt to ruin the opportunity for her. No way.

Hand trembling a bit, Weathers reached over to her top desk drawer to remove her bottle of antacids that she had not used in some time. Just in case.

*   *   *   *   *   *

"So how is Duo?" Ashley asked, blinking her brown eyes in worry as she and the remainder of their class stepped out at the conclusion of their lesson. Easels under their arms, she and her friend headed out onto the campus grounds as she commented, "No one has seen so much as a piece of fur of him since the semester started."

The Japanese youth grinned warmly, "Duo has been pretty much under the weather these last few weeks. And now with the appeal coming up, he's just trying to keep his head between that and his own classes."

Understanding that, the slight brunette replied, "I see. Well, tell him that we all wish you both the best of luck with the hearing and hope to see him soon."

Heero smiled, "Thanks, Ashley. Please tell the others that I am sorry I won't be able to join them for lunch as we normally would. I really should be heading back to my dorm to check up on Duo now that my classes are done for the day."

Grinning, the girl responded, "Okay. Give him a hug for me." At the corner of the path they had been walking, they parted ways at the fork. Waving with her free hand, she called, "Have a good day, Heero."

Her classmate waved back, "You too." Continuing his way down his path leading to the parking lot, the young man breathed a sigh of relief. Even though the semester was only three weeks in, it was becoming more and more difficult for him to come up with reasons to why his lover was nowhere to be seen.

Thank goodness the cat would be out of the bag in a less than a week... figuratively and literally.

*   *   *   *   *   *

A large spread was waiting for Heero when he returned to the dorm room. Duo was just finished setting the table when the artist entered the room and flashed him a brilliant smile that glowed as much as his skin.

Chuckling softly, the Japanese young man asked, "To what do I owe the honor of all of this?" Carefully lowering his backpack and folded easel, Heero padded across the living room towards the table to look over all of the sandwich and soup fixings that covered the surface.

"I was going out of my mind from boredom being stuck inside waiting for my afternoon class," the neko admitted with a shrug. A slight blush colored his cheeks as he shrugged, "And I thought you might like a prepared lunch to sit down to after your busy morning."

Heero rounded the table to wrap his lover up and kiss him soundly. When he pulled back, he grinned, "This is very nice. Thank you." There was movement from the swollen belly between them.

Lowering himself to his knees, the artist snickered, "Yes, and I did not forget any of you." He placed three quick kisses over where his babies were 'playing.' As he rose to his feet, he frowned in worry at the grimace of pain on his 'husband's' face.

Duo reassured through a grunt of discomfort, "I'm all right. Just feels like a basketball team in there right now." When the movement eased off, he was finally able to take a deep breath and relax again.

"Well, that was fun," the braided teenager smirked sarcastically as he rubbed his abdomen. Kissing his lover's cheek, he announced, "I have to run to the bathroom. Help yourself. I'll be back in a minute."

Quickly landing a slap to his partner's rear as Duo moved past him, Heero smirked, "Hurry back." Anxious to sample some of the food that had been prepared, Heero took his seat to the sound of his stomach growling.

Filling a large bowl with the steaming Tuscan soup, he cooled a spoonful before tasking it. A moaned hum escaped him and quickly, he finished off another spoonful. No one made Tuscan soup the way Duo did.

Moments later, his plate occupied by a couple of sandwiches, the artist straightened in his seat rigidly at the sound of a startled gasp from the bathroom. Springing to his feet, he ran for the closed door in the hallway with a frantic, "Duo?!"

The door opened to reveal two large, wet violet eyes. "We have to call Hilde," the neko whimpered. "Now."

TBC...

 

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