Maxwell?

Hey, Wufei! What’s up?

I need to talk to you…

Sure, no problem!

In private, if you don’t mind. Can we step into your office for a minute?

Uh… I guess. Excuse us Henderson, I’ll get that report to you this afternoon.

…

Uhm… so what do you need, Wufei? I haven’t had time to put together that purchase request yet…

This isn’t work related, Maxwell. Last night…

Crap! Sally told? She promised to wait until I replaced it! Damn it… I’m sorry Wufei, it was a complete accident!

What? Wait… what are you talking about? Replace what?

She didn't...? I… uh… never mind?

Get serious.

My memory’s going… that little accident was at Quatre’s place… nothing to do with you. Really.

Nice try, but forget it. What did you do?

Ah man! Look, it was a total accident and I am so sorry. Sally told me how important it was and I swear to God I’ll find a replacement no matter how long it takes…

Replace what?

…I’ve already got inquiries out to every major antique dealer that handles Asian antiquities and I’ll pay whatever it takes and…

Maxwell…

…please don’t kill me, it was a complete accident, I didn’t even see the thing! I was getting my coat out of the hall closet when I got called in to work last night, and I bumped that little table and…

Duo!

…

Ok, since you won’t damn well tell me anything useful here, I’m going to use my powers of deduction and go out on a limb… you knocked over the side table in the front hall and broke that blue and white vase that was sitting there, didn’t you?

Uh… yeah. Wufei, man… I am so very sorry. Sally told about what it was, and I swear to you I will make this right. Wait… why are you grinning like that?

Pray tell, just what did Sally tell you about that vase?

That it was an authentic piece produced in the L5 cluster and that you… Wait… she totally played me, didn’t she?

Oh yes. That tacky thing was a wedding gift from one of Sally’s weird cousins. You don’t seriously think I would put a priceless heirloom piece like that on a pedestal table in a high traffic area, do you?

Damn it! She got all watery-eyed and everything!

And that didn’t clue you in? You are such a sucker!

I am so going to kick her ass…

Not for nine months, you’re not.

Oh, I’m a patient man when it comes to pay back, I can… wait. What? Nine months? What… what are you saying?

Well, that’s basically what I came in here to talk to you about in the first place. We were planning on asking you last night, that’s why we invited you to dinner. But then you got called out and…

No shit? Oh man… are you serious? Pregnant? You’re pregnant? Like… a baby? A little Wufei-type person?

Well, I expect Sally to handle the majority of that part, but yes… we’re pregnant.

Oh my God! Congratulations! Holy shit! That’s so cool!

Maxwell, will you calm down a minute! There’s a point here; we wanted to ask if you would consent to being named the Godfather.

Wait a minute; this isn’t another practical joke, is it?

Please. I leave that to my wife.

For real? You want me to be the Godfather? What… what do I have to do?

Well, there’s a ceremony, but that’s a long way off yet. And some paper-work designating you the guardian if something happens to both of us, and… Duo?

…

Duo, what? Are you…

Something in my eye is all, Chang.

So is that a yes?

Can I get her a puppy?

What? No! And we don’t even know what the baby is yet!

I just have this feeling.

Feeling…

And have you thought about her first car yet? It’s got to be cool, but really safe. Not one of those cheap tin can types.

Car? What?

Holy shit! Have you started her college fund yet? She’s got to have options!

Duo… we’re still deciding on the color of the nursery.

There have to be teddy bears. And one of those things you hang over the crib that plays music. Do you have a crib yet? Hey! Can I take Sally shopping?

…

What are you grinning at, Chang?

Nothing. I just knew you were the man for the job…

_______________________________

No! Oh crap… don’t!

Get a grip, Maxwell.

Sally… don’t do that! No, no, no… oh hell.

It’s a baby, Duo… not a time bomb. Relax.

Relax?! Are you nuts! What if I break her!

She’s not made of spun glass. Duo Maxwell, may I present your God daughter. Mei-zhen… meet your Uncle Duo.

Oh wow… she’s so tiny. My pocket change weighs more than this…

Six pounds, seven ounces.

That sounds way bigger than it is…

Trust me; it felt big enough.

Ewww… TMI, Po!

Duo, you don’t have to whisper; she’s not asleep.

I don’t want to startle her or anything. She’s so tiny… what if we seem all big and scary?

I think she’ll deal.

God, Sal… she’s just beautiful!

Oh please… she looks like frog. All new babies look like frogs.

Don’t say that, she’ll hear you! Mommy didn’t mean it, sweetheart… you’re just perfect.

I didn’t say she wasn’t perfect… I just said she looked like a frog.

Oh shit! She’s moving! What do I do?

Chill… it’s not like she can crawl off. She’s not going anywhere. Just make sure her head is supported.

Like this?

You’re doing fine, Duo. Relax. Besides… I think she likes you.

She does? How can you tell?

She’s not screaming.

Well, there’s an endorsement.

Oh trust me; it is. She loves the night nurse, but she absolutely detests it when the lady comes around to empty the trash. Squalls like a Banshee.

She does? When does this woman make her rounds? Do they wear name tags?

Hold it… you are not seriously thinking about running a background check on the cleaning lady?

Hey… I trust my God daughter’s instincts. If she says there’s something up, Uncle Duo will check it out.

Oh please… more likely she just doesn’t like the smell of disinfectant.

Don’t worry, sweetheart… Uncle Duo believes you. That stinky old lady won’t bother you ever again.

…

What? What’s that look for?

Dear Lord… she has you wrapped around her little finger, and she can’t even talk yet!

Just doing my God father duty, Po.

I think this is the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship.

Damn straight!

You know… you’re going to have to learn to watch your language.

Oh shit; I’m sorry! Uh… I mean, crap. No… uh… I mean… oh man. This is gonna be harder than I thought…

Tell me about it…

-----------------------------

Oh hi, Duo… back from the zoo already? Where’s Mei?

She’s telling her Dad about the tigers, so we should have a minute… I gotta talk to you.

What’s the matter?

We’ve got a small problem, but don’t worry… I think I’ve got it under control. Just have to get our stories straight.

Pardon?

Just listen and try to keep up, Po! This is important.

I’m all ears.

Mei asked me today why I call her the Frog Princess.

Uh… ok. And?

And? And?! You don’t go around telling a kid that her mother thinks she looks like a frog!

Looked.

Don’t mince words. The point is, I was not about to tell her something like that, so I told her it came from a book I used to read to her.

A book?

Yeah. I told her she used to have a book about a Frog Princess. A beautiful, brave, very confident and talented Frog Princess.

Well, that was an… interesting ‘save’. How’d that work out for you?

Well, she wanted to know where the book went.

Imagine that…

So I told her it was lost. Then she wanted to know what it was about.

And let me guess… you didn’t just say you couldn’t remember?

I supposedly read the thing to her all the time! I certainly couldn’t claim I didn’t know! So I made up a plot. And some side characters. And a bit of a lily pad city kind of thing. With turtles.

How delightful. Please tell me the next part, even though I can probably guess…

She wants me to find a copy of the damn thing!

What a shock.

But don’t worry, I’ve got it all figured out. Hilde works with a guy who actually published something once. Some sort of technical manual and…

Yeah, technical manuals and children’s books; there’s a real connection…

…he’s got to have contacts. Hilde’s pretty good with writing stuff, and I’m going to get her to work with me and I’m going to come up with enough stuff to fake a book…

Are you serious?

…and Heero met this kid at the tea shop he goes to, who apparently doodles all the time and since she’s putting herself through art school, I’m pretty sure she’ll hire out to do the illustrations…

Dear God, you are serious…

…I’ll stall by telling her it’s out of print and I’m having trouble finding a copy…

Maxwell, four year olds don’t really use that kind of logic…

…I should be able to have something put together inside of a month or two and…

I don’t believe this…

Hey! It’s your ass I’m trying to cover here, and… oh wait, here she comes. Mums the word.

Mommy! The zoo was cool! I like the tigers bestest!

Did you get to see the snake house too?

Yeah! There was ones bigger than me!

Cool. And were there frogs?

Yep! Ribbet! Ribbet!

I love frogs. Aren’t they cute?

Me too! They hop like this!

Are you Mommy’s little frog?

Ribbet! Ribbet! Mei the frog!

And that’s why you’re the Frog Princess, right?

Yeah! Wait… what about my book?

Uncle Duo was confused. That book was about a bat, ok? He’ll get you another copy tomorrow if we can’t find yours.

Ok!

All right, go wash your hands for supper.

Ok! Thanks for taking me to the zoo, Unca Duo!

…

The title of the book is Stella Luna. And it’s still in print. And should only cost you about five bucks instead of thousands in self-publishing fees. You can thank me later.

Somehow, there’s something seriously wrong here…

Beauty, and frogginess, are in the eye of the beholder, Maxwell.

I think I hate you.

You’re just jealous of my awesome Mommy skills…

----------------------------------------------------

‘Duo, seriously… there is nothing to be embarrassed about…’

‘Not even getting in to the whole mud-covered aspect of this whole debacle, you want to explain how making an entire first grade class burst into tears isn’t embarrassing?’

‘They weren’t all crying… most of them had gone home already. It was only a hand full. And that one teacher…’

‘Not helping, Yuy.'

‘And Mei-Zhen wasn’t scared; she thought it was a fun game.’

‘I threw the kid down in the mud, Heero… somehow, I don’t think this is a ‘game’ Sally is going to thank me for teaching her.’

‘You thought you were protecting her.’

‘It was a car back-firing, for God’s sake! A stupid car! I don’t even remember moving! Just *bam* and we were on the ground wallowing in the damn mud and all the kids were screaming about the crazy man!’

‘The noise scared them too, Duo… it wasn’t just you. Uh… I mean, it wasn’t just you that scared them, not that it wasn’t you that was scared. I mean…’

‘Just stop. Either way is pretty damn pathetic. Wufei is never going to ask me to pick Mei up from school again. Or anyplace else. I probably traumatized her for life. I’ll be lucky if I’m ever even invited over again.'

‘Mei-Zhen would mutiny… you’re her favorite uncle.’

‘Favorite, lunatic uncle.’

‘Stop it. Wufei understands. And Sally will get over it as soon as we finish getting the mud out of the carpet.'

‘She called me a degenerate juvenile delinquent.’

‘That was before you explained. She just thought you two tracked mud in to the house for fun.’

‘As opposed to… for not fun?’

‘You know what I mean…’

‘Fun or not fun, Wufei is going to kill me and…’

‘Uncle Duo! How come you’re sitting outside in the rain? Mommy says you can use our shower too!’

‘That’s ok, pumpkin… Uncle Heero is going to take me home in the back of his truck and I’ll clean up there.'

‘In the back of the truck? In the rain? Wow! You know the best games ever, Uncle Duo!’

‘Your Dad doesn’t seem to think so. Isn’t he coming out to… uh… talk to me?’

‘Daddy is all watery right now, but he said he’d come out in a minute and bring you some of his clothes to wear.'

‘What? Watery…?’

‘Yeah! Uncle Heero told Daddy about that scary car that made that loud noise and Daddy told Mommy you’re… a… a…’

‘Hero, I believe, is what he said, Mei-Zhen.’

‘Thanks, Uncle Heero! Yeah, Daddy said something with big words about tent… tensi… uh…’

‘Intentions, Mei. That Uncle Duo’s intentions were most honorable.’

‘Yeah! And he said he’s very lucky to have a friend who’s… uh… ‘

‘To have a friend as self-sacrificing as Uncle Duo who would put his life on the line to protect his daughter?’

‘Yeah! You ‘member good, Uncle Heero! But there wasn’t any line, so I don’t get that part. But Daddy will be out after he finishes blowing his nose.’

‘Thank you, Mei-Zhen. Why don’t you go back in where it’s warm now.’

‘Ok! Bye, Uncle Duo!’

‘W…watery?’

‘I was trying to tell you that Wufei understood. Completely.’

‘But… watery? I made Wufei get… ‘watery’?’

‘Having kids will do that to a guy.’

‘Watery. Heero… I think that’s worse than him being mad at me…’
--------------------------------------------------------

Morning, Duo, sorry I’m late; the nurse had some paperwork and… hey, what’s wrong?

Hey, Heero. Oh nothing… I’m fine.

Do you need more pain meds? Should I call the nurse?

Nothing like that… calm down.

Then what’s wrong? You look like… I mean… are you…?

Just something in my eye, Yuy.

Are you sure?

Here.

What’s this?

Wufei dropped it off when he visited this morning. Mei made it.

Ah.

Wipe that smug look off your face, asshole.

Well, it certainly explains the… uh… something in your eye.

Not my fault. She called me her favorite uncle and drew me flowers and hearts.

And what’s the green thing here by the… uh…

That’s a rose. And the green thing is a frog.

If you say so.

Hey! She’s only six! That’s a pretty good frog for a six year old!

…

What are you laughing at?

Good thing I’m not the jealous type.

Asshole. Do I get my good morning kiss, or are you going to just continue being a smug jerk?

Not my fault you’re so amusing when you’re busy being manipulated by a six year old.

I am not being manipulated!

Yeah? Then why is there a beagle living at our house that doesn’t belong to us despite the fact that we feed it, walk it, and give it house room? Oh… and pay for it.

How was I supposed to know that being a father gives you powers of immunity to the big, watery eyed thing? I couldn’t say no to her, and I didn’t think for a second that Wufei could either!

That’s pretty much the definition of ‘manipulated’.

At least I stopped with the dog. I did say no to the pony.

The hell. I said no to the pony. You were looking for rental space at every stable in the tri-state area. I have no problem with the word no.

I was not! I say no to her all the time!

Sure, Maxwell. That’s why you spend half your evenings watching little kids scramble around a soccer field, chasing a ball like a bunch of rabid ants, while I’m at home where it’s warm and comfortable.

Uhm… about that…

No. Forget it. You may be getting released today, but you are not going to be up to sitting out on a cold set of bleachers! I forbid it!

I’m not stupid! I know better than that!

Then what?

I uh… want you to go and tape it for me.

Are you serious? No way!

Ah, come on, Heero… I haven’t missed one of her games yet.

No way am I leaving you home alone while I go stand around in the cold with a stupid video camera…

Please? For me?

No way! I… ah hell. Don’t give me that look.

I promise I’ll be a good boy and won’t go against the doctor’s orders or anything.

For your whole recovery? Not just today?

Well… at least this week?

Deal. But I’m holding you to it. I get seven full days before I have to start hiding the car keys and bribing the neighbors to call me if you leave the house.

Done! But you have to get there early to get a good seat to get good pictures! And don’t sit anywhere near Mrs. Hart… woman screams through the whole game, and I wouldn’t be able to hear anything on the tape. And make sure Mei sees you. You have to yell for her when she does something good; the kids with a big cheering section get more respect. And can you maybe cheer for the little Adams kid too? His folks don’t ever seem to show up. Or maybe his Mom sits in the car, I’m not sure. But he’s kind of klutzy and nobody else cheers for him and I feel bad for him. Oh, and it’s my turn to take the team out for ice cream after the game…

I… just got totally suckered, didn’t I?

I thought we were using the word ‘manipulated’?

----------------------------------------------

Mei… honey, are you up there?

No!

Uh, ok… so who am I talking to then?

The Frog Princess! And the Frog Princess doesn’t want to talk right now, Uncle Duo.

Well, would the Frog Princess like an ice cream bar, cause it’s sort of melting…

……what flavor?

Chocolate, of course.

Well, ok. If it’s just gonna melt anyway. I guess you can come up.

Thanks. Uh… here. Mind if I sit down long enough to eat mine?

S’ppose.

Nice tree house you got here.

…

Your Dad did a real good job on it.

…

Though I bet your Mom made those pillows. Never seen lily pad shaped pillows before.

…

Uh… you just dripped ice cream on your pants.

…

Your Mom won’t be happy with me if that stains.

I don’t care if Mommy isn’t happy.

Mei! That’s not nice!

So? I’m not very happy right now either! It’s not fair! I don’t want a baby brother!

But why not? I think a new baby would be cool!

He’ll want to play with all my stuff! And he’ll want to come up in my tree house!

Well, sharing is always good…

I don’t want to share! This is my tree house! Daddy made it special for me!

Maybe your Dad will make him his own?

Uncle Duo… this is the only tree in our yard!

Uh… I could buy him a tree now, and we could plant it out back and maybe it would be big enough by the time he’s old enough to climb?

…

Don’t cry, sweetheart! What’d I say?!

I’m gonna have to share you too? You’re my God father and I don’t want you to be… his God father too!

Oh trust me, honey… I couldn’t handle another kid. You’re all the God child I need. We’ll just get your Dad to ask Uncle Heero or something, ok?

Well… ok. And we can still go to the zoo? Just the two of us?

Sure. Though we can take the new baby places sometimes to…

I don’t want to! He’s already getting Mommy and Daddy! He can’t have you too!

Uh… what? I think I’m missing something here…

The other kids told me at school when I told in show and tell that I was getting a baby brother! They said this is ‘the end’! They said that things will never be the same! That babies are just stinky and they cry all the time and they take your Mommy and Daddy away from you!

God, kids are like little tiny rumor mongers, aren’t they? Sheesh, sweetie… didn’t we have a nice long talk about not believing everything people tell you, after that little misunderstanding about people who shave being werewolves?

Yeah? So what part’s not true?

Well… babies do kind of stink when they need changed, but the rest of the time they smell kinda good. Like baby powder and stuff. And they cry sometimes, but they’re pretty easy to make happy… they just want to be clean and dry and fed.

…

And they don’t take your Mom and Dad away.

But they won’t have any time for me anymore. Tommy said so. He said that’s what happened when he got a little sister.

Well, see? Right there’s the difference! You aren’t getting a sister… you’re getting a brother. All the difference in the world!

Really?

Oh yeah… you’re the Frog Princess, right? Well, every Princess needs minions, don’t they?

Well… yeah. But I thought Uncle Trowa and Uncle Quatre were my minions?

Only when they have the time to play Simon Says with us… a baby brother will be here all the time, see?

And he has to do what I say?

Well… not exactly. This is like… uh… a new game.

I don’t think I’m going to like this game…

No, it’ll be fun! See, the idea is that you can’t make the new baby do what you say, but you have to make him like you so much that he wants to do what you say! Yeah… I like that idea; that covers all the bases, right?

Is this a new game, Uncle Duo? Cause you don’t seem to know the rules.

Well, I think this is a game that will have to evolve a little bit as we go. Since… you know… we haven’t met the new kid yet.

What if he’s mean?

You aren’t mean, are you?

…

Mei?

Maybe a little bit. I told Daddy I didn’t want Mommy to be fat anymore because she’s no fun now that she’s all big. Daddy wasn’t very happy…

I’ll bet not. You don’t tell a hormonal woman she’s fat. Listen, sweetie… your Mom will get over that after the baby gets here. You should have seen how big she was before you were born!

Really?

Yes, really. She’ll be her old self again, your Dad won’t be so up-tight, and the new baby won’t be mean. Your Mom and Dad did a pretty good job raising you so far, so I think they’ll manage to keep this new kid in line.

And he’ll be my for real minion? All the time?

If you play the game right and are really nice to him so that he likes you lots. Then he’ll follow you around like a loyal puppy and be more than happy to do whatever you say. Uh… ask. Whatever you ask.

Cool! I’ll never have to clean my own room again!

Uh… ok… wait, maybe I should rethink these rules…

-----------------------------------------------

Are you sure you’re ok, Mei? Here… let me get the car door.

I’m fine, Uncle Duo. It’s just a sprain… not like I broke it!

Oh God! Don’t say that word! I still feel sick to my stomach just seeing you sprain it!

You’re such a dork sometimes… big, tough Preventer you are!

Hey! Even big, tough Preventers can get nauseous seeing their God-child take a header off the high ramp.

If that Johnson kid hadn’t crossed my carve on purpose, I’d never have…

Oh, don’t you worry about that Johnson kid.

Uncle Duo! What are you planning? You can’t do anything to him… it’s not illegal to be a jerk with a skate board!

Not illegal… just stupid. There are other ways of teaching punks a lesson, Princess.

Uncle Duo…

Don’t worry. I’ll just sick Uncle Heero on the kid… a little hack here… a little hack there, and Mr. Johnson will find himself repeating the seventh grade. A couple of times.

Yeah?

Yeah. And maybe he’ll suddenly be on file for seventy-five over-due library books or something.

That one was lame. Nobody will believe he reads.

Point. Well, I’ll just leave it to Heero… he’s much more inventive than I am.

Uhm… why are we just standing out here on the sidewalk anyway? Why aren’t we going in?

I was kind of enjoying my last moments of life… your Dad is going to kill me, and then beat my corpse to death.

And I’m going to get grounded. We don’t actually have to… you know… tell him…

Mei, that would be lying to your Father, and as attractive as that option is… I’m not going to set that kind of example for you.

Please. Like I’ve never lied to Dad before…

Don’t want to know! Don’t want to know! Don’t want to know!

Well, wasn’t it lying when we said we weren’t going to the skate board park to begin with?

Uh… technically I never said I wouldn’t take you. Wufei just said he didn’t want you going, and I sort of… you know… acknowledged the fact that he didn’t want you going.

Slick, Uncle Duo.

God… I really do suck at this role model thing, don’t I? I really should not have taken you…

I’d have just gone myself. I go every chance I get… I just usually have to walk.

Yeah. I know. Which is why I figured it didn’t matter. But that still doesn’t mean I’m not going to tell your Dad what happened.

Technically, we don’t have to tell him anything… he was going to be late getting home from work tonight; he’s not home yet.

He may not be home now, but I don’t think that’s going to heal before he gets home, Frog Princess.

Duh! We don’t tell Dad… we tell Mom and let her tell Dad!

That’s… that’s…

Genius?

Not the word I was looking for, sweetheart…

-----------------------------------

Maxwell, I fail to understand what we're doing here. I really have no desire to mingle with this sort of... crowd.

They're just kids, Wufei... not gang members or anything.

Could have fooled me. But besides that, neither of us has any interest in this so called sport.

Maybe not, but somebody who is very important to both of us does.

Please tell me this isn't a lame attempt to convince me this would be a suitable crowd for my daughter to hang around with?

Uh... not really, buddy. More like an attempt to make you see what's right in front of your face.

What? Speak up, Maxwell... I can't half hear you over this noise. Do they have to blast that incessant music so loud?

It's all part of the ambiance, dude. Think of it as the music that ice skaters play.

That's hardly the same thing. There's no art to this... this... hooligan 'sport'.

Skate boarding is not just for street kids, Wufei. And it's a perfectly valid sport; there are leagues and tournaments and...

Oh sure. Like that boy there, I'm very impressed with the way he's rolling back and forth.

Just watch a minute; he's got to build up momentum.

For what? So he can go really fast? Or maybe... crap! What did he just do?

It's called a kickflip. His name's Johnny and he'll probably follow that up with a 360 kickflip... yep. That.

That's just suicidal!

But don't tell me you can't see it takes skill?

Skilled suicide is better, how? Since when do you know so much about this crap?

Since last summer. Uh... about the time Mei sprained her wrist...

What? Speak up, Maxwell. I said, why do you know so much about the local punks and their suicidal tendencies?

I know because it's important to my God-daughter, so I made a point of learning.

Mei-Zhen's fascination with this... 'sport' is nothing but a passing fancy. I imagine there is probably some... boy that attracted her attention. I suppose they're at least in shape, but they're hardly appropriate suitors. She'll get over it.

Three years is hardly what I would call 'passing' and the only interest she has in this crew is kicking their asses.

Maxwell, if you're going to talk to me, damn well speak up.

Just watch for a minute, will you?

I suppose, since you dragged me all the way down here, we can watch for a few minutes. But if you think this is going to change my mind about allowing my daughter to come down here and hang out, forget it.

Stop being so close-minded. It's a sport like any other. It takes skill and talent and nerve. Can't you at least see the attraction?

Oh, I imagine it's nothing but an adrenaline rush. If I admit it takes a certain amount of skill, can we go?

Not quite yet...

Maxwell, I had hoped to have time to... What the hell?!

Shhhhh! You idiot! Not so loud! You'll break her concentration!

Are you insane? That's my daughter!

Oddly enough... I'm well aware of that!

Is she... what the hell? Are you telling me... oh my God!

Good, isn't she?

Maxwell! Get her the hell down from there before I kill you!

Chill out, man! Just watch for a minute...

I don't want to watch, I want my child the hell off that... that thing, and down on the ground where... oh my God!

You keep saying that. Will you just shut up, already? People are starting to stare, and if you're not careful she's going to see us. That would be bad while she's doing... that.

How... how long has this been going on?

I've been trying to tell you; since she was about thirteen.

What?!

Yeah, yeah; I know. You forbid it, you told her no, you said she couldn't. Been there, had that conversation, got the t-shirt. Can we just skip ahead to the reality?

The reality where I kill you and then ground her until she's forty?

No, damn it... the reality where you look out there and see your daughter. The daughter that has every bit of genetic stubbornness you had to give her. The daughter who isn't five years old anymore. The daughter who is as rebellious as her parents could ever have hoped she'd be... and who still wants to show you how good she is, so bad she can taste it.

I had this talk with her...

I know you did. So did I. So did her mother. And here we are anyway. I don't know why this and not... whatever the hell else you would have her be doing. But this is important to her and she's poured herself into it, and she's good, man.

...

She just wants her Daddy to be proud of her.

I've always been proud of her.

Of course, you have. But this is the thing that she wants you to be proud of her for. Because this is the thing that's important to her.

Important enough that she lied to me.

If I know Mei, she probably never actually said...

And where did she learn that little trick?

Stop glaring at me! She's a woman... she didn't need anybody to teach her that trick.

She most certainly is not a 'woman'! She's just a child!

Look again, man. Look again.

...

...

When did that happen?

I have no idea... but it's kinda scary how it happened so fast. Oh, watch! Here's her big finish...

What big... OhmyfreakingGod!

Relax, that's her signature move.

Signature...? She has a signature move?

Yeah. And you hear that applause? When you're a chick, you don't get that unless you're really damn good. You have to hold your own when you play with the boys in this sport.

And my daughter... holds her own?

She’s a Chang, isn’t she?

She really is, isn’t she? It makes me think about my parents…

They’d have been proud.

The hell! They’d have let me have it for raising such an out of control child!

Good thing you’re you, and not your parents.

Sometimes I think you’re the father here…

Oh, please! If I had to live with the kid, I’d probably strangle her. You two only fight so much because you’re so much alike.

That’s what Sally says.

Your wife is a smart woman.

Funny; she says that too…
------------------------------------

Mei, seriously... don't you think this is something you should be talking to your folks about?

Oh please, Uncle Duo! Mom would want to take pictures, and Dad would just start a background check and then go sharpen his sword!

And he's going to come after us with that sword if we end up giving you bad advice...

I'm not looking for advice! I'm looking for an opinion, and at least I know you guys will talk to me like the adult I am, and not like I was still twelve.

Mei, your Dad talks to everyone like they were twelve...

Be nice, Heero. Ok, Mei... just ask already.

It's not that big a deal, I just wanted to know if you guys believe in love at first sight.

Mei, get real... there isn't any such thing. That's just physical attrac...

Yes.

Heero... you didn't even let me finish my sentence.

Well, you already answered. You obviously don't believe, and I do.

Oh come on... you can't seriously believe that one person can just know at first glance, that a perfect stranger is 'the one'!

Yes I do.

Where's your evidence? Where's the logic? That's just... trashy romance novel fodder!

I have the evidence of my own eyes.

So you've seen somebody struck by this 'first sight' thing and you somehow know that this hypothetical couple is going to be together forever?

No, I've been somebody struck by this first sight thing.

What? Wait... what are you trying to imply here?

I didn't think I was implying anything. I'm saying that I knew the minute I set eyes on you that, assuming we survived, we'd be spending our lives together.

But... Heero... I freaking shot you!

So? What's that got to do with the topic? I still felt the same.

I shot you twice!

Again... so?

I... I... kind of feel like an ass now.

Well, when did you fall in love with me?

I'm not really sure. I... I guess I was pretty obsessed with you, or I'd have never gone in and broken your sorry butt out of that resource center...

And we'd only really had the one meeting before that. That obsession had to have started somewhere.

So... I knew? But I didn't know! Is that still valid?

Wait! Guys... I'm confused! Is that two yes answers, or a yes and a no?

I believe, Mei, that the answer is yes with reservations.

But... is it still love at first sight if you don't know it's love at first sight? That doesn't seem like a good standard of measurement...

Duo, do you love me?

Of course!

And do you remember a time you didn't love me?

Uhm... if I say before I met you, that just proves your point, doesn't it? But I can't remember when it happened exactly, so I can't refute your point either! Arrrgh!

There you go, Mei... two absolute yeses.

No, damn it! I'm still a no! Or at least a yes with reservations!

Ok, so maybe I should have just asked Mom...

_______________________________

Oh, Uncle Duo! You didn’t have to bring me flowers!

Who says they’re for you… maybe I brought them for this little guy here?

Well, he’s a really generous and sharing kid, and he’ll share with his Mommy.

Oh God, that’s so weird… you can’t be a mother!

You sound just like Dad.

We’re old, Princess… give us time to adjust.

Oh, so ancient! Shall I call the nurse to bring you a walker so you can get over here and give me a hug?

Don’t be cheeky, brat… or you’re not getting the Hershey bar a smuggled in for you.

Chocolate? You brought me chocolate? I love you, Uncle Duo… now gimme!

Here… don’t choke on it trying to inhale it. Am I allowed to hold him?

Of course. You’re on the list with Mom and Dad.

I am? Way to make a guy feel special!

You are ‘special’. At least that’s what Uncle Trowa says. Or maybe that was ‘peculiar’…

Smart-ass…

Language, Uncle Duo.

Oh crap! Not that again! It took me months when you were little! Your Mom is still giving me a hard time over ‘shit’ being your third word.

It was? Are you serious?

You’ve never heard that story? Dadda… Momma… and shit? I tried and tried to get you to say Uncle or Duo or even Maxwell, and out you popped with ‘shit’. Your Mom was pissed.

I… can imagine.

She threatened to cut my God father rights off if I didn’t watch my mouth. Hey there, little guy… what big, dark eyes you have! Oh, you’re going to be a handful, you are… I can tell already.

You really think? He’s been pretty quiet so far.

Give him time, Princess. He’s a Chang… no mistaking that. Get ready for a stubborn streak a mile and a half wide.

Great…

Kids… they’re your parents revenge. Don’t worry… Uncle Duo will be around to baby-sit now and again.

About that… I was kind of hoping that God father Duo would be around to baby-sit now and again.

Of course I… wait… how do you mean that?

Would it be all right, do you think, if you were Alexander’s God father too? I mean… are there rules about that sort of thing?

Well, you know my motto about rules…

So… is that a yes?

Of course, Princess! I would be most honored.

Thanks, Uncle Duo.

Oh! Look at him stretch! You’re a big boy, aren’t you? Such a handsome little guy!

Oh please… he looks like a frog!

…

Uncle Duo? What?

Something in my eye, Princess… just something in my eye. Hey, there little tadpole… welcome to the family.

__________________________________

Mei? What are you doing here? I thought you and Sean were… hey, what’s wrong?

Oh, Uncle Duo… I need a drink. A really stiff drink. One of your specials.

Uh… ok. Come on out to the kitchen and tell me what’s going on, I thought you guys were taking Alex to the park today?

We were, but… then everything just went to hell.

Language, Mei. You want chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate! And make it a double! With extra caramel!

Whoa. Rough day?

The worst. I… I’m the worst mother ever!

Princess, you are not! What on earth is going on?

Alex said he hated me!

Hey, don’t cry! He said what? But… ok, hold on and let me get some tissues and why don’t you start from the beginning?

Gimme my milkshake first!

…

There’s no sprinkles…

Mei, I haven’t kept sprinkles in the house in a lot of years.

You mean… you only kept sprinkles for me? Really?

Heero is not really a sprinkles kind of guy. Now come on… tell Uncle Duo what happened.

It was awful! We were getting ready to go to the park this morning but it got chilly out last night, so I got out Alex’s jacket. Only he wouldn’t let me put it on him.

Well, he’s never been a big one for… well, clothes in general.

Tell me about it! The kid would be a nudist if we let him! But I couldn’t let him go out without a jacket on! He’s so… so… stubborn!

Wonder where he gets that…

What?

Nothing. Just, sweetie… stubborn is the definition of a two year old.

No kidding.

So what happened?

I told him if he didn’t let me put on his jacket, we weren’t going.

Oh no… an ultimatum? You never want to give ultimatums unless you’re ready to back up the threat.

Which is why we’re not at the park.

Ouch. Wouldn’t give in, huh?

No. And… and… Oh, Uncle Duo! That’s when he said he hated me!

Aw, Princess… don’t cry. He didn’t mean it. Kids say all kinds of crap when they’re mad. He’ll get over it. Where is he now?

Sean put him in time out and sent me over here.

Smart man. Listen sweetie; you are not a bad mother. A bad mother would have let him go out without his jacket. A good mother is firm. And you know what sets a good mother apart from a really great one? Follow through.

Then why do I feel like crap?

Empathy. And that’s why you’re going to be a really wonderful mother. Don’t worry about Alex… he’ll be over it by the time you get home. Kids are all about extremes. You should have heard some of the things you said to your folks when you were growing up!

Yeah? Like what?

Oh, the fit you threw when you found out you were getting a brother was epic!

Well, Lian was something of a pain in the butt when he was little. I feel fully justified.

And I’m sure Alex does too. He’ll get over it. You always…

Oh, hold on… that’s my cell phone. Hello?

…

Yeah, I’m still at Uncle Duo’s. He is? He does? Ok… I’ll be home in a few. Love you.

Tadpole over it already?

Yeah… guess we’re going to the park after all. Sean says he even apologized!

See? Told ya.

How’d you get to be so smart, Uncle Duo?

Lots and lots and lots of practice with the Princess of Stubborn.

I have no idea who you could be talking about.

Somehow, this does not surprise me…

-----------------------------------------------

Should have known I’d find you out here, Chang… only time you ever work on this old motorcycle is when you’re pissed off about something.

I am not ‘pissed off’ Maxwell, I am… meditating.

Is that what we’re calling it now? Uh… little less torque there, buddy, or you’re going to round off that… uh… never mind.

Fuck.

So… you want to talk about it?

Which one of them called you?

What makes you think anybody called me? Maybe I just happened to come over to see…

Stuff it. I just had a fight with Mei… of course one of them called you.

I’m not ratting anybody out, but your wife and your daughter love you.

Not at the moment they don’t.

Love weathers all things. Sometimes it gets a little wet and soggy and bedraggled while it’s doing it, but it endures.

Maxwell, that was the worst analogy you’ve come up with in a long time.

Hey, it’s been a long day and I’m working without a script here, cut me some slack. And you’re not holding up your end of the conversation anyway.

Well, I’m sure you already got an ear full from Sally…

Or Mei. I’m not falling for that old trick. Not a rat, remember?

Don’t suppose it matters anyway… they’re a united front on this one.

I gotta confess that I’m on their side here, man…

You usually are!

Now, that’s not fair! I took your side over the prom dress thing!

For all the good it did us…

Well… yeah. We lost, but the point is we went down together. I think I’m a pretty fair guy and I’m willing to listen to your side here… if you’d just stop beating around the bush and get to telling me your side.

What the hell is there to tell? I do not approve of the man that my daughter has chosen for herself.

Her husband, you mean?

…

Wufei… buddy… they’ve been married for two years and have given you a handsome little grandson. You have got to stop referring to him as ‘that boy’.

He is not an appropriate suitor.

We’re way past ‘suitor’ here. Wufei, seriously… he’s a good guy. They adore each other. He’s a wonderful daddy. He’s…

A bum! An out of work bum!

He’s not ‘out of work’…

My daughter is supporting his sorry ass! My grandson isn’t even six months old and she’s gone back to work, while that… that… boy stays at home and plays Mommy!

Mei went back to work because she loves her job. Not because she had to. Sean quit his job because they decided together that they wanted their child raised at home and not in a day-care. Sean loves Mei, he adores Alex, he…

Loves the damn free ride! He’s nothing but a beach bum! A long-h… uh… I mean…

Don’t you play the long haired card, Chang Wufei, or I will kick your ass across this garage and back again.

Damn it… you know what I meant! He’s just a…a surfer dude!

I… did not know you could do ‘Valley’ speak, that was pretty good…

Oh, shut up.

Wufei, you really have got to get a grip here, you’re going to alienate your daughter.

I… know. I just can’t help it. When I thought about her growing up and getting married, this is not what I had pictured. I wanted to know that she had someone in her life who could support her. Take care of her.

Oh please. The daughter of Chang Wufei doesn’t need anybody to ‘take care of her’. She takes care of herself. And she likes it that way. Sean does support her. In all the ways that matter.

He’s just such a stumbling, bumbling…

Only in front of you.

What? The guy can’t walk across the room without doing something stupid.

That’s because he wants you to like him so damn bad he can’t see straight! When you’re not around, he’s like a different person. He’d do anything to make you happy.

How about he get a haircut and find a real job?

He would, but as much as he wants to please you… he wants to please Mei more. The year they got married, he was going to cut off his pony-tail but Mei threw a fit… she loves his hair just the way it is.

He… was?

For your birthday party that year. You might have noticed things were a little tense between them that day.

I had. It gave me hope my daughter was coming to her senses. I had hoped… ow! What was that for?

For being an insensitive jerk. Chang, when in the hell are you going to learn to trust your daughter? You have to let her make her own choices.

That’s not what you said about that little red prom dress.

Well, in that case, she was making the wrong choice. But in this case… she knows what she’s doing. You did a good job raising her.

I didn’t raise her alone… and somehow I don’t think she’d be who she is today if I had.

Should I be apologizing here?

No. It’s a good thing. I’m proud of how she turned out, but I do understand the influences she’s had in her life.

You should tell her that more often. You know I love Mei to death, but… you have to admit she isn’t always easy to live with. She’s never going to conform to anybody’s idea of who she should be. And that means her husband has to be the kind of person who can deal with that.

She needs somebody stronger…

Are you saying your daughter needs to be tamed?

What? Of course not!

If Mei tried to marry the kind of person you would have her be with, there would be nothing but constant fighting. She doesn’t need somebody ‘stronger’, she needs somebody secure enough to let her be who she wants to be, and support her while she does it.

You’re saying she needs a lazy, couch potato of a man?

Dude… seriously… this attitude is not helping. Sean is not lazy, he works his butt off taking care of the house and the baby and going to school. They have a plan and…

He’s going to school?

Yeah, he’s taking night classes. They figure once Alex is in school, he’ll go back to work. He’s got a five year plan…

So he’s milking my daughter for his education?

Ok… that’s it! Enough already! You, Chang Wufei need to pull that stick out of your ass. Mei loves Sean. Sean loves Mei. They are married and the only thing standing between them and their happily ever after is you and your stick. Get over it, or you are going to lose your daughter. Am I clear?

But…

I thought I was clear? Too many words? How about this… grow up!

You can’t force me to just… suddenly like him.

You know what sounds like a fine idea to me? A father and son-in-law bonding trip. How about you, me and Sean go away for the weekend? We’ll go rent a house by the beach and…

Ok! Ok! God, you’re worse than Sally!

You over your snit?

I’m not done… meditating, but I might possibly manage to contain my annoyance over this job thing.

And you’ll quit glaring at Sean every time he comes into your house?

…

Chang.

Fine!

Ok then. So… you want some help meditating?

Well, I could maybe use a hand getting this bolt out… it seems to be stuck.

I can’t imagine why…

Shut up, Maxwell.

-------------------------------------

Duo? Are you all right? What’s with the ice pack?

Actually, not so much. I’ve had the most spectacularly bad day. And my head is trying to explode.

Did you take something for it?

Yeah I took a couple pain pills and washed it down with a couple of beers. And if you open those curtains, I will kill you.

What happened? Things not go well at the park with Mei and Alex?

Things not going well implies a certain amount of normalcy. Like… Alex had one of his tantrums or something. No… this was the day from hell. Some guy tried… some guy tried to grab Alex.

What?! Where…?! No, wait. You wouldn’t be just lying here if things hadn’t turned out ok. But… what the hell happened?

The short story is Alex is fine. Mei is fine. I’m fine. The asshole has a broken arm and is in custody. And Wufei is pulling every string he ever thought about owning, to make sure he doesn’t slip through any loopholes.

And the long story?

Well, Mei had that appointment and was going to meet us at the park, and then we were going to do lunch together.

Yeah, I remember that was the plan.

Alex was playing on the slides and I was sitting on the bench. It wasn’t too crowded, but there were a couple of other mothers there. Mrs. Rosencrantz was going on and on to me about little Bobby’s soccer coach not letting him play, and all of a sudden Mrs. Guildenstern says, ‘Isn’t that little Alex?’ and… and I look up and there’s this guy and he’s walking away carrying Alex! I didn’t even freaking notice!

It’s ok… you said it all worked out. Calm down. Here… sit up and let me rub your shoulders…

Oh God, that feels good. Thanks, Heero. I just can’t stop that part replaying in my mind.

Well, it’s no wonder your head is killing you… you’re tight as a drum. So… I assume you chased the guy down and that’s where the broken bones come in?

Actually… no. I got up, of course, and started after them. But Mei was walking toward them as cool as you please, and I thought for a minute maybe it was Sean. The guy was wearing a hoody and I really couldn’t see him all that well. But, see, he didn’t realize that Mei was with us.

He just… picked Alex up?

Yeah… God, it was all so smooth and quick. Everything was real calm and easy… nothing fast that would have attracted attention.

Why did Alex…?

Apparently the guy promised him there were puppies.

Son of a bitch…

Yeah. So anyway, Mei had gotten there and saw the whole thing. But she didn’t lose her head… she was cool as ice, Heero. Just kept walking, like she was passing the guy and not paying him any mind.

But didn’t Alex call out to her? He’s usually all excited when he sees either of his parents.
The guy had his head turned and he didn’t see her.

We… we really need to have a talk with him.

Oh, I think Mommy has already started the lessons. Kid will be lucky if he isn’t chipped by nightfall.

So then what happened?

Mei waited until she was practically on top of the guy, and like I said… I wasn’t even sure what was going on, but I was moving up behind him… and all of a sudden she just hauls off and kicks this guy in the nuts so damn hard he’ll probably have to have them surgically put back into place.

And Alex?

Oh, she had him snatched back so fast I missed it. The guy staggered around trying to run with his knees together and plowed right into me. I got in a good punch to the face, and when he tried to get away from me, he just got back into Mei’s range and…

That’s where the broken arm comes in?

Somewhere in there. I know Wufei trained her in the martial arts, but I have no idea what form it is that lets you clutch a toddler and drop-kick a guy into the middle of next week. In heels and a skirt.

But everybody is ok?

Well, other than this migraine. And I think Mei said she broke a nail. Oh… and Alex was kind of pissed about there not being any puppies, but otherwise thought it was the coolest thing he’d ever seen.

He… what?

Apparently, he did not know that his Mommy ‘knew Kung-Fu’ or that if you kicked a guy between the legs that they screamed like ‘a girly baby’. So… uh… guard your nuts for awhile; he thinks it’s the best game ever.

I’ll… take that under advisement. And you? Are you all right? Other than the headache?

I… don’t know. I feel like such a horrible God-father right now. It was my watch…

You do know that you would have stopped the guy yourself if Mei hadn’t gotten there?

I… I’m trying real hard to believe that.

How far had he gotten before you saw him?

Just into the grass off the blacktop. By the swings.

I know that playground, Duo. That would have been less than ten yards?

Probably about that…

In your sleep you could outrun anyone short of an Olympic gold medalist. And with that kind of incentive… I’d put my money on you even then. You would have caught him. He would not have gotten away. You know that.

I… I… thanks, Heero.

Headache getting better?

Yeah, I think the massage is helping. So, would you care if we had a change of plans tonight? I’d kind of like to go over to Mei’s.

I wouldn’t mind seeing the little guy myself.

Though… do we still have those athletic cups around here somewhere, because I’m telling you… there’s nothing quite as scary as a toddler with a new skill…

----------------------------

So, Heero… you love me, right?

Duo… what have you done?

What kind of answer is that?!

The sane one. You are not an insecure man. You know I love you. Any time you have to ask that question, it means you’ve done something that I’m likely to… not be happy about.

You’re so suspicious!

No. Just experienced. And experience is the best teacher. The last time you asked that question, you were calling to tell me you broke your arm trying to skateboard.

Those things are hard! Anybody could have slipped like that!

And the time before that you were bringing home a puppy…

That was not my fault… Ferdinand was supposed to eventually go home to live with Mei.

Then there was the time I came home from work to find a backhoe in our backyard installing a playground big enough for a daycare.

I really didn’t think you’d mind…

And I think neither one of us wants to discuss the incident with the science fair project.

Are you never going to let me hear the end of that?

So just out with it. What have you done this time?

Nothing! And I resent the implication that I can’t just come and ask a simple question for no real reason!

Wait… you went out shopping with Alex today, didn’t you?

What are you trying to say?

That after all these years, you still cannot say no to a God child.

Hey! I say no all the time!

The one and only time you ever said no to Mei was when she asked for her own Gundam.

Only because Sally threatened to do something really nasty sounding to my balls if I even thought about it…

You’re really not defending your position here.

Oh. Yeah. Good point.

So? What is it this time, Duo?

Nothing!

…

But… just hypothetically, how would you feel about a fifty gallon aquarium in the study?

I’m going to kill you.

But… you still love me, right?

----------------------------------------

Look, Uncle Duo! Look! It’s a lion with stripes!

That’s a tiger, Alex.

No, it’s a lion with stripes. I like lions. Lions are big and they roar really loud on the TV.

When your Mom was little, the tigers were her favorites.

She liked the striped lions?

No, she liked the t… yeah. She liked the striped lions.

Can we go see the giraffes now?

Well, that’s clear on the other side of the zoo. How about we go through the reptile house first?

No, I want to see the giraffes now. I like lions best, so I saw them first. I like giraffes second best, so I want to see them now.

But sweetie, that’s…

Sweetie is a girl’s name, Uncle Duo. I’m not a sweetie.

Ok, sorry… no more sweetie.

You call Mommy sweetie and Mommy’s a girl.

Yes she is. I said I’m sorry, I won’t do it anymore.

Grandpa calls me Little Man. I like that one. But that’s Grandpa’s name, so you can’t use it.

Wouldn’t dream of it. How about I just stick with Alex?

But that’s not special.

Ok. I can go back to Tadpole? How about that?

What’s a tadpole, Uncle Duo?

A baby frog.

And you call Mommy the Frog Princess!

That’s right. So you’re a tadpole.

Ok! But… why do you call Mommy a frog?

What?

Why is Mommy a frog?

Well… frogs are cute.

No they’re not. They’re icky.

Uh… Grandma doesn’t think so. She thinks frogs are cute, so yeah… that’s why we call your Mom the Frog Princess.

No she doesn’t. I found a frog in the backyard and Grandma got all upset and told me to take it back outside.

…

So why is Mommy a frog, Uncle Duo? Does Grandma think Mommy is icky?

No! Of course not! She just… I mean… uh… See, there was this book that I used to read to your Mom when she was little. And it was about frogs.

I want to read it too!

Ah hell… not again.

Uncle Duo… my Mommy doesn’t allow language like that. You will have to have time out if you do it again.

…

So will you read the frog book to me too?

It got lost.

We can find it! I want to see the Frog Princess!

Why do I have this over-whelming sense of déjà-vu?

Is that the Princesses’ name?

How about we go see the giraffes now?

Ok! And then we will see the elephants!

But… the elephants are right over there! Why don’t we just look at them now, and then go see the giraffes?

Because I like the elephants third best, Uncle Duo.

Why did I not know that…

_______________________

I’m old, Heero… when did I get to be old?

You’re not old. You’re just not a teenager anymore.

I feel old. I feel so very, very old.

I think it’s more that Alex is so very, very young.

Kid is going to be the death of me. We must have walked back and forth across that zoo fifty times.

Well, walking is good exercise…

Fifty times, Heero. I’m not kidding. The child had a mental list of all his favorite animals and we had to see them in order. In freaking order! There was no distracting him and… ow! Ow! Charlie horse! Ow!

Hold still and let me stretch it out. Come on… straighten your leg. There… is that better?

It will never be better again. Can we get a hot tub? I’m going to need a hot tub to survive this kid.

He is rather… focused.

Focused?! He is a mini carbon copy of Chang Wufei! The tone… the attitude… the freaking posture!

Well, Alex does idolize his Grandpa…

It’s more than that, man. I’m telling you, there’s some kind of uncanny force at work here…

I think they call it ‘genetics’.

Insidious thing, genetics. You take a mother and you take a father and somehow they produce... the past! Like, all over again!

They do say that grandkids are a parent’s revenge.

But how did I get involved in this multi-generational act of payback?

You can’t deny you had a rather heavy hand in Mei’s upbringing.

So I was involved in my God-daughter’s childhood? This entitles me to a piece of the retributional pie?

Something like that. Consider it turn-about for that whole skateboarding thing.

Oh. Well damn. I might have reconsidered that stance if I’d known.

No you wouldn’t. You adore Mei, and you adore Alex and you wouldn’t miss any of this for the world.

Tell that to my knees…

Well, we may not own a hot tub, but we do have a tub. How about I fetch a little wine and we spend the evening soaking in a hot bath?

Sounds heavenly. Or it would if the bathroom wasn’t so damn far away. And Heero?

Yeah?

Just bring the bottle.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Well, hey there, Tadpole! What are you doing here? You and your Mom taking your Grandpa to lunch or something?

Uncle Duo! Don’t call me that here! Just call me Alex, ok?

Oh… sorry. Not very grown up, huh? So, Alex… what are you doing here?

It’s Take Your Kid to Work day, but Mom’s office doesn’t allow it. So Grandpa said I could come to work with him.

Well, that’s cool. You here all day?

Yep. Grandpa got me an official visitor’s pass and everything, see?

Wow… he got you level two clearance and everything? Has he given you the grand tour?

We even went upstairs and met Commander Une! She’s really nice!

She is? Uh… I mean, of course she is.

Grandpa showed me his office and I got to meet his secretary and his assistant.

His… assistant?

Yeah, Miss Johnson. She’s nice and all, but she kept petting my head like I was five or something.

But Miss Johnson isn’t… uh… I mean. Sure. Yeah, we can go with that…

Grandpa is going to take me to lunch in the commissary and then this afternoon, he’s going to take me to tour the training grounds!

Oh wow. The whole nine yards, huh? You… uhm… sure your Mom is on-board with this?

Grandpa said she’d be happy to find out I didn’t miss out on Career Day after all, so we’re gonna surprise her tonight after work.

Surprise? Oh, I’ll just bet she’ll be surprised…

I gotta go, Uncle Duo! Grandpa is going to let me see the motor pool too! He says there’s armored cars and everything! Isn’t that awesome?

Yeah, the guys down in the motor pool are really cool. They get to play with all the best tools. Just… tell your Grandpa I said ‘hi’.

I will! Bye, Uncle Duo!

…

Duo? Was that Alex I saw running down the hall?

Yes, Heero my man.... that would be Alex. Here with Wufei. For Career Day. All day.

Are you serious? How in the world did they talk Mei into that?

Oh, apparently the rule of the day is, it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Oh my God…

Yeah. We should be able to see the fireworks from our place about five thirty tonight.

Crap. And we’re out of ice cream…

Want to take off work a few minutes early tonight and stop at the grocery? I’m thinking we need to stock up.

And let’s not forget the sprinkles.

And maybe a bottle of rum.

Duo…

That would be for us…

In that case, make it two.

------------------------------------

You know what sucks, Uncle Duo?

What sucks, Sweetie?

When your kid gets to be taller than you. You know what sucks more?

What sucks more, Sweetie?

When they don’t have to do what you tell them to anymore.

I know, Sweetie.

What am I gonna do, Uncle Duo?

You’re going to smile and you’re going be proud of him.

But every time I look at him, I just want to burst into tears!

I know that too. You do realize…

If you bring up the skate board thing, I’m going to dump this milkshake right over your head.

Uh… I was just going to point out that he’s not signing his life away. Just because he joined Preventer academy doesn’t mean he’ll end up being a Preventer. Lot of kids wash out.

Oh, get real. This has been coming since my damn father took Alex to headquarters for Career Day.

I don’t think…

Don’t you go defending him! The insufferable jerk has been grooming my baby for this for years! This is his dream!

Well, I won’t deny that Wufei is thrilled, but…

Thrilled? He’s beside himself! I’m surprised he’s not floating around ten feet off the ground! I can’t even talk to him because I just want to slap that… that proud look off his face!

Well, I think he was kind of disappointed when neither you or Lian were interested in following in his footsteps…

So he set out from day one to see to it that my little baby would!

Honey…

I could just kill him! I’ve been wanting to go over there and just… just… deck him, all afternoon!

It’s really not his fault…

The hell! He bought Alex a toy police outfit for his first birthday! His first!

While that might have been a little over the top, it had nothing to do with…

Insufferable, smug asshole. I really just want to go give him a piece of my mind!

Mei! It was you!

What? Uncle Duo… are you out of your mind? What are you saying?

Look, kiddo… Alex is my God-son and you can bet I sat him down for a nice long talk when I found out what his plans were.

You did? Why didn’t you tell me?

For the same reason I didn’t tell your father every little thing you and I talked about when you were a kid. The point is… I wanted to make sure Alex was thinking for himself and not just letting Wufei lead him into a bad choice.

Ha! I knew I wasn’t the only one who thought that’s what was going on!

And you know what he told me? He’s joining Preventers because of you… not your Dad.

But… I’m not… I mean… what?

Do you remember when Alex was little and that guy tried to take him off the playground?

…

Ok, stupid question. Of course you remember. And Alex remembers too. But what he remembers is his Mom coming in and kicking that guy’s ass and saving him.

But I didn’t… I mean, I just…

You appeared out of nowhere, you handed that jerk his balls on a silver platter, and you took your son back. He was at an impressionable age.

But I… I barely even remember what happened!

Well, Alex remembers. He apparently thought you were Batgirl for a long time. And he decided he wanted to grow up to be like his Mom and save people.

What? Oh God… that’s so… that’s so sweet! And it sucks! Because it means this is all my fault and I want somebody else to blame for this!

Princess, it’s nobody’s fault. This is the part of parenting that’s the worst. And the best.
The little buggers grow up and have minds of their own. Can’t you remember when you were that age?

All I did was want to skateboard!

And you went on that trip across China right out of high school, and you married a California surfer dude, and you went into social work, and for entertainment you took up hang-gliding. You don’t think you gave your folks a few gray hairs?

But… Daddy never said anything about all that stuff!

That’s because he learned his lesson over the skate-boarding. Doesn’t mean we weren’t scared to death over the rest of it. This is the part where you have to let go and let your kid be who they’re going to be.

…

Aw, honey… don’t cry!

Just… something in my eye, Uncle Duo. So pass the damn tissues and shut up.

It’ll be ok. He’s a good kid and he’s going to be a great Preventer.

I know. But I still don’t have to like it.

No law says we have to. More milkshake?

Sure. Hey… how come you’ve never made them with rum before?

Waiting for the right occasion. Better than sprinkles?

Oh yeah… way better than sprinkles.

------------------------------------

I’d been home from the hospital for almost two full days, and I don’t think I’d seen Duo stop and just sit down for more than a few minutes at a time yet. He was the essence of frenetic efficiency. Nothing that passed his line of sight was left undone. I doubted there was an unwashed dish or article of clothing in the entire place. My pillows were plumped before I had a chance to notice they needed it. Fresh ice appeared in my water glass before the water had a chance to dare reach room temperature.

Duo and I have been together for a long damn time, and I knew this meant his state of mind was… not good, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. Any attempt to get him to talk to me about himself was met with chipper denial and a sudden need to clean out the freezer or vacuum the study. All I could do was lie flat on my back where I was ensconced on the couch, watch him moving at ninety miles an hour, and worry about the brick wall he was going to hit when he finally stopped being able to out run his thoughts.

It hadn’t been any mega-dangerous Preventer mission this time, just a stupid accident. Rush hour, a deer, an inattentive driver, and a five car pile-up. It was as close as I’ve ever come to dying without the destruction of a Gundam being involved. And I think that was somehow the aspect that had hit Duo so hard. Our job can be dangerous, but when you’re going out in the field, the one left behind is sort of… prepared. You know they’re in a dangerous situation and you have time to put your head in the right place. But I’d just been driving across town; there had been nothing to worry about. No warning. A day like any other day. Kind of like the blow they say killed Harry Houdini… a blow just like dozens of others that he’d taken, but because he hadn’t been prepared for it, hadn’t seen it coming…

I had tried that morning, to get Duo to slow down for two seconds and talk to me, and the result was, apparently, his sudden desire to sort through the spice cupboard to check expiration dates. I’d dosed off waiting for him to come back, so when the knock had come at the front door, Duo rushed to answer it, thinking I was still asleep.

I hadn’t really meant to pretend to be napping, but Duo didn’t actually check on me to see, just taking our guests around into the kitchen, shushing them the whole way. Mei passed my line of sight, Alex perched on her hip, and the little guy waved at me over her shoulder as they went by. I grinned at him and waved back.

Mei settled at the kitchen table with Alex, and I could hear Duo at the stove, from the sounds of it, mixing tea.

‘How’s he doing, Uncle Duo?’ Mei asked while she settled Alex in her lap, handing him some sort of toy to keep his little hands busy.

‘He’s going to be fine,’ Duo assured her, tone just a little bit too firm.

‘Daddy said he’s got a long…’ she began, but Duo managed to almost drop something I couldn’t quite see.

‘Oh man,’ Duo said cheerfully, ‘that would have been a heck of a mess!’

‘Nice catch,’ Mei teased, and Duo was right there with his next line to make sure the topic stayed changed.

‘You want your usual mint or you want to try some of this new stuff I found?’ There was the sound of boxes being shifted and Duo came into view for a moment, as he brought a box of tea over to show Mei.

‘Oh, that does look good,’ Mei commented and they agreed they would try the new stuff. I suppose I should have called out and let them know I was awake, but I had a vague hope that somebody else might get Duo to open up and talk. Though, listening to the conversation in the next room, that hope was rapidly dwindling.

While the water heated, Duo barraged Mei with questions about Alex, a topic that was usually a good bet to keep a young parent occupied for ages. They discussed the latest tooth coming in and drool, the benefits of the frozen teething rings over the regular plastic ones, and how many diapers a kid could go through in a day. Duo drove the talk where he wanted it to go with teasing questions designed to get Mei wound up and firmly on topic, all while he flitted about the kitchen in almost constant motion. It was beyond frustrating that nobody else seemed to realize what he was doing. The evasion game he was playing.

When the tea was finally ready and he brought it to the table, it was almost as though he’d caught himself by surprise. Like he hadn’t stopped to realize the logical next step required him to sit down across the table from his guests and actually drink his tea. To be still. To stop moving. To allow somebody else to actually get a good, solid look at him.

‘Uncle Duo,’ Mei said, dropping the talk of Alex’s new skill of skinning out of his own pajamas at inopportune times. ‘You look exhausted!’

‘Darn neighbor’s dog kept us up all night barking at nothing,’ Duo chuckled ruefully, and if I had not known that he was making it up, I’d have never suspected a thing.

‘What neighbor’s dog?’ Mei asked suspiciously, and I couldn’t help a tiny smile… the girl had been a dog lover from the time she was old enough to walk, Duo should have realized she’d know if there were any dogs within a mile of our house. And there weren’t.

‘Not sure,’ Duo told her, rising to go rummage in the cupboard for something to go with the tea. ‘Sounded like it was coming from the north, so it might be old lady Fenix got herself a dog.’

‘Old lady Fenix owns seven cats,’ Mei replied, the suspicion in her voice becoming stronger. ‘Somehow I can’t see her suddenly buying a dog.’

‘Could be the Coles then,’ Duo chuckled, and brought the whole package of cookies to the table. When he set them down, whatever toy Alex had been playing with hit the floor when he suddenly found something else he was more interested in reaching for.

It rather surprised me that Duo would stoop to using the little guy as a distraction. But Mei is Chang Wufei’s daughter, and what she didn’t learn about stubborn from him, she invented herself. Deftly pulling a single cookie out of the box, she broke it in half, handed half to Alex, popped the other half in her mouth, and leveled a glare at Duo I didn’t have to see to feel the heat of.

‘Put those away or I will let you deal with it when he stuffs himself sick and pukes all over your kitchen,’ she commanded, the imperial tone spoiled only a little by it being delivered around her half of the cookie. ‘You are not using my son to change the topic for you.’

Duo sighed and went to put the cookies away, telling her while his back was turned, ‘Just leave it alone, Princess.’

‘Uncle Duo,’ she said, tone gentling substantially. ‘This has been a rough time, and you need…’

Duo was out of my line of sight, but I heard the cupboard door close somewhat solidly and when he spoke next, the quality of his voice told me he was standing there, still facing it. ‘There’s nothing I need, Mei,’ he told her firmly. ‘Everything is fine. Just drop it, ok?’

‘Of course everything isn’t fine!’ Mei huffed at him, the exasperation plain in her voice. ‘You look awful! Are you sleeping at all? Are you even eating? How do you think you can take care of Uncle Heero if…’

I felt for the kid, I really did. I understood her frustration quite well. But I also knew she wasn’t going to get anywhere by lecturing, and in fact… had just pushed too hard. I sighed, but there was nobody near enough to hear me.

‘Mei-zhan!’ Duo snapped, and I couldn’t say I’d heard him use that tone of voice with his God daughter since she was about five years old. And just like it had when she’d been five, that tone brought her up cold. She might be a grown woman with a son of her own, but I could tell from her body language that for a second… some part of her head was that little kid again. There were a long few minutes where the only sound was Alex smacking his hands on the table.

I heard Duo sigh, and then I heard his slow footsteps as he came back to the table. Mei didn’t speak as he pulled his chair out and sat down again. The uncomfortable silence hung there between them for a minute before Duo cleared his throat and leaned down to catch Alex’s eye. ‘So what have you been up to this week tadpole? Staying out of trouble?’

It took Mei another few seconds to decide if she was going to fight it, and I was almost surprised when she seemed to give in so easily. ‘Mostly just teething,’ she finally said, voice wavering only a tiny bit, ‘though he’s learning new words like a little magpie.’

‘Well that’s good,’ Duo said, somewhat inanely, and I could hear the weariness in his voice where he hadn’t quite been able to get it tucked away. I knew him well enough to know he felt bad for snapping at Mei and it was just adding to the things weighing on him.

‘I think he said Uncle Duo the other day,’ Mei said, managing to set her stung feelings aside enough to tease. ‘….Or else he sneezed.’

It made Duo snort a little laugh, but I could see him and he still couldn’t quite look up at her. I ached for him, but in that moment I gave up on Mei getting anywhere.

In the kitchen there had fallen another of those uncomfortable silences, and suddenly Mei leaned over and plopped Alex in Duo’s lap. ‘Watch him a minute, would you? I have to use the bathroom.’

‘Sure,’ Duo said, almost automatically.

Mei rose, and as she turned to leave the room, patted Alex on the head and said, ‘Who’s got you, tadpole?’

Alex looked up at Duo, reaching out for Duo’s nose with one hand and shirt pocket with the other. ‘Uh-Doo,’ he said quite clearly, and it did indeed sound a little bit like he sneezed.

I don’t know if Mei got to see the flash of joy and surprise that bloomed on Duo’s face before she left the kitchen or not. I kind of hoped so, it would go a long way toward erasing whatever hurt feeling were left from his having snapped at her.

‘Uncle Duo?’ he prompted and Alex obligingly parroted out his version again.

‘Uh-Doo!’ Uh-Doo!’

Duo’s wide grin toned down to something that was all about his fondness for Alex, and then it shifted again and the mist of melancholy rose in his eyes.

Alex, for his part, had somehow managed to get hold of the end of Duo’s braid and was busy trying to stuff it in his mouth, his ‘Uh-Doo’ taking on a certain amount of determination. It made Duo snort out a noise of amusement that turned suddenly into something else.

‘Well crap,’ I heard him mutter, and Alex left off trying to eat his hair to look up as Duo dashed his hand across his eyes, trying to stem the tide.

‘Uh-Doo?’ Alex cooed, managing somehow to make it sound concerned though he could hardly have known what was going on. Duo just… lost it, sobbing brokenly and gathering the little guy up close.

I struggled to sit up, trying to figure out how in the hell I was going to get myself out there, when a hand landed on my shoulder. ‘Don’t you dare, Uncle Heero,’ Mei whispered next to my ear, and I was startled to find her right there beside me. I’d been so focused on Duo and Alex, I’d never noticed her come into the room.

‘He needs me,’ I told her lowly, not able to tear my eyes away from the scene in the other room, framed by the doorway and somehow seeming miles away.

‘What he needs is to get this out of his system,’ she said, not taking her hand away from my arm. ‘And if he sees you trying to get up…’

She left it hang there and I sighed, knowing she was right. She let go when she felt me relax back against the cushions. ‘Damn, stubborn man…’ I grumbled and swallowed back the lump that was trying to form in my own throat.

‘Takes one to know one,’ Mei said softly, settling down to sit on the floor next to me.

Out in the kitchen, Duo began to rock gently back and forth, and Alex patted his head, crooning ‘Uh-Doo,’ in a tone of voice that was either consoling or showing off, I couldn’t tell which.

‘Don’t worry,’ Mei whispered, ‘Alex has got this.’

‘Are you sure he’s not just sneezing?’ I said, because it was tearing me up inside to not be able to go replace Alex in Duo’s arms.

‘Are you kidding me?’ Mei snorted softly. ‘As hard as I worked to get him to say it? This cost me a new teddy bear, three cookies, and the promise of a puppy!’

I had to turn to really look at her to judge her response when I asked, ‘Are you serious?’

Her smile completely faded away and she leaned her head down to rest on the couch next to my arm. ‘Yeah. Though this isn’t quite how I’d planned the surprise.’

I’d have hugged her if I could have figured out how. ‘It’s been a long time coming.’

‘I could tell,’ she said simply, and it made me stop and think.

‘Why don’t you go make that trip to the bathroom for awhile,’ I prodded. ‘He won’t be happy that… that we saw him like this.’

‘Silly Uncle Heero,’ she chastised lightly. ‘It’s only something in his eye.’

I managed to contain the snort and she kissed me on the forehead before slipping from the room. Out in the kitchen Alex had discovered that Duo’s face was wet and his ‘Uh-Doo’ changed to an ‘Uh-oh’ and he began patting Duo’s cheeks.

When he started trying to figure out where Duo’s ‘boo-boo’ was so he could kiss it better, I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep again.

Alex had things under control.

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