I do not own Gundam Wing, Escaflowne, Pizza Hut, Wal-Mart, or whatever else you think I might own. I don't make any profit from this, it's just for fun!

This story is dedicated to Dark Angel for getting me interested in writing again, and to my sister who really helped me with my writer's block when I needed her. Thanks!!

The Trouble With the Truth Part Two: Time Marches On.

By: Msmelanie

Chapter three:  Betrayal with a Cup of Cocoa.

"Don't kick the snow, Michael!" Michael said as he mocked his mothers voice. "Hey Heero, do we really start calling you Neo now?" 

"Yes." Neo replied.

"Okay. That's a cool name, but still not as cool as mine though." Michael said proudly, picking up some snow to throw at Mingh Loh.

"No snowballs!" Michael heard his mother say before he could throw it. Although, when Mingh Loh heard Michael's mother, she dodged, picked up a snow ball and threw it at Michael.

"Ha! Strike!" she said proudly.

Back inside the house...

"Dang it. Linh, your daughter's throwing snowballs."  Hilde said.

"Did she hit Michael?" Mae Linh asked curiously.

"Yes, but that's not the point!" Hilde remarked.

"That's my girl!" Mae Linh said proudly.

Hilde sighed and looked out the window. A free-for-all snowball fight was in full swing. Neo was dodging Mingh Loh's attempts to hit him, while simultaneously hitting Michael and Dominic. Dominic was trying to hit Michael, but Michael was still trying to get Mingh Loh.

"Hey!" she yelled. All the kids froze in their tracks, then they ran to the church.

"We're going mom, yeesh!" Michael shouted back at Hilde.

Relena  came back down with Rei. "What's going on?" she asked.

"S.b.f." Hilde simply said.

"Uhh...huh." Relena  commented. "My son involved?"

"More than Michael was." Hilde replied.

"Did Mingh Loh nail Neo?" Mae Linh asked hopefully.

"Yeah, right." Relena said sarcastically.

"Of course she didn't." Hilde said in response to Mae Linh's question.

"Well, one day she will nail that otoko, you just wait." Mae Linh said proudly.

Soon the kids came running back from the church. Neo and Mingh Loh were holding up a small couch while Dominic and Michael each carried a la-Z-boy recliner over their heads. They ran to the door of the house and Hilde let them in. "Here you go, Aunt Relena." Dominic said as he came through the door.

"Over by the fire." Relena requested. The kids sat them down and she motioned for the guys to all take a seat.

They happily obeyed as Trowa, Wufei, and Heero sat in the small couch while Duo and Quatre took the recliners. The guys finally started to retrieve that warm and cozy feeling by the fire.

"We'll go to the city soon," commented Relena, "and get you some winter clothes, but it's too dangerous right now. It'll take some time before the roads will be decent."

Dominic walked up to his mom. "Can I have some hot chocolate?"

All the kids looked at Dorothy for an answer. Dorothy looked questioningly at the others. 

 "One cup, we have to go shopping soon for more." replied Dorothy.

The kids all cheered and followed Dorothy to the kitchen.

Duo whispered to Quatre. "What's hot chocolate?"

Quatre shrugged. "I don't know. Chocolate... that's hot?"

"Wouldn't that be really sticky?" Duo asked again.

Trowa shook his head no. "It's some sort of earthling drink."

Duo looked back at Trowa. "It's a drink, you sure?"

Trowa looked back at Duo. "I think so, Heero?"

 "I never planned on doing earth missions during the winter season, so I didn't do much research on winter activities." replied Heero.

Then Quatre jumped as Dominic shoved a steamy drink in front of him.

Dominic smiled at Quatre. "It's nice to know you didn't blow up with the colonies. Where do you plan on staying now?"

Quatre laughed nervously. "...Dorothy didn't tell you last night?"

"Tell me what?" Dominic angelically smiled back.

Quatre laughed nervously again. "D-d-dorothy...D-dorothy?!"

"What?" Dorothy asked as she stepped out of the kitchen.

Quatre looked at her."You...didn't tell him?"

Dorothy just looked away from Quatre. "I thought...you should."

Quatre continued looking nervously at Dorothy. "ummm...no, you can."

"Tell me what?" Dominic angelically smiled back.

"Well, that dude's your dad!" Michael shouted as he ran out of the kitchen and up to Dominic.

"Michael!" Hilde scolded as she came out of the kitchen. "I told you not to say anything to Dominic yet!"

"Oh yeah, I forgot!" Michael said as he stuck his hand behind his head. "Sorry!"

Poor Dominic just looked stunned. There was nothing he could think of to say.

Quatre just looked at Dominic's hot chocolate, at his hand, the fireplace, a photo, the wall...

Duo got up and hit Quatre's shoulder. "Say something!" he whispered in Quatre's ear.

Quatre just looked at Duo. "D-duo, I..."

"Is it true?" Dominic asked.

Quatre slowly nodded his head yes. Dominic just stared at Quatre. Quatre just stared at Dominic.

"..."

"You mean your mother didn't tell you?" Mingh Loh said as she came out of the kitchen, interrupting the uncomfortable silence.

"You knew?!" Dominic shouted at Mingh Loh.

"Of course, mother told me last night. Everyone knows." Mingh Loh said haphazardly.

The inheritance of Dorothy's personality could be seen in Dominic's eyes just before he spilled his hot chocolate all over Quatre and ran out the door. Dorothy called out his name as she sprinted out right after him.

"Why?" Quatre asked. "Why did he take it so bad? The others didn't."

"The kinder a heart is, the worser it takes betrayal." Trowa responded.

"I didn't betray him!" Quatre shouted.

"You didn't tell him and Dorothy didn't tell him. If that's not betrayal, what is?" Heero responded quietly.

Quatre seethed at the question.

"Don't. Don't start fighting. Dorothy was in the wrong, not Quatre." Hilde explained. "We all told the kids last night, but Dorothy wouldn't tell Dominic. She didn't want to expose her past, and talking about Quatre would definitely open up that door. She told me to keep Michael quiet until she could figure out what to say."

"Stupid Otoko!" Mingh Loh shouted at Michael. "Don't you show your mother any honor!"

"I forgot!" Michael said in his defense. "Besides, your the one that made him mad!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

 "Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Kids, quiet!" Relena shouted. Relena gave a nasty look at Hilde for not telling her about Dorothy's decision. "Dominic'll be fine. Now, drink your cocoa."

"What's cocoa?" Duo asked.

"It's this." Hilde replied as she pointed to her cup.

"I thought that was hot chocolate?" Duo replied confused.

"It is." Hilde replied.

"But, you said that's cocoa." Duo replied really confused.

"Duo!" Hilde laughed. "It goes under cocoa, hot cocoa, hot chocolate...whatever your preference. Want some? It's really good!"

"If it's good, then yeah I'll take some!" Duo responded. Duo went into the kitchen with Hilde.

Heero slightly turned his head to watch Duo enter the kitchen. When he turned back around he saw his son Neo sitting on his lap. Heero was shocked, he didn't even feel his son get on his lap.

Neo glared at Heero. "Is it true you tried to assassinate my mom multiple times?"

Heero just looked back at Neo. "Sort of."

"Sort of!" Quatre shouted. "Yeah, right!" Quatre's not very cheery at this time with Heero. "You tried to shoot down her shuttle and-"

"-and don't forget on the docks!" Duo interrupted as he came from the kitchen. "I had to save her from you, you know!" He took a drink of his cocoa. "Hey, this is pretty good!"

"The school party too..." Trowa continued.

"A conference too. You were waiting in a balcony, weren't you?" added Wufei.

Heero glared back and forth at whoever was talking. This wasn't putting Neo in a good mood.

"Neo, why are you sitting on Heero's lap?"  Relena asked as she came out of the kitchen.

"I wanted an answer to a question. Do we have any more cocoa left?" Neo asked sweetly.

"Of course sweetie, help yourself."  Relena replied.

Neo smiled at his mother as she went back into the kitchen.

"Sweetie, are you coming?" Relena shouted from the kitchen.

"Be right there!"  Neo shouted. Then he grabbed Heero's turtleneck and harshly whispered, "You try and hurt my mom again and I'll destroy you." He looked towards the kitchen as he let go of Heero and shouted, "Coming mommy!" as he hopped off of Heero's lap.

Heero looked stunned at what his son had just said to him.

"Wow. That kid really does take after you, don't he?" Duo asked Heero.

Heero didn't respond.