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 Eleven: The Secret is Out.

Heero looked at Relena as he was walking inside. "You mean to tell me that we have to perform?"

Relena just looked at Heero. "Chances are pretty good that you will."

"I don't want to perform!" Duo shouted. "People would look at me like I was a freak!"

"No, they don't." Trowa replied testily.

"Oh, I didn't mean to offend you Trowa! I forgot you were in the circus with your girlfriend, weren't you?" Duo asked.

Catherine just embarrassingly blushed while Trowa just looked angrily at Duo. "Watch your mouth, Duo..."

"Oh, not girlfriend. Loving sister, right?" Duo replied.

Trowa just looked at him again. "Let's just go sit down."

The guys went into the kitchen to sit down and eat with the rest of the family.

Michael smiled at Duo as he sat down next to him and Hilde. "Hey, Duo? People don't look at you like your a freak. I know. I wish some people did though, then all those jerks wouldn't hang out with our moms."

The guys gagged on their food slightly.

"What? What does he mean, Hilde?" Duo asked Hilde.

"The other performers, Duo." Hilde replied. "He's thinking of all the other performers, right Michael?"

"Huh? No I'm talking about the guys tha-" began Michael until he saw his mom looking at him. "I mean, yeah the performers."

"See?" Hilde smiled back at Duo.

"You bet." replied Dominic. "Mom's real fond of the guys on the trapeze...and Aunt Relena constantly flirts with the new staff."

Heero just stared at Relena. Relena just tried to ignore him.

Quatre looked at Dorothy who was silently drinking her pop. "You know, Dorothy-you really-that's just not-you shouldn't want-I mean-it's not-you just-" stuttered Quatre.

"What? It's just harmless fun." replied Dorothy.

"Yeah, that's nothing compared to how much Aunt Hilde flirts anyhow." Dominic said in his mother's defense.

Duo glanced at Hilde. "What does he mean?"

"Well, I uh-" Hilde stuttered.

Dominic talked while he chewed his food. "She has no preference. She likes all the guys."

Duo just looked at Hilde again, "That true?"

Hilde nervously laughed. "Come on, Duo. You know I've never been that judgemental of guys. I mean I hung out with you, remember?"

"Yeah, well..." Michael replied. "Jimmy's mom's been smitten with Legato Bluesummers, you know."

Trowa stopped eating and looked over at Catherine. "Is that true?"

Catherine shuffled her feet. "Sort of."

"He's not right for you, I can sense it." Trowa replied. "Stay away from him."

Catherine grew red with anger. "He is too right! Even Jimmy likes him, right Jimmy?"

Jimmy just ignored his mother.

Mingh Loh felt like entering the conversation. "Yes, well mother doesn't flirt because those men are all weak."

Wufei smiled.

"She will end up with my father because he's arrogant, not weak." Mingh Loh finished.

Wufei stopped smiling. Mae Linh just ignored her daughter's comment.

"Well, you have husbands now so you don't have to find a father for the kids anymore."  Duo said demandingly.

"What?!" the girls shouted.

"Who said you were my husband?!" Hilde shouted at Duo.

Duo crossed his arms. "I'm Michael's father, aren't I?"

"That doesn't make you my husband!" Hilde shouted. "We aren't flirting to find 'fathers' anyway!"

"Nevertheless, no more flirting."  Heero said as he glared at Relena.

"Oh?" Dorothy replied. "Does that mean you'll stop flirting too?"

"Yes." Heero replied.

"He doesn't speak for me!" Duo shouted.

"Heero, how often do you flirt with other women?" asked Relena.

"..." Heero responded.

"I thought so." Relena answered back.

"We aren't talking about us, we're talking about you." Duo said. "As Michael's father, I say no."

"Yeah, well I'll stop flirting the day that you marry me." Hilde replied.

"You're on!" Duo shouted. Wait, what did I just say?

"Is that a proposal?" Dorothy asked as everyone stared at Duo.

"Yeah, now Duo can never leave!" Michael shouted.

"I-I didn't mean-I just." Duo stuttered.

Hilde laughed. "Oh don't worry, Duo. I know your mouth moves faster than your brain!"

Mae Linh felt it was time to change this discussion. "When are we supposed to perform?"

Relena took a bite of her meat. "I don't know. I'll have to find the manager and ask, but I'm guessing in a couple of days."

After everyone was done eating, the parents went into the living room to relax by the fire. All of the kids went into their bedroom or outside to play, except Neo and Rei.

Rei just kept looking at the pilots, while Neo kept staring at Heero.

"Heero, how can you stand to have those two staring at you?" Duo asked.

Heero didn't respond.

"That's really spooky. Your kids are freaking me out, Heero." Duo replied.

Heero slightly smiled.

Rei finally went up to Heero. "Hi."

"Hello." responded Heero.

"Can I talk to you?" Rei asked Heero.

"Sure." Heero replied.

"Away from him?" Rei asked as she pointed toward Duo. "He scares me."

"With what, his looks?" Wufei responded.

"Wufei!" Duo whined. "Stop hanging out with your daughter, she's rubbing off on you!"

Heero looked at Rei. "Where?"

"Mommy's room." Rei replied.

Heero just looked at her confused.

"Please?" Rei asked.

Heero shook his head yes and followed her upstairs to Relena's room.

"Okay, what did you want to tell me?" Heero asked.

Rei shuffled her feet. "The mall."

"What about it?" Heero replied.

Rei looked at the ground. "Promise you won't tell mommy?"

Heero just looked down at his daughter. "Promise."

"You won't get mad either?" Rei said looking up at her father.

Heero looked down at his daughter again. "Alright."

"I've been in contact with Dr. J." Rei replied.

"What?" Heero asked.

"I like Dr. J. I've been in contact with him for someime now." Rei replied.

"How?" Heero asked.

"Sound waves." Rei answered.

Heero just looked at her confused.

Rei just looked at her father. Is he really going to make me yack all day long?

Heero continued to look at her.

I guess so... thought Rei. "Me and the other children hear extremely well when we want to. So well mommy carpeted their bedroom walls in soundproof carpet along with our bedroom."

Heero looked at her again. "What's that have to do with Dr. J?"

Rei sighed and looked at him again. He makes me talk so much...When I cock my ears just right I can hear well, but when I don't, I hear like everyone else. In public places none of the kids cock their ears because their are too many noises all over. That's when Dr. J. contacts me."

"From a far away distance?" Heero asked.

Rei shook her head yes.

Heero looked at his daughter. "Why is this important now? Did he say something to you?"

Rei shook her head yes again.

"What did he say?" Heero asked.

Rei looked at Heero. "He said 'Hold on tight to your daddy, he knows the key that you hold'."

"I know the key that you hold?" repeated Heero. "What does that mean?"

Rei shrugged her shoulders. "Promise you won't tell?"

Heero just looked at her. "Promise."