It took them the full hour to finally reach the mansion. Trio had fallen asleep again in the back seat. Relena
had laid down on Heero’s lap and fell asleep as well. Only the three males in the car were awake. Jerome
reached around the seat and poked Trio.
“We’re here sleepy head. Get up.” Trio opened her eyes and sat up. She grimaced a little bit but got up.
Jerome opened the door and Trio followed him out, leaving Heero and Relena alone for a moment in the
van.
“Relena,” Heero whispered. It was the same sound he’d made so many times when he couldn’t admit he
loved her. She stirred and looked up at him, love resonating in her eyes.
“What is it, Heero?”
“We’re here.”
“Heero…” Now fear showed in her eyes, but the love never left.
“What is it?”
“I’m scared. This fusion between a human and a Gundam, how could someone do that?”
“I don’t know. I’m a little unsure myself. I can’t figure out what other secret the child is hiding.”
“Trio? You think she’s hiding something?”
“Not Trio herself, but her body. It’s hiding something. On the way here I saw her back twitch a number of
times.”
“Twitch Heero? That’s hardly a cause for concern.”
“Something about how it twitched concerns me. Like something’s trying to get out but hasn’t found an
opening.”
“Are you two coming? The door won’t stay open forever!”
“Coming, Jerome!” Relena unbuckled her seatbelt. She realized she didn’t remember putting it on. Heero
must have. He helped her step out of the van and they walked toward the mansion proper. The mansion all
in all was a white color with big French doors. Inside was a red Persian rug on the mahogany floors. The
walls retained the white color but were barely visible with all the pictures hanging on the walls. Some
pictures were painted while others were oversized portraits. Relena counted five where Trio in the picture.
When Relena and Heero finally caught up with Trio and Jerome they had stopped in a round ballroom.
Nothing made this room look different from the other rooms but Relena just knew it was a ballroom. It has
a softer floor and on the sidelines of the room were benches. Heero sat down on the bench closest to the
door. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He appeared to be getting a feel for the room. Jerome sat
down on the bench next to Heero and Relena.
Trio sat down on the bench farthest from door they had entered from. She lay down on the bench with her
arms crossed like Heero but she left her eyes open.
“Are you hungry?” She asked. Relena started and realized she’d been staring at the girl.
“No, thank you. I’m fine.” Trio shrugged.
“Jerome?” Trio asked.
“What?” Was her reply.
“Did you contact the others?”
“Others?”
“The other children! Who else would I be talking about?”
“Don’t be so grouchy. Of course I contacted them.”
“When?”
“When you fell asleep again.”
“I did?”
“Stupid child,” Jerome muttered under his breath so quietly that Heero barely heard it.
“I heard that!” Trio yelled from across the room.
“How could you have heard that?” Heero asked. “He’s on the opposite side of the room from you and on
the same side as me and I barely heard him.”
“I dunno. I just know I heard him. Now be quiet and let me sleep.” Heero glared and jumped up. He ran
over Trio and made a grab for her throat. Relena cried out. Trio’s gaze darted over to Heero and she smiled
as his hand came down.
Before anyone could react Trio had dodged out of the way and had flipped Heero around and pushed him
down. His face was within an inch of the floor. Trio had her knee in the middle of his back. Heero’s face
showed he was surprised as everyone else. Trio smirked and let go of his arms. Heero coughed a little and
turned to regard the girl. She reached down to help him up. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down,
catching her off guard.
Trio’s face was contorted in annoyance but before Heero could pin her down Trio had once again somehow
managed to plant his face within an inch of the floor. This time when she released him she was not smiling
but she offered her hand once again. Heero accepted her help this time without trying to pin her.
“That was incredible.” Heero managed to stutter.
“One of the benefits of being an android.” Trio replied, shrugging.
“You’re far from an android.” Jerome injected.
“Well then what am I?”
“Alloid. A G-Alloid.”
“And what the heck is that?” Before Jerome could answer the bell rang. Its cry resonated through the whole
mansion. The sound of it bouncing off the walls reminded Trio of bells. Crystalline bells. It was the one
sound she ever looked forward to.
“Andrio, answer the door.” Jerome snapped at the servant standing near the door. Trio lay back down on
the bench.
“Yes sir.” Andrio disappeared and everyone waited in anticipation to see who had arrived. Heero went and
sat down next to Relena again and crossed his arms, staring at the door.
A couple seconds later the Portuguese servant reappeared with Duo in tow.
“Duo Maxwell and Lady Hilde sir.” Andrio disappeared leaving the awed pilots in the ballroom.
“Where are the others?” Jerome asked.
“They’re coming. They had to find their girls and then some were in the baths so it’ll be a minute. This
mansion is huge!”
“Duo stop gaping.” Hilde reprimanded. Hilde nudged Duo when she caught sight of Trio lying on the
bench.
“Trio, don’t you think it’d be nice if you looked at your ‘father’?”