Author: Kiya Sama

Title: Awakening 1 (Teaser)

Rating: R

Pairings: 2+4, Past 3x4...others to come soon...

Warnings: Mpreg, angst, language and adult situations

Archives: http://www.geocities.com/kiyasama

Disclaimers: Main characters are properties of Bandai and Studio Sunrise. I make no money off them.

Author's Notes: As the subject header suggests, this is merely a teaser. I am trying my hand at writing mpreg fanfiction with inspiration from the great ones from both Kat and Deb. I am no expert at this - although I have done necessary research, so encouragement, advice and comments are very much welcome.

Finally, all credit go to Zan and Blackster for believing I could tackle this. Thanks for your support guys. ^_^

***

Chapter One:

I barely hear the sound of the thunder that makes its booming sound outside the window. A quick flash of lightning has me wincing inwardly, but I refuse to make a sound. The dull smell of dust and wet wood fill my nostrils. It's mildew I'm sure, but I can't be bothered to care much at this time. The wind has picked up again and the sounds of heavy tree branches hitting the sturdy panes of the window make me wish for the warmth of my bed again. The rain has begun to fall even heavier now. The roads are going to be blocked for sure. But I have the feeling that I am never going to leave this place anyway.

I was never meant to leave this place.

The man sitting at the head of the table is Mr. Avery. He is a well- known lawyer around these parts and has dealt with many popular cases that involve deaths and family estates. There was a small sign on his office door in the middle of town that had the words 'Solicitor and Caretaker' written in beautiful black cursive on a wooden plaque. It was the *only* office of its kind in this town. No, it was the only office of its kind in this small settlement. Not only is Mr. Avery a lawyer, he is also the town's funeral director and part-time pastor for the church I had noticed on my way up here. Funny that I should notice such a thing since I'm not even a Christian.

I rub my hands together to try to get some warmth back into them. I try very hard not to shiver, as the room has little to no warmth in it. It is a large room and quite gloomy. It's only source of light is the candle stand that had been placed in the middle of the table. I watch its yellow flames flicker back and forth as the wind continues to make its presence known. The light casts even more darkened shadows across the heavy bookshelves that surround us. We were in the main library, Mr. Avery had said. There are still books on the shelves. Books, I am sure, that must have dated over a century by now.

I sneeze.

The cold and the smell of old paper are causing me to feel a little sick to my stomach. If I can only get some fresh air - even if it means having to walk outside in the rain, that would be more than enough for me. And besides...*he *needs it too.

Mr. Avery is still talking. I barely listen to a word he says. However, he isn't the only one in the room. Sitting across from me is a man of about my age. He has dark piercing eyes that look at me every now and then with malice. I wonder if he really knows why we are here. I sure as hell wish I knew. He is of Chinese descent; that much is certain - and looks quite dignified in his simple white outfit. I am sure it is some traditional attire, but I haven't bothered to look up its real name.

I think he had said his name was Chang Wufei, but I could be wrong. I am getting tired after all.

The trip to this town had taken me over four hours to complete and in my state, it was all I could do to keep my hands on the wheel. What still has me puzzled is why I had willingly given up everything I had worked so hard for in the city to move down here? Why had the phone call from Mr. Avery jarred my nerves to the point that thinking coherently had been virtually impossible? I can still remember the call like it was yesterday. It had come a week earlier and I had been in the middle of a business meeting. Plans to takeover a bankrupt company had been in the works and I had been surrounded by men of high standing, each eager to impress me with their marvelous plans for possible capitalistic monopoly.

How crude we were.

It was my cell-phone that had rung on that bright Monday afternoon - a number that I rarely gave out to anyone besides close friends and relatives. I remember being irritated and ready to give whomever the caller was a piece of my mind. But as it turned out, I had no need to do that. The news I had gotten at the other end of the line had sent my heart pounding with a fierceness that had almost made me pass out.

I sneeze again and reach for a handkerchief to blow softly into it. I stare at the dusty table before me, wondering just how long it had been since another human had walked into this room. I will have to send for maids and manservants just to get this room in...

"Mr. Winner?"

I jerk upright, eyes widening in surprise as I notice that he has finally stopped talking and that both were now looking at me with mixed expressions of wariness and irritation. I must have been dozing off again. It was Mr. Avery that had called me, and carefully keeping my eyes from the narrowed ones of Mr. Chang, I reply softly.

"I...I'm sorry. Did you say something, sir?"

The white-haired man, who did not have an unkind face, smiled warmly at me and took off his glasses. "I will confess that I feel a bit guilty making you sit here and listen to this tonight, sir. But you did insist that we do it here."

I nod softly and am about to open up my mouth to urge him to continue, when the Chinese man interrupted curtly.

"So far we have heard all the preliminary mumbo-jumbo, Mr. Avery. Now, I am a very busy man and my client would like to know just what part of the estate he owns if at all."

Mr. Avery looks flustered at the rich baritone of the lawyer's voice and I admit that I am a bit intimidated by how sure and confident he sounds. A stray thought of possibly hiring him to work for my company comes to mind and I immediately wipe it away as he graces me with another impatient look. I, absently, place a hand on my bulging tummy - at least it felt that way to me. No one else would have noticed the difference beneath the long dress shirt I had on.

I wonder who his client was. But I will find out soon enough it seems, as Mr. Avery has put on his glasses again.

"Ah, to skip...to skip..." the old man mumbles to himself before giving a soft cry of relief as he finds the area he needs to read. "Yes, yes, Lord Barton has indeed bequeathed the entire estate to Mr. Winner it seems."

I gasp softly, but it is quickly overshadowed by a loud 'WHAT?' from Mr. Chang. I wince and bit my lower lip. It looks like I am about to hear the sordid truth.

"Please, Mr. Chang, if you could just keep your voice down," Mr. Avery tries to say.

"I will do no such thing," comes the vehement reply from the dark- haired man. "My client was practically family to the Bartons. Why should the estate go to a relative nobody?"

I'm not 'a nobody', my mind screams as my hands began to caress my torso a bit faster. I am somebody and I deserve this house even though I have over a hundred more scattered all over the globe. I will admit that I hadn't expected him to leave me anything at all, but then again...I hadn't expected to hear the horrible news that fateful day three months ago.

The doctors had said that he had died on the spot. The private jet that had been heading for Madrid never made it off the ground. Investigators were still trying to figure out the cause of the accident.

Just like that...the man I had fallen in love with last summer had been taken away from me. I had been numb for the better part of the day...and the week and months soon after. I guess I am still a bit numb now.

I had never even gotten a chance to tell him the good news.

Mr. Chang and Avery are still arguing over something and I can feel my patience beginning to wear thin. I have had a long day. My body and mind aches. I long for my warm bed, something good to eat, a shower...anything but this and before I can stop myself, I cry out irritably.

"Please sit down and let him finish, Mr. Chang! I am sure that there is a compromise that we can reach. Bickering like this isn't going to get us anywhere!"

They seem surprised at my outburst, none more so than the Chinese man, who probably assumes that I am a pushover. He should have known better. I don't own the Winner Enterprise Conglomerate by being docile. But thankfully, he does sit down and Mr. Avery shoots me a grateful smile. He begins to read again and this time, I make sure I pay close attention to his words.

"To Mr. Quatre Reberba Winner, I bequeath, my estate and all its domains, which include 2,000 acres of land, the stables, farms and animals. Mr. Winner is also to get a million pounds each month for five years to do as he pleases."

I do not flinch, but notice that Mr. Chang's clasped hands have tightened.

"And to Mr. Duo Maxwell, I bequeath the shareholdings of Barton Enterprise and all major investments. Mr. Maxwell will also have the rights to the Barton Manor...which is the house," Mr. Avery explains with a wan smile as he notices that we are both staring at him with confusion etched on our features.

"I'm afraid I do not understand, Mr. Avery," I say politely. "Are you saying that...?"

The solicitor nods with a weak smile. "Yes, Mr. Winner. You and Mr. Maxwell own the house."

"What in the hell was he thinking?" Chang mutters beneath his breath as he leans back on his chair. "What the fuck was he thinking?"

"According to the will, you and Mr. Maxwell are to decide on what you want to do with the manor. If you wish to sell it, then the money will be divided equally between the two of you. If either or both of you wish to keep it, then...we will begin the necessary legalization of property ownership."

Sell the house? I eye the large shelves again with a small smile on my lips. Trowa would not have wanted me to sell the house. It might have been old and musty, but this was a house that had once been filled with love. My lover had grown up in this house. He had showed me a picture of it and we had made plans to pay a visit someday. And so, the very idea of selling it was completely out of the question.

I just hope that this Mr. Maxwell will want it to remain this way.

"I'm keeping it," I announce rather loudly as if hoping it will sink into Mr. Chang's head. I can already see him about to open up his mouth to protest, but I shrug and gave him a warm smile. "Please let Mr. Maxwell know about this. I would very much like to meet him in person someday."

The Chinese man gives a little smile and nods. "Oh, I have no doubt you will be meeting him very soon, Mr. Winner. My client will be visiting the manor next week. I am sure you will both have a lot to talk about then."

"Ah...that's..."

"That's settled then," Mr. Avery cuts in with a wide grin of relief and pleasure. He rises to his feet and reaches for my hand to give it a hard shake. I feel the hot, sticky warmth of his palms within mine, and it takes all of my strength not to cringe. "I believe you are staying the night here, Mr. Winner?" He looks worried, and I can understand why. I haven't exactly planned ahead. I guess I will have to sleep in this room for the night.

"Are you sure you do not wish to stay in town for the night, sir?" he asks again. "My wife and I would be more than happy to accept you as a guest. And you can have hot food and a warm bed."

Oh, sweet Allah, that sounds like paradise to my ears and I give a low moan of appreciation.

"You would be a fool to refuse such an offer," Mr. Chang says quickly as he too rises to his feet. He picks up his briefcase and gives a small bow to both of us. "I have a flight tomorrow morning, so please give me a call if you have any questions. I do believe that you have my cell-phone number, Mr. Avery?"

The solicitor nods. "Yes, I do, Mr. Chang. Please drive safely, sir. The roads are quite treacherous during the storms."

The Chinese man gives a non-committal nod of agreement before making his way out of the room. I sigh softly and try to rise to my feet, but a sharp wave of nausea hits me causing me to sit back on the chair heavily. I can vaguely hear Mr. Avery's cry of concern and I think I must have tried to laugh it off.

I don't really remember what happened after that. I must have fainted out of hunger or weariness or both. But, what I did know was that a whole new life was about to begin for me. I was going to take care of my lover's house by living in it from here on out. I was going to have a housemate of sorts, but I hoped he would share my enthusiasm for the beautiful home. I also hoped he wouldn't be too taken aback or revolted by the secret that I have kept hidden from everyone else for a while now.

I am with child. Trowa's child. The late Trowa Barton and I had once thought of running away from a life of chaos and disarray to move to this one of hopeful solitude and peace.

Little did I know what lay in store for my baby and I.

TBC??