A Legacy of Stars -- Prologue --

Hilde stopped stirring as the doorbell chimed. ‘Who could it be?’ she wondered, setting the spoon on the counter. ‘It had better not be a customer.’

“I’ve got it, babe,” Duo called, reaching the door first.

Hilde waited in the hall, her view of the door blocked by her husband’s broad shoulders. She released a breath she didn’t know she was holding when she realized it was Relena. Pushing Duo aside, she gave the other woman a hug.

“Relena, it’s great to see you,” she said, stepping back to study the politician.

Although the diplomat was smiling, it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She looked pale and exhausted. She was also so thin that her skin looked stretched across her bones, making her look more ill.

“What brings you here?” Hilde asked.

“I was hoping that Faith and I could visit,” Relena replied, drawing attention to the little girl still standing outside. “If it’s not a problem, of course. I know this is unexpected.”

“It’s definitely not a problem,” Duo said as he knelt before Faith. “Can Uncle Duo have a hug, kiddo?”

The young girl smiled and launched herself at him. Laughing himself, Duo stood up and held her to him. He exchanged a brief, concerned look with his wife before setting Faith back down. “Hey, I think Devon’s upstairs, playing. Why don’t you go find him?”

“Okay.” With a dazzling smile, the dark-haired girl ran up the stairs.

Hilde laughed as she watched Faith disappear. “You’re going to have to drop by more often, Relena. I almost didn’t recognize my own goddaughter.”

“Things have been so busy lately,” Relena said. “I’ve been trying to get away, to get a chance to visit. Something always seems to come up.”

“We’re not yelling at you, ‘Lena,” Duo quickly replied. “Now, you go freshen up while Hilde and I finish dinner. And there will be no talk of work.”

A genuine smile, Relena nodded. “That’s sounds great. Give me five minutes and I’ll help, too.”

The couple headed back toward the kitchen while their guest disappeared into the bathroom. Neither spoke as the table was set and food was dished upon the plates. Both knew that there was more to Relena’s sudden visit than a much-needed break from work.

* * * * *

“That was great, Aunt Hilde,” Faith declared, finishing a second helping of stew.

From the opposite side of the table, Hilde smiled. “I’m glad you liked it. You almost ate as much as your Uncle Duo.” The comment was rewarded with a giggle from the girl and an annoyed look from her husband.

“Faith, you need to take your dishes to the sink and go brush your teeth. It’s almost your bedtime.”

“But, Mom,” the girl protested, “we just got here. Devon and I haven’t played anything yet.”

“There will be plenty time for that tomorrow, young lady,” Relena replied in a well-practiced maternal tone. “Now, brush your teeth and get ready for bed.”

“That goes for you, too, Devon,” Duo said.

The children obediently took their dishes to the sink. Relena gave her daughter a quick hug and kiss goodnight before sending the girl back upstairs. Devon tolerated an affectionate hair ruffling from his own mother before following Faith.

“They’re great kids, aren’t they?” Duo mused, his eyes never leaving his son.

“They really are,” Relena agreed. She rose to help Hilde clear the table despite her friends’ protest. She wanted to keep the charade of a normal visit up for a little longer, just until she was sure the children were asleep.

* * * * *

It was raised voices that woke Faith up. She glanced over at the neighboring twin bed. Devon rolled over but still remained asleep.

She threw the covers back and got of bed as quietly as possible. Her bare feet were silent as she padded across the carpeted hallway to the railing of the stairs. The grown-ups were too involved in their argument to notice her small form crouched at the top of the stairs.

“Relena, this is crazy!” Duo bellowed. Hilde placed a restraining hand on his arm, but he shrugged it off. His attention remained focused on her mother. “You don’t seriously plan on going through with this!”

Hilde made another grab at her husband. “Duo, you’ll wake the kids,” she hissed.

“Fine,” he muttered, his voice much quieter. “Relena, at least let me or one of the other guys go with you.”

Hilde paled at the offer but said nothing. However, Relena saw the other woman’s reaction. She couldn’t blame Hilde for her fear.

“No, Duo,” Relena said, shaking her head firmly, “I won’t take you or any one else away from their families to protect me. This is my fight. I have to do it.”

“But to go there, when there’s a public threat against you,” Hilde interjected.

“If I don’t go, they win. Besides, I get threats like this fairly often. I’m managed to remain unscathed so far.”

“Yeah, so far,” Duo growled, “but Relena, you have a daughter to think about. Think about Faith!”

“I am!” Relena snapped, her cool demeanor slipping. She sighed as she attempted to reassert her self-control. “I am thinking about Faith and her future. If I bow to threats like this, I have given them an advantage. Who knows where it would stop?”

“But, Relena, if something were to you, what would happen to ESUN? To the colonies? To peace?”

“I think they would survive without me. Besides, I face that chance everyday, Duo,” she replied. “However, I do have a favor to ask you and Hilde. Watch Faith for me while I attend this conference. She’ll have a better time here with Devon than on Mars with my brother.”

“Of course, Faith can stay here,” Hilde said as her husband nodded. “She’s always welcomed.”

“Thanks, but that’s not all. I want you two to be Faith’s guardians if something should happen to me during the conference.” She paused before adding, “Or at any other time.”

“No!” Faith’s whispered cry covered any answer the couple gave. She closed her eyes and clutched the railing tighter. Why was Mom doing this?

The girl jumped as an arm slipped around her shoulders. Devon’s violet eyes were wide with fear and shock, matching her own expression, as he hugged her. Knowing that he could be trusted, Faith laid her head on his chest and cried.


Prologue Hilde stopped stirring as the doorbell chimed. ‘Who could it be?’ she wondered, setting the spoon on the counter. ‘It had better not be a customer.’ “I’ve got it, babe,” Duo called, reaching the door first. Hilde waited in the hall, her view of the door blocked by her husband’s broad shoulders. She released a breath she didn’t know she was holding when she realized it was Relena. Pushing Duo aside, she gave the other woman a hug. “Relena, it’s great to see you,” she said, stepping back to study the politician. Although the diplomat was smiling, it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She looked pale and exhausted. She was also so thin that her skin looked stretched across her bones, making her look more ill. “What brings you here?” Hilde asked. “I was hoping that Faith and I could visit,” Relena replied, drawing attention to the little girl still standing outside. “If it’s not a problem, of course. I know this is unexpected.” “It’s definitely not a problem,” Duo said as he knelt before Faith. “Can Uncle Duo have a hug, kiddo?” The young girl smiled and launched herself at him. Laughing himself, Duo stood up and held her to him. He exchanged a brief, concerned look with his wife before setting Faith back down. “Hey, I think Devon’s upstairs, playing. Why don’t you go find him?” “Okay.” With a dazzling smile, the dark-haired girl ran up the stairs. Hilde laughed as she watched Faith disappear. “You’re going to have to drop by more often, Relena. I almost didn’t recognize my own goddaughter.” “Things have been so busy lately,” Relena said. “I’ve been trying to get away, to get a chance to visit. Something always seems to come up.” “We’re not yelling at you, ‘Lena,” Duo quickly replied. “Now, you go freshen up while Hilde and I finish dinner. And there will be no talk of work.” A genuine smile, Relena nodded. “That’s sounds great. Give me five minutes and I’ll help, too.” The couple headed back toward the kitchen while their guest disappeared into the bathroom. Neither spoke as the table was set and food was dished upon the plates. Both knew that there was more to Relena’s sudden visit than a much-needed break from work. * * * * * “That was great, Aunt Hilde,” Faith declared, finishing a second helping of stew. From the opposite side of the table, Hilde smiled. “I’m glad you liked it. You almost ate as much as your Uncle Duo.” The comment was rewarded with a giggle from the girl and an annoyed look from her husband. “Faith, you need to take your dishes to the sink and go brush your teeth. It’s almost your bedtime.” “But, Mom,” the girl protested, “we just got here. Devon and I haven’t played anything yet.” “There will be plenty time for that tomorrow, young lady,” Relena replied in a well-practiced maternal tone. “Now, brush your teeth and get ready for bed.” “That goes for you, too, Devon,” Duo said. The children obediently took their dishes to the sink. Relena gave her daughter a quick hug and kiss goodnight before sending the girl back upstairs. Devon tolerated an affectionate hair ruffling from his own mother before following Faith. “They’re great kids, aren’t they?” Duo mused, his eyes never leaving his son. “They really are,” Relena agreed. She rose to help Hilde clear the table despite her friends’ protest. She wanted to keep the charade of a normal visit up for a little longer, just until she was sure the children were asleep. * * * * * It was raised voices that woke Faith up. She glanced over at the neighboring twin bed. Devon rolled over but still remained asleep. She threw the covers back and got of bed as quietly as possible. Her bare feet were silent as she padded across the carpeted hallway to the railing of the stairs. The grown-ups were too involved in their argument to notice her small form crouched at the top of the stairs. “Relena, this is crazy!” Duo bellowed. Hilde placed a restraining hand on his arm, but he shrugged it off. His attention remained focused on her mother. “You don’t seriously plan on going through with this!” Hilde made another grab at her husband. “Duo, you’ll wake the kids,” she hissed. “Fine,” he muttered, his voice much quieter. “Relena, at least let me or one of the other guys go with you.” Hilde paled at the offer but said nothing. However, Relena saw the other woman’s reaction. She couldn’t blame Hilde for her fear. “No, Duo,” Relena said, shaking her head firmly, “I won’t take you or any one else away from their families to protect me. This is my fight. I have to do it.” “But to go there, when there’s a public threat against you,” Hilde interjected. “If I don’t go, they win. Besides, I get threats like this fairly often. I’m managed to remain unscathed so far.” “Yeah, so far,” Duo growled, “but Relena, you have a daughter to think about. Think about Faith!” “I am!” Relena snapped, her cool demeanor slipping. She sighed as she attempted to reassert her self-control. “I am thinking about Faith and her future. If I bow to threats like this, I have given them an advantage. Who knows where it would stop?” “But, Relena, if something were to you, what would happen to ESUN? To the colonies? To peace?” “I think they would survive without me. Besides, I face that chance everyday, Duo,” she replied. “However, I do have a favor to ask you and Hilde. Watch Faith for me while I attend this conference. She’ll have a better time here with Devon than on Mars with my brother.” “Of course, Faith can stay here,” Hilde said as her husband nodded. “She’s always welcomed.” “Thanks, but that’s not all. I want you two to be Faith’s guardians if something should happen to me during the conference.” She paused before adding, “Or at any other time.” “No!” Faith’s whispered cry covered any answer the couple gave. She closed her eyes and clutched the railing tighter. Why was Mom doing this? The girl jumped as an arm slipped around her shoulders. Devon’s violet eyes were wide with fear and shock, matching her own expression, as he hugged her. Knowing that he could be trusted, Faith laid her head on his chest and cried.


Part I Back to Legacy Main Page