Interlude 2: A Promise, pt 1/
10-3-02, 12-20-03 to
Relative disclaimers apply.

Clarissa - don't you dare! Clarissa, she is your daughter. You must - Clarissa - Clarissa! Damn it!"

Quatre, in an uncharacteristic flash of anger and frustration, and from his position behind his desk, flung his cell phone against a wall and rather enjoyed the sounds the device made as it fell apart.

"Master Quatre!"

Quatre whirled at the scolding tone in Rashid's voice as the Magnanac brought in a tray with a cup of steaming tea on it.

"Damn it...Rashid, don't scare me like that."

Rashid set the tray down on the desk and shook his head slowly.

"Sir, you can't keep behaving like this."

Quatre narrowed his eyes.

"She cannot continue to ignore her. I will do what I must to have her acknowledge the child."

"She could have you arrested, if you continue to call her more than the allowed twice per month. And if you continue to speak to her in such a manner. It is a wonder that she allowed you to speak for so long."

"I have my rights."

"Have you forgotten who her father is?"

Quatre rolled his eyes.

"The Senator won't have anything to do with me. If he were going to do something about me, he'd have done it already."

"Don't be so sure. He might be gathering evidence to use against you in court, and not even you can evade the sentencing once it comes."

Quatre thumped a fist on the desk.

"Then let him. He'll have no choice then, the truth will come out...."

He winced.

"Damn it. No. I can't do that to Mya."

"Then stop it."

Quatre shook his head.

"No. I will not allow her to keep acting as though she doesn't exist. Not a word, not a call, not a letter. Nothing."

He blinked sudden tears away.

"I can't allow her to keep breaking our daughter's heart."

Rashid exhaled slowly.

"Master Quatre..."

Quatre bounced to his feet.

"She is surrounded by love. But she needs her mother."

He walked away from the desk and paced the floor. "

I won't allow her to grow up without her mother."

Rashid exhaled slowly again.

"But she is not a fit mother. And she is engaged, have you forgotten that as well?"

Quatre made his face into a snarl.

"Yes, to someone not even worth stepping on."

Rashid gasped.

"Master Quatre! That's not a nice thing to say. And you've never met him."

Quatre stopped where he was. He balled a hand into a fist and pointed with the forefinger for emphasis.

"I don't care about him. And I know full well how unsuitable she is for motherhood, though that's not her fault. She wasn't trained for it. But I will not, will not, allow this situation to continue."

"You can't do it this way, sir. Rights or not."

Quatre's face relaxed. Then he glared at the broken cell phone.

"I won't allow it."

Rashid exhaled again.

"Come, have some tea. It's a new blend. It's delicious and relaxing, I've tried it myself. And you could use it."

Quatre ran a hand backwards through his hair. Then he nodded.

"Fine. All right."

While the two men had been talking, Mya Quaterine Winner had been sneaking up to the office door.

Daddy.

This happened two to four times a month. Occasionally five or even six. And it was obvious when he intended to dial a certain number. He would get agitated, impatient and cranky and stay that way for hours. He was cranky even towards his own daughter!

Mama. What did we do to you?

This was all her fault. She was the reason Quatre went from the best daddy in the universe to...to this.

Didn't she realize that Quatre still cared about her?

Of course. She had to know. Why else did she allow Quatre to call so often? And she had to still care about Quatre too, or else this wouldn't have gone on for so long...for so many years.

Surely both of them knew that neither of them was going to win this battle.

on to part 2 • to Interludes page