New Haven

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Ground Rules
Duo looked at the list that they had come up with for ground rules. “So do you think there is anything else we should have thought of or should we wait and see if they have any questions about things after we give them the rules?”
Quatre rubbed his forehead. “I think that it covers everything that should happen in the near future. If we think of anything else we can discuss it with them when we think of it. That way they can give their opinion as well.”
Trowa nodded as he read over the list of rules. He had never thought of some of these. They had been obvious when he was growing up. They had always been implied. But these three had never lived in a normal atmosphere.
Heero grunted. “I think that we covered more than most parents have ever done with their children.” He stated as he looked over his own list. “I think it is time we discuss it with them now.”
Wufei nodded and left the dining room table. He moved over to the stairs and called up it. “Could you please come down so we can discuss the new ground rules.” He shouted up the stairs. He turned back when he heard the feet moving across the floor above. “We have to install an intercom.” He told Heero as he resumed his seat. Sakura was taking her nap with Brussels.
The five men had decided to come up with the rules today instead of yesterday. It had been long and onerous. They did not need the extra hassle. Trowa had visited Alex this morning with Quatre and Heero. Duo had relaxed per doctor’s orders and Wufei had gotten more done on the case against the oh so wonderful base commander and colleagues.
The three teens joined the quiet men at the dining room table with solemn faces.
Three sheets of paper was handed to them. “Read this over and tell us what you think and whether you have any suggestions or questions.” Trowa told them in his soothing wild animals voice.
Ground Rules
If there is a white cloth on door of room do not enter said room.
Knock on all closed doors before entering.
Wait for affirmative confirmation before entering room. (This goes for all rooms. Even your own for other people.)
If you need help ask. We will help in anything we can.
You will try to help with household chores to earn spending money. (After you have learnt all household chores you will be expected to do so from then forth.)
Rooms must be kept neat and clean at all times. (Otherwise allowance will be docked.)
If you are sick or not feeling right you will tell one of us. (Even with feminine problems. That way we can get you a female or doctor to help.)
No sex till you are at least Eighteen.
Curfew is eleven o’clock on school nights. (Sun.-Thurs.)
Bedtime is twelve o’clock on school nights. (Sun.-Thurs.)
Weekends are free as long as it is reasonable and all homework is done.
You will tell where you are going and who with. If plans change you will inform one of us immediately.
No drugs or alcohol while you live under this roof.
Help take care of Sakura and the dogs.
Do your best.
The three teens read the list over carefully. They quietly discussed it amongst themselves while the adults relaxed and waited for an answer.
“We only have one question.” Damian told them hesitantly. “Well actually two.” He corrected swiftly. He seemed to be the unspoken spokes person for the group. “Does the second last rule get an allowance as well and how much is our allowance? When do we start to learn?”
Duo grinned and allowed the others to answer. As far as he was concerned they were legitimate questions.
Heero flashed a look at the other men. “Yes the second last rule is apart of allowance. You will get a hundred creds for your weekly allowance. Une, my mother, and Howard are looking for appropriate tutors as we speak. All we ask is you think before you act. If you think it is something that none of us would do. Than don’t do it. (By the way. That goes for Trowa, Quatre, Wufei, and I. Duo is another story.)” He added as an aside.
“Hey I heard that. I have done less than you ever did.” Duo growled. “Wait,” He added with a frown. “I’ve done less than you ever did since the war ended.”
Wufei rolled his eyes. “All we want is for you to take other people’s feelings in to consideration. If you don’t like it don’t do it and don’t do it to others. That is all we ask of you.”
The four men nodded at Wufei’s words. It was the best they could expect.
“If you think you’ve done something wrong than tell us. We will help you figure it out and tell you if you have or haven’t.” Duo told them seriously. “Trust us we know a lot about the world and a lot of things are trial and error.”
Trowa blinked and gave a small smile. “Yes it is. There are laws out there you have to follow and we will make sure that your tutors are made aware that you need to know them.” He grinned a little more. “We aren’t the best role models. Rules don’t have the same meaning for us as others. But we will try not to make a bad example. But we are agents for Preventers as well as firemen, paramedics, lawyers, and doctors. We see the world differently. So do you. You have to use that to your advantage.”
“That’s why we would like to ask you to help all you can with our New Haven project. We will need your help to help young adults in similar if not the same positions you have been it.” Quatre added his two cents. “They will trust you more than they will ever trust an adult. They will see the people you trust and the people you don’t trust and learn what is trust through you and your actions.”
Heero looked them over carefully. “I know this is a lot to ask of you. But this project will give opportunities like you have to others. Others that have been through their own type of hell and need the help that you can only offer to them.” He looked over at Duo with a wry smile. “Duo and all of you will know where most of these people have been and know what to say what not to say. When to press an issue and when not to press an issue. You have an advantage that no one else we know has. You can make this work more than ever. You can gain trust that most people would never know how to even start at.”
Damian looked over the men who now watched them solemnly. He and the girls had already discussed what they would do. They had already decided to offer their assistance to the men. What they were trying to build was worth a lot to a lot of people. He looked at both girls to confirm his answer before he said what he had to say. At their encouraging nods he answered the unvoiced but voiced question.
“We would like to offer any assistance that we can. We also want to help with the building if we can. We know that we have a lot to learn but we want to learn it. We also want to discuss with the others from the base what you are doing. We want to ask if they would help us help you make this something that the world will see and try and make happen in other places.” Damian cleared his throat as his voice cracked. “We know how much this project means to you. It isn’t just something you think is to be done. You think it is needed and should have been done long ago. We want to make sure that people see that this is not only a good idea but the best idea that someone could ever have come up with.”
Duo looked down the table at his adopted brother in awe and loving understanding. Tears of joy and love flowed unhindered down his face at the speech the young man had said. “Thank you.” His throat clogged and rasped. He cleared and repeated himself. “Thank you for understanding what this is and what needs to be done. Thank you for wanting to help. I would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to.”
Wufei curled a protective arm around his fiancé. “It is our honor to have found people such as you. It is our honor that you deem us family. It is our honor that you trust us. And it is our honor that you grace us with your presence.” He placed a cheek on the soft hair of his love’s head. “We hope that you will continue to grace us with your presence in our lives for as long as you want to be here.”
“That goes for all of us. You are our family now and that comes with everything that it implies. We will always be there for you and we will try very hard to never let any one of you down.” Quatre looked at his loves with shining loves. “We know how much family means and that it doesn’t have to be biological to be one. All that matters is that the heart says that it is so.”
The three teens nodded and smiled at the adults in glowing happiness.
A few minutes passed before being broken.
“Is it time to play now?” Sakura called as she entered the living room with her pal breaking the silence of the room.