Disclaimer: Yahoo! Negotiations are over and Nabiki Tendo has sold me the entire Gundam cast for a million yen! Whisper Wait, what do you mean cartoon transactions aren't legal?!? Damnit! Sigh Okay boys you're free to go. Grumble grumble Darn Nabiki, she swore that was legit. I want my money back!

Nabiki Tendo: At least I got paid! All sales are final.

G-Boys: You know that's the third time this week. We should consider eliminating her.

By wodenschild@aol.com

Part 1

AC 197 the Battle against Marimaia concludes…

The gun shook as Heero pointed it at the fallen Marimaia, pulling the trigger it clicked, empty. Heero considered his job done and let the darkness claim him. As he went under he faintly heard Relena call his name, then nothing.

"Someone call an ambulance we can still save her!" Lady Une ordered. The former members of the Barton army scrambled to do so. She did the best she could to staunch the bleeding from the gunshot on the young girl. Looking over she saw Relena cradling the fallen Heero. Help soon came from above. As they loaded Marimaia onto the stretcher, Lady Une told them to move Heero to a nearby house owned by the Preventers.

Duo paced back and forth in the living room where the other pilots waited. "Man I can't believe it, I mean Heero's indestructible."

"Obviously not." Trowa commented as Sally came out of the bedroom.

"Well Heero will be fine, as usual. He's suffering from severe exhaustion and delayed reaction, I've given him a sedative and hopefully he'll sleep till morning." Looking around at the various bandaged pilots. "I'd suggest you do the same. There are some rooms down the hall you can use."

"Thank you Sally." Quatre said getting up.

"Where did Wufei go?" Sally asked noticing the missing pilot.

"He left earlier." Trowa said. "Yeah, Wufei's never been one for the whole group thing." Duo said shrugging.

Relena sat next to the bed watching Heero sleep. 'Once again I owe him my life.' Relena thought. 'I know Millardo, Zechs, would be furious to know that I left to stay here, but Noin and Lady Une will cover for me. Noin knows how I feel.' She had long since changed out of her diplomat clothes and into a more causal outfit. As she watched him he seemed to shiver. 'Sally said this might happen, he's going into shock and needs to be kept warm.' Looking around she found no extra blankets so Relena shed her outer clothes and crawled into the bed next to him. 'This is the best way to conduct heat, oh who am I kidding? I just want, for once to be close to him and this could be my only chance.'

Three years later….

Sunlight streamed into the bedroom illuminating the figure sprawled there. Quatre's blond hair caught the sunlight and shone, while he shifted in his sleep smiling slightly. Snuggling closer his pillow, Quatre sighed in contentment. Suddenly the harsh ringing of the phone broke the pristine silence, and woke Quatre from his dream. He sighed and reached over the now empty bed to pick up the phone.

"Hello?" "Ilea. My god! Of course, I'll be there as soon as I can." Quatre hung up the phone, hurriedly getting dressed and rushing out of the room.

"Quatre. I'm glad you came so soon." Dr. Ilea Winner said meeting Quatre at the entrance.

"Please Ilea, can you tell me what happened?"

"There was an accident at a construction site, and well, you'd best come see." His sister said leading him toward one of the rooms. "Considering the possibilities she's quite lucky, and to have saved her daughter the way she did, well…"

"Daughter?" Quatre asked stopping.

"Oh that's right you don't know. Why don't we start with her then?" She said changing directions.

The circus was in town. Quatre was always a little happier when they were; it gave him a chance to see old friends. This time it made him even happier, he hoped the circus would lift the spirits of his young charge.

Unlike some other times when Trowa and Cathy had played the colonies it was peaceful and Trowa didn't run off after the first act. Cathy smiled to herself she knew that Quatre would be down here soon enough trailing after Trowa. It was sweet really, the way Quatre was with him. Sure enough as soon as the show finished and they had started to clean up for tomorrow, Quatre came in.

"Hi Quatre." Cathy said looking at the young man before her. "What's behind you, bring us a treat?"

"Not exactly. How have you been Cathy?" Quatre said politely, while looking around for his friend.

Cathy smiled, "I've been fine, Trowa's around back if you're wondering."

"Thanks. I've gotta to run, but your both welcome to come to dinner tonight." Quatre said turning to go. A very young girl peered out from behind him. She glanced at Cathy, her brown hair falling softly over her shoulder.

"Oh! She's beautiful!" Cathy gasped, looking at Prussian blue eyes staring at her from behind Quatre's back. "Does she belong to one of your sisters?"

"No, I'm watching her for a friend. Her name is Caroline Merquise. I'll tell you all about it at dinner, but I really have to run." Quatre said leaving, Caroline scurried after him.

"See you there!" She called back. She frowned as she thought about it. "Merquise, where have I heard that before?"

Quatre ran around back and skidded to a halt when he caught sight of Trowa packing up. "Trowa!" Quatre cried joyfully.

Trowa looked up and smiled softly, "Hi Quatre, thought I'd see you today. What's up?"

Quatre made his way over to him grinning madly then he sobered. "Did you hear about Relena's accident?"

"Yes, it was why I suggested making a stop here. How is she doing?"

"Not well. But Trowa that's not exactly why I'm here, she is." Quatre said turning he motioned toward the child standing off to the side. "This is Caroline Merquise, Relena's daughter."

"I never heard about any daughter." Trowa said cocking an eyebrow at the solemn little girl.

"I don't think anyone has, I only found out recently because Relena's in a coma and can't take care of her. I've been charged with taken care of her." Quatre shook his head at that bewildered.

"Do you think Heero knows about this?" Trowa asked.

"I'm almost positive he doesn't. What should we do?"

"Let me think about this, I want to check some things out. If I know Heero he'll be here soon."

"Okay. You coming to dinner tonight?" Quatre asked hopefully.

"Don't I always? Hmm, see you tonight." Trowa said as he walked off thinking.

"Duo here, what's up?"

"Hey Duo, I think you might want to come to Quatre's for dinner, and bring Joey. There'll be some interesting people here. Plus it might be nice to visit a sick friend in the hospital."

"Gotcha, I was on my way, but Joey's not here. Hilde had some business on Earth and took him with her."

Trowa hung up the phone thoughtfully. Well, we might not have all been ignorant after all. Finding a computer not in use, Trowa began to search birth records for a Caroline Merquise.

"Caro, where are you?" Quatre called. "Caro, this isn't funny, the guests will be here soon, don't you want to meet your Uncle Trowa?" Hearing a sniffle from a corner Quatre zeroed in on her and scooped her up. "Don't worry Caro, everything will be fine, you'll see." Quatre lifted his head; "There's the door, come on Caro."

"Evening Quatre." Trowa said standing beside Cathy.

"Evening, please come on in. I was just looking for Caroline. She's still dealing with her mother's accident." Quatre said shifting Caroline to his hip. The three made their way to the living room. "Please have a seat."

"Thank you."

"Ahem. Dinner will be ready around eight Master Quatre." An older man said from the doorway.

"Thank you Rashid." He bowed and backed out. "It's okay Caroline, they're friends." Quatre said as he tried to pry Caroline from his neck. She only clung tighter. Quatre sighed. "Fine then, Caro, this is Trowa and Cathy, both know your mother. This is Caroline."

Cathy kneeled down next to them and smiled. "Hello. You have very pretty eyes, and you hair looks very soft, would you mind if I brushed it sometime?"

Caroline stared at her awhile before shaking her head. She reached out and touched Cathy's face. "Pretty." She whispered. "Like momma." Her lower lip trembled and she buried her face in Quatre's side.

Cathy brushed a hand over her hair. "Thank you for the compliment, sweetie." Looking up a Quatre, Cathy struggled not to cry at the pain blanketed on that face.

"That's right Caro, she's pretty like your Momma. It'll be alright." Quatre said trying to sooth. "Caro's still upset about her mother. I'd better put her to bed, I'll be right back." Quatre carried the still trembling little girl upstairs.

"She looks so sad." Cathy said.

"Yes." Trowa said frowning. Quatre came back down soon after.

"She's asleep, would either of you care for a drink?" Quatre asked wearily.

"Sit down Quatre, before you fall. How long have you been caring for her on your own?" Cathy said leading him to the couch.

"I'm not totally on my own, everyone helps." Quatre began, then sighed. "Her mother's only been in the hospital for a month, but Caro has nightmares, and well, she doesn't seem to trust any of the others."

"I'll stay and help." Trowa said.

"I'll stay too, she could use a female around." Cathy said.

Quatre smiled. "Thanks a lot." A doorbell could be heard. "I wonder who that could be?"

Trowa smiled. "I invited Duo, I hope you don't mind."

Quatre looked startled, "No, I really should have thought of it myself."

Duo strolled into the room. "Hey Quatre, how come I wasn't invited to this little get together? I'm hurt."

"This is serious Duo." Quatre said. "Have you seen Heero lately?"

"Not for awhile, what's up? I mean besides Lena being in the hospital."

"Well, it's better to see then to, well…" Quatre stopped and looked at the other two.

"Why not just show him?" Trowa said. It was then that they all heard screaming; Quatre ran up the stairs with Trowa and Duo hard on his heels.

The three burst into the room at the same time, they saw the little girl thrashing on the bed crying and screaming. Quatre rushed over and woke her and started to rock her.

"Quatre, does she do this every night?" Trowa asked coming to stand beside them while Duo remained in the doorway confused.

"Would someone mind explaining all this? And who's the kid?" Duo asked finally. "Kinda cute, for a rugrat."

Caroline turned toward the unfamiliar voice and her eyes widened. "Duo!"

"What did you say Caro?" Quatre asked looking down at the girl puzzled

"Duo." Caro said pointing. "Duo, Duo, Duo!" She jumped as she spoke.

"Um, hiya kid, jeez did someone train her or what?" Duo said looking embarrassed.

"I don't think so." Quatre said with a furrowed brow. "But her mother could have told her about us I guess."

"Her mother?" Duo asked. Caroline slid out of bed and toddled over to Duo. She stared at him confused. "Daddy? Momma?"

"Whoa kid, neither of those is me." Duo said backing off. Caroline passed him still calling 'Daddy' and 'Momma' each time getting more frantic, until finally she sat down on the stairs and cried.

Quatre rushed by the two men and carried the crying girl back into the room. "Shh, it's okay, we'll go see Momma tomorrow."

"Am I missing something?" Duo said rubbing his head as Trowa led him back downstairs.

"Yes." Trowa said with a backward look at the room they just left. He could still hear Quatre murmuring to Caroline. He'll make a wonderful father, Trowa thought absently. "Come on Duo, let's go tell Cathy that Caroline's alright."

Quatre came back downstairs carrying Caroline. "I think dinner should be ready now, we should probably move into the dinning room."

"But what about…"

"Caroline's a bit upset and I think it'd be better if she stayed down here. She'll be fine." Quatre said cutting off Cathy's question. "Duo, I'd like you to officially meet Caroline Merquise. Caroline, this is Duo Maxwell."

"Caroline Merquise?" Quatre nodded his head. "Well don't that beat all. She's Zechs' daughter? Well she does look like Lena."

Trowa sighed. "Not exactly. Take a good look at her face Duo."

Duo, confused did and his eyes widened, staring back at him were Heero Yuy's eyes. "You've got to be kidding me. Man I didn't think Heero had it in him."

"Apparently he did." Cathy said standing with her arms crossed. "Let's eat huh?"

The dinner went fine and after the five of them sat in the living room discussing the situation. Cathy sat in a chair holding a sleepy Caroline, while Trowa and Quatre sat on the couch and Duo on the floor.

"Man, so she's really Relena's kid. Hilde's gonna get a kick out this. I guess that's why she stepped down as vice foreign minister for the colonies."

"I think after what happened with Marimaia, she probably wanted Caroline out of the public eye." Quatre said drowsily. He sighed. "I wished she'd told me about though, I mean I thought we were friends."

"She probably thought you'd tell Heero." Trowa said watching Caroline.

"Why aren't we?" Duo said playing peek-a-boo with Caroline, trying to get her to laugh.

"Well, for one thing can anyone find Heero?" Quatre pointed out, trying to cover a yawn. Gee, why is the room fading?

Duo sighed. "You've got a point there. So what do we do? Quatre?" Duo asked turning to see Quatre asleep on the couch. "So much for a planning session."

"I'll see about getting him to his room." Trowa said getting up.

"Sure thing man. Now Caroline don't you fall asleep on me, Caroline?" Duo said to the sleeping baby. "Do you think this says something about my conversation skills?"

"I'll take her up to bed, poor thing." Cathy said standing up.

"Come on, I'll show you the way." Duo said resigned.

The hospital was cold and smelled of antiseptic, but then they always do. Heero made his way down to her room. It had been over two years since he'd last seen her, and yet he'd never thought that when he did see her next it would be here. He could never figure out exactly what he felt about her, and because of that he felt he couldn't stay with her. He'd been so tempted the last time to just stay, forget his past and let her love him; but he couldn't. Silently Herro opened the door and went in, closing it softly behind him he moved to stand next to her bed.

She looked so still. Relena always looked so alive and yet now she was so still. Coma he knew, he'd hacked into the hospital's files to find her room number and read her chart. Still and pale. The beeping of the heart monitor a reminder that despite everything she was alive. Heero's head jerked up, he could hear people heading toward the room. He started to move toward the window in a quick escape when the door opened.

"Okay Duo, so she likes you better, now you get to deal with her." Quatre said over his shoulder as he walked in. Spotting Heero he stopped abruptly, causing Duo to collide with Trowa. Duo looked around Quatre and spotting Heero grinned.

"Well at least we don't have to go looking for him now do we?" Duo said. "Too bad could've been fun."

"Heero."

"Trowa. Quatre. Duo." Acknowledging the three.

"Momma!" Caro cried squirming out of Duo's arms where she'd taken residence early this morning. "Momma!" Duo, used to handling small children let her down and she raced over to Relena's bed and started to shake her mother's arm. Heero stared impassively at the child. Caroline turned to Quatre. "Why won't Momma wake up?" Her lip trembled.

Quatre sighed and ran a hand over her hair. "I don't know Caro. I don't know. Why don't you go to the café with Uncle Trowa and uncle Duo? I need to speak with someone."

"Duo." Caroline said nodding. She walked over to Duo slowly and held up her arms. Duo sighed. "Okay, but remember it's only because your mom's in the hospital." Trowa walked out behind them; he gave Heero a piercing look.

Heero looked down at Relena, his gaze unreadable. "She's in a coma. They don't know when or if she'll wake up." Quatre said breaking the silence.

"Yes I read her chart." Heero said.

"Her daughter, Caroline, was placed in my care. My sister didn't know who else to contact." Quatre babbled. Heero continued to stare, silent. He turned and walked out the door. Quatre looked after him, feeling helpless.

Heero stopped at the doorway and turned. "Coming?"

Quatre started. "Yeah. I should pick up Caro." Quatre followed him out. The heart monitor continued to beep in the empty room.

Duo and Trowa watched Caroline as she fidgeted in the chair at the table. Caroline kept looking around as if she'd see someone.

"So what do you think they're talking about?" Duo said unable to stand the silence. "Do you think Heero figured out about Caroline?"

"Heero is very smart."

"Yeah he is. I don't know what I'd do if I was ever in this situation. I mean finding a daughter after almost three years? It's weird."

"Don't worry. I doubt you'd ever be in this situation." Trowa said.

"Thanks. I think." Duo said scratching head trying to figure out if that was an insult or not, you could never tell with Trowa.

Trowa sighed and pulled Caroline off the chair she was climbing over. "I believe I see them coming." Caroline, noticing the strange man clung to Trowa and buried her head in his neck.

"That didn't take long." Duo said grinning. He pushed back his chair and stood to greet them. Trowa stood as well with Caroline in his arms.

Caroline may have only been three but she was smart. From as far back as she could remember, her mother had told her stories about her father and showed her pictures of him. She loved hearing about her brave father and his companions; for months she had memorized the photos, imprinting them on her brain. Because of that she recognized Duo immediately as being her father's best friend. Back in the hospital she had been so concerned about her mother that she hadn't taken a very good look at the man, but now from her perch on Trowa's shoulder she could see the stranger clearly. He looked exactly like her father.

Quatre and Heero joined the other two at the table and ordered lunch. Quatre shifted nervously in his seat, trying to think of some way to explain everything. Trowa, being Trowa, calmly ate his lunch and passed Caroline to Quatre, to give him something to concentrate on. Duo, of course, kept the entire conversation going by himself. Caroline stayed very still and watched the interactions. Her mother, knowing she was a very smart little girl had told her that her father did not know about her and that's why she never saw him. Caroline never could get her mother to explain exactly why her Daddy hadn't known about her, but here was her Daddy right in front of her. Caroline in three-year-old logic thought that if she could make her Daddy stay then Mommy would come home too.

Caroline crawled over Quatre and onto Heero's lap. She looked directly into his face. His eyes seemed to bore into her soul. Caroline frowned; she crossed her arms and leaned back. "Caroline, come here, don't bother Heero." Quatre said reaching for her.

"No." Caroline said. "Staying." Heero half wanted to smile at her obstinatness. But he had a reputation to maintain. He speared her with his icy stare. Caroline stared back at him unmoved. Heero's lips twitched. "She's fine, leave her."

Quatre looked startled. "Okay." Caroline settled more comfortably against Heero, she rested her head on his shoulder and for the first time since the accident, felt safe. Heero put a bracing arm around her lightly.

"Well ain't that a pretty sight?" Duo said grinning. "So watcha gonna do now Heero my man?"

Heero cocked an eyebrow at him. Quatre smoothed down Caroline's hair. "I suppose we should go back to my house, Cathy said she'd have lunch waiting." He finally sighed. "I can take her, she's fast asleep."

Heero tightened his hold on his daughter. "No, I'll carry her." His voice sharpened as well.

"Alright." Quatre said. "Come on then."

Quatre graciously allowed Heero to stay with him, as he had no choice anyway. Duo offered to put him up but when informed that Hilde still lived there, he declined. Trowa and Cathy stayed as well. "Well this is Caro's room you can put her down here." Quatre whispered as he opened the door. "There's another room across the hall you can use if you like."

"I'll sleep here." Heero said. Quatre looked startled. Heero placed Caroline down on the bed absently noticing that a familiar teddy bear rested there.

"I should warn you, Caro has been having nightmares. About the accident."

Heero paused. "What happened exactly Quatre?"

Quatre sighed. "It was so stupid really. Relena always goes for walks in the morning and evening. She and Caro were walking by a construction site after going to breakfast and according to eye-witnesses, there was a breaking sound and some shouting, then a rafter fell towards them and Relena pushed Caroline out of the way and took the full impact of the beam."

"She always has thought of others before herself." Heero muttered.

Quatre stared off into space. "She had enough time to move a little out of the way so the beam only hit her legs, but the fall caused her to hit the pavement pretty hard. Broke her ribs and gave her a severe concussion. When the paramedics came Caroline was screaming her head off."

"She was alone." Heero stated.

"Well she has us now." Quatre said looking down on the sleeping girl. "We'll take care of her till Relena's better. I'll leave you two alone now." Quatre quietly left the room and shut the door. Heero sat down in a chair next to the bed and watched his daughter sleep.

In the void, the soul of Relena slept and dreamed of things past. 'Heero…' her soul cried longingly. 'I can't take the loneliness anyone, I'm so tired maybe I should just let go, what's holding me here?'

The face of a small child, her child came to her. The soft brown hair framing a face that resembled her own and the Prussian eyes that claimed her father's legacy, sparkling as her father's never had. 'Momma…!'

'Oh baby, my baby I won't let you grow up alone. I'll get well for you, only for you.'

Caroline was skipping along the street, her mother smiling next to her as they went home. 'Caroline, what do you think we should do today?'

'Let's go see movie!' Caroline said turning to face her mother who watched her patiently. But her mother's eyes widened suddenly and she screamed as she rushed toward Caroline. Caroline was confused as her mother tackled her and threw her to the side. Caroline heard the crash but didn't realize what it meant. She started to cry because she got a scrap on her knee, turning she started to yell at her mother but when she turned she saw blood pooling on the sidewalk. Her mother's beautiful brown hair seemed drenched with it. Running Caroline screamed for her mother, kneeing beside her she touched her face and dead eyes stared back at her. Screaming once more she woke.

Heero turned toward the bed once more at the first whimper, by the time Caroline screamed he was beside her and shaking her awake. Caroline turned frightened eyes toward the perfect solider and flung herself, sobbing into his arms, trembling. Heero tightened his hold on her and rubbed her back soothingly. Hearing the door open he turned and shook his head as Quatre came in. Quatre sat next to Heero and smoothed Caroline's hair and murmured to the distraught girl. Caroline clung to Heero as she quieted down.

"She goes through this every night?" He asked.

"Yes, every time she sleeps. She hasn't stopped dreaming of the accident since it happened, neither of us have gotten much sleep this past month. When I got her from the hospital she was in shock, she didn't talk for four days." Quatre said quietly. "I don't think it helped that I was a perfect stranger."

Heero reached down and brushed a lock of hair off her face. "So Relena didn't tell anyone then."

Quatre shook his head. "None of us knew. She never told me why she left Earth or changed her name, I just thought she wanted some peace. Lunch is ready if you'd like some, you two didn't eat earlier."

"I'm fine." Heero said. Caroline looked up at the two men. "Hungry." She stated.

Quatre smiled softly. "See Caroline is reasonable."

Heero sighed and got up holding Caroline. He followed Quatre downstairs and into the dining where the others waited. He put Caroline down and she ran over to Catherine who picked her up and placed her in a booster seat.

"They wanted to wait for you." Duo said annoyed. "I was outvoted."

"If it bothers you so much you could always have gone home to eat, Duo." Cathy said annoyed at his constant harping.

Duo mumbled something in response. "What was that?"

"Hilde's away and I can't cook alright!" Duo snapped. "I'm sick of takeout."

Cathy smirked while Quatre laughed. "She need a vacation from babysitting you?"

"Hey!" Duo said offended. "She had some business to take care of, that's all."

"I'm sure she did." Trowa said calmly. "Can we eat?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Quatre said signaling the waiters.

After lunch they went into the living room, Cathy sat Caroline down and braided her hair into a plait, while Heero hovered over them. Trowa, Duo and Quatre sat on the couch talking, well Duo and Quatre anyway. A servant came and announced that Quatre had guests.

"Show them in here." Quatre said. Getting up to greet whomever it was.

Hilde walked into the room and glared at a certain braided pilot. "You know Duo it's rude to leave your business unattended for three days! It's a good thing I know how to find you."

Duo grinned at her. "Hey, you weren't suppose to be back until Friday. I didn't think you'd notice. Is Joey at the house?"

"Not notice! Not notice! This is our livelihood we're talking here!" Hilde shouted. "Oh, you're impossible, I don't know WHY I left you in charge!" Claming down she turned to the others. "Sorry about this, it's really nice to see all of you again. And no, Joey's with me."

Caroline toddled over to Hilde and held up her arms smiling. Hilde reached down and swung the girl around. "Hey ya cutie, did ya miss me?" Caroline nodded solemnly. Hilde placed the girl on her hip and looked at the room who were staring at her. "What?"

Quatre was the first to speak. "You know Caroline?"

"Sure why wouldn't I?" Hilde said puzzled. "I am her godmother."