Title:Child Care...or..."I missed You"

Pairing: Rx1 eventual 1x2

Warning: Suggested child abuse (its not all hitting sometimes its ignoring but thats also considered abuse), lime...possible lemon later on but for sure there's going to be kissing.

Summary: After a fight with Relena over thier adopted son Heero seeks out Duo's help and friendship to comfort him.


Two a.m. on a Tuesday night there was a banging at the door. Not a knocking or a civil "hi how are you may we come in?" tap but a loud foot hitting wood racket that sent Duo Maxwell flying from his bed and racing for the entrance. He had to answer quickly before the ruckus woke all the kids. Sixteen grumpy groggy children awake in the middle of the night was the equivalent to a doomsday device in the ex-gundam pilot's current lifestyle. If he could prevent it he sure as shootin' was going to!

Without looking through the peep-hole the pissed off braided man flung open the doors ready to give whoever had dared disrupt his night a piece of his mind. The tirade died before it even began as Duo's bright violet eyes fell upon the two haggard figures standing at his threshold. Heero Yuy stood on the steps sleeping six year old boy in one arm and a heavy duffel bag in the other. His eyes looked up at his old war-time friend warm and sad. A tiny grin/grimace played on the ex-Wing pilot's lips and nodded toward the inside of the building.

"Hey Max...can we come in?"


Duo watched the child gulping up his soup eyes intent on the bowl with its floating crackers and alphabets. Shaking his head he turned to Heero. "You two are kinda long way from home aren't ya?"

The little boy kept eating with gusto while Yuy only poked at his leftover meatloaf. Grunting Heero turned his deep blue eyes from his food to the child slurping across from him. "Relena and I...had a falling out." Pausing at the sound of the Queen of the World's name the little boy suddenly pushed his food away looking down sullenly at the table. "Can I go to bed Papa?"

Heero smiled his small secret smile and leaned over to pull the child into a quick hug. Duo grinned cheerfully saying, "Sure you can Daisuke. You're old room is in still empty. Might be a few boxes in the way but you're bed is still clear. Do you need another blanket? You used to get pretty cold at night as I recall. " The small boy shook his head timidly with a half-smile. " 'm okay Mr. Duo...night night." Both men watched until the youngster was down the hall and going into a room at the far end. When he was sure the boy was out of hearing range Duo turned to his old friend.

"Okay...what happened." He said it like a statement rather then a question looking up at Heero through his thick bangs. The Asian man ran a hand over his face before going into the story.

"I left because...of 'Suke-kun." Sighing heavily Heero dropped the fork he'd been using to stab his meal with pushing the plate away. "She was...always has if I think about it...just ignoring him." Duo nodded in understanding. He had been afraid this would happen. He just thought it would take longer then six months before it bothered Heero enough to do something about it. "She's jealous. Because you two had an instant connection." Dark-blue eyes shoot up and locked onto the deep violet.

"You knew? How?" Duo stiffened. Because its the same reason she told me to stop coming by. He couldn't tell his friend that. In the end sooner or later Relena would try to patch things up or Heero would return to his "serious girlfriend/ fiance" There was no point in making things more difficult his friend by telling him his chick was a bitch. Or at the very least highly possessive of her Heero.

So Duo's social worker persona kicked in. "Just the way I've seen you all act in the Media. Its kinda closed off with her on one side and you and Dai on the other. Also..." Here he hesitated. This was going to be a tender issue with his friend. "When you two came here...I got the impression that she was looking for something...that wasn't Daisuke." The braided man shook his head. He'd known it was a terrible idea seven months ago when the whole thing started.

Heero and Relena had shown up on his doorstep one day totally out of the blue claiming they were here to adopt. Duo had only had the newly re-built Earth located Father Maxwell Orphanage open for a couple of months. Mostly the kids coming into his program were fixed into the foster home system. He'd tried adamantly to get the "happy couple" to submit forms for foster housing. But they, or more to the point Relena , had insisted that they were going to find a little bundle of joy to call their own! Duo had been appalled. These were children not puppies! You couldn't just sign up for the one in the window with the waggly tail!

He'd grossed (politely) that same sentiment. And Heero who had looked uncomfortable and embarrassed since he was bodily dragged thru the door agreed. Relena Peacecraft, Queen of the whole of creation, just sniffed and asked to see the children. There was no helping it. Relena was not only part of the rich and famous but also the powerful aristocratic elite. That afforded all the rights and privileges to treat people anyway she pleased.

Normally Relena didn't bother Duo. She was a fair Queen and a decent person. But she did have a few...very BIG...downfalls. Listening to someone telling her boldly "NO!" didn't seem to phase her. There was also the fact that she had made the man Duo had loved for years her pseudo-prince consort. Still, Duo wasn't one to hold a grudge over loosing a love he'd never fully expressed. Besides, if Heero was happy so was Duo. Even if the Asian man's happiness ensured the bright-eyed American's loneliness.

They'd gone to see the children. Money was tight and space was limited. Duo needed the adoption despite the fact that it raised his ires. They walked the grounds Relena casting her eyes about as if she were shopping while the two men hung behind glancing at each other and shaking their heads. It was Duo who had caught a hold of the tiny five year old's arm and stirred him over for Heero to hold. Relena was chatting to a set of twins both blond haired, blue eyed, and distinctly NOT up for adoption with their Mother's hearing pending. He took the scampering child and thrust him into the ex-Wing pilot's arms. "Here hold Dai for me."

When both he and Relena (reluctantly leaving the little blond beauties) turned back around the magic had already started.

Daisuke age five was small for his age. He was slender but not weak. He often let his anger get the best of him but was silent in his rages choosing to attack rather then yell and scream. He was actually very reserved for a toddler and Duo had taken many opportunities to make him laugh even though the kid was a hard crowd to please. Bowl cut silken black hair fell over a pair of wide hard brown eyes. He wasn't a happy kid and for good reason. Maxwell actually was very fond of the little boy feeling that their pasts were both very similar in lose and pain.

Thin arms coiled around Heero's thick neck and a tiny head was starring straight at him without blinking. Heero for his part seemed very at peace holding the child. There was no doubt about it. The battle hardened solider had found a kindred spirit. Relena was not pleased.

The boy was part Japanese as his name suggested which seemed to draw Yuy to him even more. When Relena came up cooing hello and rubbing the kid's thin back soothingly Duo thought that maybe in some crazy universe this was fate. Perhaps these three could become a happy home and help each other heal from the traumas of their past. He dared to hope which should've been a sign that things were almost certainly doomed.

With Relena's money and influence it didn't take long for the paperwork to come in. Yet, when it came down to the wire Duo started explaining his usual spiel about not being married one person would have to do the actual adopting while after they were wed the other could sign to also be considered the boy's guardian. It was basic routine information. Relena took the forms and without missing a beat bypassed them to Heero. And Yuy signed without batting an eye just holding on to the child cuddled up into his arms.

Relena didn't sign. Relena wasn't responsible.

Duo spoke thru clenched teeth the rest of the meeting talking about Daisuke's past and possible future all the while seething. She hadn't asked. Hadn't fucking asked if Heero wanted to sign. It had been her stupid idea to do this before they got married (or at that time even engaged) and she didn't sign herself as the parent. Relena, Queen of butt-fuck everything, handed over the dirty work to Heero Yuy.

After that Duo Maxwell found reasons to be places the Peacecraft-Yuy union would also be. They met up accidentally at public functions and anti-war time parties. It was hell on Duo's schedule but he didn't care. The braided man had to be make sure the child was getting the life he deserved...and that Heero knew he could always get help from his good old friend Duo Maxwell.

Relena didn't even put up with that for a month. In short order she found herself alone with Maxwell and re-explained to him that Heero was in-fact happier with her and that she would be the perfect mother so he could just walk into a lake if you please and save her the trouble of having him taken care of. Duo wasn't intimidated for an instant. But once again...if Heero was happy...

So no more visits. He even got another case worker to take care of his monthly check-ups on the little family unit. Not another peep from Duo to Heero.

Until tonight.

Now here they were. Sitting next to each other sharing their insights on when things went wrong for the ex-Wing pilot and his new little ward. Duo put his hand over Heero's and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Heero looked up with a smile and a long dead part of Duo's heart kicked a little life back into itself causing him to blush.

Throat suddenly thick with old emotions Duo murmured in a huskier voice then he wanted to. "It'll be alright Heero. She can't take him from you and you make enough with the Preveters to take care of you both. I promise I'll help you." Heero's eyes warmed at his friends words and he absently rubbed his thumb over the hand resting on his. "Thank you Duo." He sighed. "I've missed you."

Duo nodded hiding the redness of his cheeks. He stood up pulling his friend to stand with him. Next thing the braided man knew his body was off balance with a strong pair of arms wrapped around his back. Heero hugging him made Duo's brain want to melt but old feelings had to be set aside for now. What the ex-pilot was looking for was a friend and a shoulder to lean on. Duo would happily set aside any and all those yesterday emotions to grant his best friend that.

With a tight squeeze in return Duo smiled pulling back from Heero. The dark-eyed man looked tired so Duo turned him in the direction of a warm bed with the guarantee of solid undisturbed sleep.


It was a great dream. One of Duo's favorites. Heero stepped out of Wing Zero's cockpit all glistening with sweat and heady from the thrill of battle. He crossed the distance between his gundam and Duo's in a mere step taking the braided pilot in his arms for a long deep kiss and then...

BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!!!!

Yup that's where it normally came to an end. Other dreams of the blue-eyed man from L1 may have been more erotic or caused wetness in the sheets the next morning but for Duo bar none a hot kiss was the best of them all. A kiss meant the beginning of something while heated sex was just a means to an end. But any end was worth it if the lasting result was Heero by Duo's side forever.

Stretching in his dozy-half sleep state Duo held the arm draped over his waist close.

There's an arm on my...WHOA!!! Jumping up and out of the bed Maxwell stared wide eyed at the half naked Heero Yuy still snoozing under the sheets. Feeling the eyes on him the dark haired man gazed up at his friend with a sleepy smile. "Mornin' Duo."

"Oh! You're up! " Duo stuttered. He tried in vain to seem like he wasn't embarrassed. The braided man willed his body to relax and ease the tension that was steadily seeping down his body to his lower regions at the sight of a bed-tousled Heero. God, eight years and he still gives me butterflies.

Yawning and stretching Heero sat up in Maxwell's comfy four-post bed quirking an amused eyebrow at his best friend. "You're awake too I see. Sorry did I grab you during the night?" His nonchalant and that wicked smirk of his did little to help Duo's constitution. Coughing and covering his blush with a weak laugh the ex-Deathscythe pilot stammered out a reply. "Oh right...I forgot...you hug things in your sleep." In fact it had been such cute little kinks in the Perfect Soldier's armor that made him that much more delectable.

Smiling with a bit more humor Duo pulled his bathrobe off the bed's edge talking to Heero without looking his way. "I bet Relena liked you being all snugly at night." Duo covered his mouth and closed his eyes berating himself. Damnit you idiot!! Don't mention her name yet!! He's probably still upset from last night! Way-ta-go ASSHOLE!!! A quiet snort from the bed had the braided man turning to peek at his friend.

Heero was looking down at the covers his brow frowned in thought. "Actually," he began, "Lena doesn't like to be crowded in bed. Kind of a bed hog I guess."

The mental image of a pig with lipstick on, long hair, and a crown rolling around in a giant bed pushing Heero to the side assaulted Duo's imagination. The laughing started as a stifled snicker. But the more the little piggy squeed and pranced around the comforter the more Duo was having issue with holding back his laughter. Finally a loud outburst of guffawing had the braided man bracing himself against his bedside table pounding the wooden top.

Wiping away moisture from his bright indigo eyes Duo looked up to find Heero smiling and chuckling along with him. Slipping his feet into his fuzzy bunny slippers (something he'd bought for the simple fact that life was not whole without a pair...or two or six) the ex-Deathscythe pilot grinned at his friend. "You get the same mental image I did?"

Heero's laugh staggered to a halt and he looked away with a slight smile. "No. Actually I was just enjoying hearing you laugh again. Haven't heard it in a while."

Duo almost shoved his foot through the floppy-eared shoe. Hands shaking the braided man tried his best to not seem as effected by his friend's words as he was. Duo pulled up the collar of his robe hoping to hide the red flush that seemed to have imprinted on his cheeks sometime last night when Heero should up unannounced. "Heh..hehe...Yeah, um, sorry about not coming by much buddy. This place keeps me busy ya know."

Heero was giving Duo a strange look somewhere between skeptical and concentrating. Deciding to use the time as an out to leave the room Duo blubbered about getting breakfast ready for the kids. He'd made it half way to the door before his best friend's tight voice stopped him.

"Did she ask you not to come anymore?" Duo knew that tone. It was Heero's 'someone-is-going-to-die' voice. Soft, intense,and deadly. Like a knife in the night sliding into an unsuspecting body. Duo tried to convince himself that he should just play this off. He knew Heero and Relena would eventually come back together and be the perfect couple they always were meant to be. Sooner or later Yuy would find his happy normal life and then he would be able to finally heal from his grief ridden past. Heero's happiness came first.

Still, there was Duo's code. The unwritten law that Maxwell lived his life by since early childhood. Never lie. Run for your life and hide away in the shadows all you must. But never (for any reason) lie. You could choose how to answer a straight forward question by playing with the words to your liking but an out right lie was forbidden.

Duo thought how he could best answer his friend's question without hurting him. Heero waited patiently watching as the play of emotions could be read through the tension in the braided man's shoulders. After a moment those broad robed muscles slumped and Duo sighed opening the door with a slow weary stance. "Yes...she did."

Closing the door back with a soft click Duo tired to shake the feeling that he'd just broken his best friend's heart with those three words.