Gundam Wing: Gemini

Chapter One: The Brown Haired Songstress

(Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor will I ever want to. I do own a blender, a microwave, and some Starbucks coupons, though, along with Caitlin.)

(AN: This is my first Gundam Wing fanfic, and I figured I'd share it with you guys. It had been a plot bunny that just would not leave me alone for years, so I figured I'd go ahead and write. Flashbacks and feels ahoy.)

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A young girl hid in the distance and couldn't move or respond from watching a man of the cloth get smacked for refusing to be involved in the war. Her entire body shook from fear as she felt her arm being grabbed roughly and being dragged into the sanctuary. She screamed for the person to let her go, since his grip was hurting her and scaring her further. Was she going to be hurt?

"Let her go!" the man of the cloth shouted. "She's just a child!"

She looked out with fear-filled eyes as a boy, only one year older than her, stood between the pews. "Brother!" she pleaded.

"You want a Mobile Suit?" her brother shouted at him. "I'll get you one! Only if you let her go and don't come back here again!"

The man who had held her arm let her go and watched as the girl scrambled to get as far away from him as possible.

The girl looked on as her brother had raced from the church… for what looked to be the last time. She screamed for her older brother…

~;~;~;~;~

A teenaged girl gasped as she shot up in her bed, her heart racing inside the walls of her chest and her breathing close to erratic. She shot her blue eyes around the room and realized that she wasn't in the church anymore. No gunshots, no blood, and no death. She held her hands to her face as she struggled to calm down from the dream she had. Father… Sister… she thought to herself. Brother…

A knock on the door knocked her out of her reverie.

"Are you awake, Miss Caitlin?" a slightly older male voice asked from behind the door.

Caitlin struggled to calm herself down. Never had a dream like that made her feel so… scared. "Yes," she answered with what little strength she had left in her voice as she climbed out of bed and pulled a robe over herself, mostly for comfort and not really for warmth.

The door opened, and a slightly older man walked inside her bedroom carrying a planner. He didn't have many wrinkles, but from the look in his blue eyes, he didn't look a day over fifty. He wore a black suit with a white handkerchief in his breast pocket. "Miss Caitlin, are you cold?" he asked her, concerned that she had a long robe around her.

"No," she answered, trying to smile as she slowly combed her long wavy brown hair. "I'm all right, Michael."

Michael was the name of the assistant that Caitlin had. She would never call him a butler; she never could think of him as such. He had been employed by the family for years and had known Caitlin ever since she was seven years old when she came to live with them. With his age came wisdom, as the saying would go. "Miss Caitlin, you look rather pale," he said, gently turning his eyes to her face. "Did you not sleep well last night?"

Telling him yes would make her look like a liar, and telling him no would only make him worry about her more. "I-I guess you could say that," she finally admitted.

Michael furrowed his eyebrows, as he knew why she was trying her hardest not to not tell him but wouldn't say anything. It wasn't his place to pry into her life. "Perhaps tonight, I should make you some tea, miss," he suggested.

Caitlin gently smiled. "Yes, that would be nice," she answered as she looked out her window at the view of the colony below. She could see the gardens, gazebo, and the fountain at her home. The Lane family had always accepted her as one of their own despite that their own child died in childbirth. Part of Caitlin wondered how her brother would have thought if he had been alive to see this, Caitlin in a real home, almost like a princess.

Michael stood against the wall. Noticing how quiet Caitlin had become in a short time only made him worry more. "I'll leave you to get ready for today," he said.

Caitlin nodded silently while Michael bowed and left the bedroom. When she heard the door close, she closed her eyes. It was time for her to start another day.

~;~;~;~;~

Caitlin sat in the backseat of the car, wearing a long sleeved sky blue dress that reached just below her knees, a locket around her neck, and white flat shoes on her feet. Her days always had so much to do in so little time; her singing career had already taken off, but most of her songs had been sad in nature, as if she was missing a person in her life. In truth, she had been, her brother.

Coming back home after vocal lessons and a run-through of a new single always made her feel incomplete. At times, she felt as if she was a visage for people to look at and not really listening to what she was singing, almost like a doll in a glass covered cabinet, just for something for people to see but not much else.

When the car drove past the long-forgotten ruins of a building, Caitlin's eyes slowly welled up with tears. War had taken so much from her already, mainly the people that she cared about, including her older brother. Just thinking about her older brother only seemed to make her look more depressed. The building only started to make her remember the pain and destruction that was there. She shut her eyes to keep from remembering the sounds of screaming, destruction, and shouting that resulted in the building's demise.

Michael looked in the rearview mirror and blinked at the sad look on Caitlin's face. It just didn't suit the sweet girl the public and he knew. "Miss Caitlin?" he asked.

Caitlin blinked and almost immediately dried her eyes with her hands. "Yes?" she asked before she looked up at him.

"It wouldn't do any good to remember the past," Michael said. "All that matters now is the present."

Caitlin tried to smile at those words. Michael always seemed to know some type of sage advice for her. But still, there was one question left unanswered. "I don't understand, though," she answered.

"Don't understand what, miss?" Michael asked as he turned the car towards the home.

"If someone's body wasn't found," she asked. "Do you think there's a chance that person is still alive?"

Michael took a deep breath. Her older brother must have been important to her. "Over two hundred people died that day, Miss Caitlin," he answered. "Some of the bodies were not able to be identified…"

"Was there another child there?" Caitlin interrupted.

"I'm not quite sure, miss," Michael answered, not as surprised that he finally got her to talk. "But considering that most of the deceased were in the area…"

Caitlin simply blinked at him from the back seat, slowly getting to what he was talking about. Over two hundred people had died that day, and judging that most of it came from the surrounding area of the building… then maybe there's still a chance he's alive after all, she thought to herself. But still… one nagging question continued to eat at her. Why didn't he come back?

Michael pulled the car into the driveway with a deep breath. "Miss Caitlin, I'm sorry for what I said earlier," he said.

Caitlin shook her head gently. "No, it's all right," she answered with a smile. "I guess I should be careful what I wish for when it comes to the truth, right?"

Michael chuckled as he pulled the car in front of the Lane home. "I suppose so," he answered. "Your fiancée, Marco, will be arriving in a while before he's deployed to a satellite."

Caitlin blinked. "Mister Marco?" she asked. "I thought he wasn't being deployed until next month…"

Michael turned off the car before he got out and went to open the door for Caitlin. "Yes, well, the military is an unknown place with deploying, miss," he said as he helped Caitlin out of the car.

"Thank you," she said gently as she walked with Michael up the steps to her home.

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From a distance, a young man watched the brown haired songstress exit the car from behind sunglasses. He wore a hat to hide his hair and a coat to disguise himself. He blinked as he watched her turn around to look out towards the street. He felt inside of his coat pocket and felt the cross that he had found long ago. The memory of that discovery was nothing short of sobering…

He had sifted through the rubble of the church, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. Father Maxwell and Sister Helen had already died, and through some type of desperation that only he could understand, he pushed through the blackened rubble. He couldn't find her with the others. Maybe she happened to find an air pocket… maybe she was alive.

Maybe… she would shout for him to let him know she was alive.

His hand grazed something cold and metallic, and when he lifted his hand, his eyes widened in horror.

His younger sister's cross necklace. She always wore it and never took it off for nothing, even when she slept.

Pushing the necklace into his pocket, he kept searching, desperation coursing through his veins like blood. Maybe she was in shock. Maybe she was just scared and couldn't say where she was. He shouted his sister's name, hoping to hear her voice.

He heard nothing but the sound of his own shout coming back to him.

He stopped to think for a moment. Maybe, just maybe, she had gotten away and was safe. A troubling thought, but maybe she was all right and safe somewhere away from here.

As he stayed and watched the girl from a distance, he couldn't help but be happy that she had been adopted, something that he had wanted for a long time for her.

He watched the girl with a small smile. At least she's got a good family now, he thought to himself. In truth, he had wanted her to be adopted by a good family, away from the death and destruction that plagued their childhood. Everyone they knew either was killed or hurt, and the last thing he would want was something like that to happen to her.

He turned around and walked away. She looked healthy and alive, the two things he was happy for her. And safe. That was what he was the happiest about for sure, her being safe and away from the plagues of their childhood.

She deserves to have a normal childhood, he thought as he continued on his way. I'm glad this worked out just fine.

~;~;~;~;~

Caitlin looked confused at the person that she had seen walk down the street. Who was he? And why was he looking at her?

Michael's voice broke through her thoughts: "Miss Caitlin? Are you all right?"

She blinked up at Michael with a smile. "Yes, I'm fine," she answered as she walked into the house and into the foyer.

When Caitlin had been adopted when she was younger, she thought that the home was like a mansion, and the size had scared her. Her bedroom was bigger than what she had seen before or was used to. Even for holidays like Christmas, the living room was huge to a seven-year-old girl. Now that Caitlin was fourteen years old, she appreciated it more. This was her home now, and while the house stayed the same size, she seemed to grow up very well in the home.

Her adoptive parents, Marshall and Hannah Lane, were nice in that regard. Marshall, however, was a general for the Alliance army who wouldn't tell Caitlin much about the war when she was younger; the girl had dealt with too much to hurt her now. Hannah would help Caitlin as far as education and homeschooling, as well as try to show her how to do some things for herself.

Caitlin wouldn't be considered spoiled by any means; she was like any other teenager growing up, except for the fact that she was a singer on top of a homeschooling student with her life on public display.

"Mr. Michael?" Caitlin asked after the door closed behind them.

"Yes, miss?" Michael answered her before walking to her side.

"Why am I so nervous around him?"

Michael chuckled before he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Miss Caitlin, it's because you love him, is all," he answered with a smile. "Young love is a truly wonderful thing."

"Do you have any advice?" she asked him.

Michael's smile never wavered as he placed his other hand onto her shoulder. "Just continue to be yourself, Miss Caitlin," he answered. "There's a reason why he loves you. He loves how understanding you are considering his dedication to the Alliance forces. A loving, caring person like yourself would be perfect for him."

Caitlin knew that trying to get out of it wasn't going to happen anytime soon. All she could do was smile at Michael and nod her head. "Of course," she answered.

Michael nodded his head. "I'll let you know when he arrives," he said gently.

"All right," she answered and left to go up the stairs to her bedroom.

Michael watched Caitlin leave and sighed. "I certainly hope Miss Caitlin is ready," he said to himself.

"She will be," a female voice came from beside him.

Michael turned and bowed at the lady of the house, who was wearing a long burgundy dress with her brown hair styled on her head. "Ma'am," he said as he straightened his back. "Miss Caitlin seems rather young to marry."

Hannah smiled slightly. "Nonsense," she answered. "Caitlin can grow to love Marco as much as we do. A soldier's life is oftentimes lonely, so for Caitlin to marry him would be ideal for her. She'll have someone to protect her should something happen to her father and myself."

Michael looked stunned at his mistress' words. Should something happen to her husband and herself? Surely not while he was alive!

Hannah blinked at him, giving him a relieved look on her face. "Don't worry, Michael. I'm sure it won't happen for a long time."

"But shouldn't Miss Caitlin have a say in who she marries?" Michael asked. "She is rather young to think of something so permanent."

Hannah tapped her index finger onto her bottom lip. Perhaps Michael did have a point. "All right," she conceded. "However, I can't control how Marco feels for Caitlin. The date hasn't been set yet, so she does have some time to think on it."

Meanwhile, in Caitlin's bedroom, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it with a sigh. Being a singer wasn't as easy as people would say it was, but being engaged to a person who she didn't know much about was probably harder on her than anything she faced after her adoption.

"What would my brother do?" Caitlin whispered to herself.

She shut her eyes as if the answer would come from that alone.

"I'm not ready for marriage… If you were here, Brother, you could stop this…"

Caitlin took a deep breath before opening her eyes and the tears fell. She knew she couldn't get out of it even if she wanted to; her parents had wanted her to be with Marco since she became a singer. Maybe they were looking out for her well-being; having a man to protect her when things go wrong didn't sound too bad, but it was akin to a toddler putting a hand near the stove. It was dangerous to trust someone she didn't know.

She was used to the spotlight by now, but as it stood with Marco, she wasn't sure whether she could go through with it. She had been told that marriage was a permanent decision, but at the moment, she felt as if the choice was made for her.

A knock on her bedroom door made Caitlin dry her eyes.

"Miss Caitlin?" Michael's voice came from the other side. "Marco's here's to see you."

Might as well make the best of it, she thought as she steadied herself. "Of course," she answered. "I'm on my way."

~;~;~;~;~

Marco Young was a young person around Caitlin's age, with black hair and brown eyes and in a green Alliance uniform. While it seemed unorthodox for two young people to marry, Marco had no problem with it. Praising Caitlin on her appearance, her voice, and even her clothing options was part of why he cared about her. Another altogether was the main reason he cared more for her than anyone.

"I'm sorry if the muffins weren't that great," Caitlin said apologetically. She had been so distracted from earlier that day that she had forgotten to add the sugar into the dessert muffins she had made.

Marco shook his head and gently took her hands into his own. "No, I rather enjoyed them," he answered, trying to inflate the deflated look on her face that didn't suit her at all. "I've never had sugar-free muffins before, but they were just fine."

Caitlin blinked up at him, a puzzled look on her face.

"Any woman who makes that much of an effort to make dessert should be proud of herself," Marco continued with a smile. "Cooking is a lot like fighting, Miss Caitlin. It takes a lot of time, patience, and energy to get it right, although no one can be perfect. If you want, one day I'll show you."

Caitlin gently smiled, taking Marco's words to heart. It wasn't that she didn't try; she was just scared that since it didn't come out right, he would be upset. As it turned out, he wasn't; he appreciated her efforts and also knew that she wasn't perfect.

Marco smiled back at her. "That's what I like to see," he replied.

"Um…" Caitlin looked around, looking for her parents. "Why are we alone?"

"Oh, I think your parents retired to the living room," Marco answered. It was then that he noticed that Caitlin looked uncomfortable. "What's wrong?"

"Do you want to get married to me?" Caitlin asked bluntly.

Marco blinked at her, half stunned from her question. "Of course I do," he answered. "Why else…"

"That's not what I mean," Caitlin said, shaking her head. "Don't you think it's too soon, Mr. Marco? For either of us?"

Marco took a deep breath. "I know, I know," he answered with a sigh. "My parents have wanted this to happen sooner rather than later." He wrapped his arms around her in an effort to calm her down. "I'm sure we can stall them for however long it takes, but I can't stall them forever."

Caitlin laid her head on her fiancée's shoulder and nodded. "That sounds like a plan," she answered, smiling gently. "But what do we do in the meantime? I'd feel bad about lying to them…"

"No, we wouldn't," Marco answered. "We could just say that we would like to take it slower, you know? Go out on dates more, make it look more natural."

"What if they don't want to believe it?"

"We'll make them believe it," Marco answered, gently holding Caitlin's hand in his. "I only want what's best for you."

Caitlin smiled and held his hand. "All right," she answered. "That sounds good."

Marco straightened Caitlin up in her seat before he gently touched the side of her face with his hand. "Was that all you were worried about?" he asked her. "If it was, then you shouldn't have to worry about anything like that."

Caitlin's eyes fell towards her lap. She couldn't bear to tell him about the strange person who was watching her earlier. She didn't want to worry him any more than he already looked.

"You're quiet, love," Marco said, smoothing her cheek with his thumb.

Caitlin blinked and looked up at him. "I-It's nothing, really," she tried to brush it off.

But Marco wouldn't hear of it. "Did something happen today?" he pressed.

Now she was found out. And she knew it.

"There was a man watching me earlier," Caitlin finally said after taking a deep breath.

"Where was he?" Marco asked her.

"Across the street."

"Do you want me to find him?"

Caitlin shook her head. "No, it's okay," she answered. "He already left before you arrived."

Marco held onto her protectively, almost too protectively for Caitlin to understand. "I should have been here sooner," he said. "Leaving you alone with that stalker on the loose…"

"Mr. Marco, it's okay," Caitlin repeated.

"No, it isn't," he answered, holding her tighter while looking into the distance. Her parents had just come into the dining room again, so now he had to make it look good for them. "Someone stalking my fiancée… I won't stand for it."

"Mr. Marco, please, it's all right," Caitlin whispered into his ear. "I'm fine, really…"

"Your parents are in the room," Marco whispered back. "Just act it out to make it natural."

"Someone was stalking her?" Hannah asked with a hand to her mouth just as Marshall had raced into the dining room.

"Yes," Marco answered. "Michael must have scared him off before that man could do anything."

Caitlin kept her head on his shoulders and forced herself to shake into sobbing.

"It's all right now," Marco soothed her. "He won't come back here. Not if he knows what's good for him."

Caitlin sniffled into his shoulder. "He won't?" she asked.

Marco shook his head. "No," he answered. "Would you like for me to get a guard for you for when you leave the house?"

"No, I'll be all right," she reassured him with a smile.

Hannah and Marshall looked at their daughter with worried looks on their faces. A stalker? That can't be!

"Caitlin, are you sure you don't need someone to guard you?" Marshall asked her. "I'm sure I can ask one of my colleagues…"

"I'll be all right, Father," Caitlin answered with a gentle smile and a brush of her hand under her eyes. "Mr. Michael and Mr. Marco would be enough."

Marshall was about to say something before Hannah put a hand on her husband's shoulder.

"Now, darling, you know our daughter," Hannah said. "She's not going to ask for help unless she feels like she needs it."

"I swear, though," Marshall answered in a whisper that only Hannah could hear. "She's almost too stubborn for her own good."

Hannah chuckled quietly. "She's a smart girl," she said. "I would know; I homeschooled her myself."

"That she is," Marshall replied with a smile. "And we couldn't be prouder of her."

Marco looked at her. "Will you be all right, Miss Caitlin?" he asked his fiancée.

Caitlin nodded her head before lifting her head off Marco's shoulder. "I'll be all right," she answered with a gentle smile. "I guess I was worried about Mr. Marco's deployment is all…"

Marco smiled before gently cupping Caitlin's face into his hands. "You don't have to worry about me, love," he answered. "If a man can't protect the woman he loves, then what good is that man?"

Marshall nodded. "That's right, Marco," he replied. "Marco is a fine, upstanding young man. He would do anything it took to protect you."

Marco gently smoothed Caitlin's cheeks with his thumbs. The feeling of her soft skin on his thumbs would be enough for him to stop fighting on his own, but his dedication to the Alliance was also needed. And since Caitlin could understand what might entail, he might as well oblige. "I honestly would," Marco answered.

Caitlin nodded in understanding, although in her heart she was terrified about what the war was likely going to do.

~;~;~;~;~

(Next Chapter: The war still goes on, not just in the minds of those that are fighting, but also in the hearts as well. As Caitlin prepares for a trip for a concert on Earth, something happens that changes her life forever. And it will shake the foundation she knows so well. Next on Gundam Wing: Gemini, Chapter 2: A Dangerous Decision.)