One of my friends introduced to Gundam Wing somewhat recently, and after quite a bit of thought, I've decided to try my hand at writing a story about our lovely quintet (and crowd). I suggest reading the background on my story; I have made a few deviances from canon. Oh, and I have not had the chance to read any of the manga. Just saw the anime and the movie.

DISCLAIMER: If I owned Gundam Wing, there would have been more episodes. In addition, Quatre's "space heart" would have been explained.

0-0-0-0-0-0

BACKGROUND: Takes place three years after Endless Waltz. Lady Une adopted Mariemaia after she was released from the hospital; that's who Mariemaia means when she says "Mother". Heero disappeared after deeming himself well enough to run away from the hospital, and no one has seen or heard from him since. Instead of destroying the Gundams, the pilots turned them over to the Preventers for safekeeping, aware that they could need them if someone tried to start something in the future. Zechs and Noin spent 18 months on Mars before returning because Noin wanted to be able to have children some day. Duo, Trowa, Quatre, and Wufei keep in touch with each other; Wufei and Duo work for the Preventers, Trowa drifts, sometimes with the circus, other times not, and Quatre started rebuilding damages done during the War, spending most of his time in the Middle East working with the Maganac Corps.

XXXXXXXX

"Hey 'Maia!" Duo said cheerfully, plopping down next to the ten year old. "How's the new school?" None of the pilots had harboured hard feelings toward the girl; she had been used, after all.

"It seems nice," Mariemaia said. "I don't start classes until tomorrow, though... Why does Mother feel it necessary to send me here? Just because I was shot..."

"'Maia, you know that you were lucky that shot didn't kill you," Duo scolded gently. "Besides, the scar still gives you trouble. That's what this place is for. Kids who have physical limitations that makes it hard to function in other schools." Noticing the angered look on Mariemaia's face, Duo prattled on. "Besides, the student teacher ratio is smaller than other schools."

Mariemaia just snorted. "Does Mother really think that I'm more likely to find someone who won't hate me in a smaller school? I'm not stupid; even with the public announcement made after I was in the hospital, plenty of people still seem perfectly happy to blame me for what my grandfather organized. Do tell Mother that for me, Duo." With that, the redhead left, causing Duo to wonder where she learned her muttered curses.

XXXXXXX

"Miss Khushrenada didn't take what you had to say very well, did she Maxwell?" Wufei asked. He had offered to drive Duo out to Mariemaia's new school (no one trusted Duo behind a wheel if avoidable), and now the Deathscythe pilot saw why.

"Did you think she would, Wuffers?" Duo asked, using one of his many nicknames for Wufei as a comeback to Wufei's subtle taunting.

It had the deserved effect. Wufei spent the ride back home ranting on about justice, Duo's immaturity, and once or twice, it switched to the topic of women. Although Wufei did rant on about 'stupid onnas', Duo noticed that Sally, Une, or Relena didn't find their way into his list of 'onnas that waste his time'.

Still, Duo noticed that Wufei caught himself a few times, and knew what had stopped Nataku's pilot. Or rather, who.

XXXXXXX

"Hey 'Fei, check it!" Duo crowed. "Trowa and Quatre came to see us!"

Wufei merely grumbled. Having been trapped for half an hour in a car with Duo, he welcomed their friends and fellow ex-terrorists gladly, although he didn't show it. "Winner, Barton."

"Hey Duo, Wufei," Quatre greeted them warmly, laughing a little when Duo gave the waiting pair the traditional Maxwell welcome; a hug. Trowa merely nodded, still preferring to let others do the talking. "Where are you two getting back from?" It wasn't uncommon for Duo and Wufei to be paired up, especially since Wufei and Sally began a relationship. Zechs and Noin seemed to be Une's only exception to her rule that couples couldn't be field partners.

"Making sure 'Maia would be alright at her new school," Duo said. "She will be... I think. She's not too happy about it, but Une is only trying to give her the best shot at a semi-normal life."

"Hey, you guys might want to come see this," Sally said, sticking her head out the door. "Like, now."

The four pilots followed her, curious. Sally didn't often drag them inside; the last time she did it was because there had been a major explosion in downtown.

"...earlier this day, the calm that has existed since Dekim Barton used his granddaughter in a play to gain totalitarian control was shattered when an attempt was made on Vice Foreign Minister Darlian's life. No harm befell Miss Darlian, and the would-be assassin was found and captured. However, he did leave us with a rather cryptic message: 'Three beats. We have had the first and second; the third is coming quickly. Be prepared, or you will not make it through.' No one seems to be able to understand what the assassin's message is supposed to mean.

"A hotline has been set up; if you have any information on this latest threat t peace, we urge you to please call-" Trowa hit the off button on the TV remote.

"Well, that's just peachy," Duo said with a sigh. "Just when we finally start thinking peace will actually last this time, some upshot has to go and blow it. And we need a revolution... Why?"

The other pilots merely shrugged, none of them sure on how to answer.

XXXXXXX

"Is this truly necessary?"

"..."

"Oh, don't do that. It just makes you seem cold."

"That's the point."

"Why do you insist on being something you're not?"

"..."

"Why do I insist on having conversations with you? Come to think of it, why do I? What's to stop me from going out there right now?"

"You know what."

"...it's hardly a wonder some many people hated you. Still, you saved me."

"You did the same."

"But you don't seem like the type to care about that. Furthermore, you admitted to not knowing it was me, yet you still intervened."

"Would you rather I had not?"

"There was a time when I wouldn't be sure of the answer to that. But you need someone to keep an eye on you; you have the worst luck I've ever seen."

"Hn."

"Still, that doesn't answer my question. Is this really needed? Is it?"

"The others will be able to tell it's you. Granted, that may not cause problems of its own. But at least they won't think..."

"Has it occurred to you that it could just make them feel they have basis for that fear?"

"A few times. But they know I'm not a baka."

"Still..."

"Look on the bright side. At least the 'modifications' aren't in that one."

"True... How do you...?"

"I don't know."

"...Well, standing here won't stop this latest threat. Shall we?"

"Hn."

"Oh, do not start this again..."

XXXXXXX

"Hello there."

Mariemaia looked up from her book to see a rather innocent looking blonde standing there. She stared at the girl.

"I said hello," the girl repeated, staring right back at Mariemaia. "It's considered rude not to say hello back."

"Are you speaking to me?" Mariemaia asked, a quick glance around proving no other students in sight. Still, it never hurt to be careful.

"Yes," the girl wasn't rude in her answer. She didn't say anything, waiting patiently for something.

Mariemaia could easily guess what. "Hello."

The girl grinned at that. "My name is Janet Luikan. What's your name?"

"Mariemaia Khushrenada."

"Oh, I heard about your grandfather," Janet said. "He wasn't a very good man. It was rude of him to use you like that."

"You don't think I was to blame?" Mariemaia asked, caught off guard.

"No," Janet said. "How could you have been?"

"What makes you say that?" asked Mariemaia, confused by this girl, Janet. Everyone else she met seemed to hate her for the rebellion three years ago.

"That's easy," Janet said with a laugh. "You were lost."

0-0-0-0-0-0

Chapter dedication to the first person to guess:

-Who the conversation was between (the one with nothing but dialogue)

-Who Janet is supposed to be

Please review. It helps me feel motivated to write the next chapter. I mean, I will anyway, but it's still nice.