Title: Living in a dream

Pairing: 1 X 2 main,

Notes: I don't own GW obviously, I only clan to own the plot and the original characters...

Chapter 1

Odd jobs and a scholarship; finally things were looking up for Duo…

He was 22, and he was finally getting to go to University…a bit late but who was counting?

He was an orphan, who didn't remember any life but the streets. He'd learn to fight out of self-preservation to prevent getting raped after he turned thirteen. He couldn't help that he was good looking and he never felt a need to do more then trim his long hair that he kept in a braid. He'd spent a few weeks living at a church rectory before some religious nutcase decided to burn it down. He worked himself to the bone, the Sisters hadn't been there when it happened but Father Maxwell had. He had started calling himself Duo Maxwell after that. He managed to study with Sister Helen' help to pass tests that proved he was smart enough to attend high school though he had no memories of attending a school in his life. He went to see Sister Helen who he had known since he was ten.

She was working in the garden when he came in, "Duo!" she hugged him, "It's been a while…how have you been? Seen any cute boys lately?"

Helen had been the first person he ever told he was gay, he'd been scared he'd…go to hell or something. She'd calmed him and said that Love made everything okay…

Duo shook his head shyly, "I haven't been paying attention…I was studying for those exams. Besides, I don't have a stable job…I had to beg to be allowed to live in the dorms. I really want a degree as a mechanic…no one will hired me fill-time without it."

Helen laughed, "The church hired you remember? They needed someone…"

Duo sighed, "They can't afford to pay me, not in this neighborhood and I would never ask." he'd been able to take a car apart at age 12. He would read a car manual for the specific model, take it apart and put it back together properly and usually it ran better. He'd saved the church's old station wagon from the junk heap. It ran smoother then any of the older sisters remembered and got way better gas mileage then one might expect for its age.

She sighed, "I hate it when you act like that. It isn't charity, you earned it. We could never have afforded a new car."

Duo smiled, "I've saved you the cost of a mechanic, a gardener, a custodian and a new car. I owe this place a lot…"

Those were the reasons that the other sisters put up with and didn't complain about the homeless boy sleeping in the garage.

Sister Helen ruffled his hair, "Come help me in the kitchen, we can share a little. Some food was donated by the local grocery store. They couldn't sell it so we have more then our usual fare, it is better to give then receive so don't argue."

Duo gave in quietly, "Okay…" it was nice to let her win sometimes, she was the closest thing to family he had. He wanted her to be proud of him…

He was starting University in a month, he had to rearrange his jobs now that he was a student. He was too skinny, he knew that…

He'd never be noticed if he didn't start acting like he wasn't a street brat…