Raptures of Paradise: Chapters 1-6

by Sailor Celaeno

I decided to put this up again in a slightly different way to make it easier and save people time in reading this. Well, there lots of categories that this could fit in, so I decided to put it in general. Standard non-yaoi couples, no flames about the cou

1. Default Chapter Title

I don't own Gundam Wing's characters. So don't sue me. Enjoy a little tale of reflection.

Gundam Wing: Raptures of Paradise

Chapter 1----------Stargazer

By Sailor Celaeno

It had been three months since Mariemaya Kushrenada had been defeated and adopted by Lady Une. Our heroes had slowly rebuilt their lives. Most of them had joined the Preventers, an agency dedicated to preventing the future devastation of war. The few exceptions were Relena, Heero, Dorothy Catalonia, and Catherine Bloom. Relena continued on to become Vice Minister and Ambassador/liaison between Earth and the colonies. Heero was nowhere to be found. Dorothy tried to move on with her life. Catherine continued working in the circus.

Moving on in life would be a difficult journey. There were no guarantees of an easy road ahead. They couldn't see the danger ahead.

Lurking in the darkness of outer space, there were a pair of eyes that stared hypnotically to the silent void. The sparkle of joy had long since vanished and her heart was cold and dark. Voices echoed in her mind. "When will those voices ever shut up?" she held her hands against her temples.

She walked towards a mirror in the living room of her colony house. She stared at her shapely figure. Her dark hair was in a braid and she stared at her tanned skin. Suddenly, the reflection warped into another image. The face looking back at her was a pale skinned woman with cat-like eyes that glared back at her with a twisted, sinister smirk. "What is the matter Avatar?"

"I hear those voices in my head again," Avatar groaned.

"Well, you have failed me again! As long as you have not succeeded in my plans, those voices will stay within your head!" shouted the evil reflection.

"But Lady Tempest..." she began.

"Silence!" commanded Tempest has she held up her hand. After she calmed down, she spoke in a more serene voice. "Would you like me to take those voices away?"

"Yes, mistress." Avatar kneeled humbly. "I beg of you."

"Very well." A red light glowed from Tempest's hand through the mirror. Avatar was enveloped with the garnet light and relief was on her face.

"I am eternally grateful to you."

"The time shall come soon when I shall be released into this universe and no one will stop me. And you will gain more power than you could have dreamed. All of your enemies will be crushed as painfully as you could desire. And I..." cooed Tempest, "...I shall be empress of this pathetic universe." She cackled heartily.

"But how can I release you, ethereal one." Avatar bowed.

"As you well know, I feed off of the anger and emotional energy of other beings. You will provide me with the energy I need."

"I have given you so much already. How much more will you need?"

"A great deal more than you can possibly imagine. I need such power that will be difficult to obtain, but it CAN be done."

"I will triple my efforts," bowed Avatar. The image disappeared and Avatar's image reappeared. She turned towards the window to stare at the stars. She soon saw the Earth in the view. That blue and green orb that floated in space along with the other giant bodies. Filled with so many other living beings on that large planet. She glared with her eyes that glowed red with evil. "I will destroy you all."

Noin and Zechs shared an apartment together. Noin stared into the night sky and searched thoughtfully. Zechs walked around behind and gently kissed the back of her neck. He wrapped arms around her waist and sighed into the back of her shoulder. He looked at her and said, "Lucrezia?"

"Yes?" She said without even turning to face him.

"You have something on your mind?"

There was silence as she thought about how to respond. "I have a lot of things on my mind."

"You worried about the wedding?"

"Oh course." She gently twisted her diamond engagement ring set in white gold. "I have a lot to think about. After all, we're having it next month."

"I know you very well Lucrezia. You have something else on your mind." He walked in front of her. "What's bothering you?"

She was reluctant to look at his face. 'Wonder how you're going to react.'

He held her shoulders firmly. "Please. If something is really bothering you, then say it. There should be no secrets between us."

She glanced up into his face. "Alright. It's just that, well... I think I should see my doctor."

He started getting a little worried. "Why? Are you sick?"

"No..." she started getting a little nervous. "I... well... remember when you proposed last week and we... made love all night?" she said slowly.

He had a grin on his face. "Yes I..." suddenly he finally added two and two together. "You mean... you're..."

"I bought a home pregnancy kit... and..."

"And what?" he asked anxiously.

"Well, I'm going to the doctor on Wednesday to be 100% sure. But the test said it's positive." A funny look spread across Zech's face. "Milliardo?" Noin started calling him by his real name.

"A baby?" He gave her a deep, passionate kiss. "Do you think you're ready for this?"

"Well, it seems I don't have much of a choice do I?" Noin smirked a little.

"I'm sorry I did this to you."

Noin looked at him reassuringly and hugged him tightly. "No. No. Don't think that." She buried her face into his strong chest. "I'm glad actually. I'm glad that it's yours. It's a part of you and me. That will never change."

"No, it won't." They stared at each other and enjoyed another loving embrace.

"Hm."

"What?"

"Poor Relena. We already shocked her with our engagement. We're gonna give her a heart attack when she finds out she's going to be an aunt so soon," Noin laughed.

"I guess so." And the two lovebirds stared into the starry night sky. The warmth of the evening was blowing on their skin in an endless sea of bliss and hope. Waiting for a new generation to be born into an uncertain world.

She stared into the night sky and saw the brilliant stars. "Where can you be now, Heero?" she asked those shining stars. Her fingers lightly touched the smooth glass of the window. Always wondering about the pilot of Wing Zero. She never forgot him. Heero Yuy. He had disappeared for the last three months. That name echoed in her mind as she sat at her desk. Miss Relena Peacecraft Darlian. Vice Minister.

She sat quietly gazing at those stars and longed to see Him again. Her tears for him had been shed long ago, but she never did again. Not for him. "Where ever you are, I will wait. I will wait, Heero."

"Miss Darlian?" knocked a woman at the door.

"Yes, Miss Eddy?"

"You have a visitor. A young lady..."

"Send her in." Relena longed for some company to make her forget her melancholy reflections. She was even more surprised to see who her visitor was.........

"Dorothy Catalonia..." Relena said as she stood up to greet her unexpected guest.

"Hello, Miss Relena." There was a great change in Dorothy. She had a gentleness that was surrounding her being. Such peacefulness followed her as Relena closed the office door.

"I didn't expect to see you here. Dorothy," replied Relena.

"I'm sure you didn't. I didn't expect to be here, but I find myself drawn here. I wanted to see you," Dorothy said as demurely as could be imagined. Relena couldn't believe the young woman sitting opposite her was the same woman who had a code of war and conflict so deeply imbedded into her consciousness. The ruthlessness of Dorothy Catalonia of the Eve Wars was like poison to the heart of any pacifist.

"I must confess I didn't expect to see you again."

"I know, Miss Relena. I see that you have been doing well for yourself. You are a famous negotiator throughout the Earth and all her colonies. I am glad to see that your values still hold true."

"I see that you are well yourself. You have become a business woman I heard," replied Relena.

"Yes, I must confess that after the Eve Wars ended, I felt a little out of place. That is... until I heard about the new scientific research founded by the Pleiades Coalition. I read up on their work to explore the universe by producing supercomputers and intergalactic probes. I was fascinated and saw that humanity would benefit greatly with the expansion of outer space. So I invested some of Grandfather's money to the Coalition."

"Impressive Dorothy. I have heard of their work, although I'm not too familiar with its inner dealings."

"Well, perhaps, I can show you around, if you ever leave Earth to the Pluto Research facility. The best research facility they have is there and I consequently have become a member of their board of Trustees," said Dorothy.

"Perhaps, some day soon. I'm curious why you are here."

"I have thought about this meeting for quite some time..." Dorothy said calmly and thoughtfully of her words. She clearly planned to see Relena for quite sometime. "I don't know where to begin now. I have never been quite certain of what to do when I did see you," Dorothy said sadly.

"Well, what ever it is, you can just say it. I won't judge you in any way. Just say what you feel. There is no need for formalities or rhetoric. We are two women, equal and no status separating us."

"Alright. You are correct Miss Relena. Being a diplomat has certainly made you see the pointlessness of grand speeches. You must hear them all the time," smiled Dorothy.

"Yes. That is true." Relena smiled as she thought of the over winded speech made by Senator Depaucho at the conference last week.

"Well, then I will simply say it. I came here to ask for your forgiveness."

"My forgiveness? For what Dorothy?" asked Relena.

"I had seen your work as a princess of the Sanc kingdom. You were a born leader, a true symbol of peace and hope for the future. Meanwhile I was doing what I could to undermine you. Spying for grandfather, and being a harsh critic. I was a fool, because deep inside my heart, I knew that you were right. I had seen my grandfather's way of thinking for so long, I had forgotten how beautiful peace could be. I see that in your own way, you were trying to make me see that. I wish to apologize for my cruelty, and to thank you for your kindness..." Dorothy began crying. They were not forced, or false. But they were real warm tears of truth and honesty. Relena could not doubt their sincerity.

"I don't know what to say..." Relena said in politely, though clearly stunned at the revelation brought by Dorothy.

"Then say, you accept my humblest apologies." Dorothy wiped the tears from her eyes, and looked at Relena with desire of hope.

"Of course Dorothy. How could I ever refuse?" said Relena.

"Thank you." Dorothy curtsied. "I must leave now. I have an appointment to Pluto in three hours. I must hurry for the transport plane. I hope to see you again, Miss Relena."

"Good-bye, Dorothy." Dorothy nodded and left the room.

Relena was very much surprised by the appearance of Dorothy Catalonia. "She really has changed. But I wonder still, who changed her so much. As much as I would like the credit, I know I couldn't have been the one. Someone else got through to her. Someone made her see peace. After all she thanked me for my kindness, not for changing her. I wonder..." Relena turned to stare at the starry sky. "Heero... maybe you might have known."

She didn't see that outside of her office window, there was a figure in the shadow of the building watching her. Looking at her face, staring into the starry sky...

On to Chapter 2!

Okay, I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters. So don't sue me or anything....

Gundam Wing: Raptures of Paradise

Chapter 2----------Silent as a Shadow with the Voice of Destiny

By Sailor Celaeno

Always in the shadows. That was what he wanted. He didn't want her to know he was there. He was never far from her. That was what he wanted. Not to have her know that he was watching. She would only get hurt. Not by assassins or rebel groups, but by HIM. He couldn't do that to her. That was his way.

Heero was that sort. The Perfect Soldier. He was no fool. He could tell how interested Princess Relena had been towards him. It was as obvious to anyone that he had fascinated her. His mysterious ways, his brooding nature, his secretive life. How she would think of him for hours. Just wondering where he was. Wondering if she would ever see him again. That was the way things were before the Eve Wars got into it's bloodiest.

Now, he could clearly see that she was a woman. She no longer had the time to chase and daydream over him. She became Princess of the Sanc Kingdom. She had a country to rule, and a world to save. She had more important things to think of. It was better off for the both of them. That was what Heero told to himself. It became a new mantra for him. He was always the loner, but he knew that there were other people that cared a great deal for the fate of Humanity as much as he did. He would often think about how his life had changed in such a short time.

Never was it said that he was a very easy person to understand. He had been trained, and drilled into the Perfect Soldier. There was no turning back for him. He had one clear mission: destroy all those that threatened the Colonies. Eliminate all those that stood in his way. Relena. She was a distraction. She knew too much about him. Worrying about her revealing him was too much on his mind. The simplest solution: eliminate her.

But one brief moment as he was fighting off an OZ attack on the school they were both attending, he saved her from a collapsing fragment. It was a hazy moment. It was a feeling, almost like a voice, a gentle spoken woman. Telling him. "Don't let her die. THAT is your mission." That voice was so calming and persuasive; he immediately obeyed it without a second thought. He was taught never second-guess yourself. He sentenced Relena Darlian to death after some consideration. Yet in less than a split-second, he made a decision to save her.

After that moment, he began to dream. It was a few days after he saved Relena. "Why the Hell did I save her? She is a threat to me. She must die. Those who see the face of a Gundam must not live to tell about it."

"Is that really true Heero?" That voice. That kind, gentle voice called to him. He was in a darkened place, the deepest recess of his own consciousness. Then a light appeared as the voice spoke so softly. He turned to stare into the light. He squinted at that warm, brilliant light.

"Such a beautiful thing to see," he found himself saying. It was the most heavenly thing to feel such calm and serenity in that light, and in that voice.

"Must all people die? Must all the people you meet die because of the orders of those that you have not even seen?" asked the voice.

"Who are you?" he shouted at that ethereal being.

"I'm whatever you think I am. And even more than that. What is more important is that, you understand one thing. Never think for a second that being merciful is ever weak. You have been trained to be the Perfect Soldier, a killing machine that is capable of destroying people without even the slightest thought of it."

"That is who I am. I am Heero Yuy!" he shouted. He had to fight that voice. That voice was his enemy. But he saw he had no gun with him. All he had was his words. "I'm a soldier, I obey all orders given to me."

"You are NOT Heero Yuy! You are the pilot of Wing Zero, a cold, calculating soldier, sent to destroy all those that stand in the way of his mission. That is all that you are. You have completely lost your humanity, Heero. Have you killed and destroyed so much that you have forgotten that there is more to life than war? War is bloody, and people suffer because of it. Have you destroyed so much that you have forgotten? Have you forgotten that all those you destroy are not just faceless, no-names? They are living, flesh and blood people. They have lives that you know nothing of. They are just as worthy of existence as you."

"Those that I killed were enemies. They threaten the people of the colonies, and they work for scum like OZ and Romefeller. Seeking to dominate those who are weaker than they! They are weak fools, who deserve to die for the sins that they agreed to share in." Heero glared at the light despite its brilliant intensity.

"What about the little girl on that ship you destroyed?" That light hit a nerve. Back then, he was still new to the whole Gundam Pilot business. He had been assigned to destroy a ship, when a little girl asked him if he was lost. He allowed the bomb to go off, knowing there were innocent people, like that girl, on board. All dying for a senseless war, wasted blood scattered and spilled in outer space.

"What do you want from me?" At another point in his life, like when he was a child, he would have broken down in tears. He realized what the light was saying. It... she wasn't so far off from the truth about him.

"All I want you to know is that, you must remember that not every order has to be followed. Wars are not always started by greedy, power-hungry, old men. Sometimes, blood must be shed. But just make sure that the bloodshed was not in vain. Make sure it was worth being shed." The light faded as he awoke.

From that moment he looked at everything. He changed ever so slightly. He remained the stoic soldier, but he knew that he couldn't go about like he once had. He never was THAT Heero ever again. But he did think about that dream every once in a while. Just who was that voice? It said, "I'm whatever you think I am. And even more than that." He had thought about that on occasion. He was always going about his normal routines. Yet, on those quiet moments, his mind drifted back to that dream. It wasn't until after the Eve Wars ended that he finally understood what that voice, who it was.

He thought it was conscience. After all who said that your conscience had to be the same sex as yourself. But then he thought about it. As much as he thought about the psychology and philosophy of war, there was no way that he would have thought about things in the POV that this voice did. He was never much of a spiritual person, yet how could he have conceived or personified his conscience in the form of an ethereal light with such a gentle woman's voice? Then he knew. That same voice told him that protecting Relena was his mission. Never in a thousand years would he have thought to protect her. Perhaps save her life that one time. But not to dedicate the rest of his time to watch out for her.

When it became clear that Relena was the new symbol of peace, he knew how true those words that light said. It became clear. That voice was NOT his conscience. It was the voice of Destiny. And she had a face just as real as any other person. He remembered that crazy adventure he and the other pilots had over a year ago. Two strange women appeared and gave them a mission. "We called on your help because we have no doubt you can save our princess and her friends," said the silver woman with her sheathed swords.

"If her friends are anything like you, then why would you need our help?" retorted Heero. He had a princess to watch himself and was far from concerned to watch over another one. Especially if she had these two women to watch her. He was no fool and could clearly see these women were powerful. The energy that surrounded them was like nothing that he had ever felt.

"Something has happened. I don't have time to explain. We are getting weaker by the minute. If you don't help us, then your universe will be destroyed just as ours will," pleaded the Silver woman, who dressed in a sailor fuku.

"How?" he asked

"We have a dangerous enemy in our universe. It has found a weakness in our ability to defend our world. Now we are severely weakened and only Pluto," she referred to the other woman, "are able to fight them. We are only two women. They are sending masses of soldiers to fight us."

He sighed. "What do you expect from me?"

"I expect that you will be able to accept something from Destiny when she knocks on your door."

The way this silver woman said 'destiny' struck him immediately. It was her! That was the voice that stopped him from destroying Relena. "You? You are destiny?"

She smiled. "In a way. Will you accept this mission?"

Heero thought for a moment. "Mission accepted." He met strange teenagers from another universe. They were brave and ready to fight, but they lacked the power they once had to fight those monsters. Monsters from a dark dimension that sought to destroy them all. They were able to go back in time to prevent the wanton destruction that led to Heero and the others into the alternate universe.

The last thought he had in that universe was the pain from being impaled with a crystal shard. He woke up to find himself in his apartment. He found out that it was only an hour since that Sailor Celaeno and Sailor Pluto had visited him. Even though his wounds were gone, he still felt achy. "Was it all a dream?"

As he examined his room, he found a strange crystal. It wasn't a dream it was the crystal that Celaeno had given him. In order to hide Wing Zero and carry it around with him, it was turned into this crystal he held in his hands. Whenever he needed it, it would glow and his Gundam would reappear.

The crystal was no longer warm to the touch, so he knew that this was now just an ordinary crystal. A memento.

"Relena," he said her name softly to himself. "Why can't I just watch you without feeling so deeply about you?" He could only glare at himself for his attachment to her.

His mind wandered back to the present as he saw a familiar figure leave the building that he had been watching the entire day.

Author's note:

Whew! Never thought I could go so deeply into the philosophical depths of Heero's mind. But where will this lead? Just wait and see.

On to Chapter 3!

Gundam Wing: Raptures of Paradise

Chapter 3----------A Face in the Crowd

By Sailor Celaeno

The crowd was heavy that day. What could she do about that? She left the office and proceeded to walk to the garage. Paegan waited for Relena. "Hello Miss Relena."

"I'm glad to see you Paegan." She sat with her briefcase in her lap.

"Has anyone been able to track Heero?" she asked.

"No, I'm afraid. He is a very difficult young man to locate. He is very good at his job. I suspect he has a way of finding you. I must confess that I think it is pointless to have people searching for him," said Paegan.

"I suppose you are right. I am being rather foolish. He will find a way to get near me. I suppose I should simply call the agency to stop the search for him."

"I am just curious. Why exactly are you looking for him?"

Relena began to blush for a moment. "Why am I looking for him?" She thought for a moment very carefully. "It's just that I need to know the truth about something."

"About what?"

"I need to know why he has been protecting me during the wars. I never got a clear answer from him. No one ever gets a clear answer, not when it comes to him personally. He guards it like precious treasures. He never seems to trust anyone. Not totally. I just don't quite understand him. Why he protects me, yet he avoids me." Relena stared out the window. As though hoping against that she might spy him among the endless sea of faces.

"I see. I understand that you received an invitation to Milliardo and Miss Noin's wedding." Paegan turned a corner and drove on the highway leading to Relena's penthouse apartments.

"Yes. Milliardo finally decided to take the plunge. I'm very much surprised. I never thought he had it in him to do such a thing. I never thought he was ever capable of that much love."

"All people are capable of love. Some simply choose not to show it." Relena immediately thought of Heero, the perfect soldier.

The apartment bell rang. "Who is it?" asked Paegan.

"It's us." A man's voice could be heard. Paegan looked through the view screen and clearly saw Milliardo Peacecraft and Lucrezia Noin.

"Yes, sir." The two lovebirds entered the large apartment.

Relena emerged from her bedroom with her casual clothes and fuzzy slippers on. "Hello, Milliardo," she said politely, but without much emotion. "Lucrezia." She nodded as she acknowledged her friend and future sister-in-law.

"Hello Relena," smiled Noin in her usual way.

"Yes, hello Relena."

"Would you like anything to drink?" Relena continued in her formal tone of voice.

"No thank you," the two visitors reply. The three people proceeded to sit in Relena's living room. Paegan leaves the room.

"What brings you two here?"

"Simply this," Milliardo begins with HIS formal tone of speech. "We were hoping that you would be Lucrezia's maid of honor."

"I see," she said thoughtfully. She looked back up at him. "You bothered yourselves to come all the way here to ask me that?"

Noin looked worried when Relena asked that. Milliardo remained unchanged and unmoved by his sister's comment. "It was no trouble. We have been meaning to visit you in your new apartment. It suits you well." The penthouse was decorated with creamy colors, and allowed plenty of sunlight during the day. The light curtains would flutter gently in the breeze and the decor matched well.

"Thank you Milliardo. I appreciate that," she said continuing with her formal politeness.

"How has your job been going?" asked Noin. She and Milliardo had held hands since they walked in.

"Very well. I detest the long speeches at the conferences and all the paper work. But there's nothing I can do about it. How are the Preventers?"

Noin was one of the junior supervisors at the Head Quarters building. Milliardo trained and briefed Preventer agents in their new field assignments. "Very well," was all Milliardo said.

Noin looked at him for a moment. Then she turned to say, "If you are wondering, Hilde is returning tonight. She's getting her new assignment, that is, if she really wants it."

"If she wants it?"

"I must say, it took a lot of string pulling to get her a field assignment. There's an opening that I'm saving. If she wants is, then she gets is. However, there are other agents that could also do the assignment. If she decides to stay on Earth, then the job can easily be given to someone else."

"I have this feeling that it'll take a lot to get her to stay."

"Yes. Someone called Duo Maxwell."

Relena smiled a little. She still had contact with the other pilots, except Heero of course. "I suppose so."

A beeper went off. Milliardo looked at the message. "I have to leave now. I'm meeting some associates from Head Quarters."

"I'm staying for a little while." Milliardo bent down to kiss his fiancé. He left the penthouse. Noin quickly turned to her future sister-in-law. "What is it with you and him?"

"Funny, I asked you that last week, when you two said you were getting married."

"Seriously Relena, I'm worried about you two. You are still distant towards each other. It hasn't always been that way as Paegan told me."

"I suppose. But years apart and different points of view does a lot to two people," Relena said frankly.

Noin nodded in comprehension. "But just the same, you could try talking to him."

"Me? I simply don't understand why it has to be me. He clearly has nominal interest in me. I'll leave it to him to talk to me. He should make the first move."

"In spite of how he acts or even what you think of him, he does care about you."

"Enough to leave ME responsible for our kingdom? Enough to make sure that he can kill people and try to destroy the Earth? Yes, he does care a great deal doesn't he?" she replied heatedly.

"Don't be like that Relena? Go easy on him."

"Like you? He treated you like his puppet. You always did whatever he asks of you. I suppose I should just buck up and love him without getting anything back from him," Relena continued more sternly.

Noin was silent. "I suppose that is true. He knows how I've felt about him since the academy days. I suppose I agreed to marry him because I know that he wants someone he can count on, for the rest of his life," Noin said with great hope in her voice.

"I can't count on that as being the way to being close with him."

"No. You have to find a way of your own."

"I suppose I do then."

Duo was miserable. "God! Where can she be?" Hilde had vanished. She ran away from home. She ran away from him. Hannah was his girlfriend and she did whatever she could to help him. But their relationship was fizzling out.

"Any luck finding Hilde?" Hannah asked with her Parisian accent.

"Nothing. Damnit, why can't Noin tell me where the Hell she went?" He banged furiously on the desk.

Hannah looked at him with pity. She touched his hand gently. "Duo. You know that Noin's not aloud to do that. I know you want to find her, but you can't do anything. Not like this. I'll try to help you. In fact... here," she handed him a paper.

Duo took the paper and read it. "To Lieutenant Noin, we have received word that Agent Hilde Sheibecker has finished her assignment. Her excellent reports have made her a outstanding candidate for this latest assignment in the Lakota Space station near Colony 148. Once she returns to Earth, please inform her of this mission. Because of her current situation, we will allow her the opportunity to choose whether she accepts the assignment or not. If she declines and agrees to resume her position at Headquarters, then this mission will be assigned to another agent." He looked up at Hannah. "How did you get this?"

"I have my ways," she smiled slyly.

"This means that Hilde should be coming back very soon. It's dated yesterday. God, what if it's tonight?"

"Duo? It's after hours. In order to inform Noin about her decision, she has to report to Head Quarters during regular business hours. If she comes back tonight, you'll see her tomorrow."

Duo smacks himself. "Doi, Duo! You should've thought of that!"

Hannah smiles at him. "That's alright. I know you are very worried about her." She looks sadly at him.

Duo notices and starts to look sad. "I hope that it's because of Hilde that we're breaking up over."

Hannah changes her facial expression again. "Oh no! No. Hilde isn't responsible. It's just that the magic is gone with us. We're better off being just friends."

Duo relaxed a little. "Whew! I was afraid that we were splitting because of..." He stopped.

"Don't be silly! It's not because of her. In fact, I'm as eager to find her as you are. I'm very worried about why she just took off without even talking to YOU."

"I have been wondering about that..." He stared into outer space for a moment. "God Hilde! Where are you?"

"Come on Duo." Hannah interrupted his train of thought.

"Huh?"

"We have to get to the seminar in ten minutes."

"Right." Duo got out of his chair and swung a leather jacket over his shoulder. "Say, you wanna go to Laramie's tonight later?"

"Sure."

Relena had taken a vacation. She decided to have a long three-day weekend and spend the time to go shopping and visit a spa. She needed some serious R & R after three months of negotiations and long, dull conferences. She had to deal with SO many people, and complex issues that required long hours of constant reading. Her eyes were getting tired and she needed more sleep. She had shopped at Saks, and at Lord & Taylor's. With a large shopping bag in each hand, she walked the street just like everyone else. Another ten blocks and she would arrive at Spa Royale.

Spa Royale was an excellent place for her to go. Mud bathes, massages, mineral water, facials, the best food, and a great place to just do nothing for hours on end. However, as she walked those blocks, she had a strange feeling. A feeling that she was being watch. Two Prussian blue eyes watching her every move. A chill ran through her as she kept walking. Aware of a certain person's gaze. "Heero?" It was very odd of her. She seemed to have some sort of ability to know when the Perfect Soldier was near.

She casually turned around her, but she could only see an endless sea of faces. "Where are you Heero?" her mind echoed the question. She continued walking. Another six blocks to go. Her mind kept focusing on Heero. "Why are you following me?" Relena thought. "Why don't you tell me you are here?" That chill went over her. Was it fear? Was it anticipation? Was it the kind of chill you get when someone you love is near?

Relena arrived at the spa and was already in the sauna. She began crying a little. "Heero... what do you want from me?"

A person appeared in the sauna. "Miss Darlian?"

"Yes?" Relena had calmed down and looked up.

The lady looked thoughtfully at the young 16 year old minister. "There's phone call for you."

Relena gathered herself and began walking to the door. "Alright." She had dressed in a robe and let her hair free. She went to a phone and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Listen carefully Miss Darlian," said a strange voice. "No matter what happens, don't get involved. You will only get killed for it." Relena's eyes widened at the ominous warning.

"Who are you?" she demanded. The other person simply hung up. Relena stared at the phone nervously. The voice was a woman's voice. By itself, the voice was gentle and calming, but her words frightened Relena, who had already been a target of assassination attempts on several occasions. "What can't I get involved in?" She said to herself as she walked to the locker room where she left her things.

Heero had been very close by when she had picked up the phone. "Yes indeed. What can't you get involved in?" He thought to himself. "I have to find out. I can't watch her, if I don't know what kind of danger she could be in." As soon as Relena was out of sight, he quickly attached the phone to a mini laptop. He accessed his tracer program. He had the phone number and quickly determined where the person had called. The location was revealed on the computer screen. "Pleiades Coalition Headquarters." He glared at the computer screen. Then he glared as he thought about that famous most profitable company. He knew what he had to do.

Author's note:

Hope this has caught your attention.

Here's Chapter 4!

I don't own Gundam Wing's characters. So don't sue me. Enjoy a little unique meeting.

Gundam Wing: Raptures of Paradise

Chapter 4----------Two Meetings

By Sailor Celaeno

Quatre had sat quietly in the lobby of the hotel on colony 106. He was there to meet a representative of the Pluto Research Labs. He arrived there early so he can relax. It was the only day off in three months. He took over his father's place as head of the Winner family and all financial responsibilities as well. Finally! A chance to get away from all the paper work that piled a mile high everyday on his desk. "What can I do?" he wondered when he thinks about all the work that his father had left behind for his now 16-year-old son to do. "I wish I had someone that could help me." The crowds of people outside of the hotel were the usual, as the colony was a bustling metropolis. He wished he was just an average person, like those people out there. He never wanted to be the only son, the first in line for the Winner fortune. Why couldn't his parents have another older son to take over this Winner family empire? "Why me?" he'd always ask.

He had wanted to be a musician since he was child. He loved music, and was very proficient at many instruments. "He could be the next Mozart, or Marzoni (a famous composer/musician/prodigy born after Colony 10)," his teacher had said when he was only 8.

But that dream was dead. Ever since his mother died, and his father vowed never to remarry, he knew that there was no way he could ever be a musician. Always disappointments. Lost dreams and an endless of sea of regrets. But Quatre knows better than to doubt his value, to doubt his worth. He did have something to live for. He found his one way of defying the preset destiny of his father. That was to be a Gundam pilot. "I have given up so much for this family, Father! I have a right to my own happiness. To do what I want to do. I will fight!" he said so angrily three years ago.

"Never! My only son will do NO such thing. Do you hear Quatre Raberba Winner? You will stay here and obey my wishes!" roared his father.

"You can't stop me father. I have my own destiny to make. And nothing you do or say, will make me do anything else!" he shouted and raced from his house. He ran like the wind. He had nowhere else to go. He didn't have his sisters to turn to. They had their own whims and lives to live. He raced towards destiny.

"I wonder if he really knows what the future lies ahead for him."

"They never really do. But some... some have that feeling that they know what will happen."

"Are they right, Nova?"

"Not, always. But young Master Winner has to learn for himself, that with everything there is sacrifice. He wants to be someone important, to be free and to know that he has a place in the world, to be made in his own way. But he already has. He has no inkling of that. He has made the sacrifices, and he deserves to find his happiness."

"I see that now, Nova. How is it that you know these things so well?"

"Trista, I am the senshi of Destiny. I have seen the future, and have seen the past. I know what is best for ALL the children of this universe. I know them all well."

"Why is it that even though I'm millennia of years old, yet I don't know things so well?"

"For one thing, you are only the second guardian of Time. Secondly, you've never bothered to look at the future, beyond what I show you."

"I can't leave the Gate unattended."

"True, but you know that you always had the power to see without leaving the Gate. You just never tried."

"Hm. You are right. It's about time that I make my leave. Good-bye Nova."

"Good-bye, Trista."

Quatre looked up as he heard a voice calling him. "Mr. Winner?"

"Yes." He was stunned to see a tall woman towering over him in his chair. He stood up to greet her, but soon saw that he was nearly as tall as her. She was different to say the least. She had long, green hair. It partially tied in a bun, but the rest of her hair flowed freely down her back. She wore a purple jacket and skirt and a white blouse. She had matching purple pumps and had a leather briefcase to her right side.

"Am I late?" she was a bit surprised to see him there so soon.

"Oh no. I just came here early. You are amazingly on time." He stared at his watch to see that it had just turned 2 o'clock sharp.

"I know. I'm known throughout the universe for my punctuality," she smiled good-naturedly.

He couldn't help, but smiled himself. Gosh, she was pretty. She was very graceful, when she sat down in a chair right across from him. She crossed her long, perfect legs. She had a long skirt, so he didn't see anything above her knees. Which was just as well because he was too bashful to want to see anything more. "She is so lovely," he thought silently to himself. "I don't believe the office told me your name Miss... uh... Miss..."

"Meioh. I'm Dr. Trista Meioh," she said quietly.

"THE Doctor Meioh? I'm impressed and honored to meet an up and coming physicist!" Quatre avoided blushing at his earlier thoughts about Dr. Meioh.

"Oh, no. We needn't be so formal, Quatre. I'm really just a normal person. After all, you aren't always waited on hand and foot do you?"

"Well, no. I wouldn't let anyone go to all that trouble, just because of my family's name," he admitted.

"Well, I wouldn't want anyone to jump hurdles for me."

"But you... you deserve your the attention you get. Your work is quite brilliant. I have read up on your journal reports, and latest theories. I'm quite impressed how you managed to make such precise calculations!" he said excitedly.

"Well. I'm quite impressed that a young man as busy as you has the time to read on my work," she replied.

"Well, I always find the time to read up and get up to date with the latest discoveries. I've always been a scholarly sort of child. But, I've never hoped to be as good as you." He started blushing when he realized how much complimenting he was doing. It was almost like he was flirting with her.

Trista seemed to notice and thought carefully about how to save him from feeling even more embarrassed. "Well, I have heard that you are quite the musician. Despite the fact that music has so many mathematical applications... I have never been proficient at it. I simply don't have the knack for it. So you see, we have achievements that we admire in each other. Let us simple enjoy those unique abilities, and enjoy each other's company."

"Of, course. I guess, we should get down to business, then."

"You are right. Now, I know I'm here to convince you that investing in our research facility would be a benefit not only to your family and the Pleiades Corporation, but also to ALL of humanity. But based on the previous conversation, I assume you don't need any convincing."

"I believe you are right, Miss Trista."

"I suppose I will leave then..."

"No wait!" Quatre burst aloud. He held is hand over his mouth as he realized how pleadingly he sounded just then. Trista promptly turned around in surprise. "Well.. that is to say... I meant that, it's not necessary to leave so soon. Even though I plan to invest Winner money to Pleiades, I'm still curious about what the other scientists and researchers are working on." He managed to bring his cool back on.

Trista sat back down and smiled politely. "Of course. Well, I happen to have some information I was planning to use in my unnecessary presentation. There are two projects that are very important priority one class. There is the new satellite that we are building to explore the Perseus constellation. It would be used as a research probe as well as a relay satellite for our communication antennae. We are still trying to contact E.T."

"Sounds intriguing." Quatre glanced at the reports that she handed to him.

"Yes, we are planning to complete the satellite's construction next week. However, we need more funding to complete the necessary programming for the satellites main computer. It requires a great deal of advanced programming in order to do it's complicated tasks."

"I see. What is the other project?"

"Well... it is very unique to say the least."

"What would that be?"

"Psychic power."

"Psychic power? I didn't think such a thing could exist!" Quatre was surprised to say the least.

"That is the misconception. There is such a thing. It has been a secret program for quite some time. In fact YOU are the first person outside of the Corporation and affiliated parties to know about this program. It's existence will be made public next month."

"What exactly is the purpose of the program?"

"Well, to be quite frank. Psychic powers have been scientific enigmas. No one has been able to explain its purpose except that it is part of human evolution. It seems perhaps your grandchildren or great-grandchildren may possibly develop some form of telepathy or telekinesis. What is most fascinating is that these 'psychics' use a larger percentage of their brain. They are capable of using more parts of the human brain than the average person."

"Are these people being trained for any purpose?" Quatre feared that somehow these people could be manipulated into doing things. Very bad evil things.

"Some have been able to solve crimes. Others are able to do spy work. Some have been able to locate people. Most impressively is that we are able to develop advanced computer technology. With the help of these telepaths, we are able to create computers that can respond to thought as instanteously like any one of your own body parts. When you are touching a hot object, it is less than a second and you move your hand away. We are developing computers that can respond as quickly."

"Amazing! Can I see these projects and the researched at work?" asked Quatre. He had the interest look like a child in a candy store.

"Well, once you become an investor, you can gain access to several aspects of the Corporations various research facilities. Everything you could want to know about the institution," guaranteed Trista.

"Then you can tell your superiors that they should be getting grant money from the Winner family by the end of the week," he smiled. They shook hands to seal the deal.

"Will I be seeing you tonight at the banquet?"

"Yes, of course. You will meet the other investors, and even one of the CEO's, Miss Rokureno."

"I can't wait."

It was half an hour later, Trista arrived inside a luxuriously furnished office. She entered and closed the door behind her. "How did the meeting go?" asked a woman in a leather business chair.

"Better than expected. It seems Mr. Winner was interested from the very beginning," replied Trista.

"Not so unexpected. Just the same as he was a year ago. Did he recognize you?"

"Only under my civilian name in this universe. He doesn't realize who I really am. But then again, people never notice. I do look different as the Guardian of Time."

"Yes, of course. As do I. But, you know... it is a good thing he doesn't recognize us. It will make things easier for us. With our mission in this universe."

"Yes. It would. I suppose the other pilots wouldn't recognize us either."

"I suppose. Although, maybe not Heero..."

"Heero? How would Heero possibly recognize us?"

"You see Trista, Heero are not so entirely different. He may not be a two billion-year-old, semi-omnipotent Sailor Senshi, but we have one thing in common."

"And what's that Nova?"

"We are more aware of things that are going on, than we seem to be."

Trista raised an eyebrow at Nova's comment. "Really? How is that possible?"

"You forgot. You are half human, half Ancient. While I am a full-blooded Ancient in human clothes." (wolf in sheep's clothes kind of comparison)

"Yes, I did forget. But what about Heero?"

"Ah yes, Mr. Yuy. He is not an ordinary human boy. He was specially trained and genetically enhanced. He is more observant and perceptive than most humans. He may not know for certain of our true identities, but if he watches us often enough, he'll suspect something. A great deal more than the other pilots. Although that Trowa Barton isn't that far behind from Heero."

"That is true. Not knowing his real identity has made him less distracted in protecting his old life."

"We must keep a close eye on those pilots as well."

"Of course. Although Heero is very difficult to follow up on. He does a fairly good job of keeping himself inconspicuous."

"That is true. In the last three months of this universe since the Mariemaya incident, I have lost track of him at least four times. Now is the fifth time. However, this time I know how to track him better."

"How is that?" Trista watched out for the other four pilots, while Nova took it upon herself to watch Heero.

"One word: Relena." Trista nodded in agreement.

Quatre returned to his hotel room to change. He wondered how Duo was dealing with his break-up with Hannah and Hilde being missing. He couldn't help but let his mind wander back to Earth.

Author's note:

If you are a fan of Sailor Moon, you may recognize Trista Meioh. Or better known in her original Japanese version as Meioh Setsuna. Well, then who is this Nova she keeps talking to? Well, that is a mystery that can be best answered in my Sailor Moon fanfic "Nova"!

One last topic. Why did I write this story? Well, it's something I wrote another fic to tell you all what I think happened to the GW folk after Endless Waltz. However, I seem to be introducing other things... More stories, you think? Well you'll have to wait to find out! (Sorry to tease you.)

Farewell for now...

Okay now, for Chapter 5

This is basically a serious fanfic, although to lighten the emotional tension I did like Shakespeare and added some comic relief moments to ease the tension. Hope those moments entertain you as they did me! Oh yeah, if you aren't into cute, sappy type things, then don't proceed any further.

Gundam Wing: Raptures of Paradise

Chapter 5----------My Other Self

By Sailor Celaeno

Hilde was that good soul. Duo was that charming pilot. How could two people be so connected and so strong when they are individuals, yet they had those times, where they were weak without the other. How can these two be like that? How can they have such a life together?

Hilde Sheibecker was a petite young woman of 16. She still had her dark hair, her sparkly eyes, her strong spirit, and her true heart. Somehow, she lived and survived the Eve War. Somehow everyone scrambled out. Only, she was changed from before she went to fight. She had lost that look of ideals and dreamy optimism. She saw humanity at it's worst. Yet, she still had that ever lasting hope, a dream that there can be peace. Just as Relena Peacecraft Darlian does.

"Duo Maxwell... What a guy. How did I ever end with him?" asked Hilde to herself. "What was it that drew me in? Was it his humor, or his charm?" She still thought about it, even after a year. But he was gone now. The Preventers called her away. She ended up in assignments that kept her away. But he was in the Preventers too. It seemed like she was avoiding him somehow. "He must still be mad at me for that argument so long ago..."

An endless game of silence was all that was left of their friendship. The argument was kind of stupid when she looked back on it. "How could I let it all end with him being angry at me?"

It was an average night. The two roommates were enjoying a Friday night movie rental blitz. "Duo? Are you sure you wanna do this? I mean... it's a little fast for me. I'm just not ready for this..." said Hilde.

"Oh come on. It's a lot of fun." He looked at her slyly. "Besides I know you want to. You want to even more badly than me." He sat even closer to her on the couch. "Admit it. Come on. I promise it won't hurt a bit. I'll go nice and slow for you. You'll really enjoy this. It'll be the best Friday night you've had with me so far..." He gave that look.

That look was the kind that she couldn't resist. Every time he looked at her like that, she couldn't refuse anything he wanted. Although she had to admit she wanted this as much as he did. "Oh.... alright..."

"Yes!" He punched the air with victory.

"But!" she added.

"But what?" he looked at her.

"Just one request."

"What's that Hilde?"

"I start this thing..."

Duo smiled. "Anything for you." He bent over and opened the package. He slowly emptied its contents. "You ready?"

Hilde breathed a little. Then she faced him. "Ready."

"Hear we go!" He put the new video game into the game system. (What? Did you honestly think I was gonna make it a NR-17 story? If you did then you must read TOO many of those...)

After another twenty minutes and 8 rounds later. "Damn! I told you this game moves too fast for me!" complained Hilde as she lost the eighth game with Duo.

"Come on Hilde. You're just saying that because you don't want to admit that I'm better at Racing Thunder Machines III than you!" teased Duo.

"Damn it, Maxwell! Why do you have to be such an immature jerk?"

"Na!" he stuck out his tongue. Hilde just glared at him and they played another half an hour.

Hilde, in spite of herself, liked being with Duo. He was her new best friend in the world. She loved his company. She loved everything about him. He was so playful and that was what she wanted in a guy. Yeah, a guy like Duo. Nobody else could ever take his place. But Duo was irritating her at times. He can be too much of a clown. That was his problem. He wasn't serious enough sometimes. Even when he was fighting in the Eve Wars, he wasn't always serious. "Why can't he get real?"

"Hilde?" called a woman.

She looked up from her desk and saw Hannah Mersenna. Another Preventers agent that had been recently transferred to work with her and some of the other pilots. "Yeah, Hannah?"

"You are friends with Duo, aren't you?" she said with her light Parisian accent.

"Yes, why?"

"Well... you see, I wanted to ask if he wanted to go out with me on Friday night. And he said yes. And I wanted to know what he likes. You know hobbies, etc. I just wanna know what to talk to him about. You know?"

"Oh yeah..." Hilde said a little sadly. She thought about what he liked and told Hannah.

"Oui. Merci, Hilde." Hannah walked away. Hilde was left seething. She knew that she needed a serious talk with Maxwell...

"Hi Hil!" called Duo when they got to the car they shared. She remained silent. Duo looked over at her and saw how peeved she looked. "Hil? Hilde?" he called her again.

"Don't you Hil me!" she snapped at him.

"Whoa! What are you so snippy about?" he made a left turn to leave the parking lot.

"I heard you're going on a date with Hannah on Friday night." She stayed angry.

"Yeah s--- oh damn!" Duo smacked himself when he realized what the problem was.

"Yes, Duo. It finally occurred to you what an idiot you are!" Hilde glared at the windshield.

"I know. I'm a moron. I shouldn't have agreed to Friday. God, how can I be so stupid?" he scolded himself. "I'm sorry Hilde. Once we get back at home, I'll call Hannah and see if I can see her on Saturday."

Hilde was silent for a moment. The gears of her mind were turning. Her face relaxed as thought she realized something. An epiphany had come to her at that moment, it seemed. Her face was downtrodden the rest of the day. She spoke very little the rest of the ride home. They both changed into their casual clothes. Hilde came out of her bedroom and saw Duo ready to dial Hannah's number. She walked over to him. She grabbed the receiver from his hand and placed it back on the cradle. He looked up in surprise. "Hilde? I thought you wanted me to reschedule that date with Hannah."

"I thought about it. It's selfish of me to make you do that. You haven't gone on a real date in a while. I think that it's better you go," she had a look of reassurance on her face.

"But, I thought..." he stopped. What's the use of trying to understand women and their fickleness? He looked at her with confusion. "...well if it's what you want, then I'll go out then."

The topic dropped. Friday night came and went. "How was it with Hannah last night?" asked Hilde as she poured some coffee into a mug.

"It was great. She liked some of the same things that I liked. She kept talking about... (basically all the stuff he likes). It was amazing. It was like she read my mind or something!" he said incredulously.

"Sounds like something good is happening with her. Are you going out again?" Little did he realize, Hilde had been 'coaching' Hannah about what conversations with Duo were like. Hannah had a huge crush on Duo from the beginning. Hilde wanted to make the two of them happy. So she stayed the silent matchmaker.

"Yeah. It's funny. She knows so much. It's like she's known me forever. Like she's been in every conversation that I've ever been in. But I guess, maybe she's the one for me. What do you think Hil?"

Her back was turned to him. He didn't see the slight grimace she had on her face for a split second. She was irritated. "That Hannah must have done EVERYTHING I told her to do. God, he hasn't figured out that I molded her into my clone!" she thought to herself. She walked out of the kitchen. The door of kitchen faced directly in front of Duo's seat in the dining table. "Just one of those funny coincidences." She smiled good-naturedly.

"Yeah. I'm seeing her again."

"That's good."

And so the conversations went like that. For weeks, Hilde remained the submissive supporter, no longer the outspoken person she once was. A few people began to notice. Sally Po had become friends with her because she was pretty close with Duo.

"Hilde?" asked Sally.

"Yeah?" asked Hilde, disinterestedly.

"What is wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you don't eat with Duo anymore. He eats with Hannah, and you don't join them. Is there something wrong?" Sally asked with concern.

Hilde wasn't sure if she should really say. She was afraid Sally might end up telling Duo and then... and then... God knows what could happen. "Sally, how do you feel about Wufei?"

Sally was a little stunned by the turn-around. She thought for a second. "I respect him as a fighter and as a Preventer agent. His attitude towards 'weak' people, however, leaves much to be desired. Why?"

"Well, don't you kinda feel like there's some kind of understanding between the two of you. I mean, you trust and respect each other. Yet it kind of goes deeper than that. You know?"

"You mean like how you and Duo are best friends?" asked Sally. Hilde nodded the affirmative. "Well, I suppose to a degree, but we aren't exactly like that. It mainly stays on the level of respect. Is there something wrong with you and Duo?"

"Well. It's just that when I found out he was going out on a date, I was happy for him. But then I found out that they met on Fridays..." she began.

"Isn't Friday your movie night?" asked Sally. After a moment, Sally slowly added things together and suspected something. "You feel left out don't you?"

"I mean... the thing is that, I've gotten the feeling that he needs to be someone else. I'm not his girlfriend or anything. I just feel like I'm stifling him. The fact he agreed to have their first date made things so much more clearly. It only proved things. I need to give him his freedom to move on. And so do I..."

"You don't mean, you'll leave..." Sally was getting really worried about her.

"Don't you get it Sal? I just want him to be happy. He's happy with her. He talks about her. He loves her now. She's everything he could ever want in a..." she stopped short.

Sally only shook her head. "God! Hilde, don't you notice when they get into some of those really good conversations? Doesn't she sound like someone familiar?" Sally had noticed how Hilde-like that Hannah had become in a short manner of weeks.

"What about it?" asked Hilde.

"He only thinks he's in love with her. She's exactly like you! Don't you get it? It's you he really loves. He's just such a complete idiot, he doesn't realize it. And you're getting to be an idiot too!" Sally simply had to spell it out.

"You have GOT to be kidding me. Him love ME? Get real Sal. She's prettier than me, more cultured than me..."

"And more Hilde-like than you?" Hilde simply stared at Sally. "Face it. He loves you, and you are just giving up on everything you have with him. Why is that? It's not like you to give up your friendship with Duo, so easily." Sally was four years her senior and she had more experience at life's bumpy roads.

"It's just that things are still great between me and Duo..."

"But?"

"...but it just doesn't seem to going anywhere you know? It's like we've given everything we have into this relationship of ours. It's grown to it's fullest, and now it's the time that it dies," she said sadly.

"So what are you going to do?" Sally asked.

"The only thing I can do. I'm going to leave. We both need the time to settle things. He needs some time with Hannah without me. And I need to see if there really is more for us, you know. I want to find out for myself whether there is more to us. It's the best thing I can do for him, and for me."

"Are you really sure that is the right thing?"

"Is it a bad idea?"

"I won't say it is. It's not my place. But if you really believe that it is what you must do, then I can't stop you. No matter how hard I try, your heart will decide every thing. No words can persuade it," said Sally.

Trowa began to notice something off in the air. As well as did Quatre and Wufei. Something was wrong with Hilde and Duo. They couldn't quite explain until they noticed the serious looks on Hilde and Sally's faces that day in the Preventer's cafeteria. Wufei and the other two knew exactly who to interrogate about this whole business. It was after work hours at the headquarters. "Sally?" called Quatre.

Sally looked up from her desk. She was packing up as she saw three young men walking to her. She had a feeling that they found out about her conversation with Hilde. "Yes?" She acted like she suspected nothing.

"Get off it woman. We know you know, that we know."

"Huh?" started Duo. He had been walking by at that opportune moment. He had just come from the copying machine that was just a few feet from Sally's desk.

"That's what we'd like to know," asked Quatre and Trowa who were just as confused at what Wufei was saying as Duo was.

Sally had that way of understand Wufei pretty well. "How could I fool you? I suppose I should have asked myself when you were going to confront me?"

"About what? What the heck is going on?" shouted Duo in complete confusion.

"Simple Maxwell," Wufei spoke since the other two were still trying to figure out that strange dialogue before. "We're here to find out from Sally the deal between you and Hilde."

Duo stared incredulously at the three pilots. "What? You have GOT to be kidding me? There's nothing wrong between me and Hilde!" He suddenly looked at Sally. She had a worried look on her face with a hint of guilt. The kind of guilt that you get when you know a deep secret that could affect someone's life. "What? What's wrong? And damn it why don't I know something is wrong between me and Hilde???" he shouted again.

"Shut up, Maxwell." Wufei gave him a death glare. Duo hushed up submissively. Quatre and Trowa were just as quiet eager to know.

"I just can't say it. Hilde is determined about what she told me. I've been trying to decide whether I should tell you Duo. I mean... you have the right to know. I think that you should cancel your dinner date with Hannah tonight. I think you should go home," was all Sally would say.

"Why? Hilde is working over time... isn't she? That's what she said..." Duo looked VERY worried now.

"Hilde gave this to me, an hour ago." He handed Duo a letter. The other pilots were eager to know the adventure of their friend and spied over his shoulders.

Dear Sally,

Just wanted to leave you this note. I've decided to go through with it tonight. I told Duo that I'm staying late so that he can enjoy tonight. I don't want to ruin it. He'd only try to stop me. I just want to say that I'll miss our lunchtime talks, and those phone calls at those slow workdays. I'll miss the other boys, so say good-bye to them for me. I left a letter at Miss Noin's desk. I'll be home, and I'm not going to be around any longer. Bye Sally...

Hilde

Duo stared at Sally. "Why didn't you tell me??"

"I shouldn't have to tell you anything at all Duo. It should have been Hilde. Well, I'm making her talk. You better get home, before you lose the chance to say good-bye to her," was all that Sally said. Duo raced down the hallway to the elevator. In less than five minutes, he got into his car and raced to their apartment.

"You should have warned him about Hilde killing herself, woman!" Wufei yelled.

"Suicide? I never said anything about suicide."

"Then what is she going to do Sally?" asked Trowa.

"She's running away from home. She left a letter thanking Miss Noin for giving her a last minute reassignment."

"Do you know where she's going?" asked Quatre.

"I'm sorry. She wouldn't tell me. Only Miss Noin and Hilde know. Miss Noin knows that it is against regulations for anyone below her rank to know the whereabouts of agents."

Duo raced his car and narrowly avoided speeding tickets. He could see a cab waiting outside their building. And a few seconds later, Hilde emerged from the lobby with three suitcase, including a shoulder bag. He parked the car and raced to her side. "Hilde?"

"Duo?" she looked shocked and frightened to see him.

"God! Hilde what are you doing?"

"Packing my things. I'm being reassigned," she said.

"That's a lie. If you are being reassigned, it's because you asked for it. Why damn it?"

"Sally? I kinda knew she'd find a way to tell you without actually saying it. I suppose I should have gotten the courage to say it myself. Duo, things between us aren't working out too well. I'm glad you have Hannah. You'll miss me less." She started to get into the cab.

Duo grabbed onto her arm. "You can't do this. I won't let you. How can you just pack up and leave me? Hilde, I thought you could trust me." He looked angry, hurt, sad, depressed, and heartbroken all thrown into one.

She lightly touched his cheek with her free hand. "Of course Duo. But to be quite frank, I think we need to get separate lives. We'll be happier. Life with each other has become stifling. You just haven't noticed because you have Hannah to make the problems less noticeable. Quite frankly, I'm getting bored with us!" she said bluntly.

He looked even more hurt than before. "Fine! If you are so bored, then go leave. If that's how you feel than GOOD-BYE!" he shouted.

She continued into the cab and slammed the door shut. The cab immediately drove away. She drove away from his life. And she ran away from him.

And so that was how she had left things. A week after she arrived at the Pluto Research Labs, she turned 16. She wondered often about how everyone was, especially Duo. Perhaps he was still angry. Perhaps, he moved on as she hoped. Her assignment was temporary. She was simply there as supervising security expert for the top secret scientific departments at the Pluto Research labs. They were working on advanced technology that could be reformatted to cause chaos and she was there to make sure that they were well guarded. They changed agents every quarter-year, and she was returning to Earth for reassignment. She called Sally two days earlier and they set up a dinner date. She arrived at Laramie's Bar & Grill at 7:30 sharp. Sally was already there waiting. "Hey!" waved Sally to Hilde.

"Hi," she smiled warmly.

"Glad you've made it back home."

"Just for a couple of days. Then I'll be on the road again."

"How long are you going to be like this?"

"Maybe forever."

"Hilde." Sally gave her a serious look. "You can't do this for long. Wandering will only add to the loneliness. Besides, you need to stop and settle down eventually."

"I've become content with life as it is. I just don't feel so good being in one place anymore. I've felt like I lost a part of myself, and I'm just trying to find it again. This wandering is what I need."

"If you say so." They ate and talked away about work. Quatre was going to be the newest investor of the Pleiades Corporation, the owners of the labs that Hilde was assigned at. Trowa was seeing a girl that he met when he visited Catherine a few weeks after Hilde left. Wufei and Sally had a better relationship and were seeing each other. Relena was her usual self. Zechs and Noin were also their usual selves. Heero was still nowhere to be found. And Duo...

"How is Duo?"

"Well, he's still dating Hannah, but things aren't going too good. They get along, but there's no great chemistry like last year. It's fizzling, I guess you could say," Sally smiled amusingly as though she knew it would.

"Even my replacement couldn't make it work with Duo," Hilde had to smile too.

"How do you feel about him, now?"

Hilde was on the brink of tears. Those quiet lonely nights were catching up with her. Those feelings of being lost, and hopelessly sad that she tried to block out, had finally knocked down the wall. She began crying. "Oh God! How could have been such an idiot?"

"What's wrong?" asked Sally as she tried to comfort her friend.

"I just can't take it anymore. Just being on Earth is killing me. I wanna leave again. I don't want to be reminded of my regrets. Can't you see I have nothing on Earth to return to? I belong on the colonies, back in outer space. What do I have that's so wonderful?"

It seemed funny that it had begun to rain. "I just don't think that you have to regret anything. As long as you think it's really the right thing. But, you can't take back what you did in the past. That is the sad truth." Sally lifted Hilde's face up to look at her. "My poor Hilde. You have no clue what to do. As much as I can, I'd like to help you. But even I can't help you fix things and make things better. Being your soundboard is the best I can do. The only thing I can say is that somehow, we survive. We will rise from the ashes and build things all over again. Some how you will find your way. I believe that."

Hilde had stopped crying and looked at her friend. "Thank you, Sally. I'm glad you still believe in me." She went over to hug her friend.

"You're welcome, Hilde." They were there together until 8:45. "Hilde? You don't have an umbrella."

"That's alright Sally. I was going to stay here for a little while. I'll just leave when it lightens up."

"Alright. Call me later."

"Of course. Bye." Sally left opening a large umbrella.

Hilde just sat there. She ordered a large pot of herbal tea. There was something about drinking herbal tea on a rainy day that made the rain seem less dreary. The rain became something kind of musical, almost a beautiful miracle. Almost better than any sunset, or more comforting than a soft quilt on your bed. It was like listening to a song, slow, melancholy, and beautiful at the same time. She paid the bill and was just sitting there enjoying her tea.

She just stared into the air. Just thinking and listening to how nice the rain really was. Just then her mind wandered back to the restaurant as she heard two familiar voices. She didn't want Duo or Hannah to see her. She made no noise and made herself inconspicuous. She sat at a table in the middle section towards the front. But they were walking from the opposite side of the street and they sat five tables behind her. She had squatted into the booth where they couldn't see her. She finished her tea and heard their laughter. Other people's happiness was making her sick. She gathered her things and said good-bye to Larry, the manager. She walked past the front window.

"I'm glad you understand that this isn't working out between us," Duo said.

"Of course, Duo. I think it is best that we just stay co-workers, nothing more. But it was lovely while it lasted. To think I had Hilde to thank for this lovely year with you."

"Hilde? What does Hilde have to do with this?" he asked with a mixture of excitement and slight bitterness about Hilde leaving those many months ago.

"I'm sorry to bring that up." Hannah realized how upset she had made him/

He looked at her repentant face. "I'm sorry. I wanna know how exactly Hilde fits into all this."

"Well, it was back on our first date. I didn't know what sort of conversation you liked to talk about. So she told me about all those lively conversations you used to have with her. You know those conversations you would have when it was raining. She said she'd make a pot of hot tea. Then you'd drink some with her and watch the rain together. Like music she said it was. It was the most beautiful moments in her life. Not just how lovely the rain was, but most of all that she was sharing the moment with you," Hannah replied.

Duo was thinking and absorbing everything Hannah was saying. He realized that he shouldn't have been angry with her. He should have been angry with himself. "God, Hilde gave up a lot, just for me?" Just like that time she was almost killed when she stole information from the Libra to help him and the other pilots the way to defeat the White Fang. But she didn't something even greater. She gave up her happiness. It finally occurred to him why he liked Hannah so much. She was just like Hilde. The same pretty, loving, self-sacrificing, brave, pretty... It also occurred to him at how beautiful her eyes look when she was deep in thought. They twinkled as she daydreamed of who knows what. That smile she had when he made her happy. The giggles when she laughed at one of his antics. "I'm a fool, Hannah. I love Hilde. I've always loved Hilde, but I never treated her like I loved her. I only treated like she's one of the guys." He began laughing at himself.

Hannah had to laugh too. "Oh my poor Duo. You will still be the lost Duo."

Just then, Duo noticed that Larry was taking way a pot of herbal tea away from a nearby table. Just then he saw a young woman walk past the window. "Oh my God! Hilde!" he stood up as he saw her.

Hannah turned around to catch her walk by as well. She looked back at Duo just gawking. "Duo!" She snapped.

He looked at her. "Huh?"

"Don't just stand there. Go after her before she's gone forever."

Duo grabbed his umbrella and began opening it outside. It was then the rain poured harder. He turned but couldn't see her. "Damn, she couldn't have gotten that far!" He raced down the street to find her.

Hilde ran through the rain. She had to hurry to the hotel before she caught cold. She ran, but the rain poured harder and made things even more difficult for her. She had to stop. She stopped at the stoop of an apartment building that was five blocks from the restaurant. She caught her breath. She slid onto the stoop and sat with her legs stretched out. She was wearing pants as usual and casually sat there. After a few moments, she caught her breath and ran like the wind again. Her breathing was so heavy that she neglected to hear the shout of an old friend.

"Hilde!" He shouted even louder.

She promptly stopped and turned to see Duo racing up to her with a large, black umbrella. "Duo?" she asked very quietly even for her. She was breathing hard from the sudden stop. He soon held the umbrella over her. Everything started to spin as she tried to catch her breath. She stumbled forward a little. Duo promptly steadied her back on her feet. "Sorry," she said a little sheepishly.

"No, I'm sorry, Hil. I'm sorry for what I've done to you, kid." He looked straight at her.

"For what? What have you done to me that was so bad?" Her hair was soaking wet, but her wet bangs hung over her head in a very chic fashion.

"I drove you away. I made you run."

"No. I chose to run away. I wanted to think about things. I wanted you to think about things."

"Well it worked. I have to say that much. What about you?"

"It worked out better than I expected."

"How's that?"

"I think for the first time, I realized how messed up my life is," she said dejectedly.

"Don't say that." He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Don't say that. Your life hasn't been so bad."

"You're only saying that because you're a part of my life, and you wouldn't want me to say that you made it worse," she said teasingly.

"It's not that. I just don't want you to run away again. I don't want to lose my best friend again."

"I see that still hasn't change." She smiled at him.

"It never will." He hugged her fiercely. "I've missed you."

"I did too."

"I tried looking for you. I searched everywhere, but no such luck. Even Sally wouldn't dare say a word." He stared at her intently.

"I'm glad she didn't tell you. I wouldn't have been ready to take your appearance." She stumbled a little again.

Duo looked at her with concern. "What's wrong? You're never this sick before."

"I..." she fell into his arms again.

He felt her forehead. "God you're running a temperature. I have to get you some place dry." The rain had slowed to a light, trickling drizzle. He closed his umbrella and held her in his arms. He looked at her wet, pale face. "I'm taking you home." He was half hoping she heard him.

Hilde woke up a few hours later. She was aching all over. She saw that she was in her pajamas and was in her old bed at the apartment. She looked to see that it was the next day. She saw that her room was the way she left it. There wasn't even a piece of dust anywhere. She got out of bed and walked through the hallway to the kitchen. She saw that Duo was in his "No. 1 Cook" apron. He turned and stared at her with surprise. "You shouldn't be out of bed. You'll get dizzy again."

"I'll be fine Duo." She yawned and stretched a little. "How'd I get back here?"

"I took you back to the restaurant. Hannah took her car to your hotel to get your things. I got a cab and took you here. The doctor prescribed some pills for you to take. Hannah changed you in case you're wondering..."

Hilde looked at her pajamas again. "Yeah. I was gonna ask..." She started to blush a little at the idea of Duo seeing her naked, but then something about it wasn't so terrible, she began to think.

"You ready for bacon and eggs?"

"Definitely." She had a smile on her face.

They both walked to the dining table. They settled down to a nice breakfast. "So how are you and Hannah?" she asked casually.

"We broke up a few days ago."

"What?" she looked in surprise. "After all that I did..." she stopped herself.

Duo looked up at her. "That's alright. Hannah told me about all that stuff you did to get us together."

"I see." Hilde ate quietly.

"How was Pluto?"

"It was nice. I guess you did find out about where I went."

"Actually, you had those final reports in your suitcase. I had to take a look. That was some job you had."

"I know. It was tedious and very dangerous at the same time. But I was all right with it. It kept me busy."

They ate for another ten minutes in silence. Finally, Duo stopped and looked at Hilde intently. "I've been dying to say this to you since that day you left. I've been hoping for the day when you would return. And when I saw you last night, and you fainted..." he started. After a split second he continued, "I just had to tell you something. You got sick, and I found myself scared... for you."

Hilde looked at him with shimmery eyes like tears yet to shed. "You did?"

"Of course, Hil. How I could help it? It was like seeing you battered up from the Libra all over again..." He stopped at that bad memory. "Look what I'm trying to say is that. I've been a complete idiot! How could I look for any other girl to hang out with, when there is you."

Hilde had a touched look on her face. "Oh, Duo. I have no idea what to say."

"I just think that we have a great thing together. Well... that is..." He had a frustrated. "Oh listen to me! Being all wishy-washy in front of someone that I could always talk to so easily. I guess that's what love does to people, huh?"

Hilde had an absolutely shocked looked on her face. She gulped air down her throat. "Did you um, say um, love?"

"Yeah." He reached over to hold her hands. She reached out to meet his hands. "It's just that, when I thought of you and everything we've gone through together, I thought to myself. It's like you're my other self. The other half of me that knows me so well. The part of me that is always with me, and if it ever goes away, I'll die. I just can't live without you around, like I can't live without a heart, or any other organ inside of me."

Hilde couldn't believe she was hearing what she was hearing. "OH Duo. I had no idea. I just hoped that one day, someone would say it to me."

"You did?" He looked at her intently again.

"I'm glad it was from you."

"Good. You'll be hearing it for a long time."

"I'd guess as much."

They both leaned over towards each other. They kept staring at each other until their noses touched each other lightly. Duo leaned his head a little so he could touch his lips against hers. She was happy with that sensation. She lightly pressed her lips harder against his. They touched noses and foreheads. Smiles curled their lips, and slight giggles emerged from the two of them. "Some things will never change," she said.

"Yeah, but there are some changes that are pretty good." He looked at her face again. He lightly brushed her bangs, and kissed her again.

The End!

Author's Note:

Hope you like this story about Duo and Hilde. Sorry to any possible Yaoi fans that may have for some reason read this. Anyways, I hope that you enjoyed this story. It got a little sappy, and had that romantic-comedy plot twist in it. I know, it's a bit much, but I'm such a hopeless romantic at heart. What can I say?

Onto Chapter 6!

Gundam Wing: Raptures of Paradise

Chapter 6----------Split Second

By Sailor Celaeno

Sally had missed Hilde when she was gone. They had become such good friends and there was never a day where they didn't at least call each other for a few minutes. As she left the Bar & Grill, she started thinking about her friend. Then she got a phone call later that night from Duo saying how Hilde caught a bad cold. She immediately drove over after breakfast time the next day, to visit her friend. She was very relieved to see that Hilde was better AND she was even glowing with pride.

"Sally! I have SO much to tell you!" Hilde dragged Sally the rest of the way into the apartment.

Duo emerged from the kitchen after washing the dishes. "Oh hi Sally." He seemed to be beaming with complete joy despite the anxiety in his phone call the night before. "Looks like you two are gonna have some girl talk. Just as well. I'm going to the supermarket." He and Hilde gave each other a good-bye kiss on the lips. Sally simply stared at the spectacle. Duo left.

"Was that what I thought I saw?" Sally asked dumbfounded.

"Yep." Hilde fell onto the sofa with hearts in her eyes.

"I see why you're SO healed," laughed Sally.

"God! I can't believe how right you were about Duo. He loves me!" squealed Hilde with such delight.

"Tell me what happened?" Hilde promptly told her the events of last night after she left, and the funny breakfast scene. "Wow. That was very romantic." Sally had to smile. "Sounds like a movie I saw."

"Tell me about it!" Hilde blew her nose. "So, you were saying that you were dating Wufei. How'd you coerce him?"

Sally threw a cushion at her friend. Hilde was hit, but only slightly. "You are SO mean, Hilde!"

Hilde laughed. "Hmm! But seriously though. How did you end up being a couple with Wufei? I mean he is one of the most unlikely people to end up with someone, other than Heero." Hilde thought about Relena. "Poor Relena!"

Sally nodded. "Lord knows where he is. Anyways. I guess I'll tell you how Wufei and I ended up a couple."

It was a month after Hilde had left. Duo was beside himself trying to search for her. Quatre and Trowa were their usual selves. Wufei and Sally were called into Noin's office on that particular day. "Alright, I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here."

"Yes. That would be the idea." Wufei fought the urge to call her 'woman', but she was his boss.

"The top guys have just sent a new assignment to our little department. It seems that Techno Space Industrials are sending a representative to attend a conference at colony 143. Unfortunately, the fastest route requires them to travel through a very seedy area of space. We need someone to escort and ensure his safety. It'll be a two-man operation, and you two are the ones."

"Me? And her?" Wufei asked incredulously.

"Yes. You've been requesting for an assignment, and Sally knows that area of space fairly well, I've heard."

"Yes, Miss Noin."

"I see." Wufei accepted reluctantly.

"Good, Wufei. You and Sally will travel to Mars tomorrow afternoon. Then Representative Jarrow and the two of you will be leaving for the conference on Thursday. He will have an entourage, but you are responsible for him."

"Yes, ma'am."

The next day, Sally and Wufei flew to Mars. "I can't believe I'm with YOU."

"My thoughts exactly."

"What is THAT suppose to mean?"

"I have no intention of arguing with you Wufei. We are partners in this assignment whether you like it or not. The least we can do is be civil with each other. The success of this mission is that vital. And how we are able to stand each other will seriously affect it." Sally was flying the shuttle to Mars.

"Very well. I shall agree with that." Then there was silence for the next ten minutes.

Sally broke the silence. "Wufei?"

"What?" he asked with slight irritation at the interruption of the silence.

"At Noin's office yesterday, why didn't you protest about having me for a partner?" Sally said very interestedly.

Wufei was silent for minute. Soon he found a way to answer her. "Because... I figured I would be able to tolerate you for three days."

Sally was somewhat pleased at the answer. "Just wondering."

After three hours, they have picked up Jarrow and his entourage of three other men who were his aides. Sally and Wufei were alone in the cockpit flying the shuttle for the next twelve hours, plus a one-hour break to refuel and eat dinner. Sally was tired after flying for three more hours. Wufei took the wheel while she went to another room of the shuttle to take a nap. Things were going smoothly until the shuttle began shaking violently. Sally was awakened and quickly ran back to the cockpit. "What's going on Wufei?"

"We're being fired at woman!" he shouted as he busily tried outmaneuvering the shooters.

Sally immediately took the mic and announced to Jarrow that they were handling the situation. "Where are they?"

"Right behind us." Wufei kept flying.

"That's all I need to know." She began loading a gun. She proceeded to the back of the plane.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm taking the escape hatch and shoot them," she said matter-of-factly and promptly left.

"What?!!!" Wufei shouted as she disappeared. "Damn it woman!" He began to worry about her. He nervously waited for the next twenty minutes. He flew the shuttle as best as he could. He could hear a violent exchange of weapons fire. He could see sparks coming from the side of the shuttle. "You'd better get out of this alive, Sally."

After another few minutes, it grew quiet. Slowly Sally made her way back to cockpit. "Humph. Got rid of them."

"Good... job," Wufei had turned to look at her. He finally noticed that he her hair was undone. It was wavy from the braids. He had to admit she looked nice like that. 'What am I thinking?' He quickly focused on flying.

Sally caught him staring at her, but she preferred not to say anything. She had no intention of causing another argument from him. She promptly fell asleep in the co-pilot's chair. She breathed quietly as she slept. Wufei looked over at her once in a while. 'She looks so peaceful when she's sleeping.' A smile curled his face as he watched her. She moved a little in her sleep.

Two hours later, Sally woke up and took her turn at the pilot's seat. Wufei nodded off to sleep. Sally had been watching the flight path and casually glanced over at Wufei. 'I wonder what you are dreaming about?' She admired Wufei's spirit and his perseverance. She did wish that he would be a little easier on people, especially on her. But she did put up with him. 'Why do I put up with him?' she asked to herself. Watching him again, she smiled at him. 'You like him.' Sally sighed a little as she kept flying. Another six and a half hours to go.

After another two hours, Wufei woke up and let Sally sleep some more. 'Sally. What is it about you that makes me so calm all of sudden, yet infuriates me at the same time?' She shuffled in the chair trying to stay comfortable in the chair. 'Strange, she is pretty... What! What am I saying? I'm calling my comrade and partner pretty?!!!' He couldn't help but look over one last time. A smile curled her lips.

"I love you too." She shuffled in the chair again.

'Who is she talking to???' He starts thinking angrily. 'Who does she love? I demand to know!' Suddenly he thought about what he was just thinking all over again. 'Why should I care who she loves... unless... What? Could I be jealous?' He stared in front of him again. 'Why should I be jealous just because she's brave, resourceful, caring, independent, and kind of nice to look at, and...' He suddenly stiffened as he realized what he was just thinking again. 'Forget it Chang. This is your compatriot. There is no time for any of this romance nonsense. You have a mission to complete and someone to help you do finish the job.' He focused as best he could.

"Really? You love me?" she murmured. She sighed. "You've made me so happy."

Wufei looked a little tense again. 'Damn it, who is it she's dreaming about???'

The flight was over. Sally and Wufei escorted Jarrow to his hotel room. Then they went to the room that they were forced to share because it would be cheaper than getting separate rooms. Luckily it had two beds. Wufei quickly changed into his pajamas while Sally had the bathroom doing her 'woman things.' He went to bed and sat with the covers over his lap. He read a newspaper that he purchased when they left the plane. Soon he heard the bathroom door open. "Good night Wufei."

He looked up. "Good... night." He saw that Sally dressed into a blue nightgown that had lacy fringes, and thin shoulder straps. Her hair was still undone and she shuffled in some slippers to her bed. She got in and wrapped herself in the blanket. Wufei found himself following her as she moved across the room. He's been seeing more sides of Sally than he was used to. He attempted to read the paper for another twenty minutes.

It was another seven hours later. Wufei slowly and groggily woke up. He had heard a noise and opened his eyes. He saw that Sally had changed into her fatigues with her hair braided again. She turned when she heard a noise from Wufei. "Good morning. Just in time. Why don't you get yourself together and change? Breakfast will be coming up soon."

Wufei got out of bed and did as she suggested. He took a shower, brushed his teeth, and fixed his hair. He heard the door open and Sally mumbling. When he emerged from the bathroom, he saw that Sally opened up the breakfast tray and began setting the coffee table with the food. He walked over to her and took a seat as she finished arranging the food. "When did you order all of this?" He asked with amazement.

"When I found out what hotel we're staying at, I called ahead to time to make sure we have breakfast brought up. I wasn't sure what you liked, so I ordered your standard breakfast." She sat down opposite of him. She took some toast and spread jelly over it. He drank some coffee and began eating the scrambled eggs. He also opened the small box of cereal. The morning paper was also there and he began reading.

"Very resourceful of you." Wufei finally commented on what she said earlier.

"Thank you. My mother always said that these sorts of skills would make me a good wife," she said nonchalantly.

Wufei looked up from his paper. "I see. I suppose they would. I'd never have thought of doing something like this. I'd probably have a new wife that would be smart enough to do this." He returned to his paper.

Sally could only smile. "I'm sure you would." He had told her about his first wife and she understood him. "Anything interesting this morning?"

"Not much so far." He turned the page. "What time are we supposed to be leaving?"

"In an hour. Hopefully, the conference won't be too long."

"It shouldn't be. We're leaving tomorrow."

"I'm glad. I wouldn't want to have to do this every day for a week or something."

Wufei turned the page. "I know what you mean."

Jarrow and company exited the limo. Wufei and Sally proceeded in front of Jarrow. "I appreciate the work you two are doing."

"No trouble at all Mr. Jarrow," Sally spoke on behalf of herself and Wufei. He went ahead to check that the building was secure.

"The people inside are ready and waiting," reported Wufei to Sally through a walkie-talkie.

"Check." Sally turned to the small entourage. "We'll be going to the conference room now." There was security in the building, but Sally and Wufei were in charge of Jarrow and they were leading the small security team assigned to protect him.

The conference began simply enough. They were called to discuss the new proposal of a joint venture between Mars and the other colonies. This joint venture was important because it would affect the economy and prosperity of the Earth and the other colonies. Jarrow represented Mars, who would be the largest partner in the merger. "I see that this is very profitable. I see no reason why Mars should object to it," replied Representative Decameter.

"True. However, I want to ensure the people of Mars that this agreement among the iron ore mining companies would be stable. I know that many are willing to risk, but the real money is from the average citizen that has a small amount of money set aside to invest. There are few millionaires on Mars," replied Jarrow.

"No doubt. Since there are more potential investors from Mars than the other colonies, a large part of the profits would go to the Martian investors. These projections clearly shows that," replied Representative Vente.

"That may be true, but I must assure the people that their large shares are worth the investment. If the large percentage only provides a small profit of money, then they will immediately sell out."

The other representatives nodded in agreement to his point. Just then bang! "Get down!" shouted Wufei.

Sally grabbed Jarrow and they ducked underneath the table. The other representatives did the same. The four security officers drew their weapons. A loud commotion came from the hallway directly behind the double doors of the conference room. Immediately weapons fired between the assassins and the security team. In the fight, Sally tried to escort Jarrow out of the room. "Hurry, sir. We must get out now."

Jarrow nodded. The three other representatives were close to him also followed. Sally was the last at the line. A gunman soon spotted her and the men she was herding away. He took his aim. Bang! Bang! The gunman fell dead as Wufei shot him. 'No one tries to shoot my partner and gets away with it1' he glared at the dead man for a second.

His back was turned and he quickly moved to ensure that Sally had led the men out. Bang! Whiz! "Damn it!" screamed Wufei. He began firing back and shot the second gunman that hit him. His left shoulder was in pain, but he and the other officers still had two more gunmen to get rid of. He saw that one man was down, and the other three were struggling against the men who had rifles.

He quickly hid behind the table to reload. He moved quickly, but the room began spinning a little. 'No. I must concentrate on these bastards.' He managed to get up and began firing back. The room began spinning even more, and his shirt was feeling extremely wet now. 'I have to finish them off. Argh!!!' He screamed as he kept firing at their direction. Soon, the clicks and shouts merged into blurs of noise. He felt his knees buckling and his body slamming against the ground. He breathed very slowly, and darkness surrounded him.

He felt a warm sensation on his skin. It slowly drifted him back to consciousness. He groaned like he was interrupted from a peaceful sleep. As he moved, he felt a sharp pain piercing through him "Ow! Damn it!" he shouted.

"Wufei?" called a voice. "Are you alright?"

Wufei slowly opened his eyes as the pain subsided. He looked up to see Sally hovering over him. "Sally?" he groaned.

"Yes. I'm glad you're awake." She felt his forehead to see if he was feverish.

The touch of her hand on his forehead felt very gentle and warm to him. He never really knew what her skin felt like, but he knew now. He was only silent until she pulled her hand away, satisfied that he had no fever. "Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital. You've been unconscious for nearly two days. The doctors took out the bullet. You'll be out in less than a week," she smiled to reassure him.

"Good. I don't like being in a hospital and weak," he grumbled like before.

"Same old Wufei." She nodded her head as she thought about it.

"What is that suppose to mean?" he demanded until the pain returned from his sudden movements.

"Careful. Your wound is still healing. You have to stay still at least another two days," Sally held onto his arms and gently leaned him back into his bed. Her skin touching his sent another shock to his system. It strangely pleased him to feel her kind hands trying to help him.

"Fine." He grumbled again, hiding the pleasant thought he just had.

"Good."

Sally visited him everyday. She insisted on staying the night in his room again, and fell asleep in the chair. Wufei woke up to the sound of murmuring. He slowly got up enough to look over at Sally. 'What are you dreaming now?' he thought irritatingly at the interruption of his sleep.

"I love you too!" Sally smiled and shifted position in her chair. Then she stopped murmuring and completely went back to sleep.

'Damn it! Who is she talking to in her dreams? Why do I even care? I mean it's not like I love her or anything. I mean just because it felt nice when she touched my forehead or put me back to bed and made me feel all warm and comfy... Warm and comfy? Since when did I ever call anything warm and comfy? I mean, why should I even care? Just because she looks nice with her hair untied, and she treats me so respectfully like I'm her husband doesn't mean that there's anything between us. Come on Wufei, she's your partner. You took a bullet for her because she's your partner. It's not like I did it because I didn't want her to get killed and leave me alone with no one to talk to. If she ever got killed, it's not like I'd miss her because she understands me or because she treats me so well despite my gruffness. I'd miss her because she's a good agent and good fighter. Yes, that's it. I'd miss her because she's a friend. A good friend, like the best friend I have searched for." He glanced over at her.

'Who do you think you're kidding?'

'Who are you?'

'I'm your conscience, Wufei.'

'What are you doing?' Wufei asked himself irritatingly.

'Please, Wufei. Let's not fool ourselves.'

'I'm not trying to fool anyone!'

'Look. I'm your conscience. I know you pretty well. You love Sally.'

'What? Are you mad? Me in love with Sally. Ha! You are SO absolutely wrong!'

'Oh yeah? If you're not in love, then why did you have to convince yourself just five minutes ago that you were NOT in love with her? If you really aren't, then why did you need to go into such a long speech to convince yourself that you don't love her? Eh????'

Wufei simply stared into outer space for a moment. 'Damn you!' He finally realized how right his own conscience was. He did love Sally. 'Okay smart guy. If you're so smart, then when did I start loving Sally? hmmm???' he asked teasing his own conscience.

'Simple. When you saw her with her hair down.'

'Then. How did you know it wasn't before?'

'OHHH! So you admit you've loved her before then?' his conscience snickered at him.

'Grrr! No that's not what I meant you damned onna!'

'Hey! I'm your conscience. You need me and NO insulting! Seriously though. You've always loved her. Not romantically at first, but it kinda grew on you. The Romance thing finally hit you when you saw her with her hair down.'

'Fine. I fell in love with her when I saw her with her hair down. You happy?'

'Yes.'

'Now, to prove how smart you are... why did I fall in love with her then?' Wufei thought he would some how win one last round with his conscience.

'Simple. It's because you'd know what she looks like when you wake up in the morning after you two made...'

'SHUT UP!!!!' he yelled at his conscience. He soon fell asleep to the sound of his conscience laughing at him. (That darn little onna!)

Wufei woke up again about six hours later. He saw that Sally was re-entering the room. "Morning. I just went to get some coffee." She stretched her arms as she yawned.

Wufei simply looked at her quietly. He sat up and was a little less tenderized than the day before. He was looking at her thoughtfully.

Sally walked closer to him. "Is something wrong?"

Wufei kept his eyes on her face. "No." He was meditating a deep thought as he replied.

"Then what is it? You look like you have something on your mind." Sally was a little worried now.

Wufei stopped for a moment. "Yes. I have something to tell you." He moved a little closer very slowly.

"Oh. Here I'll move over. It'll be easier on you." She moved her chair over. He nodded as she sat right next to him.

"I just wanted to say how much I really appreciate you being my partner and putting up with me."

Sally's eyes widened. "Wow, Wufei. I didn't think you'd ever say that to me."

"There's more I wanted to say."

Sally cocked an eyebrow. "Really? What else is there to saymmmph...." She barely got the last word out as Wufei leaned over and kissed her on the mouth. He tilted his head a little to meet her lips without knocking heads.

When they parted, Sally looked at Wufei. "What was that for?" She stared in amazement at the Lone Dragon.

"I guess, what I wanted to know most is whether me loving you would make you care?" He replied sternly, but not in the way he normally spoke.

"Oh." Sally looked at him with some reflection on my face. "It's funny you know, you asking me whether me knowing that you love me would make me care."

"What's so funny about it?" He started to look a little hurt.

"I was kind of dreaming about it..." she said a little quietly.

"You what?" Wufei stared at her in amazement. "You mean that... you..."

Sally only smiled good-humouredly.

"...and well the rest was history," finished Sally.

"Wow, Wufei actually said he loved you," sighed Hilde. She was amused at the change of heart that Wufei had.

"Well, in his own way of course," Sally said amusingly. "I know. I never thought I'd live to see the day."

"That was still kind of sweet."

"That's the funny thing about love, you know Hilde. He takes a bullet because of me, and then in a split second, he realizes that he loves me." The two women laugh at how they ended up dating two Gundam pilots.

Author's Note:

Okay, that was a little sappy and had some humor. What can I do? That's the kind of writer I am. Hope that I still maintained the characters with their original personalities.