Author's Notes: The chapters will get longer and better as I get used to writing in this world in my head. Hopefully, I'll be able to capture what's in my head with words well enough. And for those who are fans of the other pilots...don't worry. They'll show up. 3 Just a warning - Though I will be pulling from Frozen Teardrop for background info (such as Heero and Treize's parentage), THIS DEVIATES FROM FROZEN TEARDROP. Big time. Heero was never frozen, etc.

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to Sunrise, Sotsu, Bandai, etc. Old World of Darkness belongs to White Wolf. Bai Mianxi, Kyoko Tenno-Akarui, Stick/Konbou Sosou, Jacqueline Courcel, Eveline Khushrenada, Treize Khushrenada the Second, Morwen, and Glen are my brain babies.

The Black Road

by KaidaPoi

Chapter Two: Settling In

"So who's meeting us?" Bai looked back to Duo, who was carrying his sleeping son. She smirked.

"Kyoko." Duo blinked.

"No way. The pint-sized punch buggy can drive now?" Bai nodded, laughing softly.

"Yup! She got her license a couple of months ago. She called me at four in the morning where I was and wouldn't stop gleeing about it. Kid has his license too, under the name Kimihiro Sosou. He and Stick have been working on some kind of project while I've been gone."

"SHINI! HIL! BAI! MUNCHKINS!" The two sleeping children in their parents' arms suddenly started awake, causing Hilde to groan just as a green and black blur glomped Bai Mianxi. The blur turned out to be an older Japanese teenager who had dyed her hair neon green and was dressed like a punk rocker in black and greens. The two children quickly wriggled out of Duo and Hilde's arms and joined in the hug.

"Puppy!" The girl giggled and transferred her crushing hug from Bai to just the two children, careful to tone it down a bit.

"Hey kidlets! You've gotten so BIG in three years! Why...I bet you'll be taller than me in NO time!" The Kitsune took deep breaths, watching her green-haired comrade get reacquainted with her 'two favorite Hellspawn'.

"I keep forgetting she's an Ahroun until she hugs me." Duo chuckled and pat her on the back.

"You're the one that recruited her, all those years ago." Hilde rolled her eyes.

"Only five years ago, Duo. Now come on, all of you. We've had a long flight, and we wanna avoid running into any of our other friends in the area. Kids, let go of Kyoko." The children pouted, but did as told. The teenager grinned and ruffled their hair before leading the group to get their baggage, then to her car.

"Boss-lady bought it for me, as an eighteenth birthday present! And Ashoka outfitted it with all sorts of hidey-holes for things, so I'm never unprepared for a fight while I'm ought and about." She moved to a dark green SUV and opened the trunk. "Duo gets shotgun, because he'll be in my rearview otherwise." The group got their luggage situated and everyone piled into the car, then started off. The trip was rather uneventful, save a near-miss involving a raccoon who apparently hadn't gotten the memo that the sun had been up for a couple of hours, and boredom was kept at bay by the occupants catching up on the things that couldn't be talked about over the phone.

After an hour of driving through New Port City, they reached a rather well-appointed house that was gated. Kyoko pulled up to the gate, and typed a number into the keypad, then whispered to it in an almost inhuman voice. The gate opened, and Kyoko drove the rest of the way to a garage with several other cars. Almost immediately, people came out of the house to help get luggage in or to maul the family with affection. One person in particular earned cries of 'Uncle Bou' from the two children. The skinny Japanese man was tackled by the two, letting himself be knocked over. He chuckled and smiled fondly at them, hugging them back.

"Hello, pups. Still energetic, I see. Keep your Dad and Mom busy, ya?" Duo groaned and nodded.

"You don't know the half of it, Stick." He then looked to a white-haired woman and bowed in the Chinese manner, as he'd learned it from Bai. "Jacqueline." The woman nodded, then bowed back.

"Duo." Then she held her arms out, slight smile on her face. "It's been three years. A shame you're so attached to L2." Duo smiled and hugged the woman.

"Just makes coming back to Gaia that much sweeter, Jackie." The two separated, letting Duo grab a skinny Asian teenager, giving the poor squawking boy a noogie. "And how're you doing, Kid? Steal any good shinies for Helios lately?" The boy wriggled out of his grasp and smoothed himself, looking for all the world like a bird made human.

"Always, Uncle Duo. Papa and Mama help sometimes, Mama especially when she's home." Duo nodded, then moved back over to his wife.

"So...who's the Kinfolk everyone's going to be staying with?" Jacqueline motioned for the group to file inside, brown eyes slightly amused.

"My younger sister, Eveline, and her husband Van Khushrenada." Duo blinked.

"Well...I finally get to meet Treize's brother. This oughta be interesting." Jacqueline chuckled.

"You also get to meet the child who bears his name. Van and Eveline named their son Treize. Asked me to be his mentor if he turns out to be Garou, since he was born during a half moon." Duo nodded.

"Sounds like a smart idea. Remember to teach him how useful the other auspices are to a peacekeeper~" Jacqueline rolled her eyes and nodded.

"I'm not you and Kyoko, Duo. I remember things." There was an indignant protest of 'HEY!' from the green-haired girl who was carrying more luggage than she looked like she could. Duo just shrugged and smiled.

It took a good hour, but eventually everything was settled for the Maxwell family. The two children were kept busy listening to stories of Bai and Stick's adventures in the wide world, while Duo and Hilde were led to what looked like a small library. A woman who could have very easily passed for a younger Jacqueline, save for the bright blue eyes, moved over to them from her place in front of one of the bookcases.

"Duo! It's good to see you again." She looked to Hilde. "And I finally get to meet the lovely Hilde. A pleasure to meet you, I'm Eveline Khushrenada." Hilde smiled and took the hand Eveline offered as Duo nodded at the woman.

"Hilde Maxwell. It's nice to meet you. And thank you for being willing to take us in." Eveline shook her head.

"It's no trouble. I've grown up around Garou, so I know how dangerous it can be for the non-Garou. We're all best off in groups. Strength in numbers and all that." Hilde nodded, then looked over as a man with lighter blonde hair, though not the white-blonde of Eveline and Jacqueline, walked over. The man smiled slightly at Hilde and Duo.

"I'm Van Khushrenada. A pleasure to meet you Duo and Hilde." He motioned to a pre-teen boy who had been writing at a desk. "And this is my son Treize." The boy walked over, and Duo blinked.

"Wow...except for the eyebrows, kiddo, you look like a kiddie version of your uncle." The boy perked up.

"Aunt Une says that as well. He wasn't as bad a man as the history books try to make him out to be." Duo nodded.

"I know. If nothing else, there's a number of good people who know the truth about him and what he was trying to do." He looked to Eveline and Van again. "So, anyone else here besides us?" Eveline nodded.

"Kyoko's father has been holed up with our chef since he arrived a few hours ago. Stick's colony declined the protection. Shadow's Kinfolk pack is already under the watch of her father's pack, and Ming will be bringing her family with her once she arrives with Eyes." Duo nodded.

"Well...since I know now...I'm going to go bug the hell out of Kyoko's Dad! Last time I saw him, he said he was working on something new, and I never got to taste it!" And off the braided ex-pilot went, humming some obnoxious tune. Hilde sighed and shook her head, eveline giggling and patting her shoulder.

"You are a strong woman with a great deal of love to put up with Duo daily." Hilde smiled slightly.

"Maybe. I like to think it's because I can't stand up to that smile of his."