Chapter 2- The Parent People

"Young lady!" Gregory, Audrey's father, said in a mixture of irritation and outright anger. "You will stop slamming your silverware on the table! While you are living in this house you will behave as though you have some sense and manners."

"I don't know why you're angry at us." Lillian said. "You were the one that shamed us running off like that. You should be grateful that we're feeding you at all."

"What! You were forcing me to marry a guy twice my age! How does that not give me the right to be angry at you?" Audrey said.

"Are you forgetting that we raised you and provided for you for almost your entire life?" Gregory said. "And we were not forcing you to do anything. You could have said 'no.'"

And make you mad at me? Audrey thought. "How about we call a truce." Audrey suggested. "I will forget about the whole forced marriage thing, and you forget about me running away. There is no sense in us dwelling on this. I'm not marrying him, so there is no reason for me to be mad. And I am here, so there is no sense in you being mad at me for running away."

"It doesn't work like that." Gregory said. "I will be willing to forgive you, if you apologize nicely to Eric Cetiret and clear our name in this whole matter. I don't know how you are going to gain this family's prestige back, but you had better think of something."

Audrey gaped at him. "But…but I'm sure I'm not the only one who's done this. And besides, I left to help bring about peace."

Gregory and Lillian stared at her. Her father leaned back and sent her a level look. "Just where, exactly, have you been?" He asked.

Audrey gulped. She considered coming up with a fanciful lie, but she'd never been a very good liar. Finally, she looked down at the table. "I went into space." She said.

Lillian gasped, and Gregory sat up straighter. "What were you doing in space? It is dangerous there! There was a war going on!"

"I know." Audrey said hoping that they would leave it at that.

They didn't. "So you just suddenly fancied taking a trip to space."

Audrey glanced up to meet her father's gaze momentarily, before looking down again. "I…I joined the resistance."

Gregory slammed his hand onto the table, and Lillian gasped in horror. "YOU DID WHAT?!"

YOU DID WHAT?!

Gregory's voice reached all the way up to Heero's room. He looked up from his computer wondering if he should go downstairs to try to help her. He stared at the suit that was still lying on his bed for a few seconds before deciding that there was nothing he could do.

"I am not involved." He said before continuing what he was doing.

"I didn't fight!" Audrey said. "I was a medic!"

Gregory calmed down slightly although he was still visibly fuming. Lillian managed to calm herself down a bit. Even though she was angry at Audrey's foolish actions, Audrey was still her daughter.

"Audrey," Lillian said, her voice not raised, but slightly shaking. "Why would you leave school to go…to go…"

Audrey stared at her mother as she trailed off. "I didn't believe in what Relena was teaching…at least not her methods. Everyone wanted peace, but she wanted everyone to just stop what they were doing. You can't just stop fighting in the middle of a war. It would have only caused more problems. The colonies were being fooled by oppressive governments, and all the goals that people had been losing their lives for would have just been abandoned. Yes wars are bad, but sometimes negotiations aren't enough."

Her parents were both silent, so she continued. "I left to join the cause because I wanted to help bring about the peace that everyone was searching for. How can I claim to deserve something if I'm not willing put forth an effort to achieve it. I didn't fight, because between you and me, I would have made a crappy soldier."

Lillian and Gregory both gave her a stern look at her questionable language.

"Instead, I chose to support those who could fight in every way I was able. I am not a diplomat, nor do I intend to be, I'm sorry to say. I will never be powerful or influential, but sometimes, you need people on the sidelines to help things along. I worked as a nurse to help people injured in the war, and I want to continue to help those who have been hurt by it. That's why I came here. I know I've been ungrateful to you, but I really want to help those who were affected by the fighting. I don't know how to get your prestige back, and I can honestly say that that's the last thing I'm worried about right now. So many people are hurting and homeless, and yet we sit here in nothing but luxury. I'm sorry if I disappointed you. All I ask for is a little money to help me get started towards this goal; after that, you can forget that I ever existed." Audrey stared at her hands which were clutched in her lap while working to fight back tears.

Both of her parents stared at her in shock.

"Dear, we could never just forget about you." Lillian got out of her chair and put an arm around Audrey's shoulders. She sent a look to Gregory that told him to come over as well. "You're our only little girl. No matter what you do, we can never change that."

"Yes." Gregory said taking Audrey's hand and gently pulling her to stand. He raised her chin and felt his anger melt at the sight of tears on her face. He gently wiped them away. "I am still angry at you for not telling me where you went, but I do realize that what you did, no matter how foolish, was for a noble cause. I also think that what you are planning to do is also noble. But is this what you really want? What you're thinking of doing will be difficult. Wouldn't you prefer to try to go back to school?"

Audrey shook her head. "This is what I want, dad. It's the right thing for me to do."

He pulled her in for a hug. "Then we will support you."

Lillian joined their hug. After a few moments the three sat down to finish their dinner.

Heero awoke the next morning at the crack of dawn. After putting on one of his new outfits, he slipped downstairs quietly to try to find the kitchen. He couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten. When he reached the edge of the stairs, he ran into the maid who'd let them in the day before.

"Good morning, monsieur." She said. "I bet you're hungry since you skipped dinner last night."

Heero only nodded.

"Well come on then." She led him into the dining room and sat him at the table. "I'll have the chef fix you up something. What would you like?"

Heero just shrugged.

"Pancakes? Eggs? Waffles? Bacon?"

He shrugged again.

Jeanne chuckled. "Well, I'll just tell her to make you something special then." She said and quickly left.

Heero stayed sitting for a few seconds before he got up to look around. He was looking at some pictures sitting on a table near the window when he heard a noise behind them. He turned just in time to see Gregory walk into the dining room. He was wearing a suit and was adjusting his tie as he came in. Lillian was a step behind him, fully dressed as well. The both paused when they saw Heero, and Heero realized just how awkward the situation was. He didn't really know how to interact with these people.

Gregory looked as though he were about to say something, but Lillian stepped in front of him. "Good morning." She said.

Heero figured that since he was in these people's house, eating their food, and possibly taking a lot of their money, he'd attempt to hold a polite conversation. "Good morning." He said.

"We didn't catch your name yesterday." Gregory said sitting at the head of the table and unfolding a newspaper.

"My name is Heero Yuy." He said. "It's a pleasure."

Gregory looked at him oddly. The name apparently shocked him. "Are you of relation to the assassinated colony leader Heero Yuy?" He asked.

Heero shook his head no. "I was named in his honor. That's all." Heero said simply.

Gregory gave him another odd look and then began to read his paper. Lillian sat at the other end of the table and gave him a small smile. "We're terribly sorry about our behavior yesterday." She apologized. Heero wondered if this was the same woman that snootily led them to their rooms the day before. "We were just shocked to see our daughter again so suddenly."

Heero remained silent. He didn't know if he was supposed to respond. The awkward silence stretched on until the food was brought in. Heero watched the two both place napkins on their laps and did the same.

"Is Audrey not awake yet?" Gregory asked finally putting the paper down and picking up a fork. "She's wasting the day away. Doesn't she want breakfast?"

"It's hardly six thirty dear." Lillian said. "And she just got back. She's probably tired."

"She didn't look tired yesterday." He stated and then noticed Jeanne. "Jeanne. Would you go fetch Audrey for breakfast?"

"Of course sir." Jeanne said before walking away.

Gregory turned to Heero with a calculating look on his face. Heero noticed the look and stopped eating. He looked expectantly to Gregory.

"So, Mr. Yuy," Gregory leaned back in his chair. "How exactly do you know my daughter and why is it that you are traveling with her?"

Lillian sent Gregory a disbelieving/scolding look, but Gregory's attention was focused on Heero.

Heero stared at Gregory for a few seconds. He supposed that he couldn't blame the guy for worrying about his daughter, but the questions were starting to irritate him. "She tended to my injuries after a battle." Heero said.

"You're a little young to be a soldier, and you don't look much like one either." Gregory stated. "How did your parents ever approve of such a thing?"

"I don't have parents." Heero stated.

"Gregory!" Lillian scolded before turning to Heero in sympathy. "You poor thing."

Heero just shrugged before changing the subject. "I bumped into Audrey when she was leaving the space colony and she told me that she was going to earth to repair the damage brought on by the war. I'd wanted to do the same thing myself, so I joined her."

Gregory just grunted and turned back to her food.

"Well I think it's a good thing that you're joining her." Lillian said once she convinced herself that the two weren't having some sort of fling. "Since her heart is so set on it, it's a good idea if she has someone around to help her and protect her."

"That had better be all he does." Gregory fixed Heero with a stern look.

"All who does?" Audrey tiredly dragged herself into the dining room and plopped into a chair. She was dressed, but it was obvious that she had just woken up.

"Nothing dear, but it's good to see you awake."

"Wish I shared the sentiment." Audrey mumbled propping an elbow on the table and placing her chin in her hand. "Pancakes and bacon please." She told the chef.

"Elbows off the table, Audrey." Lillian said, and Audrey complied lazily.

Heero sat, silently observing and trying not to be noticed. It seemed that Gregory was more than displeased at his very presence, and that he was taking every chance he had to make him uncomfortable.

He watched as Audrey's mother struck up a conversation. "I guess we'll invite the Cetirets over for dinner."

"Can't we just forget about that?" Audrey asked cutting a slice of pancake and shoveling it into her mouth.

"You have to officially break off your engagement." Gregory said.

Audrey started choking, alarming both of her parents.

"Drink something dear." Lillian said although Audrey had already grabbed her juice.

Once she was breathing normally again, she asked. "Wha…I thought the whole…me disappearing thing pretty much did the engagement in."

"Regardless." Lillian said. "You still owe him an apology."

"It was part of our deal, Audrey." Gregory fixed her a look.

"Deal? I don't remember any deal."

Gregory continued. "You are to apologize to the Cetirets and somehow clear our name, and we will support you in your venture."

Audrey looked at him. "I thought we agreed that your reputation wasn't important."

Gregory looked shocked. "When did we agree on that?"

"When we were talking about the suffering homeless people." She said. "Remember them?"

"I do remember something about that." Lillian said, looking over at Gregory. "And our reputation isn't damaged that much anyway. I think a simple apology will do."

Audrey sighed, and deciding not to push her luck, continued to eat silently.

The next few days passed slowly. Heero kept to his room most of the time, except for meal times. Gregory was not making an attempt to warm up to him, and would make some kind of snide remark every chance he got. It was all Audrey and Lillian could do to keep Gregory from tormenting him during breakfast and supper.

Lunch was a bit better, because Gregory was usually at a meeting, and Lillian generally had lunch with friends.

During his stay, Heero had been keeping tabs on certain peoples' movements, and searching for others. He didn't worry much about the other gundam pilots; he figured they could take care of themselves.

His main concern was the safety of Relena Peacecraft. Even before the war had ended, he had known that she was crucial to reestablishing peace in the post-war world. The destruction of such a powerful symbol of peace would have lasting side effects—probably effects similar to those brought about by the assassination of the original Heero Yuy. The last thing the Earth Sphere needed was another war, and it certainly didn't need any more gundams.

He had briefly considered protecting her himself, but it seemed that Noin and Lady Une had the same idea. He figured that they were more than capable of handling that job.

Relena, herself, hadn't wasted any time in working to create a new peaceful world. She was already meeting with dignitaries to discuss disarmament, and was trying to mediate relations between formerly hostile organizations.

Another subject that had his attention was the whereabouts of Miliardo Peacecraft. Heero refused to believe that he was dead, although there was no evidence to suggest otherwise. Heero knew that Miliardo operated on his own motives—much like the other gundam pilots had. He also knew, however, that Miliardo's motives often had faulty or harmful logic. Any actions made in the Peacecrafts' name would be a reflection on Relena, and Heero could not allow the hope for peace in the world to be discredited.

As a side note, Noin had sent him an email and offered to keep his gundam with her under international sanction. It would be stored in a former alliance base in northern Africa. He had agreed to the idea. A gundam was not the kind of thing you want to drag around—especially when you're trying to help people cope with the losses that mobile suits undoubtedly caused. He had nowhere to put the gundam himself besides sinking it an ocean, and doing that would cause him tons of trouble if he ever needed it again.

Four days after they'd arrived at the Harper residence, Eric Cetiret, Audrey's ex-fiancé, came over for dinner. Heero had taken one look at the man and had decided to skip dinner. It wasn't that Heero had felt threatened by him. He just figured that having a boy close to her age currently living with her would make the engagement-breaking a bit more hazardous. There were too many implications. Heero stayed up in his room to avoid awkward questions and confrontations. He didn't want to be stuck in this place any longer than he had to be. He was hungry, but he'd deal with it.

He looked around his room in irritation. This wasn't how this was supposed to be going. He was supposed to be helping those hurt by the war, not sitting in the lap of luxury.

He was currently reading reports of the destruction caused in various places around Europe. There was one place he wanted to go in particular—a town that he had helped to destroy. He felt ashamed just thinking about his actions and how he had disregarded Quatre's warning. The only thing he'd been able to think about was retaliating against Romefeller for turning the colonies against the gundams. He hadn't bothered to check to see if the town that he'd volunteered to fight in had been evacuated. It hadn't, and because of that, he nearly killed hundreds of innocent civilians.

Heero looked up from his computer trying to shake the memory away.

Glancing out of the window, he noticed Audrey and Eric standing in the back yard. Eric was probably in his late twenties. He was not unattractive, but he had a calm almost shy look about him.

The sunset was reflecting off of the fountain and making Audrey look almost radiant. Heero tore his eyes away quickly. Neither she, nor her personal life were any of his concern, and he certainly didn't need any distractions from his mission.

With a grunt of irritation at his entire current predicament, he turned back to his work.

The next morning, they were finally ready to go. Audrey's parents drove them to the airport where Audrey and her family all said tearful—and in her parents' cases, reluctant—goodbyes. Heero had attempted to remain unnoticed, but Lillian had given him a goodbye hug as well. He was awkward and unsure of what to do, so he just stood stiffly and blushed.

Gregory gave them a credit card with a stiff warning to use it responsibly, and gave Heero an extra warning glare.

Heero thanked them politely for their help and generosity, and he and Audrey got on the plane.

"So where to?" Audrey asked once they were airborne.

"There's a small town near the Sanc Kingdom that was nearly completely demolished in a battle. The town had been occupied by troops after the split, and as far as I know they were abusive to the citizens there. Romefeller had felt threatened by the Sanc Kingdom and felt bitter at those countries that allied with them. Many citizens left during the occupation, and they are returning now to homes that no longer exist."

Audrey would have commented, but she had a suspicion that the town had a personal significance to Heero. She didn't know how their partnership would be, but for the moment, they were two teenagers who hardly knew each other and had no line of communication to fill that information void. She didn't even know if they'd stay together long. Their personalities didn't exactly mix. He was almost constantly silent, and she was almost constantly talking. That wouldn't be a problem, but she was pretty sure that she irritated him.

For the first time, she began to doubt her decision. She may have been better off staying home with Eric. At least then, she was sure of her future. She would be a trophy wife who had luncheons and planned banquets for the rest of her life.

That plan was thrown out the window, though.

She'd felt relieved to be rid of the engagement at the time.

Although she'd been relieved at first to be rid of her engagement, now, she wasn't so sure. She'd given up wealth and a safe existence to go parading around with an unpredictable solitary boy who she knew nothing about.

She looked over at him. He was leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed and arms crossed. He didn't look dangerous at all, but she knew otherwise. She'd seen the things that he could do, and she knew that if she had any sense, she would want nothing to do with him. For some reason though, her heart reached out to him. He was all alone, and, according to the few rumors she'd heard, had no experience at living a real life.

She hadn't believed the rumors since she'd seen him for herself. When she'd first seen him on the street, she'd assumed that he had adapted to civilian life, and was doing well. His closed off behavior and his odd reactions to even the smallest displays of affection had convinced her that he needed more help than she'd realized.

Her mission was to help those who were hurt by the war, and she was almost certain that the person who was hurt the worst by the war was sitting right on side of her.