AN: This is based on the movie cartoon Anastasia with Gundam Wing characters. And is not historical accurate. I am almost finished the next chapter where Relena and Heero meet.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or Anastasia

A gray and ugly, post-revolution building with a sign above the door that identifies it as "Young Children Without Parents". An orphanage. Inside children of all ages clean one of the cold, gray dormitories. Their clothes are ragged and they look underfed.

One of them is Lena, 18, pretty despite the boy's hand-me-down clothes she is forced to wear, and she is busy scrubbing the floor. Unlike the others, she is determined not to let her surroundings get to her. She hums a tune.

The door suddenly slams open and Trowa, 8, and clearly terrified, comes running in followed by the orphanage keeper Catherine - a woman carrying a switch.

Trowa "Lena! Lena!" All of the other children turn away, not wanting to get involved. Lena focuses on Trowa, who is shivering with fright and on the verge of tears as Catherine approaches, swinging the switch menacingly.

Catherine "You can't get away from me now . . ." Catherine advances on Trowa. Lena takes the scrub brush and shoves it across the floor, right under Catherine's unsuspecting foot. Catherine's feet fly out from under her and she falls to the floor. Trowa hops over her body and runs to Lena for safety.

Some of the other children glance over. Two little girls, look at Lena with great approval . . . some of the others think she's mad.

Catherine rises, covered with soap bubbles, and spins on Lena - who gives her a very innocent smile. Catherine "You! You did this!" Some of the other children laugh as soap bubbles fly off the enraged woman. She spins on them, her back to Lena. Catherine "Brats! There'll be no supper for any of you! Back to work!"

Lena, behind Catherine, mimics her outraged face and angry gestures perfectly - as the children laugh harder. Catherine spins and almost catches Lena. She advances on Lena as Trowa hides behind her legs.

Lena "Don't touch him." Catherine "You ragged, skinny, little nothing! I have had just about enough of you . . ." Catherine raises her hand to slap Lena, who hold her ground. Suddenly, Catherine sniffs the air. As the children began to smell the horrible smell they all make faces and hold their noses.

Catherine first sniffs under her raised arm, then realized the cause of the stench . . . "Comrade Quinze!" She tries to straighten herself out nervously.

Comrade Quinze stands in the doorway, lecherously eyeing the girls. Catherine flirting "Comrade Quinze! What a lovely surprise! What brings you here?" Quinze "I need. . . a worker."
His eye catches Lena. He looks her up and down, his beady eyes showing a touch of lust for her. Quinze "I will take her." He leans close to Lena. Quinze "Tomorrow you begin your life's work in my hearing factory. You'll start by cutting off the tails - but if I'm pleased with you - you just may move up to cutting off the heads. How does that sound?" Lena "About as bad as you smell!"

Catherine moves between them, pulling Quinze away. Catherine "No, no, Comrade - you don't want her . . ." Quinze "I want her." Catherine "That's horrible, skinny thing?! She's crazy - she has no memory of anything before she came here! She didn't even know her name! That one is a rotten troublemaker, willful . . ."

Quinze "I'll break her will. . . I shall come for you tomorrow at dawn. She will enjoy serving under me." Smiling in anticipation, he exit.

Catherine "I couldn't break you - but he can!" And she turns to leave in a huff. Lena does one more imitation of her, making the children laugh. But as Lena turns away from her audience, we see her façade fade and realize her terror of the future.

The orphanage dormitory that night

The children huddle in their cots under tattered, thin blankets. Lena is fully dressed; she ties dull gray sheets together and anchors the "rope" to an ice-cold radiator and throws the other end out of the window. She is about to climb out when she looks at the sleeping children and smiles sadly. She walks over to Trowa's bed and puts one hand lovingly on his head and then reaches over and takes the hand of a sleeping little girl, who opens her eyes and smiles.

Trowa loudly "Lena?" The other children wake up as Lena gently "shushes" him. Trowa quietly "Are you running away?" Lena "No. I'm running to." Little girl "Running to? Running to what?" Lena "To find my home." Little girl "But you are home."

Lena "No. This isn't a home - it's just a building. Home is where you belong and none of us belong here." Trowa "Where is your home, Lena?" Lena "I'm not sure but look. . ." Lena shows Trowa the key around her neck.

Lena "It says "Together in Paris". I was wearing this when I came here ten years ago - it's the only way that I know . . . that I must have been someone someone who was loved." A girl "Is your home in Paris?" Lena "It might be. I have to go and find out." Lena smiles lovingly at the children.

Lena "I have to go now, before it gets light." Trowa worried "But what if we can't ever find where we came from?" Lena "Then you'll have to make your own home. Lots of people do." Lena embraces the children and walks to the window.

Trowa nervous, sad "Lena! What if we can't find anyone who loves us?" Lena "Then come find me." Trowa is relieved and cuddles into his bed as Lena smiles lovingly and crawls out the window.

Lena begins to climb down the street, testing the knots. The knots hold tight, but the old sheet rips in half, sending her plummeting into a snowdrift. Lena "I hope there's no snow in Paris." She begins to walk away.