Standard disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine. I am a poor, unemployed college student. Please do not sue. However, Kage, Professor Merrick, and Amy Merrick are my creations, along with anyone new who happens to show up later in this story. Please ask my permission before you use them.

Notes: This fic is rated PG-13 for mild violence (it'll be in here somewhere, I'm sure) mild language, and the possibility of implied yaoi (boy x boy) relationships.

Also, this fic is obviously Alternate Universe. Past scenes/ thoughts will be in italics.

Warning for chapter four: Some of the language isn't so mild this time. ^-^;;

Glossary: Gomen - Sorry

'Niisan - Older brother

Gundam 06 by Manic Grasshopper

Chapter Four - A welcome surprise...and school. Yuck.

"High schools? Well, there are two, Bedford High School for Girls and Biddenham Upper School. They both require uniforms, and the tuition is expensive. If you can't pay me to stay here, how will you pay your term fees?"

Amy and Mrs. Williams ("Call me Victoria, if you'd like.") were sitting in the parlor, drinking tea and watching full night settle outside the window. The lights in the parlor made it seem cheery and comfortable.

"Well - I have a way - but -"

"You'd rather not talk about it, eh? All right." Mrs. Williams sipped her tea, then continued. "Bedford requires an entrance exam, last I heard. Also references. Oh, and if you're a day student, you'll need a guardian."

Amy's face fell. "Oh. Guess they'd have to meet them in person, right?"

Mrs. Williams nodded. "But that's not so hard, is it? Just tell them on the forms that you're here from - well, wherever you're from - to help your poor grandmother out at her inn."

Amy's eyes widened. "Oh, I couldn't! Besides, don't people around here know you? Friends? They'd know you don't have a granddaughter."

"Tsk tsk, child. You have your secrets, I have mine. Let me show you something."

Mrs. Williams eased out of her chair and crossed the room to a shelf full of framed pictures. She came back with two and handed them to Amy.

The first showed a blonde girl about twenty, smiling and wearing a floral dress.

"This is my daughter. She was always the smartest in her class at school. Wanted to be a scientist. She moved to the colonies a few months after this was taken."

There was something oddly familiar about the girl. Amy wasn't sure, but there was something...

Mrs. Williams pointed to the second picture. "This is one she sent me about thirteen years ago. That's my granddaughter she's holding. Her name is Amy Liana."

Amy almost choked. She looked up at Mrs. Williams in disbelief. "You knew? You knew who I was and didn't say anything?"

"Well, I wasn't sure at first. You signed the registration form Amy L. Merrick, and the L could have stood for anything. But the last name Merrick, that was a clue. Kara always said she hated the name Williams, and before she left she changed it to Merrick. But it's your eyes, Amy, that gave you away. You have your mother's eyes."

Amy thought about that. She did - the same impossibly midnight blue eyes as her mother. That had been why the picture had seemed familiar.

"I think I have my father's hair, though," she said, tugging a dark strand. Mrs. Williams - or rather, her grandmother, smiled. "Oh, you do. Kara sent me a picture just once. Here, I'll go get it."

Her grandmother got up and went back to the shelf. After sifting through some loose photos, she returned with one and placed it in Amy's trembling hand.

The picture showed a group of men and women, all in greasy coveralls, smiling. They stood against a hangar door that read E-2. Her mother stood in the center, looking stern, like Amy remembered her. She didn't look pregnant - maybe she wasn't showing yet, or Amy had already been born. She turned the picture over. On the back was a note written in her mother's neat hand:

My crew and I. We're really making progress here, but that's all I can tell you. The baby's father is the one next to me on my left. Sorry I can't tell you his name, but secrecy is important. I shouldn't even be sending you this. Make sure no one else ever sees it.

It wasn't signed.

Amy turned the picture back over and studied the man next to her mother. She gasped. He had her hair and Duo's eyes!

Oh, Duo, you're not gonna believe this...

She wanted desperately to contact him and tell him about this, but there was no way...unless...

"Mrs. - I mean, grandma? Is there a bike laying around here someplace? I need to run an errand."

Her grandmother shook her head. "It's a bit too dark for that right now. Can it wait until morning?"

Amy sighed. "I guess. I suppose I should head up to bed. I'd like to enroll in school tomorrow."

Her grandmother smiled. "That's good. We'll take the car about ten. Did you decide which school?"

Amy shrugged as she rose from her chair. "Bedford High School, I guess."

"All right then. Sleep tight, dear." Her grandmother hugged her. "It's so good to see you," she whispered. "That picture of you as a little girl is the only one I have."

Amy closed her eyes a moment. "It's good to see you too."

She wanted to say, "It's good to know I have a grandmother," but she didn't want to upset Victoria by telling her that Kara had never mentioned her existence. Amy pulled away and started out of the room.

"Amy?" She stopped and turned back.

"Promise me we'll take some pictures together, hmm? In the rose garden out back."

Amy's throat was tight. If OZ ever came here and found pictures of her with her grandmother, they could hold Victoria hostage. They would hurt her. They might even -

Amy swallowed and nodded. "Okay. G'night, grandma."

"Goodnight."

Amy hurried out of the room and up the stairs. Once in her bedroom, she let the tears fall.

* * *

Morning seemed to come all too soon for Amy. She'd spent most of the night awake in bed, wishing she could get to Kage and contact Duo, and wondering what her father - their father - was like. Was he even still alive? The only person who might know the answer to that was her mother. After she was settled for school, she'd contact her mother about her mission - and ask about her father.

* * *

Taking a shower, dressing, and stuffing her jeans with a loaded gun took up most of her morning. The comlink went in her jacket pocket. At 9:30 she sat in the dining room with two other guests and ate her cereal. Her grandmother puttered back and forth, making sure everyone was taken care of. Amy finished her cereal at 9:45 and carried the bowl into the kitchen, where she rinsed it and set it on the counter to be washed later. The two guests checked out at 9:50 and 10:00. After they were gone, Victoria hung a 'closed' sign on the door.

"We're getting a later start than planned, but it's all right. Bedford High isn't that far from here - you'll be able to take a bike."

Amy nodded and followed her grandmother outside to the car.

***

The headmistress, Mrs. Brixton, looked over Amy's forms while Victoria and Amy sat in chairs in front of the desk. Amy's hands were sweating while Victoria looked completely at ease. Mrs. Brixton perused a minute more, then looked up. "Everything looks fine. She'll just need to take the entrance exam. We can enroll her right away once she's passed it."

"When is the next exam?" Victoria asked.

"There's one scheduled in ten minutes, actually. Room 27. Do you think you can find it on your own?"

Victoria stood, and Amy followed. "Of course. My daughter attended this school for five years. Thank you, Mrs. Brixton."

Amy smiled politely. "Yes, thank you ma'am."

Mrs. Brixton rose and crossed around her desk to hold the door open for them. Victoria and Amy left the room and proceeded down the hall.

"I hate tests."

Victoria chuckled. "Oh, you'll do fine. You're a smart girl."

Amy shook her head. "You don't know that, grandma."

Victoria was smiling. "They don't pick dumb people to pilot gundams," She said softly. Amy stopped dead in her tracks. "What? Grandma -"

Victoria stopped and turned to look at her granddaughter. "Think I'm too old to do research? I spoke on a vid phone with your mother last night. She admitted what you were here to do. I don't agree with it, but I can't stop you."

Amy shook her head. "Pretend you don't know, please. I don't want you to get hurt. Please -" Victoria went over and hugged her. "You don't worry about me, child. Take care of what you're here to do. Right now, you have a test to take. Let's go, hmm?"

She let go of Amy and showed her the way down the hall.

***

An hour later Amy was scowling at an algebra problem. Smart, huh? Not in math, that was for sure. She'd whizzed through English, History, and most of Science, but this was impossible. What the hell did they mean, 'write an equation in quadratic form'? She sighed, then nearly jumped a foot in the air when she felt a gentle touch on her arm. She looked up to see a girl her age smiling at her.

'Don't worry.' She mouthed, pointing to the annoyance in question. Amy smiled back, nodded, and decided to skip the problem. She finished the rest of the test half-an-hour later, and was excused to wait outside. Her grandmother was nowhere in sight. I wonder if she went back to talk to the headmistress. She sat on the bench outside the classroom and stared at the floor. I am so bored. She considered pacing the hall for something to do, but then the classroom door opened and the girl who'd been sitting next to her came out. Amy got up and went over to her.

"Hi. Umm, thanks for earlier - I was really stuck on that problem. I'm terrible at math."

The girl grinned. She was pretty, light brown hair, green eyes. "You're welcome. I'm awful at it too. I'm Anne Moren, by the way."

"Amy Merrick. Nice to meet you."

They shook hands, then grinned at each other. "You don't sound British," Anne said. "Where are you from?"

Amy considered for a moment, then decided it couldn't hurt. She'd only just met her, but she trusted Anne already. That didn't happen often. In fact, she could name only three people she had trusted on sight - Duo, her grandmother, and Anne.

"L2 colony."

Anne's eyes widened. "Really? My mother was born there, but she came to Earth when she was 20. She met my dad in America while she was working as a kindergarten teacher. My dad used to teach the kindergarten across the hall, and the two classes would go on field trips together."

Amy found herself grinning again. "That sounds romantic. So why are you in England?"

Something dark passed behind Anne's eyes for a second, then disappeared. "My mother died two years ago, so my father moved us here and started his own business."

Amy felt a pang deep in her heart. We're almost the same...

"I'm really sorry about your mother. What does your father do?"

Anne made a face. "You know those mobile suits the military uses? He supplies transport trucks for them to the Alliance. I don't really agree with it, but it pays well. We have a nice house."

Something in her voice made Amy study Anne more intently. "But you don't want the house."

Anne shrugged. "To be honest, I'd be happier in a cardboard box."

More girls began to spill out the door. Amy looked around curiously. "I came with my grandmother. I wonder where she went?"

Anne laughed. "She's probably with the other parents, sweating out whether we'll make it in or not. You should have seen my dad this morning. 'Are you sure you studied enough? What's 3x4?' Like I'd forget that."

Amy snickered, then stopped as she heard her name being called. She looked past Anne to see Victoria wading through the mass of would-be students and their parents. "There you are! So many people here, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find you."

Amy waited until Victoria reached them, then made introductions. "Grandma, this is Anne Moren. Anne, this is my grandmother, Victoria Williams."

Anne held out a hand. "It's nice to meet you, ma'am." Victoria waved a hand before shaking Anne's. "Oh, never mind that nonsense. Just call me Victoria." Anne nodded. "All right."

Victoria glanced over at Amy. "Seems you've made a nice friend. Why don't you exchange numbers, then we'll be on our way. We've a bit of grocery shopping to do."

Amy smiled at her grandmother. "Okay." She looked back at Anne. "Got any paper?"

Anne fumbled in her purse. "Yeah, hold on..." She pulled out an old receipt and scribbled on one half, then held it out to Amy. She stared at it for a moment, then grinned sheepishly at Victoria.

"Umm, grandma, I don't know the number." Victoria laughed and wrote it down for her. Anne tore the paper in half and gave Amy the side with her number on it. "Don't be surprised if a maid answers. Just ask for me."

"'Kay."

Anne studied her for a minute. "How come you don't know your own number?"

Again Amy looked sheepish. "I just moved in recently."

Just the faintest hint of a smile played around Anne's lips. "Oh, well, I'll have to show you around Bedford, then. See ya!" She began to head toward a man about twenty feet away. Amy called after her. "See you! And I won't forget your offer!"

Anne raised a hand as she reached her father and then they were swallowed up in the crowd. Victoria patted Amy on the back. "Come along, dear. We'll get lunch first and then do the shopping."

"When will I find out if I passed the exam?"

"A week or so. Don't worry, I know you passed." They headed out to the parking lot.

A week? Might as well be eternity.

***

"Amy! Child, the mail's here!"

Amy jumped up from her bed where she'd been trying to read her manga and hurried out of the room. It had been almost a week since she'd taken the exam. She'd talked to Anne everyday since then, and yesterday they'd gone shopping for a bike for Amy, courtesy of her grandmother. It was a silver ten-speed, and Amy loved it. The day after the exam her grandmother had hired a photographer to take formal pictures of the two of them in the rose garden. Amy had one framed on her dresser. She was thoroughly enjoying being a normal teenage girl, and she knew it wouldn't last. She was well aware of the fact that she needed to contact her mother for her mission orders as soon as she received the exam results. She was dreading their arrival but also eagerly awaiting it. She skidded to a halt in front of the check-in counter as Victoria handed her a pile of envelopes.

"You might as well go through all of them yourself this time - your eyes are better than mine, anyway."

Amy began to flip through the pile. Electricity bill, water bill, garbage bill, a letter addressed to her, scrawled in Duo's familiar scratch. She stopped, blinked. Duo had sent her a letter? Was he nuts? She set it aside, face down, and kept going. The second-to-last envelope had the return address of the school on it.

"Here it is!" Amy cried, and ripped it open.

"Well?" Victoria was behind the counter, and she leaned forward eagerly as Amy unfolded the paper and read it.

"I passed!" The letter fell on the counter as she ran around it to hug her grandmother. Victoria hugged her tight. "I knew you would. Are you going to call Anne?"

"Yeah, but there's something I've gotta do first." Her eyes strayed to Duo's letter as she pulled away. Victoria noticed. "Who's that one from?"

Amy decided to be honest about it. "My half-brother."

Victoria's eyes widened. "Your mother didn't mention you had a brother."

Amy shook her head. "No, I don't suppose she would have. Call her again and ask if you want, but I'm not going to get involved right now."

Victoria studied Amy for a moment before speaking. "It's just as well. I'll call your mother later. You go enjoy your letter. I hope it's good news."

"Yeah, me too." Amy grabbed Duo's letter on her way around the counter, leaving the acceptance notice with her grandmother. She practically ran up the stairs to her room. What was Duo doing, sending her a letter? He could've beeped Kage, she would've been notified. Besides, how'd he find her, anyway?

Oh, like it matters, She thought as she pushed her door open. She knew it did matter, 'cause if Duo could find her then maybe so could OZ, but it wasn't something she wanted to think about now. She closed the door behind herself and flopped stomach first onto the bed. Amy found herself carefully studying the envelope. Yep, Duo's handwriting, all right. Actually, chicken scratch was probably more accurate. There was no return address. She opened the envelope, pulled out a thin sheet of paper, and began to read.

Dear imouto-chan,

How's it going? I've done one mission so far, had a blast. Got to blow up an OZ base. You can imagine they weren't too pleased. 'Course, I think most of 'em are dead now, so it doesn't really matter. I met another gundam pilot - a maniac that goes by the name of Heero Yuy. He's our age - don't know if you'd like him or not, the guy's kinda suicidal. I'll have to tell ya about that sometime. Actually, I think the three of us must have an underlying death wish to want to do this job. Wondering how I found you? My secret, ha ha. Don't worry, I don't think it's something OZ would come up with easily. How go the missions? Ya settle in good yet? Hope not, 'cause you'll just have to leave sooner or later, and in our case it's always sooner. You can e-mail me back through Kage. Just call up the main directory and type in 02D. It'll pull up a hidden file with an e-mail address. I installed the program about a week before they sent us down here. I've been kinda worried since I haven't heard from you - figured you woulda found the file by now - so respond, okay?

Love ya tons,

Duo

Amy refolded the letter and carefully placed it back in it's envelope, then got off the bed and went to the closet. She pulled her backpack down and put the letter in before pulling out her comlink. She checked Kage's status first - everything was fine - then input the code for her mother.

A few seconds of static filled the line, then Kara answered. "Yes."

"Mom, it's me. I'm pretty well settled in, and I've got a school lined up - I start attending tomorrow. What do I do now?"

"There's an OZ base two miles outside of Bedford. The security is pretty low, despite the fact they manufacture mobile suits. Take it out."

Amy smirked to herself. "Ryoukai. Oh, mom, were you surprised to hear from grandma?"

There was a moment's hesitation on the line, then - "Yes, actually. I thought she'd be dead already."

Amy felt anger flare up in her. "Why? She's not sick."

"No, but she won't fight for herself. If OZ soldiers broke in there this minute, she wouldn't defend herself. She's a pacifist at heart."

Amy didn't like the tone in her mother's voice at all. "There's nothing wrong with not wanting to fight! Do you think I'd be doing this if there were any other choice?"

Her mother didn't answer. Amy bit her lip. "Mom?"

"Just drop the subject and fulfill your mission, Amy."

"I'll accomplish the mission, and I'll drop the subject on grandma, but there's another I'd like to bring up. She showed me a picture of my father. You never told me his name."

Now Kara sounded angry. "You don't need to know it."

Amy briefly wished she was talking to her mother over a vid screen so she could flip her off. "Is he alive? Do you know where he is?"

"That's not important. He was probably killed in one of the skirmishes on L2 after he and Sonja finished their work on Deathscythe."

Amy was outraged. "You don't even care, do you? He was a good fuck, and then the hell with him, is that it?"

"Amy Liana Merrick!"

"Well it's the truth, isn't it?" Amy was suddenly glad her mother couldn't see the tears on her face. "You might not give a damn about what happened to him, but it's important to me - and to Duo. He's our father, for God's sake."

Kara sighed. "Amy Liana, we are dropping this subject now. Carry out your mission. I expect a full report when you're done."

The line went to static. Amy stared at the comlink for a moment, resisting the urge to throw it into a wall. She switched it off and dropped it into her backpack.

"Screw someone else's husband, get pregnant with your very own gundam pilot." She muttered to herself. "Just add a gundam, and you're all set to go."

She knew she should call Anne and tell her about school, to get her mind off this mess, but she felt like she would burst any second from anger. She wanted to talk to someone who would understand all of this. She wanted to talk to Duo. Amy wiped the tears from her eyes and put on her jacket. The picture of their father was taped to the dresser mirror. She pulled it off, then carefully placed it in her jacket's inside pocket. A few minutes later she was on her bike and headed toward Kage.

***

A while later, the bike was lying by Kage's feet, and Amy was in the cockpit of the massive black and metallic bronze gundam. She found the hidden file Duo had written her about, and sent him an e-mail telling him what her mother had said. Then she opened a com line to him. Maybe if she got lucky she wouldn't interrupt him in a battle or something.

"Duo? Oi, 'niichan!"

The com line clicked, then Duo answered. "Hey, imouto-chan! I just got your e-mail. Pardon my saying so, but your mother's being a real bitch."

Amy laughed weakly. "Yeah, tell me about it. You're not fighting OZ right now, are you?" She didn't put it past him to fight and try to listen to her problems at the same time.

"Hell no. Just makin' some repairs. You caught me at a good time. Somethin' ya wanted to tell me that wasn't in the e-mail?"

"Yeah. That and I needed to hear your voice."

She could imagine Duo smiling over the line.

"Well, seeing is good too. Lemme turn on my vid screen. Is yours on?"

Amy flipped a switch. "It is now."

"'Kay, just a sec..." A picture of Duo popped up, and he was grinning just like she'd imagined, but slightly covered in grease. He stared at her a second, then blinked. "Wow! You look pretty bad."

She sighed. "Thanks for making me feel better."

Duo winced. "Gomen. But really..."

Amy pulled the picture out of her jacket. "Duo, there's something you need to see. Look at the man to the left of my mother. Look at his eyes." She held the picture up so he could see it.

Duo's eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle. "Holy shit. That's not..."

Amy nodded. "It is. This is our father, Duo."

Duo blinked back tears. Amy almost began to cry herself and stopped, but not before a strangled sob escaped her throat.

Duo shook his head. "Oi, Amy, don't cry. It's okay, really..." He reached out his hand like he wanted to touch her, then realized he couldn't. "Damn it."

Amy sniffled. Duo didn't smile, or joke, just sat in his gundam and watched her over the vid screen. A few minutes went by before he spoke.

"Do you know his name?"

Amy shook her head. "Iie. My mother wouldn't tell me. We have a right to know, and she said it wasn't important. I hate her."

"I'm not feelin' real fond of her myself right now either," Duo said, still watching his sister.

Amy forced herself to grin. "It's okay though. You know why? I'm gonna get her back for this."

Duo looked confused. "How?"

Amy smirked. "Let's just say my priorities have changed."

"Huh?"

Amy shook her head. "Never mind. Just take care, all right? Keep in touch." She reached out her left hand and pressed it against the vid screen. After a moment, Duo mirrored her. He seemed concerned.

"Okay. Expect to hear from me."

Amy tried another smile; it didn't reach her eyes. "Lookin' forward to it." A few seconds later her com line went to static, and her vid screen went black. She sat there another minute before shutting off the communications equipment. Silence filled the cockpit. Her priorities had changed all right, ever since she'd met her grandmother.

"Kage."

"Yes."

"Block any transmissions with the end tag PKML2."

"Negative. These transmissions are necessary to allow you to fulfill your missions."

"Fuck my missions."

There was no response, and Amy half-grinned. Her mother hadn't programmed Kage to recognize swearing? Well, she'd have to change that, among other things. Kage sounded too damn robotic. It annoyed her.

"Kage, you're programmed to follow my orders, correct?"

"Correct."

"So do what I told you."

"Negative. The transmissions are necessary -"

Amy let out an exasperated groan and turned off the AI.

"You can stay like this until I fix your attitude, Kage," she said to the once again silent cockpit. She shut the non-vital systems off manually, then let herself out. Once the hatch was closed, she replaced the netting over it and climbed down. "I start my new life tomorrow, Kage. I'm not going to let my mother ruin it." Amy picked up her bike and headed back to town. Maybe if she pushed herself she could make it back in time to help her grandmother cook dinner.

***

The next morning Amy was dressed in her new school uniform, scowling at her reflection in the hallway mirror.

"I look like a dork."

Victoria shook her head and smoothed Amy's dark, straight hair. "No you don't. You look like a very pretty young lady."

"Blech. I hate skirts."

Victoria only chuckled before heading into the parlor. "You have your books, I trust?"

Amy rolled her eyes. Her new backpack weighed a ton. "Yeah."

"Your lunch?"

"Yes, grandma." Amy took another look at herself and frowned. The uniform was actually rather nice - white shirt, black blazer over that, with a crest on the left breast pocket, and a black and green plaid skirt that ended just above her knees. She was wearing a pair of black leather dress shoes with white ankle socks. Her dark brown hair had been pulled back with green barrettes, and midnight blue eyes glared at her reflection.

I always hated school on the colony. Why did I think this would be any different? But at least there I got to wear jeans.

Victoria's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Amy, did you eat?"

"Oatmeal, grandma."

"Just checking. Don't want you passing out in class from hunger, do we?"

Amy shrugged. She didn't really care. She had to leave in five minutes and suddenly she was scared to step out the door. I thought this was the beginning of your new life?

The doorbell rang just then, and Amy almost had a heart attack. Who in the world...

She went to the front door and pulled it open. Anne was standing on the porch, dressed identically except for her brown shoes. Her light brown hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail. She smiled at the sight of her friend. "Good morning. Ready to go?"

Amy was surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Anne shrugged. "Figured you'd want a friend to ride with." She jerked her head towards the bikes on the porch. "Though, how they expect us to ride bikes in these skirts -"

Amy laughed. "No kidding." She picked up her backpack and settled it in place over her shoulders. "Guess we'd better go. Bye grandma!"

"Goodbye, dear. Have a good day."

Amy wasn't so sure she would, but - "I will." Anne leaned around Amy to call into the parlor. "Goodbye Victoria! See you later!"

"Goodbye Anne. You look out for my granddaughter, all right?"

Anne giggled. "Don't worry about it. C'mon Amy, we've gotta go." She pulled her onto the porch and closed the door. "We're gonna be late if we don't move it." The girls grabbed their bikes, and after some awkward maneuvering, managed to get seated and pedaled off towards the school.