I seem to be updating a lot more recently. Well, as it's Easter, I have time to write more! Plus, my writer's block has finally gone.

I'm not sure about this chapter. I don't think it's come out that well, but I'll let you guys decide!

Enjoy!!!

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The vicar led Jo out of the door of the church, and took her up a path that slowly led up a hill. Right at the top, there was a single tree, a Japanese cherry blossom, and underneath it stood a single headstone, shining a bright white in the sunlight. Jo remembered something her dad said to her once when they visited her mother's grave when she was seven.

"he wanted to be buried under a tree. I'm glad the guys did that for him" she said, feeling tears build up behind her eyes.

The vicar sensed that the girl would want some time alone, so he left silently. Jo didn't even hear him leave.

There were a few flowers by the headstone, some relatively new, others on the verge of dying. She picked up the dying plants and put them to one side, noting that the card said they were from Quatre. She wasn't surprised. The newer flowers were from Trowa, which surprised her a little bit, only because he wasn't normally the sentimental type. She then remembered that he and her dad had formed a close friendship in the war, so maybe that was why he put the flowers down.

So far, she had tried to avoid looking at the headstone, knowing that the name she would see was the person she had adored and worshipped. Her daddy. She took a steadying breath, and stood up before moving her eyes up to the inscription.

Heero Yuy

Born 15th June AC 180

Died 13th August AC 212

Age 32

A Beloved Father, Husband, Friend and Pilot.

He Saved Our Lives countless times

A true Hero

Jo could feel the hot tears welling up in her eyes, and silently, she let them fall. A true hero. That's exactly what her father was, right until the end. Jo stood there, tears falling and sobs sticking in the back of her throat. She realised that the vicar had gone and turned back to look at the grave.

"hi dad, It's me. I'm back. I'm Joanne again" she said.

The wind around her suddenly felt warmer and seemed to wrap itself around her, like a protective barrier. To jo, it felt as if her father was standing there, and she started to cry again. The wind gently blew across her face, almost like a caress. she smiled softly as she imagined the wind to be her father's spirit. She knew it wasn't but she needed to believe it.

Once she stopped crying, she threw the dead flowers in the bin, and rubbed a streak of dirt off the headstone. She then sat down by the grave, talking about how her life had been living in the orphanage and the pain she had felt for so many years, not knowing who she was, yet knowing deep in her heart that she had seen something terrible. Eventually, she moved to sit under the tree, just looking at the headstone and watching the world go by. Even though she knew that there wasn't a body, she felt an inner peace and tranquillity sitting there, because there was a headstone, so that was where his spirit most likely lay.

The sun was beginning to set when jo finally decided to head back, realising she had been there for nearly six hours. She began to walk back down the hill after kissing the stone and promising her dad she'd come back soon, but something inside of her told her to turn back round when she was halfway down. She jumped as she saw someone standing on the top of the hill in front of her, looking at her. She looked closer, but she couldn't make out who it was. Normally, she would have run, but something told her she was safe. The feeling of warmth from the wind returned to her, and her eyes widened.

"Dad?" she spoke quietly.

The person's head moved slightly, as if they were looking behind her and she turned round, just as Duo walked up to her, smiling sadly, a small bunch of roses in his hand. She smiled back and glanced back to the hill, not really surprised, more sad, when she saw that the person had gone. She was certain at that point that it was her father's spirit standing there.

Duo noticed her looking back at the stone and put an arm round her, giving her a small hug.

"You ok, Jo?"

"Huh? Actually, I'm fine. I was a bit emotional when I first got here, but I feel ok now, uncle Duo."

Duo gave her another brief hug, and jogged up the hill to place the flowers at the headstone. Jo carried on down the hill, knowing that like her, Duo would want to say something. She looked back only once, to see Duo bend down and put a hand on the headstone and bow his head. Feeling as though she was prying on a private thing, she ran to the small church, and saw the vicar was still there. She tapped on the door and he called for her to come in.

She walked in to see him looking in a book again, a different one from earlier. He told her he would be with her in a minute, so she busied herself by looking around at the stained windows scattered around. When he was finished, he walked over to her and lay a hand on her shoulder.

"I just came in to thank you." She said.

"It's no problem. And I just wanted to say that I was telling the truth earlier. I promise you I won't tell anyone who you are. If anybody asks, I will tell them that you have moved in with your uncle Quatre and like to come here for some peace and quiet."

"thank you so much. Is there anything I can do to repay you?" she asked him

The vicar chuckled softly.

"if you wish to, I could use some help here on Sundays. After my service finishes in the main church in town, I come back here and go around all the graves, clearing weeds, putting flowers on those that have none and general maintenance. Usually though I can only get through about a quarter of the cemetery. If you want to help, we could probably get around half of it done."

Jo nodded and smiled at him.

"sure, I'll ask my Uncle Duo when he comes back down the hill. Oh and my Name's Jo." she said.

"I am Neil" He replied.

There was a tap on the door at that point. The pair turned to see Duo standing in the doorway smiling at Jo.

"did I hear something about you asking me something?" He asked.

Jo giggled. Sometimes, his hearing was too good.

"can I help out here on Sundays please?"

Duo looked at the happiness shining in her eyes and sighed to himself. How could he ever say no to her?

"Of course. I'll help too, if that's ok with you, father?"

"oh, please just call me Neil. And if you wish to help too, I would be more than grateful"

Duo looked at him with a strange expression. Jo knew it was because he was so used to saying father and sister, and she smiled before nudging him to bring him back.

"oh, sorry. Neil. Sure, I have nothing better to do on Sunday's. we'll come at about lunch is that ok?"

Neil nodded, and duo pulled Jo out the door after saying their farewells, stating they had to get to Quatre's for dinner. He led jo to the car and they set off back to Quatre's.