Hey-o, and welcome to my Lil' World of Weirdness!!

I state for the record that I don't own Gundam Wing, or the wonderful characters that will be gracing this story. . . I do however lay claim to Ensign Saratone *again*, and I use him here purely as a replacement for your average Nameless OZ Minion. Other Characters I lay claim to are Faye Bloom, the wizened old man, Chang Xiao Fao Lan, and the Angels.

Let's just say . . . when my writer's block breaks, it's like a dam breaking . . . [shakes head slowly and winces]

Parings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3 . . .. Eh, heh, not that anyone reads up here, but I realised I'm giving away certain parts of my story with these!!

Okay, that's the legal stuff out the way!!

Please ENJOY AND PLEASE R&R!!! THANK YOU!!

Also, thanks to my beloved Bluegoo for her ever wonderful betareading, I thank her for the many hours that she has put in with me on this one, be it correcting my terrible grammar and spelling, or listening to me mumbling large chunks of it down the phone to her . . . You're great, Blue!! Even if you are Commander and Chief of the Apostrophe Gestapo . . . [ducks and runs off, screaming over shoulder] GO READ AND REVIEW HER STORIES!!

//Thinking//

"Speaking"

*Stress/Emphasis*

Writing/Dream sequence

Telepathic thoughts

~*~

For The Grace Of Knights And Angels

By Doctor Megalomania

Arch One: Bonds Made And Renewed

Part Eight: Summer Breeze

The door seemed to close very slowly.

Duo sat up straight and stared at the woman. He felt threatened by her; especially while he was wear the scratchy paper hospital gown and its open back, exposing his back to the world. He frowned, feeling Shinigami rattle at his cage. The woman was small and timid, but beautiful. She was so very beautiful, just as he remembered Sister Helen being. "Who are you?"

As if sensing his feelings, the tiny little woman calmly sat so she was at a lower level than Duo, and at a disadvantage. She sat on her hands, her head tipped just slightly submissive; she crossed her feet at the ankles, and let her body relax completely. He glared at her for it. Sister Helen would do that when she wanted to ease a situation. L2 was harsh if you were a woman, or even a pretty boy . . . or even if you were beaten black and blue, six ways ugly. Didn't matter, as long as you were young and venerable. You could always point out the people from L2, they were the ones who were fluent in body language. In recent times a hell of a lot of mediators came from L2. He stared at her, "Look, lady, I just want to know who you really are?"

She stared at her knees, "My name is Helen Maxwell, Duo. You know who I am."

"No, you can't be!" Duo pushed off from his seat and walked to the closed door. He pressed his back against it, and stared at her, "Sister Helen, and Father Maxwell, and all the kids, and all those mercenaries and everyone I've ever loved died when the federation bombed that church." He ran it off quickly, hoping she would miss the catch in his throat. He pulled his braid around so it wasn't digging into his back anymore and folded his arms. The small woman looked up at him, "I know." She smiled with a hint of sadness, "I know that."

"Then what are you playing at?! Huh?!" Duo growled, and ducked his head, "No amount of praying can bring the dead back, so why should you just come back like this for no reason?!"

"I know, Duo."

"If this is in answer to my prayers . . . Hell, what kind of service do you call this?!" Duo laughed harshly, "I prayed, every night, every day and nothing happened. I asked Him to take me instead, I asked Him to take anything else He wanted but you and Father Maxwell . . . and then I started . . ." He swallowed, the taste of smoke and ashes rising in his throat. Duo choked and drew a shaky breath, "I started to wonder why I was praying to a god who didn't care . . ." His breath hitched, and she stood. Her hands were clasped tightly, as she moved forward to hold him. Duo shook his head violently, "NO! I BEGGED!!" He snarled hoarsely, pushing off the door and away from her. "I PLEADED, I PRAYED, I OFFERED TO SELL MY GOD DAMN SOUL TO THE DEVIL IF IT WOULD ONLY BRING YOU BACK---"

The door opened, and Heero stepped in.

The blue-eyed boy closed the door, making a quick motion to the others to stay put. Duo stared at him for a moment, before turning his back on both of them. He sniffed, and jabbed at his eyes. Tears stung them, but out of habit he refused to cry. He drew a few quick breaths. Helen glanced at Heero, who stared intently at Duo. "Duo." The braided boy shook his head violently. "Duo!"

Duo turned slowly, glancing at Helen for a moment, before his smile returned, "Sister Helen died, one cold day, when the sky was blue with fluffy white clouds and it rained grey ash. She died with Maxwell Church's pride and joy caved in on her."

"The stained glass." Helen murmured, as she reached into her pocket.

Duo grinned darkly, "Looks like you did your homework. Good for you . . . excuse me." He bowed to her, and turned to walk out, "But I have to go find some pants, and kill the son of a bitch who sent you."

"Shinigami." She whispered, and Heero raised a hand and placed it restraining on Duo's chest, over Duo's heart. Helen pulled out a small bundle of papers. She smoothed it out and held it lovingly against her chest. "That's what you wanted the Father to talk about every Sunday mass. You came to us after you stole from a federation stockpile. You stayed with us after that . . ." She swallowed, the memories bittersweet. "You were adopted several times, nine times to be exact because everyone thought you were such a pretty child. But every time they brought you back you would stand in the doorway and watch as they went away. The last time, a family you really liked this time, saw you stand there until the rains came . . . you stood in the rain, and I—" Her face crumpled, "I knelt down and pulled you into my arms, I cried when you couldn't, and I promised you never again . . . that I wouldn't let you be rejected like that ever again. You didn't cry, ever." She took a step closer, and Heero watched Duo's face, the other had his head down, his eyes closed. Helen sniffed quietly, "I remember that you were fascinated by the stained glass, with the angels and their white wings. You always looked like a fallen angel when the sun shone, and your shadow seemed to cast itself into a set of black wings . . ."

Duo smirked slightly, Heero blinked as he watched stray tear slid down his cheek. The violet-eyed boy muttered scornfully, "Poetic."

"You once . . ." Helen made a motion with her hand, brushing a tear from her own cheek. "You . . . you once asked me to marry you. It was the night before I died . . ."

Duo's head tipped back, he stared at Heero, his violet eyes brimming full of unshed tears. Tears of his painful memories. Heero kept his face carefully neutral, giving Duo a source of strength to draw from. "I suppose you said yes." Duo quipped quietly.

"No." Helen smiled, tears running freely, she clutched the sheaf of papers tighter, "No . . . I said I'd do something much better . . . something I thought you'd like more than that . . ."

Heero stepped back as Duo turned slowly.

Helen smiled bravely as she gently gave Duo the papers. Duo took them and turned them slowly, he stared at them, "What is this?" He dimly heard Heero behind him, shuffling back and further away, as Helen took a step closer and leant over the papers in his hands. She pointed at the top paper, "Th-this is um, your uh –" She sniffed, "this is your legal birth certificate . . . I had it made up, you were born at the house you were arrested at, your friend's, uh, Solo's house . . . and your legal . . . Where is it?" She shifted another page revealing a set of green papers, her hands shaking uncontrollably, "And th-this is-is you-your official notification and certificate of your rightful name . . . see, Duo Shinigami Maxwell. . . and colonies' insurance number." She smiled and scrubbed at her eye with the heel of her hand, as she lifted a yellow paper, "This is your ad-adpoption notice . . . and th-this bu-bundle here . . ." she pulled at some crisp white papers, "These are your adoption pa-pa-" She chocked slightly as she tried to rush the words out, "Puh-puh-papers, be-beh-because you've be-been adopted . . ." Duo blinked uncomprehendingly as he stared at the papers. He heard the door open and click close, somewhere deep in his subconscious registered that Heero had left him but all he could see was the dates, and signatures. "This here meh-means . . ."

Heero leant against the door.

Every word of the Sister's could be heard through the thin spaceport's medical walls. Hilde sobbed quietly, her hands pressed over her mouth, and her eyes wide open. The doctors shifted and looked as if they couldn't decide to stay or go. Heero looked around at the people around him, and briefly locked eyes with Quatre.

The blonde eyed boy smiled, his eyes a little moist. The bittersweet emotions were affecting him, and he found he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He stared back at Heero, whose attention had drifted away from him. Heero was staring, his eyes not really focused on anything. A smile, small and warm, flitted over his lips surfacing and disappearing every few moments as he listened to the pair behind the door.

Helen shifted the papers, so she could point at a name or two. "Th-the-this means that . . ." She pointed at her own name, "That-tha-that I'm you-your mother . . ." She laughed a little desperately, as she tugged at some pink papers, "And these are our-our p-permits to go, go live on Ea-Earth . . . you and me . . ." She reached into her other pocket and pulled out two old style shuttle bus tickets. She stared at them for a long while, the off white slips of paper shaking in her hands, before admitting softly. "I saved every penny I could, everything I could for all of this . . ."

Duo swallowed and looked up at her, Sister Helen . . . this beautiful woman, his own personal angel stood before him. Staring dully at worthless bits of paper, as she continued to talk quietly. "Even the Father tr-tried to help . . ." She shook her head as the futility of actions; the sheer and painful unimportance of them now hit her. "I was going to take you and live on Earth . . ."

The precious papers fell from his grasp as she crumpled the useless tickets in her hands. Helen began to sob, and Duo opened his arms to her. She fell forward and cried, telling him of her plans . . . they would have lived with her sister until she had enough to buy a home of their own . . . she would take care of him forever, just so he would never have to stand in the rain ever again.

Silence filled the air, as a door opened and a shadow spilled out.

"I understand."

The heavy, steel capped, black boots made a satisfying echo on the steel walkway. "I shall succeed." Dark blue eyes glanced out and stared with disinterest at the sparkling globe. The stars seemed to twinkle gently; peacefully unaware of what was about to befall them. The colonies waltz in an endless orbit. They danced around each other, occasionally twirling near the moon and always bowing to the proud earth. Thin, blue-tinged lips curled, as the one-sided conversation continue. The Other was far from here, slowly advancing toward this lonely outpost's position.

"Of course . . . there will be no remorse upon the matter . . ."

Nimble hands raised, as black leather gloves were pulled on tightly. Strong fingers flexed and stretched to make them fit snugly into the gloves, before one hand was raised absently and laced leather-encased fingers through silken strands. A silent question weighed heavily in the air, almost crushing a once lifeless ribcage. The dark eyes closed briefly.

"I said there will be no remorse. No regret." The eyes snapped open, and stared out, in the reflection these once kindly laughing eyes narrowed with deep hatred, and resentment. "I'll test them . . ."

The Earth continued to waltz; the white clouds swirling around like a virgin's chiffon prom dress.

"No . . ." Urami turned from the expansive window, pale, once golden tanned features disappearing as the tall figure was swallowed by the darkness, "No . . ."

Such a soft voice, once as warm as a summer's breeze turned to a winter's ice cruelty.

 "I'll break them!" 

The small café was busy, but the service was still good.

Duo picked at his food nervously, and glanced at Sister Helen, "Please eat something a little more than that."

Helen smiled and grabbed his fork, she picked up a lump of pasta off his plate and held it to his lips, "I'll eat when you do, and you need food just as much as I do!" She winked as he frowned at her, "Sound familiar?"

"Well . . ." He opened his mouth and chewed quickly, he grinned somewhat nervously, "It was usually you trying to stop me from eating everything in the church!" He sighed and motioned her sandwich, "You can't just eat that!"

Helen shook her head, "It's all right Duo . . . I've eaten less . . ."

"And I can afford more." Duo retorted quickly. Sister Helen blinked at the rushed tone of his voice, and he looked down at his plate. He frowned, "I'm sorry . . . but it's true! Please, for my insanity, please eat something a little more than a sandwich."

Helen looked at him for a moment, "If you are sure . . .?"

"I'm sure," He grabbed her hand, "Please?"

The strawberry blonde tipped her head, "Excuse me?" She asked a nearby waiter, the tall man turned and nodded, she gestured Duo's lunch, "Please may I have the same as he's having?"

"As you please, ma'am."

The long grasses brushed her cheek gently as if admonishing her to wake up.

She smiled and stretched, she had napped a little longer than she expected, but that was all right. The flowers dipped in and out of her line of vision as the winds blew them, and the clouds rolled by, ever changing. Sitting up, she touched the book that lay open, her page lost hours ago.

"Soon . . ." she smiled and looked up fondly, "And I can't wait."

As the waiter moved away from Duo's table, Quatre smiled, "He's so nervous . . . I've never seen him like this before . . ."

"He just wants to make a good impression on her . . ." Heero murmured around his glass, "Make her see that he's done some good." Heero opened his eyes and glanced over at his friend's table, "Which he has."

Trowa nodded, and glanced past the table with the five scientists to look at the one with his mother and Quatrine, the two women were still talking and Sally Po and Hilde had joined them now, chatting just as animatedly. Trowa glanced at Quatre, "What in the hell . . . how do they do it?"

"They've got eighteen or so years of motherly pride to catch up on . . ." Wufei smirked, blowing over his tea before continuing, "All mothers do it . . . mine was the worst . . ." He leant over, "Be happy . . . you will *never* see my baby pictures!"

Heero snorted, "You never know, Chang . . . you might have been called back to your mother."

Wufei shook his head; "My mother died of natural causes . . . there was nothing to be revengeful about. She knew it was going to happen, and she accepted it."

"Hn." He glanced over at Duo, and almost smiled. Above the table, Duo looked totally calm, with one hand wrapped around Sister Helen's, but below it . . . Heero could see one of his knees bobbing slightly, and his other hand was twiddling with the end of his braid. Duo glanced over, sensing he was being watched. Heero quirked his lips slightly, flashing Duo a near smile, and mouthed, 'Stop being nervous and start being yourself.'

The braided pilot's knee stilled, and his braid swung out of his lap, he smiled slightly. 'Yeah, right!' he mouthed back but he seemed a little happier. In doing this, Duo missed Sister Helen's quick glance between the two boys. She smiled gently and leant over to ask him something.

"He's your best friend?"

"Heero? Man, yeah . . ." Duo's nerves seem to leak out of him, and he tucked into his lunch with renewed vigour. The sister's plate arrived, and she thanked the waiter sincerely. She took a sip of water, and picked up her fork, glancing at Duo, "Okay . . . start from the beginning . . . I want to know where my little Shinigami has been . . ."

Duo smiled, and squeezed her hand, "After the church was destroyed and you died, I was captured by some soldiers and taken to a compound . . ."

He rubbed his fingers. Trying hard not to touch his empty holster.

Frowning, he pushed some of his dark blond locks out of his eyes, and looked around. The building. He'd find his Boy here. Didn't know why, didn't care how. He was gonna go back to his boy, gonna touch his cheek and apologise for the sick life he'd given him. His boy was probably messed up beyond repair, but he still cared about the little tyke.

He sighed, brushed off his old uniform and began to scale the fire exits.

Whoever his boy worked for now seriously needed to improve their security . . . any kind of terrorist could get in.

He grinned widely.

Especially his kind.

Duo hugged Hilde tightly as they said their goodbyes, she grinned and punched him in the arm, "You and Sister Maxwell don't be strangers, no more you hear me, Duo?"

Duo feigned deafness, and cupped his left ear, "Ya wanna run that by me again, I can still hear out this ear!"

"Why you!" Hilde punched his arm again, and looked to Sister Helen, "Teach him some manners again, lady . . . I think he forgot 'em!"

Helen smiled, "I'll do my best . . ." She reached out and pulled Hilde into a hug, "Thank you very much for helping me."

"Gee . . ." Hilde blushed, "It's no biggie! It's just an excuse to see my brother in arms!" She punched Duo's arm yet again, "I'm serious, I wanna see you again okay, don't you dare be a stranger to me, Duo Maxwell!"

"Yessum, yessum!" Duo rolled his eyes, "Hai, Hai . . . Jaa, Jaa . . . oui, oui . . . aye, aye . . . na'am, na'am . . . and uh . . . what's yes, in Chinese, Wu?"

Wufei rolled his eyes, "She gets the point, Maxwell . . . Come on!"

Duo shrugged and waved madly as they walked into the corridor, until Hilde was out of sight. Wufei growled as Duo moved to run back for more waving. Lightning quick, Heero grabbed the end of Duo's braid and dragged the boy into the space shuttle. Sister Helen laughed out loud at this, "Now I'm convinced you two are best friends!!"

Faye and Quatrine linked arms with the small woman, Quatrine chuckled, "Why's that?"

Duo groaned as the three women walked over to their seats, Sister Helen's voice floating clearly back to him, "Well, when Duo was seven, and let me tell you how cute he was as a seven year old, makes me wish I'd known him as a baby . . . Anyway, when Duo was seven, he almost never let anyone touch his hair, only the 'Holy Chosen Few' as he called it were even allowed to stroke . . ."  

Heero looked over at his partner, and raised an eyebrow.

Duo 'Shinigami' Maxwell was lying curled up with his head resting in his adopted mother, Helen Maxwell's lap . . . with his thumb in his mouth.

"Awhaw . . ." Professor G chuckled softly as he leant over the chair and stared down, "Sweet."

Helen looked up and glared at him, "Very . . . and I'm glad he has remained so, despite your training."

G sighed heavily, and pursed his lips, "If I didn't care for the little runt as much as I did . . . I wouldn't have trained him to be the very best . . ." He reached down and brushed back a lock of hair from Duo's forehead, "You all seem to have the impression that none of us ever cared about our boys . . ." The old man frowned slightly, "It's the opposite, we trained them so hard so it would be near to impossible to kill them . . ."

"But at what cost . . .?" Helen looked at Duo, and sighed, "I guess I should be glad you tried to keep him in good order . . ." She ran her fingers through Duo's bangs again, "Oh . . . he's grown so much . . ."

"It's so sad, isn't it?" Faye murmured from her seat. She glanced at Trowa who also appeared to be asleep, although Heero could tell he wasn't breathing deeply enough to entirely asleep. "I've missed so much of his life . . ."

"Just as we've missed so much of yours . . ." Quatre said quietly from his seat, his own mother was leant against his shoulder, "Thank you . . ." He whispered to Rashid as the tall man draped a blanket over her and leant back in his seat behind them. Rashid smiled warmly, "Master Quatre, it's a pleasure to meet someone of your family . . . particularly as we were able to reunite you."

Wufei looked up from his book, and glanced out the window.

He allowed the quiet conversations and the almost silent snores of those who'd fallen asleep fade into the very background of his concentration.

What was waiting for him? *Who* was waiting for him?

He glanced at his watch, and sighed. In a few hours he would find out.

The coordinator fidgeted as the landing bay doors closed, and the atmosphere was let back into the bay. He glanced at his assistant, as the other man gave instructions to the pilots of the shuttle. He glanced at the Explorer Two Pilot, "What if he doesn't believe us?"

"He'll believe us . . ." The old man was almost white as a sheet, "When he sees it with his own eyes . . ." The man gulped and glanced at a screen of displays, "Especially when the Earth moves out the sun's path . . ."

The dark object still brooded ominously, still in the shadow of Earth.

Wufei sighed as he waited; Duo yawned and cricked his neck, still holding Sister Helen's hands. "Are you okay?" He asked her quietly, and she smiled and told him not to worry. Faye and Quatrine talked quietly between themselves, as their sons leant against a wall nearby. Rashid and his men were securing the shuttlecraft, getting ready to leave again. Heero had plugged his laptop into a nearby interface, and was in the process of informing Noin of their progress and . . . Wufei glanced behind him, Sally Po and the Gundam scientists were arguing . . . again.

He shook his head and looked over as a rather sweaty looking businessman ran over. The L5 coordinator looked very flustered and pale, he shook hands quickly with everyone he could, giving his name to each of them. Heero raised an eyebrow at him and jerked his head to Wufei, "Get to the point."

"Ah, ah . . ." The coordinator mopped his brow quickly, "Well . . . the point is . . ." He motioned an older man behind him, a pilot Wufei recognised.

"Lazlo Chuo." Wufei smiled, and reached out to greet the man, "I haven't seen you since I was . . ."

"Ten, and in the care of Master O, sir!" Chuo, the pilot of the Explorer Two pumped Wufei's hand, and then shook Master O's. O laughed and hit the man on the back. "How have you been, you old dog?"

"Well enough to keep up with the war effort, and to start the rebuilding of our colony!" Chuo glanced at the two, "But I don't think that's necessary anymore . . ."

O glanced at Wufei, and then back at the old pilot again, "What do you mean?"

Explorer Two was just ahead of their shuttle, Chuo's voice coming in loud and clear.

Wufei leant over the pilot's seat, and pulled up a microphone, "Chuo? Where are you leading us?"

"Don't you recognise the flight path, Wufei?"

"Of course I do . . . it's the old Colony's . . ." Wufei trailed off as O grabbed his arm and pointed out the window. Chuo's voice was quiet as it crackled over the old radio system. "It's good timing . . . just as the Earth shadow's moving . . ."

As the Earth's shadow peeled back, it revealed a view Wufei hadn't seen for four years . . .

His home colony . . . intact, and looking as if it had never been destroyed.

A gasp issued from Master O, a sharp intact of breath, and a near sob. The old, bald scientist closed his eyes and pressed the back of his hand against his mouth as he swore quietly in Chinese. Wufei blinked, staring at the colony a little while longer before he turned and walked out of the cabin.

Silence descended as Wufei walked back into the passenger compartment.

The pale Chinese man was paler than ever, and all his normal fierce expressions had seemed to desert him. His friends leapt to their feet, and scrambled to steady him as he swayed. "Wufei!!" Barked Heero as they slid him into a spare seat, "What is it, Wufei? Wufei!!"

Wufei was silent for a moment before lifting a hand to point out the window. Duo looked out the small porthole and gasped, "My god . . . how . . . how is that . . ."

He turned, his violet eyes wide.

"My god, Wufei . . . it's the colony . . . the whole colony's back!!"

----------------------------

And Now It's Time to LEAVE IT TO DOCTOR MEGALOMANIA!!!

DrM: [holds up hands] WAI!! Konnichiwa!! [glomps onto everyone] It's so nice to be back home, even though I have to work full time at . . . [shudder] Wickes. . .

[Wickes is a British chain of Home Improvement Hardware stores, DrM is a cashier, packhorse and all round dog's body, it is the birth place of Grace Megalomania]

Grace: [smiling disturbingly nicely] Hello, how can I help you today?

DrM: [growls] DIE BITCH-RELENA-CARBON-COPY!!!

Grace: [chuckles oh-so-politely] Oh, I don't think we stock weapons of mass destruction but if you talk to my supervisor, I'm sure she can help you. . .

DrM: [throws head back and screams] AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!! DIE!! DIE!! DIE!! DIE!!

Grace: [sweetly, in a sing song voice] I can't do that, DrM, that's against my nice, sweet innocence helpfulness. . .

Normal Une: [glances between the two] Ohhh-kaaay. . . and people think I've got it bad. . . all DrM has to do is take off her Beloved Hat, and she turns into . . . [shudders]

Nice Une: [waves] Grace Megalomania!! Welcome back!!

Relena: Grace!! Darlin' we simply MUST catch up!

Grace: [sweetly] How about we go for some healthy fruit and tea with only one sugar in it?

DrM: [eye twitch as she watches Grace and the others walk off, turns to readers] okay, I'm scared now. Anyway, thank you for reviewing, and please do feel free to review. I've been finding lately that I draw a hellva lotta inspiration from reviews. Heh. I guess it's true when they say reviewing isn't just an ego boost . . . So, uh, yeah, please review, and leave a name, just in case I spot something I wanna use!! And hopefully . . . the next two chapters will make everything absolutely clear. . .

Urami: [hidden in the shadows, singing quietly to ?-self] No-body knows who I am~! No-body knows who I am~!

DrM: [snaps at Urami] SHHHH!! Don't arouse suspicion!! I'm trying to build tension!!

Urami: [scoffs] like you could build tension with this weakass story . . . [glares at readers, and yells] WHAT?! GET REVIEWING!!