Thanks for your reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing

Alone

Maria had once again found herself in a tricky situation. Where does she go from here? She could go home and stay clear from her father but she really couldn't run the risk of running into him. She could also go, as planned, over to Danny's. But she couldn't face him either. Of course she could jsut stay out on the street if it wasn't for the fact they were dirty. She was Maria Yuy and Maria Yuy doesn't settle for lower than her class.

She rummaged through her bag to see what she could find and was delighted when she came across her credit card. Hopefully it wasn't maxed out from her last shopping trip. She left the school gates, where she had stood for the last half hour, and hailed a cab just like she'd seen in the movies. Smiling toherself, she got in. She could make a pretty damn good city girl.

"Where to, sweetheart?" Caughed the driver.

Maria looked at him with an upturned nose. "Umm...the nearest hotel, please. And it must be at least four stars."

The driver looked at her in surprise. She was still in the same outfit she had on at school so no doubt she didn't look like the type to star at plush hotels.

Maria noticed his stares. "Come as you please." She said, like it explained everything.

The driver laughed. "Yeaaaah I know you're type. I betcha you were daddy's little girl but now you wanna break free, huh? And you'd do just about anything to annoy him, right?" He laughed a throaty laugh. "I see your type all the time."

Maria smiled disdainfully and moved her face so her cheek was in his view. "Actually, this is why I'm breaking free. But you got the first part right."

He shook his head. "I'll bet it's the first time you ever got hit, huh? Shame you didn't come from a background like mine. I'll tell ya, everyday I was covered in those same bruises. Always getting into trouble, I was. Always my mom sortin' me out." He laughed again. "Sometimes I don't even think I really deserved it. But you? I bet you were getting right in his face about some little thing." Maria's face hardened and he laughed more. "Yeah see. You had it coming to ya." He rolled down his window and spat outside. "See, I told ya. I know you're type. Always thinking you're hard done to. Wouldn't know a tough life if it hit you square on the face."

The car pulled up and Maria pulled a twenty out of her purse. "You really don't know what my life is like."

"Sure I don't, sweet heart. But you keep that cash. The rides on me."

"Really?"

He shrugged and scratched his thinning hair. "Yeah. And you take care now. Good luck, princess." He laughed as if he thought this was the funniest thing ever said.

Maria watched him drive away. She couldn't help but think maybe he was right. About somethings anyway. She walked into the hotel and ordered a room, letting the bell boy take her bag for her. There wasn't much in it, just some clothes she'd, luckily, left in her school locker and forgot about. They would do her for the time being.

The room she was lead to was quite cosy yet at the same time lonely. It was reasonably small but it looked as if it was built to share. The king sized bed was big enough to swallow up her petite little body. There was two of everything: cups, towels, bathrobes. She felt empty as she looked around the room and realised that she was now alone and would be for quite some time. She was certain, or at least almost certain, that it was through no fault of her own.

'Well maybe partly...' she thought to herself. 'But it's a real small part.'

Taking off her shoes, she lay on the bed and curled up at the edge of it, scared of lying in the middle incase she never got back out. She scolded herself for still having silly, childish, little fears. They were the kind of things she coul always go to her dad about.

'Your dad isn't here anymore, Maria.' She told herself.

It was true. Her dad wasn't there when she needed him. When she needed him to be honest she wasn't there. He let her prattle on about the gundam pilots, knowing that he was one himself. She felt like fool. She felt angry with herself too for never seeing it before. He was a preventer for Christ's sake. Of course he would have some sort of military training and at his age he would have come into contact with a pilot during the war. How could she have not seen that before? It was obvious to her now. He had never told her all that much about what he did in his job because he was ashamed of it. He thought he had left all his fighting and murdering behind him when he was at war but he was, and always would be, a gundam pilot.

She hated him so much.

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

Danny sat alone in his room, worrying about Maria. No one knew where she had gone. Heero was up to his wit's end about her. He blamed hisself. He should blame himself. He let it go all out of hand. If he would just have told her when he was told then none of this would have happened. Maria would be home safe and sound. He had tried to phone her again and again but it was always switched off. He wondered if she knew just how much everyone was scared sick. Or if she even cared. Or if she was glad.

He could still here Heero's frantic conversation downstairs. He had come over as soon Danny had told him Maria hadn't met him. Initialy he had been so pissed of at her. It was so typical Maria: when something doesn't work out for her she just goes in her little huff. Now, though, he saw her side of the story. All her life the people she'd trusted and loved have been hiding such a big secret from her that really shouldn't have been. She would need some time to get back together but she would eventually.

That is if Lowe didn't get in the way. That man was definitely up to something. No one knew what but there was something going on and Heero and Maria were in the heart of it. He would have to keep an eye out for her at school if she decided to go.

Maria was so stupid, really, to trust him, Danny knew. Everyone at school knew it too. There was something wrong with a man who took so much interest in one of his pupils. Maria just couldn't see it. She would have to though.

He tried to call her one last time before turning in for the night.

It was the answer machine. "Maria? It's Danny. Again. Look, please call me when you get this. Everyone's worried sick about you. Just let me know you're okay."

He lay on top of his bed for what seemed like forever, waiting for sleep to come. He could still here Heero and his parents downstairs. He wondered if Maria was thinking about him too. Maybe.

Sorry it's not that good but it was a bit rushed! Next chapter will be better, I promise! Please review!

jellybean-kitty