Hey it's me and I'm back with chapter 12 of Second Chance. Don't own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing. Please review. WARNING LONG CHAPTER AND CHEESINESS AHEAD!


"Oh, hello sweetie, what can I help you with?" The secretary, Ms. Austen according to the name plate on her desk, said as Ami walked into the main office with a pink slip of paper in her hands. After a night of a lot of thinking and very little sleep she had come up with a plan. In a legal trial the defendant was innocent until proved guilty, so in light of this she had decided that she was going to do just that. She was going to prove that Quatre and the guys-whom she could only assume were the other pilots-were innocent, if only to give herself peace of mind. The first step towards her plan was to get their attendance records and compare them to the dates and times of Gundam attacks.

"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt in the middle of class but I just remembered that I have to turn in an application for a summer program that I am signing up for and I need a copy of my school transcript to send with it." Ami said and Ms. Austen smiled.

"Oh of coarse. What did you say your name was?" Ami told her and the woman excused herself and went into one of the back rooms. Ami waited a second then rushed over to the other side of the desk and quickly pulled a mini disk from her purse. She minimized the solitaire game that the woman had been playing and double clicked on the Attendance folder on the desktop. 'They make this too easy' Ami thought as the blue page opened. She clicked on the Juniors icon then placed her disk in the disc drive and clicked the download button. "So sweetie, what summer program are you doing?" Ms. Austen asked. Ami looked towards the back room where the sound of printing greeted her ears. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as the download progress bar steadily moved towards 100.

"It's a program that goes around Asia, teaching minority groups who aren't adamantly educated." Ami said as she looked back to the computer screen, ducking lower in the black cushioned seat as a group of giggling freshman walked by the office.

"That's a good cause. Especially with this war going on. Staying educated is very important." Ami let out a long breath as the download finally stopped and she quickly removed the disk and shut down the attendance program. "Do you need the schools seal stamped on it?"

"Um, yes thank you." Ami said pulling the game back up and running to the other side of the desk right as the secretary returned, a white sheet of paper in her hands.

"Well here you are. Come back next year and tell me how the program went." Ami nodded, taking the paper and hurrying out of the office with her breath a lot more ragged then it had been when she walked in.

"That went better then I thought." Ami said to herself as she stuffed the disk case back into her purse and hurried for the library. She quickly located a computer at the back of the deserted room and pulled the two page list of Gundam attack dates from her purse as well as the disk and sat to work.


"It's very unlike Ami to miss lunch, especially without telling anyone where she is. She's always the one telling us how we're not eating right and what not." Mina said as she and the rest of the group walked out of the courtyard, headed towards the rubbish bins to throw their trash away.

"I know. And I even brought left over cookies." Lita said and Quatre frowned as he automatically looked for the 'popular table' where Relena and Dorothy sat. The newest additions to the table being Zach and all of his equally as creepy friends. A bit of anger ripped through him as he spotted him, laughing at something. He didn't deserve to have any form of happiness again after what he'd done to Ami.

"She's probably just studying or something, you know how she can be." Serena said and Quatre looked back to his cousin. "Ten bucks says she's in the library right now, cramming for some genius test that just emphasizes how smart she really is. Like we don't already know..."

"What if something happened to her though?" Lita asked and Trowa sighed.

"I'm sure she's fine. She's in orchestra next hour. We'll let you know if she doesn't show up." He said as he headed for the music wing.

"See you later." Quatre bid as he followed after is silent friend.

The orchestra room was half filled with their classmates who ate their lunches in the room so they didn't have to brave going out and actually facing all the 'beautiful ones' who liked to make their lives a living hell by calling them 'band geeks' and whatnot. Quatre felt a wave of shame as he realizedthat he had actually dated one of those 'beautiful' people. His eyes swept over the groups, ignoring the somewhat alarmed looks they gave him and Trowa when they walked in, regardless of how many years they had all been in the same fourth hour. They still didn't trust them.

A feeling of relief washed through him as he spotted a familiar navy head buried behind a book. "The girls worry too much." Trowa stated before he headed towards the instrument locker wall to get his flute case.

Quatre headed over to Ami and lowered the copy of The Great Gatsby that she was reading. Her blue eyes widened when she saw him and he sent her a smile.

"Lita was close to calling the National Guard when you didn't come to lunch." He said and she let out a timid laugh, looking not at all like she meant it as she put her book away.

"Sorry, I had some reading to catch up on and the courtyard can be noisy." Her voice was so quiet that he almost had to lean forward to hear her.

"Are you alright?" He asked when she looked down her noseto her shoes. He took a seat beside her and she tensed in her seat.

"I think I might be coming down with something. There is a bug going around." She said with a shiver in her voice. Quatre removed the white jacket he was wearing and placed it over her shoulders and she sent him a thankful smile but kept her gaze averted as if she were afraid to look him in the eye. "Thanks."

"Ami, did something happen?" He asked reaching for her hand. She looked alarmed for a second. And Quatre's eyebrows fused together. He was just trying to get her to relax but it seemed like the harder he tried, the more uncomfortable she became.

"No, I'm just tired I suppose. Maybe swimming in my clothes last night wasn't such a good idea." He nodded. 'That has to be it.' He thought as he rubbed her back.

"Well I hope you feel better. Is everything okay for Thursday?" He asked and Ami looked confused for a second then she nodded as the class bell rung and some stragglers hurried into the room.

"Oh, yea, Thursday. Yes, everything's okay." She said, still not looking the least bit as excited. And certainly not nearly as excited as he was.

"Ok everyone settle down." The orchestra teacher said and Quatre sighed before making his way over to the violin section and taking out his instrument.


'Ok, so the dates and times match up. That doesn't prove anything right? Expect for an extremely large coincidence.' Ami thought as she walked out of World Cultures class where she had spent the whole time staring out the window at the stretch of the Pacific Ocean that was visible from between the gap in the gym and the student parking lot. Raye had even turned around in her seat to ask if she was okay and to tell her that the meeting was cancelled for today because some celebrity had rented out the whole shrine to have a 'see how really, truly dedicated to my faith I am' party. Ami was relieved to have the free time and had even planned to skip swim practice. She was officially in denial and would be until the day that she actually saw the tall machines and their owners together.

"Ami!" Ami turned around to see Trowa hurrying to her. He pulled out the keys to the car and handed them to her. "I don't need them today. I'm going over to Quatre's so tell everyone not to wait up." He said sending her a much strained smile then he turned and headed back to Quatre who waved to her then walked towards the parking lot.

'Something's going on.' Ami thought as she watched them meet up with Heero, Wufei and Duo by the fountain in the courtyard. Ami looked down at the keys in her hand then looked at them and smirked. 'Thank you Trowa.'


"I should've known my school life would suffer because of this mission." Duo's voice echoed around the large hollow space. Wufei rolled his eyes on the far side of the warehouse.

"I know I'm going to regret it, but why?" He asked back.

"Because I have a physics assignment due tomorrow that I could be doing, but no, I'm here getting ready for this stupid mission." He said and Heero sighed from where he sat at his laptop, running a diagnostic test on Wing Zero.

"Duo, shut up." He called and the braided one threw the wrench he had been using to remove a panel down at him. It clacked about a foot away from him and Heero looked up.

"Relax, I missed. Unfortunately." Duo said and Heero's jaw tightened.

"We've brought the ammunition for Heavyarms." One Maganac yelled up to the pilots as he walked over with a clipboard in his hands. "We can have it loaded overnight if you'd like?"

"That would be fine." Quatre said from the cockpit of Sandrock where he was running various system checks.

"And now my head is on the line too." Duo said after a few moments of silence, which were apparently too unbareable for him to keep. Wufei growled as his hand tightly gripped the controls of Shenlong. "I don't mean to complain but your dad's certainly not making things easier for us Qu-man. I mean, a bounty on our heads? Now we have to worry about OZ and all the little people out there who like to play hero." He said and Quatre sighed.

"I told you that I tried to talk him out of it but he wouldn't listen to me. But hopefully this will just blow over soon and we won't have to worry about it."

"I wouldn't worry about it now unless you've been shooting off that mouth of yours again Duo. No one's found us out yet." Wufei said as Rashid walked into the hanger. He cleared his voice loudly.

"Actually, Mr. Chang, we had a security breech just about twenty minutes ago." He said and all the pilots looked at him from where they were, alarm clearly on all of their faces as silence rang around the room.

"What?" Duo asked, his tone slightly more high pitched then his normal deep baritone. Quatre groaned. This couldn't happen. His father would be furious if he found out that he had disobeyed him about staying out of the war. And the media would go crazy over the story he was sure. He could see the headlines now. Pacifist's own son an enemy to the colonies.

"But everything is secure again, we actually found the culprit but uh, you might want to come with me." He said. All the pilots hurried from where they had been working on their Gundams, lowering from their cockpits and running down the catwalks around the ceiling.

"I can't believe this." Duo said and Wufei shot him a glare as they walked after the tall man.

"It was you wasn't it? I just knew you wouldn't be able to keep your big mouth shut about this."

"Hey, I may be careless at times but I didn't tell." Duo shot back at Wufei as they climbed the stairs that lead up to Quatre's closet. Only one of the maids, the only one who was permitted to clean his room, knew their secret and she had been sworn to secrecy and was the wife of one of the Maganacs. She was also the only one who knew what the door at the back of his walk-in closet lead to.

"It's, well, you'll just have to see for yourself." Rashid said opening the door. They walked out of the closet and stopped short as they all looked in the middle of the room to see a frightened Ami sitting in a chair with a gag wrapped around her head and her hands tied together behind the chair.

"Holy Hell." Duo whispered as Ami's eyes widened in panic when she saw them.

"We didn't know what to do and figured that you'd want to handle this yourselves." Rashid said and Quatre nodded mutely. "We'll be outside if you need us." Rashid nodded to a man who was standing at the door with a gun trained on Ami. He lowered the weapon and followed Rashid out of the room.

"What in the seven fiery pits are you doing here?" Duo asked as he rushed over to her. She tightly closed her eyes and turned her head away from him when he pulled out a knife from his pocket. Duo frowned as he crouched behind her and cut the rope that was wrapped around her wrists. They were still a little red.

"I can't believe you told her Trowa, it's bad enough that Catherine knows." Wufei said sending the taller pilot a glare.

"I didn't tell her." He stated and they all looked at Quatre.

"I didn't either." He said walking over, trying not to be hurt by the fear that was waving off Ami with every step he took. He reached behind her head and loosened the gag. She quickly jumped up from the chair and backed away from them.

"So it's really true then. You're the-the."

"The Gundam Pilots. Yes." Heero stated in his notorious monotone. Ami's mouth gaped open for a second as if she were going to say more then promptly closed it and chose to blink rapidly instead.

"How'd you know?" Duo asked and Ami looked at him.

"I just kind of put two and two together. I didn't think I was actually right about it though."

"The how isn't important. What we need to figure out is what to do with you now that you do know." Wufei said crossing his arms over his chest and leveling her with an annoyed glare. Ami's eyes danced across them.

"You're not going to-to kill me are you?" Heero's eyebrow perked amusedly and Duo almost laughed.

"Kill you, now what would make you think we'd do something like that?" He asked and then he frowned. "Whoa, we maybe a little rash at times, some of us more then others cough, Heero, cough, but we're certainly not going to kill you." Duo said and Ami let out the breath she had been holding in.

"Wait, she has a point." Heero said, ignoring Duo's comment as he stepped forward. "We are the heartless bastard rebellions right? Why shouldn't we just kill her? I mean now she knows and could run right down the hall and tell it all to Mr. Winner."

"I wouldn't." Ami said and he smirked.

"I don't believe her. I've thought she was a spy since she arrived." He stated and Ami's eyes widened.

"Well, if I was one I certainly wouldn't be very good if I got caught already." Ami snapped defiantly and his smirk turned in the direction of a real smile.

"I think we can make a deal." Heero said and the guys shot him curious looks while Ami shifted nervously from foot to foot. "You're good with computers. I still haven't been able to crack the code to the firewall on your notebook. You put the same system on my laptop and we'll think about sparing your life." Ami blinked then nodded.

"Okay." He smiled, pulling his gun from god knows where and aiming it at her head. Quatre looked ready to protest as a frightened gasp escaped Ami's mouth and a shiver ran through her. "You start now. Walk." He ordered nodding towards the closet. Ami nodded silently and walked forward, not looking any of them in the eye. Quatre let out a sigh as he followed after them back down to the hanger.


Ami pulled her knees to her chest as she watched the progress of a computer for the second time that day. Only now she was waiting for the final touches of her firewall to go up on Heero's system. It had taken nearly four hours and it was now well passed eight o'clock but she had done it. Even with her jumping at every clank of tools and metal around her. She glanced up at the giant robots in front of her. She was fairly sure that just one of the feet on those things was about the size of a large SUV. Heero had actually left her to the computer to do some repairs on his Gundam but she wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. She wiped her hand across her forehead as the program beeped, signaling that it was in place. It was rather stuffy in here and she was wearing a skirt. She didn't know how the guys could stand it.

"Hey, it's done." Ami jumped as Quatre's hands rested on her shoulders. He sighed and promptly removed them.

"Sorry. I'm just a little jumpy." She admitted as he crouched beside her and sent her a kind smile.

"I'm sorry you found out." Ami looked at him and their eyes connected for the first time in days. Fear and distrust reflected back at him. "Can I speak with you in private?" He asked reaching for her hand. Ami nodded despite her uncertainty. After all, Quatre had the most to loose. It was his father who they were trying to keep their secret from. What if he just decided to kill her now so he wouldn't have to worry about it. 'This is Quatre. He would never do anything like that.' She tried to tell herself as he stood. 'But then I never pictured him controlling one of those things either.'

Ami reluctantly followed after him as he walked towards one of the machines. Heero looked up from his repairs and watched them as they passed.

"The program is complete." Ami said, surprised that her voice was as steady as it was. He nodded, stood and walked silently towards his computer.

"I'd like you to meet Sandrock." Quatre said proudly as he stopped in front ofthe yellow and black plated suit. Ami looked up at it curiously. "It's mine." He clarified and Ami nodded, glancing over at him. He was staring at her expectantly. "Well?" Ami looked back to the robot and tried to think of an adjective to describe it that wasn't terrifying, which was the only word that came to her mind as she gazed up.

"It's, uh, it's nice?" She said and he smiled.

"Wait until you get up to the cockpit." He said as he pushed a button and a thin wire lowered to them.

"Up there? Wait I don't think that's a good idea I-"

"Oh it's fine." Quatre's arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her close against him as he stepped onto a loop at the end of the line, grabbing a hold of it above their heads. Ami closed her eyes as they immediate began shoot up. Her stomach flopped and she held tight to his shirt, ignoring the chuckle that rippled through him when she did so. It seemed like an eternity before they stopped with a click and Quatre stepped forward on something. She only opened her eyes again when her feet touched down on solid ground. She let out a gasp as she looked down and around at the warehouse. They had to be two hundred feet in the air. She backed away from the edge, looking around curiously.

There was a seat surrounded by buttons and controls a few feet behind her and she could see Duo in his own cockpit about forty feet away, whistling as he tested various parts of his Gundam. Heart pounding in her head, Ami chanced a look at Quatre, who was grinning like he was a little kid and it was his birthday.

"Amazing isn't it?"

"It's taller then I thought it was." She said and he chuckled, grabbing her hand again and pulling her towards the seat.

"This is where I sit. There's the communication screen so that we can all keep in contact throughout missions, those control the arms and legs respectively…" He said pointing to each area. Ami couldn't help but feel a little clausterphonic as she looked around the tiny space.

"Aren't you ever afraid?" Ami asked interrupting him as he demonstrated the order of events to start the thrusters. He nodded, looking back at her.

"Every time I go out." He said honestly. Ami looked back at the controls.

"Then why do you go?" She asked and he smiled.

"Because it's something I have to do." He said tilting his head to the side when she still refused to look at him. He reached forward and tipped her head up so he could see her eyes again. "And because I want to. To protect those I care about."

He let out a sigh when she wrapped her arms around him and relaxed in his arms finally. "I was afraid you'd be different. I never should've come. I'm sorry that I didn't trust you, Quatre." She said and he closed his eyes and kissed her forehead.

"As much as I don't want things to change now, they will. You'll be in grave danger knowing our true identities so I must ask you not to tell anyone. Not even the girls." Ami nodded, her head still buried in his shoulder. Quatre rubbed her back as she relaxed against him even more.

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."

"I always knew you were too smart for your own good. How did you figure it out?" He asked and Ami let out a small laugh as she pulled away from him.

"Actually it was yesterday, when you were upset about the statement. I remembered that bruise on your shoulder. And it just clicked. Then I got your attendance records from the office and compared them with dates of reported attacks. I wanted to prove myself wrong and snuck here. I saw the Gundams through one of the windows, the one over there by uh, the red one. I guess I let out a loud gasp because immediately one of the Maganacs ran over. I was so scared." Ami said letting out another half-hearted laugh.

"You stole our attendance records?" He asked, a laugh bubbling in him. Ami nodded, a blush lighting her face. "Well you certainly went through a lot." He said and Ami sighed. "But I'm glad I know why you were so livid today. I thought it was because of Thursday." He said.

"I was too panicked to think about it really. Sorry. I was just so scared." Ami shook her head again. "What are we doing?" she asked and he gave her a secretive smile.

"That's for me to know and you to find out. Eventually." They both sighed, looking around in silence until Quatre kissed her forehead again. "I guess I'm glad you found out though." He said and Ami looked at him curiously. He looked down at her amused face and smiled. "I mean, I'm glad I don't have to keep it all a secret anymore." Ami briefly wondered if Dorothy knew too but decided not to go into that. Not while she was still getting used to being around alleged assassins.

"So, um, what is that?" Ami asked as she pulled away from Quatre and pointed to a small black device that was mounted on the wall by the seat. Quatre ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply.

"That's uh, the self detonating device." He said and Ami took a step back, looking at Quatre with a frightened look on her face.

"You mean detonate as in blowup?"

"Only for extreme cases. We all feel that we would rather see them destroyed then used as tools to kill civilians." He said with a nod and Ami's hand clenched at her side. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath then opened them again, sending him a determined look that nearly surprised him. It was almost as if she had made a vow to herself.

"How can I help?" She asked her eyes more steeled then he had ever seen.

"Help?" Quatre's eyebrows shot towards his hairline as she looked around at the rest of the guys.

"I would like to help you." Ami said, still not looking in his direction.

"Isn't knowing enough?" He asked and Ami shook her head, looking around at the suits with a calm, critical eye. She hadn't seen them before but now they were apparent. The little flaws on each Gundam. The damages and dents from past battles.

"I can help you repair them." Ami stated, finally looking at him again. "I may not have an extensive knowledge about Gundams but I'm willing to learn." Ami said and Quatre sighed.

"I don't know Ami. I'd have to ask the others first." He said looking around at his friends. He caught Trowa's eye from across the warehouse. "And I don't think Trowa would be too excited about it." Ami looked down and nodded. She hadn't even thought about him. She nearly laughed. Her soon to be stepbrother was a Gundam Pilot.

"I suppose you're right." She admitted with a small laugh.

"Right now the best help you could give us is to keep this secret, just that."


"Where were you last night? I tried to call you." Lita said as she joined Ami on the fountain bench in the courtyard before school started the next day. Ami let out a long yawn as Trowa sent her an uncertain look as if he expected her to just tell Lita.

"I'm terribly sorry Lita. I went to the library to study and I guess I lost track of time." Trowa visibly relaxed on the other side of the fountain. "What was on your mind?"

"Nothing I can really talk about now." Lita said looking at Trowa before leaning forward. "Raye did a fire reading and thinks that something is going to happen today. Just keep your eyes open okay?" She whispered and Ami nodded.

"Of course." Trowa sent them a curious stare then Duo bounded over.

"Hello ladies." He said plopping down next to Ami. "So Ames, I didn't exactly get to work on that report on the aerodynamics of a paper airplane for physics…" Ami sent him a smile.

"I can help you with it in gym if you'd like." Ami suggested and Duo grinned.

"You're a lifesaver." He said then his grin slid off his face. "Hey, isn't that Mina and Andrew?" He said and Ami sent a look at Lita who had the same sad look on her face. Apparently Mina had told her as well. Mina was smiling at something that Andrew was saying and flipping her hair in her normal flirtatious way.

"Hey, how about we get started on the report now." Ami suggested and Duo tore his gaze from the pair as they disappeared around the corner to the performing arts wing. Ami's heart broke at the sad look that appeared in Duo's normally mischievous eyes.

"Oh, sure." He said, not hiding the disappointment from his voice as he stood. Trowa sent her a sympathetic look as she followed a downcast Duo to the library.

"It's going to break his heart when he finds out that Andrew asked her to the prom and she accepted." Lita said looking at Trowa through the curtain of water that cascaded from the top of the fountain.

"He'll get over it." He said in return as he stood. "I think I'll head to class as well." Lita let out a sigh as he shouldered his backpack and walked away as graceful as he always did.


What happened toDuo? Ami looked up from the note that had been thrown on her desk. She had been in the middle of her sixth hour Calculus test when it landed on the problem she was working on. She lookedover to the boy in question. He was sitting at a table closest to the teacher and was clicking his pen and staring into space instead of concentrating on his work. Ami sighed and looked at Raye who was sitting next to her, impatiently staring at her out of the side of her eye.

He found about Mina and Andrew. She handed the note back to Raye after checking that the teacher was busy writing the next lesson's assignments on the dry erase board at the front of the class.

Serves him right. Mina liked him for ages. Was Raye's reply. Ami looked back at Duo, his head was now down on the desk and his lips were set in a sad pout. Haven't seen anything suspicious have you? Raye tossed another piece of paper on her desk.

No, but I haven't seen any of the Generals in the halls. I think you are right. They might be planning something. Ami handed the note back.

Something big. As soon as Ami read the note there was a loud shriek followed by a crash that sounded like a brick wall collapsing. Ami sent Raye a panicked look as everyone jumped up from their tests and rushed to the window, used to such attacks and the outbursts that happened after them.

"Everyone please stay calm and remain in your classrooms." The frantic voice of Ms. Austen said from the P.A. system but nearly everyone in the class and those around it paid no mind and quickly ran out into the halls to see what was happening. Even Duo, Wufei, and Heero looked excited to have the distraction.

"Are you ready to do this?" Raye asked as soon as the teacher had left the room to follow the rest of his students. Ami nodded as she pulled her blue transformation pen from her pocket with a shaky hand. Raye pulled out her own and cleared his throat. "Alright, now all you have to say is Mercury Power, the rest should come naturally." Ami let out a shaky, nervous breath as she took a firm grip on her pen, staring down at the emblem marked on the side. That sounded easy enough. At least it would be until she as actually there facing whatever hideous creature had decided to ruin their day by showing up.

"Here goes. MERCURY POWER!" Ami heard Raye call out her own transform but was too preoccupied by the feeling of cold power that rippled through her to look at her friend. Her school uniform was traded for a much tighter and shorter outfit complete with boots that ran up to her knees and a tiara that seemed to focus all the power she felt towards a small blue jewel in the center of it.

"Ready Mercury?" Mercury looked over to see Mars in her own red and white uniform. She briefly wondered how Mars fought efficiently in heels but nodded, vowing to ask later.

"Let's go." She said as Raye crossed to the window and pushed it open. "Um, Mars, we're on the fourth floor." Mars was already crawling out of the window.

"I told you the rest would come naturally." With that she jumped. Mercury rushed to the window and looked down. Mars landed in a graceful crouch. Venus was already a few yards away on top of the gymnasium, looking around for the attack point. "Come on." Mars called and Mercury sighed then climbed out of the window and jumped. The fear she expected to course through her never came. She too landed in a crouch like Mars hadand stood up, glancing back at the window. "Now lets go get rid of some Negatrash." Mars said. Mercury nodded to her friend and they started running and easily jumped to where Venus was. Jupiter soon joined them. She sent a smile to Mercury then turned towards their leader.

"Where's Sailor Moon?" Mars asked and Venus shrugged still looking around. Now students were streaming out of the building to see where the attack was happening.

"I can't see them, wherever they are." She said and Mercury felt a tingle at her mind. 'You could.' A familiar voice taunted. It took Mercury a second to realize that it was her own voice. Her hand instinctively reached up to her right ear where there was a blue stud earring. She pressed down on it and a blue visor appeared in front of her eyes and a computer materialized in her hand.

She looked down at it curiously and a map of the school appeared in her visor. A black blinking dot appeared in the area that was the auditorium.

"I know where they are." She said and the scouts turned around and gaped at her.

"When did you get those?" Jupiter asked, her green eyes glowing and Ami shrugged.

"We can talk about that later. Let's go." Venus interrupted before Ami could describe that she just thought of them and she knew what to do.

"Right." They chorused as they all bounded across the roof. They jumped to the ground when they reached the stage entrance to the auditorium. The crowd of students and teachers who had formed around the door all moved back, out of the way, ooh-ing and awe-ing at them. Mercury ignored the 'Hey there's a new one!' comments as she clutched onto the computer in her gloved hand. She got the distinct impression that she was being stared at. 'Well, they were used to there only being four Sailor Scouts...'

"This is definitely it. I'm picking up some crazy Negavibes." Mars said and Jupiter nodded.

"Alright, you two check this out and remember to be careful. Mercury could you scan the rest of the building to see if there are anymore?" Jupiter and Mars opened the door and rushed into the auditorium. Mercury quickly scanned the building. "And where is Sailor Moon?" Venus muttered to herself.

"Hey Sailor Venus." The scout in question looked up and sighed, it was a junior girl who was speaking. "Who is the new chick?" Mercury looked up and Venus nearly laughed.

"Her name in Sailor Mercury and I would try to be a little more respectful, she's trying to save your butt here. Speaking of which, this is a battle, shouldn't you be fleeing, not standing here asking questions."

"The scan is negative." Mercury said and Venus nodded, looking back at the door right as it burst open.

"Hey, we could use your help in here you know." Mars said as there was an electric shock behind her.

"Right, sorry." Venus said as they ran inside. Jupiter was squaring down with blue and red monster that looked like a theatre production gone wrong on the stage. The auditorium itself was filled with students who were on the ground apparently passed out from the pink and white petals that were strewn across the floor. Mecury frowned. She knew this energy draining technique.

"How nice of you to join us finally." A rich voice said from one of the seats as a man stood up.

"Zoicite." Venus hissed as Mercury took an involuntary step back.

"Where did he come from?" Jupiter asked, pausing from her fight. The youma sighed in annoyance.

"Patience Two Face." Zoicite said to the youma. "You shall have your time to kill them. We just have business to discuss with them first." His focused on Mercury and she glared back at him.

"We have nothing to talk about." She said and he smirked then disappeared.

"Where'd he go?" Venus said as they all looked around frantically.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Jupiter said. Suddenly vines shot out of the wooden floor boards and wrapped tightly around all their arms and legs.

"What is this?" Raye said thrashing around against them. Suddenly all four Generals appeared in front of them.

"I have to say, this was a good idea Zoi." Malacite said as he gazed at them with his dull gray eyes.

"What do you want with us?" Jupiter said, trying to pull at the vines around her arms. One floor board cracked and Nephlite's eyes flashed.

"You know what we want. Give us your Rainbow Crystal."

"It wouldn't even matter would it? You can't even find the seventh crystal and you can't form the Silver Crystal without it." Jupiter snapped.

"Yea, and like we'd ever give it to you anyway." Venus said and Malacite smiled.

"We thought you'd say something like that. That's why we got a little…leverage." With that one of the spotlights landed on a tied up figure at the back of the auditorium.

"SAILOR MOON!" They all yelled.

"Now, do we have a deal?" Malacite asked, crossing his arms.

"No, don't give it up Sailor Venus!" Sailor Moon yelled at them.

"Shut up Sailor Brat." Jadeite yelled, sending a red blast back at the girl.

"No! Sailor Moon!" Mars cried out as her friend slumped to the ground.

"Fine you can have it, just let her go." Venus said, hate radiating off of her. Malacite smirked.

"I knew you'd see it our way." He said walking forward. Venus closed her eyes as a tennis ball sized purple gem appeared in her hand.

"No, Venus don't give up just yet." A voice said from the rafters as a red rose shot out and struck Malacite's hand. Tuxedo Mask jumped down to them. Malacite growled as the crystal disappeared. Mercury looked out into the seats and almost let out a sigh as she spotted none other then Heero cutting the bindings around Sailor Moon's hands.

Zoicite followed her gaze and let out a growl. "Why does everyone have to play the hero!" He snarled.

"NO!" Mercury yelled and closed her eyes. The next thing she knew the smell of cherry blossoms blinded her senses and she felt the vines disappear. When she opened her eyes again she was standing in front of the exhausted Sailor Moon and Heero, separating them and the rest of the guys who were hiding in the back row, from Zoicite. He stopped running and glared at her as gasps came from the stage where her friends were still tied. Ami could still feel the coils of pain from where the vines had kept her restrained.

"I see. So you decided use the powers I gave you against me." He said and Ami's fist clenched. She wanted nothing more then to sink it into his stupid, perfect face.

"You're fight is with us. Not them." She said and he crossed his arms.

"I don't take it you've thought about my offer, it still stands you know."

"Go to hell Zoicite." She said and he smirked.

"Been there, done that. It's really quite nice in the winter."

"Enough Zoicite." Malacite barked from the stage. "We just came to give you a message from Queen Beryl. The games are over. A war is coming so be prepared. We want worthy adversaries. Not puny little girls who have to rely on help from, humans." Malacite sent a glare to the back of the auditorium. "Come. Do what you want Two Face." Zoicite sent Mercury a glare.

"We'll finish this later Mercury." He stated.

"I'm looking forward to it." She snapped back sarcastically and he rolled his eyes before he disappeared in a swirl of sakura blossoms.

"Finally." Two Face said turning to the three still bound Sailor Scouts. Tuxedo Mask looked up from where he was cutting Jupiter's vines. The monster held its hands above its head where a small lightening storm formed.

Mercury looked at her friends as she felt a cold feeling travel through her. "Mercury Bubbles BLAST." She called and the monster was incased in thick block of ice before it could release its attack. "Sailor Moon, can you finish it off?" She asked her friend who was still leaning against Heero. Her eyes meet Quatre's for a second and she quickly looked away.

"Sure thing. Moon Tiara MAGIC!" The golden disc quickly disintegrated the monster to Moon Dust.

"Way to go Mercury." Jupiter ran down the aisle to her friend. Tuxedo was now starting through Venus's vines. Mercury blushed as Jupiter gave her a hug. "And Sailor Moon, are you alright?" She asked her friend who nodded.

"Just a little tired I guess." She said and Venus joined them.

"Well, I guess you should be. That Jadeite is such an ass." She said and Jupiter nodded.

"I'll leave you now. You're alright aren't you Sailor Moon?" Tuxedo Mask asked as Mars finally walked towards them.

"Sure, thanks." He nodded to them then left as quickly as he came.

"Thanks for your help but you really could've been in danger if Mercury hadn't stopped Zoicite." Jupiter said as she went to help Sailor Moon.

"You know you can stop this little charade. We know who you are." Wufei said crossing his arms over his chest. Mars frowned.

"Everyone knows who we are." She said and he rolled his eyes.

"Stop being such a wise ass Raye, it's not very attractive." He barked and the girls gasped and Mars fumed.

"I don't know who the hell you are or what you're talking about but my name certainly isn't Raye." She said, looking at them as if she were challenging them to say otherwise.

"Sure it is. And Sailor Moon is Serena, I really don't think your father would approve of this. You too Mina." Both blondes gaped at Quatre.

"And trying to hide this big secret from your own brother, Li? I thought you knew me better then that." Duo said shaking his head as if he were disappointed but he had a huge grin spread across his face. Jupiter looked at him like he had sprouted another head.

"The only person we aren't sure about is Sailor Mercury since we've just met her. Although we do have our suspicions." Quatre said looking at the blue clad Sailor Scout.

"How long have you known?" Jupiter asked as she detransformed in a flash of green light.

"For about a year now." Heero said as the rest of the scouts followed her lead.

"Ami." Trowa said nodding towards his soon to be sister. She blushed and tugged down on her uniform skirt.

"Why didn't you tell us so we wouldn't have to sneak around?" Raye demanded as a spark seemed to form in her eyes.

"That's what I said." Quatre said looking around at the other guys in a 'I told you so' manner.

"I just can't believe it. We were so careful." Mina said with an astounded look on her face and Duo shrugged.

"We're just really observant." He said then immediately remembered why he was mad at her and went back to his sulky state. "But maybe we should tell the nurse about everyone in here." He nodded towards their still unconscious peers. Mina didn't seem to notice the change in him.

"I guess you're right. Gees, I hope no one else has figured this out..." She muttered to herself as she walked out of the auditorium.

"So, you're a Sailor Scout…" Quatre said quietly as they walked out after their friends. Ami nodded, blushing even more. The halls were crowded with excited talk about the attack, many were trying to sneak into the auditorium to see what had happened and sent the group curious glances as they filed out. Apparently seventh hour was cut and they were sending everyone home, all after school activities cancelled for the day.

"Well, today was my first time fighting but yes, I am." She whispered back.

"I guess that makes us even in the secret category then." He said and Ami smiled.

"It does, doesn't it? You won't tell will you?" She asked and he shook his head.

"Not as long as you don't."

"Hey, what happened in there?" Molly asked running over. "Where'd the Sailor Scouts go?"

"They disappeared right after the fight, you know how they are. We were hiding in the back and saw the whole thing though. I even got attacked." Serena said proudly and Heero rolled his eyes as the crowd ate it all up. He quickly pushed himself away from the growing crowd.

"No way." Molly said excitedly. "Where?"

"So, about tomorrow…"

"I'm still not telling you where we're going." Quatre said to Ami as they pushed their away from the group. Teachers, the principal and the nurse were all rushing into the auditorium to check on the others.

"I hope they're all okay." Ami said absentmindedly as they finally got away from the crowd.

"Hey Ames, meeting at Raye's!" Mina called from the heart of the action where she was giving a false account of what happened to a reporter for the school paper.

"I could give you a ride if you'd like." Quatre offered as they headed towards the math wing where Ami had left her book bag.

"Oh, thank you Quatre. But it doesn't start until well after four. I still have nearly two hours. You don't have to wait for me if you've got, uh, other things to do." Ami said and he understood the secret meaning to her words.

"It's no problem really. Everything's taken care of. Would you like to do something until then?" He held the door to the room open for her. Heero and Wufei were there as well, getting their things. They both looked up when Quatre and Ami entered. She briefly wondered when Wufei had gotten away from the crowd. "Oh, hello guys." Quatre greeted as Ami gathered her things into her bag and placed her unfinished test on the teacher's desk even though he was no where in sight.

"You two going somewhere?" Wufei asked as he pulled his black messenger bag over his shoulder. Quatre's cheeks reddened slightly.

"Maybe." He said and Wufei shrugged.

"I'm not telling Trowa." He stated as he nodded to Heero and they both walked out of the room.

"What was that about?" Ami asked, walking over to Quatre who shrugged.

"Who knows." Ami got the distinct impression that he really did but decided to drop it.

"Ok, so what do you want to do?" She asked. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the door.

"I have an idea. How would you like to meet my parents? They're here for a few more days before they leave for the L4 cluster for a press conference." Ami blinked at the sudden question. Sure she had already met them, right before they left on the road trip but this would be like formally meeting them. Her stomach filled with uncertain butterflies at the thought.

"I don't know Quatre. I mean, is this the right time? I look-"

"Fine. You look fine. Come on, please? They've been dying to talk to you." Ami sighed as he stared down at her with pleading blue eyes.

"Oh alright." She said and Quatre grinned.

"Great, let's go." He said as they headed towards the parking lot.


"Wait Quatre, I'm not so sure about this." Ami hesitated as they walked through the large mansion, the nervous flutter had yet to die off in her stomach and try as she might, she couldn't get it to go away. In fact it seemed to be getting worse.

"Don't worry it'll be fine." Quatre said, not the least bit nervous as he pulled her towards his father's study where the soft chords of classical music were drifting from. He rapped on the door once and a few giggles were heard through the door as it was pulled open by a girl with red, blonde hair. She looked to be a few years older then Quatre and was wearing gray pin-stripped dress slacks with a knitted coral halter top.

"Qu. Hey it's thirty!" She said as she threw the door open to reveal a girl with strawberry blonde hair in jeans and a green t-shirt and a girl with bright blonde hair in a hunter green skirt and a brown lace trimmed camisole top.

"Wow, look how much you've grown." The strawberry blonde said pulling him into a hug that soon turned into a group hug as the other two joined in.

"You're trying to grow up on us, no fair." The fair haired girl said. Quatre blushed as he tried to pull away from his sisters. Ami let out a small laugh and they all stopped and looked at her.

"Who is this?"

"Has Quatre got himself a girlfriend?"

"Wow, she's so cute!" Soon Ami herself was surrounded by blondes who were asking millions of questions and hugging and kissing her cheeks.

"Is your hair naturally that color?"

"Girls, you're going to scare her. Don't mind them Ami, dear. Come on in." Ami looked up to see Mrs. Winner standing behind the brown leather chair that Mr. Winner was sitting in. Almost like they had been expecting her.

"It's nice to see you again." Ami said politely trying not to gaze around the room too much. Her father would've killed for the art collection that was on all the walls of the office.

"Wow, this one has manners." One of the girls behind her said and Ami felt her cheeks and ears tingle.

"When did you three get here?" Quatre asked, grabbing Ami's hand again. Her cheeks burned even more if at all possible.

"Oh earlier today. We decided to come home from Massachusetts for Spring Break instead of going to Florida with everyone else, again." The blonde who had opened the door said. "But did you say your name was Ami? Oh that's such a cute name."

"These are three of my sisters. That's Hanna, Nadia, and Aliza." He said and Ami sent them a shy smile.

"It's wonderful to meet you."

"Why don't you go get unpacked." Mrs. Winner suggested, sending them all meaningful looks.

"Alright. But we get our turn with her later." Nadia said as she led the group out of the room, closing the door behind them as they went.

"I'm glad you're both okay. I heard about the attack at your school and Rashid went to check on you straight away, you know how he is, but I suppose I'll go call him now. Ami would you care to join me?" Quatre gave her a reassuring hand squeeze and nodded.

"Alright." She said as she reluctantly followed the regal woman out of the room. She couldn't help but feel that she was being scrutinized. That if she walked the wrong way or breathed too loud that they would deem her as unworthy of their beloved son and cast her out like a thief.

"Relax Ami, I'm not here to judge you. Nadine can you call Rashid and tell him that Quatre is home safe and sound please?" A maid nodded and hurried down the hall. "I just called you to come with me because Quatre has a few things that he needs to discuss with his father."

"It's nothing bad is it?" Ami asked and the woman sighed as she stopped walking.

"I'm afraid it is. Why don't we talk out here?" She motioned to the door she had stopped by. It led into the backyard, which looked more like a tropical island then any backyard Ami had ever seen. The blue ocean gleamed behind a jungle of exotic plants and flowers. "Right this way then." She said as she stepped out on the patio then walked down some steps that lead to the ground level. An infinity pool with a waterfall sat at the edge of the property so it looked like it extended out into the ocean. There was a rock bench next to a small pond where white and black spotted giant goldfish swam. Mrs. Winner sat on the bench, apparently not worrying about getting her white pants dirty, and patted the area next to her. Ami nervously sat and looked out at the arrangement of flowers. "I come out here when I need to think." Mrs. Winner explained.

"It's gorgeous." Mrs. Winner nodded at her comment then turned to place her hands over Ami's.

"Ami, I'd like to speak to you, woman to woman." Ami nodded, sitting up straighter as the woman sighed. "There is a…situation in the colonies that Mr. Winner and I have to take care of, I'm sure Quatre told you."

"He said that you are leaving for the L4 clusters in a few days."

"We are. You see the Winner family has been in the colonies ever since they were established, until recently. When the uprisings began we felt that it was best that we moved to Earth to raise our family for our protection. But since then, the colony has apparently felt that we've abandoned them. That's why we made the statement about the Gundams. The colonies no longer support them you see, so we figured that if we sided with the colonies that they would realize that we are in no way deserting them. But the plan backfired. The uprisings have grown dangerous over the passed 48 hours and we fear that fighting may start among them. That's why we're leaving. To try to calm them before something horrible happens." Ami nodded as she looked down at their hands.

"I hope everything goes alright." Ami looked up but the blonde woman was frowning.

"But I doubt everything will be okay Ami. You see, I know this sounds foolish but I get these feelings. It was the same type of feeling I got years ago when we decided to move the family to Earth. Dread. I don't think we'll make it back Ami." Ami let out a small gasp as Mrs. Winner let out a small sob and tears fell from her eyes.

"But what if it does go right? Then you'll have worried for nothing." She said awkwardly as she pulled out a white handkerchief. Mrs. Winner shook her head as she accepted it and dabbed at her tears.

"I know, I know, but I can't help it. That's why I must ask you a favor Ami. If something does happen to us, will you promise to be there for Quatre? He's such a good person, you know. Not made for politics. I just want to make sure that he's alright. And I know he will be if he's with you." Ami blinked as Mrs. Winner fixed her with a serene, truthful smile. "You make him happy Ami. Happier then I've seen him since he was five and we left the colonies and especially after Dorothy. That just broke his heart and it hurt me to see him so sad, but when you're around he just seems to smile more." Ami blushed but nodded.

"Okay, I'll watch after him. But I really think everything will be okay." Mrs. Winner smiled, patting her on the hand.

"You're a nice girl Ami. A good match with him. I just wish I had looked for that before instead of what would be good for the company. That Dorothy…I blame myself for that." She said shaking her head as she looked out at the ocean.

"It wasn't your fault." Ami said and she sighed.

"It was. You see, I set them up. Well, Dorothy's grandmother helped some, but it was my idea. I thought it would be perfect. They were both from affluent families that they would both be heads of one day. Now that I think about it, it was more of a business merger then a relationship. Then she went out and started spreading all those horrible lies about him. Ha, pregnant indeed." She said and Ami frowned.

"You mean she was never…"

"No. She made the whole thing up to try to trap him when he was having second thoughts about where their relationship was going. He was so upset." She shook the thought away. "But not with you. You're too smart Ami. I wish I had been as bright as you are when I was your age."

"I'm not that smart." Ami blushed as Mrs. Winner looked up, a smile pulling at her lips.

"He's always talking about you, you know. Ami's so smart…Ami's so pretty…Ami said this or wore that today. He's quite smitten with you and now I can see why."

"I'm not that great." Ami said, her whole face turning the color of a tomato. Mrs. Winner chuckled and patted her hand.

"And you're humble too!"

"Hey, dad said he wanted to talk with you mom." Mrs. Winner looked up to see Quatre walking towards them. She kissed Ami's cheeks then stood up, looking a little exhausted. "Are you alright?" Quatre asked frowning as she sniffled and shuffled past.

"Oh, yes, yes of course. You worry too much just like your father. It's just this war wearing at my nerves. I'll be inside. Goodbye Ami, it was wonderful getting to know you better." Ami frowned as the woman walked up the stairs and disappeared inside. 'Is this the last time I'll ever see her?' Ami thought as she door shut behind her. She quickly shook the idea from her head. Of course Mrs. Winner was just overreacting. Everything was going to be fine...

"Hey, how'd it go?" Quatre asked immediately sitting where his mother had only a few seconds before.

"It was fine." Ami said, a tight smile spreading on her lips. Quatre smiled over at her.

"See. I knew she'd love you as much as I do." Ami blinked and felt something hard slam against her heart as his eyes widened in surprise at his own words. "I, uh, I mean-"

Ami leaned over and silenced him with a soft kiss on the lips that lasted a few seconds. When she tried to pull away Quatre just moved with her. She felt tears burning at her eyes and stood but he did too, keeping the contact of their lips together. Ami closed her eyes with her hands clenched at her sides until Quatre grabbed then and wrapped them around his neck then placed his own hands on her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened and before Ami knew it Quatre's tongue was massaging her own while he rubbed soothing circles on her back and she was drawing in deep inhales as tears began to fall down her cheeks. He was the one to pull away and rested his forehead against hers as she looked down. His hand was quick to pull her face up again so he could stare in her eyes and wipe at her cooling tears. Ami's hands shook as the strong emotions that reflected back from his aquamarine eyes.

"I mean it Ami. I realized it today when you were fighting. I was so scared for you but so proud of you at the same time. And then I knew it. I love you Ami." Quatre blurred together and Ami let out a sob as she buried her head in his shoulder. His arms wrapped around her small frame as her body shook. "Shh. It's nothing to cry about." He said, a bit of joking back in his tone but she could still since the sincerity in his voice.

"I know I'm sorry I just-"

"You don't have to say anything in return Ami. I just wanted you to know." He said and Ami nodded as she wiped at her cheeks. "How about we head out for Raye's so you're not late, hm?" Ami nodded, not fully trusting her voice to make sentences yet, as he grabbed her hand again, kissed the back of it, then walked towards the door.


That's all for chapter 12. I cried while writing this just so you know. Please review, please!