It's not quite the end of the story, but it is an end, if that makes any sense. One more footnote at the bottom.
Enjoy!
"So, this is really it this time?" Jessie asked.
"Rashid and most of the Maganacs are going to see you home," Quatre answered. "Preventers have already been to your compound to sort out things there and sweep it for any new dangers. And we'll be in touch a few hours after you arrive, just to make sure."
"No repeats of last time's incidents to side-track us, huh?" Race grinned. "Gonna be downright boring now."
"I'm sure you can handle it," Trowa deadpanned.
"Besides," Benton elbowed his best friend cheerfully, "we'll see them in a few weeks. Quatre is going to be looking at some upcoming WEI projects and he's going to bring me one or two so I can consult."
"And unless some other nutbag decides to make a fuss," Duo popped up, "at least me and Tro will be with him. J-man and Red challenged me to a hoverboard contest, and as our dear Wazzit says, I can't back down from it without losing my honor."
At the unexpected silence, he looked up at Wufei. "What, no reaction?"
"I'm counting."
"Counting?" Jonny asked.
"I've adopted a system wherein I count to ten in order to dispel the impulse to strangle him. Winner suggested it might be more efficient."
"Or it will just give him time to think up more names," Trowa suggested.
"Really, Maxwell," Wufei frowned, "do you ever get tired of that?"
"Nope!" He ducked a half-hearted swing and slung an arm around Jessie and Jonny. "I know you two understand me, even if no one else does," he lamented pathetically.
"Of course we do," Jessie said with mock sympathy. "We have to put up with Jonny."
"Hey!"
Bandit picked that moment to start barking gleefully, egged on by his person's indignation. Most everyone laughed.
"Hey, Quatre," Race said softly under the noise. When the blond turned to him, he gripped his shoulders tightly, almost hugging him. "Thank you. For...what you did for me."
"You're welcome," he said. He knew Race was not the sort to say more, nor to want a sentimental scene, so he gripped the hands that held him and, with a slight smile, gave a small push of his own gratefulness and friendship that could say what he wanted Race to hear.
"I think Bandit is going to miss you," Jonny said, holding him up in front of Heero.
"Can Bandit say bye-bye?" Duo leered. "Bow wow ruff ruff I luv you, Hee-chan!"
Bandit drew back at the face suddenly right there in front of him before letting out a loud yip. Then he lunged forward.
And stuck his tongue up Duo's nose.
"Good boy, Chibi," Heero said approvingly, reaching forward to stroke the pup's ears while Duo shrieked like a child. Trowa and Wufei exchanged glances with Jessie and Jonny and all four snickered.
"Hadji," Quatre said quietly amidst the chaos, stepping close to his friend. "Thank you. For everything." He glanced over to Trowa, who gave him a nod, before holding out his hand, raising his eyes to Hadji's with intensity.
"It is a wise man who knows that he is always where he is supposed to be. For both our sakes, I believe we have been where we were most needed. We are both very great fools, but as the great poet Emerson once said, 'heroism always feels and never reasons.' In you, my friend, I am grateful for both."
"What does that mean anyway?" Duo leaned over to Jonny.
"I have no idea."
"Quatre understands," Heero said, leveling a disdainful look at his fellow-pilot. "And you would too if you stopped to think. Which you never do, baka."
And indeed Quatre's face softened. Hadji met his gaze steadily, then took the offered hand. Almost at once, both twitched as if they had experienced a slight shock, locking up stiffly.
"Hadji?" Race called uncertainly.
"He is well," Wufei dismissed him. "They will return to us when they are ready. They have much to communicate that is not ours to share."
"For what it's worth," Benton said, turning to Wufei, "I want to thank you for taking care of my family. I know you didn't want to bring us along, but we appreciate the trust you showed us."
"And you showed great courage and strength against Surd when you had no choice but to face him alone. Winner's faith in you was not misplaced." Wufei raised an eyebrow. "It rarely is. Otherwise we would never have allowed him to bring you back into the hotel when he rescued your family."
"Yeah, next time you stay outside, Benton," Race wrinkled his face. "Leave it to the experts."
"You should. That's sound advice," Heero spoke up.
"And we'll be there," Duo said with sudden sincerity. "Next hotel-jacking, we'll be there."
"We know," Jessie smiled at him. "And I know you won't, but if any of you guys ever do want our help..."
"We'll call," Trowa finished.
Suddenly Dr Quest laughed, drawing all eyes. He cleared his throat to explain. "This all started because Quatre's sister thought he needed some parental influences in his life. And I think I can safely say I have utterly failed to provide that to any of you," he winked at his own sons before looking more clearly at the ex-pilots. "But perhaps this alliance is better for us all."
"Which, if you think about it, is probably what Quatre intended all along," Heero said smugly. At the dawning realization in Dr Quest's face, he smirked. "You shouldn't be surprised by now."
"I'm not," he answered with a sigh. "Not as much, anyway."
"Bringing people together is Quatre's true skill," Trowa said softly. Then he closed his eyes and began to recite:
With conscious pride I view the band
Of faithful friends that round me stand;
With pride exult, that I alone
Can join these scattered gems in one:
For they're a wreath of pearls, and I
The silken cord on which they lie.
'Tis mine their inmost souls to see;
Unlocked is every heart to me;
To me they cling, on me they rest,
And I've a place in every breast:
For they're a wreath of pearls, and I
The silken cord on which they lie.
"I'd say that describes you very well." Everyone looked when Hadji spoke to see the pair returned to them. Quatre's face was slightly pink, but Hadji grinned widely. "Quite literally in fact are you the tie that binds, my friend."
"Not just me," Quatre replied. He smiled at Hadji, then turned his eyes to Jonny and his family. "There's other ties that bind here, just as strongly."
"The endless waltz," Jonny remembered. "The pattern you're working on breaking."
"What about it?" Jessie didn't follow.
"The only thing that ever really breaks a pattern is a new one. So if you're replacing war and peace and rebellion with something else, I think this thing," he waved at Quatre vaguely, which most interpreted as having to do with his empathy but Quatre himself caught the glance at his wristwatch, "is the right start. You've brought everything together. If you keep on connecting people and companies and governments and technology and everything, you'll make a new rhythm."
"And if you keep on delaying," came Wufei's voice, not cutting but certainly impatient, "you will miss your clearance for arrival on Earth."
"He's right," Race nodded. "It's time we ship out."
"Until we meet again," Quatre bowed to the Quests with his hands on his heart. He grinned at them warmly as he stepped back into where the other pilots had waited in an unconscious formation that was now complete.
"Take care, all of you," Benton offered. He looked over the five faces and found himself smiling. "You are always welcome with us. Any time."
Heero and Wufei both bowed to him as was their way, Trowa inclined his head, and Duo bounced on his heels cheerfully. When Benton's eyes fell on Quatre, he remembered the first time he'd seen him – how much had changed! And how little. Even now, he still considered this heir to the Winner legacy remarkable. Just...moreso. More than he'd ever expected. They all were.
With a proud gait, then, Dr Quest turned and led the way into the shuttle that would carry his family home.
Footnote:
The two stanzas from which the title of this story was drawn are called "On His Friends" and are by Meskin Aldaramy.