Relena stood at the window, her hair rustling in the wind as an unseen breeze blew though. It had been weeks since Duo had last contacted her. Not only that but James had been missing for almost the same amount of time. She whipped at her eyes, finding them fogged with an unreasonable moistness. There were no formal reports or even informal ones stating that either were dead. She needn't cry for them. Or Heero. She felt something wet roll down her cheeks despite her efforts. Perhaps Heero deserved her tears though. From what the Lady Kyldre had told her upon questioning about Duo's past and, Duo's future was to be short lived. No matter what the outcome, someone's heart was bound to break. If Heero was still alive, and she could only hope he was, there was no telling how long it would be for Duo to find him and for the two to get together. Another tear slipped down her face. It was her fault, she admitted, that they hadn't gotten together after the war. She'd dragged Heero away, too deluded with her own dreams to realize those of others. And too see what had become of the victim of her games... more tears, now free to fall, joined to others. Perhaps the whole mess could have been avoided had she relinquished her nameless claim to the Wing pilot. He'd shown her kindness but not affection. Such blindness was only to be blamed on lust. To be rich and popular gave one an air of invincibility. And from the first glimpse she had had of Heero Yuy, she had wanted him. And she would have him. She'd played the game of desire too long now though. And the one she really wanted more then anything was now oblivious to her feelings for him. Single mindedness sucked, sometimes. This was defiantly one of those times.

"No more tears, ojou-san."

Relena turned around quickly, her hair blinding her for a second before falling back in its place at her shoulders.

"Duo!"

He smiled, genuinely, becoming what she once remembered him as, "Mission Accomplished."

"Y-you found him?" she asked.

Duo nodded, winking at her, "No sweat. When Duo Maxwell's on the job, it's a matter or when and not if." He found a chair and sat back in it, twirling around on the revolving roller.

Relena grabbed a hold of her chair, balancing herself, "H-how? How did you do it? Lady Kyldre told me he was under the control of some corrupted computer. How did you break its power over him?

"I'm not entirely sure it was me," Duo admitted, lacing his fingers behind his head, "It's all kind of hazy up to a point. I remember Heero pointing the gun at my head and reaching out for him and then nothing up until he was holding me and telling me not to die."

She took all the information in with great anticipation, "You don't remember anything?"

"Other than what I've been told, no. Lady Kyldre says it might have something to do with the AA viral strand. She's pretty sure that when it made contact with Heero's enteched body, the existing AA program sought to purify it. If that's true then I guess I've become a walking viral vacuum cleaner." Duo laughed at himself, tugging self-consciously at his left sleeve. "My friend thinks a little differently though. He says the control devices short-circuited cause they couldn't deal with all the emotions, his and Heero's combined. It could be both reasons, one of them or none at all. It doesn't matter though. We're okay now and the Creator's on its way to that happy scrap heap in Hell. And just so you know, I got your 3 million dollar man downstairs. Heero's waiting for me to tie things up here."

She smiled, "Finally told you, did he?"

"No. Kyldre did. But I'll tell you what. Love is one hell of a great incentive to put your ass on the line!" he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, "Which reminds me, how did you know Heero liked me? Why didn't you say anything?"

Relena shrugged, "I was jealous. He told me.. or rather.. I found out a long time ago. I just didn't want to believe it. I thought I was in love with him...."

"Are you?"

She shook her head, "No. It was just some teenaged phase. I'll always be fond of him, but it was never love."

Duo nodded, "So what will you do now?"

"I don't know," she looked at her hands, as though the answer was written on her palms, "I didn't really think about it since you're going to kill me."

Duo shook his head, and evil grin on his face, "No, ojou-san. I'm not going to kill you. Not anymore."

Her eyes flew wide, "But the money-?"

"The mission was sent through Headquarters." He interrupted, "Seeing as it's not exactly the most trustworthy of systems as of now, I've declared that mission non in void. You're free to go on living a normal life."

Relief washed through her though suppressed by guilt and worry, "And what about you? Lady Kyldre told me... that you were dying."

Duo sat back, letting out a long puff of breath, "Yeah."

"How long do you have?"

"As long as I want." He pulled the sleeve back on his left side, showing her the pale fleshy color of his skin, unmarked by blemishes of any kind, save a small light pink scar on the upside of his forearm. "The Creator, the computer used at Headquarters, had mastered a type of technology to use computer data to restore human cells. Heero used it on me to patch me up and figured out a way to push the effects of the AA back. I'll need to be treated every once and a while but I'm in no immediate danger."

She latched her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, "I'm so glad."

Astonished, Duo hesitated before reaching around and returning the embrace, "You know, if a certain someone walks in here right now, he's gonna get jealous."

"Heero?"

"No, me."

Relena turned her head and stared into sparkling green eyes framed behind clear half shaped glasses. "James!"

He smiled at her and opened his arms for her to run into. She did. With her tear streaked face hidden in his shirt, he held her tightly, whispering words of comfort.

"Good to see you're back," Duo commented, "How did things go at HQ?"

"The Creator's been destroyed," James informed him, "I deleted all the files then set the self destruction sequence. There's nothing more to worry about now or every again."

"How but you? You feeling okay?"

James scratched the back of his head, "I guess so. To have one's own creation turn on you is a little unnerving. I still find it hard to believe. To think, I could have destroyed all of humanity."

"It wouldn't have been your fault. The Creator was using you. Damn tricky bastard machine was real cleaver about it to. Who would have thought his control devise was your glasses? I doubt even you suspected it." Duo shook his head, "I'm glad it's over though. Guess it's time to return to a normal life."

"Or as normal as it gets, " James said with a good-natured laugh.

The braided youth stood, patting James on the shoulder as he walked past, "Take care. Of yourself and Miss Peacecraft. And keep in touch if ya can cause I'm still pissed off that you got me dragged through all that for nothing."

"Nothing?" James pulled Relena away from him, wrapping one arm around her waist as she stood beside him, "You call Heero nothing?"

"Hey, I already had Heero." He cast a devious crooked grin, "I just never knew it."

"Get out of here," James pointed to his watch, "You're gonna be late."

"Kuso!" Duo waved the good bye as he trotted out the door and exited into the darkened hallways.

"James.. I" Relena began. A soft finger silenced her and was soon replaced with even softer lips.

"I know," he said when he pulled away, "Me too."
**

Heero leaned against the light post, hands in the pockets of his jacket. His hair was a mess, as usual, but he'd changed into a decent pair of jeans and a T-shirt after the Creator incident. He saw Duo coming and smiled, standing upright and watching with fascination as the long braid seemed to bounce with it's own life force.

"Hey, Heero!" he said, "Sorry if I'm late. Took me a while longer than I expected."

Heero said nothing but instead drew Duo close for a deep kiss, which left both breathless.

"Guess I'm forgiven!" he said sheepishly, knowing a blush was rising in his cheeks.

"Perhaps." Heero extended his arm from Duo to hold and began walking with his koi at his side, "Did you clear everything up?"

Duo nodded, "She took it all rather well. And I think she and James are gonna make a great couple."

Heero grunted, "Not as great as us."

"I'll believe that." Duo snuggled close, "You know, I don't think I could have picture a better way for things to end."

"There's no such thing as a happy ending, Duo. Because nothing ever ends, just like this." He squeeze Duo's hand as he pushed opened the door to the restaurant and lead the way to their reserved table.

"Heero Yuy the romantic. I never thought it possible."

"A lot changes in three years."

Duo leaned forward and kissed Heero, long and hard, "A lot changes, but I grantee this is only going to get better."