Thunder clapped and forks of bright light tore through the sky as the rain began to pour down. Chang Wufei quick walked down the street, grumbling about the injustice of the rain on grocery shopping night. The Chinese man clutched two large, water soaked, paper bags to his chest.

"Oh, what a day!" Wufei shouted as his hair fell out of it's tight binding. His silky black hair blew in his narrow black eyes. Today had not been the best of days for Wufei.

He was approaching the stoop of his building when his eyes noticed a figure sitting on the steps. A woman.

"Huh? Only an onna would be crazy enough to sit out in this type of rain." He joked to himself. Upon getting closer to figure he found that it was Hilde Sphbiker, the girlfriend of his friend and fellow former Gundam pilot, Duo Maxwell. Wufei knew he couldn't let Hilde catch a cold in the pouring rain. He may think women are weak, but he's not cruel.

"What are you doing at my house? In the rain, no less!" Wufei asked Hilde, looking down at her. His black eyes were not contemptuous as they normally would when talking to a woman. They were... warm, and kind. His voice, too, conveyed no sign of anger.

Hilde stood up and ran her tealish eyes over Wufei. He wore a black trenchcoat over his short, yet muscular body. His black hair was tousled and thin strands hung in Wufei's face.

"Duo and I broke up." Hilde said, her voice was purposely saddened. She wanted to sound innocent, victimized. She wanted to mine sympathy out of Wufei. She could see the softness sneaking into his expression.

"You don't have anywhere else to stay?" Wufei asked, compassionately. His mouth formed an equally compassionate smile. Hilde shook her head and her eyebrows arched over her sad eyes.

"Duo kicked me out." Hilde lied, "And, I guess your's were the only place I could go."

Wufei nodded. He handed one of the heavy grocery bags to Hilde as he opened the front door. Wufei, acting oddly as a gentleman, let Hilde in first. Hilde had only been to Wufei's house a few times, and never really paid attention to where exactly he lived. She was thankful she remembered what building he lived in. She waited for Wufei to enter the building.

"Second floor, Hilde," Wufei said, climbing the stairs of the old house that had been converted to three apartments several years ago. Wufei owned, rented, whatever, the entire second floor. Hilde silently followed him up the stairs and stood outside his door as Wufei chatted with a neighbor.

"Mr. Chang?" A small voice called down the stairs. It was the four year old son of Wufei's upstairs neighbor.

"Good evening, Harlan," Wufei said, talking to the little boy, "Do you need something?"

"No, not really, but you got a package today. Its in my house. My mommy said that she didn't want anyone to take it, so she'd just give it to you later." Harlan seemingly said in one breath.

"Alright. Where's your mother now, Harlan?" Wufei asked, concerned.

"She's taking a nap." The little boy said.

"Who's taking care of Helsa and you?" Wufei asked, his thick eyebrows lowering over his eyes. Wufei handed Hilde his house keys, and set his bag of groceries on the ground. He instructed Hilde to take the groceries into the kitchen, and that he'd be down shortly. Wufei then went upstairs to sit with Harlan and Helsa until their mother woke up.

Wufei had met Grace, the kids' mother, when he moved in three years ago. At that time Grace was still married to her husband, Jay. Jay left Grace a year later when he found out she was pregnant with Helsa. Now Grace struggled to raise Harlan and Helsa on her own. Wufei, feeling guilty, tried to help Grace every way he could.

"Wu... Wufei?" Grace asked. She was woman of thirty, or more. She had a natural beauty that was washed away by the years of hardship. Grace had dark hair was worn loose over one shoulder. Her brow furrowed when she saw her friend sitting with her two children. Helsa was on Wufei's lap and Harlan was playing with trucks.

"Good evening, Grace," Wufei smiled up at her, "Harlan told me you were taking a nap, and I just wanted to make sure the kids were alright."

"Why, thank you." Grace smiled back.

Wufei lifted Helsa off his lap and set her on the old couch, so he could stand up. He kissed Helsa's cheek and tousled Harlan's hair as he walked toward the door.

"Good bye kids," Wufei said, waving.

"Bye, Uncle Wuffie," Helsa said, blowing Wufei a kiss.

"G'bye Mr. Chang," Harlan waved back.

Wufei opened the door to leave, when he felt Grace's hand on his arm. He turned around to find Grace's softened green eyes staring into his own deep black eyes.

"Wufei, you got a package today. Here it is." Grace told him. She handed him a rectangular box, about four feet in length.

"Thank you, Grace. Please remember that if you ever need a baby sitter, or anything, you can call on me." Wufei took his package. Graced nodded and saw Wufei out the door. And the Chinese Gundam pilot smiled as he departed the home of one of the strongest onnas he ever met.