When he woke up, his pillow was soaked. His violet eyes were swollen and red. Duo struggled to sit up. His bedroom was dark and cold. Duo shivered. As he got dressed in jeans and a sweat shirt he looked at the clock. The red digital numbers blared the time. 9:57 PM. He'd slept for nearly five hours. His guilt and pain had not yet gone away either.

Duo's memory went back four years. Five men stood amongst the rubble of the Brussels Presidential building and the half destroyed remains of the Gundam Wing Zero Custom. Four Gundams, The Heavyarms Kai, Sandrock Kai, Deathscythe Hell Custom, and the Altron "Nataku" Custom, stood, as if guarding their pilots. Soon a fifth and sixth mobile suit landed. The Tallgeese III and a white Taurus suit. Two of the five Gundam pilots did not seemed pleased with the arrival of the Tallgeese III. The large white mobile suit landed on one knee, and it hatch opened. The Taurus, dwarfed beside the massive Tallgeese, merely let it's pilot out. Fire and Wind approached the group of Gundam pilots, but they were only greeted be Quatre Winner. Zechs approached them further, as if he were one of them. Then Zechs made his offer. He told the five young men that if they ever needed something, they could call him. He then gave them numbers of which to reach him. The reactions he got were definitely not what the Lightening Count expected. Heero grunted and turned away, well perhaps that one was expected. Wufei shouted that he didn't need help, and if he did he wouldn't go to an evil snake such as Zechs. Quatre, however, thanked Zechs for his kindness and made Zechs a similar offer. Trowa merely nodded. As for himself... Duo's guilt got a whole lot worse. Duo told Preventer Wind thank you, but on the inside Duo's brain was picturing the situation if Zechs had it his way. Zechs standing in shining armor, his snowy blonde hair flowing behind him. He holds a broadsword to the sky, banishing the problems of the five orphans of the colonies. Evil triumphs over good. Zechs is the hero.

Duo almost began to cry again. This was the man he used to be? And that how he used to treat the man he now loves?

Duo rummaged through his "everything drawer", but could not find the scrap of paper he searched for. Now frantic, he had to find that paper. Duo decided to look in other rooms. There, pinned to a cork board in the kitchen, was a flimsy piece of paper that read "Zechs' Numbers", then "Home", "Work", "Cell", "Car", and "Comm Line for Tallgeese". Zechs thought that out a little too much.

Duo slowly dialed the first three numbers of Zechs' home phone number. His hand was trembling. In fear that he pay hang up, he dialed the last four numbers. He heard Zechs' phone ring. Duo's heart was pounding. The phone rang more. Was Zechs even home? Finally some one picked up. Duo prayed that it wasn't the answering machine.

"Hello?" A low and drowsy voice answered. Duo's heart skipped a beat. His voice was captivating.

"Hi.. uhhh... Zechs?" Duo asked. The boy was surprised to find that he was afraid.

"This is Zechs, to whom am I speaking?" His voice was soft and dull. Duo probably woke him up. The braided pilot silently hoped that Zechs wasn't angry upon such a rude awakening.

"Zechs, it's Duo. Duo Maxwell." He stated softly. Duo tried to repress the tears that were welling up again in his violet eyes.

"Oh, I haven't heard from you in a while. How are you?" Zechs asked. His voice was so kind. So trusting. That was it. Duo blinked and let forth the tears.

"Zechs, you said if I ever needed help," Duo said, crying, "I could come to you."

"I did say that. The offer still stands. What is so terribly wrong Duo?" Zechs sounded worried. The compassion in Zechs' voice just made Duo's heart hurt so much more. This was the voice Duo wanted in his life for all eternity.

"I..." Duo began. His voice faded away and the sound of his crying is all that could be heard.

"Duo, you need some one there. Please tell me your address and I will be there with you as soon as I can." Zechs said, his voice serious and caring at once. Duo gave Zechs his address and repeated it again to make sure he made it to the right house. Then, with some quick good byes, Duo hung up the phone.

And soon enough there was a sturdy knock at the door. Duo wiped his eyes on his sleeve as he got up off his grungy couch to answer the door. He knew his eyes were swollen and red. Duo was embarrassed to be seen like this, but he knew Zechs would insist on helping him. And isn't that what he really wanted anyway?

"Hi, Zechs," Duo said weakly. He let the tall blonde man into his dilapidated apartment. Duo could see the look of disgust on Zechs' face.

"You live here? Duo, why do you let yourself live like this?" Zechs scolded. Duo blushed. He took a deep breath. Zechs turned to face Duo. The younger man was breathing quickly, and was attempting to not make eye contact with the other man. But finally the icy blue eyes locked on to the deep violet ones. Before Duo knew what was going on, he was wrapped in Zechs' arms.

"Now Duo," Zechs said softly, "Tell me what is wrong."

Duo sighed. He was in the embrace of the man he loved. He felt safe. And now, this was his chance to pour his heart out to Zechs, and tell Zechs everything, and how much he meant to Duo. So, why was he so afraid of this?