Jaid: Hi guys. Sorry this chapter took so long to post. School's been keeping me busy so I can only get to the computer on weekends. Sorry!

Jad: Hey, Jaid, what was that green stuff for?

Jaid: Science. Why?

Jad: Oh, well, Naga's eating it.

Jaid: AHHH! NAGA, PUT THAT AWAY! (runs toward kitchen)

Jad: Oops. Heh, heh, anyway, on with the story!

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Chapter Four

Mariemiea winced as she tried to stand up. I probably twisted my ankle. She thought. Great. I want Mom! Sitting back down she pouted, and then tried not to cry as she realized it was getting very dark. Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself. I won't cry, I won't! It's just a dream. In a minute I'll wake up and Mr. Maxwell will take me back to Mom.

The sound of hoofbeats brought Mariemiea out of her reverie. She looked up as a voice called, "Hello, anybody in here?"

"I am." She stuttered. "I've twisted my ankle."

A man came in walking closer. Mareimiea frowned; she couldn't place him, as dark as it was.

"Come on." He said gently, picking her up. "We'll check your ankle outside."

* * *

"Catherine," Une said firmly, "Where is your brother?"

Catherine's eyes were wide and innocent. "I don't know. He just left. I haven't seen him."

Une frowned and her brown eyes narrowed. "You know I don't believe a word of that. If he's not back in a couple of days, you both are out. I'm tired of him disappearing all the time. I pay him to manage the saloon."

Catherine swallowed and nodded her head. She had learned the only way to keep her job was to agree with Une.

Triton, she thought as Une left the building. You're going to have to be very careful.

* * *

"Okay." The man placed Mariemeia gently on the ground and pulled off the boot. He felt her ankle and rotated it some.

"I think you just sprained it." He said. "You'll be okay."

"Mr. Chang?" she asked. The man smiled.

"I wondered if you would recognize me. Your mother asked me to look for you." Wu Fie put the boot on Mariemeia's foot again and put her on top of his horse. "Why didn't you go to school Marie?" he asked.

Mariemiea suddenly felt her self blush, but she didn't know why. "I don't know." She finally stuttered. Tears began to well up in her eyes. "I just wanna go home!"

"Don't cry." Wu Fie said, perhaps harsher than he meant to be. "There's nothing to cry about. I'll take you home now."

* * *

"Nothing." Zechs sighed. "Dead end."

Quatre swallowed. "I'm really worried about her."

"Yeah, so am I." Zechs said. "And the thing is, I've no idea what to do next."

"Go back?" Quatre asked. "Or do we go on to the next town?"

"I don't know." Zechs sighed. "I can ask Trieze how far to the next town."

Both men had been surprised to see Trieze period, and had been even more surprised to find that he was the town banker.

While Zechs questioned Trieze, Quatre looked out across the prairie. The sun was rapidly setting. Quatre frowned worriedly. Why did Dorothy have to tell them to wait two days? The trail was almost non-existent.

"Trieze says it's almost a day's ride away." Zechs said, coming back over.

Quatre nodded. "Tomorrow then?"

"Early." Zechs agreed.

* * *

Relena tapped her fingers on the table, staring at the wall. She looked rather hopelessly at dinner, which was lukewarm by now. Zechs and Quatre were both late. Relena only prayed that it wasn't another incident. The last time they'd been late, Quatre had come home with a bullet in his arm.

She heard the door open and relaxed as her brother's voice floated down the hallway.

"Hey, Lena." He said, coming in. "Sorry we're late. We'll clean up and be down in a sec."

Relena smiled and nodded.

Dinner was a silent meal. Afterwards, Relena asked Quatre if he was too tired to help her with dishes. The blond had smiled and told her he would help.

"I saw Duo today." Relena said, as she handed Quatre a plate to dry.

"Oh." Quatre answered absentmindedly.

"And we went to see Hilde." Relena went on. "Duo and I." She repeated.

"Oh." Quatre blinked. "Wait, Duo went to see Hilde?"

"Yes. Anyway, I think that you're right. They're still in love." Relena finished the plates and began washing the cups.

"Why are you telling me this?" Quatre asked. Relena smiled.

"So, you won't be completely shocked when Hilde breaks the engagement?" she said. Quatre smiled.

* * *

Wu Fie knocked on the door of a small, but nice house near the bank. It was opened by a slender woman, with strawberry blonde hair and green eyes.

"Wu Fie." The woman said. "Oh, you found her! Come in!"

Mariemiea felt confused. Who was this woman? She certainly wasn't "Mom".

Wu Fie set her down in a chair. "I think she has sprained her ankle and she has a nasty bump on her head." He said.

"Well, as long as she's all right." The woman embraced Mariemiea tightly. "Don't you ever run off like that again, do you hear? There was no way for me to know where you were. What would I say to your father if something happened to you?"

Mariemie blinked. "Who are you?" she asked.

The woman let her go and looked at her in shock. "Your mother." She looked at the Chinaman. "You did say she bumped her head?"

"Yes."

"Oh." Mrs. Khushrenda thought for a moment. "Wu Fie, I now it's a lot to ask, but would you stop by the doctor's on the way home and send her here?"

"I will. Good day."

"Thank you." Mrs. Khushrenda said as he left. "Mary!"

A middle aged black woman came in. "Yes?"

"Would you take Mareimeia up to her room? She's sprained her ankle."

"Wait!" Mariemeia shouted. "I want my Mom! You're not her! And I don't have a father. He died!"

The blonde woman and the maid exchanged glances.

"I'll take care of her." Mary finally said. She picked up the little girl in her strong arms and carried her, protesting, up the stairs.

* * *

"Is she all right?"

Sally Po nodded, looking somewhat confused. "It's just a sprained ankle and a slight concussion. Hardly enough to cause amnesia. I don't know, Leia."

Leia Barton Khusrenda sighed. "She was acting so strangely. Like she didn't know me." Her statement was cut off by a fit of coughing. Sally took her gently, but firmly by the arm and led her to a settee and sat her down.

"Have you been resting like I told you too?" she asked. Leia looked slightly guilty.

"I mean too. But-"

"No buts." Sally said. "Listen Leia, when I deliver your baby six months from now, I want him to have a healthy mother to take care of him."

Leia nodded. "It's just so hard. I don't like just sitting here."

"Read or sew." Sally said. "You can walk, but not too much. I might have to confine you to complete bed rest if you keep going like this. And as for the house and garden, that's why Mary's here. I know you dislike it, but that's the way it is."

Leia nodded again. Sally straightened and sighed. "I have to go now." She picked up her bag. "Maybe you and Mareimeia can spend some time together, since she has to stay in bed with that ankle."

"Thank you Sally. I'm sorry I'm so difficult."

Sally smiled softly. "I'll send the bill later."

* * *

Midii stiffly set Dorothy's tray of food on the table. Dorothy sighed as she tried to eat it. She was getting dreadfully tired of everything, the food, the room, not to mention the company. And not knowing what was going on was bugging her too.

"So, what delightful news do we have for today?"

Midii just glared at her.

"Not talking again? I swear, you and Trowa must've gone to the same school or something."

No answer. Dorothy sighed and put her spoon down. "Fine don't talk. But do you have to glare at me?"

Midii didn't answer again. Dorothy tried glaring back, but it didn't work. Midii didn't even bat an eyelash.

"I feel like a blasted nun or something." Dorothy muttered. She pushed the tray away.

"Not hungry?" Midii asked almost mockingly.

Dorothy raised an eyebrow. "Oh, we can talk, can we? To answer your question, no, not really. Why, do you want it?" She asked sardonically and pushed the tray towards the smaller girl.

To her surprise, Midii took the spoon and began to eat. Dorothy blinked. She hadn't expected that.

"I don't get a lot of attention around here." Midii explained between bites.

"I guess not." Dorothy commented. "Why do you stay here?"

Midii stopped eating. "That's non of your business."

"Well, excuse me. If I were you I wouldn't put up with this."

"You're not me, and you don't understand!" Midii cried. Abruptly, she got up, picked up the tray and left the room. Dorothy waited a few moments, then got up and tried the door. She smiled. It was unlocked.

* * *

Trieze entered the quiet house. Leia was in the parlor, sewing. She looked up and smiled as he came in and kissed her on the top of the head.

"Where's Marie?" he asked.

"In bed." Leia answered. "She skipped school to go to the old gold mine and twisted her ankle. We've already eaten, but I think Mary has something for you in the kitchen."

Trieze nodded, then left the room. Passing by the kitchen, he called, "I'll be right down, Mary. I want to see Mariemiea first."

Mariemiea was in her bed, reading a book in a rather bored way.

"Hello Princess." Treize said, sitting on her bed. She looked up and stared at him mournfully.

"Are you my father?" she asked. Trieze blinked.

"Yes." He answered.

"Oh." Mariemiea looked back at her book, but then looked at him again, this time closer. He did look like the picture Mom had on her nightstand, she thought. Hesitantly, she reached up to touch his face. Trieze smiled, but there was concern in his eyes.

"What's wrong, Princess?" he asked. "You're looking at me like you've never seen me before."

"I haven't" Mariemiea wanted to say, but she just shrugged and looked at the book Leia had given to her.

"I suppose you know now why we don't like you going to the mine." Trieze said. Mariemiea nodded.

"Sorry." She said, although she really wasn't sure why she was sorry. "I won't do it again. I promise."

"Good." Trieze said. "You read your book. I'll see you in the morning."

Mariemeia nodded and watched the tall man leave the room. She shivered.

This is so weird.

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Naga: Hee, hee. That was fun.

Jad: How'd you eat that stuff? I don't think it's edible.

Naga: Now it is. *grins*

Jad: *makes a face*

Jaid: Naga, you are so dead. What am I going to do for Science now?

Naga: I guess you'll have to do it tonight.

Jaid: I hate you…

Jad: Uh, review please! Reviews are what keep Jaid happy and a happy Jaid writes faster!