AN: Well, lookie here, I am doing good, or getting better, at getting my chapters out quicker. You all can thank the fact that basketball is done now, though softball will be starting soon. I will try to get at least two more updates up before that happens.

Some things are explained and some things are left hanging as usual but you do get a glimpse at their lives before this happened. The true turn in the plot is in the next two chapters if I can swing it so get ready for that.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, but oh how I wish I did.

~*~*~*~

Closing her eyes against the light that was trying to creep into her conscience, Hilde ducked her head under her pillow. It was to early to be waking up, and whatever force decreed that she must be awake at the crack of dawn every morning, needed to be hung out to dry. At the sound of the maids moving through out the room and opening the shutters even further Hilde came bolt awake and rolled her eyes. It was time to get up again.

"Good morning, Lady Hilde." The chief maid that had taken over the cleaning of her rooms once she had began seeing everyone, murmurs while setting the tray of porridge on the counter.

"Good Morning, Heda." Hilde replies softly, she had given up on the women ever not saying Lady before her name. They had already had many a fight over that one and she had finally thrown her hands up in defeat.

"My Lady, are you going to be going out into the garden again today?" Looking at the slightly cloudy overcast she shook her head. "It is going to rain today." She declares, "And we do not want you to get a cold now do we?"

"Yes, I am going into the garden until it starts to rain. As for catching a chill it had no killed me yet."

"But."

"Not buts I am going out! Now you can help me or I am doing it alone."

"But!"

In the end she won out as she always did. The poor women just did not have what it took to keep up with her in a battle of wills.

Walking into the slightly cloudy morning, Hilde took a deep breath, as she felt the warm air wash over her. Closing her eyes she let her senses expand over the area as she felt the storm brewing in the air. It was going to be a bad one but nothing that anyone should worry about so far. It wouldn't hit until about lunchtime so she was safe to work in the garden this morning.

Looking towards the many flowers that adorned the walls and the gardens she felt a slow smile creep over her face. She loved being out here and could probably live out here if she could.

The storm though was probably going to take the heads off of the flowers leaving her with nothing but washed up rose petals in the morning. Shrugging to herself she grabbed her tools. Just in case some of them managed to survive she was going to keep the stems and roses in shape.

The garden already looked better than it had been when she had started her work on this place and for once she was completely happy with what she had done. The flowers were thriving and her own confidence that she could care for things and that they would live wad building. It was overall a good general feeling.

"Having fun?" Sally questions walking over her own smile gracing her face. She had once again won the sparring match with Wufei, wits were an amazing thing that few men had abundance in, and it once again put her in a good mood.

Looking up from her work Hilde managed her own smile, though her eyes flashed with strength, and her checks were flushed with the warmth of the day.

"Hello Sally." She replies shortly, though not unkindly.

Plopping down in the grass next to the girl, Sally grabs the extra sheers, and begins her own work.

"And yes I am having fun, how could you not in this garden?"

Looking around the place, Sally's smile widens, she was right as usual. This place reeked of power, peace, and it was a most comforting area in the castle.

Closing her eyes, she fought back the memories that threatened to reach up, and snatch her into her daydreams. Those daydreams were dangerous as they consisted of more than just this garden the consisted of a man: Wufei.

Shaking those thoughts away from her quickly, the blond women focused back on her work in front of her.

"They are lovely, even in the winter time." Sally agrees.

Working in silence, the two women manage to get most of the eastern corner cleaned up.

"Sally,'" Hilde interrupts there work hesitantly. "Why are there no other women around here like you and me? I know that Wufei and you have some sort of an understanding but what about Quatre, Heero, and Trowa?"

Looking up from he work Sally blinked at the young women in front of her. "Uh?"

"Why are there no other girls around here?"

"Oh."

"Yes, oh."

Putting her sheers aside Sally motions for Hilde to sit down next to her. Leaning back against the green grass she frowns, as she debates on how much to tell the girl. She had already said more about Duo than she should have, but that was on a need to know basis. This on the other hand was information that could hinder any relationship between Hilde and the others.

"There were two more girls." She finally answers. "I am not sure what happened to them, as I was un conscience and hidden through most of the war fare between Duo, and well you know who. Iria and Cathy though were fighters, and probably jumped into the middle of the battle, I am not sure exactly what happened to them. Everytime I asked the guys they would close off, and shut up."

"You were close to them." Hilde declares after watching the girl's eyes shift from pain filled to fondness.

"Yes, I was." Sally replies softly, as if trying to hide the emotion that was behind them.

"Will you tell me about them?"

"Let me see, Iria was one of a kind a fighter to the core which is odd because she is Quatre's sister. Who hates fighting with a passion, unless provoked, then he is dangerous. She looked a lot like him, tall, blond haired, and blue eyed. They had the same mother you see."

"He had more than one mother?"

'Yes, back then it was perfectly fine to have more than one wife, if you could take care of them. Quatre's father was a lover of women, and had about ten wives if I remember correctly. Quatre is the youngest, and he had about 29 older sisters, Iria was the closest, and they were very close. She, Quatre, and Trowa were best friends growing up."

"Cathy on the other had was deadly with a batch of knives. I once saw her snitch a fly from the wall about 70 paces off. If she could see it she could pin it, she and I grew up together; I loved her like she was my sister. In a lot of ways she was the only family I had or could count on."

Nodding her head Hilde smiles softly, at the girl in front of her. "Where ever they are I am sure they are fine." She says in an equally soft tone of voice.

"Come on," Sally says a few moments later jumping up, and grabbing Hilde's hands. "Its lunch time and I am starved."

Looking at the sky, and the quickly darkening clouds, Hilde nods her head. "Ya, and the storm is about to break."

Nodding her head Sally smiles, dropping back against the wall Sally watches the girl continue on before whispering softly.

"It won't stop until it has consumed that life force." Shaking her head she rolled her eyes at the distant thought on her features, before heading off to catch up with Hilde. She was starving and would fight Heero for lunch at this rate; there was no way she was going to be late.

~~~

Watching the rain poor down Hilde frowns at the site. She hated it when it rained; it always reminded her of the dark, and those long cold nights, when she had no one to turn to except her horse. Then that would remind her of Relena.

"Hilde," Came Duo's low, gruff voice.

Whipping around, surprised that she had not felt, or heard him, Hide turns and smiles.

"Yes, Duo?" She questions.

"Are you alright?" He questions softly his eyes softening in his concern for her.

"Ya."

"Hilde I thought we had gotten past that point." He says softly, all the while walking up behind her and resting his huge arms on the rail beside her.

"Uh?"

"You're not being honest with me." He replies gently, causing her to look at him in confusion. "Something is bothering you, and I would like to know what."

Hesitating, Hilde finally shrugs finally. "I miss Relena." She admits softly.

Blinking down at her he chuckles softly. "I was worried it was something else." He explains at her glare. "I can show you her if you wish."

Looking up at him in surprise she smiles shyly. "You can?"

"Yes, follow me." He says beckoning her towards the east part of the castle.

Following him curiously, Hilde's eyes followed their progress, as they worked there way through the parts of the castle that she had never been allowed to see before.

"This way." He say pushing through a door before they get too far into the east wing.

Walking behind him Hilde gaps at the site in front of her. The room was completely bare except for a table that had a mirror on it.

Walking over to the mirror, Duo reached back and handed it to her.

"Tell it who you want to see." He explains.

"I wish to see Relena Peacecraft." She says feeling a bit odd talking to a mirror.

A few moments later her face showed on the mirror, but instead of its normal happy, and cheerful smile, her face was pale, and drawn, her mouth was pinched, and her eyes were swollen with lack of sleep.

"Oh my god." Hilde breathes, "What is wrong."

Shaking his head Duo sighs. "That I can not tell you I do not have the gift of site I can only see what is on that mirror."

Looking up Hilde shook her head. "She needs me," she breaths to herself horror written across her features as she realizes that she can not be there for her friend when she needs her.

Watching her emotions play across her face he shakes his head. Feeling a hollow feeling start in the pit of his stomach he sighs.

"You may go to her." He breaths, closing his eyes to hide the pain.

Looking up in shock Hilde gapes at him. "What?"

"You may go to her." He repeats while pulling a rose out of his jacket. At her joyous look he stops her. "But there are conditions."

"When this rose wilts it is time for you to come home," At her look of confusion he shakes his head. "I promise you it will not wilt until you are safe to return. If you do not you family will pay, as I said earlier."

Hesitating Hilde nods her head before just as hesitantly reaching out and taking the rose.

"All right I accept." She says, the moment her hand touches the rose she was gone and much to her surprise she found herself in front of the king's country manor.

Knocking on the door hesitantly she waits for it to open, and much to her surprise the last face she had ever imagined to see opened the door.

"Hilde?"

~~~

"You let her go," Heero states softly, it was not a question.

"She was needed." He replies his tone pain filled.

Nodding his head Heero walks off leaving his friend to his own thoughts, right now that was the best medicine for him.

Watching the rain poor from the sky, Duo smiled bitterly, how ironic it mirrored his own thoughts.

'Maybe she will return, oh come on Duo who are you fooling? She is no different from the others, and they never returned." Closing his eyes he howled his pain to the cold night air, it was the only thing that could hear, and tonight that brought him no comfort.