GS Note: I just have to thanks again for the reviews! I love 'em! But I must admit they are so nice to read! If I need inspiration I just go and read them over again! So many people just write the nicest things, it just puts a smile on my face for the day! I know all you writers out there probably feel the same way when you get a nice review! So thanks to everyone who reviews, and even those who don't! Who knows, maybe you'll get your courage up some day (trust me, I am so shy to review I almost make myself sick!)

Wow, are you all surprised? What is it, 3 days since the last chapter? Am I good or what? Yea, yea, go me. Anyway, there is still an epilogue.

To those who wanted more story, this is it! I had to separate the climaxes because it would just work better. I want to emphasis the differences, for one the difficulty and adaptation people have to make to write things that involved real life. Duo will point out a few examples for you in this chapter.

Ok, I have a new idea! (Pen2, man you and me must be on the same wavelength or something! I had the same idea you did!) If you all can remember this note when you're finished reviewing, just make a comment! I want to stay to this universe but I'm thinking of a big multi-part fic about Duo in the last few years of elementary. That story, about his whole past in grades 7-8 is too long to summarise in Before The Tale so I wanted to do a separate thing. Plus, on the FFN Reviewers mailing list, people were complaining about too many romance stories out there. So I'm going to do one totally on the relationship between, Dorothy and Duo, post-high school. I want to know what you think though. I'll have to work on it after Neko though, since I promised it first.

Chapter 15

Hidden Agenda

It was hours later, when Father Maxwell and Sister Helen had received the full story from Heero with help from Duo. Most of the little kids had returned from school and had gotten the real story too from Sister Helen. Some people might have thought this cruel, to explain attempted rape and harassment in such blunt situation, but the children at Maxwell Church are different. They are composed mainly of street urchins, young prostitutes or victims of rape themselves. So the wild rumours about Duo were stopped before they started and several children had already knocked on his door, offering stuff toys and pictures. Duo accepted them gratefully, and his room was now a motley collection of animals and his walls were covered from floor to ceiling with colourful drawings.

Heero had called home to Marie, the housekeeper, and had to leave because his parents were asking for him. Dorothy had sensed something was wrong and had come over to check on Duo. From there she called Wufei on her cell phone and he had sent his comfort. Heero was going to inform Quatre to night so there would be no surprises on Monday. The major event though, was when two police officers showed up at the Church to question Duo on what had occurred.

"Look," the woman tried to say to the young girl and her band of kids who were blocking there way in the front foyer. "We just need to talk to-"

"And I said he didn't want ta talk ta you!" Hilde said, her arms crossed stubbornly. David, a newly acquired child, stood behind her in support and glared with an evil sort of smile on his face. Instead of being amused, the female cop gulped nervously. Then her partner showed up.

"Sorry I'm late Jane, I just- hey kids!" the man huffed as he opened the door and smiled as he saw the children. It was Tom Johnson, the man who had found his daughter in Maxwell Church only a few days ago. "What's going on?"

"You're partner is here ta take Duo away!" Hilde answered.

"What?" Tom said surprised. "No, no, we want to talk to him. We aren't going to take him to the office."

"But that's what police do," David said, uncertain. His younger friend Teresa had been glad to leave with this man. It was possible he wasn't a bad cop. "They come up ta 'uestion you, then you go away and nobody sees ya again!"

"No, no," Tom shook his head and repeated himself. "Nothing like that happens, don't worry! We are just going to ask him some questions here, he wont even have to leave the kitchen if he doesn't want to!"

"Promise?" Hilde asked, though it sounded more like a demand. Tom nodded. She looked at him for a moment, deciding, then nodded back and stood aside. The other kids parted to let Tom lead his partner through to the sacristy and up the stairs to the hall in the playroom. There, David told them to wait and they disappeared. A few seconds later, Sister Helen rounded the corner to usher them down to the basement kitchen where Duo sat, almost awake and clutching a mug of coffee. He grinned brightly at Tom and Jane.

"Hi!" Duo greeted them with false cheer. "Have a seat! I guess you are going to have to get my side of the story, huh?"

"Yes," the woman said and briskly sat down, a tape recorder in her hand. She was on solid ground here as she took a professional attitude. "For the record, please state your name."

"Um, Duo Maxwell-"

"And how old are you?"

"16 maybe, but-"

"When was your birthday?"

"I don't know, I just change my age-"

"Why did you stay after class today?"

"I didn't mean to-"

"So it was an accident?"

"Yes! You see I was-"

"But then why was the door locked on both sides? And why does Dekim Barton claim that you tried to force him to have intercourse with you?"

"He locked the doors and he's lying because-"

"So you admit to the doors being locked?"

"Well yea, I mean if Heero couldn't get in-"

"So Heero was out? And you knew he was outside yet you didn't yell for him?"

"What? I didn't know he was out there-"

"You didn't expect anyone to look for you?"

"No but-"

"So if Officer Po hadn't opened the door, you wouldn't have been discovered?"

"I suppose not-"

"And what would have happened if you hadn't been discovered?"

"You know exactly what would have happened-"

"Are you aware of your past criminal record, Mr Maxwell?"

"Yea-"

"Then you know you are accused of attempted rape yourself?"

"It wasn't like that! If you would just let me-"

At this point Duo was flustered and had an angry blush. His freshly wrapped hands clutched the mug with a bruising grip. His eyes blinked rapidly as he tried to keep up with the speed of the questions. Jane still had on a smooth face as Duo tried to answer her curt questions. Tom quickly intervened.

"Jane?" the woman stopped and looked at him, wondering why he was stopping her. "How about I take over? You can go talk to Sister Helen or something."

Jane looked at him, surprised. No one had ever questioned her methods before. But she nodded and stood up to leave, handing the recorder over to him. Duo glared at her as she left up the stairs and Tom shook his head sadly as she left.

"She was never one for subtlety," Tom chuckled in good humour. Duo managed a weak smile. Tom turned his friendly smile to radiate in Duo's direction. "Teresa has only good things to say about you, Mr Maxwell. I'm glad she had such a nice place to go to when she was so lost."

"You're sticking with her Maxwell name?" Duo asked curious. He knew that Teresa's real name had been Rachelle. It was rare that parents kept the names kids acquired at the Church. Usually it became a second name or ignored completely.

"Yes," Tom nodded. "She's more comfortable with it and right now she gets anything her little heart desires." Tom chuckled. "She's going to be spoiled rotten until she's forty. But anyway, does to business."

Duo gulped nervously but Tom put him at ease. "Why don't you just tell me what happened in your own words. Just take your time."

Duo hesitated, the began to start from the beginning, right from the first week when he had first felt Dekim's eyes to only a few hours ago. Tom had to flip the tape over halfway through but he got the whole story.

"-and then now I'm here," the boy finished up, his throat a little hoarse but his chest a lot lighter. Tom thanked him with a gentle assurance that he would personally see to this case. After he and Jane left, Duo finally realised Trowa was still here.

He found the older boy sitting on one of the sagging couches in the playroom. He had Hilde sitting next to him and a group of kids on the floor around him. The playroom was actually quiet as the children all over strained to hear his recitation of The Swan Princess. Duo almost laughed when he saw even Matt was struck by Trowa's skilful storytelling, his pencil poised over his notebook as he watched enthralled when Trowa reached the climaxing point when the prince attacked the evil king's demon.

Duo waited for the story to be over and for the kids to demand another before he intervened to save his friend.

"It's getting late Trowa, isn't your sister going to worry about you?" Duo winked as Trowa looked at his watch and jumped up startled.

"Yea," Trowa looked around for his bag then swung it up on his shoulder as the kids groaned in despair. "I'm sorry guys, my sister is overprotective and she'll be really worried if I don't get home soon. I'll came back tomorrow though, I promise!"

Through more promises and good byes, Trowa left to walk the few blocks to his apartment as Sister Helen suddenly realised the time. She stormed through the playroom, invoking fear until most of the kids left for bed. Father Maxwell had gone back to hospital to stay with Noel, who was due back at the Church the next day. Duo was pushed off to his room to where Sister Helen sternly told him to sleep. But as Duo lay on his bed, he felt his mind working. He just couldn't sleep now.

He swung his legs over the side of his bed and grabbed his bag. Flicking the light on to his room again, he settled back on the headboard and began to write in the tattered, bent and ripped notebook.

//Duo backed up and tripped over one of the chairs. He landed painfully on his butt with a yelp. Dekim moved swiftly and loomed over him, shadowing his slender form with a menacing shadow. Dekim smirked as he seemed to be miles above Duo. Duo gulped as the man placed a foot on his chest,, pinning him and restricting his breath.

"So long I've been watching you," Dekim said his voice deepening into a lustful tone. "With the help of my witch-"

"Wizard!" the black-haired girl snapped. "I'm a wizard damn you all! I didn't spend three years in that damn EVIL school to be mistaken for a bloody witch! Wicked Wizard!"

Something clicked in Duo's brain. Quatre had told him about the rumours that a witch from EVIL Inc was here also. And this servant seemed to know the same stuff Quatre knew. Only she wasn't a witch. Did that mean that witches were easier to beat then wizards? Is that why she was so protective of her title. God, he wished Quatre was here. Or Heero. Or even Wufei. Hell, Zechs even! But the boot on his chest pushed more and the silence on the room remained.

"Wizard then," Dekim sneered. "What ever it is, you were most helpful in watching my beautiful new concubine."

'Hell, even if that Noin came in-' Duo thought to himself. 'Wait a minute. Concubine?'

"Wh-what did you say?" Duo gasped as Dekim returned his attention to the struggling prince. He leered mischievously at the prone boy.

"You heard me perfectly, my prince. Oh, how I will enjoy breaking you."

Duo flailed with his arms and legs, trying everything he could think of to get the older man off of him with no success. His arms seemed weighed to the floor as Dekim removed his boot and knelt beside his unmoving body. His foul breathe caressed Duo's cheek as he whispered promises into Duo's deaf ears. Duo pulled with all his might on his arms and feet but they felt too heavy. Relena looked away, slightly sick as she fixed her eyes on the wall. The wizard also diverted her eyes, then just closed them shamefully as Dekim repeated his promises and ran a creased hand up and down Duo's bare arm. Duo almost threw up as Dekim gently kissed his mouth. Duo turned his head and spat on the floor by his head, Dekim just laughed.

"Rebellious prince," Dekim chuckled. "You will be mine. After you marry my granddaughter Dorothy you will have my undivided attention. Poor girl, she has no idea her husband is to be mine."

Dekim was about to straddle the younger boy's hips, when the wizard was suddenly knocked to the floor. Duo felt his legs and arms suddenly free and he jerked to his feet, backing away from the distracted Dekim. Relena and Dekim both looked wide-eyed at the person framed in the door.

Heero lowered his sword so that it was obvious it was aimed straight at Dekim's chest. The tousled haired youth moved slowly in to the room, eyes trained on Dekim's frightened ones. Quatre stepped daintily over the wizards unconscious body and almost whimpered at he sight of the blood from the cut above her eye as he knelt beside her. He patted the side of her dress before recovering a small, shiny card.

Wufei hurried in, last but ever welcome. He took in the scene with a quick glance them went to eh last person in the room, Relena.

"By official authority of the Crown," Wufei said so the whole room could hear. Quatre and Duo looked at him, but Heero stood unmoving, his sword still trained on Dekim. "I place all three of you under guard until the court system is notified. You two girls will receive an official slip of unemployment. Baron Dekim, you guest status is hereby revoked. You will all co-operate to the best of your ability so your justice can be administered swiftly. Prince Heero and Quatre, the Crown thanks you for your assistance."

"No problem!" Quatre said cheerfully. Heero snorted at the Wish's remark but kept quiet. Duo sighed and slumped to his knees in relief. Everything was going to be okay now.//

Duo smiled slightly, it was hard to have to relive that scene twice in the same day, but it felt clean. Now, he knew there was only one way to end off this story now.

//Duo leaned over and kissed his new husband on the cheek. Heero gave a small smile as the carriage rattled along the dirt road.

"What was that for?" he asked, not in disgust but interested, Duo grinned.

"For the rescue. For saying yes. For the wedding. For just being amazingly awesome," Duo leaned closer to his new husband and flung his arm around his shoulders. Heero's cheeks tinged with a slight blush. "Hey Hee-chan," Duo said teasingly. "How did you know where to rescue me from?"

"That was Wufei," Heero admitted. "He ditched Lady Une and followed you to that room. When you went in and didn't come out he got worried. He ran into Quatre on his way to find the guards and from there he ran into me. I forced him to explain then the three of us hurried to where he saw you go in. I tried to open the door but it was locked. So Quatre butted in and touched the handle. He said a few words in another language and it slammed open. I saw you and Dekim and drew my sword. From there on you know."

"I'm glad Dekim got thrown in the dungeons," Duo said satisfied. "I do feel sorry for the other girl though, Relena. I think that banishment was a little harsh."

"Where did that other servant disappear to, though. Who did Quatre say she was? Merian?"

"Maybe she went back to her lands," Duo shrugged. "I'll miss Quatre though. He was a great friend to me."

"I heard he's spending a lot of time in the Barton kingdom," Heero said. "Now that communication is established there from the Solo lands you can probably talk to him too. And Dorothy. For all her family is corrupt, she herself is sincere."

Duo laughed and kissed Heero again, earning a bigger blush from the prince. The carriage moved down the bumpy road as the new couple happily kissed in the back.

And they lived happily ever after and beyond.//

GS: So, what'd you think? And remember the note at the top, I do want to do a post-high school story with Dorothy and Duo. That means most of the characters in this story (Quatre, Trowa, Wufei and Heero) won't be in it more then a passing mention. So tell me is ya want it!