Author: ~*SerenityMoon*~
Title: Welcome to My World
Chapter: 4

Disclaimer: *Gives off a look of high annoyance as she brushes her hair out of her eyes* I've said it once, and I'm not saying it again! *sigh's defeatedly, glancing at the bloodthirsty lawyers* Fine, I don't own the characters.... or a few of the places....... or the Gundams.......... demo I do own the story plot, so there!!!!

I thank everyone who faithfully reviewed, and has waited for this chapter, and I apologize for taking so long to get it out, but I had the dreaded WB.

Comments:

Yes, I know very well how darn confusing the romance is in this fic, but hey, that's the point. I firmly believe that life isn't that easy, so thus neither are the fics.

Well, some characters are OCC, but deal with it.

The other senshi will be brought in, slowly but surely.

*........*, people from Oz talking in a mobile suit or Gundam. Ex. Zechs
~.......~, Serenity talking in a Mobile suite or Gundam
{ ........} , G-boys talking in as mobile suit or Gundam
______________________________________________________________________________

LAST TIME

"I'm not doing it.", Duo stated firmly, there was no way he was going to wake her.

Ten minutes later Duo Maxwell, had a black eye and hand prints across his face.

"She's awake.", Duo groaned glaring at men that were supposed to be his friends.

______________________________________________________________________________

IN THE SKIES OF THE EARTH

A white-hot beam of energy sliced through the air as it destroyed a carrier that contained hundreds mobile suits. A Gundam decorated in black and dark malicious colors lashed out with a scythe, helping decrease the number of dolls surrounding them. Another Gundam released its dragon claw and ripped the hull off another carrier causing the ship to go down in a blaze.

'This is too easy.', mused the only female pilot, blue eyes narrowing. She pressed buttons rapidly, firing off her arsenal. She had recently acquired tracer beams, and she, sad to say, was having fun.

A Gundam to her right fought with two boomerang like blades, one in each hand. They almost resembled curved daggers. He sighed in frustration as yet more dolls appeared. He hated killing, he hated war, but if it was the only way to bring peace........... he'd do it. Another one of his comrades continued firing off a buster riffle at a group of mobile dolls destroying half of them, effectively watching his allies back, taking care of his own. The Gundam next to it opened up it's chest plates and fired off a round of ammo, destroying the rest of them. The battle went on for a good half-hour before the final doll was obliterated.

06 whirled around her Gundam adjusting her face helmet. J had made her wear it, just in case someone managed to patch through the system and got a glimpse of Serenity Croft. That would stir up far too much trouble. As she looked up again she saw white metal. Backing her Gundam away let her see the entire mecha. She bit back a gasp of surprise as she recognized the suit to be the TallGeese.

*So you're the new pilot...*, trailed off a voice from the other suit. It was silky and soft, holding no malice or anger.

*Very impressive my dear, but not nearly good enough.*, finished the suit, before it lashed out at her.

'My dear?', she thought contemplating on why he would call her that.

Shi bit back a growl as she noticed the man had patched into her line, and had seen her with her mask on. He knew she was female because the monitor showed her from the waist up. She blocked the swing with her light sword, and spun around countering his swing, only to be blocked. She then broke into the TallGeese's system and saw the man behind the controls. He had long platinum hair, paler than Quatre's, and a silver mask that covered most of his face. His mask was much like her own, except instead of hers being rounded off at the top, curving with her face, the top of hers ended in five sharp points, and at the base of the points a light sheet of metal wrapped around the very back of her head, letting her hair flow free. The mask also curved around her ears, but instead of them being rounded they came to another sharp point, making her have elf ears. Ice blue eyes glowed inside of the mask, continually giving her an inhuman metallic gleam. With the mask on she almost looked like one of the devils henchmen, or at the very least an ice demon.

They continued to battle for a few moments while the other Gundams stayed out of the way. It was more than likely that they would hit the Tsuki Hoshi if they tried to interfere because of the speeds the Gundams were moving. 04's eyes followed every movement the female pilot made, hoping, praying she wouldn't make a mistake. So far she had been lucky; She had managed to block every swing the pilot of TallGeese made, while getting in none of her own. Suddenly the TallGeese veered off whipping out a modified buster riffle charging it in less then ten seconds. Shi panicked for a moment, she didn't have time to move as the sudden blast came speeding towards her. She then remembered her wings and quickly activated them.

01 used his shield as the crystal wings exploded out of the Gundam, sending sharp shards of crystal or glass everywhere. He had unconsciously moved infront of 02, taking care of his own. He scowled as he remembered that Duo's own shield would not be ready for another month or so. The wings then enclosed around the mecha seconds before the beam hit it. The beam continued to hit the wings until the pilot of TallGeese cut the flow, realizing the beam was doing no good. A fait thumping sound made it's way into the pilot's ears as they prepared to continue with their battle. Shi pulled up her radar and found that one of the Peace Delegates carriers were heading towards them. Not something you want to accidentally destroy.

"Stop this! Haven't enough lives been lost?", cried out a young female voice from the carrier, obviously being amplified so they could all hear it. The icy blue eyes on Wing Zero flared brighter for a few moments as if recognizing the voice.

*Enough lives have been lost.*, came the voice of the pilot in the TallGeese. The suit then retracted its energy sword and put it away.

~Agreed~, Shi replied putting away her own sword. Somehow she felt no want to kill the pilot in the TallGeese, he didn't strike her as Oz material. As the TallGeese turned away from her she called, ~Wait!~. She then patched through his system so she could see him, and he her.

*Ahh, so the silent angel speaks...*, trailed off the TallGeese stopping his departure.

~Might I know the name of my adversary?~, Shi questioned feeling his name to be important for some reason. Maybe it was just her soldier side wanting to squeeze out as much information as possible from the enemy.

*My name is Zechs Merquise, and you, silent angel?*, Zechs replied smoothly turning to face her once more.

~I am Shi Tenshi, we shall battle again?~ she said more a statement than a question.

*Most definitely Death Angel. Most definitely.*, he replied before blasting off.

~Let's go home guys.~, Shi stated watching the fire trails disappear into the sky.

{Race ya there babe!} , called Duo blasting off his Death Scythe towards the Croft Mansion.

~Mission Accepted.~, replied Shi blasting off after him while the others followed her.

______________________________________________________________________________

IN THE MANSION

Minako sat in bed looking up at the intricate ceiling. Shadows played across the walls, sometimes taking the shape of a monster or sometimes a person. She had heard it all. They had gotten a mission, but a mission for what? She decided to keep her mouth shut for now, it was obvious that she wasn't supposed to know. She decided that the next time it happened, then she would ask, but for now she would stay silent. She strained her ears to hear two sets of light footsteps, heading towards their rooms. She knew both of the people walking down the hall were Serenity and Quatre. All the maids, butlers, and servants had retired for the night long ago, and none of the other boys had any reason to be on the third floor. 'Unless it's Heero that's with Serenity.....', she trailed off with an impish grin. With a sigh she rolled over and began to dream of a certain blonde hared boy, who had immediately caught her eye, long, long ago.

______________________________________________________________________________

SOMEWHERE IN ALASKA

"Crikey, honey, it's bloody cold and I'm freezing my poor buns off!", Alex complained from the depth of his warm coat his teeth chattering.

"Alex don't be such a baby!", Lara scolded wearing only a thin cloak, the cold didn't bother her much at all.

"It's not my fault you've got ice running though your veins.", Alex grumbled. His wife was never to hot, or never to cold, wherever she was she was comfortable. Anywhere she set foot was her domain, her turf.

"Really....", Lara trailed off pressing her lips to his unexpectedly.

Warmth surged through Alex just as it had the first time they had kissed, just as it did every time they kissed.

"Better?", Lara asked a small smirk on her face.

"Hmm, Much.", he murmured actually beginning to feel quite hot.

"Wait, a second.......", Lara trailed off brushing some dirt off of the ice cold walls.

She turned the flashlight onto a higher power, and finally saw what she was looking for, a loose stone. With caution she read the warning and pressed the stone.

'To those who dare enter, be sure to have pure intentions in thine mind, for if thou dost not, thou will not be leaving.', Lara mused in her mind.

"Basically don't touch anything with the intention of selling it for a profit or else something really nasty is going to kill us.", she stated aloud walking into the room carefully.

Alex walked in after her, seeing the room was bathed in soft blue light. The light came from the glowing blue stones in the ceiling. Alex walked in the opposite direction of Lara and came across an ornate metal and glass jewelry box of some sort. The ancient writing on the top read,'With the birth of the Angel, hope will fall upon our mortal souls.' The base was round decorated with an odd graph, and detailed angels. Then he found a small key on the cloth-covered table next to it. He searched the shoe box sized jewelry box for a keyhole and finally found one in the back. He wound it up and a haunting melody played from the box. He found a secret compartment that held an ornate silver cross, on a delicate silver chain. Another compartment had opened in the middle of the box let loose two figurines that danced across the top of the box. Alex stared at the small figurines in wonder as their movements almost looked real.

'Serenity would love this.......', he mused as the compartment closed its contents inside of it. He slipped the box into his pouch and went to find Lara.

______________________________________________________________________________

3 DAYS LATER

"Lady Croft!", asked Nakuru knocking on the closed bedroom door again. It was noon, beyond the point of sleeping in, and time for lunch. Besides that fact her parents had sent her a package. Getting a bit frustrated she opened the door not bothering to look at the bed right away.

"I've been calling you all morning......", she trailed off picking up a brush off the floor, When she got no answer she looked up at the bed, only to find it empty and immaculate as if it had never been slept in.

"Lady Croft!", the hand maid called again suddenly worried.

When she got no answer she looked in the bathroom area, the walk in wardrobe, and the balcony only to come up empty handed. It was clear that Serenity hadn't left her room because the door hadn't been locked. When the girl left her room she locked the door. Nukuru then ran down the hall to the room of Lord Winner, maybe she had just stepped out to see him for some reason......

"Lord Winner, Lord Winner!", called out Nukuru knocking on the door fervently.

"Yes, Miss Nukuru?", he asked opening his bedroom door. Two other boys popped their heads out next to him and Nukuru assessed them as Sir Barton, and Sir Maxwell.

"Lady Croft is gone! She hadn't left her room, but she's gone!", she broke out as Quatre's eyes widened.

"How do you know, she might've just stepped out.", Duo stated brushing it off, prepared to go back inside.

"She has always locked her bedroom door when she was outside of the room, but it was unlocked so it meant that she was in there, but she wasn't!", Nakuru explained and Quatre nodded his head in acceptance. He remembered it as one of her more innocent habits.

"She might have forgotten to lock it.", Duo supplied using his brain.

"No never. She never forgets to lock it.", Quatre retorted for the worried maid, beginning to get as worried as she.

"We'll go look for her. You just sit and relax, we'll find her.", Quatre told the woman with a kind smile. As soon as the maid was out of sight his smile faded and he quickly gave out directions. He told Duo to get Minako from the game room, then search the house, and warned him not to slip up. He also asked Trowa to go to the fields and stables to see if she was there. And Quatre himself would check the hanger, his was the only DNA programmed into the system besides Heero's. He didn't know when Heero had gotten his own DNA into the system, but he could bet any money some serious hacking was involved.

Quatre then raced out of the room and down the stairs, his heart tightening. He had finally gotten her back, he wouldn't loose her now. That was why, when he had first found out about her being a pilot he was angry. Sure she had inferred to him that she was a pilot when she woke him on the balcony, but he had been to disoriented to notice. And he didn't notice until they actually got to the hanger and she got in her Gundam.

He passed by Andromeda, who let him do whatever he wanted as long as he called her Andy-chan, and bypassed the systems heading to the hanger.
______________________________________________________________________________

IN THE HANGER

Serenity looked over a few of the charts on the table scrutinizing each and every one of the details. The plans were very accurate, and they had every reason to believe that the new weapon would work. Her blood type was compatible, as well as her nerve system. Dr. J had explained to her that one of the only reasons the weapon would work was because of fact that she had Croft blood running through her veins. Her lineage gave her extraordinary powers, but most of these powers she could not harness, not without training. Not without proper guidance. She had mastered the art of using her own energy to heal people and to help plants grow. But that was as far as her powers went. She knew her mother had powers far beyond her imagination, granted to her from her expeditions, and from her grandfathers training. But her mother thought their gifts to be more of a curse than anything else, and thus left her powers underdeveloped. As far as Serenity knew it was like raw energy, waiting to be released by a particular action or emotion.

With a sigh she stood up carrying the first set of plans with her. The other four would have to wait. They were a bit too complicated just yet, they needed a building block.

"J?", she called walking over to him. If they could pull it off, if she could handle it, it could help their side of the war tremendously. If her body rejected the radiation stimulate.................. She didn't even want to think about it.

"Yes Lady Croft?", he replied, looking up from his laptop. He saw the set of plans she had selected and gave her a brief smile.

"You do understand the consequences, don't you?", he asked her standing up from his chair.

"Of course.", she replied with a wry smile. Her stomach was doing its own variation of acrobatics, and it wasn't a pleasant feeling.

"We shall begin the procedure tonight then. The sooner the better. In a Gundam, with untrained powers, you would probably cause more trouble than help. That is why we must enhance the already existing energy in your body. If we were to try to neutralize it, it could combust, but if we help it along..............", the crooked old man stated with a smirk rivaling her mothers.

"Understood.", she replied going over the plans one last time.

"Serenity? Are you down here?", came a voice from the hangar hall.

"Quick, hide the plans, the others must not know.", J stated while she stuffed them into the desk drawer.

Serenity understood J's reasoning. There was not enough time to answer all their questions, nor were they able to. She knew very well her Kassan would be furious with her for pulling this stunt, but it was for the good of the whole. At least she hoped it was for the good.

"In here Quatre!", she called in the most innocent voice she could muster.

"There you are. We've been looked all over for you.", he explained his blue eyes sparkling, as he gathered her in a light embrace.

Serenity sighed as a familiar feeling flowed into her system, warm and comforting. It was like coming home after being gone for an eternity. She felt like her worries were dissipating before her very eyes as the warmth of his body enveloped her. A light blush stained her milky white skin when she pulled away much to her chagrin. Quatre gave her a soft smile and let go of her waist, although he still gently clasped her hand.

Quatre couldn't deny the fact that there was a bubbling in his heart when he thought of her, he couldn't deny the sensations that occurred when he was near her. A blush came across his face as he realized the doctor was giving them odd looks. Out of mere habit he ran his left hand through his platinum locks, momentarily brushing his long bangs out of his eyes.

'Teenagers.', humphed Dr. J in his mind as he watched the two hug. 'I'll never understand them as long as I live.', he continued, with a flicker of interest in his eyes. 'Not that I'd ever want to.', He finished as they both began to blush for no apparent reason.

"Well, Lady Croft, your repairs for Tuski Hoshi will be done around 11:30 tonight. Remember 11:30 sharp.", J started emphasizing the '11:30' and 'tonight'.

"Yeah, I'll remember 11:30.", she replied carefully catching his hidden meaning.

Operation 1 would commence that night, she was to be there promptly or she shouldn't show at all.

"Well, Sere what do you say we go get some lunch?", he asked her tugging her gently towards the exit.

"Sounds good to me.", she replied flashing him a brilliant smile, a smile used to light up the heavens.

Quatre found himself at the mercy of Allah as he faltered at her smile. 'It takes a slip of a woman to break me. Me. A Gundam pilot!', he mused in his head giving a slight chuckle turning the idea over in his mind.

Serenity eyed Quatre oddly as he suddenly chuckled for no reason. She then realized she liked to hear him laugh. It was a low sound that made her stomach begin it's acrobatics again, this time in a much more pleasant way. They sauntered down the hall at a slow pace, enjoying each others company in a blissful silence. Quatre glanced down at his blonde hared friend and fought the urge to kiss her. 'It wouldn't be right.', he reasoned in his head, steeling away his resolve. He settled for slowly caressing the underside of her wrist with his thumb, smiling a little when her shoulder arched slightly before calming down. By Allah he had missed her.

Serenity held her breath when she felt the light touch on her pulse. Regardless the fact that it was merely a touch, it made her shiver. She glanced up at him to see him staring straight ahead, seemingly unaware of what he was doing to her.

'This is unreal.....', she murmured in her mind forcing her heart back where it belonged, as it was going on a suicide mission to escape from her chest.

'I wonder if she noticed?', Quatre asked himself a faint tinge of pink on his cheeks.

Giving her a long look he still came up undecided. If she noticed she didn't show it, and if she didn't all the better.

"By the way, you mother and father sent you a package today, at least that's what Duo said.", Quatre started suddenly breaking the comfortable silence.

"Really?", Serenity started letting out a sigh.

The feeling in her stomach had just changed from pleasant to horrible as she though of her parents. It was such a long mission, so many things could go wrong.

"What's wrong?", Quatre asked sensing the sudden stab of pain in her heart. He stopped walking and she followed in suit.

"I ...... well...... I guess I'm just really worried about them. It's a six month mission.", she replied heaving another sigh and averting her gaze to the ground.

Her parents were her life. If anything ever happened to them, she didn't even want to think about it.

"Hey......", he started softly using his thumb and pointer finger to make her look at him.

He stared into her soulful blue eyes, reading every emotion that passed through them, confirmed by his empathy.

"They'll be all right. Your mother and father are both very capable of taking care of themselves. Don't worry.", he reassured continuing to search her eyes for confirmation that she believed him.

"But, Quatre-----", she started but was stopped by her throat tightening and her eyes stinging.

Her chest began to tighten as she tried to calm herself down.

"Oh, Sere......", he trailed off, gathering his precious little angel in his arms.

He wanted to take her pain away from her, even if he had to place it upon his own shoulders. He hated to see her so very upset. He whispered words of comfort and reassurance in her ear, as she returned his hug wholeheartedly. After an unrecorded amount of time, Quatre released her, with a bit of a red hue on hi face.

The two then walked hand in hand to the 'elevator' and quickly were on their way to snag some much needed lunch.

______________________________________________________________________________


IN THE FIELDS

Wufei precariously slashed his beloved katana through the air battling with an invisible opponent. He moved with the utmost grace and sureness in his actions. It was as if he knew his attacks would destroy his enemy, even before they were performed. He seemed to be oblivious to his surroundings, but in reality he was very much so aware. He knew that the tiger the onna called 'Shiro' was spying on him from a distance, and that her bird flew far above him in the open sky riding the thermals. He also knew that about fifty feet away from him one of his comrades sat typing on a laptop, leaning in the cool shade of a willow tree. He automatically knew it was the one and only Perfect Soldier, searching for something important, or just amusing himself by hacking into Oz mainframes and insulting their security systems. The onna's neko, almost dark purple in color, was curled up by pilot 01, leaning its head on his arm, watching as numerous things flashed across the screen. Wufei was personally surprised Yui hadn't blasted the cat into the next dimension for even looking at him.

'Kuso onna.', Wufei thought cursing the girl that had unknowingly sabotaged his pride, and flattened his ego.

She had easily saved them from a fate worse than death, and for that he hated her. Unlike the rest of them she had chosen to become an assassin, a pilot, all because she felt some type of ....... 'pity' for the original Gundam Pilots. Wufei snorted, slashing his katana angrily, he didn't need her pity. She had spent a mere two months training, while the others had trained all their lives, and yet, somehow she was just as good as they were if not better. But Wufei was not willing to admit that, not now, not ever. To him she would always be weak, weak and spoiled.

She always had everything her heart desired handed to her on a silver-gold encrusted platter. Wealth, respect, and love included. He almost resented her because of those things, and many obvious others. She thought that she could measure up to them by completing a few petty missions, and be considered their equals. She was wrong. Sure, Winner was in the same boat she was wealth, respect, and love were handed to him as well, but Wufei had seen what Quatre had seen. He had felt, hell, he had been IN the same hell Quatre had been subjected to. The relationship between Quatre and Serenity made him wonder. The pilot of Sandrock usually kept all things of the female persuasion at a respectable distance, but was always by all means kind. With the onna he was relaxed, almost content.

He was startled when he saw a small beam of light appear infront of him. Out of the beam of light appeared the little bio-holographic child he had been accustomed to seeing walking around the mansion. Sometimes individually stalking one of them or just looking for one of them. The amazing thing about the bio-hologram was the fact that it had the appearance and mentality level of an eight year old, while she was really one of the greatest security systems on the market. She solid when she wanted to be, and a mere hologram when she didn't want to be solid.

"What do you want Onna?", Wufei asked surprised at the light tone in his voice. His sentence didn't come out nearly as biting as he wanted it to be.

"What's the matter with you Wu-man?", the little girl asked solidifying, blinking as if offended.

"Onna, my name is WUFEI!", warned the Chinese pilot his eyebrow twitching.

"What? No it's not. It's Wu-man!", Andromeda replied back thoroughly confused.

"WUFEI! W-U-F-E-I!", he shot back waving his katana for emphasis.

"But that's what Shinigami told me to call you.....", Andy trailed off her jade green eyes filling with tears.

She hadn't meant to insult him.

"MAXWELL! YOUR BRAID IS MINE!!!!!", Wufei shouted into the air fuming as Apollo screeched angrily above him.

He had just scared off any good lunch within miles.

"WHAAAA!!!!!!!", cried Andy loudly with twin waterfalls coming from her eyes.

"Onna, hush yourself!", Wufei ordered putting his katana away.

Maxwell wasn't within striking distance.

"WHAAA!!!!!!", she continued as the tree full of crows shook as they all made a hasty exit.

"Onna!", Wufei shouted looking desperately from left to right.

"Stop your crying. He isn't going to kill you.", came the cold monotone from next to the distraught Chinese boy.

Wufei looked gratefully at Heero who to his surprise had the purple cat riding on his shoulder.

"Really?", asked Andromeda cracking one watery eye open.

Heero nodded and adjusted the laptop under his arm.

"Okies! Well, I'm just here to tell you that Qat-kun found Sere-chan, and that lunch will be served in ten minutes.", she continued placing a finger on her chin thoughtfully.

"Well, bye-bye now!", she called and in the blink of an eye she was gone.

"Yui what are you doing with that disgraceful cat?", Wufei asked with a snort as the cat rode contentedly on his shoulder, as Heero was heading back.

"Hn.", Heero replied sending the boy a glare and walked back to the house in the company of his feline friend.

______________________________________________________________________________


IN THE BIG BAY WINDOW IN THE HALL OF THE GAME ROOM

Minako sat staring out the window at a fuming Wufei, who had just shouted something she couldn't understand from her distance. And then made Andy-chan cry, and then surprisingly Heero made her smile, with Luna on his shoulder. Artemis, her own lovable white neko with the same strange odd moon on its forehead as Luna, sat in her lap purring contentedly. Minako stifled a giggle as she saw Wufei slump his shoulders with a slight pout on his face, before he continued to practice with his katana for a few more moments. With a sigh she realized it was almost time for lunch. Lunch was always served at 12:30 promptly in the Croft mansion. A smile came to her face as she remembered that the Croft Mansion was not a mansion per say, but more like a castle estate. It was huge. It was the biggest building she had ever seen. It was so mind boggling because she knew that even though she had been visiting the mansion since she had been six years old, she still had over 3/4 of the gigantic house to see.

Minako sighed as she began to try to figure out what was going on. The boys all had something to do with it. 'A mission for what?', she wondered closing her eyes and leaning against the wall. It hurt that her own flesh and blood would hold back on her, but what hurt even more was the fact she wouldn't let him go. Her heart yearned for a certain platinum hared blue eyed Arabian prince. But sadly enough, this Desert Prince was in the clutches of her already attached cousin. Minako felt a streak of guilt in her heart for blaming her inner turmoil on the beautiful princess of the Croft mansion, but she couldn't help it. Serenity just had to let Quatre go, she couldn't keep leading him on, especially when there was a girl ready and waiting for him. Minako could feel it in her heart that Quatre thought he loved Serenity, but she knew he didn't, it was just a childhood infatuation that would soon pass. After all she herself could please Quatre much better than Serenity ever could, Heero was her first attachment ....ever! She had no experience with flirting, cuddling, kissing....... anything!

'I really should start a web site called YourLifeSux.com', she thought imagining making a soap opera out of her current situation.

Sighing she went back to wondering what they were keeping from her.

"Hey babe, mind if I join ya?", asked a cheerful voice from above her.

She bit back a shriek as she opened her eyes to see none other than Duo Maxwell smiling down at her.

"Nope, not at all.", Minako replied pulling her legs up and sitting Indian style.

"What's on your mind?", he asked nonchalantly leaning back on the opposite wall, closing his eyes, arms behind his head, sitting Indian style.

Duo Maxwell was handsome with his bronze skin, long beautiful auburn hair, shining cobalt eyes, and his cheery disposition. Sitting the way he was, as if he hadn't a care in the world, he was to put it mildly quite sexy. 'But he's not who I want.', she thought decidedly squelching her growing thoughts. 'But what are they keeping from me?', she wondered her shoulders slumped.

"Why does it seem like everyone knows something I don't?", she asked him twirling a finger in her hair, a habit both she and Serenity had developed when they got nervous.

"That's because everyone does know something you don't.", He replied cracking an eye open, to peer at her.

He couldn't help but tell her something, she had looked so sad, and ........... heart broken when he found her. He'd do anything to make someone smile, to brighten his or her day. Well, not anything........ just as much as he could pull off without being shot by Heero, or de-braided by Wufei.

"What?", Mina asked leaning forward a little, hoping to hear a bit of information.

"Babe, I swear I'd tell you if I could, but if I did then one of us guys, maybe even Serenity, might be given a mission to kill you. And missions are taken seriously, we don't fail no matter what the cost.", he replied seriously as her face paled a few shades, she had never seen him act or speak like he was now. Like death had warmed over.

"Can't you tell me anything, anything at all?", she begged using bright puppy eyes to try and convince him.

"Well..........", he started trying to think of something that might not put her life in danger. "Tell anyone that we had this conversation........ and not even the great Shinigami will not be able to save you."

"Serenity and Heero only made out that first day because it was part of their mission, and like I said we don't fail.", Duo replied finally, mischief returning to his eyes.

"What do you mean it was part of their mission?",Minako asked incredulously.

Her cousin had made out with a boy for a mission? Was he saying that the relationship she had seen in the past 4 days between the two was a farce?

"So Heero and Sere aren't together?", Minako asked biting her lip.

"Oh no, babe, I'm not saying that their not together, I'm just saying that the kiss was pure mission material. Decide for yourself by what you think. But that's all I can tell you.", Duo replied hastily, not wanting to be in too much trouble. Even though he knew he was already busted for telling her as much as he had, he didn't want it to be made worse.

"So if she's not with Heero, she's with Quatre.", Minako stated flatly ignoring his past statement.

Duo peered at Minako suspiciously looking for a reason to all her absurd questioning. It hit him like a sledgehammer as he realized that Minako had it bad for Quatre, and she thought Serenity was with him.

'I'm not even sure what's going on between those two.', he mused unsure of what to tell the bubbly blonde.

"I don't think you should worry your pretty little head over this, all I told you was merely a speculation from the way I see it. Babe, I may not even be right.", Duo stated slowly trying to stop the tears he saw in her eyes from flowing over her eye lids.

"I see........", she replied with a frown on her face, trying to force back the onslaught of tears she knew was coming.

If, IF she wasn't with Heero........ That meant that if she and Quatre wanted to have something going on in secret of their mission........ It was perfectly possible. 'It would be well within Serenity's power to be..... attached to Quatre.', she thought with a small gulp as her heart jumped to her throat. She'd have to make Serenity see, make her let him go.

"By the way, Andy dropped by me in the hall and said Quatre found Serenity, and lunch will be ready in--", Duo started looking at his watch,"Five minutes."

Minako hopped up with a groan, it would take them at least ten minutes to walk there, but if they ran.........

"Common Duo we're gonna be late! If Aunt Lara were here we'd be dead before we could move!", she yelled taking off down the hall, a sick looking Artemis in her arms, and a hungry Duo following behind her.

______________________________________________________________________________

IN THE LIVING ROOM

"Where are they?", wondered Serenity aloud a streak of worry passing through her eyes.

Duo and Minako still had yet to show up. Everyone else had finished their lunch and it was now one-thirty in the afternoon. She was almost ready to send Andromeda after them.

"They probably got lost.......", Quatre reasoned flipping the page of the book he was reading. He had found it on the corner table, and all in all it was interesting. He still believed that Minako and Duo got lost though, although he had never gotten lost, when Duo was involved, anything could happen. Besides it was a big house, a very big house. It dwarfed even his own mansions, getting lost was understandable. The others had only seen the house at night through the vision of a Gundam, nighttime vision didn't do the house any justice.

Serenity growled lightly under her breath as her watch went off. It didn't beep as before, but it vibrated making it less noticeable to Minako.

"J?", she asked flipping over the watch top, and peering at the old man.

"Yes, no need to be so testy, Shi. It's not a mission per say. Just wanted to make sure you remembered.", J defended flinching slightly at the glare her blue eyes placed upon him.

"How could I forget?", she growled out, unhappy with the way the other four boys were now looking at her. 'You're going down for this one J.', she thought as she realized she was going to have to become one hell of a liar. Trowa could spot a lie a mile away.

"Just doing you a favor. By the way Duo and Lady Aino should be along any time now. 02 hacked into a laptop to get a map of the house.", J informed giving a small smirk. "And tell him next time he decides to blow your cover to Lady Aino, make sure his communicator is off.", he finished before the screen went blank.

Serenity stared at the blank faced watch while her temper began to rise. Slowly surely the cold mercenary that slept inside of her until needed, awoke, and this warrior, this soldier was not, by any means, a happy camper.

"That loud mouthed BAKA!", Wufei shouted swinging out his katana angrily. If Maxwell didn't get there soon, Wufei was going to hunt him down and make him eat that braid of his. Piece by piece.

'This isn't good......', mused Trowa watching Serenity's face contort into pure fury. It was disturbing to see the face of an angel mutate into an unfeeling mask before his very eyes. It sent chills up his spine when her eyes visibly hardened, glaring daggers and promising death. Her eyes were the same cold heartless blue that the eyes on her mask glowed. Both having the surreal tint to them, showing the feelings of a large rock.

'How dare he?!?!', Serenity raged to herself. He had purposely put Minako's life in danger, and to top it all off, J knew! Lives were not expendable, and J was not joking. If he ordered them to kill her because she knew, she would die, no questions asked. If it ever came to that, Duo Maxwell would die a horrible painful death, one that she could not even fathom. Minako would not be brought into this any further; She would personally make sure of it.

"Serenity, I'm sure Duo didn't tell her everything. J didn't say we had to..... to........ do anything.", Quatre started trying to calm her down, a hand on her shoulder. If the cruel doctor ordered them to kill the bubbly blonde, he didn't think he would be able to go through with it. Sometimes he envied Heero. To be able to kill with out conscience, without wondering if he was doing the right thing. Quatre shook his head set the book down and slid his arms around her middle, careful to avoid her ch--- *Ahem* Any blush-worthy areas. He sighed as he felt her relax at his touch, hoping she would calm herself. It wasn't good when her temper got the best of her.

While Serenity leaned slightly against him, lost in ways of murdering the long hared pilot, he pondered Duo's actions. He himself was angry with Duo as well, no doubt about that, but they didn't need him dead. Besides even Duo wouldn't disclose a secret of that much importance to a civilian, without proper cause. The only question left was, what was Duo's cause? He was a pilot and a friend, and for his sake Quatre hoped he had a reason so great, that the Almighty had descended upon the Earth to watch him say it. It was then that the silvery blonde in his arms tensed again. 'Here we go.', Quatre thought to himself, trying to console her. In the process of helping the only female pilot, he missed the death glare that was placed upon him from pilot 01, a fatal mistake.

"When I get my hands on him he is going to beg for an early death. I will not stand for his recklessness.", she bit out in monotone stepping swiftly from Quatre's warm embrace, as if she had never been sitting let alone being held in the first place. She swept past the couch and towards the door with movements that portrayed exactly how much agility and speed she possessed. Her movements were fluid as if she were composed of liquid steel.

"Onna, your so weak you wouldn't even lay a hand on Maxwell.", Wufei scoffed waiting for her reaction.

She whipped her arm out at him and five knives flew out at him. One knife landed in the back of the chair above his head, another centimeters from his right ear, his left ear with the same disposition. The remaining two knives were imbedded deep in the chair on either side of his neck. Wufei wisely kept his mouth shut, as she held one more knife in her outstretched hand, he had no doubt that the next place the knife would be heading towards would be the center of his forehead. When his silence continued, she then stormed out of the room, although seeming to float out.

"Unlike you guys, Serenity might actually kill him. She doesn't make empty threats.", Quatre murmured standing up hurriedly, Trowa following him. Quatre's heart was tight within his chest, it wasn't his own worry and anger, it was Serenity's. She was too angry to remember to completely block her emotions from him. And if he was only feeling it second hand, he didn't want to know what she was going to do to Duo.

Heero and Wufei shared a look that clearly asked,'Empty Threats?'

Wufei removed the knives from the chair and set them down on the table. 'The onna has aim.', he thought silently studying the ornate handle of the blade.

Wufei and his remaining comrade then silently left the room, looking for a certain braided pilot, intent on going in for the kill.

______________________________________________________________________________


IN THE HALLWAY OF THE SECOND FLOOR

"Maybe it's this way............", Duo trailed off looking at the computerized map a little confused. 'This is ridiculous!', they hadn't seen a living soul in nearly a whole hour.

"I think it's the other door three rights back.", Minako replied thoughtfully looking for something familiar.

"No, I---", Duo was cut off as a sudden force whipped him around and crashed his through a locked door, jacking him up against the wall, his feet barely touching the ground.

"What the HELL do you think you're doing Maxwell?!?", demanded an enraged female voice, holding his collar in a tight grip.

Duo peeked his eyes open and he visibly paled as he caught sight of Serenity's icy blue eyes boring holes through him.

"Serenity what are you doing?", demanded Minako thoroughly shocked that her sweet, good-natured cousin, was going to beat the boy senseless.

"Whoa, Babe, you wanna put me down?", Duo asked with wide eyes. Suddenly death threats no longer became a game, he knew she was serious, dead serious.

"Telling her things she's not supposed to know, and having your communicator tuned into J's main computer, will earn you an early death Duo.", she hissed angrily, her eyes flashing with barely contained rage.

Duo's cobalt blue eyes widened, as he realized what she was talking about. Fear gripped the pit of his stomach as he realized that he might have inadvertently caused Minako's death sentence, not because he was looking at his possible executioner. He had only tried to make her smile; To stop her from being so curious and, trying to lead her away from the mission factor, to something more present.

"Serenity, please calm down, He didn't think---", Quatre started as he tried to get Serenity to set him down. She had always had an unusual strength, and that would conclude why she had Duo six inches off the ground. Heero and Wufei appeared at the same time, nearly gaping at the sight of the solid oak door, now irreparable splintered wood. What surprised them both was to see the sixth pilot holding Duo off the ground and against the wall.

'She's so small, frail even, how can she sustain herself and Duo?', Heero wondered repressing the reflex to grab his gun, and shot at Serenity for trying to kill his comrade. It was a habit to weather he admitted it or not, to protect his own. Then he realized, with a tiny twitch of mirth, that Serenity was one of his own. Dimly he noted that Trowa had been out in the hall comforting a frightened Minako. Apparently Serenity had appeared out of nowhere, and had slammed him through the door first thing.

'Kill now, ask questions later.', he mused in his head, watching the scene unfold.

"Exactly Quatre, he didn't think." , Serenity fumed tightening her grip on his collar for a moment, trying to calm herself down. For Quatre's sake, for Minako's sake, for all their sakes. 'I won't let him jeopardize my family. They will NOT be brought into this.', she stated in her head slowly releasing him, letting his feet drop to the ground.

"I don't give a damn who you think you are. Minako is my family, and she will not die because of you're idiocy. If a life it to be taken, trust me it shall be yours.", she spat out at him, giving him an icy glare that could have made Heero's look like a smile in the sunshine. No one messed with her family, no one.

She didn't see how he could be so careless as to put an innocent life in danger. She didn't see how he ever became a pilot, a man willing to spill a dangerous secret just to gain the affections of a woman. She also didn't see the sadness in his eyes, or the shame, or the anger. The anger at himself for being so ridiculously stupid.

"What's going on?", asked a confused Minako, her eyes tearing up at the sight. Trowa's hand was upon her shoulder in a comforting manner, for that of which she was grateful. She was confused. Her cousin never hurt anyone, now she was threatening Duo within an inch of his life.

"Minako, Everything he told you this afternoon, I want you to forget it. If you value your life every word of it.", Serenity stated in a monotone, watching Minako nod and shrink away from her gaze.

"Good.", Serenity replied coldly sweeping past Heero and Wufei, ripping what was left of the broken door off it's hinges, and throwing it across the hall in the process.

Minako stared after Serenity for a moment, but could no longer hold back her tears. The light in her eyes was gone. An unknown force had squelched the love out. No one could live long without the light, not sane anyway. She whirled around and cried into the nearest person's arms, which happened to be Trowa. Trowa stood shocked for a moment, a light hue upon his features, until he finally awkwardly led her to the couch, and sat down with her as she cried. Quatre shot Trowa a grateful look, in which Trowa replied with a nod.

"Duo....", Quatre trailed off walking over to console the boy. Yes, he was disappointed in him, but he and the others had somewhat of an understanding that he some times said things without thinking. And he assumed this was one of those times.

"Don't bother Q-man, she's right.", Duo stated with a sigh, waving his hand dismissively. With a defeated dark aura about him he left the room, without even noticing it, headed towards the hanger. A curious black cat hopped off Heero's shoulder and followed Duo, with almost acknowledgment of his plight shining in her maroon eyes.

Even Wufei had noticed the boy's aura, and had bit back the harsh remarks he knew were on the tip of his tongue. Heero turned and slipped out of the room following Duo. He knew very well what it was like to be that angry with yourself. He knew very well what it led to. His own failed mission still haunted him, but it was more so the innocent eyes of the girl that haunted him. The innocent he accidentally killed.

"She's crying.....", Quatre whispered a hand over his heart.

"Winner, where have you been, she's been crying like a weak Onna for the past fifteen minutes!", Wufei barked out pointing at Minako.

"I was talking about Serenity.", Quatre replied seriously.

The anger he had felt from her before had dissipated, which was now replaced with sorrow. He knew Minako was worried about her cousin to an extent, and had cried about it, but he didn't feel her pain. With Serenity, sometimes if she forgot to block her emotions. Her pain be it mental or physical could be felt loud and clear to him.

With a sigh Trowa realized that Minako had fallen asleep in his arms, tear streaks on her face. He stood up effortlessly, Minako in his arms, she was quite light. He was prepared to take her to her room; he couldn't leave her in an unfamiliar part of the house.

"Here, Trowa, I'll take her.", Quatre offered, seeing as to how he wanted to go see Serenity too, and the first place he would check would be Serenity's room.

Trowa nodded and carefully handed Minako to him, his visible eye holding a question, which he saw Quatre purposely ignored.

"Thanks guys, I'll see you soon. Dinner starts at 6:30.", Quatre stated giving them both a smile before backing out of the room and walking towards the third floor bedrooms, not noticing the white cat following him.

"Barton, up for a spar?", Wufei asked cracking his knuckles, he needed a better opponent than thin air. Trowa merely nodded and followed Wufei out of the room.
________________________________________________________________________________


IN THE HALLS OF THE HANGER

Duo took long, fierce strides down the hall, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets. His head was bowed down as he hid his facial features in the shadows. He knew someone was following him, but he rightfully didn't care. He was on his way to work on ole Scythe. He was, to say the least depressed. And when he was depressed he worked on his Gundam, and when he worked on his Gundam he became immersed in his workings, forgetting the problems that surrounded him. It would be the easy way, the coward's way, to go drink away his miseries and get stoned. But he wouldn't do that, he had far more dignity than to reduce himself to that level. Besides it would take him case upon case of alcohol to even allow him to get a decent buzz. Sometimes being nearly immune to alcohol really stunk. He flicked a piece of auburn hair out of his face and waited for the newly installed automatic sliding door to open.

" Maxwell?", called an old scratchy voice from his left. He turned sharply to see the bent old doctor walking towards him an unreadable expression on his face.

Duo gave him a nod in return, inwardly grimacing as he pictured the man's next words. He knew he was in for it, but he hoped for some divine intervention, because he really didn't want to hear it. He had done his best to quench the girls want to know information, by supplying her with information that would keep her far out of their true agenda. But once again, as usual, his best just wasn't enough.

"I commend you 02.", J stated the usual all knowing smirk gracing his face.

Duo blinked and reeled back a little.

"Excuse me?", he asked scratching the back of his head in confusion.

"You lived through Shi, I commend you.", the doctor replied cryptically, giving a chuckle.

"Shi? You mean Serenity?", Duo continued a small pout on his face; he didn't quite understand what the doctor was getting at, and he had the nagging suspicion that the man had finally flipped.

"You see, Lady Croft, is my second creation. Another perfect creation, with one weakness however. A weakness different from the Perfect Soldier's, so different you'd never imagine.", J replied with a twisted smile, one that gave Duo the chills.

"The Perfect Soldier's weakness is that he is too perfect. Ever wonder what he would do without this war? It's all he's ever known. Shi Tenshi's only weakness is her loved ones. She is the perfect balance of absolute assassin and absolute human. Her emotions are always in check when need be, and on display when not, whereas 01 is always a wall of ice. You are lucky to have lived through her wrath, no one may harm her family and walk away unscathed. In fact, I doubt you would walk at all. You really should thank Quatre for trying to keep her in check.", he preached walking into the hangar, Duo following dutifully behind him.

"So, you're giving me a pat on the back for pressing her buttons and coming out alive?", Duo asked incredulously as they walked toward the catwalk that led to Death Scythe Hell.

"More or less. I would be giving you just as much hell as she, had you told Lady Aino any more than you had. Very wise decisions in your choice of words 02, something that will keep her off our trail.", J stated aloud as he saw 02 hop into his cockpit to check the status.

"Why don't you tell Miss psycho-punch-Duo-through-the-solid-door Serenity that.", Duo replied dryly, although relieved that Minako's life was not at stake.

"I plan on it, tonight. She has some training tonight at eleven thirty. Make sure you're gone by then. When she's in her Perfect Soldier persona, there's no stopping her.", the doctor informed before going off on his own to find Bryce. He needed to add three more entrances to the hangar, that would be invisible to all unless they knew what they were looking for. One in Heero's room, one in Serenity's, and one elsewhere.

As soon as the doctor disappeared Duo's carefree attitude changed. He needed to be more careful, regardless what the old quack said. He was needless to say, surprised when a small furry object jumped into his cockpit.

"ARRGGHHH!!!!", he hollered dropping his scanner and jumping back.

"Meow?", came a soft sound that resonated innocently through Death Scythe.

"What the-", he trailed off turning the cockpit light onto a higher power. There he discovered Serenity's cat, Luna.

"Hey, how did you get down here?", he wondered picking the cat up carefully, at patting it's head. He traced the little yellow upturned crescent moon on its forehead with wonder, then continued to stroke the cats fur, which obviously pleased it. Luna reached up and nuzzled his chin, then continued to purr in a comforting manner. Duo was surprised when he looked at the cat's eyes to see an almost intelligent sheen to them. He quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought as not getting enough coffee. He poked his head out of the cockpit to see who had brought the cat down, and was surprised to see Heero. The boys lips were curved upward ever so slightly, even so, making Duo feel faint at the thought of his best bud smiling.

Heero watched the cockpit of Death Scythe intently after the cat went up there. He smirked as he heard Duo's cry of surprise, and waited for the boy to pop his head out. When he did, he knew instantly that the fun loving pilot would be fine as soon as Serenity verbally forgave him. He gave an internal sigh of relief; He had to watch over his own, if he didn't, who would? Quatre had abdicated the position as leader, and now it left him in charge. Duo disappeared back into his cockpit with a *thunk* and a loud cursing spree, followed by another line of vulgarity that would have left Quatre in a daze for weeks on end. Heero's eyes showed just a bit of amusement as he listened to his fellow pilot and almost as an after thought he thought, 'Yup he'll be fine.'

Heero wandered about the lab for a few moments, studying the layout. His eyes narrowed slightly as he caught sight of three rolled up sets of plans on the immaculate stainless steel desk. Heedless to any trouble he might get into he walked over, and unrolled the first set of plans. It was labeled Fire. He studied the plans and the column like machine with a single solid door while the rest was made of steel enhanced glass. He recognized the plans from somewhere, and realized that the plans could create..... malformations in the host, or more than likely kill him if the radiation was rejected by the body. One way or another it would hurt the guy that had the radiation on him. Wait a second, the plans weren't meant for a him. In fact none of them were. They were indeed meant for a female, about five feet five inches, long hair, slender framed........... Gundam Pilot.

'Shit', he cursed mentally making sure he was reading the plans right. J was trying to make an ultimate weapon out of Serenity, an Elemental. It was a painful process that would more than likely ...... kill her. No one had ever survived.

"Duo!", he snapped, his baritone voice sounding throughout the empty hanger.

"Yeah, buddy?", Duo asked popping his head out of the cockpit, the cat resting on his head.

"Get down here.", Heero replied in monotone spreading out all the plans, for better observation.

Duo was at his side moments later, eyeing the plans the same way he had. It was almost uncanny how serious Duo could be when the situation called for it. Duo's eyes widened as he scanned the three sets of plans. He looked back at Heero with an eyebrow raised, and Heero nodded.

"Damn.", Duo cursed aloud pulling his braid over his shoulder; The neko had been trying to get at it for the past ten minutes. Luna almost seemed to sulk as her toy was taken away.

"So what do we do?", Duo asked Heero, looking back at the plans.

"We tell the others.", Heero replied in monotone rolling the plans up again, leaving them the way they found them. He silently wondered if Serenity knew exactly what she was getting herself into. As he followed Duo to the elevator, he came to the conclusion that if she didn't he'd be there to tell her. After all he always took care of his own.

Unbeknownst to them a figure stood still in a darkened corner watching over them. A small smile graced her face as she saw their reactions, and when they left, so did she.

________________________________________________________________________________


IN THE HALL..........

Quatre ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Serenity's feelings were growing fainter and fainter the further he proceeded, thus he found himself back tracking towards Minako's room again. He felt a twinge of guilt, as he continued past the room Nukuru had kindly offered to watch over. He knew Serenity was close by because Nukuru had handed her the package her parents had sent when she saw her heading towards her room. Again he felt a twinge of guilt, but couldn't console Mina until she woke up, and he wouldn't intentionally wake her. As he passed Serenity's room he paused, and tried the handle. Unsurprisingly the door was locked.

*Darn it!*, he yelled in his head, as he closed his eyes, trying to reach for his childhood playmate with his empathy. Slowly he followed his gift to the end of the hall on the third floor. He opened his eyes to find himself staring at a solid wall. The wall, that as far as he knew was solid. He quickly did a search for a hidden panel, and during his search he found that the further he reached up on the wall, the stronger he could feel Serenity's emotions.

*Of course!*, he thought taking off down the hall to the stairs, a relieved smile on his face. He really could have slapped himself for being so stupid. He quickly tackled the long staircase to the fourth floor, and followed her emotions until he once more came to a stop. This time, however he stopped at a door. The door was decorated with carvings of ancient things, entwined with roses, surrounded by thorns. His trained ears picked up a soft melody, one that was hard to hear through the solid door. With a small smile he quietly slipped into the room, and had it been Heero in the room, he would have been caught, but since it wasn't he was home free.

________________________________________________________________________________


30 MINUTES EARILER IN LARA CROFTS BEDROOM

Serenity lay in a fetus like position on the king size four poster bed, body racked with sobs. What had she become? 'Exactly what you wanted.', answered her conscious, making her weep all the harder. She would have never, never done that to the playful Duo before her training. She had threatened to take away a human life that wasn't her enemy, for an unsure cause. For her rash actions she felt horrible for them. Duo's back probably hurt like hell from being slammed through the door. He'd probably never even speak to her again.

Her guilt multiplied ten-folds when she thought of how she had acted towards Mina. Cold, unfeeling, and to put it lightly, she had acted like a monster. How ironic, she ended up hurting the very person she was trying to protect. She buried her face in the light blue silk sheets of the bed, wishing for her parent's safe return.

"Mama, Papa.", she whispered clutching a pillow to her chest, trying to force the pain out of her heart.

After her crying had subsided she carefully slipped from the bed and walked to the bathroom to wash her face. 'I look horrible.', she mused turning on the cold water. She splashed her face, and washed it off, drying it with the handy towel. She giggled as she read the towels. The one she had used said, 'I'm with stupid.' The other one said, 'Hey, I'm not stupid!'

With a sigh she hung up the towel and took down the rest of her hair, it had become a tangled mess, the sooner she dealt with it the better. Her hair was sometimes a handicap, but she couldn't bring herself to cut it. She picked up the wooden handled brush, and began the grueling task of brushing out her now floor length hair. She hummed a song as she continued to brush her hair, wincing as she pulled just a bit too hard. With an aggravated growl she continued to hum and resumed untangling her silvery blonde mane. Needless to say she was quite surprised when the brush was taken from her hand, and her eyes snapped open. Through her reflection in the mirror she could see Quatre standing behind her softly pulling out the knots in her hair. He didn't have 29 sisters and learn nothing. Serenity gave a small smile and began to sing the little tune instead of humming it. Quatre was as careful, and as gentle as he could possibly be as he precariously pulled at the brush, marveling at how soft her hair was, and how long it had gotten. Slowly he pulled her hair into a tight braid, much like Duo's.

"Better?", he asked her softly as her eyes slowly fluttered open, she had looked so sad.

"Yes, thank-you Quat-chan.", she replied reverting to his old nickname.

He gave a slight blush at the endearment, and gave her a reassuring smile.

She in turn slid an arm around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder. His blush deepened and he hesitantly wrapped an arm around her pulling her closer. 'And we do this standing in the restroom...', he trailed off an amused smile on his face. Quatre led her out of the bathroom, and took a seat on the bed, patting the space next to him. She sat down obligingly, pulling her left leg underneath her.

"Now, I understand that you're mad at Duo, but he didn't---", Quatre began but Serenity cut him off.

"I'm not really that mad at Duo anymore, I'm just a little upset because I let my temper get the best of me.", she stated sadly her head drooping slightly.

"If I were in your position, I would have probably lost it too. We all know Wufei would have.", he pointed out with a boyishly kawaii smile, eyes glittering.

"I just wish they'd come home already.", she stated after a few moments of silence. She picked up the framed photograph off the nightstand. It was a picture of her parents and herself in the states, from when they had gone on vacation.

Quatre absent-mindedly placed a hand on his chest where his heart resided. He could still feel her profound sadness though she was now trying to shield it from him. It wasn't working. As if they were still children in those innocent impressionable years, he wrapped his arms around her, leaning on the headboard of the bed. Serenity curled up against his side and leaned her head against his well-muscled chest, willing her tears away. 'Mama wouldn't cry.', she thought burying her face into the folds of his shirt.

'She misses them so much.', he mused stroking her back as she burrowed herself deeper into his arms. It was almost as if she was trying to hide from the world in his embrace. He knew she was strong, but the missions, the killing, the battles, they were all new to her. With or without training she needed to adjust. She could not go from a life of near pacifism, to the life of a cold-blooded assassin. It just simply was not possible. He remembered his first real battle with a grimace. It was then that death became real to him. It was then that it almost became tangible for him to touch. He also knew that all she needed was to be held, to be comforted, to be assured that all would be well, to lessen her grief. And if the gods deemed it so that he would be the one to do those things for her, by Allah he would. As it was he firmly believed 'Time healed all wounds.' But sometimes he just couldn't seem find the time to heal them.

Quatre's eyes flickered to her face and realized she had dozed off. 'Crying really tired them both out.', he thought referring to Minako. As he tried to disentangle himself from her she gripped his light blue silk vest, and began to tremble fiercely. He frowned and pulled her close again, and soon thereafter she calmed and continued to sleep peacefully, dark ebony eyelashes, dusting over her pale cheeks. "Oh well.", he sighed aloud reaching around her to set his watch to six fifteen. For the next half-hour he continued to watch her sleep, still clinging to his vest. He kicked off his shoes and drew both his legs and hers onto the bed, under the covers, noting the chilly breeze coming through the open window. As soon as he settled down Serenity unconsciously searched for the warmth he had been emitting, that had been missing from her when he had covered them with the blanket. When she found him, she wrapped her arms around his waist, mistaking him for a teddy bear, and while he blushed heavily, he once again encircled her in his protective embrace. Serenity's head rest just below his chin, and he could feel her soft steady breathing, occasionally brushing warm air against his bare neck, making him shiver and his eyes clench shut. Scolding himself slightly for feeling things he knew he shouldn't have, he slowly slipped into a dreamless slumber, once again the child that had been playing with his friend out in the field.

________________________________________________________________________________


Well here's the chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it, please review! There aren't ANY couples chosen yet! None! Although like I said no Trowa/Sere or Wufei/Sere, I can't stand reading about those couples, so WHY would I WRITE about them? I'd like to thank Joisu-chan, for just being the greatest, AND I'd like to say poo on all of you who flame, without good cause. So THERE!

Much Love SerenityMoon





PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!