And viola! I'm back! Did you guys miss me? Camp was great, I came home on Friday, I had a lot of fun (go check out my deadjournal if you want to know more). To answer one of the reviewers questions, it was an adventure camp. It involved a lot of outdoor activities and physical and emotional strength (plus I got a tan!). The highlight of the camp was jumping off a 65-foot bridge on a zip line into the water. It was SO much fun. But I'll stop babbling about that and get down to business. This chapter turned out to actually be TOO long, so I had to break it up into two separate chapters. does some heavy brooding.

I was amazed at such great feedback people gave me on Darren. Honestly, I wanted this character to be more life like. I'm not trying to Mary Sue anybody here (though I don't know what term you would use for a guy character). Also, I have to tell you all, yes there is Relena bashing in this fic. But, I will NOT, I repeat, NOT, make Darren hate her. If he did, my story would come out completely different than I planned. Plus, I feel that there is no justified reason for him to hate her. If you want to give me one, go ahead, but my decision stands. But there will be R-basing in this fic.

Thanks to all you reviewers! ::gives roses and chocolate and such to readers and reviewers:: You've made me so happy with all your wonderful feedback!

I'd like to (secretly) dedicate this chapter to my brother's girlfriend Liz and her stepsiblings. I recently learned that her family went through a divorce, and now her stepbrother and sister are going through the same thing with her mom (her mom got remarried and is now getting another divorce). They're all really wonderful people, and shouldn't have to be subjected to that kind of pain.

Disclaimer: Yes, I don't own Gundam Wing. But I do own all the OC's that you see in this chapter and others.

~* (Part 3 of ? - Just when you think you've hit rock bottom)

"...based on the facts given. After careful consideration, the court has come to its decision. Mr. Yuy will take custody of Darren Yuy. Ms. Peacecraft has visitation rights and if agreed, may have Darren Yuy stay with her on weekends every other week. Court dismissed."[1]

Everyone except for me rises, murmuring to each other. Mom looks furious; arguing with her attorneys and occasionally throwing glares at dad. Dad doesn't seem to notice, he's too busy chatting happily and shaking hands with his attorneys. Great. I feel like a fucking piece of meat that the wolves have been fighting over. I could have sworn I heard mom growl once or twice.

Mom moved out less than a week after their fight at dinner. She rented an apartment across town and visited me regularly. It's been that way for over a month. Both parents hired the best lawyers they could and began battling for custody. Step right up folks! See the amazing divorcing family! Who will get the kid? Who will get the TV? It's ridiculous how they've been fighting over who gets what. I mean, do they have to spend half an hour arguing over who gets the damn lamps?!

Throughout all of it, it feels like they've forgotten about me. They're so wrapped up in their own debates that they don't even know how I feel about all this. They hardly even notice me anymore. So of course they don't realize that I've been skipping meals. And how I'm always over at school or at Jason's house. I come home after spending 3 full days and nights at his house and the first thing I hear when I come in is Dad talking to those damn lawyers about their "plan of action".

Everybody at school knows about the divorce. You have no idea how awful it is to walk down the hallway and see so many people, teachers AND students, giving you looks that hold so much pity in the eye. I don't want pity. I want my family back. I want to be able to go to the beach and have a picnic in the sand with both parents. I want to hear them laughing. I want to see the looks of love they always gave each other.

"Darren?"

I look up to see my mother's face staring down at me. Her eyes are bloodshot and she's visibly shaking. God, she looks so sad. So helpless. I wrap my arms around her neck and stand up, hugging her tightly.

"Are you going to be okay?" I whisper in her ear.

She pulls back and roughly wipes her cheeks, which are now damp. A small smile is all she can muster, but I suppose it's enough for me.

"I'm sure I will be," is all she says.

Tears glisten in my eyes, but I push them back. No, boys don't cry. Boys don't cry...right?

Mom pulls me close once more. She gently strokes my hair, kissing the top of my head. Usually I would have pulled away, but this time I can't. It's different. She needs this. I need this. I let a small sigh escape my lips.

"I'll see you in a little while. I promise," she whispers as she releases me.

"Goodbye Mom," I say sadly.

She gives me a minuscule smile, though still encouraging, and sets off out the door with her lawyers. My gaze drops to the floor, the emotions inside overwhelming. Damn it, why did this have to happen to me?

"Come on Darren, let's go home. It's been a long day," Dad says, putting a hand on my shoulder.

Yeah, you can say that again. I feel dad's hand squeeze my shoulder in reassurance. I manage to give an small thank you smile. As we head out the door, cameras flash and reporters ask various questions to both my father and me. Ever since word leaked out about the divorce, the press had been all over us like sharks at a feeding frenzy. I keep my head up straight, eyes defiantly staring forward, while dad and the attorneys keep the reporters at bay. I hear one reporter ask how I felt. Well, that's the first person to ask that in over a week. How wonderful.

Finally we reach the car, much to my joy, and hop in. It's silent, not even the sound of us fighting over the radio. Just silence. Dad keeps glancing at me with a worried expression on his face. I wish he would stop, it's making me really nervous.

"So...um," is my miserable attempt at starting a conversation.

He looks at me again and I sight inwardly. Why is this so hard?

"Are you okay?" is the first thing that comes out of his mouth.

Why, of course I'm okay dad. Why would I not be? I mean, my parents have only been fighting for 6 years and are now divorced. Reporters are crawling all over my feet trying to butt into my personal life and emotions. I've sat in a hot courtroom for a total of 17 hours in the last month watching my two loving parents rip each other's throats out over me, and I still don't understand the judge's decision. And on top of all that, I can't even LOOK at my best friend without seeing the pity and regret in his eyes. I'm peachy fucking keen!

Okay, so I'm not about to say that to him. But I'm sure I could have come up with something better than, "Fine, I guess."

More silence. Argh, this is driving me insane! If only there was something to talk about! As if on cue, my stomach rumbles, reminding me how unbearably hungry I am. I can almost feel the smirk on my dad's face.

"Tell you what. How about we pick up some Chinese food on the way, bring it home, and you and me can have a nice, long chat," he suggests.

"Sure," gee, for one who really wants a conversation, I'm not making a lot of effort. I am so tired...

I sigh softly. This is really tearing me up. I mean, how am I supposed to feel about this? How can I love both parents when I only see one of them 4 days a month? I just know they both want me to support them, to blame the other for the divorce. They want me to choose who I love more. I can sense it. But I can't do that! I love both mom and dad more than anything, how am I supposed to just choose like that? Gah! I hate this! I wish they hadn't divorced. It only made things worse.

"So what do you want?" Dad's voice cuts through my thoughts.

My head snaps up and I look at him. He's holding up his cell phone. Oh yeah, the food.

"Oh, um, chicken and cashew nuts," I say[2]

"Right," he replies.

After placing a quick order, he puts away the cell phone and the car returns to it's previous state of silence. Urgh, I can't take this anymore. I reach over and switch on the radio. The announcer is talking, and he introduces a new song. It drifts from the speakers, filling the car with the soft melody.

"~Buried deep as you can dig inside yourself, hidden in a perfect shell, such a charming beautiful exterior. Laced with perfect smiles and shining eyes, perfect posture but you're barely scraping by, but you're barely scraping by. But this is one time, this is one time, that you can't fake it hard enough to please everyone or anyone at all, or anyone at all.~"[3]

I fidget in my seat, about ready to kick the speaker. Why do song lyrics always have to relate to your life in one way or another? I hated their fighting. Who wouldn't? But did I ever complain about it? NO! I stayed quiet about the whole thing. So instead, I smiled. But this is the one time that I can't smile at my parents and make things better between them. I was their link. I was the one who always got them to stop fighting and make up. So how come now is the one time that I can't? Why? WHY?

I've been asking myself that question a lot lately. Funny how I pick the one question I know I can't answer. I guess life is ironic like that. There are just some things you can't explain. In a way, it also applies to my parents too. How long has dad wanted a divorce? What's behind all this? Who the hell are they always talking about?!

Those are the kind of questions that burn on my tongue. The ones I'm just not brave enough to ask.

We pick up the food and head home. Opening the door, I notice how deathly quiet it is. And now much stuff is gone. Mom got a little more than a third in the settlement. Dad drops his keys on the table and we head upstairs to his room. HIS room, not theirs. We plop down on the large bed and dad turns on the TV. For half an hour we stare mindlessly at the television while eating the food out of the cartons with chopsticks.

"Pass me a napkin, will you dad?" is really the only conversation that passes between us.

My watch beeps and signals 8pm. Outside, the sun is starting to turn orange, signaling the sunset. Dad shuts off the TV and I look at him quizzically.

"Darren, listen. I-"

RING.

Damn telephone. Dad picks it up.

"Hello?"

Pause.

"Ah! Hello! No, of course you aren't bothering me, Darren and I were just chatting and we just finished dinner."

Chatting, right. More like dad was about to lecture me. Another pause.

"There's no need for an apology. What can I do for you?"

A really long pause. His eyebrows raise and his eyes widen.

"What?! You've got to be kidding me! I just settled the divorce today! You can't do that!"

Oh shit. This doesn't sound good. Dad looks mad. I can barely make out the person on the other line. Female. I've heard that voice somewhere before.

"Why now? You do know this is the WORST possible moment to tell me this.

Pause.

"What?"

His tone changes.

"He will?"

Now it's curiosity.

"Hm, well, I'm not agreeing to it, but let me think it over. I'll tell you tomorrow."

He hangs up the phone and turns towards me.

"Darren..." he trails off uncertainly.

"What's going on?" I ask slowly, bracing myself for the blow.

"That was my boss. She...she wants me to relocate to one of our other office buildings," he says.

No wonder I recognized her voice. Well, that's not so bad. I tell him so.

"Where's the building? Newford? Mitchington?" I start to ramble off the neighboring towns.

"It's on L4," he says in a quiet, blunt tone.

I blink, my mind trying to process the words.

"L4? We're going to L4?" I say, astonished.

"Hai," is all he says.

It takes me a few seconds to fully comprehend what he's saying. Then it hits me. Hard.

"L4?!" I scream.

He sits there silently as I begin to rant.

"But it's so far away! We'd have to take a space shuttle to get there! I don't want to move! I like it here on L1[4]! If we moved, we'd have to sell the house, move all the furniture. I'd have to switch schools! Leave all my friends behind! We'd be leaving MOM behind!"

I shut my mouth, realizing that I'm babbling. But, no! We can't move!

"Son, you have to understand," dad tries to say.

"Wait! You don't have to do this! You can just tell her no! You can stay here!" I say, trying to find any reason to stay.

"Darren, you have to understand," he says again, "I have to do this. I don't have a choice. She's my boss, whatever she says I do. We have to move. We start packing tomorrow. I'll take care of everything else."

"But...it's not fair," I whisper brokenly, falling into his arms as tears well up in my eyes.

He holds me tightly and strokes my hair, repeating over and over, "I know."

And that night, the simulated stars didn't seem to shine as brightly as before.

~*

3 weeks later my father and I were ready to depart. The time had all passed so quickly. Dad spent most of his time on the phone and talking to movers and such. I have neither seen nor even spoken to mom since the last day in court. I wonder if she even knows we're moving at all.

The shuttleport is crawling with people. Some of them are tourists, looking at everything with wide eyes and snapping pictures like there was no tomorrow. Others were business people, arguing about their stocks and who next to fire over their expensive cell phones and headsets. Jason and Tammi, my two closest friends, are standing before me, having come to see me off.

"I can't believe you're really going," Tammi says sadly, tears running down her cheeks.

I wipe them away softly, pushing away a strand of her unruly red hair. Her and I have always had sort of an odd relationship. Everyone always thought we were a couple, but I consider her to be more like my sister. The three of us were always going to movies and concerts together, hanging out whenever we had time. I'm so lucky to have them. And now I'm leaving them behind.

"Dude, you promise to write, right?" Jason says, trying to hide his sniffling.

"Of course man, you're my best friend!" I say, then frown slightly, "Aw, come on man, don't get all misty eyed on me!"

I say this because I know that if he starts crying than I will too. He's always been like my twin brother. They're both my family, and it hurts so bad to walk away from them.

"Attention, Flight 09812 to L4 is now boarding. I repeat, Flight 09812 to L4 is now boarding. Please have your tickets ready to be presented," a female voice drones out from the speakers.

"That's my flight," I say sadly. I look over my shoulder to see my dad waiting patiently for me.

"Please don't forget us," Tammi says before bursting out tears and sobbing loudly. She always was the emotional type.

"Now Tam, you know I could never do that even if I tried," I say soothingly, taking her into my arms.

She wraps her arms around my chest and sobs into my shirt. It's getting wet, but I pay no attention to it. God, I'm going to miss her so much. She pulls away and I kiss her cheek soundly. Jason pulls me into a rough hug, which I gladly return. He pats my back and returns to his spot next to Tammi. I smile sadly at them.

"Goodbye Jason, Tammi. I'll talk to you soon," I say.

Swinging the strap of my dufflebag over my shoulder, I turn and walk to my father. It seems to last an eternity. I try hard not to look back, and can hear them talking to each other.

"Will we ever see him again Jason?" I hear Tammi ask.

"I don't know, Tam. I just don't know," Jason says brokenly.

As I walk into the terminal that leads to my shuttle, I break and take a last look at my 11 year long friends. Jason has an arm around Tammi's shoulder, his expression steel, though I know he's hurting on the inside. Tammi is crying, waving to me. I give a small wave back and look forward again, stumbling slightly down the long red carpeted walkway that holds a new chapter in my life. Goodbye guys, I hope you'll be okay. I don't know if I'll be back. Sayonara.

~*

[1] - If you hadn't noticed, that was the judge talking. Sorry if it sounds weird, I'm not a lawyer or anything like that.

[2] - Yum! I love chicken and cashew nuts ^_^

[3] - Erm, yes. I know. I love Dashboard Confessional way too much. But I can't help it! The name of the song is The Places That You've Come To Fear The Most (long, I know). I can't help it if the songs relate to what I write!!

[4] - I think I failed to mention that they live on L1. So yeah, they live on L1.

::sniffs:: Wow, I've gotten myself a little worked up. Well, that's chapter 3 for you. It's a bit longer than the others, and I hope you enjoyed it! Um, special thanks to (oddly enough) Our Lady Peace. I picked up their CD Gravity a few days ago and it really inspired me to finish and add things to this chapter, and to write the others. Each of their songs was written by one or more members of the band, and a lot of the tracks remind me in some way of this fic. I give them mucho credit for writing their own lyrics, it really impressed me how they wrote such wonderful words. See the button below you that says "Click Here To Submit Review"? Please click it! I love feedback! Chapter 4 is in the process and will be out...well, I don't exactly know. But I promise you all it will be soon!