AN: **Brandishes her poetic license** Midshipmen in the Royal Navy, at the time, would not actually have been as old as mine are. A young gentleman would join the Navy at the age of about twelve or thirteen, as a midshipman. Only rarely did people with no title or wealth become officers. I'd love any ideas for how Trowa made middy, if anyone has any.

Caution: I know I said I wouldn't have pairings. One has reared its head, though. 2+H. not my favorite, but I needed it this way!

In answer to reviews: Bryony, I'm not telling about Noventa. You'll have to wait to find out, just like me :o). Actually, I do know. I'm just being furtive. MUAHAHAHA. And yup, poor Q. I've never written Quatre fic before. I hope I get him right. Chambers, again, yup, poor Q! lol. Glad you think it's original - it's my favorite time period, and while I do know more about Wellington's campaigns than Nelson's, I couldn't figure out how they'd all be infantymen. Kasra - I'm curious to know where I'm going too! I have the beginning, the middle, and the end in my head. but no clue how to get from one to the other. Thanks so much for reviewing! You guys make my day.

Next part - Duo sidestory/prequel thingie.

Part Three:

-Southhampton Docks, England -

"C'mere, wench!"

Hilde squealed and kicked her feet as strong arms grabbed her around the waist from behind and spun her around. Skirts swirling around daringly exposed ankles as she was set down, she berated her attacker, who retreated behind her the finger suddenly waving under his nose.

"You stop that now, Mr. Maxwell! Unless you've suddenly come up with riches, which I very much doubt, it's bad for business. You know that. Or should I start calling you Lord Maxwell of the Gutter Outside the Sailor's Rest?" 'Mr. Maxwell' just grinned at her.

" 'S'at all, Hilde luv? No 'Duo I'll miss you', no 'I'll be faithful', nuttin? Jus' bizness, izzit? 'M hurt." He clasped his hands to his chest melodramatically and feigned a trembling lip. "Ye've cut me to the quick, so ye have. Give us a kiss, lass." That being said, he pulled her closer, ducked his head, and kissed her full on the mouth. There was a muffled 'business', but then Hilde returned the kiss with interest. There were never any customers at this time in the morning, and only ladies worried about who might see a kiss. A lady she wasn't, and the man she was in love was was about as far from a lord as it was possible to be - although she'd made a few lords very happy.

Duo's companion coughed, averting his blue eyes from the scandalous goings-on in front of him.

"Maxwell. Time." The seaman broke off his kiss with the greatest of reluctance, and Hilde kept a proprietory hand on his long braid.

"Aw, give us a mo, Heero.Tell you what - y' go on ahead, 'n I'll catch up right quick-like. I'm tryin' to say farewell to me dearest luv, 'ere." Hilde's hands were doing interesting things to his chest, and he wanted to return his full attention to her.

"Hn." Heero didn't move, and Duo sighed.

"It's outrank me he does, luv. Not an officer, mind, but 'e'll put up a right stink if'n I stay." He sat her down on a nearby crate of gunpowder and knelt at her feet. Throwing back his head, he sang out in a surprisingly tuneful baritone:

"Well now me love, I must go and leave you; though the waves do loom high above

Well I will face them them with greater pleasure that I've been with me only love"

He leapt to his feet, kissed her again, and strode off, singing loudly.

"Well I'm a rover, seldom sober, I'm a rover of high degree But when I'm drinkin', I'm always thinkin' How to gain my love's company."

Beside him, Heero took no notice of him and walked on in stony silence. While Duo half-danced, Heero's steps were the model of military correctness. He marched like an infantryman, despite having joined the Royal Navy. Hilde watched them go, her heart pounding. She'd return to the Sailor's Rest as soon as she could breathe again. If she'd had the right type of family, her mother would have warned her about men like her Duo. He was. a rogue. A scoundrel. A wastrel. When his ship was docked, he spent his days sleeping - as often outside the inn as in it - and his nights drumming and singing for drinks and money. She didn't know what he was trying to forget, and she hadn't asked more than once. He'd scared her that once.

But for all that. he'd never once tumbled her. She'd offered. He'd given her money, yes, but never taken what he paid for. Not once. He said she should be treated like a lady, and did so. He paid the money so she could be a lady for a night, not have to work. They slept in the same room to keep up appearances, but he took the floor and let her have the bed to herself. For a scoundrel. he was more of a gentleman than the lords. She still had bruises from one of the Valiant's officers - a lieutenant who hadn't given his name. Duo had been livid.

She'd miss him. She'd miss his pig-headedness. She'd miss the singing that managed to catch a room even when he was drunk. She'd miss his rum- soaked kisses. She'd even miss the way he woke her up in the middle of the night praying he wouldn't be sick in the morning. She believed in God, of course. She wasn't sure people like her got prayers answered, but her lips moved anyway.

"Keep him safe."

Hilde got up and walked away. She didn't look back. There was business to attend to in the evening, and she had to get some sleep.

Duo, on the other hand, wanted to look back. He was still singing, but he didn't want to leave Southhampton. He said as much to Heero, who stopped and looked at him.

"Idiot. It's her you don't want to leave. You're better off on a ship."

"I could smuggle 'er on." Not a chance. The seamen could only bring so many women before the officers noticed.

"But you won't," Heero stated, "Not her." Duo sighed.

"No. I wouldn' put 'er through tha'." Sailors tended to be somewhat rough. Hilde was more than a plaything. If she died it would matter. Maybe not to the world in general, but to him.

But enough of that. Duo was a rover, with a rover's heart. Enlisting had been more than convenient at the time, but something inside him told him he'd have done it anyway. There were very few other jobs for such as him.

The pair came in sight of the H.M.S. Valiant, and Duo's pensive expression broke into a grin. His ship. She stank. She was swarming with sailors. He'd hate her in a month. But right now, she was the most beautiful thing (almost) in his world. Her planks gleamed. She rode high in the water, exposing her freshly scraped copper bum. She'd fly over the water, and he'd fly with her.

But first, he had to load her. He grabbed a heavy sack of flour and heaved it onto his shoulders, and walked head-down past the Lieutenant on deck, hoping to pass anonymously. No such luck.

"Seaman Maxwell! Able Seaman Yuy!" He put the sack down and came to attention, saluting smartly as Heero did the same beside him.

" 'Tenant Alex, sir!" Duo listened for the expected 'at ease', but none came, and he remained at attention while Alex prowled around him, sniffing his breath for signs of alcohol and generally looming in a disapproving way. The seaman was devoutly happy he'd not drunk the night before, and said a small prayer of thanks for Hilde. Good lass, that one. He was sweating, and cursed his friend's ability to withstand scrutiny with no more difficulty than he had pissing. An eternity later, Alex spoke.



"Yuy, carry on. Maxwell, you are late. You are disheveled. Furthermore, if my eyes did not deceive me, you are late because you were consorting with a whore." Duo bristled, but restrained himself. Officer or not, the man had no right to talk that way about Hilde. Especially since he'd been one of her customers himself, and he had his suspicions about the purple bruises on her arms. Alex caught the anger smouldering in Duo's eyes. "Is something wrong, Seaman? Do you wish to speak?"

"No, Sir." Duo ground out. Disciplined. He had to be disciplined.

"Very well. You are reassigned to bilge duty until further notice. Take that flour to the galley, then proceed to the bilges and relieve Seaman Crowley. Dismissed."

"Aye-aye, sir."

Bilge duty. He'd had worse. You got used to the smell, and eventually your arms got numb and didn't ache anymore manning the pumps, which had to be kept going all the time. Even the English couldn't build a watertight ship. Men on bilge duty could often scavenge extra rum rations from pitying comrades. Granted, they were usually rotated through the most unpleasant task on the ship. Granted, he'd rather be lookout. But he'd take what he got. He had no choice.

Without the Navy, he'd be hanging.