Part Three

Friday; 11:22ish C.S.T: Outside the L1 O.M.C

Rosie tried to jump from Duo's arms, in an attempt to get back inside. She saw Heero walk outside and screamed in terror. Duo heard the destressed yell, and locked to the source, ready to draw his gun if the need be.

But there was no need for the gun. It was just Heero. Although there was something off about him, and Duo couldn't place it right away..... He looked straight into his eyes for answers and saw something that hadn't been there in the longest time. He was seeing the full force of the Perfect Soldier. Duo was the only one that had seen that look before, when he had helped Heero escape the Alliance Hospital, and they jumped out the window. You know, the one on the side of a cliff, near the ocean.... Now he was torn between staying with his daughter, who was clinging to his neck, or going to help his koi, before it was to late.

The others, who also heard the yell, and saw Heero come out, went over to Duo. Without a word Quatre scooped up Rosie from Duo so he could help Heero. Duo nodded his thanks and ran to his koi's side. Quatre gently pulled Rosie to another area to clam down, while whispering soothingly in her ear.

/Before we had Rosie, Duo and I were about the same height. Then he had to go and have a left over growth spirit, so now he's taller than me by at least 2 inches/ thought Heero absently as 'The Soldier' noticed Duo's approach. The soldier just snorted, dismissing the fact that his approach and the fact were not - important.

'Heero? Come on, come back.'

'What are you talking about baka? I'm right here,' said Heero in his monotone. Duo pulled him into a fierce hug, 'No, you're not, and you're scaring Rosie. Your only daughter is deathly afraid of you right now.' He felt Heero stiffen.

'R...Rosie? Is...she ok?' He slowly came back to himself, and started shaking.

'She's ok, just really scared.'

Quatre brought Rosie over to where Duo and Heero were, when she finally calmed down enough to fall asleep. He saw the silent request in Heero's eyes and gently handed her over. They all started making their way back to the shuttles, to go back to Earth. The Preventors could take care of the rest.

----At the house: 5:45 a.m.----

Duo opened the door and stepped aside so Heero could bring in Rosie. Billy and his mom were in the guest room when the door opened. They slipped out quietly and smiled when they saw Rosie with Heero. Duo made a 'shhing' motion when Billy saw Rosie. Heero went and put Rosie in her room while Duo told Billy and his mom what had happened.

'They're gonna stay.' Duo came up behind Heero wrapping him up in his arms. He pulled him down to the chair, and they stayed like that until Rose woke up.

---noonish--

'Daddy....where....where are....you? Daddy!! No!!' Rosie woke with a start, to be caught up in a warm strong pair of arms.

'Shh...Daddy's right here...nobodies going to hurt you...'

Quatre and Trowa, had came back with them, ran into the room when they heard Rosie's yell for help. They noticed that Heero was staying away from Duo and Rosie. Trowa stayed by Heero and Quatre went to help calm Rosie. Billy, who had also stayed that morning also came in.

-----

She's scared, and doesn't understand everything that's happened, as of late. This is a lot for her, she's only 8. I want to go to her and take all the pain away but I can't.... Not when I know I'm the cause of her distress.

I have to explain though.... If anything, she has to understand. He wasn't her grandfather. Just a crazy man, that like to make others suffer. And if she still wants me to go then I'll leave. I'd do anything to protect her, and make her happy, even if it means I can't be here to see all the smiles and hear her laugh.

Duo locked eyes with Heero, understanding his silent request, 'Rosie, honey, are you ok? Can papa talk to you for a minute?' she hugged Duo harder, 'y..you stay?'

'Of course, I'll be right here.' She nodded her head slightly.

Heero slowly approached the bed and kneeled down in front of Rosie, 'Princess? I need to tell you something that's very important. And I need you to look at me ok?' She turned her head to look at him. Heero swallowed hard, she looked so lost and scared, not really understanding everything that happened.

'That man that took you from school, he was not your grandfather. He was jsut a bad man that did lots of bad things to lots of good people. When I was younger, than you even, he found me and took me in. He didn't treat me like a son and didn't even try to act like a father. I don't know what he showed you or what he said but you have to understand that he's not your grandfather ok? Just a really bad man.'

He wanted to hug her but she shrunk away, 'stay b-back.'

Heero started backing away from the bed and Rosie. Nobody moved as the door clicked closed.

After several minutes Rosie spoke up, 'May I be alone please?' Duo wasn't sure about what to do. Should he go after Heero? Or stay with Rosie to make sure she was ok, and wasn't going to do anything crazy or rash.

'Are you sure honey? Are you going to be ok by yourself?'

'I'll stay with Rosie,' said Billy.

She nodded, 'I'll be ok. Billy can stay if he wants.'

'OK, honey. I'll be right down the hall. Uncles Quatre and Trowa will be right downstairs too. Right guys?' They nodded.

-------

It is said by those that believe in God, that when it rains He's sad, when it thunders He's angry, and lightnings when He's hurt. Animals of all sizes scurry for cover, away from the dark shadows that overtake the land. Large clouds crowd the sky, each looking for dominance, and the best spot to unleash their tears form Heaven.

Heero Yui didn't believe in God, it went against his training. Heero Yui-Maxwell, on the other hand, did believe that there was some kind of higher being up there. He also always loved the rain, but not because of what people said about it. He liked it because he never learned to cry.

As a child his emotions were locked away, making it near impossible to cry, even when he accidentally killed the little girl and her puppy. The rain was his escape though, the one way he could let go. Just standing out there for however long the auto-rain in the colony lasted, or just watching it from a window. He would let the drops run down his body, letting them be his tears.

This is how Duo found him; on their balcony letting the rain mix with his real tears. He just watched him at first, giving him some alone time. Then he grabbed a few towels wrapping one around his shoulders and the other for Heero.

'Hee-chan,' he called softly, wrapping the towel around his shoulders, 'come back inside. Please?'

Heero didn't say anything, he just followed him inside. Duo helped him to strip out of the wet clothes and grabbed some clean ones while he toweled off.

There was a slight knock at the door. Trowa came in holding a tray with 2 mugs of hot coco, some soup and some sandwiches.

'Quatre thought you guys might be hungry so he made lunch.'

'Thanks Tro, tell Q-man thanks as well,' said Duo. Trowa nodded and shut the door on his way out.

Duo gently maneuvered Heero so he was sitting on the bed, back against the headboard, and covers pulled up to his lap. He then moved the tray in front of both of them. Duo handed Heero some soup, which he took but didn't eat.

'Hee-chan, please just a little bit? for me? Quatre made it, you wouldn't want to upset him by not eating it right? Hee-chan?' Heero sighed and started to slowly eat some soup. He also took a few sips of the hot coco, never once saying a word.

'Talk to me?' He wasn't forcing him to talk, it was said gently, the way a parent asks a child about a bad day at school. The room lapsed into silence. Duo, waiting patiently for Heero to gather up his thoughts and Heero starring out at the storm, not sure as to what to say.

Outside the storm raged on, the wind blowing hard through the trees, rain pattering down against the roof and windows. The sudden roar of thunder extremely close by made Duo jump slightly. He was only hearing the silence when the thunder crashed. He looked over at Heero only to see him looking right back, the tiniest bit of humor in his eyes, before it disappeared in a flash. The thunder was probably an unspoken push for Heero to talk, like he was waiting for it to happen.

'She's scared of me. And probably thinks I'm lying to her. I knew this would happen, but it still hurts so much.... I'm going to leave, that way she won't have to be scared anymore.'

'Heero, stay, don't go because I need you here. Plus she doesn't hate you she's just scared. Whenever she looked at you in the past she only saw love and happiness in your eyes. You've never raised your voice to her, and only showed a little disappointment when you were mad, but the love was still there... When you came out of the warehouse on L1, you were past your Perfect Soldier mode. It scared her to death because she doesn't understand about the Soldier part of us, or anything that we did. We sheltered her from that, and given the chance to change it I wouldn't. The Past should stay in the past koi, don't let 'IT' control your future.' Duo pulled him into a hug, and slowly stroked his back, 'Just give her a chance to come to terms with everything, ok? Then you to can talk. Besides you to were to close to let this get the better of you. Deep down she still loves you. She just needs time.'

Heero took another sip of the hot coco, contemplating what Duo had said. And he was right, they had sheltered her from their pasts, and he wouldn't change that either. But should he stay? Duo had said he wanted him to stay, but I don't want to hurt her anymore. How could I be helping if I stay? If she's afraid of me then I should stay away right?

'Duo how would I be helping if I stayed? If she's afraid of me then shouldn't I stay away? At least until she trusts me again...'

'If your away, how's it going to help? If your here then she'll be able to see that you're the same you she grew-up with, and she'll learn to trust you again. If you go she'll think you don't love her and she'll only be hurt worse.'

'I'll stay.' His answer was almost immediately said after Duo finished the sentence. There was no way he was going to hurt her anymore.

---

'May I be alone please?'

'Are you sure honey? Are you going to be ok by yourself?'

'I'll stay with Rosie.'

Ok Honey. I'll be right down the hall. Uncles Quatre and Trowa will be right downstairs too. Right guys?' They nodded.

Billy and Rosie waited a few minutes after the grown-ups left to before talking.

'Hey.'

'Hey.'

'Do you wanna talk about it?' Billy moved to sit on the bed next to Rosie.

'I...I don't know..'

'Uncle Heero and Uncle Duo were really scared when you were missing. Uncle Heero was worst though, he heardly eat, or slept. Uncle Duo had to force him and even then it was only a little bit. I think he even cried some to. When they finally foud where you were, Uncle Duo said me and mom could stay here until they came back with you. When they got back he explained to momma what happened and Uncle Heero wouldn't leave you, there was a very sad look in his eyes, like he though this was all his fault.' As Billy was talking Rosie watched the rain, while paying close attention to what he was saying. Billy knew she needed a minute to take everything in and sort through it, so he waited with the patience of someone way beyond his years.

'When you weren't in school that day, I jsut sat on the swing near the trees, because I didn't want to play with anybody. That's were I saw... the man that said he was papa's daddy. I didn't believe him and when I started towards the teacher he took out a picture he had of papa. It was pretty old so I started to believe him.

'He said that papa and daddy were on L1 and that they wanted to see me, and said if I didn't go that they would be very sad. He told me about how close he and papa were the whole trip and even showed me movies when we got back to the building. Papa and daddy weren't there and he said they had to go get my Aunts and Uncles before they came.

'When daddy and papa did get there they were holding guns and they were pointed at grandpa. Daddy just took me outside with Aunt Sally and my Uncles. After sometime I heard loud shots.... Papa had shot grandpa. Then when he came out... the.... he....had this look.... I was so scared..... Then I woke-up with the bad dream, and daddy holding me.'

There was a knock, 'It's Uncle Quatre, May I come in?' Billy went and opened the door for him, with a nod from Rosie.

'Hi, Guys! I brought you some lunch. You both better eat it all or no surprise after dinner....OK?' They both nodded, although not as eagerly as they usually would. Rosie went back to looking out the window as she played with her food.

'Ya know Rosie, your papa loves to watch the rain also.' She didn't turn around, and Quatre only noticed a bit more confusion in his space heart, so he went on, 'He never told any of us why, except maybe Duo, but you could ask him about it sometime.' She still didn't turn around but Quatre knew she was still listening.

'Rosie, you know deep down that your papa still loves you, and would do anything to protect you, even if you want him to leave, he'll still love you. He was trying to protect you because he doesn't like to see you get hrut.Ok honey?' She nodded and turned back, 'yeah, but I'm still confused...'

'Only your papa will be able to help with that. We can all try, but this mostly between you and him. You'll understand everything much clearer when you become older. Just give it sometime.'

'Thanks for tryin Uncle Quatre.'

'You're welcome. Now how about finishing that lunch. There's still a surprise waiting for after dinner.' The rest of lunch was eaten in silence. As Quatre left with the tray he hoped he did enough.

At dinner that night, Heero didn't come down, and nobody questioned it. After dinner Rosie and Billy for their surprise, Triple chocolate Hot fudge Sundays and a glass of milk to wash it down. Duo and Rosie walked Billy home, and headed back in silence. When Duo tucked Rosie in Heero was just outside the door quietly listening.

'Daddy, could you sing me a song?'

Duo blinked, he wasn't expecting that, 'Honey, I usually don't' sing. It doesn't sound very good. Does papa sing you something?'

'Yeah, but that's ok. Goodnight Daddy.'

'Night Honey,' He kissed he forehead. 'Remember we'll be right down the hall if you need us ok?'

'Can you keep the hall light on? please?' He nodded and left the door open slightly.

Nobody got much sleep that night.

---The Next Saturday ---

'Rosie, Uncles Quatre and Trowa went shopping ok? I just received a call from Hilde at the yard. Something happened and she needs some help. So I'll be back as soon as possible ok? Papa's in our room working if you need anything.' With that Duo left the house.

'I have the work you missed.'

'Thanks Billy,' She was watching the rain and hardly left her room all week. Billy came over everyday with her school work so she wouldn't fall behind.

'Rosie... did you talk to your papa yet?'

'...No....I..don't know.'

'Why? He loves you more than anything right?' She nodded.

'And you love him right?' again the nod.

'And you know that both of your dads would do anything to protect you right?' Another nod.

'So, then the anger and stuff wasn't towards you. It was for the bad man.... You shouldn't let this get to you, you have 2 dads that love you, some people don't even have 1.'

Some say that the advice from a child is the best kind of advice you can get. It's untainted by judgments, and innocent of harmful thoughts. It's innocent. This advice is even better if it comes from your best friend.

Billy pulled Rosie towards her parents bedroom, where Heero was working on his laptop. Rosie wore a look of shaky determination. When they reached the door she took a deep breath and her look steadied out. She knocked.

'Come in.'

'Remember, I'll be right outside, ok?' She nodded and went inside.

Heero was sitting on a choosey chair, a desk to his left had all sorts of papers on it. He was startled to hear someone knocking. /Duo wouldn't knock, plus he's at the yard... Quat. and Tro. said they'd be gone till after five.... could it be?/

'Come in.' Rosie closed the door behind her and just stood there watching him. Heero became worried when she didn't move.

'Rosie? Is there anything wrong? Are you OK?' He discarded his laptop and went over to her, but half way he realized what he was doing and just stopped. He watched to make sure she wasn't scared. She was just watching him right back. Neither moved for an eternity of 2 minutes.

Rosie slowly stepped closer to Heero. When she was close enough she tugged his pant leg so he was knelling and they were close to being eye to eye. She was searching for something, although what, Heero was unsure of. It must have been found because she was suddenly holding on to him, like he would disappear if she ever left.

'Rosie, are you ok?'

She nodded, and pulled back, 'The bad man's gone from your eyes.' He immediately knew what she was talking about and nodded.

'It scared me. Alot Because then it made everything true,' she looked him in the eye, 'And I didn't want it to be true,' she started crying, 'I'm sorry papa. I'm sorry that I went with the bad man, I'm sorry that I believed what he told me. I'm sorry I hurt you.'

Heero gathered her up, 'Shh, it's ok. You didn't do anything wrong. I was never, ever mad at you. and I never will be. Hey Look at me please? Odin Lowe, that was his name. He was the one that took you, even if you know better, he would've done it anyway. And your to young yet to understand everything about what he said or did, but if you ever have any questions, come talk to me. OK?' She nodded.

They stayed together for about 10 minutes, just sitting and watching the rain.

'Papa?'

'Yes Princess?'

'Did you ever miss your mommy and daddy when Mr Odin had you?'

--semi flash back--

'What are we doing here?'

'We're not doing anything. Here go get yourself an ice cream or something....'

'OK daddy...' ........

'Daddy? Mommy? Were are you?......'

-----

'No. None of my happy memories are until I meet Duo and we had you.'

'Can we make some hot-coco? Uncle Quatre tried but he couldn't get it right.'

He laughed, 'What ever you want Princess.' He flew her downstairs, where they made hot-coco.

Outside it stopped raining.

---Owari ---