Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing and never will, but I do own this plot.

AN: Okay, this is my first fan fiction so please review! Good things and bad things are welcome, but NO FLAMES! If you don't like my fic then, tell me what's wrong with it at least, don't go and say things like "Your fic sux! It's terrible, horrible and I can even smell it through the screen!" because those will be ignored. Also, don't say you don't like it because of the couples, I have already placed warnings in the summary and they are also going up here.

Anyways, this is my first fanfic so don't mind too much if it's bad. This is AU, keep that in mind too. It takes place right in the time period from modern day and AC, in other words, when the first colonies were being built. The GW gangs are all normal, 15-year-old people, and they may be a bit OOC. There may be a few OC's too but, I don't think they'll play a major part in this.

Summary: ***AU*** The GW girls are just a few misjudged, high school girls. The GW boys are a group of mostly anti-social guys. When the boys are hired to Hilde's dad's construction business, they learn to respect the girls. One day chaos erupts and the girls take it upon themselves to help, but the guys follow to help them, and learn just how strong both groups really are, after all, there's always more than what meets the eye.  HYxRP   DMxHS   TBxMU   WCxMC   QWxDC    slight; ZMxLN   TKxLU
Rated PG13 for language, but I think I over rated, hey, it's my first time!

'thoughts'
"speaking"

More Than Meets The Eye

Chapter 1

Hilde sat on a beam of wood staring at a blossoming tree nearby. A gust of wind brought a petal towards her. She reached out, trying to catch the delicate object, but the wind made it float out of reach. Giving up, she balanced herself on her perch again. To her amazement, the wind switched paths and blew the petal towards her, landing it right beside her on the perch. She stared at it intensely, ignoring all the men working on the construction site around her.

The loud booming voice of her father snapped her out of her reverie.

"Hilde! Hurry on home and change for school before you're late again!" Hilde panicked and fumbled for her watch.

"8:05!? Dang it!" She scrambled to the bottom of the structure and stumbled a little bit before her father reached her.

"Slow down there girl! You, out of all these people, should know to be careful around here. You nearly cut your foot open last time!" Mr. Sheibecker (AN: is that how you spell it?)  exclaimed, seeing his daughter practically jump off the top of the seven foot structure.

"Dad, one, it was once. Two, it was a rake I nearly stepped on. Three, what's worse? A couple of scrapes and bruises on me, or about nine teachers on your back for letting me get behind in the slightest bit?" Hilde ran out of the field towards her home before her father could even open his mouth to reply.

* * * * *

Arriving at school just at the bell rang, Hilde caught up to her best friends for a little chat. Discussing a few things with them, they agreed to meet by the Oak tree furthest from the biggest tree on school grounds. The first half of the day passed as a blur to them. Lunch break came soon, and Hilde and her four friends sat at the base of the oak tree, eating and chatting.

"So Hilde, I heard that your dad was hiring more men." A voice behind them nearly boomed. Hilde turned, as did the rest of the girls'. Her blue eyes rested on five boys, heading in their direction. Dorothy, Relena, Midii, Meiran and Hilde tensed up and relaxed again as the smiles disappeared from their faces. Anybody looking at the previously giggling girls would've sworn they were looking at a gang or something like one. Even Hilde's pixie-like faced couldn't have convinced them otherwise.

"What's it to you?" Dorothy asked, never taking her eyes off of them. Dorothy's strange forked eyebrows furrowed together as she watched them. A hand playing with bits of her long, pale blonde hair. She was known to be protective of those who deserved it. The tough personality was a facade, and Dorothy used that to her full potential. All you had to do was say it honestly and you'd be either one of her most trusted allies, or worst enemies. You might even call it a test.

"Excuse me, did we interrupt something?" Quatre asked, rather confused but not showing it... much. The girls didn't pay much attention to the boys, but they noticed Quatre showed the most of his true emotions. The others hid theirs. Quatre had short blonde hair and light blue eyes. His posture and speech was also partly Arabian.

"Nothing much, now answer Dorothy, Duo." Midii said calmly. She was most known for her ability to stay cool and calm in all situations, which made her a good organizer, planner and leader. Her hair was a rather pale blonde, but had more colour than Dorothy's, whose was almost white. Her eyes were a greenish blue, making them so very intriguing.

Relena didn't need to say anything. She sat up straighter with pride and elegance and simply glared at Duo. Her hair a dark blonde, nearly brown. If her posture wasn't enough intimidation, her sky blue eyes could practically tear through your soul, making all of her opponents in public speaking stumble. Even if her stare was a soft one, looking into her eyes was enough to put you out cold, in Hilde's words.

"Women." Wufei mumbled, causing all the girls' glares to direct entirely on him. Ignorant to the stares, he crossed his arms, closed his eyes and leaned back on a nearby tree. He had pitch black hair and eyes. The strangest thing about him was that he always pulled his hair back in a tight ponytail.

"Pricks." Meiran crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and leaned against the tree the girls were under. Her hair was also pitch black, as were her eyes. Her hair was pulled into two low pigtails. Wufei glared at that comment, making her smirk. Meiran always did have the ability to get under a person's skin, which seem to run in Chinese blood.

Hilde ignored the two Chinese people and looked expectantly at the other two boys. Both with brown hair, except one had Prussian blue eyes, while the other had green.

"Well? Aren't you going to join in the fun?" Hilde said sarcastically. Her hair was black, with blue tints. The front spiked up naturally, which left her big round navy eyes exposed for all to see.

"Hn." Both Heero and Trowa said at the same time. Heero had unruly brown hair and Prussian blue eyes; you would never guess he was Japanese. Trowa's bangs were rather peculiar. They hung in the air, seemingly, and covered one green eye. Most mysterious two of them all, they were.

Duo sighed at everyone there. "I was just wondering if it was true. I was thinking of signing myself up, and maybe even my comrades." He was strangest one of all the boys, mostly because of the long hair he kept in a braid, all the time. Like most of the others, he hid his true emotions, but in a cheery facade, unlike the others. If his brown hair wasn't enough, his large eyes were a peculiar violet-blue.

The tension was broken when Hilde spoke yet again, "Yes it's true," She took a moment to look at her friends. They seemingly communicated as Hilde sighed, "And I suppose that you are welcome to sign up."

Duo grinned and walked off, yelling a thanks to them as the rest followed.

* * * * *

After school the boys called Mr. Sheibecker to confirm their jobs. They were put to work immediately. The boys arrived at the site altogether within an hour. There awaited their first surprise.

"Hey Dad! Are you using my tool belt again?"

"Hilde, sweetie, watch out for the ditch behind you!"

"Dad it's two feet deep, now answer my question!"

"No, its right... err right... around... my waist."

"Told you so, Dad, you're getting old."


Duo's ear's perked up. Hilde had a tool belt? What for? And why was she on the construction site?

Rounding the corner, they were met with the sight of Hilde tying her tool belt around her waist, and what probably was Mr. Sheibecker looking around for his.

"Oh? Hi! You must be the boys that's called me. Just wait, the others are coming soon, and you'll be paired off." He said, not really looking at them. Hilde walked over and whispered in his ear. He began to chuckle and whispered something back. Her eyes went wide and she punched her dad in the arm. "Oh, that's gonna hurt in the morning."

"Hilde! Picking on your dad again aren't ya? Bad girl!" A mocking voice came from behind them. The guys spun around to come face to face with Relena, Meiran, Midii and Dorothy.

"Hey girls, meet the new members of the family!" Mr. Sheibecker said, spreading his arms out.

Meiran walked up to them and eyed them all wearily. "Funny, I don't remember being related to any pricks." She said, looking directly at Wufei.

Mr. Sheibecker whirled around and examined them. Duo, in black, loose shorts and a tight t-shirt. Heero in a green tank top and black spandex. Trowa in beige pants and a blue t-shirt. Quatre in an orange loose t-shirt and pale yellow pants. Wufei in brown pants and a black t-shirt.

The boys on the other hand, were looking at the girls and wondering what they were doing there. Relena had a white tank top, blue shorts, and a blue vest. Hilde in a purple t-shirt and beige shorts. Midii in white shorts and a light pink tank top. Dorothy had yellow pants and a blue, sleeveless shirt. Meiran had a really big light green t-shirt and short white shorts.

"Okay, boys, call me Jack. What are your names?"

"Duo"

"Quatre"

"Wufei"

"Trowa"

"... Heero"

"Okays then. Girls, I'm gonna pair you up with one of the boys for today so you can show them what to do for today. Now... Heero, Relena, you two are partners. Trowa and... Midii. Quatre and... Dorothy! Hilde, you go with Duo. And..." He smirked, "Wufei and Meiran."

"What!!??" Was all that was heard in the site right then.

"Can't you tell they don't get along too well, Dad?" Hilde exclaimed. Disaster was coming, she knew it.

"Yeah, but this site lacks entertainment." Jack replied. Hilde rolled her eyes. Leave it to her father to think of something like this. "Well? What are you waiting for? Scoot! Scoot!"

"I hope you know you're digging you're grave mister."

* * * * *

The girls showed the guys exactly what was going to happen to the site and what was still needed to be done. They then split up and dragged their partners with them.

"Duo, screw, three inch." Hilde extended her hand for him to drop it in. She waited a while before deciding that something was up. She looked down at him only to find he was staring into space. "Duo! Did you hear what I said?"

"Wha?" was all she got from him.

"What's up with you?"

"Hn." Duo considered how he could phrase this. "Today, you and your friends, you all seemed so cold to us, and to the rest of the school. Why is it that you're so different to people here?"

The colour from Hilde's face drained. 'should I tell him? I have to be able to trust him first though, or else the girls are gonna kill me… if I just ask.'

Duo wait patiently for his answer. He was curious to what was so bad that would make Hilde pale.

"Duo"

"Ya?"

"Can I… trust you?"

"Yeah, of course." Now Duo was really confused.

"No really, can I trust you? And all of your friends to keep a secret for the girls and me?" Hilde studied his face carefully, searching for any signs for her to judge him on. His face, she decided, showed nothing but innocence.

"Ya, you can, what is it?" (AN: The little demon inside me is telling me to cut off now, but it's still too short, oh well.)

"Okay then, here it goes," Hilde took a deep breathe to calm her nerves down, it was so hard to tell someone something like this, "We all… have been hurt before," Tears sprung to her eyes at the memory of her own tragic life, but she refused to let them fall. Instead, she gave a slight yawn, an excuse for her puffy eyes and nose. " So when we told each other our stories, we made a vow to never be hurt again, or at least try not to." She gave a quick look at Duo, to see his reaction, but only to see confusion amongst confusion. She sighed again before continuing her tale.

"Midii lost her brothers and father years ago. There was this hurricane, and she and her mother had been at home whilst the rest went for a boat ride. The storm, was horrible, thunder and lightning everywhere. Her mother and her sat patiently, praying they would come home. Night came, and the storm stopped, Midii and her mother had fallen asleep. They woke up to a start, and quickly did a search of the house for the boys. They found no one, but the police did. They were found on a coast, dead. Apparently they had been struck by a shockwave, and drowned."

Duo sat and stared in awe, before looking over to the Midii Une he knew now, happy and smiling as she tormented Trowa. Was Hilde telling him what he thought she was?

"Dorothy, lost her entire family. Her mother had died soon after she was born. After that, it was only her father and herself. Her father was a spy, for the war that happened just a few years back. He was a hunter when leading a normal life. He had been on a mission at the time, to infiltrate and destroy, when the other side took Dorothy hostage. She had been kept in a cell, until her father surrendered, wanting nothing to happen to her. He made an escape route for her, but instead of escaping, she stayed by her father. Soon he was sent to be murdered for helping her escape, and Dorothy watched the whole thing. She never told us what happened, but it still plagues her."

Again, Duo couldn't believe his ears, Dorothy? He peered over to where she stood, watching Quatre impatiently.

"Who does she live with now?"

"Foster parents, until next year, when she is legally old enough to live on her own." Hilde sat up and began working again, might as well get something done.

 "Meiran's tragedy also happened in the war. She was living with her older and younger sister, having run away from her abusive parents. They didn't have much, but they were happy and alive. They lived on part time jobs and little food. They had a small house in a deep forest, away from their parents. She was asleep, at the time, when raiders came. Meiran's older sister carried her younger one to Meiran's bedroom, and gave her life to save her sisters. All Meiran and Mae woke up to was a burned down cottage, and few belongings. Investigators found them at Lea's grave, and took them to a home. That's where they live now."

Throughout the whole story, Duo had been watching Wufei and Meiran carry equipment and fight.

"Can I tell the guys the stories after?"

"Ya, sure, but don't tell them to lay off, we hate being treated specially, even if we deserve it."

"I, lost my mother and little brother." She began before she realized Duo's eyes were on her, even with her back facing him. "I'll get to Relena last. Anyway, my mother, she died in the middle of a raid of the city, we were running form them when it happened. We were running until a group of them saw us. We turned our heels and ran the other way, but my mother wasn't fast enough." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she relived the memories over and over. She quietly thanked the lord she wasn't facing him. Choking back a sob, she continued. " My mother, deciding that she wanted to die proud and strong, stopped and used herself as a barrier between us and those… those… things. When we tried to stop her, she told us to keep going, and that she loved each and every one of us. That was the last time we saw her, and my brother died of heart failure soon after."

Duo stared, he never would've guessed that any of them had had any horrible memories, he just thought of them as stuck up, gangster wannabe's.

"I… I never knew… that you had lived such horrible pasts."

"There's more than what meets the eye, kid, I'm not even done yet."

After hearing the others, Duo wasn't sure he wanted to hear Relena's. Then he scolded himself for being so scared, after all, the girls had lived out these moments, and he was scared of hearing about them?

"Relena, she lost her mother and her brother ran away. Actually, at first she was poor, very poor. Her family grew sick with every day, and her brother ran away under the pressure of helping to maintain a broken family. Then her father graduated out of politics, hoping to raise money for his family. He never dreamed of going as far as he did, and soon enough, he had the money to buy all the food needed to keep the family alive. Her brother hasn't been found, and he's presumed dead. Although her father now could pay for medical bills, Relena's mother had already been lethally infected. Her death was stalled, but not prevented. Her last wish was for her family to live a happy life; they were nearly there anyways.  Relena still lives with her dad, but he's growing sicker. The most unfair part is that if her father is too sickly to work, she will have to quit school and replace her father, after all, she is known to have the same views as him."

Duo looked at her, then at Relena. She was walking away from them, towards Heero, had she heard?

"But that's unfair, she's only what? Fifteen? She can't hold the weight of peace on her shoulders."

"But she's been through hell and back, what I told you is only a faint outline of our lives."

A moment of silence was present, but Hide soon tired of it.

"Well are you gonna stand there and gape or are you gonna help out like you were hired to?" Her voice was etched with annoyance, which Duo took as a sign to stop daydreaming.

"Uh, okay then, what did ya need?"

"Screw, three inch."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Well, you learn about the girls' pasts in this chapter. I know this one makes it look like the entire thing's from Hilde, but I just needed a whole chapter of her. Oh, and has the opening scene ever happened to you? Or am I just weird?