Author's Notes:

Okay... err, well here's the first chapter - still very raw and unedited, but it will have to do. Please note that this is an AU fic, and ZM does not have an alternate identity (as in, there is no Milliardo Peacecraft). As for any typos, I'm very sorry, and also for any mistakes in my Italian phrases... I don't speak Italian, so I may have used the wrong context/tense/grammar/etc. If so, I'm very sorry! Anyways, hope you enjoy and please review. Just one more thing: the ... indicate thoughts.

Oh yes, and a disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of the characters or anything else from GW... but, everything else is mine!


Best Friends : )

PART ONE

Chapter 1: Setting the Stage

Northwestern Europe

"Papa! Mama! Look at me!" the little boy shouted, positively bouncing from the joy that was fairly bursting inside him. The day was wild and wonderful, the wind blowing his downy blond hair into delightful disarray. Still holding a hint of its baby curls, the boy's pale hair, in all its messy glory, was a charming sight to his parents as they watched him running on his stubby baby legs, kicking up soft clouds of sparkling sand. They were enchanted.

He thrilled in the day; it was somehow magical: sun-bright and perfect. He was three, the sky was blue, the water a shimmering sea stretching as far as the eye could see, the wind blowing in a riotous dance... and he was out for a day of fun with his parents and his new baby sister.

All was right in the world.

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Somewhere off the Coast of the Mediterranean

"Hush now, baby," he knelt close to the tiny dark-haired girl lying curled in the bed, crying. She only sobbed harder, bordering on the edge of hysteria and her tiny body shaking with the force of it.

"Hush. Hush, sweetheart... Papa's still here," he paused to pull her tightly to him. "I'm right here... now there's Papa's pretty Angel. Angels don't cry, right baby? Only smiles..."

The girl's sobs slowed, but she clutched the man desperately, her face buried in his silky jet-black curls.

"There's my Angel. Now, I'll only be gone for a little while, not long at all. Bianca and Eduardo will take good care of you, I promise."

She started to cry again, her child's mind understanding only that she was being left with strange people and that her beloved Papa was leaving her.

"Shh... you're a big girl now, right Lucy? Papa's big girl." He waited until she nodded, her eyes wide.

"Mwe bwig now... mwe fwee now!" her declaration was proud and vigorously voiced.

"That's right... three years old is a big girl. Big girls are good girls, and good girls listen to what their papas say. Now, no more tears. I promise I'll be back as soon as I can. I'll come back."

"Pwo-mise?"

"Of course." Brushing the curls away from her little tear-stained face, he bent and kissed her forehead. "Remember, Angel. No tears. Only ever smiles."

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Northwestern Europe

"Wheeeeeee! Wheee, Rena!" the little boy shouted, laughing as he tried to lift and twirl his baby sister. At five, he was strong for his age, but still, the three-year-old baby was heavy for him and they made a funny sight. But, just then, the world had faded into the background and there was only the two of them.

She gurgled with laughter and love for her brother. Even at the tender age of three, she adored this bigger person with all her baby heart. He was the one who was always smiling and laughing with her, the one who gave her chocolate and played endlesslywith her. "Zeks! Mwore, mwore!"

His smile broadened as he lifted her again, watching her honey-gold hair fly out, and he couldn't remember life before she had been born. How could he ever have lived not knowing the joy of her pretty baby face with its sweet smile, and her chubby baby arms wrapped about his neck? He couldn't remember... and he didn't ever want to.

"Wheeeeee Zeks!! Me wanna wheee mwore!"

Lifting her high again, he whirled until they were both dizzy with wonder and the sky spun above them. Her giggling baby laughter floated all around them.

"Fly, Rena... let's fly!"

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Somewhere off the Coast of the Mediterranean

They were sitting on the roof of their little house; it was their favourite place to be. Gazing up at the night sky, she curled up more closely against her father. "Tell me again, Papa. What was she like?"

His arm around his five-year old daughter, gazing up at the night sky, Fabian Noin felt the contentment and beauty wash over and through him. "Ahh, my little Lucy... your Mama was the most beautiful woman in the world. And the sweetest too. Her hair fell all the way down to her waist in a pretty waterfall, and it was so black that it was almost blue." Smiling at the memory, he looked down at his daughter... she was so precious to him and so like her mother that at times his heart ached with it. Lifting a hand to finger her short, silky hair, he continued, voice soft with memory, "And you have hair just like hers."

"Really, Papa?"

"Really." Smiling his soft smile again, he turned to gaze back up at the sky. "And she was the most caring, gentle person I've ever known. She hurt inside when an ant was stepped on. I don't know how she ever loved me."

"Oh Papa... how could she not? You're the best Papa in the whole world! And I know you fight only 'cuz you have to, only 'cuz you want peace for evy..." she paused on the big word, struggling to get it out, "evy... e-ve-ry-body!"

"Ah, Angel... what would I do without you?"

She simply snuggled closer, wrapping her chubby child arms around her beloved Papa. After a moment, she looked up again. Pointing to a particularly bright star with a single child finger, she asked, "Is that the one Papa? Is that one Mama?"

How could he say that he didn't know? Eyes saddening, he held her a moment more before reaching into his pocket. "Your Mama is always up there Lucy, watching over us. She loved you very much, you know. You were her little bundle of joy." And he wished so very much that Genevieve could have been here to watch their daughter grow up - she was every bit as sweet and beautiful as her mother. One hand still fingering the delicate chain he held, he reached out his other to hold his daughter's hand. "Here, Lucy... so you'll always have her with you," he slipped the chain into her small hand. I should have given it to you sooner, so you would have had something of your Mama's, the thought ran through his mind, but he'd been selfish, wanting to keep it for himself, just a little longer.

Head bowing, she looked down at the treasure in her hand. To her child's mind, it was very pretty... all shiny and golden. Peering carefully, she found a thin chain with a pretty oval pendant engraved with a simple cross. "Was this Mama's?" her eyes were wide with wonder.

Yes... he had given it to Genevieve on their first wedding anniversary. "Yes cara mia. She wore it all the time. Said it reminded her of all the love she had, and all the joy in her life. Here, let me show you..." he bent to release the hidden catch, and the locket sprang open. Inside, there was a faded colour photo of himself with Genevieve. The inscription read simply:
~ Genevieve, My Beloved
To Remember Our 1st Anniversary, Always
Love, Fabian ~

"Oh..." lips trembling and eyes wide, the little girl reached up a single chubby finger to touch her mother's face. "Mama?"

"Yes," he hugged her closer.

"She's so pretty."

"Yes," he choked on the tears.

"Thank you, Papa."

They sat up on their rooftop, holding tightly to each other and gazing up at the brilliant night sky.

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Northwestern Europe

"G'nite Rena," he enthused as he dutifully smacked a kiss on her cheek. Smiling, his mother lifted the already sleeping baby girl into her arms, and carried her off to her crib. Stefan remained to tuck his son in.

"Zechs... I have to go away on another trip in a few days."

"Again?" the word almost came out as a whine, but an idea came to the boy as he squirmed more comfortably into his covers. Maybe... "Do I get to go this time?" The little boy's eyes brightened at the prospect.

"No, not this time," Stefan smiled, his eyes crinkling. "You have school young man, but your Mama will be coming with me. It's very important, you understand, to help other people stop fighting."

"I know, Papa. You have to go help the angry people. Don't worry Papa - I'll be good and do my homework, and take care of Rena!"

"Ah Zechs... I know you're a good boy and that you love your sister, but Relena will be coming with us too. She's too little to be without Mama, you understand."

"I understand Papa," the boy nodded solemnly, but he was downcast and his face sad. He'd be left all alone; both his Mama and Papa would be gone, and baby Rena too.

"I'm sorry Zechs, but I promise we'll come back as soon as everything's settled. Okay?"

Again, a blond head bobbed. The curls weren't as evident now, nearly gone, but still-chubby fingers reached out toward his father for a comforting hug. "I know, Papa... you're going to save the good people and make the angry people happy again. When I become big, Papa, I'm gonna be just like you!"

All of a sudden, the little boy found himself enveloped in his father's fierce embrace. "Ah Zechs. that's a wonderful dream," his father loosened his grip a little to gaze down at his precious son, his eyes intense. "But you must remember... don't be what I am simply because I am your Papa. You must be true to yourself," Stefan paused a moment to smile at the cliché, his throat thick with emotion, before continuing, "And you must do what your heart tells you to do. Remember that, my son."

He didn't know what his Papa meant, but knew that it must be serious from the sound of his voice. Seeing the confusion in the bright blue eyes staring back into his own, Stefan relaxed and smiled, "I know you don't understand yet Zechs, but someday you will, and when that day comes, I want you to remember what I said."

"I will, Papa, I promise. But, Papa?"

"What is it Zechs?"

"You will come back, won't you?"

"Of course I will. And Mama and Rena too... after all, how would we get along without our sunshine boy?"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

This seemed to satisfy Zechs for the little boy settled himself and hugged his father with all the might his little body could manage. After a long moment, Stefan released his son from their tight embrace, and bent to tuck him in, mussing the boy's hair before standing to go. As he turned, he saw Ilyse standing in the doorway, and another smile lit his face. At the door, they both paused to say goodnight to their baby boy. "Goodnight Zechs. Don't let the bed bugs bite," they completed their nightly ritual.

"G'nite Mama. G'nite Papa," came the sleepy reply.

Smiling, they turned off the light, and gently closed the door before continuing quietly on to their own room.

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Somewhere off the Coast of the Mediterranean

Morning had come far too soon. When she awoke, the sun was already shining through the curtains of her room at the Cordivari's. Sitting up with a start, the little dark-haired girl's eyes opened wide. Had she missed her Papa? Had he left already without saying goodbye to her? She scrambled off the bed, down the stairs, and came running, breathless, into the little kitchen at the back.

"Papa!" she barreled head-first into her father sitting at the kitchen table.

"Ah, cara... you didn't think I'd leave you without saying goodbye first?"

She ducked her head sheepishly, blue-black hair swinging.

"Come here, Angel." As she scrambled into his lap, he enfolded her in a comforting embrace, resting his chin gently on the top of her head. "You know I love you, don't you Lucy?"

"Yes, Papa." She was silent for a long moment. "But I'll miss you." She screwed up her face, trying not to cry.

"And I'll miss you, my special girl." On a sudden inspiration, he reached into the breast pocket of his uniform and took out a tiny, carefully preserved photo. "Here, cara mia, for you. You must promise to take very good care of it - it's very special you see."

Peering at the tiny picture, her expression changed from curiosity to wonder. "Is that me, Papa?" she squeaked. The faded photograph was of her Mama and Papa, just like in her locket's photo, but here, her Mama was holding a little bundle in her arms.

"Yes, cara. So, you see, we'll always be together... all three of us."

"Oh, thank you, Papa!" her voice was breathless with childish wonder. "I promise I'll take good care of it!"

He smiled, gentle eyes softening even more. Seeing his precious girl so happy, it was worth parting with the old photo. She needs it more than I do... I'll be alright.

Soon it was time for him to go, and after sharing a last hug and kiss with his baby girl, Fabian Noin set off down the road. He'd walk to meet his garrison; that way he'd be able to take a long last look at his little girl. It'd be weeks at the very least before he'd see her again; months if what his gut was telling him turned out to be right.

Standing with Bianca and Eduardo on the front step, Lucy watched as her Papa strode down the lane, as he had so many times before, stopping to wave one last time at the little wooden gate. As he disappeared down the cobblestone road, she ran to the gate, waving madly and calling out, "Goodbye Papa! Come back safe!"

Her last sight was of him turning in the golden sunlight, and smiling his gentle smile, in lips and eyes, as he waved one last time. "Arrivederci, cara mia (Farewell, my dear). Sempre rimembrare, mia Lucy Angelo (Always remember, my Lucy Angel)... soltanto sorrideres (only smiles)," the words floated back to her and she heard them as if in a dream.

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Northwestern Europe

He stood at the bottom of the stairs, bravely trying not to cry. He wanted to demand to know why he couldn't go too, but they'd already been over it many times... and he was grown-up now, almost six, far too old to cry. They would miss his sixth birthday. Of course, they'd promised to make it up to him with the biggest chocolate cake ever when they came back... still, it wouldn't be the same. He'd never celebrated a birthday without his parents before... and baby Rena, what would he do without her?

Their hearts broke as they watched him valiantly holding back the tears pooling in his bright blue eyes. Tears filled their own eyes, and Ilyse bent down beside her darling son. "You be careful now, Zechs. I don't want to come home only to find that you've hurt yourself. Remember to listen to Pagan... he knows what's best." With that, she gave him one last kiss on the cheek, practically sobbing, "I love you, my darling boy, and I would take you with us if I could."

At an age when kisses and loving words from his mother were still comforting and welcome, Zechs almost started to sob himself. "I love you too Mama!" he cried, flinging his little arms around her neck.

Thankfully, his father came to the rescue, holding baby Rena. "Ahh, there's my brave boy. I'm sorry Zechs, but you know we have to go... this time it's too important to delay, and you mustn't miss any school. You know why," he added at Zechs' half-scowl. "But you're a brave and good boy, and I know you'll be alright. We'll call you as soon as you get home from school, okay?" He ruffled his son's unruly blond hair affectionately, trying to convey everything he was feeling.

"I know Papa... I'll be good Mama. And I'll miss you too Rena." Not knowing what was going on and still sleepy after her breakfast, Rena only gurgled happily back at him. Their luggage was already loaded, so he could only watch as his mother stepped into the car, his father handing Rena to her before walking around to the driver's side. With a last wave, they were off, leaving him standing alone with Pagan.

They stood in silence for long moments, looking after the car as it disappeared around a bend and beyond. At last, Pagan spoke, "Come, young master, you must be getting ready to go to school."

I love you Mama, Papa, Rena... come home soon. With a last look at the deserted road, Zechs Merquise turned and walked back into the emptied house.





That's all for now. Not sure whether this is staying up or not... or if I do decide to keep it, there may be changes (maybe the title, character names, etc.) Still, I'd like to know what you all thought of this first bit, so please review! And if you want more info on this story, feel free to visit my profile page.

Faradayne : )