DISCLAIMER: [mumbles] I don't own it so don't sue unless you want some rotting orange peels that I forgot to take out of my backpack after lunch.

WARNINGS: Language and other stuff, check out first page…

A//N: Before I begin I want to say that yes, I am taking some liberal writing licenses in this story. Don't get on my case about them. I have never been to New York City before; my parents have but not I. Needless to say I don't know that much about the city, I'm going to base it off of what I heard, seen in Chicago and Detroit and what I imagine. If things are screwed up just think that this is way into the future and times have changed. If it really bugs you all that much e-mail me and I'll see what I can do. Oh, and I forgot to mention, I think, that this takes place right after the first war but before Endless Waltz.

Chapter Two: Settling In

            I followed Jerry and Kara into the house. I wanted to gap like a fish out of water and ogle, but that wouldn't be dignified now would it, ne? Fuck dignity. The house was gorgeous and I'd ogle it if I wanted to. Anyway, I was supposed to be some poor mechanics boy, I would be expected to ogle. It was part of my cover…yeah…

            It wasn't as great as Quatre's place, but unlike Q's house, which was constantly used by the Maganacs, his sisters, and not to forget us G-boys, this house was only for six, now seven people. How could so much space be used by so little people? It dwarfed the Maxwell church which had to house thirty (give or take a few) kids and adults. The entry hall floor was white marble; the walls were cream with expensive paintings hanging. Chairs and tables were statistically placed in corners for people to sit at while they waited, or maybe just for show. Vases were on the tables filled with real wild flowers. A grand staircase was in the middle of the room leading up to the two other levels (it was a three story house) with grand door ways on either side of the stairs. One led to the kitchen the other lead to the living room.

            "Well son, what do you think?" Jerry asked me, patting me on the shoulder again.

            I raised an eyebrow and grinned at him, "Some place you got. Much more impressive seeing it live then looking at the blueprints." It was too. Imagine, I was going to live here. Me, the street rat without a home. 

            "The blueprints?" Kara asked me surprised, "How did you get the blueprints?" I looked at her and saw that her surprise was genuine. I looked at Jerry and saw him smile amusingly at me. He knew exactly how I had gotten the blueprints, but was going to let me tell Kara. Nice of him not to just go and answer for me.

            "I got it off the computer, Kara," I told her, not wanting to say too much since I didn't know who could be listening. I hadn't scope the entire place out yet, and didn't know where a person could eavesdrop. A guy only learns so much from blueprints, and it was smart to tell somebody that you hacked into their real estate company files to get those blueprints without knowing more.

            "Off the computer?" She said still confused, "But where would you…Oh!" Understanding suddenly hit her. She grinned at me, "A regular little devil aren't you?"

            I grinned back, but it was a little false, not that they could tell, "Ma'am, you have no idea…" I didn't call myself Shinigami for nothing.

            "Well then, since I suppose that you have this whole place memorized it would be pointless to give you a tour. No doubt you would prefer to wander around by yourself later. How about we show you to your room and get you settle in," Jerry suggested.

            "Fine by me, lead the way," I said back, my grin this time was real. Even if this was a trick of some kind, it didn't mean I couldn't enjoy myself while I was here. Just couldn't get too comfortable or close with these people.

            "Well as you know," Kara told me as we made our way upstairs, "The second floor is Jerry and mines, along with Miky and Amy. We prefer to have the younger kids close by. Jeremy, you and Marie share the third floor. Your room is connected to Jerry's through the bathroom. Marie's room is across from you, and so is an extra guest bedroom. The rec room is just down the hall. Curfew is at 12 unless otherwise granted. We must be told of all parties that you wish to go to, oh and I know this sounds old fashion but here we eat dinner together. Nobody eats alone in their rooms unless their sick, okay?"

            "Sounds perfect," I told her. It did too. They led me to a room with a large queen size bed with white covers. A large wooden desk was at the other wall. It was bare of any appliances. Large floor length windows were on either side of the bed with tiny tables in front of them. The tables held a lamp and a digital alarm clock. The room was large with cushy white carpet and a white couch and cushion chairs in front of the bed. On the wall opposite to the desk was a door that led into the bathroom and Jeremy's room. Next to that door was the walk in closet that was bare.

            I walked slowly into the room and set my black duffel bag on the floor. In it was all the worldly possessions I owned besides my Gundam, which much to Une's displeasure was hidden in an undisclosed location that only the other G-boys and I knew of.

            Kara was wringing her hands together nervously, " I do hope you like it," She said, "We didn't know how you wanted to decorate your room or what clothes you would like to wear so we left it all bare. Jeremy and his friends offered to take you shopping. Don't worry about money either. We have more than enough for twenty children." She smiled, still looking apprehensive to my reaction.

            I gave her a real smile full of gratitude. I didn't care about going shopping or that stuff. Sure it'll be fun, but money wasn't a problem for me anymore. I could always hack into bank accounts and get some. What I was grateful for was that she cared. Really cared. Like Sister Helen had cared. God this woman reminded me of Sister Helen. "It's great, really great. Thanks." I told them, happy to see the relieved smile upon both their faces.

            Jerry closed the door and looked at his watch, "Jeremy should be home soon. Until then, why don't you unpack what you have and get settled in?"

            "Sure," I chirped then set about pulling out clothes and my laptop. That wasn't all that was in the bag, but I didn't want to unpack my guns, knives, and ammo in front of Jerry and Kara. Don't think that they would really appreciate me bringing weapons into their homes, but I wasn't about to go anywhere unarmed. Paranoia, you know?

            Jerry gave the bag a speculative glance but said nothing. Smart man. "Need help?" He asked as I put things away.

            "Nah, it's easy enough, not like I have a lot of things." It took me only a minute to put everything away.

            Kara was sitting comfortably on the couch, Jerry next to her when I turned around from hanging up my leather jacket. I walked over to them and sat on the matching, comfortable chair. I waited for one of them to speak.

            "Duo," Jerry began, serious, looking me straight in the eye, "In this household, only Kara and I know of your involvement in the war and what part you really played. We hold no grudge against you. War is war, and an ugly thing. We both fought for what we believed in, not because we liked killing, but because it was necessary to bring peace to Earth. We are also thankful that you Gundam Pilots helped save the Earth in that last battle."

            I cut him off before he could continue, "Listen Jerry, I've heard this speech a thousand times before. Relena gave it to me, Lady Une gave it to me, Noin gave it to me, and the list continues. You don't need to thank me or try and make right of what happened during the war. I don't need that. I knew perfectly well what I was getting myself into when I started my voluntary training to be a Gundam Pilot. And you know what, I don't regret every becoming a pilot either. I did do some good in the world after all, even if I had to do bad things in order to create the good. End justifies the means, ne?" I laughed bitterly.

            Kara gave me sad eyes that were swimming in tears. How the heck did I make her cry? I didn't even say anything all that sad. "Oh Duo," She whispered, leaning forward to grab my hand with hers, "That just isn't right."

            I blinked at her, "What isn't right?"

            "That tone of voice," she told me, "That look in your eyes. It's too old a look for you. Too old a look for anyone under forty. It's just not right."

            Jerry hugged her with one arm, looking straight at me, "No its not. But a lot of things aren't right in the world and all we can do is try to make right what we can. Kara and I want to make right with you, as much as we can."

            They looked at me, sincere good will in their eyes. He was an ex-Ozzie. At anytime during the war I could have killed him. My heart gave a little jump though I made sure to keep my face blank except for the reassuring smile plastered on my face. I could have killed this good man at anytime during the war. Dear God, how many other good men did I manage to kill? Did I want to know? No. Would it haunt me? Yes.

            "Well this is getting sappy, ain't it?" I asked grinning at them, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry so much, we managed to come out alive, didn't we?"

            "Yes we did, and that's what matters right now," Jerry laughed a little, "Anyway, back on track. To put it bluntly, the kids and servants don't know who you are. They were told that you were a mechanic who helped with mobile suit repairs. An orphan who we just found out is a minor. I took a liking to you and decided to give you a home with my family. It's not a lie either. I do find myself liking you." He grinned at me.

            I laughed, "So Lady Une told you about my no-lying policy, huh?"

            Kara answered me, her voice twinkling, "You run, you hide, but you never lie, that's Duo Maxwell in a nutshell."

            "Damn right."

            Jerry looked at his watch, "Well Jeremy should be home any second now. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. We may not know each other all that well, and we may not be related by blood, but Kara and I are now your parents, for as long as you want us."

            My heart did another one of those jumps, "Thanks," was all that I could manage to get out. If they kept this up I was going to start crying. Boys don't cry, especially not Shinigami.

            I was going to open my mouth to say something funny or witty. Didn't know which since I didn't know what would come out of my mouth until I said it when I felt the vibrations of footsteps. I turned to the door, the footsteps now evident to my ears, and waited for whoever was coming to come in. I looked relaxed but was ready to pounce in an instant.

            The door opened.

            Jerry smiled and stood up, "Ah yes, this is Jeremy. Jeremy meet Duo Maxwell."

            The boy looked me up and down as I stood up, taking in my thigh length braid, pretty face (if I do say so myself) and 5'4" stature (malnutrition early on in childhood will do that to a guy, ya know? Not to mention psycho doctors who believe that smaller bodies fit more easily into a cockpit thus perform better, and that said psycho doctors like to do genetic enhancement experiments.) His eyes met mine and he smirked.

            Obviously he thought I wasn't that much of a tough guy, just some pretty boy. Well, couldn't blame him. I was small and wiry, my strengthen and scars hidden behind long sleeved black shirt and black pants and black leather boots. I also wore a braid which was kinda girly, no matter that it made me look hot. He on the other hand was 5'8" dressed as the standard punk. Black baggy pants with chains, tight orange short sleeve shirt with PSYCHO written in black letters across the chest, worn out sneakers, and spiked leather bracelets and necklaces. His hair was dyed black with a white stripe down the middle. The hair was spiked up with plenty of gel. His ears were peppered with earrings. Three on his left ear in the cartilage, two in his right ear on the lobe. There was a ring through his brown eyebrow that glinted in the light. His brown eyes were a little hostile as he looked at his parents and me. A typical teenager, how fun.

            "Nice to meet ya Skunk," I said clasping my hand in his.

            "Same goes here, Goldilocks. And the name's Jero." He squeezed my hand tight, but it didn't affect my grin. Obviously he never shook hands with the Perfect Soldier in a bad mood. Now that's painful.

            "Well then, ready to go shopping, Skunk?" I asked, eyebrow raised.

             "Anytime you are, Goldy," He smirked. So did I. Oh but this was going to be fun.

            Kara and Jerry gave each other a questioning look. They're faces were easy to read. Was this a good idea?

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

So how did you like that? Huh? Not as long as I wanted it to be, but going on longer wouldn't have flowed right. Not sure when the next chapter will be up, soon hopefully. Review my good people, and make this sixteen year old happy^__^