AN: Disclaimer- I do not own Gundam Wing. I am simply borrowing the characters to make up this story which is completely my own. If I borrow any ideas I will be sure to cite them. Anyway… I hope that you enjoy the next part of the fic! Like always give me some feedback!

Heero Yuy sat in the kitchen of Duo and Hilde's home while Duo took a shower. Hilde was preparing some coffee and offered the former Zero pilot a cup. He accepted, nodding his head slightly, as a sign of appreciation.

Hilde smiled and sat across from him. She studied him for a moment. She hadn't seen the young man in nearly two years. It was clear that he had grown taller and more attractive, but it was also clear that his soldier's presence still surrounded him like an aura. The way he walked and moved his body showed that he possessed strength unknown to most men. His eyes, oh his eyes, in their icy blue depths, still reflected the bitterness of war.

Hilde felt herself shiver slightly. Heero looked over at her, an odd expression on his face that was quickly wiped away by an emotionless stare. Hilde only smiled and turned as she heard Duo enter the kitchen to join them. He pulled out a chair and sat down next to Hilde.

"So Heero, long time no see. What brings you here?" asked the braided pilot as he took a sip of coffee that Hilde offered him.

"I am quite sure that you are fully aware of the attacks that occurred yesterday," replied Heero.

Duo looked down at his coffee mug. You had to be blind and deaf to have not heard of them. "Yeah, to tell you the truth buddy. It's been keeping me awake. Why do you think I was out in the garage so late? Anyway, what's really worrying me is this: the people of Earth are immediately blaming the colonies, just because we didn't get attacked. It's not good and I feel like I should be doing something to help but I can't."

"You're not as dumb as I took you for Maxwell," was Heero's only reply.

Duo and Hilde looked at each other. Hilde spoke first,

"Heero why exactly are you here? We both know this isn't for just some friendly visit. You're not telling us something."

Heero reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the two disks. He laid them onto the table and slid them over towards Duo. "This data was almost taken from me yesterday afternoon. Someone broke into my apartment on L1 and tried to abduct it. Fortunately, I was able to make it home in time before they had the chance to get away."

"What's on here, Heero?" asked Duo as he picked up a disk to look at it.

"Why don't you look for yourself?"

Duo motioned for Hilde to go get their laptop. She left the kitchen and soon returned with the portable computer and placed it gently down on the table. Duo turned it on and inserted the first disk and waited. As the information loaded onto the computer, Duo's eyes began to grow wide with excitement.

"Heero!" he gasped. "Do you… oh my God, it can't be!"

Hilde, confused, looked at her best friend. Duo, seeing her puzzlement turned the screen towards her so she could see.

"No way…" she muttered in disbelief. "These are the layout plans for all the Gundams."

"What are you doing with these? I mean... how did you get them?" Duo asked in disbelief.

"They have been in my possession for quite some time, given to me by Dr. J," replied Heero in his usual monotone voice.

"I'm not even going to bother to ask about that crazy old S.O.B," muttered Duo. Heero narrowed his eyes slightly but simply shrugged off the braided young man's remark. Duo continued, "Heero, I don't understand. I thought all information regarding the Gundams were destroyed when we destroyed them."

"This is the only remaining information left about the Gundams, according to Dr. J. He gave it to me in hopes that the information would be kept safe. So far it has been, until yesterday when I found someone was trying to abduct it."

"Why didn't Dr. J just destroy all of the information regarding the Gundams?" inquired Hilde.

"This information has been kept hidden in the case of another war," replied Heero flatly.

Realization dawned on Duo just then. It all made perfect sense now. There could only be one reason why Heero was there. The recent terrorist attacks proved it all. "When do we leave for Earth?" he asked suddenly.

Heero looked at the braided young man, his cold Prussian eyes never leaving the soft violet ones. He had known that Duo would consent. It was his duty as a Gundam pilot. Not only that, whether Duo admitted it or not, in his heart, he was a soldier, fighting for the impossible cause of peace.

Hilde broke the silence that had filled the kitchen,

"What do you mean? Leave for Earth? I don't understand. Duo," she shook his arm gently, "Duo, please, why are you leaving?"

Duo looked up into the girl's soft blue eyes. The very eyes that read into his crimson soul. She was pleading with him, begging him to be honest.

"Hilde, if we don't do something, there is going to be war. The attacks on earth prove it. There are new mobile suits out there. They're attacking innocent people. The layout plans for the Gundams will be used to rebuild them," with that he looked away from her, his pleasant eyes growing dark and distant.

Hilde choked backed a silent sob and walked out of the kitchen. Duo heard her climb up the stairs, enter her room and shut the door. He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. Looking up he saw that Heero was watching him intently. Finally Heero spoke up,

"We'll leave tomorrow morning on the first available shuttle flight to Cinq."

"Cinq?" asked Duo.

"Yes, Preventers Headquarters. I must speak with Commander Une immediately."

"Heero, what about the others? Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei?"

"Once we arrive on Earth, all will follow according to plan."

"Whatever you say man," replied Duo as he grabbed the end of his braid and toyed with it. It was a nervous habit he had picked up.

Later that evening…

After Duo had settled Heero on the couch for the night, he wearily climbed the stairs towards his own room. He lay down on his bed, and stared into the darkness. Tired as he was, he found he couldn't sleep, not yet. He creased his brow in worry as he thought of Hilde, who had not reappeared from her room the rest of the evening.

Duo found that he had been in love with Hilde since the moment he met her. Though he also realized that he was too scared to admit it to her. For years they had been living together, confiding in each other's friendship and strength. Duo knew that Hilde cared for him a great deal, yet to the extent of her care, he wasn't sure of.

Soft cries could be heard through the walls of the room adjacent to his own. Duo strained to make sure he had heard them correctly. Upon hearing the faint cries again, Duo arose from his bed and made his way out into the hallway. He paused at the door next to his room. He felt his pulse quicken, and an uneasy feeling cling inside of his gut. Slowly, he opened the door to Hilde's room.

The lights were on and Hilde looked up as she saw her best friend enter. She wiped away the tears that were streaming down her cheeks. She hated it when Duo saw her cry. In fact she hardly ever did anymore. She had been so happy the past couple of years, nothing serious seemed to ever happen anymore.

"Hilde, babe, you OK?" asked Duo meekly.

"I'm fine, Duo," she replied flatly.

Duo stepped into the room and sat down next to her on the bed. They sat in silence for awhile. Duo never took his eyes off of Hilde, who as it seemed, simply refused to look at him. After some time, Duo broke the silence,

"I know you don't want me to go. But, babe, I have to."

"I know," she choked. "It's just, the thought of losing you, Duo. I don't know what I would do. Sometimes I think that you're the reason while I'm still here. Don't you realize how much you mean to me?" she asked turning her head to meet his eyes.

Duo felt his heart skip a beat at her heart wrenching words. "Hilde, do you really mean that?"

She looked down at her lap where she had folded her hands. "Yeah, I do. I know it may sound stupid and sentimental, but I want you to know that… that," she faltered and looked up at his face again. Tears were starting to well up in her eyes, once more. "God, why does this have to be so hard?" she sobbed.

Duo couldn't contain himself any longer. He pulled Hilde close to him and kissed her softly. She seemed startled at first, but soon melted into his arms. She returned his kiss fully and with more passion than Duo had expected. They broke apart, and Hilde looked up at him, her blue eyes shining with a new light. Duo smiled so broadly that Hilde couldn't help but laugh. Suddenly, she grew serious once more as she looked at his eyes,

"Take me with you?" she pleaded.

"Hilde…"

"Please?"

Duo looked at her gravely, knowing that he couldn't leave her behind to wait. He wanted to be with her more than any thing right now anyway. He smiled at her and nodded his head yes. Then he took her into his arms and kissed her once more.

AN: I realize that this fic has been sort of slow o start out with, but please bear with me and wait for the next chapters to come. I had to throw in some Duo and Hilde romance here. The rest of the fic will focus mainly on Heero and Relena and the progression of the up-and-coming war that the pilots must stop. Please R&R.