Chapter 4

L2 Colony, Maxwell Church

Christmas, 9 years ago…

"Ah, General Perkins…and family! Come in, come in!" Father Maxwell.

A tall man with dark hair and deep greenish blue eyes, smiled, carrying a large sack with one arm, A petite woman with long auburn hair and green eyes and carrying a sack similar to her husband's at his other arm. A young girl, about the age of 12 shyly hid behind her father, she peeked her head a bit. She had the deep greenish blue eyes of her father, but had the auburn hair of her mother.

The Perkins family stepped into the Sanctuary. Father Maxwell smiled, turning to the family. He crossed himself and bowed slightly. "Thank you so much for taking the time out of your Christmas to spend it with those who don't have much of a Christmas. I am grateful!"

General Perkins held up a hand. "Don't mention it, Father."

"Now, I've met you, Drake…but I don't recall ever meeting your family."

Drake set down the large sack on the floor as did his wife. Drake put an arm around her waist. "This is my wife, Ani."

Ani nodded to Father Maxwell.

"A pleasure to finally meet you, Ani." Father Maxwell said, shaking her hand.

"Likewise, Reverend." Ani responded, smiling.

The priest kneeled over so he was level to the young girl hiding behind Drake. "And who's this young lady?"

Drake gently pulled his daughter from behind him and set her in front of him, placing his hands on her shoulders. "This is our daughter, Ashily."

Father Maxwell smiled at the child and shook her hand. "Well hello, Ashily."

The girl ducked her head down bashfully. "Umm…you can call me Ashi if you like." The child replied in a equally shy sounding voice.

Drake ruffled his daughter's hair to which Ashi clinged on her father's arm. "Forgive her…she's a little shy when it comes to meeting new people."

Ani giggled. "She's a very quiet girl…and very bashful. And we just moved her to L2 a couple months ago, so we were hoping that taking her here, she'd make some friends."

"Ah, I understand." Father Maxwell said, nodding.

He looked stooped down to Ashi's level again, smiling gently. "And how old are you, Young Ashi?"

Ashi shly giggled. "Twelve."

Father Maxwell grinned. "Ah, twelve…we happen to have a young man here that's your age."

Ani and Drake smiled.

"Wonderful!" Ani said.

"His name is Duo…see that young man with the long brown braid and big purplish eyes with the Sister?" The priest said pointing.

Ani nodded.

Father Maxwell's grin grew wider. "Well that's Young Duo…come, say hello to him. He's a very nice young man."

Drake gently pushed his daughter forward. "Go have some fun."

Ashi pouted in protest. "But, Daddy! I wanna help you and Mama!"

Drake stooped down on his knees to be level with his child. He lovingly ruffled her hair again. "We'll manage. Mama and I will be right here…you run along and have fun."

Ashi didn't say anything for a moment, wondering if she should consent. "Well…okay!" she said, running off.

"Play nice!" Ani called out, even though she knew that Ashi wouldn't be much trouble.

"You have a King?" Ashi asked Duo, looking over her cards.

Duo smirked. "Go fish!"

Ashi grumbled and pulled a card from the deck. "Yes!" She cheered, getting a matching card.

"Do you have a 8 card?" Duo asked.

Ashi handed him a 8 card from her deck.

"Have a Queen?"

"Ashi, it's time to go." Came the voice of Ashi's mother, Ani.

Ashi looked up at her mother, pouting. "Awww, Mama! Do we have to?"

Duo also started pouting. "Yeah, we haven't finished our game yet!"

Drake who walked by Ani's side smiled at the two children. "Ani, let them finish."

Ani nodded and let them be. The two fast friends took their time finishing their game, eventually Ashi won much to Duo's disappointment to losing to a girl, but he didn't mind to much. He made a new friend.

"Time to go, sweetheart." Ani said.

"Wait!" Ashi protested.

"Ashily, it's getting late, honey. It's past your bed time." Drake chided.

"But!"

Drake smiled, "We'll come by to visit tomorrow."

Ashi's eyes lit up. "Promise?!"

Drake laughed. "Have I ever broke a promise before?"

"YAY!" Duo and Ashi said in unison.

Drake held out his hand to Ashi. "Come on, then…bed time."

"Wait!"

Ani frowned. "Ashi…do as your father says. It's 11 p.m. It's not only past your bedtime…but also Duo and the other children's bedtime."

"No…I mean…"

She took off her jacket and put it around Duo's shoulders. Duo's eyes widened in surprise and confusion.

Ashi smiled. "This is my gift to you."

Duo shook his head. "But this is yours."

Ashi shrugged. "You need it more than I do."

"But…I have nothing to give you."

Ashi grinned. "That's ok! Being my friend is enough!"

"But I gotta give you something…wait!"

Duo rushed off and later returned with a beat up looking teddy bear.

He grinned sheepishly. "It was one of the little orphans who got a home's bear. Found it in the nursery…that's where most of the hand-me-down stuff is at. I'm sorry…it's not much…"

Ashi hugged the teddy bear to her chest. "I love it!"

"You do?"

Ashi looked up and grinned, they were standing under mistletoe. She gave her new friend a big hug and kissed him on the cheek. "Merry Christmas!" she said, running off to her mother and father.

Duo waved, blushing slightly. "See you tomorrow!"

Ashi smiled. "You have a good memory, Duo."

Duo returned the smile. "That's how it all started…before everything turned crazy…a year later…"

Argh! I know…that was a boring chapter! Wait…maybe I only found it boring because nothing angsty happened. Oo I have problems!

Genome Ashi: I told you she was insane

GW Ashi: No kidding!

Duo: What the hell is this?! What's with monkey woman?! points at Genome Ashi

Genome Ashi: Come say that to my face!

Duo: I just did!
Shuichi: What the hell is this!?

GW Ashi: What the hell are these people?!

Shuichi: Oh, we're the other pairing that A.H. is obsessed with.

Ares: Along with us…

Evelyn: Yeah, she even wrote a lemon chapter.

Ares: remembers Yeaaaaaaaaaaah…hey A.H.! Write another Ares/Evelyn story!

A.H.: OO; One at a time! Ok, that's it! Those who aren't involved in this fic…please leave the room…NOW! Or I'll write you off of existence!

Evelyn: OO;

Ares: OO;

Shuichi: OO;

Genome Ashi: OO;

A.H.: NOW!!!!

Evelyn, Ares, Genome Ashi, and Shuichi: GLEEEEEEEEP!!! runs like hell

OO; Something tells me that I better get some sleep…chapter 5 is on the way…