1

It was lunchtime and Mika sat on a table by a sparkling blue pond all by herself. She looked at her cold, not very exciting sandwich and frowned. She had only gone to the Chester Institution for a month, and never made any friends with the exception of Far, a dolphin, who lived in the aquatic area. You see at the Chester Institution kids learned how to live in harmony with animals, Far was Mika's only friend. All the other kids had their own circles and didn't want to let a lonely lil' girl in.

"Ha! Look at the girl who is wearing a boys shirt!" cried black haired 3rd grade girl.

Mika knew who they were pointing at and tried not be hurt, she liked her dark navy blue long-sleeved shirt with a skater on the front and the words California on the sleeves. Why couldn't everyone else?

" Rachel shut up. That's not nice, I'm gonna invite her to eat with us," a brunette got up and walked over to Mika.

"Hey," she smiled softly. "My name is Misty what's yours?"

"Mika."

"Would you like to eat with me? You look so sad by yourself, please?"

"Really?" Mika looked at Rachel with uncertainty. Misty followed her gaze and frowned.

"How about this, I'll eat with you!"

"That'd be nice, but I don't think your friends'll like it though."

"So? They don't control me! It's a free country!" Misty went and got her stuff then returned.

After they were done eating, Mika wanted her new friend to meet Far. When they got to the aquarium, more fish were being added to the two aquariums. Mika run over to the second one and waved. A dolphin waved back. Misty watched in awe.

"Wow! Did that dolphin just wave to you?"

"Uh-huh! Come here and meet Far!"

"Hi Far!" Misty waved and instead of waving back Far nodded to her. (AN: think: the way skaters do!)

Just then a man, with a braid that went down below his butt, walked in looking very lost. Hmm. He said that she hung out with a fish… this place is crawling with fish!he thought unhappily. He heard a familiar laugh and saw Mika and another girl making signs with their fingers to a dolphin.

"Mika!"
"Ne?" she turned. "Uncle Duo!" she ran into his arms.

"Mika, daddy wanted me to tell you that he's gonna leave for a lil' while."

"Where's daddy going? He's not going with Helena right? He better not! I don't like her."

Duo laughed, he had taught her well.

"Are you kidding? Your daddy would…" he chose his words carefully. "Lets put it this way your daddy would not be a happy camper if he had to go with Helena."

"Good. Where's daddy going?"

Duo hesitated.

Misty looked at Duo, and sighed. Gee, Mika is so young and juvenile whatever that means. Helena, eh? That Duo guy doesn't look like he wants to tell her. Hmm. Must be something 'too grown up' There's something about him I don't like

"…Mika! Why don't' you introduce me to your friend?"

"Okie Dokie!" to Duo. "Uncle Duo Misty!" To Misty. "Misty this is Uncle Duo!"

"How do you do?" Misty said, the braided boy nodded.

Heero had three days worth of clothing packed, and hoped Duo had his stuff ready. He would have to leave Mika at Quatre's, that's not bad she likes it there, he reminded himself. Usually he didn't really care about missions, but this time was different: he had a really bad feeling he couldn't fight and worried about his daughter. He was done packing, actually he had been for an hour and something was really troubling him. Pacing the room didn't do anything except stress him out even more.

Ten minutes later, Duo knocked impatiently on the door. Heero ran like the wind to the door, not understanding this new surge of emotion running through him. For some reason the wing pilot was glad that Duo was here, if any one knew emotions it would be him, damn.

"DUO!"

It was too late when the wing pilot discovered his fatal mistake; the damage had been done. All Heero had left to do was 1) mentally shoot himself and 2) quickly regain his composure.

Duo just stood there, a somewhat shocked expression on his face. Did Heero just seem to happy to see me! He must really DON'T want to go. Who knows? There may be hope for him yet…

"I mean-uh- its about time," he said in his usual monotone. Duo's heart sank.
"So, Duo, how did she take it?"

"Well, she didn't seem really happy to hear that you were going away," he noticed Heero frown deeply and added. "She made a new friend! And it's not a fish! Her name is Misty."

"Mammal."

"What?"

"Dolphins are mammals, need I explain what that means?" he said in annoyance. " That's good. This morning Mika told me that she didn't wanna go to school because she had no friends…"

Duo smiled understandingly. Both preventers knew the pain of being loners. "Well, are you all ready? I got my shit!"

Heero just sighed, climbed up the stairs to get his stuff. Hmm. I should leave a note, but why am I worrying so much? What is the matter with me? I DO trust Mika, but then why does it bother me knowing I won't be here with her?

"It's only four days Heero…what could happen in four days?"

"A lot of things could happen, Heero. Why else do you think you're so worried?" sneered a little voice inside of Heero's head.

"Gr. Shut up! Lil' voice inside my head! No one asked you!"

Duo shook his head; the perfect soldier was loosing it. He never thought he'd ever hear Heero get into an argument with himself, boy was he wrong. Is this what parent hood does? Make you crazy? Heero's sure changed over the years. Q and T and Wu stayed basically the same, but hell I've never seen someone change so much in my life!