AN: Yes!!! 200 reviews and more!!! And this was faster than the first time it was uploaded.
Also, thanks a bunch to my good friend out there for helping me with the translations; from before when it was up, the translations of French and Dutch weren't entirely correct.


Duo's Child

Chapter 28

A year after her best friend's death, Uno had finally decided to get out into the public once again. For several months, she'd remained indoors, training under everyone's style of combat—and more—to regain her composure and strength. For months, she's spent many hours with Zechs learning more than she had never known before.

Currently she was learning Latin and Spanish; she had already completed Japanese, French, and German. She had caught up on her medical knowledge with the help of Sally Po, her Governmental knowledge from Relena and Lady Une, and even managed to find the time to learn, from Wufei, how to drive a bike. The bike business was the hard part; both she and Wufei never had the same time off to train on that. With Duo's help, she's even managed to kick more of the arcade games in the Music Wing and Ricky taught the two of them about the switch boards of the DJ Booth and Recording Studio.

All entirely, coping with Theresa's death had slowed down all of her will to learn and go on; if not for Zechs being by her side almost 24-7, then she would probably be moping along the streets right now, in search of her friend's assassin.

But here she was, walking along the crowded streets of the market plaza in the streets of downtown, no longer worried about being shot at; if anybody shot her around here, there would be too many people to claim witness to the attack. Children were gathered around a stuffed animal booth to her left, screaming and pleading, reaching and trying to get a hold of some of the cute little animals the booth had for sale. Uno smiled when she watched a little girl with short red hair stretching and reaching for a brown cat. An older lady—probably the girl's mother—had picked up the cat and gave it to her; the girl smiled in delight.

To her right was a man on top of a stage, speaking through a microphone, alerting all ticket holders of the nearby booth, who the winner-of-the-hour is; he was currently giving away book sets of encyclopedias and the likes. A few people gathered around the bottom of the stage and checked their ticket stubs to see if they won. Some people groaned around Uno as she made her way through the forming crowd, but a loud cheer came on from a group across the ally near another booth selling candy and chocolates.

Uno managed to get through the crowd and paused at the next booth to her right. She blinked in 'aw' when she noticed some of the jewelry that was shown and up for sale. Diamonds and gold earrings, silver and copper bracelets, bronze and jade rings; just about everything under the sun was up for sale. As Uno neared closer to the booth, a sparkle had hit her eyes and made her look to the top of the selection. There, above all other items, was a set of earrings, silver with set diamonds, attached to loops. It matched the necklace, bracelet, and ring that Uno had received from Theresa's parents on account of her death—along with several other belongings.

"Voyez-vous quelque chose que vous aimez?" (See you something that you like?) The red haired man behind the booth asked.

"Huh?" Uno blinked; the man was speaking French. She smirked; good thing she learnt it.

"Combien sont-ils, ceux-là?" (How much are those?) Uno asked as she pointed to the earrings. The man looked down and back up at Uno, smiling.

"Quatre cent dollars." (Four hundred dollars.)

"Quatre cent dollars!" (Four hundred dollars!) Uno's eyes shot out. She was astounded. "J'ai le reste de la série et ils ne sont pas si chères!" (I have the rest of the set and it doesn't cost that much!)

The man leant over the table and looked closely at her necklace, bracelet, and ring as Uno had shown him. His lips pulled back into a thin line and he looked like he was thinking a lot. He sighed deeply and sat back again.

"Deux cent." (Two hundred.) He said in an unfortunate tone.

Uno narrowed her eyes. "Ils n'ont pas cette valeur." (They're not even worth that much.)

He narrowed his eyes in return. "Cent et cinquante dollars, alors." (One hundred and fifty dollars then.)

"Cinquante." (Fifty.) The man growled and got to his feet quickly. He slammed his hands down on the tabletop and leant over to glare closely at her face.

"Un-cent dollars." (One hundred dollars.) The man snarled back at her through clenched teeth.

Uno leant closer and stood her ground. "Soixante." (Sixty.)

The man growled and pulled back. "Fille stupide." (Stupid girl.) He sat back in his seat once again and looked up at her. Uno was staring down at the man, her nostrils flaring, her temper rising.

He had just called her stupid!

"Connard incompetent!" (Incompetent idiot!)

The man's eyes lit up and his mouth slowly dropped. Uno was playing his game right back and harder than he was and she wasn't about to back down any time soon. She wanted these earrings and she wanted them now and she won't over pay for them, especially when she already had the rest of the set.

The man groaned and shut his eyes as he turned away. He fanned the earrings with his hand and relaxed in his chair.

"Va de l'avant et les prendre, vous l'Américain stupide." (Go ahead and take them, you stupid American.)

Uno narrowed her eyes again and reached for the earrings. She'd won the battle and now she got to take the earrings for free! But…that rude man had called her a stupid American.

Uno looped the earrings through her ears and snarled back at the man before leaving the booth.

"Je vous verrai dans l'enfer, vous le pénis aime les Français!" (See you in Hell, you penis loving Frenchmen!)

From the corner of her eyes, the man lifted his head, widened his eyes, and dropped his mouth. Uno smirked and shut her eyes while bowing her head; she had just won him the battle of the earrings, told him off, and won all together and walked away from it all. That man now knows not all American's are stupid.

She continued walking and passed the electronics sections of the plaza. Both sides, booths were crowded with people of all sorts for video games, music, movies, and more. She was tempted to take a look at what the booths offered, but she was running a bit short on time and needed to get home. That forbidden man had taken most of her time!

A hand grabbed hold of her right elbow and gripped tightly. Uno paused and looked back at her arm, noticing the old-looking, wrinkly fingers wrapped tightly around her arm. Both men were dressed in casual blue slacks, either a green shirt or a black shirt, and shined-up black dress shoes; they dressed good for senior citizens.

"You're a Maxwell." An old man with a scar across his face questioned.

"And you're an idiot." She replied, sarcastically. The man smirked and released her arm. "What do you want?"

"We heard your fiasco with the Frenchman, just a few minutes ago." The second man said. This guy had a cane and a metal hand that seemed to frighten her some; it had three prongs for fingers and that reminded her of all those Hentai she watched behind Duo's back.

"And?" Uno narrowed her eyes and tensed up. "You don't expect me to go and apologize, do you?"

"Not at all." The man with a cane replied.

"Good." Uno smirked and set her fists on her hips.

"You sure do look a lot like Duo, as Heero described. He even said you've always acted like him as you've grown up." The man with the cane grinned.

"Yes, Heero did say Uno's resemblance to Duo is almost identical." The man with the scar looked over her body and made her feel a bit uncomfortable.

"How do you know of me?" Uno growled, standing up at a full form.

"Heero has sent us information regarding you over the years. Since Duo found you off the streets, they have all decided to raise you and train you." The man with the scar explained.

"How do you know of them?" Uno asked, her eyes narrowing; she was tempted to draw out her knife from her back pocket.

"I was the one who put Duo where he is today; I am Professor G. Doctor J is the cause for everything you see of Heero. We were the ones responsible for the wars in the past."

Uno blinked. "You sent them to war?"

"In a way; they were already within it on their own. Doctor J programmed Heero for war and he was the main one responsible for the beginning; Duo happened to land in my lap." G explained.

"So you know of me through Heero, I see." Uno places her fists on her hips again and relaxed. "And I was about to attack you both."

"Not us." J grinned. "We're not the ones you want to kill; not if we can help provide you the means of a basis for future wars."

"And how do you suppose to do that?" Uno grinned and tilted her head.

"By building you a Gundam." G stated flatly. Uno's face went blank. "Though we're not sure what it'll need and how powerful it will have to become, but we'll do all that we need to in order to obtain peace once again."

"Give Heero this card." J stated, reaching out to her and handing her a small card. "This is the number of the flat were we both live. We're in secret in the downtown area; not many people know we're still alive and who we are, but we're there."

"Sure." Uno nodded, taking the card and putting it in her back pocket. She took a step back.

"You're leaving?" G asked.

"I've got a date tonight." Uno replied. "I don't want to be late."

"Very well; give that card to Heero and be sure he gets it." G demanded. Uno nodded and turned to continue walking away, her fists stuffed in her front pockets.

"A true Maxwell; she even acts the same way of him." J stated as the two of them watched her walk away until she disappeared. "Almost makes me wonder if Duo really had a child back in his prime state."

"I wouldn't be surprised. He was always looking for trouble and he would get it anywhere he'd go." G replied.

-

Uno finally reached her bike and hopped on. It was black, it was sporty, and it was fast; Duo even got a good deal on it.

Jenkins was very astonished that Duo had managed to sell a newer model Volvo to an older couple, both frightened to death of automobiles from their history of accidents. He was even amazed so much that Duo had not only repaired some kids bike, but he cranked up the boost with more goodies, gave the look of a new paint job and body wear, and even discounted the price, putting in some of his own hard work as the effort pay. Jenkins was proud that Duo knew how to promote his ideas in the right way; after all, if you boost up a normal bike and charge full price, you'll get sued for things not listed on the stats but by lowering the price, Duo just made a good, future-returning, customer.

As in this time, Jenkins was so honorable of Duo that for a bonus he was going to give Duo a separate check of fifty-grand, but instead Duo took just enough out of it to buy Uno her very own bike; the rest he spent for a ring.

Grumbling with a sudden exhaustion, Uno started up the bike and kicked it into action. She grabbed the black helmet hanging from the bars and latched it on, her braid hanging down from behind. The wheels peeled out as she spun the bike around in a circle until she was facing the opposite direction and lifted off the ground. Flooring the urge to speed up, she raced through yellow lights and traffic until she got in front of all the other people on the road. Lights flashed by as she raced on and everything shined off her polished helmet.

She didn't know who those two guys were, but she'd have something for Heero; that card and a few questions.

-

Uno reached the gates of the mansion and drove on through as they stood open. She didn't know why but perhaps they were broken…again. They've been broken before and Quatre had Heero go out and fix it. She supposed she could tell him they're open again.

She pulled up under the front door cathedral ceiling and parked the bike just next to Wufei's. When she walked up to the door, there was a package near the front door assigned for Do. Blinking, she passed it and went on inside.

"Well Quatre agrees that it will be for the best." Trowa's soft voice let Uno know she wasn't home alone.

"But Trowa, why would I want to send her to military school? We can get it right here from Heero." Duo smirked; Heero looked up from the newspapers and slowly shook his head as he stared back at Trowa. Trowa smirked and shrugged.

"Send me where?" Uno spoke up. Duo spun his head around, shocked looking.

"Uno!" up paused. "What did you hear?"

Uno shrugged. "Nothing I guess. You got a box by the front door."

"You didn't bring it in for me?" Duo slouched.

"No." Uno reached back to her back pocket to retrieve the card. "Heero, the front gate's open again."

"…" Heero sighed, rolled his eyes, and shook his head as he fixed the papers and restacked them on the table.

"Who is…Professor G and Doctor J?" Uno paused in thought as she looked at the card in her hands.

Duo froze. "Professor G? Doctor J?" Duo swallowed. "How do you know of them?" Duo slowly turned around to face her and Heero looked up in wonder.

"Well…they stopped me when I was in the market. Said I looked like a Maxwell and that what Heero was telling them about me all these years, they knew who I was." Uno looked at Heero who in return smirked.

"Heero?!" Duo snapped his head around to glares his comrade.

Uno leant over the couch and handed Heero the card. "They wanted me to give you that; their address and such." She shrugged.

Duo slouched and sighed. "Ughn…so..." He began as he put his arms behind his head. "How's the old goon's doin' these days, eh?"

Uno shrugged. "I don't know. J's metal arm scares me a little." Uno walked into the kitchen. Heero snickered as he turned the card over and put it in his back pocket.

"He did to me as well in my younger years." He stated. He looked over at Duo. "Duo?"

"Why did they have to survive? I thought they died in the White Fang." He was pouting.

Heero smirked. "J and G were the only two who survived. They weren't next to the self destruct and only got blown away to the other side of Libra. The rest were killed; they just suffered severely."

Duo glared Heero. "And you knew this entire time, that they were still alive."

Heero nodded. "Mmhm. If I had told you, you would try and kill them."

"And you didn't want to do them away, yourself?"

Heero shook his head. "We three knew another war was going to come, eventually."

Duo blinked. "How?"

"White Fang and Mareimaia left a hefty reminder." Duo pondered; Heero lowered his voice so only Duo and Trowa could hear over other listening ears. "Mobile suits are still being designed and ideas are being stolen. Synodd is taking old ideas from OZ and combining them with newer forms of combat. We're unsure yet, but I kept in contact all these years with J and G to find out."

Trowa blinked. "You knew all this time they were alive and you didn't tell anyone about it?"

Heero nodded. "Safety purposes; however, it's now clear that history's slowly repeating itself. Relena's been getting threats but those we can counter."

"So what's gonna' happen; to us, at least?" Duo asked casually.

"We just sit and wait." Heero answered. Even though the three of them knew, they won't be fighting this war; it'll be Uno and Uno alone.

-

Ricky stepped out of his black 2001 Firebird at seven o'clock that night. His dad had bought him the car as a birthday gift and he was bound to show Uno.

He rang the doorbell and immediately got drenched from above with icy cold water. Ricky froze and looked up to see Duo grinning down on top of him. He blinked. The door began to open slowly and when he looked back to it, a gun barrel pointed directly at his face with a determined deathly look from Heero behind it.

"Um…" Ricky panicked. "Uno home?"

Heero nodded but the door was shoved opened and he was pushed aside.

"Heero, put that away." Uno grumbled as if it was a normal thing to gunpoint people—especially her dates. She looked at Ricky and smiled. "Hey!"

"Uh…hey Uno, heh." Ricky shrugged. Uno blinked at him.

"Why are you wet?"

Ricky looked up and Uno followed him. She saw nothing and blinked back down at him.

"Nothing." Ricky shrugged. He'll get Duo back eventually.

Uno shrugged and turned back to Duo. "I'm going out!" She called back.

"Be back at a reasonable hour." Duo thought for a moment. "Like eight tonight."

"Duo! That's in one hour." Uno grumbled.

"Yeah…so you can't go far." Duo meant it in more than one way and Uno knew that. She glared him. "I'll be back at ten." And with that, she slammed the door shut.

Duo growled and turned back to the living room to go get Heero.

"Let's follow them."

"Duo! You have to learn to trust Uno. She's thirteen now." Quatre lectured. "You need to trust her."

"Yeah, I do." Duo admitted. "But Ricky's now seventeen; I don't trust him!"

Heero nodded in agreement. Quatre shook his head.

"Duo…let her take the chance. Uno's been on her own a lot; she can handle things. And incase somebody tries to attack her, Ricky's there. Even if he's much older than her now, they've been together for about ten years, or around that."

Duo grumbled. "Seven years, to be exact."

"Well, there you go." Quatre smiled.

"That's still not enough time for me to trust him not to make a move on my daughter!" Duo fumed and stormed out of the room. Heero blinked from behind.

"I thought it was only as a joke." Heero mumbled.

-

Uno walked up to Ricky's car and froze in shock. She was standing in front of a brand new, 2001 black Pontiac Firebird.

"Ricky!" Uno shouted in amazement. Ricky electronically unlocked the door and opened it up for her.

"I know." He grinned. "My dad's gift for me turning seventeen."

"What happened to the bike you were planning on getting last year?" She felt a little pain strike at her heart remembering when he was talking about getting a hookup from Johnson for a bike; Theresa was by her side then. It hurt to remember her best friend but Uno kept it hidden. Ricky could see the pain on her face and it hurt him to be reminded of her loss.

"It fell through. The guy hooking Johnson up was planning on just taking the money and running."

"Really?" She blinked in amazement.

He nodded. "Yeah. The guy's girlfriend told him so…you know how that went. She stayed the night once and I think she told Johnson that same night…Johnson was probably too good for her to lie to." He grinned perversely.

Uno smirked. "Pervert."

Ricky shrugged. "I'm a guy, what can I say?" Uno looked back at the car. "So what do you think?"

"It's beautiful." She said, looking back at him in the face.

Ricky smirked. "Thanks." He leant over the car door and gave Uno a peck on the lips as she sat inside. When he sat in afterwards and started the car, he turned and faced her again.

"I like that dress on you." He said in a polite manner and not perverted. "It fits you well."

And indeed it did; she was in a black dress that clung to her body like a second skin, all the way down to her ankles, and had a slit up her right leg to her thighs. The neck was just low enough to show her short silver chain and dragon charm Ricky had bought her for her tenth birthday and there were no sleeves. Ricky was dressed in just a nice black sweater and black jeans that Uno had always liked on him; it made his ass look very hot.

"How does your dad have all this money to give to you?" She asked as he drove them away from the mansion, shifting gears when needing to.

It took him a moment to think of his answer. "He gets big paychecks. That…and Johnson sometimes feels bad for me."

Uno blinked. "Why?"

"Because he thinks my dad runs me ragged and abuses me all the time." His voice stayed low.

"Ricky…you should really report him for that. He's always done that to you." She lowered her voice to a concerning tone.

"It's nothing." He lied. "He doesn't mean to, at least. His work gets stressful and he's trying to be there for me as a father. I can understand why he's so angry all the time; his work isn't going the way he wants it too. They've changed the plans right in the middle of his current project; it pissed him off tremendously."

"Is that why you don't work? Because of your tutor?" She asked, changing the topic so he could feel better. Ricky nodded.

"I don't have time and Dad feel's it's safer for me at home. I guess he thinks all the fights I used to get into were going to lower my scores of getting into a good college." He lied; he couldn't tell her the truth that his dad was tired of the school calling and reporting his son's absence all the time. After all, work runs them both ragged and weary.

"I'm so sorry." Uno said softly.

"Hey, don't sweat it, Uno." He smiled over at her. "I'm driving now so I can come see you whenever I want or whenever I need to get away."

She smiled and nodded her head. "Good; no more abuse."

Uno looked back out the window. Ricky stayed quiet knowing the 'no more abuse' wish would never come true. His father's work took a little more than a wish to do away with.

-

They were seated elegantly at the Luncheon Dinet, an extremely expensive, elegant, classy restaurant. Uno felt a little nervous considering the fact that Quatre mentions how well known this place is to famous people and how Duo wishes he could come here just once; hell, the cheapest ring he found for Hildie wouldn't even cost enough to dine for a single diner here.

Uno watched as Ricky opened the menu and casually glanced at the items. He looked as if he's done this before, but he was only seventeen; how many seventeen-year-olds dine at an elegant restaurant?

"Uno, you can order whatever you want." Ricky smiled. "I got it covered."

Uno blinked. "You sure?"

She glanced at the orders and prices, attempting to buy the cheapest thing they had. Unfortunately, the cheapest thing there was to order was a side menu of french-fries for twenty dollars. She swallowed back a wad of nerves lodged in the back of her throat. It was so classy here they didn't even serve to children!

The people working here were dressed extremely fancy—especially the guests dining all around her—and the musicians singing and playing music on the stage were dressed for a ball. Luckily, Uno was quite happy that Quatre and Relena had taught her how to act like an important figure head and a proper lady; if she hadn't learnt that, she'd be killed already. The people working there also appeared different races. Some she recognized as French, others Italian; some Spanish, others Asian.

A Dutch waiter bent down towards Ricky with a bottle of red wine and with Ricky's approval, poured just a small sip into the wine glass. Ricky sniffed it as he wiggled it some, then took a sip and smirked. He nodded and faced the waiter.

"hm, deze is goed. Deze wijn smaakt goed" (Yes, this one is good. This wine taste good) Ricky communicated with the man while smiling back at Uno. Uno sat there with her mouth pressed firmly together so she won't gape and her eyes wanting to pop out of their sockets. Ricky knew Dutch!

The waiter poured him a glass of the wine and Uno directly afterwards. After he finished and put the wine bottle away in the ice bucket besides the table, he took out his pen and pad of paper and faced Ricky.

"Uno? You decide what you wanted?"

"Um…" Uno froze then remembered Ricky's only human like herself. "Order for me; I don't know Dutch."

Ricky smirked. "Alright Uno; just this once." He eyed her sarcastically. He turned to the waiter and ordered their meals. Uno just sat there, staring in total shock at the whole scene.

"Zij zal de stoofvleesschotel van gevogelte nemen en ik neem het vispannetje van het huis. ." (She takes a stew of poultry and i take the fish dish) The waiter recorded the meals while nodding, took the menus and left the table.

"Ricky…you're excellent." Uno stated, still in shock Ricky only shrugged.

"Dad wanted me to learn Dutch, and some other languages."

She blinked. "Why?"

"Said I need to know it if I take over the business." He smirked. "I know Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Norwegian, German, Russian, and Thai."

Uno swallowed. "You-you do?" He nodded. "How fast did you learn all of this?"

"Don't forget, Uno," Ricky smirked. She blinked. "I'm three years older than you. To me, Dutch is a native tongue—same thing with Norwegian—I've leant those languages when I was little; started right around the time I met you."

"Are you serious?" He nodded again. She sighed and looked down to her plate. "I guess we are tied then."

"Told you." He grinned sheepishly.

-

After the meal, Ricky was taking the long route to the parking lot through the courtyard and held Uno's hand in his arms. They walked slowly, talked softly and about little things, and enjoyed the night. Uno was falling in love with Ricky more and more by the second; she never knew he had this side to him…let alone, she never even knew she had this side to herself!

When they got in the car, Ricky helped Uno in and shut the door afterwards. He got in and began the car. As they drove home, Uno was silent because she didn't know what to say or how to act anymore; were they through with the elegant and fancy dinner or not?

After they reached the mansion, Ricky told Uno he'd be right back and when he walked around the side of the car to let her out, she looked up and saw his hand extended to help her.

Uno smiled and accepted his offer, stood up with his help, and stepped forward so he could shut the door. He walked her to the front of the mansion slowly, all the while taking in the effect she had on him in the dress she wore; he'd spent all night long trying to sustain himself and be a proper gentleman but it wasn't easy when her body latched onto the dress so seductively. A few times during the meal he had to excuse himself to go to the restroom to wash his face with the rags offered; he had to cool himself off before he'd try and attack her—something he'd most definitely get his ass kicked for.

When they reached the door, she turned and faced him with a smile on her face—something he'd die for seeing.

"Thank you, Ricky. Tonight was…wonderful." Uno struggled to find the words; Ricky was looking at her seriously, as if he was tempted to lean over and forcefully kiss her. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she wanted him to do whatever he wanted to happen, but she wouldn't say so; she was too scared. The fire in his eyes was burning her up as well and they both looked like fierce beasts in the moonlight under a beautiful darkened night sky.

"Goodnight Uno." It took Ricky several moments to find the courage to say those words to her.

"Goodnight Ricky." She replied, uneasily as well. Ricky was staring in her eyes, wanting to lean over and give her their first actual kiss, but he was choking big time. Instead, he shot his head away and headed towards the car. It wasn't the right thing to do, but he didn't think now was the time to kiss her—especially with Duo and Heero home.

Uno turned around and headed inside the house. She blinked when she opened the door and stepped in, seeing Duo's angry face and hard triumphs of struggling with little Quatre holding him back, his arms looped under Duo's shoulders. She blinked and shut the door behind herself without looking back at Ricky.

"Quatre, let me go!!!" Duo screamed out.

"No! Not until you promise me you won't go outside and attack Ricky!" Quatre strengthened his grasp on Duo.

Uno blinked. "What's going on?"

"Duo's been on edge since you left." Heero answered flatly. "He said Johnson called wondering if Ricky's Firebird was driving fine and he was alright. Duo asked where they were going and he said to the Luncheon Dinet, the most elegant restaurant in the entire country."

"Yeah…" Uno mumbled. Duo slouched, slumped, and fell out of Quatre's arms. Quatre sighed and fell back onto the couch exhausted.

"You mean he actually took you there?" Duo whined.

Uno nodded. Quatre smiled weakly. "How'd you do?"

"I was nervous…very…nervous." Uno stood still. "Ricky can speak Dutch…and several other languages I can't."

Duo blinked. "Really? Why?"

"He said his dad wants him to learn so when he takes over the family business, it'll help." Uno turned and headed towards the stairs. "I'm going to bed. Night Duochan."

Duo slumped over and sagged his body forward. He whined. "I can't believe he took her to that place."

-

The following day was quite basic. Duo worked half the morning and came home at around three. Heero studied more and more through the media with Relena's help. Relena was in dead shock when she saw her brother after several years; Noin nealy fainted. Une looked as if she were going to slap him for leaving in the middle of the night. Quatre and Trowa were trying out different cuisines from old cookbooks he found in the Victorian Library. Wufei actually took his day off and slept in; Sally came over to pull him out of bed and to the park for relaxation. Uno spent her day putting together different puzzles Ricky had Johnson make for her; damn those boys knew how to make a crazy design! She'd been trying at the same puzzle for four hours straight and had been getting no where and she had fourteen other puzzles to master afterwards!

She gave up and went downstairs for a break. Heero was exiting the hallway as she was just entering the staircase. The doorbell rang.

Heero opened the door and there stood Ricky, head down, very quiet; he didn't even say 'hey' as he always does to Heero.

"Uno home?" Ricky mumbled softly. Uno came up from behind Heero.

"Ricky?" She asked in a deep concerning voice. She stepped up to him and put a finger under his chin. She lifted his chin and found his face entirely soaked with tears: dry, wet, moistened and damp; everything.

"Ricky!" Uno shouted. Ricky wrapped his arms around Uno's waist immediately and dug his head into her neck. She wrapped her arms around his back and soothed him. He began crying again. Heero shut the door.

"Ricky?" Uno asked again.

"Johnson's dead." His muffled cry was still audible enough for Uno to understand. Her face went pale and she looked up at Heero with fear in her eyes. Heero looked down; this was happening again.

"Dad told me last night that, about three hours after I left to pick you up, Johnson and he had a fight and Johnson left to head to his girlfriend's." He took a minute to choke back a sob of tears. "He said around four in the morning, Johnson was found in his car dead, his girlfriend dead besides him as well. They had a car accident; it looked like it was a head on collision, a rear end impact, and a double sided hit."

Uno blinked and rubbed his back soothingly. Heero looked down in thought. It sounded as if it was a planned attack.

"Ricky," Heero began. "How did your father sound when he told you?"

"He sounded like he didn't care." Ricky sniffled and looked up from Uno's neck. Uno let him go and turned to face Heero, confusion settling in her eyes. "But they didn't like each other anyways. Johnson's always been protective over me and my dad never liked it. He said it wasn't Johnson's place to be as obsessive with me as he is; I'm taking over the family business and I need to learn to care for myself."

"When did he tell you what happened?"

"This morning, at around seven when I woke up." Uno blinked; Ricky woke up at seven a.m.?!

"How did he tell you?" Heero narrowed his eyes; Ricky's father could have had something to do with this accident.

"Like I said; like it meant nothing to him. He just shrugged it off and walked away; but then again, my dad hides his feelings a lot so you never know what's going on with him." Ricky's eyes couldn't hide the truth and another tear began to fall.

Heero nodded. "Go get some rest. If you need me, I'm in the Military Wing; if I'm not there ask the computer."

Ricky nodded and began heading upstairs towards Uno's room. Uno blinked back up at Heero. Heero kept his eyes on Ricky as Ricky went upstairs. He kept his voice low.

"Keep an eye on him; something's not right here. I think his father had something to do with his brother's death."