Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or it's characters. Okay, so Trowa wouldn't really act like this in real life but hey. . .he's older now, maybe he changed. Having kids does strange things to you. . .

Chapter 4

"Noin, have you been watching the news lately?" Milliardo stepped into his girlfriend's room. Noin was sorting through some papers and stopped to look up at the tall blonde, saying, "No, why? Something interesting been going on?"

"Yes, actually, it seems a clown has been making a fool of the government, a rather familiar looking one at that." Milliardo said, walking over to her with a file in his hand, giving it to her. She took it curiously and pulled out a stack of pictures, looking them over.

"What are these?"

"Those are pictures taken by the surveillance cameras in the Sanc Kingdom United Bank when it was robbed by this perpetrator. Recognize him?"

"This. . .looks like. . ."

"Trowa Barton." Milliardo sounded reluctant to have said that. Noin looked up at him in concern and said, "It couldn't be, why would he. . ."

"They investigated the safe after the suspect broke in and found thousands of stocks missing, mainly in big companies doing very well in the stock market right now. Just this morning, all the missing stocks were sold off, quite a nice amount of money, over 50 million dollars. . ."

"But the question is, who would need so much money? I mean, the only logical reason to steal so much-"

"Was if you wanted to build something. . .or a lot of somethings." Noin stood and dropped the pictures on her desk, saying, "Milliardo, you don't think. . ."

"We need to get in contact with Relena and gather a meeting of the Sanc Council, and fast. Who knows when this figure will strike again."

"But if this person IS Trowa Barton, then shouldn't we be finding him?"

"Last thing I heard he was being held over at Duo's apartment under interrogation but that was over an hour ago."

"You call your sister, I'll drive over to Duo's and pick up Trowa."

"Meet back at the Sanc Capital when you're done." Noin ran out of the condo, barely grabbing her coat before she flew out the door. Milliardo went to the phone and began calling his sister.

"I think we need to answer the phone, it won't stop ringing." Relena moaned.

"But I pulled out the cord. . ." Heero complained, sitting up.

"Yeah, well I can still hear it down stairs." Relena got up and reconnected the phone, picking it up and saying, "Relena Peacecraft Yuy speaking."

"Relena, we have a problem. I need you to call a council meeting immediately."

"Council meeting, why? Milliardo, what's the matter?" Relena began to worry about what she had been missing in her moments of pleasure all night.

"Haven't you heard? The bank's been vandalized and millions of dollars worth of stocks have been stolen and sold off. Relena, I don't like the way this is adding up."

"I'll notify everyone right away. How could this have happened?"

"I don't know but we already have a suspect. . .if he's still around to talk."

"What? Who?"

"Trowa."

"What!" Relena gasped at the name, feeling her heart begin to race. Heero was standing by her side by now and was listening intently.

"Relena?" Heero frowned.

"I have to go, be here in an hour." Relena said, hanging up the phone. She turned to Heero and said, "Heero, how could this be happening? Everything was working out perfectly!" He pulled Relena into his arms as she felt flustered momentarily.

"Get a hold of yourself, Relena. Look, if we can end a war, we can surely keep one from starting again. You'd better gather the council; it's better to have many minds to work with than just your own worrying over this matter." Relena nodded and pushed away, running to her closest to pull out a suit to change into.

"What? A war! Oh my-alright, I'll be right there!" Quatre hung up his office phone and leapt to his feet, running to the door and heading down the hallway. He walked out into his backyard garden where his wife was tending to her flowers and said, "Sayla, I need to leave."

"So suddenly? But what about the garden party tonight?" Sayla turned to Quatre, her full belly turning with her.

"You'll have to have it without me, darling. I'm sorry, I know you've been looking forward to it. . ."

"Duty calls. . ." Sayla smiled vaguely, trying to be an understanding representative's wife. Quatre leaned forward and kissed her, resting his hand on her round stomach momentarily.

"I'll be back as soon as I can. Goodbye, my lovelies." He turned and ran back inside to prepare for his departure.

"I'll be there right away, goodbye." Chang hung up his phone and turned to his secretary as he gathered his jacket, saying, "Stacy, call my wife and tell her I'm leaving on a diplomatic assignment and will be back some unknown date."

"Sir, you have a meeting with the Chinese government tomorrow, and dinner with your wife tonight, it's your anniversary!" the young woman said, a palmpad in hand as she looked over his schedule.

"Well reschedule it, I have more important things to deal with! I'm sure Asuka will understand." Chang said in his usual grumpy tone as he walked toward the door.

"Just like the last three anniversaries, sir?" Stacy commented.

"I have a job, she knew it'd be like this from the beginning. Send her some flowers, she'll understand." Chang said just before stepping out.

"sigh But I'm the one always getting yelled at when you do this. . ." Stacy muttered to herself in dismay, returning to her desk to begin on the floral order.

"Meeting? What? Alright, we'll be there as soon as we can!" Duo dashed down the hallway and down the stairs, shouting as he did, "Rachel, there's a council meeting, we gotta-hey, where'd Trowa go!"

"He needed some air." Rachel said, looking upset.

"What! No, we have to find him, this is all his fault after all!" Duo started toward the door to go after him.

"Duo, it wasn't him, he was framed!" Rachel shouted after him, groaning as she ran after her boyfriend, grumbling all the way, "Why don't you ever wait for a full explanation?"

"Rachel, Duo, are you home? It's me, Noin. Hello?" Noin knocked on the door, getting impatient and worried. Finally, she heard the lock undo and the door slowly opened. To her surprise, a sleepy little girl greeted her.

"Nobody's home. . ." Precious said, rubbing her eyes.

"They left you home alone? Do you know where they are?"

"No. . .I was asleep."

I can't leave her here by herself, she's too young. . .better bring her along. . .Noin thought as she figured out what she'd do next.

"You're gonna come with me, sweetie, okay? We're going to find your daddy and the others." Noin said, putting out her hand. Precious took it and mumbled an okay as Noin closed the door behind her and led her down the hall.

She's not home. . .but she just called Rachel, where could she have gone? Great, I came all the way over here for nothing. . .Trowa thought after knocking on Hope's door several times, kicking it in frustration. He turned to go when he heard the elevator at the end of the hall ding and the doors opened. Out stepped Hope, who paused in surprise.

"Trowa!" Hope exclaimed.

"Hi. . .I, uh. . ." Trowa stumbled over words to say as he looked back at her door.

"Oh, you're here for your cell phone, right?" Hope let out a sigh and walked up to the door, pulling out her keys to get inside.

"Yeah, Rachel said you called. . ." Trowa mumbled, waiting as Hope stepped inside and retrieved the phone, bringing it back out and saying as she handed it to him, "I guess she didn't tell you I was going out right after I called, I had some business to take care of at my dad's work. I hope you weren't waiting long. . ."

"No. . ." Trowa took his belonging and looked at it. An awkward silence filled the air as they both said nothing.

"Is there. . .anything else?" Hope asked finally. Trowa looked up and said, "Well. . ."

Why do I feel so uncomfortable? I'm acting like some teenage boy with a crush! A. . .crush? I. . .do I?

"Yes?" Hope cocked her head to the side. Trowa snapped out of his thoughts and said, "Um, I just. . .wanted to thank you again. . .for last night. Dinner, I mean. . .it was great."

"Oh. . .well, you're welcome, it was my pleasure."

"I. . .guess I'll be going, bye. . ." Trowa said, turning to go.

"Wait, I have something for your daughter!" Trowa blinked in surprise as Hope ran back inside, coming back shortly with something in her hand. Trowa reached out and let her drop the item in his palm, looking closely at the elegant bracelet she had given him.

"What's this for? It's. . .beautiful." Trowa said, admiring the shimmering white and blue beads with charms in between them.

"She loved it so much I thought she'd give it a better home than I could."

"You. . .didn't have to. . ."

"Oh no, it's a gift! Unless. . .you'd rather me not give it to her. . ." Trowa looked up at the young woman and said, "You're. . .very kind. . ." Hope blushed and said, "Well, it's nothing really. . ." Trowa blinked and felt his stomach begin knotting up when his phone rang. It startled him and he looked at it as if it had bit him before answering it.

"Hello?" Trowa said, his voice almost cracking.

"Where are you? We've been looking everywhere for you, Relena's called a Council meeting and it's not optional. Whatever you're doing stop it and get over to the Sanc Capital, A.S.A.P." Duo commanded over the phone.

"Duo, I. . ." Trowa glanced at Hope who looked curious as to his mood change.

"You what? No buts, get over there!"

"But what about Precious, where is she?"

"Oh crud. . .uh, she's at home."

"You left her alone? Duo-" Trowa nearly lost his cool, not that he had much of it at the moment anyway.

"Hey, if I didn't have to run out and find you cause you're a wanted man and decided to 'get some air' just as the world was crumbling into another war then I might have remembered to get someone to stay with her or something!"

"What are you talking about? War? But how could-" He stopped as he felt Hope's eyes staring at him intently. He looked at her and saw the wonder in her eyes mixed with a bit of mild fear from his discussion with Duo. Trowa grit his teeth as he heard Duo say, "Could what? Trowa?"

"Yeah, I'll be there, bye." Trowa said before snapping the phone shut. He turned away and began to walk toward the elevator when Hope leapt after him, calling out, "Trowa, wait!"

"What?" Trowa didn't face her.

"I. . .just wanted to wish you luck." He turned back to look at her curiously, saying, "Why?"

"It's just what people do. . .you seem upset about something so I was wishing you luck. . ."

"Thanks. . .um, Hope. . ."

"Yes?"

"I'm. . .sorry. . ." Trowa muttered, quickly turning and running off down the hallway.

"Sorry for what? Trowa?" Hope called out after him but he disappeared into the elevator.

Sorry for never giving you a chance. . .even when you more than deserve it. . .

"Ah, Quatre's here. Now we only have Noin and Trowa to wait for. . ." Relena said, seeing her Arab friend walking in. She greeted him with a hug and he said, "Relena, how have you been? I only wish our meeting was on friendlier terms so we could enjoy this time together."

"I'm well, despite current events. How is your wife doing? She's coming along in her pregnancy quite well I hear."

"Yes, nearly her due date. . .the doctors say she should take it easy, seeing the genetic imperfections that run in my family. . .it worries me sometimes." Relena patted his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile.

"Where is that baka Barton, he started this whole ordeal and he doesn't have the guts to face the consequences!" Chang complained like usual, his arms folded and a stern glare on his face.

"Look, it wasn't him, alright? Just relax, he'll explain it to you." Rachel defended her friend. Chang merely grunted a response and turned away to stare at the door expectantly.

"Why did he run off? Doesn't he know what's going on?" Milliardo whispered to Rachel.

"I don't think he does. . .he knows about the robbery but not the brewing war." Rachel replied.

"Some parent he is. . ." Everyone looked to the door and saw Noin walk in with Precious in her arms sleeping on her shoulder.

"That. . .would be our fault. . ." Duo said, looking deeply concerned about the whole situation.

"No, it's mine. . ." Trowa walked in behind Noin, feeling heated eyes staring at him from everywhere in the room.

"Daddy?" Precious muttered, raising her head at the sound of Trowa's voice. She stretched her arms out to him and he took her, hugging her as she wrapped her little arms around his neck and cooed happily. A troubled expression on his face made everyone curious.

"Well, now that everyone's here, shall we begin?" Relena sighed.