Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or the song "I don't want to wait" by: Paula Cole. I also don't own "Monty Python: The quest for the Holy Grail" or the quote from it, though it's a riot.

Chapter 7

♪She had two babies; one was six months one was three, in the war of '44. Every telephone ring, every heartbeat stinging, when she thought it was God calling her. Oh, would her son grow to know his father?♪

Where's that singing coming from?

♪He showed up all wet, on the rainy front step, wearing shrapnel in his skin. And the war he saw, lives inside him still, it's so hard to be gentle and warm. The years passed by and now, he has granddaughters.♪

It's close by. . .a man. . .but whom? I. . .I have to. . .see. . .Rachel slowly eased her eyelids open, her vision blurring the form before her.

"You're awake. . .good. . ." The man muttered to her, ceasing his singing. She heard him stand and walk toward her, his shoes clapping against hard wood floors. It smelled earthy, wherever she was, as her nose twitched, her body trying to use all the senses it could to find its bearings. Finally her sight faded into focus and she looked up into the same deep green eyes that she last remembered seeing.

"You. . ." She whispered faintly. He crouched beside her, staring at her as he said coldly, "You remember, I'm surprised. . ." She tried to sit up but he raised a gun into view, saying, "I'd stay right where you are. . ." Resting back, she murmured, "Who. . .who are you? What do you. . .want from me?"

"A lot of things. . .mostly. . .I want my life back." He said harshly.

"You. . .look alive to me. . ." She joked. The man growled and said, "You took from me every ounce of my humanity, made me a freak that no one can accept. I'd kill you right here and now but that won't solve my problems. . .I lost everything because of your kind and after you fix what you've caused, you'll wish you never showed your faces."

"What? I. . .I don't understand!" Rachel said, a little worried by the gun in her face. The man stood, roaming across the room as he said, "I was stationed at the Victoria Base when you used your cursed powers to destroy it. The shock wave sent a power surge through all the systems and I happened to have been working on one at the time of your attack. My whole body felt the full intensity of it and went out of control, teleporting me all over the world. Those side effects finally subsided but ever since then, I haven't been able to physically touch another human being without sending them into a coma. You caused me to suffer for three horrid years of my life and you are going to reverse it."

"I. . .I don't know if I can. . .I'm sorry. . ."

"Don't you dare give me that! You're going to fix this, even if it kills you! I lost everything in that war, EVERYTHING! My parents, my brother, my sisters! You monsters killed them all! My little sister was only 3 when she died, how can you live with yourselves knowing you did that!"

"We never harmed a single civilian, we took every precaution not to! I don't know what you're-" Rachel protested.

"Munich, Germany, do you recall that place? It was a struggling city, half its population brought down by the battles raging there. My sister. . .she struggled to keep my family alive because I was a fool and left them, my petty feud with my father drove me to leave them and now. . .now I can't do anything to reconcile for my decision because you killed them!"

"Your. . .sister? No. . .it. . .it can't be. . ." Rachel's eyes widened, feeling her heart begin to race.

"You remember now?"

"Her name. . .wasn't. . .Alyssa, was it?"

"Yes."

"Mrs. Wufei's secured, what next." A man walked into a dark room with a light in the center, slowly swaying back and forth from some unknown source of wind.

"Have you attempted a kidnapping on Mr. Winner's wife yet?" A woman's voice rung out in the dark.

"Not presently, our sources tell us that he has returned home already."

"That was fast. . .you're bleeding." The man looked down at his arm and said, "It's only a flesh wound."

"So said the man from 'The quest for the Holy Grail', but we all know what condition he was in. . ." a figure approached the light and revealed itself. The man joined her in the light and she touched his arm, causing him to flinch.

"It still hurts. . .fine, I'll get it worked on. You happy?" The man grumbled.

"Well, the last thing I need is my best man down for the count cause he wouldn't put aside his pride for a minute."

"I saw your sister." The woman looked up at him with a frown.

"What?"

"She was working for Chang, I left her with the note you sent with me." The woman turned away and said, "Did you hurt her?"

"No, she was fine last I saw her."

"Good. . ." The man approached her and said, "Sara, why didn't she join like you did?"

"I never told her about it, she just assumed I went away to college. She was too. . .'young'. . ."

"I see. . ." They stood in silence for a minute until Sara said, "Chris?"

"Yes?"

"The man I posed as, Trowa. . .he has a daughter, does he not?"

"Yes. . ."

"I want you to find her and bring her here, but beware of her father, he's a force to be reckoned with."

"I understand." Chris turned and walked out of the room, leaving Sara to slowly disappear back into the darkness, saying, "We'll make you surrender to our power, one way. . .or another. . ."

"We're home!" Trowa called out as he walked into the apartment with Precious bounding in behind him. He looked around curiously and said, "Hold on for a second, Precious." She paused on the stairs and blinked, saying, "Okay. . ." Taking a gander around the downstairs, he returned to Precious and pulled out his cellphone, dialing a number quickly.

"Duo, where are you?" Trowa said, his eyes still roaming around the room.

I'm over at the Sanc Capital, where are you? Duo responded.

"At home. . .no one was here and I got a little. . .uneasy."

I don't blame you, I'm still worried about Rachel.

"Why?"

She disappeared this morning while I was getting ready for work, I thought she just left but her car was downstairs and she didn't leave any notes so. . .

"She's been kidnapped?"

I guess so. . .

"You don't sound very concerned. . ."

I'm trying to stay calm, I just had to deal with a bomb over here.

"Really. . .should I join you or carry on like nothing's going on?"

Carry on, no need for you to get involved right now, take care of Precious. Hey, I gotta go, bye. Duo clicked off and Trowa grunted, putting his phone away as he muttered, "Bye. . ."

"Daddy, what's wrong?" Precious looked up into her father's concerned eyes.

Why do I feel so. . .unimportant. . .it seems everyday I grow more and more useless as a tied down, single father. . .but I should be happy. . .shouldn't I? Trowa thought to himself, sighing and walking lazily into the living room.

"Get your homework and do it down here, Precious. . ." Trowa muttered.

"Okay." Precious dug into her bag and pranced out to the living room, plopping down next to her father on the couch and opening her books to begin. Trowa leaned back against the couch, slouching as he stared sadly at the ceiling, his eyes showing the emptiness he felt in his heart.

"Daddy? Why are you sad?" Precious surprised her father and he looked down at her.

"I'm not sad. . ." He said, not really meaning it entirely.

"Then why do you look like it?"

"Just. . .thinking. . ."

"About what?"

More like "who". . .why can't I stop thinking about her? Trowa groaned and closed his eyes, giving Precious the hint to drop the subject and get back to work.

"Mr. Wufei, sir. . .where are you going now?" Stacy followed her boss around the building as he gathered various things and packed a suitcase.

"I'm staying at the Sanc Capital for the meantime until I find out what's happening and get my wife back, you stay behind and cancel all my appointments until further notice." Chang said, his back to his secretary as he grabbed some unmentionables from the dresser drawer.

"Sir, should I really stay behind? I mean, what if they come back and-"

"Don't be such a coward, Stacy!" Chang exclaimed. The young woman jumped and stared at him fearfully. Chang looked in her eyes for a moment before sighing and saying, "Why don't you want to stay behind. . ."

"Because, Chris might come back and-"

"Wait, Chris? You know who did this?" Chang rushed her and grabbed her arms. She yelped and said, "Yes, yes! He's a friend of my sister's! At least. . .I think it was him. . .I haven't seen him since he went to college with my sister. . ."

"College. . .right. . .you're coming with me now, you're going to tell us exactly what this guy looks like, and your sister. Do you have any pictures?"

"On my desk. . ."

"Then get them and get ready to leave! Move!" Chang shouted and Stacy took off out of the room. Running into her office, she found every content of the room strewn across the floor. She sighed and began digging through it the find her pictures, hoping they hadn't been taken so as to keep their identities a secret. As she walked toward her desk to search more, she heard a crunch under her feet and crouched down, lifting papers to reveal her group photo of friends from back home. Pausing a moment to remember days past, she thought to herself, It couldn't have been them, why would they do this? But if it wasn't. . .why let me of all people to live? Why is this happening. . .Stacy wiped a tear off her cheek and stood, walking back out of the disastrous office to hand over the photograph.

"Chang's on his way with a friend, can you prepare two rooms for them, Pagan?" Relena spoke to her butler who bowed and said, "Of course, ma'am." He walked off to begin dressing the spare rooms while Relena strolled down the hallway to her office, hearing talking inside.

"Put a scratch and sniff on the bottom of the pool!" Duo said and began laughing, joined by Chris who was still there. Relena cocked an eyebrow as she said, "Why do I always seem to come in right at the end of all your jokes?"

"Good timing, I guess. What's up?" Duo turned his attention to Relena.

"Chang and his secretary are coming to stay here for a while, at least until this is all figured out. . ."

"Might as well put their names on the mailbox. . ."

"Duo, a little more optimism?"

"So there's a change of address?" Chris seemed interested since it involved his work.

"No. . .where's Heero hiding." Relena sighed.

"Upstairs I think. . .he was getting tired of our jokes. . ." Duo grinned. Relena turned, refusing the urge to roll her eyes as she tried to maintain her poise. Making her way up the long staircase, she walked over to their bedroom door that stood slightly ajar. Pushing, she stepped in and looked around, spotting her husband sitting on the window seat overlooking the garden behind the capitol building.

"Heero?" Relena walked across the room, her eyes transfixed on him as he turned his head to watch her approach.

"I needed a break, too much of Duo isn't a good thing I think. . .I don't know how Rachel and Trowa can live with him. . ." Heero said quietly, looking back out at the beautiful view. Relena sat next to him, looking out as well as she said, "An acquired taste. . .some people couldn't live with you. . ."

"What do I do that's so annoying?" Heero asked curiously.

"You're quite honest with people. . .and you're quiet, too quiet. . .like you're always being studious and critical of everything."

"But I'm not. . .always. . ." Heero admitted, staring at his lap. Relena gently clasped his hand and smiled, bringing his attention to her dancing eyes.

"I know. . .but that's just something I love about you. . .that and you're a great kisser." Relena grinned. Heero would have blushed, if he was that open with his feelings. He smiled softly, saying, "Really. . ."

"Mmm. . .and lover. . ." She crawled over to him, giving him a deep, sensual kiss on the lips, her hand inching down his chest as he moaned. His arms quickly wrapped around her, his fingers working at the hem of her blouse, pulling it slowly out of the waistband of her skirt.

"Geez, get a room. . ." Relena leapt back, quickly fixing her top as she said in a flustered voice, "Duo!"

"What does this look like, baka? Don't you know how to knock?" Heero growled at him, feeling rather frustrated in more than one way.

"Heh, sorry. . .hey, uh, Quatre's here. . ." Duo said, looking away as he blushed in embarrassment.

"Quatre? He never said he was coming. . ." Relena stumbled off the window seat, stuffing her blouse back down into her skirt as she ran to the door. Heero looked longingly after her and sighed, glaring at Duo and muttering after she disappeared downstairs, "I'm going to kill you, Duo. . ."

"Yeah yeah, you're always saying that. . ."

"Well, take a hint!" Heero looked close to using his powers to make a meatloaf out of Duo, but his prey quickly turned and ran down the stairs before he could take action.

"Quatre, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Relena said, greeting her friend at the door.

"I heard Chang was coming to stay here so. . .I hope it's not an inconvenience but I really didn't want anything happening while Sayla's so close to her due date." Quatre said, his voice filled with worry.

"I understand completely, come in. . ." Relena ushered in her guests and gave Sayla a gentle hug as Quatre sat the baggage down in the lobby.

"Relena, I haven't seen you since last year, how have you been?" Sayla said kindly, waddling into the room while Relena closed the door.

"Fairly well, thank you. Come, I'm sure you're tired from the journey, shall we have some tea?" Relena escorted her guests into the parlor room.

"Tea would be wonderful, thank you." Quatre said with a smile, keeping a close eye on his wife as she tottered along.

"I really should be going, I have tons of packages still in need of delivering. It was great catching up with you, Duo!" Chris called out as he walked toward the door, almost tripping over the baggage that Pagan was picking up to take off to a guest room.

"You too, Chris! Watch out for those wild dogs and water hoses!" Duo shouted as he waved to the departing man. Chris went out the door and Duo walked into the parlor to catch up to the new group.

"Duo, I see you're already here." Quatre said, standing to shake hands with his friend. Duo pulled him into a bear hug and nearly crushed him as he said, "Hey, this is great! Just like old times, staying together in one place!"

"Ergh, yeah. . ." Quatre muttered, finally being released for a gasp of air and pat on the back.

"I don't recall having a wife last time. . ." Heero said as he walked into the room, going to Relena's side and taking her hand.

"I guess I'm the only one that hasn't really changed. . ." Duo said, laughing.

"Yeah, and still a virgin. . ." Heero grinned cruelly. Duo frowned and muttered, "Excuse me, I have some decency left. . .at least I don't maul my loved one in front of the window with the door open." Heero frowned at him and Quatre cleared his throat, saying, "Well then, how about that tea?"

"Oh yes, I'll ask Pagan to serve it. If you'll excuse me. . ." Quatre nodded to Relena as she scuttled out of the room, going off to find her housekeeper. The remainder of the group sat down on the couches and relaxed quietly, not speaking as they looked everywhere but at each other. Finally, Sayla turned to Duo and said, "Duo, where's Rachel?"

"I don't know, she disappeared this morning. . ." Duo said quietly. Heero glanced at him and noticed the concern hiding behind his bangs.

"Oh, how dreadful, she's been kidnapped too?" Sayla looked worried. Quatre took her hand and patted it gently, saying, "Now you remember what the doctors said, don't get yourself worked up."

"I'm sorry, darling. . ." Sayla began to wind down as she touched a hand to her chest as if to hold down her heart.

"I don't think she was kidnapped, she would have warned me or something. She's not that easy to capture. . ." Duo said, trying to sound positive. Quatre nodded, not quite believing his façade of confidence.

At least. . .I hope she's not. . .Duo thought, looking out through the open doors longing for Relena come back with some tea to consume everyone's time.