Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the infamous "Buttbomb" created by my friend Chris Widener, thanks for your amusement at many a boring 4-H meeting!

Chapter 10

"Milliardo, your pants are calling you." Noin said sarcastically, pointing to his right pocket.

"Must be the boys, let's see what they've turned up." Milliardo said, reaching in his pocket and pulling out his cell.

"I need to check in on an old friend, later." Noin waved as she walked out the front door of their apartment. Waving, Milliardo answered the phone, "Milliardo."

Hey boss, we. . .sorta came up with something. Chris said on the other end.

"Sorta? Do I pay you to 'sorta' do work?" He said, getting ticked at his men.

Well, you see, Mike was searching online for some info on the attackers and. . .he got a virus.

"What? I thought he was the best at defending against that! I mean, he was a convicted hacker before he worked for me. . ."

Yes but he's never seen this before. It didn't do any damage but now whenever he does a certain search, he gets-

A buttbomb! It's horrible, some guy's butt with wings flies across the screen and farts away all of my work! Mike ripped the phone from Chris, losing his shades as Chris smacked him in the back of the head.

"A. . .what? What's a buttbomb?" Milliardo asked, sounding slightly disturbed.

Mike says it's something from back where he lived as a teenager, his brother made it up. Mike said as he put his shades back on and punched Chris.

"Which Mike?"

Widener, sir, his brother's name is Chris. Can't be all bad, he's got a great name. Chris said, grinning as he stole the cell phone back and ran from Mike.

"Does he know where his brother is?"

He said he went to college with their friend, Sara Sachs. Sound a bit suspicious?

"Just a bit. Has he had contact with him since then?"

Don't think so, no one calls Mike. . .sad really, I get calls from lady friends all the time. My my, they love me! Chris said, grinning as he blushed.

"Uh huh. . .well, look into that for me."

There's nothing wrong with never getting phone calls, sir, no need to dig into his private life!

"No, his brother and their friend!"

Oh! Right, of course, immediately as possible or. . .whatever, bye! I mean, over and out, heh. He hung up and Milliardo sighed, muttering to himself, "Idiots. . .I guess everyone has their immature moments. . .them more than others. Better fill in the others."

Stacy walked down the stairs, entering the lobby on her way to find Chang. As she passed the downstairs phone, it rang and she stared at it.

"No one around. . .oh well, I am a secretary after all." She picked it up and said cheerfully, "Sanc Capitol, how may I direct your call?"

This is Milliardo Peacecraft, I need to speak with either head of the house immediately. Milliardo responded in his strong, deep voice.

"Oh, of course! I'll retrieve one for you, Mr. Peacecraft. Please hold!" Stacy set down the receiver and dashed into the foyer, finding both Relena and Heero standing near Chang, quietly drinking tea.

"Mr. Peacecraft is on hold with immediate needs for either of your attentions, Mr. and Mrs. Peacecraft-Yuy." Stacy announced.

"You answered the phone?" Relena said, giving her drink to Heero as she followed Stacy into the lobby.

"She's a great secretary, what can I say." Chang commented with a grin. Relena picked up the phone, saying, "Milliardo, I take it you have some information to share?"

Yes, we know who's behind this all, or at least have an idea. Apparently this war's been planned at least a year or so, maybe more, judging by the information I received. We've identified two people responsible for the attacks, their names are Chris Widener and Sara Sachs.

"Chris and Sara. . .how old are they? Do you have any I.D. on them?"

No, their files don't even exist, or maybe they do but we can't access them. There's some kind of block keeping us from finding any more helpful info. Stacy fidgeted with an article in her hands, muttering, "E-excuse me, Ma'am?"

"Hmm? Yes, Stacy?" Relena put her hand over the mouthpiece, turning to the nervous girl. She handed her the photo and said, "Will. . .this help?" Taking it, Relena stared at the group photo of some young adults goofing off, saying, "What's this?"

"It's me with my friends. . .including my sister Sara and our friend, Chris."

"Stacy. . .you know them? Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because, when we arrived last night it was very late and everyone went to bed. Mr. Wufei was already so frustrated and worried about his wife. . .I didn't want to give him more to worry over." Stacy said, bowing her head. With a sigh, Relena turned back to her brother and said, "I have photo identification of the suspects, I'll fax them to you from my office, call me there." Hanging up the phone, she turned to Stacy and said, "I need you to tell me which ones they are and as much as you can about them." She nodded and Relena led her to her office.

"Are the prisoners comfortable?" Sara approached a man standing over a control panel, tending to things. He turned and said, looking up, "Who cares, we're gonna kill them anyway, right?" With a frown, Sara stared down the short technician, saying, "A dead hostage does nothing but take up space, you should know better, Mr. Hearn."

"Yeah, what's your point." He grumbled as he turned back to the panel, pressing a few buttons. Suddenly, the floor opened up before them, giving way to three cross-shaped platforms standing on end, bodies strapped down and wired to them.

"Wake the woman." Sara said, stepping up to look over the prisoners. To the right of the center structure, Hope lay plastered to the structure, unconscious. With a few button sequences, several tubes running into her body were flooded with a blue liquid shortly before she woke with a jolt.

"Trowa, he-help?" She began to cry out as the last thought on her mind came out. The view from her prison caught her by surprise as she tried to pull free but found it impossible to move at all, bringing a cry of discomfort and fear from her lips.

"Oops, guess I tied them too tight." He laughed, walking off to work on something else. Turning her attention to Hope, Sara said, "Hello there, we haven't met and we won't either. But I would like to know what your name might be, just so I can refer to you as something other than 'girl' or 'hey you'."

"W-why should I tell you anything? I don't know what you want with me but please, let the girl go, I'm sure you have her too." Hope responded, trying to sound strong while her heart was pounding in her ears.

"Why would we let her go, she's the one we wanted, you just add to the sweetness of our upcoming victory over those peace-loving politicians." Sara spat out.

They wanted her? But. . .why, I'm the one with an important and powerful father. I don't understand. . .what is there about Trowa? Could he be. . .a spy? Hope wondered, keeping a calm expression.

"How can you use a poor little girl as a pawn in your sick game, why can't you just take it out on who you're angry at and leave the innocent alone!"

"Heh, no one's innocent. . .not even your precious Relena." Sara grinned cruelly.

"Precious. . ." Hope muttered, looking around at her surroundings.

"She's close by, just out of sight. Now, are you going to be stubborn and not tell me your name or be good and talk?" Sara sounded like she was getting perturbed as she drummed her fingers on the console, staring impatiently at Hope.

"My father called me a stubborn person, but I think that's safer than anything else. Like they say, 'better to be thought a fool and remain silent, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

"Poetic. . .I suppose you won't be of any further use to us. . .perhaps Mrs. Wufei will be more responsive. Though, I've heard she's quite a wildcat, sounds like potential fun."

"Mrs. . . .Wufei? But, that's the Chinese prime minister's wife! And. . .friends with. . ."

"I see the big picture's coming together for you, too bad you won't have much time to think it over. Nighty niiight." Sara waved sarcastically with a fake smile as Mr. Hearn returned to put Hope back into a controlled coma.

"No, wa. . .it. . .P. . .Precious. . ." Hope's voice faded out as the liquids flowing into her veins changed and set her body into a deep sleep.

"Anyone else?" Mr. Hearn asked, looking bored.

"I'll wait to bother Mrs. Wufei, it's time for dinner." Sara smiled, walking off to an elevator behind them, stepping in and taking one last glance at the three crosses before the doors closed.

"How are you feeling, darling?" Quatre stepped into his guest room, finding his wife sitting at a desk writing. A soft smile crossed his face and he walked over to her. Resting his hands on the back of her seat, he leaned over and tenderly kissed her cheek. With a giggle, she said, "I'm fine, Quatre, no need to worry."

"I can't help it, I couldn't live with myself if something ever happened to you."

"I know. . ." She cradled his cheek in her hand and he sighed, gently setting his head on her shoulder as he whispered, "I doubted the thought of even bringing you along but. . .after what happened with Asuka. . ."

"I know, Quatre. . .believe me, I do. I worry about you every day when you're not in my sight. . ."

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine!" Quatre waved her off, rising and stepping over to the bed to sit. As he sat down, he felt something touch his knee and looked up into his wife's eyes as the sparkled. Resting a hand on his chest, she said softly, "Your heart keeps mine beating, even faster when you're in trouble. I can't stop it, neither can you, that's just how it is. You and I are one now, nothing can change that. . ."

"Sayla. . .I. . ." Quatre's eyes looked longingly into hers as she put her finger to his lips.

"Don't speak. . .just kiss me." She said with a smile. Leaning forward, he took her lips with his, holding her head between his hands as he let the depth of it sink in. Just as she reached for him, he pulled away, looking nervously at her full stomach.

"The baby. . .we can't. . ." Quatre whispered, looking frightened by future thoughts.

"Quatre, it'll be fine." Sayla insisted, inching toward him.

"No, I can't. . .it's too risky, Sayla!" Quickly, he snaked away from her and leapt for the door.

"Quatre?" Sayla turned, staring at him pleadingly.

"I'm sorry." He said, blinking back tears as he fled through the door, walking swiftly down the hallway.

Curses! I'm a grown man, why am I crying! Why do I always get so emotional about things! This is so embarrassing. . .I wish I was as strong as the other, at least they don't break down cause they're not getting any. I never get the chance to be strong, something always goes wrong or someone dies. . .my heart can't take this. . .Feeling his knees giving, he sat down on the bottom step of the stairs, hunching over and resting his head in his hands.

"Quatre?" Trowa walked up to him, still looking depressed.

"Trowa, how are you doing?" Quatre put on a smile as he raised his head, slightly surprised.

"As bad as you." He sat down next to Quatre, leaning on his knees as he stared at the floor.

"What do you mean?" Quatre asked innocently.

"I'm miserable, as are you. You can't tell me you're not when you're crying." Trowa touched the side of his hand to Quatre's wet cheek. Blushing indignantly, he turned his face away, fiercely wiping at the tears.

"Blast it all, I hate it!" Quatre growled, glaring at the banister.

"Hate what?" Trowa blinked, startled by the aggression his tender-hearted friend was displaying.

"My pathetic heart, my weak emotions. . .I'm always crying over every little thing instead of being strong like everyone else! I'm a grown man, for goodness sake!"

"Quatre. . .think about it, right now you'd be only 18. . .if you hadn't been forced to mature faster, you'd be barely an adult. And I doubt you'd be married. . .let alone have a kid on the way. Just remember that you're not alone, you have all of us to talk to and help you through this."

"I feel like you're the only one who can understand how I feel. . ."

"You have a wife, I can't even find a woman who understands me. . ."

"No offense, Trowa, but it might help if you actually let someone get close to you? They don't have built in psychic powers like you and I." Quatre said with a sarcastic expression.

"I don't mean to. . .I just never find a reason to trust them. . ." Trowa sighed.

"What about this Hope you've been seeing? From what I've heard she's a really nice girl."

"I'm not seeing her, she just. . .babysat for me. . ." Trowa looked away.

"Trowa, I don't want to pry into your private life, that's your own affair. But I would like to give you this piece of advice: If something is worth chasing after, go for it. Don't let past experiences scare you out of making a better future for yourself, grab hold or it may slip through your fingers, never to return again. Listen to me, I don't like seeing you so sad all the time, it makes me feel sad for you and I know you don't want that."

"So. . .you want me to get a girlfriend because it makes you feel bad?"

"No, that's not what I meant! Stop trying to find excuses to get out of a commitment, you're only hurting yourself in the process! You know you can't be a mother and a father to Precious, and you shouldn't make her live without a woman in her life."

"She's. . .not. . ." Trowa whispered. Blinking, Quatre stared at him for a minute, getting his attention as Trowa said in annoyance, "What?"

"You. . .still like Rachel, don't you?" Quatre said quietly. Trowa's eyes widened and he said defensively, "I do not! That wasn't my fault, it was her stupid powers that made me act that way!"

"Then. . .what is it?"

"I. . ." Trowa looked away, his face brightening with shades of red as he fumbled with the cuffs of his shirt.

"Trowa, you can talk to me, you know I wouldn't tell anyone about this. . .don't you?" Quatre leaned toward Trowa, resting his hand on his back in concern.

"Of course. . .you're the only person I trust. . ." Trowa whispered, staring at the floor sadly.

"Really? You don't even trust your daughter?" Quatre blinked.

"She's too young to know about my problems, and she shouldn't have to worry about me anyway. . ."

"True. . .Trowa, why don't you try talking to someone else sometime? And not Rachel or Catherine, I know you trust them most of all. Try branching out, making more friends."

"But I. . ." Trowa looked up.

"Don't be scared! We became friends, after all! And we didn't know each other very long before you started trusting me with your secrets and feelings."

"But that's different, you're. . .not a woman." Trowa fretted.

"I kind of noticed. I did look girly when I was younger, though." Quatre laughed. Trowa let out a soft chuckle, saying, "You were just. . .pretty, for a boy."

"Pretty? I had fair skin, soft blonde hair, big blue-green eyes, a gentle voice. . .wait, most of that's still true. . ." He said, musing about his appearance.

"Except the voice part. . .it's still gentle but not a boy's voice. . ." Trowa said, staring into Quatre's eyes. Blinking, Quatre blushed and looked away, pulling his knees up to his chest and hugging them.

"Sometimes. . .I feel like I'm still just a boy. . .or wish I was. . ." Quatre whispered, staring blankly at the front door. Trowa watched him for a minute before putting his arms around him and hugging him, resting his head on his shoulder.

"Quatre. . .you haven't changed much. . .don't be in a rush to. . ." Trowa said quietly, closing his eyes.

Trowa's. . .hugging me? This is new. . .Quatre thought, staring at the mass of brown hair laying on his arm as he said, "Uh. . .Trowa?" There came no response as he noticed a soft breathing sound coming from his friend. With a sigh, he thought to himself, Gah, he fell asleep! I guess my lectures are still good for something. . .