Chapter Twelve

Heart Attack!

"Kieko!!"

It was the first smile that had passed her lips in several days. Seeing Deirdre there, cheerful, smiling, with open arms was the most wonderful feeling. Yet she still sprinted to her and started weeping on her shoulder. And here, she'd always thought herself so composed and reserved.

"I'm so sorry Kieko. Tai told me that you and Huy had had a horrible fight. But it will be okay." Deirdre hugging her tightly and spoke in a soft voice. She was such a nice girl. "Now come on. Let's go to my place and we'll find you spot to put your stuff, and then we can talk."

Kieko leaned out of Deirdre's arms and nodded, wiping her tears away. Then she noticed the little sullen faced, Asian girl glaring from behind Deirdre.

"This is my roommate Kiki," she told her cheerfully. Had Kieko the energy and emotion to spare, she would have gawked. Cheerful, happy Deirdre roomed with this malnourished, difficult girl? She had and expression which seemed to say, I dare you to come any closer. It seemed Deirdre had a talent for befriending the difficult–Tai, Kiki.

"Did you check anything through?" Deirdre was asking.

"Huh? Oh–no. Just this, I mean, this is all I brought." She raised her arm, which was weighted down by her purple, blue, and green tie-dyed duffel bag.

"Then let's go! I'm sorry but we don't have a car right now so we have to use the bus. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all. I'm just glad that I can stay with you."

They left through the automatic double doors and followed a stream of people to a crosswalk. Not too much later, the bus stopped, they paid for their tokens, and hopped on, Deirdre in the lead claiming the back bench so that all three could sit together. Kiki was scowling silently out the window and Deirdre chatted happily. Keiko felt a smile tug at her lips. Deirdre had not been near this chatty during fall break. She must be trying to fill up the silence and make Kieko feel comfortable, which she appreciated. But it was funny. She typically was a quiet, reserved girl and this felt greatly out of character.

The bus finally reached their stop and paused on the South side of a college campus. The three girls and several other people piled off. "We live just a block or two this way," Deirdre told her gesticulating vaguely and they took off. It had stopped snowing and was very cold, but with her pack and moving quickly, and the numbness inside of her, Kieko did not mind.

It was a light gray apartment building with wooden stairs along the side, very simple and conservative, but Kieko felt as if it was the most beautiful building in the world. And the little three-bedroom apartment was cheery and warm. A Picaso-ish gingerbread house sat boldly in the middle of the kitchen table, sugar cones sprouting from it's roof like Viking horns, a little tree filled one corner of the living room. It was very neat and clean.

"Where"

Deirdre grabbed her bag from her and directed her to one of the bedrooms. It was a very colorful room filled with posters of various basketball players and wire-flower arrangements. A stained-glass mobile dangled from the light fixture scattering blue, magenta, and green shadows.

"This is Ianthe and Amada's room. I called Amada and she said she didn't mind you using her bed unless you have head-lice, which I informed her you didn't."

Kieko gave her a weak smile.

"Would you like to rest a little? Shall I go?"

A lump stopped her cry but Kieko turned to her furiously. "I-I."

Deirdre smiled at her again. And wrapped her in a hug. "Let's sit down and you can tell me about it, that is if you want too"

Kieko's head was buried in her shoulder. It was odd. This girl was her age but acted more as a mother than her own ever had. She was secure and comforting. A good friend. Was this why Tai liked her so much, why he protected her despite everything else, even his own brother's anger? How could she tell Deirdre the truth? Shouldn't she be angry with her for causing it? Yet to fault her for her loss seemed impossible.

But she remembered Tai's face when Deirdre had been there. She would never take that away. Even if the dope didn't realize he was in love, she knew he was.

"We had a fighthe's been in a horrible mood and was taking it out on me, and I snapped."

Kiki felt a little uncomfortable standing in the doorway watching Deirdre and Kieko, a girl she'd just met. So she turned back and sat in the living room, the Christmas tree lights twinkling at her. This was one screwed up Christmas. Stupid holidays.

She flipped the TV remote over in her hand a couple of times before switching the power button. But nothing good was on.

The phone rung again and Kiki groaned. It would be for Deirdre again. Ug.

"Hello," she answered gruffly.

"Is Kiki there?" her mother's voice asked from very far away.

"Mom?" She hadn't heard her mother's voice in several years.

"How are you? I got your package."

Kiki heard herself gasp. Every year she sent a Christmas present to her mother. On her birthday and Mother's Day she sent a card. She knew it was silly and pointless because her mother would never answer. She never tried a phone call, her mother would not have spoken. It would have been silent breathing one both sides. She was too washed-out, too tired, she lived in a haze and rarely left it long enough to do anything outside of her routine, get up, go to work at a local café, come home, and watch the soaps. This year she had sent a CD of Filipino music and a colorful scarf, the kind her mother had worn when Kiki was little and happy.

"Do you like it?" It was all she could say. Her brain had turned off.

"Very much. Thank you. I just wanted to hear your voice. Iyour father called. He wanted to know about you."

"WHAT!" She woke up at that. After the divorce her father had disappeared. No check. No visit. Now he was up and calling her mother, asking after her. He didn't have the right. "Did you tell that jerk were to stick it?"

"No"

So mother was still her usual self. If it had been Kiki she would have given him an earful, probably put a sailor to shame. That man who dared call himself her father had ruined her life, and her mother's life.

"I would've. Give him my number. I need someone to scream at right now!"

"So you aren't happy?" Something in the way her mother asked that awoke inside Kiki a feeling she hadn't felt in a very long time. It was a kind of simple, pure love and sadness. Despite everything, she loved her mother dearly, and the sadness in her voice, her mother worrying that she might not be happy, made her feel things she had forgotten existed.

"I." What could she say? Was she ever happy? She was happier but would probably never be happy. "I'm doing well. I'm getting good grades and I have a very nice roommate."

"Why aren't you happy then?" Her mother was so simple, like a child. Why wasn't she happy? What was she missing?

"I don't know. But it doesn't matter. How are you, Mom? Are you okay?"

"I'm the same as always. I was wondering if maybe you'd come visit me some time. Maybe we could talk, catch up. I'd like to see youespecially before your father takes you away."

"THAT MAN WILL NEVER TAKE ME FROM YOU, MOM!!! NEVER!! I'LL NEVER CALL HIM FATHER AGAIN!" She wasn't yelling, but she was very forceful and expressive. "I'll come and see you mom. When would you like me to come?"

"SoonI'd like to see you soon."

"Well, I don't think I can get a shuttle now. Everyone's flying at Christmas. A friend just flew in and she had a lot of trouble changing her flight. But I'll have a spring break or maybe some three-day weekend? I could just skip some school if that's not soon enough."

"Oh no. Don't miss school. Nothing's more important than you getting through school. How about spring break? That should be soon enough."

"Mother, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine."

"No! Mom, what's wrong? Are you safe? Is that jerk hurting you?"

"No"

"Mom?"

"Kiki, darlingI've got cancer. They say that it's a curable type. I should live through it. The doctor's aren't very worried, but I still want to see you. Please."

"I'll make reservations today, Mom. I'll be there."

"Okay." There was a noise in the background. "I've got to go sweetheart. But I'll call you back, okay?"

"Okay"

"I love you."

"Love you too." And the phone clicked off. It wasn't until Kiki hung up the phone that realized she was crying.

She'd always planned on taking her mother home to the Philippines, but she didn't have the money too. Maybe she could take out a loanShe had to go home. Cancer? But she did say it wasn't serious. Still, her mother would not last forever. She had to get through school more quickly. She'd always planned on going to graduate school, but maybe she could get a job first, earn the money for the trip, then go to grad school–true they would pay her to go to grad school, but not enough. She had to figure something out. Maybe she could take more classes in the summer and graduate by next Christmas. Find a job in the first of the year.

Kiki curled up in a ball on the couch and wished that Deirdre and Kieko would come out of that bedroom. She didn't want to be alone right now.

"You aren't going to disappear on us again, are you?" Sally asked him.

"I don't think you'd let me if I wanted too. Have a good Christmas," Heero said with a little wave. He felt pretty silly standing in the foyer of Quatre's house, saying goodbye to everyone. Trowa was going back home for Christmas too, they were leaving on the same flight, then splitting for the second leg. But everyone else would be staying with Quatre.

"And say hi' Cathy for us, Trowa," Noin told the stoic young man.

"Yah."

"Let's go now," Hilde told them. And Hilde, Duo, Heero, and Trowa piled into one of Quatre's cars. They decided it wouldn't be wise to have someone well known show up at the shuttleport and Hilde and Duo were the least likely to be recognized.

With one last wave, they took off. "Well, that went pretty good, didn't it, Heero? Or Tai? I still never know which I should call you."

"You probably should stick to Tai."

"But no one else does!" Duo did a very good impression of a five-year-old with his lower lip protruding.

Heero shrugged. "I figure you all will call me whatever you want too. I'm not worrying about it."

"What will you do about Miss Relena?" Trowa asked quietly.

There was an awkward silence, but then Heero answered. "I'll tell her the truth."

"She was very upset when you died.' Do you think it's wise? Are you just going to show up and tell her the truth?"

"I thought I'd arrange a meeting with her" Heero said evasively. He looked down at his hands. It was still incredible to him that they all cared so much. Apparently risking your lives together makes you better friends than he'd thought.

They parked and checked in, and Heero and Trowa turned to the massive lines of people. Christmas was a hectic time.

"You're going to be there when Hilde has the baby, right? You're going to be the godfather after all!"

"I'll be there Duo. Don't worry."

"Okay, man." Duo gruffly wrapped Heero in a one-armed hug. Hilde smiled behind her husband and hugged Heero, then turned to Trowa.

"Have a good flight you two!"

Just before they were out of sight, Heero turned to look back. Duo and Hilde were walking hand in hand back the way they'd came. He noticed Trowa had turned to watch them too.

"I'm glad that Duo's found happiness despite everything," Trowa commented.

"Yahbut isn't that what we all need to do?"

"That's much easier said than done."

Heero nodded. "Life actually seems more complicated now than before."

Trowa grinned and looked over at Heero from the corner of his eye. "Isn't it?"

Trowa was a very silent traveling partner, and they parted with simple 'See you later's. His family was much more enthusiastic.

"Oh, TAI! WE missed you so much!!" Ai yelled as she squished him into a hug.

Toshi was rolling his eyes as he held Yachi by twisting her arms back behind her. Gina had her usual haughty expression as she held her husband's hand, but looked very different. It wasn't until they started walking to the car that Tai realized it was because he was massively pregnant.

"You having quints, Gina?" he joked. The bonked him on the head with her very heavy purse. Tai strongly suspected that she was concealing some last minute Christmas shopping. "Where's Dad and Huy?" he asked as they squished into the car. "And your brood, Toshi?"

"Dad took Huy to his office to show him something. Hanako said she needed to do some things, and she took the kids." Toshi shrugged, obviously unconcerned.

The house was a mass of clothes, toys, and various Christmas decorations. In the kitchen, the sink was piled high with dishes and various cooking projects were sprawled all over the place, half-finished. But for once, Ai didn't seem to care.

She had forced a sandwich, leftover casserole, and two cinnamon rolls down him before he got away clutching a cup of hot chocolate. He flopped into his room to breathe. Not everyone was even home yet, but he still felt a little stifled.

There was a knock on the door and he made for the air vent. It was probably Yachi preparing to tackle him with one of her new projects again. Last time she'd forced him to help her sew up a Barbie dress. But he stopped when he heard Toshi laughing behind him.

Tai paused mid un-screwing of the air vent to grin at his brother. Then slid down to the floor. "I always wondered how you hid so well from her when no one else could." He was grinning hugely. Tai shrugged and they plopped down together.

"It's crazy out there"

"Just wait till Hanako comes back with the kids. Then you will get to see what I live with every day!"

"Yah, but you go to work every day. Hanako stays home."


"Yahwork is my BREAK now." But Toshi was still grinning.

"I thought Hanako was going to go back to work again after your second," Tai was asking him as he rolled over to sip his hot-chocolate right-side up. He didn't want it to go up his nose.

"Well, she was going to and did for about a week. Then one day I came home and found her sleeping on the floor in the nursery crying in her sleep about not leaving her babies. So the next morning I hid her car keys so she couldn't go to work," Toshi admitted maliciously. "I'm not having my wife go crazy on me. It's bit tight money-wise now, but it's worth it. We can make sacrifices. Besides, I'm in for a promotion soon, and a 15% pay raise. We've been doing really well."

Tai nodded. It was nice to be around normal people with normal problems for once. Then he thought of Huy and Kieko again. "How's Huy been doing?"

Toshi leaned forward to rest his elbows on the carpet, face in hands. "Yah, I was going to ask you about him. He's been acting really weird. He's still all goofy and stuff, but any time he's not playing with one of the kids or Yachi, or making fun of Gina he gets this weird look in his face. What's going on?"

"It's pretty complicated." Tai wasn't sure if he was up to explaining everything. "Basically we've had a little problem and he's been taking it out on Kieko, and she's had enough of it now."

"Uh-oh."

"It was pretty ugly. Kieko's really, really upset about it and I'm not even sure if she wants to get back with him or not."

Toshi whistled. "I didn't think it was that bad. But you say it's because you two are fighting? What about?"

"I met up with an old friend, and I won't tell him about her."

"Her?"

"Yes, her."

Toshi looked thoughtful. "You mean you didn't tell him about her and he discovered you have a girlfriend?"

"No. I met up with her but I won't tell him how we met or how we got to be friends."

"Why on earth not? That seems pretty silly."

"Well.Deirdre's notDeirdre's involved in something right now and I can't tell anyone about her. The more people who know, the more dangerous it will be for her. I just don't want to see her get hurt. So I won't tell anyone anything about her. He's met her, she stayed with Kieko for a week and we visited during fall break. It's not like she's a mystery, I think it's just because I'm not telling him about stuff during the war. You know how touchy he is about that. He likes people to air all their deepest, darkest secrets."

Toshi nodded sagely. "I know what you mean. But the war isn't something you justtalk about. It just something you understand and live with." He shook his head. "Well, hopefully he'll get his head on straight. It sounds like Kieko is a really great girl. I don't think he should ruin it with this immature crap."

"I fully intend to kick him firmly in the pants when he comes home."

"I'll referee," Toshi grinned.

Suddenly the door flew open and a small person launched herself at Toshi, knocking him over. He raised his daughter above his head and tickled her while a crinkling mound of clothes rolled over his father.

He could spot trouble from a mile away. Not that it was very difficult to do in this case, but that didn't change the fact that he could see it. Thus he could escape.

A pillow soared through the air and landed squarely over Hilde's food at she sat innocently in the kitchen. She looked up, glared at her husband, and took off after him.

Zechs got up quickly and relocated into the living room. It would be safer the further away from Duo he got. Duo was naturally very mischievous, but he had been getting restless and that only intensified the situation.

He pulled out his laptop and began to answer the many emails, which had built up on his hard-drive over the past day.

It was a peaceful little room, but Zechs realized quickly that that wasn't why he felt so content. It was Christmas and he had Noin to celebrate it with. Relena was safe and happy and, for a few days at least, he could pretend to be carefree and that all was right in the world. But he didn't fool himself so thoroughly that he forgot everything.

Mostly several of his fears had been put to rest. His fears about Heero. Lady Une had been correct in her assumptions. Zechs could accept Heero's excuse and could understand his desire to protect the family he'd just gained. After all, it's exactly how he felt about Relena. He would sacrifice all else to protect herexcept perhaps Noin, but that was not a fair comparison.

But he was not allowed to enjoy the peace for much longer. Dorothy swaggered in and seated herself across from him.

"Hello Dorothy. How are you?"

She sat down across from him in a recliner. "What kind of position would you give me?" she asked bluntly.

"Well, we could use someone in intelligence. Or perhaps you could work with Lady Une as a public representative. She's been looking for a skilled person to work with. We are always looking for new instructors for the new recruits. We'd just have to pull out a few lists and look at your skills and options."

Dorothy just continued to look at him.

"What interests you the most? We could train you for something else too. Just tell me what you would like." Zechs wished she'd blink. It was starting to unnerve him.

"Lady Une, you say," she finally spoke. She crossed and uncrossed her legs, and leaned back looking much like a contented cat. "I think I would like public relations. Working with her would besatisfactory."

Zechs nodded in his usual curt manner. "I'll speak with her about it. I'm sure she'll be delighted to have you." He naturally thought of their common interest in Treize. It was actually a bit uncanny how Dorothy resembled the deceased man at times.

But they were cut off from any more conversation by Duo tearing through the room, Wufei hot on his heals, and Hilde limping behind them both, clutching at her stomach.

Huy yawned lazily in his father's reclining chair. The dim light was putting him to sleep. But considering the amount of sleep he'd had in the past few days, it was not surprising.

"Don't worry, kid-o. I'll be finished soon," his father told him from behind, observing his yawning.

"EhI don't care. It's nice and peaceful here anyway."

"Well, Christmas isn't exactly the time for privacy. And it'll only get worse. But family is nice too. We are all excited to meet your Kieko."

Huy blinked from the chair, his back to his father. His heart froze. "She won't be coming, after all," he said slowly. "Something came up."

There was quiet behind him, then his father spoke softly. "What happened?"

"I told you, something came up" Huy was getting irritated, but he couldn't quite figure out why. His father wasn't doing anything offensive, just asking innocent, very reasonable questions.

"Is the wedding still on?"

Drat him, Huy thought angrily. Had he been that obvious that something was wrong? He'd been so sure his acting was excellent. He fiddled with the keyboard of his father's computer at the desk for a moment.

"Huy?" He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Huy? What's going on? Are you okay?"

Huy glared at the blank screen. Fumes filled him. "Just leave me alone," he said so low that it was nearly a growl. Then he jumped up and walked purposefully out.

The long dark halls seemed to be exactly what he was looking for. One foot in front of the other, his steps sounded with a metallic hollow clang. It was cold in the abandoned building, and Huy didn't really care. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked faster and faster along the straight corridors. Every now and then he turned a corner and found himself enveloped in more blank hallways. But at least he was moving, getting somewhere.

Why did he even have to be here. These hallways were nice. Maybe he should get a sleeping bag and stay down here, and pace endlesslyhe wouldn't have to talk to anyone ever again.

And then the hall ended. Huy blinked at it and stared at the white, sterile double doors. Then he pushed them open. The room was perfectly circular with large machinery filling it entirely, and he recognized nothing.

He walked the perimeter of the room gazing in amazement at the huge mechanical wonders. What were they building?

A light flicked on and Huy jumped. "So you found your way down here?" he heard his father ask.

Huy sighed heavily. He didn't want to see anyone at all. It was so nice being alone in the halls, he could just walk and walk.

He had a tray of sample test tubes in one arm, which he sat precariously down on a desk. A touch-screen computer blipped to life as he punched in some instructions. "Some plants have amazing self-healing properties. For instance, you can take a jade leaf and make it grow into a new plant, or just simply having a rose root will produce a bush. So we thought maybe we could use the properties to heal humans."

"Tai's the one who'd be interested in this, not me."

"I just thought maybe you'd like to know what these machines are for. You looked interested."

Huy shrugged and watched as a long robotic arm sprang to life and picked up one of the samples his father had set down. It clinked its pincher fingers around the little tube and carried it across to the other side of the room, setting it into a large cylindrical machine. "I don't care."

"Then I guess I was wrong. Let's go home now." Huy felt helpless and he just slugged out after his father.

In the car, he leaned his face against the cool glass. He was empty. If he could just lay around in bed, maybe he'd dissolve eventually.

Ryuzou wasn't speaking. Huy wished he would, or turn on the radio, anything to fill the silence. He wanted to be alone, but it was awkward to be with a person, and yet not at all.

As soon as they parked the car, Huy leapt out and sprinted up to his room. If he could get up there and stay there before anyone spoke to him, he'd be all right.

He slammed his bedroom door shut and sighed against it, sliding down, slumped at the bottom.

"Hard day?"

Huy groaned. "Can't I EVER be alone!!"

"You are a twin, one of five children with in-laws, and an uncle to boot. I don't think so." Tai said sagely.

Huy jumped up and clambered up to his bed. "Well, will you please leave me alone now?" He furiously turned to the wall and purposefully ignored his brother moving around below him.

Suddenly he landed on the carpeted floor with a loud thump and it was a few seconds before he realized that Tai was glowering down at him, and he realized what had happened. Huy sat up and massaged his ankle.

"What was that for?" he whined.

Tai grabbed him by his shirt collar and held him so that his feet dangled in the air. "Take a wild guess," and slammed him down on his knee.

Huy fell to the ground again, grasping at his chest and struggling for breath. "What theTai, are you CRAZY?"

"No. I'm just snapping you out of your stupid mood. Toshi told me how you've been acting and I thought I would just help you a bit. And issue a warning."

Huy shakily pushed himself up on one hand and looked up at his brother through shaggy bangs. "Warning? For what?"

"Kieko."

Huy groaned again and felt a fist slam into his face. He bowled over backward and lay on his back, staring at the white ceiling, patterned with vague sunburst shapes.

"You're responsible for that groan." The Tai squatted down to peer into his brother's face. "Do you love her?"

What?"

"Do you love Kieko?"

"Leave me alone, she's not even any of your business." Huy swore loudly as he tried to get up, and Tai pounced on him again. But Huy was awake now. He caught his feet between them and pushed Tai off forcefully. But Tai was on him again. Huy swung around and landed a punch, but Tai had tightened his stomach muscles and it bounced off, and he counterattacked with tight headlock, Huy facing sideways, clamped under Tai's arm, his own arms pulled severely back behind him by Tai's other arm.

"Did you ever love Kieko?"

"This is none of your business!"

"Yes it is! She was my friend long before you two ever met. She's my responsibility as well as yours, and I'm treating you just like I would any other abusive boy. Now answer me, did you ever love her!"

"Since when," Huy panted struggling against his brother's arm, "did you become her surrogate brother! Leggo!!!"

"I've been doing it since she needed it two years ago when I found her crying in the rain after running away from her latest abusive relationship!"

"What the heck are you on about! She's never told me anything about that!"

"No, she wouldn't because it's not something you just blab about to anyone. But I will tell you. She's been hit, beaten, screamed at, and overall just been treated like dirt by every man she's ever met. And then she met you and thought you were different. And you were, until you stooped to that level with immature name-calling and temper-tantrum. Now answer me! Did you ever love her?"

Huy tried to pull his arms forward but was rewarded by Tai slamming his face into the bedpost. "Yes!! Of coarse I did! Do you think I was faking such a thing!"

"They why did you treat her like that? What changed? Why did you do that?" Tai growled.

"Because I lost my temper! I still love her but I just lost it! I've been annoyed and irritable and I just lost it!"

"Were you annoyed with her? Is that why?"

"NO I WASN'T!" Huy was yelling now, trying to keep back from screaming out in pain. "I WAS MAD ABOUT DEIRDRE AND I TOOK IT OUT ON HER!"

"Why? Why take it out on the person you care most about?"

"I DON'T KNOW! I JUST DON'T KNOW!! BECAUSE I'M STUPID AND IMMATURE! I DON'T KNOW!"

"So it's you're fault! This mess is your fault, right?"

"YES, YES YES!! IT'S MY FAULT! IT'S ALL MY FAULT!" Huy could feel himself crying now. But that just made him even angrier. He was being beaten to a pulp by his brother, forced to think about Kieko, and being forced to admit aloud his own faults. "IT'S MY FAULT! SO JUST LET GO!"

"What are you going to do about it, huh? Kieko's been mistreated so much before. I don't know that she'll want you back now that you've betrayed her, and if you've done it once, how can she be sure you won't do it again? Think about it. What are you going to do?"

"II DON'T KNOW!!" Huy screamed, tears streaming down his face. "I don't know." He felt his arms and head being released and he slumped to the ground, sobbing. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Tai. I've lost her, I know itI just don't know what I'm gonna do without her."

Suddenly the bedroom door flew open and Toshi and Gina stood in the doorway with Ai screaming behind them, "What's happened! Are they okay!" But they took in Huy sobbing on the ground next to Tai looking stern and quickly shut the door again.

Hesitantly Tai put his hand on his brother's back and patted it timidly. He was never sure of what to do when someone was crying. He was getting better at this whole comforting' thing, but it was still awkward for him.

Huy flung himself at Tai, crying on his knees, arms around his waist. "What do I do, Tai? I can't live without her! Can I get her back?"

Tai let him cry a little longer then began to talk slowly. "I'm no expert Huy, but it seems like the best thing is to just talk with her. Tell her it's your fault and why it's your fault. Tell her you won't do it again, but not only that, you have to prove that you truly won't do it again. She's been dealing with men her entire life who said they loved her and would never hurt her, but then they did it over and over again. You have to make sure that you truly never do take your anger out on her when she doesn't deserve it. And even if you are angry with her, you have to control it. No one should be treated like that. It's demeaning and painful. Show her you won't do it ever again. You have to if you want her."

Huy nodded through his tears. "Do you think she'll give me another chance?"

Tai sighed. "I don't know. You have to talk to her."

"Should I call her now? She'll be with her mom, should I call there? Should I go see her?"

"You won't find her there. She's with Deirdre. She didn't want to go home and deal with her mother in her mood. And I think maybe you should leave her be for a while. Let her think about things without you around. Deirdre will be a good influence on her as well. Just let her alone for a bit. Then after Christmas have a long talk. That's my opinion. It may not be the correct way, it's just what I would think. But I'm not any great shakes with relationships. Besides, I don't think it would be a good idea to talk to her when you've got such lovely black eyes."

"Tai, I'm sorry I've been a prat about Deirdre. I don't understand why you won't tell me about her but I'll trust you. I'm sorry" Huy said weakly.

"It's okay. Just trust me."

"I will, if you, if you can still believe in me, that I'm not worthless."

"I've never thought you were worthless and never will. Just clueless," Tai said patting his brother's head.

Huy chuckled. "Now to explain my injuries."

"I'll get some ice."

Tai got up and left quietly and Huy lay still on the carpet, twining it between his fingers. A fresh wave of tears overtook him and he curled up into fetal position.

"I'm sorry Kieko. Can things go back? Ever?" Huy mumbled to no one. Why did everything hurt so much?

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