A/N- We're trucking right along. This story seems a bit shorter than SP, but that's only because the chapters are longer. Cuteness does not pervade this one. Sorry folks, if you're disappointed.

Promises

Chapter 7

Four months later found Megan hunched over the table of her tiny cottage, staring blankly at the screen of her laptop. She'd written, for the first time on her own, a novel. It had amazed her how quickly it had come out. It had taken less than 3 months to completely finish the work, then another month to edit it. She found it odd that she worked as quickly on her own as she did with her father. He had a systematic way of writing. He planned everything out with an outline, down to the last fist fight.

Megan's style was far freer. She played with her characters, letting them do what they wanted with no interference from her, save the occasion spelling correction. She'd proudly showed Mrs. Wang that finished manuscript, surprised when the woman had actually smiled at her in approval. Megan had obtained work with the elderly innkeeper, doing the light cleaning and laundry 4 times a week in the inn and tavern. It wasn't glamorous work, but it kept food on the table. Megan's nest egg was no longer so healthy after her purchases for the baby in the nearest town after her last OB-GYN visit.

Megan lived frugally. Mrs. Wang had given her a crash course in canning vegetables in the fall when her garden gave up it's rather surprisingly large crop of food. Rice was plentiful, and cheap. And she had enough pickled plums to last another 6 months. Pickled plums, plum jams, plum puddings. Megan had had enough of plums to last a lifetime. Meat was a rare event these days. She had rationed her money to the point where she did have chicken once a week as a treat. Compared to where she'd come from, it was meager living. But it was a living. She was no longer simply surviving. She was now thriving.

She'd filled out, regaining the weight she'd lost in those early stressful days of her pregnancy. Her cheeks were rosy, and it wasn't just the cold chill that January had brought with it. She had a steady stream of firewood for the fireplace and wood stove, her only two sources of heat in the small house. She'd taken to sleeping on the couch these days, simply to be closer to the fire. It was easier to keep it going all night than to start a new one in the morning with cold-numbed fingers.

The firewood was provided by Yuan-Li, the son of the tender in the tavern. He was in his early twenties and had made no secret of his less-than-platonic affection for her. He'd never made any unseemly advances though, out of respect for her supposed "bereaved" status and condition of "being in a family way". Megan's only connection to the outside world was the internet access that cost a small fortune to maintain and the once monthly trip to the province capitol to see her doctor.

It was a small life, and she still had moments where the strain of going through with this killed her. It was only when she felt the baby move that it brought back the reality of why she was doing this. Megan closed the word processor and brought up the spreadsheet containing her finances and budget. Each time she saw the pages it sent a cold chill up her spine. Her doubts were mounting that she could continue to keep up her appointments to the doctor. And the cost of delivering in the hospital, it was obscene. It would wipe out what little was left of her savings. The savings that rested not in a bank somewhere safe, but in a plastic bag in tucked into a hollowed copy of Hitler's autobiography. She'd been stunned to find the book in the collection of books the old woman had left behind and had felt no guilt about destroying it to have a safe place for her few valuables.

She mulled over the options she had. When the baby came, she could breastfeed and use cloth diapers. Megan wrinkled her nose reflexively. Disgusting. She never thought she'd live to see the day when disposable diapers were a luxury item. She could order early blooming vegetables from the internet and have them delivered. Mrs. Wang had already given her permission to bring the baby to work with her. But still, it wouldn't be enough.

It briefly occurred to her that she could go to her branch bank in Hong Kong and withdraw more funds. But it would be a dead giveaway to her location. It was too risky. She huffed in annoyance and clicked on the internet icon, connecting as quickly as she could. To her surprise, her e-mail contained something strange.

Megan's heart skipped a beat before she realized it was addressed to Anja Zhang. She opened the e-mail and scanned it quickly, her eyes widening. Gareth Wang, a representative for a small publishing firm in Hong Kong was extending an invitation for her to visit Hong Kong. She blinked and read it more slowly. His aunt, her employer, had forwarded him her manuscript and it was his pleasure to inform her of the publisher's wish to engage in a contract for publication of the work.

She sucked in a breath when she saw the amount. It wasn't nearly what her father made per book, but it was a small fortune in comparison to the pittance she was making working at the inn. Quickly she grabbed Anja's rarely used cell phone and dialed the number he'd provided.

A scant fifteen minutes later, he'd assured her that no, he was not joking. And yes, the house would be picking up the tab to fly her to Hong Kong to begin negotiations. Megan put down the phone, carefully making sure it was turned off before she jumped from her chair and doing an ecstatic dance across the kitchen floor. "Mommy did something right for a change." She patted the broad expanse of belly happily. In response, her child kicked her sternly in the ribs.

She stopped bouncing immediately. "Crap… I'm sorry, sweets. I know… I'm a horrible mommy." Megan had made a habit of talking to her child, if only for the reason to have someone to talk to.

She reached for her coat, an oversized ancient cast off she'd found in the houses one closet. "Let's go give Mrs. Wang the good news and tell her thank you, shall we?"

The baby kicked her ribs again, whether in agreement or protest, she had no idea.

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Wufei was wakened by the alarm clock from a very good dream. His dreams had been good in the recent months, leaving him with a warm feeling though he had no idea what they were of once he woke. He glare briefly at the alarm clock and groaned, pushing himself up in the bed. He padded barefoot to the window of the one-room apartment he'd rented on downtown Hong Kong. Below him, even at the early hour of eight in the morning, the streets were alive with bustling activity.

He'd tracked Megan here only a month before. It had taken almost 3 full months for track down the scum who'd sold her new identity papers in Beijing. She'd abandoned Kiseki Bloom in a back alley in the illegal red-light district of town. IT still twisted Wufei's stomach to think of Megan putting herself in such obvious danger. She could have been robbed, or raped… or even worse.

The man had, with a little persuasion from Wufei's Glock, finally admitted to preparing papers for Megan's new identity. Everything from a new passport, to a driver's license. She'd paid him cash, plus a generous bonus above street price for a speedy job. To Wufei's shock, the man kept records of his nefarious deeds. When questioned about it, the man had merely shrugged. "I run a top-notch operation. I don't recycle identities. Gotta keep them all straight so I don't give the same one out twice."

He'd remembered Megan, surprisingly well. He'd even expressed surprise that an American would risk her virtue in such a crime-riddled section of Beijing. All he did know for sure was that Megan had stated she needed papers granting her entrance into and out of Hong Kong.

That's what had brought Wufei this far. He'd used his laptop to keep tabs on any and all transactions stemming from her new name. Zhang Anja. So far, there was nothing. She was living a cash existence. However, he knew she had to surface some time. And when she did, he'd be ready for her.

Wufei stretched with a loud yawn and moved to the table and lone chair where his laptop sat, still working on a continuous basis. He never bothered to get offline anymore, his programs though… they could run themselves.

Wufei first checked his e-mail. Ignoring the weekly demand from Sally the demanded to know where he was and what he was doing. He also deleted the same, though less frequent, demand from Une. He occasionally got mail from Duo, updating him on Quatre and Trowa's own progress, though leaving out the details. Wufei would wait until he had Megan, safe… then he would state his mind to her before delivering her safely back to Quatre and Trowa's doorstep.

He slipped on the headset that was plugged into the sound jack and almost jumped when he heard the chime of the bugged tracking program. Megan had made contact with someone. She'd used the pre-paid cell phone with satellite capabilities she'd purchased in Hong Kong. The activity was recent too, within the last hour. He was instantly glad he'd had the foresight to bug the line, even though there hadn't been any activity on the phone in the last month.

Contrary to popular belief, Wufei was neither computer illiterate, nor was he computer-phobic. He merely detested the machines way of prying into peoples personal lives. It was positively Orwellian, the things the machines could do with the right person controlling them. Now however, he felt no guilt about invading Megan's privacy.

With trembling fingers, he played back the conversation. It provided several important details. He jotted notes in a well-used notebook. Ten minutes later, he had information about not only Megan's recent activities, but also the revelation that she was coming to Hong Kong in less than a week for a meeting of some kind. Unfortunately the GPS function on the satellite could only be engaged when the phone was actually in use, but that was okay. Wufei smiled smugly to himself. He'd waited damn near five months, another week would give him plenty of time to cement his plans.

His natural instinct to merely abduct her at the airport was immediately quashed in favor of his curiosity to find out the details of how'd she'd outsmarted four of the smartest people he knew for so long. He'd merely watch from a distance, then follow her back to wherever she'd come from. It was a simple plan, perfect in it's simplicity.

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The baby kicked her in the ribs, hard. Megan chuckled to herself, having no doubt in her mind that the child was protesting the coach class accommodations as vehemently as she herself would have under other circumstances. Beside her, Mrs. Wang was knitting yet another in the endless stream of tiny articles of clothing and blankets she insisted Megan would need. Megan didn't have the heart to protest, merely smiling politely as the woman pointed out to her the intricate stitches on the tiny booties she was now working on.

The turbulence they'd felt through the entire flight suddenly seemed so much worse. The mild shaking grew to an audible rattle. Megan tightened her grip on the arm rests as the bell for seatbelts dinged. The insanely calm voice of the annoyingly happy flight attendant came over the intercom. "Ladies and gentleman, if you will please notice, the captain has turned on the fasten seatbelt sign. We're only moments out of our initial descent into Hong Kong International Airport, if you will please assist us in preparing the cabin for landing by placing your--"

The announcement suddenly cut off but a loud squawk over the speakers. Megan covered her ears and winced in pain. There was a pop, followed by a scream from first class. Megan struggled to quell the rising fear in the pit of her stomach. Vaguely she could make out a French accent. She zeroed in on the words. "Wing…. Fire…"

Her eyes widened as she leaned to peer out the window at the wing. Sure enough, black smoke was billowing behind them. She drew in a deep breath, eyes fastened to the horrible picture before her. The intercom came on again. "Ladies and Gentleman, this is your Captain speaking. Please do not panic. We have had a fire in our number two engine and the fire suppression systems are engaged. If you will please remain calm and in your seats. We've been cleared for an emergency landing at HKIA. We will be on the ground in a few moments. Emergency crews will be on site. Please brace yourselves for a potentially rough landing. Once we are on the ground, please proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion, woman and children first. Thank you and be safe."

Megan's gut twisted in reflex. The man had just said they were all screwed in the perfectly polite way only the Chinese were capable of. Beside her, Mrs. Wang calmly put away her knitting and unbuckled her seatbelt. Megan stared at her, wide eyed. "Mrs. Wang… please fasten your seatbelt, you heard the Captain."

The elderly woman merely smiled serenely as the plane jolted in it's descent. "My name is Lily, child. The time for formality has passed."

"What?" Megan frowned.

"I will join my beloved soon." Mrs. Wang reached out and patted Megan's stomach affectionately. "The wing is no good… landing no good."

Megan realized then that she'd spoken instinctively in English and Mrs. Wang had replied in the same. "Please, it will be fine." Even as she spoke, she knew the words were falling on deaf ears. She was also lying, not only to herself but to Mrs. Wang.

"Lily, my name Lily." The woman continued in English for emphasis before switching back to her native tongue. Megan realized belatedly the woman wasn't speaking to her anymore, but was praying. It was a Buddhist prayer, one begging for Nirvana in coming death. For a period of rest before reincarnation.

Megan crossed her arms protectively over her stomach as she glanced to the window again. The ground was rising fast, too fast. The feeling of being out of control was overwhelming. Lily Wang touched her stomach again, stately smile firmly in place. "I am going, the little one will take my place."

Her words made no sense to Megan until the elderly woman, the woman who had become both mother and friend to her threw herself into the impossibly small space between Megan and the seat before her. Megan didn't have time to scream, didn't have time to stop her as the plane abruptly collided with the ground.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Wufei frowned as he watched the board displaying the incoming flight. Megan's flight, which had been flashing as delayed, was now flashing an urgent red. He turned from the monitors and made his way to the window, peering curiously into the sky. He hadn't intended to get close enough to risk her seeing him in the boarding area. But then again, he'd have time to blend into the crowd. He'd flashed his Preventers badge at security, bypassing the crowds in the ticket terminal, to waiting at her gate. He had to see for himself that she was really in Hong Kong before putting his plan into action.

Red flashing lights caught his eye as emergency vehicles made their way down the far runway, the emergency runway. Fear rocketed through him. Megan's flight had been flashing red, to indicate an emergency landing. His stomach twisted in sudden sickening dread. He raised his eyes again. There, clearly in view, flight 2982 approached the runway, the wing nearest him trailing black smoke. He watched in mute horror as it's speed slowed, beginning an uncontrolled descent. The landing gear was malfunctioning as it grew ever nearer. People behind him screamed as they realized their loved ones were on that doomed aircraft. Wufei was spurred into action.

He darted for the emergency exit, flying down the staircase. He ignored the yells of outrage from airport workers as he commandeered a golf cart and took off across the pavement towards the runway. From the corner of his eye, he could see the plane as it hit the runway in a dance of flames and twisting metal. The fuselage was open, a gaping hole as the wing ripped off, spewing fuel in it's wake. The fuel ignited as quickly as the plane skidded.

Wufei's heart stopped as he watched the one-winged wreck spin in an imitation of a macabre ballet. The tires on the golf-cart squealed as he braked far too quickly. He ignored the emergency workers who rushed towards the wreckage. Anyone who dared stop him would bear the brunt of the killer within. A killer who had remained dormant far too long.

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Her chest burned. Megan could vaguely hear the screams as the plane finally came to a rocking halt. She opened her eyes, seeing only thick black smoke. It was as though daytime had ceased to exist. She moved experimentally. She had to get out. A dead weight across her lap had cushioned the blow from the window exploding in from the force of the landing. No… this was no landing… it was a crash. Suddenly her fogged mind cleared a little. She shook the form in her lap. "Mrs. Wang. We have to get out of here…"

There was no response from the petite frame the seemed to cradle her abdomen. She felt the baby kick her indignantly. Megan released a strangled sob of relief. "Mrs. Wang… please wake up."

The seat in front of her gave way as the occupants weight fell away, whether dead or evacuating, Megan did not know. Lily Wang's body fell with the seats, tumbling away from Megan. Megan groped for her seat belt and ignored the blinding pain that shot up her back as she released the restraint. She leaned forward and pressed her fingers to Mrs. Wang's neck. There was no pulse. The woman's neck was obviously broken and Megan could feel a slick liquid as she pulled her hand away. Blood.

Strong arms suddenly wrapped around her, the gruff voice she recognized as that of the man who'd been sitting behind her speaking loudly over the screams. "Come with me. She's beyond our help."

The baby kicked again. Megan struggle as the pain hit her again, like lightening. "My baby."

"There are ambulances, and doctors. They will help you and your baby, Miss. But you have to calm down."

Compliantly, Megan went limp. A cloth covered her nose and mouth. The man's voice came again. "Breathe through this. Just try to relax, I'll carry you out."

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Wufei steadily caught the elderly woman who'd just leapt into his outstretched arms. Survivors were streaming out of the plane, nearly trampling one another in their efforts to escape the thick black smoke of the fire from inside the fuselage. He hadn't had time to search for Megan yet among the survivors who were now wandering dazedly in the direction of the waiting emergency crews. He wasn't the only one assisting people off the plane, there were others. He turned for a moment to gaze at the people who were retreating as quickly as their injuries would permit. "Pay attention, young one!"

A gruff voice speaking in heavily accented Mandarin yelled at him from the plane. Wufei's eyes snapped back. The man was in his late 50s, perhaps early 60s. He was cradling a soot covered form like a child. "Get help, she's bleeding!"

Wufei's eyes widened, all thoughts of Megan shoved aside as his innate instinct to serve and protect kicked in once again. The woman in the man's arms groaned, as she mumbled incoherently in English. He spoke roughly to the man as he reached up to help him with the woman. "They're all bleeding, you imbecile!"

"No, she's pregnant and bleeding."

Crap, that did put a whole new spin on things. He signaled for one of the other workers assistance. Within moment, he was cradling the woman in his arms. She was unrecognizable, covered in black soot and blood, her face covered in a cloth to filter out the toxins from the smoke. He held her close, she weighed next to nothing and ran at top speed towards the waiting EMTs.