Oh..this is it kiddies...Duo dies this chapter. Have fun, don't cry too hard, i can't even read it anymore without getting teary eyed, I hope you like it and don't hesitate to review...

DISCLAIMER: I dun own it, I never will stop harassing me, AND any flames about killing Duo will be used to burn my cow's funeral pyre!

"Tell me what's wrong with him?" Alicia Roe looked at him and grimaced.

"He's dying. It's a weird cancer-type deal. He's been paralyzed for three years now. His nerves are slowly disintegrating and so are his muscles. The paralysis was caused by the nerve degeneration."

"If his muscles are disintegrating then so is his..."

"Heart. Yeah, but it was broken a long time ago, it's amazing he didn't die from that." She watched as the paramedics started him on an IV.

"How do you know Duo?" he asked her.

"He came to the Maxwell church a couple months before I turned 18 and left. He was my buddy and I would've visited had I known where he'd gone. He actually tracked me down after the war. Then this whole thing started."

"Why didn't he come to me after, if Quatre and Trowa and Wufei know about it."

"He couldn't find you, but after you saved Miss Relena on television and took that bullet he knew he'd lost you. So, he slowly got worse and worse, I don't know if he's going to pull through this time."

"Don't they have cures for cancer?"

"Not his. This was caused by exposure to gundanium. There's so many particles in his blood that they reject the treatments. So, he told the doctors to research on him, but they couldn't do anything for him. He's just waiting it out now, he's made peace with everything but you and today he was going to do that." Just then the small figure of Duo Maxwell moaned in pain and looked up at him.

"Heero." he said softly before passing out. There was a smile on his face.

Heero sat in white room at Duo's beside. The young man hadn't woke up yet. The doctors said he probably wouldn't last the night. Alicia said she was going for coffee and Trowa and Quatre were asleep on the couch on the other side of the room. Relena had stopped by, she wasn't angry with him she just kissed him and hugged him and told him they'd reschedule the wedding. Or even get married by Duo's beside. Heero declined and said they should wait just a couple of weeks. She nodded then took off to take care of the rest of the rescheduling. It was about 2 a.m. when he shuffled around and woke up, moaning in pain.

"Duo?"

"Heero." His pale face and dead violet eyes smiled at him. "I'm happy to see you."

"Duo, why didn't you come to me?" The dying man smiled a little more. "Why didn't you tell me at least?"

"If I had, you would've thrown away what you have with Relena. I love you Heero and I know you love me. But you love her too, and I'm dying so why not be happy. I didn't- cough- tell you because -cough- I knew you would abandon her to take care of me and then you would sulk until you died too, and I didn't want that.'

"What about the letter?"

"Oh, that? That was Alicia, she was angry with me, because she-cough cough- didn't think I should come. But I had to see you one last time." The coughs in between his words were getting worse and Heero thought he could see a little blood at the corner of Duo's mouth.

"Duo..." the formerly braided man shook his head.

"No, Heero it's almost my time." Heero smiled and took Duo's hand. There were tears in his eyes.

"Tell me one thing before you go." Duo nodded and coughed. "What happened to the braid?" Duo laughed and it turned into coughs.

"They said I might loose it, and I came to terms, I cut it off and keep it in a glass case. I had to get rid of it." he smiled. Heero knew that Duo would be okay. "Now, one thing before I go, Heero. Smile for me. Give me a real smile." Heero looked at Duo and remembered all their good times.

"Yeah Duo, anything for you." Heero smiled and Duo grinned, the light had come back a little to his eyes. He gripped Heero's hand weakly.

"Thanks Hee-chan. Stay with me till it's over?"

"Sure." Heero climbed into the bed with Duo and held him as he sighed his last breath of life and his violet eyes glazed over. Pupils dilated. Heero gazed into them and his tears began to fall. The nurses and doctors came in and started to resuscitate but Heero stopped them. "He's gone now, he's in a better place. He wouldn't want to live with the pain anymore." They all nodded. Trowa and Quatre had woken when the commotion started.

"Heero?" Quatre came to him with tears falling down his face.

"He's gone Quatre." The blond faltered and fell back into Trowa's arms. He sobbed himself to sleep. "Trowa? How long have you known?"

"The whole time. Duo didn't want you to know. He wanted you to be happy."

"I know. Thanks for respecting his wishes." Heero hugged Trowa and Alicia came back. She smiled.

"He's finally went home. Father Maxwell and Sister Helen will be so happy. I'm sorry for your loss guys."

"Aren't you sad?" Trowa asked.

"Of course I'm sad, but I cried myself out for months. He told me not to cry for him. But still, the kids." She sniffled.

"Kids?" Heero asked.

"He was working with an orphan foundation and he became pretty popular. Anyhow, I have a vid-will, where should we view it?"

This story is winding down to a close, just a couple more chapters, i'm almost finished with the next one...which is Duo's Will...SO...Stay Tuned? MUCH LOVE AND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!