Title: Soldier's Daughter

Rating: PG

Warnings: Very slight mention of yaoi, some violence

Spoilers: Gundam Wing

Disclaimers: I do not own Gundam Wing

AN: Getting this chapter out took way to long! To all who have read this story and are waiting for this chapter... Gomen!

Soldier's Daughter: Chapter Seven

What woke me the next day was the pain radiating from my arm. I froze for a moment until I remembered where I was. The memories of last night rushed back with each painful throb from my arm. None of it seemed quite real, though I knew it was. I sat up carefully, cradling the splinted arm so I wouldn't knock it, and pulled back the covers on the bed. Sunlight poured through the windows, lighting the room clearly.

At the foot of the bed was a stack of clothes and on the floor was my duffel bag. 'Someone must have gone for it while I was asleep' I reasoned. The clothes I was wearing smelled faintly and were streaked with dirt. The splint made shucking them off and pulling on clean clothing a little awkward.

Afterwards, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing, and thinking about what I would do now. I felt I wouldn't... couldn't leave again. At least not like I did before. And I couldn't go back to L2 with Odin and Uncle Duo. I also thought about the tape in Wing ZERO and what I had said to my uncles yesterday after helping them. Remembering that I decided.

A sudden taping at the door drew me back to the present. Aunt Noin was standing in the doorway. "It's good to see you awake. How are you feeling?" she smiled.

"Stiff and very sore." I answered honestly as I stood up. "Odin?"

"Fine, beat you by half the day. He wanted to see you." She looked at me, head tilted to the side, before coming in the room. "You should know that none of us are pleased with your little stunts. I do think you realize how dangerous and foolish your actions were, though, so I see no reason to lecture you on it. Your uncles, however... They want to speak with you as soon as you're ready. They're in the small dinning room."

I nodded and headed to the door. As I passed Aunt Noin, she put her hand on my arm. "I may be wrong, but I think I know what you have decided and, for what it's worth, you have my support."

I felt a faint smile on my lips as I looked back at her before leaving the room. I couldn't explain it, but hearing her say that gave me heart. I was vaguely surprised to find I had need of such assurance.

All too soon I reached my destination. I could hear my uncles talking through the door and I paused to collect my thoughts. It was not going to be easy to convince them. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and opened the door. With a level look, I glanced around at each of my uncles' faces as I softly shut the door behind me. Their conversation had stopped when I had opened the door and now the room sat in an awkward tense silence.

Finally someone had to end it. I matched looks with Uncle Miliardo, keeping my voice as calm as possible. "I know what I did was not the brightest thing that could have been done, but I don't regret my actions. That is why I want to help you fight." I held up my free hand to forestall any protests. "That is why I ask for your help in training me. It is your choice whether you agree to help or not. Either way I will continue to fight with Wing ZERO. Without it, I'll only be going on guess and the ZERO system and I would have little to no chance of surviving. With it, I stand a better chance. I... would rather have you help."

"Absolutely not! You have no idea as to what you're letting yourself into." Uncle Milliardo stated firmly. "What would your parents think?"

I winced and looked down at the floor before answering. "I don't know. If they were still alive, things wouldn't be like this and this conversation wouldn't be happening. But they're not." I looked up again. "And maybe you're right. Maybe I don't know what I getting into, though I have a fairly good guess. Please understand, this feels right. I don't feel like I'm drifting anymore. My life has meaning. I have a purpose now." I looked at each in turn.

It was then that Uncle Wufei spoke up. "You feel this is worth the consequences and risks?" At my nod he continued, glancing at the others. "I see no logical reason to not help you, though you require more training." I smiled briefly at him in appreciation. I had honestly thought I would have to argue a lot longer to get even one to offer to help me.

A soft chuckle came from Uncle Duo. "Wow Wu, you scared me there. I never thought you'd agree with this. And, as surprising as it is, I agree too. I've said this before, like father like daughter. Annel, if you are as much like Heero as I think you are, we don't have a hope in hell of stopping you if you've got yourself set on this. You've got my vote. Training is a damn sight better than that system." he finished as first Uncle Trowa then Uncle Quatre nodded in agreement.

Though this Uncle Milliardo remained quiet. As he caught and held my own eyes, I could see his anger flaring in his. Finally, without breaking eye contact, he gave arguments against my decision. The others kept silent, except when asked, throughout his interrogation of me, letting me answer for myself. I could tell by his questions, Uncle Milliardo was trying to holes in my decision. Eventually it showed that I had more counters than he arguments, the final point being when I gave him the disk I had taken from the base.

Uncle Milliardo sat back with a closed expression for a minute until finally he said, "I can't approve of this. We had all agreed years ago that there wouldn't be any more like ourselves. Now I think that was an impossibility. I only hope we don't end up regretting this."

As my other uncles nodded, I said, "I know and I'm sorry to be forcing the issue."

Uncle Milliardo waved his hand at that. "There's only one more thing Annel and we're leaving it to you to handle. What about Odin? What are you going to tell him?"

I had to look away for a moment and take a deep breath before answering. "I'm not sure yet. I don't like having to keep this secret for him but... I don't know if Odin would understand."

"As I said, it's up to you to tell him." And with that Uncle Milliardo stood up. One by one they left, each saying a few words to me on the way out. I left as well and headed down the hall, my mind deep in thought. I was preoccupied that at first I didn't hear my name being called.

I was startled to see Odin walking up the hall towards me. He was so happy to see that I was pretty much all right. Together we walked down the hall, not really heading anywhere. As we were passing one of the large picture windows, Odin stopped.

"What happened, Annel? Why did you leave like that?"

I was silent for a long time before answering him. It took me quite a while to get my thoughts into a coherent answer.

"I guess I finally realized what I had been doing to us. And I realized how wrong I was." I crossed my arms and stared out the window. It was a beautiful sunny day outside. Certainly the bright autumn sunlight outside was such a contrast to how I was feeling about what my next words were going to be.

Odin spoke before I could continue. "I'll be glad to get back to L2 with Uncle Duo. We can just put this behind us then."

"I'm not going back, Odin." I could see him look at me confused out of the corner of my eye. I knew in my heart I couldn't tell him the truth yet. I also knew I couldn't lie to him so I took the middle ground; not telling the whole truth. "I stand by my choice though. I think it may be better if we weren't together for a while. There are some things I need to do on my own."

"I don't understand. Why? What things?"

"I'm not sure myself. It's just something that needs to happen." Finally I glanced at my brother, meeting the hurt hidden in his eyes. After giving a small half-smile, I held out my hand and gave him Dad's wedding ring. It seemed right that each of us have one. Odin took the ring with surprise. It was then that I turned away and left him standing by that window.

I went back to my room and shut the door firmly behind me. Then I stood at the end of my bed, staring at nothing. As if from far away I noted the sunlight moving across the bedspread and the floor. All the while I could feel something inside me crying but I couldn't bring myself to actually shed tears. My mind was a muddle of thoughts; nothing was remained clear. How long I remained like that I didn't know.

Someone came and knocked on the door once. It was Uncle Duo telling me that he and Odin were leaving. He said I should come and say goodbye. I never answered the door. I couldn't face my brother again without breaking down.

It was much later when I heard the door open. Someone walked into the room, not bothering to come silently.

"Do you think I made the right choice?" I asked before whoever it was could say anything. "Would Mom and Dad be proud of me?"

"The right choice? No one can ever tell you that." Uncle Trowa said softly. "The only place you can find that answer is inside yourself. Would your parents be proud? I don't know that either. You said it yourself. 'If they were alive, this wouldn't be happening'.

"I can tell you this. I am proud of you. I am proud of the way you handled yourself yesterday. It takes great courage and strength to face down the unknown."

Somehow I knew it wasn't going to that base that my 'uncle' was talking about. And it wasn't learning the truth about my dad either. Could he mean the ZERO system? I glanced sideways at him. I could see a look of empathy in his calm expression.

"I'll tell you something your father told me, back during the first war." He continued, "The only way to live a good life is to act on your emotions. Don't every stop living that way, Annel. I know both your parents did."

With that he patted my shoulder and left. I stood for a little while longer, thinking about what he said. Finally I turned and left as well, stepping onto the path that I had chose

Soldier's Daughter: Epilogue

That is where it all started. I continue to walk down my life's path. I fight in a hidden war. One the world knows little of. I have regretted some things in my life and I hope that some day I will be able to find it in myself to find resolution.

But that is another story.