Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the plots I create in my horribly twisted mind. Thanks to all those who have been reading my fics all these years and lots more thanks to new readers. Hope you enjoy and have a really great day heh. Oh and please Review, thankies!

Return Home

It felt weird to walk into the Preventers grounds without anyone with her. It felt weird period, Cat thought as she stood facing the building which was her destination. She'd been standing here for like five minutes and she still didn't have the courage to walk through the doors and into what she hoped was her future. You'd think someone who had faced the gates of hell twice would have just a bit more spine, Cat thought ruefully. Then again it was weird to be looking at it without the bars of her cat carrier in the way, to have a choice whether to go in or stay out here or just leave. Abandon a possibly brighter future for the life she'd always led. Well not exactly the life she'd led before otherwise she'd end up in hell in a snap. Saint Pete was probably just foaming at the mouth, waiting to do her in. Well she wasn't going to give him the chance, at least not yet. Taking a deep breath Cat stepped through the gates and headed up to the main building where her boys would hopefully be. They better be anyway since she'd coughed up money for a cab since Anna had been too busy consoling Suki to drive her. Even in all the joy of finding her friend alive Anna hadn't been about to forget that Cat was a lousy driver. As it was she'd had to change her shirt before coming because Suki had drenched the one she'd been wearing when she'd appeared at the old homestead, a little surprised to find the girls still there but glad too. Glad that the guys had had them and vice versa.

Walking up the steps Cat walked into the main floor and standing there for a moment wondered how exactly she was going to get in. Unfortunately now she couldn't go anywhere without the company of a Preventers soldier and that was only if she had a reason to be there. Of course they hadn't let her wander around by herself as a cat either, well at least not after she'd had her little fun with Dorothy, Cat thought with a small smile, jamming her hands into the pockets of her winter coat. It was Christmas Eve, it was time to see if they were gonna consider her return a good present or akin to a lump of coal. Walking over to the main desk Cat waited in line as patiently as she could then asked if the person could page Doctor Po and ask her to come down please. When the secretary asked who to say was there Cat paused, trying to think of how to answer that. "Tell her that it's a friend of Wufei's please."

Nodding the woman relayed the message then after exchanging a few words with Sally hung up. "If you'd like to take a seat she'll be down in five minutes."

"Thanks." Cat said as she started to head for a seat then turning her head smiled at the woman. "Merry Christmas."

Taking a seat Cat kept her eyes out and spotting Sally a few minutes later got out to meet her halfway since the woman wouldn't know who to be looking for. "Hello, Sally. You don't know me but I wanted to surprise Wufei with a visit and so I didn't want to give him the heads up."

"No problem...and you are?" Sally asked, her eyes curious as she gave the girl before her a once over. The girl was tall for a woman with fawn colored hair that was cut short as a boy's and desperately needed a trim. The girl had a boyish build and dressed the part, she looked to be about Wufei's age or a little younger. What had her pausing were the girl's eyes. Those were old eyes and hard ones, even with nerves and impatience dancing in them.

"Oh I'm Cat. Cat Rorake." Cat said with a knowing look in her eyes even as she started to think that maybe she wasn't going to get in without paging one of the guys instead who might even think this was a prank call. If they refused to come and she had to wait she was going to ream their asses good later, Cat thought darkly.

"Oh, the friend of a friend." Sally said as the light dawned, her smile going warmer. "Your Suki and Anna's friend right? The one that asked the boys to put them up while they were in town." Sally finished snapping her fingers, Then it hit her. "But you were...the girl that went after Maia and the others..."

"Uh ya, that was me. You see it turns out that my da gave me a few more lives then regular folks when he named me Cat." Cat said with a grin flashing across her face. "I took a few new bullets but they didn't bother to check that I was dead and some environmental conservationists stumbled across me, one of them a former military man. He'd seen enough action to know what to do and managed to get me to a doctor before I bled out. I sort of sneaked out of the hospital to get here for Christmas." Cat added, giving Sally a bit of a sheepish look since the woman was a doctor and in truth she was lying through her teeth. "I thought about calling but figured they wouldn't believe it till they saw me anyway so might as well do it this way."

Studying her closely Sally didn't know quite what to think. "Well if that were the case you won't mind me looking you over to confirm you are who you say you are. I assume your prints and blood will be in the system?"

"I would imagine so and I'd be happy to." Cat said with a nod and so off they went to the medical wing where she was given the once over as well as having her blood and finger prints run through the system to confirm she was indeed Cat Rorake.

"This wound should have killed you." Sally said with a frown as she studied a wound to the girl's upper body that should have killed the girl on impact. It was still healing too, a few months old if she wasn't mistaken. "And this one as well for that matter. You really do have nine lives, don't you?" Sally said, looking at another one that appeared to have some how missed the girl's heart, hell it must have at least grazed the heart but here the girl was, still breathing and among the living. It was a new wound too, only a few days old and here the girl was sitting straight, completely awake and aware without any signs that she was even on medication. Amazing. And she'd thought Heero was amazing at escaping death. This girl took the cake.

"Well I've run though at least half of them by now so I'll have to be careful as I go along now." Cat said with a smirk, kicking her feet back and forth slightly since she was still more then a little antsy about the whole thing. "So do I pass?"

"I'm surprised you aren't passed out on the floor. It must have been a real Christmas miracle that you're still with us. Aren't you in pain?" Sally asked, leaning against the examination bed while Cat put her shirt on looking to have no problems with the movements. Just amazing.

"I have a high tolerance for pain and yeah, I guess a Christmas miracle covers it." Cat said with a smile as she hopped off the bed just as the door opened up and Wufei came storming in.

"Onna! You said that you were going to be right back and...Cat." Wufei whispered, staring at Cat like she was a ghost which technically speaking she could very well be.

"Wufei!" Cat yelped, dashing over before she even thought about it and wrapping her arms around his neck hugged him tightly, tears coming to her eyes when his arms came around her, holding her tight. "Guess what." Cat said in a choked up voice. "You didn't get rid of me after all."

"Like a bad penny. They just keep throwing you back, Onna." Wufei said as he held her tight, like she'd disappear if he didn't. She was really there, she was really back. Their stupid, annoying cat from hell was back. Thank God.

Watching from the sidelines Sally had to chuckle when they finally remembered that they had an audience. Both of them awkwardly broke apart with both of them shoving their hands into their pockets and looking more then a little embarrassed and unsure. "And it was shaping up to be such a tender reunion." Sally said with a wink in their direction.

"Quiet you. Lets go find the others." Wufei said as he grabbed one of Cat's arms and before Sally could say anything else Wufei had dragged the girl out of the room and they were walking down the hall slightly faster then was entirely necessary. Not that she minded.

Heero was the next one for them to spot, the surly pilot leaning up against a wall as he waited for Relena's meeting to end. Once she was out and he could give her her stupid messages he was free to go for the day, thank God. Not that going home to a funeral atmosphere was all that appealing but it was one he preferred then coming to work and pretending like everything was all right when it wasn't. Sensing Wufei and someone else coming towards him Heero turned his head, his eyes going wide as he took in the sight of the person Wufei was dragging behind him. A slow, small smile crossing his face as he moved away from the wall to face them Heero crossed his arms in front of him. "Hell wouldn't take you huh?"

"It just wasn't big enough for the Big guy downstairs and me both." Cat said with a grin as she shook loose of Wufei's hold to walk over to stand in front of Heero. "I told them before I left to keep a nice spot for you when you got there. A view and everything."

"Thanks." Heero said then, what the hell, he reached out and pulled her into a quick hug before letting her go, a reputation to uphold and too much training to show just how glad he was to see her. Besides, he had a feeling she knew anyway from the pleased look in her eyes. The sound of voices reaching their ears both turned their heads to watch several men in business suits come out followed by Lady Une, Relena and finally Quatre. "Hey, Q man." Heero called over, his small smile still on his face. "Looks like your prayers were answered. God sent her back just to piss us off."

"Sent her..." Quatre repeated, not understanding and then seeing Cat' come out from behind Heero felt as if he'd been sucker punched. Thank you, God. Oh thank you, Quatre thought as he dropped his briefcase and moving forward had his arms wide open to welcome her when she threw herself into his arms, the two hugging each other close without even needing words to express their feelings. They just knew.

"Heero?" Relena asked, walking over to her body guard's side while Quatre went about squeezing the stuffing out of a girl she'd never seen before.

"Looks like she made it after all. Shoulda known she'd find a way out of it, it's not the first time she should have ended up six feet under."

"Then she's..the one who saved Maia?" Lady Une asked, looking at the girl with interest now.

"Yes, ma'am." Wufei said with a smile as they all watched Quatre and Cat start to talk at once, their words getting garbled together though they didn't seem to have any problems understanding each other. "The cat came back."

When they finally stopped talking and let go of each other everyone was shocked when Lady Une came forward to give the girl a big hug too, thanking her profusely for saving her little girl. "And if there's anything I can do for you, anything at all you have only to ask." Lady Une finished, tears in the older woman's eyes. "If I can get it for you then it's yours."

"Uhm..a job?" Cat said weakly, not quite sure what to think with all this good will coming her way. People were never this happy to see her after all but today EVERYONE was. Weird.

"Done, I'm sure we can find something for you." Lady Une said with a nod, not even needing to think about it.

"Sorry to interrupt but Trowa and Duo don't know she's here." Quatre politely interrupted before Lady Une could say anything else. "We'll bring her in with us when we come back from Christmas holidays if that's all right with you?"

"Sounds fine to me. Merry Christmas to all of you." Lady Une said with a smile and making their hasty good byes the boys and Cat hurried off to find Duo and Trowa.

This proved harder then one would have thought but they finally found someone who'd seen Duo heading into Hilde's office. Everyone heading that way they arrived only to find out that Duo and Hilde had already left and were heading out for some dinner. In a desperate race to beat the two to the exit everyone took the stairs like mad men and woman, making it back to the main foyer just in time to catch sight of Duo and Hilde about to open the doors out.

"Hey, Maxwell!" Cat shouted out to stop the braided baka in his tracks. "You and me are going a round, pal!"

Turning as his name was called Duo frowned, not recognizing the looker standing with his friends then blinking took a few shaky steps forward, not even feeling Hilde grab his arm to support him, concern on her face as she looked back and forth between him and the girl Duo was beginning to think was Cat. "If you're the Ghost of Christmas Past I should point out that I'm too poor to go out and do much good." Duo said hoarsely as the two groups moved towards each other, his friends and Cat grinning at him in amusement.

"Hell no. If I was gonna be one of them I'd be the ghost of Christmas yet to come." Cat said with a snort, crossing her arms in front of her. "Besides, do I look like the sort of person anyone would pick as a candidate to lead people to the straight and narrow? I mean please, you're talking to the girl who put the cat in catty, moron."

"Just checking." Duo said as he moved out of Hilde's grasp and with a huge grin on his face and eyes slightly watering pulled Cat into a tight hug. "Should have known Lucifer would be too scared to keep you. What did ya do, try to lock him up in a room watching those Teletubies you hate so much?"

"Don't mention those evil things in my presence or I'll punch you." Cat ordered though there was no bite to her words as she hugged him back before pulling away. "And I have something that belongs to you." Cat added as she lifted her hands to remove a familiar cross from around her neck before looping it back around his neck. "An idiot like you needs all the protection and luck he can get. Father Maxwell and Sister Helen agreed with me."

"You..you saw them?" Duo croaked, staring at her with a few tears finding their way down his cheeks.

"You better believe it. The sister said to tell you that you need to hurry up and settle down before you lose your looks and therefore any chance of finding yourself a woman stupid enough to marry you." Cat said with a wink as his watery smile turned to a grin of appreciation. "Okay, so I paraphrased a bit."

"Uhm..and this is?" Hilde asked finally since no one seemed to have remembered that generally introductions should have been made by now.

"Hilde, this pain in the ass is Cat." Duo said with a grin as the two girls lifted hands to shake. "I'm sorry to say she's a friend of mine."

"You're sorry. I'm the one who has to be embarrassed every time I'm seen with you in public." Cat shot back, the two forgetting about Hilde all over again as they hurled casual insults at each other, just like old times. After doing that for about three minutes Cat finally remembered that there was still one person she hadn't gotten the chance to talk to yet. "Oh yeah, Trowa!"

"Any idea where he is, Duo?" Wufei asked, figuring it was a long shot that the bubble head might actually know.

"I think he's at the shooting range." Hilde volunteered even as Duo shook his head no. "He's seemed a bit off lately and he tends to go down there to practice when he's trying to work something out in his head. At least that's what he said when I asked him why he went there even though he's the best shot in the building. Duo, why don't you lead the way and I'll call you at home later." Hilde said with a knowing smile on her face. She wasn't quite sure who this girl was but it was pretty obvious she was very important to these guys which meant that this girl must be pretty special. They could have dinner another time.

"You're the best." Duo said as he pulled her close for a quick, hard kiss before letting her go and calling out for the others sped off with the guys and Cat shaking their heads before following after him as they headed for the elevator.

Loading up his next round Trowa turned his head when he heard what sounded like a stampede coming towards him from his left. Since he had headphones on that was saying something. Setting the gun back down on the counter Trowa turned and stared, instinctively taking off the head phones and setting them down beside the gun before walking towards his friends, never taking his eyes off Cat.

"Thanks for not bringing the gun with you. I seem to be attracting bullets recently and I think I can only be kicked out of Hell so many times before they'll give up and keep me." Cat said nervously, not quite sure what to do since this was Trowa. He wasn't exactly the most emotional guy unless he had a musical instrument in his hands.

"It's about time you got back." Trowa said simply shaking his head at her like she was a child who'd arrived home from school a little late. "What took you so long?"

"Well I guess I'm girl enough that I just had to make an entrance." Cat said with a small smile, as she rocked back on her heels. "Miss me?"

"Things were a lot quieter without you...but I guess I did. A little." Trowa said with a faint smile on his lips. "So you planning on sticking around this time?"

"That's the plan." Cat said nervously, her hands fisting in her pockets, nerves in her eyes.

"Good." Trowa said as he reached out and ruffled her unruly hair before pulling her into a one arm hug against him. "Welcome home, Cat."

Note: I will explain in the next chapter what happened with the forces above, don't worry. Stay tuned for what will likely be the last chapter or second lastin this series. Thanks very much for reading and have a great day with someone you love!