Chapter Two - Duo's Discovery

Duo opened his eyes experimentally. The light nearly blinded him and he had to close them again. Trying again, he carefully blinked his eyes until they were used to the light and opened them. He was lying in a bed with dark blue blankets covering him in a small room that barely stretched farther than the bed.

"Aww, don't tell me my life is worse this way…" He groaned and sat up.

The room was bare except for the bedside table. Duo turned to it for inspection. The top was littered with picture frames with various pictures in them. Duo picked the closest one up and brought it closer. The picture was of himself, wearing priest robes, standing in between a bride and groom. The bride was Hilde and the groom…

"Solo?" Duo blinked his eyes again to make sure he was seeing things clearly. "It is him…"

He could hardly believe his eyes. Solo had married Hilde? The idea was almost too much to believe. He set the picture down and continued searching. Another picture was of him and Father Maxwell and Sister Helen when he was a child. Sister Helen was fussing with his hair and Father Maxwell was laughing as Duo struggled. He had to have been at least 10 in the picture.

"It must have worked…" Duo marveled. He quickly turned to investigate the rest of his room. On the foot of his bed were a black buttoned shirt, his priest collar, and a pair of black jeans. "Heh, looks like my style hasn't changed much." He teased and stood up to get dressed.

Once his clothes were on, he slowly opened the door to his room and peaked out. The adjoining hall was quiet and lined with stained glass windows. Each one had a depiction of Christ on them and Duo remembered them as the same images from the Maxwell Church. He walked in silence for most of the way, admiring the windows as he went, until he reached another door. This one was larger and made of solid oak. He reached down for the handle and pulled carefully. The door opened to the main sanctuary of a most remarkable church. Duo could hardly believe his eyes. It was similar to the Maxwell Church only far more extravagant.

Could this be what happened to the Maxwell Church? Duo asked himself.

"Maxwell!"

Duo turned at the sound of his name and saw a very elderly man hobbling towards him. The man had graying hair and soft warm eyes with a slightly hunched body. Duo smiled widely when he recognized him.

"Father Maxwell!" He exclaimed an embraced the man.

"Well of course it's me, Maxwell." He laughed and returned the hug with unsteady hands. "Who else would it be this early?" He teased.

Duo pulled back and Father Maxwell raised a brow. "You haven't been having those nightmares again have you?" He asked in a hushed tone.

"Nightmares?" Duo questioned.

Father Maxwell nodded. "Yes…you know the ones you mentioned yesterday. The ones about death?"

Duo frowned. Looks like I can't escape death no matter what I do…He thought. He sighed and shook his head. "No Father, no nightmares. Not last night." He smiled.

Father Maxwell returned the smiled and nodded. "Good, good." He straightened up and turned towards the pulpit. "Oh, by the way Maxwell…"

Maxwell…That must be my name in this world…He thought.

"Sister Helen wanted me to ask you if you wouldn't mind performing the service at the convent tomorrow." Father Maxwell finished.

Duo blinked. "What?"

Father Maxwell stopped and turned around. "Brother Andrew is sick and she wanted to know if you would replace him."

"I'm…a priest?" Duo asked. The idea was almost absurd…almost. It did make since. Even in the other timeline all he ever wanted was peace. If the only family he ever knew hadn't died, it would make since that he would pursue a career in the church. He looked up to Father Maxwell and smiled, hoping it looked convincing. "Sure. I'd love to help."

Father Maxwell smiled and nodded. "Good. I'll let her know." He turned and slowly hobbled away, leaving Duo alone to his thoughts.

"Wow…" He walked over to a small chair and sat down. "I'm a priest?" He shook his head and then quickly ran to his room. "Maybe I keep a journal or something. Something that will help me out…" He muttered as he franticly searched his room. He looked under the mattress, around his pillow, under the bed, around the nightstand…nothing. Exasperated, he collapsed on his bed and glared at the side table; that's when he saw it. Just under the table was a small switch. He reached forward and pushed it and out swung a small drawer.

"Ha!" Duo laughed. "Why didn't I think of that?" He smiled and sat up. Inside the drawer was a small red book. Duo picked it up and opened it up. Sure enough, it was a journal. He flipped through the pages and finally decided to start at the beginning. Looking at the date he recognized it as the day after the Maxwell Church burned down in his actual timeline. Intrigued, he began to read:

Well, where do I start? The Maxwell Church was burnt down yesterday. I had gone out to the market for Father Maxwell and when I got back the church was on fire! I didn't know what to do! But luckily Father Maxwell and Sister Helen got out okay. They found me in the street and told me that everything was going to be okay. I'm glad I have them. Anyway, the church is ruined now. Nothing survived. Father Maxwell said we can rebuild it but I know it'll never be the same. Right now we're staying with a friend of Sister Helen's until the church can be rebuilt. I hope it happens soon, I don't like this lady. She smells and never smiles. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to wait it out…

Duo chuckled at his 8-year-old self. It had been so long, he had forgotten that there was a time when he was still innocent. He flipped a few pages and settled on a date about seven years later during the summer. Two months before Duo stole Deathscythe from Professor G. and started the war:

Well, here I am again. I know I said I was too grown up to write in this thing anymore, but for some reason it just makes me feel better. The Earth Sphere Alliance has been causing some trouble it seems. They want the colonies to listen to their every command, and they don't want to. I've been approached by a group that calls themselves the Sweepers. They want me to help them with the war. The leader, Professor G., said he has some powerful mobile suit that he calls a Gundam and they want me to pilot it. I've never used a mobile suit before and I don't know if I'll be any good at it. Father Maxwell says I should go. He says it's my destiny. He says that if I go there will be a lesser chance of casualties because I won't allow it. I don't know what I should do…

Duo sighed and leaned back against the wall. "Looks like the war still found me." He muttered gravely. He flipped further in the journal and skimmed some of the entries:

Attacked another OZ base today. Three hundred casualties this time. I know I shouldn't keep a running tally; that it'll only make things harder, but I can't help it. It's in my nature…

Four more casualties. My Gundam fell into a house. They died because of me…

A colony was destroyed today. I don't think I even want to try and count the casualties. It's just too much…

Duo sighed. The entries became shorter and darker the further he read. It brought back horrible memories for him and he nearly closed the book…but one entry stopped him:

I met an interesting character today. I thought I was being the hero and saving the girl…guess I was wrong. This guy was holding a gun at her so I pulled mine on him and what does she do? Hits me! I mean really, there's no respect anymore! I never found out his name, but I know I'll never forget his face…

Duo smiled. So he did meet Heero. He'd never forget that first meeting and it seemed that it occurred in much the same way. "Guess some things really are destiny." He smiled and continued flipping. A knock on his door brought him back to reality…so to speak. He quickly stashed the book and walked to the door. He barely had time to open it before he was tackled hard and landed with a crash on the bed. His war instincts kicking in, Duo threw his attacker to the floor and turned to glare at whoever thought that he would go down so easily and his eyes widened. On the floor was a laughing man with long black hair and bright green eyes.

"Solo?" Duo gasped. It had been so long since Duo had seen his old friend that he could hardly keep from smothering him with an embrace. "Solo, what are you doing here?"

The laughing figure forced himself to calm down and slowly sat up. "We were supposed to meet you for breakfast this morning, remember?" He smirked. "Geez, where'd you learn to do that? You've never thrown me so hard before." He complained rubbing the back of his head.

"Sorry." Duo replied and stood, offering Solo a hand up.

Solo stood and smiled. "It's okay. I'm tougher than that." He winked. "Anyway, you ready to take off?"

Duo smiled warmly. "Absolutely." He could deffenently get used to this world...

Well, that's chapter two! What do you think of Duo's new life? I'll get the other pilots slowly throughout the next few chapters. Please tell me what you think! I love getting advice on my stories.

Thanks so much to my reviewers: Ai no miko500 and anissa32. You guys are great and I hope you're enjoying the story!

Happy Reading!