Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but my original characters and the plot I have devised. Thanks to all those who have reviewed and I hope you'll continue and while I mourn the loss of readers who were thinking this was going to be a focused 6/9 I understand completely lol. Anyway please read and review cause I'd love to hear from u.

The Pilot Gets A Puppy

It had been a month since they'd decided to start teaching each other their various skills and Noin couldn't remember the last time she'd worked so hard or had such fun either. One of the reasons she'd never tried to move through the ranks so much had been that she'd enjoyed being an instructor, teaching the cadets, learning from them as they absorbed the information she was giving them. Wufei was quite close to being an ideal student, Noin thought with a small smile as she twirled a pen in between her fingers. He worked so hard at whatever they were doing and gave it his all, never trying to weasel out of doing the work or giving up until he'd mastered the hurdle put in front of him. It helped that Wufei had a gift for languages to begin with but still his rapid progress was amazing to watch. He was also a surprisingly good teacher as well which had come as a surprise to her as she'd assumed he'd be quite the taskmaster. Of course she'd always been a bit of a teacher's pet to begin with, Noin thought with a sheepish smile on her face. She'd practice more then he'd assigned until she could do whatever he was teaching her as perfect as possible, studying up things he'd told her or that were related to sword fighting to impress him with her knowledge. She'd always been an overachiever but with Wufei you wanted to be because a compliment from him was better then a hundred thoughtless words of praise. Because he meant it, Noin thought with a smile, remembering how he'd told her she was improving beyond his expectations. With Wufei you knew that he wouldn't waste time saying something nice unless he meant it because he wasn't the type to open his mouth unless he felt it was necessary to add his two cents in. In other words if he took the time to praise you you were obviously deserving of it.

Glancing at the clock Noin blinked when she realized what time it was. She was suppose to be going out to lunch with Sals and if she didn't hurry she was going to be late meeting Sally in her office and then Wufei was sure to give her the look that said women as if women were the only ones who were occasionally late for anything, Noin thought with a roll of her eyes as she got up from her seat and grabbing her purse headed out the office door. Of course Wufei was always prompt or called ahead to say he was late which was likely why he got annoyed when other people didn't do the same. It was weird really but Noin was actually starting to be able to understand the man complicated as he was. She'd never really tried to get to know him before even though they'd been working in the same building for over half a decade. Then again they'd met when Wufei destroyed the base she was working on and had spared her life only because she was a woman which wasn't exactly the way to start a friendship. But they were friends now even though neither of them had said anything along those lines, they'd just slipped seamlessly into them. He knew she was allergic to peanuts and she knew that he despised horror and movies. He knew that she loved animals and she knew that he'd never had a pet in his life because he'd spent most of his childhood in a boarding school but intended to get a dog when he could move into his new house. Poor Wufei and his house, Noin thought with a shake of her head as she absently returned a wave as she walked down the always crowded hallway. Some of the wiring in the house had proved to be older then they'd originally believed and now it was having to be rewired and some of the furniture Wufei had ordered still hadn't come in yet so he was still at the house though he was suppose to be moving in shortly. Noin hoped so too because Wufei was not a patient man and she suspected that if things didn't hurry up he'd be tempted to take one of his blades to the people responsible. Arriving at Sally and Wufei's office Noin knocked then hearing a come in walked in to see Wufei at his desk typing away while Sals was on the phone. Waving slightly at Wufei when he looked up to see who it was Noin was surprised when he gave a small wave hello instead of his usual curt nod before going back to work with his glasses giving him their usual scholarly look.

Returning back to his work Wufei watched Noin take a seat on the corner of Sally's desk out of the corner of his eye before giving the computer his full attention. She was right on time but then Lucrezia was usually punctual, something that he appreciated as he hated to be kept waiting for anything. Then again he was finding things to like about her character that he'd never realized she'd had to begin with. He'd been surprised at how good a teacher and student she was. Though he'd already known she was reasonably intelligent and hardworking he hadn't realized how prone she was to put her heart and soul into everything she did whether it was learn how to identify swords or bake cookies for the little boy down the hallway. It really hadn't surprised him that she could cook after the potluck at his house but it had surprised her that after being up likely around seven in the morning and ending it at around nine she would still take the time to make cookies for the boy so that he would have something to take to school for his class bake sale. He'd learned that the boy, who's parents were divorced was often to be found in Lucrezia's apartment on weekends having become a stand in mother as the woman rarely made the effort to come see her son. He thought it was commendable that she would take the time to give the boy her attention even when he would guess she'd rather be laying on the couch resting. She really did work too hard sometimes, likely because she was always taking on more then she could handle as if she needed to prove that she could. Of course she told him he worked too much too, Wufei thought with a small smirk, more then aware that she was right but with no intention of changing the habit anytime soon.

"Hey, Noin. Sorry to keep you waiting." Sally said after hanging up the phone, smiling at her friend before looking over at Wufei who appeared hard at work though there was the strangest little half smile, half smirk on his face. Now why on earth would he be smiling considering normally he would scowl or frown at the screen, especially when she knew he was just punching in numbers. Then again Wufei had seemed lighter lately, like he had more energy and life to him then usual. If it had been anyone but her partner she might have thought that perhaps there was a lady in his life but it was her partner and Wufei didn't notice girls in that way. He had yet to be on a date in all the years she'd known him or at least that she knew about. Wufei was such a private person he wouldn't be the type to say anything but one of the guys would have caught on and told her. Then again maybe it was catching, Sally thought with a shrug as she wandered over to grab her purse so that she and Noin could head out. Hilde and Duo were all moony over each other, Quatre was back from a quickie vacation fully recharged so maybe their good moods were just rubbing off on Wufei. Shrugging Sally scooped up her purse. "We're heading out, want me to grab you anything on the way back? Knowing you you'll still be in that seat having never left for lunch." Sally said with a hint of disapproval since in her opinion Wufei skipped way too many meals.

"I'll get something." Wufei said looking up, blinking owlishly for a moment having been staring at the screen too long. Then reading his partner well enough Wufei frowned and rolled his eyes. "Fine, mother. I promise I'll get something to eat before you get back. Happy now?" Wufei said putting emphasis on mother, promise and happy now making Noin chuckle at the look on his face. Hearing her laugh Wufei's eyes slid over to Noin's, rested there a moment before going back to Sally. He liked her laugh, Wufei thought absently to himself, even better then the annoyed look Sally was sending him like a mother hen with a chick who wasn't falling in line the way she wanted him too, Wufei thought with a hint of another smile.

"Oh bite me." Sally said with a roll of her eyes before heading out of the room with Noin behind her, both calling out good byes which Wufei returned before getting out of his seat to walk over to Sally's desk, taking out one of the gumdrop candies she kept in a dish on her desk. Popping it into his mouth he walked back over to the computer and went back to typing having eaten "something."

Two days later

Getting out of the car Noin and Wufei walked onto the dirt lane way then headed towards the barn as directed. They were here to check out an add for free puppies Noin had seen in the paper a few days ago. Since she'd remembered he'd said something about wanting a dog and that the house would be done by the end of the week she'd shown him the notice to see if he was interested in checking it out. He'd decided he'd check it out and Noin had volunteered to go with him since they'd planned a reading lesson and lunch after it anyway. So here they were and Noin couldn't wait to see the adorable bundles of fur while Wufei was wondering how a grown woman could be so excited over something so simple. They were just puppies for Christ sakes. Walking side by side they were met by the farmer who waved at them, Noin returning the wave while Wufei just stuck his hands into the pockets of his tanned shorts. "You'd be the couple looking for a puppy that phoned earlier?" The farmer asked with a warm smile, his face wrinkled and well lived in as well as being tanned brown by the sun. They were an interest pair with the woman being slightly taller looking quietly pretty with black shorts and a no sleeved purple shirt that went well with her eyes. She was good looking all right even if her hair was shorter then a boy's, something he never could understand. Why her young man's hair was longer, pulled back in a ponytail though he didn't strike the farmer as an artistic type. No this boy reminded him of a cat, graceful with power hidden away till it was time to strike. The man was as casually dressed as the woman with the shorts and black t-shirt but he'd lay money the boy wasn't as comfortable in casual as the girl was. The man was looking around like he hadn't been on a farm anytime in recent memory while the woman seemed to fit in with the setting more. Just like the two seemed to fit together, their strides matching each other perfectly and their was an air about them, yes sir they were a nice if unusual pair.

Both blinking at the idea of being called a couple Noin was the first one to collect her wits. "Ah yes, Mr. Matthews, I'm Noin and this is my friend Wufei..the dog's for him." Noin said with a smirk thinking the idea of being mistake for a couple a bit humorous now that she thought about it.

"Well then welcome you two, the puppies are right inside." The farmer said with a smile before leading them into the barn which smelled of hay, dirt and of course the animals houses in there. Well maybe they weren't a pair yet..or just didn't know it yet, the farmer thought to himself with a grin as he talked about the puppies, how old they were and their pedigree. Careful where they walked the farmer lead them over to a stall laid with fresh hay where a large golden brown female cocker spaniel lay with six puppies around her.

"Awwwwwwwwwwwwww they're so adorable." Noin said with a gooey look in her eye that made Wufei's jaw almost hit the wood floor as he watched the dignified and tomboy soldier get down on her knees to go all girlie on him over the animals. Though they were rather cute, Wufei would admit he couldn't see why that should make a grown woman start cooing and baby talking the one she'd picked up. "Look at her, Wufei. Isn't she adorable?" Noin said as she held the puppy out to Wufei to look over. The puppy, almost three weeks old looked at Wufei and at Noin's encouragement took the puppy from her while Noin got her hands on another one and started cooing over it too.

"If I were to make a suggestion I'd say that this little guy is the one you want." The farmer said as he came over to stand between Wufei and Noin as Wufei set the puppy Lucrezia had given him earlier back into the hay. Looking over at the puppy Wufei accept the wiggling ball of fur in his cupped hands while Noin let her puppy go as well to look the puppy over as the farmer stepped back to let them look the puppy over. Standing beside Wufei, leaning against him to get a better look they made quite an interesting picture.

"He has such cute floppy ears and look at those big brown eyes." Noin said with a laugh, noticing that the dog's ears were slightly longer then his brothers and sisters. The puppy was white with black splotches all over him with one around his eye so that he looked like he had a patch over it. The puppy had stopped moving and was simply staring at the two of them as though he were transfixed with their faces..either that of he knew that Wufei would never get a dog that never stopped moving. "He likes you." Noin announced with a smile, touched by the way Wufei was looking at the puppy, with a mixture of longing, uncertainty and pleasure. "He has my vote."

"He appears to be in good health and well mannered enough considering how old he is." Wufei said with a smirk as the puppy had lost interested in staying still now that he had Noin's vote and was back to wiggling, it's tail wagging happily it the air. "Why are you giving them away if I might ask?" Wufei wanted to know as he looked over at the farmer questioningly. "If they're purebreds as you say then they could be worth a fair amount of money would they not?"

"Very true but I always give my puppies away for free because that tends to draw out the people who need the puppies the most." The farmer said with a knowing look in his eye. It was obvious that the young man had made his choice and it was just as obvious that the man would love and take good care of the puppy. He was never wrong about these types of things. "If you put a price tag on them then you attracted people who are interested in the dog as a thing, not as a person. You give them away for free you draw the people who want a dog to love and play with."

"Well I think Patch is perfect for you." Noin said with a decided look on her face. If Wufei didn't get Patch he was an idiot and she'd be telling him so constantly until he bout Patch which only a moron wouldn't see that they were perfect for each other.

"Patch? You've named my dog already?" Wufei demanded to know giving her a disgruntled look at the fact that she'd named the dog. Of course it was a rather apt name given the dog's face but that didn't change the fact that the right to chose the dog's name was his and his alone. It wasn't like he would be their dog in which case she would have some small say.

"Well look at him, he just screams to be called Patch." Noin pointed out with a grin, not the least put out by his frown. "Hey at least my name isn't some sissy name like Cuddles or Fluffy. There's nothing wrong with the name Patch."

"What kind of a sadist calls their dog Fluffy?" Wufei wanted to know and hearing the dog whimper looked down at it reassuringly, as if the dog really thought there was a chance he'd end up with some stupid sissy name. "Don't worry, Patch. No sissy name for you...damn it." Wufei said realizing that he'd just called the dog by Lucrezia's chosen name. "Fine then..Patch it is. Will it be possible for him to stay here for a few more days? I'm moving into a new house at the end of the week and its likely better that we introduce him to the house minus the power tools." Wufei said dryly.

"Of course, not a problem." The farmer said holding out his hand, approving Wufei's firm handshake. Maybe he wasn't a country boy but this boy had used his hands and used them well. Shaking Noin's hand as well the farmer watched them reluctantly leave Patch with him and head back up the lane way to the car. "That there is your new family, Patch." The farmer said as he waved good bye as the pair drove off. "I think you'll suit each other real fine."