Rain on the Roses
Chapter 8:Tragedy
By Starlight – x1

Relena stood in the middle of her old bedroom and took a deep breath, steeling herself for the job ahead.

"You sure you're ready to do this, Princess?" A hand touched her shoulder gently.

Relena turned and smiled up at Duo. "I don't think I'll ever get any more ready then I am right now." She answered honestly.

"Okay." Duo let his hand rest on her shoulder for a moment longer. "Well, just tell me what you want me to do."

"I've already got most of Heero's clothes boxed up. They need to be moved downstairs so they're ready for pickup by the charity organization I donated them to."

"I'm on it." Duo flexed his muscles playfully, bringing a smile to Relena's face. He winked at her as he easily lifted a box and exited the room.

Relena turned to look about the room again. Packing Heero's clothes had been the easy part. Now she had to go through his personal belongings. She approached the dresser and pulled open the top drawer.

00000

Quatre ran his hand through his hair as he looked over several proposals. Outside his window the colony's artificial sunlight shone brightly. A buzz from his intercom interrupted him. Absently Quatre reached out and answered his secretary without looking up from the papers in front of him. "Yes Mary?"

"You have a call." His secretary informed him.

"Patch it through." He answered.

"Yes sir."

The screen of his vidphone flickered on.

"Hello," Quatre continued looking over the proposals. "I'll be with you in just a moment."

"Quatre."

He looked up, startled. "Relena!"

She smiled back at him through the vidphone. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail and she was dressed in an oversized tee shirt. Her face was flushed and her eyes shone with suppressed tears.

"Is everything all right?" Quatre could feel his concern rising.

"Yeah." She nodded and swallowed. "I was just going through some of Heero's things." She paused, biting her lower lip before looking at him again. "I just wanted to tell you that I love you." A single tear escaped from her right eye and made its way slowly down the smooth curve of her cheek.

Quatre reached out toward his vidphone, tracing the tear line while wishing he could actually touch her. "I love you too. I wish I could be there with you."

"No, no, it's not that. I'm fine going through Heero's stuff." Relena scrubbed at her eyes with the heels of her hands and took a deep breath. "I, uh, I found something um, addressed to me. It just made me happy and sad all at the same time…" She trailed off and sighed. "I don't know if I can explain it."

"That's all right sweetheart." Quatre hastened to assure her. "You don't have to explain anything, as long as you're okay."

"Thanks." Relena answered. She smiled then. "I shouldn't have bothered you in the middle of work. I'll let you go now."

"You can call me anytime. It's never a bother." Quatre replied.

"Thanks." Relena said again. "I'll talk to you soon. Bye." She disconnected the vidphone.

Quatre sat deep in thought. Relena's phone call had brought with it a sense of relief. Even with how far their relationship had progressed he still sensed there was something of herself she was holding back, some heaviness weighing on her spirit that wouldn't allow her to be completely free around him.

He grinned wryly. Duo had put it quite succinctly when he'd stated: "Well buddy, good luck. Heero's a tough act to follow. That guy was in a class all to himself."

Yes, Heero was in a class all to himself. But then, so am I. Quatre reached for the phone. Whatever Relena had found it had made her happy. Even so, some flowers would be nice.

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Relena disconnected the vidphone and looked again at the letter she held in her hand. "You always were prepared for any eventuality weren't you, Heero." She felt another wave of tears threaten to surface and held them back with some difficulty. Heero had hidden the letter in a place he knew she would only look after his death. She sniffed softly and dabbed at her face with a tissue. Reading the letter had brought a flood of tears but had also dissipated the burden of guilt she'd felt ever since she'd started dating Quatre. She opened the letter and reread a certain portion again.

"I wouldn't ever leave you willingly but if I do I want you to know that what I want most for you is your happiness. If someone comes along after I'm gone who can put a smile on your face and make you glow then don't hesitate. Live for me, baby."

Relena sniffed again. Heero had known her so well, even down to predicting she would feel guilty about having another romantic relationship after his death.

"I will live, for as long as I possibly can." She smiled and slipped the letter back into its envelope.

Hey Relena," Zechs peered into the room. "Are you okay?" He asked with the caution of a man unsure of his footing, edging around what he considered dangerous ground.

Relena looked up at him and smiled. "Yes I'm fine. Thanks for worrying about me."

"I can't hardly help it. You're my sister."

Relena stood and stretched, arching her back. "You make it sound like a bad thing." She teased.

"Definitely not." Zechs gave a wry smile.

"Well, shall we go?" Relena asked him. "It's probably time for dinner."

"Sure, come on." Zechs slipped an arm about his sister's shoulders.

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Sally sat looking over reports. The headache that throbbed right behind her eyes had left her very irritable. The irritation had been exacerbated by the reports she was reading. Nothing. Group Vengeance had faded out of the picture, appearing briefly to shoot a senator but then nothing.

It didn't help that they had left the only place Preventer knew to look for them. The base Middie had infiltrated had been abandoned right after she had left.

The door to her office opened and Wufei entered. He eyed her critically for a moment. "You look like hell." He stated bluntly.

"Thanks a lot." Sally closed her eyes and pressed her fingers against her temples, feeling her pulse throb in steady, painful beats.

"Headache?"

"In more ways then one." Sally resisted the urge to lay her head down on her desk and cry. She was strong; there was no way she was going to let some blasted hormones get the best of her. This headache was really making it difficult though.

"Did you take anything?"

"You know that doesn't work for me." Painkillers had never helped. She'd finally given up even taking them.

"Woman, you are too stubborn."

His voice suddenly next to her ear startled her. She opened her eyes just as he lifted her from her chair. "Wufei!" She grabbed at him, startled even more.

"Be still." He ordered but she could see the hint of a smile around the edges of his mouth. "I won't drop you." He carried her over to the couch she often used when working late instead of going home. Carefully he laid her down. She blinked up at him as he stared down at her for a moment. "I'll be right back. Don't move." He ordered and turned abruptly. Sally watched him exit her office and closed her eyes.

She must've dozed because the next thing she knew was someone was lifting her head and something warm was placed under her neck. "Wufei?"

"I told you before, you push yourself too hard." Wufei laid a hand on her forehead. His fingers were cold in comparison to whatever he'd placed under her neck. The contrast felt good.

"That feels good." She sighed feeling the heat ease the tension she hadn't even known was in her neck muscles.

Wufei straightened and crossed his arms. "Maybe next time you'll listen when I tell you to take a break."

Sally opened one eye, feeling her humor spark back to life as the headache waned. "And miss having you baby me?"

Wufei scowled down at her. "Pull this again and I'll get permission to have you sedated so you sleep."

Sally sat up like a shot. "You wouldn't dare…" She caught the amusement in his dark eyes and frowned at him. "That wasn't nice."

He smirked at her. "Maybe not."

"You're hard to figure out sometimes." Sally lay back down.

"Sleep." Wufei went over to her desk and began straightening the paperwork scattered across its surface.

Sally obeyed.

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Hilde gave a sigh and stretched out her legs. Her folded hands rested comfortably on her swollen abdomen. Tall trees shaded the bench where she sat and a light breeze played with her dark curls. Beside her Pagen stood looking somewhat incongruous in a light jacket, tee shirt and khakis instead of his normal suit. She looked up at the elderly butler and patted the bench beside her. "Why don't you sit down?" She offered.

"Thank you Miss Hilde, but I'm fine." Pagen bowed his head slightly towards her and then returned to scanning the area.

Hilde shook her head and found herself looking about the small play area for her daughter. Leann was carefully climbing the steps of a small slide, her hands gripped the railings tightly and her face was screwed into a look of utter concentration as she put one foot up a step and then the other. Behind her Middie stood, one hand extended in case the little girl had problems. Leann made it to the top of the slide, sat down and scooted forward until she went flying down the plastic incline. A smile brightened her little face and she hurried to repeat the process.

Middie had gone to push Eddie in a child swing. "Are you okay?"

"Uh-huh." Leann began her slow climb again. "I don't need help."

Hilde smiled. The idea of taking the children to a park had been just the excuse she needed to get out of the house. She'd packed Leann and a picnic lunch in to the car and had driven over to collect Eddie. Pagen had met her at the door dressed in casual clothes with Eddie on one side and Middie on the other. The petite blonde had been visiting and offered to come along as the "active babysitter." Hilde had agreed and the five had headed for small park Hilde had visited with Leann before.

Now Hilde leaned back against the bench watching as Pagen went to take over pushing Eddie while Middie supervised Leann. The entire area was void of visitors save their small group so Hilde's attention was drawn to a lone figure walking slowly around the park area. A young man by all appearances, he was handsome with dark hair and blue eyes almost to the point of being pretty. His gaze flickered over the entire group before returning to Middie. Hilde grinned to herself. Her friend was gorgeous. She watched the young stranger pause. She could almost hear him weighing the pros and cons of approaching the young blonde woman. Finally he seemed to discard the idea and began walking again. When he drew near enough for her to speak to him without yelling she did so. "Hey!"

He jerked as if startled, looked around before focusing on her. "Hello."

"She's pretty isn't she?" Hilde asked, nodding toward Middie.

Again the young man looked startled and then a slow smile spread over his face. "Yeah, she is."

"Just a bit of advice. I wouldn't want you to get up the nerve to ask her out only to get shot down. She's already taken." Hilde could feel the corners of her mouth twitch with the amusement she was feeling.

"Oh, I see." He looked over at Middie again. "Boyfriend?" The question was casual.

"Something more permanent then that I'm afraid." Hilde shifted slightly on the bench. "She's married."

"I see." He said again. There was a pause. "That her kid?"

Hilde focused on Leann again. "No, she's mine." She felt a familiar surge of pride as she claimed Leann as her own.

"Hmm. Well it was nice talking to you." The young man moved off.

Hilde let the smile she'd been suppressing loose as she imagined Middie's reaction when she told her about her admirer.

A sharp pop startled her and she looked up to see Middie crumple to the ground, red staining her shirt. Leann stood next to her, eyes growing wide. Hilde half rose, her first instinct to run to her daughter, as she looked around for the threat. She saw the young stranger, arm lowering. In his hand he held a gun with a silencer attached. "Oh god." Hilde felt her breath catch in her throat. Suddenly he raised his arm again and there was another pop. Hilde glanced over and saw Pagen collapse, one hand reaching inside his jacket, while his other reached for Eddie. As Pagen hit the ground Leann began to wail loudly, joined by Eddie.

The stranger's attention turned toward her and Hilde froze. For a moment he pointed the gun at her his face twisted with a variety of emotions she couldn't read. Then he lowered the gun. In a few long strides he was next to Eddie and scooped the little boy up. Eddie's wails turned panic stricken, fearful. The young man reached down again and pulled a gun from under Pagen's jacket.

"Nooo!" Hilde cried out, released from her paralysis.

"Don't follow me." The young man glanced at her and then began running. In a moment he was gone, taking Eddie with him, the little boy's cries dying away in the distance.

"Mama, Mama!" Leann was next to her then, burying her face in Hilde's side. "Aunt Middie's hurt. She's bleeding Mama."

"Oh dear god." Hilde looked around her, feeling a sense of unreality closing about her. She shook her head; she had to remain calm. One hand cradling her daughter comfortingly against her she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and automatically punched in a number as she moved forward to check on her two friends.

"Leann honey, you have to let go of me." She instructed as calmly as she could as she knelt next to Middie. Leann released her death grip but continued to cry. Hilde switched her cell to her other hand, pressing it against her left ear and reached out with her right hand to check Middie's pulse. It was steady. The bullet appeared to have struck her in the shoulder. Hilde shrugged out of the short sleeve shirt she wore open over a sleeveless one and pressed it down on Middie's wound.

As Hilde watched Middie's eyes fluttered open. "What happened?"

"You were shot in the shoulder."

Middie reached over with her right hand and pressed the shirt against her own shoulder. "I'll hold it." She spoke through gritted teeth.

"Okay." Hilde nodded.

"Hello?" The masculine voice in her ear startled her somewhat though she had been expecting it.

"Wufei, this is Hilde. Someone just shot both Pagen and Middie before grabbing Eddie and running off."

There was a curse. "Where are you?"

Hilde told him. "Middie's been shot in the shoulder. I'm going to check Pagen right now." Rising awkwardly she headed to where Pagen lay unmoving. She could hear Wufei's voice speaking faintly to someone else, giving orders. She touched Pagen's neck. His pulse was faint and erratic. "Oh god." She breathed.

"What?" Wufei asked, voice sharp.

"It's Pagen. He was shot in the chest." Blood was everywhere. "I've got to stop the bleeding."

Wufei cursed again. "We're on our way."

"Hurry." Hilde heard the click of the phone in her ear and set her cell down to concentrate on Pagen.

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Duo burst through the doors of the hospital. He stormed to the desk, startling the nurse on duty. "Where are they?"

"Who sir?" The young woman looked surprised.

Duo nearly said "My wife" but realized that the nurse wouldn't have the slightest clue who his wife was. He took a deep breath forcing himself to calm down. "Two gunshot patients were brought in not too long ago." He said speaking slowly. "Where are they?"

"Their names?"

"Middie Barton and…"

"Duo." A familiar voice interrupted him. He whirled about.

"Sally!" In a couple strides he was standing next to her. "Where are they?"

"Follow me." Sally led him to a waiting area. Hilde was sitting cradling Leann close. The little girl had her thumb in her mouth, a habit they had recently broken her of. Duo felt a wave of relief sweep over him as he hurried toward the two most precious people in his life.

Leann saw him first. "Daddy!"

Hilde looked up and Duo saw the grief in her eyes. "Duo!" She struggled to her feet and then he was clasping them both in his arms, holding them tight against him. Hilde let out a couple hard sobs. "He's dead, Duo."

"Who babe?" Duo felt his stomach clench.

"Pagen, I couldn't save him." Hilde had her face buried in his shirt front.

Duo squeezed her tighter. "Shh, it's all right." He soothed, though his voice cracked slightly. "I know you did what you could."

"Daddy, Daddy," Leann tugged on his braid, trying to get his attention.

"What Pumpkin?" Duo looked at his little girl.

"A bad man took Eddie away." Her eyes filled with tears. "He was crying."

Duo gave her a kiss on the forehead. "It'll be all right honey." He stood, swaying as he rocked both his girls back and forth. "It'll be all right."

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A/N: This story took a totally different turn then I was expecting. This chapter especially surprised me in more ways then one. A few things that I wasn't expecting happened and something I was expecting to happen didn't. Well, let me know what you think. As always I appreciate all my readers and reviewers very much.