Hey-o, and welcome to my Lil' World of Weirdness!!

I state for the record that I don't own Gundam Wing, or the wonderful characters that will be gracing this story. . . I do however lay claim to Ensign Saratone *again*, and I use him here purely as a replacement for your average Nameless OZ Minion. Other Characters I lay claim to are Faye Bloom, the wizened old man, Chang Xiao Fao Lan, and the Angels.

Let's just say . . . when my writer's block breaks, it's like a dam breaking . . . [shakes head slowly and winces]

Parings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xM, 6X9, 13xUne, OdinxHelen and hints of DxR and JxG – I know, I know, nobody wants to imagine it, but I kinda think it's fairly cute . . .

Okay, that's the legal stuff out the way!!

Please ENJOY AND PLEASE R&R!!! THANK YOU!!

Also, thanks to my beloved Bluegoo for her ever wonderful betareading, I thank her for the many hours that she has put in with me on this one, be it correcting my terrible grammar and spelling, or listening to me mumbling large chunks of it down the phone to her . . . You're great, Blue!! Even if you are Commander and Chief of the Apostrophe Gestapo . . .

[well, as you can see this chapter was supposed to be last week's update so . . . indulge my laziness for not re-typing this!] IT'S BLUEGOO'S BIRTHDAY TODAY!! YAY!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLUE! YOU'RE THE GREATEST BETAREADER A GAL LIKE ME COULD HAVE!!

Thank you to Two-Mix for the lyrics, I don't own Just Communication!!

//Thinking//

"Speaking"

*Stress/Emphasis*

Writing/Dream sequence

Telepathic thoughts

:: Lyrics ::

~*~

For The Grace Of Knights And Angels

By Doctor Megalomania

Chapter Twenty-One: Musings, Ministrations, Misjudgements

SPECIAL NOTES - ugrh. . . I made the mistake of watching GW: Endless Waltz with the dubbed voices and now I can't get Zechs and Noin's dubs out of my head. . . mental note, watch more GW with subs. It's not that I hate the American voices, it's more like a silent protest against Dubs in general. Well, actually . . . have you heard the voice they gave Wu, Quat, Tro, Duo, and Heero?! Damn, I hate their voices!! Although, I find myself warming to Quat's Dub, only because I've got a sound byte of him going loco. . .and It's FUNNY!!

Mmmm. . . a bit of a citrus hetero waft blowing your way with Wuffers and Nataku. [hides from Clow'd9 squeaking] there WILL be more 1x2 and 3x4 in the next chapter I promise!!

Must resist urge to make reference to M*A*S*H* but thanks go out to CLAMP's for the Invisible String idea, I've built it up here though.

But I can't resist this [points at Armbrust's true form] . . . ho, ho, ho . . . Green Giant.

Eh, I just notice that Jikan is turning into the kid/man/alien from the Corbimite Manoeuvre episode from Star Trek TOS . . . uh oh.

Chapter Twenty-One: Musings, Ministrations, Misjudgements

"How are you feeling?"

"Like a zombie came and sat on me."

Duo groaned quietly as Heero wiped a cloth on his cheeks, "Hey, you realise that stings right?"

"It should, I'm disinfecting the wounds . . . I don't know what kind of diseases the . . ." He paused, the word sounding strange in his mouth, "The . . . Zombies were carrying . . ."

"Heh," Duo snorted, "I don't know . . . you die for a couple of years, don't illness and the like tend to give you the miss?"

"Festering diseases . . . ones that mutate on dead flesh . . ."

"Thanks Heero, seriously, I didn't need to eat for a couple of days."

Heero nodded absently, "Hn."

Duo made a face, smirked at Heero, and then turned his head so Heero could do the other cheek. He stared out the window, "What happened to me, Heero?"

"Pardon?"

"When that thing grabbed me . . . I couldn't fight back, I kept asking why I wasn't fighting but I . . ." Duo's fist balled and hit the futon with a low thud, "But I choked. The mind was willing but the body . . . the body kinda wanted to give up . . ."

His friend shook his head, "I'm not telepathic, I don't know what goes on in your head . . ." He sighed and dipped the cloth in the warm water again, rinsing it before wringing it out again. "Perhaps it was something the soldier was doing, some sort of magic he weaved over you . . . mind control . . ."

"It was something to do with . . ." Duo frowned as he tried to remember. He winced as Heero pressed the cloth against his stinging cheek, "Ouch!" He hissed for a moment, and sighed as Heero murmured a quiet apology, "It was something to do with the thing's . . . eyes, I think . . ."

"What do you mean?"

"It was staring at me . . . like I was responsible for its death . . ." He leant back, closing his eyes. "but how can a stare mean all of that?" He sighed as Heero slowly tugged his braid from under him, the rope of hair was soggy and cold now. "It was staring at me though, its eyes were accusing me silently . . ." Duo bit back a harsh laugh as he consciously tried to relax his tense body, "Never know, he might have been one of Shinigami's victims back in the war . . . I killed a helluva lot of pilots back then."

"That's not something to brag about, Duo."

The two looked up as Helen and Odin stood in the doorway, Helen looked very tired as she shuffled in and sat beside Duo. She picked up his hand, and held it tight. "Are you okay?"

"Sure, mom." Duo teased, and lifted a pale hand and pressed her nose, "I'm okay . . . just tired." He frowned as he took in her appearance, like everyone else; Helen was soaked from being in the rain. Duo sighed, "I think you should get into some warm clothes."

She nodded and raised a hand to touch her own damp hair. "Let me dry your hair and braid it, and then we'll turn in for the night." She glanced up at Odin and Heero, "Thank you . . ."

Odin dipped his head and cuffed Heero. "Come on boy, let the lady do her work."

Heero threw an irritated glance over his shoulder, "What did I tell you?"

Duo snickered as Odin shrugged innocently. Helen shook her head and pulled the band on the end of Duo's braid. She wrapped it around her hand and got up. "Duo, unbraid your hair while I go get a comb and a towel . . ."

Odin blocked her path, "Wait here, I'll get it," He turned to his adopted son, "Odin, you go get some hot tea and something to eat, okay . . .?  I think we could all do with filling our stomachs for the moment." He looked into Helen's eyes, "Don't you think?"

Helen nodded and sat beside Duo. Heero glanced once more at his partner who shrugged, "I guess this is what it's like to have parents, eh . . . *Odin*?"

"Duo. Don't tease people."

"Yes, mom."

Noin frowned with distaste as she and Zechs swept the north of the camp for intruders. "I can't see anything . . ." She muttered quietly, she glanced back to their compound, and sighed. "But those corpses were real enough."

"Indeed." Zechs muttered back. Rashid and his men were split up and searching the west and the south, Trowa and Quatre were checking the east. He poked his rifle into some undergrowth and shone his torch into the thicket. Sighing, he straightened and looked up at her, "Nothing here either."

Noin shivered and shouldered her rifle; she turned her torch on Zechs. He was dressed carelessly, boots thrown on and topped by nothing but loose long shorts and a short white vest, his Preventers' uniform jacket flapping wide open. She too was dressed only in loose white slacks and a green tank top. She shivered again, "We'll get a better look around when the sun comes up." Zechs nodded and went to put his rifle over his shoulder. The man looked at her and paused. He pulled off his uniform jacket and offered it to her, "Noin, you're shivering."

"So?" She frowned and walked past the proffered jacket, "I'll deal with it, when we get back to bed."

"Once a soldier, always a soldier, eh Noin?"

She paused and nodded, "I didn't come out with suitable clothing, I can't complain."

"Of course not." He caught up with her and slipped his jacket over his thin shoulders, "But you can accept a kindness."

Noin sighed and glanced up at him, raising her hand to stroke his cheek, "Milliardo . . ."

"Your hand's cold . . ." He whispered as he tilted his head into her touch, "Lucrezia . . . this can wait until morning. We can do a more thorough search when the sun is up."

Noin glanced into the thick dark forest again. She clenched her jaw once before Zechs pulled at her hand. Dipping her head, Noin yawned, "I'm cold and tired." She looked up and tilted her head at him, "And I'm betting you are too."

He shuffled closer and wrapped an arm around her waist. The pair turned and walked away from the darkness, towards their house. Noin pulled the small radio out of Zechs' coat pocket and sighed as she switched it on.

"North Point, there's nothing here." The static cackled for a moment as Noin sighed, "We're heading back . . . further checks will be done tomorrow. Over?"

On the other side of the compound, Rashid lifted his radio and nodded, "West Point, roger that." He frowned as he glanced over at Abdul. The younger Arab shrugged and shook his head. Rashid turned back to his radio, "There's nothing here either. West Point, turning in, over."

"North point, roger that. Goodnight Rashid."

He nodded again, before flicking a switch on his handset, "South Point report, over?"

"South Point, roger." Ahmed sounded tired and unimpressed, "There's nothing to report. Over."

"Roger." Rashid wiped a hand over his eyes, "Turn in, South Point, I'll report to Master Quatre."

"Over and out." Ahmed severed the contact and Rashid turned the radio to the next frequency.

"East Point, report, over?"

Trowa unclipped the small radio from his belt and brought it up to his mouth, "West Point, we read. There's nothing to report, over."

"Roger. West, South and North repeat that, we're turning in for the night." Rashid paused for a moment. Trowa glanced over at Quatre, who was checking the undergrowth. The blonde boy sat back on his heels and flicked his eyes up at the radio silence. Trowa shrugged. "Do you wish to speak with Commander Winner, over?"

"Roger that."

Quatre smiled slightly and rocked himself on to his feet. He wiped his hands off and handed his torch to Trowa, "Winner, over?"

"Master Quatre," Rashid sounded like he was frowning even more deeply than normal, "I don't like this." The man paused as Abdul murmured something in the background, "We will set up extra security around yourself and your mother. Over."

"Belay that, Rashid." Quatre frowned slightly, "Tomorrow morning, when everyone is well rested; we'll come up with better security." He sighed, "Thank you Rashid . . . please, return to my mother and ensure her safety, Trowa and I will continue to sweep the Eastern point. Over."

There was a squawk of protest from Abdul, as Rashid retorted in a firmer voice, "Master Quatre—"

"And I wish to speak with my angel." Quatre smiled, Trowa glanced over to see his partner cradle the radio to his cheek fondly, "Thank you Rashid. Please go and rest. Over?"

". . . roger that. Goodnight, Master Quatre."

"Good night Rashid, Abdul." Quatre switched the radio off and glanced up at Trowa, "They worry too much sometimes."

"Perhaps." Trowa turned and looked around, "Speaking of our angels," He sighed, "Where did they go?"

"Nataku?"

The brushing stopped and the girl looked up. Wufei stood in the doorway, his features caught in a frown. Meirin sighed, "I'm okay."

"You got scared Nataku, what did they say to you?"

"Nothing."

"Nataku."

She put her brush down with a hard clack and got up. She paced to the window and stared out. "I could hear them asking me to join them." She growled and grabbed the windowsill, "I could hear them whispering how they wanted to kill you all . . . everyone else, everyone like me, they could hear them too . . ."

Her husband's thin fingers travelled up her arms lightly, before resting on her shoulders. Meirin shook her head, she was angry . . . and even she had to admit that she was scared. She turned away from the window, and the comfort her husband silently offered. Wufei watched her for a moment. She stalked over to her bedside table and picked up her hair ribbons. She pulled her hair back tightly, and separated it into her favourite hairstyle. The two ponytails either side of her head made her look fiercer and kept her hair out her face. She winced as she stretched her beautiful black hair hard and tight. Wufei sighed and shook his head, "Nataku."

"I will not choke next time, I . . ." She growled as she laced her blood red ribbons tightly. "I will be able to fight by your side."

"I know you are angry. You're angry because you feel like you shouldn't be able to feel fear, that you should be the strongest."

She turned and looked at him, "When did you discover such wisdom, oh mighty Zen Master Wufei?"

He smiled back at her as he knelt before her. He placed his hands on her knees and slid them up her thighs calmingly. "Nataku, I discovered this because my friends showed me that I couldn't fight a war by myself. Zero showed me that I needed to fight one fight with my friends if I wanted to survive long enough to face my foe." He reached up with one hand and pulled at the bows in her hair, "You are so strong Nataku, I know that. . . you don't need to prove anything to me." As her hair fled loose, it swept like a curtain over the sides of her face, hiding her beauty from everyone else but Wufei. He gazed up at her, running his fingers through her hair slowly, "So very strong, I know that . . ." his fingers brushed though her hair and lightly touched her shoulders, her arms, her chest. Meirin smiled gently as she touched her husband's brow, ran a finger down the side of his face. His black eyes were soft as he gazed at her.

"I love you."

He blinked. Shock slowly spread over his features, so intense as if he had never thought she could. Meirin bit her lip and shook her head; he'd spent so long thinking that she couldn't. Far too long. Meirin slowly slipped from the bed until she was kneeling on his lap. She pulled his body close to her and closed her eyes as she held him. Wufei was still and quiet, his hands resting lightly on her lap.

"Nata. . . ku." He breathed with disbelief, "Nataku."

"I love you." She said again, pulling the tie out of his hair. It fell gently and tickled her nose. It was a little rougher to the touch than hers, and she breathed in the scent of him. "I love you. Wufei, I love you." She smiled slightly as he gently moved his hands up her legs and to her waist. One hand pressed against the small of her back, pressing her closer. "I love you," She repeated gently, "I love you."

Wufei's breath tickled her neck as he brushed his nose against the soft skin under her ear. "Nataku."

"I love you." She tilted her head back, raised her hands up his back to twine her fingers gently in her hair. She leant back and stared into his eyes, "Do you understand me? I love you, Wufei."

For a moment, Wufei leant back. Away from her, he turned his eyes to the window and stared out at the stars for a long moment. Meirin saw pain flash over his eyes for a few moments, battling with joy. Wufei didn't believe her. He couldn't believe her. Her shoulders began to droop, she had to make him believe. She had so many barriers to break in his heart but she needed him to understand this one thing, the new foundation of everything between them now. She loved him.

He blinked slowly and breathed for a moment. He pulled her closer, pressing her body flush with his. "Nataku . . . I'm not—"

"You've always been worthy . . ." A slow smile spread on her lips as she shifted closer to him, "You geek."

A hand shifted from her back to her side as he growled, "I'm not a geek."

She smirked and rolled her hips, "Are too."

Wufei's eyes widened and his hands tightened on her, "Nataku! You . . ." She chuckled gently as he flushed and looked down, "I love you, Nataku. I should have told you." He glanced up, the flush slowly receding. His grip relaxed slightly and he shifted a little. Meirin smiled shyly as she felt his body respond to her. "Wufei . . ."

"I'm sorry," he blushed and looked away, "You've always been so beautiful," He leant forward and pressed his forehead against her shoulder, his voice was muffled as he spoke slowly, "I want you, Nataku."

She rolled her hips again and pressed her lips against the shell of his ear, whispering gently, "I love you . . . Wufei, I want you too."

Wufei opened his eyes and stared at the thin cotton covering his wife's shoulder. For the first time since he'd met her, since she had come back for him, Wufei tipped his head up and pressed his lips hard against hers. Emotions and hormones he'd suppressed for years came rushing back as he pressed his hand against the small of her back, her body arched against his and her hands pressed against the side of his head.

"Nataku . . ." Wufei breathed a little heavily, "We shouldn't . . . it's only . . ." He closed his eyes, and gathered his thoughts, "We've not got—"

"I know . . ." She swallowed and nodded, "I know, I know . . ." She kissed him with a bit of desperation and then slid back. She looked up, "I love you." She raised a hand, and ran a finger down the side of his face, "We'll make it special, my first time with you, candles, wine and everything!"

Wufei chuckled and pulled her close again, "Absolutely . . ." He hugged her tightly, "It will be perfect, the perfect first time for *both* of us." He shuffled and helped her to her feet. They swayed against each other before he shrugged out of his top. Meirin sat on the bed and looked up at him as he stretched and walked over to the window. She smiled slightly as she took in his torso, Wufei's arms and stomach was toned, his upper chest and collarbone was defined and hairless. Her All Knowing Geek wasn't as fat and old as she pretended; her All Knowing Geek was a lithe, handsome man. She blushed and smiled.

Wufei rolled his head and did little things around the room, trying to decide where he was going to sleep. When they had first married, they had slept in the same room but in separate beds, married only on paper. Only a few times had he seen her in her nightclothes. He glanced at her; she was playing gently with her hair, smiling to herself. She was so beautiful. He stood by the window, and stared out. He licked his lips, and turned his head to speak to her.

"Do you want me to sleep on the floor?"

"Don't be silly," Meirin murmured as she got up. She thought for a moment before shucking her light cotton trousers. She stepped behind her husband dressed only in a long shirt she'd borrowed from him and underwear. Meirin smiled as she felt him tense as she wrapped her arms around him, "Come to bed with me, and we can sleep . . ." She squeezed him, "Side by side like Wife and Geek."

He grinned as he playfully glared over his shoulder, "Stop calling me that."

She stepped back, "Make me."

"I'll call you Meirin."

Her eyes narrowed as she stepped back to her bed, "You wouldn't dare . . ."

A slow sexy smile pulled at her husband's lips as he glanced up and down her before licking his lips leisurely and stepping forward.

It felt like a string attached to his finger.

He smiled slightly to himself. The tale was an old one he'd heard when he was a small child. A former federation nurse who'd resigned and joined the Mercenaries out of protest liked to tell him such stories. The short blonde man with sparkling blue eyes seemed so out of place amongst the hard and embittered men and women in their camp. His blue eyes were always so happy; he tried to give everyone a little hope while he treated them. If there was one thing he always regretted, it was that he never knew this man's real name. Nobody ever really knew anyone's real name. He'd always been known by the Japanese word for 'No-name' because one of the higher ranking rebels decided calling 'boy' across camp was too demeaning for both of them, and his high minded Japanese principles wouldn't let him leave the nameless little boy without a name of some sorts. 'Medic' was the only word anyone ever referred to the impromptu field doctor with. Medic was kind, a battered sax his only possession. He wore his hair down to just below his shoulder line; it was a deep goldish brown, closer to chestnut when wet.

Medic had treated him once, and he found himself sitting long into the night listening to the light German baritone of the man as he told the nameless boy of all the fairytales he'd ever known.

There was a belief – Medic had told him – that you were connected to those you cared deeply for by an invisible string around your little finger, and that it tugged and reminded you that your feelings were still there.

Trowa held his hand up as Quatre stumbled slightly.

The light blue eyes softened slightly as Quatre's smaller pale hand squeezed his larger tanned hand. They were making their way over to the angels. Some deep sense of connection was guiding them. The angels weren't far away, and the trek was through a little bit of undergrowth. Trowa pulled Quatre's hand, and steadied him and made sure his face was turned away as he smiled. He indulged in the feel of the smaller boy's hand in his.

Like any of the pilots, Quatre's hand was rough, but there were extra marks. His finger pads on his left were harder from hours of violin playing, little incisions and indents from paper cuts. Trowa smiled to the darkness, as his and Quatre's torchlights illuminated their path.

"Where do you think they are?"

Trowa turned his head, and closed his eyes. He listened as he had earlier, the grasses made sounds of amazement, the trees cooed warmly. "They are ahead of us, not too far."

Quatre looked around, "How can you tell?" He frowned, "I can't see anything."

"Part of my . . ." Trowa frowned slightly and opened his eyes, "I am being trained to. . ." He trailed off again, "I . . ." Quatre's hand squeezed his in encouragement and Trowa paused to face Quatre, "I'm being trained to listen to the wildlife."

"That's amazing, Trowa . . ." Quatre smiled and glanced ahead. "I'm looking forward to learning about how to control time . . . I'm sure it will come naturally one day . . ."

The forest before them was slowly parting, giving way to a glade. In the stillness of the night, voices floated in the air. Quatre frowned at this, they didn't sound like their angels. The three voices were quiet; one was angry, another calming and the third frustrated. The two pilots glanced at each other, and crouched down as they looked through the bushes and the low tree growth.

Three very tall beings stood in the glade.

Quatre's mouth fell open as the tallest, a light green being with long emerald hair stretched upwards to pull at some leaves that hung low. He – for the other two were obviously female – pulled at the branch to inspect it. He stared at it, before turning to the golden female floating in the air. Trowa frowned as he realised that none of the beings actually had human features, aside from large eyes. Aside from the woman in black, they had no mouths, or noses, and it seemed that they were wearing masks. Their 'voices' echoed around the glade.

Time—

No, I understand, Beast. I understand your anger, but please . . . we must uphold our side of the covenant. We cannot pull back. The golden being turned her head to the pale, black haired woman who stood in the shadows. Nor can we offer better protection.

The black haired woman - tall, and dressed entirely in black, violet and silver - shook her head. Though her face was hidden from view by her hood, her hair tumbled all around her. It was as sleek and black as Wufei's, and tumbled down in lazy curls. A sliver chain with many crystal charms was woven into her long locks. Her black robe was trimmed in violet, with silver lining everything. Its hood hid her face, but revealed her blood red lips, white chin and her long pale neck. A black choker surrounded her throat tightly, and her collarbone jutted out. The cloak revealed nothing much, except for the thinness of her waist and the small swell of breast.

She sighed, raising a pale hand to her chin and turned. On her back were carefully folded crow-feathered wings. They were thin and bony, shimmering ebony feathers with dark violet magic as she moved. She paced a little and glanced up, her hood steadily keeping her features hidden. Then there is nothing we can do for them . . .

Only that we shall warn them of any danger. Time murmured, Death . . . there is nothing more we can do . . . The golden woman turned to the green giant, Beast, there is nothing less we can do.

Beast shook his head and stalked away for a moment. He paused suddenly and whipped his head around. He stared directly at Trowa and Quatre, though their forms were hidden from view. He sighed and shook his head, Trowa . . . I will have to teach you to keep the woodlands quiet, when you and your friends attempt to hide . . .

Time unfolded her legs, and landed softly, her golden dragonfly wings fluttering slightly. She chuckled, and shook her head as Trowa and Quatre straightened and walked out. The three angels surround them and stared down. Quatre swallowed and stared up at Time, "Are you Jikan? Is this your true form?"

I am Jikan, I am Time. The golden girl spoke warmly, she dipped her head, causing her golden hair to float all around them. It weaved around her fellow angels and brushed against the boys as she shifted to kneel and float at their level. This is as close to my celestial form as I can get in this plane of existence. She reached out and softly touched Quatre's head, Are you scared?

"No." Quatre answered faintly, the sheer beauty of the angel before him amazed him; she tipped her head and closed her warm eyes. Good.

"Why don't you appear to us like this . . ." He blinked, "All the time?"

Armbrust bent over, resting his hands on his own thighs to steady himself, For one thing it would inconvenient . . . for another. . . The angels began to melt back into their taken human forms once more. Armbrust folded his arms and looked mildly irritated still. Ogama pulled back his hood and Jikan was looked up, his hand outstretched. He smiled and finished Armbrust's sentence, "For another, it would be easier for you to converse with beings that look and sound more like you." He smiled again, "We must converse for a while longer; please bear us with patience and rest yourselves . . . if there is another attack we will warn you, we will bring the weapons with us so you might fight . . ." He stepped back and the other two turned, "We are returning to the shrine . . ."

"Wait."

Quatre knelt by his angel and offered his hand, "We aren't angry that you can't protect us more . . . please don't feel that you should have to care for us as if we were children." Armbrust nodded and Jikan smiled. Quatre glanced at Ogama, "We'll try not to get ourselves killed . . ." Here he smiled, taking the sting out of the words that followed, "Although any help you would give us would be wonderful."

Ogama nodded and turned away from him. Jikan took his hand and squeezed it. "Please Quatre . . . return to your home, there are no threats to you at this present time. It is safe to sleep."

Quatre nodded once more, "Will you arrive safely at the shrine?"

"Of course." Jikan nodded, he glanced at Armbrust. The green-eyed angel nodded back to Jikan and reached into the air. With a small explosion of green tinted magic, the hawk reappeared, "Take the hawk . . ." Armbrust held it out to Trowa, "And send it back when you arrive at your home."

"Of course." Trowa tipped his head and turned away. Quatre glanced back once at his angel before heading after Trowa. The taller former pilot paused and turned his head slightly, "Safe journey."

"Safe Journey." The angels whispered as they faded from reality.

Quatrine looked up as Trowa and Quatre walked in. She glanced out the doorway in time to see a flurry of white feathers float in the air, before being whisked away. She sighed and reached out to her son. "Quatre, are you okay?"

"Fine mother," Quatre yawned, "Why aren't you asleep?"

"You had us worried," Faye walked in with steaming mugs, she placed one in Quatre's hand and the other in her son's. "Sit," she ordered quietly, "Drink that, and then go to bed . . . it's late."

Quatrine rose from her seat and touched her son's head, "We're going to sleep. . ." She paused and glanced at Faye, there's only one bed available, "So I hope you two don't mind sharing . . ."

Trowa shook his head, as Quatre sipped his drink and swallowed. He smiled tiredly up at his mother, "We don't mind, we've done it often enough during the war. . ."

Faye and Quatrine shared a look of small amusement before nodding and shifting out the room, with quiet goodnights and wishes of sweet dreams. Quatre and Trowa looked at each other before Quatre whispered, "You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not."

His blonde companion smiled, "Well then, that's that."

Helen smiled as she ran her fingers over Duo's hair. She hummed quietly, stooped and picked up the bowls. Heero was in the other room, washing up and she took the plates they had eaten from out to the dark haired boy. Odin was checking his gun, moving the cross hairs into alignment and checking his clips. Duo sat still for a moment, watching the man. Watching his movements.

The man had been a terrorist for a very long time but a soldier even longer. Duo frowned as he noticed the same flicks of the wrist that he'd known Heero to use. The man cleaned his gun the same way Heero did. He sat slightly less rigidly than Heero did but Duo could only guess that was because while Odin Lowe had taught Heero the basics of his fighting knowledge, Doctor J ensured everything was performed with exacting efficiency.

Odin's hands slowed and paused. Duo blinked and looked up to find the man staring at him. Odin nodded, "Trying to figure out who I am?"

Duo grinned, "Of course, you're sharing with my only mother . . . I don't intend to allow you to get away with anything."

"I'll take care of her." Odin went back to cleaning, "Helen is a wonderful woman; I haven't had the chance to settle down in such a normal environment before."

"Really?"

"You don't sound very convinced," Odin chuckled, he paused again and looked at Duo, "Think I'm going to shame her?"

"Possibly."

"Honest." Odin nodded, "I like that. Reminds me of the good old days, when everything was on the table." He resumed his cleaning for a moment longer before murmuring softly to himself, "Of course, them days don't exist anymore . . . even when I was a live the times were changing . . ." He sighed, his hands stilling, "We were both sort of lucky. . . I died at the beginning of the changes, you came and ended them . . ." Odin Lowe shifted so he was facing Duo. The violet-eyed boy stared at him for a moment; Odin's posture dictated that he was about to say something significant. Duo noted that Odin didn't really seem aware of this, and that it probably wasn't contrived. Duo relaxed slightly, his suspicions quieting.

Odin sighed, "I'll lay it out for you, Duo. Your mother is a wonderful woman, and I think I'd kinda like to have the whole package. I've got a son who I've come to love a lot. It's peace time now, I don't have any more jobs to take, no more sniper jobs. . ." He chuckled, "You know I might even sign up for these Preventers, do a desk job for once." Duo nodded, watching him intently as he continued also knowing his last words for a lie; like Heero, Lowe might turn his hand to anything – but never a 'desk job' for long. "But there comes a time when you just want that little bit more. For some guys it's money, others it's the job . . . for me, sonny, it's a woman."

"Any woman will do?"

Odin shook his head, his eyes softening, "Just the one . . . but then there's your feelings, eh? I'm sure you don't want to share your mom with just any guy."

Duo chewed his lip for a moment, "Nope . . ." He shrugged, "I'm not one to control who Mom sees or doesn't, but I'd like the chance to make sure they don't try to hurt her."

"I'd protect her with my life, and my after life."

Duo blinked, "That serious, eh?"

The dark blonde haired man nodded and raised his glass, sipping from it. "My son Odin gets his one-track mind from me."

A smile tugged at Duo's lips, "Then I know she's safe."

"And how can you help our cause? Will you entreaty God to assist us?"

The dapple-grey hair of the elderly man seemed slightly matted, stained by blood that had seeped from his scalp. Crusts of dried blood were still visible in the corner of the man's eyes, and his dark green eyes were more than just dead. Barton didn't feel at all at ease around this man . . . in fact the priest looked more evil than Barton felt was necessary. He shrugged off his unease though, unwilling to seem weak before the older man. "Well, Padre?"

"My name is Father Rowan Maxwell."

"Maxwell?" Quinze spoke up, "One of the Gundam pilots is called Maxwell, a Duo Maxwell . . ." The white haired man raised an eyebrow, "Are you related?"

Rowan Maxwell swivelled his head slowly toward Quinze, staring at the man for a long unsettling moment before answering, "Does he have purple eyes and long hair?"

"Twisted into a braid and wears priest garb?" Mueller nodded, "I've heard of that one . . . he flew the black Gundam, Zero Two."

Alex nodded, "Yeah . . . he called himself and the machine Shinigami. . ."

Rowan's dark green eyes flittered towards them and then he slowly turned his head toward them. His eyes narrowed, cruel in a face that was obviously once extremely kind. The gentle laughter lines and the slightly tanned complexion of a man who worked hard for his church, for the children in his care were a terrifying counterpoint to the man's eyes. The darkened green eyes were cold, cold like deepest space. They contradicted the innate gentleness of the man, a harsh contrast between what he had been and now what he had become. "Shinigami? Then yes . . . I did know him . . . I *raised* him . . ." Thin, pale lips curled with disgust as the man spat, "And I obviously didn't raise him well enough if he continued the war . . ." Rowan started to tremble with anger, his thin old hands clenching as he brought his chilling gaze back to Barton.

"I want him dead . . ."

Barton's eyebrows rose at the dark vehemence in the older man's voice.

". . . and I want to kill him myself . . ."

Quinze grinned slowly, as Alex and Mueller started to chuckle darkly.

Rowan's hands bleed from where his nails pierced his palms as he hissed, "He had no right to survive and fight the damned war while the rest of us died . . ."

-------

And Now It's Time To LEAVE IT TO DOCTOR MEGALOMANIA!!!

DrM: Evil Father Maxwell!! EEEEEEVIIIILLLLLLL!!!

Rowan: I just want Duo dead. . . is that so bad?

Duo: YES!!

DrM: let's move on to happier things like. . . Bluegoo's birthday toda—[remembers that this was last week's update] last Friday!! YAY!! [Motions the cast of Knights and Angels over] Everyone, on the count of three. . .

All: [singing] For she's a jolly good Beta, for she's a jolly good Beta! For she's a jolly good Betaaaaaaaaaa. . . and nobody can deny!! [pull party poppers] HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLUEGOO AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS!!!

Blue: AAAAAAAAAARGH I'm MELLTTIIINNGG!!!!. . . . #_#

Duo: What if I give you my last Rolo? Will you still hate me?

Rowan: [chomps on Rolo] Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. . . [Swallows] . . . yes.

Duo: Damnit all to hell!