Author's Notes: Here is the much needed update. I hope now after all of these years, I can actually finish this story along with my other one. A lot has been going on the last time I updated and hopefully I can get things back on track and finish these two stories that I have come to enjoy writing."So she's back?" Mina asked Rei as she was sitting in their kitchen while eating spaghetti.
Rei shrugged her shoulders as she glanced up at the clock and replied, "It seems that way."
"We should go see her." Mina implied as she swallowed a mouth full of food and commented, "We should have a girl's night."
"I think we should leave her alone." Rei said as she took a drink of her milk and stood from the table.
Mina sighed as she looked at her friend and asked, "Do you think she'll be staying?"
"I don't know. I'm taking a hot bath and will be going to bed."
"I'm going to Lita's and Amy's to watch the Dark Knight."
"Do you think Serena will stay?" Lita asked as she was setting a bowl of pretzels down on the coffee table.
"I don't know. Do you think we should go see her?" Amy replied as she was setting cups and two-liters of soda down as she looked at Lita and asked, "Do you think she will want to be at the scout meeting tomorrow?"
"I don't know. Serena and Heero have been keeping things from us." Lita answered as she went into the kitchen to grab the bag of potato chips. "Knowing how Heero's been these last few month, I can only imagine what Serena's been doing."
"Me too." Amy said as she placed the pizza in the oven and looked up at the clock as she asked, "What time did they guys say they would be here?"
"I don't know. They wanted to pick up a couple more movies, and Duo insisted on getting some junk food."
"Dude, can you believe Serena is back after all of this time?" Duo asked Quatre and Trowa as they were standing in line at the movie rental store.
"No." Trowa answered as he set his movies down and looked at his friends as he commented, "I thought she wasn't coming back."
"And to think she's pregnant?" Duo asked as he set his junk food down and looked at the two men as they turned a slight shade of pink at his bold question. Duo taking their silence as an answer, he asked with amusement, "With Heero's kid?"
Quatre was a bright red while Trowa shook his head and reasoned, "Duo, you're starting to assume."
"But it could be Heero's."
"Can we just get the stuff and head back to Amy's and Lita's place?"
Duo laughed as he saw how uncomfortable Quatre was as he joked, "You mean to tell me, you and Amy haven't even-"
Quatre quickly blurted out, "NO!"
Trowa smirked and looked to Duo as he ordered, "Leave Quatre alone, Duo. Your biggest concern should be Mina."
"What about Mina?" Duo picked up his junk food as he didn't miss the solemn expression that Quatre and Trowa quickly hid as he asked again, "What about Mina?"
Quatre sighed as he looked at Duo and asked, "Well, if Serena's back don't you think they'll go back with her this time?"
"She . . . she can't." Duo said, all laughter gone as he looked at his friends. "They . . ." he trailed off as he combed his fingers through hair as he asked, "Is that why we're having this get together?"
Trowa and Quatre said nothing as they got into Quatre's Audi.
"Does he have a name?" Heero asked as he held his hand on Serena's swollen stomach as he felt the baby kick and smiled as he thought of the woman lying next to him.
"No." Serena answered as she looked at Heero with love as she silently watched him caress her stomach and smiled as she saw how Heero would smile every time their baby would kick.
Heero glanced up at her and gave her a soft smile as he asked, "You don't even have any ideas?"
"I do, it's . . . I don't know." She said as she blushed as Heero gave her stomach a kiss and asked, "What about you?"
Heero leaned into her stomach as he began to talk to their baby as he asked, "What about Shane?"
Serena smiled as she answered with joy and love as she watched Heero display so much affection and emotion towards their unborn son. I should have been back sooner . . . she thought as she answered him, "I love it!"
Heero sat up and looked her in the eyes and confirmed their son's name as he spoke with love, "Shane Yuy." He gave her a kiss on the lips as he commented, "I can't believe it." His smile quickly vanished as he saw Serena's azure eyes tearing up as he asked, "Sere, what's wrong?"
"I can't do it!"
He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes as he knew what she was referring to as he pleaded, "Then stay."
"I can't."
Heero's chocolate eyebrows furrowed together as he knew if she leaves without him, he would surly fall apart. "Then," he sighed and prayed she would take up his offer, "let me come with you."
Serena looked up at him as she asked, "You would do that?"
"Yes. I can't lose you again, Sere. Not now – not."
"I know. I just, you have a home here, Heero."
"No. My life is with you and . . ."
"And?"
He wiped away her tears as he knew his next request might be pushing it. "Your friends still need you."
"They're finally happy, Heero."
"No they are not. Don't you see, you're the glue that holds everyone together? The Gundam Pilots had nothing until you girls came into our lives. Rei misses her grandfather; Mina misses her parents; Amy longs for her mother; and Lita – she misses cooking for everyone."
"They said that?"
"To their boyfriends, yes, and I overheard my comrades' conversation about how the girls miss their world. You need them."
"I-"
He placed his left index finger on her lips to silence her as he spoke up, "They also make you happy and complete, Serena. All of you deserve happiness."
Serena sighed as she leaned against his chest as she contemplated what Heero had said. She closed her eyes as she thought about her life and whispered, "Then we need to have a scout meeting."
Heero smirked as he held her and then kissed the crown of her blonde hair as he thought of his life. "We'll have the meeting after you get something to eat."
Rei looked to the clock to see it was ten after ten in the morning as she was pacing around in her kitchen while Wufei was sitting at the table. His left temporal vein was beginning to twitch as he watched his fiancée pacing with determination and worry while saying nothing. "Damn it woman!" He yelled as he slammed his coffee cup down on the table, "Will you stop pacing?"
Rei stopped as she glared at him as she asked, "What's your problem?"
Wufei sighed as he stood from the table and walked over to Rei as he placed both hands on her shoulders while looking directly into her violet eyes as he answered, "If you're worried if Serena left, then why don't you just go to Yuy's to see for yourself?"
Rei smiled as she kissed him hastily on the lips and left the kitchen as she walked to Mina's room and opened the door as she yelled, "Scout meeting in five!"
Mina groggily lifted her head from under her covers as she then looked to see the time. Whining she threw the covers back over her head as she grumbled, "Rei, it's too early."
"Fine, sleep in while I go and see if Serena is still here."
"Nani?" Mina said as she flipped the covers back as she saw Rei still standing in her doorway as she asked, "Do you think she stayed this time?"
"Get everyone else and meet Wufei and myself at Yuy's in fifteen minutes."
Mina fully awake smiled at Rei as she asked, "Do you think we can go home?"
Rei sighed as she knew how much they missed their world as she answered her, "I don't know. Get ready and be at Heero's in fifteen."
Serena was sitting in the living room on the love seat with her legs tucked under her as she was looking out the window. Holding onto her coffee mug filled with green tea, she winced as she felt her stomach tighten. Taking her left hand, she began to rub her stomach as she talked to her baby, "It's going to be okay."
"Serena?" Heero asked as he walked into his living room with a plate filled with bacon and scrambled eggs. "Serena?" He asked again as he walked in front of her while placing the plate of food on the end table as he saw Serena's face constricted with pain. He walked in front of her and knelt down as he asked with worry, "What's wrong?"
Serena looked at him as her contractions went away as she suddenly felt drained. "I don't know. It felt like I was having contractions." She sighed as she saw Heero still looking at her with worry. "I just felt like I lost a lot of energy . . ."
Heero gave her a nod as he stood and handed her the plate of food just in time for his door to be kicked in by Rei.
"You haven't left!" Rei exclaimed as she ignored Heero's death glare as she saw Serena paler. "What's wrong, Serena?"
Serena smiled softly at her friend as she looked to see Heero still giving Rei the death glare. Chuckling, she took the plate of food and answered Rei with amusement, "Just tired. I'm still recovering from yesterday."
"You owe me a door."
Wufei laughed as he walked in followed by a scuffling of feet as Mina, Lita, and Amy tripped amongst one another as they stepped into Heero's apartment. "Serena!" They called in unison as the other Gundam pilots stepped in with grace.
Serena set her plate of food back onto the end table as she stood up to greet her friends with a smile. Duo's voice was heard amongst Mina's and Lita's chatter as he said, "She is pregnant!"
Heero glared at his braided-friend as he stepped next to Serena and wrapped a protective arm around her waist. "Duo."
Trowa was the last to enter the apartment and closed the door the best he could as he saw how happy Lita was. He looked to see Quatre was standing back as he walked over to him and asked quietly, "You okay?"
Quatre gave him a nod as he whispered back, "Of course. Amy and I aren't in a relationship, so I have nothing to loose - "
Trowa interrupted him as he spoke up, "You have everything to lose."
Serena looked at Heero with gratitude as she leaned into him for support as she looked at the apartment and motioned to her scouts and to the other pilots, "Have a seat."
Lita and Mina both sat on the floor as Amy and Rei sat on the love seat while the men stood behind them. Lita looked to Mina then back to Serena to Heero as she asked, "Are you here to stay?"
Heero looked to Serena as he asked quietly, "Do you want to sit down?"
Serena gave him a nod as Heero helped Serena to the vacant chair as Serena answered Lita. "No." She quickly held up a hand to stop any more questions as she took the time to observe her scouts. Heero was right . . . she looked to see the burden Rei was carrying, Mina looking torn, Lita was looking at her with hope, and Amy was trying to calculate what she was about to say. "I have to go back to our world – there's a new threat. I only came back because of your last mission and Heero was shot. Silver Eclipse requires energy and because of what happened with Heero, he past out due to the lack of blood and lack of energy for piloting her."
The girls and guys looked at her with shock and Rei was fighting to keep her temper in check. "I didn't leave because I'm low on energy due to being pregnant it takes more out of me. I do plan to go back today with Pluto's help-"
"You plan to fight this threat without us?" Mina asked as she saw how drained Serena looked and was afraid to know how much the crystal is draining her body now that she is pregnant. "You just plan to leave us again, Serena? We're your guardians!"
Serena sighed as she looked at Mina and sighed with exhaustion, "No. I thought I could fight this enemy with the Outer scouts, but I'm afraid the Inner scouts will be needed as well."
"You shouldn't even be fighting in your condition." Lita said as she looked at Serena with furrowed eyebrows as she asked, "What is it you're not telling us, Serena? You look like you could go back to bed."
Serena looked into Lita's emerald eyes as she answered with exhaustion, "I can go back to bed Lita, but I can't. I can't sit back with this new enemy because I'm the only one who can defeat it. My baby also requires my energy and the crystal is draining me while it's trying to protect my unborn son." She ignored their shocked expressions as she knew a dam was unleashed as she continued to speak to her scouts. Not knowing if it was the hormones, exhaustion, or just tired of carrying the world on her shoulders she told them everything, "I'm six months pregnant and yes, Heero is the father. While I was here, we acted like nothing happened, and only Rei knew. I had to leave you guys here and head back to our world because of this new enemy and you four were still needed here."
Heero sat on the armrest while he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he looked to his comrades. He saw shock which quickly turned to happiness from his friends as he then looked to the girls. He saw Quatre was distancing himself from them, and then looked to Amy to see she was struggling with the information Serena had shared only seconds ago. He took a hold of Serena's left hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as he spoke next, "I'm going back with Serena. The question is, what do you four choose?"
Wufei smirked as he heard Rei gasp as she looked to Serena and asked, "We get to go home?"
Serena smiled weakly at her friend and answered tiredly, "Yes. All of you if you choose to." She winced as she felt another contraction and cursed her observant friends as she held up a hand, "I'm fine."
Amy looked to Heero then back to Serena as she asked, "How much stress have you been under, Serena?"
Serena chuckled as she looked at Amy and answered, "That's what your mother wants to know."
Amy gasped as she asked, "My mother is your OB-GYN?"
"Yes, and Darien is actually an intern studying under your mother."
"You're actually speaking to him?" Lita asked with confusion as she remembered how they broke up as Serena pleaded with her and Amara not to beat him to a bloody pulp.
"Yes and I am also a very good friend with his fiancée."
Amy frowned as she looked to Lita then back to Serena as she looked to Heero and asked, "Can you draw her a bath? If the crystal is using Serena's energy and she hasn't recovered from her stunt yesterday, Serena could be going into pre-term labor. We need to do everything we can to help relax her and the baby."
Heero gave Amy a nod and gave Serena's left hand another gentle squeeze. He looked to his comrades as he asked, "What is your answer?"
Wufei stood behind Rei and place his right hand on Rei's right shoulder as he looked to his leader and answered, "I'm going."
Rei looked back at him and argued, "But you just bought that shrine!"
Wufei chuckled as he looked into her eyes as he answered her, "And you'll be staying with me and help attend to the shrine we just bought?" He smirked as he saw Rei look at Serena. "We're going Rei. You won't be happy here."
"I'm with Mina." Duo said with a smile as he then gave her a wink.
Trowa walked and sat next to Lita as he took her hand and looked to Serena as he answered, "You can count on another Gundam pilot to join you in your world."
Serena smiled at them as she looked to Amy as she asked meekly, "Do you have any bath salts?"
Serena raised a blonde eyebrow as she glanced up to see Quatre was standing by the hallway that leads into the kitchen and the door as she looked to Amy and answered, "No."
"Then I'll go and make you some chamomile tea."
Serena gave her shy friend a nod as she commented, "That sounds lovely, thank-you Amy." Serena looked to see the others were looking at Quatre as he was shaking his head no. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us, Quatre?"
Quatre looked startled as he was wondering how he could escape without them noticing. Looking at Serena he felt his cheeks blush as he saw a secret in her azure eyes and sighed. "I apologize Serena, but I'm afraid I must stay here."
"Why?" Mina asked as she felt her heart ache as she looked to him then looked to the kitchen.
"I just can't leave my company, not after we just won the war."
"But aren't you at least curious to see where we come from, where Amy comes from?" Lita asked as she knew how much Amy loved Quatre but was afraid to admit her feelings.
Quatre felt his color drain from his face as he looked to Lita. He never told anyone how he felt for the blue-haired genius. Yet he was stuck – how could Heero open up to someone when he – himself couldn't get the courage to ask Amy on a simple date. "I'm sure your world is unique, but I am needed here."
They all turned to the kitchen as they heard glass break. Amy's frantic voice was overhead, "I'm okay, I just knocked the glass over."
Rei looked over to Serena who gave her a quick nod – her cue to see if Amy was alright. Rei gave Wufei's hand a squeeze just before she stood and then went into the kitchen to see Amy frantically picking up broken pieces of glass. "O-genki desu ka?"
Amy sighed as she wiped away her tears as she looked at her friend and replied back in Japanese, "Iie . . ."
Serena looked to Quatre and saw the confusion on his face as Rei and Amy were both speaking in Japanese. Serena chuckled as she looked to Quatre and thought silently If he wanted to leave, he would have left by now . . . he loves her and she loves him. She looked over to Mina and asked telepathically Please tell me you have been trying to get these two together?
Yep, but these two are one tough apple to crack!
Serena laughed as she saw all eyes turned to her as she felt her own cheeks turn crimson. Winking at Mina, she looked to Quatre and asked, "Would you come and stay for a few weeks? I'm sure you could use a nice vacation before you lose yourself with your company."
"Yeah Q-man, we finally get a chance to see where our girl's come from!"
"Your girl, Duo. Amy and I are not dating."
"Oh. Well, then at least come for the small break." Duo answered as he gave Mina a wink.
Mina smiled widely as she looked to Quatre and prodded, "Wouldn't it seem weird that you're the only Gundam pilot left in this world? People will start to ask questions, Quatre. Like Relena or Lady Une."
Quatre shook his head as he then ran a hand through his golden locks. "Fine. Only for two weeks."
"Great!" Serena said with happiness as she gave Mina and Duo a nod.
Heero stepped out from his bedroom and spoke up, "Serena."
Serena looked at him and gave him a nod as she stood to look at Mina and Lita. "I'll contact Pluto to have her meet us here in four hours. Help the boys with anything they need and place them into your subspace pockets."
"Roger."
Heero looked to the guys as he gave an order, "I'll give you two hours to tie up all loose ends – if you decide to stay in their world then make sure you leave nothing behing."