Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, and I don't own the song or song title "Bed of Roses" by Mindless Self Indulgence. Any little characters thrown in are totally mine (probably for my own evil amusement).

AN: I'm ready to roll with the next chapter, but I know I should get on with some other things as my flight date draws near. If I could get 5 reviews from you all, besides being much appreciated (and I feel much deserved on my part) I will try and update one more time and with 10 reviews I will even attempt the possible of updating while abroad, and I know I could wrap this up. If nooo to any of that, I'll see y'all in six months when I get back. I am only doing this because so many of you are reading this and saying absolutely nothing and I am burning the midnight oil night after night for my readers' sake and for the love of this story, so some kind of feedback would be nice.

Ok *huff* end rant! The next chapter would be much longer. It just felt right to cut this chapter here, at this length.

' ' are Thoughts

Italics are Past events

Italics in bold are Song lyrics

Bed of Roses

Chapter 13: "Opportunistic Malice"

"My life has never been a bed of roses"

Heero looked with a scowl (in total contrast to his wife's smile) at Milliardo Peacecraft, who walked into the living room without acknowledging any of them.

"What are you doing here?" he asked immediately, but their newest guest ignored him, finally stopping to lean on the wall behind Noin who had just retaken her seat, his expression impassive.

"I'm don't have time to play with you today, Heero."

"I'm not playing around Ze—" he started, but Milliardo simply cut him off.

"One of you, turn on the news," he ordered gruffly. Everyone was still a little shell-shocked from his sudden appearance but Relena didn't need to be told twice, grasping the seriousness of the situation immediately; she knew he wouldn't be here unless he had to be, not now anyway. She snatched up the remote and turned on the TV, pressing in the numbers for the Earth and Space news network.

Some of them gasped, others frowned with confusion, but all of them were unsure of just whose home it was being shown engulfed in a raging fire on the news. Within seconds, scrolling text at the bottom of the news report answered and confirmed everyone's suspicions—it was Quatre's Greek cottage in flames.

The Winner Corp. heir leaped to his feet, turning frantic eyes on Milliardo, as he tore at his hair.

"That's my home? Is Dorothy in there? What do you know?"

"I have to go to her!" he yelled, not waiting for an answer and already going for the door.

"Quatre, please calm dow—" Duo started, rising to his feet and beginning the chase after him.

"Wait," Milliardo ordered gruffly again and Quatre stopped his progress, looking at him impatiently.

"Turn up the television. I only know as much as what's being said there," he explained evenly and Quatre temporarily ceased his escape, walking the few paces back to the living area. He remained on his feet, with Duo standing close behind with crossed arms, both of their expressions tense with fearful anticipation.

Relena, the controller still clutched in one hand, turned up the volume quickly and they all listened in to the news report:

"Hello, we come to you tonight with a special news report. This evening, one of the luxurious homes of Quatre Raberba Winner, son of the late, Zayeed Winner, and newest head of Winner Corporation, was found set ablaze."

"It was not known that Mr. Winner was occupying the home at this time, as he is typically in his English dwelling, close to the office of Vice Foreign Minister, Relena Peacecraft-Yuy, who he works with at the newly formed Earth Sphere Unified Nation (ESUN) offices on a daily basis."

"There appears to have been some sort of burglary or raid done on Mr. Winner's home, according to the police, which took place before the arson was committed, firefighters at the scene said."

"Although Mr. Winner was not present, his sister Dr. Iria Winner, who has her private medical office just up the road, was found passed out and detained in one of the upper bedrooms. She was successfully rescued by firefighters, though she was frantically ranting about someone else being inside, perhaps a patient, as she came to for a few minutes and then succumbed to the affects of smoke inhalation once more."

"Iria," Quatre moaned in despair, his hands going into his hair again.

He squeezed his eye shut, falling to his knees. "Why is this happening? Allah, oh why…" he continued to moan and Trowa stood up apprehensively, afraid his friend was going to finally have a nervous breakdown over this terrible affair.

"Someone else was inside?" Relena questioned, looking around at everyone frantically for an answer. They all froze again, but she remained undeterred, as her wits were still available to her. She was, after all, used to tense situations.

"Dorothy! It has to be Dorothy!"

Heero hugged her waist with one arm. "Let's hear the rest first Relena," he ordered quietly, although he secretly feared she was right.

"Firefighters returned to the home repeatedly, but no one else was found, but there was medical equipment in the home, possibly supporting Dr. Winner's pleas, as it might have been a patient of hers."

"There are no suspects at this time and no arrests have been made. Police will be speaking to Dr. Winner to find out more about this second individual, and they have been trying to get into contact with Mr. Winner for the last few hours—"

Quatre guiltily dug out his cell from his jacket, no longer aware of anything, but the need to find out about his sister and Dorothy especially who had to have been next to helpless without her memories.

His phone had been on silent as Iria had vowed to call him at 8 p.m., so he had quieted his phone until then, well aware that he would sometimes receive late calls from his office, and he wanted to be sure no one to interrupt this all too important meeting.

He immediately dialed back the police as Relena lowered the television volume again. Everyone watched him and listened to conversation as best they could.

"Yes, hello. This is Mr. Winner. I'm so sorry to have missed your calls earlier. Yes, I am available to come in whenever. Right, now? Alright sure. I just need to contact my pilot."

"Yes, thank you. I look forward to working with you as well."

After ending the call, Quartre stuffed away his cell again, running both hands though his hair.

"Oh Allah, oh Allah," he whimpered again, his voice deathly low in despair. Trowa finished coming to his side, with Duo on his other, the both of them with a hand clasped on one shoulder.

"We'll get you through this Quatre," Duo said firmly, determination steeling his violet eyes.

"We're behind you one-hundred percent," Trowa reassured with a nod.

"Yes, Quatre—anything you need us to do, we're all here for you," Relena offered, her eyes filled with her own pain as well as sympathy.

Quatre looked around at them all with grateful tears in his eyes, but the tender moment was soon shattered.

"She should have never been left you," said a gruff voice and all other sympathetic statements died on the remaining individuals' lips.

It was Zechs.

Heero was already training a fresh glare on him. "He was her best option. How could he have known this would happen? At least he didn't put—" he started, but Milliardo cut him off again with a sneer, finishing his statement for him.

"—her there in the first place, eh? Yeah, you've said that already," Zechs said snidely, pushing himself up off the wall and unfolding his arms.

"It wasn't my fault and you know it," he said calmly, and Heero's eyes for a moment, widened in slight surprise. Before he could deliver a retort an unexpected voice joined in.

"It wasn't his fault…we all know that. We've tried to make sense of this senseless situation by blaming someone, but it's not worth it, it's not right, and it's a cruel lie," Noin said, her voice strong and clear as it cut through the uncomfortable silence.

Her head was slightly bowed from her position in the far corner lounge, but low enough that her long, black bangs completely shielded her face.

When she looked up, Heero as well as everyone else became even more stunned. Her face was flushed, partially tear-streaked and angry.

"It's just as much my fault as it is Zechs'!"

"Now Noin, you now that isn't true—" Sally started logically, her hand reaching for Noin's. She snatched it out of reach, her eyes clear and sure.

"Don't patronize me. I know what I'm saying. I'm tired of being patronized, alright?" she said, her voice a harsh whispered. Sally immediately shut up and returned her hand back to her lap.

Everyone including her looked shocked, except for Quatre who now had his face buried in his hands.

Zechs came up behind her, placing his strong hands on her shoulders. Noin couldn't control the shiver that ran through her body, wondering when was the last time he'd touched her in any way at all.

'Disgusting Noin. Your thoughts on that at a time like this?' she mentally berated herself. She shook her head slightly, clearing her thoughts.

"Noin, if it's not my fault, it surely isn't yours," he said softly, but firmly.

"And I won't even debate that," he added just in case. Zechs squeezed the shoulders of her smaller frame in a move of comfort and she closed her eyes, breathing in his scent for a moment.

But in another moment he was gone from behind her and heading for the front door.

'He's been making a lot of exits like that lately,' Noin thought with some amusement, knowing it was totally the wrong time for jokes as well.

He stopped at the door again, his hand on the knob, his back facing them.

"I'm going to start my search. Contact me when you're ready to work together. I've said my piece."

And without wasting another second, he flounced out again, this time the door only closing with a soft click.

Quatre suddenly looked up, his expression fierce. He gave all of them a short look of determination mixed with agitation.

"Well what are you all waiting for? I'm going to Greece first, but I'm not wasting another second," and the blond was soon heading out the door as well.

Everyone else exchanged a look.

Heero cleared his throat. "I'll get my laptop."

You know the deal.

Angel of Mirth