The Pirate's Soldier

by operation meteor

Heero's career as a Preventers operative takes a strange turn when he gets caught up in a fight between a Juraian royal and a notorious space pirate. As the two alien beauties settle in with him on Earth and more soon follow, the former Gundam pilot soon finds himself to be the target of their affections, with a certain lovely outlaw at the front of the pack! M for some language.

12. Chapter 12

Author's Notes: Hello! Sorry for the long wait, there was a lot that I wanted to do with this chapter!

Not much to really say this time around, except that I hope you enjoy the newest chapter of the fic!

Chapter Twelve: No Need For A Party Night!

November 27th, A.C. 198

"Ayeka, look!" Heero heard Sasami call as he came down the stairs, "Look outside!"

"Oh, my…" said the elder Juraian princess, "That's a new sight…"

"How wonderful," said Azaka, "I haven't seen this in quite some time."

"Indeed," said Kamidake, "How comforting it is to know that Jurai and Earth have this in common, at the very least."

"It's so pretty!" chirped Mihoshi.

"Come on, Mihoshi," said Kiyone, "It's not like we haven't seen it before."

Following their gaze, Heero looked out the window and saw a steady stream of snowflakes falling from above. It was indeed a lovely sight, although it had come a little later this year than Heero had anticipated.

Ayeka beamed as he entered the kitchen. "Oh, good morning, Sir Heero! Have you had the chance to look outside yet?"

"It's snowing!" cried Sasami.

"So I've noticed," said Heero, "I was wondering when we'd see it up here."

"Can I get you a plate?" asked Ayeka, "Sasami just finished making breakfast."

"It's fine," Heero replied, "I can dish myself up. It smells good, Sasami."

The younger princess smiled. "Pancakes, bacon, and eggs, just like you taught me!"

"You should dig in, Heero," said Kiyone in between bites, "I think this is Sasami's best batch yet."

"It's so good!" cheered Mihoshi, and Heero could've sworn she was about to shed tears of joy, "I wish I could cook like this!"

Kiyone shook her head. "Mihoshi, don't take this the wrong way, but I think you're doing us a favor by leaving the cooking to Sasami."

"Quite true," said Ayeka, "The last thing we need is the kitchen catching on fire again."

"Why won't you let that go?" pouted Mihoshi, "I told you it was an accident!"

Ayeka scowled. "It was nearly a catastrophe that could've consumed Sir Heero's apartment! You are utterly daft if you believe that I'll risk such a calamity out here!"

"Hey!" cried Sasami, "Go easy on her, Ayeka. She was only trying to help when that happened!"

"We all have our strengths and weaknesses," said Heero as he sat down with the others, "Cooking simply isn't one of Mihoshi's strengths. We've all learned from that and we're better off for it. Mihoshi still helps out around here; it's just not through cooking."

Mihoshi smiled. "That's right! I can finally do laundry without using too much detergent, and yesterday I cleaned the whole living room without tripping over anything!"

Kiyone smiled. "For you, that actually is pretty impressive. Heero, I think you're starting to rub off on her."

"She's right," said Mihoshi, "It's only because you've been so patient with me that I've gotten this far. Thanks, Heero!"

Heero couldn't help but give her a small smile in return. "You're welcome, Mihoshi."

They continued their meal in peace, and it was only as they finished up that Ryoko finally came down to join them. Ayeka immediately shot a glare her way, and Heero braced for the inevitable exchange of hostilities.

"You!" snapped the Princess, "Just now waking up? I swear, your laziness is in a class in and of itself!"

"Whatever," the pirate replied dismissively as she dished up, "Man, this looks great. You or Sasami, Heero?"

"This one's all Sasami," Heero replied.

"Good job, kid," said Ryoko as she started wolfing down the bacon.

Sasami smiled. "Thanks!"

It was only then that Ryoko's gaze went towards one of the windows. "Hey, check it out! When did it start snowing?"

"From the looks of things," said Heero, "I'd say pretty early this morning. It seems to be coming down pretty steadily, too."

"Can we go out and play in it later, Ayeka?" asked Sasami, "It's been so long since we've had the chance to do that!"

Ayeka smiled. "Well, I suppose there's no harm in it. Good thing Sir Heero bought us winter clothing before we all moved out here."

Mihoshi nodded. "That's right! Uh, oh, I just realized that we don't have any for Kiyone and Washu!"

Kiyone shook her head. "It's all right. We have cold-weather gear in storage on the ship, Mihoshi, remember? I'll just need to head over and grab it in a little bit."

Mihoshi breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. That still leaves Washu, though?"

Ryoko rolled her eyes. "Please. As if she needs any help from us. She's probably got something for the cold stashed away in that lab of hers."

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

"That's true," said Heero, "and if she doesn't… well, I'm sure it wouldn't take her long to make some."

"You got that right!" called the resident mad scientist, "Fabricating clothing is nothing to the likes of a genius like me!"

Heero and the others turned to see Washu coming down the hallway. Her two mini cheerleader robots were perched on her shoulders, and the confident smirk on her face was vintage Washu.

"Washu, you're brilliant!" cried Washu-bot A.

"The greatest genius of all time!" praised Washu-bot B.

"Ah," sighed Washu, basking in the adulation of her tiny automatons, "Damn straight!"

"Good morning, Washu!" chirped Mihoshi.

"Did you look outside?" asked Sasami, "It's snowing!"

"Yes, I noticed," said Washu as she fixed herself up a plate, "Just because I spend most of my time in my lab doesn't mean I lack means to observe the outside world."

"That figures," said Kiyone.

"Please tell me that you are not using such surveillance technology to spy on us in private," said Ayeka nervously, "Tell me you do not have our bedrooms and lavatory under watch…"

Washu smirked. "Fine. I won't tell you."

"That's reassuring," muttered Ryoko.

"Washu!" cried Ayeka, "That's not good enough! I need your solemn word!"

Washu chuckled. "And you're going to make me give that to you… how, exactly?"

Ayeka started fidgeting uncomfortably in her seat. "Well, I… that is…"

"That's enough," said Heero, "Washu, I'm fine with you installing your own surveillance grid in the house, but could you please do us a favor and grant us just a little bit of privacy?"

Washu smiled. "All right, but on one condition. Care to guess what it is?"

Heero had a pretty good idea of what it was at this point, so he decided to swallow his pride and get it over with. "Please… Little Washu."

Washu beamed triumphantly. "You got it, handsome!"

I still can't believe I'm willing to say that to her, he thought, I'm just glad that the only audience I have here are the girls and Ayeka's guardians. If Duo saw this, he'd never let me hear the end of it…

...

It was a complete free-for-all. Balls of cold, packed white powder flew through the air left and right. Alliances of convenience were formed and broken on the fly, and no one was safe from the inevitable betrayal. It was a winter wonderland warzone, and the hostilities were unfolding all around the countryside house that had become the home of a Preventers operative and his many guests.

Ducking around the corner to avoid the latest salvo from Mihoshi and Kiyone, Heero found himself running headlong into Ryoko. The lovely pirate wasted no time in taking advantage of this surprise encounter by pulling Heero right into her bosom.

"Oh, Heero!" she cried with a smile, "Please, help me! Ayeka just won't let up!"

"The last time you and I partnered up I wound up with a snowball down the back of my shirt," said Heero warily as he extricated himself from her grip, "What's stopping you from pulling the same stunt twice?"

Ryoko winked. "Come on, Heero; I had to get one good shot in! This time will be different though. I promise!"

Heero sighed. "All right, then. Where's Ayeka?"

Ryoko jerked her thumb over her shoulder. "Over that way, and she's got backup."

"So I see," said Heero, "I really wish that Washu hadn't modified Azaka and Kamidake like that."

Standing behind a wall of snow, Ayeka had a triumphant grin on her face. Under the circumstances, Heero couldn't blame her; not only had she secured a fortified position, but she was flanked on either side by her loyal guardians. Azaka and Kamidake were each sporting a pair of thin mechanical arms which had been hastily created by Washu for the sole purpose of enabling them to throw snowballs, and Heero could speak from personal experience about just how accurate they were.

"Where's Sasami?" asked Heero.

"Probably still with Washu," said Ryoko, "She said she couldn't team up with Ayeka if she was using Azaka and Kamidake because it wouldn't be fair to the rest of us."

Heero nodded. "That was nice of her. It doesn't make our task much easier though."

He peeked back around the corner to check on Kiyone and Mihoshi; the last thing he needed was the two of them hitting him and Ryoko from behind as they tried to attack Ayeka. Fortunately, it appeared that he would not have to worry about that. The pair of cops were under attack from Washu and Sasami, who had somehow gotten onto the roof of the house and were raining snowballs down on the officers.

Looks like our rear's secure for the moment, he thought, I just hope that they're careful up there. I'm sure Washu can take care of herself, but Sasami could get hurt…

"So," said Ryoko as Heero turned his attention back to Ayeka and her guardians, "how do you want to do this?"

Heero's eyes narrowed as he formulated a plan. "I'll attack head-on and act as a diversion. You grab yourself some ammo and hit them from above."

Ryoko grinned. "I like it! Let's do this!"

Moving out from cover first, Heero started walking straight towards Ayeka. The Juraian royal's eyes widened as she saw her new foe.

"Sir Heero!" she cried, "Don't tell me that Ryoko has somehow persuaded you to join her side!"

"Sorry, Ayeka," he replied, "but I had to even out the field somehow. Don't take it personally."

Ayeka shook her head. "It doesn't have to be this way. Join me, Sir Heero, and together we shall dominate this winter battlefield! We shall be unstoppable!"

"Tempting offer," Heero replied, "but I'm afraid I'll have to decline this time. It wouldn't be much fun for the others if one of these shifting alliances of ours got too powerful."

Ayeka sighed. "So be it. In that case, I shall endeavor to dispatch you quickly. Azaka, Kamidake! Engage!"

"Our apologies, Sir Heero," said Azaka, "but orders are orders."

"This is simply our duty," chimed Kamidake.

"Don't worry," said Heero as he scooped up a handful of snow and crafted his projectile, "I won't hold it against you."

The Gundam pilot broke into a spring, zig-zagging as Ayeka's guardians cut loose with a furious barrage. He was able to stay one step ahead of the rapid-fire stream of white projectiles, but Heero knew that this wasn't something that he could keep up forever. Washu's modifications to the guardians appeared to have been more than just superficial; whatever fire-control software they were operating under would've been absolutely lethal if applied to actual weaponry.

Ayeka's potshots were relatively easy to avoid by comparison, and it looked like she really wasn't giving it her best effort. While Heero was grateful for her restraint, he wasn't above using it against her under these particular circumstances. He let fly with his projectile, causing Ayeka to duck behind her barrier. Quickly scooping up a handful of snow, he fashioned his next missile on the go as he raced to keep ahead of the volleys of snowballs Azaka and Kamidake were sending his way.

Come on, Ryoko, he thought as rolled to the side, I could really use a little air support right about now…

Glancing upwards, he saw Ryoko moving in as if on cue. She had a very large clump of snow in her arms, and the devious grin on her face told Heero just how much she was looking forward to letting it fall on Ayeka and her guardians.

"A valiant effort, Sir Heero!" Ayeka shouted, completely oblivious to the threat that was approaching from above, "However, I'm afraid you're only postponing the inevitable. Surrender, and you shall be treated with dignity in your captivity!"

"Not going to happen," Heero replied, "If you want to throw in the towel now, though, I'll accept your surrender. Otherwise you're going to be in for a rude awakening."

Ayeka smiled. "Bold words, Sir Heero, but I know a bluff when I see it. There is no possible way for you to turn this situation around. You cannot win!"

Heero looked up again and saw Ryoko wink at him; she was ready to strike. He turned back to Ayeka and her guardians, preparing to seize the opening that his ally was about to create.

"Suit yourself," he said, "Don't say that I didn't warn you."

It was at that moment that Ryoko let her payload fall. Before Ayeka and her guardians knew what was happening they were covered in show, and Heero used the opportunity to charge forward, leap over the barrier and administer the coup de grace, flinging snowballs at Azaka and Kamidake's optical sensors before readying a third and aiming it right at Ayeka's face at point-blank-range.

"So," he said, "about that surrender; I'll be accepting it now if that's all right with you."

Ayeka took a moment to glare at Ryoko before turning back to Heero and regaining her composure. "Very well, then. The day is yours, Sir Heero. Until our next match, then. Azaka, Kamidake! Let us withdraw to the sidelines for the time being."

"Yes, your Highness!" the two guardians replied as one.

"Woohoo!" cheered Ryoko as she floated down towards the ground, "We win!"

"Not yet," said Heero, "We still have to take down the others… and then face off with each other."

Ryoko smirked as she put her arm around him. "I know. Don't worry; like I said earlier, I'm not going to backstab you this time. Once we've beaten the others, I'll fight you head-on. So, what do you say we show the rest of them how it's done?"

Heero nodded. "Very well, then. Let's go get them."

….

"Ah!" sighed Sasami as she took a sip from her mug of hot chocolate, "That was so much fun!"

"It sure was!" chirped Mihoshi, "We should go out their again later!"

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

"Why don't we save the next round for tomorrow?" asked Kiyone, "I'd rather stay in here where it's warm. Besides, I think I've still got snow melting in my hair."

"Indeed," said Ayeka as she shot a glare at Ryoko, "Among other places…"

Ryoko smirked but didn't say anything. It was enough for her to bask in the satisfaction of having caught her archrival by surprise the way she had during the snowball fight. The look on her face had been absolutely priceless.

"I still can't believe it ended in a draw," said Washu, "I'm disappointed, Ryoko; you had every advantage over Heero in that final fight."

Ryoko shrugged. "Hey, what can I say? The guy throws a mean snowball."

That was certainly true. True to her word, she had waited for the two of them to clear the others from the field before facing off against Heero in the final battle. At the end of the day, it had come down to speed and accuracy, and the result had been the two of them simultaneously throwing their projectiles and hitting each other right in the face. As far as she was concerned, there were far worse ways for the fight to end.

A win would've been nice, she mused, but if I have to tie with someone, I don't mind it being him…

"Speaking of Heero," said Kiyone as she looked around, "where did he disappear to?"

"I think he said he was going to check up on something," said Ayeka, "He went upstairs and hasn't come down since."

"I hope he's okay," said Sasami.

Ryoko stood up. "I'll go check on him. Be right back."

It didn't take her long to make it up to his room. The door was shut, and since it was possible he was just taking a nap Ryoko softly knocked on it.

"Hey, Heero?" she said, "You awake in there?"

"Yes," came his reply, "You can come in if you want."

She did so and saw him sitting on the bed studying the screen of his laptop. "What's going on? You've been up here for a while now. The others are starting to worry."

"Sorry," he said as she sat down next to him, "I've just been checking email updates from HQ. Things may be quiet out here, but I need to stay informed just in case something happens."

"Like what?" she asked.

Heero shook his head. "It's nothing you need to worry about."

Ryoko folded her arms. "I disagree. I may not know too much about the kind of work you did before we met, but if 'something happens' that requires your bosses to contact you, that 'something' is usually bad, right? I think that's definitely something for me to worry about!"

She saw his eyes widen slightly. "Ryoko…"

"Now look here," she said, pressing her finger into his chest, "If your bosses contact you about something dangerous, I want to know. I'm not about to let you get hurt, you got that?"

"I appreciate the concern," Heero replied, "but unless it involves someone else from beyond this world then I don't think you'll need to get involved in the situation. I know Sally and Director Une wouldn't want you or any of the others getting involved in the affairs of our world."

"I don't care about what they want!" Ryoko shot back, "I care about you! It's not right that they can just call you and throw you into some dangerous mess anytime they want!"

Heero shook his head. "This is my job, Ryoko. Whether it's right or not is beside the point. My duty is to protect the people of the Earth Sphere, and my superiors dictate how that goal is best accomplished. I think you're overreacting to all of this in any case. My current mission hasn't changed; I'm still in charge of watching over you and the others, and from what I can see I don't think that's going to change anytime soon."

Ryoko sighed. "Well, as long as that's the case, I guess I'll try not to worry. Still, if something comes up, tell me, all right? You know what I can do in a fight. I can help you if your bosses send you back into the field. I want to help you if that happens."

"That's kind of you," said Heero, "but humanity's petty squabbles aren't your fight. Security in the Earth Sphere is the responsibility of Preventers, and just because you're under my care doesn't obligate you to put yourself at risk on our behalf."

Ryoko smiled. "I wouldn't be doing it for Preventers. I'd be doing it for you, Heero."

Never thought I'd find myself volunteering to help out a peacekeeping officer like this, she mused, but, then again, Heero's not like anyone in the Galaxy Police or the Juraian military.

She thought she caught just a hint of red appear on his face, but it was only for a moment. "I know that you're stronger than me, Ryoko, but I wouldn't feel right about putting you in danger when it's my job to watch over you."

"That's sweet of you," Ryoko replied, "but I'm a big girl, Heero. I can take care of myself, and I can decide for myself which fights are my fights. I don't mind getting my hands dirty if it means I get to help you out. So, what do you say? You think you can let me tag along the next time your bosses want you to go out into the field?"

Heero sighed. "I can't make any promises, Ryoko. That being said… I suppose it might be worth a try. Just know that ultimately the final decision isn't up to me."

"That's fine," said Ryoko with a chuckle, "I can always ignore your bosses. What are they going to do to stop me, after all?"

She was relieved to see him smirk. "They wouldn't be able to do much, that's for sure. Still… don't do anything reckless, all right?"

"No promises," she said with a wink, "Now, why don't you come downstairs and hang out with the rest of us? There's plenty of hot chocolate left!"

Heero nodded as he closed the laptop. "When you put it that way, how can I say no?"

"You can't!" said Ryoko with a grin as she grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the room.

….

December 14th, A.C. 198

Another day, another snowball fight, Heero mused as he finished drying his hair, I never thought I'd be spending a winter quite the way I'm spending this one…

The snowfall had been fairly steady since winter had begun in earnest. Heero had been worried that the white powder might pile up to the point that he and the girls would be trapped in their countryside home, but fortunately the local administrator had dispatched crews to make sure the mountain roads were clear for transit. Even had that not been the case, Heero supposed that his fears were misplaced due to the simple fact that he could easily contact Preventers in the event of an emergency; it wouldn't take them long to get a helicopter out here.

The past few weeks had been almost idyllic, apart from the usual antics that his houseguests frequently got themselves and him caught up in. It was a life that Heero could definitely get used to. Others might complain about the slow pace, but from where he was sitting that was the whole point. He much preferred being a caretaker for the women who had taken up residence with him rather than returning to the field. It was a peaceful existence, one where he could escape, even if it was only momentarily, the dreadful weight of responsibility for taking lives that he had carried for far too long.

He had a few minutes until lunch would be ready, so now was as good a time as any for him to check up on messages from Preventers. He sat down on the bed and opened up his laptop, but before he could start reviewing his latest emails a beeping noise came from the computer and an icon was flashing in the bottom right corner; someone was trying to set up a video call with him.

Well now, he thought as he checked the identification, I haven't talked to him in a while…

A few seconds later an old friend appeared on the screen. His blond hair was neatly combed, and there was a friendly light in his blue eyes that hadn't changed a bit since the last time Heero had seen him. He was wearing what looked like an executive's business suit, which made sense given his current position.

"Hey there, Heero!" said Quatre Raberba Winner, fellow Gundam pilot and the head of the Winner Family, "It's been a while! How are you?"

Heero nodded and gave his old friend a small smile. "Doing well, thanks. How's the corporate life treating you?"

Quatre chuckled. "Well, it keeps me busy. Personally, I can't tell who's a harsher taskmaster, Rasheed or Iria. I know I'm supposed to be the boss, but without those two I don't think I'd be able to run the company nearly as well."

"Iria…" said Heero, trying to place a face with the name, "isn't she the oldest of your sisters?"

Quatre smiled. "Hey, you remembered! Not everyone can keep them all sorted out. Even I still have trouble from time to time, and I grew up with them!"

"Well, considering there are twenty-nine of them, that's understandable," said Heero, "So, what's going on? You were always the nicest out of all of us, but simple social calls aren't really your style."

Quatre nodded. "Right to the point, then. You haven't changed, have you? Even with all of your… guests."

Heero's eyes narrowed. "Hold on… how much do you know?"

"Enough to understand why Preventers assigned you to an out of the way country home a while back," said Quatre with a smirk, "Relax, Heero; Sally read me in a little bit ago."

"Why would she do that?" asked Heero, "Don't take it the wrong way; I trust you, and I know she does as well. Still, the nature of my 'guests' is something that we've been trying to keep under wraps, and for good reason."

Quatre nodded. "I know. Don't worry, Heero; word won't spread any further than it has to. You know that I can keep a secret."

"Right," said Heero, "Was that why you called, then? To tell me that you know about my guests?"

Quatre shook his head. "Not quite. I actually wanted to know if you had plans for the winter holidays."

"Not particularly," Heero replied, "It's not like I can go anywhere when I have to keep an eye on my guests."

Quatre smiled. "What if I could help you out with that?"

"What do you mean?" asked Heero.

"I'm hosting a private party up in L4 this year," said Quatre, "Just family and friends, so it's a group that we can trust. Why don't you bring the girls?"

"I appreciate the invite," said Heero, "but making those kind of travel arrangements…"

"Would be a piece of cake for me," said Quatre with a grin, "I already talked it over with Sally, Heero. I can have a private shuttle set up before you know it. The crew would consist of members of the Maganac Corps, and you know how disciplined they are."

"What about once we're on the colony?" asked Heero, "Lodgings alone…"

"Would not be a problem," Quatre finished for him, "I've got a guest residence with plenty of room for you and the girls, so you wouldn't have to worry about getting your guests set up at a hotel."

Heero sighed, knowing when he was beat. "It seems you've thought of everything, then."

Quatre grinned. "Come on, Heero, there's no need to be worried about this. This'll be chance for you and your guests to unwind and enjoy the holidays!"

"You haven't seen what my guests are capable of," Heero countered, "There are plenty of ways that this could go wrong, Quatre."

"There's always a chance that something could go wrong," said Quatre, "Things went wrong plenty of times for us in the past, but that didn't stop us then. Why should it now? Admit it, Heero; you need this, and your guests would love it."

Heero grudgingly nodded. "Well… I suppose a change of scenery for a day or two couldn't hurt. Still… we need to be damn careful with this, Quatre."

Quatre nodded. "Don't worry, Heero. We will be. I'll send you further updates via email. Does about a week from now sound good for pickup?"

"That should be fine," said Heero, "I'll keep it a secret from the girls for now; it'll be a fun little surprise for them."

Quatre smiled. "Not as fun as seeing the look on Duo's face when you walk into the party surrounded by women."

Heero grimaced. "So he's going to be there… well, at least it'll be an eventful evening on way or another."

Quatre laughed. "You can say that again. Looking forward to it, Heero!"

If I make it through that evening with my sanity intact, mused Heero, it'll be a real holiday miracle…

...

December 23rd, A.C. 198

"Wow!" cried Sasami as they boarded the shuttle, "It's so nice!"

Ayeka smiled as she studied their accommodations. "Quite so. It reminds me a little of that plane we took to your capital a while back, Sir Heero. That being said, I believe this is actually a step above that."

Heero nodded. "That's not surprising. It belongs to the Winner Family, after all. They're one of the wealthiest groups in the Earth Sphere. Setting up a shuttle like this for us is nothing to them."

"And the head of this family is an old friend of yours?" asked Kiyone.

"Yes," Heero replied, "You could call him an old war buddy."

"Will we get to meet him later?" Mihoshi chirped.

Heero nodded. "When we arrive at the colony, yes."

Washu smiled. "This should be interesting. I'm looking forward to the chance to study one of your orbital habitats up close."

"Forget the studying," said Ryoko with a grin, "When's the party start, Heero?"

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

"Not until tomorrow night," he replied as he took his seat, "I wanted us to get to the colony early so we could get settled in first."

Ryoko shrugged as she grabbed the seat next to him. "Fine by me. Can we at least check out the colony?"

"By the time we arrive it will be quite late," said Heero, "We can spend a little time touring the colony after we've rested."

Ayeka sighed. "It's a pity that Azaka and Kamidake will be unable to join us on that outing. At least we were able to make suitable arrangements to bring them with us; I was afraid we'd have to leave them behind altogether."

"Did we really have to load them separately?" asked Sasami, "I feel bad that they're down with the cargo."

"It can't be helped," said Heero, "Having them travel openly with us would attract far too much attention. Disguising them as cargo is the best way to transport them to the colony. We can let them out of confinement once we've arrived at Quatre's."

"You called him an old war buddy," said Kiyone, "Is he around the same age as you?"

Heero nodded. "Yes."

"Is he cute like you?" asked Mihoshi.

"Mihoshi!" scolded Kiyone, "I don't think that's appropriate!"

"I disagree," said Washu with a smirk, "and I also know the answer to her question."

Heero's eyes narrowed as he studied Washu carefully. "How?"

Washu chuckled. "I have my ways."

"That I don't doubt a bit," Kiyone quipped.

"Well?" Mihoshi pressed, "Is he or not?"

Ayeka folded her arms. "I hardly think that matters. I doubt that there is another man in the Earth Sphere that is as dashing and noble as Sir Heero."

Ryoko grinned as she put her arm around Heero. "She's got that right, handsome!"

Ayeka scowled at the pirate. "Just because you are agreeing with me now does not mean that I shall allow your blatant and scandalous flirtations to go unpunished. Release Sir Heero at once!"

"Make me!" Ryoko shot back.

"That's enough, both of you," said Heero firmly as he gently removed her arm from her shoulder, "I've got enough to worry about without the two of you starting a fight that could possibly bring down the shuttle. Keep a lid on it until we get to the colony, all right?"

Ayeka nodded. "Very well, Sir Heero."

"Fine," muttered Ryoko as she glared at Ayeka.

This is going to be a long flight, thought Heero.

...

It's been quite a while since I was last in space, thought Washu as she drifted towards a window, I forgot how relaxing zero gravity can be…

The shuttle had been flying for several hours now, and some of its passengers were starting to get restless. Ryoko and Ayeka in particular seemed rather agitated by the slow pace of the trip, and while they had refrained from open fighting in no small part due to deference to Heero Washu was sure that the fragile peace couldn't last forever. Had they made the trip using Ryo-Ohki or even the Yagami they would've already arrived at the colony, but Washu didn't mind the more leisurely journey that they were currently on. As far as she was concerned it was a good chance to observe the Earth and what surrounded it, and while her view with the naked eye might be limited she could call upon a small host of gadgets to aid her at a moment's notice.

She had already spotted several of the orbital colonies, and from what Heero had told them Washu knew that the few she had seen were but a fraction of the full number that had been constructed. If her young host was to be believed, there were far more people living in them now that resided on the surface of the planet. She saw no reason to doubt him, and the population disparity actually went quite some ways towards explaining some of the historical tension between the colonies and humanity's home planet.

And he got caught up right in the middle of it all, she mused, recalling the stolen file, I hope the peace he fought so hard for sticks around. It'd be a shame if he was forced back onto the battlefield. Then again…

…who can say how much further his abilities would develop were he thrust back into open warfare?

Her gaze idly drifted from the window to the object of her fascination. The experiment with the Dimension Turner had certainly paid dividends, but it had failed to satisfy Washu's hunger. There was so much more that she wanted to find out about Heero, especially with regards to what the future held for him. He wasn't meant to remain a humble peacekeeper on some backwater planet, after all.

He was meant for so much more.

She saw him floating near a window, his gaze fixed on the Earth below. It was hard to guess what might be going through his mind at the moment, but since his focus wasn't on any of the girls under his charge he must've felt reasonably secure with regards to their safety. Washu couldn't blame him; the crew of the shuttle had mostly left them alone after takeoff, and there were no other passengers on this flight. With nothing better to do, she drifted towards him. His gaze remained focused out the window, but Washu was sure that she was aware of her approach.

"It's quite a view," she said with a smirk, "Having been cooped up in stasis for a few centuries, I can definitely appreciate the shift in perspective."

Heero nodded. "I would imagine so."

She looked over his shoulder and down at the planet. "Peaceful little world, isn't it? Your doing, I take it?"

"Appearances can be deceiving," Heero replied, "although it is far calmer now than it was just a few years ago. You would know a thing or two about that though, wouldn't you?"

"Whatever are you talking about?" asked Washu, "I've been out cold for hundreds of years, after all."

"You don't have to play dumb," said Heero, his eyes narrowing, "I don't know how you did it, but your behavior during our little set of misadventures with the Dimension Turner was enough to tell me that you found some information that you shouldn't have access to."

Washu chuckled. "Well… I may have poked my nose where it didn't belong. It's an old habit of mine. I've had it for millennia, so you can't expect me to ditch it overnight."

"I don't know how old you are," said Heero, "but age is supposed to bring wisdom. The years have taught you discretion, haven't they?"

"Don't worry," said Washu, "I don't plan on releasing what I've learned to the general public."

"What about to the others in our little group?" asked Heero as he nodded at their companions.

"You've given them more hints than I have," she replied, "You know as well as I do that they're curious."

Heero nodded. "They are. Given the circumstances, I can't say that I blame them."

Washu smiled. "Indeed. I won't tell you what I do have, but I will say this; even my knowledge is incomplete."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "The self-proclaimed greatest genius in the universe admitting she doesn't know everything? Did Hell freeze over while I wasn't looking?"

Washu chuckled. "You're lucky that I find you so interesting, otherwise I'd be giving you the same frog-treatment that Ayeka and Ryoko received when I first woke up."

Heero shrugged. "What can I say? I like to take risks."

"That you do," said Washu with a nod, "That's one of your more endearing qualities, actually. I appreciate someone who's willing to stick their neck out, and from what I've learned you certainly are a bold one."

"Perhaps," said Heero, "but that boldness has been tempered by experience."

"To an extent," Washu countered with a smirk, "but you can't hide the truth; when the chips are down, you'll bet big. I'd expect nothing less from you."

Something you actually have in common with my daughter, she mused as she glanced over at Ryoko, You're more restrained than her, but you do have a bit of a reckless streak…

To her surprise she actually saw him smirk. "You might be right. I can think of at least a few people who wouldn't argue with your assertion."

"Will I get to meet any of them at the party tomorrow night?" she asked.

Heero nodded. "Some of them, at least. A few actually have prior obligations due to this party being hosted around the same time that the government holds its annual winter holiday celebration, but there are others that will be in attendance."

"And you trust all of them?" asked Washu, "If this is a party held by private citizens rather than government officials, wouldn't that increase the chance of word of our true nature leaking out?"

Heero shook his head. "Not with this crowd. I think I have a pretty good idea as to who else Quatre's invited for this little get-together. We should be fine. Well, we should as long as we can keep Ayeka and Ryoko from starting a fight and unleashing their powers."

Washu chuckled. "That might be a tall order. Do you think you're up to the job?"

Heero shrugged. "One way or another, we'll know soon enough."

Washu nodded. "I suppose we will."

You've certainly grown quite capable with regards to handling them, she thought with a smile, and that's despite the fact that the two of them are extraordinarily powerful beings. Then again, the same could be said of you.

You just don't know it yet…

….

"Is that it? Is that where the party is?" asked Sasami excited as she pointed out the window.

Following her gaze, Heero nodded as he saw the gargantuan wheel-shaped colony grow ever closer. "Yes. That's Quatre's colony, Sasami."

"Hooray!" cheered Mihoshi, "We're almost there!"

Indeed, Heero thought with no small measure of relief, and just about without incident, too. Ayeka and Ryoko didn't blast any holes in the shuttle, so I'll count that as a win any day of the week.

"Impressive," said Ayeka, "Your world may not be quite as advanced as Jurai, Sir Heero, but the structures your people are capable of building are still marvels of engineering."

Ryoko whistled. "Not bad. Seen bigger, but I've seen smaller too. I wonder what it's like on the inside…"

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

"How many people live here?" asked Kiyone, her eyes narrowing as she studied the colony.

"The populations of the colonies tend to fluctuate fairly regularly," Heero replied, "Workers and officials are often sent from one habitat to another as needed, and their families tend to travel with them. As of the last census, this particular colony has a more-or-less permanent resident count of roughly 900,000. This is supplemented by an additional temporary or seasonal resident population that's a little over 200,00."

"So over a million people all together, eh?" said Washu with a smirk, "Your government needs to think on a larger scale, Heero."

"I'm not sure what sort of orbital habitats your accustomed to," said Heero, "Perhaps our colonies have a smaller population than their analogues in the Empire of Jurai, but there are a great many of them in the Earth Sphere. More are being constructed on a regular basis, and that's not even counting the terraforming efforts underway on Mars and the habitats that were built on the Moon. Earth may be humanity's birthplace, but nowadays about 90% of the human population lives someplace other than her surface."

Washu nodded. "I'm well aware of that. After all, that information's public knowledge, so it wasn't exactly hard for me to find."

They were interrupted by a voice coming over the shuttle's intercom. "Please take your seats. We are commencing final approach."

"About damn time," said Ryoko as she sat down next to Heero, "We could've been here much faster if we'd just taken Ryo-Ohki, you know."

"I already told you," Heero replied, "We want to keep a low profile with this trip. Taking Ryo-Ohki would've defeated the purpose of that."

Ayeka shook her head. "You're such an impatient woman, Ryoko. Really, do you not understand that patience truly is a virtue?"

Ryoko scowled. "Oh, save the high-and-mighty bullshit! You're as tired of being cooped up on this shuttle as I am, and you know it!"

Ayeka glared at her. "Well, at least I'm able to endure such a flight without acting like an impatient brat!"

"Enough, both of you," said Heero firmly, "I'd rather avoid the shuttle going up in flames just before we arrive at our destination. Lock it down, you got that?"

Ryoko sighed. "Fine, whatever."

Ayeka bowed, but not before shooting one final glare at Ryoko. "Very well, Sir Heero."

I'm seriously not paid enough for this, Heero mused wearily as the shuttle's intended docking bay grew larger and larger.

They slipped inside the colony a few minutes later. The shuttle came to a smooth halt, and as Heero looked outside the window he immediately spotted a small group start approaching them. There was a familiar face at the head of the pack, and that didn't surprise Heero in the least.

"Courteous to a fault," he muttered, "I should've guessed that he'd want to greet us in person."

"What are you talking about, Heero?" asked Ryoko.

Heero shook his head as he stood up. "You'll find out for yourself soon enough."

He led the way off the shuttle, and as he and the others descended they were met by none other than their host. Quatre gave them a friendly smile and wave as they approached.

"Hey there, Heero!" he said, "How was the flight?"

"We made it here one piece," Heero replied as he shook his friend's hand, "That's enough for me. It's good to see you again, Quatre."

Quatre nodded. "Likewise. It really has been too long, although I can definitely understand it; you've had your hands full for quite some time."

Behind and to the right of Quatre, Heero saw Sally smirk. "That's one way to put it."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "I thought you weren't going to arrive at the colony until tomorrow?"

Sally shook her head. "That was the original plan, but Director Une wanted me to move out early to make sure the groundwork was complete."

"And is it?" asked Heero.

"Indeed," said a tall and muscular Arab man standing behind and to the left of Quatre, "Everything has been prepared."

Heero nodded. "Thanks. Good to see you too, Rasheed."

The leader of the Maganac Corps smiled. "You as well, Heero Yuy."

"So," said Quatre, nodding past Heero, "aren't you going to introduce us, Heero?"

Heero turned and looked at the girls behind him. He couldn't help but notice that they seemed rather interested in Quatre.

This could get out of hand, he thought, I really hope they show some restraint…

"Of course," he said, "Everyone, this is Quatre Raberba Winner, the head of the Winner Family. He's the old friend that I was telling you about on the way here. The man next to him is Rasheed, his head of security. I'm sure you all remember Sally."

Ayeka bowed her head. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Ayeka Jurai."

Sasami smiled and held up Ryo-Ohki. "Hi there! I'm Sasami! Nice to meet you! This little girl's Ryo-Ohki. Say hi, Ryo-Ohki!"

"Meow!" the living starship cried.

"Name's Ryoko," said the lovely pirate with a wink, "Don't you forget it."

"I'm Mihoshi," the blonde space cop chirped, "Any friend of Heero's is a friend of mine!"

"It's an honor to make your acquaintance," said Kiyone, "Anyone Heero refers to as an old war buddy must be worthy of respect."

"My name's Washu," the red-headed scientist said with a smirk, "So you're one of Heero's pals, eh? How interesting…"

Quatre raised an eyebrow. "What exactly did you tell them about me, Heero?"

Heero shrugged. "That you're an old comrade and filthy rich. Beyond that, not much."

Quatre's eyes narrowed as he focused on Washu in particular. "Really? Why does it feel like at least one of them might know a little more than that?"

As perceptive as ever, Heero mused, I suppose it's good that he hasn't lost his touch, but right now it's a bit inconvenient…

For her part, Washu simply rolled with it and gave Quatre a playful smile. "I always know more than I let on, handsome. It's just the way things are with me."

Quatre looked for a moment like he was about to press the matter, but he declined, much to Heero's relief; he had a few guesses as to how Washu had become so knowledgeable about not just him but his associates, and he had a feeling that Sally wouldn't be too happy if one of those theories was confirmed.

"Master Quatre," said Rasheed, "It would be wise to leave here soon lest we begin to draw unwanted attention."

Sally nodded. "He's right, Quatre. We really should be getting Heero and his companions settled in. If nothing else, it'll help both Director Une and myself sleep a little easier tonight."

Quatre nodded and smiled. "Of course. Heero, if you and your friends will follow me, I'll take you to the penthouse that's been set up for you."

Heero saw Ryoko grin. "A penthouse, eh? Nice to be getting the VIP treatment! You're all right, Quatre."

"I can't wait to see it!" chirped Mihoshi.

Kiyone yawned. "As long as it's got a comfortable bed, that'll be enough for me. I'm bushed."

"Me too," said Sasami as she stretched, "I could use a nap."

"Meow," groaned Ryo-Ohki.

"Lord Quatre," said Ayeka nervously, "Please have your people be careful with regards to unloading our luggage! There are some very sensitive items in the cargo hold."

Quatre smiled. "Don't worry, they'll take good care of your belongings, and that includes Azaka and Kamidake."

Ayeka nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied, "Also, there's no need to be so formal. You can simply call me Quatre, Ayeka."

Ayeka's eyes widened. "Oh! Well… I shall try to remember that… Quatre."

"Come on, let's get going," said Washu as she stifled a yawn, "Even a genius like me needs her beauty sleep."

Looks like I got off easy, Heero mused as Quatre led the group towards a nearby exit, Everyone's got jetlag, which means I should be able to get a little bit of shuteye myself. Heaven knows that I'm going to need it…

….

"Here we are," said Quatre as he opened the door to the penthouse.

Ayeka's eyes widened as she stepped inside. "My, my… it's beautiful!"

While she certainly had no complaints regarding her past accommodations with Heero, this new temporary residence was a cut above the rest. As she and the others followed Quatre inside she saw the penthouse open up into a broad combined living room-dining room with space for not just their group but a few additional guests as well if need be. A large flat-screen television was mounted on one of the walls, and there were several couches and chairs covered in what looked like very fine black leather. The broad windows gave a wonderful view of the interior of the colony, although Ayeka had to fight an initial wave of disorientation as she watched the city curve upwards due to the wheel-shaped structure of the orbital habitat.

Ryoko whistled. "Not bad. Not bad at all."

"It's perfect!" cheered Sasami.

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

"Wow," gasped Mihoshi, "Kiyone, look at this! It's like we're rich people!"

Her partner was trying to keep her composure, but she still looked quite impressed at the setup. "Well, they weren't kidding when they said it'd be high class accommodations."

Washu gave the place an approving nod. "I suppose it'll do for a few days."

"Yes, it will," said Heero as he turned to Quatre, "Thanks again. Sorry for all the trouble."

Quatre laughed. "Hey, I was the one that gave you the invite in the first place, remember? It's no trouble at all, really."

Turning around, Ayeka saw some of Quatre's men hauling in the two large boxes that contained Azaka and Kamidake. They brought them into the living room before standing them up and opening them.

"Oh, at long last!" said Azaka as he floated out of the container, "It is so good to be able to move again."

"Indeed," chirped Kamidake, "and what a marvelous new residence we have here!"

Quatre whistled. "So those are royal guardians, huh? They're certainly… unique."

"Quite so," said Ayeka as she smiled at her temporary host, "Thank you so much for going through the effort to transport them here. I shall not forget your hospitality, Lord Quatre."

Quatre nodded. "You're welcome... and please, just Quatre, remember?"

"Oh, of course!" said Ayeka as she bowed her head, "Forgive me! It's just that you're the head of a great house and a friend of Sir Heero, so… well, I suppose old habits die hard."

Quatre smirked as he turned to Heero. "Sir Heero, huh? How long has she been calling you that?"

Heero shrugged. "About as long as she's been staying with me. Titles seem to be a thing with her, and I could definitely think of worse ones for me."

Quatre patted him on the shoulder. "I guess you're right. Still, you'd better hope that Duo doesn't hear her calling you that at the party tomorrow night."

Heero groaned. "Did you have to invite him?"

Quatre smiled. "Of course! Come on, Heero; he was a Gundam pilot just like you and me, after all! It'd be rude not to invite him."

"You keep calling yourselves Gundam pilots," said Ryoko, "How many of you guys are there?"

"Five," said Heero, "Quatre, how many of us will be at the party tomorrow night?"

"Four if you include you and me," his old friend replied, "Duo and Trowa are coming, but Wufei's on bodyguard duty for Lady Une at the government's holiday celebration."

Heero nodded. "That figures. I bet he could get the time off if he wanted to, but he's never really been the type of guy to enjoy parties."

Quatre smirked. "Neither have you, if I recall correctly."

I suppose that would make sense, Ayeka mused, Sir Heero takes his duty quite seriously, so I can see him not being the sort that normally takes part in festivities. Still, he must take some time for leisurely celebration, especially if the rest of us will be partaking in merriment.

"Well," said Quatre after a moment, "as much as I'd like to stick around and catch up, I'm afraid I've still got some work waiting for me back at the office. Do you need anything from me before I head out?"

Heero shook his head. "I think we'll be all right."

Quatre nodded. "Good. I'll have some of my sisters come by tomorrow morning to take your guests dress shopping. If you want, I can also have Rasheed help you get a decent suit, Heero."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "I don't recall you mentioning that this was a black-tie event, Quatre."

Quatre smiled. "Oh yeah, that's right. Sorry, must've slipped my mind!"

"It's fine," said Heero, "I'll handle my own clothes shopping. Will your sisters be all right with the girls?"

"Of course, they will," said Quatre, "Don't worry, Heero; they know how important it is to be discreet in this situation. They'll take good care of your companions, Heero, so don't worry about a thing."

Ayeka smiled. "It will be an honor to be escorted by your family tomorrow, Quatre. I assure you that we will not cause any trouble for them."

"I appreciate that," Quatre replied, "Don't be surprised if they've got questions for you, though."

"I think we'll be just fine," said Kiyone.

"Yay!" cheered Mihoshi, "We get to meet more new people!"

"And we get to go shopping!" cried Sasami, "That's gonna be fun!"

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

Ryoko smiled, and Ayeka could not help but notice her gaze was focused on Heero. "Dress shopping, eh? I wonder what kind I should get…"

"Haven't done anything formal in a long time," said Washu with a smirk, "This should be amusing."

"I hope we get to go along," said Azaka.

"We must if we are to continue to perform our duties as proper Royal Guardians," chimed in Kamidake.

Heero shook his head. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to stay here. You'll draw too much attention otherwise."

Quatre nodded. "Heero's right. I understand that your purpose is to protect Ayeka and Sasami, but we can't have you wandering the colony in plain view of the residents. I hope you can understand our security concerns."

Ayeka smiled. "It is quite all right. Azaka, Kamidake; you shall remain in this penthouse until our time at this colony is concluded. Is that understood?"

"But what about your safety, Princess Ayeka?" asked Azaka.

"If you were put at risk in any way it would be an irremovable mark of shame for us!" chirped Kamidake.

"I will be quite safe, as will Sasami," Ayeka replied, "Quatre is a friend of Sir Heero, after all. I am quite comfortable entrusting the safety of Sasami and myself to him and his family. You are not to leave here under any circumstances, is that clear?"

"Very well, Princess Ayeka," the two guardians replied together.

Quatre nodded. "Thank you for your cooperation. I'm sorry, but I really must be leaving now. I'll see you all at the party tomorrow night!"

He seems like a very nice young man, thought Ayeka as she watched him and his subordinates leave the penthouse, His manners and bearing were impeccable, too. He would not look out of place amongst the noble families of the Empire…

"Man, check this place out!" said Ryoko with a grin as she jumped onto one of the couches, "This is great!"

Kiyone smiled. "We could definitely do worse, that's for sure."

Mihoshi yawned. "Which bedroom's mine? I'm getting sleepy."

"Pick any one that you want," said Heero as he looked around, "It would seem that we have plenty to choose from."

Sasami tugged on Ayeka's arm. "I'm going to bed, Ayeka. Will you come too?"

Ayeka smiled. "I'll be along shortly, Sasami. There's no need for you to stay up on my account."

Sasami nodded. "Okay. Good night, then. Come on, Ryo-Ohki."

"Meow!" cried the cat-rabbit as Sasami took her into one of the bedrooms.

"I think I'll hit the hay, too," said Washu, "It sounds like we've got a full day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Try not to make any permanent modifications to your room," said Heero, "We'll only be here a few days, and I don't need Quatre complaining about unwanted changes to his property."

Washu waved dismissively. "Don't worry, I won't do anything that can't be reversed. See you in the morning."

"I might as well turn in, too," said Kiyone, "No offense, Heero, but your government needs to make its shuttles faster."

"No taken," Heero replied, "Sleep well."

Eventually it was just Ayeka, Heero, Ryoko, Azaka and Kamidake left in the living room. The pirate had already grabbed a remote from the coffee table in front of the couch and was flipping through channels on the television, while Heero went out onto the balcony a few seconds later. After she was convinced that Ryoko was fully absorbed in the show she was watching, Ayeka quietly slipped out to join Heero. There was a rather contemplative look on his face as he regarded the city that stretched all the way up the horizon until it had gone completely around the bend and out of sight.

"What do you think of the view?" he asked as she leaned against the railing next to him.

Ayeka smiled. "It's quite marvelous, truly! The way your people have constructed these colonial cities is something you should be very proud of. Your world may lag behind the Empire of Jurai on the technological scale, but what it has accomplished without outside interference remains impressive!"

Heero nodded. "Thanks. I'm sure Sally and Director Une would appreciate your sentiment, too."

"They're in charge of providing protection for the people residing in these colonies as well as the surface population, right?" asked Ayeka, "That must be a truly challenging undertaking."

"It's definitely not the easiest job in the world," Heero replied, "Still, overall Preventers has done pretty well with regards to keeping the peace between Earth and the colonies. There will always be disputes and tensions, but I'd like to believe we truly turned a corner after the war. I suppose time will tell one way or another."

"That reminds me," said Ayeka, "Your friend, Quatre… he really did fight in the same war as you? I know you said so earlier, but after meeting him in person, well… I don't mean to doubt your word, Sir Heero, but…"

"He doesn't seem to fit the mold of a colonial freedom fighter at first glance, right?" Heero finished for her.

Ayeka nodded sheepishly. "Yes. Again, it's hardly my desire to question you, but…"

She was greatly relieved when he gave her a small smile. "Ayeka, it's all right, really. I don't blame you in the slightest for questioning what I said earlier, especially after you just met Quatre for the first time. Given your upbringing, would I be wrong in presuming you would imagine him as someone who would fit more naturally in the royal court as opposed to the battlefield?"

Those had been her exact thoughts, and even after all the time she had spent with him Ayeka was still amazed with how her host was able to read people the way he did. "Well… yes. In fact, given his current position as the head of a wealthy and influential family, his closest analogue in the Empire of Jurai would be one of the leaders of the nobility."

"That's not a bad way to put it," said Heero, "However, Quatre doesn't really exert his influence in political maneuvers. His family and the conglomerate it controls are one of the strongest commercial entities in the Earth Sphere, but their involvement in governmental affairs is only in an indirect manner."

"How so?" asked Ayeka, genuinely intrigued.

"The Winner Family is a major player in the orbital construction industry," said Heero, "Therefore they consult with the government on a regular basis regarding the building of new space colonies and the maintenance of existing ones. They also do lobbying on behalf of colonial residents in order to improve standards of living, and Quatre's occasionally used his company as a mediating party in disputes between the surface government and local colonial authorities. He has no aspirations for actual political power, though. His preference is to use his wealth and influence to make the Earth Sphere a more comfortable and equitable place for everyone to live, whether they be from the surface or the colonies."

Ayeka nodded. "I see. In the Empire of Jurai, there are several corporate giants known as keiretsu, which are basically sets of companies with interlocking business relationships. These keiretsu dominate entire sectors of the Empire's economy and are typically lead by either a member of the titled nobility or the head of one of Jurai's great merchant clans. While officially they are commercial entities focused on profit, they also play an informal political role by lobbying for specific policies meant to improve matters such as worker relations and the security of the Empire's primary trade routes. Your friend Quatre would be quite at home as the head of one of our keiretsu, I imagine."

"Interesting," said Heero, "I bet he'd like to hear more about the Empire at the party tomorrow night."

"Would it really be all right for me to provide him with information about where I'm from?" asked Ayeka, "You and Lady Sally have gone to great lengths to keep the very existence of Sasami and myself a secret, after all."

"That's true," Heero replied, "but the circumstances are different here. Everyone at this party will be part of Quatre's circle of friends, which means they're people that we can trust. He'll have already told them about you and the others before the celebrations begin, along with the need to keep your true nature from spreading beyond the bounds of the party. Feel free to speak openly of the Empire and its culture; I imagine your willingness to educate others regarding your homeland will make you quite popular tomorrow night."

Ayeka smiled. "In that case, consider me Jurai's cultural ambassador for tomorrow's festivities. Oh, this is going to be so much fun! Sir Heero, I cannot begin to thank you enough for bringing us all here!"

"Thank Quatre," said Heero, "He was the one that extended the invitation and handled the necessary arrangements. I'm just along for the ride this time."

Ayeka shook her head. "You are far too modest, Sir Heero. I know that you worked hard with Quatre to coordinate everything and ensure our safety. For that, you have my deepest gratitude."

"Don't mention it," said Heero.

"By the way," said Ayeka cautiously, "with regards to the other Gundam pilots that we'll be meeting tomorrow night… are they more like Quatre or yourself?"

A small smirk appeared on his face. "Neither, really. We're all pretty unique individuals. You'll see for yourself tomorrow night."

Ayeka tried and utterly failed to stifle a yawn. "I… I suppose I will. My apologies, Sir Heero, but I… I don't think I can stay up any longer."

Heero shook his head. "Don't worry about it. It was a pretty long flight, after all. Get some rest."

Ayeka smiled. "Good night, Sir Heero. I look forward to seeing you again with the dawn."

….

The television was still on in the living room of the penthouse, but Ryoko had long since passed out. Quietly checking in on the rest of the girls, Heero was relieved to see that all of them were fast asleep too. As badly as he wanted to hit the hay himself, though, he knew that he had to seize this opportunity to get some very important errands done; he doubted he would get another chance, especially considering the timeframe he was on.

"Sir Heero," said Azaka as he headed for the door, "Just where are going?"

"Is it not your duty to watch over everyone here?" asked Kamidake.

"I won't be gone long," said Heero, hoping that the guardians' voices hadn't woken anyone, "I just need to get a little bit of shopping done."

"Shopping?" said Azaka, "At such a late hour?"

"What sort of shopping cannot wait until morning?" asked Kamidake.

Heero shook his head. "It's… well, it's kind of a custom this time of year. Please don't say anything to Ayeka or the others. I'll be back before they all wake up, and I promise that this shopping will be of benefit to all of them, but only if you keep it a secret. Can I count on you to do that?"

"Well," said Azaka, "if it is of benefit to Princess Ayeka and Princess Sasami, then I suppose we can."

"Do you require any further assistance?" asked Kamidake, "If there is a way we can help you help Princess Ayeka and Princess Sasami then it would be our pleasure to do so."

"Just don't wake the others," said Heero before slipping out the door.

Good thing the colonies never truly sleep, he thought as he headed for the elevator, making a mental list of the stores he would need to hit, I just might be able to pull this off…

….

December 24th, A.C. 198

I can't believe they're still getting ready, Heero mused as he glanced over at the clock on the wall, It didn't take me nearly as long to change as it is them. Women…

Checking his reflection in the window, he took a moment to straighten out his tie. Formal wear wasn't Heero's usual style, but he had to admit that the suit Rasheed had helped him pick out was pretty nice. The fabric was high-end, and the black pants and dinner jacket combined with the pristine white shirt, black tie and silver cufflinks were a good fit. When the entire ensemble was combined with Heero's usual alert and disciplined bearing the Gundam pilot could not help but feel like he wouldn't be out of place in a James Bond movie. He was even armed, although he was naturally taking care to conceal his pistol in his jacket so as not to alarm anyone.

"Are you ladies almost done?" he called out, "Our ride's supposed to be here any minute now."

"Just a moment!" Ayeka cried.

"We'll be out real soon, Heero!" yelled Sasami.

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

"You can't rush beauty, handsome," called Washu.

"Damn straight," yelled Ryoko, "Trust me, Heero; the wait's gonna be worth it for ya!"

"This is so exciting!" he heard Mihoshi cry, "Kiyone, when was the last time we dressed up like this?"

"It's been a while," Kiyone replied, and she sounded a little nervous, "I still don't know if this was the right pick…"

"It'll be fine!" said Mihoshi, "Come on, let's get out there and strut our stuff!"

Someone's enjoying herself, thought Heero, I suppose that's better than the alternative…

"Princess Ayeka?" asked Azaka, "Is everything all right?"

"Do you require assistance?" chimed Kamidake.

"No!" came Ayeka's sharp reply, "No, I am quite all right, thank you!"

A minute later, Ayeka was actually the first of the girls to emerge from her room. She was adorned in a white dress with a silver sash. The gown was quite fitting for a crown princess, and it somehow managed to cling to her body in a manner that was both elegant and enticing. She stepped towards Heero with a nervous smile on her face.

"What do you think, Sir Heero?" she asked.

He nodded. "You look lovely, Ayeka."

Her smile grew. "Thank you, Sir Heero!"

"You're an absolute gem, Princess Ayeka!" said Azaka.

"Indeed," chimed Kamidake, "If only your parents could see you now!"

"What about me?" chirped Sasami.

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

Looking past Ayeka, Heero saw her younger sister come into the room with Ryo-Ohki at her feet. Sasami's gown was a cute pink dress with a white flower pattern, and there was a pink bow in her hair. Heero had to admit that Quatre's sisters had done a good job in picking her outfit for the evening; it went quite well with her innocent and cheerful personality.

"You look very nice," he replied, "Did you have fun picking that out?"

Sasami smiled. "Yeah! It wasn't the first dress I tried on, but I like this one the most!"

"You have become a wonderful young flower, Sasami," said Azaka.

"Such a cute dress you found!" cheered Kamidake.

"Remember what I told you, Sasami," said Ayeka, "If you're going to hold Ryo-Ohki while wearing that, be careful to avoid getting her hair on it."

"Don't worry, I will," said Sasami.

"Come on, Mihoshi," Heero heard Kiyone say, "We need to get moving!"

"Coming, Kiyone!" cried Mihoshi.

The two of them came into the living room a moment later, and Heero was impressed with what he saw. Mihoshi had never struck him as the elegant type, but her smooth yellow dress and the golden chain around her waist fit her quite well; she really did look like a high-society girl. Kiyone's dress was a subdued dark green gown with a light green sash, and it clung to her athletic form in all the right places. Both girls were actually blushing as they looked at Heero, although it was much more noticeable with Kiyone.

"Well?" said Kiyone nervously.

"How do we look, Heero?" chirped Mihoshi.

"Great," said Heero, "Looks like Quatre's sisters really know what they're doing."

Kiyone smiled, her relief palpable. "Yes, I would've been lost without them; I can't remember the last time I had to get a dress for an occasion like this."

Mihoshi was beaming. "It was so much fun, and his sisters were so nice to us! Oh, I can't wait to see them at the party!"

"Indeed," came Washu's voice from behind them, "I really ought to thank them again once we arrive; it's been quite a long time since I've really had to dress to impress."

Looking past Kiyone and Mihoshi, Heero was surprised by Washu's appearance. The normally devious and questionably-sane scientist now looked like a woman ready to walk the red carpet. Her crimson dress went very well with her hair, and Heero could also see a pair of silver earrings on her as well.

Washu gave him a warm smile. "All right, I suppose it's my turn now. What's the verdict, Heero?"

"Very impressive," he replied, "You clean up quite well."

She smirked. "Glad to hear you say so. I never thought I'd be attending any fancy get-togethers while on this planet, so it's nice to know I can still pull off a high-society look should the occasion call it."

"That just leaves Ryoko, now," said Kiyone.

"I wonder what's taking her?" asked Mihoshi.

"If she delays us further, I say we should leave without her," Ayeka huffed, "She knows just as well as the rest of us what time we're supposed to leave!"

"Trying to ditch me?" came the voice of the pirate, "Sorry, but that's not gonna happen tonight."

That was when Heero saw her, and it took every last bit of his self-control to keep his jaw from hitting the floor. There was Ryoko, and she looked absolutely stunning. The black dress she wore clung to her body like a fine glove, and as she did a little spin for his viewing pleasure Heero got a perfect view of how it was open at the back, showing off a considerable amount of skin. A silver chain around her waist capped off the ensemble, and from the light in her eyes Heero was pretty sure Ryoko was well aware of the effect she was having on him.

"Don't leave me hanging, handsome," she said with a grin, "Let's have it!"

The last thing Heero wanted to do was reveal to the rest of the girls that he had a favorite among them, but even so he could not entirely keep up the mask. "Beautiful…"

She strolled up and kissed him on the cheek. "You always know just what to say, hotshot."

Ayeka was fuming. "Ryoko! You… you… you vamp!"

Ryoko put a hand to her ear. "Oh, what's that? You'll have to speak up, Ayeka. I can't hear you over the sound of your raging jealousy!"

Sparks began flying through the air around Ayeka, and Heero decided to step in before this became a fight that would destroy the penthouse. "Enough, both of you. We need to get going; the limo should be waiting for us. It would look bad if we were late to the party."

Ayeka sighed, but not before shooting one more glare at Ryoko. "Very well, Sir Heero."

"All right!" cheered Ryoko, "Let's get to that party!"

Indeed, thought Heero as he led the way out the door, and let's hope we make it through the party without reducing Quatre's home to rubble.

….

Normally a black-tie event wasn't his style, but Duo Maxwell could make exceptions for old friends. Checking his reflection in a nearby mirror, he smoothed over a wrinkle in his suit as he waited for the party to officially get underway. His long brown hair was still tied into that signature braid of his, and his blue eyes were gleaming with excitement as he kept glancing towards the front entrance, hoping to see another old friend of his walk in at any moment now.

"Someone's eager, aren't they?" said a very familiar female voice.

Duo grinned as his lovely wife approached him. Her black hair was tied back into a bun, and her emerald eyes matched her dress perfectly. It was a very refreshing change from her usual attire, especially considering how dirty said attire tended to get from her work in the junkyard. Of course, seeing Hilde Maxwell getting herself dirty while working in the junkyard with him could be pretty fun in its own right.

"Maybe a little," Duo replied as Hilde looped her arm through his, "It's been a long time since we've all gathered like this, after all. I've been wondering how my old buddy's been doing."

"I'm sure Heero's been just fine," said Hilde with a smile, "To be honest, I'm a little surprised that Quatre was able to talk him into attending. He's never really been a party animal, after all."

Duo chuckled. "Yeah, and the parties he did go to back in the day had a habit of getting attacked."

"He wasn't alone there," said Hilde as she pecked him on the cheek, "You Gundam pilots are just magnets for trouble sometimes."

Duo smirked. "You got me there. I hope trouble doesn't decide to follow us here; it'd be a shame to make a mess of Quatre's place."

Hell knows that I wouldn't be able to afford to pay for anything that gets broken here, he mused as he looked around, I always knew that Quatre was rich, but he's been so down-to-Earth about his wealth that I keep forgetting he owns high-end pads like this.

The party was being hosted in an extravagant penthouse, much larger than any Duo had ever seen before. It actually took up the top two stories of the building that housed it, and that also included the rooftop garden where the main festivities would take place. Inside and out, the furniture was both sturdy and high-class, and every table in sight was topped with expensive appetizers and fine wines. The two of them were actually in the upper living room, having only just arrived a little while ago.

"With the security Quatre has here, I doubt we have anything to worry about," said a familiar male voice.

Trowa turned around and grinned as he saw an old friend approach. "Trowa! How's it going, buddy?"

Apart from the nice suit that he wore, Trowa Barton hadn't changed a bit from the last time that Duo had seen him. He still wore his thick brown hair in a hawk's wing that obscured the right side of his face, and his green eyes still had a rather detached feel to them. Nonetheless, there was a small smile on his face now, which Duo counted as a considerable improvement over his usual attitude.

"It's going quite well," he replied, "Good to see you again, Duo. You as well, Hilde."

Duo waited for his wife to hug the Gundam pilot from L3 before stepping forward and giving him a hearty pat on the shoulder. "It's been way too long, man."

"He's right," said Hilde, "How's the circus treating you?"

"As well as ever," said Trowa, "I think I'm the only one there now with the nerve required for Catherine's knife act. The manager gave me a raise because of it; I think he's afraid that the competition will try to headhunt me."

Hilde smiled. "Well, at least you know you've got job security."

"Speaking of the circus," said Duo as he looked around, "where's Catherine? Don't tell me she's sitting this out!"

Trowa shook his head. "She's right over there."

It only took a moment for Duo to spot Catherine Bloom. The star knife-thrower of Trowa's circus looked as lovely as ever, with her thick brown hair tied back into a ponytail and her grey eyes sparkling with vibrant energy. Her gown for the evening was a long violet dress, and she was currently engaged in a friendly conversation with Rasheed.

Maybe more than just friendly, Duo mused, She seems pretty happy to see him.

He turned to Trowa. "Looks like she's enjoying herself, and the party hasn't even started yet. You worried?"

Trowa rolled his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you that it's not like that with us?"

"Duo!" scolded Hilde as she elbowed him in the chest, "Sometimes you are just the worst!"

"Hey, now!" Duo protested as he rubbed the spot she'd hit, "I'm just looking after my buddy. Sure, Rasheed's a good guy, but I never knew he was the type to chat up other men's women."

"He's not," Trowa shot back, "and what Catherine and I have isn't like that. I already told you; she's been like an older sister to me."

Duo raised an eyebrow as he looked back at Catherine. "So it really doesn't bother you that she and Rasheed are flirting, then?"

Trowa shook his head. "Not at all. If Quatre trusts him with his security, then I think I can trust him with Catherine. Besides, they're both adults and can make their own decisions."

Hilde smiled. "That's a good attitude to have, Trowa."

Duo shrugged. "All right, all right. Still, you can't play the single guy role forever, Trowa. Don't tell me there isn't a girl out there that's caught your eye. I'm sure you've got plenty of fans with your circus act!"

"I haven't had the time," said Trowa, "I've been busy."

Duo shook his head. "That's a load of bull. There's always time for a guy to go after a girl."

Hilde folded her arms. "You do realize that I'm standing right here, don't you, Duo?"

Duo grinned. "Hey, relax, Hilde! I only meant for single guys, not for a married man like myself."

Hilde smiled after a moment. "Good."

"Nice to see that you're as lively as ever, Duo," said a familiar female voice, "Some things never do change."

The group turned to see a slender woman in a black evening gown approaching. As always, she wore her platinum blonde hair long, and it fell all the way down to her hips. Her purple eyes sparkled with a devious light, while her rather sharp and prominent eyebrows were narrowed as she evaluated those before her.

Duo smirked. "Well, someone's got to be the life of the party. Been a long time, Dorothy."

Dorothy Catalonia smiled. "Indeed, it has. Nice to see you as well, Hilde. You too, Trowa."

"How've you been?" asked Hilde, "I think the last time I saw you, you'd just been elected to Parliament."

Dorothy nodded. "Yes. The youngest representative in the legislature, as the press is all too keen to remind me. It's been a most… amusing experience."

Trowa folded his arms. "I'll bet. Let me guess; the rest of the representatives underestimate you, and then you turn the tables on them when they least expect it and savor the looks of shock on their faces. Does that sound about right?"

Dorothy giggled. "Oh, you do know me well, Trowa. It's always entertaining to watch my colleagues despair as they're bested in negotiations by a woman young enough to be their granddaughter. I must say, if I'd known that genuine democratic politics could be so much fun I would've lobbied my grandfather for reform a long time ago."

"I'm pretty sure he would've shot you down," Duo quipped, "Duke Dermail never struck me as the type to be accepting of democracy."

Dorothy sighed. "I suppose you're right. It's a pity, really. With his position and influence, he could've steered events down that route. He might've even saved his own life in the process. Alas, that's nothing more than another little 'what if' on history's giant pile of them."

"I'm surprised you're here," said Hilde, "Don't get me wrong; it's good to catch up with you. I just figured you'd be at the party the government's throwing over on MO II."

Dorothy shook her head. "The invitation to that gathering was extended to me, but I needed a break from affairs of state. Quatre's offer came about the same time, and it was a much more appealing one."

Duo grinned. "Speaking of Quatre, did he happen to tell you about who's supposed to be accompanying Heero to the party?"

Dorothy rolled her eyes. "Of course, he did; every guest invited was briefed in order to avoid potential problems. That's why this gathering tonight is one of friends and family; this is a circle of trust, after all."

"So what do you think?" asked Hilde, "I'm still having trouble believe it, and I know I'm not the only one."

"You got that right!" said Duo, "I mean, seriously; who would've thought we'd see the day that Heero was escorting literal alien guests to a party like this?"

"The only reason he can do so is because they supposed look about as human as the rest of us according to Sally," said Trowa, "Although even then it strikes me as rather risky."

Dorothy nodded. "Yes, although it would seem that Sally and Lady Une thought otherwise."

Hilde's eyes narrowed as she studied Dorothy. "Did you really not know about them until Quatre gave you the invite? You are in the government, after all. Wouldn't you have been read in on something as momentous as genuine alien contact?"

Dorothy shook her head. "I'm merely a representative in Parliament, and I'm not on any of the committees that would be relevant to this matter. Actually, from what I learned from Quatre and Sally, it would seem that Parliament in its entirety is in the dark regarding our guests from beyond the stars. I suppose it all makes sense; best to keep matters such as this close to the chest, and Lady Une's certainly disciplined enough to be trusted with managing such an affair purely within the confines of Preventers."

"So it doesn't bother you at all that you and the legislature were left completely in the dark about first contact?" asked Trowa skeptically.

Dorothy shrugged. "Not particularly. As long as the peace is kept, in the end that is all that matters. Besides, they've all been put under the observational custody of Heero, so with that in mind I see no reason for concern. They're being monitored by the best soldier the Earth Sphere has ever seen, so I'm satisfied with the current arrangement."

Duo looked around eagerly but still could spot no sign that Heero or his companions had arrived. "Well, maybe you can play it cool, but I for one am dying to meet them. I mean, seriously; how often does a chance like this come around?"

Hilde smiled. "You've got a point. I have to admit, I'm pretty psyched for this too."

Dow saw Trowa raise an eyebrow as he looked beyond their little gathering. "Then you might want to turn around."

Duo did so, and his jaw dropped when he saw Heero enter the room…

…surrounded by no less than six beautifulwomen.

You have got to be kidding me…

A sharp elbow from Hilde was enough for Duo to regain some semblance of composure, but he had yet to fully recover his wits. He'd lost count of the number of times he'd told Heero to find a woman, and now here he was with an entire pack of them. What made the situation patently absurd was the fact that all of them were supposedly from beyond the Earth Sphere.

"Holy shit…" he murmured.

Hilde rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless, you know that?"

Dorothy shook her head. "Boys…"

"Well," said Trowa, looking rather amused at the whole situation, "shall we go say hello?"

Duo couldn't help but grin as he took Hilde's hand. "Yes, we should, Trowa. Yes, we should."

….

To Heero's right, Ryoko whistled. "Wow. And here I thought that the place we were staying was nice!"

"Most impressive!" said Ayeka as she looked around the room.

"Is this the party?" asked Sasami, "I thought it was supposed to be outside."

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki from Sasami's arms.

"Where's the garden you mentioned earlier, Heero?" asked Mihoshi.

"Don't you remember, Mihoshi?" said Kiyone, "It's out on the roof."

"I bet it's quite the view from out there," said Washu.

Heero nodded as he scanned the room. "I'm sure it is. We'll see it for ourselves soon enough."

He could feel every eye in the room on him and his companions as they walked in. While Quatre had assured him that it would only be friends and family attending the party, it still made him a little uneasy being the center of attention like this. He could only hope that that would fade as the party got underway.

He spotted Quatre approaching him, and his fellow Gundam pilot wasn't alone. There was a woman with brown-blonde hair and blue eyes with him wearing a green evening gown.

"Heero!" said Quatre with a smile, "Glad you could make it!"

Heero nodded. "Thanks for the pickup earlier. Are we late?"

The woman next to Quatre shook her head. "Not at all, Heero."

The face was familiar, but for some reason Heero was having trouble attaching a name to it. "Forgive me. We may have met before, but I…"

The woman smiled. "It's quite all right, Heero. It's pretty common for people to mix me up with one of my siblings. My name is Iria Winner. I'm the oldest of Quatre's sisters."

Heero nodded. "Right. You're a doctor, correct?"

"Indeed," she replied, "I'm glad that you were able to remember at least that much. Please, withhold my title, though; you can just call my Iria."

"Are the rest of your sisters here, Miss Iria?" asked Ayeka as she looked around, "They were so good to Sasami and I earlier today, and I wish to thank them for the time they spent with us."

"They were really nice!" cheered Sasami, "I like them!"

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

Iria smiled. "Don't worry; the whole family's here. Just wander around, and I'm sure you'll find them soon enough."

"I still can't believe that there are so many of you," said Kiyone as she looked around, "Twenty-nine sisters… I'm amazed that you can keep track of them all, Quatre."

Quatre laughed. "You'd be amazed at the things you can remember when you put your mind to it."

"I'm so jealous!" cried Mihoshi, "I want twenty-nine sisters! That'd be so much fun!"

Washu shook her head. "I feel sorry for the parents. Just one child's a handful."

Ryoko rolled her eyes. "Like you would know, mother. You were gone for how many centuries while I basically raised myself with Ryo-Ohki, again?"

Washu waved a finger at the pirate. "Watch your mouth, young lady. You don't want me to turn you into a frog again, do you?"

Ryoko's face paled even as she shot a glare at Washu. "You wouldn't… not in the middle of a party like this…"

"Only one way to find out," said Washu with a grin.

"Please, don't," said Heero, "I'm sure we'll make enough of a scene as it is tonight without you turning people into frogs, Washu."

Washu shrugged. "Oh, fine. I'll just have to find other ways to amuse myself."

"How reassuring," Ryoko quipped dryly.

"Yo, Heero!" called a familiar male voice, "Long time no see, old buddy!"

Oh, great, thought Heero, silently groaning, I was hoping to put this off for a little while longer…

Sure enough, none other than Duo Maxwell was approaching. He wasn't alone, either. His wife Hilde had her arm looped through his, and Trowa Barton and Dorothy Catalonia were right there with them.

Heero gave him a nod. "Duo."

Of course, that wasn't enough for Duo. He put his hand to his heart, an expression of faux-hurt on his face, but Heero could tell that the L2 native was struggling to hold back a grin.

"That's it?" he said, "Just 'Duo'? Man, even for you, that's cold! Come on, Heero! You're trying to hurt your old buddy, are you?"

Heero rolled his eyes before allowing himself a small smirk. "It's been a long time. How've you been, Duo?"

Duo smiled. "Now that's more like it! Gotta say, I never thought married life would agree with me, but Hilde keeps things entertaining."

Hilde chuckled. "Well, not as entertaining as you do. It's been too long, Heero."

"Likewise," said Heero before turning to the other Gundam pilot in the room, "Good to see you too, Trowa. Is Catherine still mad at me?"

Trowa shook his head, a small smile on his face. "I think she's finally over it. Just to be safe, though, don't mention the war and the time you spent in our trailer at the circus."

Heero nodded. "Easy enough."

"Well, don't keep us waiting," said Duo, smirking as he eyed Heero's companions, "Heero, aren't you going to introduce us to the ladies of the hour?"

Heero rolled his eyes before doing just that. "Everyone, this is Duo Maxwell, one of the other Gundam pilots I mentioned earlier. The woman with him is Hilde Maxwell, his wife. The other man is Trowa Barton, another Gundam pilot, and the blonde woman is Dorothy Catalonia. She's a representative in the ESUN Parliament. There's no need to hold back with them; they're all well aware of the fact that you're not exactly from around here."

Ayeka gave them a courteous bow. "A pleasure to meet you all. I am Ayeka Masaki Jurai, crown princess of the Empire of Jurai."

"And I'm Sasami!" chirped her younger sister, "I'm a princess too, but you don't have to use a title or anything for me. Oh, and this little girl is Ryo-Ohki!"

"Meow!" cried the cute furball in her arms.

Kiyone nodded and smiled. "I'm Detective First Class Kiyone Makibi of the Galaxy Police. It's nice to meet you."

"And I'm her partner!" chirped Mihoshi, "Detective First Class Mihoshi Kuramitsu!"

Washu stepped forward with a grin on her face. "I'm the premier scientific genius of the galaxy, Doctor Washu Hakubi! I'll just let you call me Washu since you're all friends of Heero, though."

"How generous," Ryoko quipped.

Washu gave Ryoko a sly smirk. "And this smartass is my daughter, Ryoko. I'm ashamed to say that she didn't inherent my singular intellect."

Ryoko scowled. "Hey, are you calling me dumb? You are so asking for it! I don't care if you're my mother, I'll…"

"That's enough," said Heero, trying to keep his exasperation beneath the surface, "What did I tell the two of you? Knock it off."

Ryoko groaned. "Fine."

Washu chuckled. "You owe him one, dear."

Ryoko folded her arms, shooting one more glare at Washu before turning to the others. "Whatever. So, you're all Heero's pals? Tell me something; what's it take to get him completely shitface drunk? Seriously, I think he needs it."

Duo grinned. "Oh, I like you!"

"Duo!" hissed Hilde as she elbowed him in the ribs.

The L2 native grimaced. "Ow! I didn't mean like that!"

Hilde rolled her eyes. "Sure, you didn't."

"Hey, I told you!" Duo protested, "Married man here, remember?"

Dorothy smirked. "It's hard to remember that with the way you act sometimes."

"I'm still amazed he got married in the first place," Trowa quipped.

That makes two of us, mused Heero.

Quatre smiled. "If anyone wants a drink, we've got plenty on offer. That being said, do try to keep from going overboard. It wouldn't be much of a party if you all passed out!"

Ryoko grinned as she grabbed Heero's arm. "Please, only the lightweights will go down here. Come on, Heero! You and me are going shot for shot!"

"Absolutely not!" Ayeka protested as she took Heero's other arm, "I will not let you drag Heero into your oafishness and drunken debauchery!"

"A little bit of wine does sound nice," said Kiyone.

"Oh, can I try some?" asked Sasami.

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

Mihoshi shook her head. "Sorry, Sasami, but I don't think you're ready for it. Same goes for you, Ryo-Ohki."

"It's strange days when you're the voice of reason, Mihoshi," Heero heard Washu mutter.

"Well, now," said a new yet familiar voice, "Aren't you all a lively bunch? And here the party hasn't even officially started yet!"

Heero and the others turned to see Sally approaching. She wore a green dress with a scarlet flower-pattern on it; the perfect gown for a winter holiday party. There was an amused smile on her face as she took in the sight of Heero surrounded by his unruly companions, and he was very thankful that she wasn't taking pictures on her smart phone right now.

"Lady Sally!" cried Ayeka, "It's so good to see you again! Then again, I suppose we did just see you yesterday, but still…"

"You look so pretty!" cheered Sasami.

"Aw, thank you, Sasami!" she replied, "You really are a sweetheart, you know that? I bet your mom and dad are so proud of you."

Sasami looked down, an embarrassed smile on her face. "Oh, you're too nice!"

Sally then looked the rest of Heero's companions. "Looks like Quatre's sisters did a great job with all of you. You blend in pretty well, all things considered."

Heero nodded. "As long as we can keep hostilities to a minimum, I think we should be okay."

Duo raised an eyebrow. "Hostilities? What are you talking about, buddy?"

"Trust me," said Kiyone as she looked at Ayeka and Ryoko, "You don't want to know."

Quatre cleared his throat. "I think that actually accounts for all of the guests. Shall we head outside and kick things off?"

"Oh, yay!" chirped Mihoshi, "I want to see the garden!"

"Some food would be nice as well," said Washu as she looked around, "I hope you've got more than just appetizer trays."

"No kidding," said Ryoko, "I'm starving!"

Quatre smiled. "Trust me; I think you'll find what we've got set up outside to be just to your liking."

He led them outside, and Heero heard several of his companions whistle at the sight. He couldn't blame them; the garden looked spectacular. A large Christmas tree was set up right in the middle of it, while all the bushes glittered with holiday lights. Tables were spread out, enough for all the guests, and there was more food than Heero had seen in one place in a long time. A bar was positioned off to one side, while a small stage had been set up for an orchestra and choir, who started up on what Heero was sure would be the first of many holiday songs to come.

"Welcome to our little wonderland amongst the stars," said Quatre with a grin, "Eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves!"

"Don't need to tell me twice!" cheered Ryoko.

"Oh, it looks wonderful!" cried Ayeka.

"So much food!" cried Sasami.

"Meow!" cheered Ryo-Ohki.

Kiyone smiled. "Well, it looks like we won't be going hungry anytime soon."

"It all looks so good!" gasped Mihoshi as she looked around, "I don't know where to start!"

"For once, I'm with you," said Washu as she surveyed the platters, licking her lips, "Decisions, decisions…"

Heero was relieved. If his companions were distracted by all the food, then it meant that he wouldn't have to worry about them fighting for at least a little while. He would take all the small favors he could get.

Well, he thought, we've come this far. Might as well indulge.

Let the party begin.

….

Ryoko was in paradise. There was food and drink as far as she could see, and it was all good. She was already on her second plate and second glass of wine, and she was just warming up.

This is the best, she thought with a smile, I can't believe Heero's got friends who throw parties like this. He needs to get us invited to shindigs like this more often!

The group had dispersed a little while ago. Ayeka and Sasami were holding court with Quatre and several of his sisters, and from what few boring snippets Ryoko could overhear it sounded like they were telling them all about their precious Empire. Kiyone and Mihoshi were with Duo and Hilde, enjoying themselves and entertaining their dining companions with tales of their adventures in the Galaxy Police. Washu had been joined by Dorothy, Trowa, Catherine and Rasheed, and from the way the legendary mad scientist was grinning Ryoko could only imagine what crazy inventions she was telling her new friends about. Heero had been sharing Ryoko's table, but he had gotten up a little while ago, claiming that he needed a little air, although seeing as they were all partying in an outdoor garden it was hard for her to see how he could get any more air than he already was.

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki, poking at Ryoko's plate.

Ryoko smiled and passed her living starship another carrot. "Here you go! It's a party, so make sure you enjoy yourself!"

The cat-rabbit's eyes glittered with delight as she scarfed down her treat. Ryoko could only laugh at the sight; her furry companion was so easy to please.

"Glad to see the two of you are enjoying yourselves," said a familiar female voice from behind her, "Mind if I join you?"

Ryoko looked over her shoulder and nodded. "Hey, Sally. Pull up a chair! You gotta try this wine!"

"I already have," Sally replied with a smile as she sat down, "I'll hold off on another glass until later. Pacing is the key to truly pleasurable drinking, or at least that's what I believe."

"Suit yourself," Ryoko replied as she took a sip from her glass, "More for me, then!"

Sally smirked. "Indeed."

Ryoko indulged herself for a few minutes before Sally spoke again. "You're a well-travelled woman, right? Have you seen any festivals or celebrations similar to the one we're throwing tonight?"

Ryoko leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment. "A few, I guess. I've never been formally invited to them myself, but I'm pretty good at party crashing."

Sally chuckled. "Yes, I can definitely picture that. So, what did they celebrate at those festive gatherings that you so merrily plundered?"

Ryoko shrugged. "All sorts of things. The changing of seasons, thanks towards friends and family, peace and goodwill; you know, all that typical stuff that law-abiding people like to celebrate."

Sally nodded. "I see. Thankfulness to friends and family do play a role in these particular festivities, as do goodwill, but as of a few years ago the idea of peace became much more prominent."

"You don't say?" Ryoko replied casually between bites.

Sally's eyes narrowed. "Tell me, do you know where Heero went? He was with you just a little while ago, correct?"

"Something about needing a little bit of breathing room," said Ryoko, "I'm sure he'll be back soon. I know he's not exactly a party animal, but he won't leave me hanging."

Sally sighed. "I imagine so, but… did you ever bother to think about why he might not be the most festive of individuals… and why he might desire some space at this particular celebration?"

Ryoko leaned forward, a creeping concern slipping into her wine-boosted good spirits. "What are you getting at?"

"Did Heero ever tell you what the conflict we fought in wound up being called?" asked Sally.

"If he did, I can't recall it," said Ryoko, "Why? What's the name got to do with anything?"

"It's called the Eve Wars," Sally answered pointed, "It was named that because the conflict came to an end three years ago this very night; Christmas Eve. The following year there was a rebellion on the exact same day, and that conflict was brought to an end that very night as well."

Ryoko's eyes widened. "Wait, are you serious?"

Sally nodded. "Completely. So, for those of us who fought in both of those conflicts and survived that horrendous bloodshed, the winter holidays are more than just a time for celebration. They're an occasion for remembrance, and some of us are more deeply affected about it than others."

Ryoko's gaze wandered until she found Heero, standing at the edge of the garden and looking out at the city beyond. She felt like a blind idiot for not catching on sooner; of course, there had been more to Heero's desire for space than the fact that he wasn't a party animal.

"So," said Sally, "are you starting to get it, now? This is more than just a party for the likes of us; it's also a memorial. We celebrate life here, and pause to reflect on those who did not make it through our battles and are unable to join us tonight."

Ryoko slowly nodded, her eyes still on Heero. "Yeah…"

Sally stood up and smiled. "That being said, some of us need to learn to appreciate the celebration aspect of get-togethers like this, and that definitely applies to Heero. I don't think I'm really cut out to show him how to really appreciate a party, but I think you are. What do you say, Ryoko? Care to prove me right?"

Ryoko nodded and stood up as well. "You got it."

It's the least I can do, she thought as she made her way towards Heero, I mean, after all he's done for me, it'd be a real shame if I couldn't show him how to enjoy himself. I don't know all of what he went through in the past, and I'm sure it was rough, but he needs to learn to not let it weigh on him like this.

So it's up to me to show him how to really celebrate life!

….

It was one hell of a view.

Granted, Heero had seen it plenty of times before. Not from this exact spot in this exact colony, but given the wheel-structure that was common to the orbital habitats in the Earth Sphere, the internal vistas each one offered tended to be similar. Still, there was no denying that it was something special, all the more so during the winter holiday months. Not only were the normal city lights illuminating the inside of the colony, but these were joined by a dazzling array of Christmas lights. Every color imaginable twinkled wherever he looked, and it was almost as if a second sea of stars had been born.

I think this is the first time I've ever really taken the chance to admire a colony decked out for the winter holidays, he mused, I never realized just how spectacular such a sight could be…

Then again, he'd never had the chance to do so. He had become accustomed at far too early an age to the sight of colonies with burned and blackened husks of buildings that had been mercilessly shelled by occupational forces. When he had stood upon rooftops like this in the past, the lights that had shown before had often been the fleeting bursts of exploding rockets, or the yellow streaks of particle beams. Rather than the sound of holiday carolers wafting up from below, Heero had gotten used to the roar of heavy-weapons fire. Space colonies might've been meant for habitation, but far too many of them had become bloody battlefields in Heero's time.

If he closed his eyes, it was all too easy to imagine this colony becoming one.

Heero shook his head. Here he was, at a party where he was supposed to be enjoying himself with his companions, and instead of that he was looking out and remembering conflicts that had been settled years ago. Peace now reigned throughout the Earth Sphere, yet that had only been achieved relatively recently, and far more of Heero's life had been spent at war than not.

"The past doesn't die easily," he murmured, "no matter how much one might wish otherwise."

"So," said a familiar voice from behind him, "how can I help you put it to bed?"

Heero was startled as he turned around to find Ryoko approaching him. He knew that her powers allowed for a measure of stealth if she put her mind to it, but he was still used to picking up at least some sign that she was trying to get the drop on him.

She smiled as she came forward and leaned against the concrete wall next to him. "You really can be too serious for your own good sometimes, you know that, Heero?"

He nodded. "I won't deny it. I have my reasons, though."

"Oh, I know," Ryoko replied, "You're charged with keeping peace in the world, and it sounds like you went through hell just to bring it this far, at least to hear Sally tell it."

Heero's eyes narrowed. "What did she say?"

"Not much," Ryoko admitted, "but enough for me to understand that this night means more to you than just a simple winter holiday."

"Not just me," he said, "Duo, Trowa, Quatre, Sally, and all of the others in attendance; we all played our part in that war, and we all bear its mark in our own way."

"And yet they're all enjoying the party," Ryoko pointed out, "while you're over here. Whatever happened in your war, they're still able to take a night like this and celebrate despite all the bad things that happened to get to this point. That's what you need to do, otherwise you'll never be free from the past."

Heero sighed. "Believe me, it's a past that I want to be free from. Finding a way to accomplish that, though… well, you were there at the end of our dream worlds. You heard what Washu said about me; I'm my own worst critic. It's not an easy habit to break."

He sudden felt her hand on his, and when he met her gaze he saw the holiday lights glimmering in her eyes. There was something else there, too; that spark of mischievous vitality that he had come to associate with her.

"Then let me help you break it," she said with a smile, "In fact, why don't we start tonight?"

All Heero could do was nod. "I'm listening."

She gently caressed his cheek. "Let it all go. Just for tonight. Your duty, your guilt, your battles; put it all aside for one night. Don't be Heero Yuy, Preventers agent, tonight. Just be you. No more, no less."

Heero couldn't help but smile. "That sounds… nice. I'd like that."

"Then do it," said Ryoko, squeezing his hand, "So, tell me this; what have you always wanted to do at a party like this? You're not an agent right now, so you don't have to worry about protecting people or making sure that we don't blow our cover. You're just a guy at a party, and I'm just a girl that wants you to have some fun. So, how does Heero Yuy the man, not the soldier, have fun?"

He looked around, and eventually his gaze settled on the orchestra and choir. They had just wrapped up one song, and it would only be a few seconds before they began another. There was a broad space cleared out in front of them for dancing, and several couples were already out there eagerly awaiting the next tune. Heero then turned back to Ryoko; he knew exactly what he wanted.

"Will you dance with me?" he asked.

Ryoko grinned and looped her arm through his. "Lead the way."

He did just that, and a few moments later they were on the dancefloor. With one hand on her hip and the other on her back, he slowly began to guide her as the orchestra began its next song.

Ryoko smiled, her eyes never leaving his. "Dancing like this was never something I really got into before coming here, but you… you make it special."

"Glad to hear it," Heero replied, "I'd hate to do something that only bored you."

Ryoko giggled. "Trust me, Heero; the last thing you could ever be is boring."

She moved closer, pressing herself against him and resting her head on his shoulder. "You're one hell of a guy, Heero. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise… even yourself."

"I'll try to remember that," said Heero.

Holding her close, gently swaying to the music, it felt like the rest of the world didn't matter. The colony, the party, and all the people around them just seemed to fade away. Even the music became little more than a bit of pleasant background noise. There was only the woman in his arms. The fragrant scent of her perfume, her lithe yet curvy figure, the soft whisper of her breath on his ear, the gentle brush of her hair against his face; his entire world at this very moment was Ryoko and Ryoko alone.

And he wouldn't have it any other way.

….

Although she was still holding court with Quatre and several of his sisters, Ayeka had not failed to notice Heero and Ryoko out on the dancefloor. While she did her best to keep it from showing in her demeanor, the fires of jealously were burning within. It was Heero's prerogative to dance with whomever he wished, but why…

…why did his first dance of the evening have to go to Ryoko, of all people?

A simple dance would be bad enough, but Ayeka could tell that there was more to it. There was little of Ryoko's usual teasing and flirtations evident here. She saw no sign of her typical crude attempts at seduction, no mischief of any sort. She was acting as Ayeka might picture herself acting in such a position; holding her partner close, caring for him and him alone. To make matters worse, it was all too clear that not only was Heero quite the willing participant here, but that he was actually enjoying it. He may not have been the most expressive of individuals, but Ayeka could tell just from his body language how relaxed and comfortable he was with Ryoko. He was at peace, even happy, and under any other circumstances Ayeka would be pleased to see him in such a state.

But why…?

Why was it Ryoko, a notorious criminal wanted on a long list of charges throughout the civilized galaxy, that was able to bring about such serenity and contentedness in him?

The music faded, and Ayeka watched anxiously to see if Heero and Ryoko would part. They gave no indication of doing so, though; in fact, they seemed to be waiting for the next song to start.

"Excuse me, Ayeka?" said a familiar male voice, "Are you all right?"

She turned to see Quatre looking at her, concern clear in his eyes. Ayeka could've kicked herself for not guarding her emotions better; the crown princess of Jurai was not supposed to be so easily read.

"Oh, yes!" she said, forcing a smile, "How could I not be when I'm in the midst of such a delightful party?"

Quatre smiled as well, but there was a knowing look in his eyes that told Ayeka he didn't buy it for a minute. Ayeka was quickly coming to realize that Heero's friends were as perceptive as he was, and she mentally berated herself for not taking note of that earlier. If they had survived the same war that Heero had, then of course their senses would be sharp.

He stood up and offered her his hand. "Forgive me if this is a bit presumptuous of me given that we've only recently met, but… would you care to dance with me, Ayeka?"

Her eyes widened. "Lord Quatre…"

The kind blond man gave a friendly laugh. "Ayeka, please; just Quatre, remember? Any friend of Heero's can forget about formalities when they're with me."

Despite her earlier inner turmoil, Ayeka could not help but give the young man a genuine smile as she accepted his hand. "In that case, I'd be honored to… Quatre."

Allowing him to pull her to her feet, she followed him out onto the dancefloor. She quickly realized that he was leading her to the opposite end of where Heero and Ryoko were, and from the way his eyes furtively evaluated their surroundings she was sure that it was intentional.

He's trying to keep them out of my vision to lessen my discomfort, she thought, touched by the gesture, Lord Quatre… you truly are a gentleman.

They came to a stop a moment later, and he put one hand on her hip and the other just behind her shoulder. The smile he gave her looked almost sheepish as he glanced between her and the orchestra.

"Forgive me if I accidently step on your toes," he said, "I may be a little out of practice."

"It's quite all right," Ayeka replied.

The next song began a few moments later, and she let Quatre take the lead. It quickly became apparent that he had not been entirely truthful with her; if he was out of practice, he gave no sign of it. He led her with a practiced ease, and Ayeka suspected that his words had been meant more to offer reassurance to her in the event that she wasn't confident in her own dancing skills.

It has been quite some time since I've attended a ball or similar formal event, she silently admitted, I suppose if any of us is out of practice here, it's me…

"You dance very well," she said after a moment.

Quatre gave her a warm smile. "You're too kind, Ayeka. You're no slouch yourself, you know."

"Oh, nonsense," Ayeka protested, a slight blush coming to her face, "I'm so rusty it's hardly worth joking about!"

Quatre laughed. "I don't think so! You're doing just fine."

She sighed as she felt some of her earlier tension ease out of her. Her dancing partner might not be the one she had been dreaming of ever since coming to this world, but he was quite a catch all the same. Kind and considerate, well-mannered and versed in etiquette, a capable host of a wonderful party…

…and he was rather easy on the eyes.

She had to refrain from shaking her head. What had gotten into her? Her heart was not so fickle that her affections could shift from Heero to another man so quickly. She chalked it up to her still being upset over who her guardian had chosen as a dancing partner for the evening.

"Did you do much dancing back on your homeworld?" asked Quatre.

"At formal occasions, yes," Ayeka replied, "The style was a little different from here, but the principle remains the same."

"I bet you were in high demand as a partner," said Quatre with a smile.

Ayeka could not help but blush slightly. "Well, I suppose I was, given my position in the Imperial court, but I only accepted such dances as a courtesy."

Quatre nodded. "I understand. It's the same for me, really. Whenever my company hosts a formal event, I'm expected to accept invitations from women who desire a dance from me even if I personally would rather decline them. It's important to accommodate them for the long-term good of the company and my family."

Ayeka smiled. "Your sense of duty is admirable. You may not be titled nobility, but if you were in the Empire of Jurai I believe that you would be the model image of a member of our aristocracy."

Quatre gave a warm laugh. "You're giving me far too much credit, Ayeka!"

Ayeka shook her head. "I don't think so. In fact, for a man of your position, I would contend that you are far too modest."

Quatre smiled. "My sisters tell me that sometimes, too. I suppose it's just how I am."

The two of them spent a few moments dancing in silence before Ayeka spoke again. "Quatre… if I may be so bold… there's something personal I'd like to ask you."

"Go ahead," he replied, "I'll answer to the best of my ability."

Ayeka took a deep breath. "Given your family's position and influence in this world, along with your personal wealth… why did you take it upon yourself to engage in rebellion alongside Sir Heero and your fellow Gundam pilots? I know that Sir Heero does not hail from a background of wealth and privilege, but you do. If the government that once ruled this world was unjust, could you not have found some way to pursue internal reform? Was… was rebellion really the only course of action left?"

Quatre studied her carefully. "It really bothers you, doesn't it? The fact that Heero and I were once enemies of the state, I mean."

"Please don't take it the wrong way!" Ayeka replied hastily, "I give you my word that I mean no offense! I do not judge either of you for your past actions! I… I just…"

"Hey," said Quatre softly, "It's all right, Ayeka. Really. Look at me; do I seem upset to you?"

Ayeka sighed with relief; he appeared quite calm, even friendly. "No, you do not. Forgive me for getting so worked up. It's just… well, this is an issue that I've had difficulty reconciling. Not with Sir Heero, mind you; I know for a fact that he is a just and honorable man, and I hold him in the highest esteem. It's more… with myself, I suppose."

Quatre nodded. "I think I can see where you're coming from. Since you were born into the Empire's Royal Family, you're at the heart of your people's government. I imagine that you were taught to look down on rebels like us. Does that sound about right?"

Ayeka's eyes widened; he'd hit the nail on the head. "How did you…?

Quatre smiled. "I can be pretty sharp when I want to, Ayeka. Besides, even though we may be from entirely different cultures, I imagine that certain mindsets and behaviors for upper-class individuals carry across time and space easily enough."

"I suppose so," said Ayeka, "In that case, it would seem that you have a very good understanding as to where my original thoughts on such matters originate from. My father, my tutors… none of them thought very highly of those who fought against lawful authority. They impressed upon me the notion that such people were without honor and nobility, and that they deserved to be crushed swiftly and mercilessly. Order must be maintained, and that means upholding the law by whatever means necessary. I was always told that those who would disrupt such order and harmony are greedy, malicious, and vile… and yet, since coming here, I've had to reconsider. Sir Heero, yourself, and your friends… none of you are remotely like that. You've all been so kind and courteous to us, and I have seen firsthand how seriously Sir Heero takes his duty as a member of your world's peacekeeping forces even though he once fought against the ruling government. You, Sir Heero, the others… there is no doubt in my mind that you are all good people, so why… why did you have to take up arms against the lawful government?"

Quatre sighed. "I can't speak directly for the others. After all, each of us came from a different colony cluster. We all experienced the injustices and cruelty of the United Earth Sphere Alliance in our own way. All I can tell you is what I saw for myself, I'm afraid."

"I would like to hear it, just the same," said Ayeka nervously, "If you do not mind, that is."

After a moment, Quatre nodded. "All right, then. Not here, though; it's not really conversation that's fit for the dancefloor. Come with me."

Ayeka let him lead her off to the side, and she soon found herself standing near the edge of the building. Quatre leaned forward against the concrete barrier, looking out at the city below, and he seemed to be trying to center himself.

Perhaps I've made a mistake, she thought, I may be asking him to tread upon ground that is best left undisturbed…

"Quatre," she said cautiously, "if… if this is an imposition, I would not object to putting this off for another time."

He turned to her and smiled. "It's all right, Ayeka. I was just trying to figure out where to start. To tell you the truth, I haven't really talked to anyone about it all in quite a while. Not even my sisters, come to think of it."

"Take your time," she said, "I would never presume to rush you over such a delicate matter."

Quatre nodded. "Thanks. Mind if I ask you something first?"

"Not at all," Ayeka replied, "Ask away."

"In the Empire, you have orbital habitats like ours, right?" he asked.

Ayeka nodded. "Yes. The designs and technology are much more advanced, but we do indeed have large-scale space stations that serve a wide variety of functions, and those include colonies."

"I see," said Quatre, "Do people give birth on those space stations?"

Ayeka was a bit taken aback by the question, but she answered it just the same. "Well, of course. Why wouldn't they?"

"So it's safe for them to do so, then?" Quatre pressed.

Ayeka's eyes narrowed; this wasn't just some random line of questioning. "Yes. It has been for thousands of years. Why is this so important to you?"

"In the early days of space colonization, live and natural birth in the colonies was extremely hazardous," Quatre replied, "Families instead used the test-tube system to have children in order to avoid complications. Eventually both medicinal technology and the designs of the colonies advanced to the point that the test-tube system was unnecessary for most colonists, but those families that had been in space since the beginning of the colony rush were still at great risk."

The pieces began to fall into place in Ayeka's mind. "Your large family… you were all born through the test-tube method, weren't you?"

Quatre sighed. "Close. All of my sisters were. For the longest time, I thought was as well. It was only recently by digging through the family archives that I learned otherwise. I was born naturally, Ayeka… and my mother died because of it."

Ayeka gasped. "By Tsunami… Quatre, I am so sorry!"

Quatre smiled. "It's all right. I've had plenty of time to accept it."

"You did not bring up something so painful for nothing," said Ayeka, "What does the manner in which children are born in your colonies have to do with why you joined Sir Heero and the others in open rebellion against your world's government?"

"More than you might think," Quatre replied, "Do you remember Rasheed?"

Ayeka nodded. "Your head of security, yes? He seems like a good man. What does he have to do with all of this?"

Quatre gave a soft laugh. "Would you believe me if I told you that when we first met he was taking me as a hostage?"

Ayeka's eyes widened. "You cannot be serious!"

"I actually am," said Quatre, "I was on my way to Earth when it happened. Back then, I was a different person. Well, an indifferent person, really."

Ayeka was puzzled by his choice in words. "What do you mean?"

Quatre sighed. "I believed that, because my father had so many children through the test-tube system, we were all simply little more than a means to appeal to his vanity. I didn't think that he really valued any of us as human beings; we were simply a legacy, something for him to show off to others. As a result, I didn't really place a high value on myself as an individual. I thought I was just some pawn for my father, nothing more. So I went through life without really caring about either myself or the world around me. That hardly seems like the kind of person who would become a revolutionary fighter, right?"

Ayeka nodded. "I suppose not. So what happened? The person you describe hardly seems like the man I'm conversing with right now."

Quatre smiled. "Rasheed's kidnapping of me helped change who I was, and it was definitely for the better. I'm sure it sounds strange to hear that; I imagine that a royal like yourself must live in fear of being taken hostage."

"I am not without the means to defend myself," said Ayeka, "However… the prospect was never far from my mind when I was in the Empire. Either myself or my sister would make an invaluable bargaining chip. I imagine Rasheed thought the same of you during the incident you're describing, otherwise he would've chosen another hostage."

Quatre nodded. "You're correct. However, he wasn't kidnapping me for selfish reasons. There really was a noble purpose behind it all."

Ayeka raised an eyebrow. "A kidnapping with a noble cause? Perhaps it's due to my upbringing, but the notion's a little difficult for me to grasp."

"I can see that," said Quatre, "Perhaps some context will help clear things up."

Ayeka smiled. "In that case, by all means, please enlighten me."

"All right," Quatre replied, "Rasheed wasn't acting alone; he was the head of a group called the Maganac Corps, a forty-man private army that was in opposition to the United Earth Sphere Alliance that used to rule this world. When they kidnapped me, they diverted my shuttle to an orbital resource satellite called MO-III. Although the satellite was technically owned by the Alliance and the workforce was supplied by them, much of the actual administration was in the hands of my family."

Ayeka nodded. "I see. Did they take you to that satellite because of the connection it had to your family?"

"Yes," said Quatre solemnly, "You see, the workers supplied by the Alliance… well, most of them weren't there willingly. They were political prisoners who had been conscripted into forced labor. Conditions were horrible, they were isolated, had no compensation, and to top it all off most of them hadn't seen their families in months or years. They were desperate for a way out of such a ghastly situation, so I don't blame them in the least for the actions that they took."

"That's a very forgiving attitude for you to have towards such an incident," said Ayeka, "In the Empire… well, I can think of plenty of nobles who would not feel so charitable under such circumstances."

Quatre nodded. "The Alliance certainly wouldn't have been, which is why Rasheed reached out to my father rather than the satellite's official owners. In exchange for my safety, my father agreed to allow the Maganac Corps use of Winner Family resources to take the laborers to Earth so they could see their families. He also consented to using his influence to stall the Alliance's response for as long as possible."

Ayeka smiled. "I'm glad your father was so accommodating. It would've been most unfortunate had things been otherwise; we may not have had the chance to meet had events gone sour."

"That's true," Quatre admitted, "Things did go sour, though. It wasn't my father's fault, though; there was a spy in the Maganac Corps that sold them out to the Alliance."

Ayeka gasped. "How awful! What happened next?"

Quatre chuckled. "A funny thing, actually; I wound up sticking my neck out to help Rasheed and his comrades escape."

Ayeka's eyes widened. "What? Why?"

"During the initial negotiations, my father asked to speak with me," Quatre replied, "I didn't exactly play the role of the grateful son. Long story short, I ran my mouth off like an idiot. I spouted some lame line about my father's tool acting on his own, about how he only created us because he wanted offspring that would do exactly what he wanted and nothing more. That was when Rasheed knocked some sense into me… quite literally, in fact; even holding back, he throws a mean right hook."

Ayeka was mortified. "He struck you? But… but he's your protector!"

"Not back then, remember?" Quatre countered, "Besides, I had it coming. Rasheed helped me get some perspective; it turned out that he was born in a test-tube, but he still had a sense of self-worth and pride. I needed a wakeup call, and he helped give it to me."

Ayeka smiled. "Well, if you believe it was for the best, then I suppose it's not my place to argue the point. So what happened after that? You said that the group was sold out by a spy, right?"

Quatre nodded. "That's correct. I was able to help Rasheed deal with him, but it was too late; the Alliance had dispatched a force to take us out. The odds weren't good; they must've had over a hundred mobile suits, while the Maganac Corps only had 38."

"I'm afraid I'm not all that familiar with your world's mobile suits," said Ayeka, "but even so, those numbers sound quite daunting."

Quatre smiled. "You're not wrong there. I even went out myself; Rasheed had been wounded in the confrontation with the spy, so I took his machine. That was the first time I'd ever flown in a battle."

Ayeka gasped. "Oh, my… I can't imagine what that must've been like for you!"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared," Quatre admitted, "Still, I think I handled myself all right. We were able to fend off the Alliance mobile suits long enough for the shuttles with the laborers on board to escape. I must've done something right, because apparently after the battle Rasheed and the rest of the Maganac Corps decided that they owed me their lives. I didn't realize it at the time, but I had just gained the allegiance of a private army!"

"That's quite a feat," said Ayeka, "For you to be worthy of such respect from them speaks highly of your quality as a person."

"I'd like to think so," Quatre replied, "Anyway, from that day forward, I decided that I couldn't just keep going through life without caring about the world around me. I had to find a way to make a difference, and after that battle with the Alliance, I knew that meant I would have to fight. The way they were treating those laborers, and how they were willing to dispatch armed forces to wipe them out rather than let them return to Earth and their families… that was an evil that I knew could not be dealt with peacefully. I didn't like fighting, but against such injustice I knew that non-violent means of reform were doomed to failure."

Ayeka nodded. "I see. I… I suppose it all makes sense, it's just… well, I suppose I lack the same sort of experience that you and Sir Heero have when it comes to governments that abuse their power."

"Or maybe you've been purposely shielded from such experiences," said Quatre, with a dark look in his eyes.

Ayeka bristled at the implication. "I will have you know that the Empire of Jurai does not engage in any of the practices that you described! We would certainly never send troops to slaughter political prisoners! I know that representative democracy is now the dominant form of government in this world, so I can understand why you may view the Empire with suspicion, but I can assure you that our government does not abuse its power! Had you and Sir Heero been born into the Empire, I promise you that you would've found no reason to engage in rebellion!"

Quatre sighed. "I'm sorry if I touched a nerve, but have you ever considered that you might not know everything that the Empire does? I know that I have no right to criticize a culture that I lack meaningful knowledge of, but I can't imagine that it's a perfect society; no government is."

"I would never suggest that the Empire is perfect," Ayeka countered, "All nations, regardless of their structure, can make efforts towards improving both themselves and the livelihoods of their citizens. Jurai is no exception to this. However, I give you my word that the Empire treats its citizens very well, and it would never inflict such wanton abuse and harm upon its people. The first duty of the Royal Family is to protect the people of the Empire; we consider looking after our subject to be our highest obligation! To bring any sort of suffering to them would be a betrayal of all that we stand for!"

Quatre smiled. "I'm glad to hear you say that. It's clear that you, at the very least, take that responsibility very seriously. If the Empire were under your rule, then I think it would be a wonderful place to live."

Ayeka blushed and stammered; the way he'd suddenly softened his tone caught her completely off guard. "W-well, I… I would certainly do my best to make it so. However, I… I'm afraid I still have much to learn when it comes to the art of… well, administration."

"Perhaps," said Quatre, "but I've seen enough to know that your heart's in the right place. You'd make a great Empress, Ayeka."

Ayeka could only bow, humbled by his praise. "Thank you, Quatre."

She watched as he turned to look out at the city below, sighing wistfully. "I wonder… if the Earth Sphere had been within the Empire of Jurai's realm of influence… if we really could've known different lives. The war defined our youth more than anything else. It would've been nice to have something other than violence forge us into who we are today."

"You're still young, though," said Ayeka, "I mean, by your world's standards, you've only just come of age, right? Now that your world is at peace, there's plenty of time to live the rest of your life to the fullest. You, Sir Heero, and your fellow Gundam pilots; you've all earned the right to see what a peaceful world has to offer, and I for one wish nothing more than for all of you to enjoy all that it can give you."

Quatre nodded. "That's very kind of you. Thank you, Ayeka."

"You're most welcome, Quatre," she replied.

He then smiled and held out his arm. "Well, I think we've spent enough time on the sidelines for one night. The party's still young, after all; care to rejoin the festivities?"

Ayeka happily accepted his invitation. "Yes! Let us enjoy this holiday night for all that it is worth and then some!"

….

Kiyone leaned back and smiled as she set down her empty wine glass. "Ah… this is great. Why can't every night be like this?"

"I know, right?" chirped Mihoshi as she wolfed down yet another plate of food, "This party's awesome!"

How in the world she still has room for more food, I'll never know, Kiyone mused, I swear, sometimes her stomach seems like a bottomless pit…

As good as the food being served at the party was, Kiyone had called it quits after her second helping. She was perfectly content to spend the rest of the night sipping wine and relaxing as the festivities unfolded. When would she get another chance to enjoy herself like this, after all?

It was at that moment that Duo and Hilde returned from the dancefloor and joined them at their table. Kiyone had actually enjoyed their company earlier, although Duo was a bit too much of a party animal for her tastes. He could handle his liquor well, but she had to wonder just how much he intended to drink tonight; he was already pouring himself his third glass of wine.

"So," he said as he turned to Kiyone and Mihoshi, "what's a pair of space cops like you two doing way out in our neck of the woods?"

"Patrol duty," Mihoshi answered casually between bites of food.

"And search and rescue," quipped Kiyone as she gestured at her partner, "Searching for her, to be more precise. I still can't believe that she crashed her ship in the middle of a lake just outside your capital."

"Kiyone, I told you that it wasn't my fault!" Mihoshi pouted, "It was the stupid auto-pilot that crashed the ship, not me!"

"The only reason the auto-pilot would've crashed your ship the way it did is if you didn't properly set it for a landing," Kiyone countered in exasperation, "Mihoshi, I land all the time on auto-pilot and never have any problems. I'm sorry, but this one's on you."

"At least you were able to walk away from it," said Hilde with a smile, "That's always a good thing!"

Mihoshi nodded. "Yup! All's well that ends well!"

"Except for the ship that you crashed," Kiyone deadpanned, "Those things aren't cheap, you know!"

Duo laughed. "I'll bet! I hope that doesn't come out of your pay!"

Kiyone sighed. "Luckily for the two of us, it doesn't, otherwise we'd be so deeply in debt that it'd take several lifetimes to pay off."

Duo whistled. "Yikes. Here I thought we had it rough with the junkyard."

Hilde rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Duo. The junkyard's doing fine, and you know it. We might hit a rough patch or two every now and then, but business always picks back up sooner or later. You just need to get better at helping me run the place!"

"Hey, I do just fine!" Duo shot back, "It's just a little slow for my tastes sometimes."

Kiyone raised an eyebrow. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you working in a salvage yard if you're one of Heero's fellow Gundam pilots? Wouldn't your skillset be put to much better use by joining Preventers like he did?"

Duo shrugged. "Maybe, but to be honest it's not really the kind of gig I want. Nothing against Preventers or the two of you, but a life in law enforcement just isn't really my thing."

Hilde smirked. "That's putting it mildly. You'd probably find a way to get yourself arrested while on the job!"

Duo chuckled. "Knowing me, probably!"

"But it's so much fun!" chirped Mihoshi, "We get to chase down bad guys and help people!"

"When we're not crashing into other ships and pissing off our superiors," Kiyone grumbled.

Hilde winced. "Ouch. Sounds like you two have had a colorful career."

Kiyone sighed. "More than I'd like."

"Oh, come on, Kiyone!" said Mihoshi with a grin, "We've had some good times, too! Remember the fleet review a few years back? We were part of the celebration salute!"

Kiyone had to resist the urge to smack her head against the table. "We weren't part of it; we flew right into it because you messed up our course! I still can't believe we weren't shot to pieces when the cruisers fired!"

Mihoshi smiled sheepishly. "Well… it was still really pretty seeing it up close and all."

Kiyone couldn't help but chuckle as she recalled that particular accidental brush with death. "Yeah... I guess it was one hell of a lightshow."

Duo laughed. "Man, I bet you two would be a ton of fun to shadow on the job! Does the Galaxy Police have a ride-along program? I'd totally sign up if I got to be on your ship!"

Kiyone gave a rueful smirk. "Trust me; you'd regret that pretty quickly."

"I'm still surprised that there's an organization out there that patrols the galaxy fighting crime," said Hilde, "I mean, how are you supposed to cover all that… well, space?"

"We don't, actually," Kiyone replied, "We may be called the Galaxy Police, but truth be told, we don't have the manpower or ships to patrol every inhabited system out there. No one does. Not even the Empire of Jurai, and their fleet's way bigger than ours."

"Still, you must have a pretty broad set of patrol routes to follow," said Duo, "I can't imagine they'd actually call you guys the Galaxy Police if you didn't have a presence in at least a considerable portion of the galaxy."

Kiyone nodded. "That's true. We're strongest within the Empire of Jurai and its client states, although we also have a decent presence out in many of the independent systems and star clusters. However, there's still a ton of territory out there where we maintain only a token presence, if any at all."

"I'm assuming our solar system is one of those areas, right?" asked Hilde.

"Yup!" chirped Mihoshi, "You're part of the Outland Sector, and we don't have a whole lot of patrols out here."

Duo raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling us we're in the galactic equivalent of the sticks?"

Kiyone smiled. "Pretty much. No offense, but Earth is out in the middle of nowhere."

"Huh," he replied, "Guess it really is a big galaxy out there."

Hilde's eyes narrowed. "If this part of space is pretty much a dead-end, I'm going to assume that this isn't a spot that most officers want to be assigned to. Would that be about right?"

Kiyone sighed. "Yeah, that's a good way to put it. Nothing against you guys, of course."

A devious grin appeared on Duo's face. "You two got in trouble with your head honchos, didn't you? They've got you both out here because you drew some heat from the boss!"

"That's not right!" Mihoshi protested, "They need people out here to check for pirates and smugglers! We have an important job to do out here!"

Try as she might, Kiyone just couldn't bring herself to burst her partner's bubble. "It's true that the Outland Sector's pretty out of the way, but… well, the Galaxy Police still serve a purpose out here. Maintaining patrols for possible search and rescue missions is always a vital function, and it's how we eventually found Earth; Mihoshi detected the beacon from Ayeka's ship, and then after she crashed here I was eventually sent to investigate because her official Galaxy Police distress signal was detected."

Hilde and Duo nodded, although Kiyone could tell that they weren't completely buying it. Still, they didn't press the matter, which was good enough for her.

"Do you guys have a space police force?" asked Mihoshi, "I mean, I know you've got people like Heero, but he's down on Earth right now."

"She's right," said Kiyone, "Shouldn't there be a peacekeeping fleet up in orbit to protect your colonies?"

Duo nodded. "Preventers has some patrol ships up in orbit, but it'd be a bit of a stretch to call them a fleet. More like a few task forces, really."

"Aside from the occasional attempt at a hijacking, there's really not much criminal activity that takes place in space itself, at least not in the Earth Sphere," said Hilde, "I think most of Preventers' orbital resources are focused on keeping the peace inside the colonies and in the lunar habitats, although you'd have to ask Heero for the details."

Kiyone raised an eyebrow. "Not even a full fleet? Your world's pretty serious with this whole disarmament deal, isn't it?"

Duo shrugged. "Well, it beats the old days of us shooting the crap out of each other. Sure, it's not a perfect system, especially now that we know we're not alone in the universe, but it's still better than what we had under the old order."

Hilde nodded. "I can see why it'd be strange to someone in your occupation, but this new order is a big part of why there's peace in the Earth Sphere now. If a new arms buildup began, I think it'd only be a matter of time before someone decided to actually use those weapons."

"But what if bad guys attack?" asked Mihoshi, "We've seen some powerful pirates before, and they could do a lot of damage out here. If any of them attacked, you'd all be in danger!"

It was rare for her partner to make a valid point in an argument, but Kiyone knew that Mihoshi had done just that here. "She's right. Don't get me wrong; I respect your world's commitment to doing what its government feels is necessary to stop a new war from breaking out. The disarmament policy is noble, but now that you know about the wider galactic community you must realize that it puts you all at risk. The Outland Sector may be a backwater, but it still gets criminal traffic; Ryoko's arrival here is proof enough of that. If she'd been hostile and decided to attack your world, she could've laid all the colonies and the planet itself to waste with Ryo-Ohki. Heero might be a capable peacekeeping officer, but there's no way that he could stop someone like her if they were serious about an assault!"

Duo sighed. "I won't argue with that. I imagine that Lady Une's trying to figure out what to do now that we've gotten a taste of what's out there. Of course, they won't tell the public about any of this, or at least not yet."

"Probably for the best," said Hilde, "Most people would freak if they knew the truth."

"Why do you need hide stuff like us from everyone?" asked Mihoshi, "Heero told me once that it was important for keeping the peace, but I still don't really get it."

Kiyone nodded. "I'm sure that the Preventers organization is worried about a possible panic, so I can understand some secrecy regarding any initial contact your world has with people from outside its star system. Still… is it really a good idea for them to keep our existence under wraps indefinitely?"

Duo shrugged as he took another sip of wine. "You're asking the wrong guy. I'm not in the peacekeeping business these days, remember?"

"Same here," said Hilde, "Besides, is that really something we should be worrying about right now? This is a party! Save the worrying for another time!"

"She's right," said Mihoshi with a smile as she stood up and pulled Kiyone to her feet, "Let's go, Kiyone!"

"Where are we going, exactly?" she asked nervously.

"To dance!" Mihoshi cheered.

After a brief internal debate, Kiyone decided not to fight her partner. She actually had a point; this was a holiday party, after all. Why not join in the festivities?

I wouldn't mind a different dancing partner, she mused, but I just don't have it in me to shoot Mihoshi down. Might as well enjoy it. I think I've got enough wine in me for that at least…

….

"Aw, you're such a good little girl!" cooed Sasami as Ryo-Ohki hopped onto her lap, "Here, have a carrot!"

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki before eagerly wolfing down the treat.

The living starship had joined Sasami after Ryoko had begun dancing with Heero, and Sasami was grateful for the company. She had been chatting with several of Quatre's sisters earlier, but they had gone off to mingle with other guests since then. Sasami didn't mind; it was nice to have a little break from small-talk so she could enjoy her food.

I'm so glad Heero's friend invited us all here, she thought, utterly enthralled at all the holiday decorations that had been set up throughout the garden, It's so pretty, and everyone here's super nice!

She had felt a little worried earlier when she had seen Heero dancing with Ryoko, though that was not out of jealously but more for concern for Ayeka's feelings. Her fears had subsided once she saw Quatre take Ayeka by the hand and out onto the dancefloor. They had disappeared for a little bit, but when they had returned Sasami was pleased to see that her older sister was smiling and enjoying herself.

"Mind if I join you for a little bit?" said a familiar female voice from behind her.

Sasami turned around and smiled when she saw Heero's superior officer. "Sally! Please, sit down with me! Isn't this party so much fun?"

"Indeed, it is," Sally replied as she took a seat next to Sasami, "Did you go to many parties like this back home, Sasami?"

Sasami thought carefully for a moment before replying. "Well… sort of."

Sally raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I'm a princess, so of course I went to parties at the palace," said Sasami, "but, they weren't really like this. It's… I don't know how to really say it, Sally."

Sally gave her a knowing smile. "Maybe I can help you there. Were they not as warm and friendly as this one? Are those the words that you're looking for?"

Sasami's eyes widened. "Yeah! How did you know?"

"You and I may come from different worlds, but we both have a duty to attend certain official celebrations," said Sally, "Those are typically stiffer and more formal than a get-together like this. People can't really relax at those sorts of gatherings like they can here."

Sasami smiled. "You're right. People smiled at those parties, but… well, a lot of the time it didn't really feel like their smiles came from the heart. Here I can tell that they do. Everyone here trusts and cares about each other. They're all so happy to be together like this, and it makes me happy too!"

"Meow!" Ryo-Ohki cheered.

Sally nodded. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Still, I think you'd probably enjoy yourself more if you did something other than sit at the table and eat."

"What should I do, then?" asked Sasami.

Sally winked. "Dance with someone, silly!"

Sasami blushed. "Oh… well, I guess. The thing is… I don't think I'm a very good dancer."

Sally shook her head. "Nonsense. There's no such thing as a bad dancer, Sasami. As long as you put your heart into it, that's all that matters."

Sasami nodded and looked around the party. "Okay, but who should I dance with? I don't know many people here."

Sally stood up and gave her a confident smile. "Wait right here. I've got someone in mind."

She returned a few moments later with a young man that Sasami recognized as one of the friends Heero had introduced earlier. "Sasami, this is Trowa Barton. Trowa, you've already met Sasami, right?"

The young man nodded and gave her a small smile. "Briefly, yes. Would you like to dance, Sasami?"

Sasami smiled. "Yes, I'd love to!"

Her new friend nodded and led her out onto the dancefloor. As a new song started up, Trowa began to gently guide her through the steps. Sasami could already feel her worries fading away; it didn't matter if she wasn't confident in her dancing skills if her partner was leading her.

"Are you enjoying the party?" he asked.

Sasami nodded. "Yes! I'm so glad we were able to come! How about you?"

"I don't usually go to parties," he said, "but this is… nice."

Even though she had never met him before, something about Trowa felt familiar. It took Sasami a few moments figure out why that was.

"You're like Heero, aren't you?" she asked.

Trowa raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You're quiet, but you're nice," she said with a smile, "Heero's like that, and I think you are too."

After a moment, Trowa nodded and returned her smile. "I guess I am."

"So where are you from?" she asked, "Do you live down on Earth?"

Trowa shook his head. "I go down there sometimes, but most of the time I actually live in the colonies. I'm part of a travelling circus group, you see."

Sasami's eyes widened. "The circus? What do you do there?"

"I'm an acrobatic performer," he replied, "I also stand very still why Catherine throws knives around me."

Sasami gasped. "But that's dangerous! She shouldn't do that! What if she hurts you?"

Trowa chuckled. "It's all right, really. Catherine's a very good knife-thrower. It's all part of our act. She's probably the best in the Earth Sphere, actually."

"Still," said Sasami worriedly, "it's not safe."

Trowa shook his head. "You don't need to be concerned. I trust Catherine; she would never hurt me."

Sasami nodded. "Well, in that case, I guess it's okay."

Trowa smiled. "Do you have anything like a circus in the Empire?"

"Oh, yeah!" Sasami replied, "We have travelling performers who do all kinds of things! They juggle, walk on high wires, jump through fire, ride and do tricks with animals, have archery and sword-fighting contests, and they even throw knives just like your friend Catherine! I've only seen a few performances, though."

"Maybe you'll get to see my group perform sometime," said Trowa.

Sasami smiled. "That'd be fun! I'd really like to do that. I just don't know if Heero would let me."

"Why wouldn't he?" asked Trowa, "He's not too strict with you, is he?"

Sasami shook her head. "No, nothing like that. He just tries really hard to keep us all safe, and he's always worried about what might happen if we all travel somewhere in a group."

"You came here, didn't you?" Trowa pointed out, "I think he'd be willing to take you to one of our performances if the right arrangements were made."

"Maybe," said Sasami, "but I think we're going back to Earth after the party, and you perform in the colonies, so it might be a while until we get a chance to do that."

"Perhaps," said Trowa, "but don't forget what I told you; sometimes my group goes down to Earth to put on shows too. We might just swing by the region you're staying in sometime."

Sasami smiled again. "Could you let Heero know if you do that? I'd really like to see you and Catherine do your big act sometime!"

"I thought it scared you because it was dangerous," said Trowa with a small smirk.

Sasami shook her head. "It does, but if Catherine's good enough not to hurt you then I think I'd be able to watch it. I'd still be scared, but if Heero and Ayeka were sitting with me then I think I'd be okay."

Trowa nodded. "Well, then, in that case, the next time we're in the area, I'll give Heero a heads up, all right?"

Sasami grinned. "Sounds good to me!"

I hope I get to see him perform some time, she thought as their dance continued, but even if I don't, that's okay. I'm having fun just dancing with him right now. I'm glad Heero has such nice friends!

….

Quite the fascinating crowd, Washu mused as she observed the party from her table, I suppose that's to be expected when they're friends of Heero.

A party such as this wasn't typically her idea of a good time, but she had to admit that she was enjoying herself. The food and drink were good, the music was nice, the scenery was lovely, and it was rather amusing observing the other attendees. She hadn't failed to notice in particular how Heero had enjoyed quite a few dances with Ryoko before finally allowing himself to take a new partner.

I'm sure he's tried to avoid picking favorites among us, she thought with a smirk as she watched him dance with Ayeka, but he tipped his hand, whether he's realized it or not.

She didn't mind that he clearly favored Ryoko. In fact, she considered the possibilities from such a potential union quite intriguing. While both were already subjects of her observation, she resolved to keep an even closer eye on the two of them going forward. After all, who could say just what the future held for a pair of individuals as unique as them?

"Would you care for a little company?" said a female voice from behind her.

Washu looked over her shoulder and saw a blonde woman standing over her. "Dorothy, right?"

The woman nodded and smiled. "Indeed. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Doctor Washu… in an unofficial capacity, that is."

Washu chuckled. "That's right; you're with the ESUN Parliament, aren't you? You're not supposed to know about me officially, or so I hear."

Dorothy smirked as she sat down next to Washu. "Amusing, isn't it? My government would have me in the dark regarding your true nature, yet all it takes is an invitation from a friend to be pulled into one of the biggest secrets in the Earth Sphere. As they say, it's not about what you know, but who you know."

"I've heard that before," Washu replied, "Although in my experience, what you know carries more weight."

Dorothy studied her carefully for a moment. "When you introduced yourself earlier, you claimed to be the premier scientific genius in the galaxy. That's a rather bold claim to make."

Washu grinned. "Just because it's bold doesn't make it any less true."

"Perhaps," Dorothy replied, "Still, you must allow me a bit of skepticism. After all, I only have your word to go on regarding that claim."

Washu smirked. "You could always ask Ayeka or Kiyone. I'm sure that they'd be more than willing to enlighten you as to my reputation."

Dorothy nodded. "Perhaps I will when I get the chance. In the meantime, I hope you don't mind if I conduct an impromptu inquiry with you; I have other questions, after all."

Washu shrugged. "Sure. Just don't expect me to answer every one of them. I have to keep some trade secrets, after all."

"Then I'll keep it simple," said Dorothy, "What's your area of study?"

Washu grinned. "Everything."

Dorothy rolled her eyes. "I'm being serious here, you know. I would appreciate it if you would extend me the same courtesy."

"I am," Washu countered, "You name a field, and I can tell you more about it than the next hundred experts combined."

Dorothy folded her arms. "A healthy amount of pride in one's work is always commendable, but there is a line between that and unbridled arrogance."

Washu smiled. "Oh, really? I must never have bumped into it."

Dorothy sighed. "Perhaps I should shift gears. Would you be willing to lend your expertise to the Earth Sphere Unified Nation? As you might imagine, there are all manner of projects the government's conducting that could greatly benefit from the knowledge of someone from an advanced intergalactic civilization."

"I'm not for hire," said Washu, "That doesn't mean I can't be convinced to engage in a particular project, though. It just has to be one that I find sufficiently interesting. I'm afraid you might have your work cut out there; the bar's set pretty high."

"I see," said Dorothy, her eyes narrowing, "Have you conducted any special projects on behalf of Heero Yuy?"

"And what if I have?" Washu shot back, "Wouldn't that be Sally and Director Une's concern rather than yours? After all, they're the ones he answers to."

"They're his immediate superiors, yes," Dorothy conceded, "However, the Preventers organization does submit regular reports to the ESUN Parliament… along with budgetary requests."

Washu raised an eyebrow. "Funny… I was under the impression that everyone at this party was on good terms with Heero, but that almost sounds like a threat against the agency that he works for."

Dorothy shook her head. "I would not stoop to such levels; I wholeheartedly support the role that Preventers plays in keeping peace in the Earth Sphere. There are other members of Parliament who do not share my sentiments, though, and some of them hold senior positions on powerful committees. They could make life very difficult for Director Une and Heero should they learn about Preventers' efforts to conceal your existence from the world."

"And is there a chance that they could learn that secret from you?" asked Washu pointedly.

"No," Dorothy replied, "I fully intend to honor the confidence that I have been taken into by Sally and Quatre. I only wish to inform you of the trouble that other members of my government could cause if you or your companions do anything that results in the revelation of your existence to the public. Your full cooperation with Preventers would go a long way towards ensuring that your secret remains kept, and having an ally in Parliament certainly couldn't hurt you."

Washu smirked. "You can't be older than Heero, but you seem to have a pretty good grasp of politics. Security, governance, colony construction… your world seems to have little qualms about endowing young men and women with a considerable amount of power and responsibility."

Dorothy sighed. "My generation was forced to grow up quite quickly due to the war. If we are capable of handling duties that are normally reserved for our elders, it is because we have proven through fire and blood that we are worthy of them."

Washu nodded. "Fire and blood… an apt summation of Heero's service record, if nothing else."

Dorothy's eyes narrowed. "His service record… what did he tell you?"

"Not much, if anything," said Washu, "However, let's just say that you don't get to be as smart as me without learning to read between the lines."

From the manner in which Dorothy continued to study her, Washu was sure that the young woman suspected that more was at play here. She briefly debated whether or not to reveal that she had hacked Preventers' database during her time in the capital; it was tempting just to see what Dorothy's reaction to such a scandalous act might be. Washu decided to hold back on that bit of knowledge for the time being, though; as playful and mischievous as she could be, she really did want to avoid causing trouble for Heero after all the trouble he had gone through to play host to her.

"If he goes back out into the field," said Dorothy after a moment, "would you be willing to lend him technical support?"

"I might," Washu replied carefully, "I suppose it depends on what sort of 'technical support' he'd be needing."

"That would depend on his mission," said Dorothy, "Would you be willing to provide him with new equipment to field test? If your talents truly do extend to every field under the sun, then I'm sure that'd be a simple matter for you."

Washu smiled. "If I did, it wouldn't be for the ESUN or Preventers; it'd be to satisfy my curiosity… and for Heero. I suppose he's earned a favor or two from me. Besides, he's a very interesting young man, and it's in my interest to keep someone like him alive."

Dorothy chuckled. "You may find that you're not the only woman to have that sort of sentiment regarding your host. Heero… well, he tends to have that effect on women, although I do not believe that he is aware of it."

Washu smirked. "You don't say?"

"Indeed," said Dorothy as she stood up, "Enjoy the party, Doctor Washu. I suppose I'll see you around."

"Wait," said Washu, her eyes narrowing, "I've got a question, if you don't mind."

Dorothy nodded. "Very well, then. What is it?"

"It's about Heero," said Washu, "It's not a matter of if he goes back out into the field, is it? I know he's your best operative, and the longer he's watching over us means the longer other threats have to operate without fear of him. He will be returning to action, won't he?"

Dorothy sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. While Preventers has other operatives, only one it its ranks is as effective as Heero, and that man can't put out all the fires in the Earth Sphere. Heero will continue to watch over you and the others, but make no mistake; the time for his return to the field is coming, and soon."

"I see," said Washu grimly, "In that case… I might be able to give him a few tools to help improve his chances for survival."

"The Earth Sphere would owe you a debt of gratitude if you did so," said Dorothy, "The public will never hear of Heero's missions, but he is the knife in the dark that they need whether they realize it or not. Anything that you can do to increase his likelihood of survival in the field would be greatly appreciated. However, it would have to subtle and low-profile; we do not wish to betray any signs that Preventers is now being aided by someone from beyond the Earth Sphere."

Washu nodded. "I'll try to remember that."

….

From the sidelines, Sally looked on with a smile as the party continued apace. She regretted that Lady Une and Wufei were unable to attend, but on the whole it was a very successful celebration. Everyone had taken Heero's literally otherworldly companions in stride, and in fact they seemed to be the life of the party.

I'm glad Quatre and I were able to make all the appropriate arrangements with Heero to bring them here, she thought, I know Lady Une had her doubts about this, but we really needed to get them out of that house for a little bit. From the look of things, I'd say that we made the right call.

Heero had once again changed partners and was now dancing with Sasami. Kiyone and Mihoshi had retreated after a few spirited dances back to their table and were now enjoying the company of Catherine and Rasheed. Meanwhile, Ayeka was taking a turn with Trowa on the dancefloor, while Ryoko had withdrawn to her table where she was partaking in yet another glass of wine and chatting with Duo and Hilde. Ryo-Ohki had joined them as well, and the adorable living starship was literally eating out of the palm of Hilde's hand. As for Washu, Sally had been surprised to see that she had gone out onto the dancefloor and was allowing herself to be led by Quatre through the latest song; the mad scientist hadn't struck Sally as the dancing type.

"I suppose congratulations are in order," said a familiar female voice, "This has all gone off without a hitch."

Sally smiled as Dorothy joined her at the table. "Well, the party's not quite over yet, so I'm wary of jinxing it… but yes, I'm quite satisfied with how it's all gone up to this point."

Dorothy nodded. "Indeed. Heero's built up quite the intriguing entourage over these past few months. A pirate, two princesses, two galactic cops, a scientist with a heavy ego, and a living starship all enjoying a Christmas party amongst the stars before going back to live in the countryside with the best operative Preventers has to offer… it boggles the mind, truly."

Sally laughed. "That's one way to put it! I still have trouble believing that we've been able to keep a secret of this magnitude for so long."

Dorothy smiled. "You've gone out on a limb here by allowing Heero to bring them all to this little get-together of ours… and even more so by bringing a fair number of people into this circle of trust. I would never presume to tell you how to do your job, but this whole arrangement does strike me as excessively risky."

Sally shook her head. "I don't think so. Heero's regular reports have indicated that the girls respect him and are willing to go along with him, so I thought we could afford to grant them a little excursion. Besides, events like this will help ensure that they form an overall positive impression of the Earth Sphere. Given Ayeka's position in particular, that could pay off for us in a big way down the road."

Dorothy nodded. "The crown princess of the Empire of Jurai looking on us favorably… yes, I can definitely see an advantage in that. We'd certainly be no match for such a nation in an armed conflict; even the old Alliance at the height of its power would not have been able to stand against an intergalactic superpower."

"Exactly," said Sally, "It's best that we get on their good side early."

"You won't hear me complaining about that," Dorothy replied, "If it ever comes to the point that we enter diplomatic talks with them, I trust that you and Director Une will be able to handle things. If you require assistance, please feel free to call upon me. I may not be Relena, but I can still handle myself in negotiations."

"I'll keep that in mind," said Sally.

Dorothy's eyes narrowed as she studied Heero's guests. "Do you think we can count on them to behave themselves while Heero's away?"

"You mean when we send him back to the field?" asked Sally, "I suppose there's only one way to find out."

Dorothy nodded. "I suppose so. I imagine Director Une would prefer to avoid taking that risk, but I'm afraid we no longer have the luxury of that. As you're well aware, the number of brushfire incidents has been picking up as of late. The monsters of our world seem to have realized that their greatest threat has been off the field for a while, and they're trying to take advantage of his absence. We need to refresh their memory; we need to show them once again why they should cower in dread at the mere mention of the codename Zero."

"I agree," said Sally grimly, "We'll put that fear back into them soon enough."

But at what cost?, she thought as she watched Heero continue his dance with Sasami, Heero hasn't said as much openly, but I can tell that his time away from the field has done him a world of good. The release from the burden of having to take life in the name of peace and security has been healthier for him than anything else ever could. When we send him back out to kill under the banner of Preventers…

…what will we be doing to his soul?

….

December 25th, A.C. 198

It was well past midnight by the time Heero and his companions finally made it back to the penthouse. They were all weary from the festivities, but at the same time Heero was pleased to see that all the girls had smiles on their faces. Almost everyone was still on their feet, but two required help; Kiyone was supporting Mihoshi, while Heero was carrying Ryoko piggy-back.

"Mmm, just one… hiccup… one more," the pirate muttered into his ear, "I can take it…"

Heero shook his head, unable to suppress a small smirk. "Sorry, but you're cut off for the night."

"Meanie…" Ryoko mumbled.

Ayeka shook her head. "Honestly, I wish I could say that I was surprised. How typical of you, Ryoko. One of Sir Heero's closest friends hosts a party for us, and you go and get yourself so drunk that you can't even stand! Your behavior is utterly shameful!"

Ryoko chuckled. "Your… hiccup… your face is shameful…"

Ayeka was seething. "Why, you…"

"Enough," said Heero as he struggled to open the door to the penthouse while keeping Ryoko from falling off of his back, "Save the arguing for when you're both sober."

"Heero's right, Ayeka," said Sasami with a smile, "You had a few drinks tonight too, after all!"

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

Ayeka folded her arms, a hint of red in her face. "I may have indulged a little, but not nearly to the extent that Ryoko did. I am capable of restraint!"

"Your… hiccup… your face… hiccup… has restraint…" Ryoko groaned, "Wait… hiccup… I meant to say… hiccup… something else…"

Washu shook her head. "If those are the best drunk insults you can manage, then I'm almost ashamed to call myself your mother."

"Now, now," said Kiyone with a smile, "Let's all lighten up a bit, all right? At least it was a fun party."

"Yup," chirped Mihoshi, a loopy smile on her face as she leaned on Kiyone to keep from keeling over, "Kiyone, let's dance again!"

Kiyone rolled her eyes. "Mihoshi, the party's over now. There's no more dancing to be had tonight."

"Lame," Mihoshi pouted.

Together they all stumbled into the penthouse, worn out and tipsy but content with how their night of revelry had gone. Heero was quite eager to call it a night, but first he had to make sure that the utterly smashed pirate on his back made it to bed and didn't end up falling asleep in the hallway.

"Mmm," she moaned as she ran her fingers through his hair and nuzzled against his head, "You're so comfy, Heero… hiccup... I'm sleeping right here tonight."

Heero couldn't help but chuckle as he took her into her room. "Sorry, but you'll feel better in your bed rather than on my back."

He gently lowered her onto the bed a moment later. After tucking her in he was about to leave the room when she suddenly grabbed him and pulled him down. Before Heero knew what was happening he found her kissing him full on the mouth. For a moment he froze, but then he gradually felt himself relax into it.

No, he silently told himself, I can't... she's so drunk she doesn't know what she's doing…

Their lips parted a second later, and he saw Ryoko smiling up at him. She might've been inebriated, but Heero swore he caught a flash of lucidity in her eyes for the briefest of moments.

"Don't go…" she said softly as she gazed longingly at him, "Stay… hiccup… with me tonight…"

Heero's heart was suddenly pounding like a machine gun. There she was, lying in bed before him, and the look in her eyes and the tone of her voice were heavily implying that she wanted more than just someone to snuggle with. It took every bit of restraint Heero could muster to pull himself back.

"Sorry," he said, "I can't… you're way too drunk, Ryoko. It wouldn't be right."

She reached out and caressed his cheek. "You're… hiccup… you're wrong. I'm… hiccup… I'm drunk, but… hiccup… I know what I want. You… hiccup… only you… I only want you."

Heero shook his head. "Maybe, but… not like this, Ryoko. If… if you do… want me like that… it has to be you that tells me… not the wine."

She sighed, but she was still smiling as she looked up at him. "All right. You… hiccup… you're a good guy. Really… hiccup… I mean that."

He leaned forward and kissed her just above the brow. "Thank you, Ryoko. Sleep well."

She giggled as she closed her eyes. "I'll… hiccup… be dreaming… hiccup… of you… Heero. G'night."

He stood over her for a moment, looking down longingly as sleep took her. He knew that he had made the right decision, but the temptation remained all the same. It wasn't even a desire for physical intimacy, although Heero would be lying if he said that wasn't part of it. Just the thought of simply holding her close as the two of them drifted off to sleep was a notion that he found very pleasing.

He sighed as he left the room and closed the door as quietly as he could. Would she remember any of this when she woke up with what was likely to be a severe hangover? Maybe it would be better if the booze stole that memory from her…

…or maybe Heero actually did want her to remember.

For the life of him, he couldn't tell which was his true desire.

….

"Shit," Ryoko groaned as her eyes fluttered open and she grasped her head, "How much did I drink last night?"

She'd has worse hangovers, but she'd had better ones to, assuming there was such a thing as a 'better' hangover. At least she was relatively certain that the previous night's festivities were worth the current pain. The events of the party were currently fragmented in her mind, but from what she was able to piece together at the moment it seemed like it had been a pleasant evening.

I got to dance with him, she thought, smiling despite the fact that her head felt like it might split open at any second, I got to dance with Heero before any of the others did… that alone makes this hangover totally worth it!

She felt like she was missing something else, a memory that was just as important as the dancing, but for the life of her she couldn't summon it at the moment. All she could do was try to find it later on when her head didn't feel like someone was constantly hammering a gong right next to it. She was vaguely aware of voices coming from outside the bedroom. Ryoko didn't know how late it was, but she supposed that it was about time for her to get her ass out of bed. She could also vaguely recall Heero mentioning something last night about the morning of this particular day being special, but she couldn't remember the details.

When she opened the door, she almost knocked over Sasami in the process. The younger Juraian princess didn't seem to mind, though; she seemed as cheerful as ever.

"Ryoko!" she cheered, "You're finally awake!"

Ryoko winced; loud voices were not going to do her any favors at the moment. "Keep it down, kid. My head's killing me enough as it is."

"Oh, sorry," Sasami replied, "Anyway, I was just coming to get you. Heero says we can't start until you join us."

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "Start what?"

Sasami ginned. "Opening presents! Heero says that's what people do with the ones their close to on Christmas morning!"

"Oh, so that's what he was talking about yesterday," she said, "I thought that there was something special going on today."

Sasami nodded. "Yup, that's it. Get yourself cleaned up and come join the rest of us, okay?"

Ryoko sighed as Sasami ran off. "She is way too energetic sometimes. How can she be so bright and peppy this early in the morning?"

After a shower and change of clothes, she went out and saw Heero and the others waiting for her in the living room of the penthouse. There was a pile of wrapped gifts sitting on the table in front of the couch, and her companions were eying them rather eagerly.

Ayeka folded her arms. "Well, it's about time, you lazy tramp!"

"Hooray!" cheered Mihoshi, "You're finally here, Ryoko!"

Kiyone smirked. "How's the hangover treating you?"

"Bite me," Ryoko grumbled.

Washu waved her finger. "Now, now, Ryoko; you're supposed to be on your best behavior on a holiday morning like this. Especially since Heero went through so much trouble to set this all up for us."

"Indeed," said Azaka, "He went out shopping the very night we all arrived on this colony after the rest of you went to sleep in order to purchase and wrap these gifts."

"A truly selfless act," chimed in Kamidake.

"You're the best, Heero!" cheered Sasami.

"Meow!" cried Ryo-Ohki.

"How are you feeling?" asked Heero.

There was something about the way he was looking at her that made Ryoko pause. His concern was genuine, but he also seemed a little nervous.

Did I miss something?, she thought, I mean, I know I had a lot to drink, but the way he's acting… I could just be imagining it. Still…

An image flashed through her mind; another fragment of memory. She could see him leaning over her…

…with his lips less than an inch from hers.

"Ryoko?" Heero pressed.

She smiled as she sat down on the couch next to him. "I'll be fine. Just… try not to talk too loud today, okay? I don't think my head can take it."

Heero nodded, although there was still a hint of apprehension in his eyes. "All right."

"Shall we begin?" asked Azaka.

"I do believe we've waited long enough," said Kamidake.

"Why did you wait for me?" asked Ryoko, "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it, but I probably wouldn't have cared if you'd all opened your presents before I woke up."

Heero sighed. "Well… I suppose you could say that I wanted to do this the right way."

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"According to Sir Heero," Ayeka chimed in, "in keeping with this holiday, it is tradition for family and close friends who reside together to open their presents together."

Heero nodded. "To tell you the truth… I don't know if I've ever really done this before. I've got a few hazy memories from… well, from a long time ago, but if I ever spent Christmas morning with family then I don't remember it. So, in that sense, I suppose this would be the first time I've ever done this properly."

Kiyone smiled. "Well, I'm pretty sure that I'm speaking for all of us when I say that we're glad we've been given the chance to participate in this tradition with you."

"Merry Christmas, Heero!" Mihoshi cheered.

"Thank you so much for all that you've done for us!" said Sasami.

"Meow!" cheered Ryo-Ohki.

Washu nodded and smiled. "I'm not usually one for holidays and traditions, but I'm willing to make an exception for this one, and I'm pleased to be able to share it with you."

Ryoko gave Heero a pat on the shoulder. "Same here. You really are one hell of a good guy, Heero. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Heero nodded. "I'll try to remember that."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" asked Sasami with a grin, "It's time to open presents, right?"

"Indeed," said Heero as he leaned forward, studying the tags, "Let me get these all passed out."

It took a few moments for Heero to sort through the gifts and make sure that each person got the one they were supposed to. Ryoko's smile widened when she saw that hers was in a bag rather than wrapped; she had a pretty good guess as to what was inside it.

"Well, there's no need for you to restrain yourselves on my account," said Heero, "Feel free to open them up."

Ryoko dug into the bag, and it only took her a moment to ruffle through the packaging paper before finding the prize inside. Despite her hangover, she was still pleased to see that it was a bottle of wine much like the one he had gotten her after he had returned from his trip to the capital with Ayeka and Washu all those months ago.

"Beautiful," she said with a grin, "You're the best, Heero! I can't wait to pop open this baby with you!"

Heero chuckled. "Why don't we give you a little more time to recover from your hangover before sampling it, all right?"

"Oh, fine," said Ryoko, still smiling as she studied the bottle, "but only because it's you, Heero."

"Oh, wow!" cried Mihoshi as she opened her gift up, "Heero, this is so cool!"

It was a large book with an artistic rendering of one of the many colossal space colonies that orbited Earth on the front cover. When Mihoshi flipped it open, Ryoko saw other such illustrations, along with actual photographs.

"I thought you might enjoy something like that," said Heero, "I'm sure you get to see our colonies whenever you and Kiyone go out on patrol, but I thought you'd like the pictures."

Mihoshi nodded. "It's a perfect souvenir from your world. I love it!"

Ryoko was a bit surprised that Heero had chosen such a gift for Mihoshi, but when she looked at Heero he seemed to be relieved that Mihoshi liked it. Maybe he knew something that Ryoko didn't; after all, he was a very observant individual. Now that Ryoko thought about, Mihoshi had seemed pretty excited when she'd seen the colony they were currently staying on through the shuttle window; maybe that had been the inspiration for such a gift.

Ayeka gasped as she held out her gift. "My goodness, Sir Heero… you shouldn't have! How much did this cost you?"

It can't have been cheap, thought Ryoko as she looked at it.

It was a scroll that contained a vibrant and beautiful oil painting of what appeared to a landscape overlooking the sea. A lovely sunset was depicted, along with a cliffside tree and the beach below. Ryoko didn't exactly have a keen eye for art unless it was something she was out to steal, but from the way the painter had captured the rays of the setting sun reflecting in the ocean waves she could tell that it was a very high-quality piece.

Heero shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I saw it and thought you might appreciate it, and that was enough for me."

Ayeka smiled. "In that case, I shall cherish this work of art for the rest of my days. It is simply lovely, Sir Heero, and I cannot thank you enough for it!"

"Oh, wow!" cried Sasami as she finished unwrapping her present, revealing a black and white cat plushie, "It's so cute, Heero! Thank you so much!"

Heero nodded. "Anytime, Sasami."

Next was Washu, who was holding a book that had a picture of a man with rather unruly hair on the front cover. "Interesting… Albert Einstein, eh? I read a little about him when I was familiarizing myself with your world. I don't usually go for biographies, but… well, this one looks intriguing. Thanks, Heero!"

"You're welcome," he replied.

"Well, well," said Kiyone with a smile as she brandished her present, "I wasn't expecting a little beauty like this…"

It was a pocket knife with an elegantly carved and engraved wooden handle. Kiyone was still fiddling with the attachments, but the slender curved blade in particular caught Ryoko's eye. She didn't bother with knives since she had her powers at her disposal, but she would admit that it was a pretty nice blade.

"I wasn't entirely sure what to get you," Heero admitted, "I thought you'd prefer something with practical applications."

Kiyone nodded as she fiddled with the various attachments on the knife. "Well, I can definitely see how some of these might come in handy. Thanks, Heero. This little baby's never leaving my side."

That was the moment that Ryo-Ohki chose to hop into Heero's lap. Ryoko couldn't help but smile as her furry companion looked up at the young man and began thumping her foot on his leg.

"Meow!" she cried, "Meow, meow!"

Ryoko chuckled. "Looks like someone feels a little left out! Heero, did you get anything for Ryo-Ohki?"

Heero nodded as he reached over and grabbed the last present from the table. "Of course. Why don't you unwrap it for her, Ryoko?"

Ryoko did so, and found a small box beneath the wrapping paper. Opening it up, she found two items inside; a red collar with a small golden bell attached, and a little stuffed mouse.

"Oh, that's so cute!" she said as she grabbed the collar, "Come here, girl!"

Ryo-Ohki hopped over from Heero's lap to hers, and Ryoko slipped the collar onto her. "What do you think? I say it makes you even cuter than you were before, Ryo-Ohki."

"Meow!" her adorable starship cheered.

Heero grabbed the stuffed mouse and put it on the table. "Why don't you have some fun with that?"

Ryo-Ohki jumped onto the table and began to paw at the little toy. Ryoko was surprised to see a small smirk appear on Heero's face; it was as if he knew something that Ryo-Ohki didn't.

"Heero?" said Ryoko as she looked back and forth between him and Ryo-Ohki, "Is there something about that mouse that I should know?"

"Give it a few minutes," he replied, "Trust me; it should be worth the wait."

With nothing better to do, Ryoko leaned back on the couch and watched as Ryo-Ohki began to bite and tug on the stuffed mouse. After a little while a small tear opened up, and Ryoko saw what appeared to be little green specs leak out.

Ryoko's eyes narrowed. "Heero… what's in that thing?"

"A little treat for Ryo-Ohki," he replied, "At least, it will be if it works on her."

That was when Ryo-Ohki started acting… odd.

Her eyes began to glaze over as she stretched out on the table. She buried her face in the little stuffed mouse, rubbing against it and holding it close like it was the most precious thing in the world. When she looked at Ryoko, there was a look of utter bliss on her face.

"Meow…" she happily murmured, "Meow… meow!"

Ryoko could not resist bursting out in laughter when she realized what was happening. "Holy crap… she is high as a kite!"

Next to her, Heero chuckled. "So catnip does work on Ryo-Ohki… I'll have to remember that."

Ayeka shook her head. "I expect this from the likes of Ryoko, but you, Sir Heero? Oh, dear…"

Sasami leaned forward. "Is she okay?"

Kiyone put her hand on Sasami's shoulder and smiled. "She's fine, Sasami. Ryo-Ohki's just… well, I think she's in a really good place right now."

"Aw, look at her!" Mihoshi cooed, "She looks so happy!"

"That's one way to put, I suppose," said Washu with a smirk, "I honestly had no idea a substance like that would work on her, and I was the one that created her… well played, Heero."

"I'm not sure how to take this," said Kamidake, "Azaka, should we be condoning drug use in front of Princess Sasami?"

"I think it best if we simply do not get involved in the matter," Azaka replied.

Ryoko kept laughing as Ryo-Ohki began rolling around in the catnip that had spilled on the table. "I hope we've got some carrots around here, because she is going to have a major case of the munchies later!"

"Meow…" muttered Ryo-Ohki blissfully.

"I'm sure there's something that we can feed her," said Heero, "Although I'm not sure just how hungry she's going to be after this."

"I'll monitor her to see how this plays out," said Washu, "It'll be a little impromptu experiment, I suppose."

Ayeka shook her head. "You would be the one tofind a way to turn this into some bizarre science experiment…"

"Just take good care of her, okay?" said Sasami.

Washu nodded. "Of course."

Kiyone giggled as Ryo-Ohki rolled around on the table, lost in her own little world. "She looks like she's having a ball."

"Aw, who's a high little living spaceship?" cooed Mihoshi as she rubbed Ryo-Ohki's belly, "You are, yes, you are!"

It was then that Ryoko realized something was wrong. "Hey, wait a second… Heero, where's your present?"

Ayeka gasped. "Oh, my goodness… none of us got you anything!"

"Oh, no!" cried Sasami, "Heero, I'm so sorry!"

Heero shook his head and smiled. "It's all right, really. None of you even knew about this little tradition until we came to this colony. Besides, I did this for you, not myself. Being able to simply enjoy the holiday like this with all of you is more than enough for me."

"We still need to do something for you," Kiyone protested.

"She's right!" chirped Mihoshi.

"I do feel a little bad about you being the only one left out of the whole gift-giving thing," said Washu.

"What about us?" asked Kamidake, "No one got gifts for us!"

"The honor that comes with our service as Princess Ayeka's bodyguard is the only gift we shall ever require," Azaka replied, "Besides, I'm pretty sure none of them are paying attention to us right now."

Sasami smiled. "Oh, I know! I'll make breakfast! Heero, you get to just sit back and relax!"

"I'll help," said Kiyone, "It's the least I can do."

Ayeka nodded. "Same here."

"What about me?" asked Mihoshi.

"Miss Mihoshi, it may be best if you refrain from lending assistance," Ayeka replied, "Please, do not take this the wrong way, but… well, I for one would be utterly mortified if this penthouse caught fire, to put it bluntly."

"Sorry, Mihoshi, but she's got a point," said Kiyone, "Don't worry about it; we got this. Just enjoy your book for now!"

"I suppose the least I could do is make us some coffee," said Washu, "I'll be right back."

While Ayeka, Kiyone, Sasami, and Washu left the living room, Heero and the others remained. Azaka and Kamidake receded into the background while Mihoshi buried herself in her picture book, leaving Ryoko and Heero to watch as Ryo-Ohki continued to enjoy her unexpected high.

"Hey," said Ryoko as she put her arm over Heero's shoulders, "you need anything? I mean, I'm not much of a cook or anything like that, but… well, I'd feel pretty bad if I didn't do something for you today after all the effort you put into this."

She was surprised when he felt Heero put his arm around her waist and pull her closer. There was a very small and content smile on his face, one that sent Ryoko's heart racing.

"Just stay here for a while," he said softly, "and we'll call it even."

Ryoko smiled in return. "Really? It feels like I might be getting the better end of the deal there."

Heero chuckled. "Trust me. This is all I need."

She felt the heat rush to her face when her gaze met his. There was something in his eyes that took Ryoko completely off guard.

Longing.

And that was when another fragment of memory from the night before flashed through her mind.

How she had grabbed him after he had tucked her into bed, pulled him down, and kissed him full on the lips.

Wow, she thought, struggling to process the image while still meeting Heero's gaze, I… that really happened… it wasn't just a dream… right?

With all the wine she had consumed the night before, it was difficult to say for sure…

…but the look in Heero's eyes strongly supported it.

The next flash certainly didn't hurt things, either.

"Sorry," he said, "I can't… you're way too drunk, Ryoko. It wouldn't be right."

She reached out and caressed his cheek. "You're… hiccup… you're wrong. I'm… hiccup… I'm drunk, but… hiccup… I know what I want. You… hiccup… only you… I only want you."

Heero shook his head. "Maybe, but… not like this, Ryoko. If… if you do… want me like that… it has to be you that tells me… not the wine."

She sighed, but she was still smiling as she looked up at him. "All right. You… hiccup… you're a good guy. Really… hiccup… I mean that."

He leaned forward and kissed her just above the brow. "Thank you, Ryoko. Sleep well."

She giggled as she closed her eyes. "I'll… hiccup… be dreaming… hiccup… of you… Heero. G'night."

"Heero…" she said softly, her eyes widening, "Last night…"

"It's all right," he replied, giving her a knowing nod, "You were very drunk, Ryoko. You don't need to worry. Nothing happened that either of us would regret."

She furtively looked around to make sure the others weren't watching them before leaning in to whisper in his ear. "What you said… about it being me that tells you, not the wine… did you mean that?"

His reply was just a single word…

… one that she'd been dreaming of since the moment they'd met.

"Yes."

Preview for next time!

Ayeka: Ah, it's so good to be back!

Azaka: And in one piece, I might add

Kamidake: Wonders never cease!

Sasami: That sure was a fun party!

Mihoshi: Hopefully we can go to another one soon!

Kiyone: I think parties might be off the menu for a little while.

Ryoko: Aw, that bites!

Ryo-Ohki: Meow!

Washu: There might not be any more parties in store, but that doesn't mean things will be dull. At least, not for a certain someone…

Sally: She's right, Heero; it's time.

Heero: Time for what?

Sally: I'm afraid your little vacation is over. Those who would disturb the peace are growing bolder, and they've forgotten the price that must be paid for threatening our world.

Heero: I see… very well, then. Mission accepted.

Kiyone: Next time, in Chapter Thirteen: No Need For A Knife In The Shadows!

Ryoko: Am I the only one who's sensing a tone shift here?

Heero: Time to return to the battlefield…

Author's Notes: Ah, it feels wonderful to finally post a new chapter! My sincerest apologies for the wait, and I can only hope that the resulting chapter is worth it for all of you. As you can probably tell from the preview, the story's shifting gears moving forward here. What I like to call the 'Idle Adventures and Fun Times Arc' has come to a close. Now Heero gets to go back into the field and demonstrate his skills as a government-sanctioned assassin… and there are plenty of targets for him to go after!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please review!