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You're Not Alone	By : Hideki LaShae Category: Gundam Wing/AC > General Views: 1391 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing/AC, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Disclaimer: All Gundam Wing characters and
references belong to their respective owners. The song You�re Not Alone,
which appears on the Escaflowne: The Movie soundtrack courtesy of
Bandai, belongs to the artists and company that recorded it. It was used in
this story with the best of intentions. Story elements � Hideki LaShae. No
money was gained in the writing of this story.

Dedicated to the people who inspired me to put
Quatre and Wufei together as a couple, and to everyone who has ever been in
love like that, whether or not the one they love was the same or opposite sex
as themselves.

You�re Not Alone

Part One � Grace�s Wish

By

Hideki LaShae

�� Two months after the death of the Sanc King, Milliardo
Peacecraft, Queen Lucrezia Noin Peacecraft stepped down from the throne. On
that day, she became a Princess. Heero Yuy and Relena Darlian Peacecraft Yuy
became the new King and Queen of the Sanc Kingdom.

�� A little over two years later, Lucrezia Noin Peacecraft,
better known simply as Noin, married her long-time love, Sally Po, and together
they have been raising the three children of Noin and Milliardo who only came
about with the help of Sally and artificial insemination techniques.

�� Last year, Duo Maxwell and Hilde Schbeiker Maxwell have
given birth to their daughter, Hannah Maxwell.

�� Now, in After Colony Year 207, Quatre Raberba Winner and
Chang Wufei are planning their wedding.

�� *�� *�� *

�� Relena Yuy sits alone in her office reviewing a few bills
that Congress passed. She leans back as she hears a knock on her door. She
pulls the ponytail holder from her shoulder-length blond hair. �Come in!�

�� The door opens, and a woman enters. �Good day, Queen
Relena!�

�� Relena smiles. �Good day, Cecilia!�

�� The woman has gray eyes that are nearly hidden beneath
her shoulder-length brown hair. She sits down in front of Relena�s desk. �Now,
what did you need, Relena?�

�� Well, Cecilia, you are the manager of Gundam Wing, and
you come by every so often to deliver the royalties to the guys,� says Relena.
Her blue eyes look hopefully at the singer who manages the band that her best
friends and husband created a few years before. �What do you do with Trowa�s
royalties?�

�� I�m not keeping it if that�s what you think! He
came to me several years ago and asked me to put everything into a safe in a
bank in New York in gold!� exclaims Cecilia, �And that�s just what I�ve done
all these years! I�ve put his money in the safe like he wanted!�

�� I never meant that you might be stealing it!� exclaims
Relena.

�� Oh� good. Those boys are really popular. We�re still
making new copies of their single, and after all this time, that says a lot!�
says Cecilia, �You�re Not Alone is on the charts as one of the top ten
best love songs of all time!�

�� I didn�t ask you to come here for an update on the music,
Cecilia,� says Relena, �My reasons for asking you here are a lot more
important!�

�� What is it, Relena?� asks Cecilia quickly.

�� I need to know if you can get a message to Trowa!�

�� Well, sometimes I think that the pile of gold isn�t as
big as the last time I put money in,� says Cecilia, �So he may be taking out
small amounts, just what he needs.�

�� Please! We must get a message to him!� exclaims Relena,
�This is really important, Cecilia!�

�� I�ll put a note in the safe,� says Cecilia, �hopefully
he�ll get it!�

�� Relena passes a folded white piece of paper to Cecilia.
�I have a note already wrote out for him!�

�� Do you mind if I�?� Cecilia holds up the note
inquisitively.

�� Go ahead and read it, Cecilia.� Relena smiles and adds,
�Maybe� maybe if Trowa reads those words, he�ll come back!�

�� Cecilia opens the note. She pulls her glasses from her
shirt pocket and slides them on before reading the words out loud, �To Trowa
Barton, bass player for the band Gundam Wing. Dear Trowa, I hope you remember
all your friends in the Sanc Kingdom. We miss you very much. I hope you get
this letter before it�s too late. I would like to tell you some of the news
from your friends before I get to the real reason I�m writing you. You know of
Milliardo and Noin�s twins, Reiya and Nariya. They also have a son, Zechs.
Milliardo died at the same time Zechs was born. Heero and I now have two sons,
Thomas who you�ve already met and Jeffrey. Duo and Hilde also have two
children, Jason and Hannah. As for your daughter, Grace is growing up strong
and beautiful. She misses you most of all. Now Quatre and Wufei are planning
their wedding. They want you to come. Quatre has refused to get married unless
you are there as his best man. Please, Trowa! Come home! You�re not alone! It
is with much hope that I send this letter off to you, Trowa, but with even more
love. Please come home to us. Your good friend, Relena Darlian Yuy.�

�� Relena sits in silence as Cecilia folds the paper up
again. �That is why it is so urgent I get the letter to Trowa. Quatre and Wufei
both want him present at the wedding, and even though they will still wed if he
isn�t there, it won�t be the same. They don�t feel their marriage will be
official until ALL of their friends bless it! That�s why I need Trowa to
return!�

�� Relena� if it is within my power at all to reach Trowa,
I will give him your message,� says Cecilia tucking the note into the
front pocket of her royal blue T-shirt, �I don�t know if he�ll come, but
somehow he�ll get your message! I have an idea!�

�� Relena smiles and leans forward.

�� Cecilia smiles.

�� Let�s hear it!� exclaims Relena.

�� Okay, his girl was named Ania, right? Ania Winner� the
last test tube child of the Winner family,� says Cecilia with a devilish glint
in her gray eyes, �Maybe she is the key we need to find him. If you find
the girl, the boy will follow!�

�� But I know where Ania is,� says Relena losing her smile,
�She�s not far from here� in the cemetery. She died. That�s the reason why
Trowa left. He couldn�t stand the pain of losing her.�

�� Cecilia removes her reading glasses and tucks them into
her shirt pocket. She runs her right hand over her face, and her expression
becomes deathly serious. �I know Ania is dead. So do you and Trowa, but most of
the world does not. We send your message out across the globe and to the
colonies. A message for Ania Winner! I believe when he heard there was a
message for her, he would investigate and get your message!�

�� Do you really think he would fall for a trick like
that?� asks Relena. She runs her hand through her blond hair.

�� I know he will,� says Cecilia.

�� Relena shrugs her shoulders.

�� Relena, just choose a reliable courier service. I always
use After Colony Messengers myself. You give them the message, tell them to go
universe wide in search for Ania and tell them to be indiscreet! Each of
their courier stations will put out newspaper adds and not just the little ones
you couldn�t find if you were trying! If they don�t get a response in a week,
they start a few discreet TV ads since they�re so much more pricey,� says
Cecilia, �It would be a big help, and I just know that he would be interested
in a message to Ania or even more interested in a message from her.
Think about it, Relena! I should go. I have a plane to catch. I�m going to New
York to drop off this note!�

�� I�ll think about it, Cecilia. It sounds a bit cruel to
me. I know I want to find him, but I don�t want to make him relive the pain
he�s going through. Thank you for your help,� says Relena standing up.

�� Cecilia stands up and shakes Relena�s hand. She bows and
passes her left hand in front of her face. �You don�t need to thank me, my
Queen. I have my own reasons for wanting Trowa back. I am the manager for a
band called Gundam Wing, a band whose members include Duo the lead singer,
Heero the lead guitarist, Quatre the keyboardist, Wufei the drummer, and Trowa
the bass guitarist.�

�� But you�re not a paid manager!� exclaims Relena.

�� I know, but it�s not about money. It�s about ability. I
want to turn a local band into a galactic favorite! Their single You�re Not
Alone did that for them,� says Cecilia biting her lower lip insecurely,
�but I want to prove to everyone and myself that I can keep them on the top of
the charts! It�s selfish I know, but I want to make Gundam Wing music
superstars! I need Trowa for that!�

�� Help me find him, Cecilia,� says Relena smiling warmly,
�I know my reasons may seem more nobler than yours, but I�m being
selfish too! I want him back because I miss him and Ania! We�re both being
selfish!�

�� But if we can help Grace get her father back, it will be
worth it,� says Cecilia, �Good-bye for now, Relena.�

�� For now, Cecilia.�

�� Cecilia turns and heads out of the office.

�� Relena sits back down at her desk. She lifts the bills
again and starts to read them. She drops the bills back onto her desk and lifts
the phone receiver. She dials information. �Yes, would you please connect me to
the After Colony Messenger Service?�

�� <<After Colony Messengers!>> exclaims the
receptionist, <<How can we help you today?>>

�� I have a message I would like delivered,� says Relena,
�However I�ll need you to do a universe wide search.�

�� <<We can certainly do that! If the person you want
to find exists, we�ll find them!>> exclaims the receptionist, <<If
you want to give me your address, I�ll have one of your couriers come down to
pick up the message and get all the information. Or if you prefer, you could
come down to our offices.>>

�� I would prefer you send a courier to Peacecraft Manor,�
says Relena, �I�ll have all the information ready. My name is Relena Yuy.�

�� <<Queen Relena? Yes, Your Majesty! The courier is
on his way!>> exclaims the receptionist.

�� Thank you,� says Relena smiling to herself. She hangs up
the phone. She shakes her head. �It might not hurt to try Cecilia�s
suggestion!�

�� Relena writes out another note trying to make it exactly
like the one Cecilia took. Below her signature she writes down the time and
date of Quatre and Wufei�s wedding. Then she sits back and continues going
through the stack of bills that passed through Congress. She reads the bills
for a good forty-five minutes, and she signs the ones that she believes will
truly work the way they were written. She vetos one or two to be sent back to
Congress for rewording and then revoting.

�� The door to the office opens, and the elderly Pagan
slowly walks in. �I�m sorry to disturb you, Miss Relena, but there is someone
here for you from After Colony Messenger Service.�

�� Thank you, Pagan. Are you all right, old friend?� asks
Relena smiling at him.

�� There is no cure for old age, Miss Relena,� says Pagan,
�I�ll send him in.�

�� Take the rest of the day off, Pagan,� says Relena as
Pagan slowly walks back out into the hall, �You have been guiding Tori on all
your duties. He can cover for you for the rest of the day.�

�� A teenaged boy in a courier�s uniform walks into the
office. He bows. �Your Majesty.�

�� Now there is no need for that!� exclaims Relena standing
up.

�� Okay! We have some information to fill out!� exclaims
the courier pulling a clipboard from his backpack. He passes the form to
Relena. �I need you to fill out the top box.�

�� Relena lifts her stylized pen and fills in her name,
address and phone number. �Alright, that�s done.�

�� The courier takes the clipboard back. He lifts his own
pen and prepares to write. �I was told you wanted a universe wide search.
Correct?�

�� Yes� I�m not sure where my friend disappeared to,� says
Relena.

�� Alright. Who are we looking for?� asks the courier.

�� Ania Winner� or Trowa Barton,� says Relena. She pulls an
envelope from her desk and writes the two names on it. Then she slips the
message into it. �And I would like you to be indiscreet. I need to contact my
friend as soon as possible!�

�� Yes, ma�am, we will do everything in our power to try to
locate Ania and Trowa for you,� says the courier.

�� And if any of the courier stations are broken into, I
want to know about it immediately!� exclaims Relena.

�� Yes, ma�am,� says the courier making a note of that in
the special box on the bottom of the form. He passes the clipboard back to
Relena. �Please sign by the X.�

�� Relena Peacecraft Yuy,� signs Relena.

�� Now, it�s twenty dollars to start,� says the courier,
�And the receptionist will contact you with updates and statements.�

�� And to get more money,� says Relena smiling. She pulls
out her checkbook and writes out a check. She passes the check and the envelope
to the courier.

�� All right. I think that�s all I need unless there�s
something else,� says the courier.

�� No,� says Relena, �That is all for now. Thank you!�

�� We�ll have this message sent out to the colonies and the
rest of the world as soon as possible, ma�am,� says the courier tucking
everything into his backpack. �I�ll be off now.�

�� Relena returns to her work as the courier leaves.

�� *�� *�� *

�� Quatre Raberba Winner, the former pilot of the Gundam
Sandrock, kneels amongst the flowers in the garden, plucking weeds and pruning.
A strand of his blond hair falls down into his blue eyes. He pushes his hair
away from his face, smudging dirt on his forehead and into his hair.

�� An eight-year-old girl with chin-length blond hair and
brown eyes comes running along the garden path. She sees Quatre and comes to a
halt. �Quatre! Could I use your pruning shears to cut a rose?�

�� Is it for your mother?� asks Quatre.

�� No! It�s for our game!� exclaims the girl, Nariya
Peacecraft, the youngest daughter of Lucrezia Noin Peacecraft and the late
Milliardo Peacecraft.

�� Game? What game requires a rose?� asks Quatre standing
up.

�� We�re all playing After Colony Wars!� exclaims Nariya,
�I�m Relena Darlian, and I need a rose! A red one!�

�� All right, Nariya! I�ll get you a rose,� says Quatre
smiling. He takes his pruning shears and leads the way towards the rose bushes.
�So who all is playing this game?�

�� Everyone!� exclaims Nariya smiling.

�� Quatre stops in front of the rose bush and turns towards
Nariya sadly. �Everyone? But you didn�t invite me!�

�� It�s just us kids, Quatre! We didn�t think you would
want to play!� exclaims Nariya, �But I�m sure if you want to play, we would all
let you!�

�� Thank you, Nariya. I�ll at least stop in and take a
look,� says Quatre. He clips off a bright red rose and quickly de-thorns it
before passing it to Nariya. �Now let�s go play!�

�� We�re playing out on the front lawn!� exclaims Nariya,
�Everyone was just running off to get the costumes!� She grabs Quatre�s hand
and pulls him at a run towards the front of the house.

�� Quatre runs along with Nariya. He stops in his tracks
when he sees an all too familiar image. �Trowa?�

�� Six-year-old Grace Barton turns towards Quatre. Her blond
hair is pulled forward and gelled into place so that it covers her blue eyes.
She smiles. �Uncle Quatre!�

�� Quatre stares at Grace in shock.

�� Uncle Quatre, is something wrong?� asks Grace, �You look
funny!�

�� Quatre tosses the pruning shears onto the porch. He runs
to Grace and pulls her into his arms. �I�m fine, Grace. You just shook me up
for a bit. I almost thought you were your father!�

�� That�s because I am, silly!� exclaims Grace, �We�re
playing, and I�m Trowa!�

�� You certainly are, Grace!� exclaims Quatre still holding
her tightly in his arms.

�� Quatre? Can we have Trowa back?� asks a seven-year-old
boy with unruly dark brown hair and blue eyes. He is Thomas Yuy. He wears a
black tank top and green shorts.

�� Yes, of course, Thomas,� says Quatre releasing Grace. He
looks at her jeans and black turtleneck.

�� I�m not Thomas! I�m Heero!� exclaims Thomas.

�� Quatre chuckles, �Your clothes are backwards.� It�s green on top and black on the bottom.�

�� Thomas scowls at him, �Well, I don�t have any black
shorts!�

�� Nariya wears a long red skirt with a white dress shirt.
She tucks the rose into her shirt pocket. �Where are the others?�

�� Still getting ready,� says Thomas.

�� Two five-year-old boys, both with blond hair and blue
eyes, walk out the front door together.

�� The boy with the unruly hair wears a dress shirt and a
vest with brown pants. He is Jeffrey Yuy. �Hi, Quatre! Do I look like you?�

�� Are you supposed to be me, Jeffrey?� asks Quatre.

�� Yes! I�m Quatre Raberba Winner!� exclaims Jeffrey
smiling.

�� And I�m Zechs Merquis!� exclaims the other blond haired
boy adjusting a paper mask on his face. He wears a pair of shorts and a white
T-shirt. His name is Zechs Merquis Peacecraft, the son of the first Zechs whose
real name was Milliardo Peacecraft.

�� And who else would you be?� asks Quatre chuckling, �You
already have the perfect name for the part!�

�� A six-year-old boy with short chestnut brown hair comes
running out of the house. He wears an old OZ jacket that is way too big on him.
It almost gives him the appearance as if he�s wearing a dress. He is the son of
Hilde and Duo Maxwell and Thomas�s best friend, Jason Maxwell. �I am Trieze
Kushrenada, leader of OZ!�

�� Grace bursts out laughing. �Jason�s in a dress!�

�� This must be what they mean by dress uniform!� exclaims
Jason.

�� Quatre bursts out laughing. �It looks like we�re just
missing Reiya.�

�� You mean Lucrezia Noin!� exclaims Reiya coming out of
the house. She is the older twin of Nariya with short mid-night black hair and
blue eyes. She wears a cap with an OZ pin on it, and she also wears a pair of
tight black shorts and a white T-shirt. She�s the eldest of all the children at
eight years, but she�s only older than Nariya by five minutes.

�� Well, we have Heero Yuy, Quatre Winner, and Trowa
Barton, three of the five Gundam pilots,� says Quatre looking around at the
children, �We also have three members of OZ, Trieze Kushrenada, Zechs Merquis,
and Lucrezia Noin. Plus we have the pacifist leader, Relena Darlian. So who
could I be?�

�� You could be Wufei or Duo!� exclaims Jeffrey.

�� Yeah! All you need is a goofy braid, and you could be
daddy!� exclaims Jason.

�� Jason! You�re father�s braid is not goofy!� exclaims
Quatre, �I know you look up to Heero, but Duo was also a Gundam pilot! He could
have done everything Heero could!�

�� But he didn�t! He�s a joke!� exclaims Jason, �Now let�s
play!�

�� I�m just going to sit and watch for a bit,� says Quatre
moving to sit on the front steps, �If you need any other players, then I�ll
join.�

�� The seven children hurry to start their game.

�� *�� *�� *

�� The strings of the cello squeal, snapping Duo Maxwell out
of his reverie. He looks at the cello he sits playing. His chestnut brown braid
extends all the way down his back to his waist. He drops the bow and moves away
from the cello. His blue eyes stare off into thin air. Years before, he had
been the pilot of the Gundam Deathscythe, but his Gundam had been destroyed.
Then he moved in with Hilde and started a junkyard business in the colonies,
but now that too is being destroyed.

�� Is something wrong, Duo?� The Prussian blue eyes stare
at Duo, and the unruly dark brown hair goes off in all different directions.
This man, Heero Yuy, had once piloted the Gundam Wing Zero. He stands in the
doorway to the music room.

�� Hey, buddy,� says Duo.

�� What�s wrong?� asks Heero walking into the room and
closing the door behind him.

�� I was just thinking, Heero! Jason� my son� adores you.
He wishes you were his father, and he was brothers with Thomas,� says
Duo, �He�s my son!�

�� Jason listens to the war stories that Thomas tells him,�
says Heero sitting down beside the keyboard, �Do you tell Jason many of your
own war stories?�

�� Hilde doesn�t want me to,� says Duo sitting down and
facing Heero. He sighs. �You have quite a fan club, Heero. Jason and Thomas.�

�� Heero chuckles. He plays a few notes on the keyboard.
�Speaking of fan clubs, Thomas has one of his own.�

�� Duo�s eyes widen. �What?�

�� I found he had company when I went to wake him this
morning. Grace had crawled into his bed again,� says Heero, �She does that every
so often when she has a scary dream. She feels safer once she crawls into his
bed with him. If she has a bad nightmare though, she goes running into Quatre
and Wufei�s room!�

�� Grace crawls into bed with Thomas?� asks Duo forgetting
all about his troubles.

�� Heero nods his head. �She�s done it since she was two
when we took the safety rail off her bed. I don�t know if they realize she�s
doing it. I think she may walk in her sleep.�

�� Grace crawls into bed with Thomas?�

�� That�s what I said,� says Heero with a smile.

�� Grace crawls into bed with Thomas?� asks Duo again, �How
do you plan to stop that? You don�t want her to be crawling into his bed at
night when those two are teenagers!�

�� Teenagers?� Heero�s face goes white.

�� Yes. You know how teenage boys think,� says Duo setting
his hand on Heero�s shoulder, �You were one once! I know there was a war going
on, but still� I think I know what you�d do if a girl ever crawled in your
bed!�

�� Sorry, Duo,� says Heero chuckling, �But I don�t think
about that nearly as much as you do!�

�� Duo chuckles. �You�re only kidding yourself, buddy! If
Relena had climbed in bed with you way back then, you would have been all
over her! Trust me, buddy! You would have been on top of her before she could
get all the way in bed and inside her a few seconds later!�

�� You�re half right, Duo! I would have been on top of her
as soon as she got in bed� with a gun to her head! She knew my secret,� says
Heero, �I was supposed to kill her.�

�� But you didn�t, why not?�

�� I� I couldn�t� I would never have admitted it then, Duo,
but I liked her,� says Heero smiling, �I liked her. From the moment I first saw
her I was attracted to her a little. I went to St. Gabriel�s to kill her. I got
to know her a little. Then we danced� I liked her� I saved her life� I liked
her. She couldn�t die. And somewhere in between then and when she almost
married Jesse, I fell deeply in love with her.�

�� Duo smiles. �Yeah, buddy! I know!�

�� Hey! How�d we get to me! We�re talking about Thomas and
Grace!� exclaims Heero glaring at Duo.

�� Okay, buddy!� exclaims Duo, �You�ve got to put a stop to
them sleeping together! If you let it continue, next thing you know, Thomas
will be stealing more than just a kiss from Grace.�

�� You do have a point for once, Duo!� exclaims Heero.

�� For once?�

�� Grace needs to stop sleeping in Thomas�s bedroom! When
he starts to go through puberty, he might try something. Especially if he gets
any ideas from you!� exclaims Heero.

�� Hey!� exclaims Duo moving back away from Heero. He
stands up, and he chuckles.

�� He won�t need any help from you,� says Heero
laughing. He stands up. �And Grace� she�ll be tempted too.�

�� Right!� exclaims Duo.

�� Duo, buddy. What should I do?�

�� Yeah! Ask the God of Death about love!� exclaims Duo
laughing, �Matters of the heart are very confusing!�

�� All I can think of is locking her into her room since
Grace is the one who keeps leaving her bed,� says Heero, �but then she couldn�t
get to Quatre if she needed him. And if I locked Thomas in, he couldn�t get to
Relena and I if he needed us!�

�� Tough decisions, Heero, but it isn�t for you to decide
alone,� says Duo. He claps his friend on the back. �Relena and Quatre have to
help you decide. They�re your children!�

�� *�� *�� *

�� Chang Wufei sits beneath a large tree. He was once a
Gundam pilot, and the Shenlong Gundam held the spirit and the name of his
beloved Nataku. He called his Gundam Nataku to honor the woman he loved so long
ago. His black hair is slicked back and tied at the base of his neck in the
hairstyle he has worn for years. His dark slanted eyes hide behind a set of
wide-rimmed glasses. He holds a book in his hands, and he tries to concentrate
on reading it.

�� There you are, Wufei!� exclaims Dr. Sally Po walking up
to him. Her shoulder-length brown hair is braided on both sides of her head.
�May I sit down?�

�� Do as you wish,� says Wufei.

�� Sally sits down beside Wufei. �What are you doing?�

�� Wufei closes his book and drops it into Sally�s lap. He
leans back up against the tree trunk with his hands behind his head.

�� Aristotle? You�re reading the philosophies of
Aristotle!� exclaims Sally opening the book and flipping through the pages. She
recognizes only a few words.

�� Not really. I can�t get into it,� says Wufei closing his
eyes, �It�s in Latin.�

�� Wufei, you can read Latin?� asks Sally. She stares at
Wufei in shock.

�� You are surprised?� asks Wufei.

�� Well, yes. I never knew you could read Latin,� says
Sally leaning up against the tree, �I always thought you�d be more apt to be
out here practicing martial arts than reading Latin.�

�� So you thought I was a dumb jock,� says Wufei.

�� That is not what I said and that is certainly not
what I meant, Wufei!� exclaims Sally.

�� Forget it, Sally!� exclaims Wufei, �What are you doing
out here?�

�� I just wanted to talk to you about your wedding plans. I
was curious how they were coming along.�

�� Just fine,� says Wufei, �The flowers will be coming from
the greenhouse. The food�s coming from the kitchens. Everyone�s helping out. It
won�t be as spectacular as Heero and Relena�s wedding or even your wedding to
Noin. But I will finally be marrying Quatre! I couldn�t be happier about it
all.�

�� That�s great to hear,� says Sally smiling. She leans
against Wufei and closes her eyes.

�� Sally? Are you alright?� asks Wufei lowering his arms.
His right arm moves around Sally�s back.

�� I�m sorry, Wufei. I�m just so tired,� whispers Sally
yawning, �Would you read to me for a little while?�

�� Wufei takes the book from Sally�s lap and opens it one
handed. He begins to read the Latin words out loud as Sally falls asleep with
his arm wrapped around her.

�� *�� *�� *

�� Lucrezia Noin Peacecraft types furiously at her computer.
Her short midnight black hair is cut boyishly, and her brown eyes stare
mindlessly at the screen. She hears the children playing outside her window,
and she turns to look out onto the front lawn.

�� Hey, Noin!� Hilde Schbeiker Maxwell stands in the office
doorway holding her young daughter, Hannah. Her blue eyes look slightly sad
even though she wears a smile. Her short black hair is un-normally untidy.

�� The children look like they�re having fun, Hilde,� says
Noin.

�� Hilde walks forward to look out the window. She nods her
head.

�� They really love each other,� says Noin turning back to
her computer, �Is something wrong?�

�� I was just about to ask you that, Noin,� says
Hilde, �You�ve been on that computer for days! Zechs is getting concerned.�

�� Noin hangs her head and sighs. �I can�t find him.�

�� Find who?�

�� Trowa.�

�� Trowa?� asks Hilde.

�� Yes. Relena insists he be at Quatre and Wufei�s wedding
if we can find him!� exclaims Noin, �She has me searching on the computer, and
she was going to ask Cecilia for help! Plus I think she may even have called a
few friends in the police. She intended to call Nikki Moulzolf of Scotland Yard!
Among others.�

�� You�re looking for Trowa?� asks Hilde, �Is there
anything I can do to help?�

�� Afraid not. I�ve checked over everything I could think
of. I haven�t found a trace of him!� exclaims Noin, �I can�t find him!� She
slams her fist down on her keyboard.

�� Um� Noin��

�� Noin turns around quickly to see Hilde�s pale face.
�Hilde! What�s wrong?�

�� What if you can�t find him because he�s not there?�
whispers Hilde turning away from the window. She slowly sits down in a chair.

�� What do you mean?�

�� He could have killed himself! He was so distraught after
Ania died! He could have ran off, not intending suicide but doing it later
anyway!� exclaims Hilde turning even whiter from her fear of this new
possibility, �We wouldn�t be able to find him because he�d be dead!�

�� Don�t say that! Don�t even think it! His love for Ania
and Grace is stronger than that! Trowa is alive!� exclaims Noin, �And I�m going
to find him!� She continues typing on her computer, but she glances over at
Hide to make sure she�s all right. �Take Hannah for her nap, Hilde. Then you
can come back and help me!�

�� Hilde nods, but she doesn�t move for several minutes as
the color returns to her.

�� *�� *�� *

�� A man slowly gets out of bed. His brown hair is as
disheveled as the loose jeans and tank top he�d worn to bed. His green eyes are
tired and puffy from crying. Tears still slip down his cheeks, which haven�t
been shaved in weeks. His shoulders sag unnaturally as he walks into the
bathroom. He looks into the broken mirror. Instead of his own face, he sees a
beautiful woman with pure blue eyes and long blond hair. �Ania��

�� This man, ragged and torn as he is, used to be a Gundam
pilot. He is the one named Trowa Barton, but not even Heavyarms, had it not
been destroyed, could fight against the sorrow that eats away at this young
man.

�� Trowa runs his hands through his hair to pull out a few
of the larger tangles. Then he heads out of the bathroom and leaves his mostly
vacant apartment. He walks out of the building onto a crowded street, and he
slowly moves through the crowd until he reaches a small grocery store.

�� Good afternoon, Solo Maxwell,� says the elderly man at
the counter, �You�re later than usual today. Are you well?�

�� I�m not sick,� says Trowa sadly.

�� What�s wrong, Solo?� asks the old man. He lifts a banana
and holds it out.

�� I�m alone.� Trowa takes the banana and reaches into his
pocket. All he pulls out is a quarter and a few pennies.

�� Don�t worry about it this time, Solo! You can pay me
later,� says the old man smiling warmly, �Now what do you mean you�re alone?
What about your woman, Ania? Where is she?�

�� Dead� these past six years,� whispers Trowa quietly.

�� Oh, I�m sorry, Solo,� says the old man, �I heard you
talk of her in your sleep one night when you fell asleep sweeping the back
room. I didn�t know she was dead. How did it happen?�

�� Cancer,� says Trowa. He peels the banana and quickly
eats it.

�� Oh, I�m sorry. But have you no other family, Solo?� asks
the old man.

�� None that would accept me back after what I�ve done,� says
Trowa.

�� What have you done?�

�� I left.� Trowa walks around the counter and grabs the
broom.

�� Is that all?� asks the old man chuckling.

�� That�s enough,� whispers Trowa walking into the back
room.

�� You can always go home, Solo Maxwell! Always!�
exclaims the old man into the back room.

�� *�� *�� *

�� I need salvation! I need your help!� The woman�s voice
echoes all around her.

�� A single light spotlights her, and she runs forward. She
climbs into the cockpit of the large mobile suit and turns on the computer.
�The Gundam pilots all think the same! They can hide easily from the world and
each other! I wasn�t trained to think like a Gundam pilot! I was trained to
become each of the Gundam pilots! I was trained to be able to find the
unseen!�

�� The woman focuses her mind and flips a few switches on
the control panel. �I need your help, my friend! I must find the wanderer! I
MUST FIND TROWA BARTON!�

�� The computer whirs as several symbols appear on the
screen and start scrolling up.

�� The woman reads the symbols as if they were merely words
in a foreign language. She allows her mind to drift away, and she would swear
that she actually became Trowa. The heart-wrenching pain she feels when she
thinks of the name, Ania, only helps to aid her in her delusion that she is
Trowa. Then a thought hits her, and she understands.

�� The computer spits out another series of symbols, and the
woman reads them. �Yes! Yes! I understand! I understand! Thank you, my friend!
I know now what I must do!�

�� The woman turns the computer off and climbs out of her
suit into the pitch darkness. She runs away, leaving her mobile suit hidden and
secure. She hurries to a large hotel and enters a spacious suite. She runs into
her bedroom and throws open her empty suitcase. She pulls the lining back to
reveal a secret compartment. She pulls out the clothes within and quickly sheds
her attire.

�� The woman pulls on her hip-hugger, black denim Capri
pants. She drops her white bra onto her bed and pulls on a blood red vest. She
laces the front up tightly so it conforms to her body and holds her breasts
firmly in place. Next the woman slips on a black leather jacket. She falls down
onto her bed.

�� The woman pulls a black pair of Mary Janes onto her feet.
She heads into the bathroom quickly and runs her hairbrush through her brown
hair. She parts her hair awkwardly in the back and braids the strip of hair
that falls naturally down the center of her head.

�� The woman walks back into her bedroom. She piles all her
loose hair onto the top of her head, and she slips a black baseball cap over
top of it. The only hair visible beneath her cap is the braid. She grabs a set
of wide-rimmed black sunglasses with dark lenses, and she puts them on.

�� The woman slips quietly out of her hotel room after
calling the front desk to make sure that her room would not be disturbed and to
ensure when she returned it would still be her room. She zips up her leather
jacket to hide her red laced-up vest. She hurries from the hotel and goes to
her selected hiding place to wait.

�� The woman waits and waits and waits, and she prays that
her idea will work. She waits for what feels like forever.

�� A man walks in front of the woman�s hiding place, and she
recognizes him at once. Although he looks very much like a beggar in his worn
out clothes, beard, and messy hair, this man could only be Trowa Barton.

�� Trowa walks up to his safe and punches in the code. He
pulls the door open and stares inside. He puts some of the gold into his jacket
pockets, and he pulls out the note addressed to him. He tucks the note in his
pocket and closes the safe. As he walks away, the note slips out of his pocket.

�� The woman hurries from her hiding spot. She grabs the
note from the floor and quickly follows Trowa out of the bank.

�� A large crowd gets in between Trowa and the woman, and by
the time she gets through the crowd, Trowa has disappeared.

�� The woman returns to her mobile suit in frustration. She
enters the cockpit and turns the computer on. �I have a few leads to check out.
I know where he must live, and now I know what he looks like. I can find him
now! My friend, I need you to monitor a messenger service for me, just in
case!�

�� *�� *�� *

�� Grace opens the door quietly and slips into the room. She
closes the door, and she walks up beside Thomas�s bed. She slips into the bed
beside Thomas and closes her eyes.

�� Grace?� whispers Thomas.

�� Yes, Thomas,� whispers Grace.

�� Did you have another dream about your dad?� asks Thomas
opening his eyes.

�� Grace opens her eyes and looks at Thomas. �Yes. Relena
and Uncle Quatre were both holding my hands. I was struggling against them.
Daddy was walking away from me. He was just walking away!�

�� It�s okay, Grace. It was just a dream. He�d never leave
you twice! Don�t worry. I�ll protect you!� exclaims Thomas pulling the blanket
up around Grace, �I�ll protect you! Now, go to sleep, Angel.�

�� Thank you, Thomas,� whispers Grace sliding closer to
him. She closes her eyes and falls asleep.

�� Thomas smiles and returns to sleep.

�� *�� *�� *

�� Trowa heads to his job at the old man�s grocery store.

�� Solo! I�m glad you�re here! Could you clean out the
hamster�s cage for me? I put a fresh newspaper beside the cage,� says the old
man.

�� Sure,� says Trowa. He heads up the stairs to the old
man�s home. He gently removes the hamster from his cage and places him in a
small plastic ball to roll around on the floor. He cleans out the old newspaper
and opens the new one.

�� Trowa looks at an ad in the bottom right hand quarter. He
reads it quietly, �Attention, Miss Ania Winner, Mr. Trowa Barton, there is an
urgent message for you being held at After Colony Messenger Service! You can
come by any one of our many locations to receive your message. Miss Ania
Winner! Mr. Trowa Barton! This is urgent!�

�� Trowa folds up the newspaper. He finishes cleaning the
cage and puts the new paper in the bottom. Then he looks around for the hamster
ball. He finds the hamster in a corner and he lifts the ball. He puts the furry
creature back into the cage and gives him a sunflower seed. Then he heads back
downstairs. �I have something I need to do.�

�� Well, alright, Solo,� says the old man, �Come back when
you can.�

�� Trowa nods and he hurries out of the store. He runs down
the street knowing that he could only get to the messenger station in time to
watch them close their doors, and that would only be if he was in a car. He
doesn�t care when he gets there. Store hours are for other people, not him, not
today.

�� Trowa runs until he reaches the building that houses the
messenger service. He looks in the now empty building as he slips around to the
back. He spots a window that�s open a crack, and he pushes it the rest of the
way up. He pulls himself through the window.

�� Trowa opens a file cabinet marked �W� and starts looking
for a file on �Winner, Ania.� He sees the file and pulls it out. He opens the
folder and looks at the papers inside. He reads the note that Relena send out
for him. �Quatre and Wufei are getting married.�

�� Trowa puts the file back and leaves the messenger service
the way he came in. He walks slowly back to his apartment and enters. He sees a
black leather jacket on the one chair in the place.

�� You are not an easy man to find, Trowa Barton,� says the
woman standing beside the chair with her right arm hidden from sight.

�� Who are you?� asks Trowa looking at the woman�s red
lace-up vest and black Capri pants.

�� Call me J, okay, Trowa? Or are you calling yourself Solo
Maxwell now?� replies the woman.

�� What are you doing here and how did you find me?� asks
Trowa angrily.

�� The woman, J, pulls a note from her left pant�s pocket.
She holds it out towards Trowa. �You dropped this. I came to return it to you.
As for how I found you, that wasn�t easy, but I could have done it at any time.
That old man really likes having you around. I almost didn�t make it here before
you did. The reason I didn�t find you sooner was because you needed time to
realize what you�ve let happen.�

�� And what�s that?�

�� You�ve let your daughter grow up without a father!�

�� What do you know? You don�t know what I�ve been through,
and you don�t know me, J!� exclaims Trowa. He rips the note from J�s
hand. �Now get out!�

�� You haven�t even read it yet,� says J fiercely.

�� Trowa unfolds the note and reads it aloud, �To Trowa
Barton, bass player for the band Gundam Wing. Dear Trowa, this is Relena. I
hope you remember all your friends in the Sanc Kingdom. We miss you very much.
I hope you get this letter before it�s too late. I would like to tell you some
of the news from your friends before I get to the real reason I�m writing you.
You know of Milliardo and Noin�s twins, Reiya and Nariya. They also have a son,
Zechs. Milliardo died at the same time Zechs was born. Heero and I now have two
sons, Thomas who you�ve already met and Jeffrey. Duo and Hilde also have two
children, Jason and Hannah. As for your daughter, Grace is growing up strong
and beautiful. She misses you most of all. Now Quatre and Wufei are planning
their wedding. They want you to come. Quatre has refused to get married unless
you are there as his best man. Please, Trowa! Come home! You�re not alone! It
is with much hope that I send this letter off to you, Trowa, but with even more
love. Please come home to us. Your good friend, Relena Darlian Yuy.�

�� Will you return to the Sanc Kingdom to watch your
friends marry?� asks J leaning on the chair.

�� I don�t belong there anymore. I can�t go back,� says
Trowa firmly.

�� J draws a gun up from beneath her leather jacket, and she
aims it at Trowa�s heart. �Well, then, I guess I�ll have to take your dead body
back to them! I can face their tears over your death, but I can�t stand to
watch them cry because you�re too stubborn to go back! Quatre needs you to be
there when he gets married! Dead or alive doesn�t matter to me, Trowa!�

�� I can�t go back. I don�t know the way home anymore!�
exclaims Trowa.

�� I can take you back! I can show you the way!� exclaims J
tucking her gun into the back of her pants, �Life in the Bronx must have made
you soft, Trowa!�

�� I�ll go back with you. I owe them all that much I
suppose,� says Trowa turning his emerald green eyes away, �but I can�t stay.�

�� I never said you had to stay!� exclaims J. She lifts her
leather jacket and puts it on. �Let�s go, Trowa! You�re not flying solo now!
Our flight to the Sanc Kingdom will be leaving soon! I hope you don�t mind, but
I�ve arranged for you to have a bodyguard until the wedding. He�ll make sure
that nothing happens to you before you can appear at Quatre�s side when he
needs you the most!�

�� Trowa nods. �Who do you think might go after me?�

�� Hey! With Gundam pilots� you never know!� exclaims J,
�Now let�s go!�

�� Trowa gets his bag in which all his belongs still rest,
and he walks out of his apartment.

�� J leads Trowa out to an awaiting car. �Just don�t run
away from me, okay?�

�� The driver chuckles as the two people climb in the back.
He drives the car to the airport where he helps J lead Trowa into a private
plane.

�� The plane takes off as J puts her gun into a safe with a
complex locking system. She tosses a book to Trowa and closes the safe door.

�� What�s this?� asks Trowa.

�� That�s your family! And your home, Trowa!�
exclaims J.

�� Trowa sits down and opens the book, a photo album. The
first picture is the one he left for Grace, of him and Ania. He touches Ania�s
face. He slowly and reluctantly turns the page.

�� Baby Grace with Quatre!� exclaims J.

�� Trowa looks at the rest of the pictures� Relena and Heero
with their two sons, Duo and Hilde with their son and baby girl, Milliardo and
Noin with their newborn twins, Noin and Sally with the twins and their son,
Quatre and Wufei with a six-year-old Grace. He stops when he sees the picture
of Grace, and he stares at it. �Is this Grace� with Quatre and Wufei?�

�� J sits down beside Trowa and looks at the picture. She
nods and smiles. �She�s growing up fast.�

�� Grace��

�� She has the grace of an angel,� whispers J quietly.

�� She�s� she�s� she�s so� beautiful,� whispers Trowa
staring at the picture.

�� Keep that. It�s yours now,� says J, �I�m going into the
cockpit.� She stands up and walks into the cockpit.

�� Trowa moves over to his bag. He pulls out a personal CD
player and puts the headphones on. He presses �play� and listens to the Gundam
Wing smash hit You�re Not Alone while he stares at the picture of Grace.

�� *�� *�� *

�� Quatre? Wufei?� asks Relena knocking gently on their
bedroom door.

�� Quatre opens the door while tying his bathrobe closed.
�What is it, Relena?�

�� I�m very sorry to interrupt you two so late at night,�
says Relena seeing Wufei covered up in the bed, �but I have something really
important to tell you both.�

�� Come on in, Relena!� exclaims Wufei, �We�ve gotten used
to the fact that�our sleep�might get interrupted!�

�� Quatre walks back over to the bed as Wufei sits up. He
sits down beside his lover.

�� Wufei wraps his arms around Quatre.

�� Relena smiles as she walks into the room. �I have reason
to believe that Trowa will be here for your wedding!�

�� What? Trowa?� asks Quatre in shock.

�� How does he even know we�re getting married?� asks
Wufei.

�� I sent out an ad through a messenger service, and one of
their stations was broken into,� says Relena, �And they believe that my
file was the one that was looked at.�

�� Do you really think Trowa will be here for our wedding?�
asks Quatre looking at Wufei happily.

�� Wufei smiles. �I hope so, Quatre!�

�� Relena smiles happily. �I�ll leave you two alone now!�

�� Relena?� asks Wufei as she turns to go.

�� Relena looks over her shoulder at Wufei. �Yes, Wufei.�

�� Thank you, Relena, for everything you�ve done for us!�
exclaims Wufei.

�� Relena nods. Then she leaves and closes the bedroom door
tightly.

�� I hope Relena�s right! I want Trowa to see us married!�
exclaims Quatre removing his robe and sliding beneath the blanket with Wufei.

�� Wufei kisses Quatre. �It won�t be long before we�re
married, Quatre! We�ll know if Trowa will appear soon! I pray he does!�

�� Quatre pulls Wufei into a passionate embrace.

�� *�� *�� *

�� The day of the wedding has finally come with no news from
Trowa, but Quatre hasn�t given up hope. He changes into his black tuxedo in
Grace�s bathroom and walks out into her room.

�� Grace sits on her bed in a white party dress. �Uncle
Quatre, will you button up the back of my dress?�

�� You look very pretty, Grace,� says Quatre moving over to
the bed. He sits down, and Grace turns her back to him so he can begin
buttoning up the dress.

�� What should I do with my hair?� asks Grace.

�� There was this special thing your mom would do to her
hair for these types of occasions,� says Quatre buttoning up the dress, �Maybe
Relena will show it to you.�

�� I would like to look like Mommy!� exclaims Grace
happily.

�� You already do!� exclaims Quatre. He finishes buttoning
the back of Grace�s dress. �All finished, Grace!�

�� Grace hops off the bed and spins in a circle. She smiles
and curtseys to Quatre. �Your tie�s crooked!�

�� Quatre sighs. �As usual!�

�� Grace hears a gentle knock on the door. �Come in!�

�� The door opens, and Sally walks in wearing a black
tuxedo. She smiles. �Quatre. There is someone here to see you.�

�� Who is it?� asks Quatre, �Don�t they know I�m getting
married today?�

�� That�s why I�ve come.� Trowa stands in the doorway. He
wears a crisp, new, black tuxedo. His face has a small nick from his recent
shave, and his brown hair has been brushed and neatly styled with gel so that
it comes forward to hide one of his green eyes.

�� Trowa? Is that really you?� asks Quatre standing in
shock. He walks towards his best friend.

�� Did you think I would miss my best friend�s wedding?�
asks Trowa, �It�s good to see you again, Quatre!� He steps forward and pulls
Quatre into a brotherly hug.

�� I actually thought you would, Tro�!� exclaims Quatre
holding onto Trowa tightly. He�s still not sure that the person he holds is
truly there and not a phantom image.

�� If I was at all capable of coming, Quatre, I would be
here,� says Trowa, �So here I am!�

�� Quatre steps out of their close embrace and looks into
Trowa�s eyes.

�� Trowa�s green eyes lack the confidence that they used to
hold when Ania lived. The joy of life that had once shone in his eyes has been
replaced by a great sadness.

�� Trowa, this is Grace,� says Quatre stepping aside. He
smiles at his niece. �Grace, this is your father, Trowa Barton.�

�� Grace stares at Trowa with her mouth open.

�� Trowa stares at Grace�s blond hair and beautiful eyes.
His voice is a mere whisper, �My angel.�

�� Well, what are you two waiting for?� asks Sally.

�� Grace and Trowa continue to stare at each other. Neither
one moves.

�� Grace,� says Trowa finally. He drops down to one knee.
�You look just like your mother� an angel.�

�� Daddy!� Grace bursts into tears and runs into Trowa
holding him close to her.

�� Trowa wraps his arms around Grace and holds her tenderly.

�� Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!� exclaims Grace, �Don�t ever leave
again!�

�� Grace!� exclaims Trowa.

�� Maybe we should leave them alone for a few minutes,
Quatre,� says Sally.

�� No, Quatre. Please stay,� says Trowa.

�� Sally, will you go check on the others? See if everyone
is ready?� asks Quatre.

�� Sally nods and leaves.

�� Thank you for coming back, Trowa,� says Quatre smiling
as a wave of tears fall from his eyes.

�� I had to.� Trowa pushes Grace back, and he wipes the
tears from her eyes.

�� Grace, honey, will you go find Relena so she can fix
your hair?� asks Quatre quietly. He wipes his eyes on the sleeve of his tuxedo.

�� Don�t go away, Daddy!� exclaims Grace. She looks at
Quatre with pleading eyes.

�� Quatre sees the hesitation in Grace�s eyes, and he knows
that she doesn�t want to let Trowa out of her sight for a moment in the event
that he might run away again. �I need to talk to him alone. He�ll still be here
when you return. I promise.�

�� Grace nods and walks out of her room.

�� Trowa stands and turns to face Quatre.

�� What do you mean you had to?� asks Quatre sternly,
�Didn�t you want to?�

�� I wanted to come home, but I�m not ready. God, Quatre!
I�ve walked so long I can�t remember. Where was my home?� replies Trowa, �I�m
in no condition to care for Grace! I can�t even take care of myself, but I had
to come back for you� for your day. Just like you gave me your blessing to love
your sister, I needed to give you and Wufei my blessing to love each other.�

�� I think there�s more to it than that,� says Quatre. He
sits down on the bed. �Trowa, you�re my best friend, but I must know! Are you
planning on leaving again after the ceremony?�

�� You�re my best friend too, Quatre. Yes.�

�� Quatre hangs his head sadly. �Don�t mention it to Grace
just yet.�

�� I won�t.�

�� You have a home here, Trowa! We are all here for you!
We�ll be there when you need us!� exclaims Quatre, �You�re not alone!�

�� What time does the ceremony start?� asks Trowa
pretending not to have heard his best friend�s last words.

�� Quatre looks at his watch. �Fifteen minutes.�

�� And why was Sally in a tuxedo?�

�� Wufei and I decided it would be nice for all the adults
to wear them. Since two men are being wed. Just be thankful, Trowa,� says
Quatre smiling, �We could have decided that all the adults would wear dresses!�

�� Trowa laughs for the first time in six years. He�s
surprised at how easily it comes back to him.

�� We�ll wait here for Grace and go down to the ballroom
with her,� says Quatre, �I�m glad you came, Trowa!�

�� So am I, Quatre.� Trowa smiles and sits down beside
Quatre.

�� Quatre and Trowa sit together in the same comfortable
silence that has forever marked their friendship.

�� The door opens, and Grace runs in panting. She smiles
when she sees Trowa and Quatre.

�� Trowa looks at Grace with disbelief. �Angel? Ania?�

�� Huh-uh! Wrong guess, Daddy!� exclaims Grace. Her blond
hair is braided around her head like a crown, or a halo.

�� Grace?� asks Trowa snapping out of his reverie, �You�re
beautiful!�

�� Grace curtseys. �Relena says we have to hurry!�

�� Trowa and Quatre stand. They move up to Grace.

�� Grace quickly grabs Trowa�s hand and pulls him out of her
room.

�� Quatre follows behind quickly.

�� They all head down to the ballroom, which has been
decorated for the wedding and reception.

�� Trowa spots his bag on the floor near the ballroom door,
ready for him to run away again.

�� Quatre sees the bag too, and he frowns at it as he
passes.

�� Grace pulls Trowa up to the altar where an elderly priest
sits in a nice chair.

�� Duo and Heero stand to the right of the altar in their
black tuxedos.

�� Hilde and Relena, also in black tuxedos, sit down in
chairs with Thomas, Jason, and Jeffrey. Hilde holds her infant daughter,
Hannah.

�� Sally and Noin wear their black tuxedos as they sit with
their own children� Reiya, Nariya, and Zechs.

�� Only Reiya, Nariya, and Grace wear dresses in pearl white
to give them angelic appearances, but the male children wear black
double-breasted suits rather than tuxedos.

�� Grace pulls Trowa to the left side of the altar.

�� Quatre stands back near the doors until Wufei, in a sleek
black tux, walks into the room.

�� Everyone smiles as Quatre and Wufei head up to the altar
together. They smile thankfully at Trowa, all happy that he has come.

�� Quatre and Wufei kneel before the short altar.

�� Heero and Duo kneel, and Trowa follows their example,
also kneeling down until Grace decides to sit on his lap.

�� We are gathered here today to bear witness to the
joining of two hearts, of two lives. We are gathered here before this company,
beneath the eyes of God, to witness the marriage of Chang Wufei and Quatre
Raberba Winner,� says the priest smiling, �Is there anyone who has any reason
why these two should not be wed? If so, please speak now.�

�� Everyone just smiles happily, but no one says a word.

�� The priest nods. �When two lives are joined in marriage,
part of them gets left behind� the part that was happy and content to be alone�
the part of them that didn�t wish to be married is replaced by the part of them
that wishes to be with the other for all time. In this manner, who here will
give these two young men away?�

�� Heero stands up. �On behalf of the Gundam pilots, I
consent to this marriage.�

�� Relena stands up as Heero kneels again. �On behalf of the
Sanc Kingdom, I consent to this marriage.�

�� Hilde and Duo both stand up, and Relena sits down.

�� I consent to this marriage,� says Duo.

�� As do I,� says Hilde.

�� Sally and Noin stand up. �We consent to this marriage.�

�� Sally, Noin, and Hilde take their seats again.

�� Duo kneels back down.

�� Thomas stands up and smiles broadly. �On behalf of all us
kids, we consent to this marriage! Go Quatre and Wufei!�

�� Jason chuckles as Thomas sits down.

�� Grace stands up proudly. �On behalf of the Winner family,
I consent to this marriage!�

�� As do I,� says Trowa as Grace sits back down on his lap.

�� Surrender to your hearts. Let them guide you along your
path, for even when your heart is wrong it will always take you on an adventure
that�s worth a lifetime,� says the priest, �Quatre Raberba Winner, will you
take this man into your life, care for him in sickness, stand by him in times
of financial trouble, and love him until death forces you to part?�

�� All of that and more,� says Quatre looking lovingly at
Wufei and clasping his love�s hand firmly, �A whole lot more. I do.�

�� Chang Wufei, will you take this man into your life, care
for him in sickness, stand by him in times of financial trouble, and love him
until death forces you to part?� asks the priest.

�� All of that and so much more,� says Wufei giving Quatre
a loving look, �I do!�

�� May we have the rings?� asks the priest.

�� Grace pulls two rings from a pocket on her dress. She
passes one to Wufei.

�� With this ring, our life together begins,� says Wufei
sliding the ring onto Quatre�s left hand, �I love you, Quatre.�

�� Grace passes the second ring to Quatre.

�� With this ring, our life together begins,� says Quatre
sliding the ring onto Wufei�s left hand, �I love you, Wufei.�

�� Arise, husband and husband,� says the priest smiling
happily.

�� Quatre and Wufei stand, and they share a long, passionate
kiss.

�� Everyone stands up clapping their hands happily.

�� I hope you two have a wonderful life together!� exclaims
the priest as Quatre and Wufei separate from their kiss, �I must be off now!�
He leans heavily on a wooden cane as he walks towards the exit.

�� Congratulations,� says Trowa pulling Quatre and Wufei
into an embrace.

�� I�m glad you�re here, Trowa,� says Wufei.

�� Hey, Trowa, buddy! Long time no see! Don�t you know how
to write?� exclaims Duo slapping Trowa on the back.

�� Trowa kneels down in front of Grace and pulls her into an
embrace. �I�m sorry, Grace. I love you.�

�� Daddy?� asks Grace as Trowa stands.

�� Trowa starts to walk back towards the door.

�� Don�t walk away, Daddy!� exclaims Grace.

�� See I just can�t find the right
thing to say

�� I tried but all my pain gets in the
way

�� Tell me what I have to do so you�ll
stay

�� Should I get down on my knees and
pray�

�� I�m sorry, Grace. I can�t stay,� says Trowa, �And how
can I stop losing you� How can I begin to say when there�s nothing left to do
but walk away?�

�� Grace runs up to Trowa and grabs onto his leg. �No!
Daddy! Please, don�t go! Don�t walk away!�

�� I close my eyes

�� Just to try and see you smile one
more time

�� But it�s been so long now all I do
is cry

�� Can�t we find some love to take this
away

�� Cause the pain gets stronger every
day�

�� Trowa!� exclaims Relena.

�� How can I begin again? How am I to understand,� whispers
Trowa, �when there�s nothing left to do but walk away.�

�� Trowa, you don�t have to do this! We can help you!
You�re not alone!� exclaims Quatre.

�� Relena walks up to Grace.

�� I�m always alone, Quatre,� says Trowa.

�� Relena pulls Grace off Trowa and holds her tightly in her
arms. �We can�t force him to stay, Grace! I know you want him to stay, but we
can�t force him, Grace! I miss her too, Trowa. Ania was my best friend. Just
remember, you�re not alone!�

�� Trowa continues to walk towards the door. �Sorry, Grace.�

�� Daddy! Daddy, take me with you! Daddy, don�t go!�
exclaims Grace bawling in Relena�s arms, �Please, don�t walk away!�

�� See now why

�� All my dreams been broken

�� I don�t know where we�re going

�� Everything we said and all we done
now.

�� Don�t let go, I don�t wanna walk
away�

�� Trowa, you coward!� exclaims Thomas crossing his arms over
his chest and glaring at Trowa�s back.

�� Trowa turns around abruptly.

�� Trowa�s just a big coward!� exclaims Thomas, �Afraid of
one little girl!�

�� I�m not afraid!� exclaims Trowa hanging his head.

�� Trowa�s a great big coward! Trowa�s a great big coward!�
exclaims Thomas, and Jason joins him in his chant, �Trowa�s a coward! Trowa�s a
coward!�

�� Don�t walk away, Daddy,� says Grace sobbing
uncontrollably.

�� Now why

�� All my dreams are broken

�� Don�t know where we�re going

�� Everything begins to set us free

�� Can�t you see, I don�t wanna walk
away�

�� Trowa turns and walks the rest of the way to his bag. He
lifts it and slings it over his shoulder. He looks back at all his friends.
�I�m sorry. I can�t stay. I don�t belong here anymore.�

�� Thomas and Jason stand beside Heero still chanting,
�Trowa is a coward!�

�� Reiya stares blankly at the floor while Nariya holds onto
Jeffrey and Zech�s hands.

�� Duo holds Hilde and Hannah.

�� Noin and Sally stare at Trowa with disbelief.

�� Quatre and Wufei look at Trowa with pleading eyes, both
wishing their friend would stay.

�� Heero crosses his arms over his chest.

�� Relena hugs Grace as she cries.

�� Grace looks like my Angel,� whispers Trowa.

�� Trowa, you�ve always had a home here, but if you leave
again� don�t ever come back!� exclaims Heero, �I�m not going to let you do that
to Grace! Don�t walk away! Just don�t walk away! Please��

�� If you go, I won�t forget you
girl

�� Can�t you see that you will always
be

�� Even though I had to let you go

�� There�s nothing left to do�

�� Don�t walk away, Daddy!� exclaims Grace drying her eyes
so she can stare imploringly at Trowa.

�� Trowa, you said you�ve walked so long you can�t remember
where your home is. Look at Grace! Look her straight in the eyes!� exclaims
Quatre, �That is where your home is! Look at her!�

�� Trowa is a coward!� exclaim Thomas and Jason, �Trowa is
a coward!�

�� Trowa looks at Grace. He looks at her, his daughter, but
all he sees are the features that Ania gave her. He pulls his portable CD
player from his bag and rips off the headphones. He walks back up to Grace and
passes her the CD player. �This belongs to you now, Grace.�

�� Relena pushes the play button as Grace holds the CD
player tightly.

�� The music blares out of the CD player. �I�ve walked so
long I can�t remember. Where was my home? The distant faces fade away. I�m
always on my own. I can show a smile, it�s not hard to do. I can have the
strength to go on but sometimes I wanna let go of everything.�

�� Relena! You sing this song to me before bed!� exclaims
Grace.

�� The music comes out of the CD player� still conveying the
same happy and loving emotions that the five ex-Gundam pilots put into it.

�� Trowa kneels down before Grace and Relena. He pulls them
both into his embrace. He whispers, �Grace, do you want me to stay?�

�� Yes, Daddy! I don�t want you to go away! I want you to
stay with me,� says Grace burying her face in his chest, �Don�t go. Please
stay. I really want you to stay!�

�� We all want you to stay, Trowa,� whispers Relena, �Even
Heero though he doesn�t act like it. Thomas wants you to stay as well. That�s
why he�s taunting you� daring you to do the brave thing and stay with us.�

�� Trowa moves out of the embrace and takes a few steps
towards the other four men, his best friends. �Hey, guys� Is that offer still
good?�

�� We will seek together destiny, troubles have an end.
We�ll carry on hand in hand, you�re not alone,� plays the music.

�� What offer, buddy?� asks Duo.

�� The offer of help you gave me when Ania passed away,�
says Trowa. A single tear rolls down his cheek.

�� Of course it�s still good, Trowa,� says Wufei, �We�re
here for you. You aren�t alone.�

�� Trowa gives his friends a genuine smile as he turns
towards Grace. He whispers along with the music, �I�ll be there when you need.
We will live together. Nothing is in our way with trust in our soul. We will
seek together destiny.�

�� Daddy?� asks Grace.

�� I�ll only stay as long as you want me here, Grace,� says
Trowa. He sets his bag on the floor.

�� Grace escapes from Relena�s arms and drops the CD player
into Relena�s hands. She jumps into Trowa�s embrace.

�� Trowa holds Grace up in his arms. He looks at Heero. �I
won�t walk away this time!�

�� Heero smiles and clamps his hands over Thomas and Jason�s
mouths so they can�t continue their �Trowa is a coward� chant. He nods his approval.
�Welcome home, Trowa!�

�� Relena quickly moves to embrace Trowa and Grace.

�� My family is complete again,� says Quatre smiling, �Come
on, everybody! Big group hug!� He walks over to join Relena and Trowa in their
embrace with Grace.

�� Wufei, Duo, and Heero soon join the hug, happy to have
Trowa returned to them.

�� Noin and Sally join the group hug before any of the
children.

�� Now let�s party!� exclaims Duo.

�� Yes! Quatre and I have just been married! Trowa has
returned home! We have many reasons to celebrate!� exclaims Wufei as the group
hug breaks up. He walks over to a large stereo and turns it on.

�� Trowa? Could I have the first dance with Grace?� asks
Thomas bowing like a true gentleman.

�� If it pleases Grace,� says Trowa setting her down on the
floor.

�� I�d love to, Thomas!� exclaims Grace smiling, �I�ll save
the last dance for you, Daddy!�

�� Oh, and Trowa� I really don�t think you�re a coward. I
was just hoping that your honor would be strong enough to force you to make the
right decision� the brave decision,� says Thomas smiling at Trowa, �Of
everything I�ve heard about you, I�ve only heard of one cowardly thing that you
did. And Trowa, that was leaving Grace. You�ve just corrected that.�

�� You�re right though, Thomas. If I had left again, I
would be a coward!� exclaims Trowa, �Now go dance with my daughter!�

�� Come on, Angel,� says Thomas leading Grace out onto the
dance floor as a soft ballad begins to play from the stereo.

�� Angel?� asks Trowa quietly staring after Thomas and
Grace. He walks over to Relena and Heero as they start to dance. �Heero,
Relena� may I ask you a question about Grace?�

�� Yes, of course, Trowa,� says Heero.

�� When did you start calling Grace �Angel�?� asks Trowa.

�� We don�t,� says Relena looking over at Grace, �We call
her �Princess� or �Grace�, but we don�t call her �Angel.� Why?�

�� Thomas just called her Angel,� says Trowa, �Like I
called Ania. I can see you in him, Heero, along with a little of who I was.�

�� I see it too,� says Heero, �I do believe Grace will be
Thomas�s angel and his princess.�

�� The way they act around each other,� says Relena with a
smile, �It wouldn�t surprise me if they did fall in love one day.�

�� As long as he�s good to her, I wouldn�t mind!� exclaims
Trowa, �I wouldn�t mind one bit!�

�� I�m glad you�ve come back, Trowa,� says Heero smiling,
�I�m really glad you�re staying this time!�

�� I think I�ll go sit down for awhile, and wait for my
dance with Grace.� Trowa smiles at his two friends and heads off towards an
empty table.

�� I just can�t believe this is happening,� whispers Hilde
to Duo as she walks past Trowa with Hannah in her arms.

�� Hilde? What�s wrong?� asks Trowa taking his seat.

�� Hilde sits down at the table and rocks Hannah gently.

�� We�re loosing another home,� says Duo sitting down
beside Hilde, �I always lose my homes��

�� Explanation?�

�� Our junkyard business was booming at first,� says Hilde,
�but business slowed down to nothing. We�re going to lose it. We�re filing for
bankruptcy when we return.�

�� Is there any way to save it?� asks Trowa.

�� I think it�s time to move on,� says Hilde.

�� We�re moving in here with Relena and Heero,� says Duo,
�but I don�t know what we�ll do yet.�

�� I have an idea! Can you still sing?� asks Trowa with a
devilish grin.

�� Of course!� exclaims Duo smiling.

�� What if we continue to play?� asks Trowa, �Ania, all the
girls, always loved to hear our music! Gundam Wing made one song. Why can�t we
make a career of making albums and having concerts here in the Sanc Kingdom?�
He stares at Duo expectantly.

�� Now that�s an idea!� exclaims Duo happily, �And I�m sure
we can even get Cecilia back as our manager! Unpaid of course!�

�� We�ll talk to the others,� says Trowa. He nods his head.

�� Duo nods his head. �It�s great to have you back, buddy!�

�� Trowa looks around at his friends and family. �I�m happy
to be back, but I�ll need help� the help I couldn�t ask for before.�

�� We�re here for you, Trowa!� exclaims Hilde smiling.

�� All of us!� exclaims Duo.

�� *�� *�� *

�� Relena stands looking out her office window as the door
opens behind her.

�� You asked to see me again, My Queen,� says Cecilia
walking into the office.

�� Relena turns towards Cecilia happily. �Thank you!�

�� Thanks? For what?� asks Cecilia.

�� For finding Trowa. For bringing him back to us!�
exclaims Relena. She walks up to Cecilia and wraps her arms around her in a
sisterly hug. �Thank you!�

�� You�re welcome, Relena� just please, don�t ask me how I
found him,� says Cecilia, �Or how my� associate� convinced him to come back.�

�� I won�t ask you that,� says Relena stepping back, �but I
do have a question to ask you. Another favor I have.�

�� Let�s sit down,� says Cecilia pulling Relena over to the
sofa.

�� Relena and Cecilia sit down together and look at each
other.

�� How is Trowa?� asks Cecilia.

�� He�s well� physically, but emotionally is another
story,� says Relena, �But he�s getting better.�

�� What is your new favor?�

�� Trowa has made a request. He needs some sort of job,�
explains Relena, �He has talked to the others about reforming their little
band, Gundam Wing. They want you as their manager again.�

�� Cecilia smiles. �Deal!�

�� And I have a request as well,� says Relena, �With all
the attacks on my family and all the bombers from the Anti-Pacifist movement, I
don�t know how safe the children are going to school. We�ve all discussed it
extensively. None of us really want to do this, but we feel it would be safer
if we hired a private teacher for all the children. Could you help me find
one?�

�� Cecilia looks away towards the wall. �Hey, Relena� I�ve
been looking for a place for awhile now� a place where I could settle down with
my own recording studio and just make whatever type of music I wanted to.�

�� We all want a place where we can be ourselves.�

�� I�ve made enough money to complete my dream� I just need
the location. I rather like the Sanc Kingdom,� says Cecilia, �I would like to
live here.�

�� Relena smiles. �I would like that.�

�� A few years ago� well, actually right after I met Thomas
and Grace, I got my certification as a teacher. I thought that if all else
failed I could teach music,� says Cecilia looking at Relena and watching the
realization dawn in her blue eyes, �but I am qualified to teach grade school as
well. If you would let me live here, I will teach your children.�

�� You want to teach?� asks Relena with wide eyes.

�� Just so long as I can teach them music, yes!� exclaims
Cecilia, �I�m a famous singer now, but my voice won�t last forever! And
teaching has always been one of my secret ambitions.�

�� Thank you again, Cecilia.�

�� You�re welcome, Relena, again.�
- 6
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You're Not Alone