Auhor: SkyLark

Pairing: 1x2x1, 3x4x3

Rating: NC-17

Warnings: Yaoi, Sap, Angst, Romance

Summary: Heero returns after a long absence to discover that Duo has been seriously ill.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.

The Long Way Around

I honestly had no idea what to expect when I showed up at the Winner residence a whole decade following the Mariemaia incident.

In fact, it was an anniversary of sorts being that it was ten years to the exact day that I had disappeared.

All I knew was that my former 'brothers-in-arms' were staying together in an expansive estate that had been built along the Pacific coastline of North America. That was the only detail I had been able to obtain, and really the only one that mattered to me when I decided that I had seen and done everything I had wanted to before reconnecting with them.

How any of them would react to my unannounced arrival was something that I didn't attempt to predict. I was not taken aback by the punch that I received when Rashid led me to where most of them were gathered in the main living room.

...But I got the shock of my life that Quatre was the one to deliver it.

The closest to me when I entered, the normally peaceful business owner's face had turned red the instant he saw me. Jumping to his feet, Winner got to me before the others had a chance to even react when his fist flew. It was only because he was the last person I would have expected that to come from that he was able to strike me.

Resting a hand over my throbbing cheek, I scanned those standing around me and realized that I might have stepped into enemy territory.

As my hand fell away from my face, Trowa stepped up to rest a hand on Quatre's shoulder. Gently urging him back a couple of paces, his visible green eye watching me was completely void of any warmth. Still the tallest of us, his broad shoulders and rigid body posture told me that he was tempted to greet me the same way as his lover had. Still glaring at me, it took the Arab a couple of breaths, but he eventually lost some of his redness.

In their Preventer uniforms, Wufei and Sally flanked to my other side. Noting the late afternoon hour, I reasoned that they must have just returned from headquarters stationed not far from their residence. Chang had his arms folded against his chest with an expectant expression and anger slowly building behind his dark eyes.

My only possible ally was in Po, who seemed far more shocked than anything else. Blinking her eyes, she gave off the impression that she didn't quite believe that she was really seeing me stand in front of her.

Even Relena was present. She was the one person I had never planned on seeing and I couldn't help but be taken aback at how she stood to the back of the room without making a single attempt to be closer to me. She had an array of emotions floating across her face... but to my surprise, none of them were particularly friendly.

One face was missing from the picture. And it's the one that I really could have used at that moment. Although considering the reaction I was receiving from the others, I wasn't exactly sure that he would have been any more welcoming.

For a long time, we all just stood staring at each other. It was Chang who finally broke the silence, growling, "Nice to finally see you, Yuy. So you decided to grace us with your presence... and today of all days?"

So I was not the only one that had mentally noted the day I had walked out on them. What I had originally thought of as a poignant close of one chapter by showing myself now had a snide interpretation on the others. I could not fault them for that initial reaction. Nothing of my personality had ever been very warm or considerate before.

I really should have rethought that before arriving when I did.

"Where in the hell have you been these last eight years?" Barton pressed on a near hiss. "We did everything that we possibly could to contact you."

Shaking his head, Quatre snapped, "You had better have a damned good explanation as to why you decided to fall off of the face of the galaxy the way you did!"

Relena snorted bitterly, "No excuse is good enough as far as I'm concerned. After everything that we have been through, it would have been nice to at least know that you were alive instead of having us give up on you."

My head started to spin. Yes, perhaps my disappearance was selfish, but it was also needed.

Sally raised a hand and sighed deeply, "Could we just calm down a moment and at least let Heero have a seat? It's not exactly fair for everyone to jump down his throat when he just walked in."

I felt my shoulders sag in relief at the suggestion. Perhaps I did have one friend after all.

That notion was quickly corrected when her eyes narrowed on me and she threw in, "Even if he does deserve it." Clearly, the shock had worn off by then.

With my guard up, I moved towards the couches when a way was cleared for me. Lowering the duffle bag that I had strapped over my shoulder, I took a seat while my former comrades sat around the room so that they could all face me.

I swallowed roughly.

"Hello, everyone," I ventured.

That seemed to take the last bit of hot wind out of Quatre's sails and his face returned to its natural shade. Frowning, he lowered his head for a moment as if to collect himself.

When he peered back up, there was a bit of guilt in his small smile. Maybe it was because of the fact that I could feel my cheek bruising as I sat there. Before my eyes, he became the friendly empath that I remembered with his sighed, "Hello, Heero. My apologies for how I reacted back there."

As if taking his cue, the others seemed to ease some. Of course they were not entirely their comfortable selves, but a lot of their anger had ebbed.

Shrugging, I smirked, "I suppose that I had it coming. You're not exactly the type to punch a person like that."

That was the truth of it. Something was definitely... not right. Of course there would be disappointment and hurt feelings over my long departure from their lives, but I could tell that there was something else skimming the surface of what was happening. That was why I stayed in that room -- to get to the bottom of it.

I did not like thinking that something was wrong with them. Against my best efforts during the course of the war, I allowed my defenses to come down and let the others in.

But one very key member was still missing. He had been the one responsible for me letting go of the belief that a soldier didn't have friends. Were it not for him, I would not have returned to reconnect with the faces that were watching me.

Wufei shifted in his seat beside Sally as he asked, "So, what have you been doing with yourself over the last few years?"

"Traveling," I responded. "I just moved from place to place, never really staying in any one location for long." There were a few nods at that. Obviously, that answer was expected.

With a deep breath, Relena sat up and folded her hands in her lap. "What made you decide to come back to see us now?" she questioned, the ire no longer in her voice.

Shrugging, I told her honestly, "I was ready to."

Even as the words came out, I knew that anyone who didn't know who I was would have been offended. However, for those sitting around me, their wide eyes blinked with understanding. There was no need for any further explanation on my part and it was good enough of an answer that the others physically eased.

I was far from being totally forgiven... but at least there was clarity now... and some sense of resolution over the matter.

His guilt seeming to take over any other emotion, Quatre was the first to rise to his feet and head towards me. When he neared, I could tell that he was looking for me to stand, so I did. Biting his lip, his eyes shimmered as he wrapped his arms around me in a tight embrace. "Welcome back," he whispered sincerely in my ear as I patted his back.

Trowa and Wufei were next to pull me into one-armed hugs and kinder tidings than what I had previously received from them. Sally and Relena then each gave me a peck on my cheek that was not throbbing along with their apologies.

By the time we all had a chance to reunite on a much better note, the tension had lifted considerably. That was until I looked at my friends and frowned, "Where is Duo? I thought that he was staying here when I looked into your whereabouts."

For an instant, I almost regretted asking with the way that the others tensed. I could feel the anger building back up in a few of them, which had me worried. Almost frantic, I shook my head and heard myself inquire in a rush, "Did something happen? Is he alright?"

"He's sleeping right now," Sally reported in that matter-of-fact way she would use whenever relaying the condition of one of her patients. While it was not disturbing news, I realized that her tone only made me more concerned about what was going on.

At the stiffening in my posture, the braided agent raised a hand and reassured, "Duo is fine, Heero. He just needs his rest. I am sure that he will be happy to see you when he wakes up." Judging by the way the rest of the group glanced away, they didn't seem quite as convinced about how true that last sentiment was.

Quick to change the subject and making no attempt to hide the fact that he was, Quatre clapped his hands and announced, "Well, I'll have you shown to one of the guest rooms so you can get settled in." Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "You will be staying with us for a while, won't you?"

I nodded firmly, "So long as I'm welcome."

Smiles finally spread around the room, putting me at ease over my decision to return...

...at least a little more at peace.

*   *   *   *   *   *

With my duffle bag in hand moments later, I paid attention to the opened bedroom doors along the hallway that I was being led down. Near the end of the stretch, I encountered the only closed door. It was a strong enough detail that my eyes immediately fell on it when it came into view.

Rashid's peering over his shoulder told me everything I needed to know about that room. There was nothing subtle about the warning in his gaze, which he made sure I noticed, before he looked ahead again.

If there had been any question to which room was Duo's, his glance certainly cleared it up.

The obvious protection everyone had when it came to my braided friend was putting my nerves on edge.

I was going to get answers.

I was determined to get answers.

Something was wrong with Duo and I was going to get to the bottom of what it was. No matter how we started off during the war, he had become the one person that I could easily say was my best friend. At that thought, I was worried how he would feel when he saw me after my long absence.

There would be hurt and likely anger on his part; however, that was to be expected and something that I would understand. Duo would never have left me without a word as I had done.

A sinking feeling set in the more and more I realized how Maxwell might not even want me around out of spite. He was a passionate person, after all. Everything that he did, he poured every ounce of his being into. But with such a personality, that could also mean that if he was upset enough, he could write a person off without another thought.

These were the musings that were running through my head when I stepped into my designated guest room. Closing the door behind myself, I lowered my duffle bag onto the bed and removed my belongings from inside.

Part of me wondered if unpacking was even necessary... if Duo didn't want me near him, there would be little reason for me to stick around for long.

Once I had everything put away, I headed back into the hallway. On my way passed it, my eyes lingered on Duo's closed door once more. It was a surprise that the former pilot of Deathscythe was asleep in the middle of the day. I could count the number of times I had seen him take a nap on one hand.

Returning to the living room, I found Sally sitting alone with a tea tray on the table before her. Having changed into a long, pale green sundress, she smiled when I entered. "Have a seat, Heero. We have a lot to catch up on."

Thankful to have someone willing to talk to me, I sat at the other end of the couch Po occupied while she prepared two cups of tea. Handing one over to me, she asked in sincere interest, "So, how have you been?"

"Very well," I shrugged. Preparing to take a sip from my tea, I questioned, "And you?"

She paused to bite her lip and glanced away for a moment. Taking a quick drink from her cup, she lowered it back onto the tray and replied softly, "Tired. The last three years especially, have been... very long."

Frowning at that comment, I lowered my cup. Our eyes met and Sally shook her head with a sad smile. "I really wish that you had made it easier to reach you. He --" Quickly cutting herself off with a wince, she stated, "We really needed you here."

Duo. That was who really needed me. That was the real reason behind the reception I received when I had arrived.

Feeling my heart hammering in my chest, I leaned forward and all but pleaded, "Sally, what the hell is going on? What happened to Duo?"

To my surprise, Po laughed. Bitter in its tone, there was no humor present as she shook her head again. "You know, there was a time when I had thought that Doctor J was a monster for what he had put you through in your training," she told me. "But then we all found out that he was a saint compared to Professor G."

I was only more frustrated at that comment and I opened my mouth to press for a real explanation as to what was going on, but I paused at the haunted look in her eyes.

Clearing her throat, Sally continued, "It was years after the war ended before we knew anything was wrong with Duo. The drugs pumped into his system had reached their end before we noticed any after effects to them. Hell, even Duo had no idea what danger he was in until it was almost too late."

"Too late?" I repeated, feeling my eyes widen. "What do you mean 'too late'?"

Her eyes shimmering, Po frowned deeply, "Duo had lived off the streets and then under the care of an orphanage during his early years. Small and undernourished, he was not fit to be the soldier that the professor wanted and so he turned him into what he saw fit through medications and procedures that could only hold a body together for so long."

Throwing her hands up in the air, her face reddened as she snapped in building rage, "That bastard only wanted to ensure that Duo would survive long enough to do what he had to during the war and had no regard for what would become of him after! He knew exactly what he was doing with those drugs... he knew what the after effects would be!"

Not even knowing that, I closed the distance between us, only realizing it when I grabbed her arms. Instantly losing her anger, she froze and stared at me in surprise. "Sally," I urged. "What happened to Duo when the drugs started wearing off?"

A shudder ran through her whole body as I continued to hold her arms, she whimpered and a couple of tears rolled down her face. "Every major system slowly started to shut down," she answered in a breath. "His heart, his brain, everything!"

Trembling, she went on, "Within a few hours of his feeling out of sorts, he suffered a heart attack and went into a coma that we didn't know whether or not he would wake up from. Over the year that he was in the hospital under the twenty-four hour care of my team, we had to bring him back from crashing on us four times."

Suddenly letting go of Sally, my jaw fell open as I stared at her in disbelief. The thoughts flooding my head threatened to drown me while I struggled to take everything in. Over the time that I had known him, Duo had always been so full of life... able to conquer the world if he wanted to, smiling through it all.

It was impossible for me to think that such a being could be faced with such a struggle to survive.

...And I wasn't around for him.

That hit me like a blow to my chest and I doubled-over from the impact. Wrapping an arm around my abdomen, I blinked against the sting in my eyes. "But... he did come out of it?" I reasoned, though I knew that didn't change how I hadn't been around. Swallowing roughly, I nodded, "You said that he was just sleeping upstairs."

"Yes," Sally was quick to reassure me, nodding her head. "He did pull through. And after another couple of long years of surgeries and therapy of nearly every kind, he has made tremendous progress. Had this happened to a lesser person, they would never have lived through his ordeal."

Sagging heavily back into the couch, the dark circles under the braided doctor's eyes were much more notable as the weight of the long ordeal settled over her. "Like I said," she began with weariness in her voice, "It has been a long few years. Duo practically needed to start over completely when he woke up. Still to this day, he is not nearly as strong as he used to be. His memories of the wars and before are blurred, slowly coming to the surface little by little. In many ways, he started off like a child relearning everything."

And I wasn't there for him.

That was all I could think of as my heart sank deeper and deeper into my chest after hearing all that I had missed.

Yes, the whole thing was hard for Sally, but it made sense that Quatre, Trowa and Wufei would be the most affected. No wonder they weren't the ones to stick around to tell me about it. They always saw the five of us as family, brothers. Duo was the one who held us all together and they had banded together when he needed them.

But I was nowhere to be found.

No wonder it was Sally who was taking the time to clue me in on everything, someone who had not formed the same kind of kinship that I am sure the other former pilots thought they had with me. Suddenly that punch from Quatre seemed like a light sentence for my disappearance when Duo needed me... when they all needed me.

I don't know how long I sat there in silence as everything sank in. But when I was more aware of my surroundings, I realized that at some point I had hunched forward to prop my arms up. Lowering my hands from covering my face, I met Sally's eyes and all but whispered, "I-is it alright that I'm here now? I don't want to make things any more difficult on Duo than they have been already."

The last thing that I wanted to do was leave; however, I was only interested in what was best for Maxwell. And it was pretty evident that Sally had a better idea as to what he needed than I did since she was the one who was actually there for him...

...she was not the one who had left without a trace.

A flash of anger like I had never seen in Sally before flashed in her eyes. "Heero Yuy," she grounded out, "if you take off now, there would not be a rock in this universe that you would be able to hide under." The corner of her mouth curled up when I let out a nervous laugh.

Shaking her head, the heat in her gaze faded and she gave me a warm smile again. For a moment, she fell silent as if she were in deep thought before she quietly told me, "Somehow... I think that seeing you will serve Duo better than any medicine I could ever provide."

I was surprised, to say the least, at her choice of words.

My mouth opened so I could ask her what she meant when a voice from the doorway breathed, "Heero?"

That voice instantly sent shockwaves down my back. Spinning towards the entrance, I took in the blinking violet eyes and the heart-shaped face that I hadn't realized just how much I had missed until that moment.

"Duo," I replied quietly as I rose to my feet.

I took in the whole presence of my braided friend. Simply standing there, his frame too thin to be healthy and his skin pale, he was a shadow of the person that I remembered. It was enough of a difference that for a moment, I even doubted that it was really him...

...until that friendly smile curled his mouth. I felt my heart pause at the same time my breath hitched.

Looking every bit as shocked as I was, Sally got to her feet and announced with a small smirk, "I'll give the two of you some time alone." With that said, she made her way to the doorway. Squeezing Maxwell's shoulder on her way past him, his focus never broke from me as she disappeared.

Then it was just me and my best friend. And a thick silence between us.

Ideas of what I should say ran through my head, clouding over one another as I scrambled for the right thing to be the first real words I said to Duo in years. I could feel my mouth opening and closing a couple of times in effort.

What could I possibly say? Would he even hear an apology from me for vanishing the way I had?

Quickly growing panicked over the uncomfortable silence, I didn't notice that Maxwell had closed the distance between us until he wrapped his arms tightly around my neck. Gasping at the contact, my guard shut down and I held him back just as fiercely. Rare as the sensation was, I recognized the sting of tears in my eyes when I blinked them away.

Forcing a deep breath when Duo stepped back, I noted how he was only a couple inches shorter than I was. The way my hands fell away from his waist, my concerns over his weight returned. Beneath the baggy T-shirt and jeans he wore, he was barely more than skin and bones.

But his smile remained to let me know that Duo was still somewhere in the shell of himself that he had become.

His hand reached down to wrap the end of his long braid around his wrist in a familiar sign of nervousness on his part, my partner simply said, "It's good to see you."

Letting out a ragged, sharp laugh, I felt my knees almost give out at those words. He had forgiven me. It was an overwhelming relief that I would never be able to put into words just how important it was for me to know that.

Instead of worrying about what I thought would be the right thing, I simply let go of all control and whispered, "I really missed you."

At the sparkle that filled the violet eyes watching me, I knew that the sentiment had been exactly what he needed to hear.

*   *   *   *   *   *

"So, you still don't remember everything from your past?" I frowned.

Taking up my glass of water from the back patio table that Duo and I had moved to, I mentally fretted over the way he shivered against the warm summer breeze that blew by. He just had so little body mass to be effective in keeping him warm. It was probably why he took the seat directly beside me, to absorb some of my own heat.

For the umpteenth time leading to that moment, I cursed Professor G for what he had done to my braided friend. Were the man still alive, I would have stormed off until I had personally repaid him for Maxwell's suffering.

Wrapping his arms around his torso, Duo shrugged, "I have most of it back, but a lot of the timeline is screwed up and other memories that the guys have brought up are hazy at best." He tilted his head and grinned, "But I remember nearly everything with you in it. In fact, you were my first clear picture when I began to recover."

I blinked in surprise at that; there was a part of me that wondered what it meant for me to be the first person that he recalled. Whether there was a reason for it or not, I felt my stomach churn with guilt all over again. Bowing my head, I replied sincerely, "I'm so sorry that I wasn't here for you."

"Don't do that to yourself," Duo chided. As I raised my head again, he shrugged with a smirked, "Funny thing is that I had a feeling you would eventually be around. You were never a guy who did anything if it wasn't important for either yourself or someone else, so I figured that included doing whatever it was you were off doing."

Even in his healing and pulling himself back together, Maxwell remained the only person who really understood me. I never needed to explain anything to him and he never asked questions.

He just... got me. I had taken for granted how nice it was to have that in another person.

Returning to our earlier topic, Duo rubbed the back of his braided head and frowned, "The events before the war are the haziest for me. Sally is pretty sure that they'll all eventually come back since I have almost everything else."

Unconsciously, he reached for the end of his braid to twine it around his fingers in that nervous gesture as he sighed and shook his head, "What really bugs me is not feeling like me. It's like I'm trapped in someone else's body."

Suddenly wincing, my partner almost shrank in his chair. His violet eyes staring down at his glass as he said in little more than a whisper, "To be honest, a part of me was hoping you wouldn't come back."

My breath hitched and he was quick to meet my gaze to explain, "I didn't want you to see me like this... weak and damaged." He swallowed roughly when his voice broke and faded on him at the end of his admission.

And I was certain there was the faintest hint of a blush on his cheeks when he ducked his head again.

The initial relief that I had in knowing that my fears of being unwanted were unfounded was quickly replaced with a profound sadness for my best friend. More than the physical changes in him, it hurt to see the emotional toll that his ordeal had inflicted on him.

He was every bit as shocked as I was when my hand reached out to take his hand in firm squeeze. Wide violet eyes peered back up at me as I reassured, "You're not damaged, Duo. This is nothing that you can't beat. And I'll be here to help you do it."

I was rewarded with a brilliant smile for that sentiment. Squeezing my hand back, he whispered, "Thanks, Heero. That means a hell of a lot to me."

Had there been any question in my dedication to sticking around before, that reaction silenced them all. Whatever it took, I was bound and determined to make good on my word and then some.

Duo was going to find himself again and I was going to be there every step of the way until he got there.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, my stay at the estate consisted of looking after Maxwell and rebuilding the bridges that I had nearly burnt with the others. It took almost a week of me not running off before some of our friends' defenses built up against me began to significantly lower.

The occasional glare that I would receive whenever Duo fell into a violent coughing fit or be too exhausted to climb the stairs without help came to a stop. Most of that, I am certain now, was because of my braided friend's unconditional acceptance of me.

It did hurt me to see the contrast between the former God of Death pilot I remembered and the one that I had returned to. Of course, I never let him onto that fact so that he wouldn't feel more frustrated with the situation than he already was.

While there were improvements in Duo's endurance, the progress was slow and clearly not going as he needed them to. Eventually, I mentally stepped back to really assess his situation.

And doing so led me to some pretty eye-opening revelations.

By no means was Duo an invalid, but every time he stood up to walk about, one or more of us got up to be with him just in case he overexerted himself. When he ate, there were voices reminding him to be careful not to force his stomach to take too much lest he have to hurry to the bathroom when what he tried to digest came back up. When it was time for him to rest, there was always someone there to make sure he went off to his room.

None of the things we were doing were done with anything but the upmost concern and the best of intentions for Maxwell. But really observing us, I realized that we were actually preventing him from recovering in his own time and in his own way.

Sally and the others were used to the routine. Hell, after a few days of being with them even I picked up on it and was right there to see that it was all carried out as it had been for the last year. It took my being an outsider to dissect what was actually happening and to see the flaws in it.

There needed to be a change, a drastic change if there was to be any real recovery for Duo. If I knew anything about my friend, it was that he needed to push himself. What was getting him more than his physical ailments was his bruised spirit.

Applying every bit of logic that I could, I was struck with the idea. The plan was a simple one, well within my means.

It was only convincing everyone else that it was the right thing to do. And I did not look forward to that discussion with them, knowing how difficult a challenge that would be.

Preparing for the 'big talk,' I knew that I wanted to be sitting as far from Quatre as I could.

*   *   *   *   *   *

"A... road trip?" Wufei frowned, his brow furrowed and eyes narrowed. Shaking his head, he asked, "You're really suggesting that Duo is up for something like that with the shape he's in?"

Everyone around the dinner table seemed at odds over my suggestion... with the exception of my partner who sat up anxiously beside me when I brought it up.

Having expected that inquiry, I looked to Sally across from me and informed her, "My shuttle is equipped with two fully furnished bedrooms, a gym and every comfort of home. Along with whatever medical gear that would need to be taken, is there anything else that would really be needed for his care?"

The braided doctor sputtered, "W-well, no. I honestly do not have a valid reason why the idea would be a bad one, aside from his body needing to adjust to a trip through space. You do have rooms in your shuttle that would provide simulated gravity in case the lack of it is too hard on his system?"

I nodded firmly, "I do." Peering over to Duo, he had a light in his eyes that I could only equate to revealing his interest at my idea. "There are many things that I've seen in my travels that I know you would appreciate," I grinned. "It'll give you a chance to see the things that we fought for, not even knowing they were out there."

A brilliant smile spread across his heart-shaped face at that.

Clearing his throat when Sally took away any argument over whether our braided friend could physically handle the journey, Quatre folded his hands on the table and said, "Well, I will have to look at my business schedule and make the arrangements for vacation time."

"We will all have to coordinate that," Relena piped in. "There are several meetings coming up for me, but --"

Before they all got the wrong idea, I announced, "Actually, I was looking at this as a trip for just Duo and myself."

At that, eyes widened and backs straightened around the table. "You can't be serious!" Quatre exclaimed with a sharp laugh. "That would be disastrous! You wouldn't know the first thing about how to look after him after only being here for a few weeks!"

I had expected such a remark. Taking a deep breath, I shrugged, "If there was a real emergency, which I doubt there would be anything that I could not handle myself, I could always call Sally. You know that I've treated every kind of injury over the course of the war."

"No offense," Trowa began in a calm enough tone, "but we know Duo's needs from the time we have been around."

We were all taken aback when a voice suddenly growled, "You don't know well enough to actually wait for me to say what I want when I'm damned well sitting right here."

Every head, including my own, snapped to stare at our braided friend. His eyes narrowing and scanning all of us sitting around him, there was a slight hint of red to his face as he snapped, "I'm perfectly capable of making up my own mind, or would you all feel better telling me what's in my best interest?"

Judging from the sheer dumbfounded expressions on the others' faces, it was pretty obvious that it was the first time Duo had ever bucked them. Inside, I was smirking at seeing a glimmer of the Maxwell I had known. Whether he knew it or not, this was quite the big step for him.

Instead of worrying about what the others wanted, he had finally taken into account his own feelings.

He had a voice now.

Once again, Sally seemed to be on the same page with me as she contained a small, knowing smile on her face. "You're right, Duo," she spoke up for the rest of us. Nodding firmly, she commented, "From a medical standpoint, I cannot argue against a trip like this. That said, the decision is up to you of whether you are up for it or not."

Slowly sinking into their chairs, the rest of the group nodded their lowering heads.

Biting his lip, Duo looked more insecure of himself as turned to face me. "You're sure that you wouldn't mind?" he asked softly.

I grinned back at him and reassured, "I would not have offered if I did. Time away would give us a chance to do some real catching up, while you get a change of scenery. We can stay out for however long you'd like."

That brilliant smile that lit his whole face returned.

"Allah," Quatre breathed. Looking to him, I noticed the slightest hint of tears being blinked away as he turned to Trowa beside him and whispered, "What have we been doing all this time?"

Realization sunk in hard for the others, their enlarged eyes revealing the horror and disappointment in how they allowed themselves to take over everything in Maxwell's life up to that moment.

Biting her lip, Relena wiped at a stray tear as she looked at her braided friend to tell him quietly, "Oh, Duo, I am so sorry. Somehow, we seemed to forget to stop and ask what your feelings were. I swear we only meant the best for you."

Maxwell reached to his other side to hold her hand and grinned, "I know that, Lena." Running his violet eyes over the rest of the group, he said sincerely, "And I appreciate everything that you all have done for me more than I can tell you."

With a deep breath, he let it out in a sigh as he shrugged, "For more than a year now, you've all given up your own lives, so this can be considered an overdue break for all of us." Smiles spread around the table and I no longer worried about the reaction to the trip.

Of course there would always be a little hesitation on their parts, but at least I knew that I didn't damage my healing relationships with them. There had been a time when such concern would not have ever crossed my mind. But like so many other aspects of my life, Duo had changed that.

For the first time since leaving years ago, I really felt like we were getting back to being the family that we had been.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Little preparation was needed before the trip, only a couple of days' worth of picking up groceries, new clothing for all seasons that fit Duo's thin frame and emergency medical gear that Sally had spent almost a whole day going over it all with me. Over the course of that time, my partner's anticipation was contagious.

Even Quatre and the others were making their own getaway plans, seeing as how they would have a long time to themselves for the first time in ages.

It was only the day before we were due to leave when Winner showed the slightest hint of second-guessing the whole venture. When I passed by one of the living rooms where he and Trowa were quietly talking, I caught him whispering how there was 'more than Duo's physical state to be concerned about.'

At the time, I mentally brushed the comment aside as it seemed to just be in Quatre's nature to find something to worry about. And the bottom line was that I knew that the trip was not always going to be easy on Duo, physically and otherwise. But it was something that he needed.

While Maxwell understood nearly every aspect about me, I had come to know him in the same way. The separation over the years and his altered personality and memories were not about to change that.

On the large front porch of the estate, Duo and I exchanged parting words with our friends after Rashid and I had the van he had picked to escort us in was packed. As my braided counterpart was given his hugs and best wishes, Sally was the first to approach me.

There was a smirk curling the side of her lips as she winked. "I knew that you would be better for him than any medicine," Po giggled before she wrapped her arms around me. Turning her head so that her mouth was by my ear, she whispered, "Just to put Quatre more at ease --"

"You'll be getting a call for updates from me every day," I finished for her as I returned the embrace with an amused grin on my own face. Pulling back, Sally gave a firm nod and squeezed my arm.

In striking contrast to how we were reunited, my parting with my former fellow pilots and Relena was a warm one. Blows and glares became hugs and bright smiles. Even Quatre was in a good mood, despite his little moment of panic from the night before. So, either Trowa got through to him or he was putting on a good front to make us believe that he was fine with our leaving.

From there, Rashid drove me and my partner to the nearby shuttle port where my ship waited. When we pulled into the docking station, I pointed to our transport from the backseat and announced, "I'm the second to last on the right." Instantly, Duo was sitting up and leaning forward beside me to follow my line of sight.

His violet eyes widening, he whistled through his teeth. "Nice bird," he whispered, taking in the sleek curves of the long craft that was one of the largest private craft in the whole port. An affirmative hum came from Rashid, making for quite the compliment from the normally quiet man.

Peering over at me, Maxwell smirked, "Who'd you have to kill to get your hands on that?"

My head fell back with a sharp laugh that came as my initial response to the question. "No one," I snickered, turning to meet his gaze. "However, I was able to pay for it in full thanks to the generous contribution from the OZ accounts that I had hacked into during the war. I still have more than enough to last me a couple of lifetimes."

"Nice," Duo smiled, his focus falling back on my shuttle as we were pulled up beside it.

Ever the gracious assistant, Rashid assisted me in moving the rather large pile of luggage into my craft. While we worked, my braided companion took his time in examining the ship's exterior and interior. When our belongings were secured, I found him in the 'living room.'

Slowly scanning the space from the decorative floor rug that covered the entire area to the cream-colored furniture, large-screened television and high ceiling, there was a look of wonder on his face. "You have an awesome set up here," he grinned when he heard me enter. Facing me, he chuckled, "This is more of a home than a ship."

Bowing my head, I replied, "Glad you like it, since this will be home for a while."

Rashid stepped in to offer his best wishes for a safe travel. I couldn't help but smile when the giant gave my friend a hug before leaving. Duo was one of the few who had the ability to make it seem a natural thing for the Maguanac to gladly accept an embrace.

Stepping into the cockpit, I woke the ship up with a few punched codes into the control panel. From the side window, I waited for Rashid to pull the car away before closing the side doors while Duo slowly walked up behind me.

It took great effort on my part to not be concerned when I glanced back and saw the fatigue that was weighing heavily on my partner. All of his searching throughout the shuttle was already taking its toll on his weakened body. Under the lights of the room, the fine coat of sweat made his flushed skin glow and he took labored breaths while moving for the co-pilot's seat.

Releasing a deep breath once he settled himself into the chair, Maxwell's thin frame practically melted into its confines. Silently, I let out a sigh of relief that he had not noticed me watching him. The last thing that he needed was to think that I was fretting over him. We might not have pulled out of the dock if he thought that I would be hovering over him for the whole trip.

Out of sorts with himself or not, Duo still had his pride. And I was not about to rob him of that.

While I opened the patch to the control tower to give my credentials over the line, I took to my seat and belted myself in. Thanks to the early hour and the day falling in the middle of the week, there were few commercial and other flights to hold us back in a long wait to be cleared.

Just as promised by the chief operator, her voice broke through the channel by the end of my equipment check to guide me to the runway we would be departing from. Duo had latched his seatbelt by the time we reached our destination. Bringing my 'bird' to a halt at the start of the runway, I revved the engines in preparation for the shot down the stretch.

"Ready?" I grinned over to my partner.

Maxwell's smile couldn't have spread any further across his face than it was when he looked to me and nodded, "More than ready!"

The chief operator broke in to announce, "Mister Yuy, this is the tower. You are cleared for takeoff. Safe travel to you."

Gripping the arm rests of his chair, Duo stared down the runway as I sent the shuttle screaming forward. Over the roar of the jets and rush of air in our ears, he let out a wild howl of excitement. Quickly reaching the needed acceleration, I pulled back on the wheel and we smoothly climbed into the sky.

I took us on a bit of a scenic turn up, giving my braided friend a chance to take in the world below us as it pulled away. Leaning forward in his seat, his wide eyes peered from window to window so that he could see everything.

And it was then that I noticed how Duo had lacked that child-like wonder for everything since I was reunited with him. It warmed me to see he had not completely lost that endearing aspect of his personality.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Locking in a few coordinates and turning the commands over to auto pilot, I quickly undid my belt to float weightlessly from the cockpit as quickly as I could. It was nearly an hour since we had left Earth's gravitational pull and the shift in the atmosphere had hit Duo's body hard.

Mentally cringing at the panic that had set in my partner's lighthearted expression had suddenly disappeared, I hurried as fast as I could through the main body of the shuttle. As I had expected, I noticed the closest bathroom door was closed while the muffled sounds of Maxwell's heaves broke through.

I wanted to knock and check on him, but that was the last thing he would have wanted. So, I moved through the rooms of the ship instead to adjust the pseudo-gravity in them all until my feet were firmly planted on the floor. It was the least that I could do in assuring that life would be a little easier on Duo when he emerged again.

On my way past the closed off bathroom, I could hear the vacuum disposal humming in its use. Rather than linger by, I headed for the kitchen and made myself busy unpacking our bags of groceries. I was sealing away the last items in the cabinets when I heard my companion approaching.

Looking over my shoulder as Maxwell entered, I avoided staring despite how much paler he looked and smiled, "Hey. Holding up better now?" I picked up the pack of saltine crackers that I'd left on the counter and tossed it to him.

Easily catching the box, Maxwell gave me a smile that told me I handled myself perfectly -- showing just enough that I cared about him without 'hovering.' Opening the case, he moved to the round table behind me and took a seat as he said, "I'm holding up better. Thanks."

The kettle of water that I had been heating on the stove squealed on its burner to announce that it was ready. Quickly making up two cups of tea, I moved to join my partner. Accepting the cup that I slipped over as he chewed on a cracker, Duo nodded in appreciation and asked, "So, are you going to tell me where we're going?"

With a shrug, I smirked, "Now where would the fun in ruining the surprise be?"

Finishing a long sip of his tea, my braided friend snickered, "I figured you'd say something like that. You trying to punish me for getting on your nerves during the wars?"

My smile faltered as that question hit home. Looking back, I know that I was not exactly the most accepting of Duo's friendship... or really of any aspect of his personality. Part of me wondered just how much he remembered of me pushing him away every time he tried to get close. Did he know that towards the end of the wars I actually began to reach for his extended hand?

Running a finger along the edge of the table, I swallowed roughly. "You were an enigma to me," I stated, staring at my preoccupied hand so that I didn't have to look into the violet eyes that were watching me. "Nothing in all of my training had prepared me for anyone like you and I really didn't know how else to react other than try to get away from you."

Slowly lifting my head again, I took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry that it took me so long to tell you that I never should have treated you the way I did. Even when I was starting to actually enjoy your presence the last few times we were together, I should have put as much effort in appreciating you as I did when I'd pushed you away."

A sincerely surprised expression fell on my best friend's face as I spoke. "That's... the nicest thing you've ever said to me," he breathed, a smile brightening his face. Snickering, he quickly added, "At least from what I can remember that is."

I snorted, raising my cup towards my mouth, and replied, "Well, you're not missing anything better than that." Taking a sip of tea, I frowned, "Had I known what was happening to you while I was away --"

Duo lowered the cracker that he was about to chew on to cut me off with a stern voice. "Don't go there again, Heero. I do know you wouldn't have thought twice about turning back to see me." Grinning, he shrugged, "I'm actually glad that things turned out the way they did. You're a lot nicer to be around now."

That sentiment brought on a loud fit of laughter from me. He did make a point there.

Finishing my drink, I rose to remove a small notepad and pen from one of the counter drawers. As he polished off his own tea, Maxwell blinked when I set the items in front of him. "I have a few specific places I would like to take you to," I began, "but write down any place you've wanted to visit and I'll make sure that we get there."

That brilliant smile returned before my comrade peered up at me. Raising an eyebrow, he warned, "You sure that's a good idea? What if it's something you're not into?"

"Doesn't matter," I answered. "If it's what you want, that's what you get."

Beaming, my braided companion took up the pen as though he were handling something very precious as he stared at the blank pad before him. It was another profound moment of him being able to voice his own wishes.

Then, in a flash, he began to write on the paper with fervor. Chuckling, I gave him his space and returned to the cockpit.

*   *   *   *   *   *

A couple of hours later, we were deep in space without hint of another craft anywhere near us on the map. Content that the shuttle was safe to leave on its autopilot for the remainder of the day, I set the shuttle back into autopilot and went in search of my fellow traveler.

When I found Duo in one of the spare bedrooms, he was closing up the last of his suitcases that he had emptied. Sliding the bag underneath the bed to join the others, he looked up and greeted, "Hey, 'Ro. I finished that list."

Practically running, he moved to the dresser that he already had already decorated with a curtained lamp that Quatre had given him as well as several framed photos. Stepping inside to meet him, I took up the pad that he'd gathered up. "Um, it's a pretty long rundown of places," he winced as he passed the papers over. "But that should pretty much cover it."

Curious, I ran my eyes over the list of Colonies and specific locations that he had filled three pages with. Many of the ones he had named were spots that I'd already planned on visiting. There were also spots he didn't think of that I looked forward to making surprises. Other locations and activities... I never would have ventured to check out for myself. However, this trip was for Duo and as I had promised, we would do everything he wanted.

Smiling, I nodded firmly to his nervous gaze, "Looks good to me. If you think of anything else, feel free to add those as well." His mouth curling up in a wide grin, my braided friend seemed about ready to jump out of his skin with excitement.

As I lowered the notepad, I couldn't help but run my eyes over the framed pictures sitting on top of Duo's dresser. There were a couple of rare shots from the war that had the five of us pilots together. In every one of those shots, I held that cold glare while my partner was either draped over me or as close as he could get with a wide smile that made us stark opposites of each other.

Some of the pictures were taken over the course of Maxwell's recovery. One in particular of him sitting in his propped up hospital bed with everyone gathered around him had my throat constricting.

It was not just because of how I was the only one absent when even Relena and Lady Une were in the snapshot. But it was the glowing, full-of-life smile that remained on my partner's face and his thin hand that was raised in a wave to the camera even as he was hooked up to machines and as physically broken as I had ever seen him.

Duo must have sensed the tension in me because he followed my line of sight. Clearing his throat, he reached a hand forward to take up one of the largest frames of the lot. "This one is actually my favorite," he grinned before he turned the image towards my redirected attention.

A sharp laugh broke from me the moment I took in the familiar picture. It was a day that I was not about to forget any time soon. In a field surrounded by trees with a clear sky over us, Maxwell and I stood together by a wreck that was the remains of the OZ ship we had to crash land in following a mission from which we narrowly escaped.

The job was more difficult than either of us had predicted. We went in cocky, expecting to come out without our presence in the nearby base to even be known by the guards stationed there. Instead, we were lucky to complete our assignment and get out in one piece.

It shook the both of us up quite a bit. And Duo was insistent to not forget how human we both were so as to not let our pride become our doom in the war. He dug out the camera that he had packed amongst his gear and set it atop one of the detached jets that had broken away from the ship before he hurried to my side when the timer was set.

Our close call had done a number on my nerves. Seeing the decimated ship that he hijacked and how near to death we had come, I had actually laughed and the smile on my face was permanently captured as my smirking partner draped an arm over my shoulders, winked and gave a 'thumbs up' to the camera.

"You're actually smiling in this one," Duo snickered as he replaced the frame amongst the others. "And it's the only one I have like that, so it's my favorite."

Nodding, I replied, "Mine, too. I have my own copy in a frame on the wall in my room." My cheeks began to burn in embarrassment at the admission and I quickly turned away just as my braided companion's wide eyes were turned towards me.

On my way for the door, I cleared my throat and announced, "I'll get lunch started." I heard the door swish closed behind me just as the heat in my face rose to my ears.

Clearly, the whole opening up thing was not coming as easily as I had thought it had up to that moment.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Over the course of the next two days in flight to our first destination, Duo and I passed the time with walks around the shuttle, chess or card games, or simply sat around talking.

It gave me the chance to have a better idea to discover how much of his past was lost to him and I was able to fill in a couple of missing pieces for him from the experiences we'd shared during the wars.

I never pushed for information, however I allowed my braided friend to probe me a bit. A lot of his questions for me, of course, focused mainly on my training so that he could have a better understanding to why I had started off so cold to him when we first met years before.

Advancing his knight a square forward on the chessboard between us, Maxwell smirked, "So how did you put up with my personality for so long without punching me? I had to annoy the hell out of you."

"You did," I admitted with a snort, eyeing up the layout of our battle before I took up a rook and moved it ahead. There was the slightest flash of pain in my companion's eyes before I added, "But you were a hell of a pilot and a valuable ally so I accepted those qualities to tolerate you at first."

Duo hesitated a moment before repeating, "At first?"

I nodded, "At first, those were the only reasons why I accepted you." With a shrug, I grinned, "That gave me the time to know you better and really come to appreciate having you around. I never knew anyone like you before, someone with the kind of spirit you had --"

At the wince from my friend at the word 'had,' I frowned deeply, "I don't mean to suggest that you don't have that spirit now, Duo."

His lips curled up in a sad smile as he looked back to the board as he sighed, "It's alright, 'Ro. I know that I've changed a lot from everything that happened and I'm hoping that maybe I'll get myself back through the trip." Glancing back at me, he frowned, "I just hope I'm not a disappointment to you by being so different from how I used to be."

My hand reached out to settle on his in an immediate reaction that even I was unaware of until our fingers were almost laced together. "Never," I told him firmly, ignoring my move and making sure that our eyes remained locked so that he could see how serious I was. "You could never be a disappointment to me, Duo. You're my best friend, and no change in you will undo that."

Blinking in surprise, my fellow traveler's eyes lowered to stare at our joined hands on the table and he swallowed roughly before he gave my fingers a squeeze from his own. "Thanks, 'Ro," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion and sincerity.

A small smile returned to his face and so relief settled over me as I slowly pulled my hand back. It took effort on my part to ignore the tingling on my skin that had touched his.

Changing the subject to one that I'd been working out in my head, I announced, "We do have another matter to discuss."

Maxwell's hand that was in the process of going for his queen froze, his gaze fell back on mine in anticipation. I folded my arms on the edge of the table and smirked, "I've noticed how you stare into the gym every time you pass it."

He opened his mouth and I raised a hand to stop whatever defense he was going to make. "I want you to use the equipment as much as you want to." My mouth grinned.

Clearly not expecting that from me, Duo sank in his chair with wide eyes. Waving my raised finger, I added, "But that's under the condition that you cannot push yourself beyond what your body's capable of. I don't want to know how Quatre would handle me if you were to set yourself back by being over ambitious and getting hurt. I trust that you know your limits and that you'll listen to them."

Beaming, my braided companion nodded vehemently, swearing, "I'll be careful, I promise! Thank you, Heero!" He was so happy that he was on his feet and rounding the table to throw his arms around my neck.

I chuckled and patted his back, knowing all too well how he would never have been given this kind of opportunity when he was under the watchful eyes and care of our friends. They'd babied him so that he could do little more than walk around the estate without someone ordering him to not exert himself.

This was another chance for him to be who he was.

And Duo Maxwell was nothing if he couldn't find his own strength... both mental and physical.

Returning to his side of the table, Maxwell placed his queen and smiled, "Check."

Ah, a diversion to keep my focus away from the whole picture before me. So there was still much of the Duo that I knew in him as that was a classic maneuver he liked to use when we were out on a mission. But then, I'd expected as much and had planned accordingly for him.

"Check mate," I smirked back when I slid my knight in the square that I'd been watching.

Blinking in surprise as he looked at my piece, my best friend laughed, "Damn! I was so busy trying to keep you busy that I walked right into your trap." He reached his hand over the game pieces and bowed his head. "Well played."

I shook his hand and glanced at the clock on the wall overhead. Noting the late hour, I stretched and suggested, "We should probably turn in, seeing how we have a busy day tomorrow in reaching our first destination."

Raw excitement sparkled in Duo's eyes as he replied, "Oh?" Leaning forward, he grinned, "And where are we going to be? You haven't given me a single clue this whole flight."

"And I'm not about to spoil the surprise now," I snickered. Shaking my head when he pouted, a sudden urge came over me to reach over for the large bowl of popcorn we had been snacking from. A few kernels in hand, I tossed them at him with a laughed, "You can wait a few hours!"

Dodging the popcorn, Maxwell practically glowed with merriment as his own laughter joined mine. Quickly taking up a handful of puffs, he threw them at me to officially mark the start of the war.

By the time the bowl was empty, we were still laughing with pieces of popcorn in our hand and spread all over the room. As much of a neat freak as I am, I was in far too good a mood to bother cleaning the mess that night.

At the time, I never really picked up on how significant that decision was for me.

*   *   *   *   *   *

We arrived at our first destination right on schedule. Or at least, I knew that we had arrived and were making perfect timing. Duo remained completely in the dark as to what I had in store for us.

There was only a rare grumble from my partner over the course of the flight because of how he hated not knowing and having to wait. But then, the small smile that he'd tried to hide betrayed whenever he complained how much he actually enjoyed the thought of being surprised. That tiny smirk and the little games that he played only brought out the real Maxwell that I always knew him to be.

Docking the shuttle in its home for the next couple of weeks, I was only aware that I had been humming to myself during the whole descent into the colony until I removed my safety belt. I blinked in surprise and shook my head in amusement, blaming it on the effect that my current company had on me. After all, it was a very rare thing to not hear Maxwell humming whenever he was happy.

I quickly went about gathering up our needed gear and knocked on my fellow traveler's door. There were a few quiet sounds of rustling before I was greeted with a view that took me so aback that I actually gasped.

Standing before me when the door slid away was Duo... wearing only a towel around his waist with his long hair free and wet as it cascaded around his damp body. I was staring, I knew that right away, but I also couldn't stop staring no matter how hard I tried. No matter how much I was inwardly screaming at myself to look away.

With another towel in his hand that he lifted to press against his dripping locks, my partner grinned with a cheerful, "'Morning, 'Ro." Instantly, my eyes shot back up to his own before they lingered over his thin frame that was long without the lean muscle that had once accented it.

Frail-looking as Maxwell's body was, it was the many raised surgical scars over his chest and abdomen that had my attention. Though healed and only slightly darker than the rest of his skin, they cried out the hell that he'd endured. Sally had spoken of the many procedures that went into saving his life. Actually seeing the physical evidence, it only hit all the harder just how damned close he had come to dying.

By now, he was so used to them that he never even paid them mind while they were nearly impossible for me to ignore.

Once again, I silently wished an eternity of burning agony for Professor G's soul for putting my best friend through this.

Silently thankful that Duo seemed to miss how I had been staring at him, I smiled back, "Good Morning. I just came back to let you know that we've arrived at our first destination. I'll get a start on making breakfast so you have time to finish drying up and changing."

His eyes growing, my passenger muttered, "Holy shit. I forgot how smooth you can land a craft. I didn't feel a single bump during my shower." That surprise was quickly replaced with elation as he cheered, "We're really at the first stop!" Raising an eyebrow when I nodded, he smirked, "So, you can tell me now where we are, right?"

Laughing at his ever-amusing attempts to get me to talk, I shook my head, "Nice try. But you'll have to wait until we actually leave the shuttle before I tell you." He pouted and I snickered, relenting, "Alright, I'll give you a clue."

With a deliberate pause, I leaned towards him without realizing until our noses were nearly touching. How natural a thing it was to be drawn so close to him. To his growing eyes, I smirked simply, "Dress warm."

Surprise quickly became confusion on my best friend's face just before I turned and left him with that hint. No doubt he was all the more curious as to why he would need warm clothes in the middle of the summer. As I disappeared down the hall, my smile grew at the sound of the excited snicker from Duo before the door to his room swished closed so that he could get ready.

Running a hand through my hair, I did my damndest to forget the image Duo standing half-naked and wet before me so that I could focus on making our breakfast.

And that proved to be a surprisingly daunting task.

*   *   *   *   *   *

There was one part of my personality that Duo remembered pretty well. He never bothered asking for any more information out of me during our breakfast, I know he most likely never tasted it considering how he'd devoured it in such a short time so that we could get going. Even with all of his excitement, he was all too aware that any attempt to prod me for details was futile.

It was a rare enjoyment moment for me, having a surprise that my best friend was anticipating so much. But I could not bring myself to be cruel and make his wait any longer than it needed to be. Dressing in layers that included scarves, gloves, boots, we pulled on our thick, down-stuffed winter coats, we headed for the lowering bay doors and set foot outside of the shuttle for the first time in three days.

Already, I tell that really getting the chance to stretch his legs was already working its magic on Maxwell. With his hands tucked deep in his coat pockets, he gazed around the busy shuttle port with a wide smile. Warm as it was indoors, there was the occasional gust of chilled air that came whenever the sliding main doors opened and closed to the passersby.

Beyond the glass doors awaited the world that would be ours for the next few weeks. With a sharp gasp at the sight of it, Duo's violet eyes grew as he breathed, "No way." Then he was off at a light jog before I think he even knew what he was doing.

Snickering to myself, I picked up my feet to follow his through the hub entrance. Stretched out before us for as far as we could see was the breathtakingly beautiful land of snow and ice that we had set foot onto.

Off in the distance, high peaks of man-made mountains rose up into the clear sky while on the much closer gullies and hills, we could make out scores of people on skies, sleds and tubes. From where we stood, we could hear the laughter and cheers from the enthusiasts.

"L765," my partner whispered, his captivated eyes never blinking or shifting away from the scene before us. "I heard of this place advertized as the ultimate, year-round winter wonderland experience, but... I never thought that I would ever get to see it."

I looked over to grin at him, "Well, you're here now. And we have a rented cabin for the next two weeks to enjoy it." The expression of sheer appreciation, which could not be expressed with words, that Duo rewarded me with was all the thanks that I needed; my heart warmed at the sight.

Nudging him, I smirked, "So, why don't we get some of our things and settle in? The sooner we get that out of the way, the sooner we can grab a couple of sleds and take to the hills."

Finally blinking at that, Maxwell's face broke out in a brilliant smile just before he grabbed my arm in as tight of a grip as he could manage and led us back into the shuttle port. At that, my own voice joined in the ringing laughter on the air.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Never before in any of my visits to L765 over the course of the last decade had I ever pictured myself sledding.

Most of my time was spent people-watching, seeing how they interacted and how they amused themselves. It was the same wherever I went. Too many time-wasting activities seemed arbitrary and almost juvenile to me. My entertainment came from processing how others handled themselves as I came to understand more about myself and my inability to find enjoyment in the little things.

However, I was not about to let that hang up of mine keep me from showing Duo the time of his life. If there was going to be any true healing for him, he needed to revisit himself... to find himself again. And if that meant hitting every hill beyond our cabin every night, then so be it.

Such was my mentality when we set foot at the slopes that first afternoon. My fellow traveler had nearly pushed himself to being winded in unpacking his things so that he would still have enough daylight to sight see.

By the end of the day, simply walking and riding the lifts over the snowy grounds for a full tour of what the resort held had taken its toll on Duo. So, we were settling down early that night on the plush couch before the television of our cottage 'suite.'

The second that we had set foot into the place, I turned up the thermostat so that my friend could lose the chill that had settled into his bones. Even though I tended to run warm, I didn't mind the extra heat if it meant he would be more comfortable... not to mention that it would fend off any potential bug from making him have to take steps back in his recovery.

Wearing two pairs of socks, long flannel pajama pants and a solid red long-sleeved night top that finished the look, Maxwell pulled a thick quilt blanket up to cover him from the shoulders down. He never complained of how slowly he was warming back up, just laughed at the comedy programs that we were watching with this look of absolute contentment on his face. He looked so much closer to himself that I couldn't help smiling and watching him when he was looking away.

By the end of our second program, my partner was able to start shedding the blanket. First, he lowered it to his lap and then to the floor to pool around his thickly socked feet. "Are they really that cold still?" I heard myself ask, grateful that the slip of my inquiry did not carry the slight concern that I felt. Any babying at the moment would not have gone over well.

Glancing down at his covered appendages, Duo met my gaze and shrugged, "They're always the first things to feel any cold and the last to lose it. It's always been that way with them for me." The smirk that he already had on his lips grew as he added, "Sister Helen used to tell me that it meant I had a warm heart." I grinned back at that.

There were few people I had ever come to know that had a warmer heart than Duo Maxwell.

"Maybe some actual body heat might help," I half-suggested-half-offered, once again unaware of the thought coming into my head would actually come out of my mouth. Back suddenly straightening, Maxwell blinked widely at the same time that my mind screamed in wondering what I was doing for voicing that.

Swallowing roughly, I just followed my instincts on auto pilot. Rather than try and take back my words and come up with an explanation or excuse for them, I bent down to remove my socks and reasoned, "You know I always run hot. Guess that explains my icy heart."

I won a hearty laugh at that and instantly the mood in the room relaxed. As he toed his own socks off, I thought that I heard Duo mutter, "Oh, I wouldn't say that about you." Inching close to him and slipping my bare feet under the blankets, I felt his cool skin and covered it as best as I could with mine.

Yes, his feet certainly were cold but it did not take long for them to absorb the heat that mine provided them. I suppressed a surprised shiver at not only the actual chill but the contact of our flesh-on-flesh that somehow seemed like an intimate thing.

It was a strange sensation. It wasn't as if we hadn't shared beds in the past. On a couple of occasions during missions, there were very real threats of hypothermia that left no other option but to hold onto each other under the covers. If ever there should have been a hitch in my throat or any awkwardness on my part, it should have been then.

But back then, it truly was the simple black-and-white, mechanical reasons for what we were doing that never made me feel as though there was a crossing of any lines. We needed warmth or risk the loss of a limb or our lives.

I told myself that what we were doing at the time was no different than what we did in the past...

So what was it with only our feet touching as they were that caused my pulse to rise for a moment and my mouth to go dry? I had to force myself to control my heart rate before Duo felt it. If he had, he never led onto it before I managed to calm down again.

"This is nice," he smiled almost shyly as our eyes locked again. "Thanks." Unwilling to attempt to talk, I grinned back and nodded.

We stayed like that, arms almost touching and feet curled up together under the blanket on the floor until I heard my best friend snoring softly when we were half-way through the movie that we'd started watching.

Looking over at him, I blinked in surprise at finding his braided head resting against my shoulder. I had no idea how long had he been pillowed against me like that... it must have just felt that natural of a thing that my mind never processed the feeling of the gentle weight when it had been added.

I snorted in amusement and took a moment to watch Maxwell's peaceful face. Already, those frown lines that seemed to have burrowed their way into his features seemed to be fading since the start of our road trip. It had been a long ten years for him... a whole decade that I'd promised to make up for. So, it did my cold heart well to see him so at ease with himself and the world again.

Not at all willing to wake him, I managed to turn myself so that I could scoop Duo into my arms without even causing a stir. Little did I know then as I tucked him into his bed beside my own that there would be many more nights like this one that would become a bit of a routine for us.

And I didn't mind the least bit.

*   *   *   *   *   *

We did a lot the next day, more activities since all of the options were laid out to us. Between all of the things that we could have done, it came as no surprise to me that all Duo wanted to do for that whole first day was to go sledding down the incredibly tall hills all around. It was such a simple thing, but I was about to get a realization as to why so many enjoy it.

"Come on with me this time!" my partner insisted, already seated at the front half of his long red sled.

His cheeks were already pinking a bit after a couple hours of racing down the slopes before taking the lifts back up to the top to go again, raised over the scarf covering his mouth and nose. Patting the space behind him, his muffled voice said, "There's plenty of room for both of us and you still haven't gone down once yet."

I had no intention of partaking, myself. For one, I was enjoying myself too much just watching him have his fun. Then there was the simple matter that the concept of sledding never really thrilled me. It seemed a childish thing, though seeing how it was bringing back the kid in Maxwell was wonderful.

"You go on ahead," I chuckled, shaking my head with my arms folded across my chest. "I'm fine just standing he--" That was as far as I managed to get before a gloved hand shot up to take hold of me and pull me down onto the sled. Taken aback by the strength and speed of the attack, my eyes grew as my friend forced my arms to wrap around his middle so that my chest was pressed against his back.

Peering back at me, there was that mischievous glint in the violet eyes that I stared into. "Just give it a shot, 'Ro," Duo snickered. Turning his attention forward again, he called back, "Hang on!" Slamming his fists against the snow at both sides of him, he rocked the sled back and forth for momentum. Only then did I really have an appreciation for just how steep the drop was when we crested he ledge. I only had a second to panic when we were descending on a whoosh of air.

Over the incredible howl that filled my hooded ears, Duo let out a shrill cheer, raising his arms overhead as we continued to plummet. Gripping onto him tightly, both out of surprise and to keep from flying off, I never even recognized my own voice rising to match his elated cries until we reached the bottom, the impact from the sharp shift of our bodies knocking us from the sled to roll away in laughing heaps of which I had landed perfectly flush on top of him with his back against the snow.

It took a little bit for us to collect ourselves, bringing our fits of laughter down to snickers. "That... was fun," I admitted when I shifted away to kneel beside my partner.

"See?" Maxwell smirked, his lips now in view since his scarf had lowered from his mouth. Pushing himself up on his elbows, he asked, "Wanna go again?"

There was no hesitation in my response. "Yea. I do."

*   *   *   *   *   *

From that time on, I was no longer hesitant in joining Duo in whatever he wanted to try over the following days. There was short-hill skiing, to beginning, horse-drawn carriage rides through the winding trials through the snowy forests and I even shared in having some hot chocolate when we would stop indoors to warm up before heading out again.

It all made me wonder how I'd managed to spend as much time as I had on the Colony being perfectly content in watching everyone else do those things.

But there was one thing that was still missing.

On what was decided by the both of us to be our last night on L765 after a whole week's stay, Duo and I were walking back to our cabin when the thought struck me. Maybe it was because it had been something I'd expected him to do that inspired me to take the reins. Perhaps it was how perfect the temperature was as the artificial sun began to set.

Whatever the reason, I smirked at myself when I went to bend at the waist and balled a good sized helping of snow in my hands.

"Hey," I called just as Maxwell was about to ascend the last hill back to our place a few feet ahead of where I was standing. At his turning towards me, I pelted him in the shoulder, the large break offs of my weapon shattering and flying all around my stunned friend.

Openly gawking at my grinning face, he murmured, "No way. You did not just --" Then he was sprinting, as best as he could sprint, towards a nearby snow bank that was high enough for him to duck behind. "Your ass is grass, Yuy!" he bellowed in a battle cry. I was amazed at how quickly he assembled a fairly large snowball to fire at me in retaliation.

And his aim had never lost its edge. I was hit square in the back even in my retreat for another bank. Still laughing, I ducked low behind my shielding 'wall' and made more ammunition. In the midst of my task, I noticed that a handful of kids that were walking along with their parents paused to watch us.

Within seconds, they were squealing with delight and starting their own game that somehow blended into their joining either my side or Maxwell's. I smirked to my fellow 'soldiers' and we worked together, the same as my partner was with his additional charges.

The back-and-forth firing resumed, this time on a much more considerable scale with the growing number. I took and gave a few good shots, ducking and laughing the whole time, never feeling more of a rush than I did then. And still more people came into the game, making more banks for protection or hiding behind trees until the entire stretch of the lamp-lit field and hills as far as I could see was filled with children and adults alike that were cheering and crying in warrior shouts.

Darkness had completely fallen long before the 'attack' had ended, but the high lights beamed down to reflect off the pristine white blanket of snow as brightly as daylight. All around, snowballs were arching and shooting across in what was easily the largest snowball fight that I'd ever witnessed, let alone participated in.

It was absolutely thrilling.

As two of the last to leave when the long skirmish came to an end, Duo and I were still laughing in our approaching one another with our hands up in surrender. Both of our coats were covered in powdered snow that we brushed off.

I reached up to brush away the melting droplets from my best friend's long bangs that had almost fallen over his eyes, my fingers tingling with another odd feeling of intimacy that I ignored as best I could. His scarf lowered, the former God of Death smiled at me even brighter at the touch before he had to turn his head away at a shaky cough.

Quickly recovering before I could worry too much, my partner chuckled at me, "That... was pretty damn awesome." I snickered and nodded in agreement. That it was... pretty damn awesome.

My autopilot kicked in again and I found my arm draping around Maxwell's shoulders. There was no hesitance in his leaning against me as we moved to head back up the hill together. I took his weight to make the climb easier on him. Even in his state, I knew that he hated having to be carried, so it made his acceptance of my help something that I was honored that he trusted me with.

Later that night, I would be carrying him back to bed after sitting in front of the television with our bare feet linked up beneath a pool of blankets. Really, I couldn't have thought of a better way to have spent our last day and night on the Colony.

*   *   *   *   *   *

"Twenty-two... Twenty-three... Come on. Two more." There was a grunt of effort then I was able to call, "Twenty-four... Twenty-five. Nice job, Duo."

Sweat covering him, my passenger growled in effort to still his shaking arms as he set the barbell in its home just over and behind his head. With a deep sigh, he rolled his shoulders as he stared up at my face and smiled in pride, "That was five more reps than two days ago. It's nowhere near what I could do, but it's a hell of a lot more than what I could lift a couple of weeks ago."

I nodded, smirking, "Slow and steady progress." Gesturing to his thin and exposed arms, I commented, "Those will start toning up within the month at the rate you're going."

Already, the days that Maxwell had spent in the ship's gym were helping his legs a great deal since he could handle working out on the exercise bike and walking on the treadmill more than lifting or pushing. He had kept his promise to me and never pushed himself beyond his limits, so I didn't mind occasional mentoring him to try a few more reps.

Just the simple act of being able to exercise had meant so much to my passenger. It was another thing that was bringing him back to normalcy. And with every day that he was able to get some kind of workout, his mood was always brighter after the fact, even if he couldn't physically handle what he used to. It was only a matter of time before he got that back anyway.

Sitting up on the edge of the weight bench, Duo tugged at his black tank top that was clinging onto his damp skin. "Quatre would probably have a heart attack if he saw me exerting myself like this," he snickered, reaching for the water bottle at his feet for a long swig.

At drinking his fill, he panted and wiped at his mouth with the back of his arm. "I know that he and the others meant well," he frowned at me almost defensively as his own words sunk in. "Every one of them helped me pull through the worst of my health scare. I owe them everything and I'll never be able to thank them enough. But..." His voice trailed a bit and his violet eyes stared at the floor.

"But you needed to stand on your own, too," I supplied for him. "There's nothing wrong with that, so you shouldn't feel bad. I'm sure that they all understand that, or they never would have agreed to let me take you without a fight." The look of appreciation on my partner's face at that really warmed me and he was about to say something when there was a shrill beeping from the cockpit announcing that a call was attempting to come through.

Maxwell rose to his feet, laughing, "Speaking of mother Winner. That should be his every-other-day-check-in-call right on schedule." Grabbing a towel on his way for the door, he paused to meet my gaze. Voice soft and sincere, he said, "Thanks a lot for the coaching and for the talk 'Ro. It really means a lot." I just smiled and bowed my head in response. Grinning widely, he stepped out of the room.

Alone in the gym, I sighed deeply and took a seat on the weight bench. After flying for half of a week by then, we were only another day away from our next destination. I had decided that I would go with a location that Duo had jotted down on his list for this second landing. There was only one reason he would have picked this particular Colony... there was only one notable landmark that was known throughout space and Earth as a place to visit.

The physical healing that he was going through was one thing. But he needed to heal in others ways as well if he was ever going to be the Duo Maxwell that I knew. And it would have to happen early on in this excursion if he would be able to appreciate the other sites we would be visiting.

I just hoped that I wasn't the one pushing him beyond his limits before he was ready.

*   *   *   *   *   *

"L516?" my friend breathed as he stared at the welcome sign that greeted travelers leaving the Colony's main shuttle port. Frozen in his footsteps just beyond the sliding doors that opened us to the new world, his wide eyes stared at the colorful display with a mix of surprise and fear. The fear was what had me regretting this call.

In a near rush as I moved in close to his side, I insisted, "We don't have to be here if you're not up to it." Adjusting the bags slung over my right shoulder, I shrugged, "We can always come back another time. It's not like we don't have another few dozen resorts to hit --"

Until he cut me off then, it didn't register with me before how apologetic and pleading my tone was in my desperation to take that panic away from him. But at that raised hand and calm glance from the corner of his eye, I caught it and swallowed roughly.

Shaking his braided head as he turned to me, Duo put on a brave smile and shrugged, "It's fine, Heero. I just wasn't expecting it." He gestured towards the busy streets ahead, saying, "Let's find a place to crash for the night and find out the opening times for Saint Matthews." I relaxed completely again, smiling in relief.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Saint Matthews is famously known as the single largest cathedral of all the Colonies.

Its marble and stone arches climb high into the sky; its spacious interior lined with wall-to-wall stained glass windows of breathtaking colors and pictures of saints and angels.

Gold-flaked details that rose from the floor to the high-arched ceiling captured the candle flickers to provide more than enough light around. White marble statues cut into the structural beams were so lifelike that anyone could imagine the men and women represented could step forward and speak at any moment.

Plainly speaking, the cathedral was easily one of the most remarkable sites I had ever had the pleasure of being in.

Stepping inside with Duo, it was not my first time in Saint Matthew's. Being the talk of so many throughout the Colonies, it was a place I had to see for myself regardless of my own faith beliefs... or occasional lack thereof. I was not let down by all of the talk. Such an amazing church could only bring out the most profound of reactions even from a non-believer.

As soon as we were beyond the main entrance, my best friend stopped in his tracks with a sharp gasp. Blinking his wide eyes, he stared far down ahead the central aisle to the white marbled altar before he scanned over the colorful glass windows, arches and statues.

Under his breath, he whispered a revered, "Wow." Chuckling softly, I nodded in agreement. That had been my first response to setting foot inside the cathedral as well.

Once more gazing ahead, Maxwell reached up with his right hand to run his fingertips over a small spot at the center of his chest. The movement seemed to be an unconscious one. And I knew that beneath where he was touching his sleeveless, red turtleneck was his silver cross that he'd had for as long as I had known him. Standing there as he was, I could see him almost shrinking within himself... as if he wasn't sure what to do at the moment.

I decided to take the lead. Gently placing a hand on the small of his back, I ushered him deeper inside the cathedral. Each step Duo made became steadier, surer than the one before. When we reached the break off center of the aisle, there was clarity in those violet eyes of his again.

Then he took over, moving to the right that was designated as the 'Prayer Wing.' This long stretch consisted of nothing but rows of clear glass encased candles that rounded the walls and created a beautiful glow when they were burning. Several people were already bent down on their knees in prayer in front of the dancing flames that they had lit for their lost.

Once again Duo froze when we were at the start of the wing. Leaning close to his ear, I urged softly, "Go on. I'll wait back by the pews." It was only right that this be his time alone.

Clearly this was where he wanted to be, so I was happy to let him have however long he needed to stay there. I was rewarded with a small but true smile for my words. Silently, I slipped into the background and took a seat far enough from him to not be in the way but close enough to keep an eye out on my braided partner should he need anything.

After a bit moment of perhaps consideration, Maxwell stepped forward again. Taking a kneeler so that his right side was facing me, he reached forward to the long burner and ignited the tip.

Slowly, he began lighting strings and strings of the candles before him as his mouth moved in subtle names that he was whispering. I swallowed roughly in picking up what his lips were saying with every wick that he touched the burner to.

'Father Maxwell...'

'Sister Helen...'

'Tanya...'

'David...'

These were all names that I recognized from my counterpart's horrific past. Knowing them all to belong to the victims of the Maxwell Church disaster, my heart broke for every one of those candles that was lit.

Eventually, some of those names became more difficult for Duo to recall, but he never forgot how many victims there were. In the end, twenty-nine candles were glowing. The brilliance of their flames cast their light and shadows across his face as he lowered the burner and lowered his head in prayer.

Not normally one to pray myself, I couldn't help but stare at the altar and offer my own wishes for those poor souls that had been taken long before what should have been their time. Then I resumed my watch over Maxwell.

It was a good long time before I saw him reach up to wipe a stray tear away from his cheek. Pushing himself up by the short railing stationed before the candles, he got back to his feet and headed towards me. I rose to my own feet, offering a small grin to match the one passed onto me as I returned to his side. Without a word, we slipped out of the cathedral together with our arms brushing together every so often.

Then, just when we stepped back outside, Duo sighed, "I wish that I could remember all of their names. But..." Shaking his head, he continued to stare at the steps that we were descending as he frowned deeply, "There's a lot I don't remember from my past lately." Biting my lip, I took a deep breath against the pain in my chest. He brightened a bit once we reached the sidewalk. "I remember all of their faces, though," he smiled sadly. "At least there's that."

"I'm sure that they understand... wherever they are. And I'm sure that they're grateful someone won't forget them," I commented softly, not really sure where that thought came from in my mind. But I certainly felt it was true. My friend didn't have anything to say then as his eyes shimmered over a bit. He did, however, convey his appreciation by reaching over to squeeze my arm.

There was a question I had that plagued me from the moment I found out about his history that just wouldn't stay silent any longer. "How do you do it?" I asked, my own lips frowning as I watched him blink widely at me. "How could you have gone through as much loss as you have at so young and stay so damned... happy and lively?"

Chuckling, Duo smirked wistfully, "I always figured that as long as I had my life, I always had the chance to make every day whatever I wanted it to be. And more than that, I had a lot of other people to live for so I couldn't take what I still had for granted. Maybe it's God's Will... or fate... or a pretty twisted strike of luck that kept me around even after all the shit my body went through. Whatever the reason, I'm not going to let what I have slip away without living in the process."

It was both profound and simple logic... only the perfect explanation to come from my partner.

My eyes misted over a bit as I really looked at him. Saw him right down to his core as we walked side-by-side. "You are easily the strongest person I have ever known, Duo Maxwell," I breathed, actually hearing my respect and admiration in my voice. I was glad for that. Every syllable was meant down to the deepest reaches of my being.

That bright, full-watt smile returned to the heart-shaped face that turned towards me. "Coming from you... that means a hell of a lot, 'Ro," he all but whispered. And that was when I saw a little more of that spark in his eyes returning, that inner healing that I had hoped he would find realized.

Our shoulders and arms touched even more for the remainder of our walk back to the hotel.

With Duo's mission on L516 completed, we were off again the following morning.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Sally's head was bent forward on the control panel monitor as she read down the blood results that were being sent over to her. Having seen the reads from the blood drop samples that had been made that afternoon, I smirked to myself at the sight of her eyes growing. "Duo, these numbers are fantastic," she beamed up at us. "Your cell counts, iron, glucose and proteins are finally climbing back to where they should be." I was regarded with what I could only think of as a pride that had me shifting in the pilot seat.

Did the others really doubt that I was perfectly capable of taking care of my best friend?

To my aid, Maxwell folded his toning arms behind his head and reclined leaned back in the cockpit passenger seat. "Well, I am in great hands out here," he snorted in a chide. "Heero tended to a shit load of injuries to himself and me just fine during the wars. What I'm dealing with is a hell of a lot easier than a bullet to the gut or a lanced artery."

Po blinked, taken aback for a second before she cleared her throat. "Of course," she nodded. Homing in on me once more, she smiled sheepishly, "My most sincere apologies, Yuy. I should have remembered how apt you are at medical treatment beyond setting broken bones." That last little bit of a dig was accepted, bringing a snicker out of me.

"Only doctor's order I can give you is keep up the good work with whatever you're doing," she said to my smirking partner. Winking, she closed with a pleasant, "Happy trails, you two. Keep in touch."

Short, sweet and to the point without any mothering. I always liked Sally for being able to know just how to handle us.

A few more of these doctor 'visits' like that should have Quatre, Trowa, Wufei and Relena completely at ease. Really, I couldn't complain too much over their fretting. It was only out of kindness and love that they cared for Duo so much. As he had said before, they meant well. And already, their check-in calls were slowing considerable from how frequently they came in at the start of our trip.

"So, where to now?" Maxwell smiled to me, turning his chair to face me fully. "Are we visiting one of your destinations or one of mine?"

I snickered, rising to my feet as I replied, "You should know better by now than to try and get any information out of me." He chuckled and shrugged in a way that told me he wasn't about to give up anytime soon. Stretching my arms overhead, I announced, "Dinner. I have a stir-fry dish planned for tonight that won't take me long to prepare."

A hopeful look filling his violet eyes, Duo asked, "Will there be lots of chicken in it?"

Laughing, I nodded, "Of course. Now that you're able to keep foods down without any problem, you need as much protein as you can get." With a soft sound of approval, my partner got to his feet and followed me out to give a hand in the kitchen. An arm slung over my shoulders in that casual showing of affection that he would always give me from back during the wars.

It had come on so naturally for Duo that I could have cried. Just another step towards completely having him back.

Only this time instead of pulling away from his extension as I would have back then, I leaned against his side into the contact.

*   *   *   *   *   *

"This... I... I've never seen anything this beautiful."

I grinned, nodding in agreement as I also stared out to the watery horizon beyond us. Standing on the back deck of the shoin-zukuri that we would be staying in for the next week, we looked out to the other Japanese-styled hotels that were sporadically stationed above the pristine man-made lake that went on as far as the eye could see. The soft glow from the lanterns on the other porches and hand-paddled boats that were in the distance gave the whole scene warmth.

Colony L290 also has one of the most Earth-like sunsets. In the dimming glow of the unnatural 'sun,' the skies were a mix of rich reds, oranges, yellows, blues and purples that the water below captured in a perfected reflection. For a man of as few words as I was, I could not think of only one way to describe just how incredibly beautiful this particular land was.

We lounged back in the chairs to take in that first night in companionable silence for a time. When the skies were their darkest just before the complete fade away of the 'sun,' there were several stretches of purple in the heavens that reminded me of Duo's eyes... as they had the first time I came to this place and every time after. My first stay was what made me admit to myself that I had missed my braided friend.

How it took me ten damn years to go and see him...

"I can see why you stayed away for so long," Maxwell all but whispered as though he was reading my thoughts. Blinking, I looked over to see that he continued to look out to the 'ceiling' and rippling 'floor' of stars. Shaking his braided head, he said in wonder, "If I got the chance to see sights like this, I would have had a hard time leaving, too."

There was nothing in that comment or his voice that was meant as a cut against me. But it still stung somewhere deep in my chest. Biting my bottom lip, I murmured, "I'm sorry. It never should have taken me so long to come back --"

A mortified expression washed over Duo's face as he snapped his head towards me. "It's alright, 'Ro," he reassured with a deep frown. "We've been over this before. I get it that you needed to find yourself... I'm seeing that for myself more and more with this road trip. How the hell could you be a good friend if you're still sorting out who you were? Already, you're more relaxed and comfortable than I can remember."

Ducking his head, he snorted, "At least from the stuff that's been coming back to me. I pretty much have our whole past again."

There was an immense amount of joy in knowing that his memory was returning. I had figured as much by the way his behavior was shifting back into what I was more familiar with. Still, I doubted that I would ever completely let myself off the hook for being away from him at the lowest point in his life. God... if he had died while I was gone...

Before I could linger on that dark trail of thought for long, a small smile curled Maxwell's lips as he inquired, "So, you think you've finally figured out who Heero Yuy is? Did anything on your self-searching excursion help you figure him out?" Gesturing to the captivating view before us, he shrugged, "I have a hard time thinking anyone could have a hard time finding themselves in places like this."

It was a question that I never had really considered, regardless of how easy it would be for anybody to wonder the same when it came to me. With my training for war that had wiped away the allowance for any emotion or self-freedoms, I really hadn't know what I was missing out on prior to meeting a certain braided Gundam pilot. Still, I never really gave the inquiry a whole lot of thought.

Pressed with it now, however, the answer came without the need for a moment's consideration. "I... don't really know," I admitted softly. "Yes in a lot of ways, but... I don't know if there's a 'real' Heero Yuy in me to be found in the first place." The frown on my partner's face deepened.

"That... has to be the most depressing thing I've ever heard," he stated in a whisper that broke off in a quiet, nervous laugh that I joined in on. I suppose that it really was depressing, but that was just the fact of the matter. Being the Perfect Soldier was enforced so strongly and so early on in my life that I don't think I had enough time to develop who I was meant to be were it not for the purpose that I had been given as the pilot of Wing Zero.

As Duo was demonstrating at that moment, it was better to laugh over the matter than to allow it to bring me down.

He tilted his head, grinning, "In one way it's pretty cool." Confused, I grunted in my wordless request for an elaboration on that off remark. "Well, now you get to make up exactly who you want to be, start off fresh when everyone else is already set in their ways. So, you'll find who you are just like the rest of us. You're just taking the long way around in getting there."

The long way around. It was such a romanticized way of looking at my situation... and yet it was spot on as well.

"I'm really glad that you're bringing me along for the ride," Duo told me in a breath, as if he was unsure over whether or not to say such a touching thing... as if it left him exposed in a way that made him uneasy. I smiled to put his worries to rest and he physically relaxed with a matching grin.

Drawing a deep breath, I reached over to squeeze his arm in a rare, but almost natural act for me right then. "I wouldn't want to spent it with anyone else," I replied just as quietly. And I meant every bit of that, making sure to let the sincerity drip from my tone.

His smile growing, Maxwell continued to stare into my eyes until his own began to mist over. Slowly turning back to look at the world of stars and warm glows around us, he shared, "You were one of my first thoughts when I started to come out of the worst of my near run in with the real Death. Even though my memories were pretty hazy back then, I knew that I wanted to see you again... fought to make sure that I would pull through for when you came back."

There was a hitch in his crackling voice at the same time that the world began to shift at the tears filling my vision over those words.

Clearing the knot away, he looked back to me as a stray teardrop rolled down his cheek. "So, you have no reason to feel guilty over anything when you're what kept me alive all this time. I know I'm not exactly myself and that's the real reason behind our trip, but I never forgot how important you are to me... no matter what Heero Yuy you are now or will be. Promise me you won't forget that."

"I promise," I whispered, nodding firmly once again without a second's hesitation. Duo leaned forward quickly to press his soft lips against my forehead. Stunned, I blinked widely at the touch. Some of those drops in my eyes rolled freely at the opening and closing of my lids, but I didn't move to wipe them away. I didn't even have a chance to register what was happening in time to lean into the kiss before it was gone.

Climbing to his feet, Maxwell stretched and put on that smile of his that he used as a cover over his nerves. "Well, I'm pretty beat from unpacking, so I'm gonna turn in. 'Night, 'Ro." He opened the sliding, fogged glass doors and stepped inside our Japanese-inspired hotel hut.

Finally finding my voice when the doors were being pushed closed once more, I responded softly, "Good night, Duo."

Inwardly, I cursed myself over being so foolish as to have never realized before that night that I was in love with my best friend.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Our stay at Colony L290 was extended to a second week, neither of us were ready to leave its calm beauty.

In the time that we had spent swimming, kayaking and snorkeling the watery realm, I had spent almost every waking moment contemplating my revelation over my feelings for Duo. Anyone else would have understood the reasons for why I was always drawn to him for as long as I had known him.

Unconsciously, my attachment and affections towards him were strong as granite while I remained in the dark to their existence. Even if I did understand that I was in love back then, I wouldn't have had a single idea as to how to react or act out on it.

That bit of confusion remained once I did acknowledge the truest nature of my emotions. Was it really right to try and make a move when he was still mending? What if he didn't feel the same and I did or said something that made him pull away? Then again, what if he was waiting for me to do something... anything this whole time and thought that I wasn't interested?

So many questions, none the least being how to sort out exactly what I wanted out of our relationship... and the best of which to progress.

For the turmoil that I had felt over the whole thing, Maxwell never seemed to pick up on it so I must have covered it well. Maybe there was some good that came from being able to train my expressions to not reveal what I was feeling at any time when I concentrated on being a blank slate.

With so many more places to visit on both of our lists, we resumed our tour of space once again. I tended to go back and forth between the spots that I had already planned on taking Duo to and his requested locations.

There was a safari ride through the natural plant and animal reserve at L478, as well as several nights of camping out in the forests. Following that, we hit L27 for its infamous circus that had no rival on any Colony or the Earth combined. Dozens of pictures were taken there that we sent to an amused Trowa as soon as we were back on our ship to our next destination.

L826 had some of the finest foods and beverages of every culture to be experimented and appreciated. I even had my first root beer float, to which I agreed with Maxwell that it was worth the near four-day flight for that alone.

Over the course of the places we had seen and the things that we had done, I was slowly starting to pick up on different signs from Duo that I hoped I wasn't just reading into.

While I was used to him being comfortable with patting my back or wrapping an arm around my shoulders, I noticed that he was doing those things more and more. There was more than one occasion every day when I caught him looking at as if he was watching me... the same way that I now acknowledged I was watching him.

So when I sat at the ship's control panel to map out the course to our next location, I considered one of Maxwell's requested destinations. I was perfectly aware why I had jotted it down. And I considered the possibilities that going there might present for us.

But there were also risks involved with that, which I feared as they would have taken me as far out of my comfort zone as I would have ever willingly stepped.

However, the trip would have made Duo happy. And that was the deciding factor to me when I typed in the coordinates for the next destination.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Whatever trepidation I may have had over visiting L901 was pushed aside when my partner realized where we were. There was an excitement in his growing violet eyes that reeled back the years on his face. Wide-eyed, he turned to face me as we stepped out of the shuttle port. "You sure about this?" he asked me, the same hesitation in his voice that I had when we arrived on L516.

My how the tables had turned.

This would be the first time since we had begun our little adventure that I was relenting control over what was familiar to me, leaving Maxwell as the one in charge for a change.

Grunting, I couldn't help how slightly uncomfortable I already was. "Yea," I nodded, sounding as sure as I possibly could. Peering at him from the corner of my eye, I added, "But you're going to have to be patient with me now and then during our stay. This won't be an easy adjustment for me at times."

"I'll be patient," Duo promised without pause, nodding his braided head vehemently. And I knew that he meant it. Returning the smile that he gave me, I led the way to the taxi post so that we could find a hotel room.

*   *   *   *   *   *

L516 was one of the most popular tourist Colonies in all of space because of what it had to offer. Think of stretch after stretch of cities that were the equivalent of Las Vegas and New Orleans' Bourbon Street combined. And every night was Mardi Gras.

Crowds are one challenge for me to deal with. Drunken, open to anything hoards of people that can, at-will, do anything in the place where all of their sins stay is a whole other struggle for me to get used to. Order and reason have always resided in everything that I do. Chaos and freedom are like white noise to me, which I have a hard time blocking out enough to appreciate.

However, Duo did stay true to his word in being patient with me if I needed to return to our room early for the night so that I could have some sense of normalcy. He helped me adjust to our surroundings more and more every day. A great deal of that was also thanks to seeing just how much fun he was having being around 'his kind of people' as he called them.

Really, the Colony seemed be to like the kind of play land that would come right out of my partner's wildest imaginations. And it was wonderful to see that much more of his old self coming out as he laughed, cheered and danced in the streets amongst complete strangers with abandon to the music that was both played by random musicians on the sidewalks and the songs that only he could hear.

After almost a week, I was able to last the whole of the nights out on the squares and at the different shows of live entertainment that were being performed. I actually came to enjoy myself as well, able to fall into the relaxed pace of the other tourists around. Some of the strangle hold that I had on my reserve loosened and I never turned down anything Duo suggested we try.

Then, there came the request that we stop at the dance club named 'Love,' a popular site that only allowed open-minded regulars that paired up however which way they wanted. It was not exactly a gay bar, but all types of couple were welcome and accepted. A great concept though it was, the thought of actually dancing... more to the point watching Duo dance as I knew he liked to, left me practically shuddering in panic.

But I would not deny him of what he asked.

Over the loud, thunderous pulsing music of the club, my best friend leaned close to me at the bar stools that we were occupying. "Thanks for doing this, 'Ro," he smiled widely. "It's been years since I've been able to go out to a place like this."

When he was finished talking, his gaze drifted back to the crowded dance floor that was lit by flashing, colorful beams and lasers that moved in time with the beat of the song that was playing. The bodies around truly were of every walk of life -- straight and same-sexed partners swayed and moved to the music without a care in the world.

Shrugging, I smirked to my fellow former Gundam pilot in sincere admission, "This isn't as bad as I thought it might be." Of course, a couple of beers when it had only been a considerable amount of time since I had consumed any alcohol before didn't hurt in settling my nerves.

Duo never ordered anything more than soda for the night. Along with not wanting to risk a setback in his recovery by overdoing it should he drink anything stronger, he said earlier that evening that he wanted to be sure to remember everything the next day. I held out hope that maybe the lack of 'liquid courage' would make him content to sit back and watch the other patrons.

I was wrong.

"Come dance with me," he urged as he got to his feet.

Nearly having one of my quiet moments of panic, I shook my head. Frowning deeply, I tried to say, "I don't know how --"

Chuckling, Maxwell cut me off with a smooth, "I'll show you. It's easy." There was something in his eyes that resonated with me. It was another chance for him to take command, to be the leader instead of the follower. It was important that he not lose those opportunities.

Every fiber of my person wanted to fight. My conditioning screamed for me to protest until he relented and went off on his own. It took some doing on my part to silence those arguments and allowed my best friend to tug on my arm until we were melding into the crowd on the dance floor.

Buzzed as I was, I still struggled to relax until Duo picked out a clear space for us and faced me. Smiling, he leaned close and took my hands. I swallowed hard when he lowered them on each side of his hips as they began to sway back and forth to the beat. Leaning in, he urged by my ear, "Just breathe."

I did.

And I followed his example while his own arms slipped around my waist. When he moved left, I moved right to stay with him. After a few mimics and having him guide me, it became increasingly easier to dance. Maybe it was the alcohol. Or perhaps it was the intoxicating way that our bodies felt pressed together. Another factor might have been the atmosphere of our electrifying surroundings.

Whatever one or combinations of factors might have been involved, I was able to completely let go of my control. Letting myself just move to everything that was filling all of my senses, I danced as freely as my best friend and the others around us that I had envied from afar for their ability to abandon their frets and reserves. And I enjoyed it... every second of it.

Once I had found my footing and felt more comfortable, I loosened my hold on Duo's hips, but his arms tightened around me. Blinking in surprise, I leaned back up against him and pulled him closer as well.

There was no break from one song to the next; the intensity and speed of our movements easily adjusted to the changing tempos. Beaming in pride and merriment, my best friend encouraged me with his smile and the brightness of his eyes whenever the lights flashed around us.

I felt more alive than I ever had at that moment... lighter as though I had physically released a weight that had been tying me down to the ground. I laughed and clapped along with everyone around me as if I had known what I was doing on that packed dance floor full of pulsating bodies for years.

Still, Maxwell and I shifted as close as we possibly could were it not for the clothes between us.

Then, out of the blue, I realized that we were kissing. It was not just any kiss at that. It was a deep, passionate kiss of primal need that had us clinging onto each other as our toes curled even as we continued to sway without pause. I tasted him and the soda that he had been drinking as my tongue explored ever recess of his mouth, moaning along with him as he returned the service with every bit as much fervor.

Simultaneously, I felt as if I was drowning and in danger of erupting from the flames that burned through me. Never before had I felt anything so incredible as being able to do that with the person that I had fallen in love with... to feel that connected to him.

Our need for air was the only thing that separated us. Panting and wide-eyed, we stared at each other only to realize that we had stopped dancing for what felt like a lifetime ago. His lips swollen, Duo stammered, "I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have --"

"I'm not sorry!" I had to almost shout over the noise before he could berate himself. To be honest, to this day I don't know who actually initiated the kiss. But I was not sorry, and he needed to know that.

To his surprised expression and dropped jaw, I made sure to be perfectly clear how not sorry I was by initiating the next kiss that I swooped in for.

*   *   *   *   *   *

The remainder of our stay at 'Love' went by in a blur. There was more dancing. More kissing. And not a great deal of talking because of the loud atmosphere.

One thing was certain for me when the last call was announced, though... I had never been more elated than I was in those early hours of the morning. Duo was a bit shy towards me when he stepped from the club to hail a club. I was not much better there. This was new territory for the both of us, and I was aware of how important our friendship was to my partner. Like myself, I was convinced that he was worried about how to proceed.

Did we risk damaging what we had by pushing for more, or did we take the chance and possibly come out with what could be the best thing in our lives?

For me, I went back and forth with those options.

But my mind was made up when we had returned to the hotel.

Maxwell was in the shower while I lay in my bed, staring up at the ceiling. The slight buzz I'd had for a while, but it was long passed and all that I had was the clarity of what had happened to consider the options.

Finally, my mind was made up. Pushing myself up from the mattress, I walked purposely for the bathroom. The sound of the water rushing beyond beckoned me as the door slid away at my stepping before it. Slipping inside, the wave of steamy air enveloped around me, only adding onto the heat that was already rising in my body.

Stopping before the plain glass doors of the standing stall, I could make out Duo's silhouette from behind the white cloud that was covering the panes. His upper half was propped up by his arms against the wall beneath the water that was falling on him. It looked as though he was possibly worried in thought over everything that had transpired.

Without making a sound louder than the constant whooshing that filled the room, I moved into more uncharted territory for myself by removing my clothes along the way to the stall. As I reached the steel handlebar, my heart was hammering loudly in my ears thanks to the blood rushing through them.

Sliding the door open, I stepped into the shower and closed myself in when Duo spun around to face me. Drenched as he stood frozen under the spray of water falling on him, his eyes grew as far as they could when he looked on me. Literally a wet dream of mine, I was able to take in every slick detail of his lean muscles, the fall of his long hair that clung to him like a second skin and the marks on his creamy skin that were the remains of his fight to survive over the years.

"H-Heero?" he stammered. "What are you --"

I did not give him a chance to finish his question before I closed the short distance between us. The shock of the water did little to shock me out of the hungry kiss that I claimed, our arms locking around each other and our wet skin pressing firmly together.

Sighing against my mouth as he kissed back, Maxwell shivered even in spite of the warm water that continued to fall on us. Within seconds, our grinding hips bore our strengthening hardness and I groaned at feeling just how wanton my best friend was for me.

With a whimper, Duo suddenly pulled back. Fighting to catch his breath as he regarded me, he raised a trembling hand to brush back his long bangs from his eyes. "I... I can't do this if it's just going to be a one-time thing," he told me so softly that I almost had to read his lips. The need was clear in his tone, but there was also fear.

Quatre had worried about more than his physical state. In a rush, I remembered overhearing that from Winner before we had embarked on our trip. Finally, I understood what he had meant in seeing how my partner was struggling within himself at that moment...

Duo was in love with me, too. And a breaking of his emotional being by hurting him would be more devastating than any health scare he had faced.

Biting my lip, I stepped forward again and moved to respond first through action. Slowly bending down, I closed my eyes and pressed soft kisses against every scar that I knew he was so self-conscious about. I felt and heard the gasp that filled his chest.

When I lifted my head and straightened myself, I cupped the sides of his face to lift his lowered head so that our eyes could meet. Finding his eyes reddened and filled with tears that were mixing with the shower water, my heart both broke and soared in seeing how deeply he cared for me.

Drawing in a deep breath, I heard myself reply quietly with all the sincerity in me, "I don't want this to be a one-time thing either, Duo." Every bit as shaky as he was, I said, "You mean too much to me for that."

It was just what he needed to hear.

A small smirk curled Maxwell's lips and he leaned forward to rest our foreheads together. "Then in that case... you better take me like you mean it, Yuy," he whispered huskily.

My heart rate accelerated at that and I felt that my soon-to-be lover every bit as unsteady as I was in light of our combined inexperience in the realms of such intimacy. As we leaned towards each other again to allow our bodies to guide us, Duo closed his eyes and softly urged for both my sake as well as his own, "Just breathe."

We both did.

*   *   *   *   *   *

It took some time for me to come down from the euphoric high of that night after Duo and I had completely spent ourselves to the point of collapsing in his bed. We were both panting and trembling over the last, ebbing waves of our climax.

Sighing deeply when I wrapped my arms around him and held him close, Maxwell's heavy-lidded eyes closed as he rested his head on my shoulder. Gently brushing back his sweat-dampened bangs from his brow, I pressed and held a kiss there and he snickered tiredly.

Never at any point in my life had I experienced anything as incredible as the couple hours just before.

Every expectation that I'd had surrounding what it might be like to be on such a profoundly intimate level with another person had been exceeded by leaps and miles. Of course, it was more than sex. I had just made love to my best friend. My best friend who was now my lover.

The fact that Duo had trusted me as he had was mind-reeling enough. But then to have the understanding that he might actually feel the same for me as what I discovered I felt for him... it's just indescribable what it meant to me.

Mumbling against my chest, he smirked, "Yea. You definitely took me like you meant it." I laughed quietly, needing the comic remark to break up the overwhelming emotions that were threatening to drown me before he had spoken.

I took a gentle but firm hold of his chin to raise his head towards mine for a sound kiss. "How are you feeling?" I asked once we pulled away.

Duo opened his violet eyes to me and shrugged, "A little sore, but that's to be expected." Grinning, he propped up on one elbow on the mattress to hold his head up as he added, "But I've never been happier. You?"

"The same," I smiled. Running my fingers through his long, loose hair that was blanketing us, I questioned, "When were you going to tell me that you've been in love with me?"

A blush coloring his cheeks, my lover smirked sheepishly, "When you caught up to me. I wasn't going to push you into anything that you might not want with me, no matter how bad I had it for you. Even if we only stayed friends, I would have been fine with that if it meant not risking losing you."

Just as I had thought he might fear.

Lightly running a finger over and along my chest, Duo asked, "Do you think two guys who are polar opposites like us stand a chance?"

"I don't see how we're complete polar opposites," I replied as quickly as the thought came to me. Shrugging, I commented, "We understand each other because of what we had to do during the wars and how we had to survive. There might be aspects of our personalities that might be different, but I think it's important to have a balance in those areas."

The corner of his mouth lifting, Maxwell said, "You mean we complete each other in those ways?" I nodded. It was a much better way of looking at what we had than thinking of us as unmatched when I couldn't imagine fitting so well together with anyone else.

Clicking his tongue on the roof of his mouth in consideration, Maxwell finally smiled wistfully, "I like that thought."

A quiet snicker rumbled in my chest as I cupped the side of his face and brought him back down for another kiss.

We left L516 two days later with a much better appreciation for the Colony in my heart for what it helped me learn and gain from our stay there.

*   *   *   *   *   *

One week later...

"You're getting married?!" Duo cried excitedly to the beaming couple on the control panel's com screens before out cockpit chairs.

Relena raised her left hand and wiggled her fingers as the engagement band sparkled brilliantly in the light. In all of the times that I had spent with her and Wufei, I couldn't remember a time when I had seen either of them as happy as they were in that moment to announce their big news.

Shaking his braided head, Maxwell laughed, "Well, it's about damned time! Congratulations, you two!"

I nodded, feeling my own lips curling up in a smile as I continued to stare through my own screen and offered, "Thank you for sharing this with us." And by 'us' I really meant that I was especially thankful that they had included me. Of course they would inform Duo of their engagement. The fact that they wanted me to be present truly meant a great deal to me. It seemed like the bridges that I almost burned down between us had mended. "Best wishes to the both of you."

Chang's grin warmed at that as he gave me a nod while he rested an arm around his fiancée's shoulders while she rested her head on his shoulder. Something told me that they understood perfectly well what else I was thanking them for in their acceptance of me.

"There is another reason for our call. We already have one order of business to take care of regarding our planning," Wufei informed. Focusing on the half of his screen that would be Duo's half of their split screen, he said, "Considering how you're the reason we got together in the first place, we were hoping that you would serve as my Best Man, Maxwell."

His jaw falling open, my partner stammered in surprise before he grinned widely, "Hell yea. I-I'd be honored to, Fei. Thank you." There was a shimmer in his eyes that he managed to cover up enough, but I picked up on it and chuckled to myself.

Having heard of how Relena and Chang had bonded over their taking measures to look after Duo during his recovery, I agreed that it was a most fitting role for him to play in their wedding. There would certainly be no other person alive that deserved the responsibility more.

Looking on the happy couple, I held a high regard for them not only in the love that they had found for each other but for their sacrifices in looking after my best friend. While none of his actions in doing so came as a shock where Wufei was involved, I especially admired Relena for her efforts.

The Vice-Foreign Minister had relinquished her duties every chance she could to stay at Quatre's estate where she helped Maxwell with everything from reading and talking to him when he was in his coma for hours to cleaning, brushing and braiding his hair. Through that time, the two had come to become very close.

"I knew that you wouldn't hesitate to accept," Peacecraft giggled. Winking to my braided counterpart, she asked, "Would you mind terribly if we had a moment to talk with Heero alone, Duo?"

Caught off guard at the request, I blinked widely and looked over to see my partner already nodding his head. "No problem," he replied with a pleased smirk. Pushing himself up from the passenger seat, he grinned at me and headed out through the door that opened for him. His contented expression was no doubt born out of his relief that the others were starting to actually ask to speak one-on-one to me for a change.

It was a different story for me as a wave of nervousness fell over me. There really was no telling what they wished to talk about.

Bowing my head to the pair that had focused on me, I opened as casually and calmly as I could manage, "Is there something specific you wished to discuss?"

"We just wanted to see how you have been these last few months," Relena reassured, her kind smile returning. "It's more than obvious to us that Duo is having a wonderful time out there with you. Sally is absolutely thrilled with how his health had been improving." Tilting her head, she frowned sadly, "But we only recently realized that none of us have taken the time to check in with you and we apologize for that, Heero."

Nodding, Chang added, "We also wanted to thank you for pulling our heads out of our asses enough to see what Maxwell's really needed all this time. I think there was a bit of denial on our parts that he was stronger than we had given him credit for after having to carry him as long as we had." That last sentiment was admitted with a bit of disappointment in his voice and his gaze dropped. Biting her lip, Relena ducked her head as well.

I grinned, "There's no reason to feel bad about that. I was just the one that had spent the most time with him during the wars to know what he's capable of." Peering over my shoulder to stare at the closed door that my best friend had disappeared behind, I commented softly, "He's a pretty remarkable person to have come as far as he has."

When I turned back, I just caught the glance that the engaged couple had exchanged. Their smirks and the silent conversation that they were exchanging through their eyes were abruptly ended when they realized I was watching them. Confused as to what I had said to bring about those amused looks, I brushed it aside when Relena questioned, "Well, we already know how Duo is. How are you," Heero?"

Until she pressed the question, it hadn't dawned on me that they were sincerely curious about how I was. Moved by the realization that our bridges had definitely been mended, it took a second for me to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat before I replied honestly with a small smile, "Actually... I've never been better."

Our conversation continued for a little while longer, a mutual catching up between good friends with a real naturalness to it. Our farewell and promises to keep in touch were exchanged and our connection was cut when I rose to my feet and headed off after my lover.

I was not surprised to find him in the gym working on that last bit of tone that he wanted to regain. Lying on the weight bench, he was in the middle of a press when I stepped up beside him. I gripped the dumbbell bar at the height of his lift and set it to rest in its riser.

Frowning, Duo sat up as he asked, "What's up, 'R--" He was stopped by my lips pressing firmly against his. I felt and heard his moan as he leaned into me and kissed back.

Once we pulled back to breathe again, I cupped his flushed face and breathed, "I love you." He gasped, wide-eyed at hearing those words for the first time between us.

I hadn't intentionally held them back, but this was the moment when I was most inspired to speak them... when we weren't tangled and naked beneath the sheets of our now shared bed following one of our many love-making sessions up to then. Those words would have been expected then.

No. They needed to come for the first time when neither of us were prepared for them -- when we were just going about our lives and still loving each other. And I was glad to be the first one to speak them out loud.

The way that my best friend's eyes grew with a hint of a shimmer to them, it was clear that the sentiment had made the right impact. I did not have a second to ready myself for the 'assault' of a heated kiss that he swooped up for in the blink of an eye.

Chuckling against his mouth, I allowed Duo to pull me back towards our bedroom so that he could have his way with me.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Days became weeks and weeks turned into more months into our road trip, not that either of us were really paying any mind to the time that passed since it didn't matter how long we were away. However, Maxwell did take note of what holidays were rolling around so that we would be in the best location to celebrate them.

For Halloween, I gave into my lover's begging to dress up during our stay at L483. As one of the most populated Colonies, it really was a sight to be a part of both the dozens of costume parties in any one town and the handing out of candy to the children that made their rounds. So with myself dressed in a Vampire costume and Duo as the Grim Reaper, we blended in with the community to be a part of their festivities.

Once again, I had been shown a simple joy in releasing my reserves. During that long weekend, I developed a fondness for caramel apples. My partner taught me the importance of having a 'good bowl' of candy for the smaller children and the 'bad bowl' of throw away treats for the teenagers that didn't bother to dress up.

Mentally noting that brilliant idea, I was going to make sure to use that in the future whenever we returned to a home of our own that would be visited by trick-or-treaters.

That thought eventually caught back up with me one evening at the inevitable question...

"What's going to happen to us when this trip is over?" Duo asked quietly.

I was surprised that he beat me to that one while we took advantage of the Colony's beautiful view of the heavens from the countryside beyond where we were staying.

Turning my head to meet his gaze, my eyes quickly adjusted to the dim light of the stars and moon over us to see him clearly. I shrugged nonchalantly against the grassy hill that we were lying back against and answered, "We decide where we want to settle down and make a home together there. I have enough funds to support us for a long time, possibly the rest of our lives if we stretched it out. But there's the option of thinking out what line of work we might want to take up as well if we want to have careers."

Snorting, my braided partner smirked, "Figures you would make it sound so simple. You always have the logical breakdown for everything." There was a relief in his violet eyes and smile despite his light teasing. Reaching out between us, he took my hand and squeezed it. "So you really want to play house with me?"

"Well, I don't plan on ever being away from you again," I responded. "Eventually, we're going to have to settle down. But that'll only happen when you're ready."

Duo straddled my waist in one swift motion and lowered himself down for a lingering kiss. Pulling back up, he smiled, "I love you, Heero. Thank you. All of that sounds... really damn good to me."

I smirked up at him and nodded in agreement, lightly rubbing his legs at either side of me. Biting his lip in thought, he finally commented, "Maybe we could hit a couple more spots before we head back to Earth. We'd be able to make it back in time for Thanksgiving with the others by then."

Folding my arms together to pillow my head on them, I grinned, "I like that plan."

I really did.

"We could announce to them our plans to get our own place then." Overcome by his excitement, Maxwell dropped back down for a much more heated kiss that I started to laugh into before his tongue did that certain something that always left me moaning.

*   *   *   *   *   *

While most other Colonies were seasonably lowering their atmospheric temperatures to have a crisp air to them that mid-fall, L839 was a consistent 75-degrees to support its attractions.

A sprawling land of man-made lakes, mountains and forests, it was the perfect resort for anyone who had a love for outdoor activities such as Duo and myself. There were countless bike and foot trails for us to get lost on. At night, we camped under the stars and reminisced over our rugged adventures during the wars.

After a couple of days at the resort, we had managed to see all the main attractions that were offered and had done nearly everything that there was to do. Like every morning since arriving on the Colony, Maxwell and I changed into our athletic tanks, shorts and sneakers to hike out and watch the artificial sunrise. That walk became a full-out run when my lover decided to take off ahead of me without warning with a shouted, "Race you to the rocks!"

Smirking, I gave him a good charge. Rounding the trees and hitting the winding path as fast as could, the significance of the moment hadn't caught up with me until we broke through the forest.

Duo stopped a few yards ahead of me on top of the rocky cliffs that overlooked the river below; my partner was laughing as he spun to face me with a wide and elated smile on his face.

Off in the distance behind him, more man-made cliffs rose miles high overhead while a great waterfall ran off its sides. In the brightening lights of the 'sunrise,' a wide rainbow climbed upward from the cascading drops.

I froze and stared openly at my best friend when it dawned on me... Duo was running... when weeks ago he wouldn't have been able to go a quarter as far or as fast as he had. When had he regained all of his tone again? At what point did that spark in his violet eyes return?

Everything about him was the Duo Maxwell as I had remembered before I'd left and I never even realized that he was back until then. Of course, that was because he had never really been gone in the first place.

Our road trip had been set so that I could help my best friend find himself. Except something even more remarkable had come out of it...

...I had discovered myself along the way.

He was absolutely beautiful. No, he was more beautiful now than in any memory I'd had of him from before.

Frowning, Maxwell lowered the arms that he had raised into the air in celebration. "Heero? What's wrong?" he asked in concern. I blinked at the question and felt a couple of tears that I hadn't acknowledged roll down my face.

"There's nothing wrong," my crackling voice whispered with a breathy laugh as I shook my head. Closing the distance between us, I held Duo close and poured all of my love and appreciation into the deep kiss that I gave him.

Whatever nervousness he might have had melted along with his body as he sighed into the exchange. When I pulled back and rested our foreheads together, I smiled, "Everything's perfect." A wide, relieved smile tugged at his lips and he leaned into my hand that had moved to cup his cheek.

Slowly turning away to gesture to the rock formations in the distance, my lover smirked, "What do you say to a climb to see what kind of view we get up on those peaks? I promise to take it easy on the way up."

I nodded, "Alright. Let's get back to our camp and get the gear together." Taking a firm hold on his hand, I could feel myself practically glowing from the revelation that I had made. I really had taken the long way around in finding who I am... but I was well on the way in getting there thanks to Duo.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Tethered together by thick ropes, I gave my partner a slight lead in our ascension up one of the steeper mountainsides. With his gloved hands making careful work in finding the next solid grip that could hold him, he pulled himself up with the main support line that was secured over a jutting ledge of a line of stone high over our heads.

Not far below him, I was comfortable keeping an eye on him from where I was close enough to lend a hand should he need it. But from the way he looked and held up more than half-way up the cliffs, I didn't think that he was going to need me before we reached the top.

"Not the tallest cliff... we could have taken... but... this is... a helluva lot taller than it looked... below," Maxwell chuckled between his pants for air when he paused to look down at me. "Just a couple more tie offs and we'll be at the top."

Smiling up at him as I gripped my part of the wall, I nodded, "We're making great timing, then. We'll have camp set up there long before it starts to get dark again. Just take your time." Freeing a hand to adjust the straps of his own backpack, my partner grinned an affirmative back and lifted his head once more to resume the climb.

For the next several feet up, my focus was so trained on how Duo was that I lost track of where I was... until I set all of my weight on an unstable slab that I had failed to test out.

As soon as I set myself on there, my balance was such that it was the only place I could settle, there was a quiet groan from the rock and the slightest shift before it started to give way.

My eyes widening and closing at the dread of what was about to come with nowhere close for me to catch myself, I reached for the gear belt at my hip and felt the ground beneath me completely fall out.

What came next seemed to happen in both a blink and an eternity at the same time. The jolt from the main rope that we shared in its catching me was enough to wrench my waist and I bounced before swinging in midair nearly 1400 feet from the ground. Duo cried out at suddenly being pulled down and struggled to take me on as he gripped the ledge that he had perched on.

Finally able to look down on me as I held onto one ridge with my fingernails, he cried at the sight of the long blade in my hand that I had pulled from its sheath just before our shared rope suspended me. "Heero, no!" he screamed tears clouded his wide eyes.

But my decision was already made up in what I was going to do. If there was any chance of my best friend surviving, time was short for me to act. Unable to take his pale, panicked face in, I reached up and cut through my support rope.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Blackness was all that I knew for what seemed like the longest time after I fell.

Occasionally, there would be voices in the distance that I could pick up but I could not place who was speaking or what they were saying. Convinced that I was in some form of afterlife, it was all very strange to me that I was unable to see or understand anything around me. Movement was out of the question as every inch of my body felt as though it was being held down.

Then, finally, I regained enough strength to open my eyes with a groan when a scorching shot of pain burned through me. All at once, my senses returned to me, the bright light that was shining down on me pierced my head and make me wince until my sight could adjust to the abrupt change after being in pitch darkness for so long.

My attempt to turn my head only brought on another surge of discomfort that ran down the length of my neck down to the bottom of my spine and I couldn't help the whimper that it brought on.

A hand fell on my left shoulder as a voice urged softly, "Try to not move too much if you can help it, Heero. Your body's been through a hell of a shock."

Blinking widely at recognizing that timbre, I carefully turned towards my left to find what was easily one of the last faces I would have expected to see. "T-Trowa?" I croaked out, my throat screaming for relief in the form of liquid.

Quickly reaching over for a cup from the table beside him, he poured a glass of water and helped me sit up just enough to take a few sips. At being bent up like that, I was able to take in the casts on my right leg as well as the one that covered the better part of my pelvis. What parts of the rest of me were not covered by blankets or my blue medical gown were covered in different colored bruises.

That was all that I needed to see for my confusion to put together what had happened...

Of course. I had fallen who knew how far for how long before obviously making contact with anything solid enough to stop me. Duo's horrified expression filled my mind and I could now hear what had been the steady beeping of my heart monitor pick up to a rapid race. God, had he been hurt? Did I free myself in time for him to be able to pull himself to safety?

As the cup was removed from my mouth, I reached for Barton's shirt to grip it in a tight fist. "Duo?" I demanded, hearing the worry that was no doubt on my face as I looked up at my lone visitor.

"He's fine," Trowa reassured, a small smile on his face as he aided me to lie back down flat on the mattress beneath me. "And he also needed some real sleep in a bed after being here day and night for almost a week by the time the rest of us got here as quickly as we possibly could. He fought with us, but I think that he was too tired to argue forever. Quatre, Wufei, Relena, Sally and I have been on rotating shifts ever since we arrived."

Duo was safe. Closing my eyes and thanking whatever Deity was listening, I released a deep sigh of the breath that I had been holding. Whatever had happened to me did not matter in the slightest to me. If anything had happened to him when I had the power to protect him, I never would have been able to live with myself.

Back in his chair as he ran his green eyes over me, he huffed, "And here I thought that your days of self-destructing were over."

I laughed softly, unwilling to shake my body too much and cause any more pain than I was already in. "Yea," I sighed, wincing a bit at the rattling that it caused in my chest. "And it still hurts like hell." Barton laughed fully for me at that, his head falling back and eyes closing.

The nurse that had been paged as I was coming to rushed in to jot down her findings while I was filled in on my luck to have dropped onto one of the ledges that kept me from falling straight to the ground. Had it not been for that and the speed of the rescue crew that Duo had called in to bring me to the hospital, I wouldn't have gotten away with the surprisingly short list of internal wounds and broken bones that I'd earned.

As it was, I had lost two whole weeks while under the influence of medicines that kept me from being alert for the worst of my recovery. And it would be another few weeks before the casts would come off followed by more time for rehabilitation in regaining my mobility. But all things considered, to say that I was damned lucky was a great understatement.

There was not a lot more that could be discussed between me and Barton. The nurse had added another cocktail of pain killers that had me drifting from the world again.

*   *   *   *   *   *

When I came to again some hours later, I noticed that it was dark beyond the opened blinds of the only window in my room. I also realized that my right hand was gripping a thick braid. Biting my lip when I turned my head to find Duo with his head facing towards me while he slept with his head pillowed on his folded arms as he leaned against the side of my bed, there was no helping the tears that filled my eyes.

Just as Trowa had assured me, my lover was perfectly fine other than looking exhausted even in his unconscious state. I could already imagine his insistence to the rest of our friends that he stay by my side until I woke up again once Barton had reported my earlier state of alertness as my hand tightened around the hair that he must have placed in my palm to let me know he was with me.

Sighing softly, Maxwell's violet eyes blinked open and widened when they cleared and locked onto my own gaze. In a quick bound forward, he threw his arms around my neck with a broken sob and rained kisses on my face. "Jezus, 'Ro, don't you ever scare me like that again," he snapped every bit as much as he begged while returning to his chair, shifting it closer to my head.

"I had to," was all that I could reply, my voice being too thick with emotion. "You would have gone down with me if you tried to pull me up." Hurt crossed my partner's face, but it was more out of his frustration that he knew I was right. The fact that he never bothered to argue told me as much. Clearing his throat, he stared down at the floor and nodded shallowly while taking my hand to squeeze it.

The companionable silence between us began to drag on and so I tried to fill it, frowning, "Quatre's going to kill me, isn't he?"

And just like that, the last of Duo's tension faded as he laughed at me, "No. Granted, when he first heard about what happened, he wasn't thrilled that you had agreed to let me rock climb."

Just as I had suspected.

I had given Winner my word that nothing would happen to his braided friend while he was in my care. And here we were, caught doing something risky that landed one of us in the hospital.

"Don't worry," I was told with a wink, "I managed to calm him down pretty quickly once he actually noticed how I've changed since he last saw me." Frowning, Maxwell continued, "He's been more concerned over you than anything, like the rest of us..."

He began to say more, but my eyelids were fighting to close on me again. Chuckling softly, my best friend ran a hand through my bangs and reassured, "Get some sleep, 'Ro. I'm on watch tonight."

That phrase that had been used countless times between us worked every bit as well now in lowering my defenses and allowing myself to be taken into a another deep sleep.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Over the next couple of days, I was in and out of consciousness while coming off the effects of the medication. Every time I returned to the world, there was a different face to greet me back. The only person that I didn't see was Quatre.

Whether that was because he was no longer stopping in or I was not awake for when he was I wasn't sure and I didn't ask in case it might be a sore subject. He was on the Colony and his presence would be a comfort to Duo, so I was grateful for that.

Sally pulled her Preventer rank on the hospital staff to be my primary doctor much to the relief of the regular physicians who recognized me and did not want to be liable for my care.

When Relena was not video conferencing into meetings or staying with me, she was taking care of Maxwell to prevent him from neglecting his own needs. Giggling during one of her visits, she told me how she helped brush out his hair and braid it for old time's sake when it was beginning to rat on him.

It was especially moving to think of how every member of our 'functioning family of dysfunctional people,' as my partner called us, had dropped everything that they were doing to be with me.

Duo did his best to be by my side as often as he could, but I eventually talked him into taking better care of himself since I was out of danger. My hint to him that the others might start babying him again if he lost more sleep than he already had had him practically running from my room to keep that from happening.

By the end of the week, my dosages of medications were pulled back and so I was able to be alert from 'sun' up to 'sun' down. I was able to sit up again and move a bit without causing myself intense pain. After a full two weeks at the hospital, I was deemed as safe to move. Sally had pushed up my release date, fully knowing that I was better off being away from the same four walls that I had been staring at for far too long.

Trowa and Duo worked together to set me into the wheelchair that would be my mode of transportation until I began my rehabilitation. Arriving at the estate that Winner had rented out so that we could all be together, it was the first time I had seen the Arabian since leaving for the road trip. There was a tight smile on his face when he saw me that I didn't try to interpret. Giving me a nod, he stepped away without a word.

Standing beside me, I heard my partner sigh as he shook his head. "Give him time," Barton requested softly at my other side. "He's probably the most proud of all of us when it comes to how he handles our relationships." I was only all the more confused by the comment, but was too worried about stepping where I shouldn't by asking something I shouldn't and let the matter drop.

I was already lucky to have the camaraderie I did in having everyone around at a time that I needed them most even after I had caused a major offense by removing myself from their lives for so long. Anything that might risk me being the one walked out on was not a chance I was willing to make.

Thrilled to be able to move along on my own willpower, even if it was with the aid of a wheelchair, I was able to focus on what I needed to do to speed my recovery.

And the companionship of the others around me was so natural that one would never have known that there had ever been tension between us in the past... with the exception of Quatre's walking on eggshells demeanor whenever we were in the same room or at the table for a meal together.

My first night at the estate ended with Trowa assisting Duo once more in lifting me from my chair to settle me onto my new bed. Considerably more comfortable than the mattress that I had been lying on for two weeks in the hospital, I sighed deeply the moment I was sinking into it.

Barton snickered and squeezed my shoulder before heading for the door. On his way passed the retired God of Death, he smiled as they exchanged a one-armed embrace.

"Thanks, 'brother,'" Maxwell said quietly with a firm slap to our fellow pilot's back. Offering a 'good night' to the two of us, Trowa stepped from the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

Shoulders sagging heavily, Duo released a deep sigh and dry-washed his face with his hands. Meeting my gaze when his dark-circled eyes fell on me again, he smiled tiredly, "It's... really damned good to have you back, 'Ro." I returned the smile and nodded firmly as I patted the open space on the mattress beside me. Quickly stripping down to his boxers and turning the light out, he did not hesitate to accept the invitation and slipped under the light covers with me.

Once I had my lover curled up against my side with his head on my shoulder, I draped my good arm around him and kissed his forehead. "I've learned a few things about Heero Yuy," I shared in a whisper.

In the dim natural light that was seeping into the room, I was able to make out Maxwell's face as it shot up to take me in. Blinking his wide eyes, he smirked, "Oh, yea?" Folding his hands together on my shoulder, he propped his chin on them and asked, "What did you learn about him?"

Smirking back, I replied, "He enjoys snowball fights, fireworks and root beer floats. He's actually a pretty good dancer and doesn't mind a few kisses in public."

Duo hummed in agreement and snuggled closer against me as he silently urged me to go on, his eyes taking on a bit of a shimmer. "Heero is easily awed over of a lot of the little things that most people take for granted like a fresh snowfall and rainbows. He likes flying kites, roller coasters and jumping in puddles in the rain without caring about getting wet or muddy."

I drew a deep breath and continued, "Since the wars, his favorite color has always been the violet that the sky gets when the sun is almost at its lowest point when it's setting because it's always reminded him of someone." There was a soft gasp at that as a stray tear rolled down my partner's cheek. I reached over to wipe it away before I concluded in a breath, "And loves Duo Maxwell more than anything in life."

My lips were claimed in a heated kiss, the likes of which had my head spinning. When he pulled back, my lover whispered down to me, "I love you... so damned much." Smiling through his tears, he said softly, "It's really nice to meet you, Heero."

Chuckling quietly, I held him against me as he lowered himself back down. Emotionally and physically exhausted, we were both out not long after that.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went with our 'family' all together to enjoy the holidays. While it might not have been under the most ideal of situations, being stuck on a Colony until I was able to be moved, it was oddly... perfect in its own way. Even Quatre had come around by then to talk to me with the same easiness as the others.

When my casts came off, the loss of my muscles and strength was a bit of a frustration. But it was such a relief not needing those plaster encasings anymore.

Duo was always by my side, helping me through my physical therapy and giving me a hand around the estate. Of course, there was the irony of how our roles had reversed since our reunion. I was used to being his crutch only months ago and here he was being my support.

It didn't take long for us to figure out some... creative ways of sating our libidos by resuming our intimacy in the bedroom. And having that connection back with Maxwell meant a great deal in lifting my spirits.

Once my rehabilitation began to pay off and I became less dependent on them, our friends slowly but surely filtered back to their lives and homes.

Wufei and Relena were the first to have their duties call them back. With embraces and promises to keep up on my progress, they teased me in particular by saying that it was about damned time I realized the feelings I'd had for Duo when everyone else could see it. So, that explained the amused glance they'd shared during our call not long ago.

Sally entrusted my therapists to the rest of my care. Giving me her own lists of 'do's' and 'don'ts,' she kissed my cheek and winked with that knowing smile of hers when she gestured to my partner. "I knew that you would be the best medicine for him," she confided before gathering her bags and heading out.

The following late afternoon, Trowa and Quatre had their belongings packed away in preparation for their departure. While Barton gave Rashid a hand in getting their bags into their rented car, I watched from the front porch when Winner stepped outside to join me. Standing to my left, he stared ahead and stated in little more than a whisper, "I own you an apology, Heero."

Surprised and confused by that, I shook my head to him with a deep frown. Before I could ask what he was referring to, Quatre's expression deepened into a profoundly sad, disappointed look as he explained, "I handled myself terribly towards you when you came back to see us. To be honest, I'd never felt a rage like I did that day... and it was towards a friend of mine." He shuddered, seeming unable to go on for a moment.

"You had every reason to be upset with me," I was quick to reassure. "I deserted you all without a warning or a word of contact or explanation while I was away and I know now how badly that must have hurt --"

Winner smirked, "Let me own my part in how I reacted, Heero. Yes, I was hurt... we all were, but that does not excuse how I treated you. I should have known more than anyone what a confused and uncertain person you were since I could feel it the times we worked close together during the wars."

Running a hand through his hair, he winced at the memory, commenting, "There was no direction or sense of belonging in you. If I had taken a second to pay more attention to what I picked up on you at your return, I would have noticed the start of that change. Instead, I was so hung up on those ten damned years we'd lost that I never gathered it."

So this was the reason for the awkwardness between us since I woke up in the hospital... that was what Trowa meant when he told Duo to remember our Arabian friend's pride in his relations with us. Hell, it was the same reason to why I never in a million years would have been prepared for the punch I'd received from him.

He always had that unique ability to understand us empathically and with that, he knew how to treat us at any given moment. Now he was ashamed in allowing his own feelings to get the better of him.

Taking a deep breath, Quatre stared back ahead to watch our lovers talk in the driveway as he went on, "I didn't trust you with Duo when you suggested this trip. Aside from what he was dealing with physically, I was certain that you would find a way to devastate any hope he had in keeping some kind of bond with you. That... more than anything bothers me. I knew what was in your heart, but I still doubted your ability to see it for yourself."

Very slowly turning his head back to meet my gaze again, he told me quietly, "I hope that you can forgive me for that because I truly am sorry for ever questioning such a thing. More than anyone else, I should have known that you were capable of understanding your emotions and how to act on them. I shouldn't have acted like you were some machine, the way so many others have always thought of you. Duo never saw you as anything but the person you are and he doesn't have my talent."

I swallowed roughly at that and peered out to my partner, silently awing over him and his faith in me that had never waived from the day we first met. "Have you looked at him lately?" I heard Winner ask. "I mean really looked at him?"

Smiling as I continued to stare at my best friend, I responded, "Yea. He's back to his old form..." I shook my head, "No, actually he's in better shape than he's ever been in. He's the one who deserves the credit for that, though. He really pushed himself back to health --" From the corner of my eye, I noticed the blonde at my side shaking his head and looked back to him.

"That's not what I'm referring to," Quatre smiled in amusement. "Yes, Duo's physical recovery is remarkable, but that's only a result of how happy he is. And that's what I'm getting at. He's the happiest that I have ever known him to be... and there is only you to thank for that, Heero." Blinking, I felt the slight sting that filled my eyes at that compliment.

Being told that I had anything to do with Maxwell's happiness... words cannot express how much that meant to me.

After a long pause, Winner cleared his throat and brushed away the stray tear that was about to roll down his face. "Well," he sighed with a grin, "I just wanted to thank you, as well as tell you how sorry I was for how things have been between us. It's wonderful to have you back in our lives again..." Gesturing to Duo, he added, "...to have both of you back again."

I smiled and exchanged a one-armed embrace with him, unable to express my gratitude in any other way. "I've been meaning to compliment you on your right hook," I snickered in my attempt to lighten the air as we pulled back. His head falling back, my friend laughed.

Once he pulled himself back together, Quatre smiled, "Good to see more of the Heero Yuy I knew was in there." Patting my arm, he requested, "This time, don't be a stranger to us again."

"Never," I vowed without hesitation. Under no circumstances did I ever intend to revert to my old ways. And that promise was every bit as much for Duo and our friends as it was for myself.

Slapping my back, Winner smirked, "Good. I wish you a speedy recovery and the two of you a safe trip back whenever you decide to come back to Earth." Our farewells were exchanged and Trowa waved to me when his lover returned to his side. I smiled and waved back as my partner returned to my side.

As the car pulled out of the long driveway, Duo asked almost nervously, "So, what did Quat have to say --" I cut him off by spinning to catch him up as tightly as my weakened arms would allow and kissed him deeply. My message that the discussion did not matter seemed to get across when he held me back just as fiercely while returning the exchange.

Completely dropping the subject he had started, Maxwell purred, "Nice." Resting his head on my shoulder, he smirked, "Let's get inside. It's starting to get chilly out here and I don't want you getting sick." Another example of that twist of fate -- his being the caretaker and my being the patient.

Taking the suggestion in stride, I grinned, "Yea, yea, yea." I tugged on the end of his braid, but stayed where we stood to ask, "Have you ever given any thought as to what you want to do when I'm finished with my therapy sessions in a few more weeks?"

Duo raised his head so that his violet eyes could settle on my gaze and he took a moment to consider before answering, "I wouldn't mind going home... wherever we both decide to make."

The corner of his mouth curling up, he shrugged, "But maybe we could take the long way back before we get there? I wouldn't mind discovering more about Heero Yuy along the way to settling down since I'm sure you still know some pretty amazing sites."

"Ah. The scenic route," I snickered, already loving the idea. Nodding firmly, I grinned, "We can do that." I was rewarded with another round of deep kisses between whispered, 'I love you's.'

My heart was warmed by the thought of never having to take another such journey alone again. And I couldn't have asked for a better person to share the experience with. There was much more to me that I needed to find... only I no longer feared the prospect as I had in the past.

I looked forward to taking that long road.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Tonight, as I reflect back on those days, I feel a familiar presence behind before his arms even wrap around my waist. "Hey, love," Duo's warm voice greets me and a soft kiss is pressed against the back of my neck. Automatically, my whole body leans back against his with a deep chuckle that rumbles from deep in my chest.

"Happy anniversary, koi," I whisper as my eyes drift closed.

A soft hum filly my ears before my husband of five years to the day breaths, "Happy anniversary, 'Ro."

Opening my eyes once more, I take in the matching wedding bands on our linked fingers before I gaze ahead to the water of blue and lavender that stretched out before our home on L290.

It had been a long journey before we both knew where we wanted to spend the rest of our days together. And neither of us could be happier with our choice. This was where I first realized my true feelings for Duo... the same that I had been evading along my years of wandering.

No longer walking through life alone, we both have so much to look forward to now. And from this point on, we will only have happy occasions and anniversaries to celebrate.

So, in many ways we have settled down. But as we watch the millions of stars flooding the darkening sky, I also know that in many ways... we'll never actually touch the ground.

OWARI

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