*Ring!* * Ring!*

Duo's eyes scrunched shut against the threads of light warming his face but couldn't seem to escape the persistent noise.

*Ring!* *Ring!*

"Heero? Quat? Get the damn phone already!" Duo groaned into his plush pillow, pulling the green quilt higher on his chest. His mind jerked a second, trying to think why he had a green quilt instead of his dark blue comforter, but the heavy tug of sleep quickly derailed that train of thought.

*Ring!* *Ring!*

"Duo??" The boy cracked his eye open. That voice was not Heero. Who the Hell was it and why weren't they answering that annoying phone? "You're going to be late!"

"Late?" Blue-violet eyes snapped open as a flood of memories rushed in. The white plastic clock rang once again before a strong hand slapped the dial, displaying the fated hour. "LATE?!"

The once-upon-a-time God of Death flung dignity to the wind as he wrenched on his jeans, a clean shirt and his boots in a flurry of frizzed chestnut hair. Five minutes later the boy threw himself down the stairs, trusting in his instincts to not miss a step as he balanced a nylon bag in one hand and a stack of books and papers in the other.

"Du--! Oh, there you are, sweetie!" Rebecca Brighton smiled warmly as the boy stumbled into the kitchen. "Slept in a bit, huh?" The pretty, middle-aged woman looked him over with a professional eye before twirling a finger to the half-panicked young man. Duo caught the hint and, with a dubious glance, turned around. After a few quick, efficient tugs he faced her again, long hair redone in a neat plait.

Duo blushed under the woman's attentions, "Uh, thanks."

"No problem. You do have two sisters and a mother now, you know," fixing his shirt collar and brushing off imaginary lint. She smiled slyly at his discomfort, "You'll never need for hair ties in this house."

"He'll need a tardy slip if he doesn't hurry up," Tamara drawled from the backdoor. Duo smirked internally at his sister's forward, no-guff attitude. It reminded him of a feminine Wufei. "Come on, Duo. Don't wanna be late for your first day, do ya?"

Okay, a feminine Wufei with a slight American accent and brilliant red hair.

"See ya later," Duo called back to Rebecca as he jogged to catch up to her fiery daughter. "So, uh, Tamara, which way?"

The girl smirked in response, "It's about a quarter of a mile north. Ya do know which way north is right, *space boy*?"

Duo smiled sweetly and replied with a sarcastic, "Up?"

Tamara snorted and gave his arm a friendly punch. "Yeah, you'll fit in just fine 'round here, *uh*, Duo."

The pilot let out a soft sigh as the red-head relaxed before his eyes. He had met the girl barely five days prior and they still fumbled their way around each other. The same went for the rest of the Brighton family, though they tried to hide it.

His step-mother was the best at their little act, accepting the newest and oldest addition to their group of children without batting an eye. Mrs. Alex Brighton seemed to simply absorb Duo into her life, to the point where he felt she was *too* motherly. But then again, he didn't know how a mother should act in the first place, so he blushed and allowed the smothering attention to flow over him.

His step-sisters, Tamara and Stephanie, were close to his own age, Tamara being two months shy of his estimated birthday and Stephanie a year behind them. At first their guarded looks and seemingly quiet demeanor made him feel like he was a three-eyed alien that just *happened* to look like their dad, but they grew more and more friendly as time had passed. Mostly thanks to his father's sense of humor and relaxed attitude.

*His father*. It was still a little strange for the braided boy to think of that phrase. Alex Brighton hadn't tripped over himself to make Duo feel comfortable, he just let things play themselves out naturally; as if Duo had *always* been there, not just appearing out of the blue. Duo didn't buy the act for several reasons, all of which he kept to himself.

As the Shinigami he had worn many masks in his life and because of that he could judge a person's emotions by what wasn't eluded to. He could see the pained looks, the regret, the frustration of the deep blue eyes set in the heart-shaped face, as well as a growing warmth and trust.

~We've told them as little as possible; everything about your life as a Gundam pilot or a Preventer Agent is still highly classified. Anything more than the bare facts are up to your own discretion.~

~Understood.~

His father obviously knew there were secrets surrounding his long-lost son. The man was friendly, not stupid. The boy had lived on the streets of the most brutal place man had ever created, showed up after sixteen years in a DNA test run by the Preventer's top brass, and had been flown with first-class accommodations halfway around the world before the ink on the adoption papers had dried. Duo was surprised he had kept the facade of normality--with no questions--so far.

Duo had a feeling the act wasn't for his sake, but more for Tim. Timothy Randall Brighton, his younger brother. An exuberant, but frail-looking ten year old who had stolen the heart of the thief-turned-soldier before they even met. Skin of palest cream and eyes a glinting sky blue from his mother's Irish heritage, but the thick chestnut locks that framed the thin face clearly belong to his--their--father. The child's eyes were the only set that took the braided boy in without hesitation, looking up to the stranger with adoration and hope.

~...Duo??~

~Yeah?~

~You have a half-brother.~

~WHAT?!!~

~Timothy, he's the son of Alex and Rebecca. Their son...oh, God...~

"Earth to DUO! Hey, *space boy*!" Tamara yelled in his ear.

"Yeah, I heard ya already!" Duo rubbed his ear in feigned pain. "What is it?"

"We're here, space case," the red head laughed, motioning to several large, squat buildings. "Welcome to Jefferson High School. Best public egduamication in the county!" she joked with an outrageous hillbilly accent.

"That's it?" the blue-violet eyes traveled over the ancient, brick and white mortar structure with apprehension. He'd hacked into much better looking schools to annoy Heero during their missions. His step-sister mistook his question and grinned.

"That's it. Welcome to the void that will suck your brain dry. The teachers here are hell bent on driving the students mad with homework and tests, so kiss your free-time bye-bye," the girl tugged on his arm, pulling him into the nearest entrance. "Your classes are already assigned, you'll have homeroom with me--it's history, so don't fall asleep--then beginning PC programming, freshman English, geometry, and finally gym. From what I've heard the teachers are going to test you in each class to see if you'll need any...extra help."

"Woah, wait a minute!" Duo grabbed her shoulder, turning the girl to him in confusion. "*'Extra help?'*"

Tamara looked away with a shrug. "They don't have any past records to go on, and because you were living..." His step-sister voice trailed off, leaving the rest to his imagination.

"I see," the boy took the tail of his hair in a vice-like grip, "so because I lived on the streets they think I'm an idiot."

"Duo, don't be mad," the girl pleaded at the angered visage. "Ma and Dad went through a lot to make sure the school board let you have even this. It's a start at least. I know you're not stupid, but the high-muckety-mucks need proof," the blue eyes flashed wickedly, "so knock the socks off 'em!"

So Duo sighed and resigned himself to the inevitable. Mission Accepted...God, he missed those guys.

Six hours, one lunch period, and a large battery of tests later the braided boy stomped off the school grounds death-glaring at anything in his path. Tamara had tried to catch his attention, but fell back at the sight of the flushed face and blazing amethyst eyes.

The scowl stayed in place as he brushed past his parents, climbed the stairs, slammed his bedroom door open, and then slammed it shut. Duo's hands shook with rage as he attempted to twist his face into a calm mask. When that failed he tried a different approach. "Fuck! *Idiot*! Damn! *K'so*! Baka! Son of a BITCH!"

"Duo?! Is something wrong?" His father knocked softly on the door before stepping into the room. Genuine concern flooded the midnight blue eyes as the older man reached out to calm the boy down. Duo pulled back, hissing.

"I knew this wouldn't work. I shouldn't be here in the first place," the boy stated harshly. The violet eyes were still narrowed and, if looks could kill, were trying to burn a hole in the floor with the glare.

"Sweetie, what happened?" Rebecca questioned carefully, sweeping into the room to stand by her husband.

Duo finally looked up, blank-faced, to study the couple. His father's hurt expression didn't touch him through his mask, nor did Rebecca's soulful eyes; both blue pairs asking a million silent questions, offering comfort, but also guarding confusion and fear. "Call Preventer Headquarters. Use my name. I'm going back."

"Duo, son--"

"But sweetheart,--"

"No!" Duo's head snapped up and he met the teary eyes of the third speaker, the creamy skin was pale in unbridled fear. Tim's thin frame shook as he searched his older brother's face. "No, you can't leave, Duo. You *can't*!"

The soldier's mask broke under the accusatory gaze of the ten year old and Duo drew a ragged breath, facing the small, distraught face. "Tim, I'm not --"

"NO!" Tears burst out as the boy shook his head. "You promised you'd stay! You said you would..." The braided boy stood helpless as Tim gave one last sob before sprinting down the hall.

He started to move towards the door to follow, but a strong hand gripped his shoulder, "Rebecca will make sure he's okay." The woman nodded, glancing between the two men before disappearing after her youngest son. "Now, Duo, please tell me what happened."

The stern gaze was enough to tell Duo that he wasn't going to let the matter drop. "I don't belong here. You may be my biological father, but you have no idea who I am because who I really am is classified. I've seen things--done things--that you couldn't imagine. Because of them I--" Duo looked his father in the eyes, letting his face soften as he spoke, "--I'll never be a normal kid. Please understand, my presence here could even put you in danger and I don't want that. Make the call, ask for Commander Lady Une; she'll take care of the paperwork."

Saying his share, Duo turned his back and started gathering his belongings, stuffing them in the old leather suitcase as his father stood in silence, watching. Casting the boy one last heartbroken look, Alex left the room to make a phone call.

~Son, I'd like you to meet your family. Rebecca, my wife. These *lovely* girls are your step-sisters, Tamara--she'll be going to school with you--and Stephanie. Be careful, they bite.~

~*Two voices protested* Hey!~

~And *this* strapping young man is my youngest son, your half-brother, Tim.~

~Hello.~

~Hiya, Tim. What's up?~

~Are you really gonna stay?~

~Yup, you're stuck with me.~

~Good.~

Duo stared down at the half-filled bag laying on the bed, wondering where he would be heading next. Now that his two families--one of flesh and one of friends--were both denied to him by his past and a discriminating law.

God, his life was one fall after another, with only brief moments of peace slipping through the cracks before he was sucked back into the void. The plague, the bombing, the wars--the void of death always crept up on him when he was most happy. Not this time, though.

"Space boy?" Tamara asked quietly, slipping into the room and shutting the door behind her.

"Guess we won't be having homeroom together after all," Duo joked bitterly. The girl answered with silence, waiting for him to break. Wufei, your soul mate is in Oklahoma. "I'd only cause trouble, Tamara. There is so much you don't know about me."

"I know that you're tearing my family apart when we've opened our hearts to you," the girl shot back. Anger boiled back into the boy's mind. "Just tell me why *now*. After these last few days, why *now*?"

"I was kidding myself, letting this fairy-tale carry me away," the violet eyed boy sighed, fighting back his frustration and pain, "but there's no happily-ever-after in this world."

"You're not even trying," she accused.

"I have," he countered, catching her angry face with his flat gaze, "you have no idea how I've tried. I haven't checked the perimeter before going to bed. I've kept myself from reaching for a pistol at every unfamiliar sound. I didn't even hack the school computer to falsify my background. Though, I really wish I had done that last one."

The sheltered girl tried to brush off his confession, but her eyes were shadowed with doubt and fear, just like her parents' had been moments before. "Duo, please, you don't know what you mean to us."

The boy's eyes flared violet, "I know exactly what. That's only another good reason for me to go." He coldly brushed past the girl, showing no sign of regret as her blue eyes also filled with tears.