Betaed by Skippyscatt

Trowa read the report with a smirk. This was going to work out quite well. Quarte was so innocent looking that most people forgot that he was master of a multibillion credit, multi colony corporation that produced everything from conveyances of all kinds to 'slykalyon' stockings and makeup. He went to tell his lover that things were going as expected.

Quatre rubbed his forehead tiredly when Trowa spoke to him.

"This is all so unnecessary. All they . . . bunch of fools. " Quatre snarled with an uncharacteristically savage expression. "Set things in motion, will you."

Trowa nodded and left, after giving Quatre a gentle kiss. Quatre kissed back with a distracted air.

He was doing his best to get things wound up enough that he could go back to Earth, but his sisters were doing their best to keep him on L4. Trowa had a good idea why, but he wasn't about to tell Quatre. He had an unhappy feeling that Quatre already knew what was going on. It made him nervous, which made him silent, which made Quatre even angrier.

He didn't fancy dealing with Quatre in a temper. Not at all. Everyone seemed to forget Quatre was a Gundam pilot and a man capable of managing WEI single handedly. Trowa sighed and settled at his desk to take care of business.

Quatre leaned on his desk, punched a button on his phone and waited.

"Quatre, darling. I was waiting for your call. I've got the most delicious little girl. . ." Jessamine was one of the thorns in Quatre's side. She'd been a nuisance trying to get control of WEI and was now happily running her own corporation into the ground. Quatre didn't regret what he was about to do in the least.

"Jess, shut the fuck up. I'm queer. Gay. What I want is a guy. I've got one and I intend to keep him. Stop fixing me up with every lose thighed slut you know. I'm sick of it." Quatre smirked nastily at her astonished face on the vid. "I'm leaving for the new colony in a week and I'll be out of communication for a month. I'll be handling WEI business on the next nearest colony, but I'll only be there one day a week. I won't have time for you, or Fatima, or Ayisha, or your machinations. Leave it alone or feel my displeasure."

He reached out and mashed the cut off button so hard he drove it into the case. He felt much better than he'd felt in some time, he just hoped that he didn't have to get so nasty with some of the sisters he liked. That would hurt.

Quatre opened his email and started working his way through the stream of invitations, demands for reparation and various much wanted communications from friends. One of the invitations caught his eye.

Relena was going to visit several prisons. She'd planned the visits when Heero was in hoping to see him. Now the visits were unnecessary but she'd planned them and many people had gone to a great deal of trouble so she was going anyway. But she was whining a little, she invited him to come to some of them with her. He decided to call her with his regrets.

~ * ~

Duo sat in the chair in the garden, looking at the stars. He felt sad. He had been invited to the ceremony sending the Gundam into the sun. but he just couldn't go. He didn't want to part with ‘Scythe. His Gundam had been his security for the whole of the war and he felt slightly bereft and very betrayed. 'They' had managed to separate him from Heero, now this.

Wufei watched Duo and worried. He felt just as betrayed as Duo did. His Nataku was all he had left of his colony, and his wife. He could feel her 'rolling in her grave' now. She'd made him promise to take good care of the Gundam and this wasn't taking good care.

Wufei slipped out the French doors and settled beside Duo.

"You ok?"

Duo shook his head. "No, I'm not. I feel all . . . can't even say. Like I've been gutted and just now beginning to feel the pain. . . you think we'll be able to see the lift off?"

Wufei shrugged, he sincerely hoped not. He didn't want to see the column of fire that would signal the loss of his friend.

"Don't know. I don't want to. Please, let's go back inside. It's cold at night now. Come on."

Duo got up and wandered inside with Wufei. They sat on the couch and looked for something to watch on vid, but all they could find were news casts of the launch. Duo pitched the first really bad fit Wufei had seen him throw in months.

"God damn it! I'm sick of this. Why don't they just kill me too? Deathscythe is mine. The colony said so. Now they take him away and just kill him like he's nothing. Well, this is what I say to them."

Duo pulled his side arm out of its holster and shot the vid. Wufei just sat and stared at the unit for a moment, then he stood up and walked to his room. He didn't say anything to a still ranting Duo, he didn't try to stop him. If he wanted to shoot up the whole house, let him

Wufei sat at his desk and wrote, line after line of careful, distinct kanji. He had no idea what he wrote only that it was what he felt. Then he took the whole book outside and burned it.

Duo wandered out and watched. Then they fell into each others arms and just stood neither one commented on the tears on the other's cheeks.

~ * ~

Zechs watched as Heero wandered from room to room and out into the garden. He'd invited Heero to make some music with him but had been turned down with a soft 'not now, too . . . sad I think'. So he watched as his friend wandered and worried at his feelings, like a sore tooth.

"Here, drink it."

Heero took the glass and sipped then did a double take.

That's scotch. I'm . . ."

"If you say too young, I'll smack you. You're old, in ways those stupid people can't even imagine. I'm sorry."

Heero knew what for without asking. "It's alright. They'll regret it, sooner or later. Then I'll laugh at them as they scramble around trying to figure out what the fuck to do."

"You going to try to rescue them?" Zechs eyed Heero carefully.

"Not a fucking chance. They make their bed let them lie in it." Heero gave Zechs a mutinous shrug of one shoulder.

"That should be lay."

"Damn it, don't correct my grammar at a time like this."

"Sorry. Thought I could distract you."

Heero looked at the sky.

"There they go. Bye Wing." Heero chugged the scotch and went for the bottle. Zechs followed to fetch another glass and join him.

Heero got quietly drunk, Zechs gently tucked him in and sat beside the bed until he was sure that there were no dreams.

~ * ~

Relena settled into her chair and answered the vid. It was Quatre.

"Yes, it's done. Quite the turn out too I must say. I was pleased with the out come. But we still don't have Talgeese. That's not good. "

She would have said more but Quatre overrode her. "I don't like that smug self-satisfied tone. You don't understand anything. Please listen to me. Preventer is wrong. There are a lot of dissatisfied people out there, something is going to break lose sooner or later. Probably sooner now that you've rubbed everyone's noses in the fact that the Gundams are gone. You'll regret this."

Relena sighed. "The machines of war must be destroyed. The Gundams are visible symbols of conflict. You should understand this. You were raised by pacifists."

Quatre just hung up on her. He knew he wasn't going to make any headway. He'd badgered and begged for months, now he had other fish to fry. Big ones.

~ * ~

The uproar over the Gundams settled more quickly than anyone would have thought. It was one of those things that Relena referred to as "fifteen minutes of uproar and a century of thundering silence." Everyone tried to return to normal but both Heero and Zechs were well aware that Duo and Wufei were more affected than they wanted to let on.

Duo managed to visit Heero at least every other day. He was still taking classes via a web site. He laughingly referred to it as e-uni but there was a sad edge to his smile now. Wufei flatly refused to talk about it other than to Dr. Terry.

Zechs helped as best he could, talking with both men, he couldn't bring himself to think of them as boys. He felt sorry for both of them, he understood and he knew that the other pilots did. But no one else could.

The other shoe fell with a finality that made press.

"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you this breaking story. Talgeese has been found. The last of the Gundams will be brought to the outskirts of the city later today. Vice Minister Peacecraft will be speaking later on this afternoon."

Zechs froze, paled and fled the common room. Heero followed him and caught up just in time to catch him as he crumpled to his knees, Heero cradled Zechs in his arms as he cried. They both did. Zechs wailed his grief over his friend Trieze, his sister, his Gundam, and Heero cried along with him. When they finished, they were both exhausted. Heero helped Zechs to bed then called Wufei.

"You better come. They found Talgeese and I'm afraid he'll do something stupid. Hurry."

"I'm coming. See to it that I don't have to deal with the desk. Duo will come too. As fast as we can."

Wufei called Duo and they headed for the garage. The chauffeur slept over it so Duo knocked him up and they left for Ambrose Estates with Wufei grumbling about Relena being stupid and the legislature needing their heads examined.

When they got there, the desk guard motioned them in without question.

~ * ~

Heero met them at the door of his rooms and led them through to the opposing quarters. Talking all the way.

"He's sleeping now but he's really restless. He keeps . . . I'm not sure exactly how to put it. He half wakes up, looks around, sees me and goes back to sleep."

Wufei stripped off his clothing and crawled into the bed with Zechs. Zechs turned to him in his sleep, his breath hitching slightly. Wufei curled up against him and petted his braid gently.

Duo drew Heero into the sitting room and settled on the couch with him

"I like this Danish modern. It's really classy. We could have stuff like this, you think?"

"It's Swedish modern and I think I'd like that. Someday."

They argued about whether it was Swedish or Danish modern and finally settled it by doing a web search. Neither one of them forgot for a moment that their friends were in the other room, but they gave them the privacy they needed.

Zechs woke up around two a.m. with Wufei sprawled across his chest grasping the middle of his braid in one hand and the blanket with the other.

"Chang, wake up." Zechs jiggled his shoulder and consequently Wufei's head.

Wufei snorted softly and mumbled, "'m up. 'n a minute."

"Wenlong, we can't get caught in a compromising position. Wake up."

Wufei woke grumbling, "Ok, ok, I'm up. But I'm not some foolish girl, to worry about a reputation."

Zechs made a disgusted noise. "You should be. They'll think we're lovers and then the press will have a field day."

Wufei snorted. "Let them. I can think of people a lot worse to be linked with."

Zechs hauled on drawstring pants and handed Wufei another pair of the same.

"Like who."

Wufei rolled his eyes. "Well, there was that colonel at that facility in Geneva. He was . . . " Wufei darted for the door as Zechs grabbed for him.

When he burst into the sitting room, he woke Duo and Heero who were now asleep on the couch with the vid on the news.

They jumped up, but seeing that it was only Wufei and Zechs, they settled down to watch as Zechs chased Wufei out into the garden.

They soon came back as the temperature was on the frigid side and Zechs started to say something but Heero held up a hand.

"Not necessary. Come sit down. You're cold now. Stupid. Duo, hand me the afghan."

Duo handed Heero the afghan and Heero poked and prodded Zechs onto the couch and into position. All Zechs did was raise an eye brow at him and accept Wufei into his arms when Heero plopped him there. Heero wrapped them both in the afghan and turned to Duo, but he was already making chocolate.

Duo brought over the mugs and set them on the table. Taking one for himself and one for Heero, he settled into his own lover's arms.

"Heero, we got trouble with the facility?"

Heero shook his head. "The warden suddenly seems much more lenient." He smirked at Zechs who flushed slightly. "And I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth."

Duo shuddered. "No, it might bite you."

Zechs, distracted from his grief for a moment, sighed, "Horses don't bite. At least not usually. I have . . . had a very nice mount at one of my estates. He loved . . . never mind. Not important." Zechs cuddled Wufei, who just snuggled back. It felt good just to be held in strong warm arms.

Duo rolled his eyes. "Horses are too big. And . . . they smell."

This brought about an animated discussion in which Heero and Zechs held that horses were gentle, obedient beasts and Duo stuck to the opinion that they were dangerous and tricky, just waiting for a moments inattention to strike with some nefarious plan of their own. Wufei just listened and held his peace.

Zechs finally called a halt to the argument by pointing out that it was nearly four in the morning and they all needed sleep or they would be stupid when they woke again. So they wound up on the floor on sleeping mats that the staff brought for them. Zechs insisted that one of the guards stay in the room with them, 'To quell any gossip. We can't afford it at this point.'

~ * ~

They woke again at nearly ten a.m. with the vid grumbling in the back ground. Zechs started to turn it off but found himself fascinated by Relena's speech. She rambled about peaceful cooperation, generating good will among the colonies and Earth, and other pet projects of her's including Preventers.

Wufei snarled behind Zechs. "Turn that off. The silly girl turns my stomach. I realize that she's your sister, but she's ruining Preventers before they even have a chance. No arms, negotiation above all. Who's she kidding?"

Heero sighed himself awake. "Mostly herself. She'll find out soon enough that she's created a monster. Quatre is really gearing up his own security force, isn't he?"

Duo handed around coffee and they settled in for a grumbling session which lasted until Zechs glanced at the vid again just in time to see Talgeese disappear in a ball of flame and fragments. The mug in his hand shattered with a dismal pop.

"Damn that girl. Turn that shit off. Now." Duo snatched up the remote and punched the power button, hard. Zechs just stood up, then sat down. When he stood up again they all braced themselves for some sort of explosion, but all he did was go into his bedroom. When he came out he handed shorts to Wufei along with his trainers.

Heero looked at them for a second, then just told Zechs to wait for him. He motioned to Duo to come with him. Duo followed quickly without question.

They went to Heero's rooms and got shorts, T-shirts and trainers of their own. Heero notified the warden's office that they were going for a run and didn't know quite where they would be. He was told to be sure to return by three p.m. at the latest.

Zechs had waited patiently for Heero to get ready. When Heero and Duo joined him again he just looked at Wufei then took off.

They followed him out the intake area doors and into the park across the way. It was a repeat of another such journey for Heero, but this time they had permission and no one was threatening to shoot Zechs.

This time they entered the park through the gate half way down the block instead of jumping the wall. Not that jumping the wall would have bothered any of them but it did upset the locals. So the used the gate.

Eyes followed them as they ran around the path just inside the perimeter of the park.

They were greeted with smiles by all but a few. The sight of Zechs and Duo's trailing braids was strange, but not threatening to anyone. And Heero and Wufei were sleek and beautiful in their own way.

Zechs set a fast pace and made three laps around the park, no one said much until Duo finally laughed and demanded a stop for a drink before he dried up and blew away.

They took a half lap cool down and then stopped at a convenient bodega to get drinks and finish their cool down. The clerk just stared at them for a second then gulped.

"You're the Gundam pilots. I . . . wow . . . how can I help you?"

He didn't seem afraid just awe stricken. And babbling.

"Geeze, you guys are all so small . . . not that I . . . well, no offence. But he . . . he's the tallest of you and he d . . .I'll shut up." Duo had turned his coldest glare on the boy. He hated being reminded of his size. Heero just looked like he'd seen something nasty. Wufei ignored the clerk with dignity and Zechs frowned and shook his head at the boy.

As he checked them out the boy apologized again. "Look, I'm really sorry. But . . . you don't look so small on vid. And . . . just . . ." he sighed and shut up again.

Duo took pity on the boy and explained between gulps of his drink. "We're all small because there wasn't that much room in a cockpit. Except for Talgeese and one of the reasons its name contained tall was because he was . . . tall that is. Biggest Gundam there was . . ." Heero snatched at Duo as he suddenly ran out the door. He missed and followed after Duo.

Zechs paid the clerk and he and Wufei followed Heero and Duo into the alley where they found Duo huddled against Heero's chest, sobbing his heart out.

Zechs placed himself in the mouth of the alley and left Heero and Wufei to comfort Duo as best they could. But it was not to be, the two couldn't comfort where there was no comfort for themselves. They all three wound up crying softly. Zechs fought off his own tears until he couldn't any more.

When he joined them, he wrapped his long arms around all three of them best he could and just held on, weeping himself, cheek pressed against Duo who had his head on Heero's shoulder. Wufei had his cheek pressed against Duo's back, Heero leaned into the huddle and wound up with his forehead pressed against Zechs.

Finally Duo stirred. "I'm gettn' squashed here."

Just as they started disentangling themselves, there was a shout from the street.

"Hey, you guys leave him alone."

Zechs lifted his head from where he was murmuring to Wufei.

The well-meaning man flinched, then stood up to them.

"You guys get away from him. I don't know what you're up to but I'm callin' the law. You can't just gang up on smaller people like that."

Duo flinched back. He still had problems with loud voiced, heavy set, big men. And this guy was all of those.

"Here. You come to me, right now. I won't let them hurt you." The man made 'come here' motions with one hand and reached into a pocket with the other. Duo recognized the bluff at once but he smiled, rather tremulously to be sure, and eased away from Zechs, patting him on the arm.

"Mister, it's ok. I'm fine."

The man looked the soggy group over and realized that there was no trouble here, so he stuck his phone back in his pocket. "None of you look fine." He pinned Zechs with a stern look. "I don't know what is going on here. But maybe you should take it inside somewhere. Standing around in an alley like that, isn't smart."

Heero just nodded. He and Zechs herded the rest out onto the street. Duo managed to keep both Zechs and Heero between himself and the man, who watched as they returned to the sidewalk and started back for the facility.

Heero handed Duo a rather wet handkerchief and Zechs fished one out of the pocket of his shorts. Wufei rather shamefacedly made use of the hem of his T-shirt, or started to. Zechs shared his handkerchief with him.

When they reached the facility, they were greeted by one of the guards who told them Relena was waiting for them. Zechs groaned softly. He really wasn't in the mood for her just now. But he excused himself to the others and went to see her. Never mind that he was sweaty and teary, she'd just have to accustom herself to the fact that he was not a prince anymore.

~ * ~

"Zechs, I'm sorry I couldn't get hold of you. I'm truly sorry. Please, won't you sit?"

Zechs plopped himself inelegantly into a chair and gave his sister a rather cold look.

"The least you could have done was give me a chance to say goodbye. Clean out the cockpit. That sort of thing. I had some memories in there that I didn't want to part with. That's why they were there."

Relena silently put a small duffel bag on the coffee table. "I know. I tried to make them hold off. But after so much . . . discussion about destroying them, I didn't feel it was politic to try to make them wait. But I did manage to make them clean out the cockpit first."

Zechs took the bag and sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. But . . . I spent a good portion of my life in that suit the last couple of years. And . . . "

Relena held up her hand wearily. "Please spare me. I've heard it all before. We're going to need them . . . yada, yada, etc. I don't think so, you do. You're entitled to your opinion. I'm sorry we can't agree. I would really like to get along with you and I intend to do all I can to get you out of this awful place as soon as possible."

Zechs ran his fingers through his sweaty bangs and bit at his lower lip.

"Thank you. It's not so bad, really. Considering where I could be. What are you going to do with me? . . . after I get out, I mean."

Relena blinked at him for a moment. "Nothing. I thought, if possible, I would get you and Heero out. Then you can try to make some kind of life for yourself. Whatever you want. What do you want?"

Zechs said the first thing that popped into his head. "A million credits and a sports car. . . um . . . hell!"

But Relena broke into merry laughter. "Now that's the brother I want. I don't know about the sports car, but you'll have full access to your estates and your income. If you're rehabilitated, you can't be kept from it. And, since Talgeese is destroyed, there's no reason to assume that you're not . . . rehabilitated that is. And Heero's therapist has said he's rehabilitated as well. So with all the Gundams gone." Relena bit at the tip of her finger. "I think I can push the necessary paper work through within the week."

Zechs just sat there with his mouth open. "Relena . . . are you sure? . . . it . . . I mean . . . Heero . . ." Zechs realized that he was stammering and shut up.

Relena gave Zechs a sharp look. "What about Heero? Is something wrong with him?"

"No, but if this fails, he'll . . . be heartbroken, is too strong, but he'll certainly be upset. And Duo will be heartbroken. It's pitiful to see them part. I don't think either one would really survive such a disappointment. Please be sure before you tell either one of them."

Relena nodded. "I will. I don't wish any more grief on Duo. He's had more than enough. I used to be jealous of him. But . . . some of those vids, well, I just couldn't watch more than two seconds of them. Horrible. Terrible." Relena shook her head.

Zechs stood. "I need a shower. We were out . . . jogging."

"Running off your anger, you mean. I know. I can't say I'm sorry the mobile suits are gone. But I am sorry for your . . . unhappiness. Please, be sure I didn't do it out of . . . spite."

Relena stood and walked to the door with Zechs. She stopped him with a hand on his arm. When he turned to look at her, she held out her arms for a hug.

"I'm all sweaty."

"A little brother sweat won't kill me. And it'll drive Doro to distraction until I tell her it's yours."

Relena hugged Zechs and smiled at him gently. "You'll have paper work by Wednesday at the latest. Or I'll know the reason why."

Zechs smiled at her. "And then you'll turn Catalonia loose on them? I quake in fear."

"Please do." Relena dimpled at Zechs and turned to go. "Remember, she's not as ruthless as I am, when I have to be. Brother."

Zechs went to take a shower.

He met Wufei and Duo coming out of Heero's quarters. "Well, she's . . . sorry."

Wufei snorted. "That's going to be a real comfort when we need them and don't have them."

Duo poked Wufei. "His sister, man. Take it a little easy. Although I can't help but think you're right."

Zechs sighed and just walked around them, telling them that he was taking a shower and that he'd meet them in the dining room in thirty minutes.

"Ok, man. Bring Heero with you will ya. He's in there drowning his temper in his shower. Cold at that. Brrrrr" Duo shivered dramatically.

Zechs turned and gave him an amused look. "And how would you know that?"

"'Cause he turned off the hot the minute I got out. Man's a glutton for punishment. Masochistic that's what he is."

Wufei gave Zechs a sly grin then said. "Well, maybe you ought to exploit that." Duo blinked at Wufei puzzled. "A nice spanking ought to . . ." Wufei whirled and ran before Duo could do more than squawk indignantly. Zechs laughed, shook his head and headed for the shower exhausted by the emotional roller coaster of the last several hours.

~ * ~

When they all met in the dining room, the waiter decided to show his worst side. First he informed them that the kitchen was closed, so there were only cold sandwiches and soup available. Then he also told them that each client was only allowed one visitor in the dining room.

Zechs raised one eyebrow and gave the man a once over that had subalterns literally pissing themselves. "My good man, Mr. Chang is my guest. Mr. Maxwell is the guest of Mr. Yuy. Please apply your tiny mind to the math for yourself. Soup. Vichyssoise. That's served cold. And sandwiches?" He surveyed the table. "Egg salad?" Everyone nodded. Heero smirked. "That's served cold too. And a 110AC Liebfraumilch. Not that inferior stuff you serve. Send out." He turned his shoulder to the man.

The waiter muttered something under his breath. Zechs turned back.

"If you have something important to impart, please speak clearly and distinctly. Other wise keep your mouth discreetly shut. You do understand discretion, don't you . . . the better part of valor?" Zechs pinned the man with an ice cold look and waited. He got a muttered apology and the man scurried away.

Heero just nodded to Zechs. "Much better"

Zechs nodded back "I do believe so."

When the waiter came back, he brought a bottle of wine and four glasses. He carefully poured a small amount of the wine in a glass which he handed to Zechs. Zechs tasted it, then nodded. The waiter poured glasses all around, his one eye roll was met with raised eye brows from all of them. He quickly made his way to the kitchen again.

Zechs looked at each man then raised his glass. "Peace"

They all raised their glasses and chorused. "Peace"

A quick sip each and they turned to the food the waiter quickly placed in front of them.

The meal was subdued but companionable.

~ * ~

After several questions by Skippyscatt and others, I realized that I never said that, for the purposes of this story, Endless Waltz doesn't happen. I apologize for any confusion.