I am the Wind

By: Quatre Raberba Winner (Quatre-Chan/Onna-Quatre)

It has been awhile since I had seen my friends. Well not really, but I think I'd do a lot better if I were closer to them.

I'm sitting in the living room, watching my husband play with our three-year-old daughter. When I had first met WuFei, he was the last person I'd expect to want to have a child, but he's a great father and that's what counts.

But my life is not the only one that has been filled with children. Heero and Duo have a three-year-old son named Solo. All I know about this arrangement was that Hilde was the one that had him.

Quatre and Trowa have finally adopted a baby boy. I remember the day my blond friend called and said that he and Trowa were now parents. He said one fraise and one fraise only and I quote; "I got one.. ." and then he hung up. And the baby's name is Alex.

And then there's Midori and Robby. They have a two-year-old daughter named Aisu. Of course this was a decision made by "Judge Robby" rather than a jury.

The phone rang and scared me out of my thoughts. I got off the couch and walked into the kitchen, being very careful not to step on my husband and daughter.

I picked up the receiver, "Hello?"

"Hey Lina. What are you and Wu up to?"

"I know the way your mind works and it's not that."

"Hey, give me a little credit. I almost gave up my whole sex-life to raise my son."

I giggled, "Duo, what is the main reason you called?"

"Oh yeah. Uh, Kawa is going to watch Solo, Aisu and Alex for the day tomorrow and Robby has to go to work, so the guys and I were wondering if you and Wu want to come to L2 and spend some time with us."

"I think we could arrange that." I lowered the phone and looked at my little girl, "Do you want to go play with Solo tomorrow?"

She lifted her head and arched her black eyebrow, "Solo?"

I nodded.

Her blue eyes lit up, "Yea!" she jumped up off the floor and ran into her room. Trampling over her father in the process.

I lifted the phone back to my ear, "We'll see you tomorrow."

"Great. Kawa will pick the kids up here and then we can head to that coffee shop."

"Sounds good. We're staying there over night, right?"

"Yeah, Heero and I have plenty of room for you, WuFei and Merin. Not to mention Quatre and Trowa are staying here with their son."

"Alright, I'll see you then."

"See ya."

"Ja ne!" we hung up. Once the phone was back on the hook, I turned my attention to my husband. He looked at me strangely, "What?"

"Did you have to get her so excited?"

"Sorry, but she hasn't seen her best friend in a few months."

"I know, but I don't see you trampling over me because you want to see your best friend."

"I don't have to."

"Why? Because you're an adult?"

"No, because my best friend is right in front of me.. ."

"Don't suck up. You already made plans for the trip."

"I know, but there is some other sucking I could do.. ."

"Mama, what does that mean?"

The two of us turned our attention to the hallway and saw Merin standing there, in her pajamas and her stuffed Nataku in her arms.

WuFei smirked, "You explain this one." He walked into the kitchen.

"Well honey, if you ask those kind of questions to me again we won't go to L2 tomorrow."

"No!!!!!!!!!!!!" she ran into her bedroom.

The Chinese man walked back into the room and stood next to me, "Cheater."

* * *

We left early the next morning. Merin was of course still asleep, I was sitting in my seat being rather relaxed and then there was my husband. He just sat in his seat with his eyes shut, in some kind of meditation no doubt.

The shuttle ride to L2 was really non-eventful. Of course I did like the fact that they had run X/1999 for the in flight movie. Thank god Merin didn't wake up until the credits started to roll.

"Mama?"

"Hm?"

"Are we there yet?"

I looked at my watched then arched an eyebrow, "I really.. ."

"We have another hour to go sweetheart." WuFei stated with his eyes still shut.

"Okay.. ." she pouted.

My blue eyes set themselves on the Chinese man next to me, then I hit him in the chest causing him to open his eyes, "Look what you did? I knew we only had an hour left, but to her it seems like forever and a day."

"Merin," he looked at our daughter, "are you okay?"

"I wanna be there now."

"Why don't you watch the movie that's on now and before you know it we'll be there."

"What are they showing now, Papa?"

"Don't know." He looked at the screen. He blinked and then shook his head, "They're running Pokemon 3.. ."

"Yea!"

WuFei had once again shut his eyes, trying to block out the sound of Pokemon. Merin sat there and watched at full attention. I took out my diary and began today's entry. Part of me wanted to watch the movie with my little girl. The only thing stopping me was the fact that Gary Oak was not in it.

* * *

We made it to Heero and Duo's with no distraction. I stepped out of the cab, only to have my daughter right behind me. Sometimes I wonder if she even belongs to us, so energetic.. . she jumped onto the sidewalk and hightailed it to the door, but to her dismay she couldn't reach the doorbell.

"Mama."

I smiled and approached. I know what it's like not to have your very best friends around you 24/7. I rang the bell about three times before Duo's bright violet eyes appeared on the other side.

He gave us his usual grin, "Hey guys!"

"Uncle Duo!"

"Merin, you've grown into such a beautiful girl." He picked her up, "Gotta a boyfriend yet?"

"Uh huh."

"Really, who?" he questioned.

"Solo!" she jumped out of his arms and into the house.

"That's not funny!" The Shenlong pilot shouted.

"Relax, Wu-Chan. She only said his name because he was walking towards the door." I turned my attention to the American, "Is everyone here?"

"Everyone but Kawa and Robby. Robby went to work and Kawa's running late as per usual. So go on inside, Heero's dying to see you and I'll help WuFei with the luggage."

"All right." I moved passed him and entered the house. Much cleaner than the last time I was here. I entered the living room and saw my friends talking and drinking tea.

Quatre was keeping up the conversation as he was feeding his son. I smiled at him and he smiled back. The others looked at him oddly that was until Heero turned around, "Lina?" he asked.

"Yes, who else would I be?"

"I'm just really glad you're here." He stood up and embraced me.

"Heero-kun?" I could feel some moisture on my shoulder and instantly I knew he was crying. "Heero.. ." I put my arms around him.

"Emeralda's gone." He whispered.

"Nani?"

"She just cut off all communication.. ."

"It'll be okay. Just calm yourself before the others get upset." I commanded. Then he just started to act to normal. I could see his discomfort, but what was I to do? The others seem to be rather happy, I wonder if Duo knows about this.

* * *

After an hour or so, Kawa had arrived to pick up the children. Although it was rather amusing to see Quatre put up a fight about giving his son to her.

As the others sat in the living room, I decided to pull the American pilot aside. He looked at me in confusion, "Is something wrong?"

"Sshh. Keep it down. I just wanted to know if Heero has told you anything."

"About what?"

"About someone named Emeralda."

"Not really. He told me that you guys saw her on L1 a few months ago, but other than that nothing. Why?"

I sighed, "Never mind." We walked back into the room.

Trowa smiled a bit as he had his arm around his husband, "Shall we go to that coffee shop?"

We agreed and left. When we arrived we sat at our usual table. I looked at my friends around the table and sighed in contentment. Midori gave a small smile, "So how have things been going with Merin?"

"Fine." I looked at WuFei to see if he wanted to put in any commentary, but saw that he was in a conversation with Heero. I glanced back at the blue haired one, "She's been very energetic though."

"Aisu's the same way. Although Robby's been spoiling her."

"I know how that is." I laughed slightly, "Although I will tell you one thing. I'd rather go through pregnancy and child birth any day then go through that torture on L1 again."

"I hear that."

WuFei stopped in mid sentence with his conversation with the Japanese man and glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, "I'd rather not go through that again anytime soon." He shook his head, "And I thought Maxwell swore a lot during the war.. ."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" the American shouted while the rest of us broke out into a fit of laughter.

I stopped my laughing when I heard the TV that was set up inside turn to static. My attention diverted to the screen.

"Attention all Gundam pilots."

Duo's jaw dropped, "Hilde.. ."

The women on the screen seemed to be scared and lost, but also had a sense of determination and anger in her dark blue eyes. She took a breath, "I have taken your family and friends captive."

"What?!" Quatre said as he stood up.

Hilde moved to her side so that the camera was now on Robby, Kawa and the kids, "Duo Maxwell, I need to have a word with you.. . Bring your comrades, but no one else. If you call or bring any police I will not hesitate to kill them. You have 24 hours and if you do not show up I WILL kill one of them.. ." Then the screen went blank.

The blonde Arabian fell to his knees with tears making their way down the side of his face, "Alex.. ."

Trowa helped his lover to his feet and held him. I could sense that there was nothing that Trowa or any of us could do to comfort him. I have to admit, I feel the same way.

"Alden." Midori looked at the Prussian eyed man and his fiancé, "Let's go back to your place and devise a plan."

"Roukai."

We left the coffee shop in silence. As we walked back I held WuFei's hand and as we walked he tightened his grip. I guess he felt the same way I did; afraid that one of us would go somewhere and end up in the same position as our daughter.

* * *

We sat in Heero's living room trying to come up with a plan, but rather than listening to the Japanese pilot I was watching his fiancé pace back and forth.

"Lina, what do you think?" Midori questioned.

My eyes were still locked onto Duo, I couldn't take it anymore. Deep in my gut I knew that the American had understood everything that was going on inside Hilde's head. I stood up from where I was sitting and pulled on the violet-eyed man's arm, dragging him into another room that was away from the living room.

As I shoved him in the room I could hear footsteps behind me. I sighed and shook my head, "WuFei, I would prefer it if you did not interfere."

"What are you planning to do?"

"I'm just going to question him." My voice was so flat, I felt like I was back in my position in the war and on L1, "WuFei. Stay away." With that I walked into the room, shutting and locking the door behind me.

Duo was still pacing when I entered. I sat on the windowsill and looked straight into his eyes, "Duo, you know why Hilde wants to see you, don't you?"

"What makes you think that?" I could tell he was trying to make it seem like that I was being ridiculous about this questioning, but what he didn't realize was the fact that his voice was betraying him.

"Duo, you are lying and that is something that you swore that you'd never do. Calm down and tell me, what is Hilde after? What is she trying to gain by kidnapping our families?"

The American sat in a chair and looked at me. His eyes were filled with more pain of betrayal than worry for his son, "She was abused by her boyfriend."

"What does that have to do with you?" Again my voice held no emotion and that literally scared me to death.

"She would continue to date him even after he attacked her. I told her that if she ever needed something that she could count on me to help her out. Then one day out of the blue she asked me if I knew where you were."

"Why'd she want to know my whereabouts?"

"I don't know. She said that her boyfriend wanted to meet with you. Not knowing what that guy would do to you, I didn't tell her where you could be found. That night when her boyfriend questioned her about you he got mad when he got his answer.. ." he wiped away his on coming tears.

"What did he do?"

"He forced himself on her. That punishment was mental than physical on her part. The next day when I saw her she had browses all over her face and upper arms. Then she said she wasn't feeling well. I took her to see Sally and that's when I found she was pregnant."

"Why didn't you take her to see Kawa?"

"I just needed to get her checked as soon as I could. Kawa was on L4 that whole month. Doing what I'm not sure, but Hilde was in dyer need of help, so I called Sally."

I sighed, "Did her boyfriend know about the baby?"

"No. He was away on business for her first five months. And when he came back, the question about you came up again. Hilde asked me again and I gave her the same answer. She was afraid to back to him, she didn't even want to know what his reaction would be if he found out that she was going to have a child." He wiped away more tears, "Heero and I hid her here for the rest of her pregnancy, the day she was due was when she asked if we would adopt her baby. She wanted him to have a family and a good life rather than one that was full of violence."

"Duo, what happened after Solo was born?"

"She went back to him and got abused even more. He would continue his assault until she told him where you were."

"Is that man still around?"

He shrugged, "I'm not sure. All I know is that I didn't tell her your whereabouts because I was afraid you'd get hurt, but now that's come back to bite me in the ass.. ."

I stood up, "So the only question that remains is, what would her boyfriend want with me?" I approached the now crying American and pulled him into an embrace, "It's all right. Let's go get our families back."

Duo cried his heart out for a few minutes as I held him, then he pulled away wiping the rest of the moister off his face. I stood and opened the door, "You know we only have one option, right?"

"Yeah, but I don't know if the others would go for that."

"We have no choice. I am to blame for most of this. Had you not lied this wouldn't have happened."

"But Lina, I wanted to protect you."

"Like you said, that choice came back and bite you in the ass. I will announce to the guys that we can go to where Hilde is together, but once we face her, you and I will be the only ones to stay." I walked out of the room.

When the longhaired man and I stepped in the others looked at us in concern. I stepped in the middle of the room, "We will leave now, but once we face off with Hilde Duo and I will be the ONLY ones to stay."

"Lina," WuFei approached me very slowly, "this involves all of us. Why are you acting so cold?"

I looked at the Japanese man on the couch, "Duo told me about Hilde's boyfriend."

"Duo, why did you tell her?" Heero asked with a hint of hurt in his voice.

"Sorry, but she had a right to know."

I put my arms around my husband, "WuFei, I have a feeling that Hilde is just after me and she just wants to confront Duo about it. If I'm right I can't take the chance of you and Merin getting hurt. You guys mean everything to me, my life would mean nothing if you two weren't in it.. ."

He pulled away, "And you think Merin and I can go on if something happened to you?!"

"You know everything WuFei and so you know that I will give up my life to save those I love. If you all want your families back safe come and follow my plan. Those who don't better have a prayer." I walked out of the house with American behind me.

"Wait!"

I turned my head to see the others running towards us. Midori stopped in front of me, "I don't want anything to happen to Aisu and Robby, but at the same time I don't want something to happen to you. Alden and I both failed to help and protect you in the past, I refuse to let that happen again!"

"Midori, this is the only way. I'll be okay."

Quatre took my hand in his, "You're family too don't forget that."

"Quatre, believe me when I tell you that this is unavoidable. But I will do my best to come back with you all."

Trowa nodded and looked straight into my eyes, "You better keep that promise."

"Let's go."

"Hold on. Hilde should be in the office complex that she works in we have to be very careful." Duo said with a slight nervousness.

In the back of my mind what I was saying to them was rather cold, but I know it's true I can't turn back. If I come out of this alive and something like this should happen again to someone I care for, I will simply disappear.. .

* * *

We arrived at the office complex within 45 minutes. The building was surrounded by a wired fence, obviously this place was at a very high security. I served the area and spotted a control panel that was on the side of the structure. I held out my hand and sighed, "Fireball.. ." the ball of flames flew from my palm and made contact with the panel.

In seconds of that we were inside. Quatre held onto his lover as we entered, Heero and Midori reached for their guns and WuFei made sure that I was no more than four steps ahead of him. We opened all the doors in the lobby and found nothing.

"Duo." I called, "What does Hilde do in this place?"

"She's a secretary. She works for the person that owns this company, she could be at the top but we can't take the chance that our children, Robby and Kawa are in another room."

"Agreed. WuFei, go with Heero to the second floor. Trowa, you and Quatre go to the third floor. Midori and Duo will take the fourth, I'll take the fifth and we'll meet at the top. Understood?"

The Chinese man shook his head in dismay, "Why are you going by yourself?"

"I know that all of us can take care of ourselves, but with my magic I have the advantage to fight back quickly without hurting my comrades. I'll be all right. Everyone move out!"

As we started to separate the green-eyed female grabbed my arm and looked into my blue eyes, "You're insane, you know that?"

"You know what I said is true."

"So why pair me with Duo?"

"Heero will go ballistic if Hilde tried to hurt him. If she is on another floor and Heero and Duo found her you know what would happen. I need you to protect that baka and get out loved ones out safely." I removed my arm from her grasp, "You do remember what I had requested of you a few years ago, right?"

"About taking care of WuFei if something happened to you? Yeah I remember.. ."

"That still stands." With that I walked away.

I took the elevator to the fifth floor. I slowly moved about the hall checking each and every room, but found no trace of Hilde or any sign of human life. I climbed the stairs to reach the last and final floor. My friends were standing in the middle waiting for me.

"Find anything?" I questioned.

"No." Heero replied as he eyed two doors, "Now we need to figure out which door."

We fell silent trying to figure out which one they could be in when we heard the faint sounds of a child crying. The Arabian's eyes locked onto the board room, "Alex!!"

Duo moved to the door and opened it. Inside stood Hilde holding our family and friends at gunpoint. The American stepped forward, "Lower your gun, I'm here."

"So you finally came.. ." she turned and aimed her weapon at us. "This is all your fault Duo Maxwell."

I stepped forward so I was standing next to the longhaired pilot, "I'm the one you want and had wanted for three years. Duo and I will not go anywhere, just let the rest of them go."

"No!"

I took another step, "Please lower your weapon.. ."

"Take another step and I'll shoot!"

I took another, "Hilde.. ."

"What did I just say?!" she fired.

"Mama!!!"

A green shield appeared in front of me causing the bullet to disintegrate. I looked at my daughter who had anger written all over her face, "Leave my mama and papa alone!!!!" A few shards of ice came flying at the tomboyish woman.

I raise my hand, "Barrier!"

The ice had no affect and disappeared. "Hilde, let them go. They have nothing to do with this."

"Solo is my son! I will not allow you to hurt him!"

Heero took a few steps forward, "Don't you remember? You asked Duo and I to adopt him so he wouldn't live with someone that would abuse him."

"WuFei. Make sure the kids are all right and then get them and the others out."

He nodded. His questions to the kids, Robby and Kawa were brief, but that good. They had been through enough. My husband, Robby, Kawa, Quatre and Trowa had proceeded to leave the complex. I looked over my shoulder, "Leave."

"I can't. I'm not going to run away this time. I'm not going to sit back and watch you get hurt!" Heero shouted in a fit of anger, "I love you and Duo too much to let anything happen to you two."

"Midori."

"I'm sorry I feel the same way.. ."

"I said this once and I'll say it again, this is the only choice we have. Now go!" I moved my hand so that it was facing the two of them , "Telepo!" A few seconds later I lower my hand and turned my attention to Hilde and Duo, "They'll be fine. I just removed them from the building." I reassured him, "Hilde, what did your boyfriend want with me?"

"Shut up!" she fired the gun again.

I put up a shield and approached her again, "Tell me."

"Hilde, please what's going on?" Duo pleaded.

"This is all your fault.. . If it wasn't for you and this bitch.. ."

"Hilde, what happened to you?"

"He came back." Her hand trembled as she tried to hold us at gunpoint, "Even after I had broken up and got a restraining order against him, he came back looking for her whereabouts."

"Why was he looking for me?!"

"It's your fault Duo, you should have told me where she was.. . I will never forgive you!" she fired again.

"Telepo!"

Duo vanished in seconds and the bullet lodged itself into the wall. I looked at the woman, "What did he do? What did he want with me?"

"If it wasn't for you he wouldn't have come back to torture me." she aimed the gun at my head.

"Hilde!" I grabbed her hands and tried to pry the weapon out of her grasp. She struggled and then proceeded to push me back towards the large window in the back of the room.

"If you die, there will be no reason for him to back again. And if I die in the process so be it!" she pushed all of her weight forward and knocked us both out the window.

As we fell we had let go of each other. I shut my eyes, "Levitation!" we were slowly lower to the ground. I glanced at the woman on her knees, "Hilde.. ."

"No.. ." she sobbed. "He'll come back."

I walked over to her and pulled her into an embrace, "You need help and we won't let that bastard hurt you again, okay?"

"What about Solo?"

"Heero and Duo have that all set. Go with Kawa, she might be able to find someone that can help you." I stood up with her and walked over to my family.

* * *

The next day Heero had taken WuFei, Merin and I to the spaceport. The Japanese man hugged me, "You okay?"

"Yeah." I pulled away, "WuFei and I will tell Merin about her magic when she's ready to ask. How are you?"

"Okay. Duo is telling Solo about his mother as we speak and when Hilde's better and if she's up to it we'll arrange something so that she can spend a few hours with Solo once a week or something."

"I gotta get on the shuttle, but promise me the next time we come up here that we'll have some fun and not be forced into this awkward position."

"Call when you get home."

"I will. Bye Alden." I kissed him on the cheek and started to walk off.

* * *

WuFei and I were getting into bed. It was around 11:30pm, as he climbed in under the sheets he noticed that I was reading the mail from yesterday.

"Can't you read that stuff in the morning? I just want to go to sleep and get the sounds of Pokemon out of my head."

"I just have one letter left and after that I'll turn off the light."

"Hn." He rolled onto his side.

I opened the envelope and what the letter said had brought me to hell and back. I shook my self out of my thoughts and turned out the light.

"You finished that rather quickly, is something wrong?"

"N.. . no. It was just a letter from 'a friend'."

"Okay. Goodnight, Lina."

"Night, Wu-Chan."

I waited for two hours or so before I climbed out of bed. I walked silently over to the closet and pulled out my armor. I never thought I'd have to wear this again. I quickly got dressed, but before I put on my gloves I took off my wedding ring. I placed it on my nightstand and then I walked over to the other side of the bed. WuFei was sound asleep and wasn't aware of anything. I moved some of his loose hair out of his face and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, "Goodbye Wu-Chan.. ." I walked out of the room.

I entered my daughter's bedroom. She held her stuffed Nataku as she slept. I pulled the covers up a little more and stroked her hair, "Be good for your father. He's going to need you more than ever now. I love you my sweet angel.. ." I kissed her lightly on the cheek and walked out of the house.

I entered the hanger and looked at my old forgotten partner. As I climbed in I could feel tears running down my face. I'd never thought I'd see the day where I left my family. I took a deep breath and took off.

* * *

I landed Rain on the other side of L2. I jumped from the cockpit and looked at my surroundings. Everything was so run down, no wonder that they wanted to meet me in a place like this.

"Lina!"

I looked at an alley and saw four people walk out. Three I didn't really recognize the other was Emeralda.

The man that was in front of her and his two flunkies laughed, "So now I finally have you. Looks like I didn't need Hilde after all.. ."

"Hilde?!"

"Don't you recognize me, Lina? Maybe my name will help you. I'm Eric Jackson."

"You're.. ."

"That's right. I was one of the other children in the lab, but I was not an experiment, I was a spectator watching everything that happen to you. My grandfather was careless when he and Odine sent you to earth."

"What do you want?!"

"You of course. I want to finish what the old geezers had started. I will strike you a deal, come with us of your own free will and I will set Ms. Uzuki here free. Fail to comply we will take you by force and she will fall to her death."

"Let her go." I stepped forward.

The two men released Emeralda. She looked at me with quivering eyes, "Lina, you've worked so hard to gain this life that you have. Don't throw it away!"

"I promised my self that I would protect those I love. Everyone I care for gets hurt because of me. It's better to go back to being a lab rat than letting innocent bystanders get hurt." I walked over to the three men.

The blue-eyed man known as Eric signaled for one of the flunkies to take Rain,. Then turned his gaze back to the green-haired woman, "Be warned, I will be keeping my eye on you. If you tell anyone where she is, I will kill you and them." With that we retreated into the shadows.

"Lina.. ." she fell to her knees. Tears streamed down her face as she looked into the dark alley, "LLLLLIIIIIIINNNNNNNNAAAAA!!!!!!!!"

The End

Quatre-Chan: "Does minna want to know what happens?"

Duo: "Please tell us, o-great author!"

Heero: "Baka, you have to wait for the next one."

Duo: *pouts*

Quatre: "What an ending!"

Trowa: ".. ."

WuFei: "There's the silent treatment again. Anyway, she owns nothing as usual and please send her feedback. If you don't she might not do the next and I know you people wouldn't want that. So email her at Quatre_chan5@hotmail.com.

Quatre-Chan: "That's all for now. I hope to read your feedback!" (<= hint, hint) *waves* "Ja ne!"