11-Nov-2000
Here it is, the end. A few have asked if I'll continue this story line with what happens to Trowa and Duo now that Duo is alive. To tell you the truth, I don't know. I'm not ruling it out as a possibility, but it may be some time before I work on it. I have serval projects that come first. I am still working on the cover art for this, which I'll hopefully have done by Saturday or Sunday. I want to extend a warm and pocky filled thanks to everyone who has been reading this. ARIGATOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Duo: Are you done yet???
Pern: Think so. ^_^
Author: Tigress Pern
Archived at: GW Addiction
Warning: 3X2/2X3 pairing, OOC, Alternate Universe
Disclaimer: GW isn't mine. Never has, never will be.
Catherine stared at the huddle of relieved teenagers in the center of the circle. They were talking excitedly. She couldn't believe what she had witnessed, but a lot of her beliefs had come under fire recently. Near her Quatre looked pensive. He wasn't sure what his place in the group was anymore. He'd betrayed Trowa and Duo and he felt like an outsider. Heero was now leaning against the far wall looking too shocked even to speak. No one could believe it was possible.
"Nothing is impossible." A kind voice said. Catherine jerked and whirled around nearly falling over. "Not when your heart leads you." Lenore smiled at her daughter.
"M-mother?" Lenore nodded.
"Come now Cathy, don't look so surprised. You just witnessed a ghost come back to life. You shouldn't be surprised by any supernatural occurrences."
"How did this happen?" she asked indicating towards Duo.
"My dear daughter, it's November 1st. All Saint's Day, the day of miracles. That reminds me." The spirit dug into the pocket of her long coat. "These are for Duo. It's a birth certificate, social security card and any other paper work he'll need in his new life. You are his legal guardian and your father and I want you to take good care of both of them. We're trusting you." Lenore handed Catherine the papers, which became solid in her hands. Catherine stared down at them in amazement.
"Mother, I..."
"Tut-tut. Don't say anything. You'll be all right. Just think of it this way, you'll have an extra set of hands to help out around the house." Lenore smiled, closing her eyes at the same time. "We love you Catherine. Remember that, we'll always love you."
"Oh Mother." Catherine sobbed. "I promise to keep an eye on them."
"Don't forget Heero though. His parents will be happy to hear that he's in good hands. They did love him, although they didn't know how to show it. Sometimes worldly possessions get in the way, but they did love. Tell him that." Catherine nodded. "I can't stay much longer, I used up a lot of energy helping with Duo's transformation, but it was worth it. Good-bye Catherine. Remember our love, remember it always." She hugged her daughter then faded away. Catherine was left holding the papers and the memory of her parents. A new purpose instilled in her, Catherine turned towards her brother and his friends.
"Why don't we all go down stairs and have something to eat. I'm sure Duo is hungry after all it has been fifty years since you last ate." Duo's cheeks reddened. With the help of Trowa and Wufei, he stood and managed to stay upright. Catherine turned to Heero. "You too. I want to talk to everyone." The silent boy nodded his head.
Trowa, Duo, Wufei, Meiran, Quatre, and Heero sat at the kitchen table as Catherine fishing in the freezer for some ice cream. She had told them what her mother had said on the way down. Duo wasn't too steady on his feet yet. He pointed out that ghosts flew rather than walked down stairs. Quatre and Heero had hung back letting everyone else enter the kitchen first. They didn't feel as if they were part of the group. Duo had paused, turned around and watched them for a moment. Then he'd grabbed a hold of both of them. Giving them his award-winning smile, he ushered them into the kitchen.
"So as of today, I'm your guardian, Duo." Catherine concluded. "I'm going to put in for being Heero's guardian too since he has no living relatives."
"You don't have to do that." Heero said. Catherine shook her head.
"I think I need to. You need a family and if Trowa and Duo don't mind, you can be part of ours."
"I hold nothing against him." Duo said firmly swinging his legs under his chair and hooking his feet on the chair legs. "He was doing what he thought was right. As were you and Quatre. I'm a pretty forgiving person." Trowa didn't say anything for a moment, then nodded his head.
"I don't mind at all. It'll be nice to have more than just the two of us." He said. Heero wasn't sure what to say. After all he'd done, he didn't deserve this, but he accepted it. He'd finally found a home.
"Uh, Duo, Trowa." Quatre began. "I think I owe you both a huge apology."
"Quatre, you've been apologizing." Trowa said. He sighed. "I'm mad at you, but in light of how it worked out, if you hadn't Duo wouldn't be human again."
"Trowa."
"Can I trust you from now on?" Quatre nodded his head eagerly. "Then we can still be friends. We've had our problems in the past year, but I think we can still make this friendship work."
"Me too."
"If Trowa forgives you, then we can too. Ne Wufei?" Meiran said. Wufei nodded. "You're such a sweetheart Quatre, I hope you find someone who appreciates that."
"Like Heero." Duo stated triumphantly. Heero and Quatre's eyes widened. "Hey, I was a ghost. Invisibility was just on of the perks. So I eavesdropped on a few phone conversations, I was bored."
"I'm going to strangle you." Heero growled. Quatre was blushing horribly.
"See, don't they make a cute couple already?"
"Well..." Trowa began.
"Look, even Heero is turning red. It's a sure sign!" Duo exclaimed feeling more sure of himself.
"God! Were you like this with my grandfather?"
"No, not nearly. Although I did used to play matchmaker for half the girls in school." Heero rolled his eyes. Wufei chuckled; something told him that the Barton household just got more interesting. He and Meiran would have to come over more often.
"Here we go. In honor of this miraculous day." Catherine said holding up a box. "I bought these originally to celebrate our purchase of this house. We never ate them, so I thought we'd have them along with some ice cream."
"What are they?" asked Heero skeptically.
"Chocolate truffle bon-bons." Catherine replied smiling. Suddenly Duo started laughing. "What is so funny?"
"I'm sorry. I'll have to pass on the bon-bons Catherine."
"Why?" Duo bit his bottom lip.
"It's a bit embarrassing, really."
"You're allergic to chocolate aren't you?" Wufei inquired. Quatre was giving him sympathetic look. Duo shook his head.
"No."
"Then why?" asked Trowa as Catherine opened the box, offering it to everyone. Duo was fidgeting; he looked like a little kid who'd done something naughty. "Duo?"
"Well, you always wondered how I died. I told you I choked."
"You mean it wasn't suicide?" Catherine said. Duo shook his head.
"I hadn't been feeling well that night. So I took a few aspirin and climbed into bed. My parents went out to a party and left me home alone. I wanted something to nibble on and I remembered my mother had bought some bon-bons and put them into the freezer. I snuck downstairs, opened the box, took about five and went back upstairs. We didn't have television at that time, but we did have radio. I was listening to a comedy sketch and eating frozen bon-bons. One joke was especially funny and I started laughing while popping a bon-bon in my mouth. It caught in my throat and I choked on it. As I struggled to get it out, I knocked over the bottle of aspirin, which I hadn't put the cap back on and it spilled. I died of suffocation, not an overdose of aspirin."
"You choked on a bon-bon and died?" Trowa stared at him in bewilderment.
"I told you it was embarrassing." Duo was trying to hide, but not doing a very good job of it.
"No wonder you didn't want to talk about it." Wufei muttered. "Baka mono."
"Yes, I am the world's biggest idiot." Duo announced. "I'm glad someone figured that out." He smiled happily.
"Well, no bon-bons for you." Catherine said moving the box away from him. "Trowa would kill me if anything happened to you, not to mention my parents." Red tinted Duo's cheeks. Catherine smiled and moved the box back, but Duo shook his head.
"I think I've had enough for two lifetimes."
Trowa glanced at the clock. It read 2:41AM. Sighing he couldn't believe how his life had changed in one night. Beside him, Duo cuddled up against him. Everyone had been forced by the rain to stay the night. Meiran was in Catherine's room. Wufei and Quatre were both on the floor in Heero's room and Duo had been on the floor of Trowa's room. He hadn't been comfortable, so Trowa had let him sleep with him in the bed. Duo deserved a soft warm mattress after all he'd been through. It wasn't everyday that he became human. Catherine had decided to call in sick tomorrow. She was going to take Duo shopping. He needed some clothes or he'd be stuck borrowing from Heero or Trowa. Since school had been canceled, everyone had insisted going along with them. Meiran wanted to show Duo the best shampoos and conditioners for his hair. She didn't want it getting any split ends. Neither did Trowa. Duo shifted and one arm crossed Trowa's stomach.
"You're still awake." Duo said sleepily. Trowa nodded. "I hope you don't mind sharing the bed." Trowa shook his head. "Good. You're warm." He snuggled closer. Trowa rolled over and kissed him on the forehead.
"So are you." Duo snickered. Trowa smiled. He has his mother's smile, Duo thought. I hope to see it often. Then he caught Trowa's lips in a kiss that lingered for a few moments. Releasing him, Duo rested his head on Trowa's shoulder.
"Good night Trowa."
"Good night Duo. I'm glad you're alive."
"So am I. Otherwise I'd miss out on a golden opportunity."
"What opportunity?" Trowa asked.
"The chance to do this!" Duo rolled over and pounced on Trowa, pinning him to the bed.
"ACK! DUO!" Duo laughed and lay on top of him grinning. Trowa scowled then smiled as Duo gently ran his fingers across his cheek.
"I love you Trowa." He whispered as he bent down and kissed him.
"I love you too, Duo. May you live a long happy life."
End Epilog
Tigress Pern