Title: Attachments

Author: Karina

Rating: PG

Pairing: Heero + Duo

Notes:  Challenge 223.  Baby Series 4  #125.  Takes place after the Colour the Air Blue.

Spoilers: None

Warnings:

Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for her work betaing this set of fics.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.

Title: Attachments

Heero snickered, eyes flickering from the mirror to the road.  He should have taken the children to the nearest shelter but he knew Maxwell too well to think he would be content with simply dropping the children off.  Duo had firmly attached himself to the urchins and there would be no abandoning them to fate's often unfeeling hands.

Duo watched with carefully hidden amusement as the eyes of the children widened to almost comic proportions.  Even street urchins recognised the sprawling grounds and the building with its array of artistic classical figures.  Jamie was looking between the palace and Heero and wonderingly at Duo as Heero swung the vehicle through the gates.  A few minutes later they circled the sprawling expanse of the mansion that served as Sanc’s palace.

A cluster of people were gathered at the extensive garage complex and Heero drove into the garage before he killed the engine and motioned to Duo.  He knew they were pushed for time, that the storm was relentlessly bearing down on Sanc and the list of things to do was extensive.  Time was growing tighter until there would be nothing they could do but wait it out.

“I’ll go back and do a final sweep to make certain we did not miss anyone, then I will bring the search team back here.”

“Fine.  I’ll escort the kids inside and we’ll get them sorted and comfortable.  Hey guys, you hungry?” Duo flashed his wide disarming smile at the wide eyed children. “I bet the cook's got some leftovers!”

He was careful to lift Jessica from the vehicle, motioning Jamie to join them and whilst he held the little girl's hand he made no move to offer his hand to the boy.  Instead he motioned Jamie toward a side door as Heero drove away.  He was wary of belittling the boy who had, quite successfully, cared for Jessica over an extended period of time.  He would not treat the boy like a child, not when he had proven himself capable of surviving living rough.  You grew up quickly on the streets.

“Um...”

He glanced at Jamie, cocking an eyebrow in enquiry. “Something the matter, Jamie?”

“I... Well, do you... Do you really know the King?”

Duo was careful not to smile too widely and offered up a more serious nod. “Yeah, I do.  I’ve even cuddled Prince Stephen.  Don’t worry yourself, Jamie.  Milliardo is nice.  Really.  I’ve worked for him for a while now and we are friends.  He doesn’t bite.”

The first thing he intended to do, he reflected, was to get the children into a warm bath and get them some warmer clothing, then something to eat.  There were other children at the palace and if he needed to he figured he could enlist some of them to help the rescued children feel at ease.  It would be a wild few days ahead and he was determined to see them come through it safe and as stress free as possible. 

End

Karina Robertson  2013