Disclaimer: we don’t own the boys, but boy are we gonna have fun with them!!!

Warnings: AU, shounen-ai, angst, sap, dark, saaaaaad!! *wails*

Rating: PG

Pairings: Still good friends and such!

Note: *sniffles* and now…the sad part…Enjoy and please review!!

‘thoughts’

Some hours later, Duo paced the living room floor with Quatre biting his nails in a nearby chair.  The contact Wufei had called was due to arrive any time to pick up Shaina and they were all on edge.  Quatre kept glancing in Heero's direction, worry and concern on his face.

Heero sat on the windowsill, staring out the window impassively as he waited. Trowa was playing quietly with Shaina as they waited while Wufei leaned against the wall. Wufei suddenly reached out and stopped Duo, hugging him close as he whispered softly to him. They all jumped as the doorbell rang. Heero walked swiftly to the door, gun out and ready as Wufei followed him, gun also ready. "Who is it?" Wufei said softly.

"Doctor visit...something about a clogged drain full of braid?" A woman's voice floated through and Trowa snorted in amusement.

Wufei smirked as he opened the door. "Good to see you, Sally." He said to the blonde haired woman that came in.

"Same to you, Chang Wufei." The blonde said with a soft smile.

"Ya know, I think I resent that remark." Duo said with a grin, waving to Sally. Quatre shook his head, smiling briefly at his friend.  He glanced over at Shaina, who had woken up and began whimpering.

Wufei smiled innocently then snickered as Sally elbowed him with a grin. They looked over as Shaina whimpered and Sally went over as Trowa gathered the little one, cooing to her soothingly. "So this is the little one, hmm?" She said with a smile as she brushed her fingers through the head full of hair. "Hello there, little one." She said with a smile. Wufei looked around, frowning sadly as he saw that Heero had vanished once again. This was going to be more than hard...

Shaina continued to whimper, staring at the strange woman in front of her.  She sniffed, rubbing her eyes.  She wanted Heero...and to prove her point, she began to cry. "Hush now little one...don't cry..." Trowa said softly as he rubbed her back, smiling sadly.

Sally frowned lightly in distress. "I should check her over to make sure she isn't sick." She said as she took the little one carefully from a protective Trowa. She smiled soothingly at them all. "Don't worry...I won't hurt her." She said before taking the little one to a bedroom after grabbing her medical bag. Quatre put his hand on Trowa's shoulder, giving his friend a sad smile.  He watched, along with Duo, as Sally took Shaina into another room.  They could hear the little girl's cries and sobs all the way from the living room. Wufei frowned darkly as he crossed his arms tightly over his chest and glowered at the floor. He was heard muttering about a certain Japanese man and his being a cold bastard. Trowa sighed softly as he gazed steadily at the floor. He just wished that things could work out.

Sighing, Quatre hugged Trowa, watching and waiting for the outcome.  He sighed; wishing that Heero was there.  That was what Shaina needed. They all looked over as Sally came back in, bouncing Shaina soothingly. "Well, she is a very healthy baby! About four months I'm guessing and incredibly intelligent. You boys certainly took good care of her!" She said with a smile.

"Heero did...we just helped." Wufei mumbled softly as Trowa took Shaina into his arms again.

"Ah, I see...well, I did find a loving family that would love to have a daughter and they are expecting her whenever you can give her to me for adoption." Sally said with a smile.

"A-adoption?" Quatre stuttered, then flushed at his nervousness.  He had wanted what was good for Shaina...but what about Heero?  What would learning about Shaina being adopted do to him?

"Uh...yes. That is what Wufei had suggested." Sally said, frowning in confusion as she glanced at the other youth. Trowa and Wufei avoided her gaze, jaws clenching tightly.

"Sounds good...you can take her now. Here's the supplies and her birth certificate." Heero's cold voice floated from the entryway as he handed Sally the items. His eyes were flat, dead, as he looked away and walked out of the room.

Sally frowned lightly in distress. "I...thank you..." She said softly, then looked at the other young men as the Japanese man left the house.

"Heero?" Quatre swallowed, feeling distress fill him at his friend's words.  He looked to Trowa for help, completely at a loss on what to do.

Duo bit his lip, watching Heero leave.  He sighed, giving Sally a reassuring look.  "It's okay, Miss Po.  We're glad you could find a good home for her."

Nodding, Sally smiled reassuringly at them. "Well...I guess then you best say good bye. I'll go put this stuff away while you get her ready, k?" She said as she picked up the stuff.

"Thanks, Sally." Wufei whispered softly, smiling slightly at her before she left the room.

Duo nodded, speechless as Sally left them alone with Shaina.  He choked back his tears, smiling at the little girl. He brushed her cheek tenderly.  "You be good, Shai.  We'll see you again soon." Shaina sniffed, her eyes wide as her small body trembled.

"Hush now, Shaina...you'll have a good home now." Wufei whispered softly, eyes shimmering shamelessly with tears as he came over as well. He kissed her on the cheek and caressed it with a soft touch as well.

Trowa buried his nose into her soft hair, murmuring softly to her as tears rolled down his face as well. "Be strong, little one...we'll see you someday." Whimpering more as if she knew she was being taken away, Shaina began to cry.  She reached out to them, her eyes wide with fear.

"Hush, sweet one.  Your Uncle Trowa is right.  We will all see you again, I promise." Quatre smiled reassuringly at Shaina, brushing her cheek tenderly before placing a soft kiss to her forehead.  He felt his own tears slid down his cheeks, unheeded.

"Hush little one. Don't cry. You are strong and you mustn't cry." Wufei said softly, wiping his tears and smiling gently at her. He nodded at Trowa and the other two and they headed outside to where Sally was waiting for them. Sniffing, Shaina rubbed her eyes, her tears staining her cheeks.  Oddly, she didn't cry as Wufei had asked her to do.  She just looked incredibly sad and lonely.

They went outside and Trowa handed her to Sally. He pressed one last kiss to her forehead. "Be strong...and happy, little one. Some day...fate willing...we'll be together again...." He whispered softly, then stepped back to stand with the others.

Sally felt sadness well up at the resigned looks on the young faces before her. 'Such sadness...they can't even allow this little bit of happiness in their lives.' she thought sadly before smiling at them. "Don't worry...the family she will be going to is a good one. And they thank you...from the bottom of their hearts for this miracle."

"Make sure that they don't hurt her or anything else." Wufei warned her darkly, eyes narrowing. She smiled slightly in slight amusement before nodding her assurances.

"Yeah...otherwise I won't be responsible for what happens." Duo said softly, his eyes on the little girl.  Shaina sniffed, reaching out her hands to them imploringly.  Quatre had to finally turn his head away or risk his heart being torn apart with sorrow.

Sally took the little hands and kissed them soothingly as each of the young men looked away, eyes shining with tears and betrayal. She put Shaina into the carseat she'd brought along and closed the door firmly before facing them. "Live through this, you guys." She said firmly, surprising them as they looked up. "I don't want this permanent and neither do you. Live...I'll see you later." She said and, with a final nod of farewell, got into the car and drove off.

"We will...do our best." Quatre whispered, raising his hand in farewell.  He looked at his friends, smiling slightly.  They would live through this, they had to.  If only for the small child that was waiting for them. Trowa and Wufei nodded slightly, smiling slightly back. They silently watched the car disappear, not even seeing the shadow in the tree that watched, silver tracks of tears streaking the shadowed face as it watched.

"Come on.  Let's get inside, it’s getting cold out." Duo wrapped his arm around Wufei, leading his love back inside.  Quatre sighed; watching the car silently as it disappeared. Wufei leaned his head on Duo's shoulder; face hard with sorrow he'd fought to hide. Trowa wrapped his own arm around Quatre's shoulders and led him inside, not saying anything, but still offering his own solace. Looking back, Quatre looked over in the direction he had caught a glimpse of Heero.  He sighed sadly, resting his head on Trowa's shoulder as he allowed himself to be led away. 

Heero came down from the tree and looked back over where Shaina had been taken away. He looked down and shivered in the suddenly cold wind, feeling loneliness well up. He wanted to see her…hold her…he wanted to be everything for her. With a grim resolve, he knew that he would make this world a better place for her so that he could once again look at her and know she would be happy.

With…or without him.

TBC

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