Title: Five Pilots and a Baby the Sequel pt. 3/?

Authors: Deathangelgw and Sarit

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

Warnings: AU, shounen-ai, angst, sap, fluff, some swearing

Rating: PG-13

Pairings: Still the same as the first. 2+/x5, and hints of 1+3, 3+4, and now 1x/+6

Note: BWAHAHAHA…anyhoo…Enjoy and please review!!

‘thoughts’

The shuttle soon landed at its destination, prompting Noin to lead them out.  It was nearly the end of the current shift, so she led the way to the nearby barracks.  "They should be coming in soon.  We can wait for them here."

"Should be great! Wonder how that blond buffoon is doing..." Sally said cheerfully, snickering as Wufei coughed to cover his laugh.

Quatre snickered, covering his mouth as he shook his head.  Duo just cackled, sitting up and rubbing his hands together gleefully.  "Can we torture him?  Please?!"

Wufei put his hand on Duo's head as they floated out. Sally rolled her eyes. "We still need him, Duo." She said in amusement.

"You guys are just so mean." Duo pouted, earning a laugh from Noin as she led them inside the barracks.

"Whatever." Wufei said with a sigh.

"I'm sure Wufei will make it up to you later." Sally said with a wry grin and snickering as Wufei sputtered indignantly.

"Oooo...will you, Fei?" Duo asked, batting his eyelashes at his lover.  He snickered, winking as he whistled innocently and sat down on one of the couches. Quatre snickered, shaking his head as he took an armchair and waited impatiently. Wufei growled and shook his fist at Sally as she laughed and floated over to another of the couches. Sighing, Wufei pouted and leaned against one of the walls, his arms crossed stubbornly over his chest. Duo couldn't help but snicker at his lover, winking at Wufei.  Wufei could be just so funny sometimes.  A few minutes passed before the doors to the bunker opened, the crew finally returning from a long day of work.

Waiting patiently, the group watched the soldiers/workers come in, taking note of the strangers as they talked about their day before the shuttle took them to their homes. As they watched, they kept scanning for the familiar blond and messy brunet that they were hoping to see.

Sally saw them first, then blushed brightly as he saw Zechs steal a soft kiss from Heero briefly before they came in. Both young men blinked in surprise as they saw the equally surprised (and more than a little upset) faces of friends they hadn't seen in a long time. Zechs recovered first as he smiled at them. "Duo! Wufei! Sally! Quatre! It's been a long time! What brings you here?" He said cheerfully in his soft voice as he came over to them and shook hands. Heero came over as well, but now his eyes were on the ground. He nodded a bit at the group, but his eyes slowly crept painfully to Quatre's before going back down.

"Hello, Zechs.  Heero." Quatre said softly, none of the pain he'd shown previously showing on his face.  He smiled at them warmly, though inside he felt his heart breaking.  Apparently the rumors were true about his friend, but he wouldn't be upset about it.  If it made Heero happy, then he refused to say anything about his own feelings.

"We actually came to see Heero." Duo remarked nonchalantly, biting the inside of his cheek.  Quatre was acting as if nothing were wrong…which he knew was a lie.  His friend was trying to cover up his own pain for the good of Heero.  He suddenly found himself hating Heero, despite knowing it wasn't his friend's fault.

Zechs smiled warmly. "Oh? What for?" He asked as he sat down. Heero sat near him, gazing down at the floor silently as the others sat down as well.

"It's about Shaina." Wufei said in a hard voice. Like Duo, he found himself hating Heero for hurting Quatre...and even Trowa. He found a sick satisfaction when Heero's head shot up, eyes wide in surprise and concern. 'Hurt you bastard...you just tore two of your friends' hearts apart...' he thought viciously as Sally picked up the tale and Heero's face paled in shock and horror.

Normally Duo would have given his lover a reproachful look for the way he had acted, but he just couldn't.  He didn't begrudge Heero finding happiness...but when he all but ignored two of his friends that obviously cared very deeply for him, that went a bit far.  "Yeah, so we came here to drag your sorry ass back to help her.  Unless your life here is too important to worry about a little orphaned girl."

"Duo!" Quatre protested, giving both him and Wufei a hard glare.  He didn't need them 'sticking up' for him.  He could handle his own feelings himself,

Heero looked like he'd been slapped as he stared at his friends in hurt shock. Zechs frowned in concern as he looked between Heero and the two glaring accusers. "Is there something here that I don't know about?" Zechs asked quietly in concern, cocking an eyebrow as Sally added her own glare at Wufei and Duo.

Sally cleared her throat and smiled stiffly at them. "No. But we are wondering if Heero could come with us to help her." She said in as soothing a voice as she could manage.

Heero nodded sharply as he looked away as Zechs said, "That's fine. We just finished up with that project in the southeast complex so he's free to go." He said with a slight smile.

"How very gracious." Wufei spat out, then got up and went into the shuttle, ignoring Zechs' bewildered look.

"You're too kind, Zechs." Duo growled, giving Heero another glare before storming out of the room after his lover.  If only Heero had known how upset Quatre had been.  'But of course he doesn't; he's too full of himself and his own problems to care about anyone else.'

Once Duo was gone, Noin rubbed her forehead.  "Sorry about that.  They seem to have a bug up their ass or something."

"No.  They are just concerned for their friends." Quatre whispered softly, his eyes on Heero and Zechs.  He gave them a smile, though it was apparent there was no happiness within it.  "We will meet you in the shuttle, Heero." Without saying another word, he turned and followed his other two friends.  He knew if he stayed any longer he'd break down in tears and he refused to do that anymore.

Heero reached out for Quatre, then sighed and let his head drop to his chest. Zechs smiled slightly as he pet Heero's hand sympathetically. "It's ok...you can tell him later. Just don't give up." He said soothingly.

Heero shook his head, biting his lip. "Why is he angry at me? I didn't know about Shaina...why are they all angry at me?" He whispered in pain.

Sally sighed and came over. "I guess they were all a bit shocked that the rumor that you two are an item wasn't a rumor and the fact that Quatre has deep feelings for you is at the bottom of this." She said with a sad smile. Her smile slipped as Zechs cocked an eyebrow at her. "What?"

"We haven't been 'an item' for three months now." Zechs said, his lips twisting wryly as Sally gaped at them.

"Eh?  Well there goes that rumor." Noin rolled her eyes then shook her finger at Zechs.  "This is partly your fault, you know!  You never did anything to dispel such a rumor, so it's your job to fix it!"

"What?! That rumor has been dead here for a long time!! It's Earth that's slow!" Zechs said as he held his hands up in defense. Heero chuckled slightly, though, from the tears glimmering in his eyes, he was far from amused.

Sally rolled her eyes and groaned. "This is just wonderful...poor Quatre." She said with a sigh, then snickered. "No wait...I take it back. Poor you, Yuy. You better watch your back." She said with a smirk.

Heero looked confused. "I always do...but why?" He asked as he gazed at her and wiped his eyes.

Noin arched an eyebrow at her friend, then groaned.  "All too true, Sally." She crossed her arms and continued to give Zechs a slight glare.  "I don't care if they are, you're going to fix it.  As to why you should watch your back...use your head, Yuy.  Two of your friends think you've intentionally hurt Quatre and Trowa with this...I'd watch myself if I were you.  I wouldn't want two former Gundam Pilots on my ass, especially ones so well trained with a katana or hand to hand as Wufei and Duo are."

Zechs suddenly snickered as Heero frowned lightly. "I won't fight them...they are my friends." Heero said firmly.

Sally sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. "MEN!! They never learn!! Let's go." She said as she got up and went into the just arrived shuttle. Zechs, still laughing, followed her out with a perplexed Heero.

"Uh huh." Noin rolled her eyes, then smacked Zechs on the shoulder and glared at him as they entered the shuttle.  "You are not helping matters, Merquise.  Will you ever grow up?!"

"I have...but this is just an amusing irony. Heero was looking forward to the end of this project so he could go back to tell Quatre and Trowa his feelings and now we must deal with the misunderstanding of a simple kiss!" He said as he laughed.

Heero sighed forlornly as he looked at his knees. "I never meant to hurt them...I was hoping I could make up my absence to them..." He said sadly.

Sally's face softened as she sat next to him. "It's ok, Heero...we have a long trip back to Earth to help Shaina out. You'll get your chance." She said as she squeezed his knee.

"That's right.  We'll make sure that they understand, since we're coming with you.  Right, Zechs?" Noin said ominously, her eyes fixed on her former lover.  "Besides, it'll be nice to get away and perhaps we can even visit Miss Relena for a bit."

"Do we have to?" Zechs said, looking dismayed at that idea. "Wait, what about Nichol? He'll be an ass about it won't he?" He said, arguing with her as the shuttle headed back to the main base.  Heero tuned them out as he stared out at the landscape he'd gotten used to over the last six months. He hoped that he could make up for it...

They arrived, Zechs and Noin still arguing as they debarked and went looking for the other three former Pilots. Noin smirked, cracking her knuckles as she smirked at her former lover.  "Yes, he will be.  Lucky for you...he's our pilot back and you can argue all through the flight with him."  She so loved to spring these little surprises on him.  It was fit retribution for all the times he'd nearly given her heart failure with all his tricks.

Quatre looked up, smiling as the others arrived to join them.  He didn't seem aware of the glare Duo was giving Heero.  "We already transferred our things to the shuttle and are ready to go." Zechs grumbled at Noin as they came over. Heero nodded as he tried to catch Quatre's eye. But Wufei was glaring at him and Heero found his eyes finding their way to the ground once again.

Sally smirked at Quatre. "Sounds good. Did you get Heero's stuff? He's staying on Earth...joining up with Preventers now that the project is done here."

Wufei growled. "Well lovely for him. Let's move it...ship his stuff later. We're wasting time." He snapped out angrily. "Where is that ass, Nichol anyways?!"

"Behind you, justice boy." A sarcastic voice sounded from behind Wufei.

Noin covered her snicker, smiling at her boyfriend.  "Ready to ship out?"

Nichol shrugged, a sly smirk on his face as he looked at her, then Zechs.  "Of course.  I took the liberty of arranging to have all our gear stored aboard.  That includes Yuy's." He gave Wufei a nasty glare, then indicated for them to board.

"That was very good of you," Quatre said softly.  He kept his gaze away from Heero, however as he boarded the craft.   Duo said nothing about Wufei's lack of manners, merely glared at them all and followed his blond friend. Wufei smirked as he followed his lover inside. Heero followed just as silently as Zechs grumbled and went in as well. Sally started a conversation with Nichol as she went up front to talk with him while the others buckled in for take-off.

"Where's Quatre?" Noin asked in concern as she looked around with a frown.

"He didn't feel well, so decided to sleep for awhile." Duo said coldly, his eyes on Heero as if Quatre's discomfort was all his fault.

"Oh.  I...see." Noin frowned.  She hoped they hadn't decided to have a little brawl on board the shuttle.  Nichol would not take kindly to that.  He still carried his pistol, after all.

Heero looked away from Duo as he got up. "Maybe I should check on him." He said quietly.

"You've done enough, Yuy...just stay out of that part of our lives and help out Shaina like the good soldier you are." Wufei snapped out coldly and smirked nastily as Heero looked almost ill at the cruelty of his words.

Zechs growled softly at the two. "Now listen here! This isn't Heero's fault and he just wants to help!" He snapped out, losing his cool at his friend's distress.

"Oh right...sure.  Just like he's helped now?" Duo growled, his fists clenched at his sides as he glared hatefully at Heero.  "Nothing matters but you, does it Heero?  You abandoned Shaina and you've abandoned Quatre and Trowa!"  He seethed, then closed his eyes.   Opening them, his blue eyes were cold and filled with anger.  "Why are you even here?  You obviously only care about yourself, so why bother coming?!  You'll only abandon them again and they'll be worse off then they are now!"

Heero's hands clenched tightly as he glared at the floor, silent. Zechs snarled at Duo. "Back off!! He's coming because he wants to make things right!"

"Oh and you're the big expert, huh Merquise?! You know EVERYTHING about Mr. Heero Yuy, cold ass jerk." Wufei said snidely as he got up as well, his fists clenched tightly in anger as he glared at the blond.

"Please...stop it." Heero's voice stopped them at its controlled anger and despair. "I'm going to try and make things right, Wufei...Duo. Please believe me." He said quietly as he looked up slowly.

"Tell it to the hearts you've broken or betrayed." Wufei snapped out before floating to the quarters he was sharing with Duo.

"'Make things right'?!" Duo asked incredulously, arching an eyebrow up at Heero.  "You'll never make things 'all right' again, Heero.  We aren't talking about fixing a broken leg, like you used to do in the war.  You've *destroyed* two of my best friends’ hearts, and for that, I can never forgive you." His braid flying behind him, Duo stalked off after his lover, not waiting for an answer.

Heero reached out for Duo, his face filled with sorrow. He stopped and let his hands drop to his side before curling up. He shook with silent sobs as he whispered softly, "But I don't want to be without them...." Zechs wrapped his arms around Heero and held him close, his face filled with compassion as he soothed the younger man.

Face filled with pain, Noin reached out and touched Heero's cheek tenderly.  "They just don't understand, Heero.  We'll make them see the truth, I promise we will."

"How? They are certain on what I have done." Heero said softly, flatly. He was startled as Zechs shook him.

"Don't you DARE fall back into that mode, Heero! Face your feelings and live with them...don't kill them like always! What have I told you?!" Zechs growled out, glaring at the pained eyes of his friend.

"Listen to him, Heero." Noin said softly, lifting Heero's face so she could gaze into his eyes.  Her own eyes were fierce and filled with determination.  "We will make them see the truth, or I'll shove them out an airlock myself.  Heero...if they didn't care about you, this wouldn't hurt them so much...and they wouldn't be this angry."

"They...really care?" Heero asked softly in a small voice.

"Yes, Heero...they care. You five are friends...you love each other, like you said to me. You love Quatre and Trowa...and you love Wufei and Duo, though differently." Zechs said soothingly, smiling as Heero looked at him solemnly. "When you care for people, you sometimes get hurt. Right now...they are under the wrong impression that you and I are together. We will fix it." He said firmly, smiling as Heero nodded.

"Of course they care, Heero!" Noin smiled sadly at him, brushing his brown hair tenderly.  "If they did not care, they wouldn't have cared less about this.  Zechs is right; we will fix it.  But for now, why don't you go get some rest?" She smirked, giving Zechs an innocent look.  "I'm sure Nichol would like some company and a copilot, Zechs.  Do be a good little boy and go help him?"

Zechs glared at her as Heero snickered softly with amusement. "And he can shove himself out an airlock." Zechs growled out.

Heero smiled as he got up, then bowed to them both. "Arigato...I will get some sleep and hopefully we can clear things up tomorrow." He said with a bit more lightness. He waved as he floated to his quarters.

"Very good, Heero." Noin smiled sweetly at him, then smirked and patted Zechs on the cheek.  "Now now...that isn't very cordial of you.  One might think you were jealous, Lightning Count.  Now scram and go help him."

"I'm not jealous!" Was heard down the hall as Heero floated down it and he snickered in amusement. He knew that Zechs was just concerned over Nichol's past and he didn't want Noin to screw up like she had with Zechs. But...she didn't have to know that.

He sighed as he got to his room, then looked at the other rooms, wondering which one held Quatre. 'Maybe I should talk to him...' he thought hesitantly. He stopped then as he heard some very telltale sounds of lovemaking in one of the rooms and blushed brightly. 'Maybe later...' he thought in embarrassment before going into his room in shame. It was going to be one of those trips....

TBC