Stopping the car, Heero moved to open Duo's door for him as he'd found it made the boy blush.  Eyes glinting warmly, he left the car for the valet and followed
him toward the house.  Then he halted abruptly as his eyes fell on the banner hung over the door.  Passing Duo, who'd halted as well, he grabbed the end of
the cloth and ripped it down, wadding it up as he entered the house.  Once inside, he handed the wadded cloth to one of the servants and shoved the anger
from his mind as the children converged on him and Duo.  To his surprise, he found himself being hugged by Sally of all people.  

Kneeling, Duo spread his arms as he was nearly knocked over by Hilde and Catherine. Laughing, he picked them up, a bit unsteady from the weight, but it was
worth it from the way they giggled.  "Did you miss me?"

"No," Catherine grinned, laughing when Duo acted like he was going to drop her.  

"Yes!  I missed you."  With her arm around his neck, Hilde placed sloppy kisses on his cheek.

Not sure how to react, Heero blinked at the brown-haired girl as she let him go and smiled.  "Are you all right?"

Still smiling, Sally nodded and moved to Duo who'd set the two girls down.  "Hi, Duo.  I'm glad you're back."  

Heero continued to stare at her for a minute, then he turned as the sound of steps echoed through the hall and he spotted Zechs and Treize near the stairs.  
Remembering the banner, his eyes narrowed and he nodded to Duo before crossing to the two men.  "We have to talk," he said, softly so the others wouldn't
hear.  He didn't want to ruin their reunion although he noticed that the eldest four were absent.  The two men glanced at each other and nodded before
turning.  Together, they moved to his office.

"Duo?"  Leaning over the balcony, Dorothy smiled a bit, then glanced around.  "Come up stairs, okay?"

"Sure."  Holding Hilde's hand, he followed the girls upstairs, his eyes widening when he spotted Wufei and Rashid standing behind Dorothy.  "What's wrong,
guys?  You look like someone died."

Snorting, Dorothy glared when Wufei smacked the back of her head lightly.  "Well, he might as well have," she said defensively, rubbing her head.  Looking to
Duo, she waved him toward the hall.  "Quatre hasn't come out of his room in days."

"I found him outside," Wufei said slowly, staring at the floor.  He blamed himself for having told the blonde boy since he probably would never have found out if
he hadn't.  "I don't know what happened, but he was crying."

"Okay."  Patting Hilde's head, Duo let her go and passed the others as he went to Quatre's door.  Not receiving an answer when he knocked, he tried again,
harder.  "Quatre?  Let me in?"  He sighed when he heard movement, but his relief gave way to concern when the boy opened the door, his red-rimmed eyes
wide in his pale face.  "Oh Quatre..."  Moving into the room, shutting the door firmly as he watched the boy sit down on the bed, crossing his legs under him.  
"What happened?" he asked softly, joining him.  

"I don't know," Quatre said softly, shaking his head as he looked at his folded hands.  "I must have done something..."  Duo put an arm around him and he
hugged the boy hard.  "Trowa doesn't want me anymore."

"Tell me what happened, Quatre, specifically."

"He said he came to warn me about OZ."  Stopping, Quatre realized the message was more important than his problem.  "They want Heero to fight for them, a
general's been coming here almost every day since you left."

As much as the boy's news worried him, Duo knew Heero had probably already found out.  "Then what happened?" he asked, "After he warned you."

"He just left," Quatre said dully.  He'd stopped crying days ago and while the pain was still fresh in his mind, he couldn't pay it much attention.  "I thought he
was hurt or angry by whatever Heero said to him, but that wasn't it.  He just doesn't care about me anymore.  He left without me."

"I don't believe it."  Shaking his head, Duo stood and frowned at Quatre's surprised expression.  "You haven't given up, have you?"

"What else can I do?"

"I...actually," Duo admitted sadly, shaking his head, "I don't know.  But you shouldn't just give up.  Maybe if we could talk to him."

"Please don't," Quatre pleaded, eyes wide.  "I just want to forget.  I can't go through that again...it hurt too much."

Sighing, Duo pulled the boy to him, hugging him lightly.  "I'm so sorry, Quatre."

* * *

"What the *hell* is going on?" Heero demanded the moment the he stepped into the office and had closed the door.  "Would one of you like to explain to me
why there was an OZ banner over my door?"

"I'm sorry Heero," Zechs said, watching the boy sit down behind the desk.  "Tuberov showed up here not two hours after you left.  It seems OZ is widening its
rule in this country and their fame and popularity will grow if they have the Yuy name on their side."  

"We had to put the flag up," Treize said, "because they threatened the children if we didn't."

"What?!" Cobalt eyes narrowed to slits, Heero growled softly.  "I'll kill him..."

"When he comes he brings no less than ten soldiers.  A fight here is just going to put them at risk.  Luckily," Zechs hurried to add, raising a hand so Heero
wouldn't destroy anything, "He always comes at the same time.  If we're gone by then, he just seeks us out wherever we are."

"Gone?  Where have you been going?"

"It doesn't matter," Treize said quickly, "We simply kept the children out in public places where there were plenty of witnesses.  That way we didn't have to
worry about him trying anything.  More important is where do you want to go?  You can't stay here.  Tuberov plans to take you into custody as soon as you get
back, and you're back."

"You have a suggestion."  It wasn't a question as he knew the man too well to miss the fact that he was holding something.

"Come home with me," Treize said, nodding to Zechs.  "As you know, my country isn't involved in this war and we've the capabilities to *stay* uninvolved.  You
know we can keep the children safe.  It's the only thing I can think of."

"Fine.  I'll have Duo get the children ready."  Moving fast, Heero paused at the door.  "When does he show up?"

"At six," Zechs said quickly, "But don't worry.  If he gets here sooner we have a back-up plan."

Staring at the faint quirk at the corner of Treize's mouth, Heero's eyes narrowed.  "I'll bet you do."

* * *

The news was a harsh blow, coming on what should have been a happy day.  This was added to the fact that they were planning to leave the only home they'd
ever known, so the children were in very dark moods.  Yet there was an underlining of excitement that Duo did his best to feed as he convinced the youngest
ones that it was an adventure they were embarking on.  As they had little more than an hour, they didn't pack anything, getting the children dressed in travel
clothes only too keep them occupied.  Heero and Zechs were busy getting all of the cash they had on hand and arming themselves although they had no
intention of letting the children know.  Not wasting any time, they piled into two cars, half in each.  But they were stopped before they made it through the gates.

Recognizing the uniforms, Heero and Treize got out of the cars, Zechs joining them as they waited for Tuberov to reach them.  

"Going somewhere?"  Eyes glinting, the man stepped forward.  "Heero Yuy, it's nice to see you've finally come back.  But where are you off to?  And with the
whole family?"  Heero glared and he gestured toward the soldiers.  "It's time to go, Yuy.  I'm sure you've been told why I'm here."

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait."  Smiling politely, Treize moved to stand in front of Heero, raising an eyebrow when the soldiers directed their guns at him.  "You
see, we have an engagement that we simply can't miss."

"Stand aside," Tuberov said coldly as the soldiers moved forward a step.  "I'm not going to let him escape.  He's going with me to OZ headquaters.  And *then*
he's going to be the captain of our army.  Or...well, you know the consequences."  Gesturing to the soldiers, he gave the cars a pointed look.

"General, I don't think you understand.  I though you wanted Heero because of his name, so you could garner the support of this nation."  The man frowned
and Treize continued, "Well, if we miss this engagement, I'm afraid you won't be getting what you want.  You see, we're scheduled to perform at the concert
this evening.  I'm sure you know which one I'm speaking of, singers from this country win every year.  I don't think the masses would appreciate you preventing
the family from competing."

"What are you babbling about?" Tuberov demanded, scowling at the man.  He did indeed know what concert he was speaking of and he could see how OZ
could be turned into a public enemy.  Yet he knew Heero had just returned from his honeymoon and there was no way the boy could have made prior
arrangements.  Besides, he'd seen the boy in action and he knew he was a fighter.  He refused to believe the boy was planning to get up on a stage and sing.

"This."  Reaching inside his jacket, Treize froze for a second when the soldiers stiffened, then slowly pulled out a folded piece of paper.  He unfolded it and
handed it to the general, expression carefully void of any humor as he felt Heero's glare on the back of his head.  As much as the boy had been against the
idea, he knew Heero was now indebted to him.

"This..."  Staring at the paper, Tuberov gnashed his teeth for a moment before he reread it and smiled.  "This lists the names of the children.  It doesn't say
anything about the Captain."

"It says 'The Yuy Family Singers'," Zechs murmured, watching the man.  "The entire family."

"All right.  Yes, that's fine.  I'll see to it that you have an escort to your concert, but immediately afterward, you," he pointed to Heero, "come with us."

"Of course," Treize said.  "It's nice of you to make sure we get there.  Well, shall we?  The concert starts in forty minutes.  We'd better hurry."

* * *

"Heero, what's going on?"  Turning so he could look back at the cars following them, Duo gazed at the boy beside him.  "Where are we going?"

"To a concert," Heero muttered, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.  "We have Treize to thank for that."

"We still get to sing?" Hilde asked, smiling a bit as some of her worry was lost.  While she didn't know what was happening, she could tell it wasn't good from
the expressions on Heero and Duo's faces.

"I thought..."  Frowning, Duo glanced back at the three kids in the back before looking to Heero.  "The children are going to sing in a concert?"

Looking at the violet-eyed boy, Heero's left eye twitched.  "We all are."

.-.

PART 16

.-.

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