Running Out Of Tomorrows

align=center>style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">RUNNING
OUT OF TOMORROWS

align=center>style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">PART
10

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">dir=ltr>*   *style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *dir=rtl>

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">The
sound of coughing and gagging filled the small bathroom, echoing between bare
walls. A sickening gurgling sound followed the suffocated coughs, and Duo
Maxwell threw himself over the toilet, wild chestnut hair flying about him as he
leaned down to vomit. The shoulder length hairs clung to his sweaty features as
he retched over the white porcelain, tears lingering to his thin eyelashes. Dark
and heavy bags were under his eyes, his face haggard from lack of sleep and
illness.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">His
hand trembled as he reached to wipe the traces of vomit off his mouth, the sharp
smell of it burning his nostrils. His entire frame seemed so small and fragile,
like an old man who no longer had the strength to carry himself. The weight of
years seemed to rest on the young man's shoulders as he heavily turned around
and leaned his back on the toilet. Wearing a pair of ragged and thin hospital
pajamas, his features pale and nearly gray, the young man really did resemble
someone who was too frail and aged to live.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">He
moaned miserably and closed his eyes, feeling too ill to even breathe. He leaned
his head back, trying to ignore the stanch he'd caused, and just wished he was
dead. He felt so terribly ill and rotten, that death seemed like a welcomed
bliss right now. Or at least, a few days of sleep... maybe even a year of hiding
in comfortable darkness... It did sound like a great idea right now. It was
better than feeling half dead... or was it?

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">It's
been fourteen hours since he got out of surgery. A surgery to
remove one of his kidneys and then transfer it to Heero. It wasn't such a
dangerous surgical procedure, but with the poor conditions on L7, the short
notice of the operation and the questionable doctor that performed it, the
surgery was a major risk to his health. Not as risky as in Heero's case, though.
The risk of performing the transplant and keeping Heero alive at the same time
was far greater. The young man was so far gone, being on the verge of death,
that the operation was even more dangerous than the one performed on
Duo.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Of
course, there was also the bigger risk that Heero's body will not accept the new
organ. The doctor warned Duo before he gave up on a part of his body, that this
procedure might be a complete failure. His kidney did not match Heero's. Their
blood type was different. There was no way Heero's body could live with an inapt
kidney. No chance... but one. A small chance, merely a glimmer of hope...style="mso-spacerun: yes">  an experimental treatment that might
help Heero's body adjust to the new organ. It was a
long shot, but so far it was working out pretty well. He could only hope that
things would continue that way. Heero made it through the surgery and now... now
all Duo could do was to wait, and pray that he will
regain consciousness.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Mister
Maxwell?" A soft female voice called from the doorstep and Duo sent his tired
violet eyes in that direction. He tensed a little as he recognized the young
nurse standing at the doorway, and immediately he struggled to his
feet.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Is...
is Heero..?" He whispered shakily, supporting himself on the toilet as he forced
his shaking legs to stand. "Is he…?"

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">The
young woman looked compassionately at him, and took a step closer to help him
stand steadily. "Are you all right? Are you feeling ill again?" She asked with
worry, her young green eyes shimmering in the dim light of the bathroom. "I
could look for some more antibiotics... we might have some
left..."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Save
it..." Duo whispered hoarsely, pushing himself away from her aiding hands and
attempting to stand on his own. "Heero might need them..."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">The
young nurse bit her lower lip in thought, trying to stop herself from giving him
another lecture. Though the young man suffered from an infection after the
surgery- having it done in poor and unsuitable conditions – he refused
treatment. Knowing what little resources this small (illegal) clinic had, he
refused to take all of the remaining medicines for himself. He took as little as
possible, leaving the rest for his friend (or as she suspected-
lover).

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"The
doctor wants to see you." She finally found her voice to speak, aiding the
longhaired man to walk out of the small bathroom. "It's regarding Mr.
Yuy."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">She
could feel him tense in her hold, his whole body stiffening. He didn't say
anything though, and his gaunt face remained a stony mask. He simply wiped the
rest of the vomit off his chin and nodded his head.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">*style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Though
he knew the way very well by now, he followed the nurse silently as she led him
to the recovery room at the end of the hall. When he entered, his eyes
immediately traveled to the center of the small room, where a lean and still
figure lay silently on a bed. An oxygen tube was attached to his nose and an IV
was leaking fluid into his left arm. His long fingers, looking pale and
delicate, rested limply over the sheet, a few sensors attached to the slim
digits. The sensors connected to the wave-form-monitors that displayed the young
man's heartbeat and other life signs. Their soft beeping noise was the only
sound to be heard in the room.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Mister
Maxwell, please come in." A familiar voice- one he heard often over the phone –
invited and Duo sighed deeply. He shifted his gaze from Heero to the elderly
figure sitting by a small desk, in the corner of the room. The desk was packed
with medical supplies, various artifacts lying scattered over its metallic
surface. He watched the old man pick up a syringe and stick the long needle into
a small veil. He watched numbly as the doc filled the syringe with the clear
liquid and then tested the needle by releasing a little sprf flf fluid. Duo
swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the sharp needle. It was very long. class=GramE>Very, very, long. Si> Six or seven inches at least. class=GramE>Too long for his liking.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"What
is that for?" He asked with a strained voice, trying hard to keep his tone from
trembling. He felt sick agaust ust by watching that needle. He had a bad feeling
about what's going to be done with it.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">The
doctor smiled oddly and turned with his chair to face the young man. "It's a
part of the treatment. Come, let me show you." He said too lightly than Duo
would have liked him to speak. He got up from his seat and went to stand ov Hee Heero's bed. Duo followed, coming to stand on the opposite
side.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"You're
going to inject him with... with this?" He asked,
horrified.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"This
drug is the only thing that will help his body cope
with the transplant. It will help him accept the alien organ." He explained
casually, putting the syringe aside on a metal tray and turning back to Heero.
"Help me turn him over." He asked, and Duo obeyed, helping the doc to gently
turn the unconscious Heero so he was lying on his side.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Vna; na; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"It
needs to be applied directly to the new kidney." He continued his explanation,
pulling Heero's gown up and exposing his slender body. His eyes didn't stay long
to look at the fragile youth, and he hurried to disinfect a small area on
Heero's lower back, where a thin, freshly red scar was marring the otherwise
smooth skin of Heero's lower back. The scar was the size of a fist, and it had a
twin on the other side of Heero's back, where the other kidney was removed. The
doctor cleaned one scar swiftly and efficiently and then turned back to the
metal tray.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Come,
lad, make yourself useful." He muttered, picking up the syringe and handit
t
to Duo.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
gulped, his eyes widening. "Why me?" He stuttered,
looking terrified by the thought of injecting Heero with this long, sharp,
needle.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Because
you're the one who's going to have to do this from now on.style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">
Well, if he survives, that is."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
ignored that last comment, his fists clenching and his jaw tensing. He stalked
over to the doc's side, looking in determination at the needle he was holding.
"Show me how."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">The
doctor smiled his cocky smile and handed Duo the syringe. He guided the young
man's hand, showing him how to hold the needle properly. He kept his hand on
Duo's as they moved the needle over the area he'd already disinfected, and shu shudder went down Duo's spine as he watched the sharp edge make contact with
Heero's pale skin, right below the scar. His skin covered with Goosebumps as he
watched the needle slightly nudging the skin down, not breaking through yet.
When he felt the doc push his hand further down to make the injection, he
stopped him, refusing to move his own hand.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"It
will hurt him." He said, turning his head back to look sharply at the doc. "I
can't."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">The
doctor sighed irritably. "Yes, it will hurt him, but it will also keep him
alive. What's one minute of pain compared to a life without you?" He snickered,
both his tone and expression sarca. At. At Duo's none appreciating glare, he
just sighed and shook his head. "Ah, just do it, damn it." He muttered, pushing
Duo's hand down and pressing both their fingers on the edge of the
syringe.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
felt bile climbing up his at aat at the feeling of the needle breaking into
Heero's body, skin, flesh and muscles protesting on the way. He was fighting off
the vomit as he injected the drug, seeing blood ooze from where the needle was
buried in Heero's back. He was feeling faint and ill as the doc helped him pull
out the syringe, and he staggered back, panting when the long bloody needle was
finally out.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">On
the bed, no longer having support to lie on his side, Heero's body dropped down
limply as a log, so that the young man was lying on his back
again.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
coughed, the sting of stomach acid in his throat.
"That's... sick..." He rasped, his legs still shaking. "I don't think I can do alonalone, doc."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"You'll
have to." The doctor spat in annoyance, getting back to his desk. "Otherwise,
what the hell did you just waste all that money for?!" He sat down at his chair
and turned back to his work, turning his back to the shaken young man standing
by the bed.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">His
vision was blurry with tears as Duo dropped down to his knees by Heero's bed and
took hold of his love's limp hand. His breath was irregular from both shock and
tears, and he held onto Heero's palm with both his hands, his head looking up at
Heero's still and pale features. In that position, he looked like a saint
praying for salvation, looking up at the one being that will answer all his
prayers and give him happiness.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">From
the back of the room, the doctor's silent muttering could be barely heard as he
shook his head sadly and continued to work. "Just pray that you'll get your
money's worth, Mr. Maxwell..."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">*style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
have always enjoyed dreaming. It was the sweetest feeling he ever knew, one of
the few things in life that brought him joy. Even as a child, even when
everything a child could ever depend on, could ever hope and aspire for was
taken away from him, he still enjoyed dreaming. That was the one thing no one
could ever take from him. No one was able to go so deeply into his mind and pick
the last blossoming flower that was struggling to live without any sunlight.
True, sometimes he preferred not to dream. There were nights when he struggled
against sleep, just to keep the demons away. But then... there were also the
nights when he longed to fall into the deep webs of slumber and just...
dream...

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">It
was a perfect form of escape. A sort of freedom that he never had while awake.
His mind, despite all the hardship and oppression it suffered, had a vivid
imagination. A spirit that ached to be set free was one that could fly like no
other on the winds of imagination. What he couldn't feel in life, what he was
denied while he was awakame ame to him in his dreams. Magnificent sights and
warm feelings overtook him while sleeping. In his mind, there was an entire
different world than the one he saw during the day. There was a different
reality, different outcomes to his actions. Different choices people made...
like staying by his side and never leaving him...

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">In
his dreams, he was happy, and therefore he enjoyed dreaming. During the war he
slept whenever he had a spare moment. It kept him sane, kept him going, despite
that nagging feeling in the back of his head, the sad reminder that his joyful
version of "reality" was only a dream. Nothing more than a hollow, unfulfilled
dream...

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">This
dream, like many of his nightly fantasies, featured Duo in it. This was the kind
of dream he enjoyed most. More than dreams of flying, swimming with dolphin or
climbing the Everest. This was a dream that made him feel loved. Content. Happy.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
was sitting by his bed, which was oddly small and uncomfortable considering this
was a dream, his head leaning forward on the bed and his messy chestnut lying
sprawled all over the mattress, tickling his forearm.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">He
could feel the heat emitting out of Duo's slumbering form, but that was not
unusual for his dreams were always vivid and realistic. There was taste, and
smell, sound and touch. Everything he was taught to ignore and never enjoy in
real life. In his dreams, he knew all of these sensations, and he appreciated
them. Like the touch of Duo's silken hair between his fingers, and the thick hot
scent of sweat and cheap soap that engulfed him when he inhaled. It was not the
usual smell that surrounded Duo, but nevertheless, it was bliss to be feeling
all of this.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">He
never expected that the afterlife will allow him to dream. He always expected
nothing but darkness, a never ending nothingness to welcome him once he died.
He'd been there before, a few times, and though he was always saved in the end,
he managed to have a glimpse at what was beyond. And it was always cold, dark
and so very very alone...

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">He
wondered if this could possibly be heaven. Perhaps heaven allowed people to
dream... maybe it was just hell that left the dead alone in darkness. But what
had he done to deserve this blissful dream? What did he ever do to send him to
heaven..? He didn't even believe in such things as heaven and hell. The idea of
the afterlife he could somehow handle, because he'd seen the darkness that's
beyond death, felt its chill taking over his body, but he found it hard to
believe in concepts such as heaven and hell. It will mean that he will have to
believe in an entity that decided who deserved to go where, and he was not ready
to believe in such an entity yet. Not just yet.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">So...
why was he thinking about it now? Why was he so confused? Why was he lying in a
small bed, under warm sheets, holding onto Duo's hair and running it through his
fingers? Why did he feel air and blood running through his body? How could this
be possible?

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">A
stirring from Duo made him forget this enigma for a short while as he turned to
look at his beautiful lover open his eyes. There was numb emptiness there at
first, a sense of desperation and hopelessness, which scared him quite a bit.
But as time passed by slowly and those violet eyes kept gazing into his own, the
look in them slowly changed. The tired and hopeless look gradually turned into a
look of wonder and disbelief. Joy soon followed as Duo's eyes widened and his
mouth opened with a stunned expression. Then, there was his smile. That wide,
warm, loving smile that sent shivers down Heero's entire body. Duo's smile. That
beautiful, hope inspiring, heart-warming smile. Seeing it once again was making
tears flood his eyes. He was sure that he will be floating forever in darkness,
and here he was... washed by that heavenly purple light...

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Duo..."
He whispered, his voice weak and hoarse. It was another strange fact, because
there was no reason for him to sound so ill in a dream. Perhaps he was just used
to hearing his own voice so feeble and helpless, that he even dreamt of it that
way.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Heero."
Duo's voice, on the other hand, did not change a bit. It was still that warm
honey mixture that coated him each time Duo spoke. It was still the bittersweet
sound that caressed his ears. That loving way Duo spoke his name... the very way
he pronounced it... No one said his name the way Duo did. No one could ever make
him long to hear the sound of his own name. Just Duo.
It wasn't the fact that he was hearing his name... it was like hearing "I love
you" each time Duo said it. Each time he called him. Each time he smiled at
him.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Is
this... is this heaven..?" He asked, a film of black suddenly covering his
vision, a blackness he soon related to the fact that his eyelids were refusing
to remain open. It was odd... why would he be tired in a
dream..?

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">The
warm feeling of Duo's hand sent Goosebumps down his body, and he smiled tiredly
at the man who was now hovering above him. Truly like an angel... with that warm
smile being his beaconing light...

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"No,
Hee-chan." The bitter-honey voice spoke softly, another warm hand brushing over
his forehead and pushing away a few messy bangs. "This is better... This is
L7..."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">He
nearly chuckled at the joke, but he was too tired to make another sound. The
blackness that was fluttering up and down his vision was taking over completely,
urging him to keep his eyes shut. He was too weak to
refuse.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Not
a... dream..?" He managed to whisper, his lips barely moving to form the words.
He could feel warm lips caress his forehead and then the voice from above him
chuckled.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"No,
Heero. Not a dream." His hand was raised up and kissed, and Heero smiled
sleepily at the tingling feeling. Just before all sound and feeling faded out,
he could hear Duo whisper: "Welcome to tomorrow, Hee-chan. Thank you for coming
back to me... I love you so much..."

styFONTFONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Hearing
thosrds rds was better than any dream he ever had, because this time... this
time it was reality.

align=center>style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">RUNNING
OUT OF TOMORROWS

align=center>style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">WELCOME
TO TOMORROW

align=center>style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verd mso mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">PART
1

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">*style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"But
I dun wanna go there! I dun wanna! No! No! No! I dun wanna! class=GramE>Dun wanna! I DUN WANNA!!!!!"

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Solo's
screams filled the large terminal, making a few passerbys stop in their tracks
and stare at the little boy who was kicking and screaming as his mother dragged
him through the large hall. They just stood there, their luggage at their feet,
and stared stunned at the sight.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Solo,
quit making a scene." Hilde whispered harshly, her face red from both
embarrassment and anger. As if the trouble Solo was giving her was not enough,
she also had to deal with people staring at her with criticizing eyes. She just
knew that they all had something to say about her parental skills, and
that angered her even .

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Solo!
Quit it!" She barked, whirling around to glare at the little boy who was pushing
and kicking and trying anything in his power to keep her from dragging him
throughout the spaceport.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"But
I dun wanna go! I want to stay in the car! I dun wanna go! I want to go home!"
The little boy whined, a pair of burning blue eyes, glistering with both tears
and anger, glaring up at his mother. "I don't want to go! I don't wanna see him!
I want to go home!"

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">With
a heavy sigh, Hilde forced herself to calm down, and slowly knelt in front of
her son. She took his little hand in hers, wincing as she noticed that Solo
didn't release his clenched fists even when she held his
hand.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Solo,
honey, don't you want to go see daddy?" She asked softly, looking
compassionately into his big blue eyes.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"No."
The little boy let out, turning his head away from her anguished eyes. He fixed
his stubborn face on the large LCD screen that displayed the flight information,
looking numbly at the flashing numbers that danced across the screen. It was
better than looking into his mother's hurt expression. He didn't want to make
her sad, but he didn't want to just give in and go with her. He just
didn't!

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Sweetheart,
daddy's been wanting to see you for so long... he was really sad when you didn't
want to talk with him on the phone... don't you think he'll be sad when he'll
come and you won't be there to see him?"

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"I
don't care." He let out in a quiet and stubborn voice, his little heart aching
with guilt. But he shoved it aside. He shouldn’t be feeling guilty! His daddy
deserved it! Every bit of it! And besides...

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"I
don't want to see him and I don't want to see Hero!"

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Hilde
sighed sadly, bowing her head. "His name is Heero, honey, not
Hero."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Solo
snorted, jerking his hand away from his mother's grasp. "I don't care. I don't
want to see him!" He spat in anger, turning to glare at his mother, his lips
pouting stubbornly. "Why did he have to come? Why can't daddy just come home and
that's it?"

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"He
is coming home, Solo. His shuttle is just about to land. He's coming home. Don't
you want to come and say hello?"

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"If
he's really coming home, why did he have to bring Hero? I don't want him to
come! He doesn't have a place to live here!"

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Hilde
was quiet for a while, struggling to find a way to explain her son what she'd
been avoiding telling him ever since Duo called, and announced his upcoming
return. She knew that Solo will not be able to accept it. She knew that the boy
was still angry. Still hurt from betrayal and loss. But she also knew that
she'll have to tell him sooner or later... and now was her last
chance.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Sighing
deeply, she took both her son's hands in hers, and looked deeply into his eyes.
The little boy stood quietly before her, his anguished blue eyes sad and
confused. She could see tears begin to shine in those large blue eyes, and her
heart bled with pain and sympathy.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Solo,
honey... Heero will have a place to live when he comes... he's going to live
with your daddy." She could see the hurt and anger double in their intensity,
reflecting in his eyes, which were still so young... There shouldn't be such a
look in the eyes of someone so young... her son... her poor little baby boy...
Her heart came out to him... she felt so badly for him... Tears weld in her eyes
and she pulled him into a tight hug, embracing him and petting the back of his
head at the same time.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"But
you can make a choice, Solo. You can decide to go home with daddy, or with me.
It's your decision, honey. I know you've waited so long for daddy to come
home... and I know it's hard... but Heero is going to come home with daddy if
you want it or not. Your daddy loves Heero."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">For
a few long moments, Solo just stood frozen in his mother's embrace, his small
shoulders slumped and his heart heavy. He blinked, his gaze numb, and slowly
turned to look up at the large screen that hung above them, flashing lights and
numbers. "He... loves him..? More... more than me..?"

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">His
little lips trembled as he asked that question, tears leaking down his cheeky
face.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"No,
Solo. No. Never." His mother cried, holding him even tighter. "You’re his son...
of course he loves you more than anything in the world! But he... he loves Heero
too. He w to to live with both of you."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">But
he... he didn't want to live with Hero... he didn't want to share his father's
love... he didn't want to wake up every morning and see the person who took his
daddy away for so long... He didn't want to see him at all! But... but... but he
wanted to be with his daddy. He wanted to go home with daddy... he wanted them
to live together, so things could be like they used to. And if Hero will be
there... if he'll come too... things will never be back to the way they used to
be. Didn't his daddy know that? Didn't he realize it? Why was he bringing Hero
along? Why did he love him too? Why was he so important? Why so suddenly? Why
out of nowhere? Why? Why.  . style="mso-spacerun: yes"> .?

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">*style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">The
minute Duo stepped off the shuttle, he was filled with
an overwhelming sense of excitement. This powerful and tingling feeling flooded
him and he began speeding up his pace down the long hallways leading to the
terminal. His traveler's bag bounced violently up and down as he rushed past the
crowd, towards the Arrivals Terminal, where he knew his son was waiting. He
couldn't wait to see his little-man!

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">He
was so caught up in the expectation of seeing his son,
that he nearly failed to notice the fact that Heero was falling behind,
having a hard time to keep up with his pace. The young Japanese man was still
recovering from his fatal illness, having made only a small progress towards
total recovery. He was still very weak, and he tired easily. He was also
unaccustomed to so much walking, after lying in a hospital bed for the last few
months.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Despite
the fact that he was having a hard time to keep up with Duo, dragging off
behind, Heero didn't utter a single word of compliant. He knew how much Duo was
looking forward to finally see his son, and he did not wish to keep him back.
That's why it took Duo a while to realize that Heero wasn't behind him anymore.
He stopped, whirling around with wide and panicking eyes, searching the crowd
frantically. Finally, after the crowd scattered a bit more, he spotted his
lover. Clad in worn-out jeans, a shabby black t-shirt and a rather large –
unbuttoned - white shirt, Heero was struggling to make his way down the wide
hallway. The small bag he was carrying, containing nothing more than a small
change of clothes and a few minor belongings, was slipping off his slender
shoulder as he labored to catch up with his lover.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo's
eyes widened when he realized that Heero was determined not to complain about
his hardship. His eyes then narrowed in irritation and the young man stalked
back towards his lover, glaring.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Heero,
if you want me to slow down just say so, for God's sake." He muttered, taking
Heero's small bag from him and loading it over his shoulder before the young man
could even protest. He watched as Heero took a minute to catch his breath,
panting heavily before he was able to speak back.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Didn't...
want to... keep you... back..." He finally rasped, coughing lightly after he
spoke. His cheeks were flushed from the exercise he was putting his body
through, and a sheen of sweat was glistering over his forehead. "Think I
should... sit down... for a while..." He whispered in a tired voice, taking a ky sky step towards a small bench by the wall. "You go... on... ahead..." He
encouraged, settling down heavily, grateful to give his body some rest. He peeled
the white shirt off, remaining only in his shabby old t-shirt, and wiped the
sweat off his brow. " I'll... catch
up..."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo wnedwned, not at Heero but at himself. He was acting way too selfishly... though
he couldn't help it. He missed his son so much... he didn't speak with him for
what felt like ages, and he longed to hold his little-man in his arms. True, it
was all his fault for not doing these things for so long, he's been so
concentrated on saving Heero, but he was hoping that he will be able to make up
for all the time lost to him and his son. And he had a bag full of presents just
to prove that!

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">But...
seeing the joyful look on his son's face would have to wait just a little while
longer. For now, he had to be a little more considerate towards his lover, who
was looking pretty beat. A long shuttle flight and rushing down the spaceport
was more than Heero could handle right now.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Sighing,
Duo put their bags down and came to sit beside Heero. The young Japanese man was
leaning back heavily against the bench, his head leaning back as well and his
eyes closed. Duo reached for his hand, placing his palm over Heero's warm hand
and then curling their fingers together. Heero opened his eyes to look at him, a
look of confusion flashing briefly in his eyes.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
just smiled kindly and squeezed his hand. Heero smiled as well, and squeezed
back.

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">*style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"He's
not coming." Solo stated bitterly, stomping his little foot on the terminal's
floor. All the passengers of the L7 shuttle came out minutes ago, and his daddy
was not among them. "He just forgot."

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">"Don't
be silly, Solo." His mother said as lightly as she could, though her worried
eyes were looking uncertainly at the doorway leading out of the Arrival's Hall
and into the terminal. It was nearly deserted, and there was no sign of her
ex-husband. Where was that fool?! Why did he have to disappoint every single
time?! Didn't he know what he was doing to his son?!

style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
had no idea... he was simply clueless about the trust he broke. About the little
heart he left shattered... She was sure that her ex-husband had no bad
intentions... no cruel intents what so ever, but the facts still remained that
he was losing his own son.

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align=center>href="tomorrow11.html">Part
11.

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align=center>href="http://www.duoxheero.com/tomorrow.html">Back.

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