~*~ Dec 29 ~*~

Don't Own

Lady Une, Noin and Sally opened the door of the old house. "Mr. Noventa is really pushing for the punishment of the Gundam Pilots," Noin was saying as she walked into the house, "and even I want to know where you've hidden the scoundrels."

"I haven't done anything with them," Une said as she took off her coat and walked into the parlor.

"Then where are they?" Sally asked, "and why are we here?"

"I needed to pick up some things," Une said moving into the study. She found the stack of journals and box of photos on the desk, "see if you can remove that painting on the wall above the fireplace."

Noin nodded and moved the coffee table close to the wall and carefully tested it before standing on it. She froze, "How… Who?"

"What's wrong?" Sally asked and gaped, "is that the pilots?"

"If it is than this painting is a fake," Noin said and carefully lifted it down. Sally gave her a hand to put it on the couch, "they look so alive," she said and touched the canvas, "Winner, Barton, Chang, Yuh and Maxwell, Gundam Pilots, Dec 24, 1916," she read from the small bronze plaque at the bottom of the frame.

"Hello, gentlemen," Une said as she came back. Noin swore that Maxwell gave her a cheek wink, Quatre's smile grew, Heero and WuFei gave small nods and Trowa's eyes grew warmer.

"Well wherever they are," Sally said, "I hope they are happy, especially Trowa. He looked so lost after Quatre's death. That wound to the head didn't help, but I never realized how close the two were until then."

"I am sure they are," Une said softly then motioning to the two other women moved back to the door and closed and locked it behind her.

"We need to leave before that snowstorm hits," Noin said as she carefully put the painting in the back of her SUV. Une nodded then looked up to the second floor windows and gave a small wave. A shadow moved on the second floor, a curtain covered the window again.

~*~

A soft glow filled the fireplace and the room was filled with decorations. The tree under the stair cast a cheerful light, "Can we open our gifts now?" Duo asked as he came in from the kitchen with a tray full of eggnog, his khaki shirtsleeves rolled up.

"Sap," Heero said from where he was adding more logs to the fire and Duo stuck out his tongue before putting the tray down on the coffee table. Quatre came down the steps still in his military dress uniform and flicked the old radio in the corner on. An Irving Berlin Christmas song played softly. He loosened his tie and took off the jacket laying it across the newel post. Trowa came down a moment later his arms stacked with gifts, his war medals making a soft clicking sound as he walked. He put the gifts down then took of his jacket and laid it on top of Quatre's and picked them back up and put them next to the Christmas tree.

"I don't think we are going to keep him back much longer, Yuh," WuFei said as he brought in a tray of sandwiches. Duo grinned then picked one up and took a bite. Heero smirked at his friend, after looking at the other pilots, waved his hand. Duo gave a yip of excitement and started distributing the gifts from under the tree. The others laughed as Trowa and Quatre came forward to give him a hand.

The End

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