"This Beautiful Life"

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or its characters

Rating: R

Warnings: Romance & Friendship

Pairings: 2x5, others will be present but subtle.

Summary: 3 years after cutting ties with everyone from the war, WuFei Chang gets into a car accident in his way home from a company Christmas party and wakes up to another life.

"This Beautiful Life"

Chapter 19:

Duo and WuFei helped the nuns serve the children and get them seated before serving themselves some food. Inside of the cafeteria, they bowed their heads, Sister Lin leading them in a prayer before eating. WuFei remained respectfully silent, watching Duo, his head bent forward and eyes closed, his lips moving to mouth the words.

"Amen," they all echoed as one in the end and began attacking their food.

The food was amazing. Duo had brought a kugel, and WuFei didn't feel biased in the least as he decided it was the best of everything. Many of the kids went back for seconds and the kugel was the first thing to be completely gone. Afterwards, the nuns helped wrap up the kids in layers of hand-me-down clothes, some of which were too large or too small for certain kids.

"They wear whatever gets donated to the church," Duo explained, "In the past, we got bulk gifts that all the kids could use, or they could claim what they wanted – the nuns suggested it, it's the easiest thing to do and it's what they're used to. They get to choose an outfit and a small toy from the donations bin every Christmas and on their birthdays. But this year we got them each their own gift. We had the nuns get them to write letters to Santa with five things they really wanted and we got them one thing from their lists."

"That's dangerous. We've put in an expectation for these children. We'll have to do it next year, as well, otherwise they may be disappointed and assume that the mythological creature responsible for gift-giving decided they were not good enough that year for gifts. We cannot have them thinking they are bad, unworthy children, especially if they put forth the effort to be otherwise," WuFei determined, flustering at the look Duo gave him, "What?"

"You said the same thing when I originally pitched you the idea. You started drafting a charity program proposal that day," Duo laughed, "We mentioned it at a luncheon at the Darlian estate and of course, our two richest, most well-connected friends started arguing over who got to fund the program. Quatre was in tears begging to be allowed to do something nice for the children, but Relena won out in the end because she's got more public influence and can take it farther. We promised Quatre he could pay for the next charity. Mission Northpole will be implemented next year, Relena's been working overtime to get the logistics figured out, but this year the gifts are on us."

"The children will be glad," WuFei said, relieved to hear that they'd put into place a way to ensure these and future orphans would not be forgotten on Christmas.

"They'll be ecstatic. When you're an orphan, you just get used to sharing and not really owning anything outright. I mean, it's like: I needed the jacket yesterday but now my friend is freezing and, hey, I lifted a second shirt off a drunk guy passed out in an alley, so my friend can use the jacket this week," Duo handed WuFei his heavy coat, and grabbed their scarves so they could wrap up and join the children outside, "To be given a gift, something picked out specifically for you, it's almost unheard of when you're an orphan. The concept itself just sounds ridiculous. We aren't taught we're special, we're taught we're the leftovers that no one wanted. Nuns do their best, but they got limited resources and no one wants to volunteer at an orphanage, they'd rather spend their time at animal rescues cuddling kittens and puppies."

"That's unfair," WuFei furrowed his brow, thinking through his next question a moment, "Have we...had we ever discussed adoption."

Duo went silent and WuFei realized he'd managed to make the other boy blush.

"We talked about it. Decided our jobs didn't make us ideal parents. Besides, how could we pick just one to take home?" Duo gestured at the room full of children dressing in layers of tattered clothing, beaming and chattering excited about what they planned to do outside.

"True. It would be a difficult decision," WuFei zipped up his coat, and frowned, "I never thought about having children. It was always just expected I would have them," he paused, peering at Duo, "I've told you this before, haven't I?"

Duo gave a short nod, "Don't worry about that though. I like when you open up."

They followed the children outside into an area behind the dormitory with a playground. WuFei took refuge on a bench, he could feel his injuries more in the cold. Duo ran around the playground with the children, helping to build snowmen, throwing snowballs, and making snow angels. He looked truly in his element, laughing and grinning with the children.

Sister Tori sat down next to WuFei and they exchanged a smile.

"The other sisters and I are all thankful that you were still able to join us today, Mister Chang," Sister Tori said, "And we're grateful the accident was not too terrible."

"Thank you," WuFei replied.

"You and Mister Maxwell are always the brightest spot in the children's day. Sister Mary is convinced you're both actually angels," Sister Tori covered a laugh, "She can be dramatic. We really do appreciate all that the both of you do for our orphans here."

"I can't speak for Duo, but I'm most certainly not an angel," WuFei folded his hands in his lap, scanning the horizon, "I've done terrible things in the past, and I imagine being here is, in part, a way for me to redeem myself."

"The wars brought out terrible parts of all humans. Isn't that what wars do? You may not see yourself as an angel, but you are a good person. You've got a special gift, too, you've been able to breakthrough to some of our most difficult cases. Marcus came to us with such a rebellious streak, in and out of foster homes, lying, stealing, fighting, we were never able to reign him in completely until you and Mister Maxwell arrived. Mister Maxwell connected with Marcus immediately, but he's too easy, too gentle at heart.

"That day is still so clear. Marcus had raised his voice with Sister Hester, towering over her, threatening her. You stepped in and he attempted to fight you. In front of everyone, you put him on the ground and I'll never forget what you told him: respect is not something you are given, and it's not something you earn. It's something you give. This is your life and this is your home, you need to give respect to both because no one else can do it for you."

Duo had found a shovel and was moving snow off the slide and jungle gym for the children to play on. His cheeks seemed to glow in the winter air. Some of the other kids noticed, Marcus included, they retrieved buckets and insisted on taking the shovel to finish clearing the playground.

"It's good for the children, too, to see two young men who were orphaned by war like themselves doing well in the world."

WuFei faltered on Sister Mary's words. He'd never thought of himself as an orphan, but it rang true. His colony had self-destructed during the war. By their standards, he'd been a man, an adult, but he'd only been fifteen. A year younger than the eldest girl at that orphanage.

"It gives them hope. Hope that they can become something in the world, find a place to belong, find a family, find love and a future. And to see that they can be good people dedicated to something bigger than themselves."

"I'm honored by your words," WuFei said.

"The honor is ours," Sister Mary replied, only to gasp as a snowball exploded off the side of WuFei's head. They turned to see Duo looking just as guilty as the small boy he was holding with a snowball locked and loaded in his tiny hand.

"Sorry, he got excited," Duo said.

WuFei knocked the remained bits of snow from his face, and narrowed his eyes on the little boy, a smirk playing in the corner of his mouth, "Of course you know, this means war."

Duo looked questioning a moment before a playful grin broke across his face.

WuFei didn't have a lot of practice playing in snow. He hadn't encountered it before coming to earth, and after coming to earth, he never saw a reason to play in it. He caught on quick to forming snowballs, and with a few kids falling to his side of the playground, and others falling to Duo's, they broke into an all out battle.

The cold and his injuries faded from mind, as WuFei became enraptured by the game and the children's laughter. He managed to dodge a few snowballs, and land some of his own, until everyone was drenched from the fight. He stood across from an unarmed Duo, one last snowball in his hand, when the other boy opted to lunge at him instead, grabbing him around the midsection and knocking him into the snow.

They wrestled a bit, Duo gaining the upper hand when WuFei cried out in pain, causing Duo to immediately freeze, concern overwhelming his features.

"Shit, babe, I'm sorry, I forgot," he started, only for WuFei to cram a handful of snow into his face, head lolling back with triumphant laughter. Duo wiped at the snow, "Very funny. You think you're so clever, playing on a man's sympathies." WuFei nodded and Duo patted some snow into his face.

They sat laughing until they couldn't anymore, trying to catch their breath until WuFei noticed their position. Duo sat straddling him, they're faces close, so close he could feel the heat of Duo's breath on his lip. He blushed, lowering his eyes, and noticing the reaction, Duo pushed up onto his feet, extending a hand to help WuFei up. WuFei accepted, rubbing at his sore leg. The nuns were calling the kids in to shower, change, and warm up.

"Sister Lin is heating up some cocoa and apple cider. We readied the second shower room for you two. Leave your clothes outside the door and we'll dry them while you both shower," Sister Tori said with a smile.

WuFei took the first stall as Duo gathered up their clothes to put in front of the door. Once the water was warm, WuFei relaxed as it washed away the chill in his bones. He finished before Duo, wrapping a towel around himself. He paused at the sight of the other boy a few showers down, lower half obscured by the stall. His hand rested against the tiled wall, his eyes closed, his head bent under the shower stream, water rushing over his bare back. He had a tattoo of a scythe on his shoulder blade, a dragon curled around it.

WuFei stood transfixed by the image. He thought of the picture in their kitchen, the two of them wrapped around one another caught up in a kiss. He thought of what it must feel like, to run his fingers over that bare back, shaped with hard lined muscle and battle born scars, to trace the line work in that tattoo. His eyes trailing down, lingering above the point of Duo's body he couldn't see, imagining what was hidden behind the stall. His face reddened, his heart quickened, and he turned away, hurrying to gather their dried garments neatly folded outside the door and a first aid kit to rebandage WuFei's injuries left behind by the nuns.

Across from the showers was an area with sinks and vanity mirrors for the kids to brush their teeth and fix their hair. WuFei wore his pants but remained shirtless by the time Duo joined him wearing nothing but a towel. WuFei kept his eyes carefully averted, fighting the color threatening to overwhelm his cheeks. He had the first aid kit open on the counter and was reapplying antiseptic to some of the injuries on his chest and shoulder. Duo found his own pants amongst their garments and put them on. He took the bandages from the counter, and stepped behind WuFei, brushing away the damp black strands that clung to WuFei's neck and shoulders. WuFei steadied his breath as Duo's familiar touch swept along his skin, sending small electric tingles racing his body.

"That Christmas light display you mentioned before," WuFei said, the low, husky tone in his voice unfamiliar to him.

Duo met WuFei's eyes in the mirror, "The one downtown? Sure, what about it?"

"I was thinking," WuFei dropped his eyes to the counter watching distantly as he fiddled with the medical paraphernalia before him, a stammer entered his voice, and he felt strangely nervous, "Perhaps, we could go. There. Tonight."

Duo paused, silent, and WuFei stole a glance at him in the mirror. He was staring at a spot on WuFei's shoulder, his fingertips resting comfortably against WuFei's back.

"Are you sure? Before, you made it sound like it was the last thing in the world you'd want to do."

"I am. I'd like to go. With you," WuFei frowned, hastily saying, "Unless you don't want..."

"I do. Yes. Definitely. We can go," Duo grinned, going back to work with the bandages, "You'll love it. I know you think you won't, but you will. I promise."

"I trust you," WuFei said, smiling despite himself and a warmness he'd never known before swelling through his chest.

~ * ~

Chapter 20

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