Another Life, Another Chance

By DragonMage

Notes: This is mostly based on a romance book I read a while ago. It was called Wife in Disguise by Susan Mallery. *grin* I thought the plot kicked ass so...I decided to do a redention of it!

Chapter 1

One year later...

The old Miller place was for sale. Chang Wufei parked his small, silver sports car in front of the old Victorian mansion and stared at it. He had been fighting memories and forgotten emotions since the long drive from Los Angeles to Beachside Bay, California. He had been trying to convince himself why he was going to put himself through hell and that was to find closure but he had not expected to be given a brutal lesson in how to survive through memory lane and actually still have the nerve to keep driving and not turn around and drive back to his comfortable Los Angeles apartment where he would be safe from everything.

"I can do this," he whispered to himself as he continued to stare at the mansion, taking in its fancy structure and the manicured lawn. Even though no one had owned it in five years, it was still in pretty good condition. The real estate agents had obviously wanted to keep it that way so it would be sold off quick enough.

But gods, just to see the house again...When had he last been in there? Four years ago, wasn't it? Duo and he had planned to buy the place to start their new home after they got tired of the house they had bought a the beginning of their marriage. And the Victorian place had always been a dream house for Duo, and maybe himself if he allowed the thought to pass. It was beautiful, spacious for plenty of things, and it was in a great neighborhood. He remembered their discussion about the house and their visits. Duo wanted to make the third floor into a master floor while Wufei wanted to make it into a training room. He remembered one of those conversations...

"Oh, come on. If we sleep in the second floor, where are the children going to sleep?" Duo had asked teasingly.

"Children?" He had repeated. "Who said anything about children?"

"I thought we were going to adopt some."

Wufei had shook his head. "No. I don't want children, Duo. They're too much trouble and I already have too much to worry about without the burden of children added to it all."

"Children are not a burden, Wufei, they're a gift," Duo had said lightly yet his eyes told another thing. Duo wanted children.

Wufei had just shrugged and went off to explore the rest of the house. He wasn't going to stick around for an arguement about *children*. They already had enough arguments on top of that particular subject.

Their three year long marriage had been one long argument punctuated with mind-blowing sex. It seemed that sex had been the only things they could agree on after a rather heated arguement. They would scream and shout at each other until someone's throat went sore--usually Wufei was the first; he wasn't a screamer--or they ran out of arguments and then make up with sex. How did they last three years on that without burning each other out the first year?

<Why am I even back here?> he thought, suddenly furious at himself. He wasn't a woman. He could move on without the closure, damnit. Gods, what was wrong with him? Ever since the accident he had been one emotional and physical mess. Sometimes he couldn't get through the day without breaking down or freaking out over *something*. The accident had done more than ruin his body, it had taken away his sense of confidence and self-assurance. He now relied on people to get things done as he healed and he hated it. He had never relied on *anyone* before in his life--not even Duo. Yet now he needed anyone who would deal with him just to get up and downstairs or to walk a distance that he used to take in a few sprints.

Closing his eyes, Wufei fought back on a wave of sorrow and self-pity. He had never felt sorry for himself and fuck him if he started now. He swallowed hard and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea. He could live the rest of his life without seeing Duo Maxwell again--couldn't he? He didn't know. He didn't know and that was why he was there in the first place. He had to know. He had to know what had went wrong in their marriage and if he could live past that. After three years of containing so much confusion and anger, the accident had popped the lid off and he needed to find out what went wrong and get some answers.

Starting the engine again, Wufei pulled out of the parking space and drove a scant three miles to the offices of Maxwell Construction. As he did he was assaulted by memories of living by the sleepy seaside town. Beachbay Side was directly west of San Jose but light years from anything remotely resembling a burgeoning economy. The main residents were college students and retirees who actually existed in a peaceful acceptance. Funky restaurants and elegant bed and breakfasts pulled in the vacation crowd, but there wasn't enough industry to keep the tourists longer than a weekend or two a year.

He turned the corner and pulled into the parking lot of Maxwell Construction. The low one-story building still looked more like a beach house than an office. He stared at it for a long time, feeling almost foolish just sitting there, gripping the steering wheel like a life line. Finally, he let go of the steering wheel and took a deep, calming breath. He could do this. All he had to do was go in there, request a meeting and sit down with Duo and sort things out. Then he'd go back to LA and continue whatever life he had left there as a professor at a local college.

He reached out and pushed the door open. Then, carefully, he slowly swung his legs out and pulled out his cane. He slammed the tip into the ground and gripped the side of the car as he slowly pushed himself up to a standing position, keeping most of his weight on the right leg since his left leg felt like it was going to give out any time soon. It was shaking and he suddenly felt a flash of fear, that he was going to fall. But he didn't and soon he was standing, though with a bit of pain. He pocketed his keys and slammed the door shut to his car.

Gathering all the pitiful courage he had left inside of him, he started making his way towards the door of the office building. He had to take it slow though, he didn't want his legs to give out on him. The accident had messed up his left leg so badly it had taken surgery after surgery before he could even stand without collapsing from the pain, it was so bad. Now he had to walk with a cane until his leg finally healed from its last surgery. There would be two more before they could come to a conclusion of whether or not he could ever walk without a cane. Right now he was trying his best with the cane.

As he came to the glass door of the office, he saw his reflection in it. What he saw was a complete stranger. When the truck slammed into the car, the glass had sliced into his face, tearing it till he was almost beyond recognition. But a talented plastic surgeon had been able to restore his face even though it left a complete stranger. His face had thinned, giving him a delicate and almost fragile look, a sharp contrast from his former strong, stubborn features. His cheek bones were higher and his chin less sharp. His nose was more simple than its former aristocratic touch. Except for his eyes and lips, he was different even to himself. He had also allowed his hair to grow past its permanent shoulder length down to his back to cover any scars on his neck and back.

He also dressed differently. At one time he would have stuck with his "preppy" clothing, as Duo had always called them. But now he needed looser clothing since it was easier to put on and it didn't hurt his leg or any other part of his body. He had on a baggy pair of black pants and a loose white long-sleeved Polo shirt that was half a size too big on him but comfortable. It saved his arm and back from a lot of hell. They were still sensitive to even the lightest pressures from all the surgery.

<I can do this,> he told himself one more time before pushing open the door and stepping inside. He was greeted with a cool breeze of the air contioned air and it soothed his wounds somewhat. He took a deep, grateful breath, and walked over to the reception desk in the spacious waiting room of the office.

"Yes, may I help you?" a pretty woman asked behind the cherry-wood desk.

"I, um." He had to clear his throat. The accident had damaged his vocal cords and now, instead of his usually confident and strong tenor, he had a low and husky voice that held no confidence or strength in them. <Weak,> he thought, suddenly disgusted and furious at himself. "I'm here to see Duo Maxwell. I don't have an appointment."

The woman smiled and nodded. "He's in. I'll buzz him and tell him you're here." She paused. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."

Before Wufei could reply, the phone ran, saving him. He breathed a mental sigh of relief. He really didn't want to give his name right away... What if Duo knew he was in the waiting room and decides to just leave him there for spiteful sake. Ah, well, he'd have a good reason. They had nothing to say to each other, really.

Wufei turned and limped over to a vacant couch and slowly lowered himself on it. He gripped his cane and kept steady until he was comfortable and the weight was off his legs, thankfully. He had no idea how long he could stand without his legs giving out from under all the weight. Even though he didn't weigh anything any more, his legs were still so weak! Damn.

After a few moments the secretary finished the call and buzzed Duo before another call could come through to stop her.

Wufei waited, feeling absolute anxiety. He tightened his grip on his cane until the hard wood bit into his soft palms and they went numb. He relaxed his grip and told himself to calm down even as panic made itself known. Maybe this was stupid. Maybe he shouldn't have come at all. He should just get up and go back to LA. But just as he was about to, Duo appeared.

<Oh, gods...> Wufei tried not to stare. Duo still looked the same, even not a bit older and more maturer. He still had that impossibly long braid, the dancing violet eyes and that ready smile. He was taller than Wufei remembered and much more handsome. He was dressed in a white T-shirt under a black shirt and black jeans with black boots. He always had a love for black that Wufei could never understand but it made him look wonderful so he had never complained about that.

"Hello, I'm Duo Maxwell," he said in his normally cheerful voice. How many times had Wufei heard that voice scream back at him during an argument and he had returned it? Too many.

"Hello. I'm sorry if I can't stand up to meet you properly, Mr. Maxwell, but I'm afraid I *can't* stand up," Wufei said apologetically in his same low, husky voice. He lifted his cane a bit and tapped it against the carpeted ground.

"That's totally understandable. I can sit down right here," Duo said cheerfully as he took a seat beside Wufei at a good distance. "So, what can I do for you?"

"I--" Wufei suddenly didn't know what to say. He realized Duo didn't recognize him. <Dear god, do I look that different?> Obviously, he did and Duo didn't recognize him. What could he do? Tell him 'Hey, remember me? Wufei? You know, your ex-husband? Hey, I just got into an accident and right now I'm emotionally unstable and I need closure. So, can we talk?' Gods, if he did that Duo will never talk to him ever again. "I'm buying the old Miller place and I was wondering if you could help me out."

"You're buying that place?" Duo smiled although Wufei noticed a somewhat wistful look to his violet eyes. "That's great! That place needs an owner. It's been on the market of a few years now."

"Ah, yes, it is very beautiful," Wufei agreed even as he screamed at himself, demanding what the hell he had just said. <I guess that settlement money's going to be used after all.> The company who owned the truck that slammed into him had paid him a great deal of money to make up for all the injuries he suffered and now he had more than he needed for the rest of his life. He had thought to leave it in the bank and use it little by little and whatever he had left he would leave to his family in his will. It looked like he was going to actually do something with the money now that it looked like he was going to buy the old Miller place.

"What are you planning for the Miller place?" Duo asked.

"I want to restore it to it's previous glory," Wufei said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "I don't really want to change it completely, I just want to update it but keep it as it once was when it was first built. It's a big project and I'm wondering if you're willing to take it up."

"I've always had my eye on that place. In fact, I have some plans drawn up for it. Would you like to take a look? We can do it at the house so you have a better idea of what's going on when I describe to you all the remodeling and restoration."

"That'd be wonderful."

Duo nodded and stood up. He walked over to the secretary's desk and picked up a caldedar and flipped through it. "I have some time tomorrow. Does that suit you?"

Wufei swallowed. Did he really want to go through with this? Did he really want to buy the Miller place and have Duo renovate it for him? Shouldn't he just tell Duo who he was and get things over with so he could go about his business?

Except he didn't have any business, personal or otherwise. Until his next surgery, his entire life consisted of healing from the last one. Restoring the house would give him something to do. If nothing else, he could consider it an investment. When he finished, he could always sell at a profit. Old restored Victorians were all the rage, even in Beachside Bay.

"Tomorrow is fine."

They settled on a time. Suddenly eager to escape, he braced his weight on his cane and slowly stood. With Duo solicitously holding open the door, he made his painful way to the exit.

When he was about to step outside, he paused to look at him. He knew every single inch of his face and body, but he didn't recognize him. Not that he blamed him. Not only was his face completely different but his shape had changed as well. What once used to be a compact built and strong, firm body was now willowy thin and fragile. He had scars all over his left side and some of his back and neck. His leg had the worst of them and he knew that if Duo ever saw them he'd be shocked, and repulsed.

"Thanks, Duo," he said in his low voice. "I'm looking forward to hearing what you think you can do with the house."

"Me too." He smiled, then his mouth straigtened and he stiffened. "I'm sorry. I just realized I never caught your name."

He opened his mouth to tell Duo the truth, then closed it and pressed his lips together. He couldn't tell Duo the truth right now. He needed more time.

"Li. Shen Li," he finally said, picking the name out at random.

"Last name first, right," Duo said, grinning. "Great, I'll see you tomorrow, Li."

Wufei nodded stiffly before turning and painfully making his way to his car. He slid inside and threw his cane on to the other seat. Then he started the engine and quickly pulled out of the parking lot. As he drove back to the hotel, he wondered what the hell exactly was he doing. He had just lied to Duo about his entire identity and now he was going to buy the Miller house. Perfect. Great. He was insane. The accident did more than ravage his body, screw his emotional stability, it also fucked up his mind.

Wufei turned left at the next stop and started for the real estate office. If he was going to have his ex-husband restore the Miller Victorian house, then he'd better see about buying it. At least the old place had been vacant for yearas. That, combined with his ability to pay cash for the place, would mean that he could have a quick escrow.

Had he done the right thing, he wondered as he drove, or was he really, honest to God crazy? Pretending to be someone else sure wasn't smart. Maybe he should have told Duo the truth about himself. But he hated the thought of seeing the pity and shock in his eyes. Better for him to think of him as a strange. All he wanted was a little time to get to know him again. Once they were friends, he would confess all and convince him to talk about their marriage enough to give him closure. After that, he'd be free to go on with his life. Free to figure out who he was and what he was going to do, now that everything he'd loved about himself was gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hmph. I hope this is turning out right...I'm trying to do this from memory...

Started: April 16, 2001