I sighed and looked up at the clear, blue sky. Who�d ever think that organizing Gundam parts would take so much work? And where is the guy that was supposed to bring in another load thirty minutes ago? I wiped my forehead and slammed down the piece I was holding. Enough was enough, if the guys didn�t get organized soon, I�d quit. It didn�t matter if my uncle needed the help, and that he was paying me high above minimum wage. If�

*Beep beep*

A honk brought me out of my rant. Turning around, a small gasp escaped my mouth. Duo?! What�s he doing here? I hadn�t seen him in years, and surprisingly he looked so much better in person than on television. I found myself drowning in an endless pool of violet-blue, but shook my head. Where did that thought come from?

�Hey �jousan! Do I just dump this here?� He flashed a grin at me.

�Duo! Ohmigosh! Where�ve you been all these years? I mean, besides fighting. And you�ve grown so tall! Ok, Uncle said I would get a surprise visitor one of these days, but I had no idea it would be you. Just leave the junk here and we�ll go inside to talk.�

He unloaded the spare parts, while I locked up the security gate and set the alarm. Then I led him through the big yard to the office.

�Yuri-chan, you�ve grown taller! Dangit, now I can�t tease you about your height.�

I stuck my toungue at him. �Shizuka ni Duo-kun. Of course I grew. What�d you expect, that I�d still be four feet ten at sixteen? Hell no!� I dug the keys out of my back pocket and unlocked the door.

Duo laughed. �Well let�s see if you still weigh next to nothing.� He then proceeded to pick me up, walk to the couch, and let me go without a warning.

Shrieking, I pulled on his braid, which was now well past his waist. �Duo no baka. Of course I don�t weigh that much to you, you�ve piloted a Gundam! Now sit while I get something for you to eat and drink.�

For some reason, while walking to the tiny kitchen my thoughts kept drifting back to how good Duo looked after a few years. Originally, I had been Professor G�s assistant and met Duo at the lab. But back then he was just a scrawny little boy with a smart-ass attitude. Somehow we became best friends and it was him I went to with my troubles. Now....that kawaii face and beautiful pair of eyes...I pinched myself. What was I thinking? �He�s your best friend! Snap outta it.� I told myself inwardly.

There really wasn�t anything edible left, but I found that there was still a third of the apple pie I baked. I took a clean mug and poured some ice tea. That I brewed. All of the other workers are too lazy to do anything. Putting the items on a tray, I carried it back to the couch.

***Duo***

I was really shocked when I saw Yuri, she had grown so much. All I could remember is a short girl with a pony tail in overalls. But now, the pony tail was replaced with a black hairclip. And in place of the overalls and shirt was a black tank top and a pair of blue shorts. Somehow, I had also noticed that she had filled out nicely in the right places.

I muttered to myself, �Yamete, Duo. She�s your best friend! Besides, with those looks, she probably already has a guy. And you annoy her too much.�

Yuri came back with a tray of food and set it down in front of me.

�Gomen ne, this is all that�s left. I swear, they�re all pigs!�

�Aw Yuri, you don�t need to apologize. Anyway, I�m a pig too. Heeeeeey, apple pie! Please tell me you baked this, the ones you make are delicious!�

She gave me her sweet smile, which made my heart flip. �Duo, you are such a flirt. Speaking of which, who�s the lucky girl that you�re with now?�

�What girl? I don�t have a girlfriend. Too busy with Deathscythe. What about you? I bet you�re already taken, what with working in a place full of guys...�

�Me? This place? You�ve so got to be kidding. I wouldn�t give any of them a second glance when it comes to choosing a guy. They�re all so much older than I am. Except for Alec, he�s such a sweetie. Just the other day he brought me a box of chocolate. Dark. I donno how he knew that�s what I prefer. But you know, he�s just not my type.�

I sighed in relief. For a moment there, I thought she was going to say that she would be willing to give him a chance. Nani? Why did I feel jealous all of a sudden? None of the girls I met on the colonies made me feel this way, not even Hilde. She was like a sister to me and just recently she told me about her engagement. I had made a point of wanting to meet the guy to make sure he was good enough for her. Hilde had said that he proposed, but wouldn�t rush her. They would get married when she was ready.

Taking a bite of the pie, I really felt like I was home again, with Father Maxwell and Sister Helen. �But,� I thought bitterly, �That was all taken from me. Then I met Professor G and Yuri..�

�So? How�s the food? I�m pretty sure no one poisoned it.� Yuri�s question woke me from my deep thoughts.

�Huh? Oh, the pie. Yea, it�s great like always! You have no idea how much I missed your cooking during the war. Now that it�s over, you can be my cook again!�

A paper airplane came flying my way and I grabbed it. �Nani?! Yuri, making paper airplanes? Wow, I sure missed a lot. Looks like you have a lot of spare time on your hands, ne?�

She shook her head at me. �Duo...You know I have my days when I just want to throw down my duties and...play! Like you. Wait, bad example. You do that everyday.�

�Hey! Piloting a Gundam is not playing! I�ll have you know it�s hard work, very hard. Especially on an empty stomach.�

Yuri snorted. �Right, whatever. I�m sure you weren�t starving. You sure don�t look like it anyway.�

�Arigato, I know my muscles look very nice. But I haven�t had a home-cooked meal in such a long time..� I looked up with the sad eyes she had never been able to resist, �And you know I think your food is the best in the universe. Do you know that I�ve been pigging out on fast-food restuarants? Not exactly healthy.�

�Alright, alright. I�ll see if Uncle will let me get off work early today. Then we�ll go back to my apartment and I�ll make something good for ya, �kay?�

I got up to hug her, noticing how her hair smelled like almond. It seemed like I stayed in that position for hours, til she finally spoke up.

�Uh Duo? Can you let go of me now? I realize you must�ve missed me a lot, but really..And I know this isn�t a want for attention from a girl. There must�ve been lots of *ahem* attractive..girls you met.�

�Oh eheh, gomen ne Yuri. I guess I got lost in my thoughts again.� I smiled sheepishly. �Sure there was a LOAD of pretty ladies, but they were all airheads. You, though, have a brain AND a great figure.�

Again, she shook her at head at me and got up to find her uncle. I followed her, after taking a gulp of tea, to say my greetings to the old man. And to maybe secure a job.