Karah looked out at the sunny meadows before her, finding peace and tranquility in the quietness there.  There, with the green of the grass no one could bother her: no lectures on responsibility and no one to boss her around with over this and that.

 The trees well above her head swayed in the breeze, bringing their sent to the small twelve-year-old below.  Sandy blond hair whipped softly around her head, and long bangs obscured her view.  Smiling, she fell to a sitting position with her legs crossed; loving the feel of the wind cooling body.

Her favorite season had always been autumn: the crisp air and colorful leaves.  Many a day she would run along the forest-like path on the Winner estate, and jump into piles among pile of leaves.  It usually made the gardeners angry, but she was too busy enjoying her childhood to care.  It was Karah's way to turn to the simple things when life was too much to endure: and this year had been the toughest.

It seemed to Karah that people expected more out of her than she could handle.  What with being an heir to the Winner empire, people believed that she should be the most proper, the smartest, the most serious, and they expected her to know everything about politics and being a lady when she had no desire for either.  On top of this they expected her to be the best gymnast because of her other father: Trowa Barton.

Heaving an exasperated sigh, Karah leaned against the tree.  I shouldn't be thinking of this...that's not why I came here.  I need to relax. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the sounds around her, letting them surround her like an orchestra.

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Hours later, Karah still sat listening peacefully.  She was so wrapped up into sensing nature that she didn't even notice someone come up behind her.

"Hey Karah!" She heard as she was swept off of her feet and flung about in the air.

She started violently as she was torn away from the peace, and looked down to see Duo holding her above his head and grinning like an idiot.

Smirking, she twisted around and flipped out of his grip.  Perhaps there are some advantages to gymnastics.  Karah threw his a mocking gaze when she noticed his shocked expression.
  

Duo's eyes narrowed playfully. "Think you can outsmart the god of death do you??  After a mock evil laugh, Duo chased after her, ?You won?t get away so easily!" he yelled after her.

"Watch me!" she called back.

Out of the corner of her eye, Karah was certain that she'd seen Heero in the brush, leaning slightly against a tree and rolling his eyes.  She laughed; somehow she got the impression that Duo could be quite a handful.

The fun ended when she ran directly into Rashid.  Her short hair flew about as she shook her head: attempting to force the dizziness away.

"Miss Karah?" came the stern voice.

She looked up at the tall man and smiled sheepishly.  "Sorry, I guess I wasn't watching where I was going."

"Hm.  I suppose you weren't," the older man replied, pointing at the crowd of people sitting at the back yard table.

Oh, no... She held her breath as she remembered being told of a political meeting.  Quatre had invited many people, including the gundam pilots, to talk of the resent happenings within the colonies and earth.

  Duo and Heero had most likely been asked to fetch her. She'd been forced to watch the meetings as of late; they'd been trying to get her interested in such thing so that she could work with the corporation when she got older. Karah often wondered why it was her that was shouldered with the responsibility: she did, after all, have many cousins who would be much better at business than her.  The last time someone had asked for her ideas on a plan to keep people from revolting, she'd come up with the ever popular 'Go forth and hit stuff' plan.

Karah tensed as she felt the eyes of diplomats upon here.  She did not belong here, and didn?t see why she was forced to be here.  Sighing, she offered the politicians a small smile and smoothed her hair.  As she turned, she noticed standing behind her, looking just as sheepish.

"Sorry, Quatre.  It's my fault; we were playing."

Karah was thankful when she saw no anger in her father's eyes.  He simply nodded, and gestured for them to go inside.  He was usually very mild tempered, but when he did get mad, he was scary.
  

  She'd heard many of the war stories about her fathers from many of the people that were sitting at that table...perhaps that was why she wanted no part in politics.  She didn't want to have to deal with war.

Smiling, Karah looked up at Duo hopefully, "Think we can go out for ice cream later?" she asked quietly as they walked to the back entrance of the mansion.

Duo smiled, "Maybe.  Go ask your Papa."

Karah nodded, grinning, then set out to find Trowa.

  Duo had to smile: it took Quatre and Trowa quite a while to get together even after the war.  Never had he imagined that the two would have a child through science.  Quatre had always been unsure of such things; knowing what it was like being a test-tube baby himself.  But then life was full of strange things: they always had been, but not until after the war had Duo seen that such things could be good.  He had to admit that he was also very surprised that other people were still willing to negotiate with Quatre even after what happened in the war, and the fact that he was gay.

"Duo?"

Duo jumped at the low voice, then grinned sheepishly when he discovered that it was only his husband.

"Dammit, Heero!  Don't do that to me!"

Heero chuckled, and pulled Duo towards him, looking deeply into the set of indigo eyes before him.

Duo's eyes narrowed in mock anger, as he stuck his tongue out childishly.  Heero raised an eyebrow at him, and the longhaired pilot soon found himself in a deep French kiss.  His eyes were wide, and he was panting by the time it ended.

Finally, Duo smirked at him.  "Horny bastard."

"Hn," was the reply, as the muscular man leaned in for another kiss.

A cough was heard from another part of the room, and both men turned to see Trowa and Karah, both with amused looks on their faces.

Duo grinned, a slightly embarrassed grin.  "So, what's the verdict?" he asked Karah.

"We can go after the meeting is over," she replied.  Karah looked up at Trowa, "Do I really need to participate in this?" she asked looking at the delegates.

"Karah.." He began in a soft warning tone.

The girl sighed, "Fine, but don't expect me to say anything."

Trowa looked down at her and softened, pulling her into a reassuring hug.  "You'll do fine.  Now go on."

Casting one last unsure glance at them, Karah went out to the table and put on her best fake smile.  I hope this meeting doesn't last too long.  I'm not sure how much political bore I can take.  Sighing, she took her seat beside Quatre, and tried to pay attention to the delegates.

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 The meeting had drowned on forever, and Karah could've sworn that she was going to fall asleep at the table.  Quatre had had to keep nudging her softly to keep her up.

 Now, as she lounged on the couch, Karah found herself staring at the ceiling thinking about how she once again had screwed up.  She let an over exaggerated sigh escape her lips.  How am I ever going to able to do this job if I can't even stay awake?

 Upon hearing her thoughts, Quatre walked over to the couch and wrapped his arms around her.  "You only need a little practice, Karah.  You?ll do fine."

 Karah only sighed again.  "I'm sure that Cousin Kyle would have much more luck at this.  And he'd enjoy it."

 Quatre sighed, pulling her closer and running his hands through his child's thick hair.  "Karah, no matter what you may think now, you are right for this job.  I sense the strengths within you.  All you need to do is get used to these meetings. Don't let the delegates make you nervous."

 Karah leaned into his embrace and sighed.  "I don't see what you do.  I don?t have any desire for this job."

 "Neither did I in the beginning, but I soon learned how I could help people through this job.  It's become important to me, and I?m sure that it will to you.  Give it time, Karah, please."

 "All right," she whispered softly.

 Quatre kissed her head softly.  "I know that it seems like a lot now, but when you're older you will understand."  With that, he left the room, leaving Karah to wonder.

Maybe he's right, but I'm still not sure about all of this...

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Karah across from Duo, covered in ice cream.  She should've known that he was going to start a food fight.  Beside him sat an angry Heero, glaring daggers.  Sighing, she decided to go outside of the store, where her parents had wisely hid before the battle had begun.

The Winner heir halted at the window, and sighed, rolling her eyes.  They were kissing again.  Still, Karah had to appreciate the love between them: they knew each other so well, and even though it had been about fifteen years since they were married it seemed so pure and strong.

Turning back, Karah saw another kissing couple. The only difference being that this couple was covered in ice cream and made no attempt to tone the passion down for the public.

"Ooooh, Duo!" she yelled in a singing-like tone.

The longhaired adult sat up quickly, giving Heero a quick teasing glance.

"Who's calling whom a horny bastard?"  Heero questioned, smirking.

Duo was about to stick his tongue out, but thought better of it.  Turning towards Karah he grinned.  "Did you want something?"

  She smirked and looked at him with an amused expression.  With her arms folded, and her hips leaning to the right, she nodded towards the door.

Karah could hear the storeowner's thankful sigh as they exited.  No more mess was needed in that small building.  She felt sorry for him; it would obviously be a long night.

- END OF PART 1

This be yet another fic that came out of nowhere.  I'm not sure were it's going, but it should be an interesting ride. ^^  Tell me what you think, ni?