Duo yawned and looked over at his sleeping koi. A few days into the vacation really helped both he and Heero to relax into the whole `nothing to do' routine.

Not wanting to wake Heero, who had been up very late last night, Duo silently slipped out of their large bed. Not bothering with any clothes… just like they hadn't since arriving, he wandered down to the pink sand beach and looked out over the waves as the sun began to set.

~It is so beautiful here. I wonder what they would have thought of it here…~ Duo smiled as he imagined Sister's reaction to the `clothing optional' policy he and Heero had implemented, or Father's reaction to their relationship period. Duo shook his head and smiled. Deep inside he knew that even if the pair would initially be mad or yell- that inside they would be thankful for the happiness he'd found.

The setting sun cast beautiful colors over the darkening sky… reds, pinks, oranges, and violets… ~mother…~

The setting sun never failed to remind him of his mother, mostly because the purples created always resembled the rosary so much.

THE ROSARY!

Duo gasped as he remembered how he'd discovered it in the possession of one sexy pirate captain. He clamped down in his first instinct of anger. After spending so much time with his love Duo knew that there had to be some reasonable explanation… there had to be!

Heero reached across the bed for Duo, but his hand found nothing but pillow. Realizing that if Duo were up and around it must truly be late- he roused himself from his comfortable cocoon of blankets and went in search of his koi.

Finding the boy was no problem, he found him in the first place he looked- the beach. Heero sat beside his silent lover and pulled the boy to rest against his chest. These moments were precious, just being in each other's presence, and not having to say a word was so comfortable.

Heero absentmindedly toyed with a lock of his koneko's hair. He held it up to the fading light and examined some red highlights among its myriad of colors.

Duo suddenly twisted in his arms and faced hi. "Heero?"

"Hmmm?"

"I want to know… Why did you take my rosary and keep it? I'm not mad anymore, I just want to know."

Heero's eyes widened in surprise. Her hadn't been expecting that question, but to look back he realized that he should have. "I…" He took a deep breath and plowed on. "I had hoped that you wouldn't realize that it was gone until you reached Ireland."

At Duo's gasp Heero nodded "I read your letter... and we were going to bring you to your family... but... when I saw the rosary. It- it reminded me so much of your eyes." Heero cupped Duo's cheek and looked into his beautiful jewel like eyes. "I wanted it to remember you by... so that I'd always have a little bit of you with me."

Heero dropped his hand and looked down at the ground. "Then I realized what I was doing. I was going to return it to you- I really was! But then you found out... and you found it… and then we made love for the first time…" Heero looked up and grasped Duo's hand. "Believe me the second we get back on the ship I'll hand it right over! I never meant to hurt you."

Smiling sadly Heero looked out over the ocean. "I'll give it back and so you and your aunt can have a precious heirloom to pass down through the family."

Suddenly Heero felt his shoulders seized and he was forcefully pulled to face Duo. "Is that what you think? That I'll jut leave you?"

Heero dropped his gaze. "You have a chance at having a family! Gods, it must have been your dream for so long as an orphan… I could never come between you and-"

"Silly koi." Duo hugged Heero to his chest. "Don't you realize that you are far more important to me than any aunt I've never met?! You and Quatre and Trowa and Wufei have become my family!" Duo nuzzled Heero's neck. "How could I ever leave you?"

Wufei smiled and looked out over the waves. The scene was absolutely beautiful, and for the first time in a very long while Wufei was content with everything in the world.

He sighed and closed his eyes as he simply concentrated on the feelings created by his lover's talented fingers. With Wufei's head rested in his lap Trowa was gently running his fingers through the Chinese man's hair.

And Wufei was nearly purring.

Suddenly a drop of water plopped onto his nose jerking him from his doze. Wufei cracked an eye open and mock glared up at his fair-haired lover. "Finished splashing about?"

Quatre grinned and nodded before plopping down on the warm sand beside Wufei. He reached out land laced his fingers with the Chinese man's before sighing a bit sadly.

Wufei brought the blonde's hand to his mouth and kissed the soft skin.

Trowa frowned. "What is the matter little one?"

Smiling a bit sadly Quatre shrugged. "You both know what tomorrow is right? It's the day we leave…"

Wufei nodded and tightened his grip. He sensed where this was going. Even though he knew where he stood with his lovers, and he knew that their relationship would continue even on the ship… he would miss their island paradise.

Trowa hooked his arm around Quatre's shoulders and pulled him close to his body. "I know. We'll miss this place. We've made quite a few great memories here." He nodded his head to where Wufei still lay. "A few really great memories… but that's not going to stop when we get back to the Lazarus. If any people in the world would be happier for us than us it is Heero and Duo."

Wufei snickered. "The baka will fall over himself laughing…"

Nodding happily Quatre leaned against Trowa's shoulder while he grinned down at Wufei. "And you wouldn't have him any other way."

"Hn. Nope."

"Achoo!" Duo wiped his nose. "I hope I'm not getting sick…"

"Hn. That's what you get for running around for a month with no clothes on."

Duo shot a coy glance at his lover. "But I thought you LIKED me au natural… Besides now I have this nice all-over tan… And I don't see you bundled up." Duo pinched Heero lightly on his bare ass.

Heero grinned before suddenly tackling Duo onto the warm pink sand. "Hn. This is much more efficient for when I want to seduce my koneko."

Purring, Duo wrapped his arms around Heero's neck. "Oh captain, my captain!!"

Quatre stood on the deck and waved merrily at Duo. The braided boy was waving his arms at the blonde from his place on the small boat Heero rowed back toward the Lazarus. His motions caused the small boat to rock dangerously until Heero grabbed the hem of Duo's shirt and pulled him back into the boat.

Hiding his smile the blonde shook his head at Duo's pout. He'd really missed the pair in the month they had all been parted.

When Heero finally maneuvered the small boat to the side of the Lazarus, Duo scrambled up the rope ladder like a monkey before launching himself at the small blonde. "QUAT!"

The rest of the crew soon surrounded them. Everyone was glad to see Duo acting the same as he always had before. And each of the crewmembers received an exuberant glomp from the braided boy in turn.

When the crowd dissipated Duo turned back to Quatre. His eyes widened a bit as he saw just how the petite blonde and his tall lover had a blushing Wufei sandwiched between them.

Then a wide smile broke out as he ran up to them and flung his arms around all three. "Congrats!!" He glanced up at Trowa and winked. "Made your move huh you sly dog…" Elbowing the tall boy in the side lightly, he wiggled his eyebrows. "So, is he good in the sack?"

Wufei turned scarlet.

"Of course."

"You bet!"

"MAXWELL!"

Unfortunately the return to the Lazarus meant a return to responsibility, and Heero had to be a captain for a bit. And so alone for the first time since returning to the ship Duo looked out over the ocean. It was so beautiful and just looking at him gave him a feeling of peace. Duo bit his lip and looked down at a slightly crumpled piece of paper.

"To my dearest Sister,"

His aunt. For years he had put all his hope into finding her and finally having a family. Duo smiled widely.

But who needed some stranger who just happened to have blood ties when right here he had an entire group of people whom he loved and who loved him back.

Very deliberately Duo tore the old letter in half before tossing it into the ocean.

He wasn't an orphan any more. He had his family.

Hoping that Heero was done with his work, Duo hopped to his feet and bounded through the ropes and other obstacles on deck. "HEEEEROOOO Can we play `Evil pirate captain and the helpless captive' now????!!"

~Fin~