Warnings:AU, Shounen ai (3x4, 1x2), a bit OOC (Well, what do you expect from an AU?)

Quatre slashed an offending mobile suit in two, then felt a familiar pain piercing his chest. He flipped on one of Sandrock's monitors, surveying the scene outside his Gundam. His eyes widened in horror. Each of the other pilots had been surrounded by so many mobile suits he could hardly see them. An analasis of the Gundams told him all were severely damaged, and Heavyarms was out of amunition.

Another sharp pain made him double over in pain as Shenlong was hit hard and nearly fell. He raised his eyes, then finally sighed in defeat and opened a communication link to the other Gundams. "Sumimasen, minna."

"Quatre?" came Trowa's confused voice.

A flash of light covered the battle field, temporarily blinding everyone. When it vanished, everyone stared in shock at where Sandrock had been. In its place was Quatre, or what looked like Quatre. He was wearing a long white robe, with a golden halo hanging a few inches above his head. He hovered in mid-air, arms crossed over his chest, head bowed and eyes closed. The only thing keeping him afloat was a huge pair of feathery white wings that were larger than he was.

He raised his head and opened his eyes, revealing a sadness within them that only comes with the last option. He held out his arms, and white light washed over the battle field again.

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The Gundam pilots found themselves abruptly back in their current safehouse. A cry of pain made them all turn to Quatre in surprise, which quickly turned to horror.

Quatre had fallen on the floor, curled into a ball and shaking. His robes and halo were gone, but his massive wings remained. Unfortunately, said wings were drooping and shedding feathers at an alarming rate. Quatre coughed, flecks of blood spraying his hands.

"Quatre!"

All four boys knelt next to him in an instant. Trowa started to pick him up to move him to the couch, but Quatre held up a hand and smiled gently at him, shaking his head. "Dameyo." he whispered. "There's no point;I'm dying."

"Nani?!" Duo cried.

"What are you talking about?" Wufei demanded.

"What are you?" Heero asked, staring at his wings, looking disturbed.

Quatre laughed softly. "I should think it'd be obvious. I'm a guardian angel. Yours, to be specific."

They all stared at him. "How-?" Trowa asked hesitantly.

He smiled again. "I *am* Quatre Rebaba Winner, demo, I died while helping the Maganacs escape a mobile suit battle when I was nine years old. I became a guardian angel, and was sent back to earth to protect the four Gundam pilots."

Wufei looked uncharateristically confused and worried. "Demo, if you were sent here to protect us..."

"Why am I dying now?" Quatre chuckled, then winced as more feathers fell out. "I'm being recalled for judgement and punishment. I broke the three rules of a guardian angel."

"What rules?" Heero asked hesitantly.

"First, never reveal yourself to anyone. Second, never use your powers against humans." He coughed again, more blood appearing on his hands. He smiled up at Trowa, gently taking his hand. "And the third, was to never fall in love." he said softly.

Trowa's visible eye widened.

"Don't worry my friends." he told them. "I'll always be watching over you, even if I can't protect you." He closed his eyes, a peaceful smile on his lips. The last of his feathers fell out.

"Quatre?" Duo asked, eyes wide in fear. "Quatre?!"

Quatre's body vanished in sparkly light and swirls of feathers. Rain immediately began to pelt the windows, as if the Earth itself was crying.

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Later that night, the four pilots were sitting around the living room with a fire blazing in the fireplace. It hadn't stopped raining since Quatre had vanished, something all the pilots found fitting. Heero was sitting on the couch with his arms wrapped around Duo, both of them staring at the fire. Duo was leaning against Heero, his eyes puffy and slightly bloodshot from crying. Wufei sat in a chair not far from them, a blank look in his eyes. Trowa was leaning against the wall, his eyes on the spot Quatre had vanished from. He hadn't moved from that spot since the angel had gone.

There was a loud knock on the door. The pilots looked at each other, then the door, startled. Trowa went to answer it while the others reached towards their weapons, just in case.

Trowa opened the door, then stared in shock and disbelief.

Quatre stood there. He was wearing his usual kakis, long sleeved shirt, and vest, and his wings were gone. He looked like a drowned rat, but his eyes were sparkling. "Konban wa." he said cheerfully.

Trowa pulled him into his arms, nearly squashing the smaller boy. Quatre squeaked, and the arms loosened. He whispered something in the blond's ear. Quatre's eyes widened, then filled with tears of joy. He whispered something back that made Trowa's arms tighten around him again, though looser than before.

The instant Trowa let go, Duo tackled Quatre. Quatre laughed and hugged the braided boy. "I missed you, too, Duo."

"Demo...how? Why?" Heero looked confused.

Quatre smiled. "I'm a fallen angel now." he explained. "I've been told, and I quote, 'Your punishment is to live out the rest of your life as a human. Now remember, this is a *punishment*'." He gave them an exaggerated wink.

"What's so bad about living as a human?" Wufei asked, frowning.

"I can be hurt, physically and emotionally. I can feel anger, pain. The things that make a person human." He grinned at Heero and Trowa. "Those things that the two of you need to re-learn. Which reminds me, Meiran wanted me to tell you something, Wufei."

To say Wufei was startled would be a massive understatement. "N-nani?"

Quatre went over to him and whispered something in his ear. Wufei's eyes went wide and he turned bright red. Quatre gave him a very un-Quatre-like smirk and headed towards the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" Duo asked.

"The main problem with being human is that you have to eat." Quatre called back.

Duo laughed, Wufei smirked, and Heero and Trowa both actually cracked a smile. They went in after him.

Duo opened the refridgerator while Quatre opened the cupboard next to him. "Arigato, Duo." Quatre whispered.

Duo glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "For what?" he whispered back.

"For putting in a good word for me. By the way, you've been forgiven for breaking rule three."

Duo blushed. "That obvious?"

"Only to anyone with eyes. But you've been overdoing it a little on the Shinigami bit."

Duo shrugged. "Well, no one would suspect a person who calls himself the God of Death."

Quatre smiled and snatched something out of the air next to Duo. He offered him the white feather. "Just be careful. You're molting again, and you don't want Heero to notice."

Duo grabbed the feather, blushing furiously.

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Trowa and Quatre were laying on their bed, Trowa holding Quatre close. He ran a hand down Quatre's back, then looked startled. He pulled his hand back, holding up a white feather. He stared at it, then looked at Quatre incredulously.

Quatre smiled innocently at him, holding a finger over his lips and winking.