"His name is Heero and he just moved here." Duo informed his mother when he got home from school that day. "He's going to be my best friend and I'm going to love him forever."

His mother had laughed and kissed his cheek, saying she was sure Heero would be a wonderful friend.

The next day, Duo got Trowa to change desks with him. He promised to give Trowa the chocolate chip cookie from his lunch every day for a month. But secretly, Duo thought Trowa wanted to sit by Quatre anyway.

The new boy watched Duo move his things without comment. However, when a box of colored pencils rolled off the desk and spilled all over the floor, he leaned down and helped pick them up.

"Why did you change desks?" The question was asked as the last colored pencil was stuffed back into its box and shoved away.

Duo blinked and then beamed at the boy next to him. "Because you're my best friend."

He received a look of surprise. "I am?"

Duo nodded. "Yep."

The boy seemed to think about that for a moment and then slowly smiled. "Okay."

From that moment on, Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy were inseparable.

In the sixth grade they entered middle school and discovered girls weren't interested in playing soccer or softball anymore. Girls were suddenly very strange and all they talked about was relationships and dating.

"And she asked if I would go to the movies with her but then got really mad when I asked if Duo could go too." Heero told his dad, one night as they set the table. His dad had ruffled his hair and told him women were complicated and not to worry about it.

When Heero got to school the next day, Duo was sitting on the floor with his back against his locker. He had a hurt expression on his face and Heero quickly jogged over to crouch down next to him.

"What's wrong?"

Duo was biting his bottom lip and his face was a funny color. "My parents are getting a divorce."

Heero let out his breath and then sat down on the floor as well.

Duo rubbed his face with his hands and then turned to look at Heero with slightly red rimmed eyes. "If we fight, are you going to leave me too?"

Heero scooted over so they were sitting side by side, shoulders touching. "No, never." He promised him solemnly.

Freshman year of high school, Duo broke his ankle playing basketball. His leg was in a cast for a month and a lot of people offered to carry his books for him every day. He always smiled but nodded toward Heero, standing patiently by their lockers. "Thanks but my friend's got it."

Junior year of high school, Heero's mom went into premature labor while pregnant with his younger brother. Duo drove to the hospital as fast as he could, while Heero clenched his fists and urged him to go faster. They waited for hours pacing outside the delivery room, while Heero's dad would occasionally dash out with progress reports.

When it was finally announced that the mother and child were safe and healthy, Duo didn't say anything, just held Heero while he cried with relief.

Once they entered college, it only seemed natural that they share a place. Duo joked that nobody else could put up with Heero's taste in music. Heero had replied that nobody else could put up with Duo's snoring.

And whenever girls asked Duo to go on a date, he always smiled but shook his head. "I'm already taken, forever."

The girls would always smile a little sadly but admit it was rather sweet at the same time.

And even when they fought and doors were slammed and people shook their heads and asked, "How can you live with him?" Heero always shrugged and would tell them simply, "Some things are meant to be forever."