Heero stared out the window at the rain pounding down as if it wanted into his house. His gaze surpassed space and time as he remembered-no, relived, that horrible day.

"My desert rose," he murmured, "why did you leave me?"

Heero sat and stared, thinking he could see Quatre in the mists of the storm. Quatre would fade in and then fade out, only to appear in a slightly different location.

"Why did it have to be you?" Heero whispered. His mind shifted to that day only weeks ago...

"Police have found the body of another hate crime victim..."

"Don't worry Heero, I'll be home by seven at the latest..."

"Look at the little fag! Heh, pink shirt and all! C'mere, homo..."

"Nineteen-year-old Quatre Raberba Winner was found dead..."

"Why are you so nervous? I have a mini-phone, see? I'll let you know when I'm done..."

"Scream all ya want, homo, no one'll care! Ha! Howdya like that, huh? Feel good, fag...?"

"Stripped naked, burned, stabbed and otherwise tortured to death in an abandoned warehouse. Police have no suspects as of yet..."

"See ya later, Heero. I love you."

Heero bit his lip until the blood flowed as freely as his tears and the rain pouring outside. At the funeral, everyone had given their condolences, but that didn't make it any easier to accept the fact that his beloved Quatre was dead.

"Why didn't you listen to me?" Heero said. He stood up suddenly and screamed at the raging storm, "Dammit, why didn't you listen!?"

Suddenly the rain stopped. As Heero stood watching the clouds roll away, he could almost hear Quatre, could swear that he was right there reliving a conversation they had once...

Quatre pulled Heero across the yard and onto the bench they had set there a year ago. Quatre leaned over and kissed Heero lovingly a few moments.

"Pick a star." Quatre said once he had sealed off their kiss.

"What?"

"Pick a star," he repeated, "any star."

Heero gazed into the night sky until he sighted the star that was sparkling more than any other.

"That one," he said, pointing to it. "The one that's sparkling the most."

Quatre smiled. "That's our star," he said. "Anytime we're far apart, we just have to look at that star and think about each otyher. He moved closer so that he was nose-to-nose with Heero. "But I will love you beyond the day that star burns out."

With that down they made love to each other while their star glittered brightly above them.

Before Heero knew it, the clouds had moved to reveal a clear night sky. And in that sky his and Quatre's star twinkled down apuon Heero's face. He smiled as a spark reignited within him.

"I will always love you dearly, my sweet desert rose." Heero said. Their star winked back its acknowledgement in the dark night sky.
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