The Dawn

Sixth installment of the Click, Click Boom Arc

"Two weeks with out my lover/I am in this boat all alone/floating down
a river named 'emotion'/will I make it back to shore?/or drift into the unknown?"

~Incubus, Aqueous Transmission

Duo Pov

It's been a while since the last war. I'm beginning to believe that the
peace we sacrificed so much for has finally come. Ironic isn't it? Just
the whole, I'm still fighting to keep everything together but hey at least
I only have to fight my self type of thing going on there, yea, I'm
rambling. It comes with being alone. Now your probably wondering,
Duo? Maxwell? Alone? Right, the world must have gone and went crazy.
Actually I think it did just to annoy me. Hilde and I started a mechanic
shop together but she got killed in a preventer mission not soon after
we opened it. I didn't want to keep it up after what the stupid doctors
who did the autopsy without my permission told me. She was pregnant
with my offspring. It almost destroyed me, why didn't she tell me?
Obviously she knew, obviously we were starting a life together, I just
didn't want to admit it. I sometimes could understand why she put it
off, I told her straight up that I didn't want a marriage, after all I was a
very strong bisexual. I even played on her with a couple guys but she
never knew about that. She…Hilde…why didn't you tell me baby?
Why couldn't you? I would have fought harder for me to take that
obvious suicide mission. I am alone, all alone and it's driving me
completely bonkers!

Trowa Pov

"Catherine? Hand me that wrench," I say, the wrench sticks
under the truck, I take it then freeze. That hand isn't Cathy's…

"Trowa Barton?" Une's face appears, I stare at her. What the hell
is she doing here?

"Well, it's nice to see you again too," Une coughed and smiled,
slightly strained. "Well, I came here to ask a favor of you," Une
said, I got out from under the truck I was working on.

"Why me?" I ask.

"Well, Maxwell isn't returning any of my calls, he won't even answer
the door. Winner is buried under paperwork and isn't coming out.
Yuy is gone on vacation by order of Lady Relena herself. We can't
find Chang anywhere," Une explained, I sighed, grabbing the rag
off of the truck and wiping my hands.

"So I'm the last alternative you have. I see, well what is it?" I look
straight into Une's eyes, she gulped reflexively.

"Um…well, we need you to assist in the secret arms build up in space.
They're running out of pilots up there, a small mysterious disease
has killed off a couple of the crew and we need somebody to help,"
Une answered, I narrowed my eyes then shrugged.

"Fine, let me get packed and I'll be there.

"We have to leave as soon as possible," Une remarked as
she followed me to the circus.

"Of course," I return and continued on.

Wufei Pov

I sighed and looked up at the green and gold painting, it wasn't
that valuable but it just looked good. An ancient abstract by
somebody who died without giving his or hers name to the
masterpiece. I looked out the window at the small pond I had
built then up at the forest. I lived in the middle of a freaking
national park. A park hermit, the rangers of the park left me alone
and I did likewise. I don't bother anything and nobody knows
I'm here, a good trade if you think about it but you do get the
feeling of loneliness from time to time. I had checked around,
Duo still wasn't trying to find me, I half wanted to go find him.
Heero was content as Relena's guard dog for some odd reason.
Don't ask me why, from time to time I think he regrets ever
accepting the job especially those sour faces he has when the
camera sweeps over him during a long speech of the peacemaker.
I bet he's even more alone than I am.

"Dakota," I call, a bark and the scratching of claws as my sweet
little mutt ran over the hardwood floors. She barked again and
jumped onto the couch next to me. The wiggling of her long fluffy
tail seemed to overtake her body as she looked at me with big
auburn eyes. I scratched her ears and got up.

"Let's feed you," I say and go off to the huge kitchen. It was
a beautiful house. Built in the valley and three stories. I had gotten
the money from the war, mostly from Oz's great amounts left over.
I bent down to grab Dakota's bowl when suddenly I felt a presence.
I snapped up and spun around to come face to face with none other
than Heero Yuy. I smirked, setting Dakota's bowl on the counter.

"Miss me?" Heero remarked, pushing off the doorframe leading from the
main entrance. Heero looked around, his intense arresting cobalt blue
eyes skimming over the large vaulted ceiling, expansive dining room,
the top of the line appliances of the kitchen.

"Nice place, didn't think you'd spend this much money on something
such as a permanent residence," Heero said, leveling his eyes on me.

"It's something of an indulgence," I shrug, going to the fridge to get
Dakota's food, she rubbed against Heero's legs, begging to be pet.
Heero knelt down and petted her head and fluffy dark gold scruff.
She was a mix of golden retriever, German shepherd and St. Bernard
plus a few other things.

"Like your dog?" Heero commented, standing up.

"I found Dakota in South Dakota during one of my stays there
during the war. I gave her to the local shelter but when I went back,
she was there still only not a puppy anymore. I decided to take her,"
I shrugged, putting down Dakota's food, she scrambled over and
started hefting her food down. I looked up at Heero.

"So, why have you come? Getting bored of Relena?" I ask, trying
to keep my voice casual, suddenly Heero was right in front of me.

"She told me to take a vacation, I think I'll take a long nice one,
maybe forever," Heero brushed a couple stray strands out of my
face, I had gone to wearing it down again.

"Why'd you go to her in the first place?" I take a step back from
him, he looked down.

"She didn't look like she was taking care of herself. I got somebody
to take my place now," Heero explained, looking back up at me. I
shook my head and turned, Heero stopped me from leaving. His dark
creamy hand, the color of chocolate milk, rested on my shoulder. Darker
than Duo's but lighter than mine is. Heero walked around to stare into my eyes.

"I came to you, I've always wanted to but…" Heero shook his
head, looking away from me.

"But you didn't know what I'd do," I finish, anger started climbing
into my voice but I wasn't going to start anything, not now.
I frowned and backed away from him, then I sighed and sat
down on a barstool.

"Heero, you can't just decide to leave Relena. She'll track you down
if you don't go back," I say, almost dejectedly, Heero scowled.

"She can go to hell, and I'll tell her as much. I belong where ever you
are," Heero announced, I looked up at him.

"Then welcome," I say, Heero smiled, and he leaned over the counter
and pecked me on the lips.

"I forgot to make up for biting your lip through," Heero said, running
his tongue over my bottom lip, I shivered and opened my mouth. How
could I ever forget Heero's smell, taste, talent for making the world
go away. Suddenly I sat up, the window banged against the wall. I
started as Dakota barked, standing from her position at the bottom of
my bed. I shook my head and went to close the window.

"I have to get this out of my head," I say, latching the window
and turning to Dakota. She whimpered and went up to me, nuzzling
my hand. I smiled down on her and ruffled her ears.

Quatre Pov

"Sire, more forms," my secretary came in and put the papers on the chair
in front of me, I groaned, not more paper work. At least it kept me busy
from unwanted thoughts that still haunted me. I couldn't get over
Zechs, Milliardo Peacecraft. I was buried in paper work for a reason
and that reason always managed to weasel it's way in all the time.
I looked up at Denise.

"Denise, let's go get lunch," I say, standing up, she smiled politely.

"I'm sorry Mr. Winner but I have to meet Jaison. How about you
call one of your friends you always talk about. Maybe even take
a small vacation," Denise hinted and disappeared out the door. I
sighed and followed her out.

"I wish but they probably are to busy themselves. Heero might be
on a vacation but I wouldn't want to bother hi-" I say, pulling on my coat.

"What about that Duo Maxwell?" Denise smiled up at me and gathered
her purse, I frowned.

"Duo? No, he's probably too busy himself with odds and ends,
I mean, he's always doing something," I say, Denise smiled and
pecked me on the cheek.

"I don't know, there's always other people to do your homework.
You just have to pay them a little extra but seriously, sire; you should
take a vacation. I know you need some time to think over things, come
to terms with yourself…" Denise trailed off, she sighed, looking at me
in that motherly fashion and then turned to leave.

"You know Denise I think I will," I resolve, Denise's face
brightened up and she nodded.

"Good, I'll make the last minute touches and you can be out of here
by three," Denise said, I almost gapped.

"You planned this?" I say, she laughed.

"I've been planning this for sometime now, we all have. You've just
been to wrapped up in your work to notice," Denise explained and
disappeared out my office door. I sighed and followed her, might
as well go along with her. The second I said okay, the trap shut and
Denise had me.

Zechs Pov

I longed to go back to Quatre but I couldn't. I said I'd do this and I
will even when Noin died of that stupid virus that had been let in by some
clumsy half wit so stupid enough to not sterilize the stinking mobile
suit he was testing before letting it into the main hanger. My sidekick,
my partner, the only person in all of Oz that never let me down finally
decided to take a vacation from me. She had wanted peace, I knew she
did and now she has it. Quatre had to wait until this was finished,
everything settled and I was to be replaced. Now that everything is
sterile again and we are down to a skeleton crew, which is looking like
a long time. I sighed and looked out the window of my rooms. The
stars looked beautiful, sparkling like Quatre's eyes and bright like
his smile, god I miss him but there's no use to it. I'll probably die
on this damn hunk of metal and never get to see my beloved Quatre
again. Noin did so why shouldn't I?

"Commander? Lady Une is here with the new pilots," One of my
few remaining pilots said quietly as the doors swished open, I
looked to him and smiled. Denison, Collan Denison was one of the first to volunteer to be here with me.

"Thank you Lieutenant Denison, I'll be right there," I say, he nodded
and left. There where only 17 pilots left, 12 mechanics and 27 officers
left, not including me. I got up and pulled on my uniform jacket, it was
simpler then Oz's spectacular uniforms but it still clung to my form
irritably. I walked slowly down to the docking bay. Our sterilization
process had become more secure and everything in the main hanger,
infirmary and anywhere else the virus might be lurking was thoroughly
clean. Everyone was vaccinated and tested for any signs of the disease.
The virus was fast acting and never left survivors once the virus
was in the body.

"Commander Peacecraft, good of you to greet us," Une smiled brightly
at me, I nodded and smiled slightly in return.

"Une, I see you dug up some nice additions to our small numbers,"
I remark, thoroughly looking through the young pilots, officers and
mechanists.

"I could only find one pilot but I think he'll make up for the loss," Une
gestured and none other than the same gundam pilot who pointed a
gun at me that night long ago stood in front of me. I didn't know either
to laugh or blush.

"Nice to meet you, I'm sorry I didn't catch your name," I held out my hand.

"Trowa Barton," the pilot once known as gundam pilot 04 answered,
grasping my hand in a strong handshake. I smiled and nodded.

"Well, Une, you have impressed me. The new numbers will be highly
welcomed. Please, follow me," I say, turning and walking off, Une
started walking next to me.

"I'm sorry about Lieutenant Noin, I know she was a very dear friend
to you," Une said, I looked down on her, the woman clicked for god's
sakes, what could I do? Her high heels, her modest below the knee
navy skirt and her long manicured fingernails just screamed this woman
never had a hard days work in her life but she survived. You have to
hand it to her. I looked to hall in front of us.

"She will be missed," I say.

"Like a certain young billionaire," Une said coolly, I looked down
on her, short to, that's another thing I couldn't stand about her but
she knew what to say and when to say it.

"Old wounds are hard to heal," I say simply.

"Is that why your up here?" Une asked, I really thought she knew
what to say, now I think she's just an idiot.

"No, I came here in order to help rectify what I destroyed. He thinks
I'm dead like everyone else on the colonies and earth," I say, the
anger was inside but I was disciplined enough for it to stay there.

"Oh, my apologies, Commander," Une replied, I couldn't help
but frowning slightly, did she have something against me?

Heero Pov

I sighed and leaned back. This is not something I wish to do,
vacation, ha. More like Relena wants to go to the beach and
ordered me to go with her. Trying to draw me from my shell, try to make
me laugh. The only person that ever made me laugh was Duo, the only
person that ever drew me from my shell was Wufei. The only person
who ever managed to make me feel like I had nothing to hide was
Zechs. The only person to make me feel compassion was Quatre.
Now the only person who ever made me want to seriously strangle
them then hang them from their toes in the middle of New York and
spray paint their name on a huge building with must die under it is
none other than Miss. Relena Peacecraft her fucking self. Why couldn't
she die like Sally during that jungle rebellion or like Noin from that space
virus or maybe she could have had a tragic accident like Hilde. She
could have maybe crawled off like Mariemaya and had her own life
away from the whole world or she could've just killed herself like
Dorothy.

"Heero!" Relena called in her annoying voice, scratch that, I think
I'll kill her for herself.

"Heero!" She called once again, does she ever stop? I shook my
head and buried my head deeper into my book; Relena snatched
the book from my grasp and stared at the cover.

"Dragonlance? When do you ever read fiction?" Relena looked to me,
I scowled, my book should be in my hands, not her grubby ones, it
might get sea water all over it and I'll never know if Raistlin ever finds
out he has a daughter named Usha.

"Give it back," I growl.

"And it's so thick, why would you ever read anything that
takes up so much time. Time you could be spent with me," Relena
leaned forward, in my face, I leaned back and snatched the book from her.

"Don't ever do that again," I say, trying not to imagine Relena's pretty
little snob face severed and cooking over a spit. Her body in a thousand
pieces and waiting to be put in the walls of her mansion of a house. She
humphed and started back to the ocean to jump playfully over the
waves. She wore, of course, a light pink full bathing suit with little
ruffles on the side. She did have a nice figure, she could hold up the
strapless suit rather well but those legs needed work. They were like
two sticks poking out of her slim figure. Ruined the whole curvy figure
she presented and made her look almost anorexic. I sighed and
slammed my book down. This is getting depressing; I got up and
went to my room, book hanging by my fingertips as I trudged
through the resort and flopped onto my bed, almost instantly
falling asleep.

"Why again did you leave me?" Wufei purred, pulling his muscled
arms around my neck.

"I don't know anymore," I breathe, lazily resting my arms around
Wufei's waist.

"You should…wake up" Wufei whispered in my ear. "Wake up…wake
up Heero. Come on, the Ostins are waiting and I gotta get my dress on."

I woke up to Relena shaking my shoulder, I groaned and sat up,
Relena gave me a smile and bounced off to get dressed for the
inevitably boring dinner party tonight. I stood and stretched then
went to get a suit from my closet. Relena bounced in once again.

"You know, we could blow this dinner party and just spend it
alone," Relena ran her hand over my arm, I looked down on her,
slightly annoyed. She then looked like she was gathering up all
her courage; she then looked up into my eyes. She grabbed the
back my neck and pulled me down for a kiss, I reeled back. Staring
at her like she had gone totally a-wall. I did the only thing that was
on my mind for the past month.

"I'm out of here, I quit," I growl, Relena blinked then blinked again.
I grabbed my only unpacked suitcase with my money, credit cards
and a few clothes and beat it to the door. I heard a wail and didn't
look back, the waterworks must have been flowing high tide but I
didn't want to ever see her again. The bitch did her last move on
me and I had it.

Duo Pov

I looked out the window at the setting sun and sighed. This
solitude that I had committed my self to was getting to me. I
was a people person, a guy who craved attention, the touch
of another human, and the conversation with someone other
than myself. That is how I pulled my clown mask off so well. Now
that I had lost another beloved and this time it wasn't just a person
I cared deeply for, someone who I had loved dearly and god did I
but I had also lost a person that was part of me. A little person who
I could have raised or Hilde could of raised or we could of raised but
like usual, the war takes all even if it did it from the grave. If this war
hadn't happened, I would have had my parents, I would have gone to
church and I might have been an altar boy and known Father Maxwell.
I could've married a nice girl and given her my virginity instead of a
guy I never would know or even remember anything about. The if's
will go on, the would'ves will go on, the could'ves the should'ves the
I might've done something will go on until the next sunset and I will
still be here. Always alone but I can't be alone forever, right? I mean,
one of the guys could come and pick me up. I know Une wanted me
out but she isn't the person I wanted to see, I don't think I could ever
talk to her again. The guys, hell if even Quatre banged down my door
I'd open it and ask him if he wanted a soda but not anybody else.
With Wufei I would hug him, with Heero I would slap him, what was he
thinking, Relena? With Trowa I'd smile and bow then gesture for him to
enter, with Quatre…with Quatre I would talk to him. I would tell him
everything, pour my heart out for him and wait for the healing
because walls and dirt never heal anything. The sun was rising once
more, the sun will set once more and I will only eat enough to stay alive,
wasting silently away. My clothes didn't fit, I had bags under my eyes,
and my long hair was in the same messy braid that I could manage from
sluggish limbs. I knew that I wouldn't die, I was the god of death after
all, and I had lost pestilence to the war but people like me only die
when somebody was good and ready for me to cross that barrier. I
was only 18, nobody but myself was ready. God I'm depressing…

Trowa Pov

I couldn't help but over hear Commander Peacecraft and Lady Une's
conversation. Well that explains a lot, I could tell Zechs didn't want to
leave my best friend. He had as much honor as Quatre so of course he
had to take this mission in order to help make sure none like him were
ever created again. I could understand the attraction Quatre had
towards my new Commander. It didn't explain why I suddenly found
Milliardo Peacecraft unbearably hot. I mean, where in the nine hells
did that come from? Quatre will certainly kill me if he suddenly found
out his supposedly long dead love was alive and that I seriously
was checking out his ass. Is it just me or did the heat just turn up?

Wufei Pov

Can life get any more frustrating? I looked over to Dakota; she
was tramping through the forest to my left, scaring any other animal
within a 100-mile radius. I smiled at the burly young girl, she
pounced on a piece of bark and trotted over to me, I pulled it from
her teeth and threw it far. She instantly took off; I shook my head and
slowly followed her. Suddenly somebody called my name; I looked
up and called back, recognizing Melissa's voice. She was my
favorite ranger in the whole park and always stopped by my house
for dinner and gossip. She appeared from the trees and I walked
over to her.

"Hey Missy, what's up?" I ask, she smiled at me.

"There's a visitor at the tower. He says he really want's to talk to
you but we know how you are with visitors so we said we had to
ask you. We called your house but I knew you were out here. Where's
Dakota?" Melissa looked around, I whistled and Dakota bounded
back to me. Melissa ruffled Dakota's fur and laughed then looked up
at me.

"He?" I ask, she shrugs.

"He seems familiar but I can't place him," Melissa shrugged and
started off back to the main tower, I followed after, curious. Couldn't be
Heero, he's probably happy off vacationing with Relena although
vacationing with her couldn't be happy at all. Quatre had his
businesses; Trowa had a mission to space. Maybe it was Duo, I heard
Hilde had a bad accident and died. Maybe Duo came to keep me
company; I smiled, remembering the last time Duo and I lived together.
It was thoroughly therapeutic and extremely satisfying. Melissa helped
Dakota into her truck and I got in on the passenger's side. Soon we
were parked in front of the park's main tower. A nice black expensive
sports car, top of the line and a work of art sat next to Melissa's beaten
down old truck. I noticed it as I went to get Dakota out of the truck bed;
Duo never drives anything flashy like that.

Quatre Pov

I sighed as the ship entered the atmosphere; I was to land in America
near New York. Duo lived in the heart of Brooklyn. He told me a long
time ago that Hilde was born there and they decided to go back to start
an auto shop. He seemed like the best choice to spend a vacation with.
Right before leaving Heero had called me and told me he had finally left
that wench of a bitch Relena, his exact words of course. He asked if I
knew where Wufei was, I had smiled and said that the last I heard from
him he was trying to get the largest national park on earth to let him
build a house out there. And Trowa had called yesterday to tell me
he was going on a preventer's mission and wasn't expected back
for a very long time. So that left the ever-mysterious Duo, he
hadn't called me since Hilde and him had first arrived in Brooklyn.
I had gotten his address from special sources and had Denise
book a flight. Now I was staring dejectedly at the ever-worsening
buildings. This does not look very promising, the taxi finally stopped
out side of a very run down mechanic shop. I looked across the street
to a once sweet looking house, now the grass looked like it need a
scythe to cut it and could probably hide a car. The fence was rusty,
the gate was wide open, and the door's small glass windows were
broken. The blinds were drawn so closed you couldn't see a crack
to tell you where they pulled apart and not an ounce of light from
any of the windows of the ranch style home. I paid the man, got
out and looked around a bit then started for the door, better now
that later.

Zechs Pov

"What should I call you?" I asked, Trowa looked up at me
from unpacking his duffel bag.

"Trowa would be fine," he answered, I couldn't help but
smile slightly. He gestured for me to sit, I sat. He continued to
gracefully unpack once more. His long limbs almost dancing,
his muscles almost shimmered, his green eyes almost sparkling.
Well, I now know why Kat once told me he liked his best friend,
hell he was in love with this catlike guy for a while. Trowa
looked to me, noticing my scrutiny, I almost blushed.

"Well, Trowa, when do you want to start?" I ask, Trowa smirked.

"As soon as possible," Trowa answered, I stood up.

"A tour and then dinner," I say, going Trowa followed silent.

Heero Pov

I could almost feel him coming closer. The wait was almost
unbearable but all the same I managed to walk to the window
when I heard a truck door slam. I looked down, the ranger woman
that had volunteered to go after Wufei leaned on her truck as Wufei
opened the back and a large dog jumped out, almost biffing her chin
on the sharp gravel of the parking lot.

"Well, our hermit has arrived. I wonder what state of solemnity he's
in today," one of the other rangers remarked.

"I don't think it's that, Missy says he's just sad. Sometimes she
thinks the guy actually gets lonely," another ranger spoke up.

"Him? That huge mutt of his and him go tramping off through the
forest all the time. I don't see how anybody could get lonely,"
a ranger came in and handed me coffee. Wufei patted his leg and
his dog ran to him, trailing him inside.

"Missy tries getting him to go out once in a while but he always
turns her down. I don't blame him, Missy talks for two people
half the time, could you imagine her at a club?" The first ranger
comments, a few laughs come to my ears as I turn and sit back
down. The door opens and the huge dog comes bounding in.
It jumps up next to me and nudges my hand; I smile at it and start
scratching its ears. Melissa sits down at the large round table in
the center of the room with the other rangers.

"Wufei will be here in a sec, he's talking to Caitlin," Melissa
explains to my questioning look. Then the door opens a
second time and I stand up. Wufei freezes when he catches
sight of me, looking about as shocked as a turtle suddenly
without a shell.

Duo Pov

I heard a car pull up in front; a door open then close, a trunk opens
and closes then the car drove off. Funny but I didn't care, could be
any reason for those sounds, could be anybody at the door, ringing
my door bell but it isn't anybody calling my name in a sweet male
voice like rain and straight from my memories. I look over at the
door then back at the window.

"Duo? Open up, I know you're in there!" Quatre calls, I slowly got up
from the window seal and made my way to the door. I slowly open it;
Quatre gets one look at me and wraps his arms around me. I slowly
hug him back, tears threatening to spill down my hollow cheeks as
Quatre holds me so tightly.

Trowa Pov

The tour was fun, the dinner was slightly if not totally awkward.
We had a small private dinner in Zechs' or I should say Milliardo's
rooms. It was very delicious but I had hardly tasted it, I found my
self nervous for the first time since the war.

"Wine?" My rather beautiful commander offered, I nodded. He smiled
and poured red wine into my glass. I managed to resist slamming
the glass's contents down my throat and took a few sips. He looked even
better than when he did during the war. His hair even longer, the simple
uniform looked better on him and I wondered if he still
looked as amazing underneath all those clothes then when I saw
him so long ago in Quatre's bed. I almost winced, Quatre…best
friend, will kill me when I get back…if I ever get back. Usually people
who come here don't usually leave. I could only contact one person
once every year. Catherine had my first call; Quatre had to wait
until the year after.

"So, how was everything after things settled down?" Milliardo
asked, propping his head up on his elbows, I leaned back a bit.

"Rather uninteresting, we all just kind of split ways. I haven't
talked to any of them except Quatre since a few months after the
last large threat of war," I answered, Milliardo nodded. He then got
up and cleared the table, I watched him the whole way, and I couldn't
take my eyes away from him even if I wanted to. He then turned and
smirked; I blushed and looked back at the table, taking a small
swallow of my wine. This is becoming slightly even more frustrating.
I had my loyalty to my best friend in one hand and in the other I had a
beautiful, intoxicating sex god. As you can probably imagine, I had a
very, very hard dilemma here and hard it might get if I stare at
Milliardo some more.

Wufei Pov

I was first shocked, well wouldn't you be if you saw the one guy
that ripped your heart out? Let's back track slightly, after Mariemaya,
after our fight, my revelation and the gathering of Gundam pilots
right after Heero didn't just ignore me, he reamed me out bad. We
ended up in a huge screaming match that almost erupted into an
all out fight if Duo and Quatre hadn't of stepped in. He then told
me to go to hell, I told him I hated him and I then left. I went to my
room, gathered my stuff and went to the door. Quatre had begged
me to stay; Heero just stood there, staring blankly at me. I then
walked out, he didn't care for me like I thought so why stay?

"Why are you here?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

"I-Wufei, I," Heero took a couple steps towards me but something in
my face probably told him to stop.

"You might as well come to my house," I say, turning and leaving.
Heero followed then Dakota. She caught up with me and nuzzled up
against my hand, I patted her head and opened the door for her. I then
waited for Heero to unlock the door. I let in Dakota then got in, Heero
then pulled out of the parking lot and I gave him directions. After that,
the ride was silent.

Quatre Pov

"Duo?" I whispered, feeling the build up of intense sadness
reside a little after I took Duo in a tight embrace.

"Yeah?" Duo whispered back, I looked up into his impossibly
sad violet eyes. I've never seen him this way, this broken, this
emotional. I mean, yea, I helped him with a couple nightmares
during the war and he cried against my shoulder barely coherent
as he poured out old memories that had turned into nightmares.
But this, this was different, this had truly destroyed him, whatever it was.

"Let's go inside, you look like you need a hot meal and a nice
soothing bath," I said, Duo smiled slowly like he didn't know or
had forgotten how and nodded. I gathered my luggage and sat
them down in a relatively tidy living room and then went to the
kitchen. Duo practically followed me the whole time which I had the
feeling he really needed to so I didn't say anything. He then sat
down and watched me rummage through his kitchen and start
dinner. I made a hearty meal I had learned from Trowa a long
time ago and sat down opposite Duo. He started eating but he
didn't swallow it down like air like he used to. I knew he was hungry
but that sadness gnawed on him and his stomach. If I hadn't of been
here, he'd probably be choking down some measly small meal, trying
to get it down past the lumps in his heart, stomach, throat…

"Done?" I smile at him, he nodded and leaned back after finishing
the whole thing, and I cleared away the table and led the way to the
bathroom, which was surprisingly quite cute. It screamed the ladies
touch so Hilde must have taken a special consideration of it. A see
through glass shower next to a rather large antique looking tub
complete with brass handles carved like twin panthers. A huge
mirror stood opposite over a long counter made of marble and cherry
wood. Two sinks, a small vase of red fake roses that looked almost
real and a white toilet with sea shells on top. Another door led
to a walk in closet. I looked to Duo then smiled at him.

"How about I get the bath ready and you take off your clothes," I
say, he nodded and I turned to get the bubbles and turn on the water.
Soon the bath was ready; Duo got in and instantly sunk down into
the steaming water. I knew almost everything there was to know
about Duo, how hot his bath, favorite bubbles, shampoo, food
(which was always Trowa's cooking) his favorite colors (red and black)
his favorite TV show or was. I stared at Duo's closed eyelids. His
head resting on the tub, his braid trailing and pooling on the ground.
His still very muscled creamy arms rested on either side of the tub's
sides.

"You can stop staring, I know I look like some body ran over me,"
Duo grumbled, his voice sounded a little unused but it still had
that lovely quality to it like a heavy metal lead singer's.

"I don't think you could ever look that bad," I reply, Duo cracked
his eyes open to look at me but I was behind him.

"May I?" I ask, Duo nodded and I un-braided his hair. I grabbed a
comb from a small container on the counter and combed through
the chestnut mass. Soon I was finger combing through the shiny
waves and Duo was fast asleep.

Zechs Pov

This could almost be labeled torture. To stare at this hunk of a guy
for three hours, now watch him eat…I caught his blush and I think
he's in the same predicament as I. I then put the dishes down. I then
walk over to him, he looks up at me and I kneeled down next to him.
I stare into his emerald green eyes; I look down on his plump pretty
ripe lower lip then lean forward, capturing those almost forbidden lips.
He leans up into me, molding to my own. Then suddenly he's standing,
staring down on me.

"I-I…have to go," Trowa says and dashes off, I tilt my head slightly
then smile. I'll get him; he'll be mine just like Collan and Rose but
this time I think it'll last a little longer.

Heero Pov

I know he's mad, I know he's caught between two emotions. I know
because I was the same way right after he left, fuck I was like that
when he left. I was caught between staying and taking the job
offered by Relena or going after a very angry dragon. I didn't tell
him at the time because I knew it would just make everything even
worse. Quatre had told me I had hurt him bad enough, thank the
saints I hadn't of told him then but he would've found out later. I
glanced over at him, still absolutely breathe taking, still oblivious
to it but I wonder if he still has that incredible sex drive. He hides
it so well but…I pull up in front of his rather huge house nestled
in the middle of a beautiful valley. A wooden balcony wraps
around the second story, the third story has almost floor to ceiling
windows and the roof looks like another balcony like a roof top balcony.

"Wow, it's beautiful, did you design it?" I ask, digging up that Quatre
told me he built it.

"Everything from the pool on the roof to the pond in the back,"
Wufei replied, not even sparing a glance at the place. He walked up
and opened the door, I followed him in. We took our shoes off and I
looked around. The main entrance had three alternatives, a huge
kitchen and dining room, huge stairs leading up and a room with odds
and ends. I went to the room, it had furniture from all over the place
and all extremely different. Pictures of different things littered the mantle
and tables. They were mostly of the L5 colony before it was blown up.
A group picture of all of us gundam pilots at the Sank kingdom base.
None of us were looking at the camera but all our personalities showed.
Duo was laughing, leaning against Quatre while he grinned, looking at
Duo. Trowa walked next to him, almost stonily. Wufei was looking back,
his profile caught as he walked on the other side of Duo. I was slightly
behind, looking slightly down at the ground.

"I managed to get that from the Oz files before they were destroyed," Wufei
spoke up behind me. I turned my head to look at him, he shrugged and
sat down on a fluffy overstuffed chair.

"Who's this?" I ask, pointing to a slightly scowling girl, half way
turned from the camera.

"That's Meilan, here's a better one," Wufei picked up a dark gold
framed picture and handed it over. The girl was a little older this
time, smiling happily as she stared at the camera.

"Your wife, huh?" I looked up at him, he nodded and replaced the pic.

"So, a tour of your lovely house?" I asked, he got up.

"Of course, follow me," Wufei turned and started off, still had a nice ass to.

Duo Pov

"Quatre?" I asked softly, turning my head to look at him. I had
woken up on my bed, curled up in fluffy pjs and Quatre was asleep
in the wicker chair next to me.

"Hmm?" Quatre blinked up at me, I smiled at him, getting used to
my smile again.

"Thank you," I say getting up and kneeling before Quatre. I stared
up into his sea green compassionate eyes, he smiled back.

"Anytime," Quatre brushed his fingertips across my cheek, he then
leaned forward and captured my lips, and I leaned up against him,
wrapping my arms around him. He tasted exactly how I imagined,
like sugar and the unique taste of the sun on a rainy day. I straddled
him, not breaking our kiss. Finally we broke for air and I
stared deep into his eyes.

"Duo? If you don't mind…" Quatre looked down then back up
at my eyes, I smiled slightly and nodded.

"You want to know why I let everything go," I look to the wall behind
Quatre. "Hilde was with child when she died," I almost choke out, I then
looked down, feeling hot tears that I thought were gone slid down my
cheeks and dropped onto my pjs, Quatre lifted my chin. I slowly opened
my eyes to him, he wiped away my tears with his thumbs.

"Duo, that's awful but you have to go on," Quatre wrapped his arms
around me. "Hilde would have wanted you to."

"Just like…" I trailed off, Quatre nodded and tried a smile.

"I know I haven't been taking my advice but I will if you will," Quatre
cradled my cheek in his soft ivory hand. I leaned forward and kissed
him again, feeling everything just fall away. Quatre was the only star
that wasn't dulled, he shined so bright that the blankness of space
became altered and alive in it's self-full of planets and other things.
He made me wonder what it was like to just love, to truly love with all my heart.

"You know, I never realized it but I think I've loved you for the longest
time but just…never knew," Quatre whispered, I smiled down on him.

"I think I know what you mean," I say and nuzzle up against him,
so warm and rich in love and strength. I know I've been waiting
for him all my life.

Trowa Pov

Did he have to show up all the time? Especially at the wrong times,
and I thought working with Quatre was distracting. I almost crashed
into a meteorite because he suddenly appeared next to me in another
suit. His voice pulling me out of my concentration with such force it
was frightening. It seemed like he wouldn't leave me alone but he
never tried anything since that first night I was here, making me
damn suffer! I was really wanting that call so I could talk to Quatre
instead of Catherine. She can wait, I need to talk to Quatre.

"Trowa?" Milliardo called, I stopped and turned around, and he
handed me a folder.

"That's your call pass, use it wisely," Zechs turned.

"Wait, why haven't you once called Quatre?" I asked, he froze
and looked over at me.

"I don't want to torture myself or him. He needs to get on with his
life, I need to do the same. I can never have the sun, he's not meant
for me even if Heero swears up and down the colonies that we are…
I can't do that to him. To just call him once a year, see him through a
screen, tell him that I miss him more than a starving man to water but
I can't get to him. I don't want that, it's better to think that I'm dead
then to endlessly torture him with the knowledge that I'm alive but
so far away I'd never see him in person again," he explained then
left, I stared after him. All my doubts faded away then I slowly looked
down on the folder in my hands. Quatre was the type of person that
attracts the darkness, that attracts people who don't want to hurt him,
would never do that but still do because it was in their nature, it was
an inevitability.

I remember a long time ago, so long ago like a whole different
world when we were doing missions on earth. Quatre and I had
broken up and we were still friends. He had told me that he knew
that people hurt him because he needed it to wake him up. I told
him I would never hurt him and he understood but he was still
slightly hurt. He told me that it wasn't me, I had never hurt him but
to think that the one person he devoted a lot of energy to never really
noticed why he was doing it. I noticed but never had the guts to ask
him why he put up with the nightmares, the screaming, and the self-hate
when Heero wasn't around. I had the guts now and I was going to ask him,
I was going to ask him why in the nine hells why he didn't tell Duo
the truth.

Wufei Pov

I opened the door to my room and walked in, we had pretty much
finished the tour, and this was the last place I hadn't shown him.
I was kind of nervous, why had he come back to me? Is he going to
stay? Will Relena suddenly show up and take him away from me once more?

"Heero, I have a question," I turn to him, he was staring at me.

"Yes?" He prompted, I took in a deep breath.

"Do you love me?" I ask, Heero's eyes widened slightly, he froze,
completely froze, his eyes locked on my own, going straight to my
heart. I knew I loved him, I realized that after the second tortured
night here with memories and dreams of Heero and they weren't
sexual.

"Wufei…" Heero snapped out of his shock at my name
then smiled slowly. "Think I do," Heero replied, I walked forward.

"You do or you don't, you have the rest of my life to make
up your mind," I say, reaching forward and ran my fingers
through his messy dark brown locks, I molded my self to him,
he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"I think I already have," Heero captured my lips in a fierce kiss,
ending up on the bed.

Quatre Pov

I couldn't believe it, just couldn't. Duo was everything I had
imagined and more. We lived together in that house for three
months, never once sharing more than intense kissing ending up
in us cradled in each other's arms or falling asleep to the sound of
Duo talking about odds and ends, mostly about after war stuff.
Missions from the Preventers, a little about Hilde and other things.
He was healed by the end of those three months, completely. He
looked like and 18 year old instead of a forty-year-old. By the end
of it he was dragging me to clubs and restaurants. He never could
stop touching me, I got used to it after a while, never really asking
why. He looked absolutely spectacular with his high cheekbones,
happy violet eyes, and full heart shaped lips, perfect body. There was
no sign of the starvation he had put himself through, the depression
and the endless sleepless nights of solitude. I had done my work
perfectly.

"You know, let's get out of here, I've already sold the shop,
might as well sell this place and we'll go somewhere," Duo suggested,
looking to me from frying up hamburgers, I smiled up at him from
the kitchen table.

"That sounds like fun," I reply, he grinned back at me and finished
up dinner. By the next day we had sold the house and were on our
way to the colonies when I got a call from outer space, Trowa.

"Hey, how are you?" I asked, grinning at Trowa, he smiled slightly
back. Duo was off getting the flight attendant.

"Fine, how's everything there?" Trowa asked, I was about to
answer when the flight attendant screamed and Duo bounded
back to his seat with a couple glasses of champagne. I laughed
as she stomped down the aisle and stopped in front of Duo.

"Don't ever do that again or I'll personally have you in with the
cargo," the woman shook her finger at Duo then stomped off. Duo
rolled his eyes and handed me my glass.

"What did you do this time?" I asked.

"Pinched her associated on the way out. Hey, it was in my way!"
Duo protested, I shook my head.

"Aw you know I love you, Kat," Duo hugged me then noticed
Trowa. "Hey Tro-tro, how's the mission goin'?" Duo asked to my
slightly shocked best friend.

"Fine," Trowa replied, I laughed.

"Hey Trowa, when are you coming back?" I asked.

"I'm sorry but I doubt that I will for a long time," Trowa gave
me a couple reasons, I nodded and smiled.

"Just take care of who ever you're after. I bet he's a great guy if
he's got you this worked up. Just be happy Trowa, that's all I ask," I
say, Trowa's jaw almost dropped. I then said good bye and we
landed. Life was good, really good.

Zechs Pov

"Trowa?" I asked, walking over to the light switch and flicking
on the light, he came out of the shower, only a towel ridding low
on his waist and another one rubbing his hair was the only
covering near him. I almost dropped right there, what a delicious
sight…he smirked at me.

"I talked to Quatre," Trowa threw his towel in the hamper and sat
down, I took a couple steps toward him.

"And?" I reply.

"I get you all to myself," Trowa answered and got up, he walked
towards me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a sweet kiss.

"I could get used to this," I mumble, he laughed and kissed me again.

Heero Pov

"Wufei! Hurry it up! I'm dying of cold out here!" I call, Wufei
appears with two mugs of hot chocolate and set them down
then straddled me. We were on the roof, waiting for the stars
to come out.

"I think that cold won't threaten kill you anymore," Wufei
purred, kissing me. I pulled him down on top of me.

"The only thing that will kill me is that damn barking," I reply,
Wufei smirked.

"Dakota's just protective, we do live in the middle of no where,"
Wufei nuzzled my neck.

"Yep, that way nobody can hear you scream," I reply, pulling
Wufei underneath me and biting his lower lip. He moaned and
wrapped his legs around me. I pulled off his shirt and then leaned
down to bite his nipples, he hissed and bucked against me. I then
pulled off the rest of his clothes and slid into him. He thrashed his
head, moaning loudly.

"I love you," I whisper in his ear, he looked to me, his clouded
impossibly dark brown eyes blinked and kissed me once more.

"Love you to," Wufei whispered back and I softly kissed him,
relishing in his sweetness, his eternal sweetness.

Owari

------------------------------------------------------------

Phoenix: Finished…now let me finish my favorite book and I'll
go get something for Amy.

Duo: That was very cute, I like it except…

Phoenix: I know, no big lemons but hey, it finished the series didn't it?
I mean, Trowa and Zechs will have a long time up there alone. Duo
and Quatre are so wrapped up in each other they'll probably get
married only I don't usually write those kind of fics, too sappy.
And Wufei and Heero find each other once again *sigh*

Duo: Well, yea, well, now what? You've been working on this fic
non-stop all week and finally you're finished, what are you going
to do next?

Phoenix: I don't know, maybe Disneyworld?

Heero: You have got to be kidding me.

Phoenix: Alright, let's go to a bondage shop and buy Heero some
handcuffs then we'll take Duo to a nice rave. After that we'll drag
Zechs to the desert so we can make him scream in ecstasy with
out anybody hearing…

Quatre: You have one very twisted mind, anybody tell you that?

Phoenix: Actually only you, thank you Quatre.

Quatre: *rolls eyes*

Phoenix: Well, now on to the next!

Quatre: Hide!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
comments? e-mail Gothic Phoenix

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