Disclaimers: Gundam Wing belongs to Sunrise. Any songs or quotes belong to their respective authors listed with them.

Author’s Notes: Warning! This chapter is full of mushy stuff, but I hope it turned out all right. In any case, it’s about time!

//_-

Trowa pulled Averil up from the dirty street, and he kept a hold on her hand as they ran through the maze of alleyways. It seemed that their direction was aimless, but he knew exactly where he was going. They just had to lose the guys on their tail first. Once the distance had lessened considerably, he pulled her into a very dark alleyway, far from any streetlights.

"Trowa, what are you doing?!" she whispered loudly, "This is a dead-end."

"Relax," he said, leading her about midway down the alleyway before pushing her gently against the wall.

"They’re going to pass by any moment, and there’s nothing to hide behind," she whispered frantically.

"Put your arms around my neck," he told her.

"What?!"

When she failed to do what he had asked, he took her arms and placed them around his neck, caressing them with the backs of his hands as he slid his hands down to her waist. Then he whispered in her ear, "Just play along. If they see us when they pass by, they’ll think we’re strangers . . . well . . . making out."

Averil blushed brightly, but surprised Trowa when she caught on quickly by running her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. This type of behavior had been routine for her as Lacy, only it had held a different purpose. And it had also held a different feeling. Now, she felt every nerve burst into flame, supersensitive as Trowa brushed his lips across her neck, squeezing her waist softly. In no time, he was affected as well, blood pounding in his ears. Averil slid her hands down to his biceps, heart pounding in her chest.

Suddenly, Trowa found himself actually kissing her neck, tasting her sweet skin. She gripped his arms tightly in response, perhaps surprised or excited, he didn’t know. All he knew was that he couldn’t get enough of her. If any of the men caught them now, he decided that he would feel no qualms in shooting them.

"Trowa, Trowa," she had to say it twice before he stopped what he was doing to look up at her. "I can see one coming. We have to hide my face."

Trowa stared into her eyes only a moment before pressing his lips against hers. She stiffened in surprise, but quickly responded. Well if that was the way he wanted to do it . . . her hands flew back up into his hair again as Trowa’s arms wrapped firmly around her waist. He had to restrain himself from passionately crushing her against the wall. I can’t do it like that. This is only to protect her, he reminded himself, knowing full well that he was lying. If only this wasn’t just an act.

She closed her eyes tightly, trying not to let it mean anything to her. He dragged his lips oh-so-slowly across hers, then lifted them away in several short, feather-light kisses. Each one seemed to send a shock through her entire being. The rational side of her brain was well aware that the search party was passing by at that very moment. She hoped they would dismiss them as strangers. Yet every other part of her was only capable of sensing Trowa—his hands caressing her waist and back, his lips teasing hers, his masculine smell pushing out all normal thought, and his body heat scorching her deep inside. Did he have any idea of the havoc he would leave her in?

Is there anything in the world more soft and sweet than this?! Trowa thought blissfully of Averil. He felt himself sinking deeper and deeper. Why was he still kissing her? He knew that the men were gone. Their footsteps had faded away minutes ago, but he didn’t want this moment to end. He was afraid this would be his only chance to feel Averil like this. This was merely a charade to her. And so he must act the part. Quickly, he pulled away, dropping his hands and taking a step back. His masked expression was already in place. They were both breathing hard though. His heart ached as he caught a glimpse of the light in Averil’s eyes dimming. Surely she wished that he had hid her in a different way. Had he taken advantage of her?

Her eyes lowered and she said not a word. Trowa had only been acting the whole time. Although her mind had told her that from the start, her heart had refused to believe it until she saw his stoic expression. This meant nothing to him. Oh why, oh why did it have to mean something to her? She had kissed dozens of men before as Lacy, and never had it meant anything to her. But now, as Averil, she could no longer keep up a front. Trowa would certainly see that she had expected something more. She dreaded the thought that he might laugh at her foolish hopes. At this, she became determined. For this one last time she could play the part of Lacy, taking everything in a disinterested, unaffected stride. She must not let Trowa see her shattered dreams—dreams that she hadn’t even known had existed until now. For she realized now that she had dreamed that Trowa would feel the same way about her as she did about him.

"Forgive me," said Trowa.

"For what? You only did what you had to do to protect me, and I thank you."

Trowa raised his eyes and gazed at her for a moment, trying to judge her reaction. She was poised, totally in control, almost cold. He knew that he appeared to be in control as well, but his heart still raced, urging him to tell her the truth . . . that he really cared for her. Maybe even loved her . . . yeah, this is just rich, he thought cynically. In the end, he merely nodded and started to walk out of the alley. She followed dolefully behind where he could not see her true feelings.

After a few turns, they came out onto an open road, leading through the countryside. Trowa pulled out his motorcycle from behind a dumpster, and Averil slid on behind him. They took off, Averil holding onto him tightly, pressing her face against the back of his jacket. All she wanted now was to be close to him, and she was afraid that every opportunity that she had would be the last, so she savored the moment. She heard a wild whoop behind them and turned her head to see Duo and Catherine catching up with them on his motorcycle. She smiled, relieved that everyone had made it out safely.

"Whoohoo! That is the most excitement I’ve had in months. Are you guys alright?" Duo yelled, riding up beside them.

"Yeah," Averil yelled back, smiling brightly at Catherine.

"Then let’s get back home to my Hilde!" he shouted, speeding ahead.

//_-

Once they were safely on the shuttle, Catherine hugged Trowa tightly. "I knew everything would be alright," she said joyfully. He did not need to say anything. He just had to see for himself that she was safe and sound. However, he did have to restrain himself from yelling at her for allowing herself to be kidnapped when she could have gotten help from her fellow circus workers.

"Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" asked Averil.

"No, I’m alright. They were a little rough with me, but they didn’t hurt me."

"I’m so relieved. I’m sorry I ever got you into this mess," Averil said.

"That’s alright. You had no one else to turn to," said Catherine.

"Thank you so much for all you’ve done, all of you," said Averil, looking from Catherine to Trowa to Duo. "But what now?"

"Duo’s going to let us all rest at his place until we decide what to do next. It’s really up to you," said Trowa.

Averil looked worried. "Well, I don’t know yet."

"That’s okay," assured Trowa, "I will protect you until you decide, and then I will protect you as long as you want me to."

She couldn’t very well tell him she wanted him to forever, so she nodded instead.

//_-

The next week was spent in a deliberate, blissful ignorance of the decisions that Averil would soon have to make. Catherine had decided to go home after declaring that Averil needed rest, and the whole group agreed and insisted on it. She wasn’t complaining, though. She really didn’t know what to do, and she was too tired to make a decision. Instead, the foursome spent leisurely days at the park, and on other days, Trowa and Averil would help out around Duo and Hilde’s Salvage Yard.

On one particular evening later in the week, Trowa sat, deep in thought, on the couch in Duo’s living room, staring off into space. Duo was out taking Hilde back to her apartment and Averil was taking a shower, so he had some time to himself—some much-needed time. All week he had watched Averil, judging his reactions to her. He discovered that when he was around her, he was more open and he always had a good time with her. When they were apart, he keenly felt her absence. To put it bluntly, he was incredibly lonely. He wondered if this was the way he had always been before she came into his life. He knew he had been lonely before he had made friends with the other pilots and Catherine, but had he also been needing something that they couldn’t provide? Did he, Trowa Barton, actually need a companion? The thought seemed ludicrous, for he had never once thought of marrying. But now, he wondered if a bachelor’s life would truly suit him.

In any case, he had to admit that he was a better person around Averil. She brought out his sensitivity and protective instincts especially. Wasn’t that what women were supposed to do to men? She was the only one besides Catherine who ever had. What did that mean? Catherine didn’t count; she was family. So there had to be something unique about Averil. When he could find no more answers to his numerous questions, and when he had analyzed everything three times over, he decided that he’d have to find his answer in Averil—the question herself.

Ever since the night she had told him about her past, he had wanted to pursue a relationship with her. So, that’s what he would do, he decided. He would be honest with his feelings, but he would move slowly. After all, he had decided in the beginning that he wanted Averil to know his intentions were pure. He really cared for her, not just her body the way men had in the past. It was very important that she see that. Yet he was afraid that he had already screwed that part up, what with the way he had kissed her before.

At that moment Averil came in, clad in pajamas, with a mug of tea and sat down next to him. She drew her knees up to her chin and held the mug on her knees with both hands. He watched her silently the whole time. The room was quiet for a couple of minutes, then Averil asked, "What are you thinking about, Trowa?"

He sighed and shook his head. "Nothing."

"Trowa, I hoped that we could be more open now that we’ve established some trust. Are you mad at me?"

"No, I just don’t know if I can find the words right now to tell you what I’m thinking . . . or feeling." Although he had decided to be honest with her, it was an entirely different story to actually put it into words.

"I guess I understand," she said softly, then looked around the room in a vain attempt to focus on something else.

"Averil," he said, turning to her and caressing her cheek, feeling her hair, "Just know that . . . that I did not mean to take advantage of you by kissing you. I went too far."

"Trowa, we’ve been over this before. You were just doing what you had to do to protect me," she said, wishing desperately that he hadn’t brought up this subject.

"No," he said, causing her to look up in surprise, then continued in a rush, "it meant something to me. It shouldn’t have, I know, but it did. That’s why I went so far as to actually kiss you. I should have waited for your consent before I pursued that kind of relationship."

Averil felt her cheeks warm considerably. Could he possibly mean what she thought he meant? "Trowa, are you saying that you want something more than friendship?"

"Yes," he replied bluntly, "but don’t feel like you’re obligated to offer me that. I know you don’t trust men, and you’ve had some bad experiences with them. Just be honest with yourself, and with me. That’s all I ask."

For a moment, both were silent. Then Averil reached over and placed her hand on the back of his neck, smiling softly at him. Then she surprised Trowa further by leaning over and kissing him tenderly. He kissed her back just as tenderly, his hand feeling the silk of her hair. When she pulled away, his eyes were a little wide with wonder. She laughed softly, violet eyes shining. "Thank you for being so sweet . . . if you want me to be honest, that’s what I’ve wanted to do all this week."

Trowa smiled and drew her closer. Since he didn’t know what to say, he kissed her senseless instead. Afterwards, while they regained their senses, she sat cuddled against him, his arm around her shoulders. "You’re not like other men, Trowa," she said, "I do trust you . . . you know that."

"I just thought that you might still have some healing to do. All your life, men have disrespected you, only wanted you for your body, but I care for you as Averil, not Lacy . . ."

Averil quieted him with a kiss, then said, "It’s funny. All this week, I’ve been trying to reassume my role as Lacy, because I didn’t want to get hurt. I thought that I was the only one affected by that kiss, but now you’ve freed me from ever being Lacy again," she paused for a moment in thought, and Trowa watched her contentedly. Then she continued, "I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my past this week. Well, duh! That’s what my decision will be based upon," she let out a short, humorless laugh. "Anyway, you know that I want to make things right, get my mother out of there, right?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"Well, that’s my decision," she stated, trying to sound confident and brave, even though she was shaking inside, "I want to send Kraten to jail, admit to any part I played in . . . the murders," her voice broke and tears welled in her eyes, "and- and make sure my mother lives the life she deserves. That is my duty, no matter the danger or consequences. I know that’s the right thing to do."

Trowa brushed her tears away and smoothed her hair. "Don’t be scared," he said comfortingly, "I’ll be with you for as long as you want me to."

"I won’t, now that I know I’ll have you . . ." she trailed off as he kissed her yet again.

Unfortunately, they were interrupted by an obnoxious wolf whistle. They pulled apart, blushing. Duo walked in with a huge grin on his face. "I’d say it’s about time, you two! You’ve been making eyes at each other all week."

Averil laughed and buried her face in Trowa’s chest. There came a muffled retort, "Duo, do you have to be so embarrassing?"

"Just stating the obvious!" After receiving a death-glare from Trowa, he continued, "Okay, I’ll leave you two alone now. ‘Night!" he said happily before strolling out of the room.

//_-

Something tells me

I can trust in you
There's no pretense

In the things you do
So much water

Under this bridge
And I'm standing here

At the water's edge

Looking into your eyes

I'm crossing the river

To get to you
I'm crossing the river
Crossing the river

You had the longing

Of a broken heart
Shined your light in a room

That was frozen dark

Looking into your eyes yeah

Looking into your eyes

I'm crossing the river

To get to you
I'm crossing the river
And this time I'll make it through
With your faith and your arms open wide
I see you there on the other side
Crossing the river

Of fear and pride

There's no turning back I know

I've come so far and I've got so far to go

I'm crossing the river

To get to you
I'm crossing the river
And this time I'll make it through oh yeah
With your faith and your arms open wide
I see you there on the other side
Crossing the river

Of fear and pride

Oh yeah I'm crossing the river
I'm crossing the river
I’m crossing the river

To get to you

//_-

The sound of a kiss is not so loud as that of a cannon, but its echo lasts a great deal longer.

-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Author’s Notes: I launched out on a search to find places to post this fic, and I’ve found several. But if you know of some Trowa sites, then I’d love to post this there. And as always, if you have any comments or flames, review/email me. I can take criticism and I love compliments. Thanks for reading, and God bless! Is anybody sick of reading my redundant author’s notes? Just wondering, because I’m too lazy to write new ones, so I just copy off of my old ones. You probably don’t read these anyway. Oh well, just some random ramblings. And just to let you know, I’m almost done with Chapter Ten! If you haven’t reviewed yet, then please tell me how I’m doing. And for those of you who have reviewed, THANK YOU SO MUCH! If you’re a fellow author, then you understand how encouraging it is. Okay, I’m done now. Bye!

To Be Continued