Alright, this is an 8-chapter story that I've already completed and will be updating every 48 hours (or close to)

Warnings: cross-dressing, gender-bending, Duo's potty-mouth

Disclaimer: I do not own the Gundam Wing characters

Chapter One: Swimming

Duo Maxwell was in a bit of a dilemma. He had knocked on the door to Quatre's bedroom and bounded in a minute later like he usually did, only to find himself looking down the barrel of a magnum held by his normally-sweet friend. Said normally-sweet friend was holding a shirt to the hollow of his throat with his free hand and glaring at Duo almost as well as Heero did.

"Q-Quatre?" he asked weakly, his eyed crossing to look at the barrel of the firearm being held in front of his nose. "D-do ya mind?"

"Get out," Quatre hissed. Duo gulped and backed towards the door, hands held up defensively.

"Sorry, Q-bean!" He paused as he saw white bandages around his friend's torso, mostly hidden by the pale pink dress shirt the blonde Arabian heir usually wore. "Wait, did ya get hurt that last mission?" he asked worriedly, forgetting about the gun for a moment to step forward with a frown. Quatre's face went pink as he blushed.

"No, I'm not hurt," he snapped, shifting the focus of his gun back to Duo's face. "Now get out!" Duo did have a sense of self-preservation, no matter what some people thought or said, and he backed quickly out into the hallway.

"I'm sorry, Q!" he called through the door after closing it. He heard rustling and a soft curse in what sounded like Arabic, and then the door opened to reveal Quatre standing there fully dressed, rubbing his elbow with a cute little scowl.

Duo's thoughts screeched to a halt. Cute? Since when was Quatre 'cute'? Adorable sure; definitely sweet…but cute? Where the hell did that come from?

"What was it you wanted, Duo?" Quatre asked, his soft voice interrupting Duo's bewildered thoughts. Duo shook his head, his braid swishing behind him, and grinned cheerfully at Quatre.

"Wuffers and Tro-man are out and Hee-chan's continuing his love affair with his laptop, an' I wanted ta go swimmin'. You in?" Duo asked with his eyes shining. Quatre considered it for a moment, and then shook his head.

"I don't feel like swimming today, Duo," he said, and Duo's face fell as his shoulders slumped. Quatre winced ever-so-slightly. "But I'll keep you company from the side of the pool if you like," he offered, and Duo perked right back up again.

"Thanks, Kitty-Quat! Pool in fifteen, 'kay?" Quatre chuckled at Duo's enthusiasm.

"Of course, Duo. I'll see you down there."

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Duo skidded past the living room in his socks, catching hold of the doorframe when he overshot the doorway. He was wearing socks only because he liked sliding around, as he was dressed only in a pair of black swimming trunks with a towel draped around his neck, and grinned as he poked his head into the living room.

"Hey, Hee-chan! I'm goin' swimming – you wanna come?"

"Hn," Heero replied. Duo translated it to mean 'no, I'm busy', and shrugged.

"Suit yourself. Seeya later Hee-chan!" Duo stripped off his socks at the door leading out to the back yard where the pool was situated, dropping them into his shoes, and whistled to himself as he headed towards the crystal-clear pool. Quatre was already there, his pant-legs rolled up to the knees as he dangled his feet in the water from where he sat on one of the deck chairs near the edge of the pool.

"It's a bit cold, Duo," Quatre warned as Duo tossed his towel to one side and looked as if he was about to take a running jump into the deep end. Duo just grinned.

"That don't matter, Q-ball! Incoming!" He jumped, curled into a ball and splashed into the pool, causing Quatre to lean back as a wave of water almost got him. Duo's head popped up at the opposite end of the pool once the waves had settled, and he turned to grin at the blonde teen sitting near the edge of the pool. Quatre couldn't help but smile as well – Duo's grins were infectious – as the braid-wearing teen did a lazy backstroke over to him.

"Are ya sure you don't wanna join me?" Duo asked with a cheeky smile, and Quatre shook his head.

"I'm sure, Duo. Enjoy your swim." Duo paddled up to Quatre, hoisting himself out of the water right up close to the slightly-shorter teen and causing the blonde's eyes to widen as he took a step back. "Duo?"

"Why'd ya snap at me earlier, Q?" Duo asked quietly, his grin gone and eyes sad. He hated when his friends were actually mad at him. "What did I do?" Quatre looked away.

"It wasn't your fault, Duo, I'm sorry," he said softly. "I shouldn't have reacted that way." He didn't say anything more, and Duo was silent for a long moment before stepping back. He overbalanced when more than half his foot slipped off the edge of the pool, and with a shout of surprise reached automatically for something to steady him. He grabbed Quatre by accident, and Quatre cried out in shock as the pair of them tumbled into the pool with a splash.

Duo surfaced, coughing out water he'd inhaled in his surprise, and gave a sheepish smile to Quatre when the blonde also surfaced, blonde hair plastered to pale skin as Quatre glared at the braid-wearing brunette.

"Sorry, Q," he said sincerely. "I didn't realise I was so close t' th' edge of th' pool still." Quatre sighed, and Duo frowned slightly as he looked closer at his friend. "Hey, Q-ball, with your hair wet like this ya almost look like a girl…" Quatre rolled aquamarine eyes and started a lazy breaststroke towards the edge of the pool.

"On pain of death, Duo, you are not to tell anyone what I'm about to admit," Quatre warned seriously. Duo nodded, eyes widening as Quatre climbed out of the pool and revealed the gentle, feminine curves that were normally hidden beneath his – her – clothes.

"Holy shit," Duo blurted. "You are a girl!" Quatre rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I am. Duo, if the others knew…" she trailed off and Duo nodded as he climbed out of the pool himself.

"I know, Kitty-Quat. You have my word I won't tell anyone about this without your permission. And I don't lie," he added solemnly. Quatre smiled, the expression lighting up her face even more than it usually did.

"Thank you, Duo." Duo chuckled and slung an arm around Quatre's shoulders, the other hand grabbing his towel and passing it to the blonde.

"No problem, Q-bean. But ya know ya should tell th' others soon," he added soberly. Quatre nodded, her face dropping, as she looked down at the towel now held to her front instead of her friend.

"I know," she murmured. "But I can't tell them…at least, not yet." Duo nodded and hugged the girl to his side tightly for a moment, before pulling back and ruffling the still-wet hair. Quatre batted his hand away with a smile on her face, and Duo grinned down at her – she was about an inch shorter without shoes on – before bounding towards the house hollering for Heero to get them some towels or he'd get pool water dripped on him and his bed.

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That night after the others had gone to bed – Wufei and Trowa having returned that evening just before dinner – Duo sat on the window of his bedroom looking up at the stars as he pieced together all the little things about Quatre that hinted towards her actual gender. Unless one of the others saw her undressed or soaking wet, none of them would put the hints together and come to the right conclusion. Quatre's secret was safe for now.

(1286 words)

So what do you think? Please review! I'll be updating again in a couple of days. I'll even welcome flames :)

Ashuri