Title: The Garden

Author: FireKat

Pairing: 3+2 (friends)

Rating: G Word Count: 500

Warnings: fluff, humor. Trowa takes Duo on a much needed vacation.

Written for gw500. challenge: anything to do with a colony.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"He needs to get away, relax." Une looked him in the eye.

"Understood." Trowa saluted and left Une's office smiling. He had a plan.

~*~

"So Tro, what are we going to do?" Duo's curiosity was piqued.

"Une said that you need a vacation." Trowa was busily typing at the computer, arranging everything.

"So why you?" Duo snagged an apple and tossed it back and forth.

Trowa raised an eyebrow. "Am I not your friend?"

"Well yea.." Duo ducked his head.

"You were hoping for someone else?" Trowa smirked.

Duo blushed. "Kinda. Y-you understand don't you?"

Trowa chuckled. "Of course. But everyone else is either away on a mission or about to be assigned. So you are stuck with me."

"Aww Trotro!" Duo laughed and glomped him. "You're the best man."

"Just don't let it get out." Emerald eyes shone in humor.

"Wow, was that a joke? And I haven't given you sugar or alcohol! You really are learning to loosen up." Duo smirked and nudged him.

"Har har Duo." Trowa continued typing.

~*~*~*~

On the shuttle ride out, Duo tried every tactic he knew to get information out of Trowa.

"No Duo, it's a surprise." He continued to read his book.

"You're killing me with curiosity ya know!"

"Since when did you become a cat?" Trowa smirked.

~*~*~

The next morning found Trowa packing a knapsack for the day. Collecting Duo he headed out the door.

In the taxi Duo bounced like a kid on the seat. "Are you going to tell me now?"

Trowa smirked. "We'll be there soon."

~*~

The taxi dropped them off at the edge of town. "This is an unusual colony isn't it." Duo said as they walked from the edge of town into a lush forest.

"Yes, very unusual. This is called the garden colony of the L3 cluster. It was always my favorite."

Duo looked around with a double sense of awe. It was very unusual to find so much vegetation on a colony. And Trowa was showing him something so special to him, Duo was very touched.

As they walked deeper and deeper into the forest, Duo's awe did not fade. It was so beautiful. Primal, raw, but also quiet and relaxed. There were no predators; no struggle for survival. It was all artificial, but that somehow didn't detract from the beauty.

He felt calm, a peace settled over him as he walked. Words were not needed as both boys wandered aimlessly together.

Duo took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He felt all his thoughts and worries leaving him. It was almost impossible to resist the calm that permeated the air.

~*~*~*~

Over the next week Trowa showed Duo all of his favorite spots. The two boys wandered every inch of the colony forest.

As they prepared to leave, Duo took one last look at the lush greenery. "Thank you Trowa. It means more to me than you know."

Emerald eyes looked strait into violet. Volumes were spoken of understanding and friendship. Both boys smiled.

~*~*~*~*~*~

as always reviews appreciated.