A/N: I'M BACK! Chapter 4, finally, this is weird I usually end a story after the second chapter because I loose interest, but for once in my life I haven't, and with 1 review, five of my friends reading it, and 2 story alerts I'm SO PYCHED about writing this chapter! The idea is really weird, and if you don't like this pairing then…crying I'M SORRY it popped into my head like rabid brain eating weasels who won't let me go until I write it, and I think its cute.

Disclaimer: you all know I don't own Avenue Q so I'm gonna discontinue this after this chapter.

Summary: Kate tells Princeton to do the laundry, but what starts as a simple tasks turns into something easier said then done.

Chapter 4: Keeping a Secret (53)

It was quiet, not too quiet but quiet enough to possibly make you suspicious about what's going on. It was early on a Saturday morning, nobody worked on Saturdays, except sometimes Rod, but after agreeing to sign a contract that restricted his ability to work on said leisure days, even he was staying at home enjoying time away from work. Everyone was still snoring away, because no body in their right mind would wake up before twelve in the afternoon. She however, was not in her right mind, and was up and cleaning the apartment at ten. He tried to ignore her, he tried to go back to sleep, but with the constant opening of doors, or random swearing that would occur it made it difficult for anyone to sleep, especially him.

Princeton grabbed the pillow beside him and placed it over his head. That did absolutely nothing but keep then sun out of his face, because when you're cleaning you have to open EVERY bloody window in the apartment! He couldn't take it anymore, he threw the pillow and blanket off himself and walked out into the hall. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and stepped into the kitchen, resulting in a loud shriek that caused him to jump backwards and trip over a mop.

"WHAT!"

"I just cleaned that…" Kate said quietly, she held out a hand to help him up, he sighed, but stayed on the floor.

"Why…why ten in the morning?"

"Ever since you moved in, and I'm sorry to say this, but my once a month cleaning had to be moved to once every two weeks…you're not exactly neat Princeton" she said matter-o-factly, placing her hands on her hips.

Princeton banged his head against the carpet floor, and just laid there. Kate side and kneeled down beside his head, Princeton lifted his head to acknowledge she was there, but after the cold look she gave him he was propped up on his elbows giving her his full attention.

"Look, this would go a lot faster if you helped" she encouraged

"Sure"

"You are so insensitive I ask you for one simple…did you say sure?"

"Ya…if it'll make your work go faster, and if it'll make you happy I'll help" he said happily, smiling at the confused look on her face.

"Aw…Princeton that's sweet, thank you" Kate smiled, she gave him a quick kiss then turned towards the kitchen, "Well then, the kitchen's done, and I cleaned the bathroom…I guess you could do the laundry"

Princeton sat up at that remark; he turned her head to face him.

"Laundry…where am I supposed to do that?" he stammered

"Um…a laundry mat" she said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Princeton raked his hand through his already messy hair and gave her a bewildered look.

"Do laundry…and a laundry mat…now that's crazy talk Kate" he replied

"Well then if you're too lazy to walk, the empty space underneath Brian's' old apartment has a machine, do it there"

Princeton gulped, but he nodded despite what his head screamed at him. It was closer, which meant he didn't have to walk, and it was easier, because if something went wrong Kate, or someone else would help him out. As Kate handed him a basket filled with clothes he smiled inwardly to himself, thank god for small miracles, and friends.

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Princeton stood at the foot of the stairs, he looked down and stepped back away from the door and bumped into Kate.

"It's dark down there…" he confessed

"There are lights, besides someone's down there anyway, I can hear the machine going, so you won't be alone, and you said you'd do this for me" Kate said, she gave him a small shove, "Remember you do this for me, I do something for you, so go on" she nudged him in the back, and walked out the door back to their apartment.

Princeton stared down the dark staircase once again, and then shoving his fear into the back of his mind, he ran down the stairs giving a little high pitched scream as he went, hit the lights and stopped in the middle of the room.

"Well…that was easier then expected" he let out a breath of relief and walked towards the ancient machine. Someone or something was moving over in the corner, he dropped the basket and picked up the closest thing to him and waved it around.

"Stay back I'm armed!"

"And I'm sooo scared of a shoe…nice one Princeton" sarcastic, high pitched, somewhat nasally, he knew that voice…he knew that voice well. He dropped the shoe and stepped away from it.

"Rod? What are YOU doing down here?"

"Uh…same thing as you" he said boredly, gesturing to the three baskets beside him

"Why so many?" he blurted out

"I have three people to do laundry for, and both of them don't know how to do it, besides I get a little alone time and no boyfriend or room mate to bother me" Rod said happily, he jumped up onto the dryer and sat down, swinging his legs over the side and humming quietly to himself, Tthe washers almost done so you can put your stuff in"

"But what about the rest of your-"

"You might as well get yours down, mine will take awhile" Rod interrupted.

Princeton shrugged in reply, and sat down on the grimy floor, he shivered slightly realizing that he hadn't changed. He pulled his t-shirt as far as he could over his boxers and hoped to God that Rod wasn't staring at him. Rod however wasn't looking his way; he was currently gazing out the small dust covered window and playing with a loose thread on his baby blue t-shirt. Princeton glanced up at the writing and laughed mentally, on the front written in bright pink letters was the words BITE ME, and underneath in smaller letters where?

"Nice shirt" Princeton laughed, Rod whipped his head over in the others direction and then looked down at his shirt, he blushed slightly.

"Y-ya…Ricky got it for me, it never did fit…" he trailed off and went back to gazing out the window.

Princeton raised an eye brow at the man currently humming on a dryer. That was odd, usually, and this is right out of the blue here, usually Rod would be non-stop talking, or at least telling him to leave so he could finish both their laundry in peace. Today he was quiet, to quiet, he seemed a bit off, like something was bothering him, but he wouldn't say what.

A quiet 'ding' snapped Princeton out of his thoughts, he watched Rod jump off the dryer and grab the sogging wet clothes out of the washer and transfer them into the other machine. Princeton stood up and kicked his basket over to the washer.

"I can do that…" Rod started, Princeton raised his hand to silence him

"They're my clothes, all you have to do is show me what to do" Rod nodded, almost like he was afraid of disagreeing. Princeton shoved the clothes into the washer and slammed the door shut.

"Now what?"

Rod handed him a container, Princeton started down at the sloshing blue liquid and blinked.

"Ya…this helps me how?" he asked, shaking the container.

Rod opened a compartment at the front of the washer and pointed, "See that, just pour the detergent in there until it reaches the line"

"Oh…" Princeton poured the contents into the compartment and shut it, "Sweet I'm done right!"

"No, now set the dial and push the start button" Rod rolled his eyes at Princeton's ignorance towards a clothes washer.

Princeton reached a hand towards the machine and paused, "Ok…um…hmmm" he stopped and looked helplessly over at Rod. Rod huffed impatiently and grabbed Princeton's hand.

"Turn the dial to Normal, and press start!" Rod said heatedly, all the while he guided Princeton's hand through turning the dial and pressing the start button.

"Yes! Now I'm done right?"

"Yes…now your done, for now anyway" Princeton smiled happily at Rod, although oblivious to the other man still holding his hand. He looked down and made a perfectly comical 'O' shape with his mouth.

"You can let go of my hand now"

"OH! Right sorry!" Rod instantly let go of Princeton's hand, as if it had burned him, he gave the other a nervous smile then went back to his seat on the dryer.

Princeton held his hand to his chest casually. Rod was staring at the ground this time, quietly muttering to himself, his hands were folded neatly in his lap, and he almost seemed angry at himself.

"Is something wrong with you?" Rod snapped his head up with a sad expression, Princeton shook his head and re-stated his question, "No…what I meant was, are you feelings ok, you just seem…different"

Rod opened his mouth, but shut it quickly. He slowly shook his head, indicating that he was fine. Princeton wasn't buying it. He leaned against the dryer, his face inches away from Rod's.

"Ok…I'm not buying this "nothing bothering you" shit, so spill it" he said bluntly

"You wouldn't understand"

"Try m-" Princeton's eyes went wide, and after what felt like hours, the man currently kissing him pulled away. Rod was visibly shaking; he looked down at the ground and was continuously saying I'm sorry over and over again.

Princeton twitched a little; he let out a small sigh

"T-that was unexpected…but what stays in the basement never leaves the basement! Understand?"

"I'm not telling anyone, I promise" Rod looked up and gave the other a weak smile, Princeton returned it. Rod gestured to washer

"I…I'll finish up down here for you"

Princeton nodded, he staggered his way up the creaky wooden steps, when he reached the half way point he looked over his shoulder and smiled slyly.

"No wonder Ricky likes you….your one damn good kisser" He gave Rod a wave and walked up the rest of the stairs and out the door.

Rod blushed, he began to kick his feet again and hum to himself. The only sounds left where the whirring of the machines and Rod's now happy humming.