Disclaimer: Do not own gundam anything. I do not make a profit off this.
Chapter Four: Feelings Arise
The next night arrived in no time at all, so it seemed to Quatre and Ai. The invitation arrived only hours after Quatre had asked Mr.Dunharrow to be notified of his presence on the colony.
Ai had spent the remainder of the day shopping for an outfit to wear to the party. She knew that really any dress would do but something in her wanted to find just the right one. Ai had never felt truly feminine until that day, when she had spent the whole day until she found a dress that she thought Quatre would like. She was embarrassed even still.
You're falling for him. Stated her mind a matter of factly. "I am not!" she shouted out loud.
"Not what Ai?" asked Quatre as he walked into the hotel room.
"Nothing, I just got off the phone with someone." She said frantically trying to find an excuse.
"We'll probably be leaving in about haft an hour, so I figured you might want to start getting ready." He told her.
"All right, you have to leave now then and meet me down by the car in haft an hour." She informed him, You can't even try to deny your feelings for him now, her mind sounded like it was laughing at her.
Quatre smiled, "All right, I'll see you in thirty." He left the room again.
Ai was frantic; she only had thirty minutes to get ready. Though that was definitely enough time, she was still a woman and she was stressed. She jumped in the shower and quickly got out and dried her hair. She slipped on the dress and shoes. She dried her hair and tied it back and put on makeup and by that time it was already time to be downstairs. She took the elevator to the bottom floor and stepped out into the night air.
As he saw her walk through the door Quatre's heart started pounding. She was already the most beautiful girl he'd seen, but adorned as she was he was stunned. Her slender figure was wrapped tightly in red silk the same shade as her flowing hair. The dress was tight fitting and low cut, with a skirt that fell loosely to her knees. Her flaming hair was up at the back in a loose bun and a few curly strands fell down on either side of her face. Her legs were bare with the exception of a golden anklet. Ai's eyes were accentuated with dark eye shadow and eye liner. She was the very image of perfection.
Ai felt his eyes travel over every inch of her body as hers did the same. He was dressed in black dress pants with black dress shoes. He had his suit coat draped almost strategically over his right shoulder and he wore a red dress shirt, tight fitting on his slim form. The smile on his face was dazzling. He walked casually up the stairs to meet her, and she felt her heart pounding against her rib cage. He knelt and grasped her slender hand in his and pressed his lips against it, "Are you ready my lady?" he asked smiling up at her.
Her cheeks were hot and she nodded quickly. He didn't let go of her hand until he had helped her into the jet black limo. They sat on opposite sides and Ai tried not to look at the blonde, while he sat eyes locked on her. Finally she couldn't help but laugh, "You know it's rude to stare."
But his gaze didn't falter, "Than consider me the rudest man you'll meet, for my eyes dare not stray from the vision of divinity before me." He whispered.
She stared back lost in his cerulean eyes, "I…uh…"
It was his turn to laugh, and she started blushing even more so. He gently reached over and took her hand in his, "I got you something." He said sweetly, drawing and small blue velvet case from his pocket and placing it in her palm.
She carefully opened the case, and revealed the golden necklace inside. It was in the shape of a strange symbol, that seemed somehow familiar to her, "It means the same as your name does." He whispered smiling mysteriously at her.
"But what does my—" she was interrupted before she could ask.
"We've arrived Mr. Winner, Lady Ai." Informed the driver.
"Thank you," replied Quatre, eyes still on her. He took her hand again and helped her gently into the street. They walked up to the door of an immense mansion where a butler greeted them and they were taken into a beautiful ballroom. A crystal chandelier hung in the center of the room and the walls were draped in ancient tapestries.
"Quatre Winner! A pleasure to see you could come on such short notice!" boomed a voice from behind them.
They turned and found a large balding man, "Mr. Dunharrow! I wouldn't miss one of your parties for anything!" greeted Quatre.
The mans small beady eyes roamed greedily over Ai's body, and Quatre pulled her protectively close to him, "A fine woman you have here Quatre."
"This is Ai, sir." He replied still holding onto her hand.
"Ai, a lovely name, what about your last name my dear?" asked the large man.
"I don't have one…" she muttered as she felt the man's eyes traveling her again, "But soon I will." She smiled up a Quatre who looked at her strangely. She carefully slipped the ring on her left index finger onto her ring finger, and brought it up for the man to look at, "Soon I'll be Ai Winner." Somewhere unnoticed some part of her hoped that the words weren't just a lie.
"Well Quatre congratulations!" boomed the old man.
"Thank you sir, we're actually here checking out spots for the ceremony." Said Quatre, recovering from the shock.
"Well I know some lovely places, but I will have to talk with you later. I have other guests I must greet." The man smiled a toothy grin and headed towards the door.
Quatre switched and grasped her hand with his other, and slipped his arm about her shoulders, and they walked towards an empty dining table.
He was still staring at her and she awaited some kind of question or lecture, "So you really don't have a last name?" was all he asked her.
She gave him a weird look and he smiled in return. "No…" she said finally, "When I had one before people were able to connect me to others and hurt them. This way nothing connects me to those I care about."
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
She turned and smiled at him, which surprised herself. "That time is long behind me. You can't do anything to change the past; all you can do is keep on going."
"I admire you," he said looking deep into her eyes.
"Why?" she asked, but he only shrugged, "You are the most amazing person I've met Quatre. You've done more for this universe than anyone else I've met. You've dealt with so much pain, more probably than I even know of."
"Yes pain and so much more…isn't that right?" came an insistent voice.
"Dorothy, it's nice to see you." Said Quatre smiling as a blonde woman sat down at the table, "How are you?"
"Fine, fine, a little bored with this peace, but fine," she sighed, "I heard your news…I guess congratulations are in order." She seemed slightly annoyed.
"Yes," he shot a smile at Ai, who was busy glaring at the new comer, "We're very excited."
"Don't lie to me Winner. Why are you here?" she said sounding frustrated, "I mean ever since our previous meeting I've been able to read you like a book." Ai felt a hint at what she thought was jealousy in her own heart.
Quatre sighed, "I don't have to tell you anything Miss Catalonia."
"Awe Quatre," she stroked his cheek almost roughly, "Are you still upset over what happened during our last encounter." She questioned.
He brushed her hand away, "Dorothy, the reason I have no interest in confiding in you is not the fact that you shot me; I let you do that because I could never manage to do anything like that even if it was the only way to get you to back down. It's the very beliefs you hold. You despise the peace I've create and been working hard to maintain. Mankind does not need to fight; it's not the basis of our nature, contrary to what you think. We can live in peace and we will. I'll try till my dieing breath to keep my beliefs alive." Whispered Quatre fiercely.
"Such passion, now I remember why I like you Quatre Winner." She stood, smirking at the flare in his eyes and walked away to the other side of the dance floor.
Quatre sighed deeply, "Are you okay?" questioned Ai hesitantly.
"Yeah I'm fine," the band began playing a quick tune, "Let's dance!" he said cheerily grabbing her hand.
"Quatre I haven't danced in ages!" she whined as he pulled her onto the ballroom floor.
He smiled at her, "Don't worry. I bet you're amazing. You could stand on the floor and people would clap." He laughed as her cheeks turned cherry red. He took her left hand in his right and wrapped his left arm about her waist, "Just follow my lead." He whispered.
The dance started out simply as Ai started to feel comfortable with the rhythm and with her partner. She was surprised how easily she picked up on the way he moved and how in beat they were with the music. He felt her ease into the rhythm and he started to complicate the dance. They spun this way and that, and he quickened the pace but Ai still felt relaxed dancing with him. He moved with such grace, and rhythm she felt like she melted right into him. Their eyes were locked and they didn't even notice as people gathered around them just to watch.
The song ended and the two of them still stood close together, smiling and laughing as the group around them applauded their display. People began to drift away and Quatre looked deep into her eyes, "I've…wanted to do this since I first saw you a day ago…" he whispered as he leaned close to her face and locked her in a deep kiss. Ai knew she should pull away, she shouldn't let him get this close to her, but it felt so right. She felt love and passion in the kiss and she never wanted it to stop. Then he pulled away, fear clouded his aqua eyes, "Ai I'm so sorry, I'm such an idiot. We're on a mission, and this could…"
"It's okay," she said, grasping his hand in hers, "After the mission we'll deal with this further." She smiled, but could barely hear her own words over the pounding in her chest.
"Yeah…" he mumbled, "After the mission." He led her back to the dining table. As dinner was to be served.
End Chapter Four
A/N Okay…I dunno if I liked this chapter much…Let me know if you agree…I'm thinking of redoing it and if you don't think it was very good either let me know and I probably will. And if you liked it let me know and I probably won't hehe. D Please review!