Sooo it's been quite some time since my last update and I would like to apologize. It's been MONTHS since I uploaded chapter 8 and that's truly regretful. I don't know what else to say except I'm in college (which is an excuse in itself) and life just kind of got ahold of me. Hopefully, there won't be such a large gap of time before I upload chapter 10.

I hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER 9A

When Heero first opened his eyes that morning, his eyes caught the sunlight streaming into his window and he distantly heard the morning birds chirp their pretty little song. He smiled softly to himself, thinking what a beautiful start to the day it was turning out to be before he quickly grew still.

And then it hit him like a ton of bricks to the chest and he squeezed his eyes shut again.

Duo was leaving today.

Rolling onto his back, he stared at the ceiling over his bed and wondered if he would be able to handle him leaving with dignity. He really didn't want to make a fool out of himself by doing something stupid like crying...or confess his undying love and beg him to stay.

Before he could dwell on his thoughts, there was a knock on his door. He scrambled from the bed, snatching up his glasses and almost falling face first in his haste, and opened the door wide.

"I wouldn't have to come tiptoeing across the hall six in the morning if you'd let me spend the night in your room but," he shrugged leaning down to kiss his nose, "I love you anyway."

Heero felt Duo's sweet breath brush across his cheeks and raised himself up on his toes to bring their lips together.

Lily knew about their relationship but Heero remained steadfast about their need for some privacy from one another. Not because he wanted to, far from it. Nothing would make him happier than to fall asleep in Duo's arms and wake up the very same way but to keep his identity a secret, it was a must to sleep separately.

"You're not dressed to run," Duo whispered when he broke the kiss.

"I didn't know if you'd want to," Heero whispered back.

"Well I do. This will be our last morning to jog together on the beach…at least for a while." He grabbed his arm and turned him around before patting his bum. "Hurry up and get ready, I'll be outside on the lawn."

Heero watched him leave his room and closed the door behind him. So it seemed that Duo was going to pretend like today was any ordinary day…if only for a few more hours.

When they returned from their jog, Heero guzzled down a water bottle while Duo drank his usual fruit juice. They sat down at the island and talked over a light breakfast, as they always did. But as they climbed the stairs, Duo grabbed Ro's hand and dragged him into his room, closing the door and locking it.

"What are you doing," Heero asked as Duo began to strip, his gorgeous body revealed one article of clothing at a time.

"Locking you in," he said simply, turning his back to him and toeing off his tennis shoes.

It always surprised him how 'awed' and turned on he was by Duo's body. He'd seen many like it before but something about him appealed to Heero so much more than anyone else ever could.

"And why are you locking me in?" Heero said with difficulty as Duo dropped his shorts and briefs.

"Because today," he paused dramatically, "we are going to shower…together." He added a loud gasp at the end for effect.

This had been another thing he denied Duo.

Heero immediately began shaking his head. "Duo, we can't. You know how I…"

Duo crossed the few feet separating them in two long strides and laid a single finger on Ro's lips. "Come on, babe. Just…consider this as a send off to a soldier on his way to war."

Heero couldn't help but smile before opening his mouth to protest but Duo stopped him again.

"Please Ro, would you really deny me this itty bitty request? Don't you love me at all?" With gorgeous eyes big and bright, he asked the question with such intensity that Heero felt his resolve rapidly shatter to the ground.

"You jerk," Heero shook his head, running his hand through Duo's messy, damp bangs. "You don't play fair."

The smile he gave Heero very nearly made his heart stop.

"Do this for me, baby. I've loved you in every way possible, touched you in every place possible. Ro you're absolutely beautiful. I just…I just want to see you."

He was the first, and probably the last, that would ever love him so completely like this. He couldn't deny him anything on their last day together. And so he didn't protest as Duo began removing his ugly gray sweat suit. He let him peel away one shapeless garment after the other before he stood in front of him naked and nervous as hell.

Several minutes, that felt like hours, ticked by before Duo said anything. His eyes traveled from the crown of his still gelled back hair down to his small twinkling toes, back up and then down again with more leisure.

Heero felt himself blush with embarrassment and kept his hands at his sides, letting Duo have his moment. He would've felt a lot better about himself if he hadn't been so out of shape. This wasn't the first time he wished he'd met Duo months ago, when he was living a lie in New York. His body had been beat to perfection and he never thought twice about baring himself to the world, let alone one man.

"Jesus Christ, Ro," he whispered, "Why do you dress the way you do? You've got one hell of a body, babe."

"Duo," Heero said as he began to fidget.

"Darlin' you have one of the most amazing bodies I've ever seen. I just don't understand why…" he couldn't finish his sentence and instead shook his head in confusion.

Duo made him feel beautiful. The words he spoke to him were nothing new, he'd heard them many times before but from him, it was like he was speaking the gospel. His entire being was filled with happiness.

If he let himself dwell on it, he knew he'd start crying and if he started he wouldn't be able to stop. The moment was too precious to ruin with tears so he closed the distance between them and grabbed Duo by the ears, bringing his face down to his. "I love you," he whispered before joining their lips.

Duo groaned aloud as he dropped his hands to Ro's waist and lifted him up as he wrapped his legs around his hips. Holding onto his precious cargo, he walked into the bathroom and started the shower, the steam from the hot water instantly surrounded them. Before stepping in, he snatched away the offending glasses.

Instinctively Heero reached for them but Duo held them high above their heads just out of his reach.

Heero felt so vulnerable he turned his head to the side and closed his eyes, shielding them from Duo's sight.

"Darlin', look at me."

Duo loved him, didn't he? If he did recognize him, would it matter so much, now? He would leave him in a few hours anyway. Gradually, his head came around and he opened his eyes to stare at him.

Duo lost himself in the dark, swirling depths of Ro's eyes. "You've got such pretty eyes," he remarked distantly. "So beautiful…I've never seen such a color." He stared into the dark blue, cobalt eyes with swirls of silver near the pupil. "It should be a crime the way you hide these eyes behind those hideous glasses."

He set the glasses on the edge of the sink, and held Ro with one hand gripping his thigh and the other framing his face gently. He dotted the smooth surface with soft, sweet kisses. He kissed his closed eyelids, rose colored cheeks, button nose and small chin before settling on his warm, open mouth, tongue instantly delving inside.

Holding Ro's body to his own, he stepped into the shower stall, and set him on his feet as the water from the spray drenched them both. Their shower became a ritual of love. Lips sipped water from pulsing flesh, uninhibited and unashamed. Soapy hands explored wet, slick skin caressing and massaging, earning murmurs of pleasure and sighs of contentment.

Heero's lathered hands smoothed across Duo's broad shoulders, down his chest and over sensitive nipples. They roamed briefly over his washboard abs before coming to rest around his engorged cock.

"Christ," Duo rasped harshly, leaning against the shower wall, with his hair hanging heavy and loose down his back.

Heero started a slow jerking motion while leaning on his tiptoes, nibbling along Duo's rough jaw. "Make love to me," whispered so softly, Duo almost didn't hear.

Duo took him into his arms again, turning to rest Ro's back against the wall and holding him tight, hands around his thighs. He buried his face into his neck while positioning himself and pushing him down onto his hard cock.

Duo leaned back, biting his lip with water streaming into his eyes. "I love you," he whispered as he began to move within the tight body in his arms, watching each burst of pleasure show on his face.

The water from the shower cooled long before their desire.

Lunch was a somber occasion and Lily, as everyone else, was uncharacteristically down. "You sure you haven't forgotten anything, dear?"

"Yeah," Duo nodded around his sandwich, "I've packed everything and checked the room twice, even Ro checked behind me," he joked trying to lighten the mood but looked at Ro to see him pushing pieces of chicken salad around on his plate. He cleared his throat, "If you find something I left, just send it to the house in North Carolina. The housekeeper will be there even if I'm not and I'll tell her to keep an eye out for any packages from Virginia."

Heero said very little. He was concentrating on not embarrassing himself by bursting into tears.

"Now, how exactly will this work? You going to camp and all," Lily elaborated as she looked over at her nephew.

"Well," he said around a mouthful, "I'm driving to the DC airport and actually meeting a few teammates there who are catching a flight from North Carolina. We're supposed to do a few interviews which will delay us a bit. They always do." He took another bite of his sandwich, "Then we catch our flight to California and start camp the day after tomorrow."

He snuck a peak at Ro from the corner of his eye and frowned in confusion. He didn't expect a scene from him, that just wasn't his style, but he expected a little something to show he would be missed. They would be separated from each other for a few weeks or more and Ro's face was completely void of emotion.

"Will you be on camera," his aunt asked and he turned his attention back to her.

"Probably," he smiled, "watch the news later tonight. You want me to wave?"

Lily nodded and giggled, and they continued to drag out lunch as long as they could. Once that was done, the three of them all helped with cleaning up and doing the dishes. Finally, all that was left to do was say was goodbye. Duo's bags were already packed into the truck and waiting for him.

They all walked onto the porch and Duo turned to his aunt. "Auntie, you're awesome." He leaned down and wrapped his arms around her, letting her go with a big smack on the lips. "If it wasn't for you I don't know where I'd be. I thank you, the team thanks you and I'm sure coach thanks you, too. All the other guys are going to have a much harder time than I am at camp and it's all thanks to your TLC."

Lily blinked her eyes quickly, refusing to cry. "You dear, dear boy," she sniffled moving to hug him again. "You know this door is always open to you, come whenever you like."

"Thanks Auntie," he said once more before telling her he promised to call. She kissed him one last time before walking back into the house, giving the two love birds some privacy.

Without a word, he pulled Heero into his arms. Heero buried his face in his neck and locked his hands together at the small of his back. He wished he could gather up his strength, his smell, his warmth and pigheadedness and bottle them all together so he could enjoy a little bit of Duo whenever he wanted.

"Okay, now tell me who did it?"

"Who did what," Heero mumbled into Duo's shirt.

"Who ran over your dog," Duo pulled back and stared down at him, through those damned tinted lenses.

He shot him a trembling smile and sniffled, "I look that bad?"

Duo shrugged, "I wouldn't say bad per say…just hopelessly devastated." He beamed a smile at him.

Heero snorted. "Don't look so happy."

"I'm just glad to know you'll miss me."

"Of course, I'll miss you. I don't want you to go," he said quietly, looking down at the ground.

Duo raised his eyes with two fingers under his chin. "It's only for a few weeks."

Or forever.

"I promise to call every night."

For a few nights, then you'll skip one night…then three…then stop altogether. Don't make promises you can't keep.

"And I'll miss you, so damn much."

Until you meet someone else.

He mussed Ro's hair until a smile formed on his somber face. His hands framed his beautiful face as he leaned down to kiss him. Knowing this would be the last time he would feel Duo's lips on his own, he poured all his love into that simple kiss.

When Duo pulled back, he let his thumb glide over his damp lips. "Kiss me like that a few more times and I'll be able to fly to California by flapping my arms." He hugged him quickly and placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. "I'll see you in a few weeks."

"I love you," Heero whispered but he was already gone.

Through blinding tears, he walked into the house and groped his way to the infamous deacon's bench behind the stairs and collapsed on it. The memory of the first time they made love was fresh in his mind and he started to cry harder. Fat, bitter tears rolled from his eyes and his body shook with the strength of his sobs.

This time Duo wasn't there to wipe his tears away.

At least Heero's days were busy. He finished his outstanding orders in only ten days and Jackie had promoted his idea of painting landscapes. He already had an order for three ocean pieces to decorate the hallway of a new home and frequently used the beach as a guide.

To his ultimate delight, Duo called faithfully every night and they talked until Trowa, his roommate, demanded that he 'shut the hell up and get off the god damned phone.' Duo phoned with such regularity that it was quite the surprise when Lily called him to the phone one night and said, "It's some young man but it isn't Duo. And whoever it is, he got your name wrong. He pronounced it Heero."

Heero avoided Lily's questioning eyes and took the phone from her. "Hello?"

"Heero Yuy?" Heero snuck a glance to see Lily had already returned to her late night show.

"Yes, speaking?"

The man on the phone identified himself as a representative of a life-insurance firm in New York City. "You are the beneficiary of a three-million-dollar policy, and I wanted to verify your current address. You will be receiving the check in the full amount as the taxes were taken care of when the will was probated."

Heero felt his throat constrict. "Wait a minute…I'm sorry, I'm very confused…"

"I apologize," he said insincerely, "the will was drawn up by a Mr. William Downs."

His knees almost buckled beneath him and he grabbed onto the wall for support. He didn't want to benefit financially from Willy's suicide. The thought made him nauseous and he felt the room spin. He swallowed hard to fight the dizziness. "But I thought…in instances such as these, life insurance policies weren't…honored."

The man on the other line was silent for awhile. "I'm sorry, I don't follow. 'Instances such as these?' "

He couldn't bring himself to say the word out right. "I mean the way he died."

"Mr. Yuy, the insurance company found nothing irregular about Mr. Downs death. According to the autopsy report, no one could have predicted his reaction to the medication."

"Medication?"

"Yes, the prescription drugs he was taking to control his blood pressure made him have a reaction, which was actually a side effect, and unfortunately resulted in his death. I apologize again," this time his apology sounded heartfelt; "I thought you were acquainted with the circumstances of Mr. Down's death."

"I thought I was too," Heero murmured. The implications of the phone call were just beginning to sink in.

"I was told that he took the medication with alcohol."

"Yes, the report did confirm that but the alcohol content of so low, it was negligible. He probably had a glass of wine with dinner." He paused a moment then continued in a slightly hushed tone. "If someone had been present when Mr. Downs had lost consciousness he might have been saved but the glass of wine he had made no difference one way or the other. Mr. Yuy, I'm so sorry I've upset you," the representative could hear sniffling coming through the line.

"No you…" Heero cleared his throat, "thank you, very much for telling me."

Willy's death had been an accident!

He may have been disappointed about his decision to not sign the contract but he hadn't driven him to end his life. Heero would continue to grieve for the man who he'd looked up to as a father but he would no longer bear the burden of feeling responsible for his death.

His head and heart were soaring so high from the conversation that when Duo called he quickly spilled the good news.

"You can't imagine how light I feel," Heero said finishing his story. "It feels so good to know that he didn't die hating me." Duo had no idea that Willy was his agent, he still just thought he was a dear old friend of the family's.

"Honey, I never thought that and I'm so happy for you." He gave Ro a few more reassurances before he changed the subject. "Since you're in such high spirits, I think I'll go ahead and ask you tonight."

"Ask me what?"

"Will you go to the preseason party with me?"

Heero clutched the receiver to his ear tightly. "Uh 'preseason party?' "

"Yeah, the owners of the team throw this huge shindig every year after training camp and usually a few days before the first game. It's a pretty ritzy affair, ya gotta dress up but you'll have a hell of a time. I really want you to be my date."

"Oh, you know Duo, I really don't think I can make it…"

"Why not? You stringing me along already, babe? Aunt Lily hasn't rented out my old room to some Gerard Butler type, has she? I got no problem with cutting my hair and it shouldn't be too hard to pick up a Scottish accent."

"Duo, stop!" Heero laughed into the phone. "And I'm not stringing you along, okay? I just don't think the whole party scene is really me. And I'm not really one to dress up as you know very well," he bit his lip. He already hated lying to Duo about his identity and anything else just added on to the guilt.

"Baby, relax," Duo said soothingly, "You'll be with me and I won't let you out of my sight. Plus I'm the star." Heero could envision the lazy, crooked and very conceited grin he often wore and felt his heart twist with love.

What would all his friends and teammates think of dowdy Ro Yuy?

He instantly remembered Trowa Barton's face when they'd first met and knew that he couldn't subject Duo to that kind of embarrassment ever again.

Nor could he break his resolve and go to the party as Heero. Duo would feel like a complete ass and he couldn't embarrass him like that either. Duo was feeling on top of his game, like a true Super Bowl quarterback and Heero couldn't do anything to take that away from him.

"We'll see," he said finally. He didn't have the heart to refuse him outright but knew he would never attend the party.

So this is the first part of Chapter 9 and the second part should be available shortly.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!