Kandice: Okay. It's Duo this week.

Duo: YEAH!! WOO HOO!!!

Kandice: I do not own Gundam Wing, and this chapter is a little longer than usual... so enjoy!

Duo: WOO HOO!!!

Kandice: Anyone have any aspirin? I think I'll need it.

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Never Been Kissed

All Quatre could do was blink. The next sound out of his mouth, a muttered 'Huh?' was not the most articulate reply ever, but it managed to convey his confusion enough that the tall, dark haired woman calmed down and pushed past him into the room. Quatre, still standing at the door in his boxers, blinked again and closed the door.

"Noin?" He asked, perplexed.

"Hell yes. Now, Quatre Raberba Winner... please," she said, "please explain to me why my visions have been going every single way lately. From happy to you dead, to you happy... and now DEAD again."

"Lu... please slow down and explain a little more. I'm confused."

"So the fuck am I," she growled. "I really don't like watching my best friend end up raped and stabbed in a fucking ally. Or drowned in the river. Or strangled. Or, or..." Suddenly, she changed. All anger just vanished and she collapsed in a heap on the couch.

"Quatre, Oh, God. It's so horrible. Why, why... what are you getting into that can do this? Quatre, please... what's going on?"

Quatre went to the couch, finally gaining his bearings. He wrapped his arms around his older friend.

"Shhh. Lu, it's all right, at least for now," he added, curbing her retort. "It's a pretty long story, and you and I both need sleep. I can tell you about it first thing in the morning, kay?"

"It is first thing in the morning," Noin argued weakly. Quatre just laughed and pulled her up, tugging her towards the bed, thankful that he'd just replaced the sheets after that last *vivid* dream about Trowa.

"Lay down and sleep," he told her. "I'm here and I'm not dead. Just sleep."

Exhausted, she almost immediately fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. He stayed a moment to make sure she really was asleep and then went to grab a spare pillow and blanket so as he could do the same on the couch.

He woke to the smell of pancakes.

"Rise and shine, cupcake," Noin called out from across in the kitchen. "Breakfast is almost ready and it's as good an excuse as any for you to start explaining things."

He tidied his make-shift bed, noting that Noin had done the same. But then, she always had been a neat-freak. He went to the bathroom to releive himself and wash the sleep from his face. When he returned, a dish of pancakes set in the center of his small table, along with glasses of orange juice and a cup of tea. The latter he smiled at. Noin certainly knew him. And after all the years they'd known each other, as well she should.

"Alright," Noin said, suddenly serious as they both sat down at the table, "I think you need to explain."

He nodded and proceded to explain all that had happened this last week or so, not sparing any details. From how he'd met Trowa, to their unique discoveries, to the case, to his knowledge of Trowa's attraction for him, to the kiss and even his feelings about that. There was a reason Noin was his best friend, his mentor. She listened to him quietly. The story drug on, through breakfast, through cleaning up, until it ended a while after they'd settled down on the couch.

When at last he stopped, she remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Well then, certain things make sense at least," she sighed.

"Pardon?"

"From my guess, somebody is going to want you dead," she said bluntly, "That much is a given. Probably this Kushrenada character, if he really is his daughter's murderer. And it's the same MO, mostly. Seeing you strangled to death in an alleyway after being raped," she shivered, and Quatre was glad that *he* was not clairvoyant. He'd never want to see his own death, or his best friend being raped.

"And, from what I can tell from experience, it seems that this Trowa is key to you staying alive and safe. Remember that last time my dreams changed, after your fight? They went back to normal after you reconciled. And now, back to this. I don't claim to know anything about your relationship, or lack there-of, but Quatre... you *need* him. Without him, you die."

Quatre nodded quietly at her blunt tone. Trust Noin to see what needed said, and to say it.

"Lu... I just don't know. It *scares* me. And nothing scares me. I just don't understand this. I am straight... so why the hell do I feel this way for a *man*?"

Noin looked straight into his eyes for a moment, as if considering what to say. Then, slowly she placed a hand on his knee.

"Quatre... you are not the type to be put off by such a thing as gender. Wether you are or are not gay, bisexual... whatever... I don't think that's your problem."

He blinked up at her. "What are you talking about?" he asked, confused. Her dark eyes softened a bit.

"I mean that I don't think it's the whole physical aspect that's got you worried. I *did* see that bundle of sheets and bed covers in the laundry hamper, and I am a woman grown, so I do know about such things." Quatre blushed suitably, and Noin grinned before continuing.

"I think that your problem is that you're afraid of actually *feeling* something for someone. I know you Quatre. If you felt something for someone, you wouldn't care if they were male or female or something in between. The only thing that would factor for you would be actually falling in love. You're afraid to."

"Lu... stop," he said, squeezing his eyes shut, face- once a bright pink- now pale.

"No. You need to hear this, Quat. What happened with Sei was not her fault. It was yours. You made her out to be some kind of perfect goddess. Something she wasn't, something she couldn't be. She wanted to be that for you, you know? But she couldn't. You wanted something she wasn't. You made her out to be so perfect, and she wasn't. She would have killed herself trying to be... for you. But she left instead. She knew what I know. You need someone level minded, someone you can accept on equal ground. Someone that you don't feel you need to look up to. Now answer me one question, Quatre. Do you think that this Trowa is that kind of someone?"

Quatre kept his eyes closed, but he thought and thought hard. Beyond just the physical side. To how well they got along. How Trowa'd handled it when he spoke about Iria. How Trowa trusted him, how he trusted Trowa. Every little detail of the past week or so.

And slowly, so slowly, he nodded his head, a single tear escaping.

Noin kissed his forehead, as she would a child. And that's how she felt. Her baby was all grown up.

"Now, go, Kitten" she whispered in his ear. "Go to him, and don't hold everything inside. Let him know how you feel, because I think he's just as scared as you are. Maybe even more. If what you say is true... he's never done any of this before. Talking always helps. So go to him. Go to him and *fix* this."

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Trowa didn't know what to expect when he answered his door at 9 am on Sunday morning. But it most certainly wasn't the person who was there.

Clad in PJ bottoms and a T-shirt (and ever-present gloves), he opened the door to reveal the same blue-eyed blond that had haunted his dreams.

"Quatre..." but he barely had time to say the name before said person barrelled into him, knocking him back into the apartment. He barely had time to gasp in a shocked breath before those warm lips were on his, stealing all breath away, kissing him. There were no memories, not flashes of knowledge... just Quatre. Just Quatre.

His hands came up to steady himself and Quatre, and somehow a pair of arms wound up encircling him, pulling him closer.

A tongue moved against his lips, and they parted on a moan. He had absolutely no clue as to what was going on, no idea as to what was happening- only that he wanted this. One moment he'd been standing there, and now, he was staggering, trying to catch his balance with the object of his wet dreams wrapped around him like a vine. Legs intertwined around his, a heated hardness pressing against his thigh.

And as suddenly as it began, it ended. Quatre leaned back, his breathing as heavy as Trowa's own. His face was flush, his lips bruised.

"I... I'm sorry," Quatre said at last, still wrapped around Trowa. "I really, really didn't mean to do that," he said sheepishly.

Trowa blinked, but had the sense of mind to close the door and carry Quatre over to sit on the couch.

"I think we both have a lot of explaining to do," he said softly.

And knowing he was in for a very long day, Quatre nodded.

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"What do you mean he's not there?"

Relena blinked at Heero as he growled into the phone.

"Yes, I understand," he said impatiently, "but this is a matter of some urgency. Is there a number I can reach him at... a cell, pager or something?"

Relena rubbed his shoulders, trying to ease the tension out of them.

"No, I know that. Yes, of course. Please have him call Detective Yuy or Detective Maxwell immediately. Yes, thank you. Good-bye."

He snapped the phone closed with enough force to have Relena jump.

"Heero," she soothed, "Just breath. It's not the end of the world. He has his own life to attend to. He will help you solve this case... but he can't put his life on hold for it. And neither can you."

Strong arms came around to encircle her and she melted into the embrace, still running her hands over his back and shoulders. "Please, just think about it?" she asked. "We've been together for six years, Heero. I think... I think it's time," She continued softly.

"'Lena," Heero sighed. "I thought we decided *after* the promotion comes through. After we solve this case."

"The promotion's not definite," she argued. "Captain Chang said *maybe*."

"You know well that Chang will give me and Duo the promotion if we can solve this case."

"Fine, then you will. But what's stopping us from getting *engaged* now. We can wait 'til the promotion to get married, but Heero, please. You know I love you. I'd wait forever for you... just please, please don't make me." She buried her face in his chest. She hated pressing him, and she rarely ever did it. But her mother was ill and it was her dream to see her daughter on her wedding day.

Relena had known since she was fifteen that one day, she would marry Heero Yuy. It had taken her a year to get him to tolerate her presence. Another to get him to see her as a friend. And still even longer before she'd finally broken through that barrier and became his girlfriend. And she'd been his girlfriend for over six years now. Her parents... after a suitable 'reserved judgement' period... had accepted him into the family with open arms. Relena had always considered herself to have limitless patience. And she'd spoken true... she would wait forever and a day for Heero. She would, she could... but she wished that he wouldn't ask it of her. She didn't think it was being selfish... Heero knew she loved him. She knew he loved her.

She'd been there for him throughout all of his toughest cases, she'd been there when his mother- the only family he had- had passed away. She'd been there when that one case had went bad and he'd ended up in the hospital for a week. Throught the physical pain and the emotional pain, she'd always been there for him. And he for her. She didn't think it was too much to ask that he want to say 'I do' to her and give her his last name.

The first time she'd brought this up... over a year ago... he'd simply asked for time. She'd given him time. And now... now, she just wanted him to be able to move past whatever barrier she'd yet to break down. Now... she just wanted those four words, that one question.

All she wanted to do was to love Heero Yuy for the rest of her life.

tbc...

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Kandice: Well, there you go. Longer than usual, and I branched out to include a little bit of Heero and Relena. Hope you enjoyed.

Duo: Yeah! And please review! She loves reviews!

Kandice: Cool. And I didn't even have to bribe him to say that!