Forgive me, I know I'm more than a week late. I did warn you all! Well, here it is. Mostly fluff, but that's all right, right? That's why it took so long, you know. I find it so hard to be nice to the bishonen, this was pretty hard to write. Oh well, enough yapping, here it is. Enjoy ^_^

***

Ternash was up early the next morning. By the time any of the other boys stumbled from bed, the neko was dressed and breakfast was ready. Quatre's eyes sparkled as he saw the wonderful meal. "Wow, you went to a lot of trouble!"

Ternash didn't say anything as he finished setting the table. He handed an especially large plate to Heero with an odd look in his eyes. An apology for yesterday? Heero thought it was something else . . . The pilot of Wing picked slowly at the foods, releshing the rich tastes. He glanced up, noticing Ternash's eyes on him. The neko looked hurredly away, but continued to sneak glances until it became too much for Heero. He stood, leaving the other pilots and Ternash behind.

Duo stared at Heero's back. "Well, if he doesn't want his food . . ." The braided boy pulled Heero's half finished plate in front of him and smiled at Ternash. "It really is great, thanks a bunch!"

Ternash seemed to ignore the compliment, leaving a confused Duo to blink at a second fleeing back in as many minutes. Ternash looked at Heero as he passed through the archway that connected the tiny kitchen to the equally small sitting room. The taller boy stood leaning against the far wall beside the stairs, arms crossed tightly over his chest. Ternash took a few careful steps forward. "Heero?"

Heero glared at Ternash, his eyes promising slow death to all those that crossed him. He looked away, face softening almost imperceptibly, and Ternash finished closing the distance between them. He stood, looking up in silent expectation of Heero's response. None came. Finally, Ternash let out a huge sigh. "Does what he said bother you?"

Heero blinked, confused for a moment at the odd question. "What are you talking about?"

"Treize, what he said. Does it bother you?"

Heero opened his mouth, ready to reply an instant 'no'. He paused, mouth slightly agape. "If I said no, you wouldn't believe me. If I said yes, you'd blame yourself." Ternash stayed quiet, staring fixedly at Heero's chest as it moved slightly with each breath. "Ternash, listen, it bugs me. But it's Treize, anything he says is taken with a grain of salt." Heero waited for Ternash to speak again. When he didn't, a thought occurred to him. "Do . . . does it bother you?"

Ternash refused to meet the other boy's eyes. "It wouldn't normally, I don't think. I hate Treize with all my heart, but . . ." Ternash finally looked up, tears threatening to overflow his eyes. "Heero, he was right."

Heero used every once of will he had to meet Ternash's gaze. His heart was suddenly in a vice, his body was cold. This is what's best. A relationship would get in the way of the mission. But what about the others? They were all deeply involved in a relationship, and they seemed even more adamant about bringing an end to the war. Heero took a deep breath, "No." He was stunned into silence at the word even as it escaped his mouth. That was not what he had intended to say, but too late not to go with it. "He was wrong. You may be scared now, but I know you'll get over him with the right amount of time."

Ternash shook his head. "I feel like I've betrayed you. The worst part is, it was my choice, he didn't force me to do what I did." The tears were streaming from his eyes now. "It bothers me, Heero, more than anything. I don't want to hurt you like he hurt me. Heero, I –"

Heero pushed away from the wall, stalking to his laptop as it beeped. He scooped the device up and walked back to the stairs. As he passed Ternash, he slowed slightly. "I don't want to hear it, Ternash. There's nothing between us except one kiss and a few weak words. Work it out and then tell me. Not before. I leave it up to you." He climbed the stairs quickly, disappearing down the hall.

Ternash stood for a moment in shock. Numbly, he walked to the couch and sat. After several minutes, Duo found his way from the kitchen to the couch himself. He sat in silence, just watching Ternash for a few minutes longer. Finally, the silence was to much for the loudmouth. "What did that idiot do?"

Ternash looked at Duo, confused. He smiled sadly. "Nothing. He didn't do anything." Ternash sniffed and flung himself at the other boy, burying his head in Duo's chest and allowing himself to cry.

***

WuFei walked slowly through the door, body stiff from the long flight home. It had been a fairly rough mission, but it had all worked out in the end. And speaking of ends . . . Fei had to find Duo as soon as possible. He turned to the staris, slowly climbing in search of his loud partner.

Duo was seated on the floor of Ternash's room, hurridly pounding at the keys of the laptop he'd apparently borrowed from Heero. Ternash sat crosslegged on the bed above him. Duo glanced up as WuFei poked his head through the door. "Wu-man! So good to see you back! Man, you missed the best breakfast this morning. But that's not important right now." Ternash raised his hand in greeting, unable to voice the sentiment through Duo's enthusiastic explanations. "Heero got a new mission in. It's for all of us, but's it's not actually for a week or so. Which meens we have to set up our cover, I've already enroled the others. You and Ternash are the only ones left."

"Ternash? You're going to stick around?"

The neko nodded before being interrupted once again by the insatiable flow of words from Duo's mouth. "You've missed quite a lot Wu-baby. Heero and Ternash had a run-in with our favorite OZ general. Oh, and Ternash wants to start learning Kendo or whatever you call slicing people up with an oversized knife. You also missed Hee-chan's first."

"Duo!" Ternash suddenly broke his silence, bringing his hand down on the American's head with great force. "That's private, Duo."

"Private. Uh, right. If you remember, the only reason you even got a kiss was 'cause I locked him in the room."

"Duo!" Ternash held both of his hands up to sheild his rapidly reddening face. "Shut up, Duo. There's nothing there and you know it."

Duo was, amazingly, quiet at this. He met WuFei's eyes with a meaningful look before resuming his typing. "Anyway, if you two trust me to do your registrations alone, I'll just get back to that. I believe Ternash was eager to get back to lessons."

Ternash scrambled from the bed and away from Duo's big mouth. WuFei paused a moment longer, looking closely as Duo gave him another meaningful glance. WuFei knew better than to discount his lover's seemingly random babble. Often, it's the only thing that can save one's life. In more ways than one.

//"Maxwell! Would you shut up and sit down already!"

"Aw, come on, Wu-chan, I'm just having a little fun."

"Don't call me that! We aren't supposed to be having fun. This is a mission and if you don't sit down you're going to blow our cover."

"I'm not going to blow our cover, Wu-chan. It's just a bus stop. Not everyone at a bus stop sits. I don't feel like sitting, and we're the only one's here, so I'm going to stay where I am, thank you very much."

"Maxwell! If you're going to stand, at least stand still, you're making me dizzy."

"Injustice!" WuFei glared at Duo's mocking, but the braided one sat, so that was at least an improvement. "Wu, listen, you and I gotta talk, right?"

"It isn't like you to be serious, Duo, what's up?"

"Not much, I was just wondering if you had listened to anything I said when we first got this mission."

"Of course I listened, you were ranting loud enough for the dead to hear every word."

"But were you *listening*?"

WuFei paused, thinking about the words. Duo had rattled on and on about how this mission would be near impossible for the two of them. They had to infiltrate the same hotel as some high ranking OZ officials and their cover was that they were supposed to be a couple. Duo had argued that Trowa and Quatre were a much better couple and that WuFei would sooner die than acknowledge that Duo liked him in that way. But Duo looked better than anyone in a dress and so they had gotten a mission.

Duo carefully watched as the wheels in his partners head turned. Fei opened his mouth, silently repeating the words 'that he likes me that way'. Understanding dawned and Fei turned to Duo . . . just as the pilot of Shinigami moved in to kiss him. Duo hadn't anticipated the Chinese boy's movement and ended up kissing a handful of his unbound hair. WuFei found himself with his mouth to Duo's ear before they hurridly pulled apart, more than slightly embarrased.//

WuFei shook off the memory and turned from the room. He had learned then never to ignore Duo's ramblings. He took them apart and put them back together and tried to figure out what the boy was trying to say with more care and patience than anyone else could muster. He must have had a reason to tell WuFei about Heero's recent show of emotion. Fei feared that he was being counted on by his love to fix everything. He only hoped he could pull it off.

***

Ternash had retreated to the other room, smpty since Quatre and Trowa were out shopping. WuFei watched the boy carefully as he sat, legs folded under him, arms crossed, eyes closed. Fei had asked to hear the entire story whie the neko sat in meditation, and he was beginning to see why Duo needed his help. As if Heero wasn't complicated enough, throw Treize in the mix and Fei knew himself how messed up things could get.

He turned silently to the other boy in the room, asking for conformation of Ternash's words. Carefully, Heero nodded, not revealing his presence. WuFei turned to look at Ternash again and sighed. "So what do you plan on doing?"

"I don't know. I don't want to hurt Heero like Treize hurt me. He's so strong and nice to me . . . and I'm just using him."

"Sounds to me like you really want to be with him. Are you really going to one obnoxious general keep you apart?" Ternash shook his head, but didn't answer aloud. "Listen. Meditate on it. Just for ten minutes or something. See if you can't find an answer."

WuFei backpeddled until he was at the door. Heero placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. Staying silent, he mouthed a question to his partner. 'What do you want me to do?'

'Be here when he opens his eyes. Do this better than I did. Don't make him wait like Duo.' Heero gave one terse nod and Fei walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. He paused a moment in thought before turning the key and locking the door. Then he walked off; he really needed to find Duo.

Inside the little room, Heero leaned gently against the wall, watching until Ternash opened his bleary green eyes. The neko let out a little gasp as he noticed the other boy. "Heero? What are you doing here?"

The barest grin touched the Japanese boy's lips. "Chang locked the door. Did you find the answer you were looking for?"

Ternash didn't meet his eyes. "I'm not really sure." He stood slowly, walking to stare into Heero's eyes. "So, I imagine you were spying on me all this time?"

"It was WuFei's idea."

"I see. You know, the last time you were locked in a room with me, I got a kiss."

"I shouldn't have done that then. You weren't ready, you were mad at me, I appologize."

Ternash shook his head, shaking off the sentiment. "Heero, would you hate me if I said I wanted to help you on your next mission?"

"Probably not, as long as you stick with the plans we make. No running off, no suicide attempts."

"Just as long as you promise me a shot at Treize if the chance arises."

Heero thought about that for a moment before nodding. "Deal."

"Well, that just leaves us in a locked room together. Last time, we didn't get out until you made up with me."

"Have I done something to upset you? Do you need another kiss to make you feel better?" Heero's smile widened, hope for the first time wrapping him tightly. Maybe, just maybe, this love thing wasn't a totally bad idea after all.

Ternash pressed his hands to the wall, effectively trapping a suddenly startled Heero. "Everyone has done things to upset me, Heero. And yes, I think I do need a kiss to make me feel better." With that, he rose onto his toes, pressing his lips into Heero's. Silently he hoped that Quatre would be out for a good long time, he may not be getting his room back for a while.

***

Now, I know I promised you guys a review at the end of this story. However, there is a problem with that. I give a comedy review to all my long pieces unless they are part of a series or they have a sequal or something like that. So, since I plan on making that flashback into a full blown story later, no review. Well, review and ask for an update and I'll e-mail you or something when I get that done. Or just review and ignore the sequal. Or don't review. Whatever, I'm just happy to get this finished – unfinished stories really bug me. See you all next time. Ja matta ne! ^_^