AN: Hello again everyone! I want to start out by thanking each and every one of you for your kind and encouraging words. If not for you I would have wanted to just drop both stories. Thank you to Shenlong1 for the suggestion of OpenOffice, that is what I am using now and it seems to be working just fine. :) Although I do prefer Microsoft word and will probably be switching to that as soon as I am able, so thank you to FaustinaAurelia13 for the advice on where to get it. And a big thank you to Anni-Cat as well since I need all the luck I can get right now.

Also a big thank you for everyone that is either following or has favorited my stories, I appreciate you as well and even though you haven't sent me a review, just knowing that you are following me is a big encouragement. So again, thank you!

Ok with all of that being said this is a REAL chapter this time, not just an Authors Note. (This is where you breath a sigh of relief and go 'its about damn time') So, without further ado, On to the story!

Chapter 11

Dreams of Reality

-Quatre's flashback-

Quatre ran down the corridor towards his office at full speed, too long of arms flailing at his sides as his awkward and now overly long legs covered ground quickly. He had been having crazy growth spurts ever since he hit 18 years old. He thought for sure he was done growing at 5'6'' back then but apparently he wasn't. He grew nearly a quarter inch a night for a full week which made him gangly and strange. His arms and legs felt too long and weakened, as if stretched out. Once he finally finished growing for sure his doctor put him on a strict diet and exercise plan to try and build his muscles back up and keep him from growing any weaker.

For a long while after his drastic growth spurt everyone looked at him differently, especially Trowa. He had really enjoyed being the smaller of the two of them, he was after all a definite Uke so being smaller had worked out well. Now, however, he was on equal ground with the other man which turned out to be not such a good thing.

Trowa had gone to stay with his sister after the war, which Quatre was quite happy with since he wouldn't have wanted to be seen in such a horrible state. He ended up being the one seeking the other out; once he felt more normal again and had bulked up considerably. However, the welcoming he received was crude at best, which sent him home feeling heavyhearted and glum. The end result was him spending two weeks straight in his room crying his eyes out and cursing his now overly large body.

-Present Day-

Quatre sighed softly as he gazed out at the beautiful flat green scenery from his balcony. He was dredging up the past again and that was never a good thing, it always just depressed him. Trowa wasn't a bad person, he had just moved on when Quatre could not. Gods above but he still loved the man. He always would, no matter his size or shape. He just wished Trowa had felt the same.

He sighed again leaning into his arms which were folded on the railing. It had to be this whole mess with Duo that had him thinking about Trowa. He supposed he felt jealous of the other man, Duo, unlike he, had stayed the same size. He never became a gargantuan monster like himself. It was just unfair, if he had just remained small maybe Trowa would have still been with him.

He shook his head, no, that could not be right. If Trowa had really loved him then he would have accepted Quatre's new size and since that was not the case, he realized they would have broken up sooner or later anyway.

Just as more horrible thoughts were breaking their way into his skull he was startled back into reality by a harsh banging on his door. "Come in!" he called as he straightened himself and his expression before turning towards the door. He wasn't surprised at all to see Heero himself there waiting patiently.

As Quatre walked closer to Heero he smiled softly and said in a welcoming voice, "Heero! What a pleasant surprise! What can I do for you?"

Heero's eyes narrowed dangerously as he studied Quatre, "You've been thinking about Trowa again." he stated boldly, reaching out to grab Quatres chin forcing their eyes to meet.

Quatre lowered his gaze refusing to look at Heero not bothering to deny it, it wouldn't do any good anyway, Heero could always see right through any mask he put on.

"Quatre, you've got to stop beating yourself up like this. You make me want to kick Trowa's ass and I would too if he wasn't so evenly matched with me."

Quatre let out a puff of air, "I'm sorry Heero, its just that seeing Duo reminds me of how much I changed." his words sounded sad and dreary even in his own ears making him wonder how pathetic he must sound to Heero.

"Ah, but you changed for the better" Heero pointed out as he pulled a willing Quatre into his arms. Hot breath tickled the blond mans neck as Heero continued to soothe him. "See? Your taller than me, but I can still hold you. Trowa is just an idiot. My previous offer still stands ya know."

"Heero... We've discussed that. It wouldn't be fair..."

"Fair? Fair to who? Everyone needs to feel wanted every once in a while." Heero pushed Quatre back slightly in order to look him directly in the eyes. "Whats not fair about it? You're a very attractive man so trust me you wouldn't be putting me out at all. Besides, you know I care for you."

"Yeah... You just care for Duo more..." Quatre pulled away from Heero and took a step back, suddenly feeling more retched then ever. A few years back Heero had offered to be with Quatre as a way to ease them both from their lost loves. It was a nice gesture, but Quatre was sure that it would just make things awkward between them. They were best friends and he didn't want anything to ruin that. Although, he fully admitted that he found Heero extremely attractive and he did like him; he just wasn't in love with him.

Heero's eyes widened in surprise, "And you love Trowa more, so we're even. Although why you love that son-of-a-bitch is beyond me."

"Heero!" Quatre exclaimed, his tone a clear harsh warning that the other was treading on thin ice by saying such things.

Heero let out a deep sigh before striding out onto the balcony, keeping his back to the other. "I didn't come in here for this, I came to ask your help with something."

Intrigue forced Quatre to follow and he leaned against the rail as he eyed Heero. It was rare that the other asked for something, he was a very private person and although he was more open with Quatre, there was still a lot that was kept hidden. "You know I would do anything at all for you Heero. So what is it?"

Heero stepped forward so that he too could lean against the balcony rail as he spoke. "Did you know that Duo is leaving?" He asked softly and at Quatres soft nod he decided to continue. "What do you know exactly?"

Quatre looked more puzzled than anything by the question and had to think for a moment before responding. "Well, Wufei came in earlier and handed me a wedding invitation and told me that they were going to try again, for real, this time. I was surprised, but I guess its a good thing for both of them right?"

At Quatres words Heeros head snapped to the right to level him with a solid glare. "Explain to me how he is good for Duo in ANY way?!" he spat, anger at the mere thought of Wufei being good for his beloved Duo.

Any lesser man would have caved at that look from Heero, but Quatre just rolled his eyes before continuing. "C-mon Heero! At least Wufei seems to be trying to make everything right! Thats more than Trowa ever did and yet I still love the man! Maybe its the same with Duo."

"Hah! You would like that wouldn't you! Because then I would forever be as miserable as you and we would be right back to the way we were before Duo appeared back in our lives! You know what they say, 'Misery Loves Company'!" The words were out of Heero's mouth before he could stop them causing instant regret as hurt flashed across Quatres face and aquamarine eyes filled with tears.

"Shit! Quatre I'm sorry! I didn't mean that! I'm just so frustrated right now and I forgot for a second that you don't know the whole truth. Please Quatre don't cry! I really am sorry!" He frantically tried to ease Quatre who now had tears streaming silently down his cheeks.

"No," he started, halting Heero in his stream of apologies. "I know its all true. Maybe your right, maybe I am jealous of the way Duo has returned and the fact that he is still just as madly in love with you now as he was ten years ago! Who wouldn't want that? If Trowa showed up tomorrow and suddenly told me he never once forgot me and still loved me, I would jump on the chance! I-I-hic- I know -hic- that -hic- that you are right, and I'm s-sorry a-about that! -hic-" he was crying in earnest making it hard for Heero to understand him.

Heero frowned and reached out to once again pull Quatre into his arms. He started rubbing soothing circles onto the taller mans back while shushing him gently. Once the other had quieted he gently pushed him back. "I am truly sorry Quatre. I really didn't mean it, I know that you are not jealous of me. In fact I don't even think your capable of feeling jealousy. You may have grown in height, but you haven't really changed much otherwise."

Quatre stepped back while rubbing his eyes, "Whats that supposed to mean?" his question made Heero smirk alerting the blond man that he was about to get teased.

"It means that you were a crybaby before and now your just a bigger one." he looked Quatre up and down, "A much bigger one... Say, since your body grew twice the size does that mean your dick also grew twice the size?"

Quatres eyes widened, "Heero! That... Thats private! And I am not a crybaby, you- you're just a jerk!"

He excentuated his point with a childish stomp of his foot which only added to Heeros mirth causing him to break out in an almost smile.

Quatre realized that he'd been had and calmed down immediately. "Oh! You!" he said as he quickly turned away from Heero.

Heero let out a small chuckle, then shook his head clear of his thoughts. "Are you feeling better now?" he asked while gently prodding the blond man to turn back his way. Quatre heaved a sigh and turned back to facing the asian man, "Yes! Darn you! Maybe I was enjoying feeling good and miserable too! Did you ever think of that?"

Heero smiled, "I believe you probably were, however, we have a serious matter to discuss so would you care so much to just leave the wallowing til later?"

Quatres eyebrows raised in question before he turned away from the balcony, leading Heero back inside.

Once safely inside they locked all the doors and windows before starting on a full bug sweep of the entire room. After they both had made two sweeps of the room with no results, they finally sat down in one of Quatres comfy arm chairs in front of the fire where Heero proceeded to fill him in.

"And thats it. So now we have to figure out exactly how to get Wufei to leave Duo alone. What do you think Quatre? Can you or your lawyers do anything?"

Sometime near the middle of their conversation Quatre had stood up and was now pacing the room in worry. "I'm not sure Heero, this is a very isolated case. I don't know that there has ever been one of its...caliber. Although we may have a case if we can prove that Duo has been the better parent and continues to be so. However, he will first need to have full time employment or support for himself and the children set up in order to succeed. I, of course, will take care of that myself. So, for the first order of business I must go and talk to Duo. And you say he is leaving in the morning? I suppose I better go now then. Right? Yes? Ok then! Off I go! Oh! And don't worry Heero! It will all work out fine, you'll see! Ja ne!"

Heero's jaw was almost on the floor by the time the ramped up blond finally walked out of the room. It never ceased to amaze him how Quatre would get so pumped up about work. No matter what kind of work it was, he always acted excited about it. He almost envied that about the other man. Work to him was just that, work; it was just what he did. He was good at it, sure, but did he enjoy it? Maybe some, enjoyment was never an option; it was just do.

He sat staring blankly at the closed door for several seconds before shaking his head clear. He knew what he needed to do next and that was to break into Duo's very well protected mainframe and clear Wufei of any ownership of the children. If he could do that then things would go much more smoothly from that point on.

He sat in front of Quatres lap top and cracked his knuckles, preparing himself for a long night of wrong passwords. The clue that Duo had given him was that it was his name written in the characters of four different languages. Now, he said 'characters' not letters so at least that narrowed it down a bit, only there were still a good hundred languages to choose from, not to mention the different dialects. It was certainly going to be a tough nut to crack, however, he wasn't called the perfect soldier for nothing. With that last thought he settled in for a long night of code cracking while he waited on Quatre to get back.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

To be continued (hopefully sooner this time ;p )

As always R&R! Love you all and I hope you enjoyed this chapter, the next one may be longer, but this was just too good of a stopping point that I hated to go any further. See you next chapter!

-Tsuzuki-nyo