DISCLAIMER: This is the general Disclaimer, I don't own Gundam Wing, no matter how much I wish I did. This is all for fun and only get paid in reviews.

Authors Note: I know where this story is going (still no final other pairing. Suggestions are welcome though). Um, just a bit of a warning... School is taking up a HUGE chunk of my time right now and will continue to do so for at least another week and a half. So no promises until after that.

Warnings: There is swearing, drugs, sexual situations, violence and male-male relationships. Reader beware. Not for young readers.

The story is AU and OOC. The only pairing I have figured out so far is 3X4.

Enjoy, R&R and try bearing with me if I take some time getting new chapters up though I hope to go for about one a week.

Chapter Eight

Twigs

Quatre kicked at an old, decomposing log. Bits and pieces of it broke away and crumbled to the ground. The only thing left over was a pile of reddish brown wood that resembled dirt. In frustration, he let out what he considered an intimidating growl and kicked the log even harder. This time his foot sank about an inch into the soft wood. With a yelp he pulled his foot free and glared at the log. A soft chuckle behind him, startled him out of his mini-tantrum. He spun around.

Trowa was standing near by, in one hand he held a collection of small sticks and some hair like moss. Since part of the camping trip was learning how to survive without modern inventions, Trowa and Quatre had been assigned the task of finding kindling. Apparently an axe was a modern invention, though Quatre wasn't sure by whose standards that was. Who ever they were, they obviously didn't know their pre-history.

"Bark can work, but it's just easier to find twigs." Trowa said, his eyes still dancing. "And throwing a hissy fit at nature doesn't help much."

Quatre pushed his bangs out of his face and gave Trowa his best 'I'm a Winner' look. Unfortunately he could feel his face heating up. "I wasn't throwing a hissy fit!" He exclaimed. He wasn't exactly prone to childish tantrums, but the constant feeling of being out of his element was getting to him.

To his surprise, Trowa's smile turned gentle. "I know it can be frustrating when you aren't used to doing things you're being asked to do." he told the blonde.

Quatre gave Trowa a wry smile. "Normally my father doesn't appreciate it when I do things that result in me getting dirty, I don't even know why he decided to send me here. He always said camping was for those who didn't have the means to take a real vacation."

For a brief second Trowa saw a look cross the blonds face that seemed almost sad. It was quickly covered by the usual polite looks Quatre wore though.

"My parents used to take my sister and me camping every year." Trowa said quietly. "Not because they couldn't afford better, but because they... We used to love it."

Both boys fell silent. Trowa had mentioned in a previous group session with Howard that his parents were dead. Quatre bent down to pick up a small twig that lay in front of him.

"I guess vacations aren't really something you can do now." The blonde said.

Trowa shook his head. "My sister always has to work, and never makes enough money. That's kind of why I'm here."

Together the two teens started back toward the camp. Along the way Quatre stopped to gather more twigs, though he though they probably had enough as it is.

"I'm here because my dad panicked when my arrest for possession made the news. The last thing he wants is for the public to think he lets me get away with stuff like that." Quatre said. Trowa watched Quatre out of the corner of his eye.

"That seems pretty tame, if you ask me." Trowa said. He fell silent for a bit. "The judge sent me here. I really just wanted to help my sister make the rent, so when I was taken in for mugging someone, the judge decided I would do better with some sort of rehabilitation rather than being locked up. The woman I attacked didn't think I should be locked up either. It kind of surprised me, she didn't exactly show much regret for giving me a concussion."

The two of them stopped. They were getting close to the camp, and neither of them really seemed to feel the desire to return right away.

"How did she do that?" Quatre asked quietly. Something one tugging at the back of his mind, but he wasn't sure what.

"She nailed me in the back of the head with something when I turned my back on her. For a rich woman, she could really land a blow." Trowa said.

They both fell silent for a moment. The silence was broke by Duo calling out to them. He was calling them in to start the fire, it was dinner time by Duo's reckoning and they needed to start the fire.

"She was coming back from some benefit gala and looked like an easy mark." Trowa shrugged. "I guess that's why you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover."

With that Trowa turned and walked into the camp, leaving Quatre behind. The blonde had cold feeling in the pit of his stomach and he suddenly found himself uneasy over the crush he had developed for Trowa. It wasn't so much the crime, or even the fact that the tall brunette seemed to have no real sense of remorse for it. It all centred around who...

TBC

Author's Note: Sorry this took such a horribly long time. I really am. I plan on moving faster from now on. Please forgive me!