Note: Many thanks to Kaeru Shisho for editing and to everyone who' s reviewed.

Facing the Music:

After pulling up outside the hotel, Trowa flicked the car keys to an attendant, and took Quatre's hand as they walked inside.

'Trowa, you shouldn't do that. Not here.' Quatre tried to pull free as they walked through the lobby and Trowa tightened his grasp. 'People are looking.'

'If I want to hold my boyfriend's hand, I damn well will. Trust me; I know this place; half the city comes here for illicit liaisons. No way are they going to allow reporters inside. If people are looking at us, it's because your bodyguards looked like they just stepped out of an 'Arabian Knights' story.' He gave Rashid and Auda, trailing closely behind, a disparaging look. 'Seriously, did those guys never hear of blending in?'

Quatre couldn't help laughing. He supposed Trowa was right, really; he was just too used to the Maguanacs' costumes to notice they were a little strange.

'That's better.' Trowa gave him a warm look. 'Now stop looking like you're going to your execution, all right? We're just going to have a little chat with your sister, and sort out a couple of things, and then I'm taking you home to ravish the hell out of you.'

There were a couple of choked gasps and splutters behind them. Oh dear. If he said something like that in front of Iria, she would, well, Quatre didn't know what she would do but it wouldn't be at all pleasant.

'You don't have to come with me,' he said uncertainly. 'Really. I can do this by myself.'

'I'm sure you can cope, but I certainly do have to come with you.' Trowa said it very firmly indeed. 'Your sister and I are going to have to meet at some point. May as well get it over with.'

Quatre gave him a grateful smile. 'Thank you. She's just...not the easiest person. And I don't want her being rude to you.'

Trowa shrugged. 'I've had plenty of experience with snarky sisters. Cathy's a nightmare if she doesn't have massive supplies of chocolate at certain times of the month. I'll cope.'

'OK. But Trowa, please, it's easier sometimes just to let her rant a bit. She usually calms down afterwards. I try not to pay too much attention to the things she says when she's angry. She doesn't really mean a lot of them. She's even apologised afterwards, a couple of times.'

'If she says anything to upset you, she'll be apologising straightaway.' Trowa's mouth set in a thin line. 'Right. Show time.'

Quatre suddenly realised that they were outside the Winner suite; it probably hadn't been too hard to work out they'd have the penthouse.

'Well!' Iria glared at him from behind her desk as they entered. 'It's about time. I sent for you hours ago. And I assume this is the cause of all the trouble?'

'Trowa Barton.' Trowa put in, before Quatre had a chance to speak. 'Iria, I take it? I'm glad to meet to meet you at last.'

Iria ignored his outstretched hand. 'We need to talk, Quatre. I hardly think this involves your...friend. It's quite inappropriate for him to be here.'

'Boyfriend,' Trowa corrected, frowning. 'And yes, it does happen to involve me. More than anyone, I think.'

'Rashid,' Iria said curtly, 'kindly escort my brother's …..companion outside. Now.'

'He's my boyfriend,' Quatre informed her. 'And he's right. This does concern him. I want him to stay.'

'You will please remember that you work for me!' Iria snapped, glaring at the Maguanacs. 'You take orders from me, not my little brother. Now, remove Mr. Barton from the room immediately.'

'Trowa is here because I invited him and this concerns him just as much as me.'

Trowa looked from brother to sister and suddenly burst out laughing. 'I bet you two were brats when you were little kids; always wanting the toys someone else had. Now, are we going to talk about this like adults or are you going to have a screaming match?'

'I think a rational discussion would be a very good idea.' Quatre spoke the words with a careful layer of dignity on top. Trowa was still holding one hand, the other, in his pocket, was shaking slightly.

'Fine.' Iria gave the Maguanacs a curt nod of dismissal. 'What exactly do you have to say for yourself? You promised discretion and now your sordid behaviour is splashed all over the newspapers for anyone to read?'

'I know.' Quatre swallowed, letting Trowa pull him down to sit on one of the couches. 'I am truly sorry, Iria. I never thought…I'm sorry.'

'Wait a second,' Trowa interrupted. 'Cat, what the hell are you apologising for? You've done nothing wrong.'

Iria's lip curled. 'He most certainly has. This disgraceful exhibition is going to cause all sorts of problems that you can't even imagine.'

'Hold on,' Trowa snapped. 'There is nothing disgraceful about anything your brother's done. You should be glad he's managed to find someone he cares about and who cares about him. That's how my sister feels. If you love Quatre, why can't you be happy for him? Or don't you think he deserves a little joy in his life?'

'Joy?' Iria hissed. 'You think I should be happy that my little brother's been conned by some gold-digger? Hardly. Quatre's a very intelligent person, but he's a poor judge of character. Has he told you his last boyfriend is now trying to blackmail him?'

'Stop it,' Quatre said suddenly. 'Please, both of you. Iria, I know you don't like my lifestyle, but it's who I am. That's never going to change, however much you want it to. I realise Trowa and I haven't known each other for long, but we are very serious about one another and that's not going to change either.'

'You're being an idiot,' she said bluntly. 'God knows, it was bad enough with that Canadian, but you were just a boy then, and he led you astray. I might have thought you'd have learned a valuable lesson at that point. Apparently not.'

'Apparently not,' Trowa repeated. 'If you ask me, Cat's amazing. After an experience like that, he's still willing to take a chance on trusting someone, someone he doesn't even know very well. You should be proud of him.'

'Thank you,' Quatre breathed, glowing up at his boyfriend.

'Well, you would say that.' Iria sniffed disdainfully, shifting some files on her desk and producing a newspaper, open at that awful photograph.

'You asked what my brother has done wrong, Mr. Barton. I think this should answer your question. Making an exhibition of himself in public!'

'I am really sorry, Irry,' Quatre whispered, not daring to look at Trowa. By the standard of this country, he maybe hadn't done anything wrong. By L4 standards, he had disgraced himself and his family terribly. 'I never thought..there was hardly anyone around, and no one seemed to be paying attention to us at all.'

'It's rather late to be making apologies, now that the damage is done,' Iria informed him curtly, but her expression had softened, just a little. 'I've spent the past couple of hours consulting with our legal and PR experts. According to them, we have two choices. Firstly, we can take action against the owners of this rag for slander. The author has been very careful not to make outright accusations, plus homosexuality is legal in this country, so even saying so directly doesn't count as a derogatory comment.' She snorted. 'This is what freedom of the press does; it only causes trouble. Also, I've been further advised that the publication in question makes its money by printing ridiculously farfetched stories about celebrities.'

'Your hotel porter could have told you that,' Trowa said coolly. 'But I suppose you have enough money to waste on getting your tame lawyers to check it out.'

Iria ignored that comment. 'Apparently, they're well accustomed to being sued, and almost see lawsuits as a way of peddling more trash. I've been advised that to pursue the matter further would only inflame the situation. Also the photographer presumably has the originals, and can present them in court.' She pursed her lips. 'Of course, he could probably be bought off, but journalists can be awkward, with their absurd notions of journalistic integrity and so on.'

'Absurd,' Trowa noted dryly. 'So what your pet lawyers advise you to do, Miss Winner?'

Iria sniffed. 'Simply to ignore the whole thing. We may end up doing just that. According to an expert in Sanque media, that would be the best course. You aren't a terribly well known figure on Earth; you're just seen as my younger brother, and no one seems to care about your sexual orientation.;' She shook her head, apparently mystified. 'Our best course of action seems to be simply not to dignify this nonsense with a response and it will be presumably forgotten about. People on L4 have a low opinion of the press on Earth anyway, so we should be able to persuade our board members that it was just some sleazy paper inventing scurrilous stories..'

'So...that's it?' Quatre asked slowly, unable to believe it was all that easy.

'Certainly not! Just because no one in this country cares what you do, doesn't mean there won't be any repercussions back home. There's a gala charity ball next week; I'll arrange for you to escort a suitable young woman. That should help to quash any more rumours.'

'Iria,' Quatre clenched his free hand into a fist, so tightly he could feel nails biting into skin. 'I can't do that.'

His sister gave him a cold glance. 'Don't be foolish. You just have to dance with her a couple of times and have your photograph taken. It's hardly the first time you've taken a girl out for appearance's sake.'

'I know, but I wasn't in a relationship then.' He met her gaze squarely, very, very aware of Trowa beside him. 'I am now.'

'Then you can tell Father yourself. He isn't very happy with you, as I'm sure you can imagine. There will be questions asked at the next board meeting, which you will be expected to attend.'

'No. I'm not doing that. As far as I'm concerned, my private life is my own business. I will undertake to be as discreet as possible, but I'm not going to discuss my sexuality at a board meeting, and I'm certainly not going to lie.'

Trowa squeezed his hand gently; Quatre gave him a grateful smile in return.

'Discreet!' Iria snorted. 'When you're cavorting about on beaches for all the world to see.'

'We were not cavorting,' Quatre said quietly. 'We were holding hands. For about one minute. That's all.'

'You may tell Father all of that and see what he says in return. I have the shuttle booked to take you back to L4 tomorrow morning at six. The sooner you get back home and stay out of trouble the better! I'd have sent you back earlier except this country has some nonsensical rule about filing space flights in advance.'

'I'm not going.'

Iria didn't even bother to acknowledge the comment, standing up and sweeping up an armload of files.

'Iria. I have no intention of leaving Earth just yet. The last time I spoke to Father, I told him I'd be home next week, and he was fine with that.'

'Don't be absurd, Quatre. You'll do as you're told. I shan't see you before your flight, so give my love to everyone at home, and I recommend you use the flight to reflect on your behaviour over the past week or so.' She juggled her papers from one hand to the other and bent down to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. 'Father's always been far too indulgent with you, but he'll lose patience eventually. You're not a child any more; it's high time you started to take your responsibilities seriously.'

'That's right.' Quatre pulled his hand free from Trowa's, standing to face his sister. 'I'm not a child anymore. I'm not a little boy to be sent off to bed with a smacked wrist. I'm an adult, Iria, and I'm more than capable of making my own decisions. I've already made plans for the next couple of days, so you can cancel that shuttle for now.'

'I most certainly will not. You're going back to L4 if Rashid has to carry you on board bodily.'

'Oh, that's not going to happen.' Quatre hadn't even seen Trowa move, but he was suddenly there at his side. Just as suddenly, listening to a note in Trowa's voice, he was reminded that his boyfriend wasn't just a would-be author of children's books, who spoiled his niece and let her put sparkly clips in his hair and adopted waifs and strays.

He'd fought off all those men who'd been trying to hurt Quatre, like it was an everyday occurrence for him.

'Are you…threatening me, Mr. Barton?'

'Please, call me Trowa. Certainly not. I've way too much sense to threaten anyone Cat cares about.' He was smiling, but a smile could be scary. 'And I'm sure you didn't mean what you just said to be taken as a threat either, but that's what it sounded like. We have very strict rules about abduction in this country. Cat's made it very clear that he wants to stay here, so that's what he'll be doing.'

'He is my brother!'

Trowa nodded. 'He is, yeah. I'm sure you have way much more regard for his happiness than for your company's balance sheets, but somehow that isn't really coming across right now. Quatre's a grown man, like he's just said, and he wants to stay here.'

He didn't need to add the last two words. With me.

Iria shot Quatre a disbelieving glance. 'You are seriously planning to put this man, this stranger who's tumbled you into bed, before your family and our company's future? Are you insane?'

'No. Not at all.' Quatre flicked Trowa a tiny smile. 'I'm not proposing to walk out on WEI. I know I'll be taking over eventually. I've always known that was what my life would be like. But I want Trowa to be part of that too.'

'I see.' There were ice crystals glittering on each and every word. 'What are you proposing exactly, Quatre? To attend the next board meeting with him on your arm?'

'His name is Trowa.' Quatre frosted each syllable of his own with pure anger. 'I'm not proposing anything of the sort. For one thing, I'd never make anyone I cared about sit through one of those interminable meetings. But he is a part of my life, regardless of how anyone feels about that, and as far I'm concerned my private life is just that. What I do when I'm not in the office is no one's business but mine. I'll call you in the morning, about rearranging my flight. Good evening.'

Head high, he swept out of the room, Trowa a pace behind but exactly in step.

'Now that,' Trowa said admiringly, as they waited for the lift, 'was one hell of an exit.'

'Oh, God,' Quatre stepped through the doors and sagged against the wall. 'I can't believe I spoke to her like that. What are you doing?'

'Pausing this?' Trowa flipped a couple of buttons and the lift suddenly stopped.

'What did you do that for?' He was proud that his voice was only a little shaky. 'I thought you could only do that in films.'

Trowa grinned. 'Ever had sex in a lift?'

'Actually, yes. Once.' Quatre took a step backwards as Trowa advanced on him, grin broadening. 'Trowa! We can't. Not here! Iria really would kill me if she found out!'

'Our life is going to be seriously boring if we can't do anything your sister would disapprove of.'

'I know. But…can't we wait 'til we get home? Please?'

He got a brief nod in return. 'Since you asked nicely. Now, I stopped this lift because you look like you're going to faint, and you mightn't want me to have to carry you back to the car. Come here.'

Quatre burrowed into his arms. Amazing. He could count the number of days they'd known each other on his fingers, but Trowa made him feel safe.

'Talk to me, Cat,' he murmured. 'You were great in there. I just don't get why she scares you so much.'

'It's not…being scared so much,' Quatre whispered. 'She, well, I suppose she practically brought me up, and I do love her, and I've always hated it when she's so disappointed with me. I think maybe I'm scared that if she gets really angry or upset with me, she'll leave me, the way my mother did.'

'Oh, Cat. Shush. You can't spend your whole life trying to make other people happy. You've got to think of yourself at some point, or you'll end up resenting the hell out of everyone in your life.'

'I know.' Quatre lifted his tearstained face and Trowa gently kissed him. 'How did you get to be so clever?'

'I read a lot,' Trowa deadpanned. 'You're the only one who can find your own happiness, right?'

'I think I already have. Can we go home now?'

He was the one who reached for Trowa's hand this time. If people wanted to look, let them. Trowa was right; he had nothing to be ashamed of. Somehow, they were going to work this out.

Back in the car, Trowa lifted an eyebrow at him. 'What? I can practically hear you thinking about something.'

Quatre chose a comment at random. 'You don't like lawyers much, do you?'

'Nope. Used to date one. It ended badly; kind of turned me against the whole breed. Now, what were you really going to ask me? If you're going to tell me off for overstepping boundaries with your sister, then get it over with.'

'Oh. I wasn't going to. I liked it! You were very masterful. It was rather sexy actually.'

'You had your moments yourself,' Trowa smiled over at him. 'Very sexy. Guess it's true what they say about power being an aphrodisiac.' Smile broadening, he leaned over and placed one hand between Quatre's legs. 'Oh, imagine that. It is true.'

'Very true,' Quatre said breathlessly, squirming as Trowa squeezed gently. 'Oh, God.'

'Want me to stop?'

'No! But I can't…come like this, not in the car and, oh!'

Trowa produced one of those incredibly sexy chuckles. 'Well, I guess we'll be seeing how good your self control is. It's maybe twenty five minutes back to Wish, depending on traffic. Want to bet on whether you'll need to change your pants when we get home? Oh, shit.'

That last comment had nothing to do with anything Quatre had done; but his 'phone had started to ring.

'Shit,' Trowa said again, taking his hand away. 'I knew I should've got one of those hands-free sets. Hey, Duo! No, it's all good. We're on the way home; should be half an hour or so. Oh, is he? Yeah, that's great. No, you can tell him Cat's fine.' He grinned at Quatre, who had resolutely crossed his legs and was thinking pure thoughts. 'Really, he's maybe a little bit strung up right now, but I think I should be able to calm him down. OK, we'll see you in a while.'

'That was Duo,' he informed Quatre somewhat unnecessarily. 'Just wanted to check we were OK. Now, where were we?' One hand landed on Quatre's knee, stroking its way higher up. Quatre moaned, falling back against his seat. 'Oh, that's nice. Guess what? Your friend Heero's still at Wish; sounds like he's been there for the full day.'

'I think…Duo likes him,' Quatre said, trying hard to concentrate on words rather than what Trowa's devilishly clever fingers were doing to him. 'He said something yesterday; just a slip of the tongue. I don't think he realised I caught it.'

'Well, Heero damn sure likes him back, if the way he was looking at him the other night is anything to go by.' Trowa stopped at a red light, and took his other hand off the steering wheel.

Only his seatbelt kept Quatre from hitting the roof, literally.

'Twenty minutes to go,' Trowa mused. 'Think you'll make it?'

'Not if you, uh, keep doing that!'

Trowa's answering grin was utterly evil. 'But I happen to like doing this. I thought you liked it too, actually. Oh, green light. So where d'you reckon Zechs fits into all this?' Trowa started the car again, grinning. 'I don't really know either of them that well, but I can't really see Duo liking all that high society shit. Could be an interesting threesome, though. All that hair.'

'I don't…think so. Please tell me that's not one of your fantasies.'

'It's not,' Trowa told him obligingly. 'I like having one person, all to myself, to concentrate on, and I like that one person to concentrate on me, and in the most ideal world, I want that person to be you.'