A/N:

Duo, feverishly playing Dolly Parton's "Jolene" over and over while choking back sobs: I'm fine!

Chapter 35

Looking up into the shadowed expanse of the canopy above, I felt true contentment for the first time in a long while. There was a pleasant smell of honey-apple in the air, faint and lingering, due only to the proximity. The bedcovers were soft beneath me, cushioning both myself and the slender form curled around me in warmth.

I felt his every breath: the steady rise and fall of his chest, the wet warmth of his exhale on my naked skin. I reached one hand up and around him, curling those thick, silken strands of sun-struck chestnut hair around my fingers. His hair had come undone from the braid hours ago, when I hadn't known where to put my hands as pleasure rolled over me, when the only word on my lips had been his name.

Duo.

I placed a soft kiss to the top of his head, reveled in his warmth and touch. He slept soundly, nestled in my arms, clinging to me even in his sleeping state. There was a certain sense of vulnerability to Duo as he slept, even before his amnesia; the walls - whether they were thorns or smiles - came down, showing that side of himself he hid as best as he could from others.

I allowed the soft strands of his hair to fall free from my fingers, watching them settle and fan out across his bare skin. Reluctantly, I began to move; Duo made a small noise of complaint, enchanting violet eyes fluttering open as he subconsciously grabbed for me.

"It's alright," I soothed him quietly, sitting up and leaning over to place a small kiss to his temple. "Go back to sleep, my love."

Duo's eyes had fully opened now however, looking up at me with the sort of partial awareness of the waking. He eventually released his hold on me, the reluctant expression so obvious that I could not help but lean down and press another kiss to his sleep-soft face.

"'S early," Duo complained. It most assuredly was not; in fact, I had doubtlessly slept in by at least an hour, if the quiet and still form of Trowa waiting outside my balcony door was any indication.

I had no intention of correcting Duo, of course. "It is," I agreed instead. "So sleep more."

Duo made another small noise, fixing a petulant stare on me before giving a small sigh. "Fine," he grumbled, crooking a finger to gesture me closer. I obediently leaned back down one last time, our lips meeting in a lingering kiss.

"Good morning," Duo whispered against my lips, smiling softly. "...And tell Trowa thanks for waiting outside, but that this does nothing to contradict his voyeuristic tendencies."

I twitched.

Duo snickered, giving me one last parting kiss before determinedly rolling over and falling back to sleep. I stared at his back for a long moment, memorized the expanse of soft skin that I keenly remembered running my hands over the night before.

I tore my eyes away from the sight, heading towards the adjoined bathing room to get ready. Tsubasa was not needed this morning, as I would spend most of the day with Trowa checking over the progress of the estate knights. As they had been left to their own devices for a length of time, aside from the quick check we did when we passed through the Capital on our return to the duchy, we needed to assess their current levels.

After I was dressed and ready, I stepped out into the corridor and was immediately joined by Trowa. "Simon is leading the morning stretches," he reported, apparently unbothered by both the hour and the state of my undress earlier. "After that, they'll be put through drills to gauge progress."

I grunted in acceptance. "Set the remainder of the Duchess Guard as observers," I added. This would give us more pairs of eyes for assessment, and Duo's personal guard was very dedicated to their work ethic.

Trowa agreed with a nod, before glancing at me with a small smirk. "...I hope my advice was well put to use."

"Duo did say you're a dirty voyeur."

"..."

For the majority of the day, I spent it out on the training grounds. Both breakfast and lunch were served there as well, and as was the usual, the food was only partly decent; I could tell Chef Morris - who Duo had made head chef last night - had at least improved the menu. I could also tell he was more partial to my husband, since the food offerings definitely catered to Duo's palate - but this was fine, since I was more partial to my husband as well.

The Capital estate knights were about as expected; these were the men and women we cycled out every six months or so, depending on the state of the kingdom and the duchy. Given that a majority of our force had been out on the expedition, however, they had been left in the Capital for the majority of that year and a half; in such circumstances, it was expected that there would be some slackening in training. The only outlier of that had been whatever had been going on at the provincial estate, but that seemed like an unfair comparison just because Duo's guard was very spirited (and a little deranged).

I returned to the estate proper in the late afternoon, sequestering away in my office with only Trowa and Wufei in attendance. Quatre was likely in his own office, going over the past expense reports - or perhaps, given the changes over the past year, in Duo's office so they could review the reports together.

What could Duo be doing right now? I know I kept insisting he rest, but Duo was a ball of energy at times; he could be going over the estate finances and inventory like he'd said, or he could be re-organizing his study. Or maybe he was having a late tea break, pushing sweet cakes at Meilan…

"Your Grace, please stop fantasizing about the Duchess and do your work."

I snapped a glare over at Trowa, whose eyes were scouring over the training agenda for the estate knights. "You always look a bit dumbstruck when you're thinking about him," he answered my non-verbalized question.

"Like an obsessive idiot," Wufei agreed.

Trowa set his papers down, glancing at me before shooting Wufei an amused look. "We should be celebrating, really," he said. "His Grace the Duke has finally enjoyed his real wedding night."

Wufei blinked, before understanding dawned on his face and he instinctively threw an empty ink bottle in Trowa's direction. "I don't want to know shit like that!"

"I had to wake the Duke up this morning. Imagine my surprise."

I glared at my longtime friend and soon-to-be murder victim. "Voyeur," I groused.

Trowa just gave a noncommittal hum, clearly something he'd picked up from Quatre in all of his passive-aggressiveness. He soon went back to adding the final touches to his training agenda, Wufei and I returning to our work as well.

Once the last training plan crossed my desk and was signed off with my approval, Trowa took a seat in the chair before me. His gaze was level with my own, his long form almost unnaturally still in the seat, and I recognized the currents roiling in his one visible green eye.

"Professor G departed for his workshop this morning," he recounted quietly. Wufei stilled where he stood by the bookcase, unmoving as if to refuse to look our way. "Hisashi is keeping watch. I'll go there tonight."

I'd naturally told the others of what had transpired with Professor G - at least most of it. Trowa had wanted him dead while we were still traveling, but Quatre and even surprisingly Wufei had agreed with my decision to wait until we returned to the Capital. Although Sanc was peaceful, it was not utopian; there would always be some form of crime, especially in a city as large as the Capital. An old artisan murdered in his workshop would be noteworthy, but only for a moment.

I didn't tell them what G had said about Duo. Until I could figure it out myself, there was no need to concern the others. Some part of me - a large part of me - believed it to be G purposely trying to sow discord. I didn't know the reason for it, but there must be some advantages if the Duke and Duchess of Yuy didn't trust each other.

Another part of me...wondered. Duo had been so bitter, so recalcitrant before, and there was only so much I could understand about him from the arms-length he kept me. If Professor G really was associated with the Maxwell family, then perhaps there was a side of Duo he had been privy to before me.

"Make it quick," I said. "If he's truly like Doctor J and the others… He's better off dead than alive."

Trowa tilted his head in acknowledgment. "Should I question him about his connection to Solo Maxwell?"

Solo Maxwell had been the one to put me in contact with G when I was looking for architects for the greenhouse. In the best circumstance, Solo would only be a professional acquaintance; in the worst, he could be an informed conspirator. Either way, G was a loose end, and how affected Solo Maxwell would be once informed of his death would tell enough.

"No," I said. "There's no need."

Even if there was a connection, G would never say even under torture. The Maxwell's would have already killed him otherwise.

The request for a royal audience came as quickly as expected. Once a titled noble returned to the Capital, especially one in control of the kingdom's militia, it was expected to visit the Queen in order to confirm their allegiance and state. It was not a visit meant for pleasantries, but more a report to the reigning monarch on the state of the military.

For this reason, Duo could not accompany me. This is what had me walking through the expansive halls of the royal castle mostly alone; my guard accompaniment had been left by the gates of the palace, as was custom for security, and I did not require Trowa, Quatre, or Wufei to come with me for a basic update.

Meeting with Her Majesty, Queen Katrina Peacecraft, was a short affair that only grew shorter with every passing year. A combination of stress and sickness caused the Queen's health to decline more and more, leaving her frail yet thankfully still lucid. It was because of Her Majesty's fragile state that my report took less than two hours.

Surprisingly, Prince Milliardo did not join us; as an established knight of the highest order and someone who could lead an army without issue, he usually did attend these meetings between his aunt and myself. I had heard he was growing increasingly absent from the palace but because his work never suffered, there were few complaints about it.

Prince Milliardo Peacecraft was a respectable man. Some of the court nobles scoffed at his respect for the sword but there was no doubting his mastery nor his eloquence. Even with the disappearance of the late Queen Sabrina and her daughter, the Prince's younger sister, it was Prince Milliardo's steady discipline that ensured the comfort of the Sanc people.

I respected him.

But I did not respect some of those he associated with.

"Duke Yuy."

I drew to a stop at the call, recognizing the voice as I turned a dipped into a formal bow. "I greet His Majesty the Prince," I stated, keeping my tone as neutral as possible after seeing who was standing beside the man.

"You've come a long way, Duke," Count Otto returned in greeting.

I acknowledged the statement with only a short nod of the head, keeping my eyes off of him. It was rude, but it was still better than glaring at him or spilling his blood. This was also nothing unusual between us, not after word got around on his possible relationship with my husband.

Count Klementz Otto was Duo's other known lover, but unlike the easily manipulated Trant Clark, Otto was much more dangerous. Like his childhood friend the Prince, Otto was another renowned knight and master of the sword, and came from a long line of nobility. Also unlike Trant, he held a noble title, inheriting it from his late father years ago. The only smear on his otherwise spotless record was that rumored affair he was having with the Duchess of Yuy.

The idea of this man touching Duo as intimately as I had made my blood boil. He may not flaunt it as openly as Trant Clark, but there was certainly a sort of perverse glee to his countenance whenever we shared the same space. The bitter jealousy that gutted me every time I looked at him and remembered his hands on Duo's waist as they danced was enough to sharpen my glare.

"You've traveled far," Prince Milliardo said, unperturbed by my icy silence. "I hope you and the Duchess enjoy the Capital's festivities while here."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Is he well?" Count Otto asked, a pleasant smile on his face that I could not help but find vile. The reminder that he, too, may have seen Duo at his most vulnerable, most lovely - I wanted to tear his throat out.

"That's right, there was an accidental fire, wasn't there?" Prince Milliardo continued. "Has the Duchess recovered?"

"My husband is well," I said, lingering on the first two words pointedly. Count Otto's smile only widened. "He is looking forward to the Hunt and other festivities."

Duo mostly seemed confused about why he himself was not participating in the Hunt, and also lowkey terrified by the idea he'd spend most of its time sitting in a tea party. He and Meilan had some weird vendetta against tea pastries now and seemed to be playing a punishment game with it.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing him," Count Otto replied.

Prince Milliardo gave a chiding click of his tongue, sliding his blue gaze to his friend in warning.

I gave another formal bow to the Prince. "There are matters I must attend to at my estate, so I shall leave first. Please excuse me."

I turned and left without a backwards glance.

Returning to the estate in a more sour mood than I left it, I worked on composing myself during the ride. It was fruitless to take out my frustrations on my servants or my men, and alarming Duo to it would only worsen my temperament. Instead, I needed to focus on what had to be done by the end of the week, what improvements needed to be made to the training, and the time I could set aside just for Duo.

It was with these thoughts in mind that I entered the estate. The hum of activity for each estate was always different; for the provincial estate, it had always been a little more chaotic, a little more free. With Duo there, the servants affected a cowering posture, but were always more quick to get things done - either to avoid Duo's ire or Wufei's criticisms.

In contrast, the servants of the Capital estate were much more lax. ("Snobby bastards," Trowa had called them.) They responded to orders at their own pace, something that had only happened after my father had passed away. I had had limited contact with the Capital estate staff given my upbringing, and the servants themselves were often changed out for whatever reason.

After my marriage to Duo, the response speed had picked up a bit - but so had the amount of errors. At times, it almost seemed purposeful; in such circumstances, I never tried to get between Duo's harsher punishments, such as when he threw out everyone's food after being served a poor meal. As the Duchess, he held the power in the estate and I left its management up to him aside from the finances, which Quatre was responsible for keeping up to date on, just in case.

The relationship between Duo and the Capital estate servants had been different from what he had with the provincial ones; the Capital servants were effusive with their words when it came to Duo, more attuned to his moods and whims, playing the role of perfect sycophants. They undermined this by failing to carry out his orders, which often resulted in some petty punishment Duo oft gave out. It had always surprised me that he had preferred the Capital estate because of this; at the very least, the provincial estate servants never failed in their duties.

That preference seemed to be quickly dwindling.

"It's a mop," Duo stressed. "How do you not know how to mop?"

One of the estate maids was clutching the mop, standing in the foyer amongst a scattering of puddles. Duo was standing only a few paces away, arms crossed; Hilde was hovering just behind him, along with Mikhail and Simon. I supposed the Duchess Guards had settled in and figured out rotations, if the tailing of the Duchess had resumed.

"But I was mopping?" the maid said unsurely.

Duo gave her an incredulous look. "You were making puddles," he pointed out. "I could go fishing in some of them!"

"Wouldn't that be a good alternative for dinner?" Mikhail mused lightly.

A look of disgust flashed across Duo's face; he was doubtlessly remembering the pickled nightmare feast from last night. I'd already grown used to such dishes, something I'd trained myself early on to do after Duo first realized my distaste for pickled meats and then included it on every menu since.

"It's going to be nikujaga tonight," Duo said, turning a scowl on his guard. "Morris revised the entire menu. I'm not even sure he slept last night, actually…"

"So he's only half-awake and cooking our dinner?" Simon asked dubiously.

Mikhail grinned, "I like it. Keeps us on our toes."

"As soon as Heero comes back, I'm telling him to fire you."

Mikhail laughed, but that was soon cut short as I stepped fully into view. "Mikhail - you're fired." ("Again?" Mikhail complained quietly.) Duo's head whipped around at the sound of my voice; clearly he'd been so involved in his conversation that he hadn't really noticed me, and the sight of his brightening expression as his eyes fell on me did more to soothe my mood more than anything else.

"Welcome back!" Duo greeted. "I was just teaching Annie here how to mop!"

Annie hurriedly bowed to me, but her head soon lifted and she looked down at her mop in doubt. "...But I know how to mop?"

"You don't," Duo and Hilde said in perfect, eerie unison.

Annie clutched her mop a little tighter.

"Heero, you'll join me for tea, right?" Ah, so that was why Duo was out here checking on the servant's mopping progress; he was attempting to avoid tea time. His usual victims must be busy today, otherwise he'd already be there gleefully bullying them into eating everything he didn't want to swallow himself.

I nodded in agreement. Even if I had to eat sweet pastries and drink bitter tea, as long as I could spend it with Duo, I didn't mind. Duo grinned at me beatifically, looping his arm through my own after asking Hilde to watch over Annie's progress, and then he led me out of the room and down to the garden.

The back garden was well-tended, the head gardener one of the more veteran servants who lived off-property. It was a good place for some private time, as few servants bothered going outside except for the occasional walk, and even then seemed hesitant to do so because Wufei's office overlooked the garden and he could easily shout down at them if he saw them slacking in their work.

Taking a seat at one of the tables with a thin veneer of privacy, Duo had Simon go get a servant to fetch us the teatime snacks. Mikhail stood guard some distance away, an unnecessary venture with me there, but I suppose his obsessive paranoia when it came to Duo's safety never really took an off day.

"How is the Queen?" Duo asked, the shade of the overhanging tree casting a shadow over where we sat and giving us a break from the afternoon sun. "According to Hilde, she hasn't been well and doesn't usually entertain audiences herself anymore."

"Yes, I'm afraid her illness has only worsened," I agreed. It was a public secret among the Court that she was partially bedridden, leaving more duties to her nephew and his fiance, Duke Lucrezia Noin. It was for this reason that the Prince's continuous absences from the public eye had grown in notoriety, and some began to whisper that he was indulging in vices despite the loyalty of Duke Noin.

All of this information had been essentially forced upon me by the Maxwell family, who enjoyed whispering some of Sanc's dirtiest secrets into my ear. I understood the need for knowledge, but sometimes I just wished it wasn't told to me by someone who so clearly enjoyed the muddied lines of grey. I could only be grateful that Duke Maxwell and his heir had yet to arrive at the Captial.

"The Prince is next in line for now, isn't he?" Duo mused aloud.

For now? Sometimes, Duo said things that could not help but leave me with a niggling feeling of doubt - small instances that piled up, one after another, that couldn't be explained with amnesia. It was similar to how Duo was before as well; as a Maxwell, I had thought maybe Duke Maxwell or his first son had taught Duo more than just dandy etiquette. There were some things he should not be able to glean as readily as he had to use against other people, as if someone had whispered secrets in his ear that would have never been voiced aloud.

"Did you...meet anyone else?"

The question was so hesitant, so uncharacteristically worried, that I couldn't help the consternated look that crossed my features. Duo was looking right at me, violet eyes quietly assessing, and it felt as if he somehow had knowledge about that unfortunate run-in with the Prince.

"I briefly chatted with the Prince," I admitted after a moment. Then, softer, "And Count Otto."

Duo's expression was only vaguely inquisitive. "Count Otto?" he echoed, seemingly reading something from my tone and limited expression. "Who's that?"

...Right. Quatre had said Duo only remembered he'd cheated on me, but not necessarily with who. I thought about telling Duo who, exactly, Count Otto was to us - but the idea left a sour taste in my mouth.

Wasn't it enough that Otto had likely already been on Duo's tongue? Had already seen Duo at his softest, asleep in bed, nude form entangled in silken covers? Count Otto had enjoyed Duo's company more than enough, and now that Duo no longer had need of him - then he not need spend a moment longer thinking of Otto.

"No one important." Or worthy of your attention, I thought, sliding my hand over to rest atop his on the table. "...He's close to the Prince, is all. It would be best to stay away from him, to avoid getting caught up in palace drama."

It was a little white lie. If there was palace drama, I would honestly be the last person to know it; but if this would keep Duo avoidant of Count Otto, I didn't mind saying it. There was no need for him to worry and stress about his last affair.

Duo held my hand back, smiling, and I contented myself with the sight. Servants soon arrived with the tea and cakes, obviously made by the skillful hands of Morris and his apprentice, going by the taste and shape. The tea often served by the servants of the Capital tended to be more bitter, supposedly for health-related purposes; this had been softened by the addition of sugar and cream, something Duo would not have enjoyed otherwise.

"This week," Duo started, after a few minutes of quietly enjoying his tea. His gaze was no longer on me, fastened on some macarons instead. "Did you have any plans?"

There was a hesitance to his words that I couldn't understand. He seemed almost reluctant to ask, but I answered as honestly as I could. "I will be spending most of my time with the guards we left here, as they have not been keeping up with their training in my absence," I said. "Aside from that, I have no concrete plans for the week."

If this was before, I would have had to spend more time assessing and organizing the estate; however, between Duo and Quatre, that would doubtlessly be well-handled. In what free time I did have, I had hoped to spend with Duo… Especially when it came to the more private moments.

Remembering the flush on his features and the taste of his skin on my tongue, I couldn't help the long look I gave his lovely face. Even on a casual afternoon like this, there was no one more lovely: dressed in a simple light green tunic with accents of silver and gold, shaped into stenciled outlines of leaves, Duo looked like a fairy of spring.

Duo fiddled with his teacup. "...Were you… Would you need to go to the beach this week? For any reason?"

...The beach?

I racked my mind to come up with any possible reason I would be at the beach. Even with the upcoming Autumn Equinox festival, most stall-sellers stayed in the city center. There were merchants at the beachfront, and it wasn't too unusual to see even some nobles walking the seaside for the view.

There was nothing particularly compelling for me to be there, though. Unless Duo wanted to walk the coast with me, I didn't see any point in visiting.

"I do not have any plans to visit the beach," I told him frankly. "But if you were interested in going, I'd like to escort you." Duo would look beautiful framed by a coastal sunset; waning sunlight would play off the bronze highlights in his chestnut locks, perhaps even dropping the kiss-like freckles that sometimes blossomed across his cheeks during the summer months.

"No!"

I was startled by the exclamation, as was Mikhail and Simon stationed near the back garden doors. The vehemency in Duo's tone was not out of anger - I was more than acquainted with what an angry Duo sounded like - but seemed to be almost terrified.

"...Duo?" I asked, brows knit together in concern. Quatre had said Duo had a lingering fear of fire after the greenhouse fire, but I heard nothing about a fear of the beach or water in general.

Duo flinched back, flushing. "I-I'm sorry," he stammered out. "I...I don't think Coralina would be happy if I came back smelling like seaweed."

I stared at him.

"But I'm sure there's plenty to do at the beach!" he continued, almost fervent. "Like, um, building sandcastles! And feeding seagulls!"

So he did want to go to the beach?

"But sand really does get everywhere," Duo said, contradicting himself. "Do you even like beaches, Heero?"

"I'm not partial either way."

A look of relief flashed across Duo's face, before it was just as quickly swallowed by frustration. "No, no," he shook his head, seemingly angry at himself. "You need to go…"

I found myself staring at his clearly torn face. Why was he struggling so much with a beach visit? "We don't have to go," I offered to him. I hadn't even thought about going until he brought it up, so why did it seem like someone was holding him at swordpoint? "If you'd rather spend time elsewhere, I'd do so gladly."

Duo looked at me with an expression I could not identify. He seemed almost heartbroken, which sent my own heart racing, trying to figure out if he'd somehow misunderstood my words.

"I just want to spend time with you," I tried to explain.

This only made his expression more agonized, to my horror. "I- We don't have to," I hurried out. Maybe Duo thought I was being too clingy and wanted more space? "If you want more time to yourself, I understand-"

"No, that's not it!" Duo interrupted me, standing up from his seat and immediately moving to my side. I thought he was about to climb into my lap and my heart sped up for completely different reasons from before. "I want to spend time with you, Heero! All the time in the world, if you'd spare it for me."

I looked dazedly into his clear violet eyes. "I'd give you the world if you asked," I promised him. I was barely able to stop myself in time for asking for another kiss.

Duo must have heard my mental plea, as he gently held my face between his hands and tilted my chin just so, our lips meeting in a kiss that was more affection than indulgence. "You're too good, 'Ro," Duo murmured against my lips, kissing me chastely once again.

I could not take it anymore - pulling Duo down into my lap and winding my arms around his waist. "Kiss me again?" I asked him, looking up at him from under my lashes.

The kiss that followed that request was not so chaste.

There was a quiet clearing of the throat to our left. Duo pulled back, cheeks warmed with a light blush as he whipped around to look at the interloper, although I kept my arms wrapped securely around his waist so he couldn't wiggle off my lap. Instead, I turned another glowering look in the direction of the cough.

Quatre was smiling serenely, his gaze utterly distant, while Trowa was staring dead at us with no expression save for the exasperation clear in his visible eye.

"You can't keep calling us voyeurs when you keep doing this in public," Trowa stated blandly, because Trowa secretly wanted to be demoted and also kicked out of the country.

I glared at him. "I didn't realize my backyard was for the public," I shot back.

"If Wufei can see it from his office window, it's the public."

...I could almost hear the hour-long lecture on propriety incoming.

Duo came through my balcony doors once again in the dead of night. I hadn't been able to even ask if he'd like a drink before his hungry lips fell upon my own, and then I had him pinned to the bed underneath me as we explored each other. It was a complete 180 from the chaste, tea-scented kisses in the afternoon; Duo was desperate and clinging, and I came undone in his ravenous hands again and again.

It was in the quiet hour just before sunrise, with his head tucked under my chin and our hands tangled together, that Duo spoke.

"Let's go to the beach this Saturday."

There was a strange air here.

It wasn't a long journey; by carriage, it only took a little under an hour to reach the beach. The amount of people coming along was not unusual either: as was custom, Duo had two guards with him. Quatre had invited himself along, seemingly sensing the strange mood, and Trowa was just attached to Quatre at the hip. Wufei and Meilan had declined to come along, obviously thinking this was another date and refusing to be caught up in 'rampant PDA.'

No, the strange air was the result of the sheer melancholy wrapped around Duo like a near-visible cloud.

He had been attached to me throughout the entire week; any time I was not training with the men, he'd be beside me. I'd shamelessly enjoyed every last bit of his attention, delighting in the way he clung to me, freely giving him all the kisses he asked for with his mouth and with his eyes. Wufei and Quatre had started staying away from my office and knocking, loudly and insistently, before coming inside.

This morning, he even seemed reluctant for us to leave bed, and we'd lain together far longer than usual. It got to the point where even Hilde felt the need to interrupt us so we'd finally get up, and even then it seemed like Duo would fight her about it.

I had already been worried given the change, but that only doubled when Quatre talked to me in private as Duo was getting dressed. According to the blonde, Duo had grown increasingly anxious and distressed as the week wore on; however, when asked directly about it, my husband laughed off the concern and insisted everything was fine.

Now, sitting in the carriage with Duo plastered to my side, it felt as if he was heading to his execution. He'd slipped his hand into my own, and I'd attempted to soothe him by rubbing my thumb against his. He'd leaned into my touch easily enough, but this only changed that anxious energy into the melancholy now encasing him.

"Duo, we don't have to go to the beach," I told him again.

He didn't even look at me, expression grim. "We do," he replied glumly.

"I don't even like the beach that much," I tried. "There's a local night market open tonight. I think that'd be more enjoyable to visit instead, don't you?"

Duo didn't reply, still leaning his head against my shoulder and refusing to look at me. I turned a distressed look on my two friends.

"The night market should be very lively," Quatre spoke up in support. "Given that this is Capital, they will also be selling food and wares different from what we have back home."

Duo didn't respond to that either. Instead, he gripped my hand a little tighter, projecting abject misery that I could not even guess the reason for. Before I could demand the driver turn the carriage around and head back to the estate, it came to a steadying stop as we reached our destination.

I still had half a mind to return home. It was obvious Duo dreaded being here, and even if I did not know the reason, the very fact that he looked so miserable was enough for me. It was only after Duo looked ready to climb down from the carriage himself if I kept dawdling that I finally gave up trying to leave, Quatre and Trowa disembarking first before myself so that I could help Duo off. I kept his hand in mine even after he'd fully stepped down, and he clung back despite averting his eyes to the coastline.

"...S'pretty," he observed grudgingly.

I had no idea where this hatred of the beach had come from, but made a mental note to avoid all beachfront locations whenever possible in the future. I don't remember ever hearing about Duo displaying such a contemptuous attitude when it came to visiting coastal places such as Taketoyo back in the Yuy duchy, but if the ocean made him look this miserable, then I'd make damn sure he never had to see it again.

I was, at the very least, right about Duo's beauty with the beach as the background. The salty sea air brushed past us in a cool breeze, sending Duo's chestnut locks flying like a halo of warm autumn past his shoulders. As we hadn't wanted to stand out too much, we'd once again donned commoner garb, but even the dirtiest of rags could never conceal Duo's gorgeous features.

Berion and Takeo, the two guards chosen for the escort, remained with the carriage and driver while Duo started tugging me in the direction of the sandy shore. Quatre and Trowa followed along at a more sedate pace, one that put more and more distance between us as sand crunched under our every step.

It was only late in the afternoon, the sun low on the horizon as people still wandered the busy coast. Peddlers had set up small stalls here and there for their beach-going patrons, the fishermen having long returned to the dock after a day's work. The air was fresh, the temperature pleasant; this would have been an otherwise enjoyable trip had Duo not looked so thoroughly dejected.

Desperate to improve his mood, I tried to think of topics of conversation to distract him. "How goes the research?" Talking about Duo's inventions was always a good way to improve his mood, any and all of his innovations sure to put back that lively gleam in his eye that I so adored.

"The maids finally cleaned out my study just yesterday," Duo replied, perking up somewhat at the topic. "So I haven't got much done yet. I've been going over the financial records, though; it seems we're being overcharged on some staple items, so I was supposed to visit the local merchant guild with Quatre and Morris to see why we're being swindled."

I couldn't help the small smile that barely turned the corner of my lips. "Not Daigo?" I teased. The chef's apprentice, Daigo, was one of the orphans that had benefited from Duo's new pathway program; he'd just barely turned 15 years of age, but he'd already shot up in height and weight. He was also fanatically dedicated to my husband, and as far as Daigo was concerned, Duo's word was law.

"If we bring Daigo, it's going to turn into a shakedown," Duo replied dryly, although there was a quick spark of amusement in his eyes at the idea. I could feel relief for only a few seconds before that spark died down once more, Duo's eyes skittering to my face as his grip on my hand briefly tightened.

Frustration was another feeling I had long grown used to when it came to my relationship with Duo. There were times, early in our relationship and when every word I spoke or action I took seemed to be wrong, that Duo continued to look at me as if waiting for some pronouncement. It was those quiet moments after he'd verbally lashed out that set me most on edge, and likewise, Duo looked just as ready for me to snap back at him.

When I didn't - when I stayed quiet, when I turned away so that he wouldn't have to see the face he so despised, when I bit my lips so that more useless apologies did not fall from my mouth - it was as if Duo's discontent only grew further and more vicious. But it was worse when he did the same, when he stayed quiet and left and didn't look back.

We walked for a bit in morose silence. I glanced back to see that both Quatre and Trowa had disappeared from view; even if they constantly interrupted the more intimate moments, they at least knew when to give us the illusion of privacy. Trowa seemed to even be using Heavyarms, since I couldn't sense either him or his husband nearby at all, and I silently sent a mental thanks to my friends.

"Duo," I began, loud enough to only be heard over the waves breaking on the shore. I drew us to a stop, Duo turning to look at me with an unreadable expression on his face. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me what's bothering you. But if there's something you're struggling with, or there's something I can do to help… I am here for you."

The expression on Duo's face only looked more pinched, and for a heart-stopping moment, I thought he was going to cry. I have never seen Duo cry before; his rage colored ice-cold, his misery dry and biting. If Duo ever shed tears, he ensured that no one ever saw him.

I held myself back from reaching out for him, but the point was moot when Duo reached out to me first: with a shaky step, he closed the small distance between us, close but still within the realm of propriety for married couples. He laid the hand not currently holding my own gently against my cheek, staring into my eyes for the first time since we started heading to this damn beach, and for a wild moment I thought he was going to kiss me again.

I wouldn't have minded. Even if it was improper for such a public space, given the number of people still walking along the crowded shore; it definitely lacked the sort of privacy Oakwall's riverside had offered. If it soothed Duo though, even just a little, I would do anything.

"I..." he began unsteadily, hesitating for a long moment. There was a pervasive melancholy there I realized I had not seen in months, an expression that had seeped into Duo's countenance since the moment our engagement had been announced.

I knew he was going to lie in the next breath the moment that melancholy hardened into determination. "I forgot something in the carriage," he said, pulling back, pulling away. "I'll be right back."

The words panicked me for a reason I could not understand. "I will escort you-"

"No, I'll be quick," Duo refused, meeting my eyes resolutely. His tone had forcibly lightened and I recognized the sweet lull of it, as it was a tone he'd often used when he was forced to politely converse with nobles he'd prefer to avoid.

He took a step back, half-turning away. His eyes lingered on my face as if he wanted to immortalize it in his memory. "...Get me a seashell?"

I recognized the distraction for what it was. "...Alright."

Calling Duo out on his lies was a pointless endeavor. Quatre could read the emotions of others, but Duo had still lied to his face and told him he was fine. I could argue with Duo until I was blue in the face, but his stubbornness often outweighed my own, and I'd much rather just bundle him close and wait until he was ready to tell me everything.

Duo looked at me for a long moment, frozen and unwilling to actually do what he said he would. I took a half-step forward, ready to tug him back into my arms where it was clear he wanted to be, but that small step was enough to send him back by three more. He sent me a fleeting smile that was too wretched to be anything but a grimace, turning away with a stiff set to his shoulders and never looking back.

I watched him go for a long moment.

"Nothing?" I asked.

With only the slightest shift in the sand, Quatre stepped up beside me. Given his upbringing in the desert portion of the Kingdom of Lagrange, Quatre was used to hot sand underfoot and was hardly bothered by treks along its shiting surface. The only sign that he was unsued to the cooler temperature of a seaside city was the slightly warmer clothes he wore today, but even that was more for show than need; naturally, Sandrock would never allow its host to suffer from a change in environment.

"I'm sorry," Quatre murmured. "I am still unsure. Even though his treatment of the estate servants is more cordial than usual, it's not to the degree of affecting his temperament."

I was disappointed by the news. If Quatre could at least find the source of Duo's displeasure, I would be able to get rid of it so that it never bothered my husband again. Duo's out-of-place dislike of the beach was only a symptom, I was sure of it; his mood had been strange for most of the week, no matter what he was doing.

"What can I do?" I asked my friend plaintively.

Quatre placed a placating hand on my shoulder. "He takes comfort in your attention," he said. "Do as you've been doing when he looks to you - respond to him. Until he's ready to tell you what is weighing him down, until he feels he is able to share his burden with you… Just be there for him."

I nodded in understanding.

Quatre pulled back his hand, looking at me with eyes that I knew saw far too much. The sheen to them glowed just slightly too blue, like someone had poked a hole in the sky and drained a section of its color to pool in the man's irises.

Professor G had professed admiration for Wufei, who sacrificed himself in place of the woman he loved. I remembered that same feeling of awe when meeting Trowa for the first time, seeing someone so similar to myself. That feeling had echoed when I'd met Quatre, and then again with Wufei. That feeling had been reciprocated, had then been strengthened with trust and devotion - until we realized we were too reluctant to part.

Wufei, who had sacrificed; Trowa, who had been forsaken; and myself, who had been birthed.

But Quatre… Quatre was the one who chose it for himself.

"Sharing goes both ways," he reminded me softly, and I heard the voice underneath his own - a second heart bleeding through the first. "If you can't share your secrets with him - then why would he share his own with you?"

I turned away from him. "Not everyone has your steady heart, Sandrock."

We made our way quietly back to the carriage. The unnatural blue hue had receded from Quatre's eyes with every step, the lingering presence I felt like an incessant buzz against my skin reduced to nothing more than the pleasant sea breeze.

I paused every so often to pick up the seashells along the way. I know Duo only meant it as a way to distract me, but even in jest, I would never deny his request; of the dozens I'd picked up and discarded, I kept the five most eye-catching. I wondered if Duo would keep all five, and if so, would he place them somewhere in easy view - or perhaps keep them locked up in a jewelry box, a special gift for his eyes only?

Quatre reached out and grabbed me by the wrist, jerking me to a stop still several paces away from where we'd left the carriage parked. It was easy to see why once I followed the line of his gaze: Duo and Trowa were standing beside our mode of transport, the former red-faced in displeasure as the latter stared him down unperturbed.

Berion and Takeo were hovering several yards away, alongside the carriage driver; given the carefully neutral expression beset with utterly vicious eyes on Berion's face, it seemed they'd been ordered to stand all the way over there to not get in the way of what, for all intents and purposes, seemed to be a one-sided argument.

"-and it's really not any of your business, is it, Commander?" Duo fairly sneered. It was a pretty good replica of his expression after Hilde's firing, but the tear-choked quality to his eyes undermined it somewhat.

"I suppose," Trowa agreed in a disinterested tone. "Please excuse this lowly one's concern. I thought if there was something that was bothering someone as noble and esteemed as yourself, Your Grace, then it was cause for alarm."

"Give me a fucking break, man," Duo groaned. It was times like this, where Duo dropped the thin veil of courtesy and responded in ways that would be much more at home in a tavern, that couldn't help but perk my curiosity. Just how much time had Duo been spending with the commonfolk of the Yuy provincial capital?

"We can go on as many breaks as you deem necessary, Your Grace."

Duo glared at him. "Yeah? What if I break your fucking-"

Quatre cleared his throat pointedly, Duo breaking off mid-sentence. He whipped around in our direction, taken by surprise. I was surprised myself; not by the interaction - Duo and Trowa got along as well as cats and dogs at times - but more by the way Duo's eyes scanned the area, as if he were looking for someone else despite everyone he should know being already present.

"Y-You're back?"

I resisted the urge to ask him about the obvious confusion and doubt in his voice. His abandoning me on the beach to fake retrieve something from the carriage had been obvious, and I couldn't parse the strange expression of hope on his face.

"I've found some seashells for you," I told him, moving forward.

Duo's eyes kept looking past me, back over the beach with vague disbelief. I didn't make mention of it, instead drawing closer in order to hold out the five seashells I'd gathered for his inspection.

Duo wasn't looking down at my proffered gifts, however - he was looking at my face, with that sort of hungry gleam to his eyes that I'd seen more often in the quiet moments in bed rather than out here in public. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Trowa shifting away, likely noticing the change in Duo's demeanor.

"Duo?" I prodded gently.

He finally tore those alluring violet eyes off of me, his gaze darting down to the five seashells in my hand. We stood together for a long moment, and I did not believe for one second of it that it was because he was admiring the seashells at length.

"Was there… Did something happen while I was gone?" Duo asked quietly.

The tone itself made me want to hold him, to reassure him. I stopped myself, instead only answering. "No, nothing." I paused briefly. "Was something supposed to happen?"

"...A lot of romance stories start at the beach, you know."

Duo's reply completely blindsided me. For a second, it was almost like he spoke in a different language because the words seemed so out of place and not even in the realm of my expectations. "Do they?" I thanked every star in the sky that my voice remained level, even as my mind raced. Was this it? Did Duo want… Did he want a more romantic date on the beach?

Come to think of it, although the idea had been his, he didn't seem enthused at all about planning it. Was I supposed to have stepped up and done the planning this time?

My heart stuttered in my chest. I really hadn't done anything, acting more like a spectator; Duo was the one who had planned our date in the town market, he was the one who paid a visit to my room late at night, he was the one who visited my office in his free time and invited me to tea break or just to chat.

Duo was really the driving force between us, and I'd just been following along without a care. I remembered the misunderstanding after our first kiss keenly now; was this a similar issue? Had my inaction given Duo the wrong message again, and I had unknowingly hurt him once more?

"You didn't happen to meet anyone?" Duo asked me, still refusing to look me in the eye. "I know you have a hero complex, you'd definitely swoop in to save some poor damsel in distress-"

"I didn't meet anyone," I interrupted him. Gods, what was he even talking about? I should have realized what he had been feeling, but instead I had just been blindly enjoying his attention and leaving him to wallow in his insecurity. "Duo - how could I look at anyone but you? No one can even compare."

That finally got him to look at me. The wide-eyed gaze combined with the faint flush on his cheeks was bewitching; I moved the proffered seashells to one hand, freeing the other to cup his cheek. I slowly swept my thumb across his cheekbone, relishing the soft skin under my fingertips.

"I could spend all day looking at you and never get tired of it," I told him softly.

Duo - finally - could not look away.

As gently and quickly as I could, I pressed my lips dryly to his own before pulling away. I kept my hand on his cheek, rubbing the arch of his cheekbone with the pad of my thumb, savoring the dazed look of want in his eyes as he finally looked back and saw me, for what felt like the first time today.

"My Duo," I breathed out. "Let's go?"

Duo swallowed thickly, a man parched for something more than water.

"...Yeah."

"Your Grace, shall we check out that stall?"

Looking over to where Quatre pointed, Duo's eyes lit up: the stall was lined with multicolored artwork painted onto the wooden facsimiles of koi fish, decadent and engaging to all who passed it by. The music that could be heard all across the market had no discernible source within eyesight quite yet, but there was more than enough lively chatter and merry-making that the entire area was blanketed in a festive cheer.

"Hell yeah," Duo agreed, so much lighter and brighter than he had been in days. "I want the stupid-looking one in red."

I watched him traipse over there with a watchful eye. Stopping by the night market had been a last-minute decision, and proof that Duo had hardly been listening when we were on our way over to the beach; he'd caught sight of it when we were on our way back to the estate, and the clear expression of excitement on his face had the orders to stop by flowing out of my mouth before I'd really thought it through.

"Are you disappointed that we're here instead of back home, where you could have had your way with him?" Trowa asked me conversationally.

I fantasized about firing him for about the hundredth time this month. "No," I returned curtly. "...But thank you."

Trowa flashed me a confused look. "For needling you about your sexual fantasies?"

"Sometimes I understand Duo's desire to rip your bangs off," I told him dryly. "And no - for trying to ask Duo what was wrong."

Trowa's relationship with Duo was not the most peaceful, but there had been some improvement over the past few months. Between Quatre singing Duo's praises and even Catherine's own awkward support, Trowa's ire had lessened to almost friendly levels. He and Duo never quite lost that volatile edge, but there was less bitter contempt between them that I didn't think I'd ever see.

It was this slight thawing of relations that had pushed Trowa to not only consider trying to figure out what was bothering Duo, but also to even outright speak with him about it. The words they'd traded could hardly be considered nice on either side, but the intent had been kind and from a positive place. I could be thankful for such progress.

"Hm," was Trowa's response - neither an admission to caring about the Duchess nor a denial.

I accepted that quietly, looking around the market stalls. There was a large variety of them, as expected of the Capital: food vendors mingled with artisan stalls, and there were even a large number of games set up offering various desirable prizes. Quatre and Duo had already purchased some art pieces from the koi-shaped plaque seller, now moving on to a nearby game stall where they could catch small fish.

I looked beside me but Trowa was already gone. It took me a moment to find him again; he was standing by a different game stall, a sort of archery game with enough big prizes that it was obvious he was considering partaking. I knew he and Quatre enjoyed patronizing game stalls and competing for the most extravagant prizes, so I needn't worry about either of them as I escorted Duo around the market.

It was as I turned to head in the direction of the fishing game stall that a solid weight crashed into my side. Given the location and the light impact, there was no sense of danger; I was hardly moved in any case, looking down to the figure who'd stumbled back from the collision and quickly grabbing them by the wrist so they didn't fall over completely.

"I-I am so sorry-" The girl's words cut off abruptly when she looked up into my face.

I blinked down at her. I wasn't unused to expressions of fear when people looked at me, but usually that was because I was dressed in my knight gear or they were facing me on the battlefield; in the middle of a night market surrounded by lively crowds, dressed in plain commoner garb, I didn't think I made a very threatening sight.

Thus, the wide-eyed horror on the girl's face was completely unexpected.

"You-" she choked out, yanking her arm back as if burned. "Why are you here?!"

I stared at her. Was I supposed to recognize her?

Wheat blond hair, blue eyes… I suppose she did look vaguely familiar, although I could not tell from where. Given her reaction, though, I doubted we were on friendly terms. She was too weak and frail to be an enemy combatant, so she must be from Sanc. Perhaps a noble, also disguising themselves as a commoner to enjoy the market?

If so, then I wanted little to do with her. This was supposed to be time I spent with Duo, after all.

"You ran into me," I reminded her coldly. "Now excuse me."

I turned - then came to a jerking stop before I could walk headlong into Duo. He had been just behind me, clearly having won at the little fishing game, if the small fish toy in his hand was any indication. Quatre was a step behind him, looking at the back of Duo's head with a furrowed brow.

The reason why soon revealed itself as Duo's grip on his prize slackened, the small wooden toy falling from his hand with a light clatter. His eyes were not on it, nor on me - instead, they went past my shoulder and to the girl I'd turned away from.

Instinctively, I turned around as well, standing in front of Duo to block his view. I don't know what about the girl had put that look on Duo's face, but I knew I was going to make it stop one way or another.

I was even more surprised when Duo gripped the back of my shirt and yanked me back. The half-step back was enough, Duo moving to stand beside me, one hand still clutching at my back, the other reaching around to grip the front in a possessive hold.

Even still, Duo's gaze never left the blond - who was looking back at him with similarly wide eyes. The horror from earlier had bled completely from her expression, replaced by a sort of wonder that made me want to encase Duo in my arms and loudly proclaim him as mine.

The name that fell from Duo's lips was not mine however.

"...Relena?"

A/N: My bb girl is finally here~!

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