The stars in Heaven

The stars in Heaven

Chapter 2

Ahhhh! Ok ok, I've decided to change something in the characters. Quatre and the gang ARE NOT 21. No, they are 17. Yeah I thought the age gap was a little strange…so they're 17. Remember 17. This applies to chapter one and through it all. Ok they're now 17 years old. Elise is still 15.

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"Miss Elise? You should come and get ready now." Elise looked up from the book she was reading. Her maid stood at the door holding a tray of teacups, watching her.

"All right, I'm coming." Elise closed the dusty novel and placed it back on the shelf. She followed Her maid back up to her chambers to get ready for that night. She slipped out of her clothes and into the beautiful gown. She twirled in front of the mirror, watching the fabric fall on folds around her ankles.

"Oh no! how am I going to do my hair? I can't just wear it in the braids!" Elise turned to her maid. "What am I going to do?" A panicked look crossed Ellie's features.

"Don't worry miss, I have the perfect idea." The maid sat Ellie down at the mirror and started to fiddle with her hair.

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Quatre was bored. He was obliged as the master of the house to stand at the front and greet every person who came through the door. 'why did I invite so many people?!" He sighed to himself. The guest's of honor stood beside him shaking everyone's hands who walked by. Duo, looking dashing in his tuxedo, leaned over to Quatre.

"Why the hell did you invite so many people?!" he whispered. Quatre shrugged. He looked along the line of his long-time friends. Heero, still wearing that familiar "I-have-no-emotions-so-don't-mess-with-me" look, was wearing a tuxedo, and stood in silence, shaking everyone's hands and sending death glares at them when they turned away. Trowa, was standing in silence also and nodding at the people who walked by, he was also wearing a black tuxedo. Wufei stood at the end of the line with Sally, who now refuses to leave his side, he was wearing a white tuxedo and Sally was wearing a light green gown. Quatre looked down at his own clothes. "I should have worn black" he thought as he fingered the dark blue material. Finally the last noble shook his hand and he signaled the band to start playing. As the band played a waltz, Quatre surveyed his surroundings. Something was missing. He gasped as he realized what it was. Elise wasn't there. "of all the times to be hiding out in that library Elise! Why now?!?" Quatre thought angrily. Suddenly a figure appeared at the entrance to the grand ballroom. She wore a long deep violet gown, and her dark hair was intricately braided and placed around her head like a crown. She seemed to glow, and was the most gorgeous women in the room. Quatre heard a gasp come from beside him. Obviously Duo had seen her. Quatre smiled and looked back to the girl. As he looked harder he realized it was Elise! "She's gorgeous! I knew that dress-maker was good, but I never thought…" Quatre's thoughts were cut off by a tugging on his sleeve.

"Quatre! Do you know that girl? Who is she? Wow is she beautiful!"

"Uh, yes Duo, I do know her." Quatre said with an evil grin. Obviously Ellie had affected Duo. Quatre turned back to look where Ellie had been standing.

"where did she…" Quatre's thoughts were interrupted again when he noticed Ellie making her way across the dance floor towards him. Heero, Trowa, Wufei and Sally all came and stood beside Duo, as Ellie walked up to Quatre.

"Hey Quatre! I guess that dress lady didn't do half bad." Ellie said looking down at her dress.

"Half bad? Ellie you're gorgeous! Will you dance with your ugly cousin?" Quatre said holding out his arm to her.

"Oh Quatre…you're right you're hideous." Ellie laughed and took his arm.

"Shut up, I'm the master of this house."

"Oh don't get all testosteronal on me Quatre. Let's just dance cousin."

Duo and the gang's jaws dropped.

"T-that's Quatre's cousin? That's little Ellie?" Sally stammered.

"Well she's grown up a lot." Trowa said nodding approvingly.

"yeah, She's a lot prettier." Heero murmured as he watched Ellie and Quatre glide across the dance floor.

"Wow! She's more than "prettier" she's an angel! I think I'm in love." Duo said leaning on Heero shoulder.

"Oh quit drooling all over yourself Duo, she's still a women and has a personality and feelings." Wufei corrected holding on to Sally. Duo looked impressed.

"I guess you finally tamed him Sally. Good, he was getting annoying." Wufei looked as if he was about to kill Duo but Sally held him back.

"Don't make me hurt you Maxwell" Sally threatened.

The song ended and Quatre and Ellie returned to the gang.

"Ellie, I would like you to meet my oldest friends. We've been through a lot together, and I trust them with my life. This is Heero. The "perfect soldier" or so they say." Quatre said pointing at Heero, who was trying to look happy. (which is hard seeing as he doesn't have emotions.)

"Nice to meet you Heero. " Elise said with a curtsy. Quatre moved her along down the line.

"This is Trowa. You may rememb…" Quatre's sentence was cut off when Ellie jumped up and hugged Trowa.

"Oh uncle Trowa! Oh course I remember you! You always used to make me laugh when you wore that clown costume." Trowa smiled. Elise let go of his neck and smiled back.

This is Wufei and Sally, they're getting married next month." Elise curtsied.

"How wonderful! I'm sure you'll be happy." Sally smiled and Wufei nodded.

Meanwhile Duo was standing on the end, trying to look suave and sophisticated. (which is hard, well for him it is.)

"This moron is Duo Maxwell. He still has the braid he had when you last saw him. Right now he's helping out at the old orphanage he used to live at." Elise crinkled her nose.

"I remember you. You used to make fun of me and play practical jokes on me!" Elise said pointing a finger at Duo. Duo shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't think she would remember me holding her doll for ransom and then cutting off it's head…" he thought to himself.

"ah yes, the immaturity's of youth. That was all in the past, I was just a child showing a girl how much I liked her." Duo said with a bow and a confident smirk.

"uh-huh…" Ellie crossed her arms and looked skeptically at Duo. Quatre decided to act fast and change the subject…or at least get Ellie away from Duo before she kills him.

"uh, Ellie, why don't you dance with Heero?" Ellie took her eyes off duo and looked to where Heero was standing by the punch bowl, looking obviously bored out of his mind.

"fine. Till next time, Maxwell." Ellie turned and walked away from the still bowing Duo, towards Heero.

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Ellie was standing out on the balcony looking up at the full moon. The sky looked as if a bucket of diamonds had been spilled across it. It was a clear night and Ellie could clearly see all the stars. She had danced with all of the guests of honor, except Duo and Sally and was getting bored. Trowa didn't talk much while they danced, and Heero didn't talk at all. Wufei kept complementing her "personality" and "ability to dance" like he was tiptoeing around the fact that she was pretty. Quatre was busy keeping the nobles entertained. One face kept popping back into Ellie's mind as she reminisced about the evening so far. It was the mischievous face of Duo Maxwell, her childhood enemy. In truth, she had kinda missed him. He was the only one who actually hung out with her and played with her, even if it was practical jokes. He had grown up, that's for sure, he had become more handsome than the dirty little boy playing in the mud with her.

"Excuse me? Ellie?" Elise was startled from her thoughts. She whirled around to face the intruder. It was Duo.

"Am I allowed to approach? Or are you going to kill me?" Duo said with a smirk.

"No, you can come, I won't hurt you…for now that is." Elise countered that evil smirk.

Duo walked up and leaned against the railing.

"Nice night isn't it?" He asked looking up at the stars.

"yeah, it's gorgeous." Ellie gazed up at the sky also. Duo looked over at her. She was leaning against the railing bathed in moonlight. He breathed out. She was beautiful.

"so um, I saw you out here alone and I was wondering if you wanted company?" Ellie smiled at him.

"Sure, why not?" She said as she returned her eyes to the stars.

"So, whatcha thinking about." Duo asked as he looked back to the moon.

"Oh the past, you know, you and I."

"oh yeah…um, you know all those tricks I played on you, WERE because I liked you."

Ellie looked over at him.

"I was four. What was there you could like?"

"So, I was six, you were cute and funny, and were the only girl I knew who would actually play with me." Duo shrugged making Elise laugh.

"yeah, I see you're point. All the girls were scared of you then, I was the only brave one to actually talk to you."

"They were scared of me?! What for?"

"Well you were pretty frightening." Elise laughed.

"oh well, at least you came to talk to me." Duo shrugged. Elise inched closer to him.

"So…you had a crush on me?"

"yeah, and to tell you the truth, I still kind of do…" Duo said looking up at her. Elise was surprised. She never thought anyone would have a crush on her, let alone someone she had liked when she was younger.

"You…you still do?" Elise whispered looking into those deep eyes of his.

"yeah, I do." Duo placed his hand on hers.

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