Chapter 3

Quatre halted his trek across the ballroom to grab two drinks, and then continued on his way.

He admired the girl, for turning down so many invitations to dance and not going insane.

Perhaps I'll just go sit down with her and chat. It looks like we both need a break.

He quickly made his way to her, and when she looked at him, he stared right back. She liked that.

He wasn't afraid to look her in the eye, nor of letting her look him in his.

They saw the eye was the window to the soul, and letting someone stare at your soul can not be easy.

Raven smiled, and stood as he approached. He had passed her first test.

Quatre stood before her, and said cheerily, "Good evening, Miss." and handed her a drink.

She smiled, and accepted it. "Good evening, sir." she said, and sat once more.

She then looked up at him, and waved a hand at the chair beside her. "Please, sit, Mr....Winner...is it?"

He took the chair and smiled. "Call me Quatre." "Quatre, then. I am Raven Summers." she introduced herself,

and sipped at the punch in her hand. "May I ask, why did you come over here? Your date seems to be missing

you. "she gestured to Dorothy, who was searching around for him. P He laughed softly.

"Oh, Dorothy. She's a bit possessive, if you know what I mean. She refuses to admit we are together,

but never lets me speak with an unattached female." his smile broadened.

"I am unattached, you know." Raven said. "I know, but she doesn't." his eyes sparkled.

"Let's go outside before she finds you." Raven suggested. Quatre looked towards the doors to the garden,

and saw Relena and Heero walking in. Relena was looking very, very happy. Heero was smiling.

Quatre took a double take and confirmed it. "Come on, let's go!" he gently took her hand,

and led her outside. They passed by Heero and Relena on their way out. As soon as he was close enough,

Quatre pulled out a camera, and took a shot of Heero smiling, with a teary-eyed Relena in his arms.

With that done, and the couple recovering from the flash, he ran over to them. "Heero...what's wrong.

Something here is not right at all." Relena looked at him. "Everything is perfect." she said softly.

"Then why is Heero smiling?" he asked. The color rose in Heero's face, but he quelled his urge to hide

the smile. "You'll see." she answered, crypticly. "Who is this?" Relena eyes focused on the girl standing

behind Quatre, looking nervous. He quickly introduced them. "We were about to go outside for some air,

then I saw the perfect soldier crack a grin...." "Go on outside." Heero said. "But be back in here by

eight twenty. You don't want to miss it. Trust me." Quatre raised his eyebrows.

So many words at once....from Heero.... "OK, whatever you say." He took the girl, Raven,

by the hand and led her outside. As soon as they were out of earshot, Relena started to giggle. Heero's smile broadened, and he held her tighter. She pulled her left hand from where it was hidden under Heero's hand.

She raised it so he could see. The diamond sparkled in the ballroom light. She giggled some more,

and hid it again. She then looked to where Quatre and Raven were disappearing into the garden.

"Looks like Dorothy's gonna have some competition in the near future." she said. Heero grinned, and silently wished his friend well. "We'd best try to keep Dorothy inside for a while. Eyebrows might not like

Quatre talking with her." She hit Heero on the head, playfully. "Hey, Dorothy is my friend. No name-calling,

OK?"

They were wandering in the maze out in the cool night air, lost in conversation.

Quatre took her hand, and realized she didn't have a corsage. "Oh, I don't have a date, that means no corsage." she said, dismissing it with a wave of her hand. Quatre caught the hand mid-wave,

and begin to slip a corsage onto it. "Dorothy didn't want it. She changed dressed at the last minute,

so it didn't match anymore. But it matches yours perfectly." She looked at the rose, so dark a color

it seemed black in the light of the moon. The baby's breath that surrounded it hadn't even begun to wilt.

It was beautiful. "You shouldn't..." she stopped, when Quatre's watch beeped. "Oh no, we have five minutes to make it out of the maze and inside! Heero and Relena want me to be there!" he looked around for someone

with directions, but they were as alone as could be. "Come on!" she grabbed his hand, hiked up her skirt,

and began to run. "This way!"

Oooo...1xR action too, but I have to remember this is a 4xOC...aw well...I'll have to get

Dorothy out of the picture somehow. Either that or Ravey will. Well, enjoy all!! R&R!! */center P Ayanami_Chan ayanami_rei@softhome.net Ravey venus_star_chain@yahoo.com