Reflections of Beauty
By Obsolete Love
Chapter 6

"YOU'RE WHAT?!" Quatre nearly became a human fountain at the announcement! Instead, he swallowed tea he was drinking, rather too quickly, and went into a coughing frenzy…

Duo's grin widened as he stared at Quatre from the other side of the monitor. "Surprised? I said- HILDE AND I ARE GONNA GET MARRIED!!! You got that alright?"

Quatre's shocked face slowly turned into a smile while he stood up and practically hugged the vid-phone. "Congratulations!!! Where's the happy soon to be bride?"

Hilde appeared behind Duo, wrapping her hands around his shoulders. Quatre could feel the love radiating from the two through the plastic screen.

"Right here, Quatre. Just a minute, okay?" Hilde said before the monitor turned black.

Quatre heard the sound of something fall right after someone gasped in surprise… He didn't have to be a scholar to know what's going on. Quatre's grin reached ear to ear as the monitor came back on line and Duo's dazed, foolishly grinning face-full-of-lipstick appeared while Hilde impishly smiled on top of Duo's lap, her arms still around her soon-to-be husband.

"Sorry about that, Quatre… he hasn't given me his morning kiss yet."

Quatre laughed. "I bet! Congratulations, Hilde. I mean, to both of you. Finally!"

At that comment, Duo jerked. "Finally?! Finally?!"

Hilde nodded. "I know! Finally!"

"HEEEEE-"

Duo's 'hey' was cut off by Hilde's lips, this time she did not bother to blotch out the screen.

Quatre's smile couldn't get any wider… Polls for the two are done- and he's got the tape to prove it!

"Sorry again, Quatre… I love kissing Duo and it's the only way to shut him up."

Duo's dazed face dropped on Hilde's shoulder. "Man oh man! And I luuuv her way. Even if it's torture."

Hilde laughed, getting the inside joke while Quatre just let it pass him, not really understanding it.

"So, when's the wedding?" Quatre asked while he got his planner to erase any set meeting on that date. He had been waiting a long time for this!

"We decided for it to be four months later… or is it five? We want to get a hold of everyone first." Duo said from Hilde's shoulder.

Quatre frowned. "Get a hold of everyone?"

"You know, Heero, Trowa, and Wufei." Duo started.

"That's where you come in." Hilde finished.

Quatre frowned. "Okay… wait… I'm confused."

Duo grinned. "My man Heero helped us get together-"

"So we're planning to help him this time 'round." Hilde finished once again.

At that revelation, Quatre's jaw dropped to his desk. "Heero helped the two of you to get together?!"

Hilde nodded. "Yeah… So sweet of him."

"Sweet?" Quatre asked once again, incredulously. To himself, he asked- 'What happened?!'

"We'll give you the details later, Q-man… but right now, do you know how I can get a hold of T-man?"

Quatre fumbled with his drawer and took out the latest postcard from Trowa. "Yeah… have it right here." He read the address from the postcard while Hilde wrote it down.

"I want it to be something like a get-together for us five, too… that's why. And Trowa is also one of my friends." Duo explained.

"Duo wants you four to be his best men." Hilde said as she let go of the pencil.

Quatre grinned. "Thanks, Duo. I'll write to Trowa also."

"Okay… So, I've got a bridesmaid for Trowa… for Heero and for Wufei… what about you?" Hilde inquired.

Quatre glanced at his door and knew whom he wanted. "Her name is Shanah. I'm sure you'll like her."

Hilde grinned. "I'm sure we will."

"Whoa, Quatre! You dating some girl we and the media don't know about?" Duo asked in disbelief. At that moment, Shanah walked inside and Hilde and Duo's eyes instantly went to her.

"Quatre, are you finished with your tea? I brought in some cakes and another hot mug if you want."

Quatre grinned. "Thanks. You're going to get some of those cakes too, ok? Even if I have to baby feed you."

Hilde smiled while Duo's eyebrows shot up.

Shanah laughed. "Will do. I'll just get some spoons.

"No, wait, Shanah… I want you to meet some of my friends." Quatre quickly called out as he motioned Shanah to his side.

Shanah complied and saw a smiling couple on the vid-phone.

"Duo and Hilde, meet Shanah."

"Hi!" Hilde greeted with a wave.

Shanah grinned and waved back. "Hello."

Duo's eyes blinked as he took in the thick glassed, schoolmarm look of the girl Quatre's crazy about… 'I mean… baby feeding?! Wait… that might be a good idea with Hilde…'

"They're going to be married." Quatre explained while his hands entwined themselves with Shanah's.

Hilde's eyes twinkled some more. She could see something between the two. "Shanah, we were trying to pick a bridesmaid to pair with Quatre… He suggested you… would you like to do it?"

Shanah's eyes widened as she looked from Quatre to the monitor…

"Please say yes. They're some of my best friends and I'd like you to meet them." Quatre pleaded, his eyes showed how much he wanted her to say that 'yes'… and… she couldn't say no…

"Uhm… sure… I mean," she looked at Hilde and Duo, " I hope you won't mind… we just met after all, but… if you'll have me as one of your bridesmaid, then… who am I to argue?" Shanah ended with a tentative smile.

"Oh don't worry, Shanah… I'll be calling you a lot. I'm sure we'll get along just fine." Hilde answered, elbowing her soon-to-be husband.

"Same here! Any friend of Q-man's is a friend of ours."

Shanah laughed at the couple's antics while Quatre tightened his hold on her hand.

"So, Quatre… another favor… Could you contact Relena and ask her to be one of my bridesmaids?" Hilde asked hesitantly… Not that she's close to the Vice Foreign Minister… but Duo did say that she's nice. Besides, it's for Heero's sake.

Quatre grinned. "For Heero's partner, right?"

Shanah's eyebrow raised a bit… Ah… the elusive Heero…

Hilde nodded. "Yes… Maybe if those two see each other face to face, something might wham the man to his right sense and finally admit his feelings for Relena."

"You got it. I'll make sure Relena'll say yes."

"Tell her that Heero's coming." Duo quipped. "Maybe that'll help push her to go."

"And what about Heero?" Quatre asked skeptically. He knew for a fact that even Ms. Une has trouble finding him… All she knew was that if she sends out a message in a certain frequency, she'd either get a yes or a no.

Quatre felt the hair at the back of his neck rise at Duo's mischievous grin. 'What is he planning?' Even Shanah felt the deadly mischief from the chestnut haired man.

"Oh, don't worry about Heero… a little frequency message of sabotage to any of Ms. Peacecraft's speeches will make him run out of his secret hideaway… And when he shows his pretty face at the proper place and time, I'll drop the bomb on him about my marriage and not tell him that Relena's coming… that way, he'll really go."

Quatre shrugged. "Alright. I'll also tell Relena to keep it a secret, just in case… What about Wufei?"

Hilde and Duo looked at each other and winked. Shanah grinned at their enthusiasm.

"Well… we've been hearing from Lydia…" Hilde started.

"And according to some of my contacts, sparks fly when the explosives specialist and Wufei get together… soo…" That sparkle in Duo's eyes is contagious! "Who else will I partner to Wuffie, right? I love riling him up!"

Quatre laughed. "Well, I guess you know whom I want him to partner with." Then Quatre became serious. "Hey guys, not to be rude or anything but are you two okay… financially I mean, for this wedding?"

Hilde's smile never lost its shine as she hugged Duo harder while Duo hugged her back.

"Everything is cool, Q-man."

"Duo's going to give me a fairytale wedding…" Hilde sighed out, placing her head on Duo's shoulder.

Shanah felt like saying 'Awww..' while Quatre grinned.

"Alright… Last question, Hilde… where's this fairytale wedding going to be at?"

"Heaven Cove, Redford, Earth Sphere."

"Oh, and invite all the Maganacs. I want them to come." Duo mentioned.

Quatre's eyebrow nearly shot up… Considering how large Hilde's family was… then Maganacs… Hilde and Duo sure are planning a huge party… Duo must have saved very hard for this day. "You got it Duo… And, I have a suggestion."

"Yes?" Hilde's eyes peeked up at Quatre while she played with Duo's braid.

"I have a place in Redford and… how about we house the bridesmaids and best men there? Both of you, too. The Maganacs have their base still intact underneath, so they can stay there… and… they could secure the place for Relena's safety…"

Duo blinked. "Hey… good idea… I forgot about security for Relena… Not to mention that putting those two together in one house will help… Heh, thanks Quatre."

"Anytime Duo… Anything for friends and G-pals." Quatre used Duo's term and incited a grin from the braided man.

"You got it, G-pal. Well… Sorry if we took too much of your time…"

"No problem."

"It was great meeting you Shanah!" Hilde said as she waved good-bye to the two.

Shanah waved back before the screen went black. The moment it did, Quatre pulled her and she fell on top of his lap. He instantly hugged her.

Shanah laughed. "I think Rashid is starting to get some ideas in his head." She straightened Quatre's tie.

"If he is, then he must like you… he hasn't brought up anything with me yet and that only means that he approves." Quatre whispered before he kissed her on the lips.

"Is that … good or is that bad?" Shanah asked curiously, not really knowing how Rashid thought.

"That's good." Quatre said with a laugh.

Shanah stood up. "I guess I should be happy then… come on, tea's getting cold."

"Do I still get to baby feed you?" Quatre asked as he followed Shanah.

Laughter left her lips. "Nope… I want to do that to you."

Quatre grinned as he sat on his desk and watched Shanah take a plate. "I'm gonna love eating those cakes."

~*~

Shanah sighed as she brushed her wet hair away from her face then stared at the mirror in front of her… straight at her reflection.

She glanced at her thick glasses, perched on the sink, reached for it, and then placed them on the bridge of her nose. She saw the change from her old face to this new one… Felicia to Shanah…

For a moment, she let her hand trace her lips, remembering the good night kiss Quatre gave her just outside her door… only a few minutes ago…

Quatre… sweet, adorable… beloved Quatre…

The past few months had been wonderful… so wonderful that… 'I wish it could last forever…'

For a moment, she remembered the trouble in Terran and her hands grew cold…

'No… I never want that to happen…ever…'

In the empty room, misty from the steam of the hot water… four simple words were uttered from her softly smiling lips…

"I love you… Quatre…"

~*~

BEEEEP!!! BEEEEPPP!!!

The incessant beeping woke Shanah up from her dreams and her hands sleepily grabbed for her alarm clock. The innocent clock sailed in an arc over her bed and slammed against the wall just as Shanah snuggled back inside her warm covers.

BEEEEP!!! BEEEEP!!!

"Alright… Alright… Coming…" Shanah mumbled as she grabbed her phone and tugged it to her ear.

"Shanah?"

Quatre's troubled voice instantly took the haze of sleepiness from her mind and made her sit up straight in her bed.

"Quatre? What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry to wake you up-"

"No. It's okay."

"Do you have the Harris-Keltron Contract with you?"

Shanah mentally riffled through what she brought home. "Yes, I think I do. You gave it to me."

"Good. The two are trying to sue one of the plants-"

"WHAT?!" Shanah cried out as she jumped on the bed, instantly outraged.

"Don't worry about it… Maybe it's just some misunderstanding… I'll come over and get the papers."

"No…" Shanah went to her closet and started to grab for her clothes. "I'm going to go there." From the worry in Quatre's voice… She just wanted to be there for him…

"Are you sure?"

"Yes… I'll be there in twenty minutes." Shanah nearly fell to her buttocks as she pulled her pants up to her waist.

"Alright, I'll be expecting you…"

"Bye." Shanah muttered as she dropped the phone back in place and took out her oversized shirt. She checked her watch…

'Cabs… no buses tonight… cabs…'

~*~

The toned down chimes of the Winner mansion instantly made Quatre run to the door and open it-

"What happened to you?!" It was the only thing he could say as he stared at … Shanah's?… still dripping, very drenched form…

Shanah looked up at Quatre from her curtain of wet hair, her face showing a murderous grimace. "Who sets their sprinkler system at 12 in the morning?"

Quatre looked behind her and saw the sprinklers still spouting water… from the length of the drive to the front door…

"Er… I didn't know… The gardeners look after that." His lips started to twitch and Shanah's glare hardened from behind her glasses.

"Don't you dare think of laughing…" She didn't finish her sentence when Quatre burst out laughing.

For a moment, she tried to keep her frown on her face… but as always, his laughter made her laugh…

Quatre took off his robe and wrapped it around her shoulders, then, to her surprise, he bent down and picked her up.

She could only gasp.

"Could you take off your rubber shoes?" Quatre asked as he positioned her feet just outside his doorway.

Shanah nodded as she pushed her shoes off her feet while a hand went around Quatre's neck and another kept a firm hold on her file case- thankfully waterproof!

"Hmm… don't want me dripping all over the floor, huh?"

Quatre shook his head as he closed the door. "No… besides, it gives me a good excuse to hold you like this." His embrace tightened and she just smiled.

"I'm going to leave you in my room. Get some dry clothes on. I don't want you to get sick."

They passed an open double door.

"That's the study. Just go down there after you're done, okay?"

Shanah nodded and tightened her hold on Quatre as he started to walk up the stairs.

"I'm getting your shirt wet." Shanah said glanced at the growing spot on his shirt.

Quatre shrugged. "It's alright. There's a fire in the study… It'll dry…" He looked at her. "Not like you."

Shanah grinned. "Ah well. What can I say? I'm unique?"

Quatre laughed, finally stopped and slowly set her down. "That you are." He opened his bedroom door. "I'll be waiting for you in the study."

Shanah offered him her case. "Red folder, third slot."

"Got it." He turned around and walked hurriedly to the study just as Shanah walked into his room and closed the door behind her.

His room was… His… it was the only way she could describe it… Elegant and masculine… Polished wood and white cabinets… blue sheets the color of skies just when the sun is about to disappear in the horizon…

Neat and orderly…

Her gaze fell on the bathrobe carelessly thrown over the edge of his bed and she grinned. "Well… nearly neat and orderly…"

She walked straight for his shower and used his bathrobe as her towel to dry off her wet skin, took her hair out of its badly done bun then took off her clothes- save for her underwear- and piled it to one side. Feeling a little… embarrassed that she's about to go into Quatre's room, nearly naked, she grabbed the towel on the rack and wrapped it around her, making a mental note to put it back once again.

The lush carpets hindered any sounds of footsteps as she walked to what she thought to be the closet and opened it… She smiled when she saw the neatly stacked shirts and starched, ironed dress shirts…

'So… what can I use? Never had to choose anything from the men's department before…' She thought, amused, as she opened his lower drawer and saw sweaters.

'Sweaters are good…' She took out the first one, the color reminded her of Quatre's eyes and she quickly donned it… It reached her mid-thigh and the sleeves were an arm longer but it was comfortable and warm…

Shanah laughed. "I wonder why you have such a big sweater."

Now for shorts…

She had to open two drawers before she was able to find what seemed to be an athletics drawer and found some shorts in it. She chose the ones with the small white rope to tie around her waist.

Shanah quickly closed his drawers and didn't even glance at herself in the mirror as she ran out of his room and down his stairs, at the same time, slipped on her glasses, and stopped just outside his study.

"Knock knock." Shanah's voice cheerfully greeted Quatre who was pouring his whole attention on the papers.

He looked up and, for a moment, his eyebrows shot up at the sight of her… then the twinkling laughter in his eyes made Shanah pout.

"Remember, if you laugh at me, you'll be laughing at your own taste in clothes! These are yours." She could see him trying to force down his laughter, trying to gain his seriousness… and slowly loosing… Her grin didn't help either… Then, she laughed at the comical look on his face and he laughed along with her.

"You look funny." Quatre gasped out as he motioned for the seat in front of the desk.

"When I see you with this sweater and shorts, I'll tell you exactly the same thing." Shanah countered as she sat down, glanced at the thick pile of papers in front of Quatre and instantly became serious.

"What're you looking for and what's the trouble?"

"Harris and Keltron are saying that the J-15 plant didn't do their end of the contract… I have the papers from the previous three years with me right here, and I'm going to run through the contract again."

"How about I take care of the J-15 papers and you take care of the contract and we'll see what we find?"

Quatre nodded as he passed her the thick stack of papers. "Thanks."

Shanah shook her head. "Glad to help." She sat back against her seat and started going through the papers while Quatre did the same with his.

Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to hours…

Shanah chanced a look at Quatre and saw his grimace as he rubbed the bridge of his nose with one hand then the back of his neck with the other.

Shanah sighed, dropped the third year papers and took off her glasses. "Are you okay?"

Quatre nodded. "Yeah… just starting again."

She wrinkled her nose, she hated to see his face so taut and stressed. She stood up and walked behind him. "Here, let me do that." Her hands stopped his and Quatre let his hands drop. Shanah's small hands went to his shoulders and started to massage it. Quatre's eyes closed as she started doing magic on his aching neck. "So far, J-15 has been meeting all orders from H-K's companies… That's according to the transactions from the past two and a half years. What have you found in the contract?"

Quatre tilted his head forward to let Shanah massage his neck. "The usual contract. It doesn't have anything special per say… I don't know what they were talking about when they called me…"

"They are such idiots not to notice the time difference." Shanah removed her hand from his shoulders and placed it on his temples, softly easing the frown on his forehead.

Quatre sighed. "You know what… you're good at this."

Shanah shrugged. "My mom was a masseuse…" Her hand went down to his shoulders, slowly traced his spine down then back up once again… over his shoulders and down his arms… Her hands created an arousing dance over his muscles… feeling herself being drawn in…

"Shanah…" Quatre's hoarse voice moaned out as Shanah's hands went over his chest.

"Mmm…?" It was the only thing she could say…

Quatre groaned as he twisted in his seat and pulled Shanah on top of him. She landed unceremoniously on his lap but it didn't matter to either of them as lips met and clashed… their frantic hands went in search for skin…

Shanah moaned against his lips as Quatre's hands roamed down her back and over her firm buttocks to nestle her into the cradle of his hips. He tore his lips from hers, then trailed a ribbon of kisses down the side of her slender neck… She tipped her head back, eyes closed and he kissed the beating pulse at the base of her throat…

All thought fled as heat coiled and pulsed within Shanah… Quatre slipped his hand under the sweater and touched her hips while his other hand roamed over her leg… free from her usual hindering pants…

"Shanah…" Quatre whispered, a little surprised that he's still able to talk when nameless emotions churned in him… His hands skimmed over the curve of her hips, then traveled upwards to cup her breasts.

Shanah gasped. "Yes?" Sensations she'd never known before consumed her as she arched her back and whispered his name.

"Tell me to stop now… I… I don't want to but… if… you don't…want…" God! If she says no now… he'll go crazy…!

Shanah pulled Quatre's face from her chest up to her own, kissed him, met his tongue with her own, returned his kiss with fervor that spoke of her increasing desire… touched that he would still ask for her permission. Couldn't he feel it? "I… do…" Shanah whispered against his lips, giving her consent to the man she loves…

What man could stop when the girl he's crazy about so willingly gives? Their fire burned, hot as the blaze in the hearth, as each gave willingly and offered willingly…

~*~

Quatre kissed Shanah's exposed shoulder tenderly while his hand didn't leave her waist… their legs tangled… The glow from the fireplace added highlights of gold and red in her brown wavy hair that half covered his bare chest…

'Ah God, nothing has ever been as beautiful… as wondrous as what happened…'

Shanah stirred in his arms, turned, and snuggled closer as if even in her sleep, she thinks of him…

Making love on his carpet in his study room… He never thought he'd be doing that… Well…

Quatre grinned…

Not until he was married… but… He pressed his cheek against her hair… His beautiful Shanah… emerald eyes ablaze with passion…

Now he knew how it was to really love someone… He hadn't been sure before, even when she filled his thoughts and dreams… even when she drove him crazy when they made out in his office… never going to the extremes until now.

And he had a feeling… a strong feeling that she felt the same way that he did for her… What woman would willingly give up her most precious gift if not to someone they deemed special?

His lips brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "I don't know when… I don't know where… but Shanah Winter… I love you… and I intend to marry you…"

His soft promise did not reach her ears, her conscious thoughts still in Somnus' care… but Quatre didn't worry… he'd find a way to show her his feelings…

BEEEEEPPP!!!! BEEEEPPPP!!!

Shanah stirred and Quatre was suddenly pulled out of his sweet thoughts at the sound that shattered the peace.

'Damn! I'm going to rip that phone out of the wall!'

BEEEP!!! BEEEEPPP!!! BEEEPP!!!

Shanah stirred once again and Quatre unwillingly moved away from her body to pick up the phone before she could wake up.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Quatre Winner?"

His voice must have hinted at his irate feeling because the man's voice wobbled. Quatre sighed and willed his voice to bear more patience. "Speaking."

"Sir… We are truly sorry for the trouble we've caused."

Quatre frowned, slightly confused. "Who's this?"

"Oh… sorry sire… This is Harris-Keltrons' head lawyer."

Quatre's eyebrow rose up. "Yes."

"And… this has never happened before… we are truly sorry but… our clients seemed to have mixed the papers they had given to us, someway or another, and well… what we are trying to say, sir, is that you aren't the company we were supposed to sue…"

Quatre blinked and his eyes widened, a funny mixed feeling coursing in him. "You mean to tell me that this was just a big mix up?"

"Y-yes sir… we're truly sorry sir… We're prepared to take any financial burden that we might have caused… or the likes, sir."

Quatre grinned… The man on the other end of the line sure was nervous… how many sirs had it been? Then again… why should he be mad? If it wasn't for the mix up, he'd never had experienced the wonderful…

"Sir?"

Quatre shook himself out of his thoughts. "Yes?"

"I was just asking if you would like to meet with us and discuss… well… the problems we have caused you."

Quatre shook his head. "What's your name?"

"Sir? J-Ja-Jamessen."

"Well, J-Ja-Jamessen, you have, for the second time, disturbed my night. I only wish for you to stop calling people without thinking of the time difference ahead of time, and to advice you that next time you do your accusations, make sure that it is the right company. Other than that, I would like to say good night- or is it morning? And that I will not ask for any compensations. Got that?"

"Y-yes sir."

"Good. So long." Without waiting for the other man's good byes, Quatre dropped the phone and turned to go back to his true love's embrace, only to find Shanah's eyes trained on him with an affectionate smile on her face.

"Let me guess… false alarm?"

Quatre grinned as he walked back to her, not caring that his whole body was being looked over by her darkened eyes. "Yep… the whole thing was a mix up."

Shanah instantly snuggled in his embrace as soon as he was in place. "Good… I knew there couldn't be anything wrong."

Quatre sighed as he tightened his hold on her body with one hand while he cradled the back of his head with the other, loving the way Shanah's hands traveled over his chest… inducing a shiver as it traveled down…

"Where did you get this?"

Her curious wonder and slight touch made Quatre look down even if he knew what she was asking about… His scar… Dorothy's rapier…

He sighed as he remembered those hard times… How was she? Had she finally found herself? "I got it during the war… from a soul haplessly wounded because of war…"

Shanah felt the depth of his sigh… felt his pain and forgiveness… She leaned down and kissed it, inciting Quatre's arousal then looked up in his eyes. "I am just happy that you came out alive."

Quatre pulled Shanah upwards. "Same here… for both my sake and yours." Their lips met once again and amorously tasted each other.

"Quatre… you do know that we're in your study? What if someone comes in?" Shanah whispered against his lips, reason slowly fading in her mind.

Quatre wrenched his lips away. "You're right…" His hands traveled up and down the side of her leg, loving the way her eyes darkened and how her body shivered under his touch. "Bedroom?"

Shanah grinned out her response and the next thing she knew, she was swept up in Quatre's embrace once again. She looped her hands around his neck and he started running up the deserted stairs, both with not a single article of clothing on, only with happy smiles on their faces.