Chapter twenty- A Time of Happiness, a Time of Pain
Two days later

Relena saw Heero walked towards her, and her heart fluttered. "Heero!"
Heero looked up, taken out of the deep reverie, his mind had wandered into. He frowned, when he saw Relena run towards him. She leaped into his body, and her arms slid around his waist.
Heero grunted, with the impact of her body slamming against his. He looked down, just as she looked up at him. "I thought something awful happened to you, since you didn't come to class."
Heero frowned, and saw passion in her eyes. He tried to wriggle free from her grasp. Her arms tightened around him, "Heero would you go to dinner with me, tonight. You couldn't, a few days ago, with your arm in a bad shape. But it looks so much better now."
Heero shook his head no, "Hn." Relena squealed, "Oh I knew you would."
Relena tugged him down the hall, leading him to the exit of the academy. Heero frowned, but had no choice, but to be dragged along for the ride.
Relena's limo was parked out front, with Noin and Zechs waiting on the sidewalk.
Zechs pulled Noin close, holding her tightly to him. His hand rested on her swollen belly. Heero couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have a family.
Ranshid opened the back door, and Relena slid into the seat. Heero sighed inwardly, and was going to climb in, when suddenly Noin touched his arm. "Heero I..." She inhaled deeply, but Heero stared at her calmly.
"I have to tell you..."
"Heero, come on. I got us reservations at that new restaurant."
Noin frowned slightly, as she watched the limo pulled from the curb. Zechs slipped an arm around her waist. "What's wrong love?"
Noin sighed, and tossed a lock of hair from her eyes, and shrugged off the real thing that was bothering her. "I...I don't like the idea of Relena going to the city, with the war raging just over the hill and all."
"Heero is with her."
Noin scowled, "That's another problem. I don't like the idea of her forcing him to take her out. There is a fine line of crush and obsession, and I think it's the latter. Plus its rude to stand here, and let her hack at the poor boy."
Zechs chuckled, "I know what you are saying love, but we can't stop her. She's in love with him."
"Yes I know, but he doesn't love her back."
Suddenly the door to the academy swung open, and Duo leaped down the stairs. His eyes had widened in fear, as he looked left then right.
Duo saw the couple, and fell to his knees, and he gripped the front of Noin's uniform. His lungs cried out for air, and his body ached from his sprint through the academy. "Have you seen Heero?"
Noin nodded, "yes, he just left with Relena." "What..." Duo, looked to the left and right, trying to figure how he missed the two.
Zechs pointed down the road. "Relena asked him out, they went to the restaurant near on the ocean. That new fancy place."
Duo nodded, "I know it." Just then a white flake fell softly from the sky, and it landed on Duo's nose, but then melted instantly.
Duo scrambled to his feet, and ran back inside.
Noin shook her head, "Duo is such a fine person." Zechs raised an eyebrow in questioning. He rested his chin on her shoulder. "What was that love? Should I be jealous?"
Noin chuckled, "heavens no Zechs. It's just he cares so much for Heero."
Zechs coughed, but it was strained, "Wha...what?"
Noin leaned against him. "He tries so hard to make Heero happy. And not only Heero, the others too. He wants them to be happy, even if it means if he can't be a part of it."

Duo pushed open the doors to the academy open, once more. He hurried down the stairs, just as a taxi pulled to the curb.
He barely glanced at the couple, who watched him. He opened the backseat door, and slipped into the vehicle.
Duo slammed the door, and gave the address to the new restaurant. The taxi pulled from the curb, and sped off to the city.
Duo sighed, and tugged the trench coat he had thrown on closer to his body. He looked out the window, and was slightly startled, to see that the snow was falling harder now. He peered out, and saw a thin sheet blanketed the ground already.
He shook his head, and pulled out some money as the taxi pulled over in front of the restaurant.
He tossed the driver the money, and climbed out. He slammed the door shut, and shivered. The wind hit him in the face, and he couldn't stop his teeth from chattering together.
Casually, as he could, Duo walked to the window, and peered inside. He didn't look too conspicuous, staring into the window.
The place was clean, and resembled the times before the colonies had been made. Years before the colony, and Duo didn't really recognize the shades.
The inside was western; he had seen shows of them. Burgundy red, mahogany brown floors, and tables and chairs. Dark blues, and plush curtains draped across some windows.
He saw them, sitting at a table in the corner of the restaurant. Relena was dressed in a simple dress, a plain white satin dress, with thin straps. She was talking, and suddenly laughed.
Heero sat across from her, and Duo could see his face. It held amusement. Startled, Duo leaned closer to the window, and he couldn't believe his eyes. Heero was smirking, his arms crossed easily over his waist. The waiter came up to the couple, and laid down their meals.
Duo shook his head, "I guess Relena is the one..." He turned slowly, shaking his head again, and walked away.

Relena laughed out loud, and covered her mouth slightly with the back of her hand. "Yes I completely understand. I know it's been a bother, and I plan to stop it right away."
Heero smirked, as his uneasiness dissipated. He had thought he'd have to fight her off the whole time, but since they climbed out of the limo, she hadn't touched him. Much to his relief, she still kept her distance. The only time she touched him, was when she had touched his hand to lead him to the table, when he had been distracted.
"The date is set in three months. I can't believe we hit it of so well."
Heero nodded, half aware of what she was saying. "And I'm sorry about earlier. Tomorrow, I'll announce to the school the news. Then you're free."
Heero nodded, but something caught his eyes. Before he could focus on it, the waiter walked up to them, and set down their food.
Heero slightly frowned, and waited till the young man moved. He looked at the window, and saw someone shake their head and turn. He caught a glimpse of chestnut hair, and dark eyes.
"Duo?"
Relena looked up, "Hmm. What was that Heero?" She saw him staring over her shoulder, and turned around to look. All she saw was the window. "Oh wow, it's snowing Heero." She turned around to look at him. "We might just have a white Christmas."
Heero vaguely nodded, and looked down at his plate. He could have sworn he had seen Duo. But he couldn't have been for sure.

Duo kicked at the snow, as he walked down the lonely street. His trench coat was tied in the front, and his hands were stuffed in his pockets.
He glanced up from his feet, as a single car drove down the road. In a thirty zone, the car was going fifteen.
The wind was harsh against him, threatening to throw him over. The snow bit at his flesh, that was left exposed to its icy touch.
Duo sighed, and stopped walking. He had no idea where he was headed, but he knew he had to go.
Heero was finally happy, and it happened with out him. So he had to go, so Heero would stay happy. Heero was his friend, and he would do anything to make him happy.
Duo looked ahead, to the darkness of the street leading out from the Cinq kingdom.
A car, black as the night itself, drove up the street. It drove slower than the first car. What was even stranger was that the headlights remained off, even in the snowstorm.
Duo frowned, and started walking. The car went passed him, but he heard the squeal of the brakes, and the roll of the window going down. "Duo Maxwell."
Duo stopped, and turned in an easy stride, and moved back to the car. "Dr. J."
The older man nodded, "Awe so you do remember me, then you'd recognize him?"
The front seat of the car's window rolled down. Duo frowned, "Mamoru."
The dark haired man smiled, "Hello Usako, how are you this fine evening?"
"Fine."
Dr. J frowned, "You've been ignoring me Usagi. I mean Duo. I sent Mamoru to retrieve you, but you resisted. What does this tell me?"
Duo frowned, but didn't back down. This was going to turn ugly. "I wasn't ready to go back yet. I had unfinished business to attend to."
Dr. J scoffed, "Still you resisted. I don't want to find that you have become the enemy Usagi. I will tell the others your secret, and you know I will."
Duo nodded, "Hai I do. I would have come, but Chiba wasn't to tempting to go with."
Duo scowled at the dark man in the front. Dr. J sighed, "I sent him twice Usagi! And both times you refused to consider. The first, you nearly killed caused a concussion. The second time, you had him shot. What next, killed. He is one of my top men, besides you."
Duo nodded, "Gomen Dr. J."
Dr. J nodded, "Are you ready now?"
Duo glanced up, at the dim lights of the restaurant. He remembered the couple inside, and winced as his heart broke into tiny pieces. "Hai, I am finished."
"Good, then get in, it's freezing out there."
Duo nodded, and walked around the car. With one last look, he climbed into the dark car. It pulled away from the curb, and left the city.
An older man, slipped out from the shadows, and frowned. "Interesting in deed."