Chapter Two, Lemon and Hibiscus



~Hours Later...~

"I call this match a tie!"
"With me in the lead of course!" Duo smiled "The undefeated Shinigami!!!" Tara laughed.
"Riiiiiiiight... Anyway, Duo, I'm hungry. Could I raid the fridge?" Tara stood up, and popped her back. Duo shrugged, "Yeah, No problem... Hey, have you seen where Heero is?"
"He's resting in his room still."
"I'm awake now." Tara jumped.
"Dude! I never even saw you!" She rolled her eyes, "I gotta stop sayin dude." She walked to the fridge opened it and peered inside.
"Would you like some tea?"
"What kind?" Tara grabbed a cup and slid into a chair beside Heero.
"Lemon and Hibiscus." She reached for the kettle and knocked her cup over. She picked it up and poured the tea in, but Her hands were shaking and she spilled tea on the table and on herself.
"Ow! Shit... Sorry Will-Err, Heero." She grabbed a cloth that was lying on the table nearby and tried to sop up the mess.
"Tara"
"Eh?" Tara looked up
"Why are you shaking?"
"I'm not shaking."
"Why are you shaking, Tara?" Heero repeated quietly.
"No reason!" She barked, "Oh, um, err, Sorry Heero, I don't feel well." She smiled apologetically "I blame the heat and the terrible attitude of the natives."
"Go lay down in the bed. I'll bring you some tea... Ok?"
"Yeah, Thanks." She stood up and walked down the hall, as she passed the living room Duo called to her, "I'm leaving for a coke and some other stuff in just a second!! Want anything?"
"Yeah, anything diet and caffeinated, thanks man."
"Heero, you want anything?"
"Duo come here," Heero called back. Duo walked in and looked at him questioningly. "Duo, Tara's not telling us something. Don't tell her anything vital to this mission until I figure out what it is ok?"
"Uh, yeah. You want anything from Circle k or not?"
"Buy some acetaminophen and a gallon of milk"
"Okay, be back in a while." He pulled on his cap and walked out the door. Heero silently wiped up the spilled tea and poured a cup of tea. He wrapped it in a napkin and padded noiselessly to his room and pushed the door open. Tara was in the bathroom; he set the tea on the wicker table by the bed and turned to leave. Tara was standing behind him.
"Hi." She had changed into an oversized shirt and she wasn't wearing her bandana anymore. She brushed past him and grabbed the cup of tea. She pulled the covers back on the bed and slipped into the bed. She watched him through her glasses as she sipped the tea. He settled on the foot of the bed and smoothed the fringes of the quilt. He glanced up at her.
"How old are you Tara?"
"How old are you?" She smiled and set the cup back on the little table, He blinked.
"I'm seventeen."
"Wow! What a coincidence! I'm fifteen! How cool is that?" she smiled and winked. 'She looks older than that', he thought, looking down at the fringe he was absently fiddling with.
"Did I look sixteen?" She grinned.
"Yep." she looked at him and he blinked, after a few minutes of silence, Tara looked up and grinned.
"Hey, are you taller than me?"
"I don't know."
Stand up" She threw off the covers and stood up, he stood up too. She stepped forward. He involuntarily stepped back. She cocked an eyebrow.
"Heero love, I'm not going to bite you," She grinned, "Not hard anyway." she reached forward and grabbed his hand and pulled closer.
"Nice cologne" She pulled closer to him, her chest brushed against his, and he could smell her perfume and her shampoo. 'By the gods she smells good.' he thought, smiling. She looked him in the eyes, and then looked up at his hair.
"Hmm. I think you're taller than me." She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her chest pressed against his and he wrapped his arms around her waist. His mouth sought hers hungrily. She used one hand to hold Heeros head, and the other sought the button of his pants. Heero pulled her hips closer to his and moved the other hand under her shirt. He stopped suddenly, his back stiffened. Tara paused and listened; she heard the jangle of keys, and then the sound of the keys finding the keyhole. She pulled away from Heero and jumped into the bed, throwing the covers over herself hastily.
"Sit down!" She hissed and Heero settled on the bed.
"So Heero, where are ya from?" she asked, smoothing her hair and glancing at the door. He glanced at her uneasily, his face flushing. He shook his head.
"What is that ring you're wearing?" he asked quietly, gesturing to her right hand. The door to the room opened and Duo walked in. His eyebrows shot up. 'I guess he didn't expect me to be in here talking to her. I wonder what he would of thought if he had caught us a few moments ago.' Heero thought, a smile playing across his lips.
"Hey guys, I got what you wanted, Tara all they had was Diet Pepsi, and Heero, all they had was the chewable kind of everything. Child proofing it I guess. Milks in the fridge." He reached in the plastic bag and pulled out the soda. He tossed it over to Tara, she leaned forward and caught it, but in the process, she accidentally brushed her hand against Heeros thigh. He drew in a sharp breath; Duo cocked an eyebrow at Tara. Tara rolled her eyes.
"Duo, I'm sorry to tell you like this but Heero and I have known each other for years." Duo blinked, taken aback.
"We've been having sex the entire time and now we're getting married." She smiled and jumped into Heeros lap. Duos eyes got big and he looked in disbelief at first Tara then Heero. Heero looked just as shocked as Duo did.
"Heero, how could you not tell me you had a girl?" He shook his head.
"Duo she's kidding, we met this morning, and we haven't had sex before." Duo put a hand on his chest and looked at the ceiling.
"Damn! You guys almost got me! I really believed you for a second." He stopped and looked at Tara, still seated firmly between Heeros legs. "Why are you still sitting like that then?" He asked, his eyes narrowing. Tara crawled off of Heeros lap and grinned.
"We couldn't fool you if I had gotten out the moment I got in, now could we have?" She smiled, thrilled at what her little prank had gained for her. A brush from her had made him shiver and she knew, that when she threw herself in his lap, he had one all he could to resist the urge to touch her back. She smiled happily.
"I'm kind of sleepy, night' night now!" she said, pulling off her glasses and tossing them onto the wicker table. She wiggled farther underneath the quilts and felt Heero get off the bed. She yawned and blinked. She could see very little without her glasses on. She heard someone shut the door and she sighed. 'Heero probably thinks I'm cheap now...He'll soon see that's wrong.' She rolled over and closed her eyes. She had some serious thinking to do.



~In the other room~

Duo walked into the kitchen about twenty minutes later.
"Soooo Heero." Duo walked in and leaned against the wall, Heero looked up from the kitchen counter,
"Hm?"
"You like Her!" Duo grinned mischievously.
"What makes you think that?" Heero asked, his cheeks reddening slightly.
"I know these things. Does she like you back? Or is she married?"
"Huh?"
"She's wearing an expensive ring on her ring finger Heero, she could be married. Did ya ask her?"
"No."
"I did"
"Well." Heero turned around and began fumbling with stuff in the cabinets.
"Well what?" Duo asked innocently, crossing his arms.
"Is she married or not?"
"I don't know, she didn't answer me. All she did was kill me." Heero looked over at Duo, "In the game, Heero" He rolled his eyes.
"Man you are so behind in social skills." Duo pointed to Heeros pants. "Your button's undone." Then he walked out of the kitchen, down the hall and opened the door. "I'm leaving, see you guys in a couple of hours!" He shut the door and Heero stood still, looked down at his button and popped it back to where it belonged. He heard Duos' motorcycle roar in the driveway and then the sound faded. Heero sighed and grabbed a big pot, filled it with water and set it on the stove. He grabbed assorted veggies out of the fridge and noticed that he had a small cut on his hand it was fairly new. He washed the cut and put a band-aid on it. The water had started to boil so he put the (frozen) dumplings in the water; added carrots and parsley then threw some frozen chicken breasts in. He put the top on the pot and got out a sheet pan. He popped open some biscuits in a can and tossed them on the pan, he set the time, set the temperature and walked down to where Tara slept. He opened the door and walked in, shutting it behind him. Tara sat up, blinking.
"Hi Heero." She grabbed her glasses "is Duo still here?"
"No." He frowned, "Tara are you married?" She frowned and climbed out of the bed. She grabbed a pair of pants and slipped them on. Heero caught a flash of green as she pulled them on. She pulled her shirt off and he noticed she had two vicious angry looking scars on her back, one was on her right shoulder blade, and the other was on her left. She grabbed a tight fitting undershirt and slipped it on. She turned to face him.
"I was married." She turned away and pulled a blue sweatshirt on. She turned to him again. "Heero, He died. He died more than a year ago." She tied a black bandana over her hair and slipped a raiders cap over that.
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Heero
"I met you this morning Heero. What happened earlier was a mistake." She pulled a knife out of her pocket and lifted her shirt as she strapped it on. "We are acquaintances, Heero love." She looked at him. "I like you, a lot. But for all I know about you, you could be a long lost brother or my cousin or something!"
"You and I aren't related." Heero glanced at the window, the sun was setting, Wufei and the rest of them would be coming soon. "I know where all of my relatives are. They are all dead."
Tara Shrugged," Sorry, love, but I don't know you."
"Why are you getting dressed?" Heero asked quietly.
"I got to get something I left at the docking bay."
"You're going to walk?"
"Yeppers" She pulled her boots on.
"I can give you a ride." He gestured towards the window, "It's getting rather late. Besides I have company coming, I'm sure they'd love to meet you." Tara grinned
"Yeah! That'd be great!"
"Okay, push your hair into your cap or something because we'll be on my bike."
"Motorcycle?"
"Yes"
"Alright! Get your shoes on, I gotta be there before ten." Heero walked out of the room and Tara popped a piece of gum in her mouth. She followed him as he grabbed his jacket his shoes and two helmets. He tossed one to her and she pulled it on over her bandana, she shoved the hat in her pocket. They walked out of the door and Heero slipped his shoes on. He walked to the side of the apartment and pulled a cover off of his bike.
"Nice bike love, what year is this?"
"No Idea." He slid onto the bike and started it. "Get on and don't lean when I turn." he told her; she hopped onto the bike behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He slid his helmet on and they rolled backwards out of the driveway. He turned, looked for cars, and they peeled out of the driveway, speeding. Tara closed her eyes and leaned her head against Heeros back.


~At the Docking bay~

An intercom crackled loudly in her ear.
"Tara we're here." Tara slid off the bike and pulled her helmet off. Heero pulled his off and tied the straps to the back bar. He took hers and did the same.
"What did you need to get here?" he asked, fiddling with a switch on the tank. She looked at him as if considering something.
"Just something I forgot to pick up earlier." She shrugged, "You stay here with the bike and I'll get it ok?" She hugged him lightly and ran off. 'Is she toying with me?' He wondered as he watched her run off.


~Umm~
Tara walked up to a grungy man in a bark blue uniform. She looked at him expectantly. He blinked at her.
"Go home kid, I don't have time." He barked. Tara smiled coldly.
"I am here to pick up a package under 'Tara', pass code, 'fallen angel'." She smiled sweetly. "Give me the package now or my boyfriend over there," She pointed to Heero who was leaning up against the motorcycle "Will kick the crap out of you."
"I got your package, no need to get fussy, little girl." He tossed her a small box wrapped in red paper. Tara caught it and looked up at the man. She frowned and said, "If anything's missing, you should expect a visit from the Alliance space police force... " She turned and walked away. Heero looked up as she approached. She was frowning and concentrating on pulling the red paper off without ripping it. She looked up and brightened.
"Hi love." She put the folded paper into her pocket and drew her knife. She gingerly slit the tape.
"Heero, there's always the possibility that this is a bomb, and its going to kill us when I lift the flap." She looked up at him and he smiled. "Open it then, take a chance." She lifted the flaps and stuck her hand inside, and pulled something out.
"Oh Heero look" She whispered, her eyes alight. He took it from her. It was a watch, a black watch, with a large screen and a small panel that came out when you hit a blue button.
"What is it?"
"Oh, um Its important, very important." She took the watch back from him. "Its for calling something very, very important to me." She grinned as she strapped it onto her wrist. Heero slipped his helmet on and handed Tara hers. She slipped it on and took her place behind Heero. She tapped his helmet and he turned halfway around.
"Love, how do I work the intercom?"
"Just say Intercom 2 On, when you want it off say Intercom 2 off and it's off. We gotta go now, I left food on the stove." With that Heero took off.
"Intercom 2 On! Hi Love!"
"Hn."
"Lets go faster!"
"Yes."
"Intercom 2 Off"
As they raced past cars and trucks, hero wondered about his new nickname, love. Was it just a thing she did, or was it something else? He decided to ask.
"Intercom 1 on"
"Love, I heard you click on!" Tara's voice crackled across the intercom.
"Why do you keep calling me 'love'?" asked Heero.
"I dun no. Why don't you give me a nickname?"
"What do you want me to call you?"
"Tara"
"Why do you want a nickname then?"
"I don't."
"Never mind."
"Ok love." Tara squeezed Heero, "Watch out for that Tree-eee!!"
"Huh?"
"Its from George of the Jungle, a really old cartoon." She laughed. It's also a movie, but the movies cooler than the TV show. Brendan Fraisers' in it. Me-ow!" Heero laughed.



~Back at The apartment~

Heero ran inside, expecting the biscuits to be burned to a crisp and the chicken dumplings to be boiled away. To his great surprise, Wufei had let himself in and had saved the food.
"Where have you been?" Wufei scowled, "Cooking is a woman's job." He pointed to the food, "But a man can save food from burning without disgracing himself." He walked to the living room, sat down on the couch and began to channel surf. He looked up as Tara walked in.
"What do you want? Or are you in the habit of walking into peoples homes uninvited?" Wufei sneered. Tara smiled coldly.
"I live here with Heero and Duo, dear boy." She stalked off to the kitchen. She leaned up against the wall and sighed.
"Heero love, should I be a boy for your company?" Heero looked up from the biscuits.
"What?"
"Your friend out there, should I be a boy for your friends, or should I stay as a girl?" She moved to a chair and straddled it.
"Be a boy, and lets see if anyone can tell you're a woman or not." He smiled, "It'd be kind of fun." Tara yawned, "Okay love, I'll go change right away." She stood up and walked over to him, looked at him quietly for a second and
Then kissed him on the mouth. Then she darted away before Heero could respond. When she got to the room she grabbed some masking tape and taped her breasts to her chest, she could hardly flex at all, but she looked flat. Then she wiped all of the gloss off of her lips and slipped a black shirt on over the tape. She put a hat on and tucked all of her shoulder length hair into it. She pulled her sweater on and rolled up the sleeves. She walked back into the kitchen as Heero set the plates out.
"Hey love." She twirled, "How do I look?" Heero smiled.
"Like a very beautiful boy." Tara rolled her eyes.
"Thanks love." Tara walked into the living room as two people walked into the house. All three figures stopped. Tara spoke.
"Hey there, my names William." She extended a hand to the blonde one.
"I'm Quatre" he smiled. "This is Trowa. Where's Heero?" Tara pointed to the kitchen, thought better of it and followed them in there.
"Hi Heero" Quatre grinned. "We met Will in the living room." Hero looked up. Behind Trowa and Quatre, Tara smirked. Wufei and Duo walked in from the other room.
"Dinner time yet He-man?" Asked Duo, hopping into a chair.
"Yeppers." Everyone stopped and looked at Heero. He blinked and glanced at Tara. No one but Duo and Tara caught the glance. "Um I mean Yes." He mumbled and pulled the pan off the stove. He set it on the table and handed the ladle to Tara. She grinned and asked,
"Who wants chicken dumplings?" Duo shoved his bowl in front of her and grinned,
"Please sir, may I have some more?" Tara laughed.
"Will, I would like just a little. I'm not feeling too well" Quatre smiled apologetically. Trowa passed his bowl over and blinked. Heero set the plate of biscuits in front of him and then slipped into the seat beside Tara. 'Hmm. I wonder what Heero thinks of Will. This seems more than a little friendly.' He crumbled a biscuit into his bowl of stew and ate quietly; listening to the others talk hen a movement caught his eye. He continued to eat, watching the movement out of the corner of his eye. Heero kept glancing at Will and he seemed to be torn between something. Finally Heero leaned over and whispered something into wills ear. Will smiled and nodded, yes.
"So guess what!" Will/Tara piped up.
"What?" asked Quatre.
"Just guess!" Will/Tara grinned.
"Is it a world event?" Asked Wufei.
"In my world, yes." Tara smiled
"Does it have to do with someone in this room?" asked Trowa. Everyone blinked; no one had expected him to talk except Quatre.
"Yeppers!" Tara grinned at Trowa.
"Tell us already, I'm dying over here!" Duo flashed his thousand-watt smile, "Please?" Tara grinned and glanced at Heero.
"Heeros a woman!" Tara busted out. Quatre started laughing and a small smile played across Trowas lips. Wufei rolled his eyes and Duo blinked.
"What was that supposed to mean?" Asked Heero
"Anything." Tara laughed, "When we finish eating I'll show you what the Secret is... ok?"
"Yes"
"Fine"
"Waas wood." Duo spoke through a mouth full of chicken.
"Swallow your food." Heero grabbed another biscuit and dipped it in his stew.
"I said, 'That's good' and I'm finished, Can I get some ice cream for anyone else?" Duo asked.
"No thanks, Maxwell" Wufei scowled.
"Trowa and I will decline, thank you."
"Same" Tara grinned.
"No thank you." Heero stood up and walked to the living room. He flopped down onto the couch and rolled off. He put a movie in the VCR and played it. Duo came in and settled in a chair near the couch. Trowa and Quatre sat down on the couch and Wufei sat in another chair opposite Duo. Heero flopped back onto the couch beside Trowa as Tara walked in. She looked around at the possible seating options and then walked over to the couch and jumped on Heeros lap. Trowa raised an eyebrow and Quatre flushed slightly. It didn't even phase Wufei or Duo, both of whom were engrossed in the previews, she wriggled a little, trying to find a position that wouldn't cramp Heeros legs, and a spot where she wouldn't be cramped. Tara's wriggling caught Wufeis attention.
"What are you doing?" he asked, taken aback. Duo looked up at Heero and Tara.
"Trying to find a spot where I wont cramp Heeros legs, but I don't want to be cramped either." She stopped and leaned her head against Heeros chest. Heero wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
"So," Quatre spoke "How long have you guys known each other?"
"I'm not a guy" Tara yawned and blinked drowsily, "And we met earlier today." After a few moments of uneasy silence, Wufei piped up.
"So you have no breasts?"
"They got tied down." She closed her eyes until she could only peer through her eyelashes, and she evened out her breathing. She was kind of sleepy, but she wanted to hear what they were going to say.
"She's asleep," Heero murmured after a few minutes.
"How are you going to tell her?" Asked Duo, finishing his ice cream noisily.
"The question is, are you going to tell her at all." Trowa spoke quietly
"Of course I'm going to tell her everything." He answered.
"Do you like her?" asked Quatre
"Yes." Heero whispered, brushing hair out of his eyes. "I'm pretty sure she likes me too."
"Ok, no more chat, the movies getting good." Duo commanded, staring at the TV. Tara moved to the side and she felt the rough material of Heeros shirt against her face. She listened to his heartbeat for a moment and she felt very sleepy, very suddenly. She closed her eyes for real and was soon asleep. For two hours she stayed this way, before everyone started to leave.
'What if she was sent here to kill me? Never mind, maybe you should go and put her to bed now.' Heero thought, he slipped one arm under her knees and stood up. She was about a hundred and twenty pounds, very thin. As he picked her up he saw her eyes flutter.
"Love, I'm very tired, but I could've walked you know." She mumbled.
"I know, I know." He whispered, shifting her weight to his right arm so he could open the door. He laid her in the bed and pulled off her boots, he pulled her sweater off and put it in the closet.
"I need to take a shower." She mumbled, sitting up. "Real quick ok?" Heero smiled in the dark. He heard the bedsprings creak as she swung her legs off the bed. She walked into the bathroom and shut the door, but the door stayed open a fraction of an inch. He heard the water turn on and then he heard the sound of the shower curtain drawing close. He slid into the bed and smelled the pillow. It smelled like strong detergent and perfume. He got up and flicked on a light in the corner. He pulled his shirt off and slid into his sleeping bag. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep. But he couldn't, so he lay there. He heard the shower stop and the light clicked off.
"Love, I can't find a towel." Tara whispered, Heero got out of his sleeping bag and moved towards the closet, he reached inside and found a towel. He tossed in Taras' direction and received a muffled 'Oomph!' in return. He walked slowly to his sleeping bag and bumped into Tara.
"Love, Damn it, you startled me." Tara giggled quietly. She reached a hand out and waved it around. Heero caught it and pulled her in the direction of her clothes. After a few moments she found her clothes and slipped on a shirt and a pair of boxers. She slid into bed and heard Heero do the same.
"Heero love," She called quietly.
" Hmm?"
"Are you cold down there?"
"Not really."
"Ok, cause if you get cold, there's room up here you know." She took her glasses off and slid them onto the wicker table.
"I know."
"Okay...Goodnight love"
"Hn..."








Find out what's new in Chapter three 'Confession and Skateboarding'!!!