Quatre was forced to emasculate himself to save his dignity.  He dotted liquid foundation on his face and blended it as best he could.  Duo was inviting himself over and was bringing Hilde (and Heero and Wufei and Trowa and Catherine etc, etc).  He wanted to see them, but he didn't want them to see him.  He hoped to high heaven that they couldn't tell.  Rashid suddenly appeared behind him.  Quatre froze.

            "Your guests have arrived," he said simply, "hurry up."

            Quatre nodded nervously.  "Will you bring us out some hot chocolate and cookies?"

            Rashid smiled warmly.  "Certainly, Master Quatre."

            Quatre smiled nervously back.  He scooted by Rashid and hurried down the stairs.  Quatre suddenly found himself in a big pair of warm arms. 

            "Quat-man!" Duo exclaimed, "Great to see ya!"

            Hilde kissed his cheek. "How have you been?"

            Trowa extended a hand.  Quatre shook one hand with Wufei and one with Trowa.

            Heero gave Quatre a half smile, but paid more attention to the girl on his arm—the beautiful Relena.  Relena hugged Quatre.  He hesitantly put his arms around her, trying not to pain his burning arms and back.  The whole lot of them went to his massive veranda.

            The laughing and talking penetrated even the hardest soldiers of the bunch.  There were no forced smiles or introverted characteristics shown on this happy afternoon; just pure and unadulterated fun.  Rashid served them with a smile and "Can I get you anything else?"  Duo commented that he didn't know that Rasid was a servant.

            "He wanted to stay with me after the war, but couldn't fight, so he was just like, 'you need someone parental figure in your life,' so I told him, 'come then Rashid, come be my father.'"

            All the girls thought it was so cute how proper Quatre was.  He smiled and blushed.

            "I'm cute when I'm proper too," Duo added, not to be out done with female attention by Quatre.  Quatre shuddered at his own words, the words he'd so stupidly said two painful years ago…Come be my father, Rashid. God, I wish I had just been an orphan.

            "I'm sorry Dorothy couldn't make it to lunch, Quat," Relena offered, "I hope you see her soon."

            "Oh, I will.  She's flying in later and staying with me a few nights."

            "Oh, ok." Everybody said, winking.

            "Save the good stuff for last, eh buddy?"

            "Oh," Quatre blushed, realizing how that sounded to the receivers.

            Everyone laughed.

            Lunch ended slowly, the conversations wearing into the eve.  The lot of them went horseback riding until night had fully set in.  To Quatre, it was a truly golden time away from Rashid, and his façade of care.  When they returned to the mansion, Dorothy had finally arrived.  Relena go the first hug, followed by the rest of the girls.  Quatre was so happy to see her.  Surely Rashid wouldn't hurt him in front of Dorothy.  She was just as happy to see him.  He was, after all, her dream man.  Everyone left at about the same time, except for Duo, who wanted to play with everything that was made of glass.  Hilde finally dragged him off with the promise of an 'all-nighter'.  Dorothy kissed Quatre long and deep the moment the door closed behind them.

            "I put my stuff in your room," she cooed, rubbing her nose against his. 

            "Wait that means…" Quatre muttered innocently.

            "That's right, lover," she assured, "bet cha can't wait, can you?"

            "Yeah, first time should be great fir rich guys."  His hand slid down her back and on her behind.

            Dorothy giggled.  "Why Quatre Winner, I didn't know you were such a bad boy."

            "I'm much, much worse.  You don't want to hear about my dreams."

            "Tell me and I'll make them reality."

            The two giggled and nuzzled.  Rashid made his presence known, clearing his throat loudly.

            "Oh, Rashid, hi," Dorothy pulled away from Quatre. 

            "Miss Catalonia," Rashid muttered an acknowledgement.

            "Dorothy, do you want to go for a walk?"

            "You need to get up too early in the morning, Master Quatre."  How could Rashid beat him, then call him master? Quatre's stomach turned at the hypocrisy.  

            "I'll be fine, Rashid.  We'll just be out for a while—"

            "You need your rest, Master, so you need to go to bed now."

            "We'll just be out for a bit Rashid."

            "You wanted someone to look after you Quatre.  The least you could do is obey me."

            "Rashid why are you making such a big deal of this?" Dorothy stepped in. "It's a frikin' walk around the park; we're not going across an ocean."

            "You stay out of this!" Rashid yelled at Dorothy.  Dorothy stepped back, surprised and frightened.

            "Leave her alone," Quatre raised his voice, "You need to chill, Rashid."

            "Don't tell me to chill when you appointed me to a job and I do it!" Rashid yelled right over Quatre and Dorothy's heads.  Rashid stormed out.  Dorothy looked at Quatre, fear in her eyes.

            "Why was he yelling at us like that?" she murmured.  Quatre shrugged, taking Dorothy's hand and quickly walking out to the gardens.

            An hour later, the two returned, tired, but still energized enough for a **good night**.  Dorothy kissed Quatre, heading upstairs.

            "Hey there, wonder woman, don't get started without me."

            "Hurry up, you might have to interrupt."  She scurried up the steps.  He watched her go before proceeding to the kitchen for some champagne. Rashid was there, waiting for him.  Quatre's heart stopped.  Rashid was holding a stick, a thin whispy one.  Quatre just stood in the doorway.

            "You said you wanted a father figure," he began, "You asked me to come.  This isn't a one-way deal, stupid.  This is a father-son deal.  And father-son is mutual.  Every action has a reaction. You disobey me, you get punished.  Turn around."

            Quatre, against his own will, shook his head.  Rage engulfed Rashid's eyes.  He grasped the nape of Quatre's neck, slamming his face to the table and holding his there.  He gave Quatre a lash with the stick.  Quatre whimpered.

            "How dare you defy me!" he yelled, lashing with every word.  Quatre felt his back begin to irritate and bleed.  "I am your father! You will love me! You will honor me! You will praise me for everything you have! How helped you keep this damn house? ME! Who helped you planet that damn garden? ME! Who the hell nursed your wounds? Who? WHO?"

            "You!" Quatre cried into the table.

            "Damn right me!" Rashid yelled in his ear, "Now are you sorry?"

            "Yes!"

            "Now do you feel horrible for sinning against your father?!"

            "Yes!"

            "What do you say?"

            "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

            Rashid struck him harder than ever.  Quatre cried out.  "Sorry for what?"

            "I'm sorry I disobeyed you, father!"

            Rashid jerked Quatre up by his neck and pushed him against the counter, his back side feeling like it had been amputated. Quatre breathed hard, his eyes bloodshot from holding back tears.  His face was numb from being pressed against the table an holding back screams and screams and screams.

            "Get outta my sight!" Rashid yelled at his son.  Quatre bolted out and up the stairs.  He stood panting outside the door to his room.  He couldn't let Dorothy see him like this, having sinned against his kind father.  He took a few steps to the door peering through a crack.  Dorothy was nude in his bed, daydreaming about all the wonderful things he would do to her.  Quatre stepped back, heading toward the bathroom.  He took a long, cold shower, punishing himself for rebelling against Rashid, the only one who would take care of him and love him and discipline him properly.  Sons that rebel against their fathers don't get warm, soothing showers.