CB: *Looks at angry readings waiting for the next chapter of 'Dark Passion' and ducks as they hurl rotten fruit at her* I'm sorry! This one just seems to have more inspiration at the moment! *Winces* would it help if I said this might have a lemon? *Chibi eyes*

Quatre: *Closes eyes as if in pain* No! Don't write one! None of us could take it!

CB: *Glares* Hmph! My readers liked my lemon in 'Dark Passion.'

Quatre: They were just being nice you know…

CB: *Stamps foot* Quiet or I'll send you back to…wherever you came from…author's power and all that!

Quatre: *Rolls eyes*

CB: And now, as promised I want to thank you all so, so much! ^_^

SilverShinigami – I'm glad you like this fic so much! You were the first one to review and I wanted to say a big thankyou! Fallen Saint – I'm glad this is fun, it's meant to be a bit of light hearted mush so I'm on the right track! *Beams happily* It's nice to see someone else agrees with my view that Heero and Relena as friends in this works well! Nightwings – well, more is here for you! Kate – I know Relena is OOC, I couldn't help it though, and I wanted her to be decent in this! ~_^ ShiTiger – Well the next part is here for you! Liliku – There's more now though *Flaps hands in an attempt to calm Liliku down* Deathwish - *Bows* Thankyou for saying it wasn't awful! Maybe this part will be a little longer…here's hoping! Bewaaaare, Duo in drag coming up! Relwarc – It's no problem not bashing Relena, the truth is I actually like her, and whilst some Relena bashing fics can be entertaining, they do get old fast. ^_^ Nanashichan – Phew! Finally I know, Americans call wardrobes closets! *Grins* I'm glad you like this and I'm continuing now! CobaltPrincess – More is here, thanks for saying it was good. *Smiles* StardustAngel – I know a Duo/Relena conflict can be entertaining, and that's what I was planning originally, but then thought better of it, for once! Thanks for telling me I pulled off a good, nice Relena; it's what I was aiming for! Yay! I'm glad it has great potential! Charlie – Wow! Someone else who's English! I know what you mean, I haven't come across many English fic writers on here…yet…I'm so happy you thought it was excellent! *Screams loudly along with Charlie* 1x2 FOREVER! Mwha…ahem…Lev – Thankyou, glad the characters aren't OOC…except possibly Relena…^_^ Sapphire – Thankyou very much! Makiko Igami - *Grins* I still love your ficcy 'Flower Fields And Chestnut Hair' I've only ever met one other person who was a 1x2 supporter and liked Relena, you're right, she is cool, we do agree on this eh? ^_^ Someone else who has annoying muses huh? Aren't they just the pits? Lol…Yup, mesa English, from Great Britain and all…*pulls out the flag of St George* The guy wasn't even English, he slew some dragon and is a national hero…cool…glad yousa liked England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales…I'm part Irish, my great grandmother etc, so yup, GB all the way! *Coughs* although I have been to America once, I thought it was pretty damn cool there you know! ^_^ Hakumei – AH! NOT RAMPAGING RHINOS I COULDN'T COPE! *Grin* I'm continuing now, so put 'em back in their cage, I'm begging you! Reona – Ooh, wardrobe has more class eh? *Giggles* cool, I'm finally classy! *Waltzes around the room holding a fake crystal goblet* I'm glad you love this story! *Hugs* Nezumi – I'll keep going, I promise! I'm glad you can't wait for more to come out! *Pulls out her 1x2 flag and waves it* Mwha, another aid fan of 1x2! *Jumps up and down happily* Daremyth – Well there's more here now! Dream Keeper – Aw thankyou! Well in this fic Relena will be Heero's friend, so at least it's original! ^_^  MinakoChan - *Hugs and squeals* Thankyou! But not my lucky penny! *Screams and runs away with the lucky penny* Lee Nekkyo – I'm continuing now! Laser Weasel – I'm continuing now! You can stop dancing!

Thankyou all very, very, VERY much people, twenty-three  reviews for one chapter is just like…wow…I'm so happy! *Hugs you all* Thanks guys!

Cobalt Violet

Warnings: THIS WORK CONTAINS SHOUEN AI LEADING TO YAOI, WHICH MEANS MALE/MALE RELATIONSHIPS (OR SLASH WHICHEVER WAY YOU LIKE TO PUT IT) IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THIS, PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU DO NOT READ IT!

Pairings: 2+1 leading to 1x2 (as usual people! ^_^) 5+R 3+4

Rating: R overall because, I'm not sure how far I want to go with the intimacy…*glances longingly towards lemon basket* but this chapter, probably PG 13?

Disclaimers: I do not own Gundam Wing or any related products (apart from the ones brought in the shopping centre.) Gundam Wing is copyrighted to the captains of the ship, Bandai etc. The characters are being used for pure enjoyment and I am NOT making any profit from this.

General notes: Anyone who reviews, will be thanked, I promise, I like thanking people, as long as they're fairly nice or honest. Also this fic will move back and forth between the present day and the past. (But only in the beginning.) When we are in the present day it will be indicated like this **sasHSSH** also there will be NO Relena bashing in this fic.

Dedication – I want to dedicate this to someone I know…MinakoChan – I've only 'known' you a short while, but in that short time we've plotted the craziest things (including taking over the world, we WILL do that one, start being afraid now people, today Japan, tomorrow the WORLD!) But when I needed a shoulder to cry on, you were there for me and I wanted to say thanks. *Big hugs* Thankyou.

Cobalt

~At the end of the faraway sky
I can only believe in this painful longing for ever
I would destroy everything if it is for your dream...
In love with you, do anything for you ~ Brightness and Darkness

"Heero?"

Heero's expression was one of fury as he muttered an angry "Hn." At Relena, who was sitting opposite, nervously fiddling with her teacup as she watched her friend cautiously. His hands seemed to be clenched into fists and his eyebrows were knotted in concentration as he glared at the mahogany surface in front of him. Relena briefly considered a hasty exit and a re-entry when he was in a slightly better mood, she knew Heero's temper, but decided against it, perhaps she could remedy the problem.

"Heero?" She ventured again, reaching across the table and tapping his arm, making him stop glaring at the tabletop and start glaring at her. "Um…" She paused, briefly thinking as she tried to come up with something to comfort him, "Why don't you tell your parents you're already engaged?" It was the first thing that entered her head but Heero's countenance brightened slightly as his expression softened. "Uh…maybe that's not…" She began hastily, having had time to think about it, "I mean you're not and…" She winced as Heero leant across the table, grasping her shoulder with one hand.

"Relena that perfect." He crowed, to her complete astonishment, Heero had never been this animated about anything, "If my parents see me, I'll just tell them I'm engaged already." He smirked smugly and sat back, watching the complete shock sweep over her face as she stared at him, her blue eyes wide and her mouth slightly open. "Shut your mouth, you look like you're catching flies." He reprimanded her, his usual scowl returning almost as quickly as it had gone. "And help me think of someone who would be willing to pose as my fiancé."

Relena blinked and mentally shook herself before trying once more to stop the situation before it got out of control. "Heero I really do not think this is a good idea." She said hesitantly, "I mean there's only two girls I know who are on board at the moment."

"Well who are they?" Heero demanded, frowning, "I'm sure they would help."

"Problem number one." Relena held up a finger in admonition, "Hilde Shbeiker is a lovely girl, however her parents are overprotective and have come with her, you go around saying Hilde is engaged to you, you may end up being paid a 'call' by her father's henchmen." She paused for a moment, letting this sink in before continuing, "Problem number two goes by the name of Dorothy Catalonia, she has an awful reputation and has managed to cause five incidents on board already, you tell your parents your engaged to her and they may well disown you. The only reason Dorothy is allowed to get away with things I because she's the captain's niece."

Heero frowned at this but didn't look at all put off. "Well we'll just have to come up with someone else." He said determinedly as Relena pulled a face. She knew what Heero was like, he was like a dog with a bone, and he didn't let go. "Do you know anyone else Relena?"

Relena rolled her eyes, "Yes Hee-san, but they're all male…" She stopped abruptly as an idea came to her, "There's one other person you know on board Hee-san."

An irate expression seemed to flit across Heero's face, "Who do I know?" He questioned irritably.

"Duo." The reply was so emphatic and abrupt that Heero was caught of guard.

"Duo?" He said, "You mean Duo pose as my…oh no…that is not a good idea."

Relena shrugged, "I know, but if you have a better plan I'd love to hear it." She waited for a couple of seconds before continuing, "Thought not. Now are you willing to listen? Or do I have to go and tell your parents you're on board?"

Heero's shoulders sagged in defeat. "Fine, what must I do?"

************

"Stupid idiot." Duo Maxwell viciously kicked the underside of the bar as he stared hard into his drink, watching the small pieces of melting ice float lazily across the surface of the amber liquid, like miniature icebergs. "I've known him for three years and did he ever confide in me? Tell me which family he came from? Noooo, that would require the social skills and understanding that he doesn't possess." Another well-aimed kick dented the wood as he picked up the glass, tilting his head back and draining it in one swift gulp. Feeling the liquid trail fire down his throat and burn his stomach he looked up. "Hey! Can I get another one of these?"

The barmaid who had her back turned and was wiping some glasses clean with a cloth shrugged and turned around to face the angry customer. "Sure!" She said, smiling lightly. As she filled up the glass from the tap she shot a curious glance at Duo. "Pardon me for asking." She said as she placed the now full glass in front of him, "But you don't seem too happy, what's wrong?"

Duo looked at her properly for the first time, taking in the blonde hair that was tucked behind her ears and the friendly, open expression on her face. Glancing down he read the nametag proclaiming her to be 'Minako.' (1) "Ah, it's nothing." He said, still moodily kicking the bar with his foot. "I just…I…" He sighed, "If you liked someone…as in like and you'd known them for three years then it turned out that they weren't who they said they were what would you do?" He hesitated before looking up into warm blue eyes that seemed to be sparkling as the girl giggled.

"That's your problem?"

"Yeah, that's it." Duo lifted the glass to his lips but paused and put it back down with a thump on the counter, "I know it's not much but…" He trailed off and shrugged. "I guess I'm just really attached to this guy."

"So it's a guy is it?" Minako wrinkled her nose and snapped her fingers. "Well I can't offer any real advice I'm afraid except possibly, if you really like this guy, why are you sitting at my bar drinking when you could be out winning his heart?" The drink was pulled out from under Duo's nose, "Get up and go talk to him."

"You're right!" Duo's fist slammed down on the counter top, "I'll go talk to him…how much do I owe you for the drinks?"

"They're on the house," Minako held up one finger, "On the condition you win this guy over and I see him with you on his arm within the week, ok?" She winked and turned away to serve a middle-aged woman who had appeared at the other end of the bar as Duo slipped off the bar stool and turned around.

"Hello Duo."

"Ah!" Duo leapt into the air as he came into contact with a warm body and cobalt eyes that had appeared less than three inches away. "Jeez Yuy, next time try to warn me when you're going to appear out of nowhere, that's happened twice now! 'Not that I mind.' He added mentally before shoving that thought out of the way very rapidly and removing himself, once again, from Heero's arms. "Now what do you want? Because I was about to go back to the cabin and have a shower. So if you don't mind…" He moved to step around his friend, but found himself blocked again.

"Duo, we need to talk." Heero said, his face serious and his expression unchanging as he watched Duo gulp visibly and shift nervously on his feet. "I need to ask you something."

"Uh w…well can't it wait?" Duo asked, anxious in case Heero was going to ask him one of those embarrassing questions, such as 'Do you like me?' Or, 'Why have you been acting strangely ever since we stepped on board.' He tried to move a second time, only to discover himself being shoved forcibly down in his seat and Heero's face shoved near his own. "Besides," He continued almost desperately, "I'm meant to be angry with you about the lies you've been telling me for the past three years."

Heero had the decency to look slightly ashamed, however the sentence that passed his lips was anything but remorseful. "Well I did want to keep people from fawning over me and an assumed name was the best option, it was my great grandfather's before my own father decided he'd rather not be associated with the Yuy family and changed his surname to Lowe." He shrugged, "And it wasn't really deceitful, I was still myself around people."

"Yeah, tell me about it." Duo muttered, recalling the hundreds of times he'd been ignored in favour of the laptop, but a small smile flickered across his face. Ok, I forgive you, but what did you want?"

"I…my parents are on board." Heero said shortly, getting straight to the problem at hand, "And they want me to get married, now I have no wish to enter into such a state of existence. Relena has come up with an idea, however…" He hesitated for a moment, his lips moving silently as he tried to formulate the right words to convince his friend of the necessity that he carry out the plan that had been devised. "There is a couple of drawbacks to this plan."

"Well what is the plan?" Duo asked innocently his violet eyes wide in his face as he studied the fidgeting Heero. "Do you need a fake marriage licence or something?"

"No, not exactly. I need someone to pose as my fiancé. But," He continued before Duo could say anything, "None of the girls that are our age and on board at the moment are…suitable."

"So what are you going to do?" Cobalt eyes looked appraisingly at the seated form in front of the owner of the said eyes and Heero saw realisation dawning on Duo's face, it was like the night creeping across the land slow, unwilling, but with a certainty that quite plainly shows there was no choice in the matter of understanding. "Oh no…"

"Oh yes."

"Heero you can't ask me to do that! Besides, your parents might not approve of your choice in a partner of the same gender." Duo realised he was babbling as his best friend watched, his face as implacable as stone. Then a second understanding reached him. "Oh dear God, you wouldn't make me do that? You couldn't, please tell me you aren't serious." A soft tremor ran through Duo's tone of voice. Again there was no flicker of emotion on the impassive face, but a slight sparkle in the depths of Prussian blue eyes indicated that Heero could and would and was very serious.

"Duo, please will you do this, you're the only one I can trust." Heero was actually pleading with him! Duo was so surprised he nearly fell off his chair in shock. But he had to firm his resolve, he couldn't pose as Heero's partner or fiancé, it would just feel wrong.

"I can't Heero." His hands came up of their own accord to grip the collar of Heero's shirt as the Japanese boy went to stand up properly after so long bent over the stool and they also tugged of their own accord, causing Heero's to lose his balance and stumble slightly so he was nose to nose with the braided boy. "Please, try to understand." Duo begged, his voice no more than a whisper.

"I'm sorry, but that is something I can't do." Heero said, removing the hands from his collar and straightening to his full height. "It's only whilst we are on board and we may not even see my parents…"

"Excuse me!" A voice butted in, its tone conversational, "But I couldn't help overhearing the fact that you claimed you may not see your parents. I'm afraid you probably will." Two pairs of eyes swivelled to look at Minako who was leaning on the bar, her arms folded on the top and an expression of polite helpfulness on her face. "You two were the contest winners weren't you?"

"Who told you?" Heero snapped, his face taut and his eyebrows knitted in a frown.

Minako nodded towards Duo, "He did." She paused as Heero rolled his eyes before she continued, "As the contest winners, part of your prize was to attend the ball that is occurring later this evening, many important people have been invited, including, no doubt, your parents." She smiled at Heero's thunderstruck expression as an, up until now, unheeded fact hit him in the face.

"So I need a fiancé by this evening?" He groaned and closed his eyes, "Just great."

Minako prodded Duo in the arm and leant over to whisper in his ear, "Is this the one you were talking about earlier?"

"Uh huh."

"I can see why! He gorgeous!" Minako grinned at Duo's expression, "Oh don't worry, I'm not about to steal him away from you, you guys would make a cute couple."

"Thanks."

"So say yes." The words came so abruptly Duo thought he'd misheard them at first.

"What?"

"It'll give you a chance to get closer to him, who knows what might happen." She grinned again and moved so she was directly behind the braided man before a hard shove was delivered to his shoulders, sending him tumbling off of his seat and straight into Heero…again. Neither boy was prepared for this assault and they both fell over in a tangle of legs and arms, Duo landing on top of Heero.

"I think that's a yes." Minako commented cheerfully before moving swiftly away to the storeroom at the back, well out of range of Duo's glare. "I love playing matchmaker." She commented to Quinze, the owner, as he stared at her, his expression making it clear that he had seen everything. "They seem perfect for each other." Quinze rolled his eyes but said nothing, he knew the stubborn girl too well to argue with her and he had to admit, she was good at reading other people's emotions.

"Just go and polish those glasses." Was all he said before moving over to take her place at the counter.

"Yes boss."

***************

If Heero had been anyone else, he would have fidgeted as he waited at the bottom of the stairs in the main ballroom on the ship. The chandeliers were throwing bright light on everything and people were quietly talking in small, sociable groups. In one corner an orchestra was playing and the large dance floor paved with marble had been specially polished for the occasion. Long white tables holding a buffet of fine, expensive food lined the rest of the room. This was the world he had been born into.

And how he hated it.

A louder voice than usual caught his attention and for a brief moment he feared it was his father, but on closer inspection it turned out to be a man who looked and sounded similar but was, in fact, another well-known politician. They all looked the same to him. He sighed and turned back to staring at the door at the top of the large flight of stairs, willing it to open and reveal his best friend so that they could make an appearance and run.

It had taken a full half an hour to convince Duo to let Relena anywhere near him, and when he had they'd vanished into the recesses of the large suite and hadn't appeared since, except once when Relena came out and informed him it would take a lot of work to make Duo appear as a woman and that he should go and do something more constructive and meet them at the ball.

Impatiently he'd asked how he'd know who Duo was if he looked completely different, Relena had merely winked and said, "Trust me, you'll know."

And now it was nine o'clock and still there was no sign of either of them. Heero rested an arm casually on the banister that curved to a halt next to him and drummed his fingers on the polished wood. Even to himself it was becoming obvious he was acting in an impatient fashion and from the glare that had been kept on his face, no one had dared to go near him.

"Lord and Lady Buckingham." The announcer said pompously, holding the door open and bowing to the two nobility that swept past him, not even bothering to nod their thanks. Heero growled low in his throat and glanced at his watch for the third time, five minutes past nine. Where was Duo and Relena? His foot began to do an almost spontaneous jig on its own, tapping quickly against the floor in a rhythm that matched his drumming fingers.

"Lady Relena Peacecraft and Lady Duet Maxwell."

Heero's brain didn't even register the announced names at first until a small part of his brain prodded him to look up. And the first thing he saw was an angel. (2) This angel had long, flowing chestnut hair that seemed to be surrounded by a halo of light (it later turned out to be because Duo was standing in front of a chandelier) and was wearing a black dress with no sleeves of any kind and that hugged the subtle curves of the slender body before falling in a flowing skirt. The only decorations were a simple silver necklace with a cross hanging on the chain and a small silver bracelet.

Heero knew he was staring but he didn't care, his eyes were wide and the hand resting on the banister unconsciously clenched as his mouth hung open slightly. The angel was attended by another girl that he realised was Relena, dressed in her royal blue dress with a gold necklace around her neck.

The two of them moved slowly down the stairs until they halted in front of the thunder struck young man, Duo smirked, Heero looked like he'd been struck by lightening, exactly the effect he had wanted.

"Hello Heero."

"D…Duo?"

"Yeah, who else would it be?" Duo asked, his violet eyes twinkling slightly as he gently teased the usually stoic boy. "The devil?" A small grunt was his only reply, but he shrugged it off with his usual attitude and grinned. "Come on, let's go have fun."

"Mm." Heero nodded. 'Oh God he look gorgeous, if he wasn't my best friend I'd…no, stop that thought there Yuy.' He mentally shook himself and offered his arm to his 'fiancé.' He missed Relena giving Duo a thumbs up sign as they sailed past and he missed the easily recognisable forms that were moving through the crowd towards him until there was a tap on his shoulder.

"Heero darling! What a surprise!"

Cornered blue eyes turned inevitably to the man and woman now standing next to him and Heero forced a smile, it was completely fake, but only Duo noticed and he gave the warm arm a squeeze of encouragement, not failing to notice the bunched muscle that were hidden by the tuxedo.

"Hello Mother…Father." Heero said, his tone tight and controlled, but his expression revealing nothing. "It's a surprise to see you on board, I assumed you would be going to Italy for your vacation, a cruise doesn't seem…your type of thing." He paused, waiting for a reply as Duo winced, Heero was making it clear he was not delighted to see his parents and the stoic boy was being even more closed off from everything than usual. Idly he wondered how well it was going to go down with Mr and Mrs Yuy that Heero had a 'fiancé.'

"Well we decided that because everyone else seemed to be taking this type of vacation, we would try for a change." Heero's mother was saying, her tone light as she ignored the tension visible in her son.

'Am I the only one who can see how tense he is?' Duo wondered briefly as he observed the politician (who up until now had said nothing) and his wife. Odin Lowe was a tall, powerfully built man, who in many ways looked like his son. They both had the same, dark hair and slim frame although a neatly trimmed beard covered the lower half of the older man's face. If Heero was twenty years older, Duo decided, this is how he would look. Mrs Lowe was the complete opposite of her husband, a small, slender woman with pale skin and golden brown hair that was coiled into a bun a the nape of her neck the only resemblance at all that she held to her son was the same deep, blue eyes.

A nudge in the side from Heero brought Duo back to the present world and out of his state of scrutiny, just in time to hear Odin speak for the first time. The man's voice was smooth and deep with a practiced and pronounced air to it.

"Heero, there is something your mother and I have been meaning to talk to you about…"

"Well may I first introduce you to someone?" Heero asked quickly but politely, "Mother, Father, this is Lady Duet."

"A pleasure." Odin said, although a hint of impatience wormed its way into his tone, "Heero we wan you to…"

"My fiancé."

"What?"

To Be Continued…

CB: Well that was a pointless and awful chapter, I am soooo not happy with this. *Kicks muses* It's all their fault, blame them.

Seth: Us? We didn't have any hand in this! It was all you!

CB: Uh…yeah…well…whatever…  

(1) It's for MinakoChan right? Well there you are then!

(2) Completely cliché but I happen to like it, I'm one of these people who loves a good ending and enjoys all the sap and typical romance that goes on in between…as long as it's 1x2 or 2x1 of course. *Runs away from rabid 1xR and 2xH fans*