That evening

Mina walked down the hallway to answer the ringing door.

" Oh, hey Heero, what's up?" she asked.

" Nothing. Is Hotaru here?"

" Yeah she's upstairs getting ready. Well don't you look great."

" Thanks, she said it was formal, this is ok right?" he asked looking worried.

" Yeah, it's fine. Did you tell the others?"

" Yes, they were a bit surprised at first. They knew right away before I even told them, that something traumatic had happened to her. Well, we agreed that we won't tell anyone, or sell you out to the tabloids, but you've got to promise to keep our secret too."

" Ok, what is it?" at this moment Hotaru walked down the stairs in a black, spaghetti strap, backless dress.

" Wow. You look great!" Heero whispered amazedly.

" Thank you. Just let me grab my coat and we'll go." she walked down the hall, leaving Mina and Heero to finish their conversation.

" Why don't we all get together for lunch on Saturday, to talk about this ok." Mina suggested.

" Sounds great. I'll see you then." Heero replied, it was then that Hotaru returned and they turned to go.

" What was that all about?" Hotaru asked as they walked out to Heero's black Corvette.

" Oh, we're all gonna go out for lunch on Saturday." he replied. " So just tell me where we're going?" he asked as he started the car.

At Chez Moi (the Italian restaurant)

" Hotaru, I didn't know you guys were coming out tonight." Makoto questioned, surprised.

" Well, these were last minute plans, I was hoping you'd have a small, private table for two." Hotaru replied hopefully.

" Of course, you guys are lucky, we just had a cancellation." Makoto said, leading them to a secluded booth, dimly lit by two candles.

" Thanks, Mako-chan." Hotaru replied, while Heero gave a small nod. " So, what do you want to eat?" Hotaru asked after a few minutes of silence had past.

" I'm thinking that the chicken parmesan sounds pretty nice."

" I think I'm going to have a salad." she said.

" Oh, you're not one of those girls who doesn't like to eat in front of guys are you?" he said resentfully.

" No, I've never been big on eating and Mako always brings home leftover food."

" Ok, well, do you want some wine?"

" No, I don't drink." she said softly.

" Not even wine?" he asked.

" No, you see, my dad was an alcoholic, and he got started with wine. So it's alcohol, one way or the other."

" I see. What happened to your dad?"

" He was driving drunk and drove off a cliff." she replied, not showing any sorrow or remorse.

" You don't sound too sad about it."

" He wasn't all that great of a dad. He was never around, and when he was he was either yelling at me or hitting me. So I don't miss him." came her monotonous reply.

" You were abused?"

" Yep, my dad was really nice, until my mom died. That's when he started drinking and getting rough. Me, being an only child was the center of his abuse. Oh well, life is pain, so at least I know I've lived."

" That's not how you should look at it!" he said, his voice rising.

" Oh, and how should I take it?" she questioned.

" It wasn't right, you shouldn't just disregard it as nothing."

" Look, my dad's dead, I'm not gonna start worrying about him again ok." she replied before stomping out of the restaurant. Makoto walked up to the table and gave Heero a look that told him he should explain.

" Hey, it's not my fault. I just told her that she shouldn't just accept the fact that she was abused as a child." he said, defending himself against her unspoken accusation.

" Bad move, she's touchy ok, so don't bring up subjects that are gonna start a whole 'nother thing with her ok." she replied before walking away and leaving Heero alone with his thoughts.

TBC

Thanks to all of you who continue to review!!!!!!!!! I actually have no idea where to go from here, so if you have any ideas e:mail me ( hotarumouri@hotmail.com ) or tell me in a review.