Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters. The only
thing that's mine is the plot ideas, and the character Sera.
Author's Note: Thank you to my reviewers, I love you all! Especially you, Quintia, and this is for you. That's all from me, now read!
Love will not Die
Part VIII
By, Silver Fox
Quatre was awoken by the sound of birds chirping outside. He opened his eyes to find himself in own navy sheeted bed, but something was different. This time, he woke up next to a sleeping angel. He smiled in remembering the wonderful night they had spent together. He stroked her hair softly while she lay still and sleeping. They had made good use of the leather chained collar and whip he had found. He put his other hand to his neck, and chuckled slightly to discover that he was still wearing it and chained to one of the bedposts. He decided that he could stand being chained until she woke up. He gently slipped his arms around her, being especially careful not to wake her up. Last night had been the perfect end to the perfect day. He hadn't had so much fun in his whole life, and he owed it all to her. But something was in his head that he just couldn't shake. Why had Dorothy agreed to drive home by herself and let Rashid drive him home? Knowing her, he had expected her to insist that she drive him home. Why had she given in so easily? He thought he might have sensed a few bad vibes between her and Rashid, but he figured he must have been imagining things. Suddenly, she started to move and let out a yawn.
"Morning sunshine."
"Quatre? Oh, I'm so tired. I want 5 more minutes." She said sleepily as she stretched, closed her eyes and flopped down in his arms again.
"Ok, whatever you want." He tightened his arms around her. "I guess you'll just have to wait to get your surprise then."
Her eyes popped open and she swiftly sat up and turned to him. "Surprise? What surprise?" she asked eagerly.
He smiled. "If I told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise."
She was about to beg, when she spotted that he was still chained to the bedpost. She put on a cocky face, stood up, and ripped the sheet out from under him. She wrapped it around her self and watched as she scrambled for the comforter and put it around his lower half. She put on a teasing face. "You know, only I have the key to that chain. So unless you want to spend the day naked and chained to the bed, why don't you at least give me a hint?"
He sighed, knowing she had the upper hand. He held the comforter to his body. "Ok, ok. I'll give you a hint. It has something to do with food. Now will you please unchain me? Not that I don't like this, but it's for night time, not day time."
She picked up the keys and twirled them around on her finger. "Sure, I'll unchain you. Under one condition."
"Which would be?"
It was her turn to smile. "Which would be that you have to accompany me to the shower, and not mind being dictated. I hope you don't mind."
He looked surprisingly pleased. "Mind? Of course I don't mind. I'd love to in fact."
She chuckled. "Good." She turned the key in the slot and unlocked the chain from the bedpost. Then, she tugged on it. "Come on, this way." He followed, wrapping the comforter around his waist. She led him into the bathroom and shut the door. Then she opened it again, tossing out the comforter, sheet, and collar. Then she closed the door again. ****
The cook was bustling about the kitchen, making sure everything was ready for the surprise Quatre was going to give Dorothy. He was trying to make sure everything was going to be perfect, just as Master Quatre asked. While he was making himself busy with this, Rashid was going over some stock files, looking a bit tired.
"I don't see why you went along with this Pierre," he said while reading, "The whole thing is somewhat ridiculous to me."
"Rashid," He replied nervously, "please don't act so indifferent. I'm doing what Master Quatre wants. That's what I get paid for after all. I think it's actually very sweet, what he's doing."
"Sweet? Of course it's sweet on his part. He's always going out of his way for her, and what does she do in return?"
Pierre was making sure he stayed behind the counter, keeping his distance as he was searching for something. "From what I've seen, I think she returns his favors to the best of her ability. I mean, she did treat on that day off yesterday-,"
"Day off? That wasn't supposed to be a day off. Because of her forcing him to take that day off, who knows if we'll lose that important case, and that could cost the company a substantial amount of money! I don't think that was much of a day off if it means so much more work the day after, but that's just my opinion."
Pierre looked at him a little strangely. "Rashid, what's the matter? You've never acted like this before, is there something wrong?"
He sighed. "I'm sorry Pierre. I'm just worried, and sometimes I get like this when I get worried."
"Worried? Worried about what? The company?"
"No, not the company, about Master Quatre. He seems to always put himself second when it comes to her. I don't think he should neglect himself."
"Um, isn't that what people do for each other when they're in love?"
"That's what a person does when they're in love. So far it seems his affection for her is stronger than her affection for him."
Pierre was nervously trying to make sense to Rashid. He didn't understand why he was saying this. He had always liked Dorothy, and he thought Rashid liked her too. "Rashid, am I to correctly assume that you don't like Miss Dorothy?"
"It's not that I don't like her, because I do like her. I know she's a good person. But I just think she's a little selfish sometimes, and I don't like the way it affects Master Quatre." He looked up from his paper. "Please, Pierre, don't tell Master Quatre that I said this."
"Don't worry Rashid, I won't tell him. I just think you're a little too critical of her. Try to lighten up a little about that."
"Alright Pierre. If you say so." He trailed off as he heard giggling voices approaching in the distance, and of course he knew who it was.
****
Dorothy was giggling as Quatre led her blindfolded into the kitchen. He was laughing himself because they both kept stumbling over everything and ending up falling.
"Quatre, just take this thing off. How about I promise to close my eyes?"
"Well, no."
She mocked an offended face, under the blindfold. "What, you don't trust me not to look?"
"Pretty much."
"Well, I don't blame, I probably would look."
After much tripping and falling, they finally reached the kitchen. Quatre smiled at Pierre and Rashid as he sat Dorothy down at her place. He motioned to Pierre to bring her dish. Pierre gave one last look to Rashid before he brought the covered plate before Dorothy and made his way exiting the room. As he was leaving, he tapped Rashid on the shoulder and motioned for him to follow him, and he did. Quatre took off her blindfold and she saw a plate with a silver dome covering it. She turned to Quatre.
"What's this?"
He smiled. "Just look at it, you'll see."
She picked up the silver dome and gasped at what she saw. It was a burger, the same style burger that she took him out to lunch to yesterday, and her favorite French pastry. "How did you get Pierre to make this?"
He smiled and shrugged. "I actually just told him about it, and he knew what I was talking about. I guess he knew about old-fashioned food."
"This is so sweet. Thank you." She leaned up and kissed him.
"I should be thanking you," he said when they pulled apart, "for making me take that day off. I didn't realize how much I needed that."
They both ate their breakfast and walked hand in hand to Quatre's office. They turned to face each other.
"Well my sweet, this is where we part ways. I've got work to do now."
"No no," she embraced him and pouted, "Can't we take another day off?"
He chuckled. "No, I don't think Winner Enterprises could handle if I ditched it again. Plus Rashid would have a fit. And," he lifted her chin up, "yesterday you said if I took the day off with you I could back to work the next day."
She squirmed, desperately trying to find a way out of what she said. "Uh, did I say that?"
He nodded. "Yes you did. Do I need to quote you?"
"No no, that won't be necessary." She sighed, looking defeated. "Alright, you win. I guess I have to let you go to work. But I don't have to like it."
"Of course you don't have to like it." He stroked her chin. "I don't like it myself, but it has to be done. You probably have things to do with Romefellar anyway, right?"
"Oh, right, that." She shrugged. "I guess I could. I should check anyway."
"Good. Now after work, who's office should we meet in, yours or mine?"
She thought for a moment. "I have an idea. Let's meet at the fencing arena."
He looked slightly nervous. "Um, alright. If you say so."
"Wait, I wasn't finished. And we face each other. Whoever wins," she ran a hand down his chest, "gets to do whatever they want with the loser."
His eyebrows shot up. It sounded like a win situation either way. "Sure, I'm up for that."
"Alright then, it's a date. I'll see you later then." She pulled him into a very passionate kiss before they separated and she teasingly waved goodbye to him. "Till then," she chimed. He stood there breathless for a moment, and as he went into his office, he thought out loud.
"I have to work after that? It isn't fair."
****
Dorothy walked down the hall daydreaming about yesterday. "God that was good, I'm so glad I made him take a day off. But now," she lowered her head and sighed. "The party's over. It's back to the daily grind. Thing is," she bit her lip. "I don't know how to tell him. I mean, it's not like an everyday thing you tell your boyfriend your company is going to collapse." She was so busy mumbling to herself that she wasn't paying attention where she was walking and bumped into Rashid.
"Oh I'm sorry Rashid. I was paying attention, excuse me." She started to walk away and then he started to talk.
"I couldn't help overhear your mumbling. What was that about your company is going to collapse?"
She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around. She looked a little scared. "Please, don't tell him yet. It's not official, but it's inevitable. But please, let me tell him myself."
He nodded. "Of course. It's your news to tell, not mine."
"Thank you," she breathed. "Well, I guess I'll go now."
"Miss Dorothy, would you mind if I had a word with you? Since, you obviously don't have to work right now."
She was a little offended by the way he said that, but she didn't show it. She merely nodded and said, "Oh, alright, of course I wouldn't mind."
"Thank you, Miss. Please follow me."
"You can just call me Dorothy."
"That's alright Miss. This way."
She knew something wasn't quite right, yet she followed him anyway. He led her into one of the office rooms. "Please, sit down."
She sat in the chair and looked a little suspicious. "Rashid, I don't mind coming here for a talk, but I would like to know what it is about, if you don't mind."
He took a seat behind the desk and leisurely reclined it. "What I would like to talk to you about is that little outing you organized yesterday."
"Oh yeah, our day off. That was so much fun, and Quatre really needed that. I hope you didn't mind."
"I must be honest with you Miss Dorothy, I did mind."
It hit her now. This was why he wanted to talk to her. He was upset with her, but couldn't say it in front of Quatre. She was a bit taken back, but prepared herself in a polite manner. "I apologize Rashid. I realize I should have consulted you first. I take full responsibility."
"As you should, but I don't think that's good enough."
Hey eyes widened at this point. "Rashid, there's no need to be hostile. I apologized for not consulting you before we left."
He looked at her with stone eyes. "I know you're sorry about that, and I acknowledge that. But I know you don't regret that you took that trip out."
"Well of course I don't. It was the most fun Quatre's ever had. You saw him; he was ecstatic. That was a huge release of tension for both of us."
"Miss Dorothy, I cannot overlook the fact that you did put Master Quatre in unnecessary danger and you feel no remorse for doing so."
She was starting to get hot under the collar. "Are you suggesting that I knew I was putting Quatre in a terribly dangerous situation purposely in hopes he'd get hurt? That is entirely wrong. I did not put him in danger, we just went out. Out like normal people do everyday."
He put his paper down stared at her. "Need I remind you that Master Quatre is not just an ordinary person. He's the CEO of the Winner Corp. and a very important person. What happens to him is of very great importance, to this company and to me. He's like a son to me, and I don't want him to fall out with the wrong crowd."
She took very much offense to this. "Excuse me? Are you suggesting that I'm not good company for Quatre?"
"I actually was implying the bar I found you in, but your way agrees with the statement as well."
She stood up and pointed a finger at him. "Listen to me, I will not sit here and be insulted by you, of all people. I never thought you would turn on me. What have I ever done to you?"
He stood up to meet her gaze. Despite her ranting, he was still speaking very calmly. "I admit, you've done nothing to me personally. But let's not forget when you ran through Master Quatre. If I'm not mistaken you did that of your own free will?"
She gawked at him. "How dare you! I've apologized to him so many times, to this day even! And he always tells me that I don't need to apologize to him, because he understands."
"He thinks he understands."
"And what is that supposed to mean? Listen Rashid," she put her hands on the table and leaned up in his face, "you've been talking in circles, and it's aggravating. Just tell me straight out, what do you want to say to me?"
He scoffed, a little surprised by her reaction. "Are you sure you want to get me started?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Oh please, get started."
"Well then, if we're being totally honest here, I don't think I like you, Miss Dorothy. I still think you're the same person you were when you stabbed Master Quatre on Libra, a war loving, cockroach eye-browed freak. I doubt you even have genuine feelings for Master Quatre. I think you're a very messed up person Miss Dorothy, and you have no business using Master Quatre. I think you don't even care about him. You are a person with selfish ways. It's always about you. Did you know that the company lost half a million dollars profit yesterday because of you're spontaneous outing? Do you even care, Miss Dorothy? Or do you just think that you can live off of Quatre for the rest of your life?"
She was so hurt by everything he said, yet her face showed only the anger. "Selfish? I'm selfish?"
"You took up so much of his time when you were sick."
She gaped in obviousness. "Well excuse me, I didn't intend to get a disease that's still going to kill me!!" she shrieked at him. Then she looked down. "You have no right to criticize me, you have no idea what I've been through. Do you know I wake up everyday and wonder if I'm going to die before lunch?" She raised her head to look at him again. "Do you know what that's like, always fearing that today will be your last day?"
"In fact I do. I was commander of Master Quatre's army during the war. We were willing to give our lives to protect him. Yes, I did wake up and wonder if each day would be my last, so don't play the sympathy card with me."
"I don't want any sympathy!!" She was baring her teeth. "I don't want to play with people. I don't want to hurt Quatre in any way and I don't want anything else but him! I love him, Rashid. I love him with all my heart. I would do anything for him. And yes, I would die for him in a heartbeat." She stood in front of him steaming, but standing tall. He was looking down at her, and giving her an evil eye.
"So you say."
"So I say what?"
"So you say you love him, but I have yet to see any proof of that."
"Why should I have to justify myself to you? You're opinion doesn't matter to me."
"But my opinion does matter to Master Quatre."
She looked at him strangely. "Is that a threat?"
"It is only a statement. How you take it makes it a threat or not."
She put her hands on her hips and looked at the ground. Then she looked back at him. "What is that you want?"
"Plain and simple. I don't want you to endanger Master Quatre anymore."
"I didn't endanger him."she protested.
"To me you did. So here's the deal; you don't get in Master Quatre's way anymore, and I won't say a thing about Romefellar."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I tell him about Romefellar."
She thought for a moment. She hated this. This was a deal she didn't want to make. She hated not having the upper hand. Reluctantly, she stretched out her hand to meet his.
"Alright, you win."
"Good. Now go do whatever it is you do. And one other thing," she turned around as she was leaving, "this conversation never happened."
"What conversation?" she said coldly as she walked out of the room.
"Exactly."
She slammed the door of the office shut and stormed through the hallway, not caring where she was going. She was just so infuriated. She decided to take a walk through the garden hedges to clear her mind. On her way she nearly knocked over a maid.
"Oh I'm sorry Miss Dorothy, is everything alright?"
"Peachy. Everything's just fan-bloody-tastic. If anyone wants to know I'm in the garden." she kicked the door opened and went outside. She found her way to the maze hedges and went inside them. "At least I can get lost in here." She made her way to the center of it, which was so far away from the house. She sat down in a corner, and from her jacket pulled out a cigarette and a lighter. She hated smoking. She had quit, but now she just needed something, anything to do. She knew she shouldn't, but she lit the cigarette and puffed on it anyway. She coughed quite a bit at first, but after the first few puffs she got used to it. "I know this can't be good, but right now I really don't care." She was debating amongst herself whether to tell Quatre about the "talk", 'More like brutal fight,' she thought, with Rashid. She had no idea that he felt that way about her. She was tough, and she knew she could handle his dislike of her. But, something was really bothering her. "Damn it!" she shouted, snapping her cigarette in half and throwing it to the ground and stamping it out. "Damn it, damn it! I hate being blackmailed, I hate not having the upper hand!!" she screamed to herself. She knew no one could hear her, so she let out her tension.
"He had no right," she told herself as she got out another cigarette and lit it, "He had no right to say that to me. I should tell Quatre, I really should. But," She blew the smoke out of her nose. "I don't know, I just can't tell him. Rashid is a father figure to him, and I don't want to destroy that for him," she looked the other way, "at least one of us should. All I had was my grandfather, and it's not like he did anything for me." She scoffed at herself. "Man, I am screwed up if I'm talking to myself this much." She thought for a second, and then wondered out loud.
"Am I really.selfish?" She had never thought so, but Rashid had planted the seed of doubt in her mind, and it was only a matter of time before it grew. After sitting there for a few hours, she took one last puff of her cigarette before she coughed so much she had to put it out. She looked at the sky and wondered, "Why can't we just be happy? We've suffered so much in the war." She stood up and headed back to the house. She smelled like smoke, but she didn't care. She just headed back to her office, the one place she knew she wouldn't be disturbed. She got in, slammed the door and threw her remaining cigarettes in the trash. She decided that while she was here, she might as well get some work done. She decided to first use her videophone. She sat behind her desk, dialed the number and waited for the other end to pick up. Relena's face appeared on the screen.
"Yes, this is, oh Dorothy it's you." She smiled. "It's nice to see you, how have you been?"
"Well enough," Dorothy lied. "Miss Relena, I wanted to-,"
"Please Dorothy, we're friends here, drop the Miss."
"Right. Anyway, Relena, I need to confide something in you. This is actually business."
"I'm listening. This is a secure line so go ahead."
"Alright. Well, no one knows this yet but the Romefellar Foundation is selling out. It's bankrupt."
"Oh Dorothy," she looked so shocked. "I had no idea."
"I know. The public isn't allowed to know yet. But me being the former CEO, well I would these things. Oh, and one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I'm really stressed and I started smoking again today. I promised to quit for Quatre, and I don't want to do it. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Oh Dorothy, you really shouldn't smoke, especially with."
"My disease, I know. Another reason why I can't afford to light up again."
"Ok, let me think." She looked deep in thought as she lowered her head for a moment. "I do have a suggestion. First of all talk to Quatre about whatever's making you so stressed. Second of all, try to find a way to release stress so you won't have to smoke."
Dorothy put a hand to her chin. "Sounds good to me. Thank you Miss, er, I mean Relena. Well I have some paperwork to do, so I'll say goodbye now."
"Goodbye Dorothy, and take care of yourself."
"Thank you, goodbye."
She pressed the button and the image was off the screen. She put her head on her desk and took a nap. When she woke up, she looked at the clock. It was 6:30. Quatre should be finishing up now, she thought. She decided to go to the fencing room to tell him that she was too tired to do her original plan. She walked and walked until she reached the room. Quatre was already sitting in there, and he looked troubled. Being too tired to be cute, she just walked up to him.
"Hey," she said gently.
He turned to look at her. He looked very serious. He gave her a long embrace before he sat her down and looked her straight in the eyes. "I just found out some-wait, why do you smell like cigarette smoke?"
She looked a little guilty. "Well, I was kinda stressed, and I did light up."
"No, I thought you quit." He looked sad.
"I did, and I'm not starting again. I nearly coughed my lungs out, I won't do it again I promise." She looked at his solemn face. "Quatre, what's wrong?"
He took her hands and sighed. " I found out something. I got a call from the police."
"What happened?"
"They did some tests, and Sera is pregnant."
Author's Note: OOooo, complicated, huh? Please, give me feedback!
Author's Note: Thank you to my reviewers, I love you all! Especially you, Quintia, and this is for you. That's all from me, now read!
Love will not Die
Part VIII
By, Silver Fox
Quatre was awoken by the sound of birds chirping outside. He opened his eyes to find himself in own navy sheeted bed, but something was different. This time, he woke up next to a sleeping angel. He smiled in remembering the wonderful night they had spent together. He stroked her hair softly while she lay still and sleeping. They had made good use of the leather chained collar and whip he had found. He put his other hand to his neck, and chuckled slightly to discover that he was still wearing it and chained to one of the bedposts. He decided that he could stand being chained until she woke up. He gently slipped his arms around her, being especially careful not to wake her up. Last night had been the perfect end to the perfect day. He hadn't had so much fun in his whole life, and he owed it all to her. But something was in his head that he just couldn't shake. Why had Dorothy agreed to drive home by herself and let Rashid drive him home? Knowing her, he had expected her to insist that she drive him home. Why had she given in so easily? He thought he might have sensed a few bad vibes between her and Rashid, but he figured he must have been imagining things. Suddenly, she started to move and let out a yawn.
"Morning sunshine."
"Quatre? Oh, I'm so tired. I want 5 more minutes." She said sleepily as she stretched, closed her eyes and flopped down in his arms again.
"Ok, whatever you want." He tightened his arms around her. "I guess you'll just have to wait to get your surprise then."
Her eyes popped open and she swiftly sat up and turned to him. "Surprise? What surprise?" she asked eagerly.
He smiled. "If I told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise."
She was about to beg, when she spotted that he was still chained to the bedpost. She put on a cocky face, stood up, and ripped the sheet out from under him. She wrapped it around her self and watched as she scrambled for the comforter and put it around his lower half. She put on a teasing face. "You know, only I have the key to that chain. So unless you want to spend the day naked and chained to the bed, why don't you at least give me a hint?"
He sighed, knowing she had the upper hand. He held the comforter to his body. "Ok, ok. I'll give you a hint. It has something to do with food. Now will you please unchain me? Not that I don't like this, but it's for night time, not day time."
She picked up the keys and twirled them around on her finger. "Sure, I'll unchain you. Under one condition."
"Which would be?"
It was her turn to smile. "Which would be that you have to accompany me to the shower, and not mind being dictated. I hope you don't mind."
He looked surprisingly pleased. "Mind? Of course I don't mind. I'd love to in fact."
She chuckled. "Good." She turned the key in the slot and unlocked the chain from the bedpost. Then, she tugged on it. "Come on, this way." He followed, wrapping the comforter around his waist. She led him into the bathroom and shut the door. Then she opened it again, tossing out the comforter, sheet, and collar. Then she closed the door again. ****
The cook was bustling about the kitchen, making sure everything was ready for the surprise Quatre was going to give Dorothy. He was trying to make sure everything was going to be perfect, just as Master Quatre asked. While he was making himself busy with this, Rashid was going over some stock files, looking a bit tired.
"I don't see why you went along with this Pierre," he said while reading, "The whole thing is somewhat ridiculous to me."
"Rashid," He replied nervously, "please don't act so indifferent. I'm doing what Master Quatre wants. That's what I get paid for after all. I think it's actually very sweet, what he's doing."
"Sweet? Of course it's sweet on his part. He's always going out of his way for her, and what does she do in return?"
Pierre was making sure he stayed behind the counter, keeping his distance as he was searching for something. "From what I've seen, I think she returns his favors to the best of her ability. I mean, she did treat on that day off yesterday-,"
"Day off? That wasn't supposed to be a day off. Because of her forcing him to take that day off, who knows if we'll lose that important case, and that could cost the company a substantial amount of money! I don't think that was much of a day off if it means so much more work the day after, but that's just my opinion."
Pierre looked at him a little strangely. "Rashid, what's the matter? You've never acted like this before, is there something wrong?"
He sighed. "I'm sorry Pierre. I'm just worried, and sometimes I get like this when I get worried."
"Worried? Worried about what? The company?"
"No, not the company, about Master Quatre. He seems to always put himself second when it comes to her. I don't think he should neglect himself."
"Um, isn't that what people do for each other when they're in love?"
"That's what a person does when they're in love. So far it seems his affection for her is stronger than her affection for him."
Pierre was nervously trying to make sense to Rashid. He didn't understand why he was saying this. He had always liked Dorothy, and he thought Rashid liked her too. "Rashid, am I to correctly assume that you don't like Miss Dorothy?"
"It's not that I don't like her, because I do like her. I know she's a good person. But I just think she's a little selfish sometimes, and I don't like the way it affects Master Quatre." He looked up from his paper. "Please, Pierre, don't tell Master Quatre that I said this."
"Don't worry Rashid, I won't tell him. I just think you're a little too critical of her. Try to lighten up a little about that."
"Alright Pierre. If you say so." He trailed off as he heard giggling voices approaching in the distance, and of course he knew who it was.
****
Dorothy was giggling as Quatre led her blindfolded into the kitchen. He was laughing himself because they both kept stumbling over everything and ending up falling.
"Quatre, just take this thing off. How about I promise to close my eyes?"
"Well, no."
She mocked an offended face, under the blindfold. "What, you don't trust me not to look?"
"Pretty much."
"Well, I don't blame, I probably would look."
After much tripping and falling, they finally reached the kitchen. Quatre smiled at Pierre and Rashid as he sat Dorothy down at her place. He motioned to Pierre to bring her dish. Pierre gave one last look to Rashid before he brought the covered plate before Dorothy and made his way exiting the room. As he was leaving, he tapped Rashid on the shoulder and motioned for him to follow him, and he did. Quatre took off her blindfold and she saw a plate with a silver dome covering it. She turned to Quatre.
"What's this?"
He smiled. "Just look at it, you'll see."
She picked up the silver dome and gasped at what she saw. It was a burger, the same style burger that she took him out to lunch to yesterday, and her favorite French pastry. "How did you get Pierre to make this?"
He smiled and shrugged. "I actually just told him about it, and he knew what I was talking about. I guess he knew about old-fashioned food."
"This is so sweet. Thank you." She leaned up and kissed him.
"I should be thanking you," he said when they pulled apart, "for making me take that day off. I didn't realize how much I needed that."
They both ate their breakfast and walked hand in hand to Quatre's office. They turned to face each other.
"Well my sweet, this is where we part ways. I've got work to do now."
"No no," she embraced him and pouted, "Can't we take another day off?"
He chuckled. "No, I don't think Winner Enterprises could handle if I ditched it again. Plus Rashid would have a fit. And," he lifted her chin up, "yesterday you said if I took the day off with you I could back to work the next day."
She squirmed, desperately trying to find a way out of what she said. "Uh, did I say that?"
He nodded. "Yes you did. Do I need to quote you?"
"No no, that won't be necessary." She sighed, looking defeated. "Alright, you win. I guess I have to let you go to work. But I don't have to like it."
"Of course you don't have to like it." He stroked her chin. "I don't like it myself, but it has to be done. You probably have things to do with Romefellar anyway, right?"
"Oh, right, that." She shrugged. "I guess I could. I should check anyway."
"Good. Now after work, who's office should we meet in, yours or mine?"
She thought for a moment. "I have an idea. Let's meet at the fencing arena."
He looked slightly nervous. "Um, alright. If you say so."
"Wait, I wasn't finished. And we face each other. Whoever wins," she ran a hand down his chest, "gets to do whatever they want with the loser."
His eyebrows shot up. It sounded like a win situation either way. "Sure, I'm up for that."
"Alright then, it's a date. I'll see you later then." She pulled him into a very passionate kiss before they separated and she teasingly waved goodbye to him. "Till then," she chimed. He stood there breathless for a moment, and as he went into his office, he thought out loud.
"I have to work after that? It isn't fair."
****
Dorothy walked down the hall daydreaming about yesterday. "God that was good, I'm so glad I made him take a day off. But now," she lowered her head and sighed. "The party's over. It's back to the daily grind. Thing is," she bit her lip. "I don't know how to tell him. I mean, it's not like an everyday thing you tell your boyfriend your company is going to collapse." She was so busy mumbling to herself that she wasn't paying attention where she was walking and bumped into Rashid.
"Oh I'm sorry Rashid. I was paying attention, excuse me." She started to walk away and then he started to talk.
"I couldn't help overhear your mumbling. What was that about your company is going to collapse?"
She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around. She looked a little scared. "Please, don't tell him yet. It's not official, but it's inevitable. But please, let me tell him myself."
He nodded. "Of course. It's your news to tell, not mine."
"Thank you," she breathed. "Well, I guess I'll go now."
"Miss Dorothy, would you mind if I had a word with you? Since, you obviously don't have to work right now."
She was a little offended by the way he said that, but she didn't show it. She merely nodded and said, "Oh, alright, of course I wouldn't mind."
"Thank you, Miss. Please follow me."
"You can just call me Dorothy."
"That's alright Miss. This way."
She knew something wasn't quite right, yet she followed him anyway. He led her into one of the office rooms. "Please, sit down."
She sat in the chair and looked a little suspicious. "Rashid, I don't mind coming here for a talk, but I would like to know what it is about, if you don't mind."
He took a seat behind the desk and leisurely reclined it. "What I would like to talk to you about is that little outing you organized yesterday."
"Oh yeah, our day off. That was so much fun, and Quatre really needed that. I hope you didn't mind."
"I must be honest with you Miss Dorothy, I did mind."
It hit her now. This was why he wanted to talk to her. He was upset with her, but couldn't say it in front of Quatre. She was a bit taken back, but prepared herself in a polite manner. "I apologize Rashid. I realize I should have consulted you first. I take full responsibility."
"As you should, but I don't think that's good enough."
Hey eyes widened at this point. "Rashid, there's no need to be hostile. I apologized for not consulting you before we left."
He looked at her with stone eyes. "I know you're sorry about that, and I acknowledge that. But I know you don't regret that you took that trip out."
"Well of course I don't. It was the most fun Quatre's ever had. You saw him; he was ecstatic. That was a huge release of tension for both of us."
"Miss Dorothy, I cannot overlook the fact that you did put Master Quatre in unnecessary danger and you feel no remorse for doing so."
She was starting to get hot under the collar. "Are you suggesting that I knew I was putting Quatre in a terribly dangerous situation purposely in hopes he'd get hurt? That is entirely wrong. I did not put him in danger, we just went out. Out like normal people do everyday."
He put his paper down stared at her. "Need I remind you that Master Quatre is not just an ordinary person. He's the CEO of the Winner Corp. and a very important person. What happens to him is of very great importance, to this company and to me. He's like a son to me, and I don't want him to fall out with the wrong crowd."
She took very much offense to this. "Excuse me? Are you suggesting that I'm not good company for Quatre?"
"I actually was implying the bar I found you in, but your way agrees with the statement as well."
She stood up and pointed a finger at him. "Listen to me, I will not sit here and be insulted by you, of all people. I never thought you would turn on me. What have I ever done to you?"
He stood up to meet her gaze. Despite her ranting, he was still speaking very calmly. "I admit, you've done nothing to me personally. But let's not forget when you ran through Master Quatre. If I'm not mistaken you did that of your own free will?"
She gawked at him. "How dare you! I've apologized to him so many times, to this day even! And he always tells me that I don't need to apologize to him, because he understands."
"He thinks he understands."
"And what is that supposed to mean? Listen Rashid," she put her hands on the table and leaned up in his face, "you've been talking in circles, and it's aggravating. Just tell me straight out, what do you want to say to me?"
He scoffed, a little surprised by her reaction. "Are you sure you want to get me started?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Oh please, get started."
"Well then, if we're being totally honest here, I don't think I like you, Miss Dorothy. I still think you're the same person you were when you stabbed Master Quatre on Libra, a war loving, cockroach eye-browed freak. I doubt you even have genuine feelings for Master Quatre. I think you're a very messed up person Miss Dorothy, and you have no business using Master Quatre. I think you don't even care about him. You are a person with selfish ways. It's always about you. Did you know that the company lost half a million dollars profit yesterday because of you're spontaneous outing? Do you even care, Miss Dorothy? Or do you just think that you can live off of Quatre for the rest of your life?"
She was so hurt by everything he said, yet her face showed only the anger. "Selfish? I'm selfish?"
"You took up so much of his time when you were sick."
She gaped in obviousness. "Well excuse me, I didn't intend to get a disease that's still going to kill me!!" she shrieked at him. Then she looked down. "You have no right to criticize me, you have no idea what I've been through. Do you know I wake up everyday and wonder if I'm going to die before lunch?" She raised her head to look at him again. "Do you know what that's like, always fearing that today will be your last day?"
"In fact I do. I was commander of Master Quatre's army during the war. We were willing to give our lives to protect him. Yes, I did wake up and wonder if each day would be my last, so don't play the sympathy card with me."
"I don't want any sympathy!!" She was baring her teeth. "I don't want to play with people. I don't want to hurt Quatre in any way and I don't want anything else but him! I love him, Rashid. I love him with all my heart. I would do anything for him. And yes, I would die for him in a heartbeat." She stood in front of him steaming, but standing tall. He was looking down at her, and giving her an evil eye.
"So you say."
"So I say what?"
"So you say you love him, but I have yet to see any proof of that."
"Why should I have to justify myself to you? You're opinion doesn't matter to me."
"But my opinion does matter to Master Quatre."
She looked at him strangely. "Is that a threat?"
"It is only a statement. How you take it makes it a threat or not."
She put her hands on her hips and looked at the ground. Then she looked back at him. "What is that you want?"
"Plain and simple. I don't want you to endanger Master Quatre anymore."
"I didn't endanger him."she protested.
"To me you did. So here's the deal; you don't get in Master Quatre's way anymore, and I won't say a thing about Romefellar."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I tell him about Romefellar."
She thought for a moment. She hated this. This was a deal she didn't want to make. She hated not having the upper hand. Reluctantly, she stretched out her hand to meet his.
"Alright, you win."
"Good. Now go do whatever it is you do. And one other thing," she turned around as she was leaving, "this conversation never happened."
"What conversation?" she said coldly as she walked out of the room.
"Exactly."
She slammed the door of the office shut and stormed through the hallway, not caring where she was going. She was just so infuriated. She decided to take a walk through the garden hedges to clear her mind. On her way she nearly knocked over a maid.
"Oh I'm sorry Miss Dorothy, is everything alright?"
"Peachy. Everything's just fan-bloody-tastic. If anyone wants to know I'm in the garden." she kicked the door opened and went outside. She found her way to the maze hedges and went inside them. "At least I can get lost in here." She made her way to the center of it, which was so far away from the house. She sat down in a corner, and from her jacket pulled out a cigarette and a lighter. She hated smoking. She had quit, but now she just needed something, anything to do. She knew she shouldn't, but she lit the cigarette and puffed on it anyway. She coughed quite a bit at first, but after the first few puffs she got used to it. "I know this can't be good, but right now I really don't care." She was debating amongst herself whether to tell Quatre about the "talk", 'More like brutal fight,' she thought, with Rashid. She had no idea that he felt that way about her. She was tough, and she knew she could handle his dislike of her. But, something was really bothering her. "Damn it!" she shouted, snapping her cigarette in half and throwing it to the ground and stamping it out. "Damn it, damn it! I hate being blackmailed, I hate not having the upper hand!!" she screamed to herself. She knew no one could hear her, so she let out her tension.
"He had no right," she told herself as she got out another cigarette and lit it, "He had no right to say that to me. I should tell Quatre, I really should. But," She blew the smoke out of her nose. "I don't know, I just can't tell him. Rashid is a father figure to him, and I don't want to destroy that for him," she looked the other way, "at least one of us should. All I had was my grandfather, and it's not like he did anything for me." She scoffed at herself. "Man, I am screwed up if I'm talking to myself this much." She thought for a second, and then wondered out loud.
"Am I really.selfish?" She had never thought so, but Rashid had planted the seed of doubt in her mind, and it was only a matter of time before it grew. After sitting there for a few hours, she took one last puff of her cigarette before she coughed so much she had to put it out. She looked at the sky and wondered, "Why can't we just be happy? We've suffered so much in the war." She stood up and headed back to the house. She smelled like smoke, but she didn't care. She just headed back to her office, the one place she knew she wouldn't be disturbed. She got in, slammed the door and threw her remaining cigarettes in the trash. She decided that while she was here, she might as well get some work done. She decided to first use her videophone. She sat behind her desk, dialed the number and waited for the other end to pick up. Relena's face appeared on the screen.
"Yes, this is, oh Dorothy it's you." She smiled. "It's nice to see you, how have you been?"
"Well enough," Dorothy lied. "Miss Relena, I wanted to-,"
"Please Dorothy, we're friends here, drop the Miss."
"Right. Anyway, Relena, I need to confide something in you. This is actually business."
"I'm listening. This is a secure line so go ahead."
"Alright. Well, no one knows this yet but the Romefellar Foundation is selling out. It's bankrupt."
"Oh Dorothy," she looked so shocked. "I had no idea."
"I know. The public isn't allowed to know yet. But me being the former CEO, well I would these things. Oh, and one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I'm really stressed and I started smoking again today. I promised to quit for Quatre, and I don't want to do it. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Oh Dorothy, you really shouldn't smoke, especially with."
"My disease, I know. Another reason why I can't afford to light up again."
"Ok, let me think." She looked deep in thought as she lowered her head for a moment. "I do have a suggestion. First of all talk to Quatre about whatever's making you so stressed. Second of all, try to find a way to release stress so you won't have to smoke."
Dorothy put a hand to her chin. "Sounds good to me. Thank you Miss, er, I mean Relena. Well I have some paperwork to do, so I'll say goodbye now."
"Goodbye Dorothy, and take care of yourself."
"Thank you, goodbye."
She pressed the button and the image was off the screen. She put her head on her desk and took a nap. When she woke up, she looked at the clock. It was 6:30. Quatre should be finishing up now, she thought. She decided to go to the fencing room to tell him that she was too tired to do her original plan. She walked and walked until she reached the room. Quatre was already sitting in there, and he looked troubled. Being too tired to be cute, she just walked up to him.
"Hey," she said gently.
He turned to look at her. He looked very serious. He gave her a long embrace before he sat her down and looked her straight in the eyes. "I just found out some-wait, why do you smell like cigarette smoke?"
She looked a little guilty. "Well, I was kinda stressed, and I did light up."
"No, I thought you quit." He looked sad.
"I did, and I'm not starting again. I nearly coughed my lungs out, I won't do it again I promise." She looked at his solemn face. "Quatre, what's wrong?"
He took her hands and sighed. " I found out something. I got a call from the police."
"What happened?"
"They did some tests, and Sera is pregnant."
Author's Note: OOooo, complicated, huh? Please, give me feedback!