A/N: Hi, welcome to part 2 of my fic. Sadly enough, I still don't own the show…aw well, you can't have everything in live I suppose.

SHOUTOUTS: A big thank you to Horisont, Yukishin and Grandsabre of Hearts for reviewing!!! You were both very sweet, and I really love hearing the opinions of the people who read my work. You guys are AWESOME! If I get the chance to return the favor in the next couple of days, I will!

CHARACTER STATUS: yeah, I focused a lot on Quatre and Angel in the first chapter, but in this chapter it will definitely broaden out. The plan is to bring in the other pilots, Sally, Relena and Dorothy into the story in this chapter, so it'll be a busy one!

INTERACTION: Later, once I've established the characters more and developed the plot a little, I might have a review-pole to see who you guys (the readers) would like to see together. Watch out for that, it should be coming soon.

LAST NOTE: Please continue to review! I'd love to address any questions you guys have, and feel free to comment on any aspect of the story you'd like to. Thanks! Now onto the good stuff…

Training Missions

Chapter Two: What's the Catch?

"You're kidding me…I get to be carted around in a limo while we're on this mission?" Angel asked incredulously as she and Quatre descended the stairs from the shuttle. Quatre glanced over at her and laughed.

"You expected less?" he questioned, one eyebrow slightly lifted. "Angel, you're now 'married' to the richest man in the universe. We could be carted around in a rose-shaped horse-drawn carriage with our own ride-along string quartet if you wanted."

Flushing, she shook her head. "Oh no, I think the limo will do nicely. Here comes the press," she added, and he turned to follow her gaze. Sure enough, reporters and cameramen swept down on them like carrion birds. It wasn't the crowd Quatre had been expecting, but there were still quite a few of them. Angel tossed a glance his way.

"Thought we were keeping a low profile," she murmured under her breath.

"We are," he told her, wrapping an arm around her waist for show as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "These guys are more than likely waiting for Miss Relena to land. We're just a bonus."

Then, smiling graciously for the reporters' benefit, he led her into the forest of microphones. She clung to his arm, every once in a while catching a glimpse of the limo, waiting patiently to whisk them away to the hotel. Quatre handled most of the questions, effectively cutting her off any time she opened her mouth to answer for herself. Finally, elbowing him slightly in the solar plexus, she stepped forward.

"How long have you known Mr. Winner?" one reporter asked, and Angel flashed the cameras a brilliant smile. Quatre watched, shocked and a little impressed, as she handled the press hounds with ease.

"Seven months," she replied—a little white lie, but the reporters didn't have to know that. Besides, that was about the time when she and Duo started dating. "We met through a mutual friend."

"Does he spend long nights at the office?" This question was from a female reporter, and Angel laughed and tossed Quatre a look.

"Sometimes…more often than I like, but I knew going into this relationship that he was a busy man. Still, I'm hoping that once we get pregnant, he'll tone down the work schedule a bit."

"So you're trying?" asked a male, balding reporter, eyeing Angel up and down. She caught the look and tightened her hold on Quatre's arm. Also catching the look, he slid his other arm around her waist and rested his chin on the top of her head in a protective manner, his long pianist's fingers stroking her stomach gently, as though caressing an unborn child.

"Yes. We both want a family, and on the more practical side, Quatre needs a son or two to carry on the family name."

"Have you had a fertility test?" asked another reporter. It was on the tip of Quatre's tongue to politely insist that such personal matters weren't up for discussion when Angel again took charge of the situation.

"I think that Quatre's family tree speaks loudly and clearly about how fertile he is," she replied with a hearty laugh. "After all, he does have twenty-nine older sisters, and most of them have families of their own."

The reporters laughed as well, then turned their attention to the Winner heir.

"You've got a charming new wife, Mr. Winner. Do your sisters approve of your selection in a partner?"

Smiling down at Angel, who was now nestled once more in the crook of his left arm, he nodded and squeezed her gently.

"Yeah, they do. They're really happy for us." Then, snapping back to reality and realizing that he was running a little late, he offered an apologetic smile. "Now, if you'll please excuse us, we've got a hotel to check into." He tugged Angel gently toward the limo. She blew the reporters a kiss as she was assisted into the car's low backseat and shouted, "Ciao!" And then she disappeared into the car, followed closely by Quatre.

"They look really happy together," murmured one of the female reporters with a romantic sigh. Her cameraman grinned.

"Yeah, they do. Think it'll last?" he asked, and she shrugged.

"Who knows? But this is one of the celebrity marriages that I'm rooting for."

--

Duo Maxwell (a/n: YAY! I've been waiting to write a Duo scene!) waited patiently in front of the hotel for Quatre's limo to arrive…or…not so patiently, he admitted, fingering his braid. He couldn't wait to see Angel again, and he was also curious to hear what Quatre thought about her. Plus, he wanted to introduce her to the other pilots, since—for once—they were all gathered in the same place. Or would be, as soon as Quatre arrived. Impatiently, Duo glanced at his watch for the third time in fifteen minutes and wondered where they were. He was a little jealous of Quatre's roll in the mission, but realistically, Quatre was the only pilot out of the five of them that could afford the hotel. So, here he was, dressed in a busboy's uniform and nervously awaiting the arrival of his Angel. After a few moments, the limo appeared from around a corner and pulled smoothly up to him. He took the valet's key from the driver to pop the limo's trunk as the footman floated forward to assist Quatre and Angel out of the oversized car. With easy grace, Duo loaded the luggage cart and bowed slightly to his girlfriend and old buddy.

"Allow me to escort you to your suite," he said formally, and led them, still pushing the cart, inside.

Quatre had to give Angel credit. Though she obviously wanted nothing more than to throw herself into Duo's arms after their two-week separation, she restrained herself and walked arm-and-arm with him to the elevator. He sighed, again feeling jealous of his braided friend. He decided he needed a girlfriend of his own to keep his thoughts away from Angel—maybe a girlfriend with wavy, brownish-blonde hair and deep, blue eyes…

Cursing himself for his traitorous thoughts, he allowed her to proceed him as they entered the elevator, then followed. He pulled her against his side as the doors slid shut, clearly aware of the elderly gentleman riding in the elevator with them. Duo stood like a statue, silent and expressionless, gazing sightlessly at the mirrored doors before him. Angel nestled herself back into the crook of Quatre's left arm—her favorite spot, he suspected—and let her eyes slip shut to mask her silent frustration.

"Almost there," Quatre whispered to her, leaning down close to her ear to prevent the elderly gentleman from overhearing. She smiled thinly, not bothering to open her eyes. Duo was so close, but if her were a million miles away he couldn't be further. He'd been on L-2 for two weeks before her own arrival at the colony, trying to sort out the business he shared with his old flame Hilde. During that time, Angel had missed him terribly.

Finally, finally the elevator toned and the mirrored doors slid open to reveal the richly decorated hall of the hotel's top floor. Duo again took the lead. Quatre took Angel's hand and they followed Duo to the suite. Angel wobbled a little when she saw the size of the suite—two floors, with a huge living-room type area downstairs along with a kitchenette, three overstuffed couches, and the biggest flat-screen TV she'd ever seen—but quickly got a hold of herself. Quatre shut the door and closed the blinds over the floor to ceiling windows that lined the west side of their room, then turned to his friends and nodded. Even before he'd finished the movement they were in each other's arms, hugging fiercely. He buried his nose in her hair and breathed deeply, inhaling her scent. Feeling intrusive and envious, as well as a little embarrassed to be witnessing such a private moment, Quatre climbed the stairs to the suite's second floor, where the bedroom and bathroom—complete with a Jacuzzi—were located. He flopped down on the bed and tried not to listen to his friends' animated conversation, then tried even harder to stop envisioning the two of them kissing. He'd almost drifted to sleep when Duo shouted up at him. Slowly, slightly groggy, he descended the stairs.

"I've got to do my rounds again, but why don't you introduce Ang to the other guys?" the American suggested, and Quatre nodded with a sleepy smile.

"Sure, Duo, you've got it. The others are here all ready?"

Duo nodded. "Yeah. I left their room numbers by the phone, so you can call them up here if you want. Wu-wu's in kind of a bad mood—something about Sally, I'll bet—but he should cheer up with you around." He turned to Angel. "Bye, baby," he murmured, and she hugged him one last time. He smiled at her wryly. "Be good for Quatre, okay?"

She snorted, poking him lightly in the chest. "Look who's talking," she replied, and he grinned.

"That's why I love ya, babe…you've got a great sense of humor. See you later."

With that, he was bouncing toward the door, and seconds later Quatre and Angel were alone once more. Quatre stared at her awkwardly for a moment, suddenly unsure of himself in a way he never had been before. Her eyes peered into his, as if she were trying to see something deep inside of him, but before she could come to any conclusions he turned away.

"I'll…call the others," he said quietly, and headed for the phone. Angel watched him go, then shook her head and began a small exploration of their two-story suite, wondering why he'd looked so uncomfortable…

--

The three men were exactly as Quatre had described them, and they all topped her in height by at least nine inches. Trowa was especially tall, reaching nearly 6'5", which made him over a foot taller than her. Still, even though she had to crane her neck to look at them all, she took an immediate liking to each of them. Heero was quiet but interesting, his silence only serving to make him more intriguing. He sat in a corner where he could clearly view both the windows and the door, and he had an alertness that she found absolutely fascinating. Trowa had a nice smile when it was coaxed into existence, and he was very knowledgeable on many different subject matters. He had a calming presence, sort of a brotherly feel to his persona that made Angel smile. Wufei also held allure over her. His views reminded her of those of her father, and he had a warm laugh and a quick tongue. The days he'd spent in study in his younger years had clearly paid off, for there were few people Angel knew that were more intelligent than she found him to be.

"How are you liking the mission so far?" Trowa asked. Quatre smiled to himself, realizing that Angel had the same effect on all of them. She was so open and easy going that even Trowa felt comfortable enough to start a conversation with her.

"There hasn't been a lot to do yet, but I think I'll manage," she replied with a smile. "Still, I dunno…living with Winner for a few weeks…"

Wufei snorted, eyes intent upon her. "This coming from a woman who spent the past month living under the same roof as Duo Maxwell?"

She laughed and nodded. "Point taken. It ought to be a nice vacation."

Even Heero seemed slightly amused. He'd been the butt of many of Duo's practical jokes, so he could relate.

"How serious are you and Duo?" he asked. Quatre felt a pang in his chest at this. It was a question he'd been wanting to ask himself, except for he was afraid of the answer. He chanted the word stranger in his head and waited to hear her response.

She shrugged, seeming a little uneasy. "How serious does anyone get with Duo?" she retorted, but smiled a little. "I think there's hope, if that's what you mean, but there's no deep commitment, either. Still, I like him very much."

"And he seems to like you," Quatre added, smiling at her reassuringly. Eager for the conversation to shift away from that particular genre, he turned to Trowa. "How's your sister doing?"

"Good. She's here, by the way," he added, directing the latter comment toward Angel, "if you'd like some female company. She's in the suite next to mine." He jotted down the number for her, and she thanked him warmly.

"Should have guessed," Wufei commented. "That woman never lets Trowa go anywhere alone, even if it means putting herself into danger."

"Hell hath no fury like a sister's wrath," Quatre agreed knowingly, and Angel laughed.

"I bet you're the expert," she tossed in, and he smiled ruefully.

"What? My sisters love me."

Wufei snorted again, but didn't comment, and Trowa's lips twitched into a smile. Heero smirked slightly.

"Sure, Winner," he said, his voice still monotone, and Trowa chuckled at the flatness of the comment.

The conversation drifted to several different topics before settling onto the mission at hand. It was then that Angel's suspicions had been confirmed: the mission was a little more complicated than it had been at first.

"Miss Relena should be arriving this afternoon, correct?" Quatre asked, and Heero nodded.

"Correct, at which point I will join her and head her security staff."

Trowa nodded. "I'll be handling the hotel's security, with Duo's help," he said. Wufei glanced at them both.

"Sally and I will be in touch with the local law enforcement, as well as running the primary investigation. You and Ms. Kurama here are to continue with your original plan."

Angel nodded, indicating her understanding. "So, Relena's coming here to hold some meetings and you guys are worried that the terrorists might make a move, right?"

"Right," Heero confirmed.

"Still a piece of cake?" she questioned, and the four young men exchanged looks.

"Well, we certainly hope so," Quatre answered, and stood. "Now, why don't we go downstairs to wait for Miss Relena?"

--

The wait was longer than expected, though Quatre suspected this was due to the ever-present throng of reporters that followed the Vice Foreign Minister's every move. The others were spread casually around the lounge, enjoying the warmth of the fire in the hearth. The temperature was cool, especially compared to L-4's weather. Angel leaned against Quatre and yawned quietly, her senses dulling under the double warmth of him and the fire. His arm was slung loosely around his shoulders and he was absently playing with her hair, thoughts far away. Heero was sprawled out unceremoniously in a chair, and across from him sat Trowa, who was gazing deeply into the fire. Wufei was picking at a loose string on his jacket, obviously bored. They were on the verge of giving up in search of food when Relena glided in after Duo, looking only slightly flustered.

"Oh good," she said warmly, "you're all here."

The men stood to greet her, and Angel felt cold as Quatre pulled away. She stood too, feeling a little rumpled and disorganized compared to the woman smiling and hugging each of the pilots in turn. Trying desperately to smooth her hair and straighten her clothes, she accepted Relena's firm handshake and nodded in greeting.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Relena," she said formally, and the other woman laughed.

"And you as well, Ms. Kurama, though there's no need to be so formal," Relena assured her, and Angel flashed a little smile.

"I won't if you don't," she agreed, and turned as several other joined them. The others were all woman, tall and beautiful, and Angel wondered if everyone Duo and Quatre knew were supermodels. Beside her, she felt Quatre stiffen slightly as his gaze fell onto one woman in particular.

He didn't know why he was surprised to see her, really. Dorothy Catalonia had faithfully accompanied Relena on her business trips for several years, and yet the sight of her still brought a jolt to him. His hand unconsciously traveled to the scar on his lower abdomen, hidden by clothes to the eyes but not to the heart. Still, when she met his gaze her expression was mild.

"Quatre Raberba Winner," she said with a nod, and he swallowed and returned the gesture, butterflies still flitting around his stomach.

"Hello, Miss Dorothy."

Angel glanced back and forth between the two of them, then shook her head and gave up trying to guess. More than likely, either Duo or Quatre would tell her later. Convincing herself not to worry over it, she examined the other newcomers.

Sally Po cut a striking figure in her Preventers outfit. The jacket fit her nicely, and her eyes were very vividly blue. Wufei was at her side immediately, and Angel was amused to note that he was only an inch or two taller than her. They made a very attractive couple, though she'd caught no indication that there was anything romantic between the two. She teased Duo a bit, smiled at Heero almost sarcastically, and inquired about Trowa's sister. She and Quatre shook hands warmly, his earlier discomfort forgotten as Sally said hello. Like Angel, she was a mutt.

Then there was Dorothy, whom Angel took an instant aversion to. There weren't many people who made Angel acutely uncomfortable, but this girl was one of them. Not only that, but she looked like a poster girl for Vogue, all tall, slender and curvy, with impossibly long blonde hair and icy blue eyes.

Beside them was a brunette that reminded Angel vaguely of Hilde. She had fair skin and dark eyes, and a slight smile toyed with the corners of her mouth when Quatre greeted her as "Miss Noin." She waved off his formalities and seemed as comfortable with them all as Sally and Relena were.

"It's good to be together again," Relena announced, and there were murmured agreements. Then the Minister pulled Angel to the center of the group and introduced her formally to the other ladies. "This is Angel, she's working with Quatre on this mission."

Her hand was given several firm shakes from each of the women, and she smiled slightly.

"Good to meet you all," she said, and the ten of them proceeded up to the suite she and Quatre shared.

--

By evening the formal plan was worked out, and they all sat together for a gourmet dinner. In the privacy of the suite, Angel was allowed to sit next to Duo, but she noted that Relena had arranged the seating so that Quatre was placed oh her other side. He seemed unperturbed by this development, so she shrugged it off and dug in. Catherine Bloom, Trowa's older sister, had joined them just before their meal, and she was chatting lightly with Quatre about the circus and some of Trowa's doings. Quatre was all ears when she told a story about a mishap with the lions, and Trowa good-naturedly allowed his sister to embarrass him without comment. Despite what he'd told her was a rough meeting, Quatre and Catherine seemed quite at ease with each other. Catherine was another beauty, with curly bronze-colored hair that glinted in the light. Her eyes were a dusky purple color and lit up easily when she spoke, especially when the subject matter was her brother. Across from them sat Relena and Heero, also locked in a conversation though, because of Heero's aversion to speaking, Relena did most of the talking. Still, he seemed content enough.

Angel's gaze flicked over to Wufei and Sally. She was becoming used to the sight of them quietly debating with each other, and the dinner table was no exception. He was arguing with her about her attending Relena's meetings, insisting that it was no place for her to be if danger broke out, and that it was his duty to handle any undesirable situations. She was arguing that she was quite capable of handling combat situations, was trained in medicine, and that other women would be there, too, so sex couldn't rule her out. Smiling to herself at the sight of them, Angel turned her gaze to Duo, who was adamantly describing the finer parts of stealth to Noin, who was teasing him about being too American to be any good at sneaking around. It seemed like one big happy family, but she still felt slightly out of place. Seeming to sense this, Quatre caught her eye and smiled. His eyes seemed to say, "don't worry, you're already one of us," and she returned the smile and squeezed Duo's hand. He turned to her as well, and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Hey, babe, what do you think of getting an apartment on L-2?" he asked, and spent the rest of dinner trying to convince her why moving to L-2 would be great for them both. When everyone finally left, it was nearly midnight, and Angel was exhausted. She and Quatre climbed up the stairs together, weary and yawning.

"Quite a lively group," she commented, and he chuckled. It was a very masculine sound, made deeper by sleepiness, and Angel repressed a shudder.

"Yeah, you could say that again," he agreed, and began pulling off his shirt. She grinned wryly at him as he threw that garment aside and reached for the button on his pants.

"I thought no one was allowed to see your underwear," she murmured, and he flashed her a smile of his own.

"Consider yourself one of the privileged few," he replied, and shucked off his pants. "It's simply too uncomfortable to sleep in pants."

It was impossible not to take a minute to admire him. His bare chest was nicely sculpted and his upper body was shaped much like a "V". His flat stomach and abdomen led down to narrow hips and long legs. He stretched, and Angel found herself resisting the urge to drool. Feeling like a heel for being so attracted to her boyfriend's best friend, she turned her back and ruffled through her suitcase, looking for something to sleep in. Wordlessly, he handed her his shirt. When she looked at him in question, he shrugged.

"I noticed that you sleep in Duo's shirts…since you don't have one of his available, you can borrow one of mine," he explained. She nodded and headed toward the bathroom to brush her teeth and change. By the time she'd finished, he was already in bed. He noticed her hesitation and smiled a little.

"I'm not going to maul you in the night," he assured her, and she smiled a little.

"I know."

"So come here. We're both too tired to feel uncomfortable," he insisted, and she slipped into bed beside him. He drew the blankets up over her, wrapping them both up almost Eskimo style. He'd nearly drifted to sleep when her voice reached his ears.

"I've never slept beside anyone before."

He smiled into the darkness. "Me either."

She turned toward him, slipping an arm beneath her pillow to support her head. "It's kind of nice…really warm," she said needlessly, and he smiled again.

"Yeah," he agreed.

"Well…goodnight."

"Goodnight, Angel," he replied and closed his eyes. After a few long moments, when he was sure she was fast asleep, he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. She fit comfortably against him, her head nestled neatly into the hollow between his shoulder and his neck. "Duo," he whispered into her ear, "doesn't know what he's missing."

Content, he leaned back and closed his eyes, and sleep claimed him almost instantly. He'd never slept better his whole life.

A/N: Well, this chapter is a little shorter, but I hope you liked it anyway. I'm really glad that you guys like Angel, because I was a little worried. Thanks for being so awesome about it. I'm still not sure who I'll end up pairing her with, since I like Duo and Quatre both…but I guess we'll have to wait and see, eh? Plus there's Hilde angst on the way…

Anyway, please review and let me know if you liked it. I look forward to hearing from you. Hopefully I'll be able to make the next chapter a little longer…