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Wanted: Someone Who Cares, Part 4

"He looks happy with her."

"What?"

Noin rolled her eyes at her husband as he looked away from Dylan, who was in his arms. "I'm saying that I've never seen Thad this happy in a long time," she said, nodding over to the corner of the great room, where their son sat with Penny at the piano.

Zechs cast a look over at his eldest. There was a smile on his face as he talked to the Winner cousin. Even he would have to confess that he hadn't seen his son look that in a long time either. "And I would agree with you."

"It's her, you know. Every time he talks about her his eyes light up and he has her over here constantly to work. Penny has definitely had a wonderful effect on him, don't you think?"

An aristocratic brow raised over one of his ice blue eyes. "She's a delightful girl. And I think I know what you're getting at, Lu, but please elaborate some more."

She ignored his slightly mocking tone at his last statement. "All right, I think it would be nice if he started dating her. She's a lovely girl and I like her for him. And she adores Dylan, which is a big plus. She's musically inclined, very talented, smart…"

"Lu, you don't have to elaborate on the qualities that are obvious. I agree with you on all of those things, but you are forgetting that she is not available."

"She's not engaged."

"Promised is close enough. I thought Zach told us that."

"He did, but he also said that it looked like Thad was already attracted despite that."

"He knows better. And you know he would never go after someone's girlfriend. It's not him. He's just as much like me as Zach is…he just doesn't think so," Zechs sighed as he hefted his grandson to his other arm. The little boy that so resembled Thad and himself as children, didn't stir, but continued to sleep on peacefully. "Although, it doesn't help that she seems to like him very much too."

Noin's own finely arched brows raised over amethyst eyes. "So, you noticed that too, did you? So, why couldn't they be together if she's as attracted to him as he is to her?"

"Because Penny is the type of girl who gives her heart to one man, and one man only. She has already given it to the man she's promised herself to. There won't be any changing her mind, even if…"

"Even if it means passing someone else who could care for her even better? That she could care for more?"

"Exactly," he replied as he glanced over at the couple on the bench. He turned back and smiled at his wife. "In many ways, she very much like you. That's why I wouldn't mind seeing her with him, but at the same time, I know that she won't change her mind. So, please," he said as he stood up, "don't get any match making ideas." He bent down and pressed a kiss on her forehead before leaving the room with his sleeping grandchild.

She sighed and glanced over at Thad and Penny again. "Doesn't mean I can't hope," she said as she also stood and followed her husband out of the room.

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A smile touched Thad's lips as his eyes scanned the page of music that Penny had written. He raised them to hers. "This is going to sound wonderful. Do you have lyrics for it yet?"

Penny shook her head. "No, not yet. What I do have written, isn't finished yet, and I don't think it's that good…"

"I'll be the judge of that. Do you have it with you?"

"Yes, here," she replied as she swung around on the bench and pulled out her notebook. Thumbing through it, she looked for the piece she was currently working on. "It's this one," she said as she handed him the notebook turned to the appropriate page.

He read the words that she had written down so far. She had beautiful handwriting. Looking up at he again, he smiled at her apprehensive expression. "It looks good to me. You have nothing to worry about, Penny. Didn't I tell you that you could write if you worked hard enough at it?"

She glanced away. "Yes." She felt his fingers on her chin as he turned her face towards him. Those icy blue eyes of his, held hers. A tingling sensation was moving over her skin from his touch. Her heart leapt.

Knowing if he didn't stop looking into her eyes, he would lose himself and never want to come back. Her skin felt warm under his fingers. "And I meant it. You've come a long way since I first met you."

She was having difficulty breathing. "Well, it's been three months. You're a good teacher."

"Then don't discount your talent. You have the ability. Don't doubt yourself."

A smile touched her lips. "I promise I won't."

That smile looked so inviting, but he reigned in the urge to kiss those pretty pink lips. He let go of her chin. Three months of trying not to want her, to be with her, was driving him crazy. Dylan adored her, his parents liked her, and she got along well with Kellie, and Zach's constant teasing. The only thing that kept them apart was the fact that she belonged to someone else and that someone was named Anthony. And it was too ingrained in him that you didn't steal someone else's girlfriend. You could look and admire, but never touch, never covet. It was a losing battle because he was constantly with her. "That's good to hear. I would like to hear you play, if you don't mind."

Her smile grew brighter. "Sure." She stood and picked up her guitar that had been leaning against the piano. Walking over to one of the couches, she sat down and adjusted it a bit before resting her fingers on it. She felt his warmth as he sat down beside her and the soft brush of his arm as he stretched it behind her. Feeling some heat rise to her cheeks, she kept her head down so he couldn't see. She looked down at the music she had laid on her lap, and began to play. She hummed softly to the tune of the music, completely aware of his eyes on her bent head. It seemed like every time he looked at her or touched her, her heart rate would escalate and she would feel her face get hot. She would have to force herself to remember Anthony. When she finished her piece, she looked up again. He was smiling with approval. "You like the tune?"

"It's wonderful, it'll sound even better once you put words to it," said Thad as he grinned down into her glowing face. Those huge green eyes of hers sparkled from behind her glasses.

Penny flushed from his praise and her eyes darted away from the directness of his. "I'll get the lyrics I'm working on from the piano."

He couldn't help but watch her walk away. She had slender hips and legs, not to mention a cute rear end. The urge to go and pull her into his arms was tempting, but he squelched that thought by yanking his eyes away from her. He sighed quietly and rested his head in his hands.

"Dammit."

His head popped up when he heard her voice. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw her holding her left hand in her right. She was pinning a glare at piano bench as she examined her fingers. "You all right there?" he asked, a little shocked because he had never heard a curse word from her lips.

"I'm fine, the lid just closed on me," she replied as she held up her now reddened fingers. She flexed them once, twice, frowning.

"Here, let me look at it," he said as he rose from his spot on the couch. He grasped her hand in his, looking at it…and enjoying the feel of her hand in his. Her fingers were definitely a brilliant shade of red. "How hard did that fall?"

"Hard enough."

Spreading her fingers out in his, he ran one finger over the top two thirds of her fingers. "Do they hurt a lot?"

"They smart," she replied. "I wish he wouldn't touch me like that. I can't seem to think when his touch is so gentle and warm," she thought helplessly.

Thad raised his eyes to hers, his hand still holding hers. "They don't look too bad. I should have warned you about that piano bench though. It doesn't stay up on it's own. Most of us, in this house, anyways, have had that fall on our unsuspecting fingers. It will hurt for a bit." He absently began rubbing her sore fingers between his hands.

Her insides liquefied from the massage her hand was receiving. The urge not to pull away was overwhelming. Heat suffused her features. She ducked her head, so he wouldn't notice.

He noticed. He felt her leaping pulse as his fingers grazed the inside of her wrist. "Let go right now before you go and do something stupid, Merquise," his thoughts warned him. But he didn't, he kept her hand in his possession. "Feel better?" he asked, softly.

Raising her eyes to his, and wishing she hadn't, she mutely nodded her head. Those eyes of his were piercing her with such intensity that they were making her tingle all over. And that voice of his, that smooth sounding, but with a little roughness around the edges, wrapped around her. More heat surged to her face, but she couldn't hide it. She couldn't take her eyes away from him.

"You know…you look cute when you blush like that."

 Not knowing what to say, she raked her teeth over her lips.

He had the urge to kiss those lips, but instead he raised her injured hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. "Feel better now?"

She couldn't think, let alone breathe. There was that look in his eyes again, like the time he had almost kissed her. Part of her had wished that he hadn't been stopped. "Y…Yes…it's fine." "Stop looking at me like that. I wish I could, but I can't," she thought as she continued to stare back into his eyes.

"Release her right now!" his thoughts screamed at him. His eyes fell to the ring on her finger and then looked back up at her. Reluctant, but knowing he had to; he gave her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing them. "That's good…Maybe we should get back to work," he said as he took a step back.

"Ok," she replied as she looked away from him. She picked up the papers that she had been getting before she closed her fingers in the bench. When she turned around, she took an involuntary step back when a pair of sapphire and amethyst eyes were centered on Thad and her. "Vaughn?"

"Hello, there, cousin. Didn't mean to interrupt anything important," he replied, his eyes glimmering with amusement. He glanced over at Thad, who was staring back at him. "And how are you doing, Thad?"

Penny flushed and glanced away from her cousin's knowing gaze. Her eyes went to the girl next to him. There was a smirk on her lips and a gleam in her eyes. Her face grew even hotter.

Veronica shook her head at the girl's embarrassed face. "You must be Penny. I'm Veronica Yuy, your cousin's girlfriend, and Thad's cousin." She walked over to her. "It's a pleasure to get to meet you."

A smile touched Penny's lips as she shook hands with the older girl. She could tell just by looking at her that she was the type of girl that men fought over. "It's nice to meet you too, Veronica. Vaughn talked of nothing else before he left for school."

"I hope it was all good," the golden haired girl said as she made a quick study of the girl in front of her. Those eyes of hers were definitely an attention getter. Her eyes went over to her cousin, who had so far not deigned an answer to Vaughn's question. "Hello, Thad."

Thad gave her a slight smile, while ignoring the look Winner was giving him. "What's the reason you're home?"

"A semester break. I thought I would visit. And Vaughn had to come back to sign some papers. It couldn't have been better timing. I see that you're looking well," said Veronica as her eyes flickered towards Penny then back at her cousin. "Any special reason?"

Thad gave her a warning look, but as usual, she raised a brow and smirked. It was hard to intimidate a Yuy with a look. They were rarely afraid of anything especially family. "None."

"Mmm…" was all Veronica said rolling her eyes.

The older man glowered.

Vaughn grinned at Penny. "And how are you doing? I hear that you've been spending a great deal of time with Merquise here."

"It's going well, I'm learning a lot," the green eyed girl replied as she rested her eyes on Thad for a moment before returning them to her jewel eyed cousin.

Veronica caught the look and smiled. She grabbed onto Penny's hand. "Come on, its lunch time anyway. We'll make the boys some lunch."

Penny had no choice but to be dragged behind the shorter girl to the kitchen. She put her papers down on the counter as Veronica went to the fridge. At loss at what to say, she sat down and ran her hand over the other one that Thad had been holding.

"He looks happy."

"What?"

"Thad. It's been awhile since I've seen him look like that."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because I could see it in his eyes. The unhappiness even though he would act if everything was ok. And I don't see it anymore. His smile reaches his eyes now…and you're the reason."

The younger girl flushed. "I…"

The blond waved her hand. "Don't make excuses. You're definitely the reason." She gave the green-eyed girl a sidelong glance as she popped two TV dinners in the microwave. "And he's very interested in you too."

She bent her head forwards so her long caramel colored hair hid her heated face again. "I didn't notice."

"There is no use in hiding it. He's attracted to you…just as much as you're attracted to him," smirked Veronica as she bent over the opposite side of the counter and looked into Penny's face. "I have a sixth sense about guys, Penny. My cousin is controlling himself very well considering that you're temptation in one very talented and pretty package. If he didn't have more then ten years of dating experience, he probably would have kissed you, if not more by now."

She pretended she didn't hear what the other girl just said. "I have someone in New York."

The youngest Yuy child shook her head, sending waves of golden hair over her shoulders. "Maybe so, but he's not here, is he? Thad is."

"We're only friends."

"If you're only friends, he wouldn't look like he'd want to kiss you senseless, and you wouldn't look like you wanted him to kiss you."

Hot color flared in Penny's cheeks. She frowned despite it. "Your cousin is helping me, that's all. He's attractive, yes, but we're only friends. He knows about Anthony."

Veronica stood up straight and laced her fingers behind her head. "Say what you like, but I know what Vaughn and I saw." She bent down again and leaned closer to the other girl. "If he hadn't regained his senses, he would've kissed you, and you would've allowed it. You would've kissed him back and enjoyed every minute of it."

The other girl's remark made her slink back in her chair and the look in the sapphire eyes could only be described as wicked.  She looked down at her hands. "Maybe so…but he didn't. Part of me might want him too…but Anthony means everything to me. It would be wrong," she said softly. She raised her eyes. "He's always been there for me. He loves me. And I love him."

The wheels in her Yuy mind turned as she regarded the caramel haired girl in front of her. "Why does she sound like she has to reaffirm her love to this guy…and yet, she does seem to really love him and she does wear a ring. However, it's only a promise ring, not an engagement ring. She could change her mind if she wants…but would she? I wonder…" The smile she inherited from her mother touched her lips. "I'm sorry. If this Anthony is the one you chose that's all you have to say, but you do make my cousin happy. And that's all that matters to me. I tend to come on a little strong at times."

Penny smiled back. "No, that's all right. I understand that him being happy is important. And I like working with him, and I think that working with someone like me, makes him happy."

"You have no idea, but I'm not giving up any ideas yet," Veronica thought as the looks she inherited from her mother, hid her calculating Yuy brain.

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Thad shot Vaughn a wary look. "What are you staring at with that look on your face?"

Vaughn grinned. "Wouldn't you love to know?"

"Winner, what the hell are you thinking?"

"Oh, nothing. My cousin. You. Attraction."

"Oh, shut up."

"Don't deny it. I'll just read your emotions because you sure as hell wouldn't tell me the truth," the younger man replied with a snort. He grinned again.

"Pain in the ass, is what you are, empath. You love the knowledge of knowing how others feel so you can pick on them mercilessly," snapped Thad as he narrowed his eyes on the blond in front of him.

"Please, I've heard that one before. My cousin nearly beat the shit out of me more than once. You like Penny a lot. I knew that the first night she met you. I can feel over distances. I know exactly how she felt about you too."

"I don't care what you felt! She has someone back home! We're friends and that's it!"

"And I'm telling you that she has a crush on you, just as much as you have the hots for her."

An angry flush spread over the older man's face. "I don't have the "hots for her" as you put it! I like her. She's a nice girl."

"Oh, is that right? Then looking like you want to have your hands and mouth all over her is just a figment of my imagination?"

"Yes, it is. So, leave it there, empath!"

"Bullshit. Your emotions are so far out of control I bet Mira could feel them. If you don't want to be read, learn how to control yourself, Merquise. And the way you looked at her when she wasn't looking doesn't justify your answer of just liking her. You're half in love with her," said Vaughn, wagging his finger back and forth.

Thad growled at the smirking face in front of him. "Vaughn is such an most annoying obnoxious pain in the ass besides Zach. But he's right, I don't want anyone to know how I feel about Penny, I'll have to conceal my emotions. Especially around the three empaths, Quatre, Vaughn, and Mira." "I care about her, yes, but we are only friends. It has to remain that way."

The youngest Winner son arched a brow. "So, do you want it to stay that way?"

The taller man reigned in his temper. "You're becoming infuriating, Vaughn. It has to stay that way."

"You'd rather it not, though, wouldn't you? You would take the chance if you had it, wouldn't you? To really hold her in your arms and kiss her."

Thad squeezed his eyes shut and pinched his nose in effort to keep him from strangling the younger man in front of him. "If I say yes, will you shut up and leave me alone?"

"Maybe."

"Dammit, Winner, what do you want me to say? Yes, if I had the chance I would. But there's not going to be a chance. She has Anthony and I have more sense to let it go. I would never take a girl away from some other guy, no matter how I might feel about her. Penny is happy with what she's got, I'm not going to go and ruin it by acting on impulse!"

"You Merquise men really do have that honor thing ingrained, don't you? You'd rather suffer and be understanding, rather then coming out and saying what you really want. Don't be a baka."

"That's what Zach called me too."

"And I agree. Even though, he leaves a lot to be desired in that department as well," sighed Vaughn. He had seen the way Thad looked at Penny, and the way she looked at him. To him, there was no doubt in his mind that they should be together, but there were several drawbacks. Merquises were nobility; the honor and chivalry of their class was born into them whether they realized it or not. Thad wouldn't go after her because of that, being chivalrous where she was concerned. And Penny was a Winner; they put more stock into being proper and love at first sight, and stubbornly clinging to that idea that there would be no one else. They would reject it because it wouldn't be "right." He snorted.

The other man's silence let Thad look away to the door that connected to the kitchen. He frowned. He would've kissed her moments ago if not for the timely interruption of his cousin and hers. Her nearness was getting to the point of being unbearable, but he was loath to leave her side. He didn't want to miss her smiles, the disgruntled expressions she wore when she was trying to write, or the sound of her beautiful voice gliding over him when she sang. Those were some of the things that made him love her. "And I do. I do love her, but there's nothing I can do about that."  "I know you think I'm being an idiot, but her happiness is important to me. It may not be what I want, but it's the way things have to be."

Vaughn sighed and a slight smile touched his lips. "Her happiness is important and if you think staying the way you two are, is going to make her happy, then there's nothing I can say about it. She's family."

At that time, Veronica and Penny reentered the room, carrying TV dinners on a tray. Thad couldn't help but smile as Penny laughed at something Veronica said to her. "You two were in there for quite some time, what were you talking about?"

"Oh, this and that," replied Veronica as she sat down on the couch across from him. She pulled Vaughn down beside her. "Just girl stuff."

The look on her face was too innocent to be believed. He learned that when a Yuy smiled like that, you'd best be wary. They were too smart for their own good. "And why does that not comfort me any?"

"Because you know me so well," his cousin teased. "You know my looks too well."

Thad snorted. He turned towards Penny, who was sitting next to him. "And would you tell me?"

Penny shook her head. "No, I'm sworn to secrecy. But really, it's nothing you need to know. We just talked about general stuff."

Her innocent smile was something to be believed and her eyes were too expressive for her own good. There was no way she could be lying. "All right, I believe you."

His smile made her insides flip again. "That's nice to hear."

Vaughn glanced at Veronica out of the corner of his eye. She nodded. "So, Penny, has Thad taken you out to dinner yet?" he asked.

"No, he hasn't. We've usually settled on take out because we're working so much."

"Thad, I'm shocked. You're working this poor girl to the bone without taking her somewhere nice for dinner?" asked Veronica, with a smile on her face.

"She likes the work," Thad mumbled as he gave Veronica a glare.

"You should really take her out then. I mean, it's only right that she gets to experience the very best the Sanc Kingdom has to offer," the blond needled some more. She chose to ignore her cousin's look. "I think she would like a night to enjoy herself."

Thad frowned. He looked back at Penny. "Would you like to go out to dinner some night?"

"If you don't mind," she replied softly. "You don't have to."

He gave Vaughn and his cousin a pointed look before looking back at her. "I want to. I've been meaning to ask, but I just get caught up in my work."

"Then yes, I would like to go out to dinner with you," she replied, unaware of the triumphant looks that Veronica and Vaughn were wearing. She gave Thad a smile. "I got caught up in all the work too and haven't had a chance to see what this place has to offer."

Veronica tapped her finger against her lips. "You could take her to the restaurant on the top floor of the Graphique Hotel. The one I helped decorate."

Vaughn swallowed his food in his mouth. "Yeah, Damien says the food is good and there's dancing too. He has relatively fond memories of that place."

"Only because it helped him get Angelina," added Veronica.

Thad turned back to the young woman at his side. "Would you like to go there?"

"Sounds good to me."

"But don't forget, Thad, we're having that baka brother in law of mine, birthday this weekend. You're dinner date will have to wait another week," the Yuy girl added. She looked over at Penny. "And of course, you're invited. You have to meet the rest of us."

Thad snorted. "And what a night that will be. Be prepared, Penny."

She tilted her head to the side and laughed quietly. "You make it sound like the rest of the lot is something I should be afraid of."

"He's exaggerating," said Vaughn as he gave Penny a grin.

"I'm not, trust me. Just stay close to me."

Penny laughed again. "All right."

Thad smiled as her laughter made his skin tingle. He caught Vaughn's all knowing gaze and his cousin's smirk. Throwing them both a dirty look, he glanced back at Penny. "Maybe a night out with the lot of them will help me keep my resolve. It'll be a chance for me and her to relax."

A/N: I know this part took some time, but hey, it's here now. Enjoy! XOXO!!