Disclaimers: I STILL don't own Gundam Wing,

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AN: The songs (the lyrics are in bold) do not belong to me either.

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The hot water felt wonderful against Dorothy's tired muscles. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. Her nightmares had not gone away completely, but they had toned down. She sighed and hurried. She had been with the circus for only two weeks and knew almost everyone. And she knew that Catherine would drag her out if she was not fast enough.

~~**~~

When she stepped into Cathy's trailer, she nearly fell over. There forty-six members of the circus, twenty-one, were female, nine were her age. And all nine had managed to squeeze themselves into her trailer. Ronna and Fel, (two of the tumblers) were doing Zeporine's (the other tumbler) hair. Marie was doing her make-up and Sherra (the juggler sisters) was picking out a perfect outfit from the enormous selection that must have been every piece of clothes all the women owned.

"Is there a reason everyone is getting all dolled up?"

Catherine shook her head, "I thought I told you that everyone got all beautified because it's fun and it's a DANCE! That's the way it's always been that way. Now come on, Shell, Taori, (two of the high wire performers) she's got a lot of hair, and nothing to do with it!"

And as it turned out, Dorothy might as well have paid top dollar at a professional salon for the finished look she ended up with. Her hair was lightly crimped so it had this wavy look to it, and just a touch of silver lip-gloss. And a slight pinch of body glitter.

Her outfit was nothing to sneeze at either. Since most of the girls had similar figures Dorothy borrowed a medium sized black skirt from the 'collection' and she grabbed her favorite vest. (Which she had not been able to part with.) The vest was tight fitted and was this blue-ish purple color that had bits of silver thread sown into it. She looked very beautiful. Catherine was plotting, now to get Dorothy and her brother to dance.

~~**~~

Trowa looked at Shiv. (The bear trainer) How had he managed to get himself into this mess in the first place. Oh wait now it all came back to him.

"Aw come on Trowa, you've got to come! I mean, the new girl, Dorothy is gonna be there. She is a knock-out, man!" Shiv whined when Trowa mentioned he didn't feel like going that night.

He shrugged and Shiv punched him lightly in the shoulder. "I knew I could talk you into it. Now come with me, I've got this awesome shirt that would look killer on you."

Trowa really didn't know what he was doing here, that is until Dorothy stepped around the corner. The music began blaring, 'American Woman,' in the background but he didn't have a clue. He was barely even aware that his sister was walking along side her. Everything kind of blurred in comparison to her.  Shiv obviously noticed and nudged him, "I told ya."

Shiv wasn't the only one to notice Trowa's state. Catherine was quite pleased to note her handy work, as her brother's mouth hung open. She was tempted to rub her hands together except that would give her away.

~~**~~

With a deep sigh, Dorothy allowed herself to be led away into the masses. Her guide, was obviously pleased at her lenience, weaved through the group and found Trowa and Shiv. "Hey, Trowa, Shiv, how goes it?"

Dorothy shook her head she knew where this was going; it had been painfully obvious for days. Although she tried hard to avoid situations that involved Catherine's plotting, Dorothy couldn't help but admit she enjoyed her time with Trowa. In fact, despite the small time she had spent at her new home, the ex-duchess was already forming favorite memories. The world seemed to swirl around her as she began to think of one of those not so rare moments when she and Trowa were alone.

She found Trowa sitting half naked on the couch reading 'their' book. She noticed that he was at the exact same place her bookmark was at and that he was very into the book. It really was at a good part, with an exasperated sigh she plopped down next to him. Trowa did not even glance at her, "Yes?"

"You're reading the same, exact book as me. You're at the same, exact place I am. And I want to read."

This time he looked at her, "And this means what to me?"

She smiled evilly, "It should be, because now you're going to move over some, shift the book, and we will read together." She grinned even wider when he submitted to her request, or rather command.

Thus, for the next hour or so, the pair read together very closely. In fact, so closely that Trowa had shifted his arm to fit around her shoulders, and Dorothy had laid her head on his chest.

"Hey, Dorothy, so you wanna dance?" Shiv asked hopefully.

She shook herself back to the present and looked at him, "I'm sorry what was that again?"

Unnoticed by Dorothy, Catherine glared hard at Shiv and motioned with her head at Trowa. He snorted but under the professional knife thrower's scrutiny, his resolve crumbled and he shakily asked again, "You wanna dance with Trowa? I mean, that's all he's been talking about."

Trowa, who had not been paying attention to the conversation whatsoever, turned at the mention of his name. "What?"

"Right, so true. Go ahead, little brother, go dance with her," Catherine urged. "It'll be fun."

Dorothy blanched and Trowa's visible eye began to twitch slightly. "No, I don't think so," Dorothy said lightly, "but thank you for the offer."

Catherine snorted, "Come on, since you two have been living together for a few weeks I think you should most definitely have a dance together."

Dorothy then had another thought, when they got to the colonies another trailer would be purchased and she wouldn't be able to live with Trowa any longer. That meant, no more little fights about petty things that made them both smile the next morning, no more reading together, and last but not least, the feeling of utter loneliness. She sighed, she could think about it later.

While she had been thinking Catherine had cornered her brother into asking her to dance again. And now they stood face to face with Shiv and Catherine looking at them expectantly. Trowa gave a weak smile, "Would you like to dance?"

Dorothy looked at him a little oddly. "I.. I um, I.." Before she could finish her statement the beginning notes of  'Iris' began to play. Catherine grinned, and took one of her brother's hands and one of Dorothy's.

"Now come on you two, there's a slow song, so go dance."

They both turned around to protest but Catherine glared at them, "Dance!"

~*~*~*~

Dorothy was about to pout but Trowa held out his hand to her, "Dance with me anyway?"

She smiled and walked into his newly opened arms. He wrapped her his arms around her waist and Dorothy wrapped hers around his neck. Trowa couldn't help but pull her closer; he'd wanted to do it for so very long. That one time he got the chance wasn't nearly enough for him. They started to sway gently.

And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

Trowa sighed and tried to think that this was real. That they were dancing because they both wanted to not because they were badgered into it. It might be nice to have some human contact. He was really going to miss Dorothy. He exhaled sharply. Trowa could not believe he was exaggerating that badly. She was just getting her own trailer it wasn't like she was leaving the circus. Still, he was going to miss all the little contacts they had at the end of their day. It was like….beautiful.

She started slightly when Trowa's breath tickled her ear. Dorothy took a deep breath herself. She didn't want to admit that she would miss him. To admit that would be like admitting defeat. And she would not lose. She'd been caught up with too many sleazy, no good, men to be caught this easily. Despite her want to be with Trowa she couldn't trust him. He was a guy. It just didn't work.

Dorothy closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest. Tonight, just for tonight, she would let the past slide and just be a girl having fun for a night. No worries.

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
'Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

She sighed again, she had finally found the home she claimed she never had. And with no cause, no reason, she looked straight at Trowa. "I do cry."

"Huh?"

"I can cry. You don't have to pity me anymore. I can cry. And.." She paused, "and I even have a home to go back to now."

Trowa nodded. "I'm glad." He couldn't help but smile at the curve ball life had thrown him. The woman he held in his arms was the same as he was, cold, hurt and all alone. Now she was yet again just the same. They even shared a home.

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

Dorothy's arm tightened around Trowa's neck slightly. She had had boyfriends before, people she'd rather not think about ever again, and she always wanted a song. This was one of her favorites. She would have loved to pretend that her and Trowa could be couple. But she'd been hurt to many times to let anyone get that close to her again. Everyone who ever did, well, things just didn't work out. She blinked; she'd already promised herself that tonight she had no past. Tonight it was just her and Trowa.

Wait her and Trowa? Well, he wasn't that bad. Too bad he wouldn't understand.

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

They swayed silently to the rest of the song. They each had a lot on their minds. They danced simply pretending that everything was alright.

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am

As the last threads of the song died Dorothy looked up and scowled. Trowa was a good five inches taller than she was, and she felt very short. Especially since all the rest of her life she was taller than all the guys. "Trowa, kneel down."

He looked at her, "huh?"

"Can't you bend down a little or something, I feel really short."

Trowa snickered. "Don't like feeling short?"

"No I don't," she snapped back.

He snickered again, "Well don't worry about it. You'll get you used to it…Shorty."

The next song began to start with a fast run on a violin. Trowa let Dorothy walk to arms length and when the violin hit a long note and ended he spun her back. A fast tango started and the couple danced to the music.
 
Dorothy glared at him. "Don't call me short. I'm not short so don't." 
 
Trowa grinned at her before spinning her away and back, "But you are to me."
 
She huffed and allowed him to twirl her about to the fast Latin beat. 
 
~~**~~
 
Catherine watched with a wicked smile on her face. Phase one complete. Mission status… Better than expected. They were even dancing an additional dance together, no pressure. Now on to phase two. Get the manager to see how awesome they are together. Cathy slinked through the crowd that had gathered to watch the pair dance and found the manager behind a grill watching the two as well.
 
"So what do you think of them? Cute, don't you think?"
 
The manager nodded, "Too bad they couldn't do a routine together. But Trowa's already got the two; I don't think he could handle another. " The manager looked a little remorseful, "Still they might work really well together."
 
~~**~~
 
"So," Trowa asked twirling her from one side across to the other and then leading her in front of her. "How's the weather down there?"
 
Dorothy scowled at him, she let go of him and was about to walk away but he grabbed her hand and yanked her back toward him. "What is your problem?"
 
The acrobat just smiled at her and shook his head, "I believe it's called, "height.'"
 
Her eyes narrowed and she brought her knee up to give him a piece of her mind. Trowa caught her knee with one hand just in time. With his other hand he grabbed her foot so she wouldn't have any leverage.
 
She smiled at him for some odd reason she smiled. She put her hands on his shoulders and bent her other leg slightly "See you on the FLIPside."
 
Trowa caught her meaning and on a silent count of three felt Dorothy push off his shoulders and her other foot leaving the ground, he pushed her foot and saw do a little flip in front of him. As soon as her first foot hit the ground she brought the other up and successfully kneed him in the groin. His mouth hung open for a moment, as he stood doubled over slightly, holding onto her foot. When he got himself together a moment later he released her foot and Dorothy slipped into the splits. 
 
She raised her hands and Trowa pulled her up before setting her into a spin right in front of him. The group of stringed instruments went into in a long trill and Trowa pulled her up close and dipped her. Finally the quartet played a quick run and he pulled her close up against him. 
 
Now the awkward part about this was the position of Trowa's hands. One of them was holding her hand, but the other one was resting on her butt. Well, not really resting more like gripping. Dorothy had one thigh rested on his hip. Neither of them seemed to care about anything except the fact that their faces were inches, mere inches away from one another.
 

The clapping of the crowd brought them back to reality and seeped back into their minds. He removed his hands and let her slide down his body. Dorothy turned to face the cheering crowd and turned back to Trowa. He had an almost melancholy statement on his face. But he took her hand and pulled her into a bow with him. The crowd cheered some more and began to seep around them to shower them with compliments.

Trowa managed to pull Dorothy out of the crowd before she could get to frustrated. "I didn't think you could dance so well," he commented finally.

She gave him a sly little grin, "I suppose I could say the same about you."

He took her hand and brought her around to go talk with his sister. He was sure she'd want to annoy him about now they were going to have to do this more often.

~~**~~

"So you see? Look at how good a team they make. I really think that you should have them do the…" Catherine trailed off once she saw her brother and Dorothy nearing them. "Trowa! Over here! We have to talk to you!"

The two looked at her suspiciously, and Trowa was tempted to turn around and run but Dorothy gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, and he suddenly felt like he could face the world.

"Yes?"

Cathy looked at them as normally as she could but it was hard to contain her excitement. They were holding hands! What luck! "Well you see, I've decided to give up my spot on the acrobat act with you. And we were thinking that since you and Dorothy got along so well that she could be my replacement. What'd ya think?"

They both stared her unblinkingly for a second, Dorothy was the first to recover, "I, um, I really can't, I don't know anything about acrobatics. I mean."

"Besides she would have to learn the wire act too. That would be like…"

"Excuse me," Dorothy cut Trowa off and moved to face him, "but are you saying that I am incapable of learning to do an aerial show followed by a high wire act?"

"No, I was."

"No I could have sworn that's what you were getting at." She said poking him in the chest. "In fact I think I will go ahead and accept."

Trowa blinked then looked at her amusedly. "Alright then, but it won't be easy."

Dorothy smiled, "And I do love a challenge." She spoke bravely but was thinking to herself, ~ what did I just get myself into? ~

~~**~~**~~

Well there goes Chapter 4. Hope you guys liked it. Sorry it took so long but the dance scene was kind of hard to write. Well remember to review!