yep...here we are...we'll get this story moving if its the last thing i do (which it probably will be ^_^;; ) same disclaimer...dont own anything except the two OC (see first chapter) and same warnings which i do not feel like repeating cuz thats just how i am...enjoy...if you can -_-;;

Duo followed Quatre to a quiet corridor and into a large room with huge victorian style windows, a large desk and four post bed with a bathroom and even a little kitchenette.

"Woah Quatre! Is this really your house or are you in the hotel business??!"

Quatre giggled a little "My family is used to having important guests, so the rooms have the best of everything"

Duo looked at him teasingly and exclaimed in mock amazement "Well my word Quatre! I didn't know you held me as one of you prestiged guests! I am greatly honored!" He bowed low "I am greatly in your debt"

Quatre laughed aloud this time and left the room shaking his head at Duos antics. Duo was still grinning as he turned to take in the full effect of his quarters. It would be comfy, no doubt, but he had a feeling he still wouldn't feel quite right seeing as Heero was only a couple of doors down the next wing.

Duo threw his one bag down next to the door and flopped onto his bed ungracefully. Resting his head on his arms he looked at the picture that was on HIS bedside table. (It was in fact the same picture that Heero had seen earlier but Duo had no idea)

Duo smiled at all of his friends. It seemed that they had almost forgotten about the war. They were just five "normal" teenage boys working together. He looked to Heeros figure and his smile widened. Even he looked happy.

He tore his eyes away from the photo, stood up and walked to one of the windows. From this vantage, he could see the lake easily over some trees, and the 'T' shape of the mansion allowed him to see another one of the corridors near the back of the house.

He idly scanned the long strip of building to see if anyone lived there, when he found something hed never expected...

He strained his eyes to make sure that he hadn't made a mistake but he was sure...It was Heero! Duo swallowed unconciously and continued to stare, his body frozen.

All that Duo could think was how beautiful Heero looked, just staring out to the water, the late sunset casting a glow on his pale face. Duo laughed inwardly, if there really was a god...he sure knew how to get to Duo with these earthreal images, that was for sure...

He wanted to run over to Heero right then...but that was impossible. Duos thoughts brought him crashing back to earth painfully. He remembered Heeros cold look from earlier and sulked a bit. That deadly stare had assured Duo that his own chances were non-existant with the boy.

No. He had come here for one reason and one reason only. To get Heero and Relena back together. His own needs would have to be put aside if he wanted this to happen... All he wanted was for Heero to be happy, and the only way that could be, was if he were with Relena.



Heero wasn't fairing much better with his problems.

Why had Quatre reminded him that they were no longer in a war? Did he think that Heero was not aware?

Why had he come to Duos rescue this time when before he had let them do their own thing? Heero had never had so many emotions stirring inside him at once.

Why was he so angry with Duo for getting him and Relena together? Had his failed relationship with Relena affected him so much that he would block out his closest friends he could ever remember? And what...WHAT was it that had made him so content during the war?

Relena? No. Even when he had been living with her something had been pestering him...but what? His guilt? His fear? Of what? Losing her...losing...something by being with her? His head was in a complete jumble and he was having a hard time forming a single coherent sentence even in his thoughts and it didn't help that Duos laughing face kept popping into his mind...why had he appeared so suddenly? Could he have heard about what happened with him and Relena? Impossible! He had no way of knowing...or did he...



Quite awhile later Heero awoke to the sound of a chiming clock in the hallway. He realized that he had once again fallen asleep on the window seat and cursed himself, checking his laptop to see what time it was.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was still early. 5:30 am. An acceptable time to rise, considering yesterday.

Heero felt himself flush again at the thought of his late rise the day before. He showered and changed and this time found his way to the kitchen rather easily.

His pride a bit restored, he strolled into the kitchen. It was empty of course but this didn't bother him. He quickly grabbed some orange juice and toast and was on his way out when a large object came flying around the corner, knocking both Heero and the offending 'object' to the floor.

"Itai!" came a familiar deep voice. Heero looked up quickly. He had managed to catch his fall with his hand, but his glass of orange juice had fallen to the floor and smashed.

He saw Duo look up as well and thought he saw those violet eyes widen in horror before, as expected the braided pilot laughed it off.

"Woah Heero sorry bout that!" He said, standing up and offering his hand to Heero, who remained motionless on the floor. But his hand was batted away impatiently and he pulled it back in surprise.

"Hn" Heero snorted standing up and heading to the cupboard for a rag.



Duo pulled his hand back in shock. There it was again. That cold stare. Those blue orbs seemed to overflow with repressed anger.

He watched as the former Wing pilot bent to wipe up the orange juice considering whether or not to give him a hand. He nervously shifted from foot to foot and played with the end of his braid.

Just then Heero looked up and their eyes met again. Duo almost lost it for a minute but carefully lifted his jokers mask again.

"So ya need some help?" He asked, praying to his voice not to crack.

"No."

Duo again was pierced by the cold tone of the voice as Heero continued to clean the mess but deciding not to pursue the conversation just yet, he walked around him into the kitchen where he grabbed himself a breakfast packet and a glass of juice and sat down at the table.



Heero nearly faltered when he saw the look of complete hurt cross Duos face. He really didn't mean to be so cold towards him. Quatres voice rand in his mind. yes. Duo was his friend. He shouldn't be treated like this, even if a part of him may or may not hold him responsible for his failed relationship with Relena...

He finished picking up the glass shards and threw them away. He turned and was suprised when he saw Duo sitting at the table playing with his plate of food but not eating. Duo no doubt knew about what had happened and he was just trying to act normal and get his mind off of it, and He had just shoved him aside like trash. Guilt washed over him for the first time in ages and he felt the need to say something for one of the few times in his life.

"Duo," He began, still not betraying any emotion through his face. "I apologize. I shouldn't be acting like this...im just, not used to being around you all again..."

Duo looked up at him, and heero saw the immidiate change of his face from sullen to the cheerful grin that he was most accustomed to.

"Hey, s'okay Heero, I know you've been going through tough times..."

Heero winced inwardly as he took a vacant seat, but Duo kept going...

"Anyway I was just in town and I decided to stop by. I had to get outta the house. The silence was overbearing, what with Hilde gone of on her Honeymoon and..."

"Honeymoon?" interrupted Heero, pausing in pouring himself another glass of orange juice. Why would Hilde be off on a Honeymoon if not with Duo? He could've sworn that they were together during the war...

"Yeah honeymoon" grinned Duo. Her and her new Hubby Jeff somethin-or-other. They met about two years ago and have been goin steady ever since. He popped the big question about three months ago and the two just couldn't wait to get married..."

Heero voiced his thoughts "But...you and Hilde..."

Duo laughed again. "Me and Hilde? Yeah we were going steady for about a year after the war, but we decided that it just didn't feel right...I mean, it was like kissing my sister after awhile!" he made a face. "I guess we just ahdn't yet had time to play the field y'know...didn't know what we wanted...Nah, I didn't want a relationship to spoil what we already had so we decided we were just gonna be friends. Anyway, we would've killed eachother with five days of being married." Duo laughed and Heero allowed himself a smirk.

"So, thats about everything thats happened to me for the last three years...what about you? What'd you do when the war ended?"

Heero didn't answer. It wasn't a topic he wanted to dwell on but he couldn't refuse. It would show just how much the breakup was affecting him, and he couldn't let Duo see that weakness. He paused for a moment, staring at his now full glass.

"After the war I wandered for a bit. I met up again with Relena a while after that and anything else you want to know is probably in some old magazine or another" Heero answered sarcastically. Duo laughed again lightly until they were both distracted by the sound of someone coming down the hallway.

They both looked up and watched as Dorothy walked through the door, sleepily throwing them a small smile.

"Hey guys" she yawned, turning on the coffee maker.

"Mornin Dorothy" grinned Duo cheekily. Heero grunted in greeting and took a sip of his juice. Dorothy laughed at his "greeting."

"Well ain't he a social butterfly..." She grinned and Duo chuckled.

"Some things never change..."

Dorothy cast a knowing glance at Heero and replied "indeed..."

Heero pretended not to see her and took another sip of his orange juice, staring at nothing in particular.

The kitchen remained quiet after that, minus the beeping of the coffee maker anouncing the creation of a pot of the steaming black liquid. Dorothy poured herself a mug and sat down at the same table as the boys drumming her fingers on the surface and sipping her coffee.

The silence continued until two others walked through the kitchen door.

"Morning everyone!" smiled Quatre as he noticed the other three sitting at the table. He got two bored sounding "mornings" and a grunt in reply. he chuckled a bit and grabbed a kettle to make tea.

Trowa also decided to make his presence known and grinning slyly he did just that.

"Good to see you up and about Heero."

Heero felt his body warm with a blush that he struggled to contain. Unfortunately Duo saw the little struggle and was at once curious.

"Whats that supposed to mean?"

Dorothy stifled a giggle and spoke at once "Well...Heero had a bit of a hard time...rising yeseterday..."

Duo looked shocked. "You mean...He slept in!!??"

Nods from the other three parties was all that was needed to send Duo into a laughing fit.

"Mr Perfect soldier...who's always up by four am and out the door by quarter past...slept in??!" he choked out between cackles of glee. "Oh man...how late was he zonked??"

Ignoring Heeros death glare Dorothy replied amusedly "Almost five in the afternoon"

This of course sent Duo into another fit of laughter and he excused himself nearly running down the hall and clutching the stitch in his side. Heero sent his best glare to the people responsible for his embarassment but they ignored it, continuing breakfast with small grins.

Heero growled and stood up abruptly, walking to the door and down the hallways to his room where he collapsed on his bed. Damn, that was not what he needed today. He rolled over so that he was on his stomach. Like it wasn't bad enough that everyone else knew how hard he was taking this breakup, but Duo was the last person he wanted to know, since he wanted the one who had really gotten he and Relena together to see that he was just fine with the end of the relationship. He wanted to seem just as cool and confident to the braided ex-pilot as ever, but that chance had just been blown away...

Well, they hadn't exactly come out and suggested that the breakup WAS the reason he had slept in so late, but they were former pilots...its wouldn't have been hard to figure it out.

At that moment Heero really did feel weak and useless. 'Im letting this turn of events go to my head' he thought. He shook his head to clear his mind and tried to think of what he could do to pass the time.

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Duo on the other hand, was similarily upset. And his jokers mask turned into a scowl the minute he heard the click of his door lock.

'I laughed god damnit! Laughed!' he kicked his bag lying on the floor for emphasis. 'Duo no baka you know how fragile his friggin ego is couldn't you just say somethin nice for once! He was probably all upset about the Relena thing and you had to go shove it in his face!'

He threw himself on the bed face down and let out a muffled growl before sighing and flipping over, his eyes dimmed with sadness. 'I guess that just proves it. Heero doesn't let just anything get to him...the breakup must have really hurt him.' He turned his disappointed face toward the window he had been sitting in the night before and sighed. 'I have to get them back together...'

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Grr...sorry if this is starting to confuse ya...ill get it back on track..See the thing is...i wrote the beginning of this chapter somewhere back in october and im just getting the second half done now due to problems with FF.net...anyway...please review! and ill try my best to answer any questions with my next post...Ja ne! ;)