Ok…well this was supposed to be up awhile ago…it's a little late but hopefully not unwanted ^_^;;; Im so sorry…I had so much unexpected work to do because my vacation is coming up (in which I will write a new chap everyday…I promise!!! *crosses her heart) anyway…enjoy…same warnings and disclaimers…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Duo walked down to the kitchen at around 1:30 the next morning. He had been working non-stop since he had entered his room yesterday after the scene with Heero and Relena. He could feel the heavy circles under his eyes. Caused more from stress than anything.

He walked to the refrigerator/freezer and opening it ducked his head inside to find something to eat. He began to curse about the inedibility of frozen foods when suddenly he heard something behind him.

"You know, if you just came down for meals the servants would prepare it for you…" came Heero's monotone voice from the kitchen table.

Duo started and hit his head on the top shelf of the freezer. He hadn't noticed the silent boy in the semi-dark kitchen.

Flipping a switch over his left shoulder and illuminating the room, Heero continued to stare at the boy who currently had the expression of a deer caught in the headlights. But said boy soon recovered and grinned.

"Heya Heero, jeez you scared the shit outta me! Make some noise next time wont ya?!" he joked playfully rubbing his head and plastering a grin on his face to hide the nervousness.

Heero didn't say anything for a minute. Just stared at Duo with a strange expression. Finally he spoke up. "What are you doing down here so late, Duo?"

'Oh crap' thought Duo as he scrambled to come up with a retort. 'Damn, this is usually easy!'

"I could ask the same about you" he managed.

'There'

But Heero just shrugged. "I couldn't sleep, and I wanted to figure out what you've been doing all day…it's not like you to skip meals…"

Duo's heart did a little flip-flop at the thought of Heero worrying about him but he didn't let it show. Instead he smiled a bit brighter and asked Heero playfully. "Aww, what's the matter Heero…worried about little old me?"

"Yes" Heero replied quickly.

Duo stepped back a bit as he let that sink in. 'Woah did he just say what I thought he said??'

"Come again?"

Heero seemed a bit uncomfortable about it but he elaborated. "Duo, you and the others were my comrades during the war…and you still help me now. You're my friends. Of course I would worry about you when you act strangely."

Duo managed to smile, albeit a bit sadly. 'Of course…friends…'

"Hey, thanks Heero!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Heero was confused. Had he said the right thing? Duo seemed disappointed somehow. Maybe it was just late and his eyes were playing tricks on him. But he wasn't going to bed until he had his answer. "So?"

Duo looked up to him, he seemed a bit confused so Heero clarified.

"What's wrong?"

Duo visibly hesitated before grinning again and answering. "It's nothing…I just had a lot of thinking to do today, not to mention a lot of work left. I just didn't have the time to come down."

Heero knew that Duo wasn't telling him everything but he wouldn't push. But he wasn't done yet.

"Duo…" he began, as he saw the braided boy move to leave the kitchen.

Duo froze and turned to face him slowly. Heero's brow was knitted. He made it clear to the other boy that what he had to say was important.

"Why are you still trying to get me and Relena together?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Duo winced internally. 'Shit! I knew he was on to me!' But he said nothing out loud.

Heero seemed to grow a bit impatient but his voice remained calm. "She's getting married you know."

Duo didn't reply to this statement. He already knew that…unfortunately.

"Duo…I don't love her like that."

Duo finally looked up at Heero, disbelief showing in his eyes. Heero must have seen this because he shook his head and sighed.

"You work yourself up for nothing. Was that what you were doing today Duo? Trying to think of ways to sabotage the wedding? What's wrong with you?"

Duo didn't reply but he looked down guiltily. He didn't need to admit it…it was obvious.

Heero let out a frustrated sigh and running a hand through his hair asked one more question.

"Why, Duo?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Whatever Heero had been expecting when he asked Duo all of these questions certainly wasn't what happened. Instead of turning everything into a big joke as he had anticipated, a completely unexpected torrent of anger came out of the boy in front of him, directed at him.

"Why Heero!? WHY!? I'll tell you why…" Duo began to pace angrily, his hands moving about without restraint.

"Damnit Heero! You deserve to be happy too! Everybody eventually finds something that they could hold onto for the rest of their life and yet you give it up as soon as someone else steps up. I'm sick of your soldier shit Heero! The war is over!"

Heero's eyes widened a bit as the normally cheerful boy suddenly howled with rage. But Heero noticed something strange about what he had said and used it to his advantage.

"And what are you holding onto…Duo?"

Duo gave a shocked look but it soon tuned into one of bitterness.

"You wouldn't understand if I told you…Good night Heero."

Heero just watched this time as Duo walked out of the kitchen without eating anything, and was left wondering about the braided youth's strange behavior.

He was a bit upset that he had caused his friend pain once again. In fact, the guilt was a bit stronger this time. All Duo wanted was for his happiness and he had had to chastise him like that. Heero buried his face into his hands and rested his elbows on the table, trying to figure out why the kitchen suddenly felt so cold and empty.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Duo couldn't take it anymore. When he reached his room he slammed the door and kicked whatever was in his way across the room. Finally reaching the bed he fell face first and screamed.

'Damnit! Why does he have to be so stubborn! Can't he see that it's not war time anymore!' He flipped over, glaring at the ceiling as if it were the cause of his problems.

Actually, a lot of his frustrations were with himself. He had come so close to telling Heero the truth…it was scary.

When Heero had asked him what he was holding onto…that was when he had nearly snapped. He had been so angry…

"Oh yeah…THAT would've been great…" he muttered to himself sarcastically. " 'what are you holding onto Duo?' 'you Heero…as long as you're happy…so am I.'" He chastised himself angrily "Oh yeah…THAT would've went over REAL well…"

Blowing his bangs out of his face, Duo turned to look at the portrait next to his bed with a defeated expression. "I don't care what you say Heero. We both know that you DO love her like that and there's nothing you can say that will convince me otherwise."

With that, he managed to force himself into a troubled, yet much needed sleep.

0.o…okay then…that's not all I wanted to put in this chapter but the next is already underway so hopefully I'll be posting twice tonight ;) I'm kinda mad that I didn't manage to squish the 1+2 in there like I'd planned…so the next chap will DEFINITELY have it :D.