"In The Stars" Chapter 29

Wufei stared at the clock, the little red digital numbers reading 2:15 as he listened to Treize's even breathing behind him. He carefully slipped from the bed, lucky that Treize had sifted earlier releasing him. He made his way to the door, glancing back to see Treize sleeping before slipping from the room and shutting the door behind him.

Wufei noticed Heero and Duo's light was still on as he walked down the hall. When he reached the bottom of the stairs he noticed someone sitting on the couch. Duo's long braid hung over the back of the sofa giving the occupant away.

"Hey," Wufei said as he stepped into the room dimly lit by the Christmas tree.

"Hey," Duo said seemingly unsurprised by Wufei's late night appearance. "Can't sleep?"

"Just came down to get a warm drink. What about you?" Wufei said sitting on the front edge of the chair.

"Just thinking, that's all. So did you two talk over lunch?" Duo asked looking at Wufei. "Everything seemed a little better when we got back."

"You know it is all your fault, if you hadn't just shown up here knowing Stormy's name and asking about the ring..."

"Your ring, Wufei it isn't just a ring it is your ring," Duo cut him off. "Like this is my engagement ring, that is your promise ring, it shows the love you and Treize share."

"I know that, God I know that!" Wufei snapped before reaching down to pick up Stormy who was curled up by his ankles. "I'm trying, it just takes some time. Why are you really here?"

"What do you mean? I'm not here to cause trouble if that is what you're thinking. I just wanted to spend New Years with you," Duo said a look of hurt flashing in his eyes.

"Sorry," Wufei mumbled looking down at Stormy, who was curled up in his lap now.

"You have every right to be suspicious, with all the stuff I've done in the past. But I really did only come to visit and spend the holiday with you, you're my best friend after all," Duo replied with a smile.

"Still, you're my friend and it was rude of me," Wufei said with a shake of his head.

"I didn't really take offense to it," Duo replied dismissing it. "So why are you down here and not up in Treize's arms?"

"I could ask you the same thing, I saw the light on in your room," Wufei replied.

"Heero knows about my night habits, but does Treize know you are down here."

"He's still asleep so it doesn't matter," Wufei explained.

"I doubt that. Hey do you want to do something later, maybe go into town?" Duo asked changing the subject.

"Um sure, haven't been out since Christmas," Wufei replied nodding his head. "Is Heero coming along?"

"It is his car, if you want you can invite Treize," Duo answered.

"He'll probably decline," Wufei surmised as he pet the sleeping cat in his lap.

"Oh, well okay, it'll just be us three then, that's fine," Duo said with a smile. "Sure going to miss you not being at school next semester."

"I'm not that far away you know, you'll be able to come and visit me whenever you want," Wufei pointed out.

"True, very true," Duo agreed with a nod. "Maybe we should turn in I imagine Treize is wondering what happened to you."

"Like I said, he is asleep."

"Right," Duo agreed, disagreeing by the tone of his voice, as he stood up from the couch.

Wufei slid his arm under Stormy to support her as he stood from the chair. He followed Duo up the stairs wishing him a good night before watching the braided man slip into the room he shared with Heero, the light going out the moment the door shut. Wufei quietly entered his room, setting Stormy on the floor only to be surprised when Treize's voice broke through the darkness.

"Wufei, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," he finally managed getting over his shock. "I just needed a drink and I found something on the way back up."

"That was a long drink. Are you sure you're okay?" Treize asked sitting up in the bed.

"Yeah it was no big deal," Wufei replied moving closer to the bed. "I hadn't meant to wake you."

"I'm a pretty light sleeper," Treize offered pulling the covers back for Wufei to slip into the bed.

Wufei crawled in beside the other man to be enveloped in the warm bedding. Treize wrapped his arm around Wufei's waist pulling him close again. Wufei snuggled into the warmth finding sleep a lot easier now.

Wufei woke up to the late morning sun shining through the frost covered windows, and a sleeping cat as his bedmate. He sat up looking around to notice a couple of the dresser drawers in Treize's bureau open. He slid out of bed to venture over and immediately recognize his jeans and boxers in one drawer while his shirts filled the other. When did Treize do that, he wondered as he pulled on a pair of jeans over his boxers. He noticed, the large sweater Treize had given him was sitting folded on top of the dresser. He slipped it on wondering when Treize had found the time to wash it. On his way out of the room he grabbed a tie for his hair, pulling it back as he walked toward the stairs.

He reached the bottom to be greeted by a smiling Duo. "Good morning, Wu."

"Morning, where are Treize and Heero?" Wufei replied.

"In the study looking at something I think. Hey did you want to unload your stuff?" Duo answered.

"Oh, uh sure," Wufei replied heading for the front door.

"Aren't you going to put on some shoes?" Duo asked following him.

"Your car is just in the driveway?" Wufei replied receiving a nod. "Then I'll be fine."

He pulled the door open, a strong gust of December air blowing in. "Come on, let's hurry it is only a few boxes," Duo said heading outside.

Wufei nodded following behind him. They quickly reached Heero's car, where four boxers were piled in the backseat. Both of them took two, making it a single trip. After hurrying to get back inside Duo started for the stairs. "So where we putting them?"

"My room will be fine," Wufei replied following after him, he'd have to remember to grab some socks while they were up here.

"Which one is that?" Duo asked stopping at the pair of doors facing each other.

"The one you're staying in," Wufei said heading toward the room he slept in before Christmas. They piled the boxes in one of the corners. "Hey did you see Treize in here any time this morning?"

"Not while I was up here, but I got up early, why," Duo answered looking at Wufei.

"No reason, just forget it," Wufei said dismissing it as he adjusted his sweater.

"You know that doesn't fit, right? It is like huge on you," Duo commented as they stepped out into the hallway.

"Yeah, it was Treize's, it was even big on him," Wufei explained before opening the master bedroom door. "Let me grab some socks."

Wufei reappeared a moment later carrying a pair of socks, Stormy following right behind him. Duo laughed at the sight of the kitten trying to keep close to Wufei. "How long you been sharing?" Duo asked curious.

"Not that it is any of your business, but since Christmas," Wufei replied grumpily.

"Aren't we touchy," Duo remarked following Wufei and Stormy down the stairs. "So do you wanna eat something before we go out?"

"I'm fine, if I get hungry I can get something later," Wufei answered, "but I need to tell Treize what's going on."

"Understandable," Duo agreed with a grin turning down the hall. "Sweetheart we're about ready to go," he called out loudly surprising Wufei and Stormy.

Not only did Heero appear in the hallway but so did Treize. Wufei leant against the wall as he slipped on his socks and shoes. "We are planning to head into town," he said after tying his shoes. "Want to join us?"

"No that's fine, I have some stuff around here that needs to get done," Treize answered, "don't forget your jacket though."

"All right, let's go," Duo announced before marching out the door with Heero right behind him.

Wufei watched them go before turning back to Treize. "Are you sure?"

"Positive, you go be with your friends," Treize assured him.

Wufei grabbed his jacket from the closet before surprising Treize with a quick kiss on the cheek. He quickly slid the coat on as he walked out the door seeing Duo and Heero waiting in Heero's car. He climbs in the now empty backseat before Heero takes off back down the long drive.

Wufei found himself enjoying Duo and Heero's company, even contributing to the conversation. They walked the snow covered sidewalks to see all the stores were still decorated for the season. Most of it was just window shopping but every once in a while Duo would see something he had to buy. While enjoying a quiet lunch in a small sidewalk café, Wufei found himself wanting to call Treize. He pushed the thought away forcing himself to listen to Duo and forget about the very notion.

Everything seemed to be going fine until a voice he hadn't heard for some time spoke his name. "Well if it isn't Wufei, finally decide to show yourself around town."

"Go away Milliardo, you and I have nothing to fight about," Wufei said turning to face the blonde.

"I owe you for this bandage over my nose," Milliardo disagreed lunging at Wufei and catching him solidly in the stomach with his shoulder, easily knocking the wind out of the dark haired man. Wufei's right hand curled into a tight fist automatically.

"I was the one that broke it, remember," Heero pointed out.

Milliardo ignored him landing two solid punches to Wufei's left side before Duo was finally able to pull him off. "Just back off, you came after us and Wu had nothing to do with Heero breaking that beak," Duo said shoving Milliardo away from them.

Milliardo only snorted before turning and walking away without a backward glance. Duo turned back to Wufei who was slowly sitting up. "Are you all right?" He asked reaching out to help him stand.

"Fine, just need a little air," Wufei answered slowly rising only to freeze with a low groan.

"Are you sure? If you're not, then say so," Duo recommended holding Wufei's arm to keep him from falling.

"Yes, I'm fine, just give me a damn minute," Wufei snapped straightening himself, even as his tenderized ribs protested it.

"Don't try and be so damn tough and don't think Treize won't notice, cause he will," Duo snapped back.

"If your thinking he broke anything, he didn't," Wufei grumbled straightening his coat and dusting off all the excess snow.

"But that doesn't mean he didn't hurt you," Duo replied with a shake of his head.

Wufei looked at the gray winter sky deciding to ignore Duo's comment. His ribs would be fine in a little bit anyway so what did it matter.

"Why don't we head back it is getting late and I bet Treize is expecting us for dinner," Duo said grabbing Wufei's attention.

He looked at his watch to see it was already past five. "Yeah, most of the stores are closing anyway," he commented.

"Hey Wu, why didn't you strike back, I saw you make a fist," Duo asked as they headed for Heero's car parked on the next street over.

"Actually I hadn't realized I'd done it until after he was gone," Wufei said looking at the marks his nails had made in his palm.

"Maybe you were protecting something," Heero observed.

Wufei was about to question him when he caught sight of the gold band securely in place on his finger. Maybe he had been, he didn't want Milliardo to even see it. "Maybe you're right."

"Come on, I'm hungry," Duo interrupted hurrying his steps forcing the other two to walk faster. They reached Heero's car a few minutes later, Duo pilling his bags I the back beside Wufei.

As Heero drove up the long driveway Wufei instructed him to pull around to the back of the house where the garage is. "Okay does he actually have a car in all three of those spots?" Duo asked as they piled out of Heero's car, grabbed him purchases from the back.

"No, he has a lot of stuff stored in there," Wufei answered snatching up a couple of the bags before pulling the sliding door open to let them in the dinning room.

"Ah just in time," Treize said looking up from the vegetables he'd been chopping at the island.

"I'm going to take this stuff upstairs," Duo said heading into the living room.

"I can take those up," Heero offered reaching for the few bags Wufei carried.

"Oh, okay," Wufei said handing them over.

"Have fun?" Treize asked after Heero had left.

"It was fine," Wufei answered absently, almost leaning his left side against the island before remembering his sore ribs. "Duo did all the shopping, I just carried." Wufei leaned across the island, his weight being held up by his hands and arms, giving Treize a quick kiss on the cheek.

Treize smiled at the gesture before really looking at Wufei's mannerisms. He watched as the younger man eased off his jacket favoring his left side. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, what do you mean?" Wufei asked surprised by the question. How could he have known, he couldn't!

"Just asking," Treize replied dismissing it with the hope that Wufei would just tell him.

"I'm going to go hang up my jacket in the hall closet," Wufei explained heading for the front room.

Wufei arrived back in the kitchen the same moment Duo had reappeared downstairs. "Heero will be down in a minute. Oh Wu, I forgot to give you the other half of your Christmas present. I have it in my bag upstairs," Duo said pulling one of the dinning room chairs out to sit down.

"You can give it to me latter," Wufei replied slowly sitting in another one his back to Treize.

"Did he ask?" Duo whispered leaning across the table.

"Yes, now shut up," Wufei replied in a hushed tone.

"I knew it! What did you say? The truth I hope," Duo asked his voice still low.

"I said shut up!" Wufei growled.

"You didn't, why the hell not!" Duo demanded.

"It is none of your business, now just drop it!"

"Fine, if you want to lie there is nothing I can do about it," Duo said leaning back in his chair.

Heero walked into the dinning room a few minutes later taking one of the seats beside Duo. "Are you causing trouble?"

"No," Duo sulked, "I was just asking Wu about something and he's being stubborn."

"So leave him alone," Heero replied causing Duo to sulk even more.

Treize set a plate of food before each of their guests while Wufei slid from his seat to grab silverware for them all. "What do you guys want to drink?" Treize asked after delivering the other two plates.

"Water will be fine for both of us," Heero spoke up before Duo could even open his mouth.

"All right, what about you Wufei?" Treize asked the dark haired man as he pulled down four glasses.

"I'll get my own, don't worry about it," Wufei said snagging up one of the glasses and heading over to the fridge. He dumped a few ice cubes in before pouring a dark liquid into the glass. He gingerly say down in his seat just before Treize returned with two glasses of ice water and a glass of tea.

"Okay what exactly is that?" Duo asked after Treize had sat down.

"Soda?" Wufei offered like he didn't know either.

"Oh, well keep your little secret then," Duo huffed before stuffing a fork full of food into his mouth. "Oh wow," he said after swallowing, "this is delicious. You're one lucky guy Wu to get this great food everyday."

"Thank you," Treize said between bites as Wufei studiously ignored the braided man.

The four had a quiet conversation with dinner. Wufei offered to take care of the dishes as they finished. Duo and Heero followed Treize into the living room, sitting on the couch. Treize sat in the chair as Stormy scurried out from under the coffee table and into the kitchen where Wufei was.

Wufei leant against the counter his eyes closed; he couldn't believe how bad it had hurt just reaching up to put the glasses away. Why were his ribs hurting so badly, it wasn't like Milliardo broke them? They shouldn't hurt like this, not after just a few punches, even if the blonde put everything he had into them. Stormy mewled beside him, nudging his leg with her head. He knelt down to pick her up, only to find it unbearable painful to stand back up. He sat down completely, leaning back against the cabinet his free hand coming to brush against his side. He sucked in a sharp breath even at that slight touch. Wufei slowly lifted his shirt to find an ugly bruise forming where Milliardo had made contact with his fist. He sighed leaning back unable to comprehend why he was reacting like this to such a small thing. It couldn't be because they had been broken in the past, he thought for sure they'd have healed up by now.

"Wufei?" Treize's voice called startling him.

"Yeah, just a second," Wufei shouted back trying to pull himself up from the floor.

"Wufei, why are you sitting on the floor?" Treize asked stepping around the island.

The dark haired man swore under his breath looking at Stormy. "I was just cleaning up something I spilled and Stormy wanted to play," he finally said eyes not moving from the animal.

"Oh, well come on that floor can't be too comfortable," Treize said offering his hand out to help Wufei up.

"It's fine, you go ahead," Wufei said not reaching for Treize's hand, "I have to finish putting the dishes away anyway."

"Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing, it's fine, I'll be out there in a bit," Wufei replied with a shake of his head.

"All right," Treize finally gave in turning and heading back into the living room.

Wufei sighed burying his face in Stormy's fur. What the hell was wrong with him? Wufei set the kitten back on the floor, using both hands to try ad push himself up. He finally made it to a crouched position before reaching his right hand up to the counter. He pulled himself back up to a standing position, the counter the only thing keeping him up. He took a step forward, the gyration sending an intense pain up his side, buckling his knees.

He knelt on the floor panting as Stormy nudged his thigh. "What is wrong with me?" He whispered causing the kitten to lift her head, she even looked concerned. He began to think that maybe he should tell Treize, hell he couldn't seem to even take a single step without collapsing. He realized there was no other option but to tell the man, but that would mean admitting he'd lied earlier.

He eased himself back into a sitting position leaning against the dishwasher. "Treize," he called collecting Stormy back into his arms and holding her purring body close to his chest.

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