"Duo… Duo, come on. He didn't mean to insult us. He doesn't know how hard it is to live as an Air pirate. You said it yourself, he's a little rich boy. Duo! Ugh! Here Relena, you try." Hilde glared at the door and made room for Relena.

Relena approached the door "Duo? It's Relena. Please don't be mad at Quatre. He didn't mean it… Duo, come on! I'll give you a cookie." Relena said hopefully.

Duo opened the door, his face still contorted in anger "A cookie? Relena please!"

She rolled her eyes "Okay fine!"

He was about to shut the door and sulk some more but stopped "What kind of cookie?"

Relena laughed "Any kind Duo."

Duo smiled suddenly "Even a double chocolate cookie with walnut bits?"

Hilde gaped at him "A cookie? That's it? All I had to do was give you a flipping cookie to calm you down?"

Duo perked up at the sound of that "I get two cookies?"

Relena laughed again and headed to the bridge to ask Sally where she could get two double chocolate cookies with walnut bits.

Quatre looked at her when she entered, shame clearly written on his face.

Relena shook her head "It's okay. I've calmed him down and I know you didn't mean the things you said."

Quatre sighed but didn't say anything.

Trowa raised an eyebrow at her "How did you manage to calm Duo down so fast?" Relena smiled but was cut off by Duo "She's giving me a cookie!"

The whole room remained quiet.

Wufei gave the two of them a strange look "A cookie? That's it?"

Duo frowned and mumbled to himself "I'm getting two."

Relena smiled and turned to Sally "Where can I get two double chocolate cookies with walnut bits?"

Sally chuckled "The store down the street sells 'em. About three dollars each."

Relena nodded and turned to Quatre "Shall we?"

The store was actually a candy store. Lot's of little candies were on display and in back, behind the counter was row upon rows of cookies. Relena looked around and saw they were all kind of expensive in comparison to the people who would likely buy it, nothing less then fifty cents actually.

Quatre looked around but never strayed from Relena's side. Relena purchased Duo's cookies and a bagful of candy along with more cookies. Quatre looked at the items and was puzzled; Relena hated candy. She smiled at him and when they exited the building Quatre saw Relena give the bagful of candy to a group of little children that had their dirty noses pressed against the glass. Relena laughed as they crowded around the bag, flashing him another smile she began the walk back to Sally's bar.

Duo pounced on the cookies and took a large bite, he smiled, bits of chocolate stuck to his teeth. "Thanks Relena! I ain't mad anymore."

Relena laughed, "I figured that much Duo."

Heero watched her hand out the cookies she bought that weren't Duo's. He noticed that only Duo's were double chocolate. Probably so he wouldn't feel angry or any less special.

Relena approached him and smiled "Here Heero, I got you a cookie too."

Heero looked down the confection "I don't eat cookies."

She frowned, confused 'no cookies? How does he survive?' "You don't eat cookies? Why? They're the best."

Stonily he looked past her and out the window "I don't eat sweets."

Relena's eyes widened "Oh… I didn't know."

Heero scowled at her reaction, so what? It wasn't like he was dying or had an incurable deadly disease! He pushed passed her roughly and headed to his room.

He didn't have to take her pity.

Relena watched him go, "Neither does Quatre…" she whispered to herself.

In the corner of the room Quatre watched, his eyes drifted past her to the figure at the window. Their eyes met and mutually they left the room in opposite directions knowing where to meet.

Trowa walked into the engine room and looked around. It was empty and except for the sound of the machines at work to keep the ship powered. He entered the room in the back, it was nearly hidden by a giant engine so only him and a few others knew of its existence. Inside, lounging on a chair was Quatre. He was holding a picture frame in his hands. It was of Trowa and his stepsister Mariemaya.

When Trowa entered the room Quatre looked up and smiled "Hey. You look stressed."

Trowa snorted and lay on his overstuffed couch, it coughed up foam from the rips because of the pressure "Understatement of the year Quatre."

The blond smiled and put the picture down "Don't worry. We'll make it across the ocean. I know you won't fail us."

Trowa smiled at him, the two had gotten close over the short while he was there. Quatre listened to him, listened to his problems without making assumptions and without judgment. Of course he offered suggestions but only when asked for it.

Trowa sat up and scratched his head "Aren't you worried about Relena?"

Quatre leaned back in his chair and gazed up at the ceiling, the room was sound proof so the sounds of the machines were inaudible but he liked to pretend his hearing was so keen he, and only he, could hear it.

"No. Well… yes, but I have confidence in my ability to protect her."

The brunette watched him with his chin in his hands "Not that. She's showing signs of interest in Heero."

Quatre was silent. He noticed of course, it was his job to notice little things like that, but should he allow it? Could he stop it if he had to? She would only be hurt, Heero didn't seem the type to show feelings to anyone.

"She's never been around a guy who would watch out for her like he does. He stares at her when he thinks no one is watching," Quatre said finally not looking at Trowa.

Trowa nodded "I know. Heero's never done that before. For a long time I wondered if he was even interested in girls."

Quatre rubbed his temples "Treize suspects something. The body of that girl didn't fool him and Cosmos, though it was quite convincing he doesn't think she's dead."

Trowa nodded and stood up.

Quatre looked at him puzzled "Where are you going?"

Trowa walked to the door "To tell Wufei. If what you say is true, and it most likely is, then we should be expecting a visit from Treize."

Relena sat in her room brushing her shortened hair, it was taking some getting used to but it was better. Picking up the scissors she thought back to the conversation between Trowa and Wufei. Treize still knew she was alive. She had to change her appearance again. Sure it was different but Treize would still recognize her. Taking the scissors closer to her head she stopped. She put the scissors down and ran to her bag. Taking out the hair curler she smiled. She'd never used it before but now was a perfect time to try it. Plugging it in she waited for it heat properly.

Twenty minutes later she had curly red hair. Nodding she sprayed it with hair spray and then she was done.

Quatre walked in and saw her "Holy! Dammit Relena! Do you want your hair to fall out?"

Relena smiled "I overheard Trowa and Wufei talking. I was just trying to find a way that Treize wouldn't recognize me."

Quatre drew her into a hug "Don't worry Relena. We'll protect you when and if he does come."

She sighed and wrapped her arms around him, "Thanks Quatre."

Heero turned away from the hugging couple, his face contorted in anger. He too heard the conversation between Trowa and Wufei and went to check on Relena.

He had watched her while she made her transformation from an innocent girl to a curly haired temptress. The red hair didn't help.

When he heard Quatre coming he hid and listened to their conversation. When he looked back in the room he didn't like what he saw. She was his Relena. He was the one who saved her from her old life, he was the one who helped her settle on Merion. Adjust to this new lifestyle. And now here was this stupid blond bodyguard who was ruining his plans!

Heero shook himself out of his contemplations.

You never really told her your feelings have you?

She should have known how I felt

She's not a mind reader Heero

But isn't it obvious?

No

Oh

Heero shook his head, conversations with himself were normal. Right?