AN: Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews! I'm updating this wrapped in a blanket and clutching tissues, feeling the disgusting symptoms of a very bad cold. See? Aren't I devoted? No, I'm just a sucker for love. Actually, this is probably my least favourite chapter so far. But don't let that put you off for Shinigami's sake! That doesn't mean I didn't work hard at writing it but it's just one of those chapters that is an in-between-y if you get my meaning? Like a pretty rainbow that you have to get across to get to the sparkling pot of gold? No? Well I don't blame you for not getting my logic. I'm not sure most people do! It's also a little fluffier than what I'm generally inclined to write. Yay fluff?! You decide. (Sneezes). Enjoy!


Chapter Two:

Thankfully the disabled washroom was empty. He couldn't stop shaking. He could see the worried looks on their faces as he had left the table. He washed his streaming eyes again and again. What the fuck did he think he was doing?! The whole situation was absurd. Maybe they'll all think I'm ill or drunk or something. They won't think anything true at least. He curled up in the corner and pressed the side of his head against the cold, stone, wall, too weak to stop himself from sobbing, still shaking violently.

Heero appeared in the doorway and closed the door behind him quickly. Duo stared at him terrified. He stopped sobbing.

"Are you alright?" He said softly. Duo couldn't answer, he tried to shake his head dumbly, "Oh, god, I'm sorry, Duo. I don't know why I did that."

His hand went to his head and his eyes darted frantically. He went to the sink and his hair fell in his eyes, concealing them from view.

"I just don't know what to do anymore. Nothing is fair or right..." He trailed off and stood still in silence. Duo gazed at him blurrily, his shakes increasing. Suddenly Heero was kneeling in front of him, taking his hands and rubbing them as if trying to keep them warm. Duo let out a sob and smiled blearily at him. The last time he'd had an attack like this was the night Heero had told him about his engagement. He'd been there then too, holding him close and soothing him. Before that was after the war and before that his childhood. Back then it was often worse.

"Shhh, calm now. Everything will be fine." He was saying, wrapping his arms around Duo's quivering form, "It may not seem like it now but it will be, I promise you. I'll still be right here for you. When all this is done I'll still be here."

Gradually the shuddering stopped and Duo breathed deeply, inhaling Heero's being into his own.

"How long have we been?" Duo coughed, removing himself from Heero's arms and washing his face in the sink.

"About ten minutes." Heero interpreted Duo's question.

"And six years."

"That too."

There was a moment of silence as Duo composed himself.

"The show must go on." He smiled weakly and gestured dramatically towards the door.

"The first act is almost over."

"And no one is yet sure if it's a tragedy or comedy."

They returned to the table where the dinner was ending and empty seats were appearing.

"Sorry about that. I was feeling a bit off." Duo excused himself as he sat down. Quatre frowned at him worriedly, "I'm ok now, really. You don't need to look at me like I'm on my death bed."

"Ok, ok. I was just concerned was all." Quatre returned to his tea.

Everyone soon finished their drinks and started to make their excuses to leave, a few people who wouldn't be at the event the next day made toasts to the happy couple. Soon the only people left were the five boys, Relena, her mother and a handful of Relena's closest female friends.

"And this is where we go our separate ways." Relena said, finishing her mocha and gathering her things.

"Whoo! Party!" One of her friends cried.

"Is Hilde going, Relena?" Duo asked.

"Yeah. She took the rest of work off. Her boss is really harsh. He wouldn't let her take the whole night off. It took her long enough to persuade him to let her have tomorrow off! She's maid of honour for goodness' sake!" She replied and got up from her seat, Heero followed suit.

"Yeah, she was mumbling something about that last time I spoke to her. Tell her I send my love."

Relena nodded cordially and winked.

So she doesn't know.

She turned to Heero and Duo stared intently at his coffee cup.

"See you tomorrow." She said and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek.

"Have a good time!" Quatre called after them. A few girls giggled and waved. Trowa couldn't resist a small smile at this. They were like buzzing bees to golden honey.

Once the girls had left Duo clasped his hands together and stretched.

"We'd better be off then!" He grinned broadly.

"You're making me edgy, Maxwell." Wufei grumbled and Duo fixed him with a sarcastic pout.

"It's Mister Stoic that should be the anxious one." He jutted a thumb out at Heero who was in the middle of pulling out his wallet to pay for the bill and who simply glared at him.

"Lead the way, designated driver!"

This turned out to be Wufei as it was his car that had got the others thus far. Having paid the bill and picked up their belongings from the lobby, the five of them slogged off down the road to their mode of transport: A large blue 4x4.

"Riding in style, I see." Heero mused, smirking slightly as they neared.

"Are you slighting my car, Yuy?"

"Not at all..."

"I'd have hired a limo but after everything else I got a bit strapped for cash, you know?" Duo apologised, stuffing his hands in his coat pocket.

"You know I'd would have gladly..." Quatre started but bit his lip and looked guilty.

"Yeah, I know." Duo smiled warmly at him.

He was determined that tonight he would be himself. He would stop feeling sorry for himself and make this night worth it. It may be the last chance... Tonight he was going to have fun, regardless of everything. He jumped in the back of the car after Heero and ran through the coming evening in his mind, grinning manically.

"Where to?" Wufei asked, jamming the keys into the ignition and slamming the car door shut after him.

"Get us to the tower and I'll direct you from there." Duo said, leaning over Wufei's seat in front of him to speak to the driver. He pointed forward and proclaimed, "Onward! Second star on the right and straight on 'til morning!"

He settled himself back down into his seat between Quatre and Heero and reminisced. It has been a long time since they had all been together like this. Lately they'd all been so busy that there had hardly been the opportunity for some quality time. It had probably been over a year since he had last seen Wufei and a lot longer before that when they had all last been together. Duo had the feeling he'd be needing meetings like this a lot more, but getting them even less.

It would take them a good two hours to get to the tower in the centre of the city in the best of traffic and, due to the torrential rain, the traffic was not the best. Wufei was cussing loudly at other drivers and violently thrusting the indicator on, regardless of whether they deserved it; he himself was bit of a crazy driver, perfect in theory but manic in practice. Duo supposed that being such a manic Gundam pilot and all it was hardly surprising. Trowa switched on the radio to cover up Wufei's cries and a cheesy pop song blared out of the speakers. Duo moaned and buried his head in Heero's shoulder.

"Change the channel!" Came his muffled yelp, "And not to Classic FM!!!" He added and fixed Quatre with a meaningful squint. Trowa fiddled around with the controls until he found a suitable station, after a certain point the young men were beyond caring too heavily about what they listened to.

An hour or so passed and the traffic was dying down. Conversation had ceased and a comfortable tired silence took over. Duo stared out through the windscreen ahead, watching the raindrops run races across the glass before the windscreen wipers gathered them up. Quatre dozed cosily on his arm and the radio was playing a relaxing ballad. He looked over to Heero who was staring unseeingly out of the window beside him. Sneakily, Duo pushed his arm between the crook of Heero's elbow and into Heero's coat pocket. Heero looked at him blandly and sought out his companion's hand with his own who sighed heavily and rested his head on Heero's shoulder. The latter brushed his lips against the American's forehead in a deft kiss and propped himself against the window to stare out into the surrounding night once more.