The rest of the summer for Quatre was spent sight-seeing throughout New York with his brother-in-law, Iria being too busy taking care of her daughter, Josephine. Tom and Quatre toured Julliard's campus and the area around it. Quatre found some places to eat, a Laundromat where he could clean his clothes, and a few stores that caught his interests. Quatre would often look after little Josie, who adored her uncle Quatre, while convincing the married couple to go out.
Soon, summer slipped away and the start of a new term in school began. Quatre situated himself in his new dorm. There were two separate rooms that shared a common room. Plopping himself on the couch, Quatre attempted to watch television when his roommate came in.
"Well turn me over and fuck me twice! Quatre Raberba Winner is that you!?"
Quatre stood up and turned to see a girl standing in the doorway. She had short purple hair, dark violet eyes to match, and a huge shit-eating grin on her face.
"Hilde! Oh my God!" Quatre hopped over the couch and raced to his friend from long ago. They embraced each other, smiling and laughing.
"What are the odds?" She said, running a hand through her hair. "Man, Quatre, I haven't seen you in ages! But I see not much has changed. I'm still taller than you." She smirked patting the top of Quatre's head.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm short. We all know that."
The two laughed. "Help me with my junk."
Quatre lugged Hilde's suitcase to her room. "Jesus, Hilde. What do you have in here? A sink?"
"Not quite, but close enough." She smiled.
After settling her things into her room, the two friends sat on the couch and talked.
"How'd I get roomed with you? I thought guys weren't supposed to be paired with girls." Quatre asked. "Not that having you as a roomie is a problem." He added quickly.
"Well, I checked in kinda late so the set me up in the last room that they had."
"But with a guy?"
"All right, all right. I told them that if I roomed with a girl, I would probably pull all her hair out. You know how I don't get along with girls that much. Remember Trixie from first grade?"
"Oh yeah. I remember that. I remember all too clearly."
"Ha! She had it coming to her! That's what she gets for calling me a guy!"
The two laughed, remembering Hilde's victim.
"So how was life in California?"
"Well, at first it was horrible. But then it turned out to be wonderful."
"What? Did you find a boyfriend there or something?"
Quatre choked. "What? You know? How?"
"You just confirmed it for me." Hilde winked.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Actually, I have a wonderful gay-dar. It helps when looking for dates. And plus, you're way too nice to not be."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Quatre cocked an eyebrow.
"Come on, Quatre. No straight guy could be as nice as you. Not even when they want something."
"Blah."
Hilde just laughed. "So did you find someone?"
"Nope. Not as a boyfriend. Just as a best friend."
"Ah. There's more to it though, huh? Friends with benefits?" She winked again.
"No! Hilde! No! We're just friends! And I would like to state for the record that I am in fact still a virgin."
"No shit?"
"None what-so-ever."
"Damn. Well, we can fix that."
"Hilde! I'm not looking to fix that. I'm here for school."
"You're still so touchy, Quatre. I'm just joking with you. I may be here for school and dancing, but I'd like to have some kicks along the way, too."
"You're impossible."
"Thank you."
* * *
Quatre and Hilde spent their school term talking and reminiscing in the past. Hilde was surprised to hear that Heero ended up in the same the city and was even more surprised to hear that Heero turned out to be gay as well. "I never woulda guessed it with him. But then again, he always seemed to keep to himself." She said. Quatre talked about his problems with his father and his first two years of life in California. He talked about his friends and especially Trowa. Hilde told Quatre about her life without him and Heero and her many fights with girls that seemed to hate her because of some unknown reason.
Evenings were spent at local diners or at Iria's home with Josie. The two even settled an agreement to be there for each other on dates. If either were bored out of their mind, they would call the other to come rescue the one on the date. Quatre did most of the rescuing. She would call him at their dorm where he would find out where they went, run into the store or restaurant, and grab Hilde's hand telling her that there was an emergency that she had to deal with. Once, Hilde's date recognized Quatre from a class. Quatre was so desperate to leave since he was making a scene so he yelled at the boy. "Look, man. Hilde's mother was just sent to the hospital because of a heart attack. That's the second time this week! She's dying for God's sake! And she wants her daughter by her side when and if she does die!" With that, Quatre grabbed Hilde's arm and pulled her away from the restaurant. Quatre was so embarrassed but laughed it off while they shared a milkshake from the local Johnny Rocket's. They later called Hilde's mother to hear that she was in perfect health.
Quatre spent his Christmas Break with Tom, Iria, and Josie. He had decided to call the Bartons on Christmas Day since it was too snowy to fly out to California. The answering machine picked up.
Quatre waited after the beep to leave a message. "Merry Christmas Mr. Barton, Trowa, Catherine, and whoever else is there. Uh, it's me Quatre. Sorry I couldn't join you this year. We got snowed in. But hopefully I'll see you during summer. Uh, that's all. Um, bye now. Oh yeah! Before I forget, Tom got their number changed to 891-1245. Ok. That's all. Bye."
A little disappointed in not getting a chance to talk to his friend, Quatre to call Heero who had flown with Duo to California.
The phone rang twice before someone picked up.
"Hello?"
"Merry Christmas, Heero!" Quatre called happily into the receiver.
"Oh, Merry Christmas Quatre. How's New York?"
"Cold and crowded. I've lost count of how many times I've been stepped on."
"Ouch." Heero chuckled. "And how about school?"
"Oh man, Heero. School's awesome. You won't believe who I got roomed with."
"Do I want to know?"
"Remember Hilde?"
"No way…"
"Yes way."
"What're the odds?"
"That's what she said."
"How is she? Still a woman-hating psychopath?"
"No, but close enough." Quatre chuckled. "So what about you? How's school?"
"Great. Duo convinced the administration to room me with him. But even if they said 'no', I would still go to him or vice versa. They can't keep us apart."
"Nothing can."
"Right. Speaking of apart, why aren't you here?"
"Snowed in. All flights were cancelled so there was no way for me to get there. It's not the same having Christmas here rather than Christmas with Trowa. I miss him."
"Hn. Of course you do. He's your best friend."
"You're my best friend, too."
"Not in the same way with Trowa."
"Huh?"
Heero chuckled again. "Me, I'm your best friend in a brotherly way. Right?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess."
"But with Trowa, it's different. I see it all the time. But I don't really know how to describe it. Oh, hold on. I have to get the door."
Quatre waited, playing with the hem of his jacket.
"Q-MAN!!!"
The blonde dropped the receiver at the sudden outburst. He quickly picked it back up and held it to his ear.
"Q? Hello? Is this thing on? Hello? This ain't funny."
"Duo, you scared the crap out of me. And then some."
"And a Merry Christmas to you too!"
Quatre laughed. "What're you doing at Heero's house?"
"I'm like family! I can't disappoint Mama Yuy on Christmas so of course I came. Oy! Stop it! Ow!"
Quatre looked at the phone, confusion written all over his face.
"Not the braid!"
"Quatre, Heero again. Stop it, baka!"
Quatre laughed again until he felt something pulling at his pant leg. He looked down to see little Josie looking at him with a toothy grin.
"Hello, Josie." Quatre smiled, kneeling down to the girl.
"Duo, stop it! Baka!"
"Heero? What-" The line suddenly disconnected, leaving Quatre with a dial tone and a very confused expression.
Quatre placed the phone back in its holder before picking up the little girl and snuggling her against his chest.
"Merry Christmas, Josie."
Josie just cooed, letting her drool flow out of her mouth and onto Quatre.
"Ewww."
"That's her way of saying how much she loves her Uncle Quatre." Tom laughed after noticing Josie's excess drool flow onto the blonde's jacket.
Josie cooed again.
* * *
"Merry Christmas, Bartons!" Duo hollered as he burst through the Barton residence's door.
"Duo, haven't you heard of the doorbell?"
"Yes, but this way is so much fun."
"Hello Duo. Heero." Mr. Barton greeted from the couch.
"Hello Mr. Barton. And how are you this fine Christmas afternoon?" Duo said cheerfully, slinging his arm around Heero's shoulders.
"I'm fine. And you?"
"Wonderful!" Duo emphasized this by throwing his free arm into the air. "Where might I find your son, Mr. Barton?"
"I believe he's in his room. He's feeling somewhat gloomy so could you two please cheer him up?"
"You bet!" Duo winked. He grabbed Heero's hand and raced up the stairs.
Mr. Barton chuckled to himself and turned to read his paper.
"Helloo! Trowa? You in there?"
"Piss off. I'm sleeping." Came the boy's response. He was actually sitting at his bed drawing in charcoal.
"Okay! We're coming in!" Duo chimed bursting through the doors, dragging Heero along with him. Trowa didn't even glance up from his drawing.
"Baka. Don't you know what 'piss off' means?" Heero shook his head at his lover.
Duo rolled his eyes. "Merry Christmas, Trowa!"
Trowa continued to draw, ignoring his friend's greeting.
Heero folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the doorway.
"Aren't you gonna return the greeting?" Duo pouted. Trowa still didn't say anything. "Trowa? You alive? Earth to Trowa."
Heero watched the boy sitting on the bed and studied the situation. With an idea in mind, Heero leaned halfway out the door and faked a huge grin. "Quatre!"
Trowa's head shot up and he jumped off the bed, throwing sketchpad and charcoal off to the side. "Where? He's here?"
"No. I just wanted to see if my idea was right." Heero smirked.
"Ass. What idea?"
"Your dad said you were gloomy. I wanted to see if it was cause Quatre's not here."
"Oh! I get it!" Duo smiled. "Trowa, is that why you've become 'ol Mr. Scrooge? Do you miss your friend? Awww." Duo pinched Trowa's cheek only to have the green-eyed boy smack the hand away.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He walked over to the bed, picked up his equipment and began to draw again.
"Duo, go get me something to drink." Heero ordered.
"Why can't you get it?" Duo whined.
"Just do it."
Duo slumped. "Fine. Bully." He grumbled walking out the door.
Heero closed the door behind him and surveyed Trowa again. "You really do miss him, don't you?"
"You're crazy."
"Admit it, Trowa. It's your first Christmas away from him and you miss him."
"Yeah, so what if I do?"
"Nothing. You got a chance to talk to him though right?"
Trowa didn't answer.
"He didn't call you?"
No answer.
"Why wouldn't he call you? He called me."
"He called you? And not me?"
"Just a couple of hours ago. But Duo accidentally disconnected the call."
"Why didn't he call me? I'm his best friend."
Heero snorted. "I'm his best friend too, you know." He leaned against the doorway again. "Just not in the same way."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that me and Quatre have a brotherly friendship. You and Quatre have something different. I can see it. I was telling him this earlier."
"Heero, what are you talking about?" Trowa sighed.
"Hn. You'll see. Something will happen eventually. Then you'll see it as well."
Trowa just stared at Heero who was giving him a very tiny knowing smirk. Just then, Duo decided to walk in, sending his lover falling to the floor.
"Oops. Sorry Heero." He gave the Japanese boy an apologetic grin while he in turn received Heero's death-glare. "Here's your drink!"
Heero snatched the glass of water out of Duo's hand and took a sip.
"Trowa, buddy 'ol pal. Quatre just bid me another Merry Christmas. That's twice today. I must be special." Duo sat on the bed and placed an arm around the green-eyed boy.
"How would he have been able to do that, dummy? The phone didn't ring." Trowa shook Duo's arm off.
"Duo, what did you do?" Heero eyed his boyfriend.
"There was a blinking light on the machine."
"You listened to their messages?!" Heero yelled.
"I was curious." Duo countered.
"Baka! This isn't your house! Mind your own business!"
"Quatre called?" Trowa asked.
"Yeah. He says Merry Christmas." Duo smiled. Trowa got up from his bed and went to check the messages on the machine.
"Duo! I swear, you can be the rudest person!" Heero growled.
"Heero…" Duo stuck his bottom lip out. "I'm sorry." He gave Heero his very saddest apologetic face. "Do you still love me?" His forced his lip to quiver.
"Hn. You're pathetic."
"But you still love me anyway and that's all that matters!" Duo jumped up from the bed and glomped Heero.
* * *
"Hello?"
"Hey, Cat."
"Trowa!"
"That's me."
"Merry Christmas! How are you?"
"Merry Christmas and I'm fine. Kinda bummed that you couldn't make it."
"I wish I could be there. I mean, it's nice spending Christmas in New York with Iria and her family but it's not the same as Christmas with your family. I miss you guys."
"I miss you too. And I'm pretty sure that my dad misses you as well. Uh, hold on. I need to find the cordless. I left Heero and Duo in my room and I don't trust them alone in a room with a bed."
"Trowa, that's horrible." Quatre giggled.
"But it's true. Hold on…Come on guys. Not in my room!" Trowa shook his head at the sight of his friends making-out on the floor.
Quatre just laughed.
"Q-MAN!" Duo shouted, cheerily.
Quatre almost dropped the phone again. "Jesus, Duo. You'll give me a heart attack one of these days."
"Hey! Give it back!"
"Hey Quatre."
"Oh, hey Heero."
"Luckily this phone is cordless. Last time, Duo kept trying to grab the phone. He tripped on the cord and disconnected it."
Quatre laughed again.
"Gimme!" Duo's voice came.
"Baka! Stop it!"
"Both of you stop!" Trowa yelled. He grabbed the phone out of their clutches and raised it high above their heads. Sometimes being tall can have its perks.
"Hey give it! No fair! You're too tall!" Duo whined.
"Duo! Leave him alone." Heero grabbed Duo's braid and gave it a hard yank.
"Ow! Not the hair! Not the hair!"
Trowa tossed the phone over to Heero.
"Quatre, I'm gonna go now and I'm bringing the braided fool with me. Say 'goodbye' now, Duo."
"Awww. Do we have to go?" Duo pouted again.
"Yes. Now say 'goodbye.'"
"Bye Q! Get me a million souvenirs!"
"Bye Duo. Bye Heero."
"Bye Quatre. Merry Christmas, again."
"You too."
Heero tossed the phone back to Trowa before dragging Duo out of the room.
"Those two are impossible."
"I know. They're so different from each other but somehow it all works."
"And that's a good thing."
"A very good thing. So how's school?"
"School's school. But at least I'm supposed to draw in class."
Quatre laughed.
"How about you? How's life at Julliard?"
"Oh man, Trowa. It's awesome. You won't believe this but you know my friend Hilde? You saw her in those pictures from Maine."
"Yeah. What about her?"
"She's my roomie! It's great. She's hilarious. Like the female version of Duo but less annoying."
"Wow. Lucky."
"I know! Not only do I get to go to a great school, I get one of my old best friends to room with!"
Trowa felt a pang in his chest.
"She's awesome, Trowa. You'd love her."
"How'd she get to room with you? Isn't there something about a guy and a girl in the same room?"
"She absolutely does not get along with girls. She convinced the council to let her room with a guy cause she feared that the girl would be in danger if she were roomed with one. I swear if she didn't make it as a dancer, she could be a great lawyer."
"Sounds fun…"
"Completely! I think I'll just follow Hilde wherever she goes instead of returning home. I'm sure she wouldn't mind since I help her get out of boring dates." Quatre laughed again. Trowa forced a small chuckle. "Speaking of dates, how are things with you and Dorothy?"
"How'd you get Dorothy in your mind with the word dates?"
"You're silly. Couples go on dates. You and Dorothy are still a couple. Right?"
"Yeah. I haven't spoken to her for a month now. Maybe I should call her tomorrow."
"I think you should. You two are cute together."
"Hm. My relationships never last long. It's amazing that me and Dorothy are still together."
"Maybe it means you like her more than you did with any other girl you were with."
"Hm. Maybe."
"Do you like her?"
"Sure."
"What kind of answer is that, Trowa?"
"A good answer. Sure means yeah I like her."
"Hmmm."
"What?"
"Nothing. Have you heard from Wufei or Sally?"
"Yeah. Both are still happily with one another even though they argue all the time. But you know how they are. Arguing is a turn-on for them."
"I find that so weird. Arguing usually leads to break-ups."
"Well, we have weird friends."
"And you, Mr. Barton, are the weirdest friend that I could ever have."
"Thank you."
Author's Notes/Disclaimer: Don't own, no sue. I borrowed Trixie from Lorena's story entitled "Picaresque". I have no idea of how college life is at Julliard although I'm pretty sure that guys get roomed with guys and girls get roomed with girls and if not then whoops. Oh and the part where Quatre and Hilde rescue each other on dates came from a movie with Freddie Prinze, Jr. and that chick from Meet Joe Black. I forget what it's called. Questions? Comments? Review!