::Waves excitedly to readers:: Hello! I'm just putting in a small note before the fic to thank you all for giving me such wonderful reviews! It means so much to me and helps keep me dedicated to this fic! ::huggles reviewers…hell, huggles anyone who's reading this fic!:: I love you all and hope you like the new chapter!
~Nataku's Child

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Name: Story Time With Trowa or Once Upon a Cross Dresser
Author: Nataku's Child
Archive: My site, but it's down ^_^;; http://www.geocities.com/mageofthewinds/
Feedback: Of course ^_^ Nataku@linkline.com
Couples: 1+5 (Eventually! I swear!) 2x4 (implied) and 2+4+3

Disclaimer: I dun own it, that I don't. If you sue me, I'll be sad, that I will. Any resemblance to people (dead, living or fictional) or events (other then afore mentioned Ever After/Cinderella plot) is regrettable and unintentional. This is for my enjoyment (maybe yours as well) only, no harm!

Story Time With Trowa or Once Upon a Cross Dresser
Chapter Seven

Quatre sat on the couch, absently petting the cat in his lap. Kobi purred softly, curled up and falling asleep to Quatre's stroking. Duo was upstairs checking his e-mail and Trowa was out grocery shopping, leaving Quatre with some private time. Which was a relief, since he had a lot to think about.

Things seemed to be moving so fast. Quatre was confused... but strangely happy. He and Duo had been intimate twice. Intimate... That seemed to be the only word for it. He couldn't call it making love, because although he cared deeply for Duo -and Duo, for Quatre- he couldn't truthfully say he was in love. Yet. But on the other end, it was more then just sex, it was... what?

But Quatre almost didn't want to think about it. Duo made him happy. He felt warm, content and comfortable when Duo held him, kissed him, joked with him, teased him... Maybe they were in love... Oh! It was just too complicated... but then... strangely simple...

And there was Trowa...

What would he do about Trowa? That one innocent peck on the cheek was all he could bring himself to do. Duo had told him about his kissing Trowa, that Trowa hadn't stopped him. Duo had told him in full detail, remembering the brief moment with a slight smile on his lips.

Quatre sighed softly. Duo had told Trowa more in that one kiss then Quatre had said since they moved in together... Duo was so much more daring then he was, he could never be so bold...

Quatre felt the same for Trowa as he did for Duo, but lacked the courage to do anything about it. He and Duo talked a lot about Trowa. Duo often joked about 'wanting in Tro's pants', but Quatre could tell that he felt more then physical attraction... the same as Quatre himself felt for the both of them.

"What do you think, Kobi?" Quatre asked softly, gently nudging the dozing kitten.

Half of a sleepy eye opened. Kobi glared and batted at Quatre's hand before turning the other way to sleep again.

Quatre laughed lightly and started petting Kobi again until he purred and fell back to sleep.

'I want to tell Trowa how I feel... I have to tell Trowa how I feel...' Quatre thought, frowning slightly in thought.

The blonde was still sitting on the couch, absently stroking Kobi and thinking, when Trowa came home. Kobi heard him before Quatre did. The kitten suddenly jumped up and half ran, half stretched toward the door. A second later, the door opened and Trowa walked in, laden with grocery bags.

Quatre jumped up and took a few bags from the slightly strained Trowa. "Hi Trowa," he greeted with a smile. "Is this it?"

"Yeah," Trowa said as he tried to get into the kitchen without stepping on Kobi, who was twining around his ankles and purring loudly.

Quatre followed him into the kitchen and sniffed at the bag he held. A delicious smell was coming from it, and the bag was warm. Quatre peeked inside to see little paper boxes in various sizes. "Chinese food?"

Trowa smiled softly. "Duo asked. I think the story got him thinking."

Quatre smiled and put the bag on the table. He stared down at it for a while as Trowa put away the groceries.

It was the perfect time. They were alone, which didn't happen very often, and the thoughts on his feelings were still fresh in his mind.

'Just tell him Quatre!'

"Quatre?"

Quatre blinked and turned to Trowa. The boy was watching him, his eyebrows slightly down turned in concern. "Are you alright?"

Quatre swallowed. 'Now... tell him...' He took a step forward. He was shaking a little. "Trowa... I..."

Trowa watched him carefully. His beautiful, deep green eyes were worried. He lifted his arm and placed a hand on Quatre's shoulder. "What's wrong?"

The warmth of Trowa's hand on his shoulder made Quatre feel a little lightheaded. Trowa was so caring, so gentle... But before he could say anything, Quatre's courage ran out. "I should go get Duo." He blurted out quickly, and nearly ran from the room.

He didn't stop running until he got to Duo's room, and then it was only to open the door. He flung himself on Duo's bed and hid his face in his pillow. The sheets smelled distinctly of Duo, which was slightly comforting.

"Quatre?" Duo's voice called softly. The bed dipped slightly next to him and a hand started to stroke his hair. "Q, what's wrong?"

Quatre sat up, keeping his eyes down. "I tried to tell him..." he said sadly. "But I couldn't..."

Duo smiled and reached over to gently stroke Quatre's cheek with his thumb. "Don't worry about it kid, he's not going anywhere."

Quatre sighed and leaned into the touch. "I know...but I want to tell him... don't you?"

Duo's hand dropped. He looked down. "Yeah... but..." He glanced up and gave Quatre a shy smile. "I guess I'm afraid."

Quatre laughed out of surprise.

Duo grinned and pushed Quatre gently, making the boy laugh more. "Shut up! It happens!" Duo said, laughing too.

There was a knock at the door. "Quatre? Duo? It's getting cold," Trowa called.

Quatre paled slightly.

Duo stopped laughing. "K...kay Trowa, we'll be out in a sec..."

When they heard Trowa leave, Quatre turned to Duo. "Do you think he heard us?"

"Well...it'd save us the trouble of talking to him..." Duo said nervously, though he sounded worried too. After a moment, he sighed. "We will tell him. We can do it together...later."

"You mean after dinner?"

"I was thinking more like next week..."

Quatre smiled and shook his head, though he didn't entirely disagree.

~

They ate in an odd silence.

Trowa watched Duo and Quatre, wondering why the kitchen wasn't filled with its usual warm chatter. Their talk had always comforted Trowa. After years of silent loneliness, Duo's joking, boyish voice and Quatre's light, warm one were music to Trowa, filling the days and nights with life. The room felt hollow when it wasn't filled with conversation.

Trowa's eyes flickered from Duo to Quatre. Something was wrong, and it had started with Quatre's odd behavior when he had come home.

Trowa's mind had been working non-stop since he had begun the story. Duo and Quatre had grown closer since it started, but until the other day, Trowa hadn't known exactly how close that was. After Duo's shower invitation, however, Trowa had a pretty good idea.

It made him feel so... alone. So left out.

Trowa had agreed to move in with the other two because over the years he had grown to love them as brothers. But as he spent more time with them, that love somehow changed. He no longer thought of them as brothers or close friends, but something deeper... though he wasn't sure what to call it. He enjoyed telling the story more then he let on. When they sat close, listening intently, laughing and joking, smiling and sighing... he felt close to them.

But now this... this was awkward.

Finally, to Trowa's great relief, Duo broke the silence. "Done!" He announced, grinning. "And stuffed."

Quatre put down his chopsticks. "Me to," he said with a happy sigh.

Trowa smiled slightly. "That's too bad, you wont want your fortune cookies then..." he said, reaching for one of the plastic wrapped treats.

Duo laughed, a sound that made the room seem less empty. "Forget that! You ain't gettin' my cookie!" He grabbed one and unwrapped it.

Quatre glared jokingly at Trowa. "Nice try..." he grabbed his own and began unwrapping it.

Trowa was glad that the tension seemed to have been broken. He cracked open his cookie and stuck one half in his mouth as he read his fortune.

"Wha'zit say?" Duo asked Trowa, mouth full of cookie. He leaned over and tried to read it.

"It says: 'Changes will bring happiness your way'." Trowa read aloud.

Duo grinned and looked at Quatre. "What about yours?"

Quatre read: "'Face your obstacles with courage'." He turned to Duo and smiled, laughing a little.

Duo grinned brightly and looked down at his. "Mine says: 'Please try again'...hey!"

Quatre started laughing, the joyous sound filling the room. Duo joined him, eventually holding his stomach when it started to hurt. They laughed until their eyes watered.

Trowa watched them, laughing silently.

As the laughs finally died down, they gathered up their plates and put away any leftovers. When that was done, Trowa walked into the living room and sat in the big chair. Duo and Quatre followed, still laughing lightly.

Duo noticed Trowa sitting in the chair and grinned. "More story?"

Trowa smiled slightly and nodded.

Quatre smiled brightly and Duo ran over to sit cross-legged on the floor near Trowa's feet, his back against the couch. He motioned Quatre over enthusiastically. Quatre laughed lightly, walked over and shyly sat in Duo's lap. The braided boy's arms slid around Quatre's waist, holding him close.

Trowa swallowed and concentrated on the story, not the cold loneliness that tried to creep into his heart. He cleared his throat.

~()~

Days, weeks, almost a month went by.

Wufei went to the castle nearly every day. Not because Heero wanted him to, or because of his sister's illness, or even to keep up the lie that was himself in Heero's eyes. He went because he actually started liking Heero. Not love of course. Love was the thing furthest from Wufei's mind. It wasn't even the kind of like that is connected to love. He just genuinely enjoyed spending time with Heero. They were friends.

Heero had become a lot easier to be around, once Wufei got to know him better. Most of the things that put him off about Heero in the beginning, Wufei learned were just little bad habits that Heero had picked up that no one had dared to correct.

Six days a week, Wufei went to the castle. Heero was always waiting for him in the dim room, quietly sitting against a wall, apparently doing nothing other then waiting. Out of all the times Wufei had visited the palace, there was only one occasion when Heero had not been waiting for him when he got there.

It was like any other summer day. The sun had grown hot and Wufei was glad for the sanctuary of the wooden room. He slid open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside. Once the door was closed, he had to wait a few moments for his eyes to adjust. When they did, Wufei was surprised to see an empty room. Frowning, Wufei stepped into the room, squinting into the shadowed corners. But Heero wasn't there.

The illogically disturbing thought that Heero had forgotten about him entered Wufei's mind. He shook it off, telling himself firmly that even if Heero had gotten bored of him, it was good thing. It meant he could go home.

When Wufei was sure Heero wasn't there, he sighed. 'He has fifteen minutes. After that, I leave.'

Wufei moved to the middle of the floor and sat to wait. His mother had fashioned new breasts for him. These were two separate pieces that were bound against his chest with long strips of cotton. He barely noticed the new ones, and they were a lot more comfortable. He wore his everyday clothing, which were already designed for training. In his old clothes, with breasts he couldn't feel, Wufei almost felt normal, almost himself. The only things of his faux womanhood left were the breasts and his voice, which he kept high and quiet. It was a hassle, but he didn't think Heero was that ignorant.

After a few moments of waiting, it dawned on Wufei that he hadn't meditated much since he started seeing Heero. With nothing else to do, Wufei closed his eyes and slowed his breathing until he felt a distinct feeling of calm and awareness. He let his awareness go and just focused on calming his thoughts and his body.

Time passed unnoticed. He lost count of breathes as his mind drifted...

"Wufei?"

Wufei's eyes snapped open and his body tensed. There was a stiffness in his limbs, which meant that he had been there a while... longer then fifteen minutes.

Heero was looking at him oddly again, but Wufei had gotten used to it by then. Heero was crouching a few feet away from him. Wufei hadn't even heard him come in.

"Were you sleeping?" Heero asked sounding slightly amused.

"No," Wufei snapped, angry that Heero had startled him. "I was meditating."

Heero sat from where he was crouching. "Meditating?"

"When you clear your mind to focus or relax...you never learned?" Wufei asked.

Heero shook his head. "I don't need to relax." He said, looking defensive.

"That's a joke..." Wufei said, smirking darkly at Heero's glare. "Besides, I also said focus, you weren't paying attention."

"I was paying attention," Heero said, folding his arms. "You were making excuses for sleeping."

Wufei glared and then smirked darkly again. "It helps with martial arts...I'm surprised you never tried." He purposefully put a note of condescendence in his voice.

Heero stopped glaring and dropped his arms. "How so?" he asked doubtfully.

"It clears your mind so that you can focus completely on the match," Wufei explained.

Heero thought it over for a moment. "Teach me, I'll try it."

Wufei had gotten used to Heero's blunt orders, it was one of those little bad habits. They had gotten considerably more comfortable. Wufei was no longer afraid of being hung if he said something to offend his royal highness. In fact, they often joked and taunted, it came naturally after fighting so long at an equal level. Though they weren't as openly joking as say, you Duo, but between Wufei's wit and Heero's dry sarcasm, they had their own comfortable banter.

Wufei nodded to Heero. "Fine. Sit like I am... No, sit up straight."

Heero glared and straightened.

"It doesn't matter how you put your hands, as long as they're comfortable," Wufei instructed. "Right. Now close your eyes." Wufei paused a moment. "Take notice of your breathing. If it's too fast, slow it down until your breathing calmly as though sleeping. Don't smile."

"I'm not smiling."

"Don't smirk then. This isn't sleeping." Wufei said sternly. Once Heero's breathing slowed, Wufei continued. "Now clear your mind of all thought. You wont be able to do it at first, but be patient. Every time you find yourself thinking, let it go and bring yourself back to emptiness."

Wufei watched Heero carefully as he tried. Every few seconds, Heero frowned and took a deep breath. After a few minutes, Heero's forehead was wrinkled in frustration and his jaw and eyelids were clenched tightly.

"Relax," Wufei said, his voice smooth and firm, like his mother's was when she had taught Meiran and himself. "Don't try to do it. If you're trying, then you're thinking. Let your mind do it by itself. Feel it clear, don't force it."

Heero looked like he tried to relax, but there was still a tenseness to his shoulders. After a few more attempts, he gave up. He opened his eyes and glared so fiercely that it caught Wufei off guard. "This is bull shit!" Heero growled, standing up. "That's impossible and you were sleeping!"

"Stop acting like a child!" Wufei snapped, standing up as well. "It's not impossible! It just takes time!" He frowned in thought. "Though it should be easier for you, since you've studied martial arts for so long... you need to relax and allow yourself to stop thinking."

"That's not as easy as you make it sound!" Heero growled. He walked to one side of the room. His back to Wufei, he said, "I can't stop thinking..." his voice sounded odd... strained and tired. After a moment, he turned, his face blank again. "Let's spar."

Wufei frowned a moment before nodding. "We can try meditation again tomorrow," he said before getting into a ready position.

And they did try again the next day...and the day after that, and then the next after that, and the next after that...

Heero didn't change. In fact, he seemed more aggravated as the days went by. It troubled Wufei, as did other things. Heero always looked tired and he was distracted when he sparred, the latter made Wufei the most worried.

On the fifth day after their first meditation attempt, Wufei was fed up. Heero was on his back for the fourth time in a row, his mind being so distracted and tired that Wufei was winning easily and without effort.

Wufei glared down at the fallen Heero, his arms crossed. "This is ridiculous." He said, not offering Heero a hand up. "You're not even worth my energy." He said coldly before walking past Heero to the door.

"Wait!" Heero called.

Wufei turned his head slightly. "I'm not going to take part in your masochistic game anymore. Or is it that you like the taste of dirt?"

"Cocky little..." Heero growled, walking over to stand between Wufei and the door.

Wufei glared at Heero, his arms still crossed. "I've lost my patience with you, Your Highness." He said coldly.

Heero looked away, his jaw clenched.

Wufei noted the dark circles under Heero's eyes with a sigh of annoyance. "What's wrong?"

Heero looked back at Wufei, still clenched and looking frustrated, but silent.

Wufei dropped his hands as his anger flared again. "Well if you're not going to tell me then let me leave!" he shouted and tried to get past Heero.

Heero grabbed Wufei's arm to stop him.

Wufei stopped and sighed before turning, his eyes blazing with anger. He was tired of all this... run... around... why was Heero so close?

Wufei had turned only to be inches away from Heero. The prince had that look in his eye again. It made Wufei nervous, the way he was looking at him so intently without saying a word. He was about to demand an explanation, but didn't get the chance.

In a heartbeat, Heero leaned down and pressed his lips against Wufei's.

Wufei's eyes widened considerably. 'What the hell?!'

Heero's hand was still on his arm and he was only a few inches away. Wufei needed only to twitch his finger to touch the cloth of Heero's sparring clothes. The dim of the room and the bittersweet smell of sweat and dirt mixed with the heat of Heero's body was making Wufei's head spin.

He snapped out of his shock and roughly pushed Heero away, making the other boy stumble backwards and almost fall.

Wufei's face was burning in a mix of embarrassment and rage. He opened his mouth to say something, but his mind was a jumbled mess, unable to form words. He shut his jaw with a snap and ran out, slamming the door behind him.

~()~

Quatre laughed lightly. "Poor Wufei."

Trowa looked over. He found it easier to think when he wasn't looking at the other boys when telling the story.

Quatre still sat on Duo's lap. His head was leaning back slightly onto Duo's shoulder, so their cheeks pressed up against each other slightly. Duo was chuckling lightly and absently playing with Quatre's hand, which he held in his own.

Trowa's heart ached as he looked at them. They were so comfortable, so happy.

Trowa looked away and stood up.

Duo blinked and Quatre sat up slightly in his lap.

"Where you goin', Tro'?" asked Duo.

"To bed..." Trowa said distractedly before leaving the room.

~

Duo watched Trowa leave, frowning slightly. "Night..." he said softly as he heard Trowa's door close.

"Do you think something's wrong?" Quatre asked worriedly.

Duo chewed on his lip for a moment before answering. "Yeah, something...I don't know what though."

Quatre stood up. "Maybe he's not feeling well. Maybe we should hold off asking him for more of the story?" he suggested, holding out a hand for Duo.

Duo took the hand and stood up. "Maybe..." he said softly.

Quatre starred at Trowa's door, his angelic face worried and his hand held to his heart.

Duo filed away worries about Trowa for later thought and put on a smile. "Hey, don't worry about it kid, he'll be alright." He said, putting a hand on Quatre's shoulder.

Quatre dropped his hand and looked back at Duo, attempting a smile. "I guess you're right."

Duo hugged Quatre from behind, loving the feel of the smaller boy in his arms. "Let's go to bed, kay?"

Quatre nodded, smiling softly.

To be continued!

Next Chapter:
In which we learn about Wufei's thoughts on the kiss.