Chapter Two: Playing Matchmaker:

The next day, Quatre and Trowa were enjoying a quiet evening at home. The two were snuggled up on the sofa. Quatre couldn't get his mind off of Lynn and Duo. They would make such a cute couple if Duo would just take the risk. Trowa looked at Quatre; he once again knew what he was thinking.

"You need to stop it Quatre." Trowa warned.

Quatre gave him a small laugh. "You know me too well, I'm sorry." he apologized. "I'm just trying to help out our friends..."

"What if they don't want to be helped?" Trowa asked.

Quatre sighed. "But Trowa, Duo has been through so much, he deserves to be happy."

"You really are a romantic..." replied Trowa, as he gave him a light kiss on the forehead."But sometimes you need to let fate work on its own."

"Well, sometimes fate needs a little push!" Quatre replied.

A few minutes later, Lynn walked into the living room. She looked like she was heading out. "Where are you going?" asked Trowa.

"Get some more art supplies." she answered. "Do you guys need anything?"

Trowa was about to tell her no, but Quatre had other plans. "Yes actually," he said, jumping up. Quatre pulled out a few bucks and handed them to his friend. "Could you stop by Hilde's, and see if they have the newest Gravitation manga out yet?"

"Hilde's..." she said. "Isn't that the bookstore downtown?"

"Yes, would mind?" Quatre asked.

"No, not at all." replied Lynn with a smile. "I'll be back in awhile. Don't wait up."

When she was gone, Quatre smiled. Trowa shook his head. "There's no stopping you is there?"

"Nope, I'm afraid not."

An hour later, Lynn found herself downtown. She managed to get a hold of some new paints before she made her way to Hilde's. She had never been inside the store before. She's just past by it a few times. Lynn would finally get a chance to see the inside of the store.

"Hello!" A familiar male's voice greeted her as she entered.

"Hello." she called back.

Duo was a few selves back when he heard Lynn's voice. "Mental note, say hi to her first, kill Q-man later." Duo said to himself as he stepped out from behind the shelve.

Lynn looked around the store. It was a nice place, with a warm, friendly atmosphere, and the book selection was incredible. "Hi Lynn."

Lynn turned her attention from the store to the young man in front of her. She smiled to herself. It was her roommate's friend. She was wondering if she would see him again. "It's you... I mean, hi." she replied. "Duo, right?"

"That would be correct." he told her. "Can I help you with something?"

"Yeah, do you have the new Gravitation manga?"

"I should, follow me." Duo said, and Lynn followed him to the back wall. "Here we are." He said, pulling out the latest issue of the manga that she wanted. "Let me guess, Quatre sent you?"

"How did you know?" she asked.

Duo laughed. "A lucky guess." He then found what she wanted and handed her the manga.

"Thanks." she told him.

"No problem."

"Do you have the new Escaflowne one out as well?" Lynn asked.

"Yup, right here." answered Duo, once again finding her what she needed and handed it to her. "You like anime?"

"Yes, very much." she told him. "Escaflowne is just one of my many favorites. I usually like any anime that has Kirby Morrow in it."

"Kirby Morrow...?" asked Duo. "Never heard of the guy."

"He's one of the top voice actors right now. Plus, he's totally sexy. I've seen pictures of him."

Duo laughed at her. "I'll take your word on that. Is that all you need?"

"I think this will do." said Lynn.

"Okay, then I'll ring you up front." Duo replied.

Lynn followed him to the front counter. "This is really a nice bookstore you have." Lynn told him.

"Thanks." said Duo. "Ten dollars even." he said as he rung up her items.

Lynn handed him the money. "So, have you given any more thought into coming to the gala?"

"I'm still thinking about it."

"Well, I hope you can make it." replied Lynn.

"We'll see." Duo said, handing her the mangas she had purchased.

"Bye." said Lynn, heading out the door.

"Have a good read!" Duo called out to her before she left.

Lynn made it back to the apartment. It seemed that Quatre was the only one awake. "Trowa all ready in bed?" she asked him.

"Yes, I told him I would wait up for you." Quatre said.

"I told you, you didn't have to do that." she remarked. "I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"Wait a friend can't worry?"

"I guess not." Lynn responded. "Here's Gravitation." she replied, handing him the manga.

"Thank you." replied Quatre.

"Anytime." Lynn said. "Oh, you'll never believe who I ran into at Hilde's?"

"Who?" asked Quatre as the two made their way to the sofa and sat down.

"Your friend, Duo."

"Really?" Quatre asked, sounding surprised.

"Yeah, he works there. It's a nice place."

"Did you ask him about your gala?"

"Yes, he hasn't decided yet."

"What do you think of our friend?" Quatre asked.

"I like him. He's a nice guy." answered Lynn. "I hope he'll come."

"Don't worry, he will." Quatre assured.

"How do you know?"

"I just do." he said. "Now, lets both get off to bed. It's getting late."

"I'll agree with you on that one." Lynn replied, and with that the two called it a night.

The following day, Quatre made a quick stop at Hilde's. Trowa had no idea he was there. He wanted it that way. If Trowa knew where he was, he would have his hide. Quatre smirked to himself, then again, that wasn't always a bad thing. Quatre got his mind out of the gutter. He had a mission to fulfill and he wasn't going to fail.

"Hello!" Duo called out as he heard the door open.

Quatre followed his voice and soon found the man he was looking for. "Hello."

Duo almost dropped the book he was holding. He turned and faced Quatre. "You."

"Come to the gala next week."

Duo was getting frustrated with his pushy friend. He remembers the mental note that he made yesturday: "Say hi to her first, kill Quatre later..." He looked around his store. There were no witnesses... An evil grin spread across his lips. Oh, how tempting it would be. However, his evil grin faded. Trowa would kill him if he landed a hand on Quatre, and Trowa was a force to be reckoned with.

"Does the word no mean anything to you?" Duo asked angrily.

"I thought you said you'll think about it!" yelled Quatre.

"I did, and my answer is no!"

"But Lynn is really looking forward to your arrival." Quatre told him. "She likes you Duo, can't you see that?"

"Yes, I can, and I'm not saying that she's not a nice girl, but I can't!"

"Why?" Quatre demanded.

"Dammit Quatre, you know why! Don't make me repeat it!"

"I know you loved-"

"Love." Duo corrected, through greeted teeth. "I still love her, don't you forget that!"

"Forgive me then," said Quatre, bowing his head. "I know you love her, but don't you think that Hilde would want you to move on and be happy?"

Duo opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. He sighed to himself. Quatre had him there. When she was alive, Hilde loved him so much, and she would do anything to get a smile on his face. Quatre placed a comforting hand upon his friend's shoulder and smiled at him. "Please, come to the gala."

Duo brushed his friend's hand away. "If I say yes, will you leave me alone?"

Quatre's smile brightened. "For now at least."

"Fine. I'll go. I'll go."

Quatre couldn't help but cheer. "Trust me Duo, you won't regret it."

Duo watched as he ran out of the store. He shook his head. Duo went back to work. Still thinking of many ways to kill the blonde. "And to think I could have killed him and gotten away with it. Damn."

TBC...