A/N: A comment on all the 'love' seemingly going on and the speed of the story has me finding myself writing another note to explain. You must remember that I skipped the story ahead two years. That's plenty of time for Rei's friends to have met Duo (and Makoto to fall in love with his endearing characteristics) and certainly enough time for Duo to have fallen for Rei. As for Minako and Ami's potential romances, I didn't think it would be fair that the others find love and they didn't. I'm still aiming to stick to the proper personalities with the couples, though. I'm also strongly arguing with myself as to what type of story I want this to sculpt into. I don't think it'll be a full-blown romance when I'm finished. It's pathetic how hard I'm trying to please all crowds here and thus far all twelve alternate endings wouldn't be liked by all. Anyways, I'd rather not make mountains from a gopher hole… I think I'll let it evolve as I continue. (There's a reason for the speed, but it should be slowing down pretty quick.)

Chapter Five

Ami settled on the couch in her blue flannel pajamas next to the distressed brunette. She didn't know what exactly to do to help Makoto out. She wasn't a devious person. She couldn't plot how to steal a guy's affection from another, especially from her friend! How Makoto had the mind-set to do it herself was an enigma. Makoto raised her face to meet Ami's gaze and she sat up.

"Ami, Rei's gorgeous. We'll have to come up with something extraordinary to get Duo to notice plain old me." Makoto was back to pouting and feeling sorry for herself again. What was she supposed to do about something like this?

"Mako, you're not plain and definitely far from old. You've got just as much appeal and personality as Rei does, but it's a different kind. There's got to be something about you that would catch his attention that Rei doesn't have." Ami's voice was soft and her eyebrows came together as she sat there in deep thought.

"Like what Ami? I'm not pretty like her and I don't have a cute little Japanese-American baby to chase around. Duo loves that kid and he's definitely not mine! I don't have that go-get-'em attitude like she does and I'm too damn tall!"

Ami's thoughts were frantic. What should she say. "Mako, Duo's such a catch because he wants children… but I don't think he wishes that Hunter was his own. He loves him, but to look at him, he's not the type of guy who'd like adopting, he wants miniature Duo's of his own.

"Furthermore, some guys may like girls who have certain characteristics as friends, yet not think that those same characteristics are good as girlfriend-material or even wife-material. It's easy to see that Duo is very much in love with her, but maybe not like you are thinking. Maybe, just maybe, even if it is a stretch, he views her as a sister and nothing more.

"And…" Ami paused for a breath and to psyche herself to continue. "Some guys like tall girls who are petite. It's more attractive and model resembling than a short girl. A lot of guys like a tall girl, so long as she doesn't tower over him, which you don't do. Rei is a midget next to him, of sorts and you're more to his level. You two look each other in the face with no problem.

"You laugh at his stupid jokes. In fact, you think everything that comes out of his mouth is adorable. You're a cook, and he's a man with a bottomless stomach. Geez, Mako, you're much more domestic than Rei is and Duo is a guy looking for a girl who would make a loyal, beautiful wife and doting mother. You're not only all of that; you've also got sk…"

"I get it Ami. You can stop now. You've given me an idea anyway." Makoto's voice cut her off mid-speech and her eyes lit up.

Ami was stunned. She didn't know where all of that had come from. Where did she, of all people, have such insight on Makoto and men hidden? "What idea could I have possibly provided you with? I had no intention further than a self-confidence boosting pep talk."

"There's that really old cliché: The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Makoto paused, scanning Ami's face for some sort of reaction, as if that explained everything she was scheming. When Ami looked dumb-founded she continued, "Duo is absolutely a food hog and I'm the perfect match to that. Not by being a hog, but by needing a willing guinea pig to test my concoctions, since Usagi is married to Mamoru and gone now."

She was silent for a couple of minutes, letting her words sink into Ami's thoughts and tapping her manicured fingernail against her teeth, thinking some more herself. "Even better, I love cooking. It's perfect. I need to find a way to cook for him." Her voice rose with each sentence as excitement lifted her sagging spirits.

"Oh." Ami drew a blank. Why would a few good meals make a man love her? How was that possible? It didn't involve traits that were loveable. He may tell Rei that they should eat over at Makoto's more often, but she failed to see how good food would make Duo fall in love with Makoto.

Noticing Ami's bewilderment, she explained, "When he comes over to be a food-tester, it'll give us tons of time to talk about ourselves. I just know when he sees how I have all those things you mentioned that Rei doesn't, he'll realize that I'm what he is looking for!" She raised her fist in triumph.

Ami sighed. What mess had she agreed to conspire in? This barely thought out plan was just giving Makoto false hope for some phony results and inevitably going to lead to heart-break. She had to put a stop to this somehow. But what could she say without angering her friend who was bordering on the line between jealousy and loneliness?

"Ami…" Makoto's voice broke into her frantic thoughts, filled with glee. "What if you invite Quatre over to our place for your next date and invite Duo to tag along. I'll cook my best dishes and something taste-delighting for dessert. Then if you and Quatre decide to take things further, you're already here…" her voice trailed off and a self-satisfied smirk took over her features.

Ami gasped and practically hissed her friend's name in shock. As if, she would think of doing something so, so… oh, words couldn't even describe it, and on the first official date! Furthermore, Quatre and she had wanted to go somewhere more private than a home with two friends.

"What is so wrong with the plan?" Makoto's tone implied that she was offended by her friend's reaction. And why was she calling it the plan? Her date with Quatre was in no way part of their plan… in fact her romantic life, or the lack of one, had nothing to do with Makoto and Duo.

"Why don't you just baby-sit Hunter one of these days and extend an invitation to Duo to go playing in the park with you two? You could even pack a picnic. Say it's to give Rei a day off or something."

Ami was ashamed that she was supplying Makoto with ideas to further scheme against whatever blossoming romance Rei and he might have, yet she felt that her chance at romance was being threatened and decided to defend it as best she could.

Green eyes alight with excitement, she practically squealed. "Ami, you're a genius. Not only would that provide him with an opportunity to appreciate my cooking skills, it would give me a chance to prove how great I would be as a mother with Hunter as my 'subject'. I love it! I'll call Rei first thing tomorrow morning and ask if I can take Hunter out to play at the park and get ice cream."

"Great." Ami ground the word out between clenched teeth, hating her assistance with this mess. "Can we sleep now? I'm exhausted and have to get up early to head for the hospital. We're down three nurses due to the flu." She rose without waiting for a reply from Makoto and headed for her bedroom, waving over her shoulder.

Without a backward glance, she shut the door behind her and let herself flop onto her bed, sleep overtaking her.

At the Hino/Aino House

Trowa studied the dark-haired, violet-eyed, blushing woman sitting next to Duo. She had petite features and her looks very stunning. She was the perfect picture of a Japanese beauty… no doubt; even gorgeous American Minako had competition where she was concerned. This raven-haired beauty turned heads.

He couldn't believe the temper she had either. Weren't the Japanese women supposed to be passive and quiet creatures? Hold on, Trowa boy, you're in a room with lots of female hormones and thinking sexist thoughts. Well, maybe not sexist, but definitely prejudiced.

"Hello Rei. It's a pleasure to meet you." His voice was unsure, to say the least. What reaction would this little fiery woman give him after her amusing reaction to Minako and his' rendezvous?

"Hi." Her voice was barely more than a squeak. He tightened his grip around Minako's waist and felt her pull gently away.

"Well, I'm happy the two of you appear to have gotten along." Duo acted as if he was hesitant to say it by the way he kept throwing paranoid glances at Rei. She frowned at him and then cleared her throat.

"Minako, I'm sorry I over-reacted. I, well, freaked out a little bit because of Derek, I think." She wouldn't even look at her friend as she spoke; her eyes were distant and focused on the crackling fireplace. They looked almost teary.

"It's alright." Minako's voice was soft. She gently removed Trowa's hand and walked to her sulking friend. Something wasn't right here. Who was Derek anyways? He was probably some old flame that had dumped her and now this Japanese beauty was a spinster as a result.

The girls seemed engaged in a whispered conversation and Heero and Trowa were both looking at Duo, demanding answers with their body language and facial expressions. Duo shrugged his shoulders.

Duo rose to his feet from the sofa and placed an arm on Rei's shoulder. Her face immediately whipped around to look at him. She had tears in her eyes. He gave her a sympathetic smile and a small hug. "I'm going to take the guys home. You need some alone time, or at the very least time with your best friend."

"Thanks for the evening. It was lovely." Her voice cracked on lovely and she turned to face Minako again.

Duo motioned to the two inquisitive faces to head for the door… they were leaving. It would be wrong for even him to intrude on Rei dealing with her demons, even more for two guys she didn't know to do the same. Minako was just the person for the task. Rei would feel more at ease talking to a more familiar face. Still, he felt his heart clench as he walked out on her. Why did he feel like she needed him more than she needed Minako now?

Once the boys were settled in the car, he began the ten minute drive home. As soon as they turned onto the main street, the flood of questions began.

"Duo. Who is Derek?" Heero's voice was demanding.

"Duo, why did she freak out so badly over Minako and me?" Trowa's was only a notch down in the demanding department.

"Derek was her fiancé. That's all you really need to know. It's not my place to delve in this with you two. Trowa, ask Minako… if she feels it's your business, she'll tell you… and Heero, ask Rei. When she's ready to talk, she will." Duo wasn't going into Derek with the two of them.

"Where did they meet? How long were they together? Are they still together? What does he mean to her?" Heero popped out questions rapidly.

Duo shook his head. "No."

"Duo, you're trying to hook Heero up with her… the least you can do is tell him about the competition or the dirty laundry she has in tow. What if this Derek is some psycho freak that attacks them in a rage of jealousy some night? He needs something!" Trowa argued in favor of Heero. Typical.

"They met in Japan. They were together for quite some time. No, they're not still together. He's dead." Duo's voice was shaking and filled with anger.

Staring at the two interrogators in the rear-view mirror he saw their stunned faces. They looked at each other as if silently agreeing to quit for the evening. Good. He wouldn't have supplied more information anyways.

He almost was jealous that they were intruding on information that had brought Rei to him. He felt that if they knew her deepest secret, they'd be just as close as he was to her and he most definitely didn't like that feeling. He wondered how she was doing right now.

Minako's Bedroom

"Rei-chan, we need to talk about this." Her voice was soft. She couldn't imagine why the fact that she had been messing around with Trowa should bother Rei. It had nothing to do with Derek. Trowa most definitely didn't resemble Derek.

Rei's eyes were on the ruffled sheets. She was sitting on the window seat, hands wrapped around her knees, hugging them to her body and curling herself into a ball. She made no move to talk.

"Rei." Minako spoke her name as if it were a whole phrase meaning something completely different.

"I think I was jealous. I think I was angry that I could be a lonely, heart-broken old hag and all of my beautiful friends are finding love, when mine is lost forever. I want so badly to feel for someone again, but I don't want to betray Derek's memory." Her voice was soft and solemn.

Despite how badly she was hurt by her loss, she was content with what life had given her. "Rei, I think that you'll find someone to love sooner than you think. There's already someone in your life who would die for you and sweep you off your feet if you gave him any kind of signal that you were willing to give love another chance."

"Who?" her voice was empty and she finally lifted her eyes to meet her friend's face.

"I don't think it's my place to tell you. But, if you promise to keep an open mind and at least try for it, I will." Minako's eyes twinkled with the excitement of a juicy secret.

Rei's eyes sparked for just a slight second before she thought again of Derek. How was it right for her to love someone as fiercely as she had him again? She could recall all the times they had kissed and proclaimed their love for each other with the slightest nudge towards her memory. But, how would she be honoring Derek and all he stood for, by being miserable for the rest of her life?

As if Minako knew what she was thinking she said, "Derek would want Hunter to have a father. He would want you to be as happy as the love of your life could ever make you. Never to forget what the two of you had, but to honor it by giving that same affection to someone else."

How had she known? Minako had summed up his wishes for her life, should disaster befall him. "Tell me." After saying the words, she felt a lead weight drop to her heart. She was feeling drug down. Sunk.

"Duo." Rei could scarcely breathe due to her emotional troubles, but upon hearing Duo's name on her best friend's lips, she gasped in a short burst of air. Duo, of all people, had fallen in love with her? He was the man who would have nothing else but her? A slow, unsure smile drew across her face.

She was immensely pleased that someone as wonderful as he had proclaimed some sort of attraction to her to Minako, of course, thinking that Minako wouldn't reveal it. She was also scared. Terrified of the things that could happen. He loves Hunter. But, Duo? Could she chance ruining her friendship to give the two of them a go?

"You promised Rei." Minako's words brought her thoughts to a screeching halt. She recalled Minako's previous words, "I don't think it's my place to tell you. But, if you promise to keep an open mind and at least try for it, I will." Damn, she was doomed to the possibilities of a broken heart and failed romance.