Interesting chappie. Simply put, READ! Okay, maybe that was a bit forceful...

Quatre had been woken up rather rudely by a sound of an alarm. He had grumpily got out of bed and made his way outside into the slightly chilly, early morning air, ready to shout at whoever had made the noise. He had just stepped outside his door when Heero yelled out Duo's name loudly. Quatre had winced at the rude noise, then sighed, knowing he'd never get back to sleep unless everyone shut up. So he began to make his way to the stairs, to yell at everyone for waking him up. A sleepy Quatre was a grumpy Quatre, and, right now, Quatre was exhausted.

He almost made it to the stairs, using his anger and annoyance as a fuel to keep him moving, when Duo, clad in boxers and a messy braid, came bounding up it. Duo's face lit up at seeing him, and he grinned. Quatre's heart lifted at the site. Every time Duo came near him with that famous wacky grin of his, or his happy attitude, or the unboundless energy he seemed to possess, Quatre felt like he could fly. Duo was surely contagious, and Quatre was surely affected. The anger he felt at being awake vanished, since he could never stay angry at a happy Duo for some reason. He could whine at Wufei, yell at Heero, and snap at Trowa when he was grumpy, but he couldn't help but be happy if Duo came around.

"What's happening, Duo?" Quatre asked. "Did you do something to annoy Heero again?"

"Nah," Duo waved a hand. "He's just all perfect soldier 'cause he got an urgent mission for us."

"Another mission?" Quatre said in anxiety. "So soon?"

"Yeah. Routine stuff, though. You know. Get in, get the stuff, get out, go ka-boom!"

A tidal wave of fear and worry pressed against Quatre's chest, all his own feelings towards Duo. He impulsively stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Duo in a hug. "Please stay safe, Duo. Promise me you'll be safe." The thought of anything happening to Duo...Quatre hated the fact that his lover and his deeply loved best friend were both in the Preventors. It meant worry and stress on his part every time they went out as he waited anxiously for them to return.

Duo stiffened at first, then relaxed and returned the embrace deeply, whispering. "I will, little one, I promise." And then Duo let go and they stepped apart, violet eyes meeting baby blue. Quatre suddenly felt a wave of emotion in him from Duo, and he began to sort it out. Gratitude, relief, joy, and...love?

As if Duo knew Quatre had learnt something forbidden, he turned sharply and headed for his room, the wave of emotion cut off just as sharply as his turn.

"Duo...!" Quatre called out just as the door was closing. The door paused for a moment, then closed completely, and Quatre heard the lock click into place.

Had Quatre felt that right? Did Duo really...love him? Maybe he was mistaken. He could have just been reading brotherly love...but it had felt stronger. It felt deep, and true, and passionate. But was it possible that Duo felt for him what Quatre was sure he felt himself for the braided pilot? If so, Quatre had to talk to Wufei about this. He knew Wufei felt deeply about Duo as well. If, and make note of the if, Duo loved them as they loved him, the two of them should consider talking to Duo about joining them. And since when did Duo call him little one? He always called him Quat or Q or Q-man...a casual nickname. He had never before called him little one.

Quatre began to hurry down the stairs, his mind made up, his anger forgotten, and his exhaustion put at low priority. He found Heero and Trowa speaking of the mission in the hall, and then went off to search for Wufei when they said they didn't know where he was. After a few room's searches, he came to Wufei's study. He knocked at the door. "Wufei, it's me, Quatre."

Wufei was obviously in there and obviously heard him, since the lock clicked out and the door opened, the smiling Wufei on the other side inviting him in. "What brings you out of bed? I figured I'd have to steal a mobile suit and attack the house in order to get you up."

"Heero yelled for Duo," Quatre explained, sitting on one of Wufei's plush chairs, or rather on Wufei who was sitting on the chair. Wufei's hands wrapped around Quatre's middle. "They have a mission for today." Wufei frowned in disagreement with the idea. "I was going to go yell at Heero to shut up when I met Duo." Quatre paused, wondering how to explain it all.

"And?" Wufei prompted.

"Wufei," Quatre changed the subject a tiny bit. "How do you feel towards Duo?"

Wufei seemed to stiffen in surprise, then relaxed and chuckled. "You're an empath, Quatre, and you already know. I can't have any secrets from you. You know I love Duo in the same way I love you."

"Right," Quatre agreed. "And do you...do you know I love him, too?"

Wufei shifted to face Quatre, his face drawn in surprise. "Actually, koi, I didn't know that. When did you realize this?"

"A while ago," Quatre replied uncertainly. "I've always felt especially connected to you four. You the strongest, since I know I love you, then Duo, since he was my closest friend, then Trowa, since I rely on him and trust him, and then Heero, since he sort of takes special care of us. You know, his safety obsession. It's annoying, but it shows he cares about us.

Lately...lately my connection with Duo has grown stronger. He's been there for me so much in the past year with WEI, and I always feel brighter when he's around. I just...I can get mad at Heero and Trowa and even you, Wufei, but I can't get mad at Duo, no matter what he does. I sort of rely on his presence, and I've been noticing him more...well, I figure I'm in love, from past experience," he paused to give Wufei a small kiss. "But this time, I don't think Duo loved me that way back, so I never did anything to give it away. With me and you, it went both ways."

"And, if I recall, I had to make the first move," Wufei said. "Or you would have bottled up your love for me, too."

"Is it my fault I'm shy?" Quatre said innocently. "Anyways, then I knew you loved me, since you, as you so arrogantly proclaimed, made the first move, and then the second and third and fourth. You kept telling me you loved me so I'd be able to say I loved you back. That's why we're together." Quatre suddenly shook his head as if to clear it. "Now you're making me lose my point."

"What is your point?"

"You know that you love Duo and I know that I love Duo as much as we love each other, right?" Quatre said, and Wufei nodded. "But we don't know if Duo loves us."

A somewhat angry and miffed look came into Wufei's eyes. "He doesn't."

"Actually...I think he might," Quatre swallowed, then explained. "He told me about the mission, and I just got really scared he would die or get hurt, so I hugged him and told him to promise me he would stay safe."

"You make me promise that every day," Wufei nodded in understanding.

"He promised he would, and...he called me little one."

"He did?" Wufei's eyebrows rose.

"Trowa calls me little one because I'm like a little brother to him, and you call me little one because you love me, but Duo always calls me by a nickname. And he sounded so serious, like he would never want to hurt me by dying or getting hurt. And then..."

"Keep talking," Wufei prodded him.

Quatre swallowed. "I felt him through my empathy. It was accidental, he was just giving off waves so strongly, and...I felt love, Wufei. It was pure, deep, passionate love. I know he loves me, deep down. And I think he loves you, too. He's just hiding it. Since we never show any signs that we love him, he's probably doing as I do, and keeping it hidden." Quatre stopped speaking, waiting for the verdict.

Wufei stared at him for a moment, unsure whether he had heard that right. "I keep my love for Duo hidden since I know he doesn't love me," he finally said. He continued quickly as Quatre opened his mouth to protest. "He may love you somewhat, but anyone can see that he has a deep crush on Heero."

"Heero?"

"He's practically infatuated with him," Wufei snarled. "He talks about him all the time."

Quatre looked disapprovingly at Wufei. "You're jumping to conclusions, Wufei. Have you ever seen Duo flirt with Heero, or give him one of those looks I know I just recieved upstairs? All I hear about Heero from Duo is a complaint or an order Heero gave him. Heero orders Duo around a lot, you know, and Duo listens most of the time. I hardly think he loves him." Quatre looked very thoughtful for a moment, then spoke again. "I think we should tell Duo. Or at least do a little flirting. If you want to know for sure, do something and see if he reacts."

"I will not act so low," Wufei said, affronted.

"C'mon, you had to flirt to get me," Quatre said. "And you were rather good at it, too. And then you went all romantic, and made me breakfast."

"I still can't believe you thought me making pancakes and bringing them to you in bed was romantic."

"Well, it was definitely sweet of you," Quatre replied. "So we should do something sweet for Duo. Something that will surprise him and let him know we have feelings towards him."

"He loves Heero," Wufei said firmly.

"I felt his love, Wufei," Quatre exclaimed adamantly. "He loves me, and I'll bet you anything he loves you, too. I've seen him glance at you when you aren't looking." Wufei was not swayed by this. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?" Quatre exclaimed, standing up. "Sometimes I wish you were an empath. Then maybe you'd understand."

"You don't understand, Quatre," Wufei replied. "He's always talking about Heero. Saying how Heero wouldn't let him watch the explosion, how Heero wouldn't let him have any fun, how Heero never lets him drive. It feels as though the rest of us don't exist to him. Like we're imaginary friends. He only pays attention to Heero."

Quatre looked at him in disbelief. "I think you're a bit too focused on your theory that Duo loves Heero," he said. "You should open your eyes and look around. Actually listen to him. Listen to his jokes and his comments and his fun. And then look at how he acts when he talks about Heero." Quatre went to the door. "I'm going back to bed." And he left, feeling furious at his stubborn, hardheaded love.

Next chapter won't be out for a li'l while, since I have to write it all. But I have the whole story planned out, and that is good! Please review, especially now. Reviews make me write faster!