Disclaimer: I don't own any Gundam Wing characters. I only own Clare, and this plot.

Chapter Three: Give Me Alcohol

It had been a couple of days since Relena's speech dinner. She hadn't really heard from any of her friends, other than Quatre who called and thanked Relena for inviting him and Clare. Its not like she could have necessarily talked to her friends either if they called – she was over her head in work. One afternoon she was working hard on documents in her office when a light knock came to the door.

"Come in." She said absentmindedly, scribbling something on the paper in her hands.

"Hello Miss Relena." Dorothy said, her hands cradled in front of her torso. Relena set her pen down and smiled.

"Hello Dorothy. I hope you have been well?" She asked, as Dorothy gave a short nod. Relena sensed an expression on her face she hadn't quite seen yet. It almost looked like pity. "Is everything alright, Dorothy?"

"Well, Lady Une sent me down to speak with you…" Dorothy began. She was Lady Une's secretary, and usually handled the dirty work. She especially begged Lady Une to not deliver this message, but it was her job, after all. "You see, there has been some.. threats."

"Threats?" Relena asked, not seeming baffled by it at all, "On me?" Dorothy nodded. "Well, I guess I am lucky to have such great friends in the Preventors and at the office with me here." She said with a grin. Always so optimistic.

"Miss Relena, I'm afraid its more severe than something you wave away. We are worried for you, so we hired you a bodyguard." Dorothy mumbled.

A bodyguard? Relena didn't like the tone Dorothy was speaking in. "Bodyguard? Who might it be, Dorothy?" Dorothy didn't have time to answer when Relena's door opened, and none other than Heero Yuy stood in the doorframe. He took a quick glance of the office, and stood in front of Relena's desk.

"You asked me to be your personal bodyguard?" He asked in a low, deep voice. It was surprising to hear him speak so much at once, however, he must have to do it all the time for the job. He was wearing a Preventors uniform, which showed of the ripple-effect of his muscles. Relena had to try her hardest not to focus on them.

"I asked you..?" She said quizzically, but saw the urge on Dorothy's face and said, "Yes, I asked you. Thank you Heero for agreeing to the job." He gave a sharp nod.

"You will be staying in a guest bedroom at Miss Relena's manor, and have access to her schedule at all times. Wherever she goes, you go." Dorothy said, taking note of how aware the muscles were as well. He nodded, and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Relena blinked, wondering if that just happened. "Well, then." She mumbled, surprised by how fast it all had happened.

"Miss Relena, I'm sorry we didn't get your permission first, or that we told him you asked him to be. We are just concerned for your well-being, and know that he wouldn't let us or you down." Dorothy said, sighing.

"No, Dorothy, thank you for being there for me. It just will take a lot of getting used to, having him in the house. I suppose it will be just as quiet, Lord knows that boy won't talk." She said with a gracious chuckle. Dorothy beamed, proud of her work.

"Miss Relena, maybe to lessen the tenseness, we should have a gathering at your house. All of the ex pilots can come over, and the girls. That way, it won't be as odd for him to be in the house." Dorothy suggested, a twinkling in her eyes. She was definitely one for a party. Of course she always said 'gathering'.

Relena tilted her head, sucking this suggestion in. It would definitely lessen the tension, because with all of her friends there, it would only seem natural for him to be there as well. The only problem would be when they left, he wouldn't be. It would just be something she would have to deal with. "Yes, I think that sounds wonderful. It will be good to see everyone again, I know it's only been a couple of days, but I rather enjoyed the company." She said, grinning.

Dorothy looked overjoyed, and said, "Well, I will start making the phone calls. We are lucky today is a Friday, Miss Relena; it will be easier to get a hold of everyone. What time should I tell them the gathering starts?"

"I get off at five. I suppose since Heero will most likely be riding in the limo with me, just have everyone be at the manor at five thirty." She said. Dorothy nodded, and began to leave, but Relena called out, "Dorothy," She stopped in her place and faced the minister, "Since Sally is the only one of us of age… tell her to buy alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol." Dorothy grinned and continued out of the office.

There was no way she would be able to deal with having Heero living with her if she was sober. No, not on the first night. Hell, who was she kidding? She was going to be hammered the whole first week if she wasn't bonkers. She continued on her paper work, already starting to dread the whole party idea.

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Five o' clock sharp. Relena sighed, rubbing her temples. Alcohol would defiantly help the headache already taunting her. She starting stacking piles of paper, her 'homework' for the weekend. There was a knock on her door, and she raised an eyebrow. Who in the devil could that be? Most employees had scattered the building by four, so for someone to still be around at five like her was a rarity.

"Come in." She said in more of an inductive tone. Heero opened the door, and again, glanced around her office. He shut the door behind him. He was no longer in his Preventors uniform, now he was in a blue suit, much like the one he had worn during one of their first encounters all those years ago at the dance. She had to smile at the memory of him threatening to kill her and her little reaction to it. Now she knew that the face had made then was a look of surprise, but back then it was just a deadpanned look.

"It's five." He said flatly, breaking the silence, and glancing to the floor, breaking their locked stares on each other.

"I can see that." She said, continuing to shove papers in her bag.

"I was told you get off at five." He added.

"I'm just packing up now. Impatient, much?" She said with a smirk. She saw him shift his weight around, something he did when he was uncomfortable or when he was proven wrong. When he made no response to this, she began talking again while multitasking on packing up, "We're having a get together at the manor. All the guys and the girls will be there at five thirty. It will be fun." She hoped to lighten the mood between them.

"Hn." He was impossible to work with. He glanced at her when she sighed and turned her back on him, continuing to clean up. He would've helped, but he knew Relena was very independent, and didn't want to step into her boundary zone by accident. He didn't know what to think of the party she just had mentioned. It would be good to see his friends again; her dinner was the first time he had seen them in a while. However, it made him a bit uncomfortable. It was going to be hard to get used to living with Relena anyway, and it didn't help to make a big production of it with a party. He respected her wishes, as usual, though.

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About ten minutes later, and even some impatient foot tapping from Heero, the two were in her limo heading towards her house. She was flustered, annoyed, and tired – this party would do her good. Relena stared out the window for a while, and then glanced over at Heero next to her. He too, was zoning out the window, thinking of God knows what, especially what types of things that boy thinks about. She saw a lump in his jacket pocket, and wondering what it was, leaned forward cautiously so he wouldn't notice her spying.

"It's a gun." He mumbled, not taking his eyes away from the window. Darn. He always knew when someone was staring at him.

"Do you really think you'll need a gun on this job? It's a silly threat, I really think everyone is making a big deal out of this." Relena said, a jovial tone in her voice. He turned to face her, his Prussian eyes piercing her. She couldn't help but look deep in them, wondering what he was thinking, how he felt.

"My job is serious. I stop and kill anyone who tries to harm you." He said this in a monotonous tone, however Relena could hear the passion he felt towards his job in his voice. He glanced back out the window. "If it was up to me, I'd kill anyone who even looked at you the wrong way." This was a different tone… it was lighter, caring. Relena was left with her mouth slightly open, glancing at the dark locks on the back of his head. She wanted to just once more get lost in those eyes, but he refused to look back at her. She turned and looked out her window, sighing and crossing her arms. It was charming of him to want to protect her, but why couldn't he hold a conversation with her? Heero glanced back over at her, right as she had turned. She was close enough to touch, and he had to use all his might to resist reaching over and rubbing the creamy hand hanging by her waist.

This was going to be a challenge, living with her and not going over the boundary line of friendship he insisted she wanted.

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Right as the house maiden opened the door for Relena and Heero, the others began to arrive. They all settled in the 'living room'. That's what Relena referred to it as, however it looked more like a ballroom because of its size. It was rather charming and cozy, so it wasn't uncomfortable to gather in such a large room. There was dancing music playing lightly on the surround sound stereo she had installed months before. It was a mix – full of proper dancing music, like the Waltz, for example, and more new-wave dancing music.. you know, the grinding up against each other kind. Who knew what the alcohol would lead to. Have to be prepared, aye?

Although there were only ten people, it was quite loud – the music had been turned up to Duo's liking, and everyone was talking either as a group or as individual groups. Alcohol was at what seemed like an endless supply, in a cooler in the center of the room. Sort of like a grab-bag. The lot of them had tasted alcohol before – them only being twenty never stopped them. Luckily, Sally was old enough to purchase the desired drink. Soon some of the others would be turning twenty-one as well, but not soon enough. Clare was only eighteen, which meant Quatre would pester her for drinking, even though she had long ago tasted her first wines and champagnes. Sally and Wufei sat on a couch, seeming to be discussing their relationship issues. It appeared Wufei was the counseling drunk – meaning it was easier to talk about their issues when he was wasted rather than sober. Sally seemed to still be mature and have her head on strong, even at the most hammered of occasions, which made her appear as Wonder Woman. Unfortunately for them and everyone else though, no one was quite at that 'drunk' state quite yet – many had numerous drinks, but no one was dancing naked with a lamp shade for a hat yet.

Relena was talking with Catherine and Trowa; Duo was pressed up against a speaker and attempting to sing along with the songs on shuffle; Quatre was going to get more drinks; Dorothy disappeared, most likely to the bathroom; Heero was sitting on a foot stool. Clare walked over and sat next to him, pulling up her knees to her chin and curling her arms around them. "Why aren't you drinking?" She questioned, not looking at him, but rather her brother, who was reaching for some Vodka. Naughty Quatre. She thought with a smirk.

"I'm on the job." He muttered, sighing.

"You know, you can drink. All of us are here, and its your first night as bodyguard. Nothing will happen to her." She said, turning to him and giving him a reassuring smile.

"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something did." He said, his glance falling onto Relena laughing at a story Catherine was entertaining her with.

Clare smiled. "That's sweet. But she would want you to enjoy yourself." She glanced at Duo, and called him over. He raised an eyebrow, and walked a bit crooked over. He was getting to the state of wasted. Or lost loads of brain cells from smashing his face up against the speaker.

"Yeah?" Duo asked, looking between Heero and Clare, and then looking rather depressed.

"Tell Heero to drink." She said, grinning.

"Uh.. Heero, drink." Duo said, raising and eyebrow.

"No." He mumbled.

"One shot. Me and Duo will do one with you, wont we Duo?" Clare asked, glancing at him.

"Uh.. yeah. Yeah. A shot." Duo nodded, and took a seat on another footstool. They called the on-guard bartender over, wishing they had one of their own, and he stirred up three shots of something strong, and the three of them downed them on the count of three. Clare had to squeeze her eyes shut, taking a moment and letting the alcohol register. Duo and Heero seemed unaffected by it, lucky ducks. "You okay?" Duo asked, putting his hand on her shoulder. She reached her hand up, grabbing his that was on her shoulder, and rubbed it up on her cheek. She felt the different rough spots from years of accidents as a pilot rub across her lips. Duo blinked, and took control of the hand she was controlling of his, starting to rub her soft, rosy cheek himself. She dropped the hand that was controlling his, and just smiled. Her eyes were still closed, and Duo reached up with his other hand and tucked some strands of her hair behind her ear on the other side of her face, and that's when she opened her eyes. She looked happy, then confused, then horrified, and backed up, out of his grasp.

".Er.. sorry." She mumbled quickly before hopping up and rushing over across the room to sit with Relena, Catherine, and Trowa. Duo watched her rush away, and when she sat, he saw how flushed she was. Oh, dur. It was the alcohol. Their eyes locked for a minute before he ripped his away. Heero just raised his eyebrow at the now silent Duo, who was going over the past events again.

"What was that?" He dared to ask, a smile tickling his lips. Not really a smile, more like a miniscule curve on the right edge of his lips, but it was a smile enough.

Duo's cheeks went red, and he nervously retorted, "And who is in love with Relena?"

"I'm not in love with her!" He muttered, before crossing his arms and leaning back against the chair behind him.

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People started to dance, finally – Wufei and Sally (who wouldn't keep each other's hands off of one another), and Catherine and Trowa had joined the floor. This left Relena and Clare sitting on a couch, Clare telling Relena about the crazed experience she just had with Duo, silently of course, so Duo wouldn't realize she was talking about him. Him and Heero just stared at the girls from their position on the stools, and Quatre was still digging around for some Vodka.

"Clare… I'm going to ask him to dance." Relena said, her face flushing just at talking about doing it.

"But.. then I will have to dance with Duo." Clare mumbled, her lower lip threatening to pout.

"Just tell him the alcohol affected you. I mean, you've sobered up a bit, and its not like you like Duo." Relena said matter-of-factly. She had a buzz kicking in, and didn't want to be full-blown drunk in front of Heero.

"Yeah, cause I like this boy in my class at school, anyway." Clare mumbled, glancing at the boys.

"Oh really?" Relena asked, grinning. Clare blushed and shoved Relena. Relena giggled and took a breath in. "Now or never." The two of them stood up, and crossed the room.

"Heero.. incoming." Duo mumbled frantically, and Heero glanced up to see Relena and Clare coming their way. Relena looked like Heaven, like an angel, like peace, like flowers. She was beautiful, and anything that resembled beauty reminded him of her. His heart beat started picking up quickly, and he had to concentrate so his hands wouldn't shake from adrenaline.

"Hey." Relena and Clare said at the same time.

"Duo, would you like to dance? As friends, that is. I'm sorry I'm a sucker for alcohol." Clare said all in one breath. When he raised his eyebrow about the dancing question, she glanced at Heero and Relena, whose eyes were locked with each other, and Duo understood. She was trying to set the two of them up as well, and needed to get Duo out of the way by asking him to dance. He smiled, and the two of them headed out with the others.

"Good party." Heero said, smoothing out the wrinkles on his pants. Relena took a seat next to him, the one Duo was just occupying.

"Really? It seems a bit boring, but I guess alcohol is spicing it up." Relena said, smiling.

"I've only had a shot.. I don't want to drink and then something happen to you in my moment of non-awareness." Heero said, not meeting her gaze.

"Heero, you don't have to worry about me." She said, linking her arm through his, and causing him to look up at her with surprise, "But what you can do is dance with me." It wasn't a question, or a demand. To Heero, it was an invitation. He gave a short nod, and the two of them head out on the floor as well.

Quatre finally got his hands on a bottle of Vodka when Dorothy snatched it, opened it, and took a long drink of it. "Dorothy.." Quatre said, annoyed. She grinned and handed it back to him, and was surprised he took a swig as well.

"Quatre, dance with me." Dorothy said, shaking her chest a bit and grabbing onto both of his hands, yanking him forward, and causing him to drop the bottle. He cursed, and glanced back up to her, wishing desperately for control over his hands back. But being a gentleman, even in times of being hammered, he gave a short nod, irritated. They made their way to the center of the floor, and a slow song, Have a Little Faith In Me came on the stereo. Quatre curled his hands around her hips a little tightly, and yanked her closer so she had to wrap her arms around his neck. "Quatre.." She mumbled, surprised by his strength and forwardness.

"Dorothy, why did you ask me to dance with you? You seemed desperate the last time we danced." Quatre mumbled to her, his head resting up against hers as they slowly stepped, eventually making a 360 degrees circle.

"I asked because everyone else was dancing…" Dorothy said, pulling back a bit to look at him, "Why.. did you think I? Oh, Quatre, you thought I liked you?" She said, laughing, "No silly, I could never fall for a guy like you. I can't stand you, to be honest." She wasn't speaking rudely, just truthfully.

Quatre raised an eyebrow. Where'd she get that crazy theory from? "Why would you think I would like you? You annoy me to wit's end, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I had to date you. Your too in love with yourself anyway to notice anyone else, so why bother? I mean, you might be easy, but that's not something I'm looking for in a girl." His words stung like knives. He didn't even seem ashamed of what he just said, and the awareness in his eyes showed how sober he still was. He was being honest, and what she hated to admit most was he nailed her personality right on.

"Quatre.." She said, blinking, her eyes welling up with tears, "I thought you were the sensitive, naïve boy! What happened to you?" She asked, trying to keep the tears from spilling.

"Dorothy, I've matured. I'm edged, more rounded, more independent. Just because I have a sensitive, gentleman-ly side doesn't mean I have a rugged side as well." He said, his tone showing his annoyance with her.

"How dare you say I'm easy, Quatre. How would you know? You had no right to go as far as you did. I hate you!" She said icily, allowing the tears to stream down her face, and ran off, up the stairs. Quatre didn't seem bothered by this, though. He didn't even look guilty as he made his way back to the grab-bag of alcohol and fished out another Vodka, and popped it open and started drinking, flopping down onto the couch.

No one else seemed to notice the fight between the two of them; if Wufei and Sally kept it up, they'd be having sex right there. Trowa was holding Catherine gingerly at the waist, and she had her hands on his shoulders. There was enough room between the two of them to fit a few people. Talk about old-style. Heero, however, had Relena pulled close, and her arms were wrapped around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder, his head on hers. She certainly didn't mind. Heero eyeballed Duo and Clare, who were just basically standing there, holding each other in the way Trowa and Catherine were.

When Duo saw Heero's death glare, which possibly was him realizing Duo and Clare and set the two of them up, Duo pulled Clare closer, whispering, "Heero might be on to us, lets act on this one." She grinned and nodded into his shoulder. They were now standing much like Relena and Heero.

Duo couldn't help but smile – he hadn't felt someone up so close to him in a long time. He and Hilde danced often, you see, but they hadn't had sex, much to his dismay. He would lie and tell Heero 'stories', but Heero could see right through Duo. He knew there was no sex, too. Without thinking, Duo leaned down and kissed Clare on the neck. He felt her flinch, and felt her pulse speed up. He quickly brought his head back up, flushing. Clare didn't say anything, so he decided to use a cover up. "Good acting, huh?" He whispered, lying through his teeth. She smiled and glanced away, her cheeks red.

She knew he was lying – he must've forgotten she was sealed up against him., because when someone acts like they like someone, their heart doesn't beat quite as hard as Duo's was.

A/N: Whoa. Super long chapter. At least from my standards. I liked this one a lot, I kept going "Aww" through the whole thing. I know Quatre isn't quite in character, but I always saw him as someone who gets sick of himself, gets sick of being so sensitive. There's not really any official ships I suppose happening yet though, just because Duo and Clare were dancing doesn't guarantee anything, nor does Heero and Relena. Please leave a review or whatever you please.. unless it's a flame. Flames make me cry at night. Hehe. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!

-Kam