The author does not claim to own Gundam Wing nor any of its characters. Gundam Wing is owned by Sunrise, Sotsu Agency and TV Asahi.
Glancing over at his friend Trowa, Quatre noted that his normally calm and collected features were despondent, and his hands which normally rested loosely in his lap were clenched together nervously.
His right foot tapped on the marble floor of the entrance, and even though Quatre was very concerned about these odd actions his friend was displaying, he was also worried that the cold blond woman behind the desk would throw them out of the hotel if Trowa's foot did not stop tapping.
As she once again cast a loathing glance toward's Trowa, Quatre caught her eye and gave her what he hoped was a soothing smile.And while that smile almost always worked on irate board members, it had no effect whatsoever on her.
Getting up, Quatre was about to go over and talk to her in hopes that some light conversation would calm her rising temper, but before he had been able to take a single step towards her, the young auburn haired woman who was the cause of Trowa's distressed appeared.
Walking over to them, she smiled apologetically at the two young men and said,"I am so sorry for my earlier out burst, gentlemen, but if you are ready, I can show you to your rooms now."
Trowa's deep green eyes lit up with relief at the sight of the young woman whose name tag read, 'Catherine', and turning to Quatre he gave him a pleading glance.
Correctly guessing what that glance was asking of him, Quatre turned to Catherine and with a sweet smile said,"Oh, I am not a guest here, Miss Catherine. But I am sure that my friend would appreciate your help."
At this comment, Catherine removed her eyes from Trowa were they had been previously glued and glancing for a quick second over at Quatre, she said, "Oh all right, then..." at this she once more turned her gaze on to Trowa and said, "if it is your wish, Mr.Barton, I can show you to your rooms now."
It was barely noticeable and to anyone who did not know him well, it was not noticeable at all but as the title Mr.Barton flowed out of Catherine's lips, Trowa flinched.
But while he did notice, Quatre was both amazed and intrigued by the fact that Catherine noticed it as well, which he knew she had since her eyes flooded with regret after she saw the sorrow that for an instant had filled Trowa's eyes.
Trowa said not a word about how she had addressed him though, instead he merely said quietly that yes he was ready to be shown to his rooms.
Taking a moment to speak to his friend, Trowa held out his hand and after Quatre had grasped it firmly in his own, said in a grateful voice, "Thank you for your help, Quatre. I'll be in touch with you soon, all right?"
Smiling at his friend, Quatre replied, "You are very welcome, Trowa,and I am glad that I was able to be of help. I will look forward to your call."
Having said this, Quatre turned to leave pausing at the counter to say, "Thank you for your help, Miss Dorothy, it was a pleasure to meet you."
Dorothy leveled the kind young man with a cold glare and said frostily,"The pleasure was not mutual, Mr.Winner."
Smiling once more, Quatre merely nodded in reply to this cruel farewell and went out the hotel door.
Dorothy gave Trowa a warning glance and after a quick appraisal of Catherine's features, which calmed her worries a bit, she then returned to her work after regally nodding her head at them as if to give them her permission to leave.
Biting down a giggle at her friend's actions, Catherine grabbed one of Trowa's lighter bags and then lead him to one of the elevators that would take them to the second floor.
Standing beside him in the elevator, Catherine cast furtive glances up at him, her wide violet eyes taking in his more mature but still very handsome features.
On the third glance her eyes were caught and held by his dark green ones. Staring into them, Catherine noted that one thing about him had not changed in the years since they had last been together.
His eyes were just as guarded now as they were then, and just like back then she was able to see past those guards though how or why she was able to she was still unable to comprehend.
Those hidden emotions that use to cause her heart to skip a beat, now filled her heart with pain. Pulling her gaze from his, she stared down at her white sneakers trying to gather her scattered thoughts.
As the silence began to stretch between them, Catherine became unable to handle the strain of it and blurted out,"So you're a vet now, Trowa?"
Trowa nodded, a short up and down of his head, in reply but remained silent.
Letting out a soft sigh of frustration, Catherine tried again, "What made you decide to pursue that line of work, Trowa?"
Her question was met once again with silence. Rolling her eyes, she moved backwards in the elevator, she leaned against the back wall of the elevator and watched the floors go by, all the while trying to ignore the disappointment that flooded her body at his lack of response.
With a quiet ding the elevator doors opened, not a word or look passing between them, they both quickly stepped out of the elevator onto the second floor hallway.
Catherine said quietly,"Your rooms are this way, Mr.Barton."
Trowa flicked his eyes over her face at the cold tone in which she said this, and while the hurt in her eyes caused him grief, the bitterness that lingered in him over their parting caused him to hold his tongue, instead of giving into the urging of his heart that told him to do whatever he had to to remove that pain from her eyes.
Pausing in front of one of the doors in the hallway, Catherine pushed it open and said over her shoulder,"This is the room where you can put your animals, it is in the midst of being refurnished so you won't have to worry about the animals ruining the carpet or furniture."
Not waiting for a reply, she entered the room and crossing over to a door on the other side of it, she opened it and looking back at Trowa, who was still lingering in the doorway of the room, she said,"Is something wrong, Mr.Barton?"
Looking into her now guarded eyes, Trowa took a deep breath and stepping into the room, he closed the door behind him. Stepping closer to her, Trowa cleared his throat nervously and said,"Catherine, I..."
Stammering to a stop, he looked helplessly down at Catherine's face which had melted from its previous hard expression to a look of concerned curiosity.
Stepping closer to him, Catherine reached out a gentle hand and brushing it lightly over his, asked,"What is the matter, Trowa?"
Grasping her hand in his own, Trowa allowed his pride to slip and his hear to take over as he asked in a rush,"Catherine will you have dinner with me?"
Looking at him helplessly, Catherine opened her mouth and said...
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Author's Notes: Hi, sorry about the long wait for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.
Thank you to:cherryheart, Isis 01, Hououza, roguehobbit, Chiban-chan,SetsunaKou for reviewing. They were very encouraging.
God bless you, Jesus loves you,
EzrathenNehemiah And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us. Romans 5:5