Chapter Seven

A Midnight Fling

Quatre's call to Rashid did little good. Rashid said he could get some men on it but with how deep they were buried, it would take at least a week. Duo found it hard to believe that a four story house could be buried completely in snow until Quatre showed him the huge piles of snow surrounding the attic windows. His mood had dropped significantly after that until Heero reminded him that he was currently trapped in a beautiful house with the man he loved, who also happened to be single. Duo brightened visibly at that and could always be found helping Quatre with one thing or offering to carry something with another. It wasn't until New Years Eve that an idea struck him.

"I've got it!" Duo exclaimed on morning while Relena and Heero were making eyes at one another.

Relena turned to him. "You've got what, Duo?"

"A plan!" He smiled.

"Are you going to tell us?" Heero asked.

Duo nodded excitedly. "Okay, it's New Years Eve right?"

They nodded.

"Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't couples usually kiss to bring in the new year?"

Relena nodded but Heero raised a brow. "I don't see what this has to do with-"

"Let me finish!" Duo interrupted. "Okay, so when it comes time for the kiss I'll just slip in and kiss him! When he asks what I was doing, I can just say I got caught up in all the excitement!"

Relena smothered a laugh and Heero rolled his eyes. "Why don't you just tell him face to face? Why do you have to trick him?" Heero asked.

"It's not a trick! Trust me, this will work!" He giggled and ran out of the room.

Bounding through the halls Duo thought he over heard voices. He slowed and walked silently over to the wall and then listened.

"I suppose it's better this way, huh?" It was Trowa. He seemed upset.

"Yes, it is."

Duo covered his mouth to keep from gasping. He was talking to Wufei!

"I'm…I'm sorry I even said anything." Trowa was saying.

Duo heard Wufei grunt and then heard footsteps. "Don't be sorry for your honesty." He said and suddenly Duo was face to face with the straight-faced Chinese man.

Wufei seemed shocked but recovered quickly. "Do you mind, Maxwell?"

Duo smirked. "Oh not at all, Wuffers!" He smirked and bounded away as though nothing had happened.

Could Wufei be the one that Trowa loves? Duo thought as he walked away.

He entered the living room on the first floor and found Quatre sitting on the floor with a stack of papers surrounding him. Duo bounced over and sat in front of him.

"Whacha doin?"

Quatre started and then smiled. "Oh, Hello Duo. I'm just catching up on some work."

Duo frowned. "But we're on vacation, Q-man! Take advantage of the avalanche and relax!"

Quatre smiled sadly. "I wish I could. But I'm so behind already…"

"Hey I have a great idea! Let's have a big party tonight! You know, stay up till midnight and everything! It's the New Year, we have to celebrate!"

Quatre smiled. "Well…"

"Come on, please please please?" Duo begged linking his fingers together and pouting.

Quatre laughed. "Alright. I think I can even find some wine in the cellar.

"Yah! Alcohol!" Duo cheered and began to dance around the room causing Quatre to laugh.

Night fell and the whole gang gathered on the forth floor in the den, because it was the only room with a TV. They had tuned in to the news to watch the ball drop in New York City while they drank and ate. Duo was already on his third glass of wine while everyone else was on their first.

"Woohoo! Party!" Duo cried.

"Calm down, Duo. You'll party yourself out and it's only 9 o'clock." Zechs laughed.

"It's no good. Once he starts drinking he won't listen to reason." Heero said from the corner where he and Relena were talking.

Quatre was laughing and his cheeks were a little flushed. Noin had commented on it and it only caused him to laugh harder.

"He really can't hold his liquor." Trowa explained causing Quatre to laugh harder.

The others smirked and chuckled slightly. The conversation continued and the alcohol poured freely. Everyone's spirits were lifted heavily when Rashid called saying he could have them out by morning. The conversation was merry all around and Duo had even become slightly more civilized until…

"Hey look! The ball's dropping!" Duo pointed to the screen.

The others turned.

"Is it really that late?" Zechs asked looking at his watch.

"Yes yes look!" Duo pointed and sure enough, on the screen the large disco-like ball was falling.

"10…9…8…"

Duo looked around.

I gotta find Quatre! He ran through the den searching but Quatre didn't seem to be around.

"…7…6…5…"

Duo, panicked that he would miss his chance, ran out of the room, thinking that Quatre had left to the bathroom. He turned and ran towards the bathroom but just as he was reaching it he heard giggling from behind him. He turned and saw Quatre and Wufei kissing against Wufei's bedroom door. Duo's felt his heart fall into his knees. Quatre's arms were wrapped tightly around Wufei's neck and Wufei was struggling with the bedroom door. Duo was frozen in place as he watched the door finally come free and Wufei scoop Quatre up in his arms and carry him into the room. The door slammed shut behind them and Duo stood alone in an empty hallway.

"…4…3…2…"

Duo fell to his knees in the passageway and felt tears threatening to pour from his eyes. Through the open door to the den he heard the announcer shout 1 and all of his friends cheering.

I missed it…I missed my chance…Duo thought as tears stung his eyes while falling down his cheeks. I missed it…

Heero came out of the den with Relena attached to his arm. Both were smiling and holding drinks. Heero spotted Duo sitting on the floor and motioned for Relena to head to her room without him. She nodded, shot a worried glance to Duo, and then left for the stairs. Heero walked up to Duo and stood over him. He turned his head in the direction of Duo's gaze and frowned at Wufei's door. As though a light was turned on in Heero's brain he sighed and turned to Duo.

"Quatre?" He asked.

Duo didn't move. "I've missed my chance…" Duo muttered. He turned to look up at Heero. "Why didn't I take advantage of it when I had the chance?"

Heero didn't respond. Duo turned his gaze back to Wufei's door. "I've lost him for good…haven't I?"

Heero shrugged. "Maybe not."

Duo looked down and chuckled darkly. "Maybe not…" he stood up and turned to Heero. "I've lost him…"

Heero met his friend's eyes. "Do you want me to stay the night with you?"

Duo looked down and didn't respond for a moment. "If you want to be with Relena…"

"I want to make sure you're okay." Heero said softly.

Duo looked up at him.

"I've never liked…seeing you hurt." Heero said more hesitantly than he would have liked.

Duo smiled. "I know…" he placed his hand on Heero's shoulder, "I'll be alright. It was silly of me to get my hopes up in the first place."

Heero raised a brow.

"Really, I'm fine." Duo reassured. "Relena's probably waiting for you."

Heero nodded and after squeezing Duo's hand on his shoulder, he turned and walked to the circle stair to follow Relena. Duo turned to Wufei's door and sighed.

"Take care of him, Wufei…please." He muttered and turned to walk back to his room.