I know, I know. It's been a while. I'm sooo sorry for not updating sooner. I got stuck at my In-law's house and was without a computer. Anyway, here it is, at long last, Chapter Nine of In the Heart of Death! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Nine

Operation Confession

After loosing the love of his life for the third time in the past few months, Duo wanted nothing more than to crawl under a rock and wait for time to finish him off. However, remembering what happened the last time he closed himself off, he decided that maybe crawling under a rock wouldn't be the best way to handle his emotions. Instead, he decided to bombard the others with a barrage of happiness. He still spent most of his time at work, but he also made random visits to his friends while on his lunch break and on his way home.

His routine was simple: He'd wake up in the morning, annoy Heero and Relena by bringing them breakfast in bed – conveniently waiting till he heard the moans before bursting in – and then commencing in talking their ears off. Then he'd head to work where he'd share every joke he'd ever heard with Hilde while he busied himself with his job. Then, when lunch came around, he'd head off to Quatre's office and share a lunch with him. Then he'd head back to the office and conveniently remember that he had to drive past The Preventors headquarters to get home, where he usually ran into Wufei as he trained outside. Then, after finishing whatever work he had left, he always stopped by the circus to say hi to Trowa before he headed home. On the weekends, he always invited his friends over for coffee, tea or just to talk.

Heero was beginning to get rather annoyed with all of the company and finally decided to confront Duo about it. He sat in the living room and watched the clock, waiting for Duo to return from the circus. He sat in Duo's favorite chair because it faced the door and he would notice the second Duo walked inside. He could hear Duo's happy footsteps as he skipped up to the door. Heero listened as Duo slid his key into the lock and watched as the doorknob turned and the door swung open.

"Heero I'm-" Duo stopped and looked at Heero in his chair. "…home." He set his cotton candy on the counter and frowned.

"What happened?" He said, his war instincts taking over.

Heero stood and walked to Duo. "We have to talk."

Duo raised a brow, but before he could speak, Heero continued.

"I'm tired of this 'new attitude' of yours."

Duo's eyes widened. "What do you…"

"I'll tell you what I mean. I mean you're being overly happy. Everyone has noticed it and its bringing just as much attention to you as closing yourself up did."

Duo sighed and leaned against the counter. "I don't know what else to do, Heero. I can't stand being around Quatre and Zechs. They're so damn happy all the time." He punched the counter with his fist for emphasis. "But if I close myself up, they worry." He turned to Heero. "This is the next best thing. Just try and ignore it all."

Heero nodded. "I'll admit, it's better than closing yourself up…but I'm worried about you Duo."

Duo violet orbs met with soft blue ones and he sighed. Heero really was worried about him. Duo never wanted to make Heero worry; they may not be a couple anymore, but he still cared about the perfect soldier. "I know Heero. I'm sorry." He tried to smile but it came out a grimace. "I'm trying. Maybe someday…I'll get over it. Who knows? Until then…I'm working on it."

Heero nodded and looked down. Duo crossed his arms over his chest and surveyed him carefully. "There's more isn't there?" Duo asked. "There's more that you want to talk about?"

Heero sighed and nodded. "Yes." He looked up. "Duo…I…" He trailed off.

"What? I didn't hear that, Hee-chan." Duo smirked.

Heero blushed and said it again, a little louder. "I want to marry Relena."

Duo's eyes widened and he gasped. "Heero?" He leaned in and stared into Heero's eyes. "Really?"

Heero nodded. "I'm 21 years old, Duo, and I feel like I'm 40. I was raised in the world of adults and I feel like my life is passing before my eyes." He looked down at the counter. "But when I'm with Relena…time seems to slow down. Almost like…I'm getting the childhood that I never had before." He looked up and met soft violet eyes. "I want to marry her. I want to be with her forever and I want to start a family with her."

Duo smiled warmly and wrapped his arms around Heero. "That's great Hee-chan!" He pulled back and looked him in the eyes. "You deserve to be happy. You're the greatest guy in the world, and Relena is lucky to have you."

Heero blushed and nodded. "There's one problem with all of this Duo."

Duo sighed and his grip around Heero slackened. He nodded. "You need me to tell everyone that we're not a couple anymore."

Heero lowered his gaze. He didn't want to have to ask Duo to do that, since it was the only thing keeping him sane. But he had to. For Relena. Duo just nodded. "Don't worry Hee-chan." He smiled and hugged his friend again. "I'll handle everything."

And handle it he did. He started work immediately on, what he called, Operation Confession. He had to plan it carefully; otherwise everyone would be really upset and maybe even take it out on Heero and Relena. Duo couldn't have that happen; He wanted Heero and Relena to have a happy life. He spent hours in the living room, decorating with streamers, balloons, and other party favors. He went to the store and bought every kind of alcohol he could find for making drinks and even managed to find sparkling grape juice for Quatre. He prepared trays and trays of appetizers, making sure to find something for everyone, and finally collapsed in his comfortable chair on Friday evening to survey his work. The place looked great.

"Time for Phase Two of Operation Confession." Duo chuckled to himself and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed the numbers he knew by heart and placed the receiver to his ear. As expected, three rings and then…

"Winner Enterprizes. This is Diane. How can I help you?" Came the screeching voice of Quatre's secretary, Diane.

"This is Duo Maxwell. I need to speak with Quatre, please."

"Right away, sir." The line was filled with the cheesy elevator music that Duo hated and then a few minutes later…

"Quatre here. Is that you Duo?"

Duo chuckled. "Sure is, little buddy! You busy tonight?"

There was a shuffling of papers. Quatre was no doubt looking through his planner. "No, I'm free. Why?"

"Oh, I just want to have a little get-together with everyone. I have some news." Duo smirked.

Quatre smiled. "News? Okay. Do you need me to bring anything?"

"Naw, it's all covered. See you at 7? And tell Zechs, would ya?"

"Yeah, sounds great Duo! I'll tell him. Bye!"

Duo hung up his phone and dialed another number. This time a steady and almost cold voice answered.

"Chang."

"Hey Wuffers!" Duo shouted into the phone, causing Wufei to sneer.

"What is it, Maxwell?"

"Oh nothin'. It's just that everyone is comin' over to my place tonight to hear my announcement. You comin'?"

Wufei remained silent for a moment. "What time?" He said finally.

"7. See ya then, Wuffers! And bring that boy toy of yours!" Duo smirked and hung up before Wufei could retaliate.

"Well, that's everyone." Duo smirked. He chose not to invite the women for a simple reason: they weren't very close to him. Even Hidle. This matter was best left up to the six of them; the ones who really understood each other. He turned and glanced over at the clock.

"5:10. Just enough time for a shower before everyone shows up." Duo jumped out of his chair and strolled down the hall to the bathroom. He closed the door behind him and began the water. The steam of the straight hot water began to fill the room as Duo removed his clothing. He stepped inside and moaned as the hot water washed over his flesh. Tonight was going to work; it had to. He was beginning to wonder why he hadn't informed the others about him and Heero earlier.

You know why, idiot! His brain screamed. You didn't want to be left alone! You didn't want to admit that everyone had a lover and you didn't.

Duo sighed and ran his soapy fingers through his long hair, working it into a nice lather. He hated admitting it to himself, but that annoying small voice was right. He didn't want to be alone. He had gotten so used to being with Heero that he didn't want to go back to the lonely ways he experienced before the war. He tried to tell himself that he would still have friends that would be there for him, and that the other ex pilots would never truly abandon him, but nothing seemed to console his aching heart. Resigned to his fate, he rinsed his hair and climbed out of the shower. The sound of the door opening alerted him to Heero's presence and he looked up just as Heero gasped and dropped the books he was carrying. Duo cursed himself for not hearing Heero come home.

"S-sorry." Heero stuttered, backing out of the bathroom.

Duo blushed but smirked. "It's okay, Hee-chan." He wrapped a towel around himself and stood upright. "It's nothing you haven't seen before." He winked, remembering the time he and Heero had shared a shower together.

Heero blushed. He remembered too. That was the night he and Duo had realized that they couldn't sleep with each other because of their feelings for others – though neither one admitted it.

"I'll…I'll leave." He said and shut the door.

Duo felt a strange shiver run through his spine as Heero shut the door but it wasn't from the cold air. He shook his head and dried his body before pulling on his underwear and a pair of black cargo pants. He strolled out of the bathroom to find Heero sitting on the couch staring at the wall. Duo sat next to his friend and looked at him.

"Heero, I said it was okay."

Heero nodded. "I know." He turned to Duo. "I suppose it…it just reminded me of…"

"That day." Duo finished.

Heero nodded.

Duo sighed and leaned against the back of the couch. "I know. That…was a weird day…" He shook his head and sat up again. "But enough of that!" He exclaimed going into what Wufei called 'happy mode'. "Heero, I have a surprise for you!"

Heero blinked. "What is it?"

"Oh just a little get together. The others are going to be here within the next half hour or so."

Heero raised a brow. "This is sudden."

Duo smiled softly. "I know. I just thought about what you said. I want you to be with Relena. I want you to be happy."

Heero smiled, a rare treat in Duo's eyes. "Thank you Duo." He muttered.

Duo nodded. "It's the least I can do after what you've put up with." He reached over to the coffee table and pulled up a newspaper. "I've even found you a great house! It's perfect for a young couple just starting out. I know what you're going to say," Duo raised a hand as Heero opened his mouth to speak, "Relena has a house already and she's a senator, she doesn't need a new house. I know that! But you're a young couple! You need to break out on your own and start a new life together. I think this house would be perfect." He pointed to the paper. "It's close to the capital, so you'd be close to work, and it's in a good neighborhood so you're kids will be raised right." He looked back up to Heero. "Anyway, just think about it." He stood up and handed the paper to Heero.

Heero stared at it in silence. Duo took that as a positive thing and walked over to the bar separating the kitchen and living room. He began pouring drinks when he heard a knock at the door and Heero's voice as he answered it. He quickly finished pouring the drinks and then marched back to the living room to find Quatre, Zechs and Heero chatting about work.

"Oh, come on people! This is a party! Leave work where it belongs: at work." He smiled and handed drinks out.

Quatre opened his mouth to speak but Duo chuckled. "Don't worry, Quat. I got non-alcoholic just for you." He said and handed him to the grape juice."

Quatre smiled and took it. "Thanks, Duo."

Duo winked and sat the tray of drinks on the coffee table. Wufei and Trowa arrived a little later and soon everyone had drinks and was sitting happily around the living room sharing small talk. Duo smiled at the crowd and stood up, tapping a fork against his glass to get everyone's attention. The room quieted down and all eyes were on the braided ex pilot. He smiled and cleared his throat.

"I'm glad all of you could make it. We've been through a lot together over the years and I wanted you to be the first to know about my little announcement."

Quatre and Zechs leaned forward, interested while Wufei bore into Duo with his eyes and Trowa leaned back seemingly nonchalant. Heero, meanwhile, shifted uncomfortably; Gone were the days of his emotionless hide.

Duo cleared his throat again and took a deep breath.

Here goes…He thought.

"Heero and I have decided to call it quits."

Quatre gasped and the others gawked. Heero lowered his gaze to the floor and remained silent. Duo raised his hands to keep the others from speaking.

"There's more. This… well, this isn't a new thing. Heero and I haven't exactly been happy for a long time. The thing is…we were in love with different people."

Another gasp from Quatre as all eyes jumped between Heero and Duo.

"So…we broke up." Duo continued. "We've been apart for about six months now."

Quatre turned wide eyes on Duo. "And you never told us?" Hurt resounded in his voice and Duo felt his heart break.

"I asked him not to tell." Heero's voice echoed in the silence.

All eyes turned to him as Heero looked up at his friends. "I…I was in love with Relena but I was too…afraid to tell her. I asked Duo to keep our break up a secret so I could get close to her."

Duo blinked. He was lying! The perfect soldier was lying to protect…him.

Trowa crossed his arms over his chest and huffed while Wufei leaned back. "And why tell us now?"

Heero turned to him. "Because I'm tired of lying to myself. And I'm tired of putting Duo through this. And I…" He turned nervous eyes on Zechs. "and I want to marry her."

Quatre gasped, again, and Zech's eyes widened. The tall blond and the stoic brunette stared long and hard at one another before Zechs stood and crossed to room to stand before Heero. Heero flinched inwardly at the intimidating stare. Finally, Zechs offered his hand.

"I wish you well." He smiled.

Heero stared at the hand a moment before taking it. "Thank you."

Quatre turned to Duo, who just collapsed in his chair. "Is all that true? Did you really lie to help Heero with Relena?"

Duo looked into those soft blue eyes and felt his stomach back flip. "Well, I did try to help them anyway…" It wasn't a lie. He wanted them together, after all.

Quatre smiled at him. "That's sweet Duo. I always knew you were a great friend."