Chapter Eleven

The Surprise Party

Heero proposed to Relena a week after Duo's "vacation". He moved in with her, leaving Duo alone in the large apartment. Duo locked himself away for the next three months. He was too embarrassed to show himself to his friends and too humiliated to move on. He spent his days buried under a pile of paperwork and cars and he spent his nights watching T.V. with a large tub of Häagen-Dazs in his lap. It wasn't until he stepped on his scale and found he had gained ten pounds that he snapped out of it.

He glared at himself in the bathroom mirror, surveying the beer – or rather ice cream – belly he had developed.

"For crying out loud!" He shouted at himself. "You used to be a fucking soldier! Look at what you've become!"

A sound behind him made him jump. He turned to find Heero leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest and a smirk on his face.

"I just came to return my key." He said.

Duo glared and turned back to the mirror. "Not one word." He hissed.

Heero shook his head and walked further into the bathroom. He stood next to Duo and leaned against the wall.

"You can't keep doing this to yourself Duo."

Duo nodded and sunk down to sit on the toilet. "I know." He looked up at his friend and sighed. "I don't know if I can do it alone."

Heero smiled; a genuine smile, one he reserved for only his closest friends. "You're not alone." He offered his hand. "I'll always be there for you."

Duo smiled warmly, took the offered hand and stood. His eyes locked with cobalt blue and they stared. They shared a look that said they were one; they had seen it all and mastered it…together. Without warning, Duo embraced Heero tightly. Heero instinctually wrapped his arms around his dearest friend and rubbed his back. Duo pulled back and smiled.

"Thank you, Heero."

Heero nodded and Duo knew he was going to be okay. He straightened up and grabbed his shirt from the side of the bathtub.

"I guess I should get to work. Hilde will be waiting for me." He smiled and pulled his shirt over his head.

"Do you need a ride?" Heero asked as he started to leave the bathroom.

Duo chuckled and shook his head. "Naw. I need to walk some of this off." He slapped his stomach and grinned.

Heero knew he was serious but he couldn't help smiling. Duo had a way to bring it out in him. He simply nodded and began to leave the room when Duo stopped him.

"And Heero," He smiled. "Keep the key."

Heero smiled. They're bond was strong enough that he didn't need to ask. He just nodded and walked out of the room. Moments later Duo heard the front door close. He turned back to the mirror and sighed.

"Hopefully, I won't be seeing you much longer." He glared his reflection and left the room.

He jogged all the way to work and instead of grabbing his usual cup of coffee from the break room, he filled his mug with water. Hilde walked in carrying a large stack of papers and smiled at Duo.

"Morning." She said cheerily.

Duo smiled and waved. "Mornin'. Did ya have a good weekend?" He asked as she set the papers on the table.

She smiled warmly and turned back to him. "Yes, and it looks like you did too."

Duo chuckled. "Why do you say that?"

She smirked. "You're in a much better mood than when I left you on Friday."

He smirked. "Yeah…hey sorry about that. Hope I didn't blow an ear drum when I shouted."

She laughed. "Hey, I'm used to it. You're mood swings used to take me by surprise but after two years…" She shrugged and Duo rolled his eyes.

"Thanks I think." He teased and set his empty mug down. "Any customers yet?"

She shook her head. "Not yet, but I only just hung the open sign up." As if in answer to her statement, a bell chimed through the break room, signifying the opening of the front door.

"Speak of the Devil." Duo smirked and left to see who it was while Hilde began filling out paperwork.

Duo entered the lobby and he was met by shining blue eyes.

"Good Morning, Duo." Quatre smiled.

Duo smiled warmly as he approached the desk. "Mornin' Quat. What are you doing in this neighborhood?"

The small blond smiled wider. "Actually, I was hoping you could help me with something."

Duo raised a brow. That smile meant he was up to something. He smirked playfully and leaned over the counter. "What are you planning, Q-man?"

Quatre was aglow with excitement as he leaned in. "I want to throw a congratulatory engagement party for Heero and Relena and I was wondering if you could help me by keeping Heero distracted."

Duo laughed. "Keep Heero away from Relena? You're askin' the impossible, Q-Man!" He smirked and Quatre laughed. "But sure. I'll do my best. So, when's the party?"

Quatre smiled. "This weekend. I've already spoken with the council and they say Relena will have nothing going on then, which means Heero will have nothing going on. Please tell me your free."

Duo waved his hand. "Please, Quat! If it's for Heero I'll make myself free." He smiled. "I owe him that much."

Quatre smiled softly and nodded. "I understand." A soft ringing echoed through the room and Quatre jumped. "Oh!" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small cellphone. He blushed and smiled sheepishly. "It's on vibrate too…it kind or surprises me."

Duo laughed while Quatre brought to phone to his ear.

"Hello, Mr. Winner speaking." He said into the receiver. He smiled and Duo could hear muffled sounds of a deep voice. "Yes, that's perfect. Thanks!" He hung up and placed the cell back into his pocket.

"Let me guess." Duo winked. "Lover-boy?"

"Lover-boy?" Quatre blinked, confused. Then he blinked and widened his eyes. "Oh! You mean Zechs!"

"Duh. Please don't tell me there's another one."

Quatre shook his head and smiled. "Of course not. I'm sorry, Duo. I forgot you didn't know."

Duo raised a brow and Quatre explained.

"Zechs and I broke up a couple of weeks ago."

Duo's eyes widened. "What? How did I not hear about this?"

"Well…" Quatre frowned. "You weren't really talking to anyone. You were kinda locked up. I could never catch you at work and you would never answer the phone at home."

Duo sighed and looked down. "Yeah…I'm sorry about that. I guess Heero moving out hit me harder than I thought."

It wasn't a lie. Duo was still having a hard time getting used to being alone after living with Heero for two years. He chose to omit the part about his embarrassment, however.

Quatre nodded and smiled softly. "I'm sorry Duo. I know it much be hard."

Duo smirked and waved it off. "I'll get over it. Today is the day, Quat. I'm turning over a new leaf."

Quatre smiled. "That's great Duo!"

Duo shrugged and began typing on the computer at the front desk to check his schedule. "So what happened to you and Zechs?" He looked up. "If you don't mind me asking."

Quatre sighed and shrugged. "Nothing really happened. Well, nothing bad anyway. We just…broke up." He paused and then continued. "It's like…we just needed to try something different." He turned to Duo and leaned across the desk again. "Can you keep a secret?"

Duo turned and raised a brow at the serious tone of Quatre's voice. "Yeah sure, Quat. What is it?"

"Well…I've always been…" he paused, thinking of a word. "...the submissive one in relationships. I always was with Trowa, and even with Wufei…he was pretty much in charge." He shrugged. "My relationships typically end up…I don't know…safe. No risks, nothing different. You know?"

Duo nodded. "I think I understand." He wanted to say more, but he could tell that Quatre wasn't finished.

"With Zechs…" Quatre smiled. "It was wild. I was spontaneous, adventurous…" He giggled and blushed. "I was even rough at times." Duo felt his ears begin heating up and he fought to keep it down. "I think I just needed to get that out of my system. Stop playing it safe for once and just go for it." He smiled. "It was good for me. But the longer we were together we realized that there was nothing deeper than sex for us. We both want more out of a relationship than sex, so we broke it off." He shrugged. "I think he's actually planning on going back to Noin to be honest." He smiled.

Duo smiled and nodded. "Well, good for you Quat. It's good to get a little down and dirty every now and then." He winked and Quatre blushed.

Tell him you idiot! His brain screamed and a slow smile spread across Duo's face.

Not now…the timing is bad…He argued.

"So, when do you want to get together to talk about the party?" He changed the subject, hoping to distract his troubling mind.

Quatre pulled out a small palm pilot and hit a few keys. "Well, I'm free for lunch tomorrow." He looked up. "Is that okay?"

Duo scrolled through his planner on the computer and smiled. "Yup. I'll just meet you at your office and…" He paused, the voices were back. "And maybe we can grab a bite while we talk." He wanted to slap himself. The voices spoke out before he could stop them.

Quatre smiled and nodded. "Sounds great. I'll see you then!" He waved and left the room.

Duo watched him go and then slammed his head against the desk. "Stupid, Stupid, Stupid."

Well, there it is. Finally! Sorry about the long wait, I was kinda stuck for a long while. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy! And thanks sooo much to all my reviewers: Vastulja Sata Menton, Stratagirl, anissa32, Amy Hirosaki and Ronin101. I really appreciate you're comments. You guys rock!