Chapter Eight

Making Promises

Heero didn't reemerge from his bedroom for the rest of the night. Duo was beginning to get concerned about his old friend. Heero seemed very tense when he came in from practicing and Duo knew Heero well enough to know that he only practiced with his gun for that long when he was troubled (not the mention the sounds of constant bullet fire gave something away). Adianna yawned loudly, bringing Duo out of his thoughts. He smiled at his kids.

"Man, I should have been watching the time closer. You two are up way past your bedtime." He chuckled.

"I no tired…" Adianna muttered.

Duo chuckled. "Sure. And that yawn meant nothing." He picked her up and carefully tossed an already sleeping Ryo over his shoulder.

Laying them down in their beds in the room that lay directly between Heero's and Quatre's, Duo kissed their foreheads and stood to leave just as Trowa was entering the room with Nura curled in his arms.

"Can we talk?" Trowa whispered as he lay Nura down.

Duo nodded and after closing the door to the children's room, they walked across the hall into Trowa's bedroom. Trowa shut the door behind them as Duo settled himself on the bed.

"What's up, Trow?" He asked.

Trowa sighed. He turned to Duo and leaned his back against the door. "Duo, do you remember anything that happened last night?"

Duo felt a blush reaching his cheeks but he kept it down. "No. Not really. Bits and pieces. Nothing really solid. You?"

Trowa shook his head sadly and joined Duo on the bed. "I…I know that something happened but…it's fuzzy."

Duo nodded. "I know what you mean."

Trowa turned to Duo. "I'm not sure that you do."

Duo turned, surprised. Trowa was stareing at his feet. "When I woke up…I was in Quatre's room." He said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not sure how I got there…all I can remember is laying Quatre down after our poker game and then…"

"Nothing." Duo finished.

Trowa looked up at him and Duo nodded.

"The same thing happened to me. I woke up in Heero's room and…I can't remember how I got there."

Trowa nodded and looked back down. "There's something else…"

Duo leaned closer. "What is it Trowa?" He could tell that the taller man was troubled by something but he couldn't tell what.

"I…I was still inside him when I woke up."

Duo's eyes widened. "Oh…" He looked down, feeling a little awkward. "That didn't happen to me…"

Trowa nodded.

"So…" Duo looked at his friend. "What did Quatre say when he woke up?"

Trowa shook his head. "He…doesn't know."

Duo's eyes widened. "What! You didn't tell him?"

Trowa flinched at Duo's tone but shook his head. "No." He turned to look at his friend. "I didn't know what to do. I was afraid that Quatre would be upset. Or worse, that he would feel used. I didn't want him to feel like that. If he and I were to…" He paused, his eyes watering. "If we were to make love I want him to know it's because I love him and not because we were drunk."

Duo surveyed his friend for a while. "Trow…" He gripped the ex-circus performer's chin firmly. "Do you love Quatre?"

Trowa was silent. Watery green eyes stared back into sharp violet ones. "I…don't know." He said finally.

Duo sighed and let go. "Listen Trow, I understand why you didn't tell him but…" He shook his head. "I think that if it happened…he has a right to know. I mean…if he's not a virgin anymore, don't you think he would want to know that?"

Trowa looked down and nodded. "I suppose…" He sighed and stood. "I should tell him."

Duo nodded. "Yeah, you should." Then a thought occurred to him. "Hey Trow…what was it you and Quat told Nura about last night?"

Trowa blushed slightly. "I…I told her that Quatre had a bad dream and I went in to comfort him."

Duo nodded. "Tell him, Trow. He needs to know."

Trowa nodded and left the room. Duo sighed and fell backwards onto the bed. Trowa slept with Quatre; Quatre doesn't know but is about to find out; and he and Heero…He sighed. He wasn't sure what happened that night with Heero and he didn't know how much Heero remembered, but he knew that he wanted to talk to Heero about it. He learned a long time ago that leaving mysteries unsolved was never a good idea.

He sat up and turned to the door. He could hear the muffled sounds of Trowa's voice and decided he better leave in case they wanted privacy in this room. He walked to his own room and after closing the door, sat on his bed. On the nightstand was a picture of him and Hilde on their wedding day. Duo had always thought it was their best picture together. He smiled at it. He missed her a lot and the thought of their children growing up without her pained him. He set the picture back down and reclined back on his pillows.

His thoughts went to Heero. He could remember what he was like back in the war; so cold and emotionless; but then he wasn't. Duo was one of the only people who ever saw the real Heero Yuy. The truth was, he was just as troubled as any of the rest of them were, if not worse. He didn't seem to be that much different, but he wondered if that was because he hadn't changed, or because he had changed and Relena's death brought him back into his bubble.

He sighed. Back in the days of the war, he had actually been attracted to the stoic pilot of Gundam 01. He chuckled at the memory. How young and naive he was to think that Heero would have eyes for anyone but Relena. His smile faded when he thought about the pain that Heero must be feeling. Could that be why he couldn't admit that something may have happened? Could it be too painful to let anyone else in? Duo sat up, understanding dawning on him. Heero didn't want to loose anyone else like he lost Relena.

Duo slapped his forehead for not seeing it before. Poor Heero. Duo stared hard at the bathroom door that led to Heero's room. Without thinking, he stood and walked through his door. The door at the other side was closed but Duo walked to it anyway. He gently placed his ear against the door and listened. He heard a muffled sound but couldn't quite make it out. He had to suck in a gasp when he realized it was crying. Heero was crying! Every so often he could mutter something that sounded like "Relena" and "sorry".

Duo felt his heart break. He wasn't sure if he still had feelings for his old friend, but he knew he didn't want him to hurt anymore. He made a silent promise to himself that he would break Heero's shell and help him to move on…whatever it took.