Chapter Three - Birthday Party
Rated: T
Warnings: shounen-ai
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing.

Summary: Trowa Barton works at the Public Library and is very happy with his new found job. One day at work, he meets a young man named Quatre, and that's where all the 'trouble' starts… AU, Trowa x Quatre.

A/N: Wow, I got more reviews than I expected! Thanks to you all. I'm glad you all like this story and well, here is chapter three. It turned out a little longer than the first two chapters, but it felt wrong to cut it into two pieces, so I just left it at this. Here, we again switch from thoughts. It's Trowa's turn again to let his mind be read by the readers. Have fun reading!

Chapter Three - Birthday Party

A brown haired librarian found himself looking out the window again, his thoughts floating away from the work he was supposed to do. Things that didn't matter to him before, seemed to get more… depth. The water of the fountain, for example. The color wasn't just the blue reflected by the sky, it was more. There was green in it too, dark blue and light blue also. Just like Quatre's eyes.

Vanilla scented ice cream. Strange, how a scent can remind you of someone's hair… The weird feeling when you see someone with blond hair, same height and look-alike clothing from a person you like, but it's not him. The flutter in your stomach goes down again when you see it's not him, and at the same time, you're wondering why you wanted it to be him. At least, Trowa wondered about that. Did you call it… being in love?

Quatre. Quatre. Quatre. It felt good saying that name. Blue eyes, blond hair, friendly face, delicate but muscular build, soft voice.

"Trowa, are you even listening to what I'm saying?"

"Hn?" He turned his head a little to the right, facing Emily.

"Apparently not," she sighed. "Okay, I'll say it one more time: don't forget to install the new catalogue program on the library computers!"

"No, I won't."

"Don't act like you were just thinking about doing that." Emily put her hands on her hips and glared at Trowa. Her red hair was a little messy and her glasses had slid down on her nose: she looked like a dangerous and overworked librarian. Which she was, of course.

"… I wasn't."

"If it wasn't for Quatre Winners luck, then I had killed you by now!" She turned around with a angry cry and started to walk back to her counter.

"Quatre Winners luck?"

"Don't act so stupid Trowa! Like no one saw you two cuddling on the stairs! And would you please just shut up right now, I've got lots and lots of things to do. Now where did I leave my purse…" She started to mess around with a huge pile of papers and other unknown things.

"… We were not cuddling."

Something was tossed to him from the pile of papers and believe it or not, his eyes went wide for some seconds. There was a huge photograph of him and Quatre sitting on the stairs, hands together and eyes locked, on the front page of 'Popular'.

"That's proves enough, I believe. Now would you please install that program?"

"… 'We already had an interview with Quatre Winner last week, but our photographer discovered something so called 'cute' when he went to the library yesterday: Quatre Winner holding hands with an unknown guy. What we do know, is that he works in the library. Who is this mysterious person? And why were we sent away from the Winner Company with the words 'no comment'? Popular will find it out for you in our next volume.'" Trowa read the last words with amazement. This can't be true.

"You should've known that paparazzi would be everywhere when Quatre's around," Emily replied, now from under her desk.

"Hn. They don't write anything… unpleasant about it."

"Duh! Everyone likes Quatre, they just want to know if the young heir of the Winner Company found love or not, doesn't matter with male or female. His life is like a soap to the people in town!"

"Can I keep this volume of 'Popular'?"

"Sure, if you install that catalogue program now!" Emily appeared again.

"I'll do it right away." Trowa put the magazine in his bag and started to walk to the computers.

"Trowa?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you want to keep it? Do you like gossip that much?" She wiped her forehead and tossed some papers in the container.

"… No."

"Why then?"

"It's the only picture I have of Quatre with me."

0o0

Trowa had finally finished all the tasks Emily had given him, and was staring out of the window again. He cursed himself, muttering under his breath, and tried to start with putting up new designs for the Historical Books section. It didn't work.

Why him? Why was he, Trowa Barton, seemingly 'emotionless' person, so affected by… by… Quatre? He wasn't used to feel such a great attraction to someone. Of course, he loved his sister Catherine, but that was so different from these feelings.

He turned to his computer again and started to surf on Internet randomly. Suddenly, something hit his brain. He didn't know a lot about Quatre, but since he was registered in the main computer of the library… He smirked (which would have caused a heart attack for Emily if she'd seen it) and went to the password protected site for the librarians.

Search engine. Quatre Winner. Name, age, date of birth, place of birth, borrowed books…

Wait a sec. Date of birth. That meant that Quatre's birthday was in exactly seven days, on Friday next week! Trowa leaned back in his seat, thinking about that fact. Maybe he could go to Quatre on Friday? But what if Quatre gave some major party and he just came barging in without an invitation? Would he receive an invitation?

"Emily?" He raised his voice a little bit.

"Yeah?" Emily screamed back from her place behind her desk.

"What kind of presents are good to give on someone's birthday?"

"Why do you want to know? Can't figure out yourself?" She raised an eyebrow.

"…" Trowa stared back at her with something that came near to a glare.

"Oh, well… Depends on who the person is, of course."

"… So?"

"Well, girls usually want other stuff than guys. Perfume is good, I guess. But then you'll have to get something manly for the guy, of course. Or… flowers, but that's for the persons you don't know well. And uhm, books, but that's only if you know the person well. And there're people who don't read at all…"

Trowa turned his chair away from the computer and leaned back a little. He was ready for Emily's next talk explosion. Here we go… Ask some advice and you'll get ten times more.

"It'll help if you know the favorite color of the person to whom you want to give a present. Maybe you can buy candles then, or a photo frame in that color. Or you buy tickets for this thing the person likes, a movie or something, or the theater. Whatever he likes, of course." She waited for a reaction from Trowa.

"Yeah."

"Or clothing, but that's nice to buy with the person himself." She tapped her chin. "Getting out of ideas here…"

Trowa thought for a second. "And… what can you buy when you really like the person whose birthday it is?"

Emily smirked. "Are you asking what you should buy for your lover?"

"Not exactly lover." He shifted a little uncomfortable under Emily's all-knowing-gaze. "But… just a person you like very much… A very good friend…"

"Jewelry. Not too expensive. Chocolates. Roses. Something self-made."

Trowa's inner mind was gagging. Maybe in another stage of relationship? "Something less romantic?"

"Yeah, that was maybe too cliché. Uhm…" Emily tapped her chin again. "Well, I keep falling back on the cliché, you know. Maybe something of value to you, some special place you know, or something you never share with someone else…

"Ah."

"But I would still go for jewelry," she smiled. "Even guys like those big thumb rings or Celtic bracelets. It doesn't need to be expensive or something, just something special you searched for. But I'm a born romantic." She put on her glasses again and seated herself behind her desk. "And a librarian who should be working." She glared at him too.

"I get the hint. But thanks for your advice."

"Anytime, Tro."

0o0

Trowa was sitting silently at the fountain, watching the blue water sprinkle in all kinds of ways. He hoped that their deal worked and that Quatre would come when he saw him sitting by the fountain on the square. Buying a present for the blonde man was harder than he thought, so he'd taken Emily's advice very serious and was waiting for Quatre to ask him some questions.

His eyes scanned the square, but he never saw someone with a camera, or someone who at least appeared to be working for a magazine. How did they sneak into place when there was gossip around? The first one I see who photographs Quatre and me…

His thoughts were stopped abruptly when he noticed a person walking up to the fountain with blond, wavy locks and blue eyes, which were seen from about a mile away, so bright as they were. There was a tall, dark and broad man walking just a few steps behind him. Is that his bodyguard?

"Trowa! How nice to see you again!" Quatre smiled happily and his blue eyes bored into Trowa's.

"… Hello." Quatre.

"This is Rashid, a very good friend of mine from Arabia. He's kind of my bodyguard too." Quatre's face was beaming again, like he couldn't stop smiling at all.

Rashid only nodded to Trowa, but his face was friendly, just like Quatre's.

"Why did you want to see me? Is it urgent?"

"A little," Trowa replied. "I was wondering what your favorite color was…?"

"Ah, I like a lot of colors, but mostly pastel for myself. Blue, light orange, yellow, pink… and uhm, green. But blue and green the most, I think."

"Thanks. And what do you like to do in your spare time?"

Quatre seemed to be surprised about the direct questions and enjoying them at the same time. "I like reading books, but also to be with others… just talking. And going out for dinner, or cooking. I'm not that good at cooking, but anyway, it's fun to do! But enjoy everything the most when…"

"… there're other people with you." Trowa smiled at Quatre.

"Yeah, exactly!" he said, chuckling.

"Why are you asking all of this to Quatre-sama?" Rashid suddenly blurted out.

Trowa studied the face of the dark man carefully and came to the conclusion that Rashid's opinion would mean a lot to Quatre. Rashid kind of looked like a father figure to the young heir and his judgment of Trowa would be important. He had to give a good impression to Rashid.

"It's a surprise," he said. "For Quatre."

"I assume that you can't tell it to me, then." Rashid sounded somewhat amused.

"Only if Quatre doesn't hear it." He knows. He knows I want to make a good impression.

"Ah, Trowa, come on! You're already making me curious with your questions." Quatre made a fake pouting face and giggled.

Too sweet. He's just too sweet. Trowa's small smile appeared on his face.

Rashid made a snorting sound, but there was some glitter in his dark eyes and Trowa had the feeling that the man really was amused by the whole situation.

"Rashid?" Quatre looked up at his bodyguard and frowned his eyebrows a little bit. He'd obviously missed the whole 'understanding' between Rashid and Trowa.

"It's nothing, Quatre-sama." Rashid smiled and looked at Trowa again. "Just think about what I said last week to you. That's all you need to know."

"Oh, okay." Quatre nodded and turned to Trowa again. "Want to know more for your surprise?"

"No, I think I know enough." Trowa looked from Quatre to Rashid and back. He was right. Rashid wasn't just a bodyguard.

"Well, I think I've got to go. I've got a lot to do… but…" Quatre's eyebrows were frowned and he looked like he could apologize any moment.

"Ssh. You don't have to apologize, I know you've got a lot do to." Trowa had placed his finger on Quatre's lips when he said 'ssh' and Quatre stared at him with big eyes.

"Yeah," he said, voice sounding shaky when Trowa removed his finger. "I'll go… then."

"… Bye."

"Yes, goodbye." Quatre leaned forward a bit and placed a kiss on Trowa's cheek, just an inch away from his lips. "I'm looking forward to your surprise. Find me when you need me."

"Yeah," Trowa nodded, "I will." He just kissed me. Kissed me. On my cheek.

Rashid and Quatre turned around and started to walk back to the Winner building, while Trowa watched them with a hint of a smile on his lips.

0o0

It was raining all day long that Friday. Trowa could see the drops running down the window, leaving their wet trails on the glass. People were running over the square with everything they could find above their heads and a lot of them found shelter in the big entrance hall of the library, leaving wet marks everywhere.

"Don't even think of touching the books! I'm sorry sir, but you're so soaked…"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just taking shelter here, so I thought I maybe could read a book or something…"

"No way! Not when you're so wet, I'm sorry sir!" Emily pulled the poor man away from the bookshelves and Trowa chuckled to himself. Emily was funny when she was stressed.

"Please miss, could you keep your children away from the archive?" Emily blocked the archives door (yes, the same Quatre had hid himself in) from some mud covered children.

"They're not mine!" The voice of the woman to whom Emily had spoken, sounded like the cracking of an old door.

"Oh gods, how am I going to survive this?" Emily slid down on the floor like a dead heap of… human.

Trowa clucked again, but stepped forward and raised his deep voice. "Excuse me everyone, but could I get your attention please?"

Everyone turned their heads to him, surprised about the sudden voice.

"Could everyone who is sheltering from the rain go to the left side of the entrance hall? That would leave the path free for all the other people in the library."

The crowd moved to the left, leaving the doors free.

"Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen." He stepped back in the shadows again and pulled Emily up.

"Thanks a bunch Tro, I'm like, dead."

"Hn. I believe I've noticed that by now."

Emily giggled and tried to find her glasses, which had slipped away when she fell.

"Don't overwork yourself."

"I know, I know. But what's wrong with you today?"

"…?"

"You seem so different. I mean, you're looking out of the window for half of the time and you brought this huge bag." She pointed at the brown bag at Trowa's feet. "Are you going away for the weekend or something?"

"… No. I'm going to visit a friend."

"Ah." She nodded slowly. "And am I right when I think that the friend lives at the other end of the square" - she pointed at the Winner Company - " which is the point you're looking at all day long?"

Trowa gave up. "Yes."

"Good luck. It's his birthday, right?"

He nodded. "How do you know?"

"He gave a party last year, but not this year. You know what…" She looked at her watch. "I give you the damn day off! Zack will be here at two o'clock, so I can handle everything here and I command you to go to him. You'll be no use anyway."

"But Emily…"

"No 'buts'! You're always working hard and now is the time to reward you for that." She smirked.

"I can't do that, I'm supposed to work here 'till five." Trowa's one eye blinked a few times in surprise.

"If you don't move your ass to the Winner Company right now, then I'll personally arrange that you'll be fired!" Emily screamed and some of the sheltering people looked up at the noise.

Trowa's eye widened for a second. "… Okay. I'll move my ass to… to the Winner Company."

"I believe you understood me fully," Emily nodded.

"You sure you'll be all right?"

"Yeah, of course. And otherwise, you'll be the first one to find me dead next Monday." She gave him his coat. "Come on, go on. It's not that hard."

"Thanks, Emily." Trowa took his bag and walked slowly in the direction of the doors.

"Anytime, Trowa. Good luck!"

0o0

The inside of the Winner Company building was… well, could one call it grey? Everything seemed to be completely in order and rank, from the palm at the entrance to the chairs next to the counter. It seemed like the design for every big office building and Trowa felt lost. It wasn't like he'd never been in one of those office buildings before, but he was used to colors that someone could actually name and places that looked like they were being used. There was no dust (or any 'dirt' whatsoever), huge windows everywhere, which made the building even more huge from the inside and… a stupid palm that looked like it was brought to a Plant Beauty Salon every week.

He walked to the counter. "Excuse me…"

"Yes, sir? How may I help you?"

"I'm here to see Mr. Quatre Winner."

"What is your name? Do you have an appointment?"

"Trowa Barton. No appointment."

"I'm sorry, but then I can't take you to Mr. Quatre. He is a very busy man and only meets people who are on his appointment schedule."

"Ah. Is he busy now?"

The man blinked. "Of course. He's at his work."

"Could you please do me a favor and call him to say that Trowa Barton is here to see him?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Quatre never gives permission to…"

"Just do it. I'm a friend of his. We used to meet at the fountain, but now, I came here instead." Stupid guy.

"Sorry, sir, I can't do that." The man shook his head slowly and Trowa almost twitched.

A few meters from the scene stood a woman with black hair in a ponytail, listening to the conversation between Trowa and the counter guy.

"Please. He knows me. I'm not a stupid fan."

The woman stepped forward and tapped Trowa on his shoulder. "Excuse me sir, are you Trowa Barton?"

"Yes." Trowa turned his head and both of his eyes appeared.

"You used to meet with Mr. Quatre at the fountain?"

"Yes."

"Tom, you're so stupid! I told you to let a tall guy with brown hair that fell over one green eye and a little bit tanned skin in when he wanted to see Mr. Quatre!" The woman smacked the counter guy, Tom apparently, on the back of his head.

"Ouch! Sorry, Mrs. Munroe, I'll watch out better next time."

"You betcha!" The woman turned to Trowa again with a toothpaste commercial smile on her face, like there was nothing wrong. "Trowa Barton, I'm Sarah Munroe, head assistant from Mr. Quatre. Please follow me."

Without saying anything, Trowa followed the black haired woman to the elevator.

"I'll take you to Mr. Quatre right away."

0o0

Trowa's throat went dry when Sarah Munroe almost pushed him into Quatre's room. He could see him sitting at his desk, back to the door.

"Mr. Quatre, there's a special guest for you. I'll be down the hall if you need me." And with that, Sarah left again.

"Well, who is my mystery guest?" Quatre was looking at some papers, back still to the door.

"Happy birthday," Trowa said softly, almost inaudible.

He saw Quatre's form stiffen and the young man immediately turned around, eyes wide. "Trowa…?"

"…" Trowa smiled.

"You came here… on my birthday? How did you know?" He got out of his chair and walked up to Trowa.

"That's my secret. Anyway…" He looked down before giving Quatre a beautiful bouquet of all sorts of tulips, in yellow, green, blue, light orange and pink. (A/N: Yeah, he was hiding that behind his back.)

"Oh my god, thank you so much, Trowa!" Quatre took the flowers from Trowa and inhaled their scent, before bending down to get a vase from under his desk. He quickly filled it with water: there was a washbowl at the right side of his office.

"I hope you like them."

"Of course! They're in all the colors I said to you. I mean, the colors I like!" He smiled brightly. "Thank you so much! You came all the way here with flowers for my birthday!"

"Well… I brought something more…" Trowa reached inside his bag and gave Quatre a gift wrapped box. "If you don't like it, you should say it. I can still exchange it for something else…"

Quatre blinked a few times. "For me?"

Trowa chuckled softly. "Who else?" Silly guy.

Quatre started to unwrap the package slowly and opened the black jewelry box just enough to peek inside. His eyes went wide again.

"Trowa, this is just…I…" He opened the box all the way. There was a Celtic bracelet in it, small enough to fit exactly round Quatre's small wrist. An aquamarine stone sparkled right in the middle, decorated by typical Celtic knots. "It's beautiful."

"Just like you," Trowa said shyly.

Quatre looked up at him at those words and suddenly jumped up, wrapping his arms around Trowa's neck.

"Thank you so much, Trowa! You're the first one to actually do something about the fact it's my birthday today and you brought such beautiful presents!" He buried his face in Trowa's shoulder.

"… I'm happy you like it." Trowa, who was absolutely startled at first, had recovered from his shock. He slowly locked his arms around Quatre's shoulders.

"I love it!"

"… Glad I found the right things."

Quatre let go of Trowa and he just seemed to glow. In the short time of unwrapping his present and jumping up to Trowa, he'd already slipped the bracelet on his wrist. "Look. It fits perfectly."

Trowa smiled and touched the stone in the middle.

"Trowa? I'm kind of giving a party tonight for some other friends. Would you like to come? It's in my apartment. You can stay now, I still have to do some preparations."

"I would be very happy to stay."

"Kay, that's settled then! You can help me cook if you want to. You know what? I take the day off and we'll go to my apartment right away." Quatre had his coat on in a second, the jewelry box and flowers (still in the vase), clutched to his chest.

What is it with people taking off the day today…? "That's okay with me. I can cook a little."

"Come on then! We've got no time to lose!" Quatre was at the door in another second and had slurred Trowa with him, hooking his arm in Trowa's.

"Quatre…"

"Yes?" Quatre stopped his tracks and looked at Trowa again.

"You're sweet." A small grin accompanied those words.

"You too," the other man said with a faint blush on his cheeks. "Come on, let's go."

When they left the building, they were being watched by a black haired woman, who was standing next to the counter guy at the entrance. She smiled when she saw the tall man being pulled out of the building by the somewhat shorter Quatre, their arms hooked as one.

"That's why you should always let Mr. Barton in, Tom. He turns our workaholic boss Mr. Quatre into his true self again."

"Okay, Mrs. Munroe."

"You betcha."

End Chapter Three

A/N: Gasp! That was a lot. I really couldn't stop writing, Trowa and Quatre are interesting characters to write about. Hmm, that would be logical, otherwise I wouldn't be writing about them. Anyway... I've discovered that I kinda look like Emily! Not in appearance, but in how she acts and talks.
If you see any mistakes, please point them out. I already said so in the first chapter: English is not my first language, I live in the Netherlands (guess why Trowa gave Quatre tulips for his birthday...). And if you don't see any mistakes, well, just review! XD

Efreak.

Thanks to: frenchiefry666, Artemis Maxwell-Yuy, pale aspirations and The Tears of Ages for leaving a review behind. I feel loved, guys!