Author's Note: okay, you will have to forgive my confusion but I received a review stating a warning that this fic mentions rape/abuse/torture. I apologize if that offended anyone! I figured, perhaps ignorantly, that it wasn't graphic enough to harm anyone's feelings. To anyone I could have upset, I apologize. I will begin to set warnings at the beginning of each chapter from this point forward in order to avoid this kind of incident again. Also, I would like to make clear that this fic is solely based around Heero and Duo. It's Yaoi. Relena will not play a major part in this story; I'm sorry if I misled/disappointed anyone.

Chapter Warnings: m/m relationships, language, and the first plot twist. Pretty mild.

A Grand Affair

Chapter Four: Disturbance in Euphoria

Heero leaned back against the cushioned chair as he sipped his tea. The ocean crashed below an orange sky as the sun began to set. He watched as the waves rolled and churned. Just across the glass table a silent and equally contented Trowa watched as well.

Quatre and Duo had gone into town to buy groceries and catch up at some café where Trowa and Heero wouldn't be there to restrict their conversation.

"Don't believe a word he tells you," Trowa muttered as he glanced quickly at his watch.

"Likewise," Heero replied monotonously. He shuddered at the thought of all Quatre was finding out about him at this very moment. It was an odd sort of consolation that Trowa was in the same boat. It brought them on even ground at last. "So, kids…" Heero began awkwardly.

"Yeah, Quatre's idea."

"Don't want any?"

Trowa put his cup down and sat back, crossing one leg over the other casually as he lounged. "I do but I don't feel ready. I'm not sure I'll be a good dad."

"I know what you mean."

Trowa looked over at Heero and smiled to himself. Strange, the two of them never got along when they were so alike.

"How many of them? Twenty-nine like Quatre's family?" Heero joked in a serious voice.

He nearly laughed aloud as Trowa almost fell out of his chair, turning pale as a ghost. Apparently, he was rarely teased about that. "No," he nearly choked. "Only a couple."

Heero sat back as well and sat his cup down. "Duo and I are thinking of just…coming out."

"You should. You both deserve it."

Heero simply nodded and quietly accepted the compliment. The two men fell into silence once again and just listened to the splendor all around the beachside home. The birds and the ocean created an extremely relaxing environment.

"So, you're over the…incident?" Trowa asked tentatively.

Heero shook his head. "No. I never will be."

Trowa just nodded and fell back into silence. "Is Duo?"

"I think so," Heero answered.

Again, more silence. Each man regarded the other. They were so different from when they were both mere boys trying to act like men. They had spent their adolescence like adults but it was a pale comparison to how they had turned out. They were grown now. And they were far different people than they had expected themselves to turn out. Time did strange things to people. But most of all, time could heal where nothing else could.

The screen door opened and Quatre and Duo came out, faces tanned from being in the sun all day. Quatre leaned down and kissed Trowa on the cheek. "Ready for bed?"

Trowa just nodded and stood up.

"You guys know where the guest room is, right?" Quatre asked hospitably. There was such a glow to his face. It was sad that he hadn't had company in such a long time. He looked starved for it. Heero felt a slight twinge of guilt for having kept the two friends far apart for so long. Duo looked just as radiant; all that stress on his shoulders instantly gone.

"Yes. Thank you."

"Good night," Duo called to Quatre who returned the gesture before disappearing back into the house.

Duo turned to Heero and walked up to the partially reclined chair. Gingerly, he situated himself on Heero's lap and snuggled up against his lover. "We've never done this outside," Duo murmured contently.

Heero lowered his lips against Duo's hair to feel the texture and inhale the sweet scent. He shook his head to agree with the statement. Slowly, he let his eyes flutter closed as he felt the cool sea breeze brush against him and mix with the soothing heat coming off of Duo's body. Heero held Duo close to him and felt himself just begin to nod off from the sheer feeling of relaxation.

The most intense feeling of calm washed over Heero. He didn't want Duo with the powerful lust he usually did. But he loved the braided man in this moment more than ever. Even as he felt Duo's lithe body shift to become more comfortable, Heero's body didn't rouse as it usually would have. He was just…content. Just as things were. At this very moment.

This was paradise. This was heaven. Heero had never known a feeling like this existed. Duo made a soft sound somewhere between a hum and a moan. His head nuzzled into Heero's neck before his body stilled entirely.

Heero wouldn't let himself fall asleep. He needed to record this feeling, this moment. He needed to let this soak in as long as possible so that he would never forget. This was the reason he was putting all his doubts and fears aside for what he and Duo wanted most. This feeling. And God, it was worth it. For the first time in years and years, Heero felt tears stinging just behind his eyelids. They were tears of joy. Of elation. The Perfect Soldier was finally a happy man.

Hastily, Heero blinked them back and bent his head to rest atop Duo's. He gave Duo a soft kiss before he allowed himself to doze off for about an hour before getting back up again and carrying Duo to their guest room.

(O)(O)(O)

Heero awoke feeling more rested than he had in years. Duo was securely tucked against his side and he felt a deep sense of satisfaction being able to just lie in bed and stroke Duo's loose hair. He closed his eyes and was comfortable to drift in and out of sleep as he listened to Duo breathe softly beside him.

Slowly, as Heero came more soundly into consciousness that sinking feeling of dread came over him. Things were going too well. Something had to happen soon that would tear this paradise from him. It's not that Heero didn't believe in bad luck, he just understood his luck. Duo had always teased him saying that there was no rest for the wicked and for Heero, it had turned out to be true. This brief respite was a godsend but he knew it couldn't last. Heero groaned and sat up, putting his warm feet on the cold wooden floor. He needed to stop being so pessimistic or he would never be able to enjoy anything in life. And with that firmly in mind he showered, dressed and groomed for the day before heading out to the kitchen for breakfast.

"Good morning, Heero," Quatre chirped as Heero entered.

Heero nodded his acknowledgement and took a seat across from the couple, silently helping himself to the assortment of fruits and cereals. Duo emerged only ten minutes later looking wide awake and extremely happy.

"Morning everyone!" he announced, sitting down next to Heero.

There was a comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sound that could be heard were the sounds of forks on plates or a chair shifting. At last Quatre sat back. "I wonder how Wufei is doing."

"Who knows?" Duo sighed, playing with a grape on his fork. "He kind of disappeared off the radar. I assume he's back in China preaching about injustice and weakness."

Quatre chuckled softly and agreed heartily. "That sounds extremely plausible. So, what's on the agenda for today?"

Just then the phone rang and frowning, Trowa got up and answered in a low voice. Heero watched as his eyebrows knit together in confusion and oncoming anger. "Yes, he's right here," he said in a severe voice. "Heero, it's for you."

Heero's gut clenched and he stood up, grief and panic nearly overtaking him. This was it. This was going to be his call to reality. No. Think positive. Millardo had said that he would call on several occasions to make sure they were doing okay. It was just a checkup. The Perfect Soldier would not be sent running by the sound of a phone ringing.

He walked up and grabbed the receiver. "Hello?"

"H-Heero? It's Relena."

Her voice was wobbling with tears and there was distinct fear in her voice. Quickly, Heero left the room before answering, not wanting to upset Duo. "Relena, what's going on?" he demanded. If it was something trivial he felt like he was about to scream at the ambassador for the first time in his life.

"Heero, we can't go through with this separation."

"Yes we can, and we are. Relena, I need to live my own life and so do you."

"I'm so sorry, Heero, but…something's happened. My reputation is at stake."

"I'm sure whatever it is it can't be as bad as my plans to reveal I'm gay."

"Oh, it's worse," Relena laughed bitterly. "You need to read the newspaper, Heero. You're getting out of touch."

Fear gripped him hard and he stormed back into the kitchen and snatched the newspaper up. "What section?" he barked.

"It's the front page of World News."

Heero fumbled with the gray papers and tried to hold the phone against his ear with his shoulder.

"Heero?" Duo murmured, his cobalt eyes clouding over with anxiousness and worry.

Heero spared him a quick glance before he went back to the newspaper and found the section. As he held the paper up and read the headlines the phone slipped from his ear and clattered to the ground. The speaker phone came on as it hit the ground.

"Tell me it's a lie," Heero whispered.

A loud sob came from the phone. "No, of course it's not a lie. Something this catastrophic and on the front of the World News section wouldn't be a lie."

Heero's eyes scanned the paper again and again, desperately trying to talk himself out of what he was reading. His eyes began to blur as he watched his future fall apart.

"If they knew the truth Heero…"

"Who? Who did this?"

"Antonio Verducci. He's the Italian ambassador I've been seeing quietly for a couple of months."

"And does he know?"

"He's gone. Apparently, that wasn't his real name and as for being an ambassador…"

Heero threw the paper down and collapsed into the chair.

"Millardo and I agreed to a press conference this Saturday," Relena said in a numb voice. "I hope you will be there… I would hate to think what would happen if you weren't."

"You've already told them we're back together," Heero hissed.

"What?" Duo murmured, sitting up straighter in his chair. "Heero, what's going on?" he whispered in a fierce voice.

Trowa took Quatre's hand and watched as the blond began to fidget with nervousness.

"I'll be on the first plane back," Heero replied dejectedly.

"Heero, I'm so sorry…"

"No, Relena, I should be saying that to you. You're going to need it a lot more in these next few months than I am," Heero retorted.

Another few sobs filled the phone before she thanked him in a small voice and hung up.

"Heero, what the fuck is going on? What's so important that Relena needs you back by tomorrow?" Duo exclaimed, standing up out of his chair and reaching for the newspaper.

Heero caught it before he did. Duo's eyes lifted to defy Heero but he was stilled when he saw the eyes of the Perfect Soldier set in place, steely, unemotional. The wall of ice was back up. Heero had been hurt beyond immediately repair.

"Relena's…" he died off and looked down at the paper. He let it drop to the ground and turned to walk out of the kitchen.

Just as he crossed the threshold of the kitchen he stopped and lowered his head.

"Relena's pregnant."

In that moment, Duo's heart shattered. He sat down, unable to stand a moment longer. Those two words had crushed every hope and every dream he had for the future. A deep ache began in his chest and he felt his heart began to beat erratically. "No," he whispered through a loud pounding his in skull that threatened to break through the bone.

"And she's already told the press that I'm the father…" Heero finished.

And that was it. Heero would have to move out. Marry Relena. Live the lie to protect Relena's dignity because she was too reckless. There would be nothing to hold the relationship together once they were truly separated.

A single tear escaped Duo's right eye as he watched Heero retreat.

He wouldn't see Heero in person for another four months.

(O)(O)(O)

Okay, that was it; the first letdown of the fic! Once again, I would like to say thank you to all those who reviewed in the past and those who recently reviewed: Britzy, name, Lina, Inda (I'm sorry this kind of story is not your thing, but thanks for reviewing anyways), Patty 40, datanali and pibk (if the lack of a warning upset you personally, I apologize and I'm changing that).

Also, please forgive the possible lack of editing, shortness of chapter and long time between updates. I just had surgery and I'm afraid I'm a little more out of it than I would like to be. Please forgive any slight errors! Thank you and I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.