Chapter Warnings: m/m relationships. Language, I think… And a slightly suggestive scene at the end. That's about it for this one!

A Grand Affair

Chapter Eight: All that We Do and All that Matters

Duo strode into the bar out of the rain. There was a friendly, wide grin on his face that caused his eyes to sparkle in the dim light of the pub. He shrugged off his leather jacket and sat down next to a solitary man.

"What'll it be?" the bartender asked in a thick accent.

"The finest beer you've got," Duo answered in an accent just as thick. He nudged the man next to him, "Just found out I'm gonna be a dad."

That raised the blue-eyed man's attention and he looked over at the braided man warily. "Congratulations," he answered.

"You a father? You look like one," Duo spoke over a sudden crash of lightning and synonymous thunder.

"No, I'm not."

"Oh, really? Usually I'm a wonderful guesser," Duo replied. As the beer was placed in front of him he thanked the bartender and then shrugged. "Have you seen it on the news? Relena finally married that Yuy character and they're having a kid! Imagine that."

The man stiffened. "So, what? Do you think it's unordinary for two people to get married and have a kid?"

"Well, everyone knows the child came first."

"Do I look like someone who cares? I don't even know you!" the man barked.

Duo lifted the glass to his lips. "Jeez," he murmured. "Don't even know who I am," Duo continued. He took a long sip and the set the beer down. He met a very nervous pair of eyes.

"Should I know you?"

Duo shrugged. "Well, I was under the impression you knew everyone who was a threat to you."

"What exactly to you mean?" the man ordered, turning to face Duo more squarely.

Duo laughed lightly. "Oh, please," he said in his American accent, looking directly at the man. "Did you honestly think that we would let the father of Relena's child actually get away?"

"Define we. Relena wanted me to disappear."

"Yes, well, the pretty pink Princess has narrow interests."

"So, you're a Preventer."

"Well, I was. Not anymore. I quit. But, you're a very special and important man and you happen to be standing between me and the only thing worth living for in my life."

"If you desire Relena…"

Duo held up his hand. "Oh, no, my friend. If I never heard her name again I'd be quite content. No, my interests are not so important at the moment as how you plan to leave this bar with me: my way or the hard way."

"I'd really have to know who you are to know your way."

"I'm better off without a name, let me assure you. The hard way is not the way you want to go."

"And if I choose to go the hard way, you obviously know who I am and that there are at least thirty mobile suits and fifty men in the immediate area to protect me."

"The fifty men are currently having dinner with the former Zechs Marquis as it were. You really should keep better track of them."

Antonio stood up slowly and set two pounds on the counter. "And the mobile suits?"

"I'd dare you to call them out."

"You're one man, signor, hardly a match against my remaining defenses. Even if you had Preventer support."

"I don't need it."

Antonio laughed, a little tension lifting from his shoulders. "Ah, I only knew of five men capable of boasting that ability and being able to stand behind it."

"You're looking at one of them," Duo said in a cold voice.

This caused Antonio to stop and any humor melted away.

"I'll say it again, Verducci, you can go my way or the hard way."

"And what is your way?"

"You allow me to insert this sedative into your bloodstream and we wake up in beautiful Sanq where we can conduct a paternity test and get you on your way to a press conference with your future wife or at least, child support recipient."

"And if choose not to?"

"You'll just get to find out which of the five men I am and then I inject you with the sedative, drag you to the Sanq Kingdom, reveal to the world that you are indeed the father of Relena's child and let you deal with the aftermath, such as your involvement with the mafia for one."

"And what's in this for you? A large sum of money? Whatever it is, I can double it, triple it."

Despite the offer, Duo was wary when the man's voice remained calm. He must have something else planned. "No, no, this is not for money. This is for something you could not give me in a lifetime."

"What's that?" Verducci asked hopefully.

Duo shrugged into his jacket. "A second chance at happiness."

"In that case, you can inject me, but you'll never get me out of here without trouble. I have a tracker on me. They'll come after you."

"They can try," Duo acknowledged.

"Who are you?"

Duo subtly pulled out the needle and took Verducci's hand as though to shake it. "I'm Duo Maxwell, Deathscythe's pilot. It's nice to finally meet you, Antonio Verducci."

"Then let me tell you something, Duo. I do believe you can get me to Sanq with no problem but after that you are no longer dealing with just one man, and we are always one step ahead of you."

"I'll be concerned about that when the time comes," Duo said firmly as he easily slid the needle into the man's skin. "Sweet dreams, Verducci, and a part of me does hope that somehow you can get out of this unscathed."

The man blinked a few times and a matching, cocky smile flashed over his face. "Good then, you recognize that I am an innocent man in this."

Duo shrugged. "Yes, Relena seems to have told you to disappear but that doesn't solve my problem."

"Ah, yes, your interests. I wish you the best of luck with that." Verducci was beginning to blink more rapidly now and his grip on Duo's wrist was beginning to wane. Duo supported his shoulder with the other hand and casually caught the man as he slumped forward. He cleared his throat and spoke to the bartender in a renewed British accent, "Looks like it's time to head back home. G'night mate. Cheers."

The bartender waved a friendly hand as he picked up the money on the counter, never even thinking twice about the sight before him. It was all too common anyways.

Duo threw a limp arm over his shoulder and began to carry the man out. This was going to be too easy. And that always made Duo nervous. The man had never lost his composure which meant that despite being taken for surprise, he had been prepared for this. But who could have tipped him off to Duo's arrival? There weren't even phone conversations to tap into about the plans.

"I'd like to blame the pretty pink princess, but," Duo sighed. "I've never known her to be that crafty. I still remember the days when she was still chasing after Heero like some child after their parent." Duo looked down at the man he was toting. He frowned.

"It looks like I'll have to put that image away," he muttered. "Times have changed. Relena seems to have finally learned the way of politics." Duo blew out a long breath. "I never thought I'd say it," he spoke to an unconscious Verducci. "But I think I liked her better when she was clinging to Heero every chance she got."

Duo found his temper rising suddenly, unexpectedly. "She was harmless then."

(O)(O)(O)

Heero just left Millardo's office, having decided the best way to contain Verducci long enough to conduct the test and have him sign a document acknowledging that the child was biologically his and he accepted all responsibility for it. As they had been discussing plans an email came in informing Millardo that the child was a girl. They both sighed with relief. No Peacecraft heir. That would have been the icing on the cake, they had decided long ago. At last, things seemed to be turning around.

Still, Heero couldn't relax. This wasn't over and he knew well enough not to 'start collecting the inheritance before the pulse stops beating' as J had so sardonically said.

He felt tired. It was eight o'clock and Verducci should have just arrived. That's where Millardo was heading. Heero had no desire to meet with the man. There was only one man on his mind right now. Without thinking, he reached up to touch the cross he hadn't removed since he awoke two weeks ago. When he had heard the plan to get Verducci and had heard whispers of Duo's name going around his hope had been restored. Though, he mused, as he walked into his bedroom and locked the door, he felt better but he still looked as though he had just been released from a prisoner camp.

He stood in front of the mirror, the dying sunlight accenting how his t-shirt hung a little too loosely around him. Still, there was strength in the way he stood and his arms no longer looked so boyish. He had been so relieved when he had started to gain weight. Now he was looking about eighteen again. He frowned; he had been hoping for better.

"You look more handsome to me than you've ever looked," a husky voice commented.

Heero spun around to see Duo leaning against the doorway of the balcony, the wind rustling the loose strands of hair as he smiled gently. Heero just stared. This wasn't real. It had been nearly five months since he'd seen Duo Maxwell in person. He blinked a few times, partly to clear his mind and to fight back the unexpected and uncharacteristic tears that were beginning to burn his eyes.

"You know this is all for you," Duo sighed earnestly.

"It's more than I'll ever deserve," Heero agreed.

"'Until we die,' remember how that one went?"

"That's how long we were supposed to fight during the revolution. After the final battle with Treize's daughter, we promised we'd hold up that promise with each other."

Duo smiled and nodded. "Part of never lying is never giving up on a promise."

"You've always held yourself to high moral standards."

"Just as you've always been the martyr."

Heero sighed. Why were they standing so far apart? Was he truly afraid that if he tried to touch Duo that he'd just turn to smoke?

"You have to be dead to be a martyr," Heero pointed out softly.

"And what you've become these last months because of Relena isn't one of the walking dead?" Duo argued, pushing off from his lounging position.

"Don't tell me that our first true meeting in five months is going to conclude in a fight," Heero sighed heavily. It would be hard to hold back tears if that was the way it was going to be.

"Oh, Heero," Duo murmured hoarsely, quickly closing the distance between them. "No, of course not," he nearly moaned as he entered into Heero's fierce embrace.

Heero's arms were bands of steel around Duo as he returned the embrace just as tightly. Their foreheads were pressed firmly together and both men were forced to close their eyes to keep from crying. Duo felt his lower lip threatening to quiver. In desperation, he bit down on it fiercely. One of Heero's hands came up to Duo's neck and his fingers tangled into the silky strands at the base of Duo's braid. Without thought, the infamous Shinigami gently nuzzled against Heero's cheek, savoring the feeling of skin on skin and the familiar scent that engulfed him when he was near Heero.

"Even if this Verducci gets away, the public will know and we'll be free again," Duo whispered.

"Free," Heero echoed. "I haven't been free since I was born."

Duo placed a gentle kiss against Heero's jaw. "Welcome to the other side."

Heero groaned as he surrendered to his emotions and pressed a heated kiss against Duo's soft lips. The kiss was bruising and demanding. There was no tenderness, no courtesies. It was raw emotion and Duo tugged Heero harder against him as Heero deepened the kiss. The hand that had slipped into Duo's hair was now an ironclad restraint that held Duo still for Heero's ravishing. But Duo fought back, his tongue equally as desperate to rediscover the haven that had once been so familiar. Duo moaned aloud as the normally stoic man touched the one spot just under his tongue and was surprised to find his knees physically buckle. Heero growled deep in his throat, refusing to let anything end this moment. He took all of Duo's weight and continued to plunder the sweet, moist cavern. There was something addicting to the way Duo tasted and Heero struggled to make up for all the days and weeks and months he had been deprived this high.

Their breathing was loud and erratic as the kiss ended and Duo gasped aloud for air as Heero's mouth slipped down to his neck. He groaned as he felt his lover bite down gently on the tendon near the back of his neck. His nerves were short-circuiting and every nerve ending was ultra-sensitive. He felt Heero eagerly worry the skin with his teeth and tongue and understood Heero's desperate need to mark Duo even in the slightest way.

"I've always been yours," Duo murmured, his mind clearing enough to think to stroke Heero's back comfortingly.

Heero merely responded by pressing their hips roughly together as his hands slid down to hold firmly to Duo's jean-clad buttocks. Any clarity Duo had gathered was scattered to the four winds in that moment and his eyes rolled back from sheer pleasure. Heero pulled away from his harsh exploration and came back to resting his forehead against the braided man's. His breathing was shallow and slightly sporadic. Experimentally, Duo rolled his pelvis against Heero's and the instantaneous response was encouraging.

"Door locked?" Duo murmured, fingers reaching down to the waistband of Heero's boxers.

"Yes."

Between the sounds of breathing that quietly filled the room the sounds of zippers hissing and the rustle of clothes being removed was all that could be heard. A few gasps and groans followed intermittently.

Heero wanted to slow down, to memorize every second. He wanted this to last an eternity but Duo wasn't complying with the pace. They would have time later to slow down and think. Right now, Duo barely had enough wits about him to realize he was losing them all.

As Heero pushed him onto the bed and began to cover his lover's body with his own he looked down into those near-violet eyes and felt his heart constrict tightly.

"Until we die," Heero murmured.

"Or kill each other," Duo amended the saying with a happy grin.

Heero just murmured his agreement as he lowered his body onto Duo's. He didn't care what happened next. Just as long as Duo was there. That's all that mattered now.

That's all that would ever matter. From now on.

(O)(O)(O)

AN: Bad, bad, me. Slow update. However, the reviews that I have received are INCREDIBLE. I wish I could personally thank each and every one of you. I truly do take each of your comments to heart and your unfaltering encouragement is so gratifying. So I need you help on deciding the next chapter. The question is simple: lemon or no lemon? Tell me what you want! I promise the next update will be faster. I don't have any more follow-up doctor appointments, no more college books/tuition/class stuff to deal with, and no more trips to Stanley, ID. Lol! Get ready for the next twist! Once again, the least I can do is acknowledge all of the great people who took the time to share their thoughts with me. Thank you to: Madwren, Stratagirl, Animouse03, Nikkler, datanali, iczy, Aryam, lina, ete interminable, camillian, Kanami, Red Phoniex, fadedlullabyes, A. Minamino, RosefaerietaleRed, JJ, Modified Tam, Maria, shru,