Chapter 9

Trowa looked at the smiling face of his old friend as the happy news of the impending baby plans lit up the younger man's face. Quatre and Sylvia were good for each other and seemed to be a power couple like no other. With her background as a diplomat's granddaughter, it wasn't hard for her to slip into Quatre's family company and assist in several ways. He had never seen the blond Arabian so happy. Married was a good look for him.

"Congratulations, Quatre." Trowa smiled at his friend.

"Thanks! Sylvia and I are looking forward to becoming parents."

"It'll be a lucky kid." Quatre laughed.

"We'll see." But Quatre's mood suddenly changed and Trowa knew there was something more the head of the Winner family wanted to say.

"What aren't you telling me, Quatre?" The younger man's lips tightened in a slight grimace.

"I can't hide anything from you." Quatre ran a hand through his bangs. "Relena and Heero got engaged." Trowa waited for it: the pain he thought he'd feel when this inevitable event came around... but it didn't come. In fact, he was happy for her. For both of them. A small smile came to his lips.

"Trowa?" His friend's eyes were full of concern.

"I'm fine Quatre."

"You are?"

"Yeah. I'm… I'm happy for them."

"That's good!" Quatre smiled, relaxing. "I guess time really does heal all wounds."

"I guess." But he knew. It wasn't just time. It was his actions. He let himself move on. He let himself be happy. Relena would always hold a place in his heart, but when he thought about love, he no longer saw her. Pale blonde hair and grey-blue eyes came to mind… he nearly jumped. When did that happen? He didn't know what to call how that image made him feel.

"Trowa, are you okay?"

"Huh?" Trowa looked back at the concerned face of his friend. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"It's Dorothy, isn't it?" His friend smiled. He didn't like that smile. Sometimes Quatre's insight was annoying.

"It's not like that." Even as he said those words, he didn't fully believe it.

"I don't know what you and Dorothy agreed on, but I know what I've sensed from you."

"Leave it alone, Quatre." The blond sighed and shook his head.

"Alright, Trowa. But lying to yourself is only going to make it worse. For both of you."

"Thanks for your concern. But I'm fine." He saw his old friend flinch and realized how harsh he sounded. Being an empath, Quatre felt and sensed all sorts of complicated things from other people. Trowa sighed and combed a hand through his long bangs. "Really, Quatre. I'm fine."

"I felt your pain over Relena. I was afraid there for a while. That you would-" Quatre stopped himself. "You're like my brother, Trowa. All I want is for you to be happy."

"I am." Quatre seemed unconvinced and Trowa had to wonder if his friend truly did understand his feelings better than he did. There was that moment; that brief moment when he and Dorothy last made love that he felt the desire to continue their arrangement in a different way...

"For your sake, I hope you're right." Quatre pressed one last time before Trowa rerouted the conversation back to his friend's family planning. The conversation ended soon after but Quatre's words had scarcely a chance to leave his mind before Catherine came up behind him.

"He's right, Trowa."

"Leave it alone, Cathy."

"I won't!" She grabbed his arm. "You're my little brother. I watched as you pined after Relena. I feared that one day, I would go to your trailer to get you for our routine and find you-" she stopped, tears welling in her eyes as she choked up. "Whatever you have with that woman can't be worth going through that again!"

"I won't."

"Do you love her?" Trowa felt his heart catch in his throat at the sudden question.

"Seriously?" Trowa shook her off and tried to get to his trailer.

"Well, if you don't love her, then you should be able to end it. Right now."

"Cathy. This is none of your business."

"Trowa. She is a rich, heiress socialite. You are an acrobat in a traveling circus! There is no way you could make it work."

"Our arrangement is working just fine." He nearly yelled at her. She was really angry. Her face was turning red.

"That is not what I'm referring to and you know it!" Cathy walked in front of him. "Trowa, please." He looked at his sister and then at the ground.

"What if she gets pregnant, huh? Did you consider where you would raise your kid? Who would give up which lifestyle? I can guarantee she won't join the circus. So how could it work? Would you leave the circus?"

All of these were excellent questions. What if she did get pregnant? He was willing to give up the circus for Relena. Would he be for Dorothy? Did he care enough about her, or would it be for their child? And was she even remotely as confused about her feelings as he was of his own? He ran a frustrated hand through his bangs and heaved a sigh.

"I'm sorry, Cathy. I know you're worried. And I hate making you worry." He tried to offer her a small smile, but it didn't help.

"Please, Trowa," she started, "end things with her before you get hurt again." Before he could say anything else, she turned and walked away.

He knew why she was worried. Why they both were. Cathy and Quatre were his only family. They truly did only want him to be happy. His heartbreak over Relena had been early crippling and there were times where he almost did consider ending his existence. Alcohol will do that to you. Now that his head was clear, it was a matter of comparing the facts. He cared about Dorothy. He knew that; could feel it every time she crossed his mind. The questions of how much he cared and to what extent were by far the most pressing. Then, there was the added question of her thoughts on the matter. This whole arrangement was initially her idea. If she did not wish to make things more than what they were…

He half growled under his breath and tore his shirt over his head to start for the training area. Working on his routines was always a good way to clear his head. The distraction of adrenaline was welcome as he swung from swing, to bar, to hoop. His body twisted and contorted much like his mind. Dorothy was complicated. So was he. Both had their problems… but they were good together. She understood him as he understood her in a way that no one else ever had. The way he felt when he was near her; when they were together, was peaceful. It felt right. It shouldn't, but it did. And he wanted it to continue. He only hoped she felt the same. As his practice ended, he flipped down into a perfect landing and walked over to get his towel.

He didn't know if what he felt was love, but whatever it was strong enough that he wanted to try. He walked to his trailer, showered, cracked open a cold soda and continued to mull the thought over in his mind. He stared at his phone, debating whether or not to call. Duo had his Halloween party coming up. He wondered if inviting her to the party was a good idea. A public gala was one thing, but to attend a friend's party together was something completely different. More personal. It required more consideration. He sighed and reached for his phone. He'd invite her to the party. If she said no, then he would go alone. If she said yes…

He would tell her. He would ask her about her own feelings on the subject. He just didn't know how he would feel or how they would move forward if she chose not to let anything change. Typing in the message, he paused only for a moment before throwing caution to the wind and hitting 'send'.

*Duo's Halloween party is next month. Go with me?*

He waited. Sipped his soda. Turned on the TV. and flipped through the same 6 channels available over and over again. Finally, the phone buzzed, screen lighting up with the answer.

*I'll choose the costumes.*

She agreed to go. He let out a heavy sigh as relief flowed through him. They would be going together. As a couple? He didn't know. But her desire to go with him was encouraging at the very least.


Dorothy met Trowa at a small nice hotel a block or two away from Duo's. She bore a large plastic garment bag slung in front of her over both arms. He handed it to him with an ornery smirk.

"When we get upstairs to the room, I want you to put it on." He raised a brow and allowed his eyes to roam her amazing figure. She was dressed as a pirate wench complete with a tight black corset that hugged her body perfectly and pushed her breasts up to reveal ample cleavage through the gap in the white blouse. The traditional skirts flared out around a pair of leather pants with stitches up the sides. A feathered hat sat atop her head and an eye patch was flipped up out of the way to complete the ensemble. He smiled.

"There are a few other things I'd rather do." Her grin widened.

"There's always the after party for that. And believe me when I say," she walked up to him, leaned in, pressing her breasts against his arm. Her lips tickled his ear. "It will be worth waiting for." He felt his groin tighten. He didn't want to wait, but his conversation with Cathy continued to nag at the back of his mind.

After checking in, she walked to the elevator and he couldn't help but admire the way her skirts moved with her hips. It didn't take a genius to know she was moving them that way on purpose. Her seductive dance had already begun. He followed her up to their room where he made quick work of changing. Well, not so quick. He took his time and felt her eyes on him as she drank in his form. At one point, he saw her bite her lip as her eyes went to his crotch. He smirked and shrugged into the white pirate blouse. He pulled on the tight, dark teal pants, then tied belt and sash around his waist. He finished the look with the saber attached to the belt he slung over his shoulder and around him. The cloak and the hat felt a bit like overkill, but they did add something extra upon looking in the mirror.

"You look good as a pirate." She came up behind him and tickled his ear with her lips again. "Almost makes me sorry that we have to leave." Trowa turned and wrapped his arms around her.

"We could just… stay here…" it was his turn to tease. He leaned down and nipped at her neck. "And have our own party." He rubbed his evidence of his desire into her. She let out a feminine moan and then chuckled.

"Mmm nice try, but I didn't go to all that trouble to get us these costumes for nothing-oh!" He picked her up and carried her to the bed. "Trowa!" She protested, laughing. "We have to get to the party!" He pinned her down on the bed and grinned at her.

"We can be late." She smiled up at him, answering by wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Okay, but if you damage these costumes, you'll be paying the replacement fee."

"Put it on my tab." He growled as he dipped down and claimed her lips with his. She pushed against him.

"I'm serious!" She laughed again. Their lovemaking was fast and passionate, with him still taking his time where is counted. Afterwards, she made her way into the bathroom and Trowa watched her go, before getting himself dressed as well. They left the room, arm in arm to head to the party. Still, his sister's words continued to nag him in the back of his mind. They would need to talk. And soon. But they had a party to get to. As Dorothy reentered the room, he adjusted his outfit one last time and followed her out the door.