April 7, A.C. 205
London, UK
"You guys, this is the best birthday party yet." Relena's eyes shone as she surveyed her guests. "I'm so glad we decided to keep it all girls this year."
"Hear, hear!" cried Hilde. "Let's raid the mini-bar!"
After a full day of shopping and spa treatments, the group of women were holed up in one of London's swankiest hotels. Now they were "pre-gaming" while getting ready to spend a night on the town.
"Whatever happened to that gorgeous man you brought to the ESUN New Year's party?" Dorothy asked from her perch on the chaise lounge.
"You mean Henry? We broke up a while ago." Relena waved a hand in the air. "He wasn't my type."
"Really?" Dorothy arched a brow. "He was definitely mine…"
"Yeah, well some of us have requirements besides 'male' and 'breathing,'" Hilde teased as she opened a nip of vodka.
"I have two more," Dorothy purred in response. "Rich and handsome."
Relena rolled her eyes. "Oh, Dorothy…"
"So." Noin sidled up next to her quietly. "You haven't heard from Heero lately?"
"No, I have." Relena met her sister-in-law's gaze, frowning. "He emailed me."
"He emailed you?" Dorothy gaped at her. "That's ridiculous."
"Well, that's what we do." Relena shrugged. "We email."
Hilde arched a suspicious brow as she sipped her cocktail. "Is that all you do? Because I've been led to believe otherwise…"
"By who?" Relena gasped.
"My husband, who keeps tabs on him." Hilde grinned mischievously.
"Oh, no, Relena." Noin's brow furrowed. "Please don't tell me you're still sleeping with him."
"Still?" Dorothy clucked her tongue. "I mean, I knew you lost your virginity to him ages ago, but…"
"Dorothy!" Relena whirled on her. "That was confidential!"
"Oh, please." Dorothy rolled her violet eyes. "There's not a soul in this room who didn't know that already."
"Erm, I didn't know." Relena's British friend Louisa raised a hand. "Who is this Heero?"
"He's… an old friend." Relena flushed.
"An old friend, or a shag boy?" Louisa grinned devilishly while Dorothy laughed.
"Just a friend," Relena insisted, her face darkening.
"But you do shag him, right? I mean, what's the point of having hot male friends if you can't shag 'em?"
"Who said he was hot?" Relena protested.
"Your face," Louisa taunted. "No way would you be that red if he were some average-looking bloke. I mean, come on."
"Admit it, you two are definitely more than friends," Hilde pressed. "You're star-crossed lovers."
"Hardly," Relena muttered. "Not all of us are fortunate enough to meet and marry our soulmates as teenagers." She looked at Hilde pointedly.
"Oh, please." Hilde guffawed. "Duo and I are not soulmates. In fact, now that we've been married for so long, we're allowed to openly hate each other. It's great."
"I'm not buying that for a second," Relena retorted.
"Fine, you're right," Hilde sighed. "I love the bastard."
"I know what you mean, though," Noin interjected. "There is a fine line between love and hate…"
"Maybe that's my problem?" Relena sank next to Dorothy, placing her chin in her hands. "The lines have always been blurry with us…"
"You do have a problem," Dorothy said sharply. "You need to get your man in line." She waggled her hand to show off her engagement ring. Her longtime beau, a wealthy real estate tycoon, had proposed over the holidays, and she was planning a June wedding. Relena cast an envious glance at the giant rock.
"I don't want to scare him off," Relena sighed. "I just don't think he's ready for… all of that."
"Well, tell him to piss or get off the pot," sang Hilde.
"She has a point," Noin agreed. "He's had plenty of time to make his move. At the very least, you should stop sleeping with him; otherwise, you're giving him the wrong idea."
"But…" Relena started.
"Oh, please," Louisa moaned. "You're all so dreadfully old-fashioned. Don't listen to these biddies, Relena. Nothing wrong with having a shag boy. You're a busy, successful, in-demand woman. You don't need a husband." She raised a glass in Relena's direction. "Cheers to your independence!"
"Thanks, Louisa." Relena smiled at her friend half-heartedly.
They had settled into a booth in a nearby club when a waiter approached their table with a bright pink cocktail.
"Excuse me, miss? The gentleman over there asked me to bring you this." Relena's eyes darted over to the bar, meeting the eyes of a handsome stranger. She flushed and tucked her head to her chin.
"Tell him thank you, but no thank you." She shook her head firmly. "I'm here with my girlfriends."
"Very well." The waiter looked slightly taken aback.
"Oh, please; I'll take it on your behalf." Hilde snatched the cocktail off of the tray. Relena laughed as the waiter wandered off, looking baffled.
"Ugh, that means he's probably going to come over here," Relena groaned.
"So? Tell him you have a boyfriend or something," Hilde suggested as she sipped her new drink. "It's partially true, anyway."
"You don't need to tell him anything, if you don't want to," Louisa jumped in. "Or you can just tell him to feck off."
Relena giggled at her friend swearing in her posh accent. "Good point."
"Besides…" Louisa pointed off to the corner. "There's another male specimen making eyes at you from across the room as we speak..."
Relena's heartbeat quickened as she craned to look around the room. Could he be here?
Her gaze landed on Quatre, who greeted her with a wave before making his way over to the girls' table.
"Quatre's here?" She swung her eyes over to Dorothy. "Did he tell you he was coming?"
"Not me." Dorothy shrugged. "I thought you said he had to work?"
"Happy birthday, Relena!" Quatre leaned over the table to offer her a hug. "Sorry I'm late. I got caught up in a business meeting, but no way could I pass through London without wishing you a happy birthday." He grinned.
"It's wonderful to see you." Relena beamed at her longtime friend. "Please, won't you join us?"
Quatre squeezed in next to Relena. "I've been meaning to catch up with you," he murmured, looking at her fondly. "It's been so long."
She nodded, meeting his eyes. "Yes, it has." She and Quatre had gone out a few times, a few years ago, but both were too busy to see each other on a consistent basis, so things had gradually tapered off. Relena preferred it that way, though. She'd always thought of Quatre as a good friend, although it was clear that he still saw her as more.
"May I ask you something?"
Relena took her gaze off of her friends, who were tearing up the dance floor, and turned to Quatre. "Hmm?"
"Have you given any more thought to my proposal?" His green eyes looked so pure and hopeful.
Relena smiled and reached over to squeeze his hand. "Quatre, you're very sweet, but I just don't think it's a good idea. You're a wonderful friend, but… marriage? It's so legal, and permanent." She sighed and released his hand.
"I know, but it does make sense, when you think about it." Quatre scooted closer to her in the booth. "We're both so busy with work, we don't really have time to meet anyone. This could be the perfect solution. That way, we both get what we want - a spouse, and a family."
"But, Quatre," Relena sputtered. "I'd hate to ruin our friendship…"
"Friendship is the best foundation for a marriage." Quatre spread his hands. "Ask anyone who's been married for a long time. You never know; we could grow to really love each other. At the very least, we wouldn't have to deal with the whole dating scene any more."
"We're still young, though," Relena pointed out. "We both still have plenty of time to find someone."
"Twenty-five is young," Quatre mused. "But not that young. Before you know it, we'll be thirty, and probably still single."
Relena frowned into her empty wine glass. Quatre noticed and signaled the waiter. "Another Sauvignon Blanc for the lady, please. And I'll take another Cabernet. Thank you."
Silence fell between them until the waiter returned with their drinks.
"Please, just think about it," Quatre said finally. "I'm in no rush; I just think it's a sensible idea. No matter what, though, I'll always be your friend." He raised his glass to hers in a mock toast.
"Quatre…" Relena smiled at him sadly. "You really are very sweet. And I do appreciate your being here, and looking out for me." She took a long, slow sip of her wine, then had a thought.
"Listen…" She turned and angled her body toward his. "How about this. If neither of us have any marriage prospects by the time we're both thirty, we'll… revisit this idea. Agreed?"
Quatre grinned and tipped his wine glass at her. "Agreed."
A/N: TEE HEE HEE.
- RFP