Chapter Sixteen
Operation: Not Happening

Trowa had been eager to leave his office. He had managed to do his report for Une on what had happened on L2 and the solution he and Duo had come up with to fix the programming issue plaguing the branch. Duo had finally sent him a message asking where he was. When he told him Earth, Duo had immediately called him.

The phone call was Duo complaining that he had been abandoned on L2. Trowa had reminded Duo that his flight time hadn't changed. Trowa had ended the call shortly after Duo grumbled more about how they could've done something while they waited to head back to Earth. Trowa was grateful that he had left early. He knew it would've been impossible to sit still or even enjoy walking around L2 with Duo, knowing Serena would be waiting for him.

Trowa left his office after he sent over his report to Une. It was a little later than they usually took their hour lunch break. But Trowa figured if Serena had been adamant about them taking their lunch on time, she would've come to get him.

Smiling to himself, Trowa knew they'd have enough time to run home, make up for the lost time he had been gone, then make it back in time for Serena to finish the workday.

But his thoughts about what he and Serena were going to do came to a halt when he neared her office door. Trowa could hear Serena yelling, then a male, matching her volume as he yelled back.

Sighing out loud, Trowa knew who was behind the closed door with her.

"This is ridiculous, Heero!" Serena yelled. "I don't understand why you won't let me go on this assignment!?"

Serena was downright pissed at this point. Heero had come barging into her office a half hour ago, telling her that she wouldn't be going on an assignment Une had forwarded to her not even an hour ago.

"You know exactly why I don't want you going!" Heero yelled back at her.

They had been going at it for the better half of twenty minutes. Heero hadn't been in her office more than a few minutes when the fighting started between them.

"I'm only going to the Paris branch!" Serena threw up her arms. "How is that a risk!?"

"Someone there will likely recognize you. Then what?"

"So!?" Serena couldn't understand what the big deal was. She wasn't going out into the field. And Une didn't appear to be worried, or she wouldn't have asked her to go in the first place.

"I'm going to have Une send someone else. You're not going," Heero said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Who else is going to go!?"

"Someone other than you. We've already been over this, Serena!" Heero glared at her.

"Then why have me be a part of your fucking department if I can't go do shit!?" Serena crossed her arms over her chest. "You can send someone else, but you know damn well I'm the only one who knows your security coding as you do!"

"You're not-"

"Heero," Serena growled as she stood from her chair, cutting him off. "You're going too far. I get not putting me on Relena's detail just yet, or that you don't want me going out into the field, but this," Serena splayed her arms out. "This is crossing the line!"

"You're not going," Heero shot back.

Serena swore, months ago, she wouldn't have any problems decking him. Again. But now, things were different, and she knew she couldn't give Heero a black eye. Taking a deep breath and did the only thing she could think of before one of them, most likely herself, hit one another.

"Get out of my office. Now."

Heero glared at her before turning on his heel and heading for the door. When he threw open the door, Trowa stood a few steps away, leaning against the wall. From what Serena could see, Heero must've sent him a look before he brushed past Trowa, leaving her door open.

Serena studied Trowa's face as his eyes followed Heero. His eyes were tight, his jaw set. After a moment, he pushed himself off the wall, walking into her office. Shutting the door, Trowa turned to face her. But he had masked his face.

"What were you two fighting about this time?" Trowa asked. Serena knew someone had to have heard them. They had been practically screaming at each other. She wasn't expecting Trowa to be the one to listen to them.

"I can't go to the Paris branch next week," Serena huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"You were given an assignment?"

"Yeah, Une forwarded me the email an hour ago asking if I could go. It would only be for a few days."

"What is the job about?" Trowa asked as he sat in one of the chairs in front of her desk. Taking his cue, Serena sat back down in her chair before running a hand through her hair. She knew she needed to get herself under control.

"To fix a security issue," Serena laughed bitterly.

"Why isn't Heero going?"

"Heero can't go because Relena is flying to L4 to meet with Quatre."

"So Une wants to send you instead of Heero?" Trowa's lip turned up, but Serena felt anything but amused. "What day would you leave and return?"

"I'd have to leave early Monday morning, and I would be gone till Thursday, Friday at the latest."

"I don't see the big deal with you going. Why is Heero having a hard time with it?"

"Because he's an asshole who doesn't want me to do anything more than push papers," Serena said, rolling her eyes. "He's worried people will talk once I show up, and heaven forbid someone there knows who I am. At some point, he needs to let me do something."

Trowa nodded his head, but he stayed silent. Serena sat back in her chair. She was starting to feel defeated by the prospect that she'd never get to do anything but sit behind her desk.

"What if I go with you?" Trowa asked after a few moments. "If Heero's concerned about someone recognizing you." Serena swung her eyes to him. She hadn't noticed that she had been looking down at her desk.

"I've already tried that," Serena sighed. "Heero still said no.

"Oh," Trowa frowned at her. "I'm sorry."

Serena sat back in her chair. She knew no matter what she tried to do, Heero wouldn't let her go. She understood his fears, but Heero needed to loosen her leash a little. Mainly if any insight into where Edwards might be hiding and what ROE was doing came to light. Serena needed to be able to move in with everyone else if they wanted to take him down. But that was solely based on Duo getting the information they needed.

"I think it's time we break for lunch, Barton," Serena said, shaking her head before she stood from her chair. Trowa stood as she came around her desk. He grabbed her by the waist, pulling her against him as he wrapped his arm around her. Lowering his head, he captured her lips in a passionate kiss.

"I've been waiting all week to do that," Trowa said when he pulled away from her, smiling. "Now, let's go home."

Trowa pulled Serena into their bedroom, not bothering to shut the door. There was no need, and he wanted to use whatever time they had to make up for the past week. Trowa claimed her lips. He felt her lips pressing back against his. Lifting a hand, Trowa cupped the side of her face, tilting her head slightly so he could deepen the kiss.

The kiss was slow. Neither Serena nor himself was rushing to the finish line. Not yet at least, and Trowa was happy about that. They were taking their time, taking in the taste and smell of one another. Her perfume was sweet with a hint of floral. A scent he would never tire of filling his lungs.

Serena's hands were working their way up to his hair. Gliding over his shoulders and up the sides of his neck. He wanted to shutter from the sensation, letting his body melt into hers. Would she ever know the power, the control she had over him?

Trowa slid the hand he had wrapped around her waist to the front of her shirt. Lifting the hem, he let his fingers graze the skin of her stomach. Trailing them lightly, he felt her muscles contract with each light touch until he placed his palm against her.

Serena pushed herself into him more while their tongues continued a tantalizing dance. Trowa moved his arms around her waist. Lifting her into the air, Serena wrapped her legs around him. Trowa walked forward till his legs brushed against the edge of the bed. Kneeling on the mattress, Trowa lowered them.

Trowa broke their kiss to remove the first barrier between them. Serena sat up before scooting herself toward the pillows as Trowa pulled his shirt over his head, throwing it to the ground. He didn't need to do anything, as Serena did the same thing. Her bra followed quickly after her shirt. Trowa smirked as he crawled up the length of her body, capturing her lips again before unbuttoning her jeans.

Serena's hands were in his hair while she wiggled her hips so he could pull her jeans off. Breaking the kiss, Trowa threw her pants to the floor before he moved off the bed to remove his. Serena's eyes followed every move he made. Her lips curled up as he returned to his position between her legs.

Trowa didn't waste any more time reclaiming her lips. Their hour lunch was winding down, and if he wanted to satisfy his needs but Serena's, there was no more time to waste on talking. Letting his hands roam, Trowa slid them up and down her sides till he reached her breasts. Molding them with his hands, Serena moaned into his mouth before he pulled his head away. Kissing her neck, Trowa continued with his ministrations on his breasts before moving one hand down her stomach to the hem of her silk panties. He smiled against Serena's neck as he slid his fingers down the side, tracing the outline before moving the material to the side.

Serena arched her back at the first skin-to-skin contact he made with her, moaning as she gripped his hair tighter in her hands. Smiling again, Trowa knew it wouldn't take him long. Serena wanted him, evident by the dampness on his fingers as he worked them to bring her one of many releases to come.

Her cries grew louder the closer he brought her to that first wave of pleasure until he felt her walls clamp down around his fingers. A breathy moan escaped her parted lips as her body settled on the bed. Serena's chest rose with each breath she took, her eyes were glazed over with lust, and her lips tugged into a satisfying smirk.

Trowa didn't waste another minute as he ripped her panties off before removing his boxers. Serena sent him a questioning look, likely because he wasn't planning on allowing her to repay the same attention he had given her. But he needed her. Right then and there.

Adjusting their position, Trowa moved her legs to place himself between them. Hovering in front of her entrance, Trowa glanced at Serena's face before he pushed inside of her. He couldn't help himself as his eyes slid close. Trowa knew he would never tire of the feeling of Serena.

Starting slow, Trowa rocked his hips, trying to savor the feeling and every emotion he felt. He had missed her, and while he knew it would likely happen more often than he cared for, Trowa promised himself that he would make up for those missing periods with Serena. It didn't need to be sexually motivated. He wanted to remind Serena how much he cared for and loved her.

The sexual attraction had always been there, even from day one. Now they could share those desires. There was nothing wrong with this. It was them. It was how their relationship worked. It was a part of the whole package when it came to them. And Trowa loved all of it.

Picking up his pace, Trowa leaned forward as he moved Serena's legs so she could hook them around his waist. Capturing her lips in a heated kiss, Trowa thought about what else he could do to show Serena how much he missed her.

But for now, this was the best way to do it. And if Serena's moaning wasn't enough indication, Trowa knew what else he could do and make her understand.

Serena blissfully sighed as she lay on the bed. She didn't even care to move from her current position. Trowa had rolled off her, lying next to her. He grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers together before he brought her hand up, kissing the back of her hand. Serena closed her eyes as she felt his breath ghost her skin before Trowa moved their joined hands to his chest.

"I need to bring you back to HQ soon," Trowa said once it seemed like he had finally caught his breath.

"I don't want to go back," Serena said, keeping her eyes closed. She felt at peace for the first time in a week. The tension Serena had earlier was finally gone. And the contentment she was feeling, Serena wanted it to stay. It was something she had been needing.

Especially after everything she had been feeling.

The week Trowa had been gone wasn't the easiest for her. On the outside, Serena had played it off to not just Trowa but Heero as well. Trowa was easier to fool. Serena didn't like that she had lied to him the few times he asked how she was doing. But she didn't want him worrying. Trowa had been sad when he left the apartment to head to the Spaceport. Serena knew Trowa didn't want to leave her, and if she were being honest, she didn't want him to go either.

She didn't want to be alone.

Serena was used to being alone, but things were different now. She didn't have to be by herself. Even though Serena enjoyed those quiet moments from time to time, the past week was not one of those times.

At first, Serena chalked up the uneasy feeling she was having to the fact that this was the first time Trowa and her would be a part since she returned. Serena hadn't understood why until she realized she'd missed him. For her, it was logical, and while the feelings persisted, even after Trowa left, Serena had pushed them aside. She reminded herself that it was only for the week, and they'd both be busy working.

It wasn't until Serena had gone to bed that first night alone that she learned she had been wrong.

The nightmares had returned.

Every night she had woken up breathing heavily, sweat dripping from her forehead. It had been the same things Serena had experienced when at the hotel. But back then, most of the memories were blurry at best. This time, however, they were vivid. Serena was reliving moments almost as if they were happening in real time. All because she was alone, and being alone meant she was a target. She was easy prey when no one else was around. It didn't matter in the end. No one would stop him from hurting her. Nor did anyone try to stop him from doing what he had done to her.

It would take Serena almost an hour to calm herself down before attempting to go back to sleep. Most nights felt like it was useless, but Serena would force herself to try to go back to sleep, even if it meant falling back into the nightmare she had been in before she woke up.

But the alternative would be worse.

Heero would know. He would figure it out. And he almost had, till Serena told him that she was missing Trowa and sleeping alone had been hard. That was the day he asked her again if she wanted to come to stay with him and Relena. And that had only been a few days before Duo and Trowa were supposed to return from L2.

While the nightmares had brought on the headaches, they were getting easier to manage.

By the end of the week, Serena convinced herself that she wouldn't have a bad one, and luckily she hadn't. But most importantly, Serena had been able to hide them from Heero.

Serena hadn't said anything to Trowa. She knew he was missing her, and Trowa felt guilty that he was away from her. While they only had one phone call and a few random texts throughout the week, Serena hadn't wanted to burden him. He was working, and Serena knew it would happen from time to time. One of them would be away. They couldn't be distracting each other, and there would be times when communication wouldn't be possible. Serena knew she needed to learn how to deal with her problems.

"We should get up in a few minutes," Trowa said as he rolled on his side, wrapping his arm around her.

"Probably, but I still don't want to." Trowa lightly laughed as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "Trowa?"

"Hm?"

"I missed you," Serena said as she turned her head to look at him. Trowa smiled at her before pressing a kiss to her lips.

"I missed you too, Rena."

A/N

Happy Chapter Sixteen!

Yeah, it's short, cause well.. this was my attempt to move this story along. Haha, how well is that going you ask? Not great. Let's just say that. But hey, we got a little something, something. And should I point out the fact Trowa has started calling her by a different name? Interesting. Either way, I'm trying here.

Next chapter we time jump... a whole month. Woo hoo? Month by month here... just go with it. Once we make it to the new year in the story... yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaah stuff's going to happen.

Also, we're one chapter closer to that magical scene, that's pretty much a whole chapter, between Heero and Relena.

Until next week, take care!
-MM