Five
Sutoomu
THANK YOUS GO OUT TO!!!!!!!!! Tears Falling Freely, Wing It, Kirihana, and Sanzo Girl. Turtle Kid, Nebula GraveYard, and Shadow 3013. Vitanie Tora, Hellfire, Amber Dreams, catc10, summersarebright, silvertwighlight, Reikan, Nara Merald, rena555, and Kami-Crimson. anissa32, Trixters' Muse, and pheonixfirekitsune. MadamShinigami and kris and Dragon'sRubyEyes. You are all very special, and the fact that many of you have not abandoned me, even though I have had times when I've abandoned Five, means a lot to me. Because, in my opinion, I suck! well, at the updating part. So thank you for being faithful!
I was prompted a week ago to start writing on this story again when Dragon'sRubyEyes locked me up in a room with Relena who was //shudder// singing. I have survived, though I'm not sure I'll ever appreciate the song Jingle Bells again. Or that song that never ends...//shudder//. That's only right if Duo does it. And the fact that she's an imaginary character doesn't help, because that only means I can't actually kill her. No wonder Heero had so many problems! Not that I hate Relena, mind you...she just doesn't sing a good Jingle Bells.
Anyways, I still didn't write this until today, of which I have spent the last five hours on my laptop writing faithfully. It was quick, but it was good. I hope. I always hope, lol. So hopefully this is up to par. I have no more time today to fix anything else, and I so desperately want to get away from Relena that I'm posting this as is. It's really really long so that should be good news. If I am missing too many things, tell me. I have an idea that there are details I shall have to clear up eventually.
Anyhoo, please read on and enjoy this as much as you can, because my muse and I are not faithful partners anymore, and we can only create this magic every now and again, through great difficulty. Basically, I get timing, and the times don't come at good times. If that makes sense. But I will still finish!!!!!
ps. Hellfire!!!!!!!!!!!! should send me an email with a bunch of info on that character...the cousin o' 'Fei...
pps. for catc10!!!!!!!!that dog that sits in the emperor's sleeve is called a Shih-Tzu, I believe. We own two of them, and one was born a runt, so she really could fit in your sleeve! She's only eight pounds heavy. Of course, the emperor's had HUGE sleeves...lol. Anyone ever seen that kid's cartoon called Sagwa the chinese siamese cat? The dogs in there are Shih-Tzus.
"'Fei? Oh, it's you." Duo's head fell back down, his expression dimming from that hopeful look.
Heero regarded the slouched body of Duo on the couch, and he sighed. Duo had never greeted him with anything but extreme enthusiasm before, since the braided baka's life was practically dependant on his loves, and Heero had been the first. Now he was in a quieter, almost depressed mood, and it had only been a day. Heero had been hoping Duo wouldn't go into depression, not after yesterday. They had spent the entire night together yesterday, having an expensive dinner and then treating themselves to a fine fivesome date at the beach under the stars. It had been intimate and full of love, and everything had felt perfect for everyone when they finally made it to bed. They were all together, five in pushed together beds, and things were finally as they always should have been. Heero had begun to believe they wouldn't need a Session, as Duo and Wufei had been perfect with each other.
But things had turned a bit rougher this morning. Wufei somehow managed to leave in the morning before anyone else was up. Considering that he had been sandwiched inbetween everyone, it was an amazing accomplishment. And he, Heero, hadn't suspected anything until Duo woke him up in a near panic, repeating over and over how 'he did it again!' with tears in his eyes. Heero had discovered Wufei's missing presence, which explained why Duo was panicing, and he spent a good hour calming Duo down with Trowa and Quatre's assuring aid. So Heero had gotten up with a sour feeling of resentment this morning, as he always did when Duo was caught up in his moods, and, after finding Wufei's note, he felt it towards Wufei directly as the cause. The chinese lover had only gone out for some shopping and planning, and he emphasized in his note that he was coming back before night and that they needn't worry and that he still loved them, but that didn't excuse him from leaving. Surely Wufei knew how Duo would react, and even Quatre had been looking worried all day, but Wufei had still gone. That was why Heero was feeling annoyed and a bit angry. Not true anger, but Wufei would be giving him an explanation when he returned.
If he returned. He would, Heero knew it, but the fact that it was almost ten thirty at night was starting to make him feel hopeless like Duo. All day Duo had been a quiet, mournful looking thing, with no smiles or laughter or jokes or teasing. He hadn't even wanted to be close to Heero this morning, and that never happened! Wufei was upsetting the still settling peace rather roughly with this move. He could have at least called, once! Along with a loner Duo, he had a worried Quatre who had been pretending to smile all day, and even Trowa had been looking at the door all day, as though in wondering. Heero had been tested to keep acting normal, himself, and he had left the house to do some shopping of his own a few hours ago, unable to stand the way the house felt. Now he returned, having taken way too long, and everything was still the same. He had hoped Wufei would be home by now. He believed Quatre and Duo desperately needed a Session, and if Wufei took much longer, they would be too tired to use its benefits fully.
So he'd better hurry his ass up! Heero didn't know how much longer he could stand Duo before he said something, and he really wanted Wufei to fix this. Wufei was the one who had to make the effort, not him, but he felt like he was being forced into it. After all, he was the one who hurt the most when he saw Duo like this, because he had seen Duo like this way too much before they had met the others. To him, it was the worst kind of wrong for Duo to feel this way. Of course, if anything was hurting any one of them, it would be wrong. Because it wasn't allowed! Not as long as he was head of this odd relationship!
Heero came in from the door and placed his shopping bags from the electronics store down on the livingroom table, glancing at Duo, who had twisted on the couch to lay full length with his face buried in the corner. Heero breathed deeply, debating on whether to do anything in general, or to wait just a bit longer. He hovered over Duo, who seemed to be holding his breath as he felt Heero's presence waiting over him. Heero decided to wait, and he saw Duo unconsciously sigh as he walked away. That upset him! He knew he shouldn't be, but it felt like Duo didn't even want him anymore, all because Wufei had decided to be a jack-ass and leave the day after he returned! It was foolish of him! But it seemed all Wufei was ever doing was making fool decisions...
Heero stopped himself and unclenched his closed fists, setting them flat against the kitchen counter as he leaned on it, calming himself. Even he needed a Session, as his anger was emerging and he was feeling things he shouldn't. They all needed it, and now! Heero didn't want to wait any longer! He didn't want to live like this for even one more hour today! What he wanted was for Duo to be grinning and Quatre to be laughing as Trowa tickled him and for him to be debating with Wufei over who got to play with Duo's hair tonight. Wufei loved Duo's hair almost as much as he did.
If Wufei loved them, then why wasn't he home!
"I'm home!" Heero looked back at the doorway, where a beaming and very happy looking Wufei stood, his hands empty. Heero's gaze then immediately flashed to Duo, waiting for what reaction they would be given. Duo's eyes had lit up as the door opened, and he stared at Wufei with disbelieving fulfilled hope, and then his smile faded into an angry scowl.
"You sure took your sweet ass time!" he snapped, sitting up and stubbornly facing away from the door. "See if I ever care to call you an' tell you where I am!"
Wufei's broad smile faltered at Duo's words, but he resolutely pulled his happiness back up and entered, refusing to let Duo provoke him. "You're right," he nodded as he sat down beside Duo, who blinked in surprise at the words. "I should have called. But I don't have my phone anymore and I was really busy, so I suppose I forgot in the rush of things. I'm sorry, though, and I'll call you every hour next time, okay?"
Duo turned to look at him, but Wufei had not succeeded in soothing him entirely. Not nearly, and Heero doubted he could completely. Duo was stubborn! A glowering gaze rested on Wufei's smile, and Wufei let it fade slightly as he saw it upset Duo more. Duo obviously did not believe Wufei should be happy. "You're a dick," he stated sullenly. "Go away."
"I just did," Wufei replied simply to Duo's refusal. "For almost an entire day, which is long enough. I don't want to go away again. Ever."
"Well, why'd you leave, then?!" Duo snapped, and Trowa emerged from the steaming bathroom at that moment. Both looked to him, and he stared back for a moment before he walked past into the bedroom. Duo's glower refocused on Wufei. "If you don't wanna ever leave, then don't!"
Wufei chuckled, and Duo growled. "Baka," he sighed. "I can't stay inside here forever. I have to live and go out and work and finish school, just like you."
"But you didn't have to, today!" Duo growled out, shifting over to the other end of the couch.
Wufei sighed, and then he looked at Heero, who was regarding them curiously. Suddenly he got a feeling of being judged by the first love. After all, it was obvious that Heero had extra obsession in protection over Duo. Wufei ignored that feeling, though, and focused only on his task. "Yes, I did have to. I did a lot of things today, and you would not believe how complicated they became, but I figured it all out. In one day, too, which was an extra bonus. I didn't want to have to spend another day away from you after this one." Wufei let a gentle smile onto his face. "Duo, I already told you I wouldn't leave you. Why don't you relax?"
"It ain't like you're the most trustworthy person, now, is it?" Duo sneered, and Wufei pulled back. That hurt! Duo didn't even know how cruel his words sounded sometimes, or how much they could cut him inside. Would Duo ever realize that Wufei was torturing himself enough already? He was having plenty of trouble overcoming the guilt inside him, and what he had done today was the first step towards fixing everything. It hurt that he couldn't tell Duo what he had been doing, though, and this only meant Duo hated him more.
What really, really hurt was that Duo was right. He had betrayed them and their trust, and he had to earn it back. That, however, seemed an impossible task, as Duo was set in his ways. He would succeed, though. And since Duo was this stubborn, it seemed as though nothing he said or did would make a difference. Not until the weekend.
So he would just quit trying so hard until then. If Duo didn't believe his words, he would eventually believe his actions.
"Fine, then," Wufei stated, standing up, and both Heero and Duo's eyes widened. "If you don't want to trust me, Duo, then there's nothing I can say to change your mind. I know that I love you and I know that I wouldn't be able to live without you, but apparently you don't understand yet. That's okay with me. You can think what you like, because I know how it is." And then he walked away from them, into the bedroom, seeking his other loves and giving Duo the chance to make a move, to decide what to do. He wanted to give everyone he could a kiss, too, since Duo would probably be refusing him after that.
"Wufei, you're back!" Quatre exclaimed gleefully from under the bedcovers. He kicked them off and jumped at Wufei, who caught him and returned the deep embrace.
"I missed you, little one," Wufei smiled, touching their noses together before he let Quatre down and kissed him. "And Trowa." Thankfully, Quatre and Trowa's eyes did not hold any obvious reproof or anger like Heero and Duo had been. "I'm sorry I took so long today, but there was so much to do!"
"Wufei," Trowa kissed his forehead and the two of them watched Quatre grab Trowa's arm and try to cuddle them both at once. It worked for him, as he was an expert cuddler, even while standing.
"Now that Wufei's home," Heero entered the room, coming over to their group hug. He watched Wufei with a monotone expression, the kind that meant he hadn't yet decided what he wanted to think of him. "We can begin our Session." Wufei's smile fell at that. He had no idea what would be coming at him in this Session of theirs, as this would be his first, but he was prepared to take what came. He was prepared to take anything until the weekend!
"Right," Wufei nodded to show Heero he was willing, and he was then relieved as Heero came and kissed him as well. It was always good to know that Heero still loved him, as he figured Heero to be the most demanding. After all, he took care of them all, and he made sure they took care of each other. Wufei wasn't sure what Heero had thought of him abandoning the attempt with Duo a moment ago. "So how do we do this thing?"
"Normally we have tea, but I really don't want to make any now...," Quatre began with a sad face.
"I'll make some hot chocolate," Trowa offered, and Quatre beamed in thanks. "And perhaps some cookies?" He suggested at the door, and Quatre frowned, following him.
"No, not cookies again. We should have some white chocolate, to go with the dark hot chocolate," he continued explaining to Trowa as they left, and Wufei looked at Heero, wondering what the perfect love would say now that they were alone.
What he said was not what was at all expected. "I don't understand you, Wufei."
Wufei stared, and when Heero said nothing more, he prompted him. "What do you mean?"
"You left for a day," Heero stated, and his eyes flashed darkly in the anger deep inside him that was caused by it. "You must have known what that would do, Wufei. You had to have known."
Wufei faced Heero seriously. This wasn't a time for smiles or excuses. Heero needed truth, and he always found it. "I didn't know," he started, then finished as he saw Heero's eyes flash. "But I could guess...how were they?"
"They were awful," Heero growled, looking away so that the anger in his eyes wasn't directed right at him, and Wufei saw that he really was upset by this. Truly upset. "Duo's been pulling back from everyone all day, being quiet, and Quatre was faking his smiles again. Trowa...Trowa is Trowa, but even he seemed quieter, even more withdrawn..." Heero looked back up at him, a full out scowl in place. "I don't know what you're planning, but it had better be something damn good!" Wufei opened his mouth to explain, but Heero cut in, his voice calmer again, as though he had only let his rage out because he had chosen to. "Don't explain anything to me, I don't want to know. All I'm saying is that whatever you spent all day today doing had better be worth what it cost." Heero paused, and they stared at each other for a moment before Heero continued, looking down again. "...I explained something of Duo before we left China...now I'm going to explain something of me to you here, before the Session." He looked up, the hard rock barrier gone from his gaze and his eyes such a haunted blue it frightened Wufei. His mouth opened, but still he hesitated with his words.
"What is it, Heero?" Wufei asked softly, touching his arm.
"Wufei...I know you wouldn't purposely hurt us, especially not since we got rid of Tao Shen but...I just want you to know," Heero looked up, and Wufei thought for a definite moment that the strongest of them all was about to break down, before he continued, his eyes hurting but not wet with tears. "That I can't just sit by without doing or knowing anything. You need to know how much it hurts me, to sit there and see them in pain and not be able to do anything about it..."
Wufei felt the shame and the guilt pile up on him two fold, and he couldn't help looking down. Heero grabbed his chin and lifted it up, forcing him to look, sad eyes into haunted ones. "I'm sorry..."
"Don't even finish that," Heero ordered. "I am not saying this to make you feel guilty. I am telling you this to help you understand why we are the way we are. I'm protective of Duo, yes, to an extreme degree because he's been through so much. But I am also just as protective of you, Wufei. But having seen every one of you go through your pain, it makes it twice as worse for me if it comes back." He paused, then continued in his speech. "I invented the Sessions because I could put rules down, rules that make it so anyone can say anything and nothing will be assumed from it. That way we can all say what we really want to without actually hurting anyone's feelings." Another pause. "But my Sessions alone cannot fix us, and I know this."
"I have to fix it," Wufei sighed, stating the ultimate point.
"Yes. I just wanted you to know, when I tell you this, that I am not against you. I just want to make sure that whatever you're doing will fix all the hurt. I want to make sure you're not going to leave anything unresolved. I have to be sure you care! I can't take the risk of losing any one of you to your pasts..."
Wufei thought of that, and he thought of his weekends plans, and then he smiled. "Heero, I do care, more than you even know, and I think what I'm planning will fix the hurt. I really, really think this will help everything. I don't know if it'll heal our pasts, or that we'll never fight, but I'm going to heal the broken hearts! I'm going to mend what I tore, and I'm going to do it the right way." Heero's hauntedness vanished instantly, as a smile replaced it.
"Thank you, Wufei," Heero spoke, and Wufei could imagine him sighing with relief. "I...I needed to make sure. I had to be sure you were doing something, so I didn't have to." Heero's smile turned into a smirk. "Though it was obvious. Since when does someone shop for an entire day without bringing home a single thing?"
Wufei laughed, and he set his arm around Heero's waist as Heero did the same, the two of them heading for the door. "Not unless you're a woman, which I am definitely not."
"Thank heavens for that," Heero chuckled, and they emerged into the livingroom to see the others already sitting on the couch, hot chocolate steaming from five mugs on the table. Wufei thanked Quatre as he settled down in the love seat with Heero and was given his own cup, and then he paused.
"...'Dragon Boy'?" he read, then noticed that the rest of the mugs were personalized, too. Someone had specifically chosen to pour hot chocolate into the special mugs, to make him note his own, the latest addition. He laughed. "Neat! Not sure I would've chosen Dragon Boy, but neat!"
"You don't get to choose," Quatre smiled. "These are Duo's gifts, so he chooses, so that's what you get."
"Well, in that case, it's perfect," Wufei grinned. "Thank you, baka," he offered his sincere thanks to Duo, who seemed to have lost his sulk and gained the somber quietness Heero had vaguely mentioned. Amethyst eyes just glanced at him in acknowledgement, seeming almost empty of the usual glitter of joy he had. And he was pulling away from Trowa and Quatre, too. Sitting inbetween them, and he still managed to exude being alone. "It means a lot to me." Duo looked down at the table, avoiding Wufei's gaze, and he debated on whether he should wait til this weekend. It was, after all, four days away, and a lot could happen in four days, as he knew too well. Maybe he would have to bump the date up by a few days...
"Don't zone out again," Quatre's touch on his shoulder made him blink and then faintly blush. "I hate it when people think too much."
"Right, I'll remember that," Wufei chuckled, then began to pay attention, wanting to see how they did this thing called 'Session'. It seemed simple enough, as Heero began explaining the general rules to Wufei. There was no assuming allowed, and no thinking thoughts without mentioning them, but always kindly, and no keeping anything inside. Basically, the main rule was to remember the other person while explaining your issues. It seemed a bit odd, but it flowed and just seemed to work for them, as Quatre was prompted to begin explaining his feelings from the whole event.
Wufei's heart was aching by the time he was five sentences in, as Quatre was relating his feelings when Wufei left. He knew there was a rule against feeling guilty, as this was supposed to be unnassumed open honesty, but he couldn't help it. It felt like something was stabbing him inside as he listened to Quatre explain the immediate blame game he played on himself. Quatre's fault? How in any way could it have been Quatre's fault? He had never suspected something like that would be thought when he had left!
Of course, he hadn't thought of anything, really, when he left. And it was just hitting him now as they went through everyone's feelings. Part of a Session was everyone having a turn, which meant that even Trowa and Heero participated and told of their deepest feelings and reactions. And the fact that Trowa had felt like diving back inside his tomb made by Jasen, and that Heero had wanted to give up and die at first made him extremely unsettled inside. He had thought it was bad enough, now this was making it seem huge! But it was huge. Since that fateful day he got Tao Shen's letter and left, it seemed everyone had partially slipped back into their old pains and way of living. Trowa was speaking of things Wufei had never known he felt, like loneliness and hate, and when Heero revealed how hard it was for him to actually let himself have any relationship because of his assassin training. Quatre admitted blaming himself for things since then, and Duo spent the entire time of the Session in his removed mood, even though he spoke of deep issues. It set Wufei off inside.
And he began to completely remake his plans to begin much, much sooner. Like, tomorrow. Or today? Could he do that, and pull it off today, even though it was nearly eleven? Well, why not? He had already spoken to Hilde and Catherine so he could force Duo and Trowa to give up resuming work for a while, and Quatre and Heero were their own bosses. And everything was prepared, since he had spent all day since six in the morning figuring it out. He could do it, if he dared. Did he dare? Did he dare tell them that they were going on a vacation right now?
"Oh, well that's just swell of ya!" Wufei blinked as Duo near yelled, and he looked up to see Duo glaring at him, and everyone else staring with wondering looks. Then he realized that he had zoned out again, and right during the Session. That was not a smart move, and Duo only emphasized it. "It's your turn, Dragon, or do you care?" he mocked the nickname, and another prick hit Wufei's heart. "He doesn't even care about anything, anymore! He's only tolerating us and our Sessions and..."
"Duo, stop it," Heero ordered sharply, and Duo blinked in surprise. "You're assuming things again, and you know how pointless that is! I've told you how pointless it is, so stop already! Just stop!"
Everyone stared at Heero, who was breathing just a bit heavily from the sudden exhert of energy. "What was that for?" Duo asked, not grumpily or moodily at all. He spoke like a child, a very little boy, who was just wondering why he was being spoken harshly to.
Heero breathed and closed his eyes, hesitating. Then he opened them again. "What the hell, it's a Session," he said, shrugging as though to himself, and then he faced Duo, eye square to eye. "I am damned sick and tired of you thinking so badly of yourself! For fuck's sakes, you're Duo! Don't you get how beautiful you are, and how special you are, and how valuable you are? No, you don't. Instead you constantly worry about everybody leaving you because you don't think you're good enough for us to stay! And I'm not just talking Wufei."
"Hey, that ain't true!" Duo snapped back in automatic defense, but Heero interrupted him, startling the rising anger right away.
"It is, and you're going to admit it, tonight!" Heero demanded. "Admit it, Duo! If I was to walk out and not call for three days, your first thought would be, what? What would it be, Duo?"
Duo looked scared to death, but it wasn't of Heero. Duo wasn't scared of Heero in any way, since he knew Heero was literally unable to do anything to him. This fear was coming from Heero's words, and what they meant. And this fear was so strong that Duo closed his eyes and tried to get away, tried to bury himself inbetween the couch and Trowa. Wufei felt stiff with tension, uncertain what to do, if anything. He decided to just wait, as Trowa and Quatre seemed to find this unalarming.
"It would be 'why did he leave me?', wouldn't it, Duo? Isn't that what you would think? I know it is, and it's wrong, because you know," Trowa caught Duo and gently levered him back up, towards Heero's waiting arms as Quatre switched seats with him. "And I know you KNOW that I cannot leave you. Duo, it's impossible! And you know that, but you would still think I left! And you're doing this with Wufei, and you can't! He's not going to leave, he's not going to leave..."
Heero switched, and now he took his gentle personality back into control. He held Duo, so tenderly you would think the baka was delicate glass, but he could have been, for all his street kid toughness. Duo suddenly let out a mournful moan and he buried his head in Heero's chest, shaking. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Hee-chan, I'm so sorry! I...I didn't mean..."
"Shh, Duo," Heero petted his hair, and he set his head on Duo's for a moment. "You just forgot how absolutely amazing you are, that's all. And how could anyone leave someone so incredible behind? I've told you before and I'll say it as many times as I have to. You, Duo Maxwell, are well worth it. Wufei can't leave something this incredible." Wufei smiled in agreement as he watched them.
"But he did!" Duo sobbed. "H-he did l-leave me an'...he left me! He left me, like everybody!" Duo slammed a fist lightly into Heero's chest, but he absorbed it without a single word or complaint. "Jus' like Solo...an' S-sister H-helen a-an' F-father Maxwell! They all left me!"
"No, no, Duo!" Heero whispered fiercely. "Solo never left you. None of them left you. They were taken away, and Tao Shen took Wufei away, too, but we got him back. We got him back, love! And now no one can take him away anymore, because he loves you too much. Do you know, Duo, how much love we each have for you? For our braided baka?" Duo's sobbing was slowing, and it lessened as Heero sat him up and looked at him. "How much do you love Quatre, your little Winner?"
Duo sniffed, glancing at the sweet Quatre, who smiled in encouragement. "A lot..."
"Well, that's how much Wufei loves you!" Heero exclaimed. "And it's the same with Trowa, and with me, and with Quatre himself. We're yours, Duo! And something that belongs to you doesn't leave. The calling would not have brought us all together if we all didn't love each other. Yes, things can be taken, but they can always be retrieved. You lost your Wufei and you got him back. Why would he want to leave when he was just found? Why?"
"I don't," Wufei beamed in a smile as Duo looked at him. "And we are yours. You've said it yourself. Look." Everyone's attention was turned to the mugs that Wufei pointed at. "Did you not buy these yourself? O Perfect One, Little Winner, Silent Clown, Braided Baka...Dragon Boy," he chuckled. "These are your gifts to your loves, to tell them you love them, right? They're your names for us." Duo nodded mildly, not understanding what Wufei was trying to say. "I know you love me because I have one, now...in a way, this cup," Wufei looked with interest at the simple mug. "Is like an official initiation to me." He set it down amongst the others. "And it belongs with the others, right here, like me." Wufei looked up at them all, and now his words were not only directed to Duo. "And now I want to give you my gift, to show you that I want you to be with me. I don't just want to be with you, I want you to be with me. So I have a gift, like this mug, to give you all."
"What is it?" Quatre asked curiously.
"It is...," Wufei inhaled deeply, then said it. "A vacation."
They stared. "A vacation?" Trowa spoke first.
"Yes, a vacation," Wufei repeated. "It's why I was gone all day today, and I was going to wait until the weekend to start it...but I don't want to." He looked up, excitement in his gaze. "I want to start it now. Right now!"
"At eleven at night?" Quatre blinked in the sudden onslaught of plans. "Where is this vacation?"
"That's a surprise, and yes, now," Wufei suddenly laughed. "Why wait? Really, why wait?" He stood up, a grin stretching across his face. "So I'll expect you to have a packed bag ready at the door in five minutes." He stood.
"Wait, how long are we staying? How are we getting there? What are we doing?" Quatre began to panic with the sudden decision.
"And who says we gotta go with you?" Duo asked, a hint of distrust in his voice.
"I say," Wufei stated. "And since I love you and you love me, you're going to trust me and come with. Well, you have to. It's pretty pointless without all of you, and it would be most pathetic if I left alone. so you have to come. Don't you want your gift? I promise on Taia's life that you'll like it. I swear!"
"Hey, hey, relax," Duo rushed in, a faint smile beginning on his tear streaked cheeks. "I'm comin'. You don't think I'd miss a present, do ya?"
"How much stuff do I have to bring? And what about the business? And Trowa and Duo have jobs!" Quatre was still going about a mile a minute.
"Quatre, chill out, it's all taken care of," Wufei patted Quatre's head, and he pouted. "I spent all day figuring everything out. All day! So, you're coming, right, Trowa?"
"Absolutely," Trowa smiled.
"...what about the Session?" Heero interrupted, his eyes hard and focused on the table. "We shouldn't just stop it halfway through."
Wufei knew what Heero was thinking. Heero was worried, and as he had made pretty clear before, he couldn't accept no explanation easily where it concerned any of them. And he couldn't just accept quitting a Session, which was the only time he felt they had to be open. Heero needed a reason, and to be assured that Wufei was doing something.
"I think you just helped heal our biggest problem a moment ago," Wufei pointed out. "And this is exactly what we need. Trust me, Heero," he spoke, willing Heero to give his acceptance and permission. "This is my gift to everyone, including you." And if it worked, it could eliminate their need for Sessions. The point of Sessions was to get everyone to open up and be honest. If this worked, that would be a natural way of life for them all. And even if it didn't work as well as he wanted it to, he would make it work over time. because he was determined to work at this relationship until it was perfected!
So Wufei waited with extremely tense shoulders until Heero nodded his reluctant okay and stated he would pack his bags. "Thank you," he breathed, his entire being swelling with the anticipation of tonight and tomorrow and the next few days...because for those few days, Wufei was going to show them all exactly how much he was willing to give for them, and what he would do for them.
So that is the twenty fourth chapter, actually. I've resigned myself to the fact that the multi part epilogues are still chapters. Sigh. Well, who knows how many more til I'm done, and who knows if I'll ever stop this? I could just jump right into another exciting story idea...who knows? We'll see. I seriously have very little idea of what will come about.
Did you like it? Did you? I hope so, and please review. They make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Storm