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An evening with the Gundam boys. You just can't take them anywhere….

Rascal

Chapter 20

"If you're that stressed about it, why did you agree to go?"

One look from Heero told Milliardo everything he needed to know. Heero had agreed to the dinner because he felt guilty about keeping himself hidden away from his friends for all these years. If they had asked him to run through the city street naked he would have. And right about now, from the miserable look on his face, he would have preferred to be naked than go to this dinner. I know he wants to see them, but I think he's just worried about facing all of them at once.

Milliardo offered a sympathetic smile and put a reassuring arm around Heero's shoulders, pulling him in close so Heero's head rested on his shoulder.

"Would it help if it were someplace private, like here? It could be your 'home court advantage' of sorts."

"Rascal would have a fit."

They both chuckled and Milliardo kissed the top of Heero's head.

"Point taken."

The pair sat in silence for a few moments, Heero staring off into space and Milliardo turning his attention to the news ticker scrolling along the bottom of the TV screen. Suddenly Heero lifted his head and turned to Milliardo.

"Come with me."

"Don't you have enough to be stressed about without having to explain my presence?"

Heero slowly shook his head and looked very serious as he reached out and placed his hand on Milliardo's thigh.

"Having you there is my 'home court advantage'."

Milliardo gazed into the steady blue eyes and swallowed hard. He knew what Heero was trying to say in his own oblique way. He saw Milliardo as his safe place where he could seek solace and strength. I'm his home. He reached out and lightly caressed Heero's cheek before leaning in and giving him a tender kiss.

"Then I'll be there." I love you too, Heero.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Heero stood in the hotel lobby and tried to keep his nerves from twisting his stomach into knots. Even though he had cleared the hurdle of calling Duo and Trowa already, and getting the majority of the drama over with, actually seeing his friends face-to-face was causing him just as much anxiety as before he called.

For the most part he wasn't worried about Trowa or Quatre. Trowa was always composed and Heero could already picture the subtle welcoming smile and it helped to calm his nerves. He always had that power over me. And he expected a bit of an uncomfortable emotional reunion with Quatre, the sensitive Arabian worse than Duo when it came to emotional displays.

At the thought of his expressive friend, Heero's stomach began to knot up again. Duo hadn't hidden the fact that he had been hurt at Heero's absence, and knowing Duo as well as he did, Heero knew that would not be the end of it.

Heero exhaled sharply and began to pace the small area he'd staked out in the far corner of the large lobby that offered a clear view of the revolving front doors. As he tried to keep his mind free and clear of all thoughts he heard a woman's plaintive voice calling a very familiar name.

"Duo, please, I'm begging you, don't---"

Heero turned towards the voice and saw Duo and a young woman walking towards him. She stopped her plea as Heero's and Duo's eyes met and both men froze. Finally, Duo started approaching Heero in a confident gait and didn't stop or falter as he pulled his fist back and hit Heero with a solid right hook to the jaw. Hilde gasped and then groaned as Heero fell to the floor. Duo just stood there, fists clenched at his side, glaring down at Heero whose head was still lowered as he slowly reworked his jaw.

"Feel better?"

"Yeah."

Heero looked up at Duo through his bangs and offered a smirk which was quickly matched by the man hovering over him.

"Good."

Duo offered his hand and Heero readily accepted it, allowing himself to be pulled up and into a bear hug. The reunited friends remained that way for several moments until a small sniffle could be heard. Duo let go of Heero and turned to see Hilde standing there, dotting her eyes with a tissue.

"Aw, Hilde, come on."

"I can't help it. I'm just so happy that you two have found each other again."

Duo walked over to Hilde and gave her a kiss on the cheek and whispered something in her ear that Heero couldn't hear. She chuckled and blushed and gave him a quick kiss in return before digging in her purse as she approached Heero.

"Here. I knew Duo wouldn't listen to me."

Heero looked at the sweet, apologetic smile and the sparkling eyes and then down to the ice pack being offered and knew exactly why Duo cared for this woman so much. He accepted the ice pack with a nod and slight smile and the trio sat down and waited for the others.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Duo! How could you?!"

Duo rolled his eyes at the petite blonde's outburst and shoved his hands in his pockets while Quatre fussed over Heero's bruised cheek.

"I did what every one of us wanted to do."

He made a point of meeting the gaze of everyone standing in front of him. Trowa, who had a knowing smile on his face, Quatre, who looked guilty with flushed cheeks, and Heero whose face was unreadable with the exception of his glittering blue eyes.

"Mr. Winner?" Everyone turned to see an older gentleman in a tuxedo regarding them with raised eyebrows. "Your table is ready, sir."

"Thank you."

Quatre gave Heero one more worried look before Trowa placed a firm hand on his back and started guiding him towards the restaurant behind the Maitre de, followed by Hilde, being escorted by Duo. Duo looked back and saw Heero still standing in place.

"You coming?"

Heero nodded and followed behind his friends, wondering how he was going to tell them about Milliardo's eminent arrival. I wish Wufei was here. Why is he late?! He's never late!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Wufei and Sally arrived seconds after the others had been seated and once menus were distributed, and drinks were ordered, the waiter left the group of friends to themselves. While everyone was scanning their menus Heero slowly let his eyes roam around the table. He really had missed these people. I made a horrible mistake staying hidden for so long. We've all grown and changed and I missed that. I can still see the same friends from before, but…..they're strangers as well. We have so much catching up to do.

This last thought brought images of Milliardo to the front of his mind and Heero took a deep breath. I can do this. They're my friends. They'll be happy for me, I know they will.

"I hope you don't mind but I've invited someone to join us for dinner."

Before Heero could gauge his friends' reactions, he was the recipient of a very hard blow to the shoulder. He looked to his left with narrowed eyes and fought the need to rub his probably bruised flesh. Duo winked at him and smiled like a Cheshire Cat.

"Thank goodness! I was always worried that you were asexual."

"Duo!"

Heero's gaze went to Duo's right to see Hilde rolling her eyes and reaching out blindly to smack her fiancée on the back of the head in what Heero presumed to be a well practiced gesture.

Next to Hilde was Quatre who just stared at him with those big teal eyes that were filled with worry. What's his problem?

Next to Quatre was of course Trowa who for all intents and purposes looked unfazed by anything going on around him, but Heero could see the sharp green eyes keeping an eye on his boyfriend. Trowa's emotions were usually based on Quatre's. Something Heero found that he was unable to handle when he and the young man were together briefly, so many years ago.

Finally there were Wufei and Sally. Wufei already knew about Milliardo which explained the subtle, knowing smile on his face. And Heero trusted Wufei not to have told his girlfriend, but Heero was beginning to doubt his friend as the Preventor doctor just sat there, seemingly engrossed in her menu.

"So what's she like?"

"How long have you two been going out?"

"It's not like th----"

"How did you find someone to put up with you?"

"I'm trying to ex----"

"Would everyone just shut up?"

All conversation ceased and six sets of eyes turned to look at Sally whose eyes were still downcast at her menu.

"You're giving me a headache."

Heero watched as Wufei leaned in and whispered something into Sally's ear, causing her lips to pull up slightly in a smile. They really were quite a pair with their temperaments.

"Obviously this person means a great deal to you, Heero. Why don't you tell us about them?"

It was Trowa who had spoken and he and Heero shared a knowing gaze, the pair silently communicating their amusement at everyone's assumption Heero's special someone was female. Nobody knew, with the possible exception of Quatre, that Heero and Trowa ever had an intimate relationship and Heero had never dated anyone else.

"Well, first of all, it's not a---"

"Sorry I'm late. Traffic wasn't very cooperative."

Heero felt a strong hand on his shoulder and heard the smooth voice float down from above and his stomach tied in knots. His plan to tell everyone that it was Milliardo before the blonde showed up had just miserably failed.

Milliardo let his hand slide across Heero's shoulders as he took the seat that the waiter had placed next to him, giving Heero a quick kiss on the cheek before placing his napkin on his lap and offering everyone a smile. But with the exception of Wufei, Sally, and Trowa, nobody was returning his smile.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Not at all, Milliardo. And don't apologize for being late, we've only ordered drinks. The traffic was not kind to anyone."

Milliardo nodded at his co-worker and turned to Heero, leaning in to whisper.

"I take it you were unable to warn them of my arrival."

"They talk too damn much."

Milliardo chuckled and sat back straight, turning his attention to his menu. He knew this dinner was very important to Heero and whereas he had no concerns about Wufei and Sally and now apparently Trowa, he was worried about Duo and Quatre. Duo just looked shocked and that boded well for his case. But Quatre…… He looks scared. What could he possibly be scared of?

To be continued….only two chapters left!