Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and For You are property of their respective owners. I do not own anything.
Get in the mood: "For You" by Julia and Angus Stone
The Tower
Chapter 6
"If you love me, I'll make you a star in my universe."
"Agent Light this is an unusual time for you to contact me. Did something happen?"
"We've just received a threat against Relena at the ESUN office."
"Against Miss Relena! Is she alright?"
"Hello Dorothy it's been so long since I've seen you! How have you been? How's things with Qua-"
"Hn. As you can see she's here with me at the Preventer base."
"If she's with you I'm sure she'll be fine but should Agent Sand and myself report to base?"
"No. We have enough personnel here to cover guard duty. We still don't want your connection with us to be widely known. Just relax and prepare for the next meeting. I just wanted to keep you informed."
"Understood. Thank you. Take care."
Dorothy relaxed her hands against the cool stone rail of the balcony as she glanced down into the famous garden below. The glow of the moon had illuminated the multitude of flowers and she could see the beautiful assortment of colors from her vantage point. The colors blended together like an oil painting, each patch seamlessly interwoven with another. Beautiful designs, the products of careful planning, spread as far as the eye could see. Although the garden was impressive, such a listless display could never hold her interest for long and she soon sighed with boredom.
Instead, Dorothy shifted her gaze to the glittering stars above. The moon greeted her with its soft splendor and she smiled in spite of herself. She allowed her thoughts to wander as the twinkling heavens brought her back to the war. An angelic face materialized in her mind, the face of the man who she tried to kill that day, the same man she was presently determined to avoid. He had been as persistent in his quest to meet with her as she had been in her mission to evade him. He held a power over her that defied explanation. Why would he reach out to someone who had stabbed him? He should be the one running as far as he could from her, not vice versa. Just thinking about his actions confused and agitated her. She felt increasingly flustered and heat crept from her chest to her face. Absentmindedly, she reached up to remove her mask but was startled by a familiar voice calling out her name. She whirled around quickly towards the voice to be sure her mind wasn't fooling her. She felt her eyes widened in shock and her heart began to thud in her chest. Even with his mask, she recognized him immediately, her gaze had fallen on the real form of her mind's image.
A calmness overcame Quatre as Dorothy had finally noticed his presence. He forced himself to tear his gaze from the entrancing trail her long locks had created when she spun around and he met her eyes. He walked casually next to the duchess and removed his mask, placing it in his pocket. Allowing the feeling of surprise to subside, Dorothy found she had no escape from her current situation and cursed herself for dropping her guard so easily. She assumed her societal persona and returned her attentions to the stars before addressing her companion.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she greeted him with a tight smile, "Good evening, Mr. Winner. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Miss Relena suggested I see the garden from up here," he explained with a blush.
"Of course she did," Dorothy responded flatly while mentally plotting her revenge. "The flowers are beautiful tonight especially under the light of the moon."
Sensing something amiss, Quatre followed her line of sight to the stars above.
"Miss Catalonia-", he began, only to be cut short.
"Do you prefer the beauty of the Earth or the beauty of the colonies Mr. Winner?"
He looked at her suspiciously before answering, "Each has its own charm. For example the stars here sparkle in a such a way that humans could never dream of imitating. But the holographic stars, the ones made by the colonists, are a triumph because they are the work of human hands."
Dorothy scoffed and cast a side long glance at her companion, "What a perfectly balanced answer, always the intermediary aren't you Mr. Winner."
Quickly realizing he wouldn't win, he returned the question to her, "What do you prefer Miss Catalonia?"
"I prefer Miss Dorothy," she corrected before continuing, "And as for the stars, I believe their beauty is best appreciated while floating among them." Dorothy stood firmly with a distant look on her face as she remained transfixed on the glittering expanse before her. Softly, she added, "sometimes I think that's what heaven must be like."
For the second time that night, Quatre was in awe of the woman standing beside him. He hadn't expected her response but strangely, it fit his impression of her perfectly. Looking at her now, she was looking up at the sky through her long black lashes, her pale skin exposed by the mask shown radiantly in the moonlight. He felt drawn to her, as if her pink hued lips were begging to be kissed. Yet he said nothing and he did nothing. Tranquility flooded around them until at last he broke out of his spell.
"If you would allow me, I would very much like to see that with you, Miss Dorothy."
His soothing voice reached her ears and she turned to face him in amazement. She could feel the blush rise to color her cheeks once again, a feeling his spaceheart sensed. He felt guilty breaking her reverie but was relieved by her reaction. Her heart was still open, still reachable. Despite himself, his hands rose up and carefully removed her elaborate mask.
After a quiet, scenic drive, Quatre and Dorothy had arrived at their destination, a cozy log cabin settled in front of a sparkling lake. The sun hung low in the sky as she exited the car and breathed in the crisp air. The vibrant greenery of the surrounding woods was a welcome change from the metropolitan grays the duchess was used to.
Quatre approached her and noted her inquisitive glance, "Heero said our official orders are to relax didn't he?"
"He also said I am to prepare for the next meeting."
She raised her unique eyebrows in anticipation of the pilot's answer.
"Which isn't for a week if I recall," Quatre gently reminded her. "And don't worry about Miss Relena. If Heero is with her, I'm sure she'll be just fine."
Dorothy gave him a knowing smile as she accepted the hand he offered her. He guided her to the lawn at the back of the cabin where an elegant candlelit table was prepared.
"Rashid helped me a little," he explained as he led her to a seat.
She impishly smiled at him.
"Does that mean he's forgiven me for stabbing his dear Master Quatre?"
He blushed at the title as she sat as innocently as she could.
"I'd like to believe he's warmed up to you. But at the very least he trusts me," he responded with a playful glint in his eye, sitting himself.
After enjoying dinner, Quatre and Dorothy strolled down to the edge of the lake. Fireflies danced on the warm breeze and illuminated the darkening evening as they approached the water.
"This place is beautiful Quatre. It's just like..."
"Heaven on earth?"
The blonde pilot smiled at his companion as shared memories washed over them.
"I've always wanted to take you here Dorothy, ever since that day we met again on the balcony. These fireflies floating around us, it reminds me of..."
"Floating among the stars."
The words escaped her lips in a barely audible whisper as the duchess immersed herself in the beauty surrounding her. They had stopped to sit on a stone bench close to the water's edge. She looked at Quatre beside her and saw the love she felt in her heart reflected in his eyes. Gently, he took her hands from her lap into his own.
"Dorothy. My heaven on earth is wherever you are. You bring joy to my life that I never realized was missing and it makes me feel like a new man."
Dorothy smiled slightly at Quatre's claim and shook her head, "You have flaws but they don't even begin to scratch the surface, you're perfect."
"Not without you," he responded, touching her cheek lovingly with the tips of his fingers.
It was as if she were a mirage that would disappear if not treated with delicacy.
"All I want is to give you the same happiness that you give to me. Even if it takes the rest of my life."
"Quatre..."
With those words, realization dawn on a stunned Dorothy. Her heart beat wildly as she watched as Quatre stood, then knelt on his right knee before her and produced a small velvet box from his pocket. His eyes never left hers.
"Dorothy Theresa Catalonia, I would be honored to spend a lifetime beside you. Will you marry me?"
