A/N: Sorry it's been so long. But, my muse is back and refreshed. Onward we go...

Growing Pains

Chapter 2: I was sort of wondering if...well if Relena...you know...talks to you?

"'Cause you give me something, that makes me scared, alright. This could be nothing, but I'm willing to give it a try. Please give me something, 'cause someday I might know my heart," -James Morrison, You Give Me Something

AC 203

Earth

Three weeks later...

The midnight blue dress hit right below her knees showing off her smooth, creamy legs modestly. The chiffon straps across her petite shoulders flowed pixie like when she moved and the simple beading across the chest highlighted her womanly features inconspicuously.

Still Hilde was unsure.

She spun slowly in front of the mirror, her sky blue eyes full of concern. "I just don't know..."

"You look gorgeous," Relena assured her for the third time that evening, adjusting her own flowing, black Chanel gown. Both girls had been getting ready for just over two hours and Hilde was getting tired of the formal attire already.

She and Duo had both been invited to attend Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlain-Yuy's twenty-second birthday party--which was more of a red carpet affair than a simple birthday--and Hilde was trying to use it to her advantage, but her obvious lack in self-confidence was holding her back more than usual lately.

She shook her head lightly, the dark curls framing her eloquent features bobbing with the movement. "You look gorgeous, Relena."

Relean smiled, sighing quietly at her friend. "He will agree with me, you know." Fixing a diamond studded pin holding her spirally up-do Relena saw Hilde's face go crimson in the mirror. Her smile widened.

Heero was buttoning his white tuxedo shirt slowly and meticulously when there was a quick knock on the door to the dressing room. Before he could even open his mouth to request as to who it was, however, the door was opened and a frustrated looking Duo Maxwell walked in.

Heero rolled his eyes silently. "Patience is not one of your better virtues."

Duo proceeded to unceremoniously plop down into a leather upholstered chair and gave the other man a pointed look. "I knocked."

If Heero was one to laugh he would have done so. "What do you need Maxwell?"

Duo watched as Heero expertly tied his black silk tie. It had taken Duo a good ten minutes to get his own to be that perfect. "Can't a guy just visit his friend without a particular reason?"

"Hn. Not you." Heero's answer was quick and Duo could have sworn he saw a smirk flash across his face. The princess is good for him I guess, Duo thought picturing Relena's kind smile in his mind.

He sighed and sunk deeper into the chair, playing with the end of his freshly braided hair. "Actually I was sort of wondering if...well if Relena...you know...talks to you?"

Heero's dark eyes flashed amusedly. "Yes, we do occasionally hold conversations."

Duo shook his head, rolling his eyes. "That's not what I meant. I mean does Relena ever talk to you about...'girl stuff?'"

Heero turned from the mirror to face his friend. "Girl stuff?" He paused, mocking thoughtfulness. "Like make-up and shoes?"

This time Duo sat up and furrowed his eyebrows seriously. "I mean does she ever tell you about conversations she's had with...I don't know...Hilde, for example?"

Heero's mind back tracked to the tiresome too-early-in-the-morning and too-still-in-bed conversation he had held with Relena a few weeks earlier.

"Heero?" Relena's voice was soft, contented, and a tiny bit concerned.

"Hmm?" Heero's breath was warm on her bare skin.

"Does Duo love Hilde?"

Heero's grimace was nearly unnoticeable.

"Well?" Duo pressed, shifting his feet uneasily.

"Why do you ask?" Heero wondered, avoiding the direct question as he attempted to pin his shirt with the gold cuff links Relena had practically thrown at him before their first "date" which turned out to be a boring and nerve wracking political gala wherein he felt gold cuff links were not the most important asset he could have had on him.

Duo shook his head, looking truly puzzled. "I don't know. She's just been different lately. She's been on the communicator with Relena more than usual."

"Is that a problem? They are friends." Heero turned to check his appearance in the mirror to avoid Duo's wondering gaze.

"I get that...but...we don't ever talk on the communicator," Duo shot back , his voice unconfident.

Heero's shoulders tightened. "That's different."

"Yeah." There was a silent pause and Heero allowed his muscles to slacken. "Hey, you never answered my question, Heero!"

Heero closed his eyes, annoyed. He didn't want to lie to Duo. No matter how much he pretended they weren't friends he knew they were. But, he had promised Relena he wouldn't talk to Duo--or anyone for that matter--about any of her concerns and Relena came first in his book.

"The only thing I've ever heard regarding her communications with Hilde was about their dresses for the party tonight." He dared not turn around to give his guiltiness away. Even though his features were emotionless Duo somehow always had a way of reading him.

Before Duo could reply there came a swift, staccato knocking at the door. "You have a visitor." The door opened and the annoyed looking face of Preventer Wufei Chang appeared. "An authorized one this time." He gave Duo a sharp look.

Duo shrugged at the Chinese man. "A good Preventer never leaves his post."

Before a war could rage between the two hot headed men, Heero stepped in. "Who?" He addressed his and Relena's "bodyguard" for the evening.

Relena, at the firm request of her brother, Milliardo, had allowed Preventer level security for the festivities and so Wufei and his subordinates were stationed randomly about the Peacecraft mansion, though he, being the commanding officer for the night was in charge of the Vice Foreign Minister and her husband, regardless of their previous friendship and Heero's grudging annoyance about being looked after.

However, Heero's question was answered not by Wufei, but by the previously mentioned visitor. "Wonderful to see you all again my friends." Quatre's voice was light and calm as he entered the dressing room, followed by a slightly curious Wufei, who had all but forgotten his important position at the arrival of this unexpected guest.

"Quatre?" Heero wondered, not so much rude as just confused. He looked to Wufei for an answer, but the Preventer's only response was a slight shrug.

Duo, on the other hand, met Quatre's smile with a lanky hug. "How long's it been Quat-man? How've you been? Where's Trowa?"

At the mention of the mysterious Trowa Barton's name Heero again looked to Wufei who looked back at him yet again unknowingly. Heero furrowed his brows.

"Trowa...will not be joining me this evening," Quatre answered quietly. Though his smile had only faded minimally, all three men could tell something was not quite right with the petite Arabian man.

"Hey, what's up Quatre?" Duo asked more tentatively. Quatre's turquoise eyes were still as he gazed at the braided man before him. Wufei cleared his throat uncomfortably and Heero kept silent, waiting.

Finally Quatre's muteness broke, though his voice quavered. "Everything's fine." He shut his mouth frustrated with his lack of composure, swallowed, ran his eyes over the concerned faces of his three acquaintances and began again. "Trowa and I...had a...fight, I suppose."

Heero stepped forward at this, sensing Quatre's pained air and not quite sure how to phrase anything comforting. Wufei leaned gently against the door in quiet study of the blond man. Duo, being Duo, spoke first. "Lover's quarrel?" A sharp elbow found it's way into his side easily.

As the mouthy man tried to fight an oncoming coughing fit, Heero, the owner of the strategically placed elbow, moved to appease Quatre's shocked looking face. "Apologies Quatre. You know how he is..."

"No. No, it's fine, Heero." A smile misted across Quatre's face again and he straightened his shoulders. "Really. I'm sure I'm over reacting. He just...said he needed to leave for a little while. That doesn't mean anything, right?" Although, as Quatre began speaking about Trowa--without actually mentioning his partner's name--his demeanor changed back to wilting.

Duo coughed a few times, but seeing as how his counterparts weren't about to answer he took the initiative. "Right, Quatre." He placed a steadying hand on Heero's nearby shoulder, coughed once more, and squeezed his fingers over the muscle, whispering in his friend's ear: "See, I can say good things when you give me a chance."

"Hn." Heero brushed Duo's hand off his tense shoulder. He decided to take a new tactic. "Quatre. I'm glad you decided to attend. Relena will be happy to see you."

"Yes, I'm glad I could make it. I miss it here." He gestured to the view of the sun setting over the mansion's front lawn from the room's window. "It's good to visit."

An uncomfortable silence filled the room. It was evident that, despite the slightly distracting few sentences of conversation, Quatre was still thinking about the stoic man that had so recently and abruptly left his life.

When the small man spoke next, his voice was easy, but breathless. "You're all looking well." His eyes scrutinized his black Italian leather shoes carefully. Duo fidgeted uneasily.

Before anyone was forced to come up with a response, Wufei's hand held radio crackled to life and a mixture of what sounded like code and gibberish was heard from the other line.

"Well," he looked up uneasily at his three companions. One on the edge of breakdown, one who's nerves were rapidly finding him again, and one who gave no signs of emotion, though Wufei knew it was there. He straightened his Preventer's jacket and holstered his radio. "The party's about to start."

To be continued