Sorry for the late posting, but I was stuck on the end of this for a while. Much thanks and love to The Man Behind The Joker's Mask for being my inspiration and guiding light for this chapter! *hugs*

...

Trowa relaxed just a little. He knew he could count on his friends. Especially Sally. In some ways, she was the most normal of the bunch. And in some she was the oddest.

"Josh, Sally, scoot over a bit so we can sit down," he said. The two obediently scooted down further into the booth so that Trowa could steer Quatre to sit down. he drug a chair over for himself.

"Hey... More drinks. Trow, Cat... whatcha want?"

"The usual for me," Trowa said. "Quatre... would you like something to drink?"

"Um, I don't drink that much. Surprise me."

Duo grinned wickedly, and Trowa saw the mischevious glint in his eyes.

"Duo... get him an apple-tini or something. Nothing outrageous, okay?"

The braided boy pouted. "Aw... So no 'Sex on the Beach?'"

"And no screaming orgasms either," Sally warned.

Duo pouted as he skipped over to the bar.

"So, Quatre," Hilde looked at him. "What is it you do for a living? You work with computers or something, right?"

"Yeah, something like that. I create security systems and computer firewalls. Not just computers, but I design the whole set-up. From laser systems to the actuall computer system that controls it."

The boy called Heero looked up. "What company are you with?"

"Romeffeller," was Quatre's answer.

Heero frowned. "Their boss is an asshole."

Quatre shrugged. "It pays the bills. Insurance isn't that great, but I was sort of in a bind at the time. And my friend Wufei was nice enough to get me an interview."

"Wufei?" the boy blinked. "Not as in Chang Wufei..."

"Ain't that the guy who beat you out to win the Lovecraft deal?" Cathy asked.

"Yes," was the response.

"Wufei worked very, very hard for that deal," Quatre defended. "I had to call and remind him to eat and sleep. He spent a month on that program."

Duo slipped back down into his chair, dropping a loaded tray down on the table. "Yeah, well I had to do the same with Heero. That deal meant alot to him and the company. And the Darlian deal... he's gonna cinch that one when it opens up, right, babe?" He slid a tall glass in front of the other blue eyed boy, pressing a kiss up against his cheek.

Quatre frowned. "I'm afraid the Darlian deal isn't exactly up for grabs," he said.

Two pairs of eyes narrowed at him. "Clairify," Heero demanded.

"Relena Darlian happens to be my ex-girlfriend," Quatre explained. "I have the program already drawn up."

"But Wing has better connections with the Darlian family than Romefeller does," Duo argued. Quatre remembered something then... wasn't Relena's estranged brother, Zechs... wasn't he in some type of computer business?

"This isn't a Romefeller deal," Quatre admitted. "This deal has been in the works for years now. It was promised to WEI, but since I'm with Romefeller now, the deal goes to Romefeller."

"WEI? But Winner Enterprises isn't that big on security systems, or computer programing in general. I thought they mostly dealt in politics and science and stuff?" Duo asked, confused.

Quatre shrugged. "Like I said, it's *my* deal. When I left WEI, the deal went with me."

"*YOU* worked for WEI?" Heero asked incrediously. "How did you get a job there? And why the hell did you leave?"

Quatre swallowed, noticing he'd dug this hole himself without noticing. Of course they'd recognize the name. WEI *was* one of the largest corporations in America, and rapidly expanding in Europe and Asia as well.

"Well, getting the job was easy. I was set to inherite the entire company until a few months ago. As for leaving... my father couldn't accept that I was bi and we fought. I havent' spoke with him since then."

"Hold up," Cathy spoke up, holding her hands up. "You're Quatre *Winner*? You're *the* Quatre Winner? As in Sayid Winner's *only* son? Heir apparent of WEI?"

Quatre nodded. "Well... except for the heir part. I was disinherited. Oh... and I think I was disowned, too. Not too sure about that. But yeah... I'm that Quatre."

Joshua turned to Trowa. "You were dating a multi-billionaire and you didn't tell us?"

"I'm not a multi-billionaire," Quatre huffed. "Haven't you been listening to me? I was disowned. Disinherited. I have crappy health insurance and have to share an apartment. In fact... I probably make *less* than some of you!"

"Former mult-billionaire," Duo corrected helpfully, earning him an annoyed glare from the blond.

"Enough," Heero said, turning his blue eyes to Quatre. "Can you please explain why WEI... or you, apparently... are getting the Darlian deal?"

"I told you. Relena Darlian is my ex-girlfriend. We are still on good terms, and her father recognizes my skills. I've already done a lot of little projects for them."

"The Mercurius," Heero muttered. "That explains so much."

Everyone turned their eyes to Heero. Heero Yuy did *not* mutter. If he said something... he said it aloud. Heero looked at them. "About three years ago, there were rumors that Senator Darlian was going to contract someone to have a security system installed into his vacation home in California. Then, all of a sudden, the system was installed and nothing more was said about the deal. A month later, someone tried to break in because apparently the top secret army files for the Mercurius project were store on a computer in the house. They didn't even make it onto the front lawn past the gate before he was arrested, the system was that good."

Quatre ducked his head at Heero's gaze. "That was me," he affirmed. "I designed that system. It was the weight sensors installed under the concrete driveway that set off the silent alarm."

"Weight sensors," Heero muttered. "Of course. No one ever said *how* he tripped the alarm. Weight sensors. Damn. Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because you're not me," Quatre shrugged. "See, there's reason I'm getting the deal for the security system in the new HQ for Darlian Inc."

Heero nodded. "If that truly was your work, I commend you. It still doesn't sit well that Romeffeller will get this deal. We were counting on this publicity."

"I'm sorry," Quatre said. He did feel sorry for this Heero. Over the months, while he was... content... with his job, he realized that's all it was. He'd already began the search for something else. If not for Wufei, he wasn't sure he'd really have still been there at all.

"If it helps at all," Quatre continued, "I'll ask to do it under the table, like I did last time. I was planning on that anyway. I don't like people making a fuss."

"So nobody gets the credit," Duo murmered. "We may not get the credit, but at least the other guys don't, either." Duo looked to Heero. "We don't win... but at least they don't either."

"Whatever your salary is there, I'm sure I could double it, if you liked. I'd kill to have a programmer of your caliber on my staff. Zechs would agree."

Quatre blinked. "I would, but I'm not keen on changing jobs, then having you dump me as soon as you get what you want- the Darlian deal."

"Heero wouldn't do that," Trowa comforted, placing a hand on Quatre's arm. "He's not that kind of person. And despite that, he'd keep you around just to spite Romeffeller."

"Damn right," Duo nodded. "Besides. If that was your system, then you've got great credentials, and would be an asset to Wing. Plus you've probably got connections we could use, too. It's not an un-selfish offer, but rather its a... mutually beneficial relationship."

"I'll have to think on that. Can I have until the end of the week to give you an answer?"

"Acceptable," Heero nodded.

"Now that we're done talking about him," Cathy said, "Maybe we can get back to what we were talking about. Duo? You were going to explain how that new jet was running."

Duo blinked. "Oh, yeah. That. There was a bit of turbulence after we hit mach one, but with a little tweaking it should be just..."

At that moment, Trow shifted, laying his arm on the back of Quatre's chair, and Duo was positive there was some type of footsie going on between them. He looked a little harder, and found that little glow in his eyes. A glow Trowa rarely had, even after nights when Duo knew he'd hooked up. Part of him was going to keep Tro's dirty little secret.

But then he remembered. He was Duo Maxwell. He lived to torment his friends and family.

"HOT DAMN AND HOLY SHIT! TRO GOT LAID LAST NIGHT!"

And then, he ran for the hills, one very pissed ex-soldier on his heels and a laugh on his lips.