A/N: I hope you're all ready for an exciting chapter! Thank you so much to my beta reader Caldyphen for helping me make this chapter the best it can possibly be! You have been awesome!

A Girl Named Xero

Chapter 6

Golden morning light streamed through the large double paned windows to the right of the bed catching the different flecks of color in Xero's waist length hair. Quatre was overwhelmed with adoration at the sight of the copper, cherry, and gold hues of her thick, straight mane that were unseen in the regular light. He had awoken to the porcelain-skinned beauty next to him and reflected on the previous night's events. Soon this woman he held in his arms would be his wife.

Xero still slept soundly, her hair fanning around her wildly bringing out the rosy undertones of her pale skin. He brushed his fingertips across her soft cheek and placed a light kiss on her pouting pink lips. Not wanting to wake her, Quatre quietly slipped away. He stared longingly for a moment before quickly dressing himself in his previous day's attire and soundlessly exiting the room. Had it not been for the work that he knew needed to be done he would have stayed in bed with her all day. Quatre stepped into the hall, closed the door and started to walk towards his own room to change clothes when a loud exhaling breath stopped him.

"Quatre?!" Duo was standing behind him in the hall with his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Quatre realized what this looked like and sighed deeply. This was the second time he had given someone the wrong idea by being caught sneaking out of Xero's room.

"Good morning Duo," he greeted the braided man.

"Quatre," Duo still looked completely stunned, "Did you sleep in Xero's room last night?"

There was no point in putting this conversation off; Duo would just bring it up sooner or later. He was never going to let Quatre live this one down. "Yes Duo, I slept in Xero's room last night." Quatre admitted waiting for the imminent assault of questioning.

"Dude," Duo's expression went from stunned to devilish respect, "I didn't know you had it in ya!" He walked up and threw an arm around Quatre's shoulders.

"Duo," Quatre sighed and shook his head, "Nothing happened." Technically this was true based on the fact that they had stopped before anything could happen. "I heard a noise coming from her room last night and when I went to check on her she was lying on the floor bleeding," Quatre explained. There was really no reason to go into details of why and what happened after that or else the conversation would last hours. "After she healed I decided to stay and make sure she was ok."

"Why do I have the feeling your keeping some juicy details from me, Quat?" Duo grinned and wiggled his eye brows as he asked the question.

"I really don't want to discuss my sex life, or lack thereof, with you Duo. Especially when it involves my future wife." Quatre decided to slip that detail in there to shorten the conversation.

"So, she decided to marry ya huh?" Duo patted him on the back. "Good for you, man. That is one fine woman. Not only is she super hot, but she has a real good heart ya know?" Duo was showing off one of his wide ear to ear smiles.

"Thank you Duo, but I really need to check up on the Winner family resource satellite. I have a lot to do now that I'm the head of the household." Quatre's warm smile faded as he remembered the recent tragedy of his father's death.

"That's right, I forgot all about that. Looks like your personal responsibilities are going to keep you from being a Gundam pilot. I'm not even sure if I'm gonna fight either, not after how the colonies betrayed us." Duo's expression hardened while his thoughts wandered over the events of the past few months. The colonies had denounced the Gundams and even destroyed his own Deathscythe. The group of doctors who had originally worked on the Gundams had rebuilt Duo's and Wufei's. Even Quatre's followers, the Maganac Corps, had rebuilt his Gundam in secret hoping that one day he would find use for it again.

"You know they had to do that for the sake of the people living on the colonies. Now that the Romefeller Foundation has taken over OZ, things have become more difficult." Quatre looked determined and decided. "I'm going back to space Duo. I'm going to fight for the colonies by joining Miss Noin on the ship Peacemillion. It seems like the only option at this point."

"Well," Duo said under his breath, " I guess if you're going back there you'll be seeing him" He pulled back and crossed his arms. He hadn't wanted to mention this to Quatre. He knew that it would only cause more heartache.

"Duo," Quatre said with a sharp intake of breath, "do you mean…?"

"Yeah," Duo stopped Quatre from saying the name incase they were overheard. "Me and Hilde saw him the other day when we went to the circus. I tried to talk to him, but he acted like he didn't know who I was, and before I could get any information that girl Catherine threw me out." Duo stared at the ground and shuffled his feet, clearly uncomfortable with telling Quatre their buddy had abandoned them.

"There has to be some explanation! I'm going to see him now. You have no idea what this means Duo!" In his excitement Quatre himself forgot what it would mean that Trowa was alive and well. He was only thinking of his friend and how he had to make sure that Trowa was really alive. The conversation ended quite abruptly as Quatre got the coordinates from Duo and ran to the hanger. There was no time to lose before the circus moved on. He let Rashid know where he was going and quickly flew his newly made Sandrock to find Trowa.

:

Xero sat at the small cherry wood table in her suite eating the modest breakfast of fruit and yogurt that had been delivered to her. She had woken up to the light knock on her door and realized she was alone. 'Quatre must have had business to take care of this morning,' she thought as she forked a strawberry into her mouth. 'I wonder how far I will get down the hall before I get swarmed' She was sure everyone in the mansion knew that she had agreed to marry Quatre for real last night. The petite woman who had served her breakfast had been all smiles and congratulated her. 'They all love Quatre so much.'

There was another knock at her door that startled her out of her thoughts. This knock however was frantic and loud. She quickly walked to the door and swung it open. Duo stood before her in mid knock; his expression was worried. "Duo! Jeeze, what's the matter?"

"It's Quatre," Duo blurted out. "He's left for space in a hurry. I'm sorry Xero, I was just trying to protect him, but I guess I made things worse."

She pulled Duo into the room and shut the door. "What are you talking about? What do you mean he just left for space? Why wouldn't he say anything?" Xero became very upset and wondered what could have made Quatre just run off without saying goodbye.

"I told him I saw Trowa the other day on L3. I didn't mean for him to freak out, but he just ran off to go and find him." His voice was loud and rushed with a hint of panic.

"You saw Trowa?" Xero's breath caught. The world spun around her as she tried to grasp the thought that Trowa was alive. Her legs shook and her body began to feel like Jell-O. Duo reached out as her knees buckled, catching her just before she hit the floor.

"Xero! Are you alright?" Duo's alarmed face hovered above her. She was shaking and her skin felt oddly cold. A wave of guilt washed over her as she realized that Trowa was alive and she had not waited for him. "Xero, please say something! I have no idea what I'm supposed to do, guys aren't like this ya know."

"I'm sorry," Xero apologized and shook her head attempting to clear it and focus on what was happening. Slowly she put her feet underneath her and attempted to stand up with Duo's help. "I need to go after Quatre."

"Do you think you can handle it? You don't look so hot babe." Duo's concern was obvious.

"I'm ok Duo," Xero smiled warmly appreciating his concern. "I need to go see Trowa for myself. I'm curious as to why he hasn't tried to contact us. What was he doing when you found him on L3?"

"He was working at that circus again. When I tried to talk to him that Catherine chick ran me off. I don't know what her problem was."

"Catherine," tears began to well up in her eyes, "I can't believe she knew he was ok and didn't try to contact me." Xero was upset, but she wouldn't let her sadness overwhelm her. She had a mission on her hands. First she needed to get dressed before doing anything else. Xero asked Duo to get a craft ready so that they could meet up with Quatre while she got ready.

Duo excused himself and ran off to the hanger. He contemplated the effects this turn of events would have for Quatre. The blonde pilot had always been the optimistic and cheerful one of the group, but Duo had never seen him quite like he was when he was with Xero. The return of Trowa, who had been Xero's rock for the past few years, could very well turn the tides of any hope Quatre had. Duo was not unaware of the way Xero felt about Trowa, but to be fair he had a knack for picking up on people's emotions. Duo quickly fired up the craft that carried Deathscythe hoping that whatever was about to happen wouldn't cause too many problems for Xero and Quatre.

:

Approaching the circus tent with the intent of going inside and confronting the manager, Quatre heard a loud lion's roar echo from the back of the lot. The sound drew him to the employees only area and the scene that lay before him caused Quatre to freeze in his place. There stood a tall mahogany brown haired man trying to calm down a lion in a large metal cage. The sound of crunching gravel under Quatre's shoes caught the man's attention and he turned setting his dark green eye's on the shocked blonde. "Trowa!" Quatre exclaimed. Tears ran down his face as he confirmed that this was in fact the dear friend he had lost over two months ago. He took a quick step forward to get closer, but found that this had received a reaction of hesitancy from Trowa who took a step back.

"I'm sorry," the deep familiar voice said, "Do I know you?" Confusion was spread across his face.

A strange feeling washed over Quatre. "Trowa it's me, Quatre! Why are you acting like this? Of course you know me!" He couldn't understand why his friend would pretend not to know him "You and I are both Gundam pilots remember? We're fighting in this war for the freedom of the colonies."

"Stop this right now!" A curly brown haired woman burst from the side opening of the tent and went to stand in front of Trowa, arms spread wide. "Leave him alone! Haven't you people done enough damage already?" 'This must be Catherine' Quatre told himself. He had never met the woman before, but he had heard of her tenacity and warm heartedness from Xero. Obviously she was feeling nothing warm for Quatre at this moment. "He doesn't remember anything ok? So just leave him alone, he's better off this way." Catherine wrapped her arms around Trowa attempting to protect him from his violent past.

"You can't just hide him away here! He belongs with us. He belongs with Xero." As Quatre said this a look of guilt crossed Catherine's face. Deep down she knew she had been selfish to keep Trowa to herself, but right now she was convinced it was for his own good.

"Xero would understand! She has been through just as much, if not more , than Trowa. Why would she want him to pass up a second chance at life? Who could be that selfish?" Catherine sneered at Quatre and grabbed Trowa's arm leading him back into the tent. Confused and rattled, Trowa followed Catherine, but stood just inside the hangings so that he could peer out at the stranger who seemed to know him. Even though he couldn't remember who the blonde man was, he was sure that he knew him.

A wave of cold shocked his body as he struggled to remember. 'Gundam, war, pilot. I know these words. I know that man!' Trowa grasped his head and sank to the floor, the cold taking over his body brought him back to those moments when he had drifted through space frightened and alone.

:

The trip took Xero and Duo much longer than anticipated due to an influx of OZ soldiers arriving at the L3 colony. It was obvious that they planned to take military control over the colony and Duo decided it was a good thing he had brought his Gundam.

After a long wait, Duo managed to get them past security, but by the time they had safely docked and disembarked, it was way past midnight. He contacted Quatre and let him know to meet him and Xero at the small apartment he rented out with Hilde. A couple hours later, Quatre arrived. Xero had gone to bed, completely exhausted and wanting every ounce of energy ready for confronting Trowa and Catherine in the morning. "Man," Duo exclaimed, "you look awful Quat, you should go get some rest. You can share my bedroom with Xero since you don't seem to have a problem sharing a bed with her." He flashed a grin and winked alluding to the previous night. "I'll sleep on the couch tonight."

Quatre sighed and looked releived, "Thanks Duo, and thanks for making sure Xero got here safe. I should have known she'd come after me as soon as she found out. I bet she's mad I left without saying anything."

"Communication is the key to a healthy relationship," Duo quoted some daytime talk show host that Hilde watched. "If you want her to open up to you, your gonna have to do the same with her my man." Quatre considered the sage advice that was given with a hint of Oprah-like satire. Duo was right no matter how corny he sounded. He said goodnight and quietly entered the room being careful not to wake his sleeping fiancé.

Soft moonlight washed over the peaceful dreamer that lay curled on her side in the small bed before him. She was facing the door giving Quatre a view of how the moon's glow illuminated her skin and hair. Transfixed by the simple beauty before him he shed his outerwear leaving on only his dark blue silk boxers and joined his love. As he silently slipped between the sheets and pulled her into his arms he realized that she reminded him of what he had always imagined an angel would look like. Soft, sweet, and serene she lay in his embrace, pink lips parted and breathing lightly. 'I wish we could stay right here where the war couldn't touch us. Just in this moment,' Quatre thought as he brushed a stray stand of hair away from her face. As if reacting to the touch, Xero rolled onto her side to face Quatre and snuggled into his chest. "Trowa…" she breathed the name softly in her sleep.

Quatre's heart sank. It was clear now to him the gravity of the sittuation. He had not seen it before in his excitement at Duo's discovering of their lost friend. Xero's reaction to his touch made him realize he was at odds here. If anything could pull out her true feelings it was her subconscious. Did he honestly have a chance with Xero now that Trowa had returned? Would it make a difference once she found out that he no longer remembered her or any of them for that matter? His attention was diverted as she began to mummer again, "I'm sorry, Trowa. I couldn't help it…my heart…" Her brows furrowed in anguish and she said no more pulling herself closer to Quatre and burrowing her face in his neck. He embraced her tightly hope renewed at the strange declaration. Did this mean he still had a chance? Was she trying to tell the Trowa in her dreams that she had fallen for Quatre and chosen to stay with him? He decided then and there as he drifted off to sleep that he would stand by her, no matter what her choice.

A/N: Please let me know what you all thought of this chapter! I would love to hear from everyone who reads this story. All of your opinions count and would be greatly appreciated so that I can make this story even better. Next chapter will be coming soon I hope. I am just ironing out some kinks that are giving me grief.