Hmmm, still waiting on the smut I promised, and for this to be SHORT... hmmm... turns out I'm a pathological liar, sorry guys. I swear I'll get there eventually.

Also, 'cause I don't think I've done a disclaimer yet, I own nothing but these words, and... I'm a college student... studying English literature. So not only am I currently poor as dirt, I'll ALWAYS be poor as dirt, so don't waste your time.

Trowa was the one to notice the blinking on the computer, idly strolling over, toothbrush still in his mouth, he hit the button. His visible eye-brow raised

"Relena." He mumbled around his toothbrush, How the hell had she gotten the number for Quatre's private channel?

"Good morning Trowa, you're looking… well." Relena couldn't help but appraise the shirtless chest of the tall pilot leaning over the screen.

"Hnn. What's your business?" Trowa asked, his patience already thinned by the girls call. A conversation with Relena was NOT how he'd intended to start his day.

"I need to speak with Quatre."

"About what?" Trowa asked, moving out of the view, Relena could barely hear him spit and the sound of the tap running. Somewhere in the background, a groggy Quatre murmured good morning. Trowa slid languidly back into the chair, but his attention was directed off screen, Relena sighed in annoyance.

While it was true most people fell over themselves to attend to her every whim, Trowa Barton was completely impervious to her. His inattentiveness was second only to Duo Maxwell, who, on top of mostly ignoring everything she said, invented cute 'nicknames' for her to amuse himself.

She watched as Trowa leaned off screen, heard a giggle, and the camera jostled as a similarly shirtless Quatre was pulled into his lap.

"It appears I've procured Quatre," Trowa smirked, "Now state your business."

"Oh my gosh! Is that thing on?"

"Not if you don't want it to be" Trowa started to reach for the disconnect

"Now hang on just a minute!" Relena glared

"Oh, c'mon Tro, it'd be rude to hang up on her." Quatre tried to readjust himself into a more 'dignified' position, but Trowa was having none of it, and kept him firmly cradled in his lap. Quatre sighed, but smiled affectionately at the green eyed giant holding him captive. "Forgive me for my… current apparel." He laughed cheerfully, Trowa smirked,

"I happen to like it."

Quatre giggled again, "Now what is it that has you calling so early in the morning Relena?"

"I'm requesting permission to visit an island of yours." Relena smiled, "I need to speak to Heero and he seems to have disconnected his number."

"Dog got off his leash did he?" Trowa jibed, Quatre sent his lover a cautionary look.

"And what makes you think that Heero'd be on an island of mine?" Quatre asked,

"Because Duo is there." Relena said flatly

Both Quatre and Trowa stiffened, Trowa's eye narrowed, his smirk dissapearing.

"Heero and Duo parted almost 9 months ago, and I can assure you, Miss Dorlian," Quatre's blue eyes were icy, "That they have not been in contact. But you wouldn't know anything about that, now would you."

"I put no restrictions on my employees' communications, Mr. Winner, and I resent such accusations. Now, as the ambassador of the Earth Sphere to the ambassador of Colony L4, I am requesting formal permission to visit one of your holdings."

Trowa's green eye narrowed further, What is she playing at? Drawing titles into this? Does she mean to force Quatre's hand by making her Heero-stalking a political maneuver? What the hell is wrong with this girl!?

Quatre's cold glare dropped another few degrees, Relena was playing a dangerous game, dragging around a tender political balance with her petty whims.

"I would ask, Ambassador Dorlian, that you withdraw your formal request, and I will acquiesce to an informal visit."

"Very well then." Relena smiled coyly, "I rescind my formal request and instead ask personally, that I, Relena Dorlian Peacecraft, be granted permission to pay a visit to your island holding in the south pacific."

"Permission granted." Quatre sighed,

Trowa ended the transmission.

"Are you alright love?" Trowa asked softly

"Duo's going to hate me for this."

"Duo wouldn't hate you if you if you shot him in the foot." Trowa smiled, nuzzling the top of the blonde's head, "You're his best friend."

Quatre smiled sadly "He still won't be happy to have her showing up on his doorstep."

"Who says she'll even be able to find his place? She'll turn up in the village, but Duo doesn't live in the village, he lives on the far side of the island and she'll have to hike that fun little dirt path to get there. It's a 4 mile trek. Hardly a Relena-style venture."

"Hmm, that's true." Quatre smiled, "I'd love to see the state of her if she does decide to hoof it."

Trowa smiled, "See? Nothing to worry about, now let's go back to bed, you don't have any meetings until 3 this afternoon."

"I have a meeting at 9:30!"

"Not since I woke up this morning." Trowa grinned. "Your sisters are taking care of it, Ilia was the one most excited about this project anyway."

Quatre smiled "alright."

***

Heero lounged against the bathroom door, inside he could Duo laughing as he and Mari shared the shower. His mind drifted back to before he'd left, to the days when it had been all three of them, standing in the bathtub, washing the sand out of Duo's impossible tangle, and the puppy's thick fur.

~H~

"Hey 'Ro, gimme some of that shampoo would ya'?"

"Hnn."

Heero glanced down at his partner, kneeling naked in the bathtub, wrestling with the squirming puppy in his lap. Duo's smile was brilliant as he cooed at the little golden dog, who whined and whimpered under the 'onslaught' of the 'fearsome' shower.

"Ah, here we go! Here we go! There's a good girl! You'll smell just like me!" Duo grinned, rubbing the lavender scented shampoo over her. Mari's tail began to wag as Duo's fingers gently massaged the soap through her fur. Heero squirted some of the shampoo into his own hand and knelt to begin massaging the chestnut scalp before him.

Duo leaned back against his chest

"Mmmm 'Ro… feels good."

Heero chuckled, "That's probably what she's thinking."

Duo grinned, and let Heero work the shampoo through his hair. When they'd all finished rinsing, they clambered out. Mari barked and wiggled excitedly beneath the towel Heero dropped on top of her. Duo laughed, and together they began to rub her dry.

***

"Gah! Mari!" Duo's yelp echoed from the bathroom, with a crash, Heero threw open the door. Mari had her towel in her mouth and her butt up in the air as she wagged her tail, a hapless Duo clung to the other end, pleasantly naked, and still dripping wet. Heero leaned against the doorframe and smiled appreciatively.

"Are you gonna gawk, or are you gonna help?" Duo glared, but his violet eyes lacked heat. Heero pushed himself off the door frame as Duo pulled his towel back around his waist and together they cornered Mari and began rubbing vigorously. The dog growled playfully and tried to bite the towel as they rubbed her down.

"She always did love this game." Duo snorted

Heero grinned, "Warning: Puppies, slippery when wet."

Duo laughed, just as Mari darted for her escape, shoving him off balance and sprawling into Heero's lap.

"This is the second time I've had you in my arms this morning, Duo Maxwell. I think perhaps she's trying to tell us something."

"Stop it Heero. I'm not taking dating advice from a dog." He tried to push away, but Heero's arms held him fast. "Let me go, Heero."

"No." Heero said quietly, lowering his head to whisper into Duo's ear "Not this time."

Duo stiffened, but Heero pulled him closer. A tanned hand sliding down Duo's back, causing him to shiver.

"Cold?"

"No."

"Duo…"

"Stop it Heero, please. I'm..."

"I know. But I missed you." Heero breathed deeply of the familiar scent of Duo's shampoo, "God, how I missed you."

Duo sighed, "I missed you too 'Ro, but I'm still mad and you're…"

"I'm what?"

"You're making it really hard to stay mad at you."

Heero chuckled

"Baka. I don't want you to stay mad at me."

"You were gone for over 8 months, almost 9! I'm allowed to be mad." Duo pouted

"I know. But I need you Duo...You… you make me human."

"'Ro?" Worried violet eyes met cobalt, Heero's hand moved to cup the chestnut framed cheek, as his head bent forward, catching Duo's full lips beneath his own.

He'd expected Duo's fist to slam into the side of his head, he'd expected him to protest, he'd expected… something… something that wasn't Duo yielding. The pliable mouth trapped beneath his lips responded, gently pressing back, tilting to fit together just that much more tightly, and pulling away only after Heero himself started to pull back.

Duo stared at the floor.

"Duo?"

"Shut it. I'm dripping wet, I'm naked, and I'm starting to get cold. Now get out and let me dry off."

"I…"

"Out! We can pick this up again after I'm dressed."

"Right." Heero rose, pulling Duo to his feet, then left in search of Mari.

He found her chewing on a favorite toy on a rug in the bedroom. It was a pink rubber cat Duo had, for reasons known only to himself, named 'Mr. Binky'. Mr. Binky had been replaced 4 times in the time that Heero, Duo and Mari had been a family. As he looked over it now, it appeared the young dog was on yet another incarnation of Mr. Binky. He idly wondered just how many she'd been through in the months that he'd been gone. In the corner, the vid screen was blinking.

Heero strolled over and flipped it on. Quatre's startled eyes stared out at him,

"Heero!?"

"Hello Quatre."

"Heero's there?" he heard Trowa in the background, the green eyed brunette leaned into view. "Heero."

"Hello Trowa."

"Hello." The slender giant replied before moving off-screen again

"Why are you there?" Quatre stammered

"I came to see Duo."

Quatre smiled sadly, "How are things going?"

Heero sighed "He doesn't trust me. He's just smiling through a mask, pretending that he doesn't hurt."

"Those eyes of his never lie." Trowa's voice came from off-screen

"I know."

"He still loves you." Quatre said softly

"I know that too. So does he, but it's hard… I never should have left him."

"You thought it was for the best." Quatre said softly

"Did I? Or was I just running away from my emotions?"

"Heero…"

"Sorry. I'm here until he throws me out this time. And he'll have to kill me to do that."

"Better not tempt him." Trowa chuckled, still off screen

"Trowa." Quatre scolded, then turned back to the screen "Good luck Heero. We'll talk to you again soon."

"Affirmative." Heero smiled, and clicked off the connection.

He glanced down at Mari again, and then bent to steal her toy.

"Ah! Who's got Mr. Binky now!" He grinned, Mari was on her feet in an instant, circling till she found an opening to reclaim her pink cat. Heero let her catch a leg, inducing a game of tug-of-war over the abused toy. "Oh ho! Mr. Binky's mine Mari! Mr. Binky's mine!"

Mari growled happily, before jerking suddenly, pulling the pilot off balance, Duo walked into the bedroom, his hair back in its customary braid, to find his ex-lover sprawled on floor being 'ferociously' attacked by their dog.

"Mari, it tickles!" Heero gasped, curling into a ball as the dog nuzzled and nipped at his ear. Duo chuckled from the doorway, Heero sat up. His face drawing serious, Duo almost doubled over, Heero's normally mussed hair sported several ridiculous cow licks, thanks to the dogs attentions.

Without thinking, Duo crossed the room to plant a kiss on Heero's forehead, then reached over to scratch Mari's ears. "You sure showed him, huh girl? Yes you did! Yes you did! You showed that Heero who Mr. Binky belongs to!"

Heero laughed, pulling Duo into his lap. Mari nuzzled against them, her furry head resting in Duo's lap.

Duo sighed contentedly,

"Is this what you meant by continuing where we left off?" Heero asked softly

Duo stiffened

"No. It's not. I meant to punch you in the face."

"I assumed as much. You still have that option."

Duo snorted "Hardly. I'm too comfortable to waste the effort right now. I'll break your jaw later."

Heero chuckled, his breath warm on Duo's neck, "I'll be waiting."

"This… it feels good 'Ro… to have you back… Not that I'm saying you can stay."

"Of course."

Duo sighed, almost dejectedly, "I missed you."

Heero tightened his hold "I missed you too."

They sat in silence several minutes, Heero's arms around Duo, as the latter scratched the fuzzy ears lying across his lap. Mari's tail thumped out a slow rhythm on the hard-wood floor.

"Quatre called." Heero said finally

"Yeah? What'd he want?"

Heero sat a little straighter, "He… He didn't say?"

"Huh? That's odd, he usually calls to invite me out for something, or to make sure I'm boarding up before a storm is due."

Heero chuckled, Quatre always had been like a mother hen when it came to keeping track of Duo.

"There's a shin-dig in the village tonight." Duo said quietly, "Nothing fancy, shorts and flip-flops affair, dancing, bonfire, barbeque, local bands, you know, that sort of thing. I've been thinking about going."

"Sounds like a good time." Heero said quietly, "We should go."

"You hate people… and dancing."

"I don't hate people… and I'm just… not good at dancing. But for a date with you…" Heero planted a kiss on the top of Duo's head, "I think I could bear it."

Duo's eyes lit up and genuine smile spread across his face,

"Thanks 'Ro. A date it is then."

Heero felt his heart soar.

***

"Miss Relena, are you sure it's wise to arrive on an unknown island after dark?"

"It's fine. Besides, I hear the locals are having a party tonight, to commemorate the end of the war, it might be fun!"

****

In case I don't post tomorrow, Merry Christmas my darlings!