Author's note: Sorry for the delay. It has been pretty crazy, and I've spent more time on a plane these last two months than I have in several years.
Three more chapters after that and I'll be done. Thanks to everyone who is sticking with me.

Disclaimer: The gboys aren't mine, I make no money from this.

Chapter 18 – The Big Day

(Quatre's POV)

I'm not sure where the past week went. I think it fell into the blur that the school year seems to fall into. But, none-the-less, it came and went and now I am staring into my closet, debating on what to wear in a few hours.

"You know you should have done that yesterday." Trowa chides as he walks into the bedroom, fresh from the shower and only clad in a small, revealing towel around his waist. I am mesmerized by the view and do not even try to hide the fact that I am staring at him and the way the small droplets of water travel down over his muscular chest.

"Quatre, you're drooling." Trowa's voice cuts through the thoughts that are quickly becoming erotic. I wipe the back of my hand over my mouth, just in case I was drooling. Trowa chuckles and walks over to his dresser and pulls out underwear and socks. The dresser had been living in my guest room until a few days ago, but it made more sense to bring it in here with mine, since he pretty much lives here.

"Now, you've got a goofy grin on your face. Care to share." He asks as he walks up and snakes his arms around my waist from behind while resting his chin on my shoulder.

"Just thinking about how fast everything has happened."

Trowa gives me a gentle squeeze. "Scary, isn't it."

A nervous chuckle escapes. "Very."

I feel his warm lips on my neck. "But it works for us, so don't look too much into it."

I shiver as I feel a nip on my neck. "Gotta stop that, because we have to be at the Palace soon. And if you keep doing that, we're not going to be on time."

"Mmmhum." Trowa kisses my neck again. "So what are you wearing?"

Turning around in his arms, I give him a lost look. "Haven't a clue. What are you wearing?"

Trowa gives me a wary look. "I was going to go with the suit hanging from the closet door." His eyes dart to the black suit hanging behind me. "Is that ok?"

"I think so. Heero and Duo told me business casual was the most they wanted us to dress up. I can only assume it is for the official wedding pictures." Before I return to figuring out what I am going to wear, I give my boyfriend a firm hug and kiss him.

Trowa smirks, reaches around me into the closet and pulls out a navy blue suit. He hands it to me and then shuffles some hangers around and hands me a white button down. I stand there, looking at the suit and shirt as he continues to pick my clothes. There is a rustle of silk and a dark turquoise tie is laid on my shoulder. I give Trowa a questioning look and he beams at me, humming something that sounded oddly circusy while he walks over to my dresser and rummages in my sock drawer. After a moment of debating, he lobs a pair of navy socks onto the bed and then opens my underwear drawer and tosses a pair of silk boxers next to the socks.

I eye him and then the outfit he has just assembled for me and he flashes me a toothy grin. "Debate done. Go take a shower." He comes back over to me and takes the clothes from me and gently lays them on the bed.

For a moment, I think of rebelling against his selection and find that I can't. The blue suit is one of my favorites. It is comfortable and makes my eyes extremely bright, which is probably one of the reasons he picked it out. "Shower Quatre. Don't think. Just march that gorgeous ass of yours into the shower, turn the water on, make sure it is a good temperature and put shampoo in your hair and soap on your body. Rub vigorously," a wolfish smile crosses his lips as he says this, "and rinse until there isn't any soap left."

Trowa firmly grabs me by the shoulders, turns me in the direction of the door and waits for me to move. "Geeze. Thanks mom." I made sure to sound like a whiny brat and marched myself into the bathroom.

After making sure the temperature is just right, I throw my boxers into the hamper on top of Trowa's night clothes and get in the shower. My mind starts to wander as I follow my shower routine. I pray to Allah that the day goes well. For some reason, the idea of two of my best friends getting married is hard to completely swallow. Before Tristan left, Duo always joked that I would be the first to get married and I agreed with him. Then Tristan disappeared, and well, I wouldn't be the first anymore. Hell, I think Wufei and Zechs will beat me and they've got to deal with the royalty bit.

A wave of sadness washes over me and I feel like crying (note to self, take meds before leaving). I think I would have married Tristan, if he had wanted to. But it is so easy to look back and imagine the 'what-ifs.' I don't know if we would have lasted through high school or even our first two years of college. Allah, what a horrid thought.

But it really doesn't matter now at all. I have Trowa. A goofy grin crosses my face. Mmmm, yummy Trowa. Trowa, whose parents I am going to be meeting tomorrow, while their son comes out to them. My grin disappears, and I begin to worry. A horrible sense of foreboding fills me. What if it doesn't go well? What if they don't like me? What if? What if? What if?

"Damnit Quatre, stop it." I hiss at myself under the din of the shower. "You can't do anything about it right now, so enjoy things as they are and take tomorrow as it comes," I quietly remind myself. Trowa said that he called his parents to inform them of our arrival. I asked if he mentioned that I was coming along, and he said that he told them a friend was traveling with him but didn't say much more than that. Then again, I kinda sprung it on my father as well, with Tristan there with me.

"Quatre?" Trowa's voice cuts through the sound of the water. "You ok?"

"I'm ok." I put all the negative thoughts out of my head and turn off the water.

"Just making sure. You were in there longer than usual." I pull back the curtain in time to see my boyfriend enter the bathroom. "Or at least longer than usual when you are alone in there."

I chuckle. "Got lost in my thoughts." I take the towel Trowa offers and dry off.

He remains silent for a moment and I know he wants to say something, but instead he smiles, wraps his arms around me, and plants a gentle kiss on my lips. "Well you should get lost while getting dressed then." He kisses me more forcefully this time, effectively snapping me out of my melancholy mood.

A moan escapes as I succumb to his breath-stealing kiss. He pulls back and studies my face.

My eyes remain closed for a few moments after he pulls away, allowing for some time to bask in his affections. As he chortles, I open my eyes and he is standing there with a satisfied, triumphant smirk. "I think," he rocks us side to side, "if we don't actually try to get ready in earnest, I'll be even more tempted to be very late in exchange for more 'tasty,'" he nips at my neck, "activities."

I groan and grind my pelvis into his. "We have to get going." I say sadly and slip out of his arms.

Trowa follows me into our bedroom, and we both begin to dress. With meticulous precision, I put on my clothes. After a few minutes of making sure everything is perfectly aligned and my cuff links are securely fastened, I look at Trowa who is doing minor adjustments to the emerald tie around his neck. For a few moments he seems unaware of my eyes on him. Hungrily looking him over, I briefly consider stripping him naked and ravishing him, but when his bright calm eyes look at me, the thought slips from my mind as I know I've been caught in my little fantasy.

"Allah, you look…" Handsome, sexy, fuckable, beautiful… "wonderful." I settle with, though I'm sure handsome would have worked as well.

"So do you." He steps in front of me and gives me a promising kiss. "Though I think you're already to the undressing part."

I snort. "And you're not?"

Trowa chuckles. "Oh, I was there way before you put the suit on." He kisses me again and takes my hand and leads me out of the bedroom. "What time is our ride showing up?"

"Nine." I say glancing at my watch, just as the door bell rings. "And, as usual, he's perfectly on time." I grin at Trowa as he gives me a looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "The door is open."

Moments later the head of my personal guard walks in, looks from me to Trowa and then back to me and offers just the slightest hint of a smile. "Master Quatre." He bows politely to me.

"Hello Rashid. Trowa, this is Rashid, he is the head of my personal guard and will be accompanying us to America tonight. And Rashid, this is Trowa Barton, my boyfriend."

"Mister Barton." Rashid bows again, this time in Trowa's direction.

"Rashid." Trowa gives a polite nod of his neck and lets my hand go.

"Are you ready to depart Master Quatre?" I look about the room and run through the mental checklist. We had remembered to pack our bags for our trip to America last night so they were ready by the door.

"Yes." Fuck, medicine. "No." Both Rashid and Trowa look at me like I'm crazy, and I bolt for the kitchen, grab a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and my anti-depressants out of the cabinet and take my daily dose, then go back to the door, water bottle and medication in hand.

"Good call." Trowa smiles, and I slip the prescription container into the front pocket of my overnight bag and pocket the water bottle.

"Ready." Rashid nods, grabs our small bags and walks out. We follow, only stopping to lock the door.

Once outside, Rashid loads the luggage into the trunk of the limousine and one of his other men opens the door, allowing us to slide in. The door closes behind us, and we settle back against the welcoming black leather seats. When the car starts, we move to hold hands and lightly nap during the trip to Sanc Palace.

Rashid's voice calling my name snaps me out of my little nap. "We're here."

I blink a few times and squeeze Trowa's hand and he opens his eyes. "We're here?"

I nod 'yes' and the door opens, and we both get out of the car to be greeted by one of the palace staff.

"Mister Winner, Mister Barton if you would please follow me; you are expected." I offer Trowa a goofy smile, which he returns, and we follow the staff member to wherever we are expected to be.

The back yard, the one we had been partying in a week ago, has been transformed into a regal garden. The gazebo was tastefully decked with white flowers and ribbons. The decorations are all on the simple side and are masculine enough to be just right for a wedding between two men.

The Palace staff are bustling about, so much so that you would think they were catering to hundreds of people instead of nineteen if you include the newborn twins and the couple getting married.

I look around to see if I can find anyone who is not Palace staff and fail until Wufei comes towards us with long, swift strides. "Quatre, would you please go calm Duo down? He's in the west wing, the large bedroom in the corner."

I grin and look at Trowa. "You'll be ok?"

"I think I can manage. Go to your friend." We part with a sweet lingering kiss, and I leave Trowa standing with Wufei.

Finding Duo takes little time, especially since the closer I get the louder he becomes. "Duo, you're scaring the help." I say before I even see him in order to announce my presence.

"Thank God you're here Quatre." We practically collide as we both make our way to the door. With graceful agility, he turns back around towards the center of the room. Looking at him takes my breath away. He is wearing what looks like a modified Tai Chi outfit that is fitted, yet has some room to 'flutter' around him as he moves. The fabric is a pale cream that boarders on white, in fact I would have called it white if I hadn't seen the white satin lining of his cuffs.

But that really isn't what takes your breath away, it is the immense length of thick chestnut hair that nips at his calves as he walks. The top part has been pulled back and is bound with a bead and leather contraption that Zechs probably helped him with since he's the only other man in our group with long hair.

"Heero made me trim it for the wedding." Duo said with a frown having noticed where my eyes were drawn too. "They had to take a little over half a foot off to make it look neat."

"It is quite stunning down Duo. And that length is fine." I reassure my best friend.

Duo grumbles nonsensically. "So do you need help with anything?"

"No, not really. Just antsy and want to get this show on the road." He says and looks in the floor to ceiling mirror and smoothes out the non-existent creases on his top. "And I haven't seen Heero in twenty-four hours and that's making me even crazier. Zechs insisted that we follow that BS tradition. We don't even know what the other looks like in their outfit. We agreed that the outfits would be the same design, tried on prototypes separately with a third party telling us if they looked good. I can't stand going a few hours without seeing him, let alone and entire day. And not just any fucking day. The twenty four hour period before we are legally bound to each other." He rants as he paces.

"Well, it is almost time, so you don't have to wait much longer. But think of how much more wonderful that first kiss will be once you've exchanged rings."

"Yeah, I know. I just want this over with."

"It will be. Just be a little more patient." I grab him firmly by the shoulders and stop his pacing. "Duo, chill out. You're practically married to Heero as it is. There won't be anyone here that you don't know except for maybe Catherine's date. You have a short ceremony, and then it will be over and you'll be on your way to the Caribbean with your husband."

Duo leans on my arms, rests his forehead on mine and takes a deep breath. "I know. You know you're next Q man."

I shake my head to the best of my ability with Duo still attached to me. "Nah, 'Fei and Mill are next."

Duo chuckles and looks me in the eyes. "I betcha a million that you're next."

I look deep into his exotic eyes and laugh. "You're really certain, aren't you?"

He nods 'yes' vigorously. "Then no way in hell am I making that bet."

"Oh come on, what is a million to Quatre Winner?" He mock pouts.

I chuckle. "Well if it was all mine, then I might, but my father would not like that I blew a million on a bet."

"What is a million to billions?"

"Not the point Duo. Not my money to blow like that."

"Oh, you're no fun."

"I would bet a million of Zech's money that you are next too, Quatre." Wufei chimes in from the doorway.

"Dammit. My friends conspire against me."

Wufei rolls his eyes dramatically. "Your boyfriend is waiting for you outside Quatre, grab a seat, I'm sure you won't have trouble finding one."

"Yes sir." I move to leave, but stop in the doorway next to Wufei. "You look good in that outfit." Wufei conscientiously runs his hands down the front of the long black silk traditional Chinese jacket and blushes ever so slightly.

"It was a gift from Zechs." He says after clearing his throat. "Go Quatre." He shoos me away and turns to Duo. "You follow me. Time for you to get married."

I smile and walk out of the house in search of my boyfriend. The chairs by the gazebo are now full with our friends, and I see Trowa waiting for me a few feet away from them. As I get closer, he reaches out his hand to me, and I take it at the soonest possible moment. We sit down next to Sally and Brad and wait for the ceremony to start. Trowa gently tugs on my hand while I am looking about, and I turn my head to find out what he wants, only to have his lips pressing against mine the moment I do. I kiss him back happily, and Duo's assertion that I'll be the next to get married surfaces. As I pull back from Trowa, I look at him. It would be amazing if he was the one I end up with. I think we are good for each other. Allah, I hope you decide not to play with my heart any more. I don't think I could take it.

I am drawn out of my thoughts by the sound of a string quartet playing some sort of non-traditional wedding music. Trowa and I both look around, as does everyone else in order to spot the happy couple. I see them approaching from different sides of the house, both making their way to the gazebo where Zechs now stands in the full royal dress uniform. Wufei takes a seat off to the side and watches his boyfriend, while ever so often looking up to take note of how close Heero and Duo are to being in position.

I look back to Duo, who is approaching from my left, and note the intense look of concentration on his face as head turns from looking at Heero to making sure he's on target and then back to Heero. Heero appears to be doing the same thing, but looks far less frantic about it.

The string group stops playing as soon as they are standing in position, and they turn to Zechs who begins the ceremony. They both say some things, share a drink from a handcrafted clay goblet and exchange rings with each other. All in all, the ceremony lasts between ten and twenty minutes and then ends when they join hands, kiss and walk back towards the house.

"Short and sweet." Trowa says with a smile.

"Very short, but incredibly fitting for those two."

"Are there going to be pictures?" Trowa asks as he motions to the happy couple disappearing into the house.

"Eventually. There's staff around to get them looking proper again when they are done." I reply with a cheeky smile and take Trowa's hand and guide him to the drink table. "I think Duo's going to explode if he doesn't get his daily dose of Heero. He seemed to have been suffering withdrawal when I saw him earlier."

"Well then," Trowa smiles at me. "What do we do now, while the newlyweds alleviate some nervous energy?"

"We enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres until it is picture time." I grin proudly, as I hold up a glass of white wine.

"Sounds like a plan." Trowa picks up a glass of blush and sips it.

It isn't long before someone fetches me for pictures. "Mister Winner you are needed for photographs."

"Oh course." I nod to the assistant, place my empty glass down and give Trowa a happy lopsided grin. "I'll see you in a little bit." We share a lingering kiss, and I trot off after the assistant who was kind enough to not stick around while I kiss my boyfriend.

I catch up with the assistant, and he leads me into one of the spare bedrooms. "Gloria will help you get ready for pictures. Join us in the next room when you are finished." I nod to the man and he turns and leaves. Gloria enters the room mere moments after the assistant left and with a large Disney smile she walks up to me and hands me a warm, wet towel that faintly smells of citrus.

"For your face, as it is hot out there." I nod and unravel the towel. "When you are ready, please sit in the chair. "

"Sure." I sit in the chair and proceed to wipe the sweat from my face, revealing in the relaxing moist heat.

"So, I heard Wufei was willing to bet a million of my money on who is going to get married next." Zech's deep voice reverberates from the door way.

I chuckle. "Would you take that bet, as well?"

Zech's chuckles. "I would."

I peek at him from behind the cooling towel. "Why is everyone so certain of this?" I ask, a bit frustrated.

"Because I'm not sure if the nation or our families are ready for us to be married. You are by far the most likely person to be exchanging vows next. And who knows, maybe that gorgeous man outside is going to be the one that you will be exchanging vows with."

"Aren't you jumping things a bit? We just met." I glare at him until Gloria turns my heads towards a mirror so she can fix my hair.

"I don't think I am jumping to any conclusions that you haven't already jumped to." I grumble nothing in particular. "We all like him Quatre, so we're all hoping this one works." In the mirror, I see him give me a genuine smile before turning and walking away.

"You're done. The room next door is where the pictures are being taken."

"Thanks." I beam at her and bound out of the room and into the next. The room is full of professional photography equipment and behind the camera is a very prominent fashion photographer from America. More than likely, Zechs is cashing in on a few favors that he is owed.

Heero and Duo are beaming and radiating sickening happiness, but I am happy for them and ask Allah that he grant them peace, love and prosperity until their dying day. Which I hope will be a long, long time from now.

I'm not sure if they notice me enter between the lights, the camera flash, and the fact that their world currently exists only in each other's eyes. Zechs does see me and walks over, stopping next to me. "Duo wants some pictures with just you and him, then some pictures with all three of you. When we're done with that more people will start joining until the gang is all together. They also thought that you would like some pictures of just you and Trowa. Feel free to get everything you need." He gives me a sly wink and walks over to the photographer. "Quatre is here." Zechs informs the world renowned artist.

"Thank you Zechs." The photographer nods to Zechs, then to me and calls out to Duo and Heero. "Heero can you step aside for a moment?"

Heero nods, a goofy grin planted on his usually stoic features, and kisses Duo before leaving the backdrops and lights.

"Omeditou Heero."

"Arigato." My friend beams happily and goes off to stand by Zechs.

Duo rushes over and pulls me into the lights. "You doing ok Q-man?"

I hesitate for a second, and Duo frowns. "That's what I thought."

"Oh come on Duo, that isn't fair."

"I know. No one ever said I was fair." He smiles and pulls me into a tight hug. "I think good things are coming Q, you just gotta let them happen. Forcing things and constantly waiting for something to go a certain way is just going to make you more anxious and depressed."

"I'm trying. But, let's not talk about this. The day is devoted to you and Heero. My insecurities can wait until you come back from two weeks on a tropical island with no other inhabitants."

"Fair enough Q-ball. Picture time." He releases his grip on me and spins to face the photographer.

"Ready?"

Duo looks at me, and I nod and then he looks at the photographer and nods. "Ready."

The next two hours are devoted to thorough picture taking. And when I say thorough, I mean it. Pictures are taken in different combinations of people with different backdrops and poses. Our hot shot American makes sure to cover all bases. Hopefully, they turn out as nice as this guy is capable of doing.

I also noticed that the photographer did a wonderful job of including Trowa in pictures without making it incredibly obvious that he was taking similar shots without him in it. I offer up a small prayer to Allah asking that there never come a time where we will be hiding away the pictures with Trowa in them.

When the photographer finally puts down his camera, we all look somewhat relieved, and blink rapidly, desperately trying to regain our normal eyesight back and get rid of the bright flash echoes. "Everyone, if you world be so kind as to join us outside, dinner is about to be served." Zechs announces over the chattering din, and we all turn to look at him.

Duo is the first to respond. He bounces over to Heero grabs his hand and gives him a chaste kiss on the lips. "Come on sexy lets eat something. I'm starving."

The corner of Heero's mouth quirks up and he looks like he is about to say something, but simply shakes his head and grins. "I think that is an excellent idea." They join hands and lead the way it the door.

I grab Trowa's hand and he squeezes it tightly. Allah, I like him so much, please don't take him away from me. I offer up my silent prayer.

The rest of the night proceeds without a hitch. The food is spectacular, but that is to be expected from the Prince of Sanc. The music is a mix of live and recorded, which adds nicely to the diverse atmosphere. We dance, drink fine alcohol and party with our friends in a happy, oblivious, sort of way. Trowa and I avoid any mention of what we are going to be doing tomorrow. I think we are doing so only to alleviate some of the tension that has been mounting over the last few days.

Around ten pm, the party starts winding down. Next to me, Trowa looks exhausted, but contented, so I figure the exhaustion comes from partying all day and not from nervousness. "You ready to head out?" I ask knowing that the question is going to damper the mood a bit. I wrap my arm around his waist and pull him close.

Trowa sighs. "About as ready as I'll ever be." The says quietly and wraps his arm around my shoulders, giving me a tight squeeze.

It doesn't take an empath to tell that he is very worried about this trip. I guess that troubles me the most. Being nervous about something like this is normal. But there is something else that I can't quiet place, something that goes beyond worrying about how his parents are going to react to the news. Allah. I wish he would let me know what he is thinking: Maybe I could help in some way.

"Hey, Quatre, don't think about it too much right now. You are making me more nervous." Trowa gives me another squeeze and all I can do is offer him a weak smile. "Quatre, really, don't worry. I want to enjoy this wonderful night to its fullest and not think about what is going to happen tomorrow." He gives me a genuine, loving grin and kisses me gently on the lips.

I melt into the kiss and pull him flush to me. I feel his lips turn up into a smile, and he slips his fingers into my hair, deepening the kiss. I am vaguely aware that we are standing where everyone can see us. But I guess that is the nice part at being at a gay wedding. It is completely expected that two men are going to be kissing.

"Hey love birds. We got to get going." Duo says, breaking the spell Trowa has me under. I shoot him a dirty look to show that I did not like the fact that I had been interrupted. "Hey Q-man, I'm not the one who put the schedule together. You did. So don't go giving me the look of death when I remind you of your plans." He flashes a toothy grin and bounces backwards into Heero's waiting arms.

I grumble something nonsensical and Trowa laughs. "Do you blame him?"

"No, not really. I'd want to get my honeymoon started as soon as possible too."

"See." My boyfriend smiles and nuzzles my neck. "And then we can be alone for a while too." He whispers between feathery kisses.

"You are forgetting my entourage." I groan unhappily.

"Don't you have personal quarters on board?" He looks at me expectantly. "I've never been on a fancy private plane, but I thought they would have some place where you can have some privacy."

I think about the layout of the plane for a moment. "Well, I guess there is. The sections of the cabin have real doors, so they can be closed. Not locked, but it is understood that if the door is closed the occupants are not to be disturbed."

Trowa grins triumphantly. "See we can be alone then."

His voice is husky and combining that with the chill his breath on my neck generates, I fight to keep myself from jumping him right here and now. A soft whimper escapes my lips, and I hear Heero laugh. HEERO! Allah, I must come across pathetically desperate and horny. "Or in love."

Ok, that gets me at of my self destructive thoughts. I glare at Heero. "What…??" There are words in my mind, but they stubbornly remain caught on my tongue.

"I know you heard me." He smirks. "I know that look Quatre, and I know what you think about when you have that look. So, stop beating yourself up over stuff you shouldn't be beating yourself up about."

"You know Heero, sometimes you truly amaze me with some of the stuff you say." Duo says with an impressed tone in his voice.

"Only sometimes?" Heero looks a bit shocked. "I would think that since I speak so little, everything out of my mouth would be profound and insightful." I am amazed he is able to say that with a straight face.

"You are such an asshole Yuy." Duo playfully pushes his husband's shoulder.

"I believe that is Yuy-Maxwell now." My normally quiet friend says as he pulls Duo close.

Duo's eyes glaze over and he happily enters la-la land. "Oh, I do like the sound of that very much."

"Ok, cut it out you two." I say, pretending to be disgusted. "We need to get going." Duo shoots me a look, and I stick out my tongue.

"Oh, I see how it is." I smirk as Duo begins talking. "So, it is ok when you are ready to go. But when we," he motions to Heero and himself, "the newly married couple, want to leave for our honeymoon, we have to wait?"

"Yes, because the cars weren't here yet." Not that I planned this, but I'm just going to pretend that did because this truly is too perfect. I pull my vibrating cell phone at of my pants pocket and answer. "Hello Rashid."

"Master Quatre, if you are ready to depart, the car for Mister Maxwell and Mister Yuy is here."

"Thank you, Rashid. We will be there shortly." I say and disconnect the call. "All right, time to say goodbyes for the time being." Duo beams happily at me as friends swarm around us.

First, everyone wishes the newlyweds love and support and tell them to have fun. All the while, Heero has this look on his face, like he's up to no good. But, that's probably true considering he's off to a secluded tropical island with his husband, the man he has been in love with since he was fourteen. It seems to be a love story out of a fairytale, and I don't doubt that they will have their own version of happily ever after. Maybe that is the romantic in me talking or maybe it is my faith in my friends, and the bonds that they share.

Once everyone wishes the newlyweds happiness and joy, Trowa and I are showered with words of encouragement and strong, supporting hugs. I believe I have the best friends in the world and at this very moment you would have a very hard time convincing me otherwise. Through, that being said, I can't think of a time when someone would have been able to ever convince me otherwise. A person may have been able to get me to second guess how close Tristan and I were, though. It is hard to comprehend why the person you loved most in the world, and who you thought loved you most too, would have completely severed all ties and disappear without a trace. He is the only person I am not sure what to think about.

With a final round of farewells and hugs, the four of us manage to make our escape to the cars. Rashid is waiting by my car and the door to the back seat is open and waiting. Trowa and I move to the car, and just as we unlace our fingers so we can get inside, Duo grabs my free hand and quickly begins to pull me into the shadows of the driveway.

"Duo, what is going on?" I ask as my brow furls with confusion.

"Shush Quat." He kisses me softly on the lips and pulls me into a tight embrace. The kiss is nothing more than platonic, but I know why he did it. It seals the past few years up, and marks the beginning of something new. Not just for Heero and Duo, but for me as well. "Good luck tomorrow and never forget how in love you are with him." He says softly.

I sigh and squeeze him tightly back. "Duo, I don't really know how much I love him."

My best friend's body shakes with silent laughter. "No Q-man, I am quite certain you do. You just don't want to admit it before tomorrow is done and over with. But don't wait that long. I think you both need the strength that realization will give you."

"Duo, do you know something I don't?" I pull back and try to look into his eyes, but can see little more than shadows.

"Quatre, I will always know something you don't. And I can bet that they are things you will never, ever, want to know." He chuckles. "But, concerning this, no, I don't know anything. I just know what my gut tells me and what I have found from personal experience. You will have my support one hundred percent. Always."

"It is funny. I was just thinking about how wonderful my friends are."

"We are awesome, aren't we?" He gives me a cheeky grin.

"You are so modest Duo. You have got to work on being more outgoing." I tease and gently nudge him in the ribs.

"No way in hell Q-man. I am totally a married man now. My days of being overly outgoing are done with."

"Uh huh." I nod pretending to accept what he just said. "Our boys are waiting for us Duo." I motion in the direction of Heero and Trowa who are looking at us expectantly.

Duo grins, puts his hands deep into his pockets and starts to head back to our waiting partners. "Q, I so need to get laid." He sticks out his tongue and skips at of reach as I try to smack him.

"I do not want to hear it Duo." I shout after him and he hides behind Heero. Heero raises his eyebrow, looks at me. "Ask him. I'm not talking about it."

Heero's body shakes as he chuckles quietly. "I think Quatre, that it is time to part ways for right now. I think Duo needs to go to bed." Duo peeks out from behind Heero and nods in agreement.

"I don't think Duo is the only one." Trowa says smoothly as he snakes his arms around my waist and pulls me back against his chest. "Let's be done talking." He says softly into my ear, and I melt into his arms.

"Um ok. I'm fine with that." I vaguely notice Heero giving, probably Trowa, a thumbs up. Then Heero turns around, and in one quick, smooth motion, he scoops Duo up into his arms. Duo grumbles in protest and I hear Heero tell him to stop squirming or he'll be dropped to the ground, and that he wouldn't have needed to carry him if he knew that he wasn't going to run off for some more private conversations. Duo whines something to the effect that he isn't going to be running off again. Then Heero says, 'I know,' and tosses Duo into the back seat of the limo.

"What the hell 'Ro?"

My handsome Japanese friend looks over his shoulder at me and Trowa and offers us a mischievous grin, then turns back to the car and pushes his husband deeper into the car so he can move in next to him. "Good luck you two, we'll see you in two weeks." Heero says before closing the car door.

"I think that is our cue to go." Trowa announces with a light kiss to my neck.

"I think you are right." I stretch my arms over my head and wrap them, a bit awkwardly, around Trowa's neck.

Then, as if on cue, Rashid opens the back door to my car and waits patiently for Trowa and I to disconnect from each other long enough to get in. My face flushes red with embarrassment as I realize that my behavior could be more than a little awkward for the head of my personal guard. If he is bothered by my sexual orientation, he has never let on that it does. Not that I've ever really spent a lot of time around him with a boyfriend present. The only one he ever spent any time with was Tristan.

We quietly climb into the car and buckle up. Rashid closes the door and takes his seat in the front passenger's side. When his door shuts tight, my driver pulls out of the Peacecraft drive.

The trip to the Winner airfield in Sanc is a quiet one. Trowa and I hold hands the entire way, and I know I doze off a few times on the way there. In fact, I am startled awake as Trowa shakes my shoulder gently.

"Quatre we're here."

I blink a few times and look around. "We're here?" I ask stupidly.

Trowa chuckles softly. "We are. Duo and Heero's plane is on the runway now. Rashid says our plane is ready to go. So all we have to do is get on board."

Nodding my understanding, I undo my seat belt and slide out of the already open door. I wait for Trowa to come around to my side, and I grab hold of his hand as we walk towards the plane.

Upon reaching the stairs up into the plane, we drop hands, and I climb the steps with practiced ease, Trowa right behind me. I lead him to our cabin and instead of sitting in my normal seat, I sit opposite it in a chair that has one right next to it and motion for him to sit down next to me. He does and buckles in right away. He looks tired and I think the high from the wedding has finally worn off and the reality of tomorrow's 'confrontation' his hitting him.

"How are you doing?" I look at him and squeeze his hand.

Trowa take a deep breath. "Nervous, anxious, can't wait for this to be done."

"I'll be ok." I give his hand another squeeze.

"I hope so." He squeezes back.

The PA system comes to life and Rashid's voice booms through the cabin. "Winner Five is on its way and we have been cleared for take-off. ETA to Massachusetts eight hours, enjoy the flight and let us know if you need anything." As Rashid talks I feel the plane begin to taxi and my eyes fall heavy. I've spent so much time flying that it is almost natural for me to do so. Some people fall asleep in cars, I fall asleep when the engines power up and the cabin is pressurized.

"Trowa, I'm sorry if I fall asleep. I just crash on the plane." I give him an apologetic look.

"It's ok, I don't think I could stay up anyway."

I nod as we speed down the runway, by the time the wheels are off the ground, I have my head on Trowa's shoulder and before we level out, I am sound asleep.