So, here it is! I really couldn't make it any better. T.T Hope it doesn't spoil anyone's Easter though. And since I don't really like it as an ending there'll be another chapter which will be a sort of epilogue with an omake at the end. That one is looking good! :D

This chapter is dedicated to my beta, L., who wanted some more steamy insinuated-sex scenes. Hahah

CHAPTER 16

Cuddling, Relena decided, was the best thing that had ever been invented. If she had known it would feel so good she would've gotten to it a lot sooner. She had never felt so warm and relaxed, so comfortable and at peace… Of course, it wouldn't be so if she were with anyone other than Trowa, but still she regretted not fighting for something like that before, regretted wasting so much time… She tried to snuggle closer even though it was impossible and sighed contentedly, wishing they could stay in bed forever.

"We should be getting up…" Trowa's voice seemed to echo all around her, but though he made the observation he seemed unwilling to move.

"Must we really?" Relena asked even though she already knew the answer. His hold around her tightened, and she realised one of his hands was dangerously close to her backside, he did not seem about to start anything though. She smiled, remembering that their second round had been rather satisfying.

"Our spacecraft leaves in four hours…" he reminded her, though it sounded more like he was mourning or apologising.

"Oh, God…" she moaned, burying her face in the crook of his neck when she recalled they were heading to the new L5 colony for a congress. They would be staying there for a few days before returning to Earth. As usual, she would be making a speech… Relena could barely remember what it was supposed to be about. "I need to talk to Heero…" she added another thing to her list. They had not really spoken since the night they had decided to break up and a lot – a lot – had happened after that… She needed to make sure he knew she wasn't angry about the kiss and that she had decided to date Trowa.

"Then we should definitely get up."

"Do you think he will be coming with us to L5?"

"Honestly? No."

"Good." Relena finally pulled away to meet his eyes. "Then we can cuddle as much as we want."

"We should take Hope with us though…" he tucked a strand of dark blonde hair behind her ear. "Unless you wish to stop by again on our way to Earth."

"If we could get new tickets… That might be nice. I'll call my secretary and have her reschedule my appointments… Tell her we'll be extending the trip a couple of days." She met his sleepy gaze and pushed his hair away from his forehead. It was strange…in a nice way, to see both his eyes at once.

"I've been thinking about having it cut. What do you think?"

"I think it's nice to change…" Relena smiled. "If it doesn't work out… Well… It's hair. It grows back."

"Hn." He agreed distantly as he leaned forward to claim her lips. She let her hands slide down to his chest, his kisses could take her to other worlds, other dimensions. This time though, Trowa pulled away before it could escalate. "We really should get up." he repeated.

Relena chuckled and, in a silent agreement, they started getting up and ready. "What do you want to do about our relationship?" she asked as she pulled up her business skirt. Break was over, it was time to go back to work. "Do you want to keep it secret?"

"I thought that was what we were doing… At least until your term ends…" Trowa did not sound particularly preoccupied as he sat on the bed to put on his boots. He had gone up to the TV room sometime in the middle of the night to retrieve his luggage. Relena hadn't been surprised when he had told her Heero wasn't there.

"I guess it will be better that way… We don't want to appear on tabloids and give interviews and be stalked by paparazzi."

"No, definitely not."

"Then it's decided." She smiled at him as she tied up her hair. Their activities had messed it up to a point where it was either washing it or tying it up and they were running out of time. It would not settle down otherwise and the Foreign Minister couldn't go around with bed hair. "Once my term is over we can decide whether we continue as we are or get engaged."

Trowa's mouth parted lightly in surprise, but he knew her and her family so he sort of had to have seen it coming. If it were to become public it would have to become serious as well. "Hn." He agreed and returned to getting dressed.

Relena checked herself in the mirror once more and, feeling satisfied slipped into her high heels and out of the bedroom. "I'll go check if Heero's up." She informed, looking over her shoulder and could not help smiling at him. She was so…happy. He returned the smile and the young woman walked away with a wistful sigh.

She found Heero in the kitchen sitting at the isle with a mug of coffee in one hand and Khadija in one arm. Quatre was at the stove, humming while he flipped pancakes, he had a smile on his face and, for a long moment, all the young woman could do was stare. It was the perfect picture of domestic life and she thought it looked surreal with two former gundam pilots in it.

After a minute or so, Heero cleared his throat and she was forced to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry, I just thought it was too perfect a moment for me to ruin it." Her blonde host beamed at her from across the kitchen and she had the feeling he couldn't agree more. All their happiness seemed to be merging together. It was nearly breathtaking. "May I borrow Heero for a few minutes?"

"If you don't mind taking Khadija with you too. The pancakes won't cook themselves and I don't want any of you, guys, to be late for your flights."

"Thanks, Quatre." She told him honestly, trying to transmit through her smile just how grateful she really was. Then she turned to Heero and extended her arms. "May I?"

He released Khadija to her, refilling his mug and whispering something on Quatre's ear before he followed her out the door. The blonde man's chuckle followed them as they stepped into the corridor, heading towards the nursery. Relena smiled at him over her shoulder. "You look…different." He raised his eyebrows. "In a good way." She amended as she stopped by the crib, slowly lowering the baby into her mattress.

"Maybe I am." He conceded.

She turned back to him, sensing his unease, and smiled reassuringly. "I'm not angry, Heero."

"That's what Quatre says." He sighed, avoiding her eyes. "I know I should have told you."

"I don't really think it was your obligation to tell me, but you certainly should have trusted me. I would have understood. I might even have been able to help you. I know Trowa can only do so much…"

Heero nodded. "He's a good listener, but our views and opinions tend to be rather similar. That's not what you look for when you seek a second opinion."

Relena chuckled, thinking about the man she had spent the night with. He was only meters away and she already missed him. "I want you to be happy, Heero." She resumed, focusing again on the man standing in front of her. "Quatre too and – I know this may sound weird, but – when I walked into the kitchen and saw you… This just feels right somehow. It's like everything's finally falling into place…"

"I know." He said and a small smile curled his lips. "You will be good for each other. You and Trowa."

"So he's already told you." She beamed somewhat relieved. "So will you, you know." Then she grew serious, her voice acquiring a concerned quality to it. "Please, don't screw it up, Heero? We both know you've got trust issues and some…"

"Runaway tendencies?" he offered with an amused smirk. "I'm done running away, Relena."

"I'm glad. I'm sure Quatre will be able to help you deal with whatever it is that keeps you up at night." Her smile grew sad suddenly.

"Hn."

"I'm sorry I couldn't help."

"The fault's entirely mine." He consoled her. "I do need to work on those trust issues."

"You will be staying here, won't you? I never asked…"

"Is it really necessary?"

She smiled and shook her head. "If you left Quatre to travel to a congress as my bodyguard… Then I'd write you off as a lost cause." She chuckled. "I don't need that much protection."

"I know." He allowed himself a smirk. "I know how vicious you can be."

Relena scowled, slapping him on the arm, but her eyes were twinkling mirthfully. "Come." She said pulling him behind her. "Let's go have pancakes."

Heero returned her scowl. He had never been fond of her ordering him around, though he had been a perfect soldier it was not exactly in his nature. She had long realised how his big heart and the fiery temper he kept constantly under check conflicted with the things he had been taught. Quatre was in for a challenge. Or maybe not, she mused, as she saw her stoic bodyguard – or ex-bodyguard as it was – return for the electronic babysitter. Maybe the pieces really had fallen into place.

OxOxO

Heero saw the now nearly permanent smile Quatre had been wearing all morning widen even further as their friends fumbled to fit all their bags inside Wufei's rented car. There was – coincidentally – a very small difference of time between their two flights so they would be all driving together. The Chinese man did not look pleased and Heero could not help but smirk at his exasperation when Relena and Duo got into yet another argument over the luggage arrangement.

"What's with you and Chang? Always provoking each other…" Quatre smiled, blushing as he slipped his hand into the dark haired man's. It was hard for them not to be self-conscious around the others after all that had happened…

"We respect each other, though we disagree on a lot of things."

"Obviously."

He chuckled at the blonde's tone and the way he rolled his eyes. "We just haven't spent enough time together to learn how to…cooperate."

Quatre's attention shifted to Trowa when the green eyed man approached them. "Are you done yet?"

"They seem to be…close to reaching a consensus." He commented, turning half-around to watch the ongoing discussion. The Chinese man had decided to put an end to it and had stepped in, but all he seemed to accomplish was to get himself engaged in the discussion as well. Trowa's smirk matched Heero's when he turned back to the blonde man. "Are you sure it's okay for Hope to stay here for a few more days?"

"Oh, it's fine. She's already settled anyway so she shouldn't give us too much trouble."

"I hope not." Former pilot 03 agreed, eyes wandering back to Relena and immediately softening. "Thank you…for everything."

"It was nothing." Quatre beamed up at his friend. "Thank you for coming. Feel free to visit whenever you wish to."

"We'll make sure to keep in close touch from now on."

The blonde nodded happily. "Take care of each other."

"We will." Relena agreed slipping under the green eyed man's arm with a smile. "We'll be back for Hope in a few days actually." She reminded him.

"What? So ya' ain't keeping the fur ball, Quat'? What a shame." Duo joined with a smirk, dragging Wufei with him, an arm slung over the Chinese man's shoulders nonchalantly.

"And where are the two of you off to?" Quatre asked, turning to the unlikely pair curiously.

"The two of us?" the braided man pointed at his own chest feigning confusion, but then smirked. "'Fei's on mandatory leave."

"So that's the urgent business Une had with you." Heero could not help his own smirk. Wufei merely snorted to show his displeasure.

"So we'll be going on vacation…" Duo's eyes gleamed saucily. "For now Earth, but once we get there… What about Hawaii?"

"Too hot."

"How 'bout northern Canada?"

"Too cold."

"Uh…"

"Why don't you visit some historic cities and sites?" Relena suggested, and Heero could not help but notice how comfy she looked under Trowa's arm. He threw his own arm around Quatre and smiled discreetly when the blonde man's curious gaze met his, momentary surprise giving place to a warm smile. "What about Rome? Venice?"

"Argentina?" Wufei suggested probably having to fish for a place he hadn't yet been to.

Duo frowned. "That sounds boring. I wanted to go surfing. Or snowboarding… Or both." He finished with a cheery grin.

"Well, since it's my mandatory leave I think we should go where I want to."

"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything…" the blonde commented quietly.

"Don't feel bad for it." Heero comforted him, a smile making its way to his lips.

"He's right." Trowa whispered, a smirk on his lips. "This is highly entertaining."

"Yes…" Relena agreed half-heartedly. "But now they will never stop and we have to go or we will miss our flights."

"You're right." The green eyed man smiled at the Foreign Minister, his arm tightening around her.

"Never stopping, ya' said?" the braided man turned to them with a victorious grin and raised eyebrows. "We've already decided."

"Yes, we've decided to continue discussing this on the flight." The Chinese man reminded him.

"It's a decision anyways and we've agreed on it. On record time."

"Shut up, Maxwell. Let's go." Wufei paused to give Quatre a bow. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"It was my pleasure." The blonde blushed lightly at the courtesy. "You should come by more often."

"Hot, ain't he?" Duo said aside as he pulled his host into a hug. The black haired man snorted, but Heero saw the corners of his lips curl up before he turned away.

"Chang." He followed the other man to the car. This was what Quatre would have wanted. "I apologise. For everything."

Wufei opened the driver's door and turned to Heero with a surprised look on his face. It was gone as fast as it had appeared and a smile took its place. "I'm sorry for ratting you out."

He snorted, that must have been the most insincere apology he had ever received. Their eyes met and suddenly they were laughing. The others were quick to approach. Duo dragging his jaw behind him, Quatre looking pleasantly amused and Trowa smirking at a puzzled looking Relena.

"Are you done saying goodbye?" the Chinese man asked not bothering to hide how pleased he was at the others' confusion.

"Uh… Hum…" it was a rare occasion when the braided man was left speechless.

"Yeah. We're done." Trowa answered, smiling. It was the longest he had smiled in a long time, and Heero was happy for him.

"We'll see you in a few days." Quatre waved at them as they got into the car, then let his arm fall around Heero's waist. "If Khadija gives us a break maybe we can make up for the lost time…" he said between his teeth still smiling at the others as they backed out of the garage.

"I thought we were taking our time." He teased, unable to help himself. He was in an awkwardly light mood and – for some reason – he just did not bother fighting it. Usually it scared him to feel so…ungrounded, he wasn't used to it and those feelings often made him act differently. In a way he had been taught he wasn't supposed to act. He felt like he became someone else. The thought displeased him, but he decided if Quatre were okay with this different side of him then he could grow to be okay with it himself.

"I think we're past that point." The blonde pulled the electronic babysitter out of his belt and turned on the monitor. Khadija was sleeping soundly. He turned to Heero. "Besides, I think we are old enough to indulge in some casual sex."

"There's nothing casual about any of this." He said, meeting Quatre's eyes seriously. "I know we did not clarify things back then and I don't want to repeat those m—."

He was silenced by a kiss just as the garage doors banged shut. "Prove it." The blonde said as he pulled away flushed and slightly breathless. "Let's do things my way for a change."

"Your way?" he frowned suspiciously.

Quatre nodded seriously though there was a tender smile on his lips. "There's something I want to try. I guess it'll prove how much you can trust me."

Heero sighed. He did not like the sound of that. Of course, he wanted to trust the blonde, but he had been trained not to trust anyone and old habits die hard… "Very well." He said, pulling Quatre with him towards the elevator. "Let's go."

"There's one more thing." The blonde commented as they walked the last couple of meters until they were inside the metal box. The doors slid closed. "I want you to tell me about the nightmare that woke you up last night. How often does that happen?"

"Often enough." He conceded. There was no use denying Quatre answers at that point. Beside he had an understanding with himself to try and make things different. The blonde's concerned look fell on him just as they arrived back at the penthouse, and Heero could not help pulling him closer, resting their foreheads together as he gathered the strength to speak of those things he had avoided speaking of for nearly a decade. He reminded himself that Quatre had been there, he had fought and killed too… He would understand.

Quatre's hand wrapped around the one Heero had left on the back of his neck and pulled it away gently so he could lay a kiss on the palm. "I dream of blowing up colony 06E... Of blowing up the Vayaete and 'killing' Trowa… Of pulling you – unconscious – out of the Mercurius and you never waking up again…" he choked at that, and Heero opened his eyes to find the blonde closing his tightly as if in pain.

"But you haven't killed anyone, Quatre." He whispered, smiling reassuringly. "The colony had been evacuated before you got there and both Trowa and I are still here, still alive."

"What about all the soldiers I killed during battle? Soldiers whose faces I never even saw?" his hold on Heero's hand tightened to a point where it became nearly painful. Or maybe, Heero mused, it was the hurtful, anguished look on Quatre's face that pained him.

"We were in war, Quatre. People fight because they believe there is something worth risking their lives for. Every soldier must be prepared to die for their cause. What did you risk your life for? Was it not worth it?"

The blonde met his eyes. "All those deaths… For peace… Were they really worth it, Heero?"

"The needs of many should outweigh the needs of few."

"I don't know… It's hard to fully enjoy peace when I think of all those who died for it. All those who fought for peace and now cannot bask in it."

Heero looked away as his own demons resurfaced and finally stepped out of the elevator and into the hall. "Do you remember that day in New Edwards?"

"The day you saved our lives by deactivating those missiles." That actually brought the smile back to Quatre's face as he followed the other man into the apartment. "How can I ever forget?"

"The day I killed all those pacifists…" he swallowed the lump in his throat, clenching and unclenching his hands. He did not regret saving Quatre and Duo, but he should have died for that mistake. He should have been blown up to pieces together with that base. "They deserved to bask in peace more than anyone… I still revive that moment and wonder how things could have been different."

"Heero…" the blonde's hands were suddenly running over his shoulders and down his arms. "That wasn't your fault… You were tricked. We were all tricked. You visited all of their families… Trowa told me about that."

"It's not good enough." He clenched his teeth, then felt Quatre's arms wrap around him, his head resting on his shoulder. It was as if he was trying to somehow absorb the pain.

"We were so young…" the quiet, sad whisper seemed to resonate within them. "Remember what we told Trowa yesterday? About forgiving himself?"

"Hn."

"I think we should start following our own advice."

Heero turned in the blonde's arms, meeting his gaze with a pensive one of his own. "You're right." He said and cupped Quatre's cheek, running a thumb over his lip as if in deep thought. "I seem to have a tendency of giving advice I do not personally follow." His voice rose in distaste at himself, but the other man chuckled.

"I forgive you." He said smiling. "Just as I know you've forgiven my many faults."

"Hn."

"So maybe now we should…" he leaned closer until their lips were brushing. "get that casual sex thing going…before Khadija wakes up."

"Not casual." Heero corrected, kissing him deeply as his fingers worked deftly on the buttons of Quatre's shirt. "Do you ever wear T-shirts?" he pulled away with a groan when one of the tiny round demons refused to budge.

"I don't really owe many… I spend so much time in the office the expense just didn't seem worth it." The blonde smiled at the other man's sudden exclamation of success then helped him by pulling the shirt out of his trousers and shrugging it off.

"Then it's time to start spending more time at home." Heero informed, drawing him into another kiss. He took his time, the anxiety, the angst and desperation that had been present during that moment they had shared in the kitchen completely gone.

"I know." Quatre waved the electronic babysitter for emphasis before setting it down on the table, then tugged at the hem of Heero's T-shirt with a smirk. "You're overdressed." He informed, and the dark haired man pulled the garment over his head before throwing it over his shoulder. "Our connection has grown stronger…"

"How so?" Heero raised an eyebrow, but did not bother holding the blonde's gaze as he moved closer to nibble on the pale throat. The smell of Quatre's perfume and the salty taste of his skin had him pushing even closer until the grinding of their bodies had the blonde moaning. "You're still loud." He smirked against his partner's collarbone.

"I can feel your emotions so keenly…" Quatre panted. "Your pleasure…" a well-aimed brush of his hand had them both groaning. "You're not fifteen anymore…" he commented in realisation.

Heero chuckled, moving his own hand down to join the other man's. Quatre hissed, gasped, then finally moaned unable to stop himself. "Neither are you." He informed, still amused.

"As much as I'd like to do this right here in the hall… There's something I want to try…"

"Where?" he let his hands roam and muffled both his partner's moan and answer with a long kiss.

"The sofa."

"Hn."

They stumbled past the table and through the living room, sharing heated kisses, teasing whispers and long caresses as they went. By the time they reached the sofa both their belts were unbuckled and their open trousers threatening to slide down their hips. Quatre swore, making Heero pause in surprise. "The babysitter." He explained, stopping the other man with one hand around his arm. "I'll get it. You get off those clothes and take a seat."

He made sure his eyebrows went as far up as they could to show the blonde just how sure he was of that whole idea, but Quatre either did not notice or did not care so Heero had to content himself with ogling his ass as he returned to the hall for the electronic baby sitter. The blonde wanted him to be selfless, to share the pleasure, not monopolize it. His logical side understood that and knew he could trust Quatre with his life, it was only his instincts that worried him. He had to control them to be able to surrender completely. It wasn't an easy task, but with the blonde man he was willing to try.

Quatre seemed pleased to find him right where he had wanted him and the appreciative glance he ran over Heero's body had them both blushing. It was pathetic – really – but Heero refused to feel ashamed for it, instead he took his position as privileged as he watched Quatre divest himself of his own clothes. Then the blonde was straddling him and between him and the back of the sofa Heero's brain started searching for means of escape, warning him that the situation was getting out of his control. Quatre seemed to sense it too for he paused, meeting his eyes.

"Shhh…" he cooed, taking the dark haired man's face in his hands and distracting him with brief chaste kisses. "Heero? You can to trust me. I am not going to do anything unpleasant… You know that."

He closed his eyes, taking a very deep breath and allowed the tension to seep slowly out of his body as he exhaled. This wasn't a life and death situation. This was Quatre sitting naked on his lap…and dammit if that thought didn't help. "Alright." He said when he felt safe enough to reopen his eyes. "I do know that. Stop treating me like Khadija."

Quatre smiled smugly, nibbling on his ear and neck to distract him while his hands roamed. Heero closed his eyes again, focusing on the pleasure until his body was engaged again. Then he let his own hands wander, let them trace every last expanse of smooth white skin while they kissed, getting reacquainted with each other's mouths yet again. The blonde was teasing him, his hands never making it to where Heero actually wanted them. He wasn't sure whether the teasing was just a sample of the confidence Quatre had developed throughout the years or if it was part of his plan to distract him. Maybe both. Either ways it was working extremely well.

"You're driving me insane." He growled when Quatre pulled away to glance at the monitor on the coffee table. It felt like they were juggling knives. Khadija might wake up at any moment and then they would have to stop before they got to the best part, before the tempting touches and slow teasing strokes could escalate into something more intense.

"That was the idea." The blonde chuckled thrusting a vial into the other man's hand as he straightened his back and sidled closer. Heero basked in his moans and groans and even in the eventual dirty word that escaped him, those were like trophies, rewards that sent electric jolts all over his body until Quatre froze.

"What?" he asked immediately concerned. "Did I hurt you?"

"The cat. Heero, the cat's staring at us."

He turned his head to the side to find the tabby indeed looking at them as she sat quite nonchalantly near the door that led into the corridor. Then he turned back to the blonde and smirked. "Does it turn you on?" he asked in a whisper.

Quatre's face went beet red, but before he could protest he found himself being kissed senseless. The sudden audience did not bother Heero in the least, despite the fact that being watched was the main reason why he had always refused to get intimate with Relena in any sort of slightly public place. He actually found himself strangely aroused by it or maybe the fact that Quatre was clearly turned on was influencing his response as well. Never mind that it was just a cat.

"You know she doesn't care what we're doing right?" Quatre panted, trying to make his blunder appear a little less compromising.

"You're the one who brought it u—." it was all he could do to throw his head against the sofa and bite back a moan as his partner slid down the length of him. His grip on the blonde's thigh was so strong he was afraid it might leave bruises.

"So… How does it feel…" Quatre purred satisfactorily in his ear. "To not be in control?"

"Feels…" he hissed at the friction. "Unbelievable."

"Not trying to run away anymore?"

"No."

"Good. Because I'm never letting you go."

"Sorry to disappoint, but I am nearly over the edge already." Heero panted. The blonde leered at him, mind clearly running over ways to make him tumble the rest of the way, but as dangerous as the situation might seem Heero wasn't worried. "Thank you." He said with a genuine smile and Quatre's eyes sparkled in delight as he leaned down for a tender kiss.

And then they were back to the small bedroom they had shared in the dormitory back in Sanc Kingdom, the world around them fading into a blur of feelings and nothing more, but it was no longer the same… It was no longer an escape. It was coming home. It was like dreaming… Up to the point where Khadija's cries cut through their trance. And then, Heero decided, with Quatre laughing in his ears… Was when the dream became reality.