Last Chapter! I just want to say thanks for all my readers and reviewers. You have kept me going throughout this long process. I love and appreciate you all, especially you Markanovanlink (I hope you know you're the best) and my new friend turntofacethisway. Enjoy the conclusion of Gaining Ground.
-3 months later-
Wufei stacked the papers together on his desk before leaning back in his chair and stretching. He was done with his shift and he really wanted to go see his boyfriend.
"Wufei?"
Wufei looked up at Sally standing in the doorway to his office. "Yes? Is there something I can help you with?"
Sally stepped up to Wufei's desk. "Yes, actually. I was wondering if you would join me for dinner this evening?"
"I already have plans this evening, Sally."
Sally frowned as she leaned up against the desk. "You know you say that a lot, are you avoiding me?"
Wufei raised an eyebrow. "I don't need to make up excuses, Sally. It's the truth."
Sally sighed. "Okay Wufei, lets stop beating around the bush."
Wufei stood, wondering what on earth she was talking about. "Sally, if you have something to say, you should say it."
"Fine. I was waiting until you properly asked me out, but I guess I'll have to do it. When are we going on a real date, Wufei?"
Wufei looked at Sally as if she had grown another head. "What?...Wait a second...What?" Wufei was so confused he couldn't get a sentence out. Sally didn't possibly think that...How would she get to that conclusion? He shook his head trying to voice his words carefully.
"Look Sally. I'm flattered, really, but we can't date for several reasons, the main one being that I'm dating someone else. Second, is that we work together and there are so many things that could go wrong with that. I'm sorry Sally, but this isn't going to work."
Sally was surprised. She had thought things were going great between them. She had just wanted to make it official. "You're serious?"
Wufei nodded. "I'm sorry to disappoint you." Wufei gathered the few things he wanted to take with him. "I really must be going now." And Wufei bee lined it for the door before more awkwardness ensued.
Sally stood there, slightly flustered. She was finding it hard that Wufei didn't want to date her, but Wufei wasn't the only one out there and she wasn't going to let it get her down. She just had to keep looking.
Quatre drained his smoothie, loving the strawberry banana taste. He was currently sitting on a bench at the park after a business meeting. He enjoyed the serene atmosphere. It relaxed him and cleared his mind.
"Quatre?"
Quatre looked up startled. "Trowa?" Okay, serene mood gone.
"Hey." Trowa said softly. "Mind if I sit down?"
"No." Quatre answered as he scooted over to give Trowa space.
It was silent for a moment before Trowa spoke up. "What are you doing at the park today?"
"Just taking a break and enjoying the view."
There was more silence as Trowa was having trouble saying what he wanted to say to Quatre, but Quatre wasn't saying anything either so he took a depth breath before speaking again. "Quatre I want us to get back together."
Quatre looked at Trowa a little shocked. He was still going on about that. "Well I'm sorry, but that's not going to happen." He really didn't want to have this conversation with Trowa.
"I'll break up with Sherry." Trowa offered.
"If you really wanted me, she wouldn't even be in the equation." Countered Quatre. "Why can't you understand, Trowa?"
Trowa grabbed Quatre's free hand and grasped it tightly in his own. "Please, Quatre. I know I did wrong, but I want to make it up to you and start over again."
Quatre gave a sad smile as he shook his head. "The time for us is over, Trowa. I admit I still care about you, but I'm not in love with you any more."
Trowa sighed. Quatre was usually right, but he didn't want his time to be over with Quatre. He was sure they could still work this out. "You remember when you asked me why I didn't tell Cathy we broke?"
Quatre nodded and Trowa continued. "It was because I knew she was going to say that, that's what I needed to do all along, get rid of you. She always told me there was someone better out there for me, but she was wrong, Quatre. You're the best thing that has every happened to me. I want you, Quatre. I need you. I'll do whatever you ask of me, just take me back."
"I'm sorry Trowa, but I'm in love with someone who loves me back just as much. I'm truly happy with Wufei and I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize that."
Trowa could hear it in Quatre's voice and see it in his eyes that he meant every word he said, but he still had to try. "So there's no chance of us being together again?"
"No." Quatre stood up and tossed his empty cup in the nearby trashcan. "It's over between us, but I really wish you the best. I have to go now." Quatre turned away from Trowa and left towards the exit of the park without looking back. Trowa was in his past and Wufei was his present and future. That's the way it was and that's the way he wanted it to be.
Trowa leaned his head against the back of the bench. He was really hoping he could win Quatre back. Maybe if he kept trying he could wear Quatre down.
"Hey, you said we were going to meet by the water fountain."
Trowa looked up as Sherry walked down the sidewalk towards him. Was being with Sherry what he really wanted? Of course he really wanted Quatre. Maybe if he tried harder he could win Quatre over. Actually that might drive him away even more. So maybe Quatre was a lost cause.
Sherry on the other hand was beautiful and she really cared about him. Maybe this is what he needed.
"Is something wrong?" Sherry asked, concerned.
Trowa stood up and grabbed Sherry's hand. "Nothing, let's just enjoy this time together."
Sherry smiled. "That sounds great."
"So you finally did it, right? You finally asked him out?" Mindy asked Sally as they all gathered in her office.
Sally sighed and shook her head. "It's not going to work out between us."
Michelle rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. What you really mean is you chickened out and didn't ask him."
Sally sat down in her chair. "No, actually I did ask him, but...well he said he said it wasn't going to work and that he was taken."
Stacy's eyes widened. "Really? Oh my gosh, who?"
Sally shrugged. "That I don't know."
Michelle tapped her bottom lip. "It's probably the same one that sent him all those flowers that one time. I bet you it's that hot blonde that I've seen in his office several times."
"Karen? I don't think so. She's too prissy and dumb. I don't think he would go for that." Mindy commented.
"Okay. Then how about that super hot blond, with the long gorgeous hair?" Stacy suggested.
"You mean agent Wind?" Asked Mindy. "Oh God, that man is a work of art. I've seen him in the gym before and that man's body is perfection."
"Damn right." Stacy agreed. "I know I would not mind if he bent me over a weight bench and-"
"ALRIGHT! Please, that's enough I don't need that image engraved in my head." Sally interrupted before she heard anymore of the girl's fantasies.
"Well actually, no. I meant the other blond. That really rich one...kind of short...really nice smile..." Michelle tried to explain.
"OH! You mean Quatre Winner?"
Michelle snapped her fingers. "Yes, that's it."
Sally sighed as she tried to rub away the headache that was forming. "First off, we don't even know if Wufei prefers guys and second of all its none of our business who he is with. He is not interested in me, so let's leave it at that."
Mindy pouted. "Well thats no fun. I really want to know." She suddenly perked up. "Hey I know let's access his phone records and see who he talks to the most?"
"That's a start." Michelle agreed. "But we might have to do more."
"More?" Questioned Mindy.
Michelle nodded. "Yeah, like break into his locker or better yet his office and do some snooping around while he's not in there."
Sally stood up and covered her ears as she walked towards the door. "I am not going to be a part of any of your devious plans."
"What's her problem?" Stacy asked.
Mindy shrugged. "She's too uptight...Now about those plans..."
Wufei smiled to himself as he used the key Quatre gave him to enter the house. It was hard not to smile when he though about Quatre, but it made him even happier to know that he could come and go freely in Quatre's home.
As soon as he entered the smell of food reached his nostrils as he made his way to the kitchen to see what Quatre was cooking for dinner.
Quatre turned around and smiled at Wufei as he made his way into the kitchen. "Good to see you, babe."
Wufei gave Quatre a long kiss before pulling away smiling. "It's good to see you too."
"Dinner is almost ready, so you can sit down and relax if you want."
Wufei nodded as he made his way to the dining table, shrugging his jacket off and hanging it on the back of the chair. He sat down and sighed despite the fact that he was happy about seeing Quatre the incident at work still bothered him slightly.
"Something wrong, Fei?" Quatre asked gently, noticing how Wufei seemed a little tense.
Wufei shrugged slightly. "Something happened at work today?"
"Is everything, okay?"
"For the most part, yes."
Quatre stood there, waiting for the rest of the story and Wufei figured it would be best if he remained honest. "Something happened with Sally..."
"Is she okay? Nothing happened to her did it?" Quatre asked concerned.
Wufei waved off the concern. "She's fine. Its just..." Wufei took a breath before studying Quatre intensely to gauge his reaction. "Sally asked me out, today."
Quatre froze for a moment before sitting at the table slowly, folding his hands in his lap tightly, but his face remained neutral. "So what did you say to her?"
Wufei couldn't believe Quatre was asking him that question. "What do you think I said to her?"
"I don't know, that's why I asked."
Wufei sighed. It was apparent Quatre still had a fear about him leaving for someone else. "I told her I was taken, Quatre. Do you still not believe me when I tell you I'm with you and only you?"
Quatre shook his head as he stood up and headed back into the kitchen. "Its not that Wufei."
Wufei followed Quatre into the kitchen. "Then what is it? I thought we were done with this jealousy."
"I'm not jealous." Quatre answered defensively, stirring the rice in the pot just to give him something to do.
Wufei plucked the spoon from Quatre's grasp, placing it down before turning Quatre around to face him. "Then talk to me Quatre."
"It's nothing, Wufei."
"Quatre."
Quatre sighed and closed his eyes as all kinds of emotions ran through him. "It's just...I'm scared okay. I can't help but be worried that someone is going to come along and take you from me."
"Listen to me, Quatre." Wufei waited until Quatre's eyes were on him before continuing. "No one is going to take me anywhere I don't want to go. I want to be by your side and no woman or man for that matter is going to change that." He finished before capturing Quatre's lips in a searing kiss, pouring everything he felt for Quatre in the one action.
Quatre was reeling from the force of the kiss and the emotions that were accompanied with it.
"Don't you every doubt my feeling for you Quatre. I love you and what we have is real and it's going to stay that way."
Quatre pulled Wufei down for another kiss, this one soft and gentle. "I'm sorry, Wufei. I'm sorry I ever had doubts, but not again. Not anymore."
Wufei pulled Quatre in close and just held him there. Soon Quatre pulled away smiling gently. "Dinner?"
Wufei nodded. "That sounds good."
Wufei wasn't quite sure how it occurred, but currently he had Quatre pushed up against the wall, kissing him senseless. He remembered them having dinner and cleaning up the kitchen afterward, but that was about it. Not that he really minded though.
Wufei moved his attention to Quatre's neck as he felt hands slide up underneath his shirt. His own hands moved to slip past the backside of Quatre's slacks as he began to grope the blonde's ass.
"Don't stop, Wufei." Quatre moaned, softly as he pushed his body closer to Wufei's and started grinding his hips against his.
Despite Quatre's plea, Wufei pulled away from where he was trying to give Quatre a hickey on his neck. "Quatre?"
Quatre buried a hand in Wufei's jet black hair. "Please Wufei, I want you. All of you."
Wufei froze as he lifted his head up and looked Quatre in the eyes making sure he understood the meaning of Quatre's words. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
Quatre laughed softly before placing a peck on Wufei's nose. "Yes. I want to have sex with you."
"You sure that's what you want?"
Quatre nodded. "I do, but if you want to wait, that's okay with me as well."
It wasn't like Wufei hadn't thought of taking their relationship to the next level, but there was a little something holding him back. "I want you, Quatre, I do, but...I have to admit I haven't done this...with a guy before." Wufei confessed as he pulled his hands up from the back of Quatre's pants.
Quatre leaned his head against Wufei's. "That's okay, Wufei. It's a first time for everything. I'm ready to take that step with you, but only if you are ready."
Wufei only saw love and understanding in Quatre's eyes and he leaned forward and kissed Quatre slowly. "I want to. Lets do it."
"I don't want to pressure you." Quatre said, concerned.
Wufei shook his head. "That's not it at all. I'm just...not exactly sure of everything." Yeah, he read and viewed a lot of material that pertained to the situation, but he hadn't actually applied it.
Quatre smiled as he brushed his lips against Wufei's again. "We can take it slow tonight, come on." Quatre gave Wufei another kiss before leading him to the bedroom.
Quatre lay in content next to Wufei on the bed. It had been so long since he got laid and the time with Wufei was extraordinary.
"Was that okay for you, Quatre?"
Quatre looked over at Wufei and could see the uncertainty in his eyes. It was very different from the strong, confident Wufei he normally saw.
"Wufei, listen to me, sex with you was great. I enjoyed it. A lot."
Wufei looked at Quatre skeptically. "I'm supposed to believe you right now?"
Quatre rolled his eyes as he tapped Wufei gently on the nose with his finger. "Believe me Wufei, I enjoyed it, the question is did you?"
"Yes, I did. Better than what I imagined it would be."
Quatre laughed as he snuggled up against Wufei under the sheet. There was a comfortable silence, but Quatre couldn't help contemplating whether to tell Wufei about his encounter with Trowa or not. He was sure now wasn't the best time, but he didn't want Wufei to find out another way, like last time.
Quatre gathered his courage and spoke. "Wufei there is something I think you should know."
Wufei groaned inwardly. Quatre had a complaint about the sex, he just knew it, but he nodded anyway. "Okay, what is it?"
Quatre sat up and leaned against the headboard, causing the sheet to slip down to his waist. "This may not be the best time, but...I spoke to Trowa today."
Wufei sat upright. Several things flew through his mind, but he blurted out the first thing he thought. "That's why you wanted to have sex with me? Because of Trowa?"
"What! No, Wufei, of course not. I love you, that's why I wanted to share this moment with you." Quatre desperately explained.
Wufei was still skeptical. How could he not be when Trowa was the reason for so many of their relationship problems. "So why tell me that now?"
"You told me about Sally, its only fair I tell you about Trowa." Quatre replied.
"Trowa asked you back out?" It was very hard for Wufei to keep the growl out of his voice every time he said that name.
"Not really. He just wanted to know if he still had a chance with me."
"And?" Prompted Wufei, wanted to know the rest of the story.
Quatre looked Wufei in the eyes. "And I told him I was in love with someone who loves me back just as much and that I'm not giving you up for anything."
Wufei was taken back a little at the confession. "Did you really tell him that?"
Quatre nodded. "Yes. Look, Wufei I know things always haven't gone smoothly between us, but you've shown me more love and compassion than Trowa every did. I don't want him anymore, at all. Just you, Wufei. That's why I'm so scared of losing what we have."
"Hey." Wufei took Quatre's hands in his. "I told you I'm not going anywhere. As long as you want me here, that's how long I'll stay."
"So we can move past this Sally and Trowa thing and just focus on us?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Quatre smiled and they kissed sealing the promise.
"You know you still owe me money from the bet that we made."
Heero raised his eyebrow at Duo. "And what bet would that be?"
"The bet that involved whether Quatre would pick Trowa or Wufei. And I won, so I want my money."
Heero nodded. He hadn't forgotten the bet, he was just hoping Duo had after all this time. "Fine. How about I give you something else instead of money."
Duo's eyes brightened. "Really? You're going to get that lady you work with to bake me some of those brownies that I like?"
"Uh...no. I was going to let you top me tonight."
Duo's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "REALLY! Oh my god, that's waaaaaaaay better than sweets. Well...almost better than sweets...Actually it's probably about the same."
"Duo are you coming or not?" Heero questioned as he walked towards their bedroom.
"COMING" Duo shouted as he trotted after Heero.
Well it's been some years in the making but here is the finale of Gaining Ground. Thanks for all the support, everyone. I have a couple of things in the works right now, but they are just rough plans and nothing is typed up yet.
I got a couple Wufei/Quatre, about two Duo/Quatre and one Trowa/Quatre. I don't know which one I'm going to work on first though.
