Waking Up In Vegas
Chapter Two
Zechs Merquis stared at his boss through the computer screen.
"Pardon?"
"You've been wanting me to take a vacation, right? Could you handle the business for two months?"
"Wait, hold on... you're actually going to listen to me for once?" He couldn't believe that. His friend and employer just wasn't that... accepting. He was stubborn to a fault. "What happened to you in Vegas, Quatre? Are you sure you're okay? What?" he snorted. "Did you find yourself a nice chick and get hitched?"
Quatre raised his hand, showing off the wedding band. Zechs stared, eyes bugging out and tongue almost swallowed.
"Oh, wait... You *did*? What the fuck, Quatre?"
"Yeah, to the married part," Quatre replied. "Not to the girl part, though."
"You mean, you're married.... to a guy?"
A simple nod.
"You're not thinking of like really living with this guy or anything, are you? What if he's crazy or something?"
Quatre laughed. "I haven't decided yet. I kind of need a little while to think that over. And yeah, I'm pretty sure he's crazy, just not the homicidal rapist crazy."
"Well, damn, Quat. That's not what I meant when i told you to have fun. Did... did you, y'know?" Zech's pale skin flushed, but the question just wouldn't come out.
"Have sex with him?" Quatre asked, then nodded. "yeah. At least, I guess I did. The way I walk is proof enough."
"Eh? What... you don't remember?"
"Not really. I guess I was kind of drunk at the time."
"Oh, Quatre, Quatre, Quatre," Zechs shook his head, torn between shock and fits of laughter. "You take whatever time you need. I've got this over here."
Quatre smiled. "Thanks, Zechs. Send Noin my love."
"Sure thing. Now, you go learn something about your husband."
"You're what?"
Relena gaped like a fish out of water at him. Heero patted her shoulder comfortingly.
"Quatre, correct me if I get this wrong, but did you just say that you married the brunette you were dancing with last night, and that now you're going to go live with him in Tennessee?"
"I did. But not permanently. Just a trial sort of thing. I mean, there had to be some *something* between us or else, alcohol or no alcohol I wouldn't have married him."
"But Quatre," Relena said, snapping out of it. "You didn't drink anything last night but maybe two glasses of wine. When we left you, you were a little buzzed, but that was it."
Quatre processed this, but shrugged. "I must have drank more later on, because I had a hangover and I don't remember anything. But, I've got to talk with Trowa, I'll send both you and Zechs all relevant contact information and everything once I get it settled with him."
Heero shook his head. "If that's what you want to do, we can't stop you. Although, I have a feeling that something more than just a few drinks and a night in Vegas is afoot."
"You're paranoid, Heero," Quatre smiled, turning away.
Relena looked up at Heero, then after Quatre.
"But just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean that they're *not* out to get you," she whispered, loud enough for just Heero to hear.
"Agreed," was the only answer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It wasn't hard for Trowa to get Duo and Wufei to believe what he'd done... getting married. Apparently the two had seen Trowa with Quatre, and romantic that he was, Duo swore it was love at first sight. They were all sitting out at a small cafe for a late lunch that day.
It was then, after Duo's declaration, that Trowa brought out his sketch book.
"You drew," Duo mused. "And very pretty pictures, too."
"It's him," Trowa replied. "I just know he has something to do with me drawing again. He said something about an annulment."
"Sensible thing to do," Wufei, the more pragmatic and logical of the pair, nodded.
"I told him 'no'," Trowa stated.
"No? Trowa... what?"
"I told him that I didn't want an anulment. I can draw again, Wufei. After over a year, I have the will, the ability to do what I do best, and it's because of him. I told him that I didn't want and annulment, and I asked him to move in with me."
Both of his two friends' mouths hung open.
"What?" was the joint question.
"I asked him to move to Tennessee, with me. He said he lives in New York and has a business to run. I told him he could work from Nashville, that lots of people do that. He said he didn't know me..."
"Fair point," Wufei recovered. "You just said you don't remember anything from last night."
"I know that I can draw again," Trowa retorted. "I know that I wouldn't have married him, or *slept* with him if I didn't feel some connection. I think that deserves a chance."
"And what did he say to all of this?" Duo asked, blinking past the announcement that Trowa had slept with a guy.
"He said he'd have to think about it, but that he'd let me know."
Wufei snorted. "Yeah. Trowa, I think that you'll never hear from your bumbling blond again until the divorce papers arrive."
"Wow," came a voice from behind them. "I didn't know I was a bumbling blond. I guess I learn something new about myself everyday."
Red cheeked, Wufei turned. The petite, blue-eyed blond that Trowa'd danced with last night was standing right there, not that happy.
"I apologize," Wufei stated. "I will try to refrain in the future."
"Do that," the blond said. "Trowa... I'd like to talk with you."
Trowa nodded. "I was just going to call you in an hour or so. Duo, Wufei... do you think we could have a moment alone?"
"Sure thing," Duo smiled. "Come on 'Fei-fei. Let's go."
"They grow on you," Trowa said as Duo dragged his lover off.
"Like mold?"
Trowa laughed aloud at that. "Never heard it put like that before. But yeah, only... less gross. Well, just a little less gross on Duo's part. They're both really great people once you get to know them. If you decide you'd like to come to Tennessee, you'd get a chance to. Know them, that is."
Quatre slipped down into Duo's abandoned seat. "I think I might like to. But, of course, I have a few questions first."
"Of course." Trowa stamped down on his excitement, and his nervousness.
"Do you live alone? Or would I have to worry about annoying parents or crazy exes or over-bearing room-mates?"
Trowa smiled. Looks like he married someone thorough, logical and not usually prone to leaping before he looked. He could deal with that.
"Me and my sister inherited our parents home when they died a few years ago. Cathy and I both live there, but she's touring Europe right now with her boyfriend Alex, so you wouldn't have to worry about her dropping in for at least a month or two. However, Duo does have a key to the house... and has since we were kids, all the time sleeping over at each other's houses."
Quatre nodded. "Okay, I can deal with that. I have nine older sisters, but only Iria really bothers keeping track of me. Where at in Tennesse do you live?"
Trowa tried to keep his mouth closed. Nine sisters, all older? He could barely deal with one older sister. Poor, poor Quatre.
"Cool Water Hollow. It's in South-Central Tennessee, maybe a bit south and east of Lawrenceburg. We're sort of not even on the map we're so small. But it's not too long of a drive to Nashville, or even Huntsville, Alabama."
Quatre nodded again. He figured he could deal with a small town, if he was within driving distance of a large city.
"What would we tell people? About us?"
"The truth?" Trowa shrugged. "Most of the south is still a bit behind on the whole gay rights thing, but everyone in Cool Water knows me, and will figure that at least I have *someone*. The women will probably giggle and blush, then coo and fawn over you, and the men will probably laugh and try to crack jokes that just make them look like redneck idiots. You won't have to worry about lynch mobs or anything. At least, that's what happened when they all found out about Duo when he brought Wufei home."
"Okay. That's all good. I've just got one more major question."
"And what's that?"
"Are you gay?"
Trowa blinked. Now that he hadn't expected. "Pardon?"
"Are you gay?" Quatre asked again.
"I married *you*, right?" Trowa asked, hoping to avoid the question without lying or giving the truth.
Quatre merely raised an eyebrow. "Mm-hm. Yeah. That really doesn't mean alot considering we were both drunk and can't remember last night. Me? I'm bi. And I've known that for years. So, are you gay?"
Trowa gulped. "I don't know, really," he finally admitted. "I've never dated anyone but girls, never even looked at that many guys. But I've never found Duo and Wufei's relationship anything other than beautiful and perfectly logical. Do I regret what probably happened last night? Not in the least. Do I feel repulsed by the thought of having had sex with you? No, I don't. With just what I've learned about you from today, I find you fascinating, intriguing, interesting... and beautiful. So... Am I gay? I don't have a clue. But do I want to at least try to make a relationship with you work? Absolutely."
To be continued....