Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing, and I'm doing this purely for the fun of it.

Note - Many, many thanks to Kaeru Shisho who literally walked me through me through this one, in all its colour- coded incarnations, to Wolfje for the incredible artwork (which I have to figure out how to post) and to everyone who's been sending me such lovely reviews.

Pairings - 1+2

Defining Dating:

Walking through the gates of the Sanque Embassy to Heero's car, I felt like I was in some sort of weird hostage exchange situation. Heero got me; Wufei got a promise that I would be back by nine o'clock that evening.

'Fei was … not happy with the idea of us spending the day together. I'd half expected him to send Zechs, who'd turned up shortly before I'd left, with me as a chaperone or something.

The whole thing was just weird. I mean, I'd seen Heero just the day before, I'd been living in his house formost ofthe pastweek anyway, so it shoudn't have felt that strange.

'Can I ask you something?' I had to remove the end of my braid from my mouth to ask the question; it's a disgusting habit, I know, but not a bad stress reliever.

'Of course.'

'Um, is this like a 'date' thing or a friend thing? Because I'd actually like to know in advance this time.'

'It's a date thing,' he informed me firmly. 'At least, I would very much like it to be. If that's all right with you?'

'I guess.' An actual date, huh? 'You do know what that actually involves?'

He grinned over at me. 'I do have a vague idea, yes. I invited you, so I get to shower you with extravagant compliments, indulge your every whim and possibly show you a certain amount of physical affection, at your discretion. Does that sound acceptable?'

'I - could probably live with it.' Oh yeah. The extravagant compliments sounded sort of nice, actually. Not to mention the whole whim-indulgence thing. Not so shabby. Even if you ignored the bit about the physical affection. I had to wonder exactly what sort of pep talk Zechs had given him.

'

Um, the physical bit. If this is our first date, I don't think very much would be permissible.'

'This is our second date, Duo. You haven't forgotten dinner the other night, have you? I rather think that would count as our first.'

First date.

Well, I suppose it had been, even if I hadn't entirely realised it at the time.

We'd never really dated as such.

I mean, we met in the middle of a war; the few opportunities we'd had to be together had been little pockets of escapism snatched from all the death and destruction that made up our reality. It wasn't as if we'd ever had the chance to skive off in the middle of a mission to get dinner and a movie. Afterwards, we'd been - sort of established, so we'd never actually done the whole dating thing.

'Talking of that other night, I know you've probably got reservations made and all that, but can we not go somewhere like that place?'

Heero laughed. 'It was bit over the top, wasn't it? My fault, I asked Lucca to recommend somewhere quiet; I didn't realise it would be quite so...intimate.'

'It was nice,' I said absently.

Stupid Duo; I'd been angry at the thought that he'd selected the place as some sort of exercise in seduction, and now I was peeved that he hadn't.

'So you weren't planning on booking a room after dinner that other night, and having your way with me in a four-poster bed, then?'

'I can think of nothing I'd like more, although I'm not quite sure where I'd get a four-poster bed. Would that actually have been allowed on a first date?'

'Probably not.' I tugged a lock of hair free and curled it around one finger. 'Where are we going, anyway?'

I hadn't really been noticing where we were going, only vaguely aware that we seemed to be driving in circles around the Cathedral.

'I'm not sure. I thought I'd wait and see what you might like to do.'

'Seriously?' I twisted around to look at him. 'You mean, you don't have ten possible plans, with a whole list of back-up contingencies?'

'Not exactly. It's a lovely day, so I thought we could go out into the country and have a picnic. Or just stay in the city and wander around. Or we could find a bar to watch the football match. Florence is playing Rome in the Italian Cup Final.'

'I think I'd like to go for a picnic; I've done all the tourist stuff already and you know that watching sports bores me to tears. Don't tell me you've developed an interest in team sports?'

'Not me. But Lucca's a big fan. He's always talking about some match. I think he really only watches because he likes some of the players though.'

'Mmm.' I flipped my braid over one shoulder so I could twiddle with the end. 'He's really nice, isn't he?'

'Absolutely.' His turn to give me a quick glance. 'Don't fall for him, Duo. That would make things ridiculously complicated.'

'Oh. Um.' OK, braid back to mouth. Complicated how? Because he liked Lucca? 'Did you two seriously never go out together?'

'Not like that. He drags me off to clubs occasionally.'

'When we were in that clothes shop, I'm sure you said you never went out!'

His mouth curled into a little, sly smile. 'I thought if you felt sorry for me, you'd agree to have dinner with me. Sorry.'

'Charming. There I was picturing you at home every night with your dog and your law journals for company, and you've really turned into some sort of party animal?'

'Not exactly. But I do try to be sociable sometimes.'

'Wow,' I grinned at him, noticing that we'd moved on to the motorway. 'I guess miracles do happen sometimes. So are we just driving aimlessly or do you actually know where we're headed?'

'I thought we'd go up to Fiesole; I'm not sure if you've ever been there? It's a little town about twenty minutes' drive away. We can go for a hike in the hills and then I'll buy you dinner before we head back for your curfew.'

'Great; I'm glad you're offering to pay though.' I said glumly. 'I had an email from my boss this morning; he's not too happy with me right now. I've already had to miss one really important meeting with a client, and I've had to pull out of his next big project since I don't have any idea how long I have to stay here. I'll probably need to start saving my money in case I'm unemployed in the near future.'

'That's ridiculous, Duo! None of this is your fault. Anyway, I'm sure you have a contract.'

'Not really. I'm sort of freelance; I just work on different projects when Mitch needs me. It's worked pretty well up to now.'

'If you've worked continuously for more than two years for the same employer, the law will see that as being a contract in effect. I imagine you'd have a case to fight unfair dismissal.'

'It's not really unfair though, is it? If I can't actually do my job properly? Still, I guess I could hire you if it comes to that. If I could afford your fees.'

Heero grinned. 'I do a lot of pro bono work.' Well, that made sense; considering he'd decimated OZ bank accounts during the War, it wasn't like he'd ever need any more money. 'I'd need to brush up on employment legislation though.'

'I always thought you'd end up as a prosecutor, you know? Nailing the bad guys. I thought that was what you wanted.'

'I used to,' He shrugged. 'I don't know; maybe having peace is only worthwhile if everyone has the chance to enjoy it. To have the same opportunities.'

'Still have that whole save the world fixation, huh?'

'You can't talk.' He half-lifted one hand from the steering wheel, then replaced it. 'We were talking about the rules for dating. Is hand holding permissible?'

'I believe so.'

'May I?'

He slid one hand over mine, and his fingers curled around it..

'Remember the first time we did this?'

'Always.' It had been seven years ago; half a world away.

'It seems like a whole other lifetime, doesn't it?' I couldn't quite look at him, turning my head to gaze out of the window, but seeing flat farmlands and a highway that stretched all the way to the horizon, straight and sharp as a steel ruler, instead of a narrow road winding through the Italian countryside; stone houses and vineyards and two girls on a moped, waving as we passed them.

'We're still the same people.'

'Are we? We were just kids then.'

'Some things don't change.'

I could still remember the feeling of wonder that he'd actually reached out for me; the first time I'd ever really dared to believe that he cared.

'I suppose not. It was amazing, you know? Back then, I didn't know if you even liked me, half the time, or whether I was just imagining stuff because I wanted to be with you so much.'

'You didn't imagine it.' He squeezed my hand gently. 'What happened to us, Duo?'

'I don't want to talk about that. Not today.'

'Duo, love, we can't just pretend the past never happened.'

'I know. I know we have all that stuff to talk about. I just don't want to do it now. Can't we just have this one day without spoiling it?'

It was partly something Zechs had said, just before I'd left; that I should just try to enjoy Heero's company and see if I still wanted him before getting too caught up in what had happened between us.

Partly that I wanted to have one more memory of the two of us if - when - it all went wrong again.

'You said you were going to indulge me, remember?' I lifted our joined hands, swiped my tongue across his knuckles. 'Please?'

'If that's what you want. But don't you think we'd be capable of talking without it turning into a fight?'

'You're the lawyer. I assume you know what historical precedent means? Can't we just talk about sports or work or something?'

'I always thought you'd end up doing something technical.'

'I like it. Next best thing to flying; I do get to go on test flights as well. It's pretty cool. Still can't believe sometimes that I'm this professional with degrees and shit.'

'Baka.' His hand tightened briefly around mine. 'I always told you that you could do anything you wanted to.'

'Yeah. The first year was a nightmare. I mean, I could do all the practical stuff blindfolded but I'd no idea how to write essays or reports or whatever. 'Fei got me through it, really. He used to drag me into classes; no, I'm serious, and I'd get to drag him out of the library to eat occasionally.'

'He's still studying oriental history?'

'Yep. Still working on his Doctorate; he'll probably end up having to publish it in a dozen separate volumes as he keeps finding new material to put in it. And Zechs keeps distracting him.'

'I can imagine.' Heero slid the car to a halt beside a high wall and I looked around in delight; it was lovely - stone houses with flowers spilling from their window boxes huddled together around a church and a couple of cafés had arranged tables in the main square under bright umbrellas.

'We can look around the village before we before we have dinner if you like. I thought we'd go for a walk first.' He handed me a bottle of water and slung a small backpack over one shoulder. 'This way.'

We turned away from the church and the narrow path began to climb through orchards covered in pink haze of blossom.

'This is so beautiful. I should've brought my camera. Or a sketch pad.'

'I loved that sketch you did of Honey.'

'I'm not that good, not compared to Zechs.'

'You always did underestimate yourself.'

'Did I? I'm not being modest; he's a real artist and I just sketch for fun. But you can have the drawing if you like. Call it a thank you for letting me stay with you.'

'There's no need to thank me. It was a pleasure to have you there.'

'Oh.' I wasn't sure if I could say the same; not exactly. 'I forgot to thank you for all the presents. And I'm really sorry I wrecked your pan.'

'Well, some things never change,' he teased. 'Do you remember you once made me baked potatoes with custard?'

'So what? It wasn't that bad; dairy and carbohydrate.' I stopped to take a swig of water; the little path was climbing more steeply into open meadows. 'You wouldn't be so picky if you'd ever had to eat garbage out of the gutter.'

Damn. I shouldn't have said that. He always got upset when I mentioned how I'd grown up; I mean, it wasn't like he'd been responsible or anything.'

'Anyway, I'll have you know my culinary horizons have broadened a lot in the last few years,' I said quickly, handing him the water bottle. 'Zechs and Wu are both amazing cooks. I know all about gourmet cuisine now.'

'I hope you weren't too disappointed with my cooking,' he gibed back

'Oh, I was a guest in your home. It would have been impolite to complain.' OK, I guess I hadn't needed to worry about this being awkward. It was the opposite. 'And I forgot to thank you for giving Tro all my stuff this morning.'

He laughed. 'Another thing that hasn't changed. I checked your room after you left; you invariably used to forget things. It always surprised me that you never left Scythe somewhere and forgot about him.'

'Oy! I wasn't that bad!' OK, maybe I was. I just tend to be easily distracted.

'Possibly not,' he conceded. 'But I thought you'd need your 'phone. And you left that shirt you wore out to dinner.'

Ah, that shirt. The one he'd chosen for me. The one I'd been planning never to wear again. Well, maybe I would, now.

'I really liked it,' I said a bit uncertainly.

'What you're wearing now suits you too. I've never seen you wear red before.'

'Oh.' I stopped to lean across a stone wall, looking down over the valley and trying hard not to blush the same shade as my red shirt. There are limits to the whole colour coordination thing. 'Is this where you start with the extravagant compliments?'

'If you like. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable.'

'You won't.' I scraped a little bit of moss off one of the stones with a fingernail. 'I've got better at the whole accepting compliments thing. Anyway, this top's one of the ones Lucca picked it out for me. '

'Top?' he sounded amused. 'Don't you mean shirt?'

'Do I? Lucca said it was a top. I thought it was an Italian thing.'

'It's a very gay Italian thing.'

'Well, I am gay. Anyway, whatever it's called, it's not something I'd really choose for myself.'

'It should be,' he commented, coming to stand beside me and sliding one arm around my waist. 'You look stunning. And the colour is perfect with your hair.'

'Wow.' I swallowed; it would be so terribly easy just to melt into that light touch. 'Two compliments in as many minutes. You're quite sure you're the real Heero Yuy?'

'Last time I looked,' he informed me seriously. 'Do you want to check?'

'Hmm, let's see. Favourite food? Favourite colour? No, they're too easy. I know! What's the thing that freaks you out most in the world?'

He actually winced. 'You know that, Duo.'

'Mmmm. But I want to hear you say it.'

'Paper cuts.'

'Tell me why?' I teased, leaning against him ever so slightly, feeling his weight shift just a little to one side.

'Sadist.' He shuddered, reaching out to tug my braid. 'They're just so….wrong. Paper shouldn't be dangerous to touch. Are you sure I'm me, now?'

'Not quite. What was the first thing I ever gave you?'

'Those two bullets. I still have them, if you ever feel like shooting me again.'

'I'll bear that in mind. Just in case. So…where was the first place you ever kissed me?'

'Just here.' He let my braid drop and his fingers cupped my chin, tilting my face towards him.

'That's not what I - Oh.' His lips grazed lightly against my right temple, touching a scar so old I couldn't even remember how or where I'd got it.

'I guess you're you after all.'

'I guess I must be,' he agreed, fingertips ghosting across my skin, my lips,

'Duo, sweetheart; if you don't stop looking at me like that, I'm going to have to do something that's wholly inappropriate for a second date. '

I wouldn't mind that.

I managed not to say it aloud, but only just, only because he'd taken my hand and was leading me up the pathway, just wide enough for us to walk side by side as it swooped up the hillside, swirling through olive groves and past old stone farmhouses. The views of Florence were incredible; I could just make out the Cathedral dome rising above the city roofs.

'Wow. I can't believe there's no one else here.'

Heero shrugged. 'It's a bit early in the season for tourists, and most of the locals are probably sleeping off their lunch.'

'Did you say lunch? You mean you're going to feed me?'

'I told you I'd would, didn't I? If we keep on this path for another mile or so, there's a viewpoint on the hillside. We can eat there, if you can last that long?'

'That's fine. Is there a café up there?'

'There's a café in here,' he grinned at me, patting his backpack with his free hand; the one that wasn't holding mine like he'd never left me. Like we'd never been apart.

'Some date this is turning out to be,' I teased. 'You're going to make me climb halfway up a mountain, all for a couple of protein bars and an apple to share?'

'I think we can do better than that.'

'Oh? You were so sure I'd want to come out with you?'

'Not at all. It would have been dinner for Trowa and myself otherwise.'

Heero's viewpoint turned out to be a little patch of grass shaded by a stand of pine trees. You could Florence on one side; to the left the hill sloped sharply down to a green valley, crisscrossed by the threads of silvery streams.

'Happy now?'

'You bet. I want to come and live here. This is the most perfect place.'

'I knew you'd like it.' Heero looked up from unpacking his bag, laying out bread, sliced meats, cheese, and little cartons of olives, sun dried tomatoes and roasted peppers. 'You should see it in Summer, when the sunflowers are in bloom. You'd love that.'

'I don't think I'll still be here.' I actually felt a teeny tinge of regret at the thought, keeping my eyes firmly on the slice of bread I was loading with cheese and tomatoes.

It was unlikely I'd even be here in a week; I'd no idea where I would be; Trowa had emailed me that morning saying he was going to try to find us passage on a shuttle to L4. Couldn't say that to Heero, of course.

'You must be looking forward to going home.' I glanced over at that, and his eyes were focused on the little container of tomatoes he was holding, very definitely not looking anywhere near me.

I hadn't even thought about that; I'd either be on L4 or locked up or on the run. Definitely not picnicking in the Tuscany countryside; definitely not with him. Not something I wanted to think about, not when I was in the middle of this shining fantasy.

'D'you remember that poster you bought me? The one with the field of sunflowers.'

Heero nodded. 'The one we had over the bed.' He absently lifted a piece of cheese and bread, only to put it back down uneaten. I knew suddenly just what he was thinking of; the bedroom in the house we'd shared after the War, with those sunflowers covering the patch of mould on the wall. Damn, I hadn't thought of that in years.

'Duo, I'm sorry. For everything.'

'Yeah.' Eating is a good distraction; I took a bite of my carefully constructed sandwich, chewing slowly. 'It wasn't all your fault. I guess I was a nightmare to live with, huh? In your place, I'd probably have left me.'

'You've no idea how much I've missed you.'

'I probably have, actually. I - don't want to do this now, OK? Can we just enjoy this for a bit?' I took another bite. 'When do the sunflowers start to come out?'

'Not for a few months. When did you start to like orchids?' I must have looked pretty mystified because he elaborated. 'Milliardo said they were your favourite flowers. Last night.'

'Oh.' I reached out and helped myself to a handful of olives. 'I can't believe you three guys all went out together. And no one got killed. Not as far as I know anyway.'

'No one died. Although I thought Trowa was going to attack Milliardo a couple of times, the way he was talking about Quatre.'

'He'd had a row with 'Fei,' I explained. 'He was just stressed about that. And you do know he likes to be called Zechs, don't you?'

'Of course,' he smiled slightly. 'I still find it hard to believe those two are together.'

'Tell me about it. They're great together, but the first few times they went out, I expected 'Fei to come home having killed him. That's how I got into the whole orchid thing actually. Zechs bought him one as a gift and Wu was insulted to be given such a girly present.'

I started to arrange my olive pits into a pattern, remembering. Wufei had been ranting over the slight to his masculinity, and I'd been totally enraptured that a plant could produce such exquisite flowers.

'I ended up taking care of it, and then got into the whole thing. It's kind of cool, grafting different varieties on to each other. I like that you've got plants too.'

I think he'd stopped listening by then, staring dreamily at me. I flicked an olive stone at him. 'Hello, am I boring you?'

'Of course not! I was just thinking how much I want to kiss you.'

'You know,' I said carefully, 'if you did kiss me so soon, you'd be violating all sorts of second date rules. I don't know if you'd be prepared to do that?'

'I could always blame your corrupting influence.'

'Huh! I'm not the one who used to look up all those websites!'

'I was conducting secondary research,' he informed me smugly. 'And I don't recall you complaining at the time.'

'Maybe I was just humouring you.'

'Is that what it's called? Maybe you'd consider….humouring me again?'

'Persuade me.'

I tilted my head slightly, let my lashes flutter closed, waiting for him and then jerked back at the sound of footsteps. A middle-aged couple, dressed like they were out to conquer the Himalayas, nodded politely as they walked past, the woman throwing a quick wink in my direction.

'That's all you need. To be charged with gross public indecency,' I tried to make a joke of it; tried hard not to look as embarrassed as I was feeling.

'It wasn't all that indecent.' Heero didn't look particularly discomfited; he's always been much more laid back about public displays. He'd probably been having al fresco sex for years with cute Italian guys anyway.

'Not all that gross, really,' I whispered.

'No? Want to try again?'

'I'll probably taste of olives. Just so you know.'

'I know.'

The kiss drifted on dragonfly wings, fragile as a shaft of sunlight.

'Wow. You could - probably do that again. If you wanted.'

Well. That was a bit forward, wasn't it? It was suddenly far too easy to pretend we'd never been apart, to slide into those old, familiar patterns.

'Duo Maxwell! Are you propositioning me? In broad daylight?'

'That's what it sounded like. Are you going to accept?'

'Damn!' OK, that wasn't aimed at me, but at a group of teenagers carrying enormous rucksacks; they were followed by an old man with two inquisitive poodles who wanted to eat the remains of our lunch.

'We should have brought Honey with us really,' I said when we were finally alone again. 'You know, it still seems kind of weird that you have a pet.'

'I never really meant to get a dog. Lucca was seeing a guy who helped out at the shelter I dropped him off there one night and they were just bringing Honey in. They said most people want a puppy; not an adult dog that's been trained for security and she'd probably have to be put down.'

'So you brought her home?' He nodded. 'That was really sweet of you.'

'Sweet?' He sounded disgusted at the idea. 'That's so…girly. I'm not sweet, Duo.'

'Oh, yes you are!' I flicked an olive stone at him, laughing. 'Come on, your dog's called Honey. How gay is that?'

'That was the name the girl in the shelter gave her.'

'Sure it was. Well, if you don't want to be sweet, I think it's adorable that you saved her. Is that any better?'

'Marginally. I'd rather you adored me than thought I was sweet.'

Oh. Had I said that. Oops. Wasn't sure I wanted the conversation going in that direction.

'What do you do when you have to travel for work? Put her in a kennel?'

'Lucca takes her sometimes, or if he can't one of my other friends looks after her.'

'It that, like, friends, plural?'

'Yes, actually, believe it or not. ' he teased. 'No, I did think about taking her, but I wasn't sure what we were going to do. Trowa was going to walk her; I think he was glad to have her for company. Plus I wanted you all to myself today.'

Oh. Another compliment.

'I'm really sorry I never told you about him; it was all a bit surreal, the way it happened. I mean, we just spent a couple of days together, and then I went to India and he went off to the circus and then all of this happened.' I shook my head. 'It was like some sort of fantasy; that Trowa could be interested in me.'

'Baka. Actually, I think that's the way he felt about you.'

'Really?'

'Really.' He took a long drink of water, thumbnail picking at the label on the bottle. 'It was…something of a shock, you know. I'd never have said anything if I'd known you two were happy together.'

'Just as well you didn't know then. And I'm glad you said something.'

'So…how am I doing so far?'

'Adequate.' I lay back on the grass, shading my eyes with one arm. 'Of course, I'll have to deduct points for you not finding a way to block the footpath and give us some privacy.'

'You never used to be this demanding.'

'Well, I did tell you I'd changed.' I reached up and smoothed one lock of hair off his forehead. 'Aren't I worth it?'

'Absolutely.' He smiled down at me, one hand sliding over my braid. 'Is there any possible way I could redeem myself?'

'You wouldn't happen to have a fabulous dessert stashed away somewhere?'

'Unfortunately not. But I do know a little place back in Fiesole that serves home-made ice-cream. Would that do?'

'Will you go down and get me some? Please? You said you'd indulge my every whim, after all.'

'Of course I will. If you really want a bowl of melted gloop.'

'Oh. That's a good point. I'd better come with you then. Before the rest of the Italian hiking club decides to walk past and catches us making out.'

'I'm so glad you called this morning.' He pulled me up and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead.

'Would you have rung me, if I hadn't?'

'Honestly? I don't know. Probably. I really wanted to see you, but I didn't want you to feel that I was pressuring you. I wasn't sure if you wanted some space to think about things.'

'Thinking's overrated, sometimes. And a little pressure can be a good thing.' I smiled as he pressed my hand. 'You don't think it's going to be a little awkward, if you insist on holding my hand for the rest of our lives?'

'I think we'll get used to it. I don't plan on letting you go again.'

'Oh, God. I'd totally forgotten how sappy you can be when you try,' I groaned.

'For your information, that was romantic, not sappy.'

'Sorry, Heero, but that was pure, undiluted sap.' His eyes shone into mine; I'd said his name. OK, maybe not the most romantic declaration in the world - that had always been his forte, rather than mine, but he knew what it meant.