Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, or any part thereof. I am making no monetary profit from this story.

Note: Thanks to KS and Maskelle for proofing, and, just as importantly, for laughing in the right places…

Charming the Prince:

He was late; only twenty minutes admittedly but Chang Wufei regarded punctuality as a cardinal virtue, on a par with justice and honour.

If he were late, there had to be a good reason. Zechs glanced at the clock - again. This time, the hands hadn't moved at all. Damn. Wufei had called over an hour ago, to say he was still at Preventers' HQ with Noin, still waiting to talk to Une over a secure line. He doubted that would accomplish anything; if Une were set on arresting Barton, Wufei probably couldn't dissuade her, but he realised his lover had felt he had to do something.

Something other that twiddling his thumbs by his fiancé's sickbed, anyway.

Damn, Zechs thought again, angling another quick look at the clock. Everything was going wrong. They couldn't even enjoy being engaged; Wufei had refused to do anything more than kiss him since he'd been shot, and seemed to prefer Heero's company to his own. Zechs personally couldn't care less whether or not Winner turned up, dead or alive, but Wufei and Duo, even if they both tried to hide it from him, were worried sick.

'Mil, I'm sorry I'm late!' The door slid open and there he was, quite suddenly. 'Une refused to speak to me at first, and then she made me wait for her while she finished a meeting.'

'No luck with talking her out of arresting Barton then?' Zechs pulled himself up on his pile of pillows and enjoying the view as Wufei slid out his jacket. He was slightly flushed, probably an after-effect from talking to the Preventers' Commander, and several delicious tendrils of hair had escaped from his ponytail, and were caressing his cheek.

'Of course not! Honestly, I have no idea how I managed to work with that woman for so long! She refused to speak to me at all until I mentioned that Relena is taking a personal interest in this case. And speaking of your sister, she and Dorothy met me as I arrived.' Wufei snorted. 'There appears to be something about weddings and engagements that has an adverse effect on female hormones. I used to think Dorothy was a reasonably sensible person, but she was asking the most personal questions about how you proposed. And Relena actually wanted to try on my ring!'

Zechs hid a smile. 'Did you let her?'

'Certainly not!' Wufei said indignantly. 'You placed that ring on my finger and I have no intention of removing it. Ever.'

'I'm very glad to hear that. You do like it then? I wasn't sure.'

'I love it. I love you. And I'm so sorry I made you doubt that.'

'I'm sorry too,' Zechs said softly, gazing into the velvety dark eyes. 'I think - I was not thinking clearly this morning.'

Wufei shook his head. 'Nor was I.' He took a deep breath. 'I am truly sorry, Mil. I behaved badly earlier. I was so concerned about your physical safety that I forgot to think about you. I just - I came so closing to losing you in the desert, I couldn't bear the thought of you being in danger again. And it is apparent to everyone except me that I've been neglecting you shamefully.'

'Hush, love. You've done no such thing. I know how important your friends are to you; of course you want to try to help them. And I do quite see why you would want to catch up with Heero.'

'Heero?' Wufei looked surprised. 'What has Heero to do with any of this?'

'Well, you have been spending a great deal of time with him today, and you did tell me how you once felt about him.'

'Idiot,' Wufei said lovingly. 'My truly foolish prince. I promise, Heero is very well aware of my feelings for you, even if I once acted very stupidly towards him.' His expression clouded. 'If Duo ever found out…'

Zechs kissed each slender, elegant finger in turn. 'You're being absurd, you know that. I can guarantee that Heero won't tell Duo anything about it, and neither of us will. It's not as if anyone else knows.'

Wufei was silent, twisting long strands of blond hair around his fingers. 'Quatre knows. I told him years ago, after Duo's accident.'

'Stop that!' Zechs commanded, emphasising the order by biting Wufei's thumb. 'I thought we agreed that you weren't going to wallow in that particular folly any longer. I know I'm probably being unreasonable but I find it very difficult to be jealous over whatever happened between you and Heero. Come on, my love, we need to get past this.'

'You're right. The other reason that I was late getting here was that I called Dr. Al-Hamid.'

'I spoke to her earlier. She's changed the medications and I already feel better.'

'Good. That wasn't why I wanted to talk to her, though. I asked how soon it would be before we could resume…intimate relations with each other.' The last few words came out in a rush, and Zechs could only imagine how hard it must have been for his very reserved partner to ask such questions of a relative stranger, particularly a woman.

'Oh, my darling. I know how difficult that must have been for you. You needn't have done that.'

Wufei gave a stubborn little shake of his head. 'No. I find such things difficult, yes, but that is something I need to overcome. We are engaged to be married, and I am very much in love with you.'

'And I with you.' Zechs grinned. 'You still haven't told me what she said.'

'Oh! She said a - a certain amount of intimacy will probably help your recovery, provided I don't let you over-exert yourself.'

'I see.' One pale brow lifted questioningly. 'Have you a plan to accomplish that?'

'Naturally.' Wufei bent down, pressed a kiss to his lover's mouth and then stood and began to strip.

How in the world, dear one, am I supposed to stay calm when you're almost naked?

A shame, really, that he favoured those simple black briefs. He would have looked delicious in silk shorts, dark red perhaps, or a thong, to display that perfect ass. Then that little scrap of dark material fell to the ground and all thought just stopped; one hand drifting unconsciously between his legs.

'Mil, stop it! You're not supposed to be exerting yourself.'

Zechs groaned. A misspent youth devoted to study and meditation had left Wufei with ridiculous amounts of self-control. Not a problem, usually; Zechs knew all manner of little tricks and techniques to nibble away at his darling's discipline. It was going to be…hard, though, if 'Fei was serious about this. Very hard, actually, particularly when his lover batted his hand away and replaced it with his own, and then his mouth.

He would have liked Wufei's hair a little longer, but it was just long enough, if Wufei kept his head in that position, to tease and tickle sensitive areas.

Oh, God..

'Yes, my heart?' Wufei virtually purred, lifting his head slightly so that a swatch of silken hair brushed the soft skin of his inner thigh. 'Is this too much for you?'

'Was it Dr. Al Hamid's idea for you to torture me?'

'Hmm?' That dark head tilted to one side, and a sleek wing of hair slid across his erection. 'Oh, no.' He said it sweetly, dropping a kiss to the end of Zechs' cock. 'This was Trowa's idea. And Duo's actually. They both seem to think you need a little reassurance of how much I love you. Tro said I need to show you that you're the centre of my universe and I intend to do just that. So I suggest you just lie back and think of Sanque, my prince.'

Oh, God…

It was a whisper, and then, minutes later, a scream.

Wufei laughed softly, cuddling against him.

'I am feeling very reassured, at the moment,' Zechs told him, when he could finally frame a coherent sentence.

'Mission accomplished then.' Wufei's voice was drowsy, as he hovered on the edge of sleep. 'I do love you, you know.'

'I do know, yes. I still like to hear you say it, though. Ever since you said it the first time.'

The first time; the first time they'd ever seen their house, that had been. Years ago, now.

The flight from Miami had landed almost fifteen minutes ahead of schedule, but of course Wufei was already waiting at the barrier, dark eyes scanning the Arrivals gate.

Zechs was permitted to give him a quick kiss on the cheek, they'd been together for almost a year, but it was still the most Wufei was really comfortable with in public, and even then he looked around quickly to check no one was observing them too closely. Not much chance of that, actually; Zechs knew the pair of them made a striking couple, even if Wufei tended to dismiss his own looks.

A couple of teenage girls who'd been swooning over them received a dark-eyed glare that made them both clutch each other and giggle, and Wufei stalked toward the exit, bristling like a cat whose dignity had been affronted.

Zechs winked at them, and followed his lover, enjoying the view.

'How was your trip?'

'Florida was wonderful. Unlike here, it was actually warm,' Zechs shuddered theatrically and accepted the overcoat he was handled with a grateful smile.

Wufei laughed at him. 'Wait until you see the weather forecast. We may actually be having a late snowfall tomorrow.'

'Please tell me you're joking. Isn't it supposed to be May? Tell me again why we didn't all just go to Florida with Duo?'

It was something they'd seriously considered, the previous year. Beguiled by pictures of palm trees and sparkling water, Zechs would happily have moved. He would have cheerfully taken up residence in Timbuktu, or at the North Pole, had Wufei expressed a desire to do either. In the end, Wufei had elected to stay. He had been about to embark on an ambitious one year Master's Degree, and no university in Florida offered a similar programme.

'I like having proper seasons,' Wufei teased. Zechs hated the cold, a legacy of the long Winters in Sanque. For Wufei, Winter was still something of a novelty. 'How was Duo?'

Zechs grinned. It was over six months since Duo had flown the nest to move south and, even though they saw him almost every weekend, Wufei still fretted.

'He's fine. He has an assortment of vegetables in his refrigerator,' Zechs tactfully omitted to mention just how fresh, or otherwise, said vegetables had been - Duo claimed that mould just added extra flavour - 'he is brushing his teeth before bed, and he seems to be acing all his assignments. And he's flying home next Friday for the weekend.'

'I know; he called me just after you'd taken off. And he told me about the car.'

Ah. The car. Zechs had been hoping to explain that in his own time, but Duo was hopeless at keeping things to himself.

'Are you utterly furious with me?'

'It was ridiculously extravagant. Duo doesn't need a car, and certainly not one like that.'

'I know, but life would be a poor thing if we only got what we need.'

Wufei sniffed, as they arrived at his car, opening the door and sliding Zech's bags inside.

'Would you mind if I drove, Fei?' Zechs placed one hand on the driver's door handle. 'I'm feeling a little jet-lagged; I think I need something to keep me awake.'

Those finely-marked dark brows rose. 'One can suffer from jet lag from a four hour flight within the same time zone? I hadn't realised that.' However, he handed over the keys and took the passenger seat.

'You are far, far too extravagant.'

'I know.' Sometimes, it was easier just to admit fault and apologise. 'I'm sorry, dearest. I hadn't meant to do it, but we were walking past the garage and Duo just fell in love. You know that look he gets sometimes when he sees something he desperately wants and doesn't say anything. And I've already had this particular argument with him; you both know I have ridiculous amounts of money and he's been gracious enough to accept a small gift from me.'

Wufei sighed. 'That's between you and Duo. But it must have been far too expensive. And didn't they have a more sensible colour?'

Zechs shrugged; money - or the lack of it - had simply never been an issue in his life.

Wufei was far from poor; his family had transferred plenty of assets to Earth before L5 had been destroyed, but it didn't really compare to Zechs' resources. As well as inheriting several fortunes from Treize. And Treize certainly wouldn't have objected to him buying a sports car for a beautiful young man.

'You spoil us both far too much.'

'I spoil Duo,' Zechs corrected. 'And I indulge you as much as you permit. Which is a pitifully small amount.'

Wufei sniffed again. 'There is nothing wrong with living a frugal life and spending sensibly.'

'Of course not,' Zechs agreed diplomatically and untruthfully; he'd never seen the point of frugality. 'But nor is there anything wrong in the occasional small indulgence.' He paid the attendant and they turned out of the car park. 'It's a while since you let me buy you anything, and it is coming up to our thirteen-month anniversary. I think a gift would be appropriate.'

His lover coloured slightly, knowing perfectly well what Zechs was talking about. The anniversary of when they'd first slept together. 'Is that traditionally celebrated on Earth?'

'In some cultures, yes.' Zechs winked. 'Besides, I don't see why we can't start our own traditions. Will you let me give you a present?'

'If you must.' Wufei managed to sound put-upon. 'But I don't need a new car. Or want one. And certainly not one in that absurd colour.'

'No, yellow wouldn't suit your colouring,' Zechs agreed blandly. 'A rich burgundy perhaps? To set off your hair?'

He laughed as Wufei's brows snapped together. 'You're far too easy to tease, love. I wouldn't dream of daring to do such a thing.' A shame though; he could all to easily conjure up fantasies of his beloved reclining naked against luxurious, leather upholstery, or pressed against gleaming paintwork. Ah, well. Possibly time to change to subject before Wufei began another lecture against extravagance.

'Have you heard of Mikhail Olensky, love?'

Wufei nodded. 'The industrialist. Of course. Why? Does he want one of your paintings?'

Zechs grinned. 'Possibly. Although that might depend on the subject. Duo and I went out for dinner on Saturday night, and Olensky was sitting at the next table. He seemed very taken with Duo.

'Honestly, Mil! You're matchmaking like some old grandmother.'

Zechs grinned. 'Well, it would be rather suitable, wouldn't it? It won't do Duo's ego any harm to have a wealthy older man dance attendance on him for a while.'

'Perhaps.' Wufei frowned slightly. 'Right now, I think Duo needs to concentrate on his studies, not his love life.'

'He is working extremely hard, you know; it wouldn't hurt him to have some fun. I suppose you spent the last two days locked away with your books, hmm?'

'No, actually.' Wufei surprised him by saying. Originally, the plan had for them both to spend the weekend with Duo; then Wufei had discovered a new 12th century text and had decided to stay at home and rewrite an entire essay.

'Quatre called yesterday afternoon; his meetings in New York finished earlier than he'd expected and he rescheduled his plans to spent a few hours here, before he flew on to Japan.'

'I'm glad you got away from studying for a while. What did you do?'

'We went for dinner, and then did some shopping. I got you a small present, as a matter of fact.'

'Really? What is it?'

'A surprise.'

'Wufei! That's not fair. You can't mention presents in that cavalier fashion and then refuse to tell me what it is.'

His lover laughed. 'How old are you exactly, Mil? Four or twenty-four?'

'You know perfectly well how old I am. And you know that I' m insufferably spoilt. At least, give me a little hint.'

'All right.' Wufei blushed, very slightly, and took a sudden interest in the scenery flashing past his window. 'Last night, after dinner, Quatre needed to go into a - well, I believe the euphemism is 'adult shop' and I accompanied him.'

There were so many revelations in that one sentence that Zechs almost drove them both off the road. He hadn't realised that Quatre, who'd always seemed rather prim and proper, would even know about the existence of such places, much less that he would require anything from them. And he'd even taken Wufei with him!

'I think you should watch the road,' Wufei instructed helpfully; his cheekbones were still slightly stained with colour but there was an odd little smirk on his lips. Enjoying every minute of this.

'And I think you should beware of dropping that sort of comment when I'm driving,' Zechs retorted. 'I hadn't realised you were in the habit of visiting shops like that. Or Quatre, for that matter. I can't imagine his bodyguards were any too pleased.'

Wufei looked amused. 'No one can stop Quatre when his mind is made up. Well, no one except Trowa and he wasn't there.'

'Duo surely?' Zechs murmured.

'Is that a joke? Duo never stops Quatre; he's far more likely to encourage him. Mil, if Quat decided to build a Zero system, for whatever reason, Duo would draw up the blueprints for him.'

Zechs shook his head. He'd been dating Wufei for fifteen months, and he was forever finding new nuances between his lover's group of friends. It had taken several of those months even to discover that Wufei and Quatre were particularly close, and that Quatre, not Duo, was probably Wufei's closest confidante.

Trowa was still an enigma; the man had such a talent for blending in with his surroundings and company that Zechs occasionally wondered if he'd mastered the art of invisibility. He'd been tempted, at the start, to write the man off as a nonentity, totally overshadowed by his more vivacious friends, but over time he'd realised that they all, even his fiercely independent dragon, listened to 03 when the man did choose to speak.

'Brat. Are you trying to tell me that Quatre Winner is secretly addicted to porn flicks? Or is he into S/M?'

It had been a joke, nothing more. The quick catch of Wufei's breath told him he'd actually hit home. 'Really?'

'I'm sorry,' he said quickly, surprised by a sudden little spike of bitterness. After all those months, he was still the outsider of the group, still not included. 'I shouldn't be prying into your friend's life like this. Of course, you don't have to tell me. '

'It isn't that,' Wufei hesitated. 'It's just not something I'm terribly comfortable with. I think - I think Duo understands better than I do. He has - done similar things, himself.'

Dear Lord, it was just as well that Treize had never known about Winner's - proclivities, or he'd have been even more obsessed with pilot 04. If that were possible.

'With Quatre, it's - I don't know. I think it's partly a control thing. I have done a little research, and well, he feels under such pressure to be perfect all the time. Sometimes, he needs - Duo calls it a safety valve.'

'It's very much a control thing, actually.' Zechs kept his eyes fixed very firmly on the road ahead. 'One has to trust one's partner absolutely.'

Wufei shifted slightly in his seat. 'Have you ever done anything like that?'

'I've played bondage games, yes.' It had been something Treize had enjoyed on occasion. 'Would you like to try it?'

'Perhaps.' Wufei's tone was carefully non-committal, but his breathing had quickened ever so slightly.

Zechs' mouth quirked, wondering exactly what this present would turn out to be. They were in for an interesting night at this rate.

'You realise you've just taken the wrong turn,' Wufei remarked, his sense of direction not entirely obscured by this conversation.

'No, I didn't. I thought we might take a scenic route home; it's a nice day for a little drive in the countryside.'

To his amazement, Wufei merely nodded.

'Are you quite sure you're feeling all right, dearest? That's twice now you've given in without bothering to argue?' Three times, actually, if one counted the car he'd bought Duo; he'd expected a much angrier response.

'Maybe I'm trying to freak you out, as Duo calls it.'

'Hmm. I have to say that it's working.' Zechs took right turn onto a small side road and stopped before a pair of imposing gates.

'You never said we were visiting friends.'

'We're not visiting. Not exactly.'

Zechs leaned out of the window and punched in the security code he'd been given. 'Will you listen to me for a second, dear one?'

Wufei nodded, but his mouth tightened ominously.

'We've been talking about moving in together for a while now, haven't we?'

The dark head nodded again. Zechs had suggested it a few months previously for the first time, half-expecting all sorts of arguments, but Wufei had calmly agreed that it made sense. His apartment had been perfect for Duo and himself, but was far too small now that Zechs spent most of his time there. He'd been careful not to move in officially, not wanting Wufei to feel he was being pressured, but the nights he actually spent at his own home were few and far between.

They'd discussed the sort of home they wanted, had even spent a Saturday touring some suitable properties but nothing had seemed exactly right.

'That estate agent sent me an email yesterday; this particular property has just come on the market and she seemed to think it might be what we're looking for.'

'Impossible,' Wufei said firmly. 'It's too far from the city; we'd spend our entire lives commuting. Didn't we specify that we wanted to be within reasonable driving distance?'

'Certainly. But for some reason she seemed to think we were also looking for privacy and security.'

'Hmm.'

'I've looked up the driving times, and it's not actually all that far. The extra driving time may be worthwhile, considering

'You've seen it?' Some of the missing anger was suddenly in his voice. 'You've already been here without even telling me anything about it?'

'No! Of course not; I didn't' know the place existed until l checked my mails on the flight. Ms Reynolds had attached photographs and a virtual tour, and I just thought it looked…promising.' He'd thought it looked more than that, actually. 'If you like, we can turn around now and forget the whole thing. I know I should have told you where you were going, but I was afraid you'd refuse point-blank.'

'Well, we're here now. I suppose we may as well take a look.'

The house wouldn't suit everyone's taste; a modern building of glass and steel and polished wood. In truth, he had no real idea what Wufei might like in a home; his present apartment had obviously been bought for its proximity to the university, rather than any aesthetic concerns.

'It's too big for us,' he said flatly.

Zechs hadn't considered that particular argument; he couldn't see what was wrong with having a few extra rooms. 'Not really. We could convert the attic into a marvellous studio, and it would be good to have a couple of guest-rooms. And we could make a library; wouldn't you like to be able to display all of your books instead of having to keep them in storage.'

Wufei said very little as they toured the house; at first, Zechs drew his attention to the magnificent views, the wine cellar which could be turned into a work-out area - the extensive living spaces, and then just shut up, letting his lover make his own mind up.

'What's the driving distance to the city centre?' he asked finally.

'Forty minutes, depending on traffic. That's really something you'll have to deal with; I'll be working from home. But you're not going to university every day now, are you? And you could keep your apartment on as well if you needed to stay in town late.'

Wufei nodded. 'What about Duo? He may not like it.'

'I know. But he is coming home next Friday. We can take him to see it then, if you like.'

'I like it,' Wufei said slowly. 'Do you think the office could - I don't know the correct term - reserve it for us for five days?'

'I can ask.' Zechs fished out his 'phone and dialled.

'Ms. Reynolds? This is Milliardo Peacecraft. Yes, we're here now as a matter of fact. But we are very interested; we do need one final opinion, and I would appreciate it if you could hold the property until Friday. Yes, this Friday, that's the 24th, isn't it?' He was silent for a few minutes. 'Yes, we can arrange that. I assume it's refundable? Perfect. Yes, we'll let you know as soon as we can.'

'Well?' Wufei half- turned to face him.

'It's ours. Assuming Duo likes it.'

'I think he will. I know he likes the countryside. I thought this could be our room. If you liked?'

Zechs smiled. 'Brilliant minds think alike, dearest. It was the room I liked best in the photographs. It's even got a fireplace.' He touched a fingertip to the chimney breast, remembering the royal nursery in Sanque, falling asleep with the flames burning.

'I've never slept in a room with a real fire before.' Wufei took his lover's hands and drew him down on the window seat, twining their fingers together. 'We could put our bed against that wall; then we could lie in bed and look out of both windows.'

'What in the world makes you think I'm planning to let you lie in our bed and gaze out of windows? You'll be otherwise engaged.'

Wufei laughed delightedly. 'A shame there isn't a bed here now. I suppose we'll have to buy a new one. My futon would look rather out of place here.'

'We'll buy a four-poster, don't you think? With curtains that we can draw and shut the world out.'

'You've been thinking about this,' Wufei stated softly. 'You really like this place, don't you, Mil? It's nothing like I'd imagined you'd choose. I'd imagined you'd want - I don't know - a larger version of your penthouse.'

'Not really.' Zechs paused for a moment, turning to look out the window. 'We should have discussed this, shouldn't we? I don't want you to feel pressured into something you don't want to do. If you dislike it, or if you feel it's too far from the city, then of course we won't consider it.'

Wufei offered a contemptuous sniff. 'I never do anything under pressure. You know that. And you'll call me a sentimentalist, but I don't care all that much where we live, provided you're there.'

'You're a sap, not a sentimentalist,' Zechs teased gently, and then sighed.

'When I was a child, we used to go to the mountains every summer, for a month. It was like paradise, after being shut up in the palace for the rest of the year. I was allowed to swim in the lake and fish and run wild in the woods. I suppose there must have been all sorts of security arrangements, but I just remember the freedom. I was allowed to play with the local children and the older ones used to tell wonderful stories about giants and dragons and goblins.'

'That must have been nice,' Wufei sounded a little wistful.

'Didn't you have those stories on L5?'

'My grandmother used to tell old Chinese fables, yes. I never paid much attention. I remember telling her once that I wasn't interested in old women's fairy stories. I must have been rather an obnoxious little boy, actually.'

'I'm sure you weren't,' Zechs said instantly, and Wufei shook his head.

'You didn't know me then. I was only interested in epic tales of battles and ancient poetry. No wonder nobody liked me very much. I - I wish things had been different, you know.'

'I'm so sorry, my darling.' Useless words, from another man who had lost home and family far too young. 'Your family would have been proud of you,' Zechs said fiercely, meaning it. Wufei had never forsaken his clan's ideals, had never betrayed a cause or a friend.

'Perhaps.' Wufei swallowed. 'You've never called me that before.'

'Haven't I? I won't, if you dislike it.'

'I don't. It just - I never thought anyone would call me that - never mind. This house reminds you of that place in Sanque, yes? Then we'll take it, of course, if it makes you happy. I do love you, you know.'

He'd said the words before, but they had been gasped during love-making, or whispered in the darkness.

'Thank you,' Zechs murmured. ''Fei, will you let me buy this house for us, please? To be our home?'

Wufei nodded. 'Of course, I will, love. I have something for you, too.' He produced a small white envelope.

'Let me guess; it's a voucher for the sex store!'

"It's nothing of the sort.'

'Ah, I think you gave me the wrong envelope. This isn't addressed to me.'

'I know that. Just read it, please.'

The letter was addressed to the Dean of Oriental Studies. It was short and to the point, saying that for 'personal reasons' Chang Wufei had asked to defer his one-year Masters Degree extended over two years.

Zechs shook his head. 'What's all this about? You've been determined to get your degree in one year.'

'Well, maybe I shouldn't be,' Wufei glanced up uncertainly. 'I've been thinking seriously about this for the past few weeks, and especially so this weekend. My studies are important, yes, but they're not the most important thing in my life, not when they prevent me spending time with the people I care about. I couldn't go to Moscow with you last week; I missed visiting Duo; I almost told Quatre I couldn't meet him.' He snorted. 'I think that made me realise how stupid I've been; that there was something wrong with my priorities if I'd rather stay in and read a centuries' old manuscript, than be with one of my best friends.'

'Are you quite sure you want to do this?'

'Very much so.' I discussed it with Quatre last night, and then I mentioned to Duo when he called. And in case you try to talk me out of it, I've already posted the letter.'

'I don't want to talk you out of it! I just want to be sure that it's what you want to do.'

Wufei snorted softly. 'I never do anything unless I want to. And I want to do this thing, and I want to live in this house. With you. For it to be our home.'

'He hates it,' Wufei said softly, the following Friday.

'I know.' Duo had been - politely enthusiastic at best. They'd seen his reaction when they first pulled up - that quick look of delight - and then it had slowly faded as they walked through the house.

'Don't worry, love. We'll find something else. Now we have an idea what sort of place we're looking for, it will make the search that much easier.

'Oy!' Duo hung over the banisters, grinning. 'Get a room, you two!'

Wufei reddened but stuck out his tongue anyway. A mistake as it turned out; Zechs grabbed him for another kiss to the accompaniment of a piercing wolf-whistle from above their heads.

'I'm going up to look at the attic,' Duo called down. 'Let me know when you two have stopped making out.'

'I'll go,' Zechs offered.

Duo was standing in the far corner of the attic, slightly bent down to see out of the little window.

'What's wrong?'

'Nothing.'

'Whatever happened to the whole not-lying thing?'

'It's nothing real.' He said defensively, letting Zechs take his hand and lead him out of the alcove. 'Just stupid stuff in my head.'

'Tell me anyway,' Zechs offered. 'Is it just that you don't like this house or is there something else? You do know we wouldn't even consider buying something unless you like it too.'

'Don't like it,' Duo repeated, making it sound like he didn't quite understand the words. 'Zechs, it's my freaking dream house. It's perfect. We used to talk about having a place like this. Not this fancy or anything, but with woods and a stream, and a view of the ocean.'

Ah.

We.

Zechs sighed. This was going to be difficult. 'I told you, the first time we met, that Heero was a fool for letting you go.'

He'd meant it, more or less, but back then it had been little more than an easy pick-up line. Your ex is a moron; let me show you what it's like to be with someone who appreciates you. He could possibly have had Duo that night, if he'd persisted a little. Zechs suffered no illusions as to how charming he could be, when he chose, and 02 had been very lonely and very unhappy. In the perfect mood to enjoy a little royal attention, in fact.

He hadn't because - well, the look in Duo's eyes had stopped him. Another man who was adrift and suffering in this strange new world. For the first time since the war had ended, Zechs had discovered a tiny sliver of honour within himself; something other than darkness and despair. He hadn't expected, that night, in those few moments before he met Wufei and everything changed, that he and Duo would become friends.

Apart from Lucrezia Noin, who didn't really count, it was the first close friendship he'd ever had that didn't involve sex on some level.

'I've never reversed that opinion.' Heero was a damn fool, all right; to have had someone so beautiful and vibrant as Duo and to have let him go.

Duo flicked his braid; he was never comfortable with compliments. 'Can I ask you something? Do you miss Treize, ever?'

Not what he'd expected. Not at all. And he wasn't sure how to answer. He'd spent the first years after the war trying very, very hard not to think about Treize at all. Trying not to think about a world that didn't contain Treize.

'Sometimes. There are - things that I miss about him.' That absolute certainty that the world and everyone in it would dance to his particular tune. Honour and nobility and shimmering ideals. Those tiny, casual cruelties, like claws pricking through fine silks. Oh, God, Duo. Did you have to ask that particular question? Roses and sighs and those intimate, knowing touches.

'I think, perhaps, it was not the same as you and Heero,' he faltered. 'Treize was always the older, experienced one of us. It was never truly an equal relationship.'

'Heero and I weren't equal either,' Duo muttered. 'He was the perfect one and I was the screw-up.'

'Nobody's perfect.' Zechs pulled Duo a little closer, enjoying the feel of him, so very different from Wufei in his arms.

Considering all the media reports on his sex life, Duo was remarkably skittish when it came to being physically touched. A good thing, really, that there were no journalists around to see them now. There had already been speculation, in some of the seedier rags, about their living arrangements.

Duo had thought it was a joke; Wufei had ignored it completely. Relena had been furious. Bad enough that her long lost older brother had abandoned his responsibilities to live with another man and paint; much worse that he might be in some sort of - perverted threesome, as she' d called it. Of course, it probably didn't help that Duo was the third person.

'Except for 'Fei, right?' Duo drew back a little, probably just as well.

'That goes without saying,' Zechs grasped the subject change eagerly.

'This house,' Duo took another step away from him, crossing over to look out the window again. 'Wufei told me about that place in Sanque, when you were a kid. You don't think it'd hurt, having to deal with all the memories?'

'I'm not sure,' Zechs admitted honestly. 'In some ways, perhaps. But they are good memories for the most part. Of being happy. I don't want to forget all of that.' He paused, picking his next words. 'It is a shame, I think, not to remember the good times in one's life, even if they didn't last.'

'Yeah, maybe.' Duo shrugged. 'I guess, if you can live with all that stuff, then so can I. It is a pretty cool house, right?'

Years later, Zechs smiled at the old memory, lips curving against Wufei's black hair, where his lover's head was snuggled against his shoulder. The other man was asleep, his gentle breathing drifting across Zechs' skin. They'd both fallen asleep at some point; the sun was already dappling delicate patterns across the polished wooden floors.

A new day.

There was no better way to wake up than this; just the two of them with nothing whatsoever to disturb them. And then Wufei's 'phone rang.

Even sound asleep, he had fast reflexes, reaching for the damn thing before Zechs could get it and answer, shoot it, shoot whatever fool was daring to intrude on this little piece of tranquillity.

'It's Trowa.' Wufei lifted his head, suddenly ashen. 'He's been arrested…'