Heero showed he was happy Quatre was back the same way he showed most of his emotions, which was almost not at all. If you didn't really look at Heero you probably would have thought he didn't care, but if you watched you could see him look up every few seconds to verify that Quatre was alright.

He also, consciously or not, moved between Trowa and Quatre just as often as he checked up on Quatre. I was sure that Heero didn't have any ill-will against Trowa, or I would have been sure to talk to him, but I also had realized just how protective Heero was. Quatre was injured, and Trowa was the newcomer, and that meant by Heero's standards that he was not to be trusted. Heero seemed certain that he would try to harm our little blonde.

I, on the other hand, could see a completely different scenario every time Heero stepped out of the room. With Heero gone, Trowa would relax somewhat around Quatre, doting on him like a puppy to his child. It seemed that, whatever had passed between Quatre and Trowa while they were supposed to be resting on the couch had earned Quatre Trowa's loyalty, which seemed almost as strong as Heero's, though a little less assertive. Quatre, for his part, was radiant with happiness, so glad to have made a new friend. It seemed that Quatre was more than ready to act the part of a normal teenage, as much as one could in the setting that we were given. He was attentive to Trowa and even managed to coerce some words out of the shy and almost silent boy. If I wasn't wrong, I could see the very beginnings of a crush developing. I wasn't sure I wanted to deal with teenage romance, for I well remembered its horrors from my own teenage years, but I was far from trying to deny these boys anything that could pass for normal.

And the only way this crush could possibly develop without being strangled at birth was for me to allow the two boys some time to get to know each other, away from the pressures of serving me and the stifling presence of "big brother" Heero. Of course, before I put my plan in to action, I made sure to consult Quatre, simply to make sure that he would feel comfortable staying alone with Trowa. I trusted the quiet boy enough to leave Quatre, but I wouldn't push them if they weren't ready for that. Quatre, however, took the suggestion with so much grace that I was sure if I had left them for a week neither would have complained.

And so, during dinner, I made my move.

"Heero, have you ever been to a spa?" I asked innocently enough.

"No, master, I haven't," he replied, still looking at his beef tender loin, cutting it with a resolve that would have made one think it was worn leather.

"Excellent. I want you to accompany me to one later tonight," I said, causing him to look up in surprise.

"Tonight?" he echoed.

"Yep, right after dinner has settled."

"But... how long will we be gone for?"

"We'll get back pretty early tomorrow morning."

"I can't... Quatre shouldn't be alone that long. The doctors said-..."

"Quatre won't be alone. Trowa can keep an eye on him."

"But-..."

"Enough, Heero. My mind has been made up," I said, hardening my tone. Heero looked, to my trained eye, somewhat stricken, and cast a worried glance at Quatre. Quatre, for his part, tried to reassure Heero with a look that said he would be fine, but failed to get the message across. Sullen and worried, Heero settled for glaring at Trowa, as though he had asked for this to happen. Not the outcome I had hoped for, obviously, but I would have to accept it and hope for the best.

We finished dinner in near silence, only polite words that table etiquette demanded being spoken. Once the table was cleared I saw Heero pull Quatre off to the side to speak in private with him. I had hoped that the blonde could put my dark haired slave at ease, but when the two entered Quatre looked vaguely annoyed and Heero was as tense as ever. It seemed even Quatre's charms could not overcome Heero's anal protective streak. It would be up to me to relax Angel, a job I hoped the bath would help instead of hinder.

After giving quiet instructions to Trowa to keep the door locked, and where the food was, and how to reach us in an emergency, and after being scolded by Quatre for treating Trowa like a babysitter and him like a baby, and after receiving several sullen glares from Heero, I finally managed to get one of my slaves out the door while locking two of them behind it. Heero was still angry, which was only a shallow cover for the worry he felt for Quatre. I understood his worry, but I was forced to ignore it. I needed my slaves to trust one another, and giving Quatre and Trowa time alone would bring them closer, causing my slaves to become a tighter group. If only Heero could so readily accept my newest slave, but I knew Heero had seen far too much pain for that.