This story was written so long ago. I tried to fix it a bit so it flowed a little better. I had written up to chapter 8 in the original. I ended up combining 5 and 6 into this installment to make up for the shortness in 5. Lots of OOC-ness.

Chapter 5: Quatre's home and night outings

"Wow, this place is huge!"

"Thanks Duo," Quatre said blushing. "I'll show you to your rooms in a moment."

Huge was an understatement. Quatre's home had a conference room, a ballroom/banquet room, informal living room, numerous bedrooms, kitchen and informal dining room, a library, an instrument room, an activities room with a pool table and game consoles, an indoor swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a steam room, and a full service spa area. It was easy to compare the Winner mansion to a 5 star hotel.

Quatre led the group through a set of double doors into the foyer which held the magnificent staircase to the mansion. They were greeted by various Maguanac and Iria, one of Quatre's many sisters.

"Welcome everyone," Iria stepped out as she said this. "As I understand, all of you will be staying here for a holiday. Your rooms are located on the third floor along the right hallway. We have cooks working throughout the day, so please feel free to go to the kitchens if you want a snack. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to be going now. Take care, little brother."

"Goodbye Iria"

After the siblings said their goodbyes, the Maguanac dispersed and went back to whatever they were doing before the group arrived.

Quatre was very much expecting everyone to arrive at his home because everyone had their own room with an adjoining bathroom. Of course, Heero had his room next to Relena's and everyone else had theirs in a similar fashion. On one side of the hall were Trowa, Catherine, Quatre, Sally, and Wufei's rooms. Across the hallway were Duo, Hilde, Relena, and Heero's rooms. However, Heero and Relena's rooms were connected through a door inside. Heero noticed the extra door right away, while Relena thought it was a linen closet and had not figured out what it truly was yet.

After everyone settled in, they were called down for lunch. On the long dining room table an assortment of foods including fried chicken was being served.

~~~~1 hour later~~~~

"Man, I'm stuffed!"

"You ate third helpings, of course you're stuffed!" came Hilde's reply. The others laughed or looked on in amusement at the couple's outburst.

Relena was lying wide awake. She turned to see the clock on the night stand.

1:40 AM

"I can't sleep." She got up, put on her robe, and walked out of her room. She headed toward the staircase failing to notice a presence following her. She climbed up the fourth floor and saw another staircase that looked like it led up to the roof. Once she reached the top, she spotted a door and reached for the handle. It was open. As she went out onto the roof, she was surprised that the roof insect was flat and even, and had a wooden floor laid out. It was like that of an apartment complex patio roof. Relena walked to the rail at the edge and gasped at the magnificent view of the grounds of the mansion and the rest of the colony, failing to notice the other person's presence.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

"But not as beautiful as you," said the other presence.

She gasped and spun around.

1:40 AM

Heero had been lying awake for the past half hour. He had had the same dream again and could not go back to sleep. He heard a door open and close. He got up and waited until the footsteps passed his door to check who was up. He cracked the door open and saw a feminine figure with long blonde hair walking down the hallway.

'Relena'

He couldn't help it. He followed her and noticed she was headed for the roof. He trailed behind her, not too close or too far away.

She opened the door and he caught it before it closed again. She was looking around amazed.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

"But not as beautiful as you," he said without thinking.

He heard her gasp and saw her turn around.

"Heero," she said breathlessly.

"Heero! You scared me." She sighed in relief.

"I didn't mean to frighten you Relena."

"No, I...uh...it's alright Heero. I'll just go back downstairs."

"Relena...don't," he replied. "I mean, please stay."

"If that is what you want."

"I do."

She blushed at his response.

"I'm sorry," she started.

"Don't be sorry, Relena."

"Heero, thank you for the flower," she mumbled while looking at her feet. She asked herself why she felt like...well, a normal teenager?

"You're welcome. Relena…" He gently put his finger under her chin and brought it up.

"Heero, you're smiling." She returned the smile.

"Yeah, I'm sorry."

"Whatever for?"

"For leaving without telling you. I needed to go find myself. I wanted to learn to be human. I wanted to learn how to express myself. I wanted to…"

"You wanted to...? Heero?"

BANG

"Oh! Sorry, am I disrupting something?"

'Heero giving me the death glare and is Relena blushing? That's a definite yes,' he thought.

"N-no Duo. You're not disturbing anything. We, I mean, I was just saying how beautiful the colony looks from up here. We should be getting back inside. It's getting chilly."

"Yeah," Heero agreed with her.

"Alrighty then. Heero, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Hn"

"Goodnight Duo, Heero." She walked past them.

"Night Relena."

"Sweet dreams, Princess!"

Duo waited until the door closed behind her before turning back to Heero.

"So, Heero…"

"What do you want, Duo?"

"I just wanted to know something."

"What?" he replied irritated.

"Do you like Lena?"

"..."

"Does that mean yes?"

"I do...like her."

"Was that why you were up here with her?"

"No"

"Huh? You're not gonna tell her?"

"That's none of your business, but no. Not right now."

"Then why were you up here with her?"

"You ask too many questions." With that he left Duo by himself on the roof. "I knew it! You are in love with the Princess," Duo said in a sing-song voice. "Hey Heero, wait up!"