Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Mistaken Words ❯ It's a Slow Process ( Chapter 41 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Mistaken Words

To my wonderful editors Pious Knight and morgansgirl, you two are truly saints to put up with me! Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

It's a Slow Process

Sally walked from her apartment that evening. The conference had been in full gear for most of the week, and from all she had heard it was going well. This was not the first time she was glad she had chosen to follow a medical career as opposed to a political one. She didn't think she could stand sitting in the same room negotiating with all those people. Sally felt pretty sure she'd end up dealing with all those old men in a similar way she did the pilots, just take control and leave no other options. It was enough for her to watch the news and hear from Une about the progress of the conference, she trusted all of them to handle whatever problems might need to be dealt with.

Now standing in the hall with her back to the door, Sally couldn't help but look down the hall to the one door she feared to go through. She had only been in Heero's room once, that one time both John and Wufei had deceived her. A part of Sally was angry even now that they had felt the need to do that to her, yet at the same time it had given her a chance to speak with Heero. She now knew exactly how he was viewing all this, and even if she couldn't yet bring herself to accept his view, she had at least made the first step in talking to him. Sally still felt more often than not as though her heart were clamped in a vice of guilt. The feeling ate away at her, and she would have done anything, if anything had actually been possible, to remove it.

Sally took several slow steps towards Heero's door knowing deep down that her guilt would never fully go away, but perhaps time would dull its knife. The only hope she had that she might find a way to cope with it would be to find some way to make it up to Heero. He had said he wanted things back the way they had been, Sally dreamed it could be so easy. To just go back and change it all, pretend like it never happened wasn't an option. The marks on all there lives were too clear to see.

She sighed in frustration. What good did it do just standing here thinking about it or sitting in her apartment torturing herself over it all? As Heero had made clear, there was no point to it, but that didn't mean she could just walk through his door as though nothing had happened and pick up from three years ago. Sally's hands clenched into fists, as she turned away from the door, she just couldn't do it, she couldn't walk through it.

“Sally,” a pleasant voice spoke her name with some surprise, and she spun around to see John smiling warmly at her, he had just walked from the monitoring room next to Heero's. “Everything alright?” he asked with some concern.

No, of course it isn't! Sally thought darkly, but at the same time she knew John well enough to know that wasn't what he meant. He was more than aware of how hard this was on her, he had been incredibly patient and far more understanding than she deserved. “I…” her voice failed her, and she looked away, “I was just wondering how Heero's doing.” It was an entirely new feeling to know almost nothing about the welfare one of the pilots, not that she felt she truly had a right to know now.

“Physically, mentally, or emotionally?” John asked back with a smile in his voice.

Sally's lips twitched at that, she couldn't help but feel a little better in John's presence. There was just something about the old doctor that was so comforting, “All of the above…” she said quietly.

“Emotionally and mentally, I'd say he's doing a lot better now that Ash is here, it's helped him and the others relax,” John folded his arms across his chest. “No telling how long it'll last once Ash has to return to the colonies, but it's been a nice break,” Sally looked him in the eye for the first time, glad to hear things were going well, and at the same time guilty because she didn't have a right to feel this way. “I can tell he's getting frustrated with the pace of his recovery, getting him to eat has been a challenge but I've found something that he actually likes,” John's smile was incredibly wide at that.

“Oh?” Sally couldn't help but ask, feeling a little drawn in by John's clear excitement.

“Ice cream!” John exclaimed, his arms spreading in emphases, “He likes ice cream!”

Sally blinked in shock, taking a moment to actually understand what John had just said, “He ate ice cream?” for some reason she had a hard time picturing that.

“And liked it,” John nodded, his excitement subsided a little then, though a smiled still lit his features. “It you want to know how he's doing physically why don't you come in with me?” the old doctor offered, “I was just about to go in and give him a check-up.”

“No, I couldn't,” Sally paled at the very notion.

“Nothing will ever change if you don't start seeing him more,” John told her in his gentle yet firm voice, “You already know that's what Heero wants.”

“Doesn't make it any easier,” she returned with a slow shake of her head.

“You know nothing will, you're just going to have to fight through it,” John reached out a strong hand to take hold of her right arm, “And what better time than now?”

Sally hesitated looking away, she had just wanted to ask how he was doing, not this, she wasn't ready for this…

“How many times do I have to tell you,” John broke through her thoughts, “You can't keep thinking about it, you'll never move forward. Just come, lend me a hand, you'll feel better for it I know.” John's grip on her arm didn't leave, but rather slid down and took hold of her wrist, “If you can't decide yourself I'll do it for you.”

That had Sally pulling out of John's grip but not out of fear but more out of frustration and anger, “No…” she shook her head, “It can't keep happening this way.”

“You can't keep avoiding him either,” John said firmly.

“I know…” she breathed looking away.

John crossed his arms over his chest watching her with an incredibly steady gaze, “So what's it going to be?”

Sally walked several steps away feeling put on the spot and not liking it at all, but at the same time she knew it was forcing her to think of things she hadn't let herself yet. She wanted to walk into Heero's room of her own free will, but wasn't quite able to yet. “I don't have a right to face him…” she whispered, it was the strongest argument she had, it stopped her dead every time.

“That's just selfish Sally!” John called out to her back, and she could just imagine the serious expression on his face, looking very much like he was admonishing one of his children. “You want to make it up to him, but how can you if you don't go to see him?”

It was true, there was no denying it, she had said the very same thing to herself on more than one occasion but it didn't make a difference. She could say it to herself a thousand times, would she be able to make herself walk through that door? Sally forced herself to look at Heero's door, knowing full well she couldn't cross that threshold yet. “I…” she couldn't think of what to say and just shook her head in frustration.

“You're stronger than this Sally,” said her friend and mentor, who sounded now as though he was pleading with her, still his words held a steely undercurrent, he wasn't going to let this go.

Before Sally knew it her anger had escaped her tentative hold, “That's easy for you to say!” she flared spinning to face him. “You're on the sidelines, you haven't had to try and deal with the guilt!”

“It is easy for me to say,” John agreed calmly, “But that doesn't make it any less true.” He stepped towards laying both his hands on her shoulders and ducking his head so he was looking her directly in the eye. “I'm not telling you to go in there and act like nothing happened, that's just not possible. But I can tell you that Heero doesn't want apologies and guilty consciences, he just wants his friends back.”

“I want it back to the way things were, but…” Sally looked away unable to continue the eye contact she felt as though John was seeing right through her.

“Like I said, you don't have to try and act like nothing happened,” John was a determined man, to say the very least. “Try for something smaller first, just walk in there and look Heero in the eyes, it's the best first step you can make.”

Could she do that? Could she walk into Heero's room and actually look him directly in the eyes? Sally ground her teeth in frustration, she wanted to say “Yes I can! I can at least do that!” but she couldn't form the words, she was being held back by her fear and self-hatred. One thing she was able to realize, through both her own knowledge and what John said to her, was that none of this would get any better if she didn't make the first move. She wondered if Heero had not been confined to the bed, would he have sought her out? As ridiculous as it was to imagine a situation she wasn't even in, Sally would have liked to think Heero would have hounded her. She remembered his words when she had gone in to see him and what John was telling her now, this was what Heero wanted, if she could only bite the bullet and do it.

Drawing in a shaking breath, Sally attempted to steady her nerves, telling herself again and again that this was the right thing to do. “Alright…” she spoke finally turning towards the door, through the corner of her eyes she saw John smile proudly.

WMWMWMW

Heero was bored, it wasn't the first time and he doubted it would be the last, but if he had any say in this, it would certainly be less often. Ash's visits weren't enough, he didn't feel much like sleeping during most of the day. He was wide awake and restless, but with nothing to do he could feel his patience slipping, and was glad for the fact that he was alone. Sighing Heero looked to the clock, and sighed again with frustration when he saw just how much time he could still have to wait for Trowa to come.

Trowa's appearances were never at the exact same time. He tried to let Heero know ahead of time if he was going to be much later or earlier. But no matter the time he came he always wanted to make sure Heero got at least some sleep during the night. He knew right away there was just no way he was going to be able to sleep yet, and doubted he'd feel more like it in a couple of hours. Heero brought his left hand up before his eyes slowly flexing his fingers, it had become a great deal easier to use his left arm since he had first started doing things on his own. He tired quickly and was left with a fiery burn in the muscles after, but that was a feeling he had missed.

He thought it might have been nice to have a laptop to work with, Heero moved his left hand to the table, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the hard cold plastic. It would be nice to have something to use up this empty time. Perhaps one of the pilots could give him something, but he doubted they still had his laptop though that would have been nice. Still there were probably far better models now, but he had liked his system.

Someone knocked on the door, breaking Heero's aimless train of thoughts and he turned to watch and see who came in. He figured it would be John. At this time of day, he didn't often have visitors that weren't John. But to Heero's complete surprise it was Sally who walked through that door, her head up and eyes looking directly at him. He thought her expression appeared determined and watching a pleased looking John follow in behind her, Heero guessed she had finally walked through that door of her own free will. Her eyes flickered away from him a little but she kept them coming back, she was trying to make the first step.

“How're you feeling tonight?” John asked walking to the edge of Heero's bed, resting a hand on the table as he looked down at the former pilot.

John didn't demand the sort of answer Ash did, the old doctor knew perhaps better than any besides Heero himself how the Japanese man was feeling. But it seemed a habit for him to ask some variation of that question, not only that, but he seemed to get a kick out of seeing Heero's reaction to hearing it for what must have been the thousandth time by now. Heero chose not to answer as he usually did with a monotone `fine' instead he decided to speak at least some truth, “Bored.”

“I can certainly understand that,” John said with a nod of his head, and Heero was grateful not to receive sympathy, he didn't want that, he just wanted something to use up his time. “Sally and I could play a couple games of chess with you, when we're done here if you like…” he offered glancing back to Sally to see her reaction to the suggestion.

It wasn't exactly what he wanted but at least it could occupy some time, but Heero really wasn't thinking about that right now. When we're done here? he thought glancing between the two of them, Done what? It didn't take much to guess what both of them would be doing in his room, and Heero felt his patience slip another notch. The last thing he wanted to deal with was being poked and prodded by not one, but two doctors. Heero was careful to keep his reaction concealed despite the fact he didn't want to deal with this right now, the fact that Sally was in the room out weighted almost everything else. He had said he wanted things back to the way there were, but with Sally it would take a long time, so he'd have to be patient or risk pushing her away.

“Have you seen the pictures Ash put up?” John asked Sally as he moved from Heero's bed to the cupboards, slowly removing a few necessary items.

Heero watched Sally as she stepped over to the wall, looking at the pictures Ash had been so proud of, “Where did these other pictures come from?” Sally glanced back at him her right hand pointing at one of the pictures of himself with Ash.

“Ash had someone take a few of them,” Heero explained eyes looking at the pictures that he could actually see with Sally standing there, “The others I think he got off security camera's.”

“A resourceful man,” John commented turning away from his search to walk towards Sally, “And determined,” he smiled rather pointedly at Heero, but the former pilot was more interested in what John carried in each hand. He recognised the stethoscope that John pressed into Sally's hand, but couldn't tell what was in the small black case John kept to himself. Coming back over to Heero's right side John pulled the blankets down to Heero's waist, and motioned for Sally to come over as well.

She hesitated for just a moment, coming towards him with more confidence than she had shown the first time she came to see him still it wasn't what he remembered. Heero wasn't used to this Sally at all, she had always been more self- assured, to the point of getting in their faces. Something no one else would dare try even unaware of who they really were. It surprised Heero, how much he didn't like this, as much as he had tired to avoid Sally's attention whenever possible, the lack of it now was just one more example of how far away they all were. Nevertheless it was a beginning, something they could only move forward from. Silently she walked towards the bed, and Heero found himself splitting his attention between the two of them.

Heero watched John as he opened the case and began tying a tourniquet around the upper part of his arm, while at the same time keeping enough of his attention on Sally that he wouldn't be caught off guard, and could respond to her quiet requests. John expertly inserted the needle in the vein and began extracting vials for testing. “His lungs sound clear,” Sally told John quietly as she continued to look Heero over.

“Excellent,” John proclaimed as he pressed a small cotton ball to Heero's elbow. The former pilot found his eyes draw to Sally, and her hand which was ever so lightly tracing down the new scars left by Luc's knife. Heero's skin twitched despite himself at the ghosting touch and he wanted to ask her to stop. He didn't want to remember exactly what had caused them, didn't want to be reminded of the helpless feeling in the pit of his being.

She glanced up at him a little, and her hand jerked away from him, though she did not yet straighten, “You're so thin…” she breathed as though trying to cover what she had been actually thinking about.

Heero was surprised she had said it at all, several responses jumped into his head, but he bit back all of them, knowing Sally wouldn't take them as well as she used too.

“Try getting him to eat,” John said aiming a pointed look Heero's way.

“Just not hungry,” Heero said in even tones.

Sally stood a little straighter from the bed, eyes still looking down at Heero's thin chest, “Since when would that matter?” the question seemed more for just herself, but the tone was something of what Heero remembered. She wouldn't have stood for any excuse.

Heero found himself feeling slightly stunned by the fact that she had just spoke along with what she had said. Glancing towards John he saw the old doctor was feeling the same way, “You know, it really shouldn't,” John agreed quickly with a smile on his face, which he directed at Sally. “It would certainly save time not having to play a game of chess each time,” his attention turned to Heero then.

“You're only saying that because you don't win,” Heero threw back half joking, and at the same time partly serious. He didn't want to lose that control that he had over when and how he ate.

“Wufei seems to have become rather good at the game,” John drawled slowly his smile appearing mischievous, and Heero wondered if John was considering getting the Chinese pilot.

Heero shook his head at that, “Even he loses sometimes,” it certainly wasn't as often as the others, but it did happen. Heero really liked playing against Wufei, the Chinese man looked at the game in almost the exact same way Heero did, making the outcome a question almost to the end.

John sighed softly, “Which is exactly why we have to find something else,” he reached out to close Heero's shirt and return the blankets to their previous location. “You're just not taking enough in,” a couple of bitter retorts entered Heero's mind at that, he didn't want or need them scripting his life, but with Sally in the room he quickly though better of it, and chose to glare at the old doctor. “What sort of methods have you used in the past, Sally?”

Sally had been watching the two of them in silence, and blinked appearing startled by the sudden question. Heero found himself holding his breath, the last thing he wanted was John to know some of Sally's methods for dealing with them. Already he found it hard enough to refuse John at times, the old doctor was good about getting what he wanted done. “I used a little more force that would be appropriate right now…” Sally answered finally, her eyes touching on Heero's face before they returned to John.

Heero could easily remember a perfect example of what she was hinting at. When the war had ended Heero had woken to find himself in a hospital bed, with Sally waiting for him to wake, she hadn't been happy. So very different from now, she had blasted him for taking such risks with his life, and causing her so much trouble, and time. Nothing at all like now, when he had tried to leave, no longer wanting to deal with her hovering over him making sure he ate every bite she had brought the other pilots in, having them hold him down. They had helped her almost gleefully.

“Hmmmm…” John mused softly, Heero didn't like the look he was seeing in those brown eyes. “I suppose if it came down to it I could always have someone hold you down while I feed you,” he said finally with an evil grin.

Shit! Heero thought darkly, John apparently didn't need Sally's experiences he appeared to think along the same lines all on his own. “Not a good idea,” he voiced drawing John's eyes down to him, “I bite.”

“Never tired that with me…” Sally nearly whispered.

John laughed, “That's cause he likes you more,” he gave Sally a pointed smile and became serious again very quickly, “I think we'd all like to avoid that unpleasantness, so would you just eat what I bring you?”

WMWMWMW

Trowa strode down the ornate halls of the royal palace, his eyes didn't pay much attention to the finery, he preferred things simple, uncluttered and without fanfare. Unless, that is, he was at the circus. There was fanfare there, but everything still remained simple. He didn't know how Zechs could live among all this stuff, Trowa knew a great deal of it was historical, special items put on display to both remember where they had come from and what they had gone through to make it back to this point. Trowa had a feeling this was about as close to a medieval castle as he was ever going to get. It took a great deal of people to maintain such a large estate, and Trowa passed several maids as he transgressed the halls moving steadily closer to his destination.

He had been called by Quatre, his friend wanting him to stop by before he once more had to return to the colonies. It was early evening, about the only free time Quatre had with the conference and media assemblies. As much as Trowa wanted to see his friend he had been dreading this call, and had done his best to dodge it during most of the week. It was hard to lie to the other pilots about Heero, but he did it, would keep doing it for as long as that was what Heero wanted. But Quatre was a different matter, the gentle blond could at times seem to see through someone, feel their pain, to the point of being in agony himself.

Despite himself, during the war Trowa had become friends with the unusually outgoing pilot, it was like there had been a healing when he was around Quatre. The war didn't seem too impossible, the horrors of the past, just a little less sharp. One time in particular always stood out to Trowa, when he had come upon the blond playing his violin, the melody had been beautiful, and almost of their own accord his hands had reached for the flute. Though the moment had been fleeting, for a few brief minutes Trowa had allowed himself to forget the war, all that he was fighting for and against, and even more important, all that he didn't know about himself. He had poured all those emotions into the notes of the song, and let them float away.

Coming to a slow stop outside Quatre's rooms, Trowa tired to prepare himself for the meeting. Quatre had sounded very relieved to have finally caught Trowa on the phone. He hated doing that to him, but it was the easiest way to keep Heero's secret to avoid them all. Trowa knocked lightly on the door before slowly opening it, knowing full well that Quatre was waiting for him just inside the room. As expected his entrance was greeted with a bright smile as Quatre stood from his chair to meet him, the shorter blond accepted Trowa's offered hand firmly.

“I'm so glad I was able to get hold of you,” he smiled brightly motioning for Trowa to take a seat, “Would you like some tea?”

Trowa let a hint of a smile touch his lips at that, as he draped his light coat over the arm of the chair and sat down across from his friend; he could still remember the first time he had ever had tea. Before that first occasion Trowa had only drank the bitter concoction the mercenaries had called coffee. He had later learned by the standards of most coffee that their version was not supposed to be so unappealing. The first taste of Quatre's tea had been shockingly sweet, at least by comparison, but he had found he rather liked it. Accepting the delicate tea cup Trowa settled back in the chair taking his first slow sip. The silence between them stretched on, but Quatre was used to it willing to wait for the moment that felt right to speak again.

“How's Cathrine been?” Quatre asked then placing his cup on the table between them.

“Fine,” he replied doing likewise, and reached down into the front pocket of his jacket, “She wanted you to have this,” Trowa removed a wrapped bundle and passed it over to Quatre.

The president's smile widened if that was possible, “What is it?” he brought the unknown bundle to his nose smelling it.

“Fresh tea leaves she found in a market,” Cathrine was almost as great a lover of tea as Quatre, she loved to find new kinds of teas, and send part of them to the president to try.

“Thank her for me,” Quatre smiled placing the package safely on the table, Trowa nodded knowing full well an elaborate thank you letter would shortly follow. “How have you been?” he asked then studying Trowa intently.

“Busy,” he said with a shrug, it was at least partly true.

“So I've heard,” the president picked up his teacup again, “You've been finding time for sleep though?”

“Some,” Trowa was sure his one word answers would bother most people but Quatre wasn't one of them. The blond accepted him, and could read his body language better than most, which was what had Trowa so concerned about Quatre seeing through any potential lies he might have to make.

“I had been hoping to see you with Relena at the conference,” Quatre sounded a little disappointed at that.

Trowa let that almost invisible smile touch his face again, “Duo owed me a favour,” Trowa didn't mind standing guard over Relena at such boring conferences. But relations had been stressed between them lately, and to find the time to get everything done that came at him in a day, while also going to see Heero during the night.

“Relena told me what she said to you,” Quatre's expression had changed, it wasn't pity, more like he was feeling remorse, empathising with Trowa's emotions. It didn't help that Trowa couldn't help but flinch at his friends words, it didn't matter that Heero considered that incident in the past, Trowa was still trying to find a way to deal with it. “I'm sorry,” Quatre was quick to apologies, “It's just, if you wanted to talk about it…” he left it open, clearly not wanting to pressure Trowa.

Slowly shaking his head, Trowa tried to think of how to change the conversation, the last thing he wanted to do was dwell on this subject. There wouldn't be much hope for him concealing his actual standing with Heero if they did. “How's the conference going?” he asked changing the subject, at least a little.

Quatre appeared disappointed for a moment, but the expression slid from his face, “As well as can be expected I think. We've made some real progress, and I believe the ESUN has come to accept Dante and Freedom's Point without fear.”

“Now if we can only take out the Inner Circle before they go public,” that was the surest way to maintain the peace. Trowa didn't doubt that there'd be more than one obstacle in their way, most likely the news media would view this concealing of facts as reprehensible. To Trowa's way of thinking, the media was a prime example of the human race as a mass group, freaking out over every little thing, reviling in the darkest parts of human life. Best to leave them all blissfully unaware, and deal with any repercussions after the fact, as it was said, `it's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission' or in this case try and keep the world from a mass panic.

“I'm glad Dante's aware of the situation, it'll certainly make everything easier,” the young president commented, his blue-green eyes continued to regard Trowa with an almost searching light. The conversation may have changed course but Trowa was pretty sure Quatre hadn't given up on the previous discussion. “With how busy you've been I doubt you'd have had time to meet Ash?” it really wasn't a question, and Trowa shook his head in response. He had seen Ash on the video files of Heero's room but had yet to actually meet the remarkable man in person. It had amazed him to see how much Heero and the others all relaxed in Ash's presence, he had been reassured to know there was someone who could help.

“So what's been keeping you so busy?” Quatre asked then, his head tilting to the side as though that new angle might gleam more information from staring at Trowa's face.

“Circus mostly, their tenth year, so there's been more performances,” that statement was almost entirely true Trowa was relieved to know. Almost every night this week, leading up to the day the circus had done its first show, the ringmaster had been searching for something new, and Cathrine and his performance was no different. Trowa had had several ideas that could be used to liven up Cathrine's knife throwing, all of them more dangerous than him merely standing against a wooden board. To his utter surprise Cathrine had been all for them, her only comment was a joking `Just don't try to die.'

“Did they require you turn your cell phone off?” Quatre arched an eyebrow at that, he already knew the answer.

Trowa sighed inaudibly, Quatre wasn't going to leave it alone, it had been wishful thinking on Trowa's part to even imagine his friend wouldn't be concerned by his disappearing act. The silence stretched on in endless moments between them, Trowa trying to think of a reasonable response he could give knowing full well the longer he waited the less there'd be. “I just didn't feel like dealing with people,” it was a lame answer he knew, but at this point it was the best he had.

“And if Relena needed you or Une?” the young president fired back quickly.

“There are other ways to reach me,” Trowa shrugged the matter aside.

Quatre shifted to the edge of his seat staring Trowa directly in the eyes, emerald met aqua because avoiding them would have only cause more problems. “You shouldn't avoid him Trowa, that's not what he wants,” Quatre was adamant.

“I'm dealing with it in my own way,” he again tried to brush it aside he didn't want to get mad at his friend over a lie, and apparently some of that showed through his mask, as Quatre drew back suddenly looking at him as though for the first time.

“Have you been to see him?” he asked not sounding as though he expected an answer, and Trowa couldn't deny it. “You have! Were you the one who brought Heero the gun?” Trowa couldn't bring himself to refute that either, and he watched as Quatre's features fell some, “Why didn't you tell me?”

Trowa leaned forward a little in his seat, “Heero wanted it that way,” he explained disappointed that yet another person was aware of this, and at the same time relieved that he didn't have to lie to Quatre any more, “It gave him a sense of control.”

“How long were you planning on continuing this?” Quatre asked sounding more than a little displeased.

“As long Heero wanted to,” Trowa said bluntly coming to his feet, and stepping away from the chairs.

Quatre shook his head in what appeared to be disbelief, “Did you even consider what we would think?” he demanded of his friend, “I've been worried about you, and Relena been tearing herself up over what she said to you.”

Biting back a harsh reply Trowa couldn't keep all the heat from his voice, “After all we've said and done to Heero you expect me to go against him!”

That gave Quatre a moment pause, Trowa knew he wouldn't be able to say he had made the wrong choice. But at the same time he knew Quatre wasn't satisfied with how this conversation had been going. Finally Quatre sighed his shoulders relaxing as his head dropped and he looked at his clasped hands, “I understand the position you were in…” he began but Trowa wasn't going to let him finish.

“There was no other option, Heero didn't want anyone, and frankly I preferred it that way,” folding his arms across his chest Trowa sighed also, the heat from before leaving his voice. He didn't want to fight with Quatre over this, didn't want to fight with his friend at all.

They watched each other for a while the silence feeling less strained at time went on, finally Quatre smiles. “Well I'm just glad I know,” he came to his feet as well, everything appearing to be back to normal. Trowa looked at him rather pointedly, not feeling he actually had to say what was on his mind but wanting to be sure nonetheless. Quatre smiled as though reading Trowa's mind as he reached for the teapot, “Don't worry, I won't even let Heero know, so long as that's how he wants it. Would you like another cup of tea?” he was already moving to make some more before Trowa even nodded his head.

Thanks for Reading!

Parting Ways:

“Good morning,” he greeted with that same gentle smile he had always worn when speaking with anyone, “Did you sleep well?”

Heero shifted again trying to find a little comfort, “More than I wanted…”

That drew a chuckle from Quatre, “I heard what Ash did yesterday.”

“He's as bad as Sally,” Heero said reached for his glass of water, feeling his mouth was really dry right now. It was an effort to get the straw to lips, but Heero was glad Quatre didn't try to help. He wanted his independence. Quatre did, however take hold of a pitcher of water and refill his nearly empty cup. After putting the pitcher aside, Quatre walked around the bed and took a seat in the plush chair, Heero turned his head away from the cup and looked more closely at Quatre his cobalt eyes also noting the date calendar, it read June 18. “I thought you were leaving when Ash and Dante did…”

“That was the original plan,” Quatre nodded resting his head on his palm, “But I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye first.”

“You came in last night?” he asked taking hold of the light blankets covering him he wanted to push them back as far as he could. For some reason he had begun to feel to warm under them.

“I did,” Quatre confirmed, “But I didn't want to wake you then, so I thought I'd wait a day, I didn't want to raise any eyebrows, so I took Relena out to a private dinner.” He grinned then leaning back in his chair, “Of course the press was all over it, and I suppose I should be the one to tell you our engagement has been announced in several papers, and Relena's pregnancy in a few of the less reputable ones…”

Heero's eyebrows raised, “All this while I was sleeping?”

“I'm apparently very talented.”

“I thought you had enough women throwing themselves at you, why'd you have to take mine?” his tone was sardonic.

Quatre laughed outright at that and his mirth was contagious drawing out a fraction of a smile on Heero's face. “Just a little incentive for you to get back on your feet,”

Morganeth Taren'drel