It was late, but Duo couldn't sleep.  He was thinking about their excursion that evening.  Heero had never taken the children anywhere; they'd told him that
numerous times.  Gazing out his bedroom window, Duo sighed as he stared up at the bright moon.  He was glad he was staying.  Actually, he could almost
thank Hilde for the guilt trip she'd pulled on him since it made it easy for him to stay.  His eyes were caught by some movement and he smiled as he recognized
the tall form as Trowa.  Then his smile faded as he remembered that Quatre hadn't been expecting the boy and he wondered how long Trowa would wait for
him.  Frowning, Duo pushed up his window with the intentions of going to meet him.  Or he would have pushed it up if it had budged.

"I don't believe it," Duo whispered, a grin gracing his face as he leaned close, looking at the bolts holding the window closed.  Laughing softly, he had trouble
standing for a moment before he reminded himself of Trowa and managed to calm a bit.  Throwing on a coat, he opened his door silently, looking up and down
the hall before slipping out of the room.  Moving quietly down the stairs, he was surprised by how much he disliked the idea of sneaking.  It was strange,
because he hadn't minded it before, but now it made him feel...dirty somehow.  Shoving the thought aside, he unlocked the front door and pulled it open,
pausing suddenly.

Duo couldn't actually see them, but he could hear Heero's low voice and his heart dropped as he recognized the furious tone.  //Heero...don't...//  There was
nothing he could do, as he knew going to them would only make the boy angrier.  He understood why Heero would be furious that they'd hid their relationship
from him, but he worried about how Quatre would react to his having found out.  He couldn't help but remember that the lovers planned to elope if Heero found
out and he couldn't stand to see the family torn apart.  Then his thoughts were interrupted as the voices ceased abruptly and he hurried to get inside, locking
the door as he'd found it before racing as quickly and quietly as he could.  In the hall, however, he paused as one of the doors opened a crack.

"Duo...?"  

Seeing the pale boy's shimmering eyes, Duo pushed Quatre into his room, shutting the door behind him.  "Did you see that?"

"What...what did he say to him?" Quatre demanded, his voice breaking as he bordered between anger and tears.  "Trowa just...left.  He was supposed to wait
for me if this happened, we were supposed to go together."

"I'm sure he'll be back," Duo said weakly.

"You don't understand."  Sitting on the edge od his bed, Quatre wrapped his arms around himself.  "Trowa's...well, he doubts himself sometimes.  He doesn't
think he deserves me.  That's why he decided to join the army, so he could take care of me."  Duo's eyes widened, but Quatre continued quickly, his damp
eyes wide.  "Only God knows what Heero said to him, Duo.  What if...what if he doesn't come back?"  His voice breaking, Quatre sobbed suddenly, hiding his
face in his hands.

Hurrying to sit beside the boy, Duo pulled him up against him, not knowing how to comfort him.  "Quatre, he'll be back.  He loves you, remember?"

"I'll run away."

Wincing as he heard the muffled threat, Duo was sure he'd given the boy the idea.  "Don't do that.  It won't solve anything.  Quatre, just let me talk to Heero,
okay?"

The blonde boy pulled back sharply, his eyes wide in his pale face.  "He won't listen."

"Now we don't know that if I don't try, right?  Besides, we don't even know what Heero said to him.  Just give me a chance.  The worst thing that'll happen is he
won't listen to me."

* * *

He was wrong, the worst thing was that he couldn't find him.  It was the first time since coming to the house that Heero didn't join them at breakfast and even
Zechs and Treize seemed nervous.  Except for Quatre, the others took his absence in stride, talking quietly while they ate and Duo used their sounds as an
excuse to move closer to the two men.  

"Where's Heero?"

The boy's expression was nervous and Zechs couldn't bring himself to smile.  "He's in a really bad mood this morning, Duo.  I wouldn't bother him."  Duo
winced and he raised an eyebrow in curiousity.  "If you really have to speak with him, he was outside earlier."

"Got it."  Pushing back from the table, Duo didn't allow for hesitation.  The prospect of trying to talk sense into an angry Heero wasn't pretty and he knew he
could end up hesitating too long if he thought about it.  A glance at Quatre's red eyes and he nodded sharply to the children before disappearing out the
door.  If the boy was outside, Duo had a good guess where he was and he didn't bother to get a coat as he walked out the front door and across the wide
lawn.  Sure enough, he could see someone sitting on the round bench of the gazebo and he slowed a bit as he walked.  

Turning sharply, Heero's glare lessened a bit as he caught sight of Duo.  "Why aren't you eating breakfast?"

"Why aren't you?" Duo countered, wondering if the boy would tell him what had happened last night.  He doubted it, though, since Heero didn't know he'd
already found out about Trowa.  "I know you're angry, but sitting by yourself isn't going to help."  Heero's eyes narrowed and Duo took a deep breath as he
stepped forward and sat on the bench across from the boy.  "I guess I never thought you'd take it so badly.  I knew about Trowa and Quatre."

Breath quickening at the betrayal, Heero couldn't get past it.  "You knew.  And you said nothing.  You let them meet without telling me?!"

"I didn't think you'd be angry, Heero."  Raising his hands, Duo flinched back from the boy's anger.  "I honestly didn't.  I thought...I thought you'd be happy for
them.  They were afraid you'd find out, but I never really thought--"

"You didn't think.  It's obvious.  Why?"  Biting back his anger, Heero stood suddenly, arms folded tightly over his chest as he scowled at the seated boy.  "Why
would you think I'd be *happy* for them?  Do you have *any* idea...who that boy is?  He's a soldier for OZ."

"Is that why you're angry?" Duo asked in surprise.  "Then...if he wasn't, would you still be against them?"

"Yes, Damnit!"  Duo paled and he flushed despite his anger.  "Duo, Quatre is a child, he doesn't know anything about people.  I won't have him taken
advantage of."

"He's not that young.  Boys his age are married and starting families.  Besides...they're in love."

"Did Quatre tell you that?"  Letting out a soft snort, Heero turned a bit so he could look to the house.  "He doesn't know what love is."  From the corner of his
eye, he could tell the long-haired boy didn't appreciate his opinion as Duo glared suddenly.  

"How would *you* know?"  Frowning, Duo found himself getting angry.  "You've never seen them together, you don't know how they feel about each other.  
Heero, when's the last time you talked to Quatre, about anything?  He's not a baby, he's a young man.  And he's in love."

"He thinks he is."  Heero muttered, keeping an eye on the boy's expression as Duo's glare darkened.

"I think so too."  

The boy looked so angry and defensive that Heero turned back too him, raising an eyebrow.  "And how would *you* know?"  Duo's lips thinned for a second
and he knew he'd pushed too hard.

"Because *I've* seen them.  I've watched them together, the way they look at each other like that's all they see.  But even if they hadn't told me I'd still have
known.  I knew the first time I saw them kiss."  Duo closed his mouth quickly as Heero stiffened and he wondered if he hadn't just made things worse.  The boy
was watching him, cobalt eyes narrowed and shining with an intensity that was unnerving.

"Are you saying that because they kissed, that means they're in love?"  Duo flushed and looked down.  Heero smirked suddenly.  "*We* kissed."

Blushing so dark his cheeks were almost painfully hot, Duo stood quickly.  He hadn't actually forgotten about their kiss, but it had been the last thing on his
mind and the odd tone to Heero's voice made him feel even more embarrassed.  As much as he hated not having helped Quatre, he felt the sudden need to
put distance between him and the boy smirking at him.  Not looking up, he turned quickly, almost running back to the house.  He got all of five feet before his
wrist was caught.

Holding the boy's wrist lightly, Heero tugged him back, eyes glinting.  "Duo...what does that mean?  You said you didn't mind my kissing you, and I sure as--I
didn't mind.  So tell me," he nudged the boy's chin up as he closed the distance between them.  "What does that mean according to your theory of love?"  
Slipping an arm around the boy's waist, he drew him closer as he looked into Duo's wide eyes.  The boy didn't blink, and he slowly brushed his lips over
Duo's.  It was difficult to stop there, but he wouldn't risk scaring the boy again.  "Well?"

"You...bolted my window..."

Heero blinked sharply and he frowned at the boy as it hadn't been the answer he was hoping for.  "I'm not taking any chances."

Running the fingertips of one hand over Heero's shoulder, Duo frowned, his voice thoughtful.  "Maybe you're right.  You're so cold one minute, then you're
nice.  You order me around, you haven't told me anything about you.  I don't even know your middle name.  I can't be in love with you.  Maybe kissing has
nothing to do with love."  He didn't push back from Heero as he thought about it, remembering what Relena had said about lust.  "I'm young, so is Quatre.  
Maybe it *is* just...lust."

"No!"  Duo looked up sharply and Heero loosened his suddenly tight hold a bit as he shook his head.  "I don't know anything about love, but I know lust.  Duo,
lust is when you want to touch someone, it's all body and no thought.  I admit, lust is there, but there's much more than that.  Do you want to know what I feel
when I think of you?"  

Blushing lightly, Duo shook his head.  "I'm not sure..." he said slowly, expression uncertain.

"You're imature," Heero said slowly, smirking when Duo's mouth dropped open, "You do whatever you want.  You're naive to a fault, sometimes I get the
feeling you go out of your way to irritate me."  The violet-eyed boy was definitely glaring, and he placed his fingers over Duo's lips before he could speak.  
"You're also beautiful and sweet.  You love the children and they obviously love you.  I haven't seen them so happy since my parents died.  I can't stand
thinking of you gone.  When I look at you...all I want to do is hold onto you and make you smile."  He was smiling now, and Heero nodded sharply, expression
very sober.  "I love your smile."

"Heero..."  Still smiling, Duo's arms moved around the boy's neck as they kissed again, the lightest of touches and he felt a bit of disappointment when Heero
broke away much too soon.  

"Duo, I can't lose you.  Ai shiteru, Duo."  Scowling when the violet-eyed boy  looked confused, Heero gave a disgruntled look.  "That means I love you."

"Oh!"  Grinning wildly, Duo pulled the boy to him, burying his face against Heero's neck.  "God loves me."  Sighing happily, he pressed his lips to the soft skin.  
"And I love you."

.-.

PART 13

.-.

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