A.N. I’ve tried and I’ve tried and it’s just not working!!! *glares at trampled Trowa and Catherine* They just won’t behave! Even after I had Reboo ‘talk’ some sense into them! So I went ahead and posted these last parts. Yes, I am planning on making a sequel so if you have any question I didn’t answer or you haven’t already put in the review, please tell me so I can answer them by via email or in the next fic. For those of you who have read Changing the Devil, yes I am still working that. But this became top priority along with midterm’s. But unfortunately those two won’t be cooperative! So I went ahead and posted this. Happy Reading!



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Zechs jumped startled as a loud anguish filled scream shattered the silence of the park. A gander of geese took to the skies in a centrifugal rising from the center of the small acres. Flying away from where he had left Noin. The scream was familiar. The location accurate. There was no doubt in his mind. Noin was in trouble.

She was kneeling there her hands submerged in the thick green carpet of trimmed grass as tears rolled down her face soaking her shirt as it bathed her face with the salty fluid.

It was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.

Lucrenzia, his glue, was crying for him. She really did miss him. That was all he needed to know. She’d waited for him. The roles were reversed now. He’d wait as long as it took until they cleared this up. He’d wait until Lucrenzia told him everything. He’d wait until she’d healed from whatever it was and returned to herself. And him.

He moved forward his loud footsteps covered by her half-smoothed sobs. He sank to his knees in front of her wrapping his arms around her as he pulled forward. Protecting her from the cold as he provided comfort to her mind.

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Dorothy continued to glare at the stubborn man that continued to ignore her protests.

"Quatre, I am serious. You can’t stay here forever."

"If you don’t want me here, then leave." He stated.

"You know I can’t. The lease was for one year." A long silence elapsed during which neither one moved other than to blink.

"When were you planning on coming back? Were you even going to call or visit?" His sea green eyes glimmered as he stared her down unflinchingly.

"No. I wasn’t planning on it."

"Neither am I." She scowled at him her eyes flashing angrily at him.

"What makes you think you can just barge in on MY life?"

"The fact that I have my own life and it just happens to bring me into yours."

"Just happens? You planned this. You’re an idiot if you didn’t think I’d figure out this was intentional." He stepped closer seeing an opportunity he didn’t want to miss.

"It was intentional. Very intentional." His voice had softened and she felt chills run up her spine as he spoke. "Because I need you in my life."

He’s dependent on me! It’s too late, If I keep this up I will hurt him.

It’s not to late. Time heals all wounds. Just keep up an attitude of indifference and he’ll get over it. It’ll hurt him less this way. It’ll protect you from becoming dependent on him.

But that’s already happened.

He doesn’t know it. Don’t hurt him more than you have to. He’ll come to his senses and leave. You’re sparing him this way.

No. I… I want him. I don’t want to hurt him but I want him near me. It may be selfish, but I want him close to me. Forget the red-capped bodyguards. They aren’t here and I am. I’m claiming my turf.

You’re turf? What happens when you want greener grass, Dorothy? Are you going to chew him up and spit him out when you need fresh meat?

Shut up! This is my decision. I’m choosing Quatre.

What about Quatre? Are you going to let him have any say in this?

He came all the way out here. That’s all the approval I need.

What makes you so sure you do want him? Just because he came here doesn’t mean you love him. Or he loves you.

Dorothy felt like a hot air balloon without any air. It could be true. He'd never made any notion that he wanted more than just friendship.

He continued to watch the emotions play over her face. Mainly confusion and indecision flickered on the angelic face. He crept closer as she continued an in-depth internal debate. When he was toe-to-toe and nose-to-nose she glanced at him her face softening.

She’s made up her mind… It’s not to late to change it though.

And just how do you plan to do that?

I… I don’t know.

"Quatre… We’re friends, right?"

"Why… Yes, of course."

"And sometimes friends have to help…" He nodded wondering where she was leading with this. "I’m asking you to be my friend Quatre…" She paused glancing up at him before adding, "Be my friend by leaving." His aquamarine eyes blinked as he studied her silently for a minute searching for words that would puncture through the thick blonde hair and into her brain.

"You consider me a friend?"

"What else should I call it? You can’t tell me that after the Zero system that… That you didn’t feel some bond or something. Maybe it was because we’re both crazy and understand each other, but I doubt we’re enemies anymore."

"Your right Dorothy. Friends do help each other out." The look of relief on her face was almost comical. He leaned forward his right hand snaking around burrowing into the golden strands as he pressed her forward as his lips made contact with hers. Warmth surged through her body almost making her giddy. Quatre’s kissing me!

Duh,dumbwit. Are you going to stand there all day or kiss him back?

She stood there for a minute her own lips impassive before she made up her mind. Only it was too late. He leaned back studying her curiously.

"Too bad I’m not your friend." His arm stretched and he cupped her cheek. "Dorothy, I’d like to say… that…" He trailed off and she could see the wheels turning in his head as he searched for the right words.

Dorothy grinned at the indecisive male that stood in front of her before saying with her regular tact, "If you’re going to kiss me hurry up and do it. I’ve got to leave for work in five minutes." That caught his attention instantly.

"Five minutes? That’s not a whole lot time." He replied smiling playfully in return. "Don’t you get any sick days? It might take me several times. I have bad aim, you know." He teased leaning forward his lips skimming over her forehead.

"Then it’s a good I have perfect aim." She replied before taking her shot.

If Quatre learned anything that day, he learned Dorothy had very good aim.

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"We’re partners, Sally." She flinched at the word ‘partners’ and turned away staring at a large noisy duck that wandered by wobbling on land. "Sally, we share every mission, every assignment." His fingers guided her face back toward his. "Even my heart." He waited his whole body tense for her reply.

"Wufei?"

"Yes?" It was a hopeful, yearning reply with all of the depth of the emotions he was feeling at that minute.

"You’ve got a lot of guts." His heart sank and somewhere deep inside a cord snapped. "Spying on a girl and then saying you’re in love with her. Especially, when she’s been in love with you for years. I’ve done everything but painting a huge mural with Sally loves Wufei written on it over the past years. If you’d pulled your nose out of your books and lectures you would have seen Sai li Po head over heels for you. In fact, I even…" He cut her off by clapping a hand over her mouth effectively silencing her rambling.

"You were head over heels for me all along?" He asked in slight disbelief. He knew she liked him but for the past years… She nodded, since that was all she really could do.

"Onna, why couldn’t you have told me this years ago?" He groaned releasing her mouth.

"And take all of the fun out of it?" She teased back relieved at how well he was taking it. He hasn’t made a declaration of love, but it was a bit sudden. ‘Sharing his heart’? That could be anything from friendship to… Perhaps he needs time or he just doesn’t need me. At least, we were and still are friends. She thought bitter-sweetly glancing over at him with a trace of sorrow etched on her face. He tilted her face up with two fingers studying it curiously.

"It won’t do at all to have my onna, frowning." He murmured before leaning forward capturing her with a crushing kiss, pouring all of his desperation and fear into that kiss. Somewhere during the next five minutes it grew gentle, showing his relief and joy at her news as she responded. She finally pushed away grinning at the Chinese man. "You still owe me dinner."

"What?!?!"

"For keeping me waiting all these years. In fact, it’s probably worth more than just dinner. I never did find that…" He slid his arm around her waist, guiding her outside as she continued to list the offenses and prices need to redeem himself trying to ignore the blissful joy as two words echoed in her mind.

My Onna.

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Strong arms wrapped around waist lifting her off the ground.

"Heero! You’ll get that stuff all over my dress." She complained breathlessly.

"Then you’ll just have to take it off won’t you." Her eyes widened in terror as the color drained from her face. He turned her around to face him smirking at the pale face and half shocked half-frightened features. "After I’m through with you." She relaxed mentally smacking herself in the head. She giggled before reaching up and patting a now dark red lock of Heero’s hair. "I think red’s really your color." He glared at her as he reached up a hand swiftly undoing the results of hours of work.

"Hey! That took me forever!" She swatted at his hand squirming as he quickly pulled out every single bobby pin and hair fastener.

"It was a waste of time. I like it much better this way." His mouth lowered again but she turned her head giving him the cheek.

"You just wrecked my hairstyle, ruined my dress, and my favorite tube of lipstick and you expect me to kiss you?"

"No." She glanced up surprised. That wasn’t the answer she’d been expected. "I know you will." He added mischievous before capturing her lips once more.

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"What’s wrong, Lucrenzia?" Her loud sobs had quieted and her body had stopped trembling.

"I couldn’t do it anymore Zechs. I ran out of strength. Of patience… I couldn’t wait anymore."

"Wait for what?" He leaned back smoothing her violet hair watching her carefully. Her red-rimmed eyes met his.

"For you." His brow wrinkled slightly in confusion.

"For me? Why?" He asked confusion evident in his tone. She raised her right hand.

"I love you. You know that and I know that. I know you love me. You know I know that. But I wanted it official." She lowered her gaze studying the grass she suddenly found fascinating. "I knew I’d love you for forever. I’d stay with you forever. But I wasn’t sure…" She trailed off realizing she was babbling and stopped the consistent flow of words.

"You weren’t sure about me. You want commitment?" He asked, not even waiting for the small nod that he knew was coming as he hoisted her to her feet, remaining on his knees.

"Lucrenzia Noin." He grasped her right hand. "Would you marry me?" A large teasing smile blossomed on her face.

"As if you don’t know the answer. Of course." The merriment reached her eyes as she continued. "Now we just have to decide what name to put on the marriage license." He felt a smile tug at the corners of him mouth. Trust Lucrenzia to move directly from the proposal to the license, always in charge. He stood draping an arm around her shoulders.

"It’s about time we conclude that visit to Relena, don’t you think?" A slight tug at the end of his long blonde hair made him stop.

"Zechs."

"hmm?"

"You look hot." His cheeks reddened at her comment.

"Excuse me?"

"Extremely hot." She placed her hands on his chest pushing him back slightly.

"Lucrenzia, just what are you…" His words stopped as she gave him one last push causing him to balance precariously at the edge of the duck pond. He lunged toward her but she sidestepped his arm backing up as he lost his balance falling into the cold water.

"You looked like you needed a drink." She reasoned before darting off as he rose from the water with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

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"You look a bit parched yourself." The tall longhaired man dropped a shorter violet haired woman into the pond their words and shrieks of laughter drifting over the to the elderly couple that was seated at the bench park. The man turned to his wife grinning mischievously at her.

"You look a bit dry yourself…" He teased.

"Edward Martin Collins! Of all the things you’ve…" The blush on her face was well worth the lecture she launched into. Not that he paid attention anyway. It was focused on the youthful couple that was occupied mudding up the waters.

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She rubbed her wrists and plopped into the seat next to him as she absorbed his explanation.

"Let me get this right, you handcuffed, duct taped, and verbally abused me just to get me to fight you back?" He nodded, inwardly cringing at how she would react. "Why?"

"You weren’t Hilde. You got burned out or something, babe. My little spit-fire need some re-kindling." He explained.

"You do know you’re in trouble young man." She scolded. He grinned cheekily.

"Oh yeah, Hilde-babe. I know just too well."

"I expect you to wear those clothes, you know. They’re still useable…" A look of pure horror passed over Duo’s face. "But I’m too tired right now. I’ll get you back later." She warned curling up on the couch.

"I’m counting on it, Hil."

"Duo?" A sleepy voice asked as he settled in next to her wrapping his arms around and resting his head on her shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"What did I tell you about calling me a pile of dirt?" She murmured her words slurred by exhaustion. He burrowed closer to her warmth.

"Just get some sleep, babe."

When she finally fell asleep Duo slid out off of the couch before starting a small fire and erasing the last traces of what had started it all leaving just a small pile of ashes.

So peace and quiet reined in the household. Tranquillity settled over the counters and curtains, drowning the rooms with its fine mist of relaxation. Everything was wonderful…

Then Hilde awoke.



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A.N. It’s done! Now I just need Trowa and Catherine… Remember to review, even if I did promise the sequel I may just send to him instead of posting it if I don’t get any requesting it…