1.3

Treize looked on as his only daughter sat silent in her room. Her eyes pregnant with her tears and her sighs pronouncing a lover's malady.

She was a fool.

His mind raced back to a time when she was but a child in his arms, she was his princess, second only to her mother. He remembered her soft laughter when she would tell him of her day. He remembered the bitterness of the cookies she had tried to bake. And he remembered the soft green eyes of the young woman that had told him that she was in love.

And it was a body taker prince.

***

He saw the beautiful blue eyes staring back at him, he was just a boy. He had fallen in love. Madly, completely.

He was little more than twenty-one, his wife would arrive that day and they would forever be bound. He had never ever seen this Sally, and yet tomorrow they would join their lives together. How absurd it all sounded.

So he left the castle wanting to run away. He found himself riding his steed to the ground running away from the fate that awaited him, from the bed he did not wish to take. Running towards a last heaven, a last chance. And that was when he found himself trembling facing the old wall, blue eyes capturing his own.

He was no more than fourteen his child-like innocence still present. And his hair, golden like the sunrise, shimmered in the evening wind.

"Are you lost little one?" he asked smiling.

"No I know perfectly well where I am." He said.

"Well then you should also know that someone with eyes as beautiful as yours will loose them before long in these woods." He smirked flirting with him.

"And why is that?" he said defiantly.

"You wish to find out my angel?" he asked.

"I know you Treize, crowned prince of the soul eaters." He said stepping away. He stopped the boy knew who he was.

"And where did you come by that name?" he asked dismounting.

"That is the only reason I came here tonight." The boy blushed. "I came to see you before it is too late."

"It is never too late." He coaxed moving closer at the compliment.

"You are to be joined tomorrow with your queen, it is already too late." The boy said with surprising maturity for his age.

"Pity that I only set eyes upon you today."

"No, nothing would have changed had it been different."

"You are wise for your age child."

"I am not a child!" he shouted.

"Tell me why have you come so far from your castle little boy?" he said emphasizing 'little'. The boy blushed at his discovery. "Prince Milliardo, please answer me."

"I…I came to see you."

"The truth child."

"I watch you ride pass each night. I see you take off your clothes and make love to every village girl and boy unfortunate enough to catch your eyes. I watch you sup on their souls as they scream out your name in ecstasy. And I…"

"Yes?" he raised his eyebrow.

"I wanted to be the one in your arms." He blushed ashamed.

"So, you come here to offer yourself to me?" Treize asked eyeing the beautiful boy and ignoring the tightening in his pants.

"Y…yes." Milliardo whispered.

"You are but a child. Cease your foolishness before you loose your head." He said turning to leave.

Delicate hands grabbed him from behind and enveloped him in a searing kiss. Making his knees grow weak.

"I am not a child and I come to you to ensure that." He said his eyes inviting. Treize growled, this boy who was as beautiful as the morning, laying his own innocence for him to plunder excited him.

"You will get your wish my Prince." He said pulling his long hair and drawing him toward his waiting mouth.

***

Milliardo closed his eyes. He had wanted this for so long. To be held by him, to be devoured by him. The feel of his skin against him, his breath in his mouth, his scent filling him everywhere.

And as the urgent hands began to touch him everywhere, Prince Milliardo of the body takers let everything go. He no longer cared if he would be nothing more than a banquet for the young man above him. He would rather die than not see him again. He would rather die than let him go.

For he had always been in love with the man with rust-colored hair.

***

He restrained himself, telling himself over and over that he would destroy this boy if he let his passions rule him. And as he buried himself one last time in his heat, he knew he would not love another.

And they collapsed into each other's arms. Stealing what moments the night had bought them.

"I know you watch me." he muttered hoarsely. "The only reason I still bring them here is to see your eyes close as you gasp your own pleasure."

Milliardo looked at him stunned. "You did?"

"I knew you'd be here." He smiled drawing the younger boy deeper into his embrace.

"Refuse your crown." He asked.

"I can't."

"I would."

"That is the difference between us." He said sadly.

"Do you…do you love me?" he asked embarrassed. Treize laughed and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"No."

Milliardo whimpered, obvious that was not the answer he had hoped to hear.

"I cannot love someone who makes me feel so much more than that." He said lifting his lover's face to look him in the eyes. "Asking me to love you beloved is like telling me to end your life. For I love you more than what love can fathom."

And he meant it, with his soul.

***

He looked into Sally's eyes. She was beautiful. She was smart and kind and funny. She was everything he had hoped her to be. She would make a perfect queen.

And he loved her. As much as he could.

She looked at her new husband, taking his hand in hers and gracing him with a smile. And somewhere in Treize's heart he sighed. This woman was nothing like the others he had ever seen and he had a feeling he would never see again.

If Milliardo had not stolen his heart, if Milliardo did not love him so, if Milliardo had never set eyes on him…perhaps…perhaps.

He felt her hand grip his and her fingers drew his hair away from his face and yet all he could think of was blue eyes and innocent blond hair.

***

He kissed the head leaning on his shoulder. Feeling his slim hands grip his.

"My daughter was born today." He whispered.

"How is Sally?" his lover asked.

"She is fine, beautiful as no other woman on earth."

"What is the baby's name?" he asked fiddling with his red hair.

"Catherine." Treize smiled.

"Hmmm. It’s a beautiful name." He smiled snuggling deeper into his lover's embrace. "Will I meet her?"

"Perhaps."

***

Her eyes were filled with tears.

"Papa!" she called running after him.

"Listen Catherine you can't come with me tonight."

"No! Come! Come!" she pleaded pulling at his sleeve, Treize sighed, he never could say no to her. He hoisted her up into his saddle and they began to head towards the little cottage set deep into the woods.

"Oh she is beautiful." Milliardo said motioning for the girl to come towards him.

"She would not let herself be left behind." He said looking at his lover swing Catherine in the air. They played with her for a while until the exhausted child finally succumbed to the waiting arms of sleep.

"She takes after you Treize." He commented as Catherine lay on her father's lap sleeping. He wrapped his arm around Milliardo's waist and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Yes I think so too." Treize said stroking the brown head dreaming beside him.

"Something is wrong isn't it?" he asked looking at him.

"Yes." He said not looking at his lover.

"Tell me." he whispered.

"I cannot…" he couldn't say it.

"This will never get easier Treize." He said sad.

"I will never hurt Sally, Milliardo. Please understand." He said.

"You would rather hurt me instead." He whispered.

"Things cannot go on like before. "

"Ten years we have been lovers and in my heart I have never loved anyone as I do you."

"My family needs me, my clan needs me."

"I need you." he pleaded.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be. My heart bleeds knowing I will never be able to see you smile again."

"I thought you loved me Treize." he said his voice low.

"I do."

"But that is the difference between you and me isn’t it?" he laughed.

"I cannot ask you to continue loving me…"

"But I will. Until forever gets tired of waiting I will." He said turning away from him.

"Milliardo I..."

"Thiry years Treize. I will be here in thirty years."

***

His face upturned to the falling snow and his heart bleeding form within. He missed him. Seeing the place where they had spent so many nights together only magnified his absence. Ten years had gone and another twenty must pass before he would see him once more. And his heart yearned for him, and his pain could not be concealed.

In the distance something cried. He touched his fingertips to his lips and placed a kiss on the door as he mounted.

***

In his arms a baby cried, his violet eyes filling with tears.

Sally looked up at him as he entered their room. She took the baby in her arms and sat him down on the bed. She kissed his forehead and laid his head on her bosom. And she closed her eyes.

She knew her husband loved another.

And as she felt his tears stain her skirt she told herself that she would only love him.

***

When she had seen him that night they were joined she thought that this man would mean nothing to her.

She had taken his hand and she made her vows and that night she lay with him. She had granted her father's wish, she had become queen and now she was tired. Tired of being told how fortunate she was of all the princesses in the west. Tired of being forbidden to do things against proper decorum. Tired of feeding lies to their kingdom's aristocracy. Tired of pleasing the whole damn world.

And tired of watching the moonlight dance on his skin. Of hearing him laugh. Of seeing the light in his eyes when he plays with their children. Tired of playing his voice over and over in her head.

And suddenly it all went wrong.

She was not supposed to be happy in his arms. She was not supposed to wish to be first in his heart. She was not supposed to fall in love with him.

And yet she did. And suddenly it all went wrong. For she knew he loved another. And she would rather die than cause him pain. So she swallowed her pain and she blinded herself to his nightly excursions.

And somewhere in the ten years that she had been his wife, she knew he loved her as well. Not as he did him but he did, as much as he could. And for her this was enough.

And now as she cradled him in their bed, wishing she could take away his pain she promised she would never leave him as he did. And perhaps in time he would love her as she did him.

***

His eyes drifted to the clock ticking on the wall. He should have left hours ago but his family needed him. And he would never abandon them. No matter what the cost.

His youngest was screaming inside his room and Heero had ran away. Trowa was doing something to Duo and he couldn't stop it. And he hated himself for it.

Sally looked up at him, pleading him to stay with her. And he knew that if he did then he would give up his heart. And as her tears began to stream he made the only decision he could.

She needed him. And he was not about to abandon her. Even if the cost was more than he could give.

***

He stood there, the snow gathering around his feet, his face tired. He stood there and he waited. And waited.

But he never came. And he closed his eyes and bade farewell to the evening. He got up mounted his horse and rode away.

***

Treize was out of breath when he arrived at the cottage. His clothes were in disarray, in his eyes a desperation showed. But he was too late and he knew that his heart had truly broken this time.

And he knew it was his fault.

***

Catherine stared out at the falling snow. How many years had it been since he held her that night of the ball when the snow fell like torrents and the music of permeated the walls? Since they had consummated the condemned love that devoured them both? How long?

"Has it been two years?" She whispered.

***

"No!" he screamed. "You will not see him again do you understand Catherine?"

"I love him papa!" she pleaded. He caught Catherine in a strange boy's arms that night, a boy that reminded him of another and as it dawned on him who this boy really was, he was afraid. Afraid that his daughter would suffer as he did. Outside the music continued playing and his daughter's tears refused to cease.

"That love will kill you Catherine!"

"I do not care! I love him!"

"Please sir! I will never hurt her!" he pleaded his black hair slowly turning to blond as his enchantment began to fade. *

"You owe your clan an heir." he stated ignoring the prince.

"I will give the clan an heir!"

"It will be of my line. Purely my line or I will drown it in its own blood." He warned. Her eyes began to fill with tears. And he felt his little girl slowly melt away into this woman with set eyes staring at him.

"You don't understand!" she reasoned.

"I do understand. Better than you can imagine." He said sadly. "If he steps one foot inside my borders again, he will die. " He said leaving them.

***

She wanted to drown in those blue eyes. She wanted to tear them from their sockets and keep them in her hands. She wanted to keep a part of him with her.

She closed her eyes and let the sensation of his kiss wash over her. She gave into the need fueling both their passions and that night they had made love. Forgetting the world around them. Knowing that by the time the sun had risen they would be separated far longer than both of them could bear.

And as she ran her fingers down his back, raking his skin, her tears began to fall.

***

She sighed. That was the last time she had lain eyes on her prince and never had she felt such melancholy. Sometimes she would remember the times they had spent in each other's arms. Sometimes it would hurt so much that even tears could not wash away the pain.

And now, there would be war. Now she knew she would never see him again. For in this war there would only be one victor, and the defeated king and his clan must die.

***

Treize looked away from his daughter. Her pain mirroring his own. And as he entered their room Sally took him in her arms and stroked his hair. Telling him it would be all right.

But he knew nothing would be all right.

He wrapped his arms around her. His partner, his wife, his queen, his life. Sally smiled asking him what the matter was.

"I love you Sally, you know this." He said.

"I do Treize." She answered. "And I love you as well, more than you could ever understand." He buried his head deeper into her hair willing for the pain to disappear.

Sally sighed, more than you could ever understand.

***

Milliardo looked out on to the summer night. His mind drifted to that night with the boy. He reminded him of Treize so. He knew he was his son.

He loved Treize, even now he did. In a moment of weakness he had seduced an innocent boy. Maybe he wanted to hurt Treize. Maybe he wanted to destroy everything that had kept him from his arms. Maybe he just wanted his one true love back.

***

Quatre looked at the small jewelry box still in his hands.

Perhaps amidst all of this, he would see her. Perhaps her lips would graze his once more. Perhaps they would finally be able to set their lineage aside. Perhaps they could still have a happy ending.

Perhaps.

Notes: Milliardo saw Heero later that night when he and Treize was supposed to meet and we all know what happened after.

* for the full story of the ball wait for part 1.5

1.2 crimson 1.4