All but two of the characters contained herein are the legal property of Sunrise Entertainment. Imari and Regis are the sole creation of my strange, twisted mind.
Trowa stood up from the bench where he had been sitting when Dorothy exited the elevator in the lobby of the hotel. He absently adjusted the tails on his tuxedo jacket, and bowed slightly, taking Dorothy's hand and kissing it lightly.
"You look resplendent this evening, my lady," he said gently.
Dorothy giggled in spite of her nervousness. "And you look quite handsome yourself, Mister Barton," she said.
Trowa pulled a corsage with a red rose in its center from behind his back, and slipped it over her wrist. She raised it to her nose, inhaling the intoxicating scent with pleasure. She noted that he had a similar-looking blossom on his jacket.
"So that no one will wonder who my date is this evening," he said gallantly. Dorothy giggled again, and took his arm as he escorted her toward the door. She braced herself for yet another ride in a limousine. She had been riding in them all week.
But when she stepped outside the hotel in Trowa's wake, she looked up and gasped in spite of herself. Before the main doors of the hotel stood an actual horse and open-air carriage, just like the ones common on Earth.
"Trowa! However did you--do you know how hard it is to find the likes of these on the colonies?" she asked incredulously. "Wherever did you find it?"
Trowa chuckled at her surprised reaction. "Remember, this is Quatre's colony. And Quatre is a Winner, and the Winners have never been ones to do things halfway. He offered the use of the carriage and its driver when he found out I would be escorting you to this event."
The driver of the carriage bowed deeply as Trowa and Dorothy approached. He opened the door and helped Dorothy inside, then held the door open as Trowa seated himself next to her. The driver hopped onto his seat and clucked to the beautiful bay horse in the stays. But they did not head directly for the embassy.
"Where are we going?" Dorothy asked curiously.
"It seemed a shame to ask the owner of this carriage to get his horse and setup all ready for a five-minute drive," explained Trowa, "so I thought you would enjoy a sunset ride along the colony first."
"I would love it!" exclaimed Dorothy, delighted. She snuggled against Trowa as the horse carried the carriage along at a gentle walk, enjoying the sights of the affluent colony.
For a while, neither spoke. Then, almost reluctantly, Trowa quietly said, "I was also hoping that we could...talk...before going to the ball."
Dorothy turned slightly to look at him. "About what?" she queried.
Trowa sighed. "The circus is leaving tomorrow."
Dorothy did not look upset; rather, she looked almost...relieved. "Trowa, I understand. I was going to tell you, too...Miss Relena and myself return to the Earth tomorrow."
Trowa looked surprised. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"
"Why didn't you?"
Trowa knitted his brows, considering. "I guess it's because I didn't want to ruin the time we had together by placing a limit on it."
Dorothy's eyes shimmered with unspilled tears. "Trowa..." she started.
"Yes?"
A single tear slid down one cheek. "That's the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me!"
Trowa looked at her, startled. He reached up and gently brushed the tear away. "Mon amour..." He leaned down gently, and brushed his lips against hers. She sighed softly, and leaned into his embrace.
They parted reluctantly. "Mon amour...mon ange..." he said again, "mon coeur est toujours a vous."
Dorothy looked at him, then dropped her eyes in shame. "My French isn't...it isn't as good as it should be," she said, slightly embarrassed. "What does that mean?"
Trowa smiled gently. "I'll tell you later," he said. "For now, let's go to the ball."
Dorothy's smile faded slowly, giving way to a more forlorn expression. "To our last night together," she said sadly.
"Perhaps," he said quietly.
Dorothy looked at him curiously. "Perhaps what?" she asked.
"Perhaps it is, and perhaps it isn't," he responded enigmatically.
"I don't understand."
"What I am saying is, maybe it is our last night together. But, let's enjoy it as if it were not. I'd hate to have the whole night spoiled with you thinking about how much time we have left together."
Dorothy laughed. "I see! I understand, now that you've put it that way." The carriage turned a corner, and the young couple caught their first glance of the Embassy, all lit up for the formal ball, with lights playing in the fountains just inside the main gates.
"How beautiful," breathed Dorothy.
"Hm. It looks like the circus on opening night," commented Trowa.
Dorothy punched him lightly in the arm. "No talking business tonight," she admonished. "Tonight, we celebrate."
Dorothy spotted Relena, talking to a group of ambassadors, almost as soon as she and Trowa entered the ballroom. She excused herself from Trowa, who headed off in a different direction, and hurried to catch up with the young woman.
Relena excused herself from the ambassadors as Dorothy approached. "Did you have a pleasant ride over to the Embassy? Quatre mentioned that he loaned Trowa his family's carriage driver." Relena said.
"Oh, yes! It was quite romantic," answered Dorothy.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Relena asked. She studied Dorothy carefully.
"Oh yes, Miss Relena! I'm having a wonderful time," Dorothy said happily. Relena had to hide her shock. Not only had Dorothy said she was enjoying herself, it looked as if she actually meant it. Perhaps she was not as upset about being separating from Trowa as Relena thought she would be.
Dorothy looked around, and spotted Heero talking to Trowa near the buffet table. "Are you enjoying yourself, Miss Relena?"
"Of course. I go to a great many of these events, but I don't often get to take Heero with me."
The corners of Dorothy's mouth twitched with a suppressed smile. "And Heero...?"
Relena giggled. "Don't tell him I said this," she said in a conspiratory tone, "but he really does like going to these events! He tries to hide it so hard, but I know how he really feels about them." The two girls giggled. "Oh, Miss Relena," laughed Dorothy, "you're not serious, are you?"
"Dead serious, Dorothy. You should have seen his eyes light up when I told him the Embassy was holding this event! He loves using the excuse to get dressed up in his uniform and parade around. He really is quite vain, you know. He just doesn't want anyone else to know it."
The two girls dissolved into giggles just as their respective dates approached them. Heero and Trowa exchanged looks, and Trowa shrugged. Heero stepped involuntarily to Relena's side, and she slipped her arm through his. Trowa turned to Dorothy and gave her a deep bow. "I would request the honor of having this dance with you," he said to her.
Dorothy gave him her hand as he rose. "It would be my pleasure!" she said, and Trowa lead her onto the ballroom floor.
Heero and Relena watched them depart. "They really do make a nice couple," Relena sighed.
"Hm," grunted Heero noncommittally. "Trowa seems happy enough."
"I've never seen Dorothy so happy. I wish there was something we could do to help--" Relena stopped as Heero held up a hand to silence her.
"Don't go getting involved with someone else's relationship," he warned. "The details of this one are for them to work out, not you."
Relena sighed, and stared after the young couple. Dorothy's eyes were sparkling, and she was laughing at something. Even Trowa's normally stoic expression was creased with a rare, slight smile.
"I guess you're right," she admitted reluctantly. "I wish there was something I could do, but I don't want to ruin this or make things worse." She sighed. "They're on their own, this time."
"Arrgh! I just don't understand why he won't let me help!" Catherine signed in frustration.
"It's not fair," agreed Imari, one of the acrobats.
"He should listen to you. You're older, and know more about this kind of stuff!" said Regis, one of the clowns.
Catherine smiled. "Thanks, guys! What would I do without you?"
"You'd probably end up talking to the Manager," commented Imari. Catherine looked at her in shock. "The Manager?" she squeaked. The two young women looked at each other, and dissolved into giggles.
"If you're so worried about Trowa, why don't you go to the ball?" asked Regis.
"Regis, I couldn't do that! I promised Trowa that I wouldn't follow him out on dates anymore!"
"But did you mean it?" he persisted.
Catherine gave him a look. "Of course not! But how would I be able to follow him this time? I wouldn't fit in at all!"
"You're not afraid to hide in the bushes with Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian-Peacecraft, but you are afraid to dress up and go to a ball? How does that work?" said Regis incredulously.
Catherine gave Regis a look. "Well, this is different! That was the park...and this is a formal event...and he made me promise...and besides, what would I wear? I don't have anything formal to wear." She looked up suddenly. Imari had been rummaging around in one of the storage trunks during Catherine's halting explanation, and now straightened, turning around and brandishing a sapphire blue ballgown with spaghetti straps.
"Imari!" gasped Catherine. "Where did you get that?"
"Oh, I have my sources," said Imari mysteriously. "What's more important is that we're about the same size...well, we were, back when I bought this dress. It probably would fit you better now."
Catherine made a face at Imari. "For heaven's sake, you balance on a wire and jump from flying bird perches for a living. I just throw knives. I think it would probably fit you better."
Imari raised her eyebrows. "Are you trying to talk yourself out of going?"
"I never said I was going in the first place! Besides, I'm not going alone. Who would I get to go...with...me?" Her voice trailed off as Imari rummaged around and presented another formal gown, this one a long, saffron-yellow sheath dress with sequins sparkling along its length.
"Did you honestly think I would offer you my only formal gown? Honestly Catherine, I thought you knew me better than that! Here," she said, tossing the yellow dress to Catherine. "Yellow's a better color for you, anyway. I'll wear the blue one."
"But how are we going to get in the embassy? Trowa told me it was an invite-only event."
Imari winked. "That's where Regis comes in!"
Catherine turned to Regis, confused. He smiled slowly, then produced a remarkably believable replica of the invitation that Trowa had shown to Catherine before he'd left to pick up Dorothy. "Where did you get that?" she exclaimed.
"Oh, you know me, the master of forgery," Regis said casually.
Catherine took the invitation from his outstretched hand and examined it cautiously. "The Lady Belthune of Colony L3 and Guest? Regis, no one's gonna fall for this!"
"And why not? I thought it was a fairly good rendering of an invitation."
Catherine sighed in frustration. "How do you know that this person is even on the list?"
"Who cares about the list? They never check those lists! They just look at your invitation and wave you through. Trust me, I've done this hundreds of times."
"Correction, Regis. You've done it once, it didn't work, and you ended up crawling through the bushes and getting stuck in a myrtle hedge," said Imari crossly.
Regis shot her a look of sheer malice. "How do you know about that?" he said.
"I have my sources," she said smugly. "This is a rather small circus, after all, and word travels fast."
"Uhh...guys? That doesn't instill a whole lot of confidence in me with this whole scheme," said Catherine nervously.
Both Imari and Regis looked up, surprised. "Oh, don't worry, Catherine! I'll be there, not Regis! And his forgery skills have gotten a lot better since then."
Catherine did not look convinced.
"Besides," said Imari slyly, "are you going to pass up this perfect opportunity to spy on your little brother?"
Catherine glared at her, and picked up the dress. "I'll be ready in an hour," she said, and headed off in the direction of her trailer.
Catherine tugged nervously at the waist of her dress, and looked at Imari, who looked as cool and confident as she always did. "Are you sure this is going to work?" she hissed to her companion.
"Of course I'm sure!" whispered Imari. "Now stop that. You're supposed to be a visiting dignitary. Act like one!" Catherine straightened, and tried to assume a haughty expression as they approached the burly guard manning the front gate of the embassy.
"I am the Lady Belthune and this is my guest, the Lady Imari," she said importantly to the guard, who refused to look impressed. She handed her invitation to him.
The guard looked at the invitation. He frowned. Catherine broke out in a nervous sweat. The guard closely examined the invitation, then slowly, ponderously, turned toward his clipboard.
Oh, no, thought Catherine. He's going to check the list!
"I'm sorry...Lady Belthune," the guard said with a note of suspicion in his voice, "but I'm not finding your name on the guest list anywhere," he said.
Dorothy leaned against the railing of the balcony and tried to catch her breath through her laughter. Trowa stood next to her, holding his composure, but with great difficulty.
"Oh. Trowa," she gasped, "where did you learn to dance like that? I don't think I've actually danced the tango like that since dance class! I'm surprised I remembered all the steps!"
Trowa smiled. "I'm impressed that you went along with the whole thing," he said. "I expected you to refuse, especially when I handed you the rose to put in your mouth."
"Are you kidding? I haven't had this much fun in years!" Her eyes turned suddenly serious. "Trowa..." she said softly, gazing into his eyes. He leaned forward slowly, watching her eyes close....
"I don't CARE if my name's not on the list! You have to let me in!" A voice drifted up from somewhere in the courtyard. Trowa stopped. Dorothy's eyes fluttered open, confused. "Trowa?" she asked uncertainly.
"I know that voice," he said, a note of anger in his voice.
"What voice?" Dorothy inquired, then turned to look over the balcony as a sudden tirade of angry insults floated gently up to where they stood.
"Why you good-for-nothing stuffed-shirt pay-per-hour waste of law enforcement! Don't you know royalty when you see it? The host of this party is going to be very angry when he finds out that you turned us away from the door!" Trowa didn't recognize the dress that the owner of the voice wore, and he was pretty sure she'd never styled her hair like that before, either, but the voice was unmistakable. He groaned.
"Trowa!" exclaimed Dorothy. "Isn't that--"
"Catherine," Trowa said flatly. His eyes shifted to the right slightly to examine the person standing next to her. "And I'm pretty sure that's Imari she's with."
"Who?"
"One of the other circus performers. Imari must have put Cathy up to this." Trowa's fists were clenched with anger, the only outward sign of his emotions. He turned suddenly to Dorothy. "Let's go," he said urgently.
"What? Go? Why?"
Trowa stared impassively at Dorothy, then looked past her toward the front gates of the embassy. He couldn't make out what his sister was saying, but he could still hear her voice. "If she manages to get into this party, she will find me, and our evening will be ruined."
Dorothy paused, then nodded. "Let me go tell Miss Relena where I'm going," she said, and hurried back into the ballroom.
Trowa turned, and leaned as far over the balcony as he dared, trying to see what his sister was doing. Catherine was waving her arms wildly, obviously quite angry at the fact that the guard did not seem to be caving under the pressure.
"What do you mean, you won't take my word for it? I just gave you my invitation. So you can't find my name on the list. They must have overlooked it when they made the list. I'm telling you, I am supposed to be here!" Catherine yelled, not acting like the lady she was supposed to be.
Imari moaned, and shook her head.
The guard stared down at the young firebrand in front of him, arms crossed. "Look, lady, I don't know who you are or who you're supposed to be, but if you're not on the list, you don't get in. Understand?"
Catherine fumed silently for a few minutes. Imari took this chance to make her move. "Excuse me sir," she said, batting her eyelashes demurely, "but do you think it would be possible to call someone in the embassy? That way, we'll know for sure, and if we're not on the list, we'll leave you alone. Please?" she said coyly.
The guard frowned, then grunted. "All right," he grumbled, "if it means you'll leave me alone." He turned slowly, and entered the guardsman's shack. He picked up a phone inside, and punched a few numbers on the keypad. He muttered something into the phone and, oddly enough, turned his back on the girls.
"Now!" hissed Imari, grabbing Catherine's hand and dashing inside the front gate.
"Yes, sir? This is Gorge, at the front gate...I've got a couple of ladies here who insist they're invited to the embassy tonight...Their names? Hold on a sec..." He set down the phone and turned, but found the area empty of the two young women who had so recently been tormenting him. "Hey!"
Trowa's eyes widened slightly as he watched his sister and the acrobat dart through the gate, past the guard, and into the embassy building. A few seconds later, the guard dashed out of the small house by the gate, yelling, and headed off in the direction the girls had just vacated.
At about that time, Dorothy returned. "All right, I'm ready. Miss Relena just told me to remember that we leave at--Trowa?"
Trowa had grabbed her hand, and was urging her back toward the ballroom. "We have to find another way out of the building," he said quietly as he scanned the room. "My sister made it inside, and is headed this way."
"Why are you so worried about your sister finding us?"
Trowa stopped. "I guess I'm not really certain," he admitted. "No, that's not right. I do know why. It's because I'm not used to telling someone everything there is to know about my life, and she wants to know everything. I keep thinking that I've got to hide these things, like I did back during the war."
Dorothy looked sad. "I understand, Trowa," she said softly. He turned and looked at her, then caressed her cheek with his lips. He looked up, and saw a familiar figure scanning the crowds. "Let's hurry," he whispered, "she's made it to the ballroom."
"Aarrgh! Where did that little creep go? I know he's here!" Catherine bulldozed her way through the clusters of partygoers, oblivious to the stares she was getting. Imari followed, a safe distance behind.
"Maybe he heard you coming. You haven't exactly been very stealthy about all of this," Imari noted.
Catherine stopped, and turned to face her companion. "Nonsense! He has no idea we're here. Oh, wait! I think I see someone who can help us!" A familiar couple stood by one of the buffet tables, chatting quietly.
"Relena! Relena!" cried Catherine as they approached. Relena looked away from Heero, surprised. "Catherine? What are you doing here? You're not on the guest list."
"I know. We kind of invited ourselves."
"Ah." Relena frowned. "Are you looking for Trowa?"
Catherine looked surprised. "Yes, how did you know?"
Heero snorted in contempt, and Relena stifled a chuckle. "Lucky guess," she said, smiling.
"Have you seen him?"
Relena looked at Heero, who shook his head almost imperceptibly. "I think they're on the balcony," she lied. "That's the last place I saw them."
Catherine didn't catch the transgression. "Thanks!" she said, and hurried off in the direction of the balcony with Imari in tow.
Heero waited until they were out of earshot. "You lied," he said accusingly.
Relena sighed. "I know. Remember what you said about not getting involved?" He nodded. "Well, this is my way of not getting involved. Catherine would not help anything at this point. Besides, I remember how well the park incident went."
Heero chuckled, then stopped and stared suspiciously as a burly security guard rushed past them. "It looks like matters are taking care of themselves," he said lightly. He took Relena's hand and guided her to the dance floor.