written by: p-120

(For lack of better title... sorry couldn't think of anything. )

He was staring at her again with those beautiful blue eyes of his… even from across a crowded room he made shivers go up her spine. Quatre Rabera Winner… he was the only one who could completely disconcert her with one glance. The pilot of the gundam Sand rock, the young man who had always seemed so completely inadequate for the task to which he’d been given. He was different, he wasn’t like the other pilots… he was rich, he had manners, he had class, and most of all he had a Gundam. That in itself had changed her opinion of him dramatically had she met him at a party not realizing he was a gundam pilot.

It was that little something about his being a pilot. The little something she saw when they locked eyes. It was strength. It was his ability to be a brilliant strategist, a powerful leader and skillful pilot and to still be able to hold onto the kind heart of his. It was like his little secret, a secret no one seemed to be able to see through except her. No one else in this room would have any inkling just how powerful innocent little Quatre is over there… No one would guess behind the soft-spoken words and gentle smiles laid a true warrior.

Another part of what was bothering her. She didn’t want to see Quatre as a warrior. He wasn’t one; in her traditional sense of the word… he was weak. He didn’t compare to the other pilots she told herself, but it didn’t matter. The more she thought of him compared to the others, the less interesting they became and the more irresistible she found Quatre. She watched him tear his gaze away from hers, doubting he had any idea what he was doing to her.

Her own stare on Quatre was broken as she was asked to dance by some young diplomat’s son. She accepted his hand silently, liking to be for once, half entertained, and she was tired of standing mindlessly by the dance floor like she was. They waltzed around the floor and despite having gone out there to get away from Quatre, she only became more interested in whether or not he’d seen her with someone else. She looked around for him, finding his kind blue eyes watching her from the side of the room, his fingers wrapped around the stem of a champagne glass.

Without thinking she blindly leaned forward and kissed her dance partner, not holding it long, just a brief kiss, and only one to get Quatre’s attention. Her eyes went straight to those of Quatre, whose face remained blank. Almost… the slight corner of his mouth had turned up, almost into a secret smile at her. After a few more minutes the dance ended and she left the floor, walking almost straight to Quatre.

"Mr. Winner, " she addressed him formally. "Do you find something amusing?"

"You are an exquisite dancer Ms. Dorothy. I knew there was a gentler side to you," he smiled coyly as though he’d discovered one of her secrets.

She grinned back at him. "Everyone can dance," she brushed it off. "I bet even you can."

"Are you asking me to dance Ms. Dorothy?" he asked, feigning an innocent surprise. In all truthfulness he was getting used to her forward nature and was expecting anything from being kissed to having a glass of champagne splashed in his face.

She laughed quietly taking the glass out of his hand and handing it to a passing waiter. "I thought you knew me better than that Mr. Winner… I don’t ask for anything, I take it." She said grabbing both his hands and pulling him to the dance floor.

He said nothing, allowing himself to be dragged along by her to the dance floor, and then wordlessly wrapping her in his arms as the dance began.

"Are you enjoying your evening?" she asked him.

"It’s a lovely party, yes… Are you?"

She met his gaze, unwavering. "I’m bored."

"What about your former partner? You seemed interested in him," Quatre ventured, guessing she’d probably only kissed the other guy to get his attention. That was Dorothy kind of stunt… that and she’d been staring at him the entire dance. He wondered mutely if she even knew the other fellow’s name…

She shrugged, stepping closer to Quatre touching he hand to his face and leaned close till their noses touched. "You’re much more interesting I assure you," she whispered and leaned back, beaming a triumphant smile. Her eyes sparkled with life… and with happiness.

"I’m glad to see you are happy Ms. Dorothy, the last few times we’ve met you didn’t appear quite well,"

"Yes, it’s nice to be alive again," she slid her hand down his cheek and put it around his neck, looking off in another direction. If I keep this up, I’m going to be regarded as a huge flirt… kissing one guy and then making moves on the next dance partner. This could even get me called a tease! She laughed quietly at that.

"Is something funny?"

"Just thinking that if I keep this up, I might be called a flirt," she informed him, not quite sure why she was sharing her thoughts.

The song ended and a new one began… the last one of the evening. People were already beginning to leave, but Dorothy and Quatre remained. Dorothy settled closer to Quatre, and laid her head softly on his shoulder, her lips brushing against his neck.

The song played softly, and Dorothy’s heart seemed to dance on every note, she felt like she was floating. She closed her eyes sighing softly, feeling for the first time she was truly in peace, after what had been years.

She felt her consciousness drift, her minds thoughts settling slowly and gracefully like snow on a early winters morning. She felt Quatre’s grip on her switch from her hip to around her waist, as she now leaned completely against him, her arms around his neck lazily.

"Ms. Dorothy?" he whispered to her uncertainly a few minutes later.

"Huh?" she stood up straight removing herself from his embrace, realizing she’d been half asleep. "Oh, the party’s over. Goodnight Quatre,"

She turned and walked away, shocking Quatre by the soft look in her eyes and the kind smile on her face as she bid him goodnight. Her hair swayed behind her like a gold waterfall, graceful and beautiful. He waited a few moments, standing alone on the now vacant dance floor, wondering about the sudden, dramatic change in her disposition. The hard, determined edge of her personality had been erased in that moment… Perhaps there is something wrong, I should go see… he decided and approached the side door where she’d exited.

He peered outside into pure darkness; he could see her silhouette barely visible at the other end of the balcony. He stepped out and was immediately greeted by the chilly bite of the winter’s night air. He stopped a few feet from her, not wanting to crowd her, knowing she was especially sensitive to that kind of thing, or any kind of thing she could to bark at you unexpectedly.

But the normal, hard edge of herself had returned, he knew it from the way she was standing. Her arms crossed almost as if in defiance of him.

"Is something wrong Mr. Winner?" she asked. He thought back only moments ago she’d addressed him Quatre, why the change?

"No, I was just making sure you were all right, you didn’t seem yourself, "

"Oh, because I was nice you mean," she shrugged. "Must I be harsh all the time to fit your definition of my personality?"

"That’s not what I meant at all Ms. Dorothy, I was merely concerned that something may be bothering you, that’s all."

She stepped forward. "You were concerned?" she asked, moving forward again. Quatre remained stationary unphased by her attempt to intimidate him with her predator like movements and the additional tone of her voice.

"Yes, I was concerned, are you all right?"

"I’m fine," she replied. "Jus another boring charity event,"

"You didn’t like the party at all?" he asked, a tint of disappointment tainting the neutral like comment.

She smirked. "You know I said I took what I wanted Quatre?"

"Yes but what does that hav-"

She slipped her arms around his neck and pulled his face to hers kissing him. She felt his surprise, but he relaxed momentarily and returned her kiss. She deepened their kiss, almost pushing Quatre back, finding he had to steal himself against all the pressure she was putting against him, otherwise he’d trip they’d both be on the ground. She stepped back away from him, knowing she wouldn’t be able to push him away from her, she’d determined that only moments ago, and then she laughed softly, almost mockingly.

She brushed past him. "Night,"

"Ms. Dorothy you just said you take what you wanted, does that mean you want-"

"You?" she asked, knowing he wouldn’t have been able to finish the question without choking on the words. She stopped walking and turned her head to view him, what she could see of him anyway. She smiled seductively even though he wouldn’t be able to tell. "Why do you want me to want you?" she asked, pinning the question on him.

She laughed again at his silence, almost picturing the blush on his face.

"I’ll see you again Mr. Winner…"