Catherine knew this only because she'd been around Trowa long enough. He always gave himself away in pieces, never all at once. And if you knew where to look, you could learn such things about him. You could tell where his affections lay, and... with whom his affections lay.

         She'd figured out that little secret long before Trowa had confessed it to her. In truth, it was a source of pride to have decoded their subtle interchange.

         You couldn't find the signals unless you were looking for them, but they were as clear as crystal to Trowa's sister. Occasionally she bore witness to the private, secret language they spoke. Their communication went beyond being simply verbal; it was body language and shared glances and a hundred other things too. Somehow it was more intimate than simple conversation.

         Despite all of this, things progressed slowly. There would be a meeting , and then the two wouldn't see each other for months. Things were at a standstill, and Trowa seemed exasperatingly content with the situation.

         Silly boys, thought Catherine, You're both too shy for your own good. With a mission in mind, Catherine pulled up a chair and joined Trowa. They sat somewhat apart from the rest of the troupe, watching them grow progressively drunker from a safe distance.

         " Thinking about Quatre? " asked Catherine gently, seeing the far-off look on Trowa's face.

         Trowa merely smiled in answer.

         " He hasn't been here for three months now... " She waited for a reaction. Recieving none, she ventured further, " Why don't you visit him? "

         " Why do you ask? "

         Catherine sighed. " Because... he's your boyfriend!! "

         " I... wouldn't necessarily say that, " said Trowa, smiling again.

         " Then what would you call him?! "

         Trowa gave her a slight withering look.

         " Oh Trowa, you two are so silly! I bet you still blush when you kiss! "

         Right on cue, Trowa blushed.

         " You're doing it right now!! " she poked him in the arm. " What? Didn't think I knew you've kissed him? Ne? Ne? " Trowa looked down at the grass and blushed deeper. " You should have a higher opinion of your big sister. Come on, let's go inside. I'll make you some hot cocoa. "

         Catherine handed Trowa his mug and sat next to him on the little sofa in her trailer. She sipped calmly from her own, then in a lowered voice, she asked, "Have you two... yet? " Catherine tilted her head suggestively.

         " Ah... no. "

         " What are you waiting for?? How many times has he come to visit you? Haven't you ever thought about it? " said Catherine. She could see that her torrent of questioning was beginning to wear on him, so she paused to add a more serious tone to what she said next.

         " He wants you... " She leaned forward. " Bad. "

         " Do you think so? " said Trowa, truly sounding as though the thought had never crossed his mind.

         Catherine nodded. " You have to make a move, though. "

         Trowa pondered this seriously for a moment. " What should I do? "

         " Heh. " Catherine put her mug down and leaned forward even more. " You know what he wants you to do? He wants you to grab him, throw him down on the nearest bed, strip him nude, and make passionate love to him until... until... neither of you can move. Not one muscle. " She grinned at him.

         Trowa sat back, stunned into silence. Could he... do that to Quatre? And as an afterthought, Just how did Catherine come up with that?

         As if sensing his apprehension, Catherine added, " It's always the sweet ones, you know. "

         This seemed true enough. Trowa couldn't fault her logic. He certainly didn't object to a naked Quatre, either. Naked... Quatre...

         "And now, " announced Catherine standing up suddenly, " I think it's time you went to bed. "

         " Eh? " said Trowa distantly. Sweaty... naked... lovely... Quatre...

         " Yep, time for bed, " said Catherine, removing Trowa's mug from his slackening grip and leading him off to bed.

         " H-hai, " Trowa said as she tucked him in. " Oyasumi. " Quatre's lips... Quatre's neck... Quatre's stomach... Quatre's...

         Back in her own trailer, Catherine picked up a cell-phone and dialed the number of Quatre's house. She knew it because it was the unmarked number in the speed-dial. Catherine smiled to herself. Trowa no baka. All they need is a teeny tiny push in the right direction...

         " Yes, may I speak to Mr. Winner? Tell him it's Catherine Bloom... Hi Quatre! Yes, things are fine. I just wanted to ask you what you were doing tomorrow... What? It's Valentine's Day!... Oh, don't be silly, of course you have a valentine! How about dinner at your place?... Yes, 7 o'clock is fine... See you then. Jaa. "

         Catherine hung up the phone with a sigh. If I spent this much energy on my own love life, I'd have a boyfriend by now...

         The L-4 colony where Quatre lived was only mildly chilly in the month of February, but in the evenings it became colder. Catherine and Trowa hunched into their jackets as they were led to the car that Quatre had sent for them, with his apologies that he could not come in person.

         Out of the car window, the landscape rolled by them, lush with a myriad of newly-constructed buildings and streets, with stretches of desert beyond. The sky was languidly drifting into the colony's artificial sunset, turning a fiery orange and then a cooler purple of early evening. They were both mesmerized by the beauty of the man-made creation, and the life which flourished upon it.

         Catherine's eyes grew wide. This is all Quatre's... the colony that he's been laboring over for so long... It's glorious.

         The car drove past the large gates of a private driveway, and they were confronted by the towering mansion that was the main building of the Winner estate. Catherine stood in awe for a moment, but Trowa tapped her and nodded towards the manservant waiting for them at the door.

         " Oh, hehe. " She drew her arm through her brother's and accompanied the butler upstairs to Quatre's study.

         When they entered the room, Catherine released his arm, urging Trowa onwards without words. Go to him.

         Quatre stood at the window, watching the sunset, immersed in thought. He looked noble standing the way he was, the young lord of the magnificent colony which spread miles upon miles below his window. Moving forward a few steps, Trowa spoke to him in a gentle voice.

         " I love it, Quatre. It's beautiful. "

         The boy turned, eyes glossed with tears. " Oh Trowa... Trowa I knew that you would! "

         Quatre embraced him tightly, and Trowa closed his eyes to the familiar warmth that always came when he was near him. He rested his cheek on Quatre's smooth blonde hair. Trowa kept still, enjoying the simple pleasure of feeling the boy's weight in his arms. Then he felt Quatre raise his head. Responding without even thinking, Trowa leaned down to kiss him.

         " Hello, Catherine! " Quatre said. He was looking over Trowa's shoulder. " It's nice to see you again! "

         Trowa straightened, wondering whether he had just been teased rather cruelly or whether he'd completely misread the situation. Quatre turned to smirk at him before giving Catherine a welcoming hug. Trowa looked away to hide his amusement.

         " Hn. "

         Dinner had been splendid, as it always was at Quatre's house. Trowa had been feeling nervous all evening, although he couldn't quite figure out why. It might have had something to do with the fact that Catherine was glancing at him, then at Quatre, then back at him again every five minutes. She managed to keep up conversation nevertheless. He felt like he was on a date and his big sister was playing chaperone. Trowa sighed.

         " Are you tired, Trowa? " asked Quatre.

         " Not at all, I was just thinking about something. No need to worry. "

         " Mmm. But I think I might be. Everything was lovely, Quatre. " said Catherine.

         Quatre smiled. " I'm glad. We have a very good chef. "

         " Yes, wonderful, " Catherine agreed. " But if you'll excuse me, I think I'll head up to my room. All that food made me drowsy, " she said with a yawn.

         " So soon? " Quatre asked.

         " You two will be fine without me, " said Catherine. " Oyasumi. " She rose from her chair and headed towards the stairs. As she passed Trowa, she bent quickly to his ear and whispered, " Ganbatte. "

         Trowa's eyes widened, and he suddenly felt twice as nervous as before. He stared at his wine glass and sat in silence for a few minutes.

         " Trowa? Is there something wrong? You're very quiet, " said Quatre, looking concerned.

         " I suppose I'm in a bit of an odd mood today, " Trowa said, glancing up at him.

         " Oh, " said Quatre. He seemed a little disappointed. Was he waiting for something? Trowa wondered.

         " Would you like to come to my room for some tea? " Quatre asked, perking up a little.

         " Certainly, " said Trowa, relieved to escape into a more informal setting.

         Quatre's bedroom was warm and welcoming. A tea service with a steaming kettle had been placed on a small table by a window. Quatre poured two cups and motioned for Trowa to sit in the opposite chair. He stared at Trowa for a moment before he spoke.

         " I've missed you so much, " he sighed. " It's been so busy, and I couldn't leave to visit you. I'm sorry things took so long. "

         " Quatre, " Trowa smiled, " you have a habit of apologizing for things which you can't control. It's alright, I understand. The colony is beautiful; I'm glad I was able to visit it. I've... missed you too. "

         " I wish you could have been with me. We built so many things. I felt such peace, helping the people of my colony. It's a privilege to be able to live here among them. But... I'm never truly happy, unless I can share these things with you. "

         " You think too highly of me. "

         " No, not at all. "

         Trowa paused. There was something different about Quatre tonight, and he thought he knew why. Looks like Catherine was right... But how do I...? Trowa decided to stall.

         " The tea is delicious. "

         " I love you. "

         " What? "

         " I love you. "

         " What made you say that? "

         " I felt like it. "

         " I love you too. "

         " How do you know? "

         " I feel... like we're connected. "

         " Aren't you connected to Catherine, also? "

         " Yes, in a different way. "

         " In what way? "

         " You ask too many questions. "

         " I'm only curious. Do you mind? "

         " ...No. "

         " I'm jealous of her sometimes, you know. "

         " I know. "

         " Do you think less of me for it? "

         " No. Although, I must admit that I'm jealous of Rashid. "

         Quatre laughed. Trowa smiled. To hear Quatre laugh was always a lovely thing.

         " You're ridiculous, " Quatre concluded.

         Trowa didn't deny the accusation. Quatre watched as Trowa leaned forward to kiss him. He accepted the kiss lazily, gradually opening his mouth and closing his eyes. He made a little noise in his throat, savoring the first kiss they had shared in months. It was something Quatre never tired of.

         But he was startled out of his daze when Trowa picked him up and flung him down on the bed.

         " Ow! T-Trowa, what are you doing?! "

         " I'm doing... this, " Trowa said. He pinned Quatre's wrists above his head.

         " You're... hurting me! " Quatre managed to struggle free and looked up at him questioningly.

         I'm doing this wrong... thought Trowa, but I must persist. It was turning out to be much more complicated than he had anticipated it to be.

         " Now what are you doing?! " said Quatre, who was now more than a little alarmed.

         Trowa unbuttoned his shirt and slipped out of it, gazing down at him.

         " I'm giving you what you want. "

         " EHH??? " blushed Quatre.

         " Isn't this what you've been wanting? " said Trowa, confused. What does he want?

         " Well..." Quatre looked away, " Not like this. You... sound like you don't want to. We should only do this if you want to, not because I do. Do you see what I mean? "

         Trowa took Quatre's chin and lifted it. " I see. " He kissed him again, gently. His ackwardness faded away from him, and Trowa settled his body against Quatre's.

         " It feels nice when we just kiss, " Quatre whispered in his ear. His hands came around his back and rubbed reassuringly.

         Trowa kissed him again and again, little feverish kisses all over Quatre's face. He raised himself on his elbows and looked at the boy beneath him, seeing nothing but him, not wanting to see anything else but him. He pulled Quatre's clothes off and away and touched the nude skin.

         Trowa's fingers found their way over every inch of Quatre's body, lingering on the tight stretch of his abdomen, making him writhe on the sheets. His mouth roamed unhurried over the expanse of Quatre's chest, his neck, his thighs. He was consumed with a need to touch every part of him. Gently, he mouthed the skin of Quatre's inner thigh, and then between his legs. Quatre arched against him harder, his hands ghosting along Trowa's arms, moaning his name.

         Their bodies made sense to each other, and as naturally as they had first been drawn together, Trowa made love with Quatre. Afterwards they lay curled underneath Quatre's sheets in a loose embrace.

         " I like you more when you're like this. "

         " Why is that? "

         " Because I can see every bit of you. Here... " Quatre kissed his chest. " ...and here... " he kissed the curve of Trowa's hipbone. " ...and here... " He ran his hand along the inside of Trowa's leg. " ...and other places too. " Quatre laughed softly.

         " You're in an odd mood. "

         " I prefer to call it 'post-coital bliss' "

         " Hmm. "

         " We should do this more often. "

         " Yes, next Valentine's Day. "

         " Trowa! "

         " What is it, love? "

         " Hmph! I was thinking more like tomorrow. Or tonight. Or this afternoon. "

         " Fiend. "

         " Ah, I am. I think you like being on top, though, " Quatre smiled devilishly, " You're just as much of a fiend as I am. "

         " Perhaps, " said Trowa, noncommittally.

         Quatre sighed in lieu of a protest at such an answer, and slid into Trowa's arms again.

         " I love you. More than life, " Trowa said into his ear.

         Quatre turned his head and kissed him, an answer in itself.

         Catherine and Trowa left the colony on the 7th day of their visit. Quatre saw them off at the station, keeping a tight rein on himself, but Trowa knew too well how it hurt him. From his window, he could see Quatre, watching the ship until it had disappeared into the sky. Trowa chided himself for being foolish, for the stinging in his eyes, and stared off into the ink of space.

         Back at home, Catherine sat on Trowa's bed, watching him unpack.

         " You have Quatre smell allll over you. "

         Trowa smiled, feeling the sting again.

         " You still miss him. You've got that far-off look. "

         " Yes. I miss him terribly. "

         " Why don't you go to him? "

         " I was there for a week. I... don't know why I still miss him so much..."

         " Then go to him. "

         " Catherine? "

         " Put your things back into your bag and go back to him. "

         " Why- "

         " Shh. This is the last bossy thing I'm doing as your big sister. Go back to Quatre. "

         Trowa looked at her. Can I leave her? How could I?

         " It's okay to be a little selfish. You love him, and that's really all that matters, ne? " Catherine shrugged at him, trying to act nonchalant, but it was too hard to hold back. She stood up and hugged her brother. Burying her face in his shoulder she began to cry.

         Trowa closed his eyes and let quiet tears fall into the curls of Catherine's hair. It was a redder brown than his own, but the texture was the same. He realized that with their parting he would be breaking up the two remaining members of their family, but it comforted him to know that Catherine always had the troupe to take care of her; it had been a surrogate family to both of them.

         " I love you, " she said to him.

         " Catherine... I love you too. "

         " I'm so stupid... why am I always so emotional? I'm just making you upset, " Catherine said, releasing him and wiping her eyes. " Do you remember when you were sick, and he came to see you? I yelled at him. Isn't that funny? I yelled at him because I thought I could protect you from the world. But he was right. You didn't need me protecting you... I was being selfish. "

         " I do need you, Catherine. You know that. And didn't you say it's alright to be selfish sometimes? "

         " Well, then you'll visit me every once in awhile. And you'll call, " she said, pointing a finger at him.

         " Of course. "

         " The lions will miss you too, " she said softly, looking away. " Get everything packed, and I'll take you to the spaceport."

         Catherine gave Trowa a quick kiss before he entered the shuttle gate, reminding him to call, smiling and crying at the same time.

         He arrived late in the evening at the newest colony in the L-4 cluster, the most beautiful of them all. Trowa slipped into the large white house, and up the stairs into the master bedroom. Leaving his bag on the floor, he crept across the room, and for a moment watched the sleeping boy in the bed.

         Do you have to go? I won't ask you to stay...

         but at least tell me your name. My name is Quatre Raberba Winner.

         I don't have such a presentable name... But you can call me Trowa.

         Trowa Barton, that is.

         " Quatre... " Trowa toed off his shoes and lay down next to him.

         Unconciously, Quatre turned into the warmth of Trowa's body. Trowa's arms went around him, and then he too drifted off to sleep.