For warnings, see the last chapter, this chappie may or may not have a lemon, depends on how it all plays out, it might just have to wait until the next chapter.

"Duo…"

Duo froze, he couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. That voice, Duo dared to hope. He slowly turned in his chair, heart clenching.

'Oh god…'

"He-" Duo cleared his throat, "H-Heero?" Heero had evidently grown as the years passed. He was a good half a foot taller than Duo, only shorter than Trowa now. No more spandex, instead there was a pair of fitted jeans. No more hideous green tank top, in place of it was a white collared shirt. No more beat up sneakers, instead there was a pair of loafers. His hair was as messy as ever and his eyes, oh god, his eyes were a deeper shade of blue than they had ever been.

'Oh god, oh god, oh god…'

Seeing that his friends weren't getting anywhere, Quatre stood up, "Heero, it's good to see you, I'm glad that you could make it."

Heero visibly snapped out of his daze and regarded Quatre before answering, "Yes, I got your call, unfortunately I was out and didn't get it until recently, so my flight was later than I had hoped I could get. I apologize for my tardiness."

"No need to be so polite Heero, sit down, we'll have something brought out for you to eat, it must have been a long journey." Quatre smiled gently and motioned for Heero to take a seat. Heero sat down gently, never once taking his eyes off of Duo.

Duo on the other hand was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. His thoughts racing and his heart speeding up to what he hoped wasn't an unhealthy rate.

"Where have you been, Duo?" Heero asked.

The way Heero said his name was enough for Duo to want to curl up and sob for forgiveness. For leaving so suddenly, for hating them for no reason, for just existing in general. His friends didn't deserve the agony he evidently brought them, he was about to stand up and leave. He felt that he was an unworthy observer of a life he could never have. He didn't belong here.

Quatre, evidently reading his mind, intervened and said, "Duo has been getting along very well these past few years, haven't you Duo?" He plowed on, not waiting for an answer, "He's had few jobs, but he's stayed out of trouble, which is more than I can say for the rest of us, seeing as were constantly in the spotlight in one way or another."

Duo smiled his thanks at Quatre, "I wouldn't say that, Q."

Trowa interrupted, "What have you been up to these passed few years, Heero?"

Heero looked startled only briefly, "I started out as a bodyguard for Relena, and then I left, and I've been searching for Duo ever since."

Duo was lost in thought, 'see. I told you he'd marry Relena, she'll probably- wait, what? He left her to look for me?'

Duo smiled sadly to himself, 'if only he could see what I've become, what a monster I am. He shouldn't have looked for me, it's only a waste of time.'

"Well, it's getting late, Winner, Barton, Maxwell. I'm going to bed." Wufei looked pointedly at Duo, "And I'm going to see you in the morning?" It was phrased as a question, but Duo knew that it was meant as a statement. Duo nodded, it was the least he could do for them before he left.

Wufei motioned for Heero to follow him, and they left Duo curiously looking after them, wondering what on Earth they could be talking about.

Trowa and Quatre stood, "We're going to take his example and go to bed as well. You and Heero have some catching up to do. Don't hesitate to call the butler if you need anything."

/What's happened to you?

It's obvious you've changed

Something deep inside you is probably to blame

Must be lonely up there with your head up in the clouds

Even though you got there what does your conscience tell you now?/

Duo was visibly trembling. The wait for Heero to rejoin him was nerve-wrecking. What would they say? What would they do? How could they make up for four lost years?

"Duo…It's good to see you again." Heero said from somewhere behind him.

Duo refused to turn to look at him, not because he disliked Heero, but because he didn't know what to do. So many questions were racing through his head, so many problems, and so few answers.

Duo suddenly threw all caution to the wind, "Why did you come here Heero? Why have you been looking for me? I don't understand, why on Earth would you come looking for a worthless street-rat like me." He could feel Heero tense even though he wasn't looking at him.

"Duo…Look at me."

"Stop saying my name."

"I-What?"

"Stop saying my name. I shouldn't even be a parasite in your head."

"Look at me, Duo." Heero growled, his rage starting to clearly show.

"Goodbye, Heero. I'm going to bed, I'll see you in the morning." Duo turned to leave before being abruptly stopped by a hand on his arm.

"Look at me, damnit!" Heero growled, Duo finally turned to look at him. "Stop degrading yourself! You're the most beautiful person I know! You have no idea how much I relied on your strength during the war! You have no idea how many times I made myself live through situations just so I could see your smile again! Don't you dare tell me that you're worthless!"

"Heero, I'm unimportant, I don't mean anything anymore. Just forget about me-"

"I won't. Don't even mention anything to me about forgetting you!" Heero growled out, just before whirling Duo around and slamming him against the wall, "Don't say that I should forget you!" Heero claimed Duo's lips in a demanding kiss.

/It's never the same on the way down

How does it feel when your feet finally hit the ground?

When all of your bridges aren't around

And the sandcastles that you built are falling down/

Duo tried to resist, really he did. But the desire burning in his belly overwhelmed his desire to no longer burden his love. So, as Heero traced Duo's lips with his tongue, he parted his lips and started a furious battle for dominance, one that he immediately felt he was losing.

Heero broke away for air, "Does that mean nothing to you?"

Heero savagely claimed his lips again. "Or that?"

Duo leaned in a daze against the wall of the house, trying to wrap his mind around what had just happened. He touched his kiss bruised lips gently.

And started to cry.

Heero quickly tried to console Duo, only to be pushed away, "Don't Heero. This is all just a mistake. You don't want me. If you'd found out what I've become, you would hate me. Don't, please don't…"

"Duo, have you ever known me to go into a situation unsure?" He gently brushed his lips over Duo's forehead. "Or to do something that I'll regret later?" He nuzzled Duo's hair, and gently pulled him into a hug. "So, how can you tell me that this is a mistake?"

"Heero, I'm so sorry…" Duo raised his hand to brush a lock of hair out of Heero's eyes, only to have his sleeve fall back and show the many scars he now bore.

"Oh my god…Duo? What is this?" Heero raised his eyes to meet those of Duo's, however, Duo quickly turned his head away.

"It's nothing." Duo tried to step back, only to be reminded of the wall at his back.

/You had us all sitting right there in your hand

But you had to fall because that's how this life is

Got your fingers burned by burning candles at both ends

Now the table's turned and now your demons are your friends/

Heero brought Duo's arm out and started to role up the sleeve gently. "Duo, what have you done to yourself?"

"Just leave it Heero, I told you this was a mistake."

"No." Heero stated, and Duo sat silently.

Heero rolled up the sleeve, revealing Duo's scarred skin. He traced every piece of marred flesh gently with his fingertips. "Oh, God. Duo, promise me. Promise me that you'll stop doing this to yourself!"

Duo silently nodded his head, tears vigorously streaming down his face. "I p-promise, Heero. I-"

Heero halted Duo's apology with is fingers, "Don't apologize. Just tell me why."

And Duo revealed the story of the past four years to his best friend and love. He told him about the feeling of uselessness, the hatred for himself. He told him about being raped in the alleys of a small town. He told him of the people he'd killed, because he couldn't handle it. He'd even inadvertently told him of his future plans, or lack thereof. Each confession bringing a new fire and light to Heero's eyes.

"Why are you going to kill yourself, Duo?"

"I want to die. I have nothing to live for anymore. Nothing. I-"

Heero interrupted him, "Ai shiteru, Duo."

Tears welled again in Duo's eyes, "I love you, too, Heero." Duo buried his face in Heero's neck and continued to sob silently.

"Then live for me, Duo. Live for me." Heero brought Duo's head up and crushed their mouths together.

/It's never the same on the way down

How does it feel when your feet finally hit the ground?

When all of your bridges aren't around

And the sandcastles that you built are falling down/

"Please, Heero. Make love to me? Please…" Duo whispered into Heero's mouth.

"Duo, are you sure?"

"Please Heero, I need this! Show me that you love me…" Duo begged, only to have his next sentence cut off by Heero's lips.

Heero crushed Duo's form against his own, and started to stumble into the house. Never once did he take his lips from Duo's, too afraid that if he did, he would wake up again with the aftermath of the steamy dream.

They reached Heero's room in a steamy kiss, both panting with desire, and something warm bubbling in their bellies.

"Heero," Duo groaned, "I want you."

"I know, love. I know. Just be patient." Heero gave Duo a devilish smirk, "I want to make this last."

Heero slowly went about divesting Duo of his clothing, all the while trailing wet kisses across his skin, and paying extra attention to the junction between his neck and shoulder. He pulled the skin between his teeth, and worried it gently, causing it to become a flaming red. He then bit down, just enough to break the skin in a mark that he knew would scar. He had now claimed Duo's as his own.

Duo the whole while was a quivering mass of moans. Heero's ministrations felt so good against his heated flesh. He didn't even care when Heero bit him in what he knew would turn into a scar. He wanted to be owned, and cared for, from Heero.

"Heero, I need you, now!" Duo barely gasped out. Heero took pity on his soon to be lover and gently pushed him onto his back on the bed, and quickly covered Duo's body with his own.

Duo was reduced to mewling gasps and moans and Heero silently went about preparing him. He'd be damned if he hurt his Duo.

He lubed his fingers and quickly inserted one finger, observing Duo's features for any sign of pain, and then let him adjust to the intrusion. He added another finger, and then another until Duo was thrusting back on his fingers

/So now I wonder what you're gonna do

Now that everything's gone up with you

You believe the shit you say is true

But everybody's on to you

Life remembers everything you do

Your karma has caught up with you/

Heero withdrew his fingers with a moan of protest from Duo, and he quickly lubed his rigid shaft before angling himself.

"Are you ready?" Heero was panting and could hardly hold himself back.

"You…In me….Now!" Duo gasped out as Heero started to slowly guide himself into his hidden entrance.

When Heero was fully seated inside of his lover it took all of his iron will to not bound the beautiful baka through the mattress. He critically observed Duo's face to see if he was ready, and when the American gently clenched his muscles around Heero's stiff member he slowly withdrew, and thrust back in, drawing a mewling noise from his lover's throat.

"Oh, God….Heero….Harder! Faster!!" Duo was mumbling incoherently as Heero built an almost unbearable pace. He could feel his climax approaching and quickly gripped his lover's shaft and pumped furiously.

"Come for me, Duo." Heero growled, and Duo came. Hard. His inner muscles clenched, triggering Heero's own pleasure built euphoria. And they both collapsed in a heap on the bed. "Duo Maxwell, you are mine. No one else's." He gently licked the bite wound on Duo's neck in apology, "Mine."

"All…yours…" Duo panted. And both slipped into a pleasure induced slumber.

/It's never the same on the way down

How does it feel when your feet finally hit the ground?

When all of your bridges aren't around

And the sandcastles that you built are falling down/

Duo awoke first the next morning, sticky and gunky from the previous night's activities. But he smiled, for the first time in a long while, a true smile. He happily snuggled into Heero's warm embrace and thought about his future.

The coming years would be tough. There would be screaming. There would be tears. There would be fighting. And there would be joy. But Heero's words still rang in his head.

'Live for me, Duo. Live for me.'

Duo smiled happily, he had purpose again.

Ebony: -smirk-

Duo: -gape-

Others: that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be…(etc.)

Ebony: Gee, thanks for your vote of confidence guys

Heero: -licks lips- I like

Duo: of course you like. You always like the fics where you're possessive.

Heero: -smirk-

Duo: Oh no, no, no, I refuse to play submissive all the time

Heero: You don't have a choice. Ebony prefers 1x2 anyways.

All:- bicker-

Ebony: -Sigh- TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!!! YOU KNO YOU WANNA!!!!!