* * * * * * * * * * *

They woke in each other's arms, happier than either could ever remember. Duo blushed as last night's events came rushing back to him, and as he shifted he could feel a slight soreness in certain areas. This made him blush even more. He looked over at Heero to meet amused cobalt eyes.

"Good morning, my love," whispered Heero, holding the other boy close.

"Mmm," answered Duo, snuggling closer to his lover. "It's a perfect morning."

Heero captured Duo's lips gently, kissing him slowly. Duo moaned lightly and brought his hands up, running them up over Heero's body, to wrap around the other boy's shoulders. He couldn't get enough; he needed to be as close as possible to Heero.

Heero felt Duo move closer to him, trying to align their bodies. He broke the kiss reluctantly. "Duo, you're insatiable."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," laughed Duo, violet eyes sparkling. He knew, in the back of his mind, that they would have to deal with the real world soon, but for now, there was only Heero, and their love. Life was perfect.

Heero groaned. "As much as I want to stay in this bed with you forever, we have some things we need to do. Things that involve actually getting dressed."

Duo pouted. Then he realized, "Hey, if you get dressed that means I get to undress you later!"

Both boys laughed and Heero said, "You're impossible. But I wouldn't want you to be any other way. I love you."

Duo replied, "I love you too, Heero." Then he sat up, trying to untangle himself from his hair. "So what do we have to do?"

"Get copies made of our evidence against Treize, and put the originals in a safety deposit box," answered Heero. "Just in case," he added, to Duo's crestfallen look.

"Do you really think he won't leave us alone?" asked Duo sadly.

"I hope he will. But I can't be sure," sighed Heero. "Plus, we have no food so we have to go out for breakfast."

Duo brightened. "That sounds better! But I need a shower. Want to join me?"

Heero smirked. "As much as I'd love to, we do need to get out of here someday."

Duo pouted. "Your loss, then," he said as he threw off the covers, walking to the bathroom naked. He turned around and smirked at Heero's intent gaze on his ass. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me..." He trailed off as the door closed behind him.

Heero buried his head in his hands and sighed at the actions of his tempting lover. "Duo, you're going to kill me..." he muttered to himself.

"But you'll die happy!" the other boy's voice rang out from the bathroom.

Heero laughed softly and went to get things ready.

+

After Duo had been properly nourished, they visited Heero's bank. Duo waited nervously in the lobby while his lover disappeared into the vault area. The bank was huge; the lobby was suitably impressive with unnecessary marble columns and gilt trim. Even though it was 80 degrees outside, the bank still felt freezing. He fidgeted uncomfortably, feeling completely out of place with his long braided hair, cut-off shorts and tank top.

Finally, Heero reappeared, thanking the bank manager and walking back over to Duo. "All set!" As they walked out of the building, Heero explained, "The only people who can get into that box are you and me."

"Me?" Duo looked confused.

"Yes, you. I added you to all my accounts. You, not Treize, are the only one who can access my money or safety deposit box other than me."

Duo was stunned. "But Heero..."

Heero interrupted. "But what? I trust you with my life and I love you more than life itself. I can't explain this feeling, and I don't question it. It just is."

Heero suddenly found himself being hugged violently. "Oh, Heero! I love you!"

Heero smiled and hugged back. "Let's get home, shall we? We can, um, discuss this further then..."

Duo nodded, then reluctantly released Heero so they could get in the car. They drove back to the apartment as quickly as was possible in LA traffic. Duo would have climbed in Heero's lap on the journey but the small sports car's interior and the stick shift precluded that activity.

Finally, they pulled up in front of Heero's building. Heero came around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for Duo. They walked toward the front door when Duo exclaimed, "My cel phone! I left it in the car!"

Heero looked down. "I left the copies of the pictures in the car too. Duo, you distract me! I'll go get them."

"No, it was my fault," Duo grinned. "I'll go back. You go on up and wait for me," he finished with a suggestive look on his face.

Heero tossed him the car keys. "It's a deal. Meet you in the Jacuzzi."

Duo ran back to the car as Heero opened the front door. Duo turned and blew a kiss at Heero just before he disappeared from sight.

Duo opened the car door and grabbed the envelope and the phone. He locked the sports car again and walked to the door. He decided to skip the elevator and started to run up the three flights of stairs. He pushed open the door to the third floor and started down the hallway toward the apartment. His steps were muffled on the plush carpeting. The corridor was quiet; that was why he heard the sounds clearly. Sounds that were coming from Heero's apartment, he was sure of it. The apartment was at the end of the hallway, a premium location. Duo was still around the corner but he could hear voices. Familiar voices. And a struggle.

Duo edged closer, almost afraid to turn the corner for fear of what he could see. Then he heard a thump, and he retreated back down the hall, by instinct. Something was wrong, really wrong. He ran back around the next corner, then peeked back around, just in time to see Treize and Zechs drag a struggling Heero into the elevator. Duo gasped, covering his mouth quickly. They were taking his Heero! His first impulse was to run around the corner and confront the men, but then he stopped himself. Treize and Zechs were twice his size, and if they could overpower Heero, he would be no problem at all. Maybe it would be better if they didn't know where he was... It took all his will, but he waited until the elevator door closed, then ran as fast as he could to Heero's apartment door.

The door stood halfway open, and Duo pushed it open cautiously. He gasped as he saw the interior. It was beyond trashed. The longhaired boy surveyed the damage, afraid to even walk in. There were papers everywhere; broken glasses and dishes littered the kitchen. "No," whispered Duo as he made his way carefully through the mess. It was like a bad dream or a movie; Treize and Zechs had obviously been looking for something, and Duo was pretty sure what it was. What was nestled safely in a bank vault now. Heero had obviously been the wrong place at the wrong time, and had walked in on the two of them ransacking the apartment. Poor Heero! When they hadn't found what they wanted, they had taken Heero. Shit! He had to go after him!

Duo raced back down the hall, counting on the fact that the elevator was fairly slow. He went down the stairs as fast as he could, three or four at a time. He burst out the emergency exit at the bottom that led to the parking lot just in time to see the two men force Heero into Zechs' SUV. They didn't seem to be paying attention to much else, and Duo raced to Heero's car, hitting the unlock button on the remote.

He jumped in the driver's seat before he realized he had never driven this car before. He looked down. It was a stick shift! He hadn't gotten his license yet, but luckily he had practiced in his mother's car, also a stick shift. But his mother's Saturn was a far cry from this high-powered sports car. Duo took a shuddering breath; his heart raced. He had to do this! He had to follow wherever they were taking Heero. He turned the key, and the big engine rumbled to life. Hoping, he let out the clutch slowly and pressed the gas pedal. The car lurched forward. He looked up in time to see the SUV exit the parking lot. Duo gave it more gas, and the car obediently surged ahead, huge tires spinning. Duo quickly turned the wheel to line himself up with the exit, and the back end swung around, fishtailing a bit. Duo bit his lip as he wrestled with the car, checking quickly for oncoming traffic as he squealed out of the parking lot. The engine whined, and he shifted into second gear, earning another squeal from the tires.

Duo struggled; this car was a handful! When Heero drove, he had made it seem effortless. Every minute twitch on the steering wheel caused the car to swerve alarmingly, and a small push on the accelerator pinned him to the seat. He would have no trouble keeping up with the other car, if he didn't wrap himself around a tree first. He watched as the SUV turned left at a light about a block ahead, and he cursed to himself. He shifted into third, and accelerated toward the light. He had to make it before the light changed! He roared forward, weaving through the traffic, and was approaching the light just as it turned yellow. "Shit!" He screamed through the intersection anyway, thankful that this was LA and no one paid any attention to traffic laws anyway.

He completed the turn, barely under control, and caught sight of the SUV again. He almost smiled, then remembered that this was no movie. He couldn't lose them, or he might lose Heero forever. What he would do when they got where they were going, he didn't know; but he would figure it out when he got there. He just knew he had to save Heero.