It's December 24th and I'm busy sweeping the lion's cage, instead of being in my home on L2. For just a moment the vision of a pair of pleading violet eyes float before my own, and I hear a dulcet voice crying my name, as I slam out of the house. I shake my head to clear it. Damn you, Duo! Must you haunt my every moment, asleep, or awake!

I lean on the rake and stare up at the sky and wonder. Are you with Wufei, tonight? Does Quatre know yet, that his beloved is with mine?

I hear a noise, and turn to face the intruder. Heero stands there with his hands in his pockets-just watching. I remember from the war, that Heero could move quieter than my lions, so he must have made that noise deliberately.

"What do you want?" I know it was rude, but I couldn't help myself. He says nothing, but the intensity of his gaze made me uneasy. He jerks his head in a `follow me' motion, and against my better judgement, I did.

I let myself out of the cage, and laid the rake on the ground outside the door, I'll retrieve it, later. Heero didn't wait to see if I would follow, he just strode along, taking it for granted that I'd obey, just as I did, in former times. He doesn't slow down, as he sweeps past the performer and worker's campers, nor does he pause at the brightly colored tents, when we hold our performances for the crowds, each day.

Catherine is standing just outside the ticket booth, Heero nods to her, but doesn't speak, I have the feeling they have already spoken. Is that tears, I see, as I stride past her? I hear or think I hear her whisper, "Open your heart, Trowa!"

The circus in set up outside this city, and there's a large grove of trees off to the side, its' not a forest-isn't big enough for that, but its large enough to hide Heero's two-man shuttle. And it's to the shuttle he leads me.

"Stay here." Those are the first words, he's said, since this whole strange episode began. Heero climbs into the shuttle and returns almost immediately. When he reaches me, he reaches into his shirt and pulls out a violet envelope.

"Read it!"

I take the envelope and tear it open. I withdraw a card, with the picture of an angel petting a lion on the front. I turn it over in my hands, as if by examining the outside, I'll discover some hidden message. Heero watches me with hooded eyes, then nods and retreats to the shuttle, leaving me alone with whatever is contain within.

Finally, I steel my resolve and open the card, a single folded sheet of paper falls towards the ground and I grab it. Before I unfold the note and read it, the poem on the card catches my attention and the words struck me like a blow.

# # #

EMPTY CHRISTMAS
The mistletoe is hung,
presents are wrapped and under the tree.

Outside, Carolers are singing,
songs of Yule time cheer.

Inside, the fire is roaring,
and lovers are cozy and warm.

The eggnog is spiced,
and chestnuts are popping merrily.

The snow is falling,
the ground is turning white.

But.

My Christmas will be empty,
no matter how many friends come to call.

For this Season, has no meaning,
without you here with me.

# # #

Under the poem, the paper looked stained, as if someone had dripped coffee on it. I open the note, and read in Duo's sprawling script.

Trowa,

I know what you saw, but it wasn't what you thought it was. Please listen to Heero, he'll tell you. You know; HE won't lie! Please, love, for me, for us!

Duo

I look up and see Heero leaning against the door of the shuttle. The wind is blowing through his hair, and his arms are folded. "Are you ready to listen?" He asks. I nod. "Come aboard, then." He disappears inside, and I walk over and climb in, unable to resist the curiosity that is gnawing at me.

The door hisses shut, as I head for the cockpit. Heero is sitting facing the windshield. He points at the empty seat beside him. I drop into it, and wait.

Methodically, Heero starts checking his instruments. He must plan on blasting out of here, as soon as, he tells me whatever it is, he's to tell me. I nearly come out of my skin, when he says.

"You fucked up-big time, Trowa. Duo was saving Wufei's life, not trying to screw him."

"WHA...AT!?!"

"Wufei came to see Duo about parts for his mini-bike, and he and Duo were sharing a drink for old time's sake and Wufei accidentally swallowed an ice-cube. He was strangling, when Duo got behind him and performed the Heimlich maneuver on him. After Wu spit out the cube, he fell to the ground, and Duo was trying to get him back on his feet, when...."

"When I walked in on them." Heero nodded. I felt like an utter fool. The last few weeks of hell were all for nothing. I rub my temples, a headache was starting behind my eyes.

"Heero, what am I going to do?" I ask, my former leader. For an answer, he stands and grabs my wrist and pulls me from the chair. He points to a suit locker and shoves me in its direction.

"Get dressed." he says, in his no-nonsense voice. I open the locker and remove a suit and don it. Heero does the same. I go forward and strap in. I peer out into the gathering gloom and see Catherine. She is smiling, she knows, I think to myself, and wave. She blows me a kiss, and retreats into the woods.

Heero drops into the pilots seat and straps in. As he hits the thrusters, I look skyward, snow was starting to fall, and with a light heart, I headed home for Christmas.