He left. He left, but he came back. His friends, his family...me? Five months ago, Trowa left to fight in the war and didn't tell me. For weeks, I was worried sick over his dissapearance, thinking that he had been kidnapped or killed or something like that. Then, I found a note on his dresser when I was looking through his trailer one day. It read:

"Dear Cathy, By the time you find this letter, I will most likey be dead. I've gone to fight again with Quatre and the others. I didn't tell you because I know how much you worry about me. I know you're probably mad as hell right now, but this is the only way I could stand to say good bye to you. Please don't cry. Cathy. I know you are, so wipe the tears from your eyes and forget about me. Get on with your life. But never forget one thing-I love you. Trowa"

I held the letter close to me as the tears fell from my face unabated. I knew he was brave, but why did he have to be so damned courageous?

For two weeks, I couldn't do anything. I didn't eat or sleep. It was all I could do just to perform. But it just wasn't the same without my 'little doll'.

As they say in show biz, "The show must go on". I was able to eventually come to terms with Trowa's leaving, but I knew he wasn't dead. Don't ask me how, I just knew.

The day that changed my life forever, I was practicing my high wire act. My foot got caught on the narrow wire, and I fell. I remember thinking, "Maybe I should've used the net today." It finally dawned on me that I was going to die. At that moment, I began to scream.

I landed, but not in the way I expected. I was surrounded by something warm and gentle, something holding me close. I opened my tightly shut eyes, only to see myself in the arms of a clown. He had a half-mask on, and his bangs were covering his face.

"Be careful." He set me down, then turned to walk away.

"Trowa!" i called out to him, and he looked back over his shoulder at me. I grinned at him and said, "Welcome back."

He gave me a small smile, then left the Big Top.

My eyes followed him until he was out of my veiw. "What am I thinking? After that clown!" Running after him, I exited the arena and appeared outside. Looking to my left and right, I searched fot the young pilot. I heard a noise behind me, and turned to see Trowa leaning on the tent.

"Where have you been?" I asked, approaching him. He only shrugged and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. I gave him my best 'I don't beleive you for a milli-second' look, and put my hand to his uncovered cheek. "Why did you leave?"

Finally, he spoke. "I had to. To protect you and everything I hold dear, I had to go and fight. "

"Oh, Trowa. You don't have to protect me."

He pulled me closer to him in a gentle embrace. "Yes, I do. And I will always protect you. I will never let you fall." I leaned my head on his stong chest and inhaledhis scent. I closed my eyes and reveled in him. I felt his hand on my cheek, and then his lips brush my own. I opened my eyes in shock, then closed them to enjoy the sensation. Looking down to the ground, I saw his clown mask laying there. I bent over and picked it up for him.

"You dropped this," I handed it to him gingerly. He took it, then threw it with all his might.

"Thanks to you, I don't need it anymore."

It was then that I knew that we were to be together-forever.