*Thank God... common ground,* Quatre thought relievedly as he and Trowa began chatting--still cautiously--about books. *I'm not going to be marrying someone who's completely different from me after all... Maybe there's hope for this yet.* He brought his wandering attention back to the present as he realized Trowa had asked a question. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Does His Highness spend much time reading?" Trowa asked again, gaze lowered to the book in his hands and the fall of his hair hiding his face.

*How to be truthful and not give myself away?* Quatre tried to collect his thoughts, choosing his words with care. "His Highness... does not have the time to spend on books that he wishes." *That's true enough... I'd much rather read than take care of state matters.*

He felt the change in the atmosphere between himself and Trowa almost immediately, as Trowa replaced the book on its shelf with a soft, "Oh."

*No! Not the silence again!* Quatre cast about for any possible way to keep Trowa from retreating back into his shell. He picked a book at random, made a show of examining the title, and then proclaimed, "I've never read this--is it any good?"

Trowa glanced at the book, then at Quatre quizzically. "It would probably be interesting," he replied, "considering that it's a book of erotic poetry."

Quatre nearly dropped the book, but managed to put it down safely as the color rose in his cheeks. "Oh," he squeaked.

Trowa chuckled briefly. "It's not actually that sort of book," he said. "It's really just a collection of essays about agriculture."

Quatre laughed too, at himself and the faint spark of mischief still lurking in Trowa's eyes. "Okay, you won this time, Trowa... next time you won't be so lucky." *And you should laugh more often, it makes you seem like an entirely different person.*

~*~

Alacar drummed his fingers on the table, openly displaying his impatience. "Where *is* that boy?" he demanded. He turned to Heero and Duo. "I apologize, sirs. Trowa is not usually so very late."

Cathrine stifled a giggle.

Her father ignored her. "Perhaps I should send a servant to fetch him," the viscount mused.

"The last we saw them, he was taking Quatre to see the library," Duo told him.

"Well, *that* explains everything," Cathrine shook her head. "If he has a captive audience, he'll keep them in that room for hours going on about his books." She rose from her seat. "I'll go remind him that it's well past time for luncheon, Father, with your permission."

"Yes, of course, please go rescue our guest from Trowa," he nodded. Cathrine inclined her head and sped from the room in search of her little brother.

"I hope it wasn't the other way around," Duo whispered to Heero. "You *know* how Quatre gets when it comes to books. He even makes me look like an amateur."

"What was tat, sir?" Alacar asked.

"Nothing, sir, merely commenting to Heero about what a comfortable home you have here," Duo responded brightly, eyes glimmering roguishly. Beside him Heero snorted under his breath. Without changing expression as he talked amiably with their host about the decor, under the table Duo placed his hand on Heero's knee and began running hi fingers up the inside of his lifebond's leg.

His hand was seized and firmly deposited in his own lap as Heero muttered, "Insatiable wizard..."

Duo merely grinned.

~*~

"...incredible! You have the complete set of manuscripts?" Cathrine heard as she opened the door. Two heads were bent close together over the same dusty folio as they reverently turned loose pages of yellowed writings. "Most collectors believe that it was lost!"

"I don't *know* that it's the original set," Trowa replied seriously. "But it does look authentic... see this seal? It matches what von Rauthes used consistently on other documents--"

Cathrine cleared her throat, and both young men looked up, surprised. "Trowa, it's time to put away your toys and come eat," she said, smiling. "We've been waiting for quite some time now." Turning to Quatre, she added, "I'm sorry, he gets a bit carried away at times."

Quatre looked at her blankly. "It's already time to eat? I'm sorry, Trowa, I didn't mean to monopolize your time like that."

Cathrine's face twitched. "Two of you? Oh, God, meals are going to be late from now on," she groaned.

"I'll pay better attention from now on," Trowa promised, carefully gathering the loose papers and returning them to their place in the leather folio.

"I'm sure you will," Cathrine said drily. To Quatre's confused expression, she explained, "He has a real tendency to totally lose himself in whatever he's doing at the moment. It makes things interesting when it comes time for meals and he can't be found, since Father is insistent that we wait for everyone to arrive before the meal begins."

Sensing Trowa's discomfort more than seeing it as they hurried to the dining room, Quatre smiled at Cathrine. "Ah, but I do the same thing all the time. Some things are just so fascinating that it's impossible not to immerse myself in them completely."

Cathrine winced. "As I said, meals are going to be late for the rest of your time here..."

~*~

"So, I understand my son showed you his pride and joy already," the viscount commented to Quatre over dessert. "You must have impressed him for him to have showed you so soon. He's generally much more reserved."

*Please be joking about _that_,* Quatre sighed mentally. He smiled politely at the elder Barton. "I suppose he just recognized the book-lover in me, sir."

"Trowa practically built that library of his, really," Cathrine supplied. "None of us really care too much for reading, but it's nice to have someone around who does."

Quatre shot Duo a glance that clearly begged his friend to say or do something to change the conversation. Duo smirked slightly at the sudden concern the disguised prince was showing for Trowa. *Perhaps there is something to all the stars business after all,* the wizard reflected, allowing his mouth to take over automatically and steer the conversation off into a new direction.

~*~

*He's going out of his way to make me feel comfortable. Why?* Trowa wondered, listening to the ebb and flow of the discussion around him. *It could be that he's only trying to figure out what I'm really like... so he can tell His Highness...*

Or was it something more? That sort of enthusiasm for books and reading couldn't be faked. Trowa knew that for certain, having endured too many years of amused toleration for his "bookish hobby." Quatre was genuine in that sense, at least... he was honestly trying to be *something* for Trowa. A friend, perhaps? Trowa held no illusions about what his life in the Eternal City would probably be like. As the Crown Prince's consort, he would be seen in the royal court as another way to get His Highness's ear... What better chance could an aristocrat have than to befriend Trowa before he arrived at the Eternal City? On a mission or not, there wouldn't be any sense in wasting a perfectly good opportunity.

*I'm getting more cynical every day,* Trowa thought clinically. He had to admit, though, Quatre was an amazing actor. His awkwardness in trying to approach Trowa seemed more than real enough, as did his desire to get to know him... As an initial court ally went, he could have been worse... much worse.