Disclaimer: Nothing here's mine, 'cept the plot. Even the title belongs to Bob Dylan. Love you, Bob. You still rock hard core.

Author's Notes: Thank you everyone for the really nice reviews on the first part. I'd just like to say right now in regards to the French that will appear in almost every chapter, I do not speak French. I've taken four semesters of Japanese, three semesters of German and Spanish in high school, but I don't know French, nor do I know anyone who does know French. So, I am using an online translator which I had a feeling was probably way off. I do apologize to anyone who speaks French. If you do, could you please just gloss over my horrible misuse of the language, and again, I apologize;) I hope you still enjoy reading the story.

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To Dance Beneath the Diamond Sky
by Kristen Elizabeth

****

First period biology was never fun; who really wants to dissect frogs at eight in the morning? But when Heero entered the bio lab the next morning and saw Relena Dorlian, in her white middy uniform blouse, pullover sweater vest and pleated skirt, sitting in his usual chair, he suddenly had a new reason to wish he had taken art.

He was a few minutes late to class, an extremely rare occurrence as evident by the surprised look on the lab teacher's face. "Mr. Yuy, I was about to mark you absent."

Heero ignored the man and walked down the aisle between the rows of tables to the one he had been occupying by himself for the entire year to date. The new student in his ballet class squirmed ever so slightly in her seat when he stopped in front of her. "You're in my seat," he told her.

The teacher cleared his throat. "Heero, I assigned Relena to be your lab partner from now on, seeing as how you don't have one and we'll be starting on the pig fetuses today.

"I see." Heero took the seat beside Relena.

There was snickering from the lab table adjacent to theirs. "Yuy doesn't want to sit with a girl, Mr. Berardis." Kyle Longheim's loud statement generated more light laughter. "He wouldn't know what to do with one."

"Kyle, keep your mouth closed if nothing useful is going to come from it." Mr. Berardis snapped on a pair of rubber gloves and reached into a bucket for one pig fetus. "Now, when you're dissecting these creatures, remember this. They died so that you could have the opportunity to learn from them. If you act like morons and play with your specimen, they will have died in vain. Do you understand? Any funny business...Kyle...and you'll have an F faster than you can say 'pig'."

Heero stared straight ahead during the teacher's speech, even when he felt Relena sneak a peek at him. When he felt her eyes on his cheek again, he spoke. "I don't work well with others. You should ask for a new lab partner."

"Well...it's just that..." She twisted her hands in her lap. "I don't know anyone else...and since we have ballet class together...I thought that..."

He cut her off. "Ballet and school are two completely different parts of my life. I don't like mixing them."

"Oh." There was a long pause. "I'll speak to Mr. Berardis after class, then."

"All right, people. Get your supplies ready and I'll be around with the specimens." At the teacher's words, the class reluctantly dragged themselves into action.

Heero stood up and went to get a dissection pan and tools. While he was up, he grabbed two plastic aprons and pairs of rubber gloves. The blond girl would probably freak if she got pig juice on her uniform. He started back for the table only to find Kyle already there, sitting on the edge, talking to Relena.

As he got closer, he could just make out what the football player was saying. "...it's in the way he walks. And I even heard that he's been caught in Central Park with a couple other guys. Some massive fag orgy or something." Heero's jaw grew tight.

He watched Relena shake her head and open her mouth to speak, but Kyle continued before she could. "So, I was thinking..." The jock smiled brilliant white. "You being new and all...that someone really should show you around campus. I humbly volunteer for the job." He took Relena's hand. "It's an offer you won't get from your queer partner."

Relena tugged her hand away and smiled sweetly. "But at least his invitation wouldn't make me want to vomit."

Kyle's smile fell. "You know, getting on my bad side isn't a good way to start out at St. John's."

"I'd rather not be on any side of you," she retorted.

Mr. Berardis approached the table with the bucket of fetuses. "Kyle, move it. You've got work to do." The football player moved off after shooting Relena a deadly look. Heero cleared his throat and walked the rest of the way back. He set the dissection pan down in front of Relena just in time for the teacher to plop a wet fetus into it. Mr. Berardis winked. "Have fun."

Heero sat next to her and handed her an apron and gloves before donning his own. "Do you want to make the first cut?" he asked her.

To his surprise, she took up the scalpel and dug into the fetus' stomach. He watched her work carefully and methodically for a long minute without any feminine squeamishness.

She couldn't dance...but she might not be that bad.

****

"Well," Relena said to herself several hours later as she opened up her lunch bag. "You brought this on yourself."

The courtyard of St. John's was dusted with a light layer of snow, but that hadn't stopped most of its students from seeking the freedom of eating lunch outside. And every single one of those students, Relena noted, were studiously ignoring her.

She opened up a plastic container of salad and speared a cucumber slice. Kyle the jock worked fast. Within the span of four class periods, he had informed the entire school of Relena's "loser" qualities and alerted them to the fact that she was not to be approached or showed a friendly hand.

So, she sat by herself and quietly ate her lunch, completely unaware of a pair of Prussian blue eyes, watching her from the balcony that overlooked the courtyard.

"At least you have dance class," she said out loud. "And in four months, you can get out of this city and back to where you belong." A job in Paris waited for her; she had all but signed the contract. The thought formed a smile on her lips.

And unbeknownst to her, the smile created an unfamiliar twinge in the center of Heero Yuy's chest.

****

"No, no, no!" Treize clapped his hands together in frustration. "Miss Dorlian...just what are you doing?"

Relena lowered her leg. "I'm sorry. This is how we were taught in Paris."

"In case you hadn't noticed, sweetie....you're not in Paris anymore." Dorothy Catalonia's comment was followed by light giggling.

Treize ignored the laughter. "Watch Miss Schbeiker, Miss Dorlian and learn it properly this time." He turned back to the rest of the class. "Keep going everyone. We have no time to waste. The workshop is getting closer every day."

Duo put a comforting hand on his partner's shoulder. "Hey, I thought the move was cool, princess."

"After two weeks, I should know to keep my mouth shut and just watch your girlfriend at all times."

"Well, that works for me...the watching her part." Duo guided Relena into the appropriate leg position. "But as for you being quiet, I don't think anyone wants that."

Beside them, Dorothy executed a perfect arabesque with the help of her partner. "Don't speak for all of us, Duo-dear."

"Don't trip, Cata-lonely-a." There was something to be said for the power of suggestion. Even with her partner's help, Dorothy stumbled out of the arabesque and shot Duo an evil look.

"Cata-lonely-a?" Relena asked.

Duo grinned. "Long story." He took Relena's hand into her own arabesque.

"Very good, Miss Dorlian," Treize said from across the room. Relena stepped out of the move with a plie and a smile. "All right everyone. Line up in the corner. I want two side by side jete entrelace and then, gentlemen, lift your partners by the waist and ladies, a clean scissor kick." He pointed to Heero and Hilde. "Mr. Yuy, Miss Schbeiker, please demonstrate."

To no one's surprise, the pair executed the requested movements with skill and grace. Relena watched Heero's hands around Hilde's small waist as he lifted her into the air. The muscles in his arms corded with effort until he set her down again.

"That's my girl," Duo said, proudly. He glanced at Relena. "Hey, I wanted to ask you....are you going to the gala tomorrow night?"

Relena nodded, still thinking about Heero's arm muscles. "Um...yes. Millardo sort of has to be there."

"Oh. So you'll be sitting with your family then."

She gave him a puzzled look. "Who else would I be sitting with?"

"Well...I was thinking, me and Hilde." He tucked his braid into his black shirt. "We get free tickets. All students do."

"I didn't know that." Relena weighed the idea of spending an evening with her mother or her new friend and the best dancer in the class. "I think it would be a lot of fun."

He smiled widely. "Great! We'll meet you in the lobby then!" Duo nudged her. "Our turn, princess."

The parallel floor combination started out well enough. Two jete entrelace, neat and clean. Relena even found herself letting down her guard when Duo gripped her waist. But apparently, he sensed she needed more encouragement.

"Relax," he told her softly, just before lifting her. "You can trust me."

She froze, an unwanted memory clawing to the surface. **Detendez-vous, Relena....vous pouvez vous fier a moi. I just want to touch you...you can trust me, mon cher.** Duo lifted her into the air. **Do not fight me, Relena....laissez-moi vous avoir...**

Instead of the scissor kick, she fought against Duo's arms. "No...let me go!"

"Princess?" Duo lowered her to the ground. "Did I hurt you?"

Treize signaled the pianist to stop. "Miss Dorlian, what happened?"

Relena put both hands to her head. "I...I'm sorry. I just..." She looked at Duo, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry."

"Are you all right?" Treize asked. Relena nodded. "Go get some water and sit out for the rest of the class, please."

She was in no state to protest. The wood of her shoes was the only sound in the studio as she ran for the door. Once she was gone, the whispers and giggles began.

Duo frowned. "Hey!" he said out loud. "Quit it, everyone." The noises grew quieter, but didn't disappear. "Sheesh..."

Treize clapped his hands. "We'll practice piroettes. Everyone line up again, no partners. One by one, down the length of the floor." There was much groaning as his orders were followed.

Hilde joined her boyfriend. "What made her freak?" she asked, suspiciously. "And where were your hands when she did?"

"I don't know," Duo replied. "Certainly not where you're thinking they were."

"And where is that?"

He turned to her with a warning look in his violet eyes. "You trust Yuy with your body every day. And I trust you with him. Why can't you have that trust in me?"

"Duo..." Hilde reached for him, but he had already begun his series of angry pirouettes and moved out of her reach.

****

In the empty hallway outside the studio, Relena slumped to the floor and buried her face between her tight-covered knees. Her tears stuck somewhere in her throat. Maybe Quatre had been right. Maybe she needed therapy. Of course, she hadn't even bothered to bring up the possibility to her mother. It would have simply embarrassed Helen too much to have a daughter with a therapist.

**He didn't actually rape you, Relena. So, I don't think that you coming to America with me is warranted at all.**

But she hadn't listened to her mother. After all, Helen would have done anything not to be burdened with her youngest child anymore. Even left her in a city, in a ballet program, where she would have to face the man who held her down after practice and, if not for the sudden re-entrance of the company pianist, would have taken her virginity by force.

Her mother hadn't even believed her at first. **Jean-Paul has been nothing but good to you and your dancing, Relena. He's taught you more in this year than you've learned your whole life. How can you accuse him of something like this?**

And when she finally did accept Relena's accusation, her advice had been meager. Stay in Paris and forget. Relena chose to run to America. Because nothing could make her forget. And in America, she didn't have to endure her attacker's touch every day.

She swallowed and ran her hands down her legs the pink ribbons around her ankles. Ballet. The source of the little joy she had experienced in her life. And the stage for the most painful moment imaginable.

The sound of footsteps signaled someone's approach. Relena lifted her head to see a slender woman in exercise clothes coming towards her. The woman stopped beside her and knelt down. "Are you all right, dear?" she asked.

Relena nodded. "I'm fine. Thank you."

The woman studied her some more. "You're Millardo's little sister, aren't you?" Again, Relena had to nod. "It's good to finally meet you after hearing so much." She held out her hand. "I'm Anna Une."

Relena immediately recognized the name. The woman holding out a hand to her was the Ballet Conservatory company's leading ballerina. And, according to Duo's gossip, Mr. Treize's current lover. She took the woman's hand. "Nice to meet you, too."

Another woman approached in similar work-out gear. "Anna, let's go."

"I'll be right there, Sally." Another name Relena had heard more that once. Sally Po was also a principal dancer in the company. Anna looked back at Relena. "Whatever makes you cry, use it when you dance. And you will soar." After touching Relena's cheek, she stood up and continued on her way with Sally.

She thought about Anna's words long after she was gone. Using her pain to dance better. Relena smiled and wiped at her eyes. It was so silly, it might just work.

****

To say that Duo was surprised to answer his building's intercom at midnight and hear Hilde's voice on the street below would have been a massive understatement. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and pressed the button to talk again. "Hilde? What the hell are you doing in Manhattan at this hour?!"

Her voice came back, thin and staticky. "Will you just buzz me up? It's freezing out here."

He did so immediately, to get her off the street as soon as possible. After the few minutes it took her to climb three flights of stairs, there was a soft knock on the front door. Duo opened it. "I could strangle you," he told her without any ceremony.

"It's nice to see you, too."

Duo ushered her inside and pulled her coat off. "You took a train from Brooklyn?! At this hour...what were you thinking?!"

"I was just thinking..."

"Shh!!" Duo pointed to the hallway that led to his parents room.

Hilde began again, in a quieter tone. "I was just thinking that I was a real bitch this afternoon. And I wanted to apologize."

Duo looked at her for a second before grabbing the sleeve of her green sweater and guiding her to his bedroom. Once inside, he pointed to two items with both arms. "Let me introduce you to the phone and the internet. Modern communication, this is Hilde."

She scowled. "You know I don't have a computer, Duo. And..." She took a breath. "Mom forgot to pay the phone bill again so they disconnected our line."

"Oh." Duo bit his lip. "I'm sorry; I didn't know. But that still doesn't make it safe for you to ride the trains at night by yourself!"

"I have mace! I can kick really high!"

In his total frustration, worry and relief, he grabbed her and gave her a long, hard kiss. "I would die if anything happened to you."

Hilde laid her head on his bare chest. "I know what you mean." There was a moment's pause. "Do you always answer the door in just your boxers?"

"Only late at night."

She pulled back to see him. "That's just more incentive for me to take the train again someday."

"Don't...you...dare." He punctuated each word with a kiss. "So...you came here to apologize. Well..." He broke away and flopped onto his unmade bed. "Get on with it."

"Fine." Hilde propped her hands up on her threadbare jeans. "This afternoon....I was jealous. Crazy jealous."

"Of Relena?"

"Of anyone who gets to be that close to you! I mean..." She paced around the bed. "I'm your girlfriend. I'm the only one who should get to..."

Duo raised an eyebrow. "You were never jealous of Mary."

"Maybe I was. A little." Hilde sat on the edge of the bed. "But she was different. She wasn't...."

"Pretty," Duo supplied.

Hilde frowned; he knew her way too well. "Relena isn't just pretty, Duo. She's beautiful. Her hair is gorgeous. She's probably never had a zit. She's rich and she speaks French and she's a reasonably good dancer when she's not tripping over her own feet or freaking out in the air." She paused, but only for a breath. "She has everything. And I could never, ever compare to her in any other way besides dancing. So when I see you with her, laughing and joking, I get this huge ball in my stomach and all these horrible thoughts get into my head and I turn into some kind of evil stepsister and I don't like it!"

He waited until he knew she was through to smile at her. "Babe. You've got at least one thing that Relena doesn't have."

"What's that?" Hilde sniffed.

Duo took her hand and pressed it against his chest. "Don't make me get cheesy by saying it."

His girlfriend's lower lip trembled for a second before she pounced, pinning him back to his own bed with her tiny, but strong body. He let her hold him down while she kissed him, but when her mouth moved down his neck, he wrestled his hands away and held her in a tight embrace.

"Duo," she whispered. "I love you, too."

Warm hands slid under her sweater. "Stay the night?"

Hilde sat up. "I can't. You know that."

Duo pulled his hands out of her clothes to run them down his face. Her body was so light on his. He wanted to roll her over and make love to her until dawn, until she would never again doubt his devotion. But, as always, she stopped before they could even approach the beginning strains of pleasure. "I know," he said. "I know."

"And you also know that I want to so badly." She licked her lips, still tasting his. "But I just can't risk everything I've worked so hard for my entire life, Duo."

"You don't have to tell me, babe." Duo rubbed his eyes and sighed. "I couldn't really be a father right now, either." He tilted his head back. "Still....a blowjob now and then would be nice."

Hilde reached for his braid and yanked it. "Sure, that'd be fun for you!"

"I'd reciprocate!"

She released his hair. "I know you would. And it'd be wonderful, I have no doubts. That's why we can't. We're only human, Duo."

It was his turn to sniff. "Can we at least cuddle?"

Hilde laughed and snuggled down into his waiting arms. "Anytime." They lay together, arms around one another for a long time. She thought Duo had drifted to sleep until he finally spoke.

"I don't particularly like Yuy touching you and lifting you either, you know."

She curled the end of his braid around her fingers. "You don't have to worry about Heero. I'm starting to think the rumors are all true. Maybe he is gay."

"He's not gay," Duo said, confidently.

"And just how do you know that?"

Duo smiled. "'Cause he doesn't know the handshake." Hilde tugged his hair, even more sharply than the first time. "Ow! Kidding!" He laughed. "I know because I see him looking at her."

"Her?"

"Relena." Duo pried his hair from his girlfriend's fingers. "Don't you ever see him in class? You're never more than five inches from him."

Hilde's brow crinkled in thought. "I don't think about much else in class besides what I'm doing."

"Well, I do. And he looks at her. As often as he thinks he can get away with it." Duo shifted, moving her warmth more onto his chest. "Relena says they're lab partners in their bio class and when they got an A on one project, he actually thanked her for her help."

"Wow. That's very unlike him." Hilde nuzzled her cheek into the crook of Duo's neck. "I get the feeling that you're planning something....why is that?"

Duo grinned mischievously. "Just make sure that Heero comes to the gala tomorrow night. All will be revealed. Now, go to sleep. That's an order."

Hilde rolled her eyes. She might as well do as he asked. It was a Friday night, no school tomorrow and she hadn't exactly been looking forward to risking another train ride at one AM. Plus, Duo's arms were strong and warm and his heartbeat was rapidly lulling her into much-needed sleep.

And, she thought just before her eyes closed, her mom's sleeping pills wouldn't wear off until well after dawn.

****

To Be Continued