Hide and Seek

"D….D….Duo!" she exclaims shock seeping up through her gut, that and fear.

"Why, hello babe. Who would have thought after all this time you remember my name" Eyes raised in a mocking gesture he smirks at the tiny pixie standing in front of him.

Hilde's first reaction was to slap him in the face, HARD, her second motion was to slam the door shut and lock it. Running towards her bedroom she peeks in sighing with relief at the sight of the still sleeping toddler. Leaning back against her doorframe she slides down slowly. She knew she could not hide here forever, even though the only thing that she wanted to do was to crawl under the covers and hide. Never having to face what she knew was standing behind those doors, not just Duo, herself, but the whole world. And damn it she knew that if he got tired of waiting that he would find a way in if he had to pick the lock himself.

"God girl, how do you get yourself into these messes"

"That" a calm voice says "Is a good question"

"DUO WHAT IN THE….HOW DID YOU….GET OUT!!!!!" She bellows fury replacing her horror that he had gotten in so easy.

"Now, now" he says shaking a finger in her face "Do you really need to ask that question"

"Mommy" a timid voice calls from the bedroom

"Oh great Duo" she snaps "Now you woke her up"

"I…" he starts only to find himself talking to an empty door way.

"Yes sweetie" Hilde says walking quickly to the bed

"Why are you treaming Mommy?" she questions confusion showing on her pretty face, before she stops and stares. Leaning in close to Hilde she whispers "Who da?"

Whipping around Hilde frowns darkly at Duo "Um…that is" suddenly the ringing of the doorbell this "This is not happening to me" Hilde moans, scooping Marcail up she takes a deep breath filling her lungs with the sent of the small child…

"Mommy" she says her eyes puckering as she frowns "Who is at the door at" looking at the clock she sighs "I don nwow what time in the mowning?"

"I have no clue sweetie," she says before pinning Duo where he stood with a glare.

'"I beat ifs Mrs. Whatorth with more name callens…I didn’t do anything yesterday Mommy…. cause I already got in trouble cause the cat fell in da blue bowl"

"Yes sweetie" she murmurs while opening the door, repressing a grown she sighs "Good morning Mrs. Whatworth what can I do for you"

"I was told" the older woman sniffs looking around the apartment "That a young man picked his way into your apartment this morning, are you and the little ruffian alright"

"Er..yes…that um that was my Brother"

"Oh, your brother?" glaring from her to small eyes she frowns "I didn't know you had a brother"

"Er…he's my half" she says 'Please dear God do NOT let Duo walk in here right now.'

"Hilde is everything okay?"

'Fine Duo" she yells back

"Duo? What kind of name is that?"

"A damn good one" Duo mutters walking into the room his characteristic grin on his face.

Slamming her hand over her mouth Marcail gapes at him "Uh hu you said a no no word" she says her little eyes huge with shock "You get spwankin for that" she says nodding "at it durts"

Eyes shooting to his hairline Duo gets his first good look at the little girl in Hilde's arms. "Oh my" was the only thing that he could get to come out of his gapping mouth.

"Um yah" Hilde says turning away from Duo trying to hide Marcail "Um Mrs. Whatworth this is my brother Duo, Duo this is my good neighbor Mrs. Whatworth"

"How do you do?" Duo questions politely

"Just fine sonny" she sniffs before leaning in and whispering "Well why he's here maybe you can get him to cut his hair" nodding curtly at Duo she walks out the door slamming it behind her.

Instantly relaxing Hilde takes a deep breath before sighing deeply.

"Mommy?" Marcail asks "Can I go next door and pway with Mark?"

Taking a quick look at Duo's to cheerful smile she nods "Yes sweetie tell Mary that I will be over later for lunch like we planned"

"Ota" smiling at her she turns to the door "OH ya tan you oten it for me pwease?" Quickly complying she sighs watching down the hall she waves to Mary as the woman opens the door emitting the small ball of enthusiasm

"We still on for lunch Hilde?"

"Yes Mary" she calls "I will be over later"

"Okay I will see you later then" closing the door Hilde fights back the urg to scream, she was alone with the one person that she had told herself that she would never let this happen again with. How come when you said never it always came true?

Turning she walks purposely towards the coffee machine. Measuring out two portions she plugs it in. "Gosh darn it Duo" she snaps turning around "Stop staring at me"

"Well excuse me I haven't seen you in three years"

Rolling her eyes she glares at him "Do you see me staring at you? NO!"

"Why did you leave?" He questions 'straight to the point as always aren't you Duo"

"Reasons" was her calm reply "And don’t ask me all of them just yet" she snaps Turning she props both hands on her hips "What do you want Duo? You don’t just pop in and out like this you normally have a reason so spill"

"Why didn't you tell me about her?" He questions his eyes purple amethyst, practically spitting sparks at her

"Marcail?" she questions her tone going softer at the thought of her precious bundle of joy

"Yes"

"I didn't know I was pregnant until after I had left Duo…I was already so far along when I found out" shaking her head she sighs "I never got around to it"

Blinking he stares at her before grabbing her arms and shaking her "You never got around to it? You never" dropping her arms he starts to pace "What kind of lame excuse it that Hilde."

"It's none of your business," she yells back

"None of my Business?" he repeats slowly as if he were analyzing them "None of my business. You know what Hilde" he says softly "I will tell you what is my business. You and Marcail."

"Marcail" she hisses "It's pronounced with a hard C Duo."

"Okay Marcail, and I will tell you what when I leave I am taking the two of you with me."

"You can't do that" she hisses

"Can't do what Hilde? Take my wife and my daughter with me? And don’t even try to deny that she is my daughter. Unless there is some other guy running around with my hair and eyes Hilde, Marcail, is mine"

"Who do you think you are?" she practically spits "You cant just come in here and say that we are going back with you….do you think that I actually will"

"Who do I? Hilde I am going to tell you who I am, I am your husband the god of death and father to that child, and you don’t have to come with me but Marcail is either way got it? Make your choice Hilde I will give you time." He snaps before spinning on his heel and stalking out the door.

Slowly sinking down the banister Hilde fights back the sobs. He had found her for better or for worse he had found her. And there way no way in hell she was going to get away UN-hurt this time. She could feel it in her very bones…"Oh God," she whispers unwanted tears streaming down her face "Why does it always have to be me? I cant explain yet" she mutters her voice going horse "I can't even talk to myself about it. What makes him think I can tell him?"

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