by Aryn

Arys watched the closed door for a few heartbeats, making sure Heero wasn't coming back through. Once she was sure he was gone, she set to work. She had been waiting for days to do this project, and finally, she felt she had the strength to finish it in one day. Opening the door to the back room of their apartment, she stood in the center of the room and looked around. The walls were white and bare with no pictures. She and Heero had used the room as a storage room. Then, a very precious reason to change the use of the room had presented itself about two months ago. Arys smiled to herself as she tied back her hair and thought of how the room would look when she was done. Putting a radio in the room, she popped the cans of paint open and started her work.

Hours passed by quickly as the room was transformed from stark whiteness to a warm pastel green. Arys decided to leave the wood trim around the floor and window white, giving the room a sharp, neat look. Stepping back to admire her handiwork, Arys had to admit that it looked good. She was more than pleased with how the room was transformed. Quickly, she put the lids back on the cans and stashed them in the closet, along with the rollers and paintbrushes. No sooner had she shut the door to the room, than she heard Heero walk through the front door.

"Hey," she greeted, walking up to him.

"Hey," he responded, drawing her into his arms. "You look a little tired."

"I'm fine." She shrugged.

"Okay," he said, before kissing her.

________________

Heero lay awake that night, listening to the steady tick of the clock. He was so tired and so desperately wanted to fall asleep, but he had planned this night for the past week and intended to carry it through. Once he was sure Arys was asleep, he carefully slipped out of bed and replaced himself with a pillow. At least it would buy him an hour or two. He quietly opened the door to the back room and headed towards the coat closet at the front of the apartment. He made four silent trips before closing the door and setting to work. He reached for his flashlight and grabbed the instruction manual. But when he turned the flashlight on, something didn't seem quite right. He flashed the light around the room to see that the walls had been painted a soft pastel green. Heero smiled to himself.

_______________

Arys woke in the wee hours of the morning, reaching for her husband, who felt suspiciously soft. Opening her eyes, she looked where he should have been and found a pillow instead. A moment of panic seized her as her mind automatically went back to a morning only a few months after their marriage. But she quickly calmed herself down when she remembered his promise that he would never leave her that way again. Getting out of bed, she searched the apartment, starting in the kitchen and ending in the living room. Not knowing where else he might be, she caught sight of the slightly open door leading to the back room. Opening it carefully, she peeked inside. She almost couldn't believe her eyes. A crib had been completely assembled and placed against the farthest wall, complete with a mobile. A changing table was against the side wall and a rocking chair was set in the corner between the two windows.

And there was Heero, fast asleep in the rocking chair, head propped up on his fist, tools lying around his feet. Arys laid a gentle hand on his arm to which he immediately responded.

"Arys?" He questioned sleepily. "What are you doing up?"

"I woke up and found you weren't there," she told him, sitting down on his lap. Heero gratefully wrapped his arms around his wife, letting his hand rest on her still flat stomach.

"I didn't know you had bought this stuff," Arys said, resting her head on his shoulder.

"And I didn't know that you had painted this room," He responded.

"So now we're even." Arys smiled. "Now all we have to do is decorate."

"But let's do that together," Heero suggested.

"I would love that," Arys replied before drifting off to sleep. The back storage room had finally been turned into a nursery.

"Ai shiteru, Heero."

"Ai shiteru, Arys."