A Gundam Wing Christmas

Chapter One

By Starling

            “Do you think Quatre will meet us at the spaceport?” Arys glanced at Heero, and saw that he was staring out the window, a look on his face that he always tried to hide from her, always unsuccessfully. She tapped him on the shoulder, tempted to turn his face toward hers, and resisting the urge. “Heero?”

            Heero managed to tear his gaze away from the view outside to the window to look at her. “What?” His eyes were far away, remembering. Then, he turned away again. “Do you remember, Arys? How we had to fight out there? Look at it now... look at the colonies... how peaceful they are.”

            “Heero.” This time she did take his chin in her hand and made him look at her. “Heero, we’re at peace now. There’s no need for the Gundams. No need for the fighting.”

            “How long will it last?” He looked sad, almost hopeless.

            Arys had never seen her husband like this. “Heero, it’s Christmastime!”

            “I know it is. I remember only a few years ago we were at war at this time.”

            Arys sighed. The Eve Wars. And then again two years later, there had been yet another war that had begun on Christmas Eve. Why did the Earth Sphere seem to prefer beginning its wars during what was supposed to be the most peaceful time of the year?

            “Heero, everyone will be at Quatre’s mansion. Duo and Hilde, Wufei and Mei, Quatre and Nari, and even Trowa and Triniti. We’ll be safe, we’ll be in one place, and a war won’t begin while we’re enjoying ourselves.”

            “I hope you’re right, Arys. I hope you’re right.” Heero shook his head as if trying to clear it of his dark thoughts. He grinned at Arys. “And yes, I think Quatre will meet us at the spaceport.”

            “What if Duo meets us?” Arys asked, watching for his reaction.

            “Duo would never meet us. He’d try to hug me in public and he knows how much I like that.”

            Arys just laughed at the disgusted look on her husband’s face.

            Quatre was the one to meet them at their gate. Arys could see him as soon as she stepped off the shuttle and into the terminal area. Quatre stood waiting, Nari beside him, dressed in his usual preppy clothes. He had long ago lost his pink oxford shirt and had moved on to a more updated style. Nari was smiling brightly, but Arys had known her long enough to see the weariness behind the sparkling green eyes.

            “The Yuys have arrived.” Quatre smiled as he took Arys’ hand and squeezed it gently. “Welcome to the Mediterranean.”

            “Thanks for inviting us, Quatre. It’ll be nice to spend some time on Earth for a change,”

Heero said as Quatre moved to shake his hand also.

            “We’ve been out on field duty for the Preventers since August.” Arys added as she turned to Nari. She could not resist giving the redhead a hug. “It’s good to see you, Nari.”

            Nari winked. “Always good to see an old friend. Especially at this time.”

            “You’ve been stuck in space for almost six months?” Quatre whistled. “That’s a long time. I’d miss Earth if I had to leave it for that long.”

            Arys knew that Quatre did have to leave Earth for weeks at a time since he was the head of the Winner Corporation. And he often had to leave Nari behind.

            “So who are we meeting next?” Heero asked as they walked out of their gate’s waiting area.

            “Trowa and Triniti are already here. They’re waiting for the Changs’ shuttle to arrive. It should be here in about 15 minutes. Duo and Hilde are coming in from L2 in a few hours.” Quatre grinned at Heero. “Don’t try to hide it, Heero. I can see the relief on your face.”

            Heero shook his head. “Duo’s a good guy, but sometimes he’s...”

            “Too overwhelming?” Quatre laughed. “Then he wouldn’t be Duo.”

            Arys and Nari followed their husbands, Arys walking slowly so Nari could keep up with her.

            Arys glanced around the terminal once before glancing over at Nari. “So, um, how are you doing?” She tried to ask casually.

            Nari took Arys’ arm and began walking faster. “I know what you’re doing, Arys.” Nari gave her a mock-angry look. Then, she laughed. “Please don’t treat me like I’m some sort of invalid. I’m not.” Arys gave her a dubious look and Nari patted Arys’ arm. “And really, I’m fine. We’re going to have fun this Christmas and enjoy ourselves.”

            Arys grinned, glad that her friend hadn’t lost her fun spirit. “If you insist, Mrs. Winner.”

            They arrived at the Changs’ gate just as the Chinese couple and their two children were getting off the plane. As soon as Arys saw Mei, she began to walk faster. Then, she realized that Nari was still beside her.

            Arys looked at Nari, an aplogetic look on her face. “Oh, Nari, is it okay if I...?”

            “Go ahead. I know you want to see her.” Nari smiled and caught up with Quatre and Heero, who were both ready for the upcoming boisterous welcome scene.

            “Mei!” Arys waved madly, trying to get her attention. Mei was busy attending to six-year-old Hana, whose adorable red beret had been knocked askew in the rush off the plane. Li, their two year old son, stood with Wufei, eyes wide as he took in the bustling terminal.

            Arys finally got Mei’s attention and Wufei wisely took Hana’s hand as her mother ran off.

            “Arys!” Mei screamed loudly. The two hugged fiercely and then they both began talking at the same time. The conversation was barely understandable so they both stopped talking, laughed, and hugged again.

            Finally, Arys managed to get out a “How are you?”

            “I’m fine.” Mei smiled as she motioned to her family. “They’re fine too.”

            “Wow, Mei, how long’s it been?” Arys asked.

            “Only a year...” Mei said smugly.

            “Only a year? Listen to her! My word, Mei, do you know why Heero and I took the field duty?”

            Mei shook her head, still looking smug and knowing exactly what to expect next.

            “After six months I couldn’t take it anymore. You weren’t around to keep me sane.”

            Mei nodded knowingly. “You didn’t have anyone to take coffee breaks with,” she translated to herself.

            Arys frowned at her. “That’s not what I said.”

            “Ah, but it’s what you meant.” Mei turned away from her friend a moment to greet Quatre, Nari, Triniti, Trowa, and Heero, who were all watching the exchange with amused smiles on their faces. “Hello, everyone! I’m sorry about this hysterical woman here. I really don’t know who she is.”

            Arys sighed. “Mei, I missed you.”

            Mei patted Arys on the back sympathetically. “Yes, I know, dear. I missed you too.”

            “You’re impossible. Go away.”

            “I’ll do that. As soon as I get my family back together.” Wufei had followed the two kids around the terminal as they took in the Christmas light-decorated sculptured fountain in the middle of the cavernous hallway outside the gate area.

            “Coffee later?” Arys called after her.

            “Deal,” Mei called back over her shoulder.

            Arys walked over to Triniti and Trowa and shook both of their hands. “Hello, you two. I’m sorry about that scene I made. It’s just been a while since I’ve seen Mei.”

            They both nodded in understanding, and Arys could still see the laughter in their eyes at her behavior. Heero came up behind her and took her arm.

            “Quatre says that he can take us to his mansion now and then we can all come back later to pick up Duo.” Heero rolled his eyes. “I just know what Duo is going to do as soon as he gets off that plane.” They followed the rest of the group to the baggage claim and hoped that their luggage would already be rotating around on the turnstile.

            “Tackle you like I did to Mei?” Arys asked.

            Heero winced. “A little worse than that.”

            “Kiss you on both cheeks?”

            She could feel the look he was giving her. “He’s going to hug me and then punch me on the arm... HARD.”

            “Ah, I should’ve known.”

            Heero laughed at her. “Arys, you’re trying so hard not to jump up and down, aren’t you?”

            “No, I’m not.”

            “Arys Yuy is excited about something for the first time in a year....” Heero looked thoughtful. “Except for that time when we...”

            Arys clapped a hand over his mouth. “Heero! Not that! I don’t want anyone to know about that!” She took away her hand and glared at him.

            “Why not? It was...”

            “Heero!” She jabbed him in the arm with her finger. “What we did was illegal!” She whispered.

            “But we sent the money back....”

            “Still!” Arys shot back fiercely.

            Heero sulked. “Well, Colonel Une appreciated it. She understands a good prank.”

            “Colonel Une used to have two personalities. How do you know which one appreciated it?”

            “Um...” Heero was used to these verbal battles with his wife. Most of the time, he was able to win, but not today apparently. His wife was too hyped.

            “Ha! You don’t know! Arys one! Heero zero!” She said triumphantly, forgetting to comment on how Heero and zero rhymed.

            Heero sighed. This was going to be a long vacation.