A Gundam Wing Christmas

Chapter Two

by Starling

            Of course, when they came back to pick Duo and Hilde up from the spaceport, it went exactly as Heero had envisioned.

            “Heero! What’s up, man!” The hug came with the traditional manly pounding on the back. Heero resisted wincing as Duo pulled away.

            He smiled wanly at Duo, trying to breathe again. “Duo, it’s good to see you.”

            Duo laughed. “Coming from you that means a lot.” Then, he punched Heero on the arm. And just as Heero had predicted, he punched hard. Heero could take pain though and he would never admit to it in front of Duo. After all, the guy had witnessed Heero’s fall down a cliff and even the little bone-setting episode Heero had done.

            “Heero, the perfect soldier, the man who feels no pain,” Duo winked at Heero. “You’re the only one who can take my greetings. I’m guessing that’s why no one else came with you.”

            Heero stepped back, letting Arys take his arm. “Yeah.” He glanced at Hilde. “Hi, Hilde.”

            Hilde was currently poking Duo in the ribs though. “Duo! You know that hurt! Why do you have to treat him like that?”

            Duo actually looked serious for a moment. “Because he wouldn’t expect anything less.”

            With a start, Heero realized that Duo was right. He would not expect anything less from this impromptu best friend he had made during the war.

            “Duo’s right, Hilde.” Heero gave the braided Shinigami a real smile this time.

            Duo squeezed Hilde’s hand. “It’s a guy thing.”

            Hilde shrugged. “Whatever.” She glanced over at Arys, who had been entirely too quiet, letting Heero and Duo go at it. “Hey, Arys, want to leave these guys alone to do their ‘guy thing’?”

            “Sure thing! Everyone else is waiting down by the baggage claim.”

            “Hey, wait a sec! Don’t I get a “hello?” Duo gave Arys an indignant look.

            Arys pretended to yawn. “Oh, what was that? Oh, hi, Duo. Yeah, it’s good to see you.”

            Arys was the only one who seemed really able to get on Duo’s nerves. Heero had always suspected it was because they shared the same national background. Although Arys’ features gave away a hint of Spanish blood. He watched as Arys and Hilde walked away, chatting to each other conspiratorially, glancing over their shoulders at them as if telling secrets.

            Duo shook his head. “How do you put up with that woman?”

            “I don’t.”

            Duo patted Heero’s shoulder as if trying to cheer him up. “Yup, that’s Heero. Always trying to torture himself.”

            Heero removed Duo’s hand from his shoulder. “I think the real question, Duo, is ‘how does Hilde put up with you?’” Then, he followed Arys and Hilde, knowing that Duo would catch up.

            He heard Duo yell after him. “Wow, Heero, Arys has taught you well, hasn’t she?”

            There was another loud reunion down by the baggage claim a few minutes later, mostly on Duo’s part. Heero stood back, trying to look bored, but knowing that he had missed the energetic fellow pilot. Duo had managed to cover up Heero’s long silences, had managed to get past his tall barriers, and had wriggled his way into Heero’s friendship. But that was just the way Duo was. Always wanting to be everyone’s friend. Always the one with the ready joke, the smile. But Heero had seen the darkness that had lurked within him. He saw none of that darkness now. Working in a junkyard and marrying Hilde had been good for him. He lived a normal life, and that had chased the darkness away.

            “Reminiscing?” Arys asked. His wife could read every look in his eye, every expression on his face. It sometimes frightened him how she knew him so well.

            Arys grinned up at him. “We’re married. It’s my job to know you so well.”

            “It’s still scary. No secrets.”

            “No secrets,” Arys repeated.

            Quatre glanced around at all the people that were in his mansion. It was so good to see them. He was glad that everyone had been available. Glad that everyone had been willing to come. Before announcing that dinner was ready to his guests, he took them all in. He couldn’t believe that they were all in one place, all together, especially at a time like this.

            Arys and Mei stood over in one corner by the large picture window, cradling cups of hot tea in their hands, deftly switching between hands when they needed to motion in a certain direction during their conversation. Quatre knew that the two women could switch hands with their guns as easily as brushing their teeth. And not one drop of tea had spilt on the polished marble floor.

            Triniti, Hilde, and Nari were sitting on the plush leather sofa, sampling the hors d’oeuvres on the coffee table and chatting about various things that had been happening in their lives. Triniti, at the moment, seemed to be explaining a circus act that had required her expertise in engineering. Quatre let his gaze linger on Nari’s face. She seemed happy, happy to be able to share in this with him. She had always been such a wonderful hostess and had the ability to connect with anyone.

            Quatre glanced over at the fireplace to see Trowa watching his wife. Trowa was with the other three pilots, but Heero, Duo, and Wufei were doing most of the talking. Duo kept glancing at the fireplace, and Quatre could almost read his mind as to what Duo wanted to ask. Trowa would listen and then glance at his wife, as if worried about her. Trowa saw Quatre’s eyes on him and nodded. Quatre nodded back and smiled. Then, Trowa turned back to the group, trusting Quatre’s judgment that his wife would be okay. Wufei and Heero, who against all odds had become friends during their simultaneous stint with the Preventers on Earth, were talking about their jobs and describing them to Trowa and Duo.

            Hana and Li, the Chang children, were playing with one of Quatre’s Great Danes over by the window where Arys and Mei were standing. He was the gentlest of Quatre’s pets and knew how to handle children.

            One of Quatre’s servants usually performed the duty of the position he was filling now, but these were honored guests and they deserved to be welcomed by their host. He also didn’t think they’d take well to the formality of a servant.

            “Excuse me?” Quatre said above the low din in one of the mansions many sitting rooms.

            All eyes focused on him, and Quatre smiled.

            “Dinner’s ready,” he said simply.

            “Ooooh! Foood!” Duo said, scrambling for the doorway to the dining room, which is exactly what Quatre had expected.

            Dinner was loud, boisterous, and fun. Even Heero was having a good time. Arys and Duo had ended up sitting next to each other and were having one of their famed verbal battles.

            “Duo, can you spell Deathscythe?” Arys asked, trying to hold a serious expression on her face.

            Duo stuck his tongue out at her. “Shut up.”

            “Don’t tell me to shut up, Mr. I-Can’t-Spell-My-Gundam’s-Name.”

            “I can too spell it. I was just teasing you that time.”

            “Sure, sure.”

            “Actually, Arys, he does know how to spell it,” Heero informed her.

            Arys gave him a wounded look. “Aw, Heero, you just spoiled my fun.” She turned to her plate and picked at her food, sulking.

            Duo leaned back so that he could see Heero past Arys’ chair and Heero followed suit. “Thanks,” Duo mouthed.

            “Anytime,” Heero said.

            “So, Quatre.... um..” Duo seemed at a loss for words. “When do you we... um, you know...” He put his hand behind his head, an obvious embarrassed gesture.

            Quatre laughed. “Open presents?”

            Hilde laughed with Quatre. “Duo’s very excited about the gift exchange.”

            “But it’s not Christmas yet!” Hana’s tiny voice spoke up from where she sat beside Mei.

            “Hush, dear.” Mei tried to quiet her daughter.

            “The shrimp’s right, Quatre.” Duo winked at the little girl and received a beaming smile in return. “We should wait till tomorrow morning.”

            “Actually, Duo, I had planned for the gift exchange tonight. That way all of you can have your own Christmas Day time together tomorrow morning and we can meet for lunch.”

            “That’s a wonderful idea, Quatre,” Arys said.

            As they all finished up the meal, the conversation continued non-stop. It was amazing that anything was eaten at all.

            “So, does everyone think dessert after the gift exchange works?” Quatre asked as they all leaned back, letting the servants begin clearing the table.

            He got a chorus of yesses in reply, even from Duo.