~*~

Duo and Hilde silently watched as the two ate their food. Other than the occasional ‘Please pass…’ whatever, clearly directed to them, Heero and Relena never looked up from their plates, neither did they even try to make any type of conversation…

Something happened. They left for a month to look for their perfect honeymoon spot, and to bag a deal with a software company, thinking that the two would finally settle their differences and what did they came back to? The Arctic!

Sometimes, they only had to look at each other to send a message… and this was one of them…

Duo hammered his fist on Heero’s door. He’s driven, motivated, and he has a purpose! He couldn’t care less if Heero was a good fighter… well… maybe a little, but he’s not gonna back down! It was happening again! Relena was obviously heartbroken. How could Heero do this to her?! The asshole just doesn’t have any heart!

As soon as that thought left his mind, Heero opened the door with a scowl on his face. Duo’s eyes slanted in anger. Before Heero could speak, Duo’s knuckles punched him on the nose, then his stomach. Heero stumbled back into his room and Duo slammed the door closed behind him.

"What the hell did I tell you about hurting her?!"

"Oh Relena…" Hilde hugged her friend and Relena tiredly placed her head on Hilde’s shoulder.

"I mean… It was… everything was perfect… and then… he just turned cold… No reasons… no explanations…"

"Hey, it’s going to be okay."

"I don’t care." Relena whispered as she closed her eyes and willed those demented tears away. "Oh darn it… What am I doing anyway? I knew this was going to happen sooner or later… Better it happened sooner, than later…"

"Relena… stop thinking like that. Hey…" Hilde gently pushed Relena away to look at her in the eyes, to show her that she understood. "Men are slow. They’re all slow. Look at Duo and me… How long had we known each other? How long had we lived in the same house? How many hours a day do we see each other?" Hilde rolled her eyes. "Consider yourself lucky that you didn’t have to live with the man of your dreams under the same roof for… God knows I don’t want to keep count of the years! Now that was torture! And him not even looking at my side!"

A strangled laugh escaped Relena’s lips as she heard Hilde’s frustration set upon a humorous light. "Hilde, you’re a gem."

Hilde shook her head. "No… I’m your friend…" She quickly stood up, pulling Relena along. "Come on… You need sleep. I don’t want you to have eye bags for tomorrow’s conference… I’ll give you some pills."

Relena shrugged. "Fine with me…" That was how she had been catching sleep these past few days anyway.

Heero felt another blow to the side of his head.

"I warned you, Yuy!"

He didn’t even bother to cover his face and let Duo’s knuckles rain on him. He could already hear ringing in his ears… feel blood trickle down his nose… but he didn’t care… Why not feel just as badly on the outside?

"Heck, Yuy! Why won’t you fight back?" Duo grabbed Heero’s collar and started pounding his friend’s head on the floor. When no blows came back, no struggles from the perfect soldier, Duo stopped and stared at him in confusion. Slowly, his initial anger dropped down to a controllable level…

"Heero? Dude… Are you okay?" Duo dropped down on his knees to shake him. He was still breathing… Man! He couldn’t have done more than just stun him for a few minutes… the man survived damn self-detonating inside a Gundam, for heaven’s sake!

Heero opened his eyes and stared right into Duo’s worried eyes. "Thanks… You should have punched harder though." He sat up, shook his head only once, and then jumped to a stand. His face and body stung with Duo’s hard punches, but he will not show it.

Duo’s jaw dropped. ‘Should have punched harder…?’ He frowned. "What the hell is going on in this nuthouse?!"

With his shoulders slumped, Heero walked to his window and then leaned against the wall. Slowly, he looked down at the cuts and bruises that were still fresh on his knuckles. Hilde and Duo’s surprise visit two days after that… that event… He just wasn’t himself yet…

Duo walked to Heero and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Heero? What happened?" When his friend didn’t answer, Duo sighed, walked to the other side of the window, and then leaned against that side of the wall. "Come on…Tell me. I know I’m no expert at this…" He pushed a hand through his hair in frustration. "Hell! My life was a wreck before, too. But… try me… Sometimes, it helps a person feel better, talking, you know."

After a few more seconds of silence, his lips moved. "She’s what’s wrong." The phrase was said in a deep growl as he elbowed the wall behind him. Why did he even talk?!

"Relena?" Duo frowned as he scratched his head. "I knew that all ready. What I wanted to know was what’s wrong with both of you!"

"Nothing! There isn’t anything between us anyway!"

Duo was expecting a monosyllable, or a grunt, not an actual sentence that didn’t answer his question. Well, seemed like he’s gonna have to do a little prodding before he learns what’s up. "You know…" He reached out and gave Heero’s shoulder a pat. "Relena is hard to resist… Half the male population loves and adores her like a little sister who has beauty and brains, while the other half just wants to get their little hands in her panties."

The murderous glare that came his way was expected, but he hadn’t expected to feel as though he should be running for the next hill! Duo gulped… maybe he shouldn’t have said that last sentence…? Even if it were to make Heero mad as hell that he’d start talking…?

"Just be happy that I know you’re in love with Hilde… or else you’ll find yourself six feet under ground." Heero’s voice shook with barely controlled anger. The mere thought that half the male population—whatever Duo said! The… Why the hell is… Dammit! He’s so confused! He looked down on his bruised hands… then up at Duo while broken words spilled from his mouth. He must know… "How… how did you know that it was Hilde, Duo? How did you know?"

He was ready for any kind of question but that one! Duo gawked at Heero until Heero’s eyes met his and right then and there, Duo felt the pain Heero was experiencing from inside… His friend was good, covering his emotions, but sooner or later, he was going to have to let go… and it was later, now… Duo sighed. "Helluva question to ask, Yuy…"

"Why? You don’t know the answer?" Heero muttered under his breath… He didn’t even know why he asked that. He turned away with a huff, embarrassed with his question. "Forget it."

"No… I want to answer." Duo couldn’t help the smile that left his lips as he looked outside the window and imagined his wife. "I knew it was Hilde because… every time I wake up in the morning I knew that she was there, ready to start the day with me. When she’s the first person I see and the last before I go to sleep, my day’s complete."

Heero watched the emotions flit over Duo’s face from under his unruly thick brown bangs. Sometimes, he envy him- his openness…

Duo let a few minutes slide before he said his next few words just as memories assailed him. "I never noticed it before, but when she was in a coma… When she was nearly kidnapped, I knew that I never wanted to lose her…" Duo looked up at Heero and gave a half smile. "Because of a lot of things, Heero… I will never be able to point at one and say that it was because of that… it’s a lot, rolled into one… I love her and the moment I realized that, I was the happiest man in the world."

Heero nodded. He saw that truth on Duo’s face every time. "When did you know?" The question left his lips before he could stop it.

Duo grinned. His friend was in an unusual questioning mode. "Heh… I dunno… Probably from the very start when she was glaring down her cute little nose at me and scolding me about doing nothing when there was a war out there… and the funny thing was, she didn’t know that I was right in the middle of it… I just couldn’t accept it then…" Duo looked away, a sad smile on his face. If he had been more truthful with himself, he would have lived a longer life of bliss… but, right now, they’re having fun catching up on lost time.

Heero shook his head… Damn! Duo cut too close… He couldn’t be… he couldn’t be in love with Relena… He just couldn’t be! He’s not allowed to feel those things. He’s not supposed to feel those things… He’s not… "I’m not ready for this…" Heero slid down the wall with a groan, bent down, and grabbed his hair in frustration. You would have thought that after killing so many people, after being soulless, nameless, and emotionless for nearly half of his life, he would be ready for something like this…

Duo frowned as he stared at Heero… He knew that Heero’s fighting an inner demon but he must realize that- "Heero, none of us are ready for it… It just sorta hits us… And man… we may be strong, but when we fall… we fall hard and flat on our faces… We’re just human, Heero… we’re just like any other average human being…" Duo looked at Heero significantly. They may know more and do more, but they have the same feelings.

"Duo, you don’t understand…" It was more complicated than that…

He could barely hear Heero’s voice and Duo stooped, balanced his weight on the balls of his feet, and- "Try me…"

A minute passed… Two, before he spoke again, and it pained him to hear those words from his lips. "She loves someone else…"

Duo nearly fell down on his rump! He gawked, stared, and then blinked at Heero in surprise. "Excuse me?" Was that squawk from him?!

Heero straightened, eyes still closed as he bumped his head against the wall. "I said she loves someone else." He couldn’t believe that he’s telling Duo these things!

"Excuse me?" He knew he sounded like a parrot… but what the hell?

Heero’s eyes opened in slits and glared at him. For a moment, Duo felt better after he saw the familiar look- the Heero he knew…

"Are you trying to irritate me?"

"Dude, you’re confusing me!" Duo pushed his hand through his thick hair for lack of anything else to do. "For one thing, Relena doesn’t love anyone but-" He stopped his tongue just in time… It’s for Relena to say, not him…

"But?" Heero’s sharp eyes knew that Duo was holding something back…

"Uhm… nothing…" He cleared his throat. "And you can’t make me say it either. Anyway, why did you say she loves someone else?" He dropped down on his buttocks and sat on the floor, beside Heero, Indian style. He’s gonna get to the bottom of this even if it kills him!

Heero’s glare hardened as he forgot Duo’s comment and focused on that… that painful day. "I don’t just jump to conclusions, like someone I know."

Duo flinched. He schooled his face to show a ‘Who? Me?’ look and earned another heartfelt omae wo kurosu glare from his friend.

"I heard it."

Duo shook his head and his braid swished to and fro… There couldn’t be anyone else… "What’s the guy’s name?" He saw a silent snarl leave Heero’s lips before the poor man spoke.

"Charlie."

Duo gave him an incredulous stare but Heero’s glare didn’t waver and… Slowly, Duo’s wild imagination made sense of the whole situation… The whole, sordid- "MWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!" Duo fell on his back as he clutched his stomach. But his laughter was cut short when he felt a hand grab his throat. "Ergh… Heero… let go…"

"Stop laughing." The threat was clear and strong.

With his oxygen being cut off, Duo could only nod.

Heero instantly let him go. He never meant to hurt Duo anyway, just stop him from laughing. "Why did you laugh?"

Duo coughed exaggeratedly then grinned up at him. "Heero, my man, sorry to say but you’re one love sick guy."

"Shut up, Maxwell." If Duo teases him one more time-

Duo wiped the smirk off his face as he saw the dangerous glint in Heero’s eyes. "Well, anywayz… I’m happy to announce that I only know one Charlie in Relena’s life…"

Heero’s raised eyebrow prompted him to continue- if he values his life.

"Charlie is Relena’s stepbrother. Her mom married his dad a few years after the war. They kinda hit it off ‘coz they’re both onlys… you know, only kid." He looked for any signs of recognition on Heero’s face and found none… "Er… Heero… You haven’t been keeping in touch with her family ties, have you?"

"Why would I want to keep up with issues concerning her when I just want to forget about her?" Heero snorted. Of course, he will not tell Duo that he never did a good job of it. "Besides, stepbrothers do not kiss stepsisters on the lips."

Duo frowned. "Now… wait… when did he kiss her?"

"Two days ago." Heero went back to his original position by the wall.

"You saw him kiss her?" Duo’s frown deepened. Much as he liked the way Heero had opened up, he was starting to wonder if Relena and Charlie really were more than… nah… can’t be!

"I have a 15-15 vision. I saw what I saw from where I was. They hugged each other, Charlie leaned down to Relena, and then they kissed."

"Whoa! Back track there a bit… Was his back to you?" He’s trying to comprehend whatever’s happening here as best as he could…

"Yes. So what?"

A knock from outside made their gazes swivel to the door.

"Duo? Are you still in there?" Hilde hesitantly asked and from inside, Duo grinned as Hilde’s voice made him remember something. Maybe he should pair Charlie up with someone, after this. With all the situations the poor guy gets himself into, it will save his life to have a girlfriend.

"Heero, watch and learn… I’m not the only one who jumps to conclusion." He walked to the door then opened it. "Hilde… help me with a li’l experiment." Before she could answer, he pulled Hilde inside and didn’t even bother to close the door. "Yuy, watch and learn." Duo stepped in front of Heero’s line of vision and then leaned down.

"Watch you kiss Hilde? What’s to learn from that?" Heero sarcastically groused.

"You come over here and look." Duo retorted, a bit impatient, while Hilde frowned at Duo, wanting to question him, but that silencing look he gave stopped her.

Heero wearily stood up, walked to the side and saw Duo… kissing Hilde’s cheek…

"A stepbrother can kiss a stepsister’s cheek, now can’t he?" Duo let go of Hilde, faced a stilled Heero, and then grinned at his friend’s reaction. "Now look who’s been jumping to conclusions."

"Oh my…! Heero! What happened to you?! You’re bleeding!" Hilde gasped as she got a good look at Heero’s bleeding nose and the cut on his cheek.

"It’s nothing." Duo and Heero answered as they stared at each other and then Heero looked away and grabbed his forehead.

"Damn!"

Duo smiled. "It’s hard, isn’t it? But hey, we learn… How about if you go to Relena right now and talk to her?"

Panic enveloped Heero. ‘Talk to her?’ Now? What could he tell her? How? Where should he start?

"Relena’s sleeping… I gave her some pills because she needs rest for that conference tomorrow." Hilde motioned to Relena’s closed door. "You can talk to her tomorrow… I’d suggest after the conference so she wouldn’t be too shaken."

Duo shrugged. "Sounds like a good idea. Heero, you’ve got everything ready for the conference tomorrow, right?"

Heero glared at Duo. "I may be slow in other areas, but not this one."

"Hallelujah! He admits!" Duo cried out comically.

Hilde saw murder in Heero’s eyes and quickly pushed Duo out of the man’s room. "We’ll see you tomorrow, all right Heero? Good night!"

The door closed behind them and he was by himself once again. Now that the smug grin was gone from his line of vision, he could remember why Duo’s such a good friend… With a quick shake of his head, he dropped down on his bed, aware that he will finally get a good night’s rest…

"Duo! Don’t you know when to stop?!" Hilde whispered with utmost severity.

Duo only grabbed her waist and then twirled her around. By the time they stopped, they were both trying hard to cover their laughter. "I like to tease."

"Too much! Heero was about to kill you! Are you going to turn me into a widow so soon?!" She pulled at his braid while a hand went around his neck. "It’s bad enough that Arche is still on our tail, adding a former Gundam pilot to sniff us out is just making it worse!"

"Nope…" Duo leaned down and then rubbed his nose against her, torturing each other as their lips touched with featherlike kisses. "Forget about Arche. We can handle them. As for those two… they’re gonna settle down soon… I can feel it. So… how about we go to that honeymoon of ours?"

Hilde’s hands stilled Duo’s face and finally pressed her lips against his for a good, long, hard, recklessly wild kiss. Duo pulled her body against his while his hand roamed her back, wanting to feel her skin instead of cloth.

"I guess… that means… yeah…" His breathing became haggard as he talked between passionate kisses.

Hilde drew her lips away then pressed her face against the side of his neck. "Well… I agree with you. I mean, we found the perfect place… Heero and Relena are fine now… We’ve done what we could… I think it’s about time that we move on with our lives."

"Mmm…" With one last kiss on her cheek, Duo leaned down and then scooped her up in his arms.

Hilde gasped while her hands clutched his shirt. "Duo! What are you doing?!"

"Just practicing carrying my bride over the threshold." Duo whispered against her ear as he walked towards her room and hummed the wedding march. "How about we leave tomorrow morning?"

They reached her door and he slowly let Hilde slide down his body. His knees grew weak, but God! That felt good! He wished that they could share the room together but… No one knows that they’re officially married… and they want it to happen in the perfect place…

"Tomorrow morning sounds fine to me." Hilde hugged her Duo one last time for that night. "I’m going to dream of you tonight, my husband."

Duo grinned. He wouldn’t have it any other way. "I love you, my wife."

A soft chuckle left Hilde as she touched her forehead against his chest. "Duo, we’re hopeless."

"Yep." He kissed her hair one last time then stepped back before he could lose control. "Good night."

Hilde nodded as she opened her door. "Good night."

Duo watched as she closed her door then started for his own room, trying to ease his thoughts with their upcoming honeymoon. After searching high and low for the right place for nearly a month, they finally found their paradise island. They rented the whole island, indefinitely, and by tomorrow, they would be in it with no radios, no television, no one. With only a single telephone line that nobody knows about, they are going to relish each other, making sweet, slow, torturous, rapturous love.

Ah… Paradise!