Winter Break
Chapter Seven
May I have this dance?
Hilde couldn’t quite believe it. The first semester of her college career was over! With exams out of the way, the much-needed wave of relief could finally wash over the rather burnt-out academic. Hilde was so ready to go back home for a relaxing break, until she realized she didn’t really have a home to go back to. Sure, she could return to her apartment…her empty, lonely, Duo-less apartment. But what fun would that be during the holidays?
Luckily, Hilde’s guardian angel seemed to be looking out for her…and seemed to come in the form of a courageous doctor with a hairstyle that held an uncanny resemblance to an ever-popular breakfast food. Yes, the croissants were a styling mystery causing wondrous whispers reaching far beyond the corridors of the Preventers’ base.
Shaking the thoughts of Sally’s delectable hairstyle out of her head, Hilde was overjoyed with the thought of spending her break with one of her best friends and mentors. Hilde barely let Sally get out all of the words to offer her the invitation before shouting an enthusiastic YES!
When learning of Hilde’s plans to go with Trowa to Quatre’s party, Sally contained her amusement, only letting a Cheshire cat smile slip past her defenses, and suggested that they meet Trowa and Catherine on Colony L3 before the party. It was right on the way, and it would be nice to arrive all together. Sally couldn’t believe she sounded so calm when suggesting the idea, for her insides were practically bursting to ask about this new relationship that seemed to be forming between the usually reserved Gundam pilot and her younger friend.
Sally desperately fought the urge to seek out some gossip or ask Hilde further questions about Trowa, as the topic seemed so nonchalant to the girl. However there was one thing Sally could do to help “move things along”. Thinking it would be fun to have a little romantic spice in the air, Sally was determined to make Hilde a knockout for the upcoming party…then she could see what was really cooking in the love department when she got to judge Trowa’s reaction to her makeover magic.
~*~*~
“Sally Po! I can’t believe you talked me into this dress,” Hilde scolded her friend as she passed to observe herself in the mirror before heading out the door. Adorned in a slim, shimmering lavender number, Hilde was quite a sight to behold. The girl still was in shock that it was party night already, and could barely contain her anxiety, anticipation and dread.
“Too late now,” Sally chuckled at her irritated companion. “If you stare at yourself any longer, the party is going to be over before we get there. Admit it, you look good and you know it.”
“Well,” Hilde smirked, “I suppose it is a little different from what I usually wear.” The sparkles gleamed as if she had danced in fairy dust, and the delicate flow of the neckline draped seductively low. However, the long length of the dress made the whole ensemble capture the elegant simplicity and fairytale quality of a pixie princess, with soft, shimmering makeup completing the look.
“Yeah, just a little different,” Sally agreed wryly as she grabbed the dark-haired girl and rushed to the shuttle-ship.
All settled in, they headed for L3. “We don’t want to keep our little Trowa waiting, do we now?” Sally remarked with a sugary smile, only causing Hilde to give her one heck of an eye-roll.
~*~*~
Is it possible for me to be any more nervous? Hilde wondered as she was face to face with the most longed for and feared moment of her entire Winter Break, while Trowa now stood beside her in front of Quatre’s enormous mansion.
Sally and Hilde’s stop on L3 had been a quick one, as they were running late. There was only enough time for a few pleasantries to be exchanged before Trowa and Catherine jumped in Sally’s personal shuttle bound for the Winner estate on L4.
Sally and Catherine stood closely behind the two youths now ringing the bell on the elaborately carved door of Quatre’s home. All the while, the women exchanged devilish looks, eyeing their two younger companions like cats gazing at canaries. Oh yes, Sally did get the recognition in Trowa’s eye she was looking for. She had hardly believed that the quiet boy’s usually stone-faced appearance could grow as shocked or as soft upon Hilde’s approach. Yet if she had blinked, she would have missed the whole thing entirely. Catherine, on the other hand, who knew her little brother’s every move and every look, immediately enlisted Sally to encourage the match. She knew Trowa’s heart was not easily touched…but this girl…Hilde…she might be the one.
The door of the Winner mansion finally opened into a fantastic dreamscape, as the four guests entered a world of holiday wonders. Instead of a typical red and green holiday color scheme, the theme was of a glittering, silvery ice palace! Hilde and her pixie-like, sparkling form fit right in! Shimmering snowflake decorations hung from the ceiling like a cascade of falling stars in the night sky. A multitude of tinsel and garland adorned the halls, was round about columns, and up upon staircases. Hilde had never seen anything quite like the fairytale before her and gasped, rather loudly, at the beauty of Quatre’s extravagant preparations.
Trowa gazed warmly at his companion, who had never before experienced Quatre’s luxurious home and enthusiasm for festive get-togethers.
The man himself soon appeared, as Trowa lightly nudged Hilde out of her reverie to greet him.
“Trowa! How are you? I haven’t seen you in ages!” Quatre exclaimed, rushing up to his guests.
“Quatre, yet again, you have outdone yourself,” Trowa remarked as the two exchanged a warm handshake.
“And Catherine, my you look lovely,” Quatre complimented, “and Dr. Po, too! I’m so glad you could make it.”
The handsome blonde then turned his attention to the pretty young woman who stood next to Trowa. He had to stare at her a bit, when after a moment, he looked pleasantly surprised at his sudden realization.
“Why, Hilde, is that you?”
“Hello, Quatre. I wasn’t sure if you even remembered me. Thank you for inviting me to this wonderful party,” Hilde graciously told her host.
“One doesn’t forget such a face so easily,” Quatre said smoothly, causing a smile from Hilde and a wince from Trowa, which luckily went unnoticed. “I’m so glad you all are here, please follow me into the banquet hall. The others would surely be angry if I kept you all to myself.”
~*~*~
Following her companions, Hilde stepped into the main hall expecting the worst. However, they were greeted with the warm smiles of a number of tipsy Manguanacs and welcomes from Noin, Lady Une, Wufei, Dorothy Catalonia, and Millardo Peacecraft. Many business associates of Quatre’s were also there, as well as his twenty-nine sisters scurrying about trying to manage the event. Hilde let out a sigh of relief as no Duo and Relena were to be found.
Eager to speak with her Preventer friends, who had made sure to look after her when Duo left, the night begin pleasantly for Hilde, as she perused the overloaded food tables and mingled with the other guests. All the while Trowa had kept a close watch over the girl, and even let a small grin escape at her wonderful laughter and smile as she spoke with some of the Manguanacs, who were probably relating one of their hilarious stories about the pranks they pull on their Master.
A hand on his shoulder disturbed the green-eyed youth from his observations, as he turned to meet the beaming face of Quatre Winner.
“Trowa, my friend, you must tell me more about this Hilde Schbieker,” the blonde encouraged.
“Oh?” was Trowa’s only response, using his expected succinct answers to his advantage this time.
“I mean, I remember she was Duo’s girl, but I’ve never seen her like this. She’s fantastic.”
“She was never Duo’s girl,” Trowa remarked in monotone.
“Ok, friend, I suppose,” Quatre brushed the comment aside. “You go to school with her. What’s she really like?”
If Quatre had been aware of another’s feelings like his usual empathic self, if he hadn’t been so loosened by wine or clouded with a crush, he would have noticed the slight tone of hurt in the taller boy’s answer.
“She’s everything a man could want,” Trowa said before walking away.
When most of the guests had arrived and the banquet tables had been ransacked, music began to play and couples slowly started moving to the ballroom. It was at this time, during the mass congregation, that Quatre took advantage of the opportunity to slip towards Hilde and persuade her to join him for the first dance.
“How is it we have scarcely spoken before this night?” Quatre asked the lavender beauty in his arms with the faintest trace of a purr in his voice.
Hilde smiled at the pick-up line. “Has anyone told you just how suave you are, Mr. Winner?”
His blue eyes laughed at her counter remark. “How suave am I?”
Hilde giggled. “A little too suave for your own good.”
They fell into easy conversation after that. Quatre had always been the innocent type, yet Hilde knew he was a little seducer at heart. He was charming, friendly, and charismatic, but still a tough former Gundam pilot who was ready for anything. Overall, the handsome blonde possessed the perfect ingredients to make one hell of a businessman.
As the dance ended, Hilde thanked her partner for the waltz. She was given in return a kiss on the hand in apology for rushing away so soon, as he had to meet some guests who would be arriving shortly.
It was strange, but Hilde soon felt a hint of remembrance in the air, as she suddenly grew a bit cold and looked about for a familiar face. However, she was infused with a growing warm as she felt two hands catch her own.
“May I have this dance?”
Hilde turned to meet a gentle green gaze. “Of course!” she answered, and smiled as Trowa gracefully led her back to the middle of the dance floor.
She didn’t know why, but she was blushing a bit, for the song was rather slow and the space between them seemed to be disappearing with every step. He looked painfully handsome, too, dressed to kill in a black tuxedo. Trowa’s hands finally settled on her hips, and she rested her hands on his shoulders, which seemed much broader up close than she had previously thought.
How mysterious he is, Hilde pondered, intrigued by the man who possessed such strength and a countenance so quiet, viewed by some as almost cold…yet whose touch was so delicate, and whose gaze could be so tender that no words were even needed to express what feelings lie in his fingertips and those hunter green depths.
Hilde had almost lost herself in the music and Trowa’s arms, when some murmurs cascading through the room caused her to look up at her companion. His gaze had grown a bit steely towards the entrance of the ballroom, and she turned to see what all of the commotion was about, as her stomach suddenly grew queasy before her brain could register the sight that almost destroyed her.
Her arms slowly sliding off Trowa’s shoulders in shock, Hilde gazed at the newest couple to arrive at the party. The angelic Relena Darlian was speaking to Quatre as she stood arm in arm with a devilishly handsome Duo. Relena, of course, was a mark of perfection, dressed in a delicate, champagne pink number, while Duo stood as delicious arm candy, tailored in all black.
Hilde knew she was staring, but just couldn’t stop as Relena lightly stoked Duo’s arm, laughing at something Quatre had said. She proceeded to jest her boyfriend, who made a remark that sent the whole group laughing and then gave his date a quick peck on the cheek.
It was the kiss that did it. The kiss that sealed the perfect picture of a couple so happy, so in love. At that time, the room had grown quite warm, all of the voices seemed to fade away, and Hilde was now convinced she would surely start to hyperventilate if she did not get out of there that instant. Mumbling something to Trowa about getting some air, Hilde made her way to the exit, turning to avoid the happy couple, when suddenly WHAM!!!
She was flying, or rather, she had been lifted completely off the ground and squeezed into a gigantic bear hug. Dear Lord, there was only one person who could give hugs like that.
“Hilde!!! Babe!!! How the heck are ya? How’s college life? Food pretty bad?” Duo asked after he proceeded to put the girl down.
She froze. Hilde was now as stiff as an icicle, unable to move, unable to breathe. Why did he do this to her? It was torture, horrible torture…couldn’t he see? He had touched her, stirred feelings deep beneath her current frosty exterior. And she could never have him…
“Hilde? Hilde? You ok?” she heard him ask, and was just about to collapse, shatter into a thousand ice pieces, when she felt a warm hand support her back, and melt some life back into her.
“Barton?” Duo questioned in a slightly surprised, aggravated tone, as Trowa now stood protectively next to Hilde.
“Duo,” Trowa addressed him simply, with a rather hard glare that sent the two men into a staring contest.
It was then Relena appeared with Quatre at the scene and soothed the tension in the air, as she took Death’s arm in hers and smiled sweetly at Trowa. Hilde had finally regained her strength, mainly because of Trowa’s presence, and took this opportunity to speak, trying her best to be all politeness.
“Duo, Relena,” she said with much more composure than she had expected, “I am sorry to have worried you. I am not feeling very well this evening and must be leaving shortly.”
“But Hil,” Duo protested. “I haven’t even had a chance to talk with you. I know we haven’t kept in touch lately, with your schoolwork and my Preventers work and all, but I was hoping to catch up tonight.”
Hilde only shook her head, avoiding eye contact with those pleading purple puppy dog orbs. “I really can’t stay any longer,” she stood her ground, whispering, “I couldn’t bear it.”
Duo was about to protest again, but Relena jumped in, “I’m very sorry to hear that, Hilde,” she said gently, “but perhaps during your next break, you’d come by and visit us. I hear of nothing but you, and would very much like to get to know you better.”
“Yes perhaps.” Hilde softly answered.
“May I offer you a shuttle to get home?” Quatre suggested. “One of my attendants could accompany you if your party would like to stay longer.”
“That is very kind of you, Quatre,” Hilde said, “But, I think I would like Trowa to take me home.” She looked up at the tall man standing beside her, “If that’s alright with you, of course.”
He slipped a ghost of a smile to her, and grasping a sheltering arm around the girl, whisked her past Duo and Relena, following Quatre to make preparations to leave. It was decided they would take Quatre’s offered shuttle back to L3, where Hilde could stay until Sally and Catherine arrived later.
~*~*~
The ride to L3 was quiet, to say the least, as Hilde sat silent and numb in the seat next to Trowa, who wasn’t quite sure how to go about consoling her, and therefore decided to simply concentrate on piloting the ship. Luckily the trip was short, and soon the two youths were sitting in the comfort of Trowa’s trailer, sipping on some coffee he had made. However, after only a quick conversation about the circus life, they once again sat in silence, until at last the concerned boy couldn’t take his companion’s somber expression a moment longer.
“Wanna talk about it?” Trowa’s words lightly coated the quiet air, and Hilde looked up at him. Trowa wanting to talk? Now there was something new. He really must be worried about her. Hilde herself didn’t quite know what was wrong with her.
“I don’t know what happened to me, Trowa,” she said at last. “How could I have been that weak?”
“You don’t have to be strong all of the time,” Trowa told her.
“I just…I just realize now that I loved him so much. I’m angry that I still--”
She stopped suddenly. “I’m just angry at how he can make me fall apart.”
“No,” Trowa said, which caused her to look up and catch his smoldering gaze. “I won’t let you fall apart.”
The green-eyed youth had expressed volumes in a deep stare and simple words. Hilde was overwhelmed by his concern. She jumped from her chair and flew to him, catching the stoic youth off-guard in a tremendous hug.
“I know you’re protecting me,” she whispered, “thank you.” Normally, she would not have been so forward, she would not have whispered in such an intimate position; Hilde would not have done a lot of things. But it seemed right, and she was touched by the kindness of this mysterious boy.
Trowa held his breath. Tense at first, his muscles seemed to meld against the little ball of soft lavender nestled in his arms. He never before realized how small Hilde was, how fragile she seemed now. Her enormous smile and usual sunny disposition seemed to make her at least a foot taller. But as she hugged him tightly for a moment, her still form resting lightly against his, he suddenly realized what Duo had been bragging about a year earlier.
I’m telling you, man, most of the time, she’s this beam of sunshine, she can light up a room with that smile…but it’s those other times that I love her most, the quiet times, when you hug her—God, she fits so easily into a hug--it’s like you never want to let go…
Trowa couldn’t understand why Duo had never taken the plunge, never decided to seriously date the girl whom he could talk about for hours. But thinking back on Duo’s words, Trowa suddenly felt like he was trespassing. Even if Duo didn’t want Hilde, she still wanted the God of Death. And Trowa wasn’t about to get involved in this battle of hearts any further than he already had. His heart was growing a little too attached to the pixie-like creature he now held in his arms. It would be wrong of him to confuse her with such feelings, especially in her delicate condition.
“Thank you for being such a good friend,” Hilde said as they parted from their lengthy hug.
Trowa tried to smile at her, although it came out rather sadly. Luckily, the girl was too exhausted to notice, and she accepted Trowa’s offer to nap on his bed. He watched her sleep, intrigued by the quiet sounds of her breathing, until Sally came to claim her. Gently picking the girl up, Trowa hugged Hilde’s sleeping form to him. Surrounded by her light flower-mist scent and sparkle, he carried her to Sally’s shuttle for the journey back to Earth, all the while inaudibly chanting Just a friend, just a friend…
~*~*~
AN: YAY! Another chapter done! I am so sorry this took so long to get out. Unfortunately, I basically can write only during breaks, as engineering is a particularly bad field of study for a fanfic writer. First of all, I’d like to thank everyone who posted responses to the story or sent me emails. Anidee, kmf, Mystic Jade, Silversong, thank you thank you thank you for the wonderful reviews. You really have kept me going. Although it does take me a while to get chapters out, I DO intend to finish this story. I have the whole storyline planned, it is just going to take a little time. I know the multiple couplings probably don’t help to move things along, but I wasn’t going to make it that easily for Trowa and Hilde, c’mon!
I wanted to make this story believable. I’m sure everyone can relate to how feelings between a group of girl and guy friends often get mixed up and passed around before they finally become settled, believe me, I’ve had some first hand experience. Romantic relationships between friends don’t happen overnight and Tro and Hil weren’t even really friends to begin with, thus presenting a major hurdle to contend with. When I began this story, I knew I was in for a lengthy ride. But I hope to have at least another chapter out by the end of my winter break, hopefully more. Again, (I can’t say it enough) thank you so much to everyone who has been following this story…your kind comments and patience have meant so much to me! 
I hadnt even realised that you had posted this here! 
I got a kick out of Quatre's part, that little sneaky, suave bugger! I'd like to have seen what he would've been like if he was hitting on Cathy more, hehehehehe. Oh yeah and another thing that I liked about Quatre's part, is::
