What Ever Makes You Happy - Chapter Four

[melodrama]

What Ever Makes You Happy

Okay? I don?t own Gundam Wing? blah, blah, blah?. Can anyone say ?broken record??

Chapter Four


The car slid to a halt with a squeal of tyres. Uncurling his clenched fingers from the steering wheel, Duo drew a forced breath. He knew he was probably over-reacting, even being irrational. But something troubled him, he just didn?t know what. Why did she lie to him? She said nothing was wrong? what had been so bad that she couldn?t, no - wouldn?t, share it with him?

Having made it up the eight flights of stairs in record time, he paused outside their apartment as he fumbled with his keys. The door swung open with an almost ominous creak. Shaking his head, he forced himself to calm down, but his traitorous heart refused to cease its erratic rhythm.

At first glance, his surroundings appeared perfectly normal. What was he expecting to find anyway? He berated himself. He was being so stupid, just because of a dream. Finding himself in the bedroom, he came to an abrupt halt. The bed was neatly made, and the room was in its usual tidy state. The cupboard was slightly ajar, and he wandered across to close it. As he drew level with the mirror, something seemed out of place with the bed in its reflection. Frowning, he turned slowly to see the small, familiar black box that was propped on Hilde?s pillow.

His mouth was dry, and with a trembling hand, he reopened the cupboard door. The empty shelves seemed to stare back at him, mocking him.

?No! I don?t understand. Hilde ??

******

?What is going on Sally??

Heero?s tone was firm, challenging. Sally stared back at him, her expression unrepentant.

?I?m sorry Heero, but it?s not my story to tell.?

Relena shook her head slowly, distressed. Her voice was soft, hushed.

?Something?s wrong though. Isn?t it??

Sally?s silence was all the answer she required. Gently, Relena pressed her hand into Heero?s and gazed out the car window, wishing Pagan could drive faster.

******

The scene that greeted them when they reached the apartment was harrowing. The normally neat home had been ransacked, draws upended, papers everywhere. Moving silently through the rooms, picking their way through the debris, they found Duo huddled on the floor in the bedroom. His shoulders shook, and his face was hidden in his folded arms. He gave no acknowledgment of their presence.

?Duo?? Relena?s voice was soft, as she crouched down beside him. Tentatively, she reached out and touched his arm.

He looked up at her, his eyes vacant and red rimmed.

?Rel??

She nodded softly. He sobbed.

?She?s gone, Rel.?

She moved to take his hands, her eyes brimming, only to find each hand clenched shut. Uncurling his fingers, she found a prescription bottle in one hand and a crumpled piece of notepaper in the other. Taking the paper, she read it silently, a tear escaping to slide undeterred down her cheek.

Duo

I Love You. I?m Sorry. Find Another.

Hilde

She felt Heero move up behind her, leaning over to remove the note from her grasp.

?What happened?? Heero?s voice was level, void of emotion. Duo?s reply was bewildered.

?I don?t know. I don?t?. understand.?

Sally moved slightly, stepping closer and catching Duo?s attention. His eyes narrowed, glinting dangerously.

?You!? he spat ?You! You had something to do with this.?

He rose to his feet, swaying slightly, as he held the hand that still gripped the bottle, out in front of him.

?Your name?s on these! You prescribed them to her. Only yesterday. What are they for? You know something. Tell me! And don?t try and give me any of that patient privilege crap. I have a right to know!?

Looking at the note that Heero had pressed into her hand, Sally sighed.

?What did she tell you, Duo??

?Tell me?? he replied, his words angry, forced.

?Nothing! Zip. Nil. That?s what she told me! Stop stalling Sally. She?s gone. Now tell me why.?

Sally chewed at her lip, imparting the agitated man a measured look.

?Five days ago, Hilde suffered a miscarriage.?

Relena let out a soft gasp. Duo?s face dropped, his expression one of anguish. Sally continued.

?The prescription is for a strong painkiller, to help ease any? discomfort.?

Duo shook his head, confused.

?But? but why couldn?t she tell me? I would have been there for her. There?ll be other chances? why did she leave??

?It?s not as easy as that Duo.? Sally sighed again, rubbing her temples. ?Hilde said she wanted to tell you. I thought you knew??

She looked across at Heero and Relena, unhappy that she was revealing Hilde?s secrets before an audience.

?Duo, we all know the extent of Hilde?s injuries during the war, and how much time it took for her to recover. Well? some things didn?t recover??

?Oh Hilde?? Relena?s exclamation was whisper soft, and Sally was aware that the other woman had been quick to draw a conclusion. She nodded, mournfully.

?Duo, Hilde is unable to sustain a pregnancy.?

His face was stunned, and he appeared as if all the air had been forced from his lungs.

?Find Another.? He whispered.

His movement was stiff and mechanical as he walked to the window, where he pressed his forehead to the cool glass. The room was silent, as time seemed to freeze.

?So basically,? his voice rose hollow and forlorn ?what you?re telling me is that she?s trying to do me a favour.?

Sally was unsure if the question even required an answer. Relena stepped towards him, brushing Heero?s hand aside as he moved to stop her. Standing beside him, she reached up to smooth an errant lock of hair out of his stricken face.

?You are the most important thing in her life, Duo. This is not something she would have taken lightly. You know, I don?t believe I ever saw her happier than when she was with you. I remember when you two finally got together? there?s no way to describe her joy. She never believed she deserved you. You were proof that wonderful things could happen to the most unusual people.

She knows Duo. She knows how much you want a family. How important family is to you. She wanted to be part of your family. In her own misguided way, I believe, she?s trying to let you still have that family.?

?So she thinks I should go find someone else.?

Relena nodded sadly. Duo leant forward, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. His voice was broken, cracking as he whispered into her hair,

?But Rel? Hilde IS my family.?

******

[Tsukiyo]

You're breaking my heart, mel. You have to keep writing... that's all i have to say about that.

~Tsukiyo

[Darkwing]

SOB!...Sigh!...
This is so sad! But sweet indeed. I like this story, and I'm waiting you to write more. Just a thing. Please don't hurt him too much. He doesn't deserve. The same for Hilde.

Bye Bye You are great!

[Beck]

Wow mel, how so heartwrenching!!! I want to cry now And I really look forward to seeing how this is going to work out.

[miyuki_no_nemutai]

Excellent! As your writings usually are... ^_^ I *reallY* cannot wait until the next chapter. ::hinthint:: :razz:

[blackrose]

Oh no! Hilde come back! Duo's already a mess and you haven't been gone 10 minutes! EEEEEK!

Get to writing Mel! And no more stalling!

Love ya,
Rose

[PeRiDoTs13]

oh god. i'm full blown crying now. this can't happen. hilde did not leave!!! SHE DIDN'T!!!!!!! HILDE, DON'T YOU KNO DAT UR THE ONLY ONE DUO WILL EVER LOVE?????? YOU HAVE TO COME BACK!!!!!!!!!! COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!