A Second Chance.12 R (2xR)

[Fate Lowe]

AN: Hey guys! I know it's late but here it is. The latest installment of A Second Chance. Enjoy!

A Second Chance
Chapter 12
By: Fate Lowe

*****

?Hey Duo! Can I ask you a weird question??
?Yeah, shoot.?
?We?ve known each other for years but you?ve never celebrated your birthday. Why is that??
?Because, for as long as I can remember, no one ever asked when it is.?
?Oh, well, when is it??
?Actually??

Duo looks at the calendar on the wall.

?In three days.?
?Oh, wow! We?ll have to do something.?
?That really isn?t necessary.?
?Come on, it?s just us out here. It?s not like it?ll be some huge party, just something simple.?
?If you insist, ?jousan.?

*****

Three days later finds Relena in the kitchen of the small cabin, with an apron tied around her slim waist. Duo peeks around the corner. Relena spins around.

?Out of the kitchen.? she says waving a wooden spoon at him.

Duo chuckles and walks closer. He wets a paper towel and wipes flour off of Relena?s face.

?Are you sure that you don?t want me to do anything??
?Actually, there is one thing.?

Duo?s eyes light up.?

?Really, what??
?Get out of the kitchen.? Relena says, laughing, as she pushes Duo towards the living room.
?Ok, ok, I get the point.?

Laughing, Duo turns around and heads out of the kitchen.

?I?m gonna take a nap.? he calls out, heading up the stairs.

An hour later, Duo wakes with a start to the noise of the smoke detectors. He jumps out of bed and runs downstairs. He sees smoke coming from the kitchen.

?Lena, babe, you ok!??

He rounds the corner and spies Relena standing in the middle of the kitchen, almost in tears. He runs over to her and sees the cake, burnt to a crisp, in the sink. He walks over and opens a window, before walking back over to Relena. He enfolds her in his arms, the whole time trying not to laugh.

?It?s ok, babe.?
?But, that was your cake. I wanted it to be perfect. But, while I was cooking dinner, I lost track of time and now look at it.?
?I don?t need a cake anyway. You?re safe that?s all that matters. Why don?t you go get cleaned up. I?ll finish up in here.?
?Ok.?

Relena pulled out of the embrace and went upstairs. Duo watched her until she was out of sight. When he heard the shower start, he let out his laughter.

After dinner, Relena insisted on cleaning up, so Duo went outside and sat on the front porch swing. He was just starting to doze off when he felt the swing shift. He opened his eyes and was presented with a store bought brownie with a candle sticking out of it.

?Happy Birthday Duo.?

He blew out the candle and they shared the brownie as they watched the sunset.

*****

The next day they went into a nearby town to get some supplies for the last week of their stay. They were chatting with the cashier when they overheard a group of people.

?What?s this about a big storm?? Duo asked the kind old man.
?Oh, you haven?t heard??
?No, we don?t have any way to find out ?bout anything.?
?Oh, you?re the couple that are honeymooning up on the mountain aren?t you??
?Oh, no-no. Yeah, we?re stayin? up there but we aren?t a couple, let alone newlyweds.?
?Oh, I?m sorry. It?s just the way you two act around each other. I just assumed.?

Duo looked over at Relena, who had a slight blush on her cheeks.

?I?m gonna go wait by the door.?
?Ok, ?jousan.?

Relena walked off, Duo watching her the whole way. The elderly cashier chuckled.

?What??
?You two might not be together, but you love her anyway.?

Duo glanced over and smiled softly.

?How could you tell??
?The look you?re giving her now is a dead giveaway.?
?Yeah, can?t help it. She?s been my best friend for so long but she?ll never see me as anything else.?
?Never say never kid.?

With that Duo picked up the bags and left, completely forgetting about the storm that was rolling in.

*****

The next night, during dinner, the lights went out.

?Oh shit. Sit here while I get a flashlight and find some candles or something.?

Duo got up and stumbled through the dark to the cabinets. He grabbed the flashlight and turned it on. He rummaged through drawers and cabinets until he found what he was looking for. He walked back over to the table and set up the tapered candles before lighting them and sitting back down.

?There we go. We?ll finish eating then figure out what we?re gonna do ?bout the rest of the house.?

They started eating again. While eating, Duo stole a glance at Relena across the table and found that he couldn?t take his eyes away. He watched the way the candlelight played across the planes of her face and made her eyes shine.

?God she?s beautiful. Maybe that guy was right. I know I love her, but how would she react to my feelings?'

Relena looked up and noticed Duo had stopped eating.

?Duo, what?s wrong??
?Huh, oh nothing.? Duo said, snapping out of his thoughts.
?Oh, ok.?

They both continued eating in silence. Relena glanced up this time.

?I wonder why he was staring at me.?

She watched the candlelight cast shadows over his face and shine through his hair.

?He really is handsome. I know I could trust my heart to him, but he?d never want me. I?m damaged goods.?

This time it was Duo who glanced up and locked eyes with Relena. They both quickly looked away and finished dinner.

*****

When they woke up the next morning, they were snowed in, snow covering half the house. The power had not returned and didn?t look likely to do so anytime soon.

?Well, I guess it was a good thing that I brought in all the firewood.? Duo said.
?Yeah, but now what??
?I guess we wait.?

The rest of their vacation was spent indoors. They spent the days reading or just talking about everything and anything that came to mind. The nights they spent on a makeshift bed in front of the fireplace.

It was on one of these nights that Duo finally built up the courage to broach the subject that had been on both their minds.

?Lena, I have something that I really want to tell you, but I?m afraid you may never talk to me again.?
?There?s nothing that you could tell me that would cause me to do that Duo. What is it that you want to say??

Duo swallowed nervously before looking into her eyes.

?Relena, I?ve fallen in love with you.?

Relena was speechless. She looked away, into the fire. Duo saw the firelight reflect off a tear as it fell down her cheek.

?I?m sorry, Lena. I didn?t mean to make you cry. Just forget I said anything.?
?I can?t do that, Duo. I can?t forget what you?ve said.?

She looked back at him.

?Please, say it again.?
?What??

Relena wrapped her arms around Duo and looked up at him.

?Say it again, Duo. Say you love me.?

Duo enfolded Relena in a tight embrace. He buried his face in her hair and whispered in her ear.

?I love you, Lena. I always have.?
?I love you too, Duo.?

Duo pulled back, surprised. He searched her eyes and found what he wanted. He pulled her back to him and his lips found hers in a tender kiss. He pulled away slightly, leaving his forehead against hers, not wanting to break contact.

?Why didn?t you say anything sooner??
?Like I said, I was scared of our reaction. I didn?t think it would be like this. You??
?I didn?t think you could ever love me. I?m damaged now, after my relationship with Heero.?
?The fact that you are strong enough to live through that only makes me love you more.?

That night they fell asleep with blissful smiles on their faces, knowing they would never be separated.

*****

AN: I hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know what you think. 'Til next time. Ja.