(D2 Entry) Twenty Questions
Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 10:22 am
Title of Fanfic: Twenty Questions
Penname: Yoiko
Email address: mightyyoiko@hotmail.com
Category: One-Shot
Disclaimers: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor is this story intended to be taken as either a claim to copyright for characters and situations which were not created by me or any intentional form of disrespect toward the creators and rightful owners of the series. Also, I shamelessly borrowed a line from "Steel Magnolias;" I'm sure you'll recognize it when you see it.
Notes: Many thanks to my wonderful beta readers, Babaca and Lilias! You're the best guinea pi--I mean, beta readers a girl could ask for! ^_^
20 Questions
a Gundam Wing fanfic
by Yoiko
"Will you marry me?"
The question had come really out of the blue; they'd been sitting in the garden, alone for a change, and Relena had been nervously picking leaves apart into bits of leaves, and bits of leaves into tinier bits of leaves, before finally working up the nerve to speak. Heero blinked, surprised, and glanced down at her green-smudged fingers, still nervously tearing leaf confetti.
"Ah," he answered.
"Really?" Her hands stilled as she met his eyes at last, a slow smile dawning on her face.
"Ah."
*****
"Would June be all right with you?"
It was only February, and they'd talked about having the wedding as soon as possible--just a small, private affair, for their closest friends and family. June seemed an awfully long way off....
"Ah," Heero said, and Relena smiled, relieved.
*****
"I know we talked about a civil ceremony, but would a traditional wedding be all right?"
Heero hesitated; they'd both been eager to have a quick, solemn ceremony and begin their new life together... but as long as they were waiting until June, they might as well have a more traditional wedding. Perhaps it would be better for Relena, anyway, to have a little of the pomp and circumstance and romance attached to traditional church weddings. She was probably being pressured, by her adoptive mother, if not by the political set, to have a wedding approved by God and not just the state.
"Ah," he said, nodding, and Relena smiled, grateful.
*****
"Heero... if it were a little more formal, that would be all right, wouldn't it?" Relena was blushing a little, looking down at her hands twisting in her lap. Heero sighed quietly. "I mean, a tuxedo for you and a gown for me... I know it's not what we talked about, but it would mean so much to Mother.... That would be all right, wouldn't it?"
"Ah," Heero said, and Relena looked up, and smiled, delighted.
*****
"I was thinking blush and bashful for the colors, along with white, of course. Is that all right with you?"
"Isn't that pink and pink?"
"They're two different shades of pink, and I think they'll be perfect. Don't you agree?"
Heero hesitated a long moment, but in the end decided that it was going to be a perfect day for Relena, no matter what sacrifices had to be made. At least the tuxedo would be black.
"Ah," he said, and Relena beamed at him.
*****
"I've reserved the sanctuary for the first Saturday in June. We need to meet with the minister, though. Will you be able to meet him tomorrow evening?"
Heero rubbed the back of his neck, which suddenly felt knotted and tense. His friends had forewarned him of the kind of questions the minister was likely to ask, and he was a little nervous about it. What if he didn't pass the test with this minister? Would they be able to find another one that would make Relena happy?
After a few moments, he realized she was still waiting for an answer.
"Ah," he said, and Relena smiled at him, never doubting for a moment that her faith in him was well-placed.
*****
"Martin and Mull have agreed to do the photography and videography. That's all right with you, isn't it?"
Heero blinked. Martin and Mull were somewhat famous in the wedding circle--at least, Heero had heard of them before. But they were known for handling the kind of huge, nightmare affairs he and Relena wanted so much to avoid--the kind of overblown weddings that make big news.
Still, they were the best, and he wanted Relena to have the very best.
"Ah," he said. She smiled, and his misgivings melted away.
*****
"I have it narrowed down to three caterers; we need to meet with them and make a final decision. Are you available tomorrow?"
Heero was glad that he could keep his expression impassive when he wanted to; the last thing he needed to do was frown at Relena over wedding plans, even if it was what he felt like. He'd known when he accepted her proposal what he was getting into--a life dictated by public and political demands. He just hadn't expected it to start so soon.
"Ah," he said, though meeting with caterers was the last thing he wanted to spend their precious free time together doing. Relena smiled at him, distracted, and checked off another item on her wedding checklist.
*****
"It's down to two possibilities for the entertainment; I'd like for you to come with me tomorrow to listen to them. Can you be here at two o'clock?"
Heero's shoulders slumped a little; they'd spent the entire day meeting with caterers and looking at pictures of wedding cakes. He'd really hoped they could spend some time alone together this weekend, but it looked like that wasn't going to happen.
"Heero? Two o'clock?"
"Ah."
Relena smiled, and kissed him. He decided it wouldn't be so bad, listening to the entertainers.
*****
"I know we talked about writing our own vows, but the minister has a program all planned out. Is that Ok?"
Heero ran a hand through his hair, hiding his expression for a much-needed moment. The minister was a self-righteous, pompous ass, and Heero resented needing his blessing... especially now that the man was interfering with the most important part of the ceremony! But... Relena was looking at him, hopeful, and he could deny her nothing.
"Ah," he said, and she smiled, and hugged him. When it was all over, they would be man and wife, and *that* was the most important part. Heero decided he could put up with anything the minister could dish out, so long as he kept that in mind.
*****
"I know we were going to keep it small, and I hope you won't be disappointed, but it would cause so many hurt feelings if I had to choose among my friends. Do you think you can come up with five groomsmen?"
Heero gaped at her for a moment. Five groomsmen? *Five*? It would mean asking Zechs to stand up for him, and that was likely to go over as well as a lead balloon. But... it would make Relena so happy, especially if her estranged brother could be part of the wedding.
Heero swallowed his pride.
"Ah," he said, and Relena squeezed his hand, understanding what she'd just asked of him, and what it meant that he agreed.
*****
"I know we were going to have a maximum of 20 guests at the reception, but really, the whole thing's been so blown out of proportion... it looks like the wedding's going to have at least 1,500 invited guests. I know it's not what we planned... but it will still be our day. Right, Heero?"
"Ah," Heero agreed absently, appalled at the very notion. Relena had moved on to discussing invitations and calligraphers and embossing and engraving, and he was still stuck, a little wild-eyed, on the concept of having 1,500 invited guests, to say nothing of the people who would show up with or without invitations. The wedding was going to be monstrous. It would be a huge, hideous affair plastered all over the news channels in vivid pink and pink.
He supposed he was grateful they'd worked up to this one slow step at a time, giving him time to get used to the notion. But he approached the idea of the wedding grimly now, as a soldier preparing for an unpleasant mission, rather than with the joy one might have expected. What made it worse was knowing that Relena was feeling the pressure, too.
In the end, they'd be married. She'd be his wife. He'd be her husband. He'd have a lifetime to build happy memories with her, and he wanted this to be the first, if not the best.
He was looking forward to laughing with her about this whole mess, a few years down the line.
*****
"The train's a little long on this one... but do you like it?"
It was a wedding gown, much like all the other wedding gowns. White. Lacy. Ethereal. What was not to like? He answered just as he had for the previous 20 gowns she'd showed him.
"Ah. It's beautiful."
*****
"About the honeymoon... Mother's offered to send us on a cruise to the Caribbean with some friends and family. Would that be all right?"
Heero felt his face heating up, and he bit back the anger the notion had provoked. So he wasn't allowed to be alone with Relena even on their honeymoon? He knew Relena's adopted mother didn't approve of him; he knew and understood her reasons for feeling that he wasn't worthy of Relena. Hell, he agreed with most of them! Nonetheless, to have her interfering with every step they tried to take...
"Heero?" It was important to Relena, though, and he wasn't going to make her feel like she had to choose between him and her mother.
"Ah. A cruise sounds wonderful," Heero lied, and Relena smiled gratefully.
*****
"I think I've solved the problem of seating, just so long as we keep Dorothy on one side of the room and your friend Quatre on the other... do you think that will do?"
Heero ducked his head, thinking that keeping Dorothy and Quatre on opposite sides of the *continent* wouldn't be enough distance... but Quatre had already agreed to stand up for him at the wedding, and Dorothy would be one of Relena's bridesmaids. They'd just have to handle their differences themselves, even if it meant glaring at each other behind the backs of the couple of the hour.
Quatre was a big boy. He could take care of himself... Heero hoped. And at least they weren't going to be serving shish kebab at the reception.
"Ah," he said, with misgivings. Relena smiled, pleased, and bent her attention again on the seating chart for the reception.
*****
"I have a meeting tomorrow afternoon with the florist and yet another fitting for the gown. Would you meet with the caterer? All you have to do is taste whatever samples she's prepared, and tell her whether they meet with your approval. Will you?"
Heero was both relieved to have a simple task to do, and disappointed that they wouldn't be spending any time together. Relena's morning was already taken up with hair and makeup appointments, and in the evening she had yet another boring formal dinner to attend, to which Heero was not invited. He consoled himself by thinking that it would be bad luck for him to see her in her gown, anyway.
"Ah," he said. He hoped the caterer's samples would be good.
*****
"I'd like to fill out the bridal registry tomorrow. You can come with me, can't you?"
Heero paused, a little surprised. It wasn't as though they *needed* anything--certainly they wouldn't be needing any of the usual kinds of gifts new couples started out with. What on Earth or the Colonies would they find to put on a bridal registry? Silver-plated toothpicks?
"Ah," he said. At least they'd get to spend the day together, and maybe he'd get an idea or two for gifts he could get Relena himself.
*****
"Tomorrow's the day for the doctor's visit. You did remember, didn't you?"
Heero grimaced. It was one formality they hadn't been able to bypass, regardless of their obvious good health. They'd have to submit to the standard blood tests and DNA scanning before they could get a clean bill of health and be authorized to marry.
Luckily, this was one test Heero knew he could pass with no problem--certainly nothing as challenging as trying to give the minister the answers he wanted!
"Ah," he said.
*****
"Well, in just one short day... are you as nervous as I am?" They were sitting on the little loveseat in Relena's apartment; on the wardrobe door, carefully shielded in plastic, hung the wedding gown. There would be one more day of relative peace, and then all hell would break loose. The place would be flooded with people to steam the gown and do Relena's hair and makeup; florists would descend on the sanctuary and caterers would storm the reception hall; Heero would meet with his friends, who had failed in their efforts to get him to attend a bachelor party, and they would dress up in their penguin suits and go to the sanctuary and wait, watching as the crowd grew and grew, waiting...
His heart was beating faster, just thinking about it, and he wiped suddenly sweaty palms on his jeans.
"Ah," he said, and Relena smiled tenderly, and hugged him, and for a while it was better.
*****
"Do you want to elope?"
Heero stared at her blankly; she was made up for the wedding, her hair piled in intricate coils meant to support the weight of the tiara and veil, but she was wearing a plain white dress with a little lace collar and no other adornment. He hadn't gotten farther than the tuxedo pants and shirt, himself.
She was offering him freedom, and escape, and he adored her for it. Their friends would understand.
"Ah," he said, and she held out her hand to him, and his own hand trembled as he took it.
Heero smiled.
~owari~
[edit] Added the disclaimers and notes. *^_^*
Penname: Yoiko
Email address: mightyyoiko@hotmail.com
Category: One-Shot
Disclaimers: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor is this story intended to be taken as either a claim to copyright for characters and situations which were not created by me or any intentional form of disrespect toward the creators and rightful owners of the series. Also, I shamelessly borrowed a line from "Steel Magnolias;" I'm sure you'll recognize it when you see it.
Notes: Many thanks to my wonderful beta readers, Babaca and Lilias! You're the best guinea pi--I mean, beta readers a girl could ask for! ^_^
20 Questions
a Gundam Wing fanfic
by Yoiko
"Will you marry me?"
The question had come really out of the blue; they'd been sitting in the garden, alone for a change, and Relena had been nervously picking leaves apart into bits of leaves, and bits of leaves into tinier bits of leaves, before finally working up the nerve to speak. Heero blinked, surprised, and glanced down at her green-smudged fingers, still nervously tearing leaf confetti.
"Ah," he answered.
"Really?" Her hands stilled as she met his eyes at last, a slow smile dawning on her face.
"Ah."
*****
"Would June be all right with you?"
It was only February, and they'd talked about having the wedding as soon as possible--just a small, private affair, for their closest friends and family. June seemed an awfully long way off....
"Ah," Heero said, and Relena smiled, relieved.
*****
"I know we talked about a civil ceremony, but would a traditional wedding be all right?"
Heero hesitated; they'd both been eager to have a quick, solemn ceremony and begin their new life together... but as long as they were waiting until June, they might as well have a more traditional wedding. Perhaps it would be better for Relena, anyway, to have a little of the pomp and circumstance and romance attached to traditional church weddings. She was probably being pressured, by her adoptive mother, if not by the political set, to have a wedding approved by God and not just the state.
"Ah," he said, nodding, and Relena smiled, grateful.
*****
"Heero... if it were a little more formal, that would be all right, wouldn't it?" Relena was blushing a little, looking down at her hands twisting in her lap. Heero sighed quietly. "I mean, a tuxedo for you and a gown for me... I know it's not what we talked about, but it would mean so much to Mother.... That would be all right, wouldn't it?"
"Ah," Heero said, and Relena looked up, and smiled, delighted.
*****
"I was thinking blush and bashful for the colors, along with white, of course. Is that all right with you?"
"Isn't that pink and pink?"
"They're two different shades of pink, and I think they'll be perfect. Don't you agree?"
Heero hesitated a long moment, but in the end decided that it was going to be a perfect day for Relena, no matter what sacrifices had to be made. At least the tuxedo would be black.
"Ah," he said, and Relena beamed at him.
*****
"I've reserved the sanctuary for the first Saturday in June. We need to meet with the minister, though. Will you be able to meet him tomorrow evening?"
Heero rubbed the back of his neck, which suddenly felt knotted and tense. His friends had forewarned him of the kind of questions the minister was likely to ask, and he was a little nervous about it. What if he didn't pass the test with this minister? Would they be able to find another one that would make Relena happy?
After a few moments, he realized she was still waiting for an answer.
"Ah," he said, and Relena smiled at him, never doubting for a moment that her faith in him was well-placed.
*****
"Martin and Mull have agreed to do the photography and videography. That's all right with you, isn't it?"
Heero blinked. Martin and Mull were somewhat famous in the wedding circle--at least, Heero had heard of them before. But they were known for handling the kind of huge, nightmare affairs he and Relena wanted so much to avoid--the kind of overblown weddings that make big news.
Still, they were the best, and he wanted Relena to have the very best.
"Ah," he said. She smiled, and his misgivings melted away.
*****
"I have it narrowed down to three caterers; we need to meet with them and make a final decision. Are you available tomorrow?"
Heero was glad that he could keep his expression impassive when he wanted to; the last thing he needed to do was frown at Relena over wedding plans, even if it was what he felt like. He'd known when he accepted her proposal what he was getting into--a life dictated by public and political demands. He just hadn't expected it to start so soon.
"Ah," he said, though meeting with caterers was the last thing he wanted to spend their precious free time together doing. Relena smiled at him, distracted, and checked off another item on her wedding checklist.
*****
"It's down to two possibilities for the entertainment; I'd like for you to come with me tomorrow to listen to them. Can you be here at two o'clock?"
Heero's shoulders slumped a little; they'd spent the entire day meeting with caterers and looking at pictures of wedding cakes. He'd really hoped they could spend some time alone together this weekend, but it looked like that wasn't going to happen.
"Heero? Two o'clock?"
"Ah."
Relena smiled, and kissed him. He decided it wouldn't be so bad, listening to the entertainers.
*****
"I know we talked about writing our own vows, but the minister has a program all planned out. Is that Ok?"
Heero ran a hand through his hair, hiding his expression for a much-needed moment. The minister was a self-righteous, pompous ass, and Heero resented needing his blessing... especially now that the man was interfering with the most important part of the ceremony! But... Relena was looking at him, hopeful, and he could deny her nothing.
"Ah," he said, and she smiled, and hugged him. When it was all over, they would be man and wife, and *that* was the most important part. Heero decided he could put up with anything the minister could dish out, so long as he kept that in mind.
*****
"I know we were going to keep it small, and I hope you won't be disappointed, but it would cause so many hurt feelings if I had to choose among my friends. Do you think you can come up with five groomsmen?"
Heero gaped at her for a moment. Five groomsmen? *Five*? It would mean asking Zechs to stand up for him, and that was likely to go over as well as a lead balloon. But... it would make Relena so happy, especially if her estranged brother could be part of the wedding.
Heero swallowed his pride.
"Ah," he said, and Relena squeezed his hand, understanding what she'd just asked of him, and what it meant that he agreed.
*****
"I know we were going to have a maximum of 20 guests at the reception, but really, the whole thing's been so blown out of proportion... it looks like the wedding's going to have at least 1,500 invited guests. I know it's not what we planned... but it will still be our day. Right, Heero?"
"Ah," Heero agreed absently, appalled at the very notion. Relena had moved on to discussing invitations and calligraphers and embossing and engraving, and he was still stuck, a little wild-eyed, on the concept of having 1,500 invited guests, to say nothing of the people who would show up with or without invitations. The wedding was going to be monstrous. It would be a huge, hideous affair plastered all over the news channels in vivid pink and pink.
He supposed he was grateful they'd worked up to this one slow step at a time, giving him time to get used to the notion. But he approached the idea of the wedding grimly now, as a soldier preparing for an unpleasant mission, rather than with the joy one might have expected. What made it worse was knowing that Relena was feeling the pressure, too.
In the end, they'd be married. She'd be his wife. He'd be her husband. He'd have a lifetime to build happy memories with her, and he wanted this to be the first, if not the best.
He was looking forward to laughing with her about this whole mess, a few years down the line.
*****
"The train's a little long on this one... but do you like it?"
It was a wedding gown, much like all the other wedding gowns. White. Lacy. Ethereal. What was not to like? He answered just as he had for the previous 20 gowns she'd showed him.
"Ah. It's beautiful."
*****
"About the honeymoon... Mother's offered to send us on a cruise to the Caribbean with some friends and family. Would that be all right?"
Heero felt his face heating up, and he bit back the anger the notion had provoked. So he wasn't allowed to be alone with Relena even on their honeymoon? He knew Relena's adopted mother didn't approve of him; he knew and understood her reasons for feeling that he wasn't worthy of Relena. Hell, he agreed with most of them! Nonetheless, to have her interfering with every step they tried to take...
"Heero?" It was important to Relena, though, and he wasn't going to make her feel like she had to choose between him and her mother.
"Ah. A cruise sounds wonderful," Heero lied, and Relena smiled gratefully.
*****
"I think I've solved the problem of seating, just so long as we keep Dorothy on one side of the room and your friend Quatre on the other... do you think that will do?"
Heero ducked his head, thinking that keeping Dorothy and Quatre on opposite sides of the *continent* wouldn't be enough distance... but Quatre had already agreed to stand up for him at the wedding, and Dorothy would be one of Relena's bridesmaids. They'd just have to handle their differences themselves, even if it meant glaring at each other behind the backs of the couple of the hour.
Quatre was a big boy. He could take care of himself... Heero hoped. And at least they weren't going to be serving shish kebab at the reception.
"Ah," he said, with misgivings. Relena smiled, pleased, and bent her attention again on the seating chart for the reception.
*****
"I have a meeting tomorrow afternoon with the florist and yet another fitting for the gown. Would you meet with the caterer? All you have to do is taste whatever samples she's prepared, and tell her whether they meet with your approval. Will you?"
Heero was both relieved to have a simple task to do, and disappointed that they wouldn't be spending any time together. Relena's morning was already taken up with hair and makeup appointments, and in the evening she had yet another boring formal dinner to attend, to which Heero was not invited. He consoled himself by thinking that it would be bad luck for him to see her in her gown, anyway.
"Ah," he said. He hoped the caterer's samples would be good.
*****
"I'd like to fill out the bridal registry tomorrow. You can come with me, can't you?"
Heero paused, a little surprised. It wasn't as though they *needed* anything--certainly they wouldn't be needing any of the usual kinds of gifts new couples started out with. What on Earth or the Colonies would they find to put on a bridal registry? Silver-plated toothpicks?
"Ah," he said. At least they'd get to spend the day together, and maybe he'd get an idea or two for gifts he could get Relena himself.
*****
"Tomorrow's the day for the doctor's visit. You did remember, didn't you?"
Heero grimaced. It was one formality they hadn't been able to bypass, regardless of their obvious good health. They'd have to submit to the standard blood tests and DNA scanning before they could get a clean bill of health and be authorized to marry.
Luckily, this was one test Heero knew he could pass with no problem--certainly nothing as challenging as trying to give the minister the answers he wanted!
"Ah," he said.
*****
"Well, in just one short day... are you as nervous as I am?" They were sitting on the little loveseat in Relena's apartment; on the wardrobe door, carefully shielded in plastic, hung the wedding gown. There would be one more day of relative peace, and then all hell would break loose. The place would be flooded with people to steam the gown and do Relena's hair and makeup; florists would descend on the sanctuary and caterers would storm the reception hall; Heero would meet with his friends, who had failed in their efforts to get him to attend a bachelor party, and they would dress up in their penguin suits and go to the sanctuary and wait, watching as the crowd grew and grew, waiting...
His heart was beating faster, just thinking about it, and he wiped suddenly sweaty palms on his jeans.
"Ah," he said, and Relena smiled tenderly, and hugged him, and for a while it was better.
*****
"Do you want to elope?"
Heero stared at her blankly; she was made up for the wedding, her hair piled in intricate coils meant to support the weight of the tiara and veil, but she was wearing a plain white dress with a little lace collar and no other adornment. He hadn't gotten farther than the tuxedo pants and shirt, himself.
She was offering him freedom, and escape, and he adored her for it. Their friends would understand.
"Ah," he said, and she held out her hand to him, and his own hand trembled as he took it.
Heero smiled.
~owari~
[edit] Added the disclaimers and notes. *^_^*