Two Princes (1 or 2 xR), 15/15

[Goldilocks]

Aaaaand...it's the final conclusion! This chapter is VERY short; I forgot that it was really more of an epilogue than a real chapter. Just a few small tying up of any remaining loose ends, and rounding out the story. ^^

Thank you so very, very much to everyone who has read and reviewed! It means a lot to me that so many people enjoyed this old fic of mine. Thank you!!!

Two Princes
A pseudo-songfic, loosely based upon the song "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors
by Sara
Pairings: 1 or 2 xR...I suppose I can take that out, since we know who ends up with whom, hmm? ^^

Chapter 15 - Epilogue
Six months later - Relena's birthday

"Susan, I don't care who else calls today. I told everyone I was leaving the office on time today, and I meant it!"

Susan giggled. Even when she was trying to be intimidating, Relena never could quite pull it off. All the same, she nodded. "What if..."

"I won't be making any exceptions for anyone on that, Susan."

"But--"

"If she doesn't get away for this party, there will be problems, Susan. Let me handle the incoming calls."

Susan looked up in surprise as Relena's bodyguard materialized from around the corner. "With all due respect, Mr. Yuy, I don't think letting you handle the phone would be such a good idea."

Heero just managed to look affronted. Susan and Relena giggled at his expression.

"Don't worry; we know you mean well. But you always have made a better bodyguard than a receptionist."

Heero tried to frown, made a hmph-ing noise, and turned back toward his own office. Relena gave Susan a knowing look, and went into her own office.

"So! Will the all-too-important Vice Foreign Minister be able to leave on time for her own birthday party, or will you end up working late again?"

Relena sighed after her initial surprise faded. "Dorothy...When did you get here?"

Dorothy gave the barest of shrugs. "A little while ago. I was just checking your agenda, to make sure if we would be able to keep our reservations tonight."

Relena gave her a look. "Why would we be cancelling the reservations for tonight?"

Dorothy sighed dramatically. "Because you are a workaholic, Relena. It would not surprise me one little bit if you worked through the night on your own birthday. Besides," her eyes twinkled slightly, "David wants to make sure that everything is set, before making the trip down here."

Relena shook her head in good-natured humor. Dorothy had not stopped talking about L3's minister of foreign affairs since that fateful ball, and the two had spent as much time together as was possible with their schedules. Relena wryly wondered if this would mean that the flow of gift certificates from Le Chanson Bleu would now dry up.

"I'll be there, Dorothy, don't worry. Besides, even if I did forget and accidentally stayed late at the office, Duo would find me somehow."

Dorothy's expression altered slightly. She still did not quite approve of Relena's relationship, but had been slowly getting used to the idea that their relationship seemed to be more than merely a passing fancy. "And what about Heero?"

"What about Heero?"

"Is he going to be there, too?"

Relena grinned. "Of course he's going to be there. Hilde won't let him get out of it, no matter what!"

Dorothy laughed. "Is that a fact?" Relena knew that Dorothy was more amenable to the relationship between Hilde and Heero, mainly because Hilde had the man completely wrapped around her finger. Anything she asked him to do, he'd do, with no questions or complaints, and Dorothy had to admit grudging admiration to the woman's prowess in controlling him.

Dorothy looked at Relena. "And just think...you could've had such a subservient significant other! Who would have known? Are you sure you don't want him back?"

Relena's expression softened a bit. "Yeah," she said quietly. "We're still friends, and that's more important to me, really. Besides...I'm happy with what I've got, right now."

Dorothy noted the faraway look in her eye, and made a disgusted noise. "Well, it's getting a little too sappy in here for me. I'd best get back to my work, so I'm not the one who is late for the party." She turned and made her way across Relena's office to the door.

"Dorothy?" Relena suddenly said, her voice questioning. Dorothy stopped and turned to face her friend.

"What is it, Relena?"

"I'll see you later, Dorothy."

Dorothy grinned. "Remember, don't be late." The door closed quietly behind her.

* * *

"Hilde, have you seen my--oh, there it is! Never mind." Duo, dressed in suit pants with suspenders and a white dress shirt, fished his suit coat from behind the recliner. Hilde's head popped out from around her bedroom door, her hair still done up in curlers, still wearing a silken kimono robe. She was still putting on her makeup, and held a powder brush firmly in one hand.

"Duo, what on earth was your jacket doing back there!? It's probably too wrinkled to wear tonight!"

Duo shook out the jacket experimentally. "It's not that bad..." he surmised, and slipped the jacket over his shoulders. Hilde padded over to where he stood, peering at a sleeve critically.

"Sure, it's not too bad, if you're planning on dressing up as a grocery bag." She sighed. "I'll go get the iron set up for you." She walked away, muttering something about men who couldn't take care of themselves and the women who let them get away with it.

Duo grinned and followed her. "Thanks, Hildey," he said, dropping the jacket on the ironing board and hopping up to sit on the washing machine.

Hilde made a harumphing noise. "So what are you going to do when you're living with Relena, and she refuses to do your ironing for you?"

Duo gave her a cherubic grin. "You doubt my powers of being able to get my way?"

"I think you doubt Relena's powers of resistance to your powers of cute."

Duo shrugged slightly. "Then I guess I'll have to learn how to iron."

Hilde looked up at him. "I hope I live long enough to see that day, because the surprise of seeing you ironing your own clothes will probably kill me for the shock."

"Oh, very funny, Miss Domestic. You planning on ironing ol' Heero-bud's little black spandex shorts for the next 40 years or something?

Hilde just gave Duo a look. "You're cruising for it, Maxwell. You want me to iron this jacket or not?"

Duo threw up his hands. "All right, all right! I'll just sit quietly and watch."

"Good."

Duo watched her ironing in silence, occasionally broken by the sighing of the iron as Hilde ran it across the jacket. Finally, she stepped back and shook out the jacket, peering at it critically.

"There," she said, her voice sounding satisfied, "at least now it looks halfway decent. You could not have gone out in public with this jacket before, Duo. It was way too wrinkled."

Duo took the jacket and shrugged into it again. The complete effect of full suit was very stunning. He fished in one pants pocket for his bow-tie, and began fumbling with it.

"Do you need help with that?"

"Nah, I got it."

They stood in silence for a short time, as Duo struggled with his bow tie, and Hilde began extricating the curlers from her hair.

"You two going to dinner tonight before the party?"

Hilde set another curler on the ironing board. "Yes. Heero should be here..." she glanced at the clock. "...in about 45 minutes or so. You?"

Duo nodded and grinned. "Yep. I wanted to do something for just the two of us for her birthady, so we're gonna try Le Chanson again. See if I can't get it right this time." He fumbled with his tie again. "Is it straight?"

"More or less."

Duo just gave her a wry look, fidded with the tie a bit more, and gave up entirely.

"Did you get Relena a present?"

Duo grinned. "Of course I did!"

Hilde's eyes lit up. "What did you get her? Can I see it?"

Duo gave her a small smile. "Can't. I'm afraid it's a secret. I want it to be a complete surprise, when 'Lena gets it."

Hilde looked slightly put-out, but did not protest. "You will be giving it to her at the party, right? I want to see what you got her."

"Yup. I want everyone to see what I got for her."

"Do you think she'll like...whatever it is you got for her?"

Duo reached into his other pants pocket, feeling the comfortable shape of the small velvet box he had hidden there. He smiled slightly.

"Yeah. I think she will."

~* Fin *~

As always, C&C is greatly loved and appreciated. ^_^
--Sara

[Mellie]

hehe! What a cute and sweet little ending. I'm sad to see the fic finished, but it was enjoyable while the trip lasted. Very well done!

[lilac310]

I agree with Mellie....they're all so adorable! ...and so are you!

[Kanya Barton]

AWWWWWW!!! *sniff sniff* This was totally worth putting off working on my English assignment 'til the last minute...luckily I'm using a story that I put on here over a year ago as the assignment so it's not that bad...BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING ABOUT!!!
This is sooooo sweet! I love it!!! Much love to ya! *muah*
Peace out!

[Fate Lowe]

Loved the story!!! Very well written. Everything was pefect. Everyone had a happy ending, which is always important. Adorable is the only word I can use to describe it. Good work.