Chapter 48:
A Christmas To Remember
It’s a biting, toe-numbing,
brain-freezing, teeth-chattering, cold night. The kinda
night where you’d rather be at home snuggled up in bed with your loved one (or
by yourself) with blankets as thick as a mattress with hot chocolate and maybe
a rerun of Gundam Forever playing in
the background. Or better yet, it’s the kinda night
where you want to snuggle up to your partner and do wicked things to him like
say –
“Here you go.”
“Than…thanks,” I mutter
through chattering teeth, accepting the neat blue paper with the white ribbon
tied around it, from Heero. On the cover is a picture of the Holy Family with a
delicate angel looking down at them, the words ‘55th Annual Christmas Concert –
“Hi guys.”
“Hey, Wufei!”
I greet, nodding in appreciation at how good he looks in his tux. His parents
wave for him to follow and he waves back impatiently, before rolling his eyes
in exasperation once they make their way up the stairs.
“Parents. Gotta
love them,” he grumbles. “You two look good.”
“Thanks,” Heero replies with
a small smile. “You don’t look so bad yourself. I guess you’ll be sitting with
your parents tonight?”
“You got it,” says Wufei with a sigh. “Where will you guys stay? Are your
parents going to show up?”
“Not mine,” Heero says and
nudges me gently. “Duo’s mom and Saito might show up.”
“They said they will,” I
mumble and try to loosen my tie a little. The paparazzi are going crazy because
the Peacecraft family has arrived. Relena, as usual, looks like she just stepped out of the
pages of a high fashion magazine, and her mom (I swear) who looks no older than
thirty, could pass as an older sister. The distinguished white-haired man with
a beard to rival Santa Claus’s waves in our direction…well more towards Heero
and my boyfriend replies with a polite bow.
“I don’t even exist,” I
grumble. “I think they might hate me for snatching you away from Relena. Anyway, let’s get the flying fuck out of the cold.
I can’t feel my freaking toes anymore.”
I notice Heero and Wufei exchange a knowing look. “What? What’s the matter
with you two?”
“Nothing,” Wufei says with a smirk. “You just sound grouchy all of a
sudden. What’s the matter with you?”
“Can’t a man be allowed to
complain about the freakin…?”
“Baby!”
Oh, fuck. Mom!
Before I can even turn
around, she’s engulfed me in her bear hug again, sucking the very life out of
me with my face smashed against her bosom. Not that the white fur coat she’s
wearing is helping much. It’s itchy against my skin. A light cough from the
left has her releasing me gently and it’s then that I realize that the cameras
have gone gung-ho at our little display. I have to remember that my mother is
about to marry the Minister of Education after all, and since Saito – who looks
pretty damn cool in his tux – has gently reached for her arm to remind her of
that, she releases me with an apologetic smile.
“I’ll see you after the
show?” she asks quickly.
“Sure, mom. You look good by
the way.” And she does. This whole marriage thing really seems to be making her
look younger by the minute. Her long hair cascades her shoulder like rain, her
eyes are bright and filled with excitement. The white fur coat covers a
matching shimmering silver gown to match the diamond encrusted purse. And that
blasted ring is like a beacon on a finger.
“Thanks, sweetie.” She kisses
me softly on the forehead. “And you are becoming more of a man with each
passing day. Heero’s quite good to you, hmm?”
I glance at Heero, who is
doing his best to ignore us, but from the tell-tale blush on his cheeks, it’s
easy to see that he heard us quite well. Heh.
“Eleanor,” Saito urges
gently, nodding to me as he reaches for his son as well. I hadn’t even noticed Kamui who must have been trying to catch my gaze for a
while.
“Good evening, senpai,” he greets shyly, just as his father tugs him
impatiently.
“Aren’t you going to join
them?” Wufei asks with a quizzical look. “You are a
part of their family now, aren’t you?”
I watch the photo op with a
small smile and then shrug. “It’s cool. We have an understanding anyway.”
Heero taps my shoulder with
the program. “Come on, the show’s about to start. Don’t want to miss the grand
opening number.”
“What’s that?” Wufei asks with a laugh as we begin the walk. “Trowa and
Quatre dancing in tights?”
“Hehehe,
we can only wish.”
“Just don’t let them know we
thought that,” Heero quips. “Trowa will have us for lunch.”
Wufei and I make whimpering noises as if we’re really
terrified of ‘Big Bad Trowa’, but we know it’s all in good fun. As we maneuver
our way through the seat assignments (damn! Relena
and her family….as well as Saito and my mom got great box seats!), we realize
it’s a packed house and the anticipation builds. I’ve never actually been in
the hall before, and describing the place would take up an entire book. Just
know that it seems as if we have been transported into another era and time –
think Victorian with a touch of Parisian elegance. I reach for Heero’s hand as the huge velvet red curtains begin to rise
and the first strings of ‘Silent Night’ begin. We can see our friends, Trowa
and Quatre, in the orchestra, and I feel a bittersweet pang in my chest. I know
how hard they have practiced and rehearsed for this one night, and knowing it
will be their last time on stage – representing Fujisaki that is – must be an
emotional experience for them.
Performance after performance
is extraordinary and we clap and cheer when we can. However, when it’s time for
their duet, a pregnant hush falls over the audience as the lights dim and
focuses on the two seniors. There is no need for musical sheets, as this is an
original tune that both have composed specifically for tonight. As Quatre
begins to play his violin and Trowa soon joins with his clarinet, I close my
eyes, barely feeling Heero’s gentle squeeze on my
hand. It’s a slow tempo that takes me back to a year ago when I had walked
through the halls of Fujisaki with only newspaper clippings and an uncertain
future. It takes me back to the moment I met my new friends, the outrageous
things I did to get Heero Yuy’s attention, the first
kiss we shared – well, that I stole from him against those lockers in front of
the whole school. It takes me to the day we hid beneath the teacher’s desk in
that stuffy neglected office, the first time he allowed me to touch him, to
make him come in pleasure, to hear his
cry of pleasure. Memories of the day he took me to his apartment, opened
himself to me, all the arguments, misunderstandings, moments of pain, moments
of joy, ecstasy…of knowing that I truly, deeply loved him more than words could
ever say.
“Duo?”
Heero’s whisper has me opening my lashes slowly. I turn to
him in the muted darkness, meeting those questioning blue eyes that widen as he
notices something on my face. Go figure. I couldn’t stop it even if I tried.
“Wha…?”
“I love you,” I murmur,
leaning close to place my forehead against his as Trowa and Quatre continue to
serenade us. “Always.”
He smiles but says nothing,
simply allowing those full lips to tell me all he could ever say with a slow,
tender, and deep kiss that has me sighing in satisfaction. It isn’t until
someone coughs and kicks the back of my chair, do we pull apart with sheepish
looks on our features. But luckily, Trowa and Quatre finish with a beautiful
crescendo that promptly sends the audience to their feet in appreciation.
Heero and I hoot and holler,
waving wildly (as if they can see us from where they are!) and beg for an
encore. Heck, everyone begs for an encore, and as if seeking for a final
approval, a flustered Quatre (and even Trowa) turn to their music teacher and
with his nod and big smile; the boys bow to their adoring fans and prepare for
another serenade.
Sweet. Maybe this time, I can
get into Heero’s pants and hope the assholes behind
us don’t punch either of us in the face.
__
“Come Holy Night,” I bellow
with as much enthusiasm as I can muster.
“It’s ‘Oh, Holy Night,” Heero
corrects me quickly, even though he’s trying not to grin at my erratic singing.
We’ve decided to walk back to the apartment, since the snow has stopped falling
and the traffic too much to navigate through. I sent the limo driver away, said
goodbye to my mom and Saito, spoke to Trowa and Quatre backstage, where Heero
and I gave them big bear hugs and Relena presented
them with huge bouquet of flowers. Hilde, Dorothy and Wufei
showed up as well and we took so many pictures, we lost count and don’t know
who the hell is going to develop them. Just as long as I look good in the
shots, I don’t really care who has them.
“Faaaaaaaaaall
on your kneeeeeeeeeees! Oh heeeeeeear
the angel voices! Join me, Heero!”
“Everyone will think we’re
drunk,” he argues and tries to slap a hand over my mouth, but I dodge and kick
up some snow, watching him duck and try to tackle me.
“Drunk?! I’m not drunk! It’s Christmas!!
Oooooh, niiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
diiiiiiiivine!!”
“I’ll show you divine,” he
growls and begins to chase me.
Laughing in glee, I lead him
down the streets of downtown, ignoring some of the cries of ‘Hey, watch where
you’re going!’ or ‘Darn kids!’ or ‘Fuck off!’ or worse. Nothing can deter my
feeling of joy tonight. Must have been the music, or the glass of wine we
managed to have a sip of at the after party, or maybe it’s just…
“Oooh.”
I come to a sudden halt, grunting as Heero slams into me.
“What the…?!” he begins, only
to stop as he notices what I’m staring at.
“Well, well, if it isn’t
Maxwell and Yuy.”
“Detective Parker,” Heero
says flatly, albeit a bit breathlessly – all that running is finally catching
up to him. “Good evening.”
The officer nods in
salutation, eyeing out outfits with interest. “Where to…or where from?”
“Our school concert,” I
reply. “And what about you?” I point to the brightly-wrapped box beneath his
arm. “No case to solve tonight?”
He quirks his lips in the
semblance of a smile. “Sorry to disappoint you, boys. But, it’s my night off
and my woman deserves all of me, don’t you think?”
“You’re married?”
“Shocked?”
“You don’t look like someone
who could keep a wife…ouch.” Heero had kicked me.
I notice the quick shadow
that fills the detective’s eyes for a moment, and I realize I must have hit a
nerve or two. “Well, we all try,” he finally says with a small smile. “I must
admit that I was not the best of husbands for a while…but I’m hoping that this
will make a change.”
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate
it,” Heero says. Ever the diplomat. “It looks….”
“Bright,” I finish for him,
seeing as he’s stuck with exactly what to call the narrow box. “Well, we’ll
just be on our way now. Nice seeing you, sir.”
I want to be out of here,
seeing the detective again is bringing up memories I really do not want to
remember. I know the Greek and his cohort have not yet been found, and just
knowing that I’m still on that guy’s To-Kill list is not helping me very much.
“You boys have a safe
Christmas now,” Parker’s saying as he gives us a mock salute. “No running on
the streets, either.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I say with a
smirk. “No running, officer.”
He actually laughs, but for a
minute. I’m beginning to think the guy has little to no sense of humor. Heero
and I watch him get into his waiting car – a dark blue Honda model – and peel
out from the curb.
But instead of feeling
relief, the earlier gaiety we felt from the concert seems to have been sucked
away with Parker. Damn.
Heero reaches for my hand and
in silence we walk all the way back to our apartment, each of us lost in our
thoughts. Unfortunately, our plans to make out like bunnies are dashed as soon
as we take a shower and fall to the bed in exhaustion. Preparing for the
concert had taken up most of the day, and with all that running…having sex will
have to wait until I’m good and ready. Heero’s
already knocked out as I snuggle in with him.
Tonight, welcome sleep.
Tomorrow, we’ll make plans for the upcoming Stoner’s Concert.
__
“What do you mean you can’t
make it?” I cry out in panic, almost running into the living room from the
kitchen where I had been making breakfast.
“Just as I said, Duo,” Heero’s sitting cross-legged on the floor, still staring at
the phone. He has just gotten off with his parents and even though I know he’s
planning to spend the holidays with them, I had braced myself for our
goodbyes…in a week!
“But the concert…!”
“My aunt is sick!” he yells
back as if in disbelief at my ‘stupidity’. “They need me back home earlier than
they thought. They’ve moved the flight to Friday and I have to be there
tomorrow if I’m to go with them.”
“Tomorrow,” I gasp, falling
to the floor beside him with a low moan. “But that’s…it’s…”
“I know,” he murmurs, shifting
closer to wrap his arms around me. He begins to place tender kisses along my
jaw and neck, nuzzling me gently. “Trust me, I’m not happy about this, but she
is a senior member of the family and it wouldn’t do for my dad not to show up
on time.”
I bite my lower lip, not
quite knowing what to say.
“They say she might be
dying,” Heero continues quietly, nailing the coffin shut to his argument.
There’s no way I can keep him back now, not even for an extra day. “My dad was
pretty close to her and…well…”
“Yeah, I know. Your family’s
more important.” I push him away from me and rise to my feet.
“Oh come on, Duo. Don’t start
this now.” He runs a hand through his hair in exasperation.
“Start what?” I try to look
as innocent as possible, knowing I shouldn’t be doing this, but yet the damn
words won’t stop coming out of my mouth. “I’m not angry or anything.”
“Oh yeah? So why did you push
me away?”
“What are you talking about?”
I move to the closet and throw the door open, eyeing his clothes. “So, want me
to help you pack? You’re going to need this I’ll bet.” I drag out his white
sweater and then a blue shirt. “Or this one. This will look nice at the
funeral…I mean…when you get to meet her.” I toss the clothes to the bed and
reach for his black suit. “Oh, this would be excellent.”
I toss it to the bed again.
“Knock it off, Duo,” Heero
all but growls at me as he reaches for another shirt I’m about to toss to the
floor. “Jesus! You’re making a goddamn mess!”
“I’m helping you pack,
asshole!” I yell back, feeling something hard stuck in my throat, a burning
sting in my eyes. If I were a girl, I’d say I was having a very PMS moment.
“Well, this isn’t the way to
do it! Duo!”
By this time, I’ve pulled out
his travel case and I’m unzipping it quickly. “You’ll need towels and your
underwear, can’t forget that.” I dash to the chest of drawers and yank it open,
but it’s promptly banged shut and I’m all but slammed against the wall, my
wrists captured and trapped within Heero’s hands. I
stare into his furious gaze, matching it with mine as I try to struggle and
release my grip. I lift a knee to knead him in the groin, but he’s smart enough
to know my moves by now.
“Let me go,” I hiss angrily.
“Not until you calm the fuck
down.”
“I’m calm. I’m perfectly calm.
Can’t you tell?” I try to smile but it feels false.
“What the hell is wrong with
you anyway? I thought…?” He sighs heavily and then leans against me, burying
his face against my neck, his grip slackening a little. “Oh, Duo,” he groans as
if in great pain. “I’ll miss you too. More than you’ll ever know, but you’ve
got to let me go this time. Just this one time.”
My eyes remain wide, trying
not to give in to the tears that threaten to spill down my cheeks. Am I really
that needy? Am I beginning to act like an over protective mother hen or a
possessive boyfriend who can’t even deal with his loved one leaving for a
while? What am I turning into? I should be concerned about his aunt. I should
be asking questions about her health. How she’s doing? And what they plan to do
when they get back to
“Will you at least open my
present?” I finally whisper, wishing he’d release me so I could hold him. He
smells so good even though he’s still dressed in his t-shirt and boxers. I
thrust gently against him, feeling his hard body press into mine in response.
“I thought you were my present,” he mutters, faint
amusement in his tone. I can’t help the smile that comes to my lips, realizing
that the bastard was doing it again. Somehow managing to calm the restless
demon within me without even trying so hard.
“I have something even
better,” I reply and he looks up, those beautiful blue eyes boring into me as
if searching for something I’m not quite sure of.
He raises a brow. “Something
better?”
“Release me.”
He smirks. “With pleasure.”
“What…? Heero!” I try to push
him away, blushing darkly as he falls to his knees before me to tug down my
boxers with one swift yank. My cock, free from its constraints, seems to bob
and weave before him in gratitude, and as his fingers wrap around it, I moan
and close my eyes, bracing myself for the onslaught.
Have I ever told you how
heavenly his mouth feels around me? Oh, and how deep he can take me? The guy
truly missed his calling as a porn star.
__
“So what’s the present?”
Heero asks as we’re tucked in a few hours later.
“Oh yeah. Hold on.” I
scramble out of bed, not bothering to get dressed and jog to the kitchen,
pushing my hair out of my eyes (No thanks to Heero undoing the braid again) and
standing on my tiptoes to reach the top of the fridge. Not exactly the greatest
place in the world to hide a gift, but shoot, I was out of ideas. The apartment
isn’t exactly huge or anything.
Holding the small, silver and
blue wrapped box in my hand, I tiptoe back to the bedroom and with a flourish…
“MERRY CHRISTMAS!” We both
cry out at the same time.
I blink in surprise. Staring
at the flat blue-wrapped box in his hands. “Heero? When…?”
He looks sheepish and pats
the bed. Leaping onto it again, we grin and exchange the gifts…and then stare
at each other.
“At one time,” he says with a
snicker. “On the count of three. One…two…”
Before he’s even done saying
‘three’, I tear into my box with enthusiasm, my heart pounding so hard, I worry
I might have an attack if I don’t…
“Holy shit…”
It’s a picture frame, but not
just any picture frame, it’s one made of rich, black mahogany. I can still
smell its finish. However, it’s what within the glass plate that takes my
breath away. I know Heero’s name in Kanji and the
stamp is a dead giveaway that he had actually done the calligraphy himself.
Strong, steady and heavy black brush strokes say the words: ‘Soul Mates’,
‘Love’ and a red Eternity Seal completes the exquisite package. The tears I
have struggled to hold back since he gave me the news about leaving so soon,
breaks free. Jesus. What is he doing to me?
“I love it,” I finally manage
to whisper…and then look up as I notice he hasn’t said a word since he counted.
He’s staring mutely at my box and to my shock (I can’t begin to tell you how
much it surprises me, each time, to see him get emotional), his eyes seem to be
shimmering and a tear slides down his cheek. He takes a deep breath, as if realizing
what he’s doing and then looks at me with a look of mild bemusement on his
features.
Blushing to the roots of my
hair, I move closer and remove the two rings, one of which my father had once
planned to give to my mother. I had taken it to a jeweler downtown, requesting
that they make a replica. One for Heero and one for me.
“Uum…”
I begin, hoping I don’t stutter and mess this up. “Well, remember that time
when we went to my Dad’s funeral and when I left you to read the special
message in the box that he left for me and all that?”
He says nothing, and I think
I’m beginning to panic. What if he hates it? What if he says no? Doesn’t really
want to get into such a situation right now? What if…?
Oh to hell with it! It’s now
or never!
“This ring…”I take a deep
breath. “This ring was the one he bought for mom before everything went to hell
and in his message…and if I can quote this correctly…Perhaps some lucky girl in the
future will get the opportunity to have it on her finger…but
since you’re not a girl…”
He gives a shaky laugh as I reach for his left
hand….and then freeze since I don’t know where the fuck the ring goes! Is it
the middle finger or the second to the last one…near the pinky?
“Have any idea?” I ask helplessly, now so red,
I’m doing a pretty damn good impression of a tomato.
He lowers his head, his shoulders shaking as I
realize he’s trying not to laugh out loud at my predicament. This was supposed
to be romantic, goddamn it!
“Stop laughing,” I mumble, shoving it on his
middle finger. And it fit…thank goodness for that.
“Heero,” I growl as he collapses upon the bed,
and then buries his face against the pillow to hide his laughter. I kick him
off the bed in retaliation, but the fast bastard drags me along with him…as
well as the blanket and we tumble to the floor in a heap. I try to dislodge
myself, but he holds me to him, wrapping his arms around my waist to hold me
prisoner.
“Done laughing yet?”
He nods, still chuckling but at least sobering
up quickly to nuzzle me gently. “It’s beautiful, Duo and I’m honored that you
gave this to me…although…?”
“Although what?”
“Are you asking me to marry you?” He smirks as I
blush and try to swat him playfully.
“And what if I am?”
“Well…you suck at proposals.”
“Oh, well let’s see you do better.”
“All right.” He pushes me off him, and leaves me
blinking and dumbfounded. I hadn’t actually meant for him to do that but…
“Now, here’s how it’s done,” he’s saying as he
picks up my ring and then falls to one knee before me. I notice he’s blushing
himself now as he holds it up and catches my amused gaze. I swear my heart is
beating faster again, my entire body trembling at the enormity of what he’s
about to do. So this is what girls feel like when they’re proposed to…at least
by guys they really like.
“Duo Maxwell,” Heero begins in a voice thick
with emotion. He coughs and tries again. “Duo Maxwell…will you…uumm…will you be my…?”
“Husband?” I offer.
“Sounds too…”
“Life partner then.”
“Right.” He nods. “Duo Maxwell?”
“Yes?”
He reaches for my hand. Shaking, shaking. Why
can’t we stop shaking? “From the moment I met you, I hated your guts, but you
turned that all around and made me believe in that emotion called love, so for
tonight…and for all nights…will you be my life partner? Till death do us part?”
Sniffling, I manage somehow to say, “You don’t
say that last line until the wedding, dumbass.”
“I didn’t know we were going to have a wedding.”
“A civil union!”
“So are you saying yes or not? My knees are
hurting.”
I pout and lift my hand to eye the gold band,
pretending as if I’m seeing it for the first time…and perhaps I am seeing
it for the first time, because it sure as hell looks like it belongs there. A
simple object to solidify our feelings for one another. It gleams in the light
and I know I’m now complete.
“Yes,” I breathe huskily, wrapping my arms
around his neck to stare deeply into his eyes. “Yes, I’ll…’civil union’ with
you, Heero Yuy. When we graduate?”
“When we’re eighteen…next year. That good
enough?”
I grin happily, allowing him to push me back to
the floor gently, “Yes,” I reply with a sigh of pleasure as he worships me as
he only can. “Oh, dear God yes.”
~End
Period Forty-Eight~