Duo stared at Hilde’s face, the left side of it slightly swollen and already a dark shade of purple. ‘Even though; she’s still beautiful, a sleeping angel.’ He thought studying her face. She had fallen unconscious soon after reaching his gundam, and had not woken up since. He had regretted leaving her briefly to help get Heero out of Wing Zero, but once that was accomplished he had immediately returned to Hilde’s side, Cathy giving him a hand with moving her to his quarters. He hadn’t left her side since then, Cathy occasionally peaked in with some painkillers, bandages, and food for him and Hilde, for when she woke up. Even though Duo was usually know for always being hungry he couldn’t even think of food with Hilde lying there like that. Duo closed his eyes taking one of her hands and squeezing it tightly, ‘Hilde, I’m so sorry that this happened to you. I wish that I’d been there to protect you.’
“Duo, why are you squeezing my hand so tightly, my head feels fuzzy enough.” Mumbled the figure on the bed.
“HILDE! YOU’RE AWAKE!” Duo exclaimed immediately pouncing and giving her a huge hug.
“DUO! You IDIOT! Watch the ribs.” She scolded half heartedly, while enjoying the feel of being safely in his arms.
“Oh Hilde, please don’t ever scare me like this again. I couldn’t bear to lose you. I love you way to much.” He said holding her closely but being careful of her injuries.
“Oh Duo, I love you to. So much it hurts.” She replied, “BUT WHY DIDN”T YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR GUNDAM!” Duo cowered back at her outburst shrinking back behind the chair he had been sitting in.
“UmmmItwassortasuppossedtobeasecret.” He mumbled looking at the floor then carefully peaked up through his bangs to see Hilde doing her best to hide her laughter. “What’s so funny?” he whined. Hilde lost control of her laughter at this and soon had tears rolling down her face she was giggling so hard.
“Oh Duo, I could never stay angry with you. You’re too cute.” She said after finally getting control over her giggles. Duo preened at this taking up the position right beside her again. Once he was sitting beside her on the bed she snuggled up to him resting her head on his shoulder while he wrapped one arm around her. Duo looked down at the resting angel beside him. ‘I’m going to do it.’ He decided firmly before reaching into his pocket with a free hand and pulling out a small velvet box.
“Hilde?”
“Hmmmm. What is it Duo?” She replied slowly opening her blue eyes to look into Duo’s violet ones. She studied his eyes, which looked at her with such strong emotion, but also with a question. Puzzled she sat up straighter and opened her mouth to ask what was wrong when he spoke again.
“Would you marry me?” he asked hope shinning bright in his eyes. Hilde’s eyes opened wide as she then saw the bow he was holding out to her. Carefully, her hands trembling, she took the box and opened the lid gently to reveal a beautiful diamond on a simple, but elegant silver band.
“Oh Duo. Of course I’ll marry you.” She cried out, once she had regained her voice, throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing tightly, while his arms encircled her waist pulling her even closer. Finally Duo loosened his hold and she slowly leaned back into her original position. Duo took the box, removed the ring and slipped it onto her finger before leaning down and giving her a kiss.
Trowa and Micalla, a girl of average height with long wavy light brown hair usually worn in a ponytail that the end of reached her waist, had gone to his quarters to try and relax and not fret too much about Heero, but unfortunately, both of them had too much energy to just sit still.
“Micalla, do you want to go to the gym?” Trowa asked thinking he would rather be doing gymnastics and working out, rather than sitting around idly.
“Yeah, I think that would be a great idea, then we can both work off this nervous energy. It’s kinda funny; I’m never this uptight before a performance. Then again, I’ve never been in a ship this size before.” She replied remembering exactly where she was.
“Not many people have. As far as I know it is the largest ever constructed. We even have a hanger with Peacemillion in it.” Trowa told her.
“You must still be really wound up, Trowa, you never talk this much willingly.” She told him smiling as they walked down hallways together. Trowa just smiled and proceeded to hide the blush on his cheeks behind his hair. “Oh no you don’t.” she scolded stopping and making him face her. She then reached a hand up pushing the hair away from his face so that she could see into both of his eyes. The two gazed into each other’s eyes, neither willing to break away, as their faces moved closer and closer together. Finally there lips met in a sweet and love filled kiss. When they separated Micalla looked contentedly into Trowa’s eyes and whispered, “I love you Trowa.”
Trowa was stunned. She loved him. He had never dreamed of anyone besides Cathy, his adoptive sister, ever truly being able to love him. He had envied Duo, Quatre, and even Wufei and Heero, for each of them had somehow managed to win a girls heart, even if they didn’t see it themselves. But he’d never expected that for himself. He’d brought her with him to Peace Guard because he loved and trusted her; he hadn’t expected it to be returned. “I..I…. I ….” He stammered to shocked to give the reply he wanted to.
“Oh just shut up and kiss me. That’s funny me telling you to shut u…….” she said before being cut off with Trowa’s lips on hers once again, this time both putting all their feelings into their kiss. When they finally broke for air, Trowa smiled at her. Her eyes were still closed and her breathing slightly labored.
“Micalla?’
“Hmmm?”
“I love you, too.” He told her softly, her hazel eyes snapped open in delight. He returned her feelings. With that, the two continued on their way to the gym, and upon reaching it, began to work on a new act together.
In another set of rooms, Millardo and Noin sat snuggled together on a love seat watching the TV. Although neither of them could have told anyone a thing about what was on. Their thoughts were somewhere else. They were thinking about all that they had been through together, as well as what Heero and Relena had gone through. It was worse for those two; they had been so much younger when they had to face war. Now they may never be able to find the happiness both had been searching for with each other.
Noin looked down at her left hand, and at the sparkling diamond on her ring finger. ‘Has it already been five months since he proposed? …And yet we were going to wait until fall to get married. I could lose him so easily. He wouldn’t even have to be in a fight.’
“Zechs?”
“Yes, Noin?”
“I want to push the wedding up a few months.” She told him still studying the ring.
“But, Why?” he asked puzzled. Noin turned to face him tears slowly beginning to fall down her face.
“Oh Zechs, I’m just afraid of losing you. You wouldn’t even have to be in a fight. I just don’t want to be left without you.” She told him the tears falling faster and faster until she was sobbing.
“Oh Noin, I don’t want to lose you either. You mean the world to me. Now, Shhhhhhhh, don’t cry. I would be more than happy to push the wedding date up.” He told her hugging her close to him and rubbing her back gently, as well as leaving soft kisses on the top of her head. Slowly her tears subsided.
“Zechs I love you so much, and I’m scarred for your life every time you pilot a mobile suit, besides the fact that Peacecrafts tend to be high on assassins hit lists.” She said hugging his neck tightly from her current position in his lap.
“Noin, I love you too. Why do you think I worry about you so much? It won’t be too long before you also are a Peacecraft.” He told her, while at the same time unconsciously tightening his grip around her and pulling her closer to him, her head rested in the crock of his neck. Soon she was sleeping peacefully cradled in his strong and loving arms. “Oh my beautiful Lucrezia, I could never leave you.” He whispered before he to fell asleep, holding his goddess.
Quatre and Dorothy had finally made it back to Quatre’s quarters. Once there, they had agreed to play chess to help pass the time. The two had begun the game much like their duel had begun, three years ago. Dorothy was taking a strong offense, while Quatre was taking a more defensive route. So far, the two were fairly evenly matched.
“You know Quatre, you were right about me that day three years ago.” She said while moving a piece.
“Huh? What do you mean Dorothy?”
“I really do hate wars, and fighting.” She answered.
“Oh Dorothy, so do I.” He replied looking into her eyes. (AN: Remember, Dorothy’s eyebrows have been both waxed and dyed.) “You and I are very much alike in that way. We both hate wars, but we each feel we must fight so others don’t have to.”
“You’re right Quatre, I tried to do that, but I still hoped that others would still see how horrible war was. Even though I didn’t know that was what I was doing at the time.” She answered before moving a piece.
“Check Mate.”
“What?” exclaimed Quatre, his mouth agape as he stared at the board. “I don’t know how, but you always beat me in chess.” he commented, a sheepish grin crossing his face.
“A woman must keep her secrets.” She replied smiling. Quatre stared at her; she was so beautiful when she smiled.
“Quatre, can I ask you something?”
“Of course, what is it” he replied. “You can ask me anything; I’ll do my best to answer you.”
“Quatre, I know I don’t deserve to have someone, as sweet and kind as you are, care for me, …but please, never stop. I don’t want to turn back into the cold hearted girl I once was.” She said shakily. Quatre was around the small table and at her side in a moment, pulling her into his arms in a loving embrace.
“Dorothy, I’ll never leave you alone, and I won’t let you hide all your feelings inside, either. I do care, and that’s because I love you.” He told her their eyes locking onto each other’s.
“Oh Quatre, I love you to.” She answered slipping off of the chair, and completely into his arms.
Sally rushed through the hallways going as quickly as she could to Heero’s quarters. ‘ Of all the most unlikely places to check for an antidote, I find it in vitamin C. I’m just glad there was a large enough supply of vitamin shots on board. …I just hope I get this to Heero in time…’ With these thoughts she entered the last hallway and stopped before the door, pausing slightly before opening it and going in. Sally entered the bedroom and stopped short at the sight before her, and let the corners of her mouth lift in smile.