Duo's Awakening
Part One: The Plan

20-18-04-02
Author’s Note: This is the sequel to ‘A Second Chance with Destiny’, a story about Heero and Relena. The characters of this story are from the Gundam Wing series, except for Henry and some minor characters. This is a ‘what could have been events’ after the Endless Waltz movie. I hope you will like reading it! J By the way, you will notice that there is a foreshadowed story about both Trowa and Quatre. But, this is Duo and Hilde’s story so I will just graze by about the other two. And yes, there is a Wufei story.

C-615 Colony, Outer Space:

The sound of waves crashing against the rocks is like music to Hilde’s ears. She sighed... If only this could last forever, she thought. She looked at Duo, at the same time that he looked at her...They stopped but didn’t let go of each other.

“This is so perfect...” murmured Hilde.

“Just like you...” Duo whispered. He placed his hand under her chin, and his face came nearer.

“HIIILLLLLDDDDEEEEE!!!!”

“Huh....?!" What...?”, asked Hilde, her thoughts all in a muddle. Then she heard the shout again - louder. Sighing, she went out of her office and into her partner’s office, passing their giggling employees.

She smiled back at them, shaking her head at the same time shrugging her shoulder at their questioning, yet laughing, eyes.

She opened the door, and although she had seen it before, it never cease to amaze her how his office could be so… so- well… destroyed in the afternoon.

Hilde saw her partner- well, half of her partner. Her partner’s upper body was inside his massive drawers, while his lower body was protruding and his hands were throwing one paper after the other in the air.

Leaning against the wall, she enjoyed the view. ‘Nice tush…’ Hilde thought with a smile. Hilde heard him mutter a curse after banging his head and thought that she should make her presence known.

She cleared her throat.

Slowly, Duo wriggled himself out of the cabinet. With a sheepish smile, he faced Hilde.

“Hey Hilde. I can’t find that Leroax and Tranx contract… do you know where it is?”

Hilde looked at the office floor with raised eyebrows. Strewn all over the place were papers. Duo started to get embarrassed.

“I… er… hahaha…” Motioning with his hands to the floor, “I was trying to look for it.”

Shaking her head, Hilde said, “Well,” going to the nearest pile, “I would have been able to find it this morning, but now… we’ll have to clean up before we find it.” She looked at Duo expecting a look of disgust. She wasn't mistaken.

His face fell as he muttered something.

“What was that?”

“Nothing…” he said as he turned around. “I just said I hate cleaning…”

“Well! You shouldn’t have done this mess...!”

“I know! I know, Hilde!” Duo said with his hands raised up in a surrendering stance. “No need to get your nerves on the edge!” He turned to the pile next to him and started attacking it with vigor.

Hilde worked in silence while Duo either hummed a tune, or muttered ‘here, there, nope or interesting’ After an hour of re-arranging the filing cabinet (and finally cleaning his office) Duo cried out in frustration,

“It’s not here!!!”

Hilde went up to Duo and thrust a piece of paper under his nose. “Here’s your contract.”

Looking up to her smiling face, he laughed that infectious laugh of his and Hilde started laughing herself.

“You”, Duo accused Hilde, “ Just wanted me to clean!”

“Of course! I can’t let our customers think that you’re a slob, now can I?” Hilde asked with mirth.

She and Duo started a business in the colonies after the war ended. And now, their company is one of the most prosperous in the colonies, next to Quatre’s.

Duo went to his chair, sat down and started reading the contract while Hilde picked up the last trash on the floor and dumped it in the can.

Looking up from the contract, Duo asked, “Hilde, would you please turn on the news?”

Complying with the request, Hilde turned on the widescreen TV in Duo’s office. Sitting at the edge of his desk, she turned up the volume.

Both of them had been busy for the past three weeks with contracts, and they only kept in touch with their stockbrokers for news (of stocks), but hadn’t really listened or watched any news.

Hilde’s eyes suddenly widened as a picture of a woman is shown on the screen.

“Oh my God! Relena!”

Duo looked up from the contract. With disbelieving eyes, he grabbed the remote from Hilde and turned the volume higher.

“…Peacecraft is pronounced dead as a will was uncovered in her files. It states “If anything happens to me, after three days that I am not found, pronounce that I am dead. If there is foul play, I will not let the people who have me use me as a tool to break the peaceful government of our world.” Being reported as missing for a month already, her lawyer agreed to stop the search and follow through with her wishes.

“Miss Relena Peacecraft has donated large amounts to various charities, and have left each of her workers a fine sum.”

Then Relena’s picture was gone.

Duo heard Hilde sobbing, and went to hug her. His mind, however, was wondering to a person who loved Relena.

‘Heero, I’m sorry…’ Duo thought. Looking down at Hilde, Duo imagined her dead, and a sense of dread filled him. He hugged Hilde harder. Then, he shook his head,

‘Man Duo,’ he thought to himself, ‘The way you’re thinking, you’d think you’re in love with her!’

He looked down at the sobbing girl in his arms and shook his head, ‘Naaahhh. Can’t be!’ and once again, his thoughts went to Heero, giving his sympathy to a person with skills he greatly admired.

Somewhere in Norway, Earth:

Trowa Barton turned off the television, staring at it in silence. He closed his eyes, then after a few minutes, opened it again. Sympathy is evident in his usually inexpressive eyes.

“I hope that you are all right, Heero Yuy…”

After a minute of silence, he continued, “Relena Peacecraft, ” he looked at the screen, “though I have a feeling that you are still alive out there, if you are not, then, may you rest in peace.”

He stood up and started walking to his room.

Gaia Colony, Outer Space:

“Master Quatre, I think that you might like to see this.” Henry said as he placed a newspaper on Quatre’s desk.

Quatre turned around from the ceiling high window with a smile and started walking to his desk,

“What is it Henry?” he cheerfully asked. Noting his old friends’ unusually serious expression, Quatre’ smile disappeared.

Picking up the paper, he was surprised to see an enlarged picture of Relena’s, all too fully aware that Relena doesn’t like being the center of media.

Then, after reading the headlines, the newspaper dropped from his hands.

Shock is clear in Quatre’s expressive face. And always very open to his feelings, he let some tears fall freely from his eyes, thinking of love lost for a good friend.

Gaia Colony, Outer Space:
One Week Later:
Lennox Airport, 1400 Hours

“Passage 150…” Quatre muttered to himself, straining his neck to look for a sign that he’s heading in the right direction.

A bright smile appeared on his face as he saw the sign on top of a passageway, with people streaming out, “Aha!”

“Now where is he…” Quatre muttered, looking for a somber looking Heero in a dark suit. Again and again, he scanned the peoples’ faces, yet he couldn’t find Heero.

What more, his gaze kept riveting back to a couple happily showing each other their affection. With lack of anything to do, Quatre placed himself in a visible place from the passageway, and observed the couple. ‘Gosh, I wish I can be as happy as them…’ he thought to himself.

The girl, a blonde with shoulder length hair, wearing sunglasses and fashionable clothes, has her arm around a brown haired guy, who is a head taller than her.

Alarm bells rang in Quatre’s head and his eyes creased as he noticed the familiar hairstyle of the guy.

At that moment, the girl let the boy go and gazed up at him lovingly. The moment was lost to Quatre as he saw Heero smiling down at the girl!

Quatre’s shoulders slumped down, and his mouth dropped. A stunned expression plastered on his face.

Heero laughed (actually laughed!) down at the girl and that seemed to shake Quatre out of his reverie.

Anger swelled up in Quatre as he purposely strode toward Heero, muttering expletives on the way.

The couple seemed to notice his arrival, since both seem to be smiling at him. Quatre’s anger mellowed as he saw the girl smile. Then he remembered Relena, and once again, his anger flared.

The moment he reached them, he faced Heero, deliberately ignoring the girl, “Hello Heero.” Quatre said as calmly as he could.

“Hey Quatre.” Came the low baritone from Heero.

Turning his attention to the girl, and smiling (smiling!) down at her, Heero introduced her, “Quatre, this is Rena.”

Quatre looked at the girl stonily, “Hello.”

“Pleased to meet you, Quatre” was the reply.

Looking back up at Heero, with eyes in slits, “What do you think you’re doing, Heero?!” Quatre asked with a low voice, trying very hard not to shout. “Relena’s not even half a year dead and you’re out with another woman already?!” Quatre asked outraged.

He saw Heero smirk, and the girl hide a giggle.

“My, what a temper!” Rena said, “You and Heero must have been together a lot of times!” was the teasing comment.

Quatre faced the girl, “Madame, I do not care who you are, but I do care about my friends.” He faced Heero again, “You left my house proclaiming your love for Relena, and now! Now you’re just out here with a girl!”

Quatre saw, to his satisfaction, that Heero blushed. But to his annoyance, the girl placed her hands on both side of Heero’s face and smiled more sweetly than before!

Quatre thought he was going to be sick!

“Aww… You proclaimed your love for me, Heero?” she asked, “How sweet!” and once again, she’s kissing him.

Quatre’s mouth dropped to the floor. Then he cleared his throat, “Excuse me”, he icily said to the girl as he placed a hand on her shoulder and shoved her away from Heero.

Heero looked angry that his kiss was interrupted but what the heck. Quatre just wanted to clear some things with the girl. “I said RELENA, Madame, not Rena!”

The girl smiled more widely up at Quatre, “Yes, I know you did Quatre.” Lacing her hand with Heero’s, and the other going up to her sunglasses, she bowed her head then took it off. “Don’t you recognize me, Quatre?” she asked cheerfully.

For the third time in a span of thirty minutes, Quatre was stunned.

“R- Relena?!” he choked. Relena’s arms went around him in a hug.

“Nice to see you too, Quatre.” She let go of Quatre.

“B- but the news said that you were… dead!”

“Quatre, Quatre…” came the condescending tone from Heero, “You know better than to believe every news story that you see.”

Quatre looked up to Heero’s smiling face, and smiled himself. He had forgotten that he’s had first hand experience with such things.

“How stupid can I get! ” He said as he slapped a hand to his forehead. All three of them laughed.

“Oh, Quatre…” Relena said, flagrantly waving her hand in front of Quatre’s face. “Notice anything?” Sunlight glinted against a rock on Relena’s ring finger, and Quatre’s smile grew wider.

“YOU GUYS ARE MARRIED?! THIS IS GREAT!!!” he shouted with glee, jumping at the same time.

Relena laughed, while Heero looked around and gave the people an apologetic smile.

“Can we go now, Quatre? People are staring at us.” Heero said, always leery of too many people.

Going in between two of his friends, Quatre placed one hand around a serious Heero, and another around a laughing Relena.

“Let’s go then! Onward!” He announced.

Heero looked at Quatre as they were walking and shook his head, “You’ve been spending too much time with Duo, haven’t you.” Accused Heero.

Quatre just smiled in reply while Relena laughed some more.

A few hours later, the three friends were lounging inside Quatre’s Arab decorated living room.

Relena comfortably snuggled by Heero, while Quatre looks serious as he leaned his elbows on his knees.

“So, correct me if I’m wrong…” started Quatre. “Relena will be staying with me while Heero will be going to C-615 to try to get Duo and Hilde together, right? Also, they’re not to know that you’re (he looked at Relena) alive?”

Relena nodded while Heero remained impassive.

Quatre looked at the couple, “Who’s plan was this?” Relena’s eyes showed a mischievous gleam, and Quatre sighed, “I should’ve known.”

“I’m all in for it…” said Quatre as he stood up and walked toward the balcony entrance, then back. “I mean, those two doesn’t realize it, but they’re meant for each other, like you two are…But, (he looked at Heero)”

“What?” asked Heero.

Quatre looked uneasy, but still said it, “I can’t really see you as a matchmaker.”

Relena laughed. “Don’t worry Quatre, everything will be fine.”

“How about if I go?” Quatre suggested, still uneasy with the thought of Heero the matchmaker.

“Nobody will be taking care of your business here, and Relena and I will not know where to go or not to go.” Said Heero.

As usual, Heero’s logic proves true. Quatre sighed his agreement. ‘What could go wrong?’ he asked himself. Putting on a happy smile, he asked,

“So, what do you want me to do?”

Heero and Relena smiled.

~*~

Afterwards, Quatre sat in front of a transmission monitor, with a picture of Duo on the screen.

“…I really want to be there for Heero, but right now there are too many things I need to do… I won’t be able to be there for him…”

Duo nodded solemnly.

“Besides, you told me that you guys just finished a huge project and that you’re going to slack off for a while…” added Quatre.

Duo looked understandingly at Quatre, “Don’t worry Quatre, Heero is perfectly welcome here, you know that. (Quatre smiled) Besides, I really feel sorry for him. I mean, do you think he even had the chance to tell Relena how he felt?” Duo asked curiously.

A guilty look passed Quatre’s face, Duo thought it was sympathy and nodded.

“Tell him to come here,” Duo smiled mischievously, “I’ll do everything I can to make him laugh! (Quatre hid a smirk, fully aware that Heero is already doing just that. Duo shook his head) Wait a minute, that’s too hard… Maybe just a little smile.” With that, the two friends said their good byes and signed off.

Later, In another room:

“Geeze! Does everyone know how I feel about Relena?” Heero asked pointedly at Quatre.

Quatre smiled and looked at a happy Relena. “We can’t help it. Every time Relena’s in trouble, you save her. Plus, you don’t know it, but you talk in your sleep!” Laughter escaped Quatre.

Heero looked startled, “I do not!” Quatre laughed some more.

Relena went to her husband, “Of course you don’t honey… (Looking at Quatre to tell him to be silent, then back at her husband) I should know first hand…” she teased.

Heero blushed beet red, and Quatre laughed harder.