Title: Last Minute Preparations
Authors: Bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com), von (sablexo1@yahoo.com), and Ravynfyre (ravynfyre@hotmail.com)
Archive: GW Addiction, Darkflame
Category: Yaoi
Pairings: 2+5, 1x2
Standard Disclaimer: All parts of Gundam Wing are Not Mine. It's all Theirs. *sigh* Too bad, but otherwise, I guess I'd never get anything done *happy hentai thought*. Anyway, not makin' any money offa this so dun sue me. You'd only get some college debt, a few dogs, and a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers anyway. Ya know. blood. Turnip. Do the math.
Rating: NC-17
Warning: none really
Spoiler: only for Mission Arcadia, or Chasing the Crown
Notes: Bonne and Von wrote little Christmas vignettes more than a year ago: Kenny's Gifts, and Heero's Christmas Lesson. This is a companion piece to those two works. Thanks go out to Bonne and Von for being so patient with me, and being the best damned writing partners a person could want, and apologies go out to everyone since this is kinda belated, beings as it's about five days past Christmas now. Bonne writes for Wufei, Von writes for Heero, and Ravyn writes for Duo.
Bells. Duo shuddered involuntarily as he listened to the very soft sounds of one of the cheesiest Christmas songs around coming from the radio. Ordinarily, Duo Maxwell liked bells, especially in holiday music. The sudden resurgence these last two years of the previously all-but-forgotten holiday of Christmas had been something of a dream come true to the braided ex-pilot. It had meant a sudden proliferation of garish lights, gaudy tinsel, wide varieties of holiday treats just begging to be tried and savored, and a flood of music.
Ancient comical tunes about reindeer and grandparents played along side soaring symphonies of pipes and horns and strings. Newer melodies of peace and joy shared airtime with older folk tunes about customs long ago lost in obscurity. Whatever song that was just finishing up on the radio now, however, its butchering of a once beautiful hymn with out of tune bells, should be dishonorably retired from service, and never played again. Ever. He suppressed another shiver, wiping his hands dry with a towel before flicking off the radio.
Duo liked the pieces with pipe organs and bells the most. They reminded him strongly of those brief happy months in Maxwell Church. He'd even managed to track down a small quantity of frankincense and myrrh resin just a few days ago, and had filled the kitchen with the faint haze of its scent as he'd worked on the surprise meal he'd fixed for everyone that night.
Sallah had looked a little skeptical when he'd ushered her from the kitchen early that morning, pausing a moment to cite the rules tacked to the fridge, and making sure to emphasize the line, "No Explosives in the Kitchen - NO Exceptions." Duo had affected a wounded expression, wide amethyst eyes blinking innocently as he solemnly promised to leave Sallah's sanctum exactly as he found it - spotless, before gently pushing her out the door to work on the baking and preparation for the big Christmas Eve meal he'd promised himself he'd fix for everyone. He'd dredged back through his memories of that one glorious Christmas with Father Maxwell and Sister Helen, fixing everything he recalled, and supplementing it with the other things, like cranberry sauce and plum pudding, that he'd painstakingly researched.
None of them had ever had a real Christmas before, and by God, he was going to make sure their first was one they would always remember. He'd been preparing for it in the last few weeks since returning from Earth and the nearly disastrous events following the memorial service Relena had dreamed up. It had been a good way to diffuse the nervous energy that had been slowly building inside since returning home.
The almost harsh wash of faintly blue fluorescent light flickered briefly against the immaculately polished countertop before giving up its struggle and subsiding into darkness. Duo's fingers, still slightly wrinkled from having done the dishes after dinner, absently brushed an imaginary speck of dust from the faucet of the sink as he walked past on his way to check the doors of the house. Satisfied after a quick, but thorough tour that the house was secure, he turned his attention to its occupants, and slipped up to Wufei's door. Making sure the hallway light was off, Duo quietly pushed open the door and peeked inside.
The spartan room was dark, though the curtains on the window were drawn, letting in the ambient light from the colony's "night" cycle. The figure resting on the futon sat up, crossing his legs. Looking towards the door, Wufei said softly, with a slight, wry tone, "Santa? Wrong room - the tree is down the hall to the right."
Duo grinned widely, sliding a little bit further into the gap between door and frame to lean against the jamb. A soft chuckle escaped him as he patted one hand over his belly, tossing Wufei a speculative glance. "Does that mean you think I'm getting fat?"
"Maybe I think you'd look good in red," Wufei returned, barely smiling. "You need something? Or just making sure all the children are asleep so you can retrieve the toys from the... what was it? Chimney?"
"The sleigh on the roof, through the chimney, actually," Duo corrected with a wink. "Sorry to wake you up, 'Fei. I must be losing my touch."
One dark eyebrow arched. "If you opened my door without waking me, I'd be losing *my* touch," Wufei replied in a very mild version of his formerly characteristic caustic tone.
Duo's grin widened a fraction. "Point," he agreed amiably. "Is Santa allowed to ask for a good night kiss?" he continued, pushing off from the doorframe with a mischievous smirk.
"I thought you preferred milk and cookies..." Wufei returned, but held a hand out, beckoning with two fingers.
Duo slipped up to the futon, kneeling on the floor beside it and reaching up to cup his palm along Wufei's cheek. "Too many cavities," he murmured, "Besides... this is sweeter."
Wufei turned his face into the touch. Leaning forward, he offered his lips to the braided boy, pressing gently and opening his mouth.
Letting his eyes drift shut as he slipped his tongue along Wufei's, Duo sighed with contentment, eagerly savoring the unique sweet spice taste of the Chinese youth's kiss. His hand slid along Wufei's cheek, sliding up into the dark hair at the nape of his neck, and he shifted forward to free his other hand to rest upon the bronzed flesh of Wufei's other cheek. For a time, the whole world melted away, lost in the sensation of the responsive youth before him. He finally drew back, tongue lingering upon Wufei's lips for a moment as he drew in a deep breath. "Xie xie, 'Fei-koi," he whispered huskily.
Wufei brushed his cheek against Duo's and nuzzled his neck with a quick kiss. "Wo ai ni," Wufei answered, and smiled. "Love you. Try and get at least a few hours of sleep, ok?"
Duo slowly opened his eyes, licking his lips as if gathering the faintest traces of some fine confection before cocking his head and favoring Wufei with a wry smile. "Since when have *I* ever let anything get in the way of sleep?" he asked with a small wink. Without waiting for an answer, he leaned in again, brushing his lips briefly over Wufei's. "I promise," he said, mouth twisting into a small leer as he drew back, "If Heero lets me, that is..."
Wufei snorted softly, then shrugged. "Whatever. If you fall asleep in the middle of lunch, I'll try and keep you from drowning in your leftovers. Good night, Duo-kun. Happy Christmas."
Duo rose back to his feet, letting his fingers trail along Wufei's cheek softly as he stepped back. "Merry Christmas. Love you, too, 'Fei. Night," Duo said quietly, offering Wufei a soft, intimate smile before slipping out the door and shutting it behind him with a soft click.
Duo's stocking feet made no sound on the stairs as he padded to the second floor, pausing to peek into Sallah's room first. She didn't even stir as the door closed and Duo moved on to Wufan's, and then Tryan and Carter's rooms. Duo felt something warm and tight within his chest, losing track of time for a few moments as he absorbed the faint smiles still hovering around them, even in their sleep. The children were enjoying it all. Duo smiled. Tomorrow wouldn't be quite as easy; he'd have to watch his thoughts a little bit harder around Carter. With Christmas all but forgotten in the past, it had been easier to ignore the memories and the restlessness.
Duo could feel his smile slipping. Ducking out quickly, he closed the door and crept over into the room he shared with Heero. He leaned back against the closed door, taking in a slow, deep breath to calm himself. A faint light from their opened bathroom door filtered in, and his eyes adjusted quickly to the shadows enshrouding their bed.
Long fingers unconsciously fisted the blanket over Duo's empty spot, while the smooth skin of Heero's bare chest rose and fell in slow, measured strokes. As a moth is drawn to a flame, Duo found himself kneeling beside the bed, resting his chin on one arm as he drank in the sight of his sleeping lover for a long moment. Dark lashes fanned over smooth cheeks that looked almost silver in the darkness of the room, and the peaceful, untroubled expression of Heero's face made the breath catch in Duo's throat.
Duo had always loved to watch Heero sleep before, but now that the Crown was gone, and the children were safe, the tiny creases and worry lines that had plagued his lover's face even in sleep had vanished, leaving behind a distilled essence of tranquility that Duo couldn't seem to get enough of. For the past several weeks, every morning when he'd awoken before Heero, he'd spent almost half an hour or more simply memorizing every plane of that miraculous calm.
But he still had a lot to accomplish before he could sleep. With a soft sigh, Duo rose to his feet again, bending down to brush his lips across Heero's, his fingers ghosting through the messy dark bangs briefly before he turned and padded silently away. A pair of prussian blue eyes cracked open, watching as the tip of Duo's braid vanished behind the door. As it clicked shut, Heero smiled into the darkness, and then settled more conformably into the blankets and drifted back off to sleep.
After checking on Duan and Kenny and satisfying himself that the children were all sleeping peacefully, Duo headed back downstairs towards the living room. He made a quick detour to the small closet near the front door, retrieving a battered old box that he'd taken from the secret case under his bed and hidden there earlier that morning long before anyone else had been up. Clutching it to his chest reverently, he closed the door and slipped back into the living room. He set the old box on a table near the tree and skipped off towards the office, where he'd hidden a much larger box several days before. Having retrieved that, he returned to the living room, and plugged in the tree.
Soft crystalline blue twinkled serenely, interspersed with pale frosted white and the occasional shimmer of muted cinnamon. The lights shone upon the scattered collection of ornaments: a troupe of small stuffed and carved animals here, a gathering of crystal snowflakes twinkling with iridescent splendor there, a small assortment of tasseled Chinese trinkets interspersed throughout, and mixed into it all, a flock of beautiful carved birds, painstakingly painted a gleaming white, their wings caught in full spread as they soared about the tree.
He paused for a few minutes, simply gazing at the glowing sculpture of light and love that they had all worked so hard on, a quiet, calm smile playing across his lips. For a brief moment, he thought he felt ethereal hands rest gently upon his shoulder, and smelled the faintest hint of lilac talcum powder tickling his nose. He turned, almost expecting to see Sister Helen standing there behind him. Darkness greeted him, though, oddly, he wasn't disappointed by that fact.
"I know you're here," he whispered, holding his hand over his heart, "I'll do you proud."
Without waiting for any sort of answer, he turned back to the large box he'd just retrieved and opened it up, pulling out the stockings he'd spent the last month working on in secret. Sallah had looked at him strangely when he'd asked for lessons on how to sew, but she'd acquiesced quickly enough and given him a brief lesson. He took what he'd learned and improvised over the following weeks until he was satisfied with the results.
He'd started with Heero's, figuring that the little mistakes he was likely to make wouldn't bother his lover that much, and would probably be looked upon fondly as "character". A deep, sapphire blue stocking was carefully embroidered with soft white feathers and Japanese katakana spelling out Heero's name in gleaming silver. Next came Wufei's, a rich red silk sewn with a rampant Imperial Dragon in black, with Wufei's name carefully stitched in Chinese characters. Sallah's was a deep emerald silk sewn with soaring birds and starbursts in bold reds and blues and golds.
The children's' came next, starting with Carter's. Duo had had a hard time finding the right kind of fabric to sew the stocking itself from. He'd finally stumbled upon a pale pink, not quite salmon, but not quite white, that glittered with an iridescent sheen when tilted in the light. Shimmering teal thread carefully spelled out his name, while a soft white thread completed it with graceful bolts of lightning. Tryan's stocking was made from a deep forest green satin that shifted to gold under the light. It was covered with a pride of leaping lions whose eyes sparkled with flashing green gems, and Tryan's name embroidered in bright amber. Wufan's was made from red silk, like Wufei's, though his was sewn with a rampant white dragon surrounded by licking gold flames, and the Chinese characters of his name were stitched in the same flashing gold thread. A soft black velveteen was chosen for Duan's stocking, accented with nine red ribbons, flowing and floating down around a small gold cross, while Duan's name was sewn in that same bright gold. Kenny's was made from a deep sapphire velveteen, highlighted with a flock of birds embroidered in silver-white, while his name was sewn in brilliant cobalt that seemed to glow against the darker blue background.
Each stocking was carefully filled with small candies and fruit (more chocolate than anything in Wufan's, while Duan's got more fruit than other candy, and Tryan's was liberally laced with apple hard candies), as well as a collection of small toys like yo-yos, puzzles, and small plushies and such, until they were fit almost to burst from their carefully hand stitched seams. Once stuffed full, each stocking was meticulously hung near the tree before having a bright red bow added. Duo stood back to observe his handi-work, and nodded in satisfaction.
Returning to the office, he opened up the closet and rummaged around in the back, pulling out the first armload of gifts he'd had hidden there for everyone for the last few weeks. Returning to the tree, he arranged them carefully amidst the small collection of other presents that he'd set out to distract the boys. After another half dozen trips, with the tree overflowing about as much as the stockings, Duo shut the closet and returned to the living room once more. The tree stood out, a radiant beacon in the darkness of the night. On the table, the battered shoebox sat patiently.
He slipped over and reverently pulled the lid off. Sitting on top, an awkward bundle wrapped in scraps of cloth and old faded shreds of newspaper occupied the place of honor. Trembling hands reached in and gently withdrew it, carefully unwrapping it from its shroud of tatters and memories. The packing was returned to the box, and the lid placed on it once more, before Duo turned his full attention of the object itself.
An eight pointed star, lovingly carved and pieced together from scraps and tailings of wood that had been collected from condemned buildings sat serenely in his cupped hands. One tip was half shattered and broken off, while another was burned to cinder, the two flanking it singed slightly. Its surface was painstakingly covered in a motley collection of gold leaf scavenged from much older, much more abused ornaments, and bits of silver tinfoil collected from discarded candy wrappers. Despite its rag-tag appearance, Duo could still feel the cheerful pride that Father Maxwell had imbued the church's tree-topper with.
///"No, not there, Duo. The star goes on the top of the tree. That way it can light the Wisemen's way to Bethlehem to honor Jesus. Remember?" Sister Helen asked, her voice faintly amused, but as always, gentle and filled with a softness that always managed to soothe him.
"Our star will do that?"
"Everyone's stars will do that. That's the power of a star."
"But... I thought there was only one star that did that..."
"Every star on every treetop, here on the colonies, and down on Earth below, holds a tiny piece of that first beautiful star. Do you know what that piece is called?"
"No..." he answered slowly, obviously confused.
"Faith. It's called faith, my little Duo. And so long as we have faith, and so long as we have love, then the stars will always be there to guide us back to what's important."
"What's that?"
"Family."///
"Family," Duo murmured, echoing the faint memory of Sister Helen's voice as twin tracks of moisture slipped unheeded down his cheeks. After a moment, he scrubbed the back of his free hand over his cheeks, brushing the tears away before turning his attention back to the star.
It, and the few other items carefully packed within the battered old shoebox, was one of the last surviving pieces, scavenged from the rubble of Maxwell Church all those years ago. The last ties to a life left so far behind. A life that he now had a family to share with.
Duo closed his eyes and crushed the wooden star to his chest. "I will do you proud," he whispered into the silence.
Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes again, and then pulled a chair over towards the tree. Deftly balancing on the chair, he placed the star atop the tip of the shining tree, completing it, before hopping down and returning the chair to its place.
The smallish battered wooden star looked both so awkwardly out of place, and so right at the same time, that all Duo could do was smile.
"Amen."
With one last lingering look, he hid the shoebox in the closet again, and then turned for the stairs.
"Merry Christmas."
Once back in the sanctum of the room he shared with Heero, Duo traded his normal clothing for his favorite pair of boxers, and flipped the small light in their bathroom off. He peeled the blankets away from the bed and slid in carefully, trying to be sneaky enough to not disturb his slumbering lover as he settled in beside Heero. Shifting a little closer, he inhaled deeply, closing his eyes as Heero's scent washed over him and grounded him back in the present again. "Love you, Heero," he whispered quietly, turning against the Japanese youth.
Heero's eyes opened in the dark. Stretching his arms out, he slid them around Duo, pulling him against his chest. He had been fully aware of Duo in the room as soon as he had crossed the threshold. "Omae o koruso, Duo," he whispered back, dropping a kiss on Duo's shoulder.
Duo blinked, startled not so much by Heero's wakefulness, but by his own surprise that his lover had known when he'd come in. Duo's lips turned up in a rueful little grin. "Sorry. I was trying to be quiet," he murmured, snuggling into Heero's embrace.
"No need," Heero said, gliding his fingertips over Duo's bare skin. "Did you finish your... patrol?" he asked.
"I really *am* losing my touch," Duo sighed with amusement, a slight shiver dancing over his skin in the wake of Heero's talented fingers. Turning his head up, he nuzzled the soft skin just under his lover's jaw, darting his tongue out for a quick taste. Pickpocket fingers walked their way across Heero's chest, trailing carefully over familiar routes of sensitive nerves. "Yeah," Duo breathed, rolling his body until he straddled Heero, looking down at him with a wicked glint in his eyes. "All's quiet. A shame, really..."
Heero's head tilted as he looked up at Duo in the half-light of the room. "Why?" he asked.
"Too quiet," Duo murmured, ducking his head down to nibble gently at Heero's lower lip.
"Mmm," Heero murmured. His hands slid down the length of Duo's thighs and into the silky material of his boxers. "I see that's about to change," he replied.
"Hmm... Maybe," Duo said, pulling back just enough to stare thoughtfully down into Heero's eyes, a curious little smile upon his lips. "If you want."
Very slowly, Heero lifted his hips against Duo above him. "Oh, I want..." he said, feeling the delicious wash of pleasure throughout his body.
Duo's smile turned predatory, and he leaned down again, his lips sealing themselves upon the heavy pulse of Heero's throat, while his hands wandered back along his lover's ribs. He shifted again, pulling his legs in tight until the soles of his feet rested along Heero's calves, giving him more leverage to rock slowly against the youth trapped below him. His mouth worked its way up to the lobe of Heero's ear, leaving a trail of nipping kisses along the way. "You want... what?" Duo whispered playfully before turning the full attention of his tongue against the fold of skin held delicately between his teeth.
Heero gasped as he closed his eyes again. "You," he whispered, moving his hands along Duo's back and down around his rear.
"But I'm right here," Duo observed innocently, working along Heero's jaw until he reached the other ear. He pressed back into Heero's grip, not so incidentally rocking the firm bulge trapped within his boxers against his lover. A quiet groan slipped from his lips as he suckled Heero's throat, slowly slinking towards his collarbone.
Heero's breathing deepened as he felt the double assault on his senses. Opening his eyes again, he held Duo firmly against him, rocking back up against him. The friction of their bodies caused the Japanese pilot's temperature to soar. Duo had that effect on him. "K'so!" Heero hissed through clenched teeth. Moments later, he pulled Duo down to the bed and underneath him. Leaning forward, he covered Duo's mouth in a devouring kiss.
Duo's eyes fluttered shut as he surrendered to the kiss, letting his hands drift up and around Heero's shoulders. He sucked Heero's tongue deep into his mouth, tangling it with his own triumphantly. Behind his eyelids, the world leapt into focus, ghosts of the past seemingly burned away in the face of Heero's heat. Desperately, he sucked it in, drank it down, reveled in the clean, hard lines of the lean body above him, and centered his world on the heavy pulse of the heart beating for him within Heero's chest.
Heero's hands slid down the length of Duo's body, his fingers slipping inside the boxers and over heated flesh. Moving back, Heero broke the kiss with a sigh, then moved his mouth over juncture at Duo's neck and shoulder hungrily. Pressing down against Duo, he rocked against his lover, illustrating his desire with touch and motion as he became lost in the heat.
A quiet moan broke from Duo's throat and he tilted his chin up and out of Heero's way. Lifting his hips up, he helped Heero slip the thin material separating them down his legs before kicking the boxers away and off the end of the bed. One hand had slid up into the soft tangle of hair at the nape of Heero's neck, while the other slowly kneaded the quivering muscles of the Japanese youth's rear. Heero's name dripped from Duo's lips in a deep groan, almost lost within the thunder of his heartbeat crashing within his ears.
Smoothing his hands over Duo's hips, Heero lifted up, looking down at his lover on the bed. He moved his hands along Duo's inner thighs as his eyes fastened on the length of the braided pilot's firm erection. Duo was intoxicating, beautiful and unique in every way. Reaching forward, Heero curled his fingers around Duo's cock, stroking him reverently. "Mine," he said, possessively.
Duo's breath exploded from him in a harsh whimper, as his body arched off of the bed, bowstring tight. He forced his hands to relax, to uncurl from where they'd flexed tightly against Heero. "Yours," he agreed in a choked murmur, trailing his hands along his lover's spine until they met at the small of Heero's back . Sliding them around Heero's slim hips, he left feather light caresses along the firm shaft of the Japanese youth's erection. "Mine. Love you," he breathed, amethyst eyes opening and fixing their intense gaze upon Heero's face.
Heero gasped as he felt Duo's hand firmly around him. He nodded. "Yours," he said, breathlessly, committing himself once again. Slowly, he resumed stroking his lover's cock, feeling the closed circuit with Duo's hand around him. "Love... you, Duo Maxwell," he managed.
Duo's eyes slipped shut again, his head falling back against the pillow as Heero's assault threatened to swamp his conscious mind. His grip tightened a little, pace a little quicker as his other hand slid down to cup the heavy sac below Heero's cock gently. "Please... Heero," he groaned, hips tilting up against his lover's urgently.
Heero moved quickly. He moved his hand around Duo's, settling between his legs. Using the moisture from Duo's body, Heero slid moist fingers down between Duo's thighs and parted him. Seeking and finding the small opening in Duo's body, Heero moved his fingers inside. "Need you," he said, then guided his throbbing manhood into his lover, filling him completely.
Unable to articulate a coherent answer to that, Duo merely seized Heero's shoulders in his now empty hands and pulled the youth down for a fierce kiss, stifling a small keening cry against Heero's lips. He shifted, gripping Heero's cock tightly with his body as he adjusted to his lover. Restless hands trailed down Heero's chest, flicking his nipples into hardened, sensitive nubs, even as Duo gave up the struggle to understand why it was always so mind-numbingly wonderful with Heero. It didn't matter why; it just was, and Heero was his. Heero would make it all right.
Moving his hands underneath and around Duo's shoulders, Heero began rocking against Duo as he stretched out over him. He kissed Duo deeply, feeling the heat of their two bodies, now joined together. "Love you," he said against Duo's ear a short time later, as his hips moved faster and more urgently.
Duo's tongue darted out, lapping up an errant bead of sweat that slid down to the hollow of Heero's throat, rolling it in his mouth before tilting his head a little to suck greedily at the salty flesh almost beyond his reach. A familiar whirlwind of pure sensation danced just beyond his ken, building slowly in strength and fury until he thought he'd go mad from its power. Callused hands gripped Heero's pistoning hips, kneading them urgently, even as Duo tried to bury the moan building deep in his chest against Heero's throat.
His release seemed to almost attack him with its suddenness and strength, rushing in on him from the edge of awareness and threatening to drown out everything but the burning touch of his lover above him. Like a firestorm feeding upon its own fury, Heero's touch drove the wave of pleasure higher and higher, even as it broke over Duo. A strangled cry ripped itself from the braided youth's throat, and he shuddered in Heero's grasp.
Heero heard and felt Duo's release resonate within his own body. Moments later, he felt himself shudder as his body gave up its essence and surrender to Duo. Holding on to Duo tightly, Heero felt as though they were the only two people in the world.
"Always," he breathed against Duo's ear, as he sought his lips for another kiss.
"Always?" Duo murmured wistfully when they broke for air, some nameless dread fluttering in his soul making him self-conscious. Instantly on the heels of that slip, he silently berated himself, nuzzling Heero's throat to hide his self-recriminating wince from Heero. "Love you, Hee-chan," he continued, a little bit louder, hoping that his lover had missed his tongue's betrayal.
Heero smiled, looking up at Duo. "That's how long I'd like to be this way," he said, answering Duo's question. "And I still find that, incredible. I can understand it, but it makes no sense sometimes," Heero added. Then, he shrugged a little. "But that's what makes you who you are, Duo."
Duo took a deep breath, willing his racing heart to slow a little, and drinking in Heero's scent deeply. He could never get enough of Heero's scent, it seemed. Hell, he could never get enough of Heero. Drawing back a little, he brushed his lips over Heero's, adding a playful little lick to the tip of his nose as he stared up into his lover's deep blue eyes. "Makes no sense?" he echoed inquiringly.
"I'm not what you'd call a 'loveable' guy Duo," Heero said. "That's your department. For instance, I'll bet you were out there doing something for the kids, right? Well, that's a part of who you are."
Duo halted Heero's speech with another kiss, a stubborn cast flitting into his violet eyes as he contemplated his lover. "You're part of who I am, koibito," Duo insisted as he broke the kiss. "I'm no more perfect than you are, but you *are* the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you. That makes you lovable to me. That's all that matters."
"Hai," Heero said, then chuckled. "Duo, Happy Christmas," he added.
Duo purred contentedly, pulling Heero against him in a tight cuddle, murmuring, "Merry Christmas to you, too, Hee-chan. You got me the perfect gift."
Heero chuckled again. He then yawned and settled down against the bed, contentedly.
Duo curled up against him tightly, pausing for a moment to draw the blankets up over them both again, before pillowing his head against Heero's chest. The soft smile playing across his lips remained even long after he'd finally surrendered to sleep, still wrapped within Heero's arms.
~owari~
RavynFyre
Please send comments to: ravynfyre@hotmail.com