10-Oct-2003
Title: Tangled In The Cord (part 4 of the "Telephone" series)
Author: Kimmie (JaenKaeGW@hotmail.com)
Archive: GW Addiction
Category: sap, romance
Pairings: R+2/2+R
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I mean no harm, I have no money... Stuff like that. Yeah.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Some language.
Spoilers: None.
Notes: This is part four of the "Telephone" Series. There will be eleven parts total. And, wow. I really thought I had posted this. >_< Er, enjoy?
"Relena?" The girl in pink looked up, her eyes wide and searching, and grinned widely as she saw Duo Maxwell waiting for her with arms open, and wearing an outfit more pink than her own.
She giggled and ran into his arms. "Duo, you are the silliest person ever."
He smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "Yeah, well... I couldn't let you be the only one in pink."
Still grinning, she pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "Oh, of course not. It wouldn't do to be the only person in pink at the airport." She laughed, but gazed serenely into his loving eyes. "I missed you."
He nodded. "I missed you, too. I had a hell of a time trying to figure out what to do without out. Did I mention I'm taking another course now? Home ec. I've put on at least 10 pounds since we learned the basics of how to make chocolate cake. And, I've got one baking back in the dorm kitchen right now, so we'd better hurry. It's best when it's warm and my room mate probably just pulled it out of the oven. I told him to pull it out at twenty after."
"Duo, it's half past."
He grinned. "I know. He's slow. And, as soon as I get back there, he's heading right back here to take his flight home. Turns out, his mother wants complete plastic surgery. Boob job, tummy tuck, eye lift... she's getting her arches lifted."
Relena raised an eyebrow. "Arches? Dare I even ask?"
Picking her up in a spiraling hug, Duo held her close. "She's getting plastic surgery done on her *feet*. How incredibly ludicrous is that? But, anyway, let's get your bags, my lovely ol' bag."
Bursting out laughing, Relena punched Duo's arm. "You silly braided fool!"
Duo raised his chin indignantly. "Now, Relena... Really. Your language instructors taught you better than that. I am not braided. My hair is." He paused. "Race you to the baggage claim."
Relena took off running, Duo almost next to her. They dodged disgruntled travellers, and bags being dragged along the scratchy carpet. Little children pointed to their frolicking and smiled, laughing. And, nonplussed, Duo and Relena raced on, finally reaching the baggage claim and halting suddenly, catching each other in widespread arms.
Smiling as Duo swung her in another wide arc of a hug, Relena laughed. "This is what I missed out on, isn't it?"
Duo set her down. "I'd like to think so."
Relena turned away to read over the signs proclaiming where each flight's luggage was being unloaded. "I'd like to think so, too. Odd thing is, no matter how much of a bastard I think Heero is, I miss him, too, Duo."
He caught her shoulder and turned her around. "But, would you go back to him?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm still confused. I *know* I love you. But, I think I love him. Isn't that just ridiculous? I'm about to break down crying in the airport, and we were having such fun, and nobody is even leaving!" She paused. "I'm sorry."
Her eyes cast downward, Relena didn't notice Duo moving in until his lips were on her own. When he pulled away, he stroked a lock of her hair back into place and smiled. "Don't be sorry. If you're sorry, you'll miss your bags going around in circles. And, if you miss your bags, you'll miss warm cake. And, if you miss warm cake, you'll be even sorrier!"
Laughing with a mixed in sob, Relena moved closer to Duo, letting one arm trail around his back. "Thank you for not pushing it. So, let's get ready for warm cake, huh? I see my bags coming out."
Laying his own arm across her shoulders, Duo gave Relena a kiss on her temple, and led the way, pulling away from her only to grab her suitcases.
The remainder of the trip to the college was filled with rather meaningless conversation and the prerequisite "catching up." Though the two had talked on the phone for hours the night before, they had saved certain bits of conversation that needed intense hand gestures and finger puppetry to explain. They finally reached the campus as Relena was demonstrating the technique she'd found to eat chocolate pudding when all of your spoons were dirty.
"And, so, I had to wash my hands again, but I didn't miss a bit of the pudding!" Duo laughed, and Relena's gaze wandered to the outside of the dorn building she knew so well. "I almost can't believe I'm back here, even if it is only temporarily."
Pulling his future wife into a calming embrace, he kissed her temple lightly. "I almost can't believe you're here, either. It's a dream come true. I love you."
Lips pursed and eyes closed, Relena took a moment to gather her thoughts a bit before she opened her eyes and pressed a soft kiss to the tip of Duo's nose. "I love you, too. Shall we go in?"
Duo nodded and opened his door, exiting the car. Relena took a few deep breaths and was about to open her door to get out when it opened for her and Duo held out his hand to help her to the ground. Laughing, she jumped into his arms. "Let's go have cake."
Her luggage was gathered, their arms were entwined, and they made their way into the building and into the hallway that Duo's room was off from. Suite 3 was entered, room 2 was opened, and Relena's things were stashed away in the closet as Duo pulled her off to the kitchen to try his latest bit of cooking, and to try to get her to help him make icing.
The remainder of the afternoon was filled with Duo changing out of his pink clothing, making icing, sampling the cake, unpacking Relena's things, call down to the lecture hall where Relena would be giving a seminar on how to control violence in the workplace to confirm that she would indeed be there to give the seminar, and to reserve a spot for Duo at that seminar, though Relena was entirely sure that she would be thoroughly poked fun at after giving her speech. However, she didn't mind.
Then, they had more cake, and snuggled on the couch watching mindless television while waiting for the pizza deliveryman.
End Part 4
(:./jennykim/phone4)
