Title: Sunrise of Hope
Author: tkmaxwell777
Category: Fluff, Angst?
Pairings: 1+2?
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Don't own ... not now, not ever ... but Duo likes my world better :)
Warnings: Religious References ... hey, it IS Easter, you know :)
Synopsis: Duo teaches Heero about the true meaning of Easter ... forgiveness.
It was a cool March morning just before sunrise. Duo stood on the little hill just beyond the house where the pilots had been staying for the past week. He knew that the others would be waking up soon, but he'd wanted some time to himself; time to remember. His hand was clasped around the gold cross that hung around his neck. 'This is the morning they always celebrated,' he thought to himself, unwilling to break the silence with his own voice. 'This is the morning they talked of forgiveness and divine sacrifice.' He still didn't understand it all, but in honor of their memory, he stood there ... and waited.
Heero rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he glanced over at the other bed in his room; Duo wasn't there. "Probably already downstairs stuffing his face with chocolate," the wing pilot mumbled to himself.
Quatre had bought enough jellybeans, marshmallow peeps, and Cadbury eggs to last for a month. Heero knew that Duo would be the first one at them today; he was the same way when it came to presents at Christmas. For some reason, Heero didn't begrudge him that childhood wonder; Heero knew that Duo had every right to it after what he'd been through. Sighing, Heero decided to go make some coffee. It didn't go well with jellybeans, but he needed the caffeine if he was going to deal with Duo on a sugar buzz all day.
The sun began to rise. Duo watched in reverent awe as the colors painted a beautiful picture as they dance across the sky. He felt his heart swell at the memory of Sister Helen singing 'Ave Maria'. He could hear her voice as the light took over the darkness; he didn't even notice the tears streaming down his face.
A hand suddenly rested on his shoulder. "Duo? Are you okay?"
Duo turned to see Heero standing behind him, a look of confusion in his cobalt blue eyes. Duo became aware of the tears, but he didn't wipe them away. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just carrying on a tradition."
Heero looked at the other boy; he'd never seen Duo like this. "What tradition?" He saw the look of surprise on the braided pilot's face. Then Duo gave him a small smile.
"Part of the tradition is sharing the story, so I'll tell you. Father Maxwell and Sister Helen used to tell us about a man who lived a long time ago who gave his life for his friends and enemies alike. The man had talked about loving each other and basically pissed off all of the religious leaders of the day. The leaders decided to put him to death. Only he didn't deserve it. I mean he was teaching something good, and he showed everyone that even the lowest person deserved to be treated right. Anyway, they beat him, whipped him, and finally put him to death by the most horrible means of death back then."
"That's a horrible story, Duo. Why would you want to remember that?"
"Well, wait a minute. That's not the end. What everyone didn't know was that this man was sent by God to be the sacrifice for every wrong anyone would ever do. Father Maxwell said that the man was really God in disguise. Even though he died, three days later, he came back to life, then went back to Heaven."
"That's crazy, Duo. Do you believe that?"
Duo looked back at the sun that was shining brightly in the sky. "I don't know, but I remember the love Father Maxwell and Sister Helen had for me, and they believed it. I don't know if it is possible, but you know, Heero, sometimes you have to believe in something even if it doesn't make any sense. Sometimes faith is the only way to make this life mean something."
Heero stared at Duo, then looked up at the sun. He had never believed in anything except the mission. Maybe Duo was right. Maybe it was okay to try to believe in something in your heart that your mind never could accept.
"So what are you doing watching the sunrise?"
"They said that some of the man's friends came to his tomb on the third morning after a couple of women had seen that the stone wasn't over the entrance. When they got there, angels told them that he wasn't there. Father Maxwell used to say that watching the sunrise was a way of waiting for forgiveness, because the moment that the man walked out of that tomb was the moment that mankind was redeemed. I don't know what that means to you and me, but I watch and hope that somehow it's true. I hope that He's looking down on me and forgives me even though I don't deserve it."
Both boys were silent for a while, looking at the sun as if they were praying in their hearts for the miracle that the story promised. Duo was the first to turn away.
"I guess the others are awake by now. We should be going back before Quatre eats all of the jellybeans."
Heero put his hand on Duo's shoulder to stop him for a moment. "Duo, thanks for sharing that with me. You know, I do feel better somehow. Maybe the story is true. Maybe God did do that for mankind. I don't know either. I do know that there is no greater love than to give your life for others. You guys have taught me that. Maybe we're not as far from forgiveness as we sometimes believe."
Duo looked back at the wing pilot and smiled. "You know, Heero, sometimes God uses the most unexpected vessels. Sister Helen used to tell me that. I think you just proved her point."
Heero gave him a slight smile. "Maybe if we forgive each other, we'll find a way to forgive ourselves."
Violet met blue, hope flashing in their depths.
"I forgive you, Heero."
"I forgive you too, Duo."
For a moment, they both felt peace. For a moment, they could feel the guilt they had been carrying fly away ... on the wings of a dove. For a moment, they were free. Someone yelling from the house brought both of them back to reality. Duo smiled again.
"Let's go eat some chocolate. Did I ever tell you the story of the Easter Bunny?"
The End
(:./tk/easter1)
