*author's note:* most of Iria's test tube babies advance very rapidly through the stages of early childhood, but around age one they age just like a normal child. Iria made it this way because breast feeding was ahem… a touchy subject with some of her clients.
"You're a lot like your mother," Duo said at his now three-month old daughter. "You won't eat my cooking now EAT!!" Duo commanded. His daughter gave him a look with her blue-violet eyes that said, "you like it so much… you eat it. Aww come on, Even Hildie learned to eat stuff I gave her out of love for crying out Loud!"
They hadn't exactly named the little bundle of joy yet, Duo wanted to name her Hildie, but wasn't sure how Heero would take that bomb, and Heero well… Heero just called her what he wanted.
Baby Hildie once again, turned her nose up to her puréed carrots.
But wait! She took a bite!… And spit it right back in Duo's face. She giggled like mad, and kicked her feet. Duo heard someone laughing behind him he turned around.
"Why don't you try feeding her for a change?"
Heero just snickered as he lifted the baby from her high chair.
"Don't worry he's not mad at you… your mother did that too." He told the tiny girl running his fingers through her short blue-black hair. "What are we gonna name this kid anyway?"
"We could do the 'Omae o korosu' thing…"
"What do you think 'Korosu?" Heero asked 'Korosu', who gave a squeal of joy. "It's unanimous."
The telephone rang.
"Hello, " Duo answered.
"Damn you." "Hello Trowa, nice to hear your voice too,"
"You HAD to show Quatre your daughter didn't you? Now Iria's conned him into wanting children… with me."
"Aww well you know you kids should wait until you're married,"
"Why? You didn't with Hildie and you didn't with me," Heero said, a little louder then he meant to.
"Shut up Heero!" Duo yelled.
"Ugh, thank Heero for that little tidbit." "
You wanna talk about 'ugh' you make it sound like Iria and Quatre want a three-some."
"Be quiet Pervert"
"Trowa I never thought I'd hear you reduced to name-calling, that's Wufei's job."
"Don't worry he thinks you're a pervert too."
"Well if you and Quatre have kids at least you've only got good qualities to give them, with exception of your hair of course. As for me and Heero… well you know Heero."
"Yeah I guess you're right I mean at least WE won't end up with perverted assassins for children."
"That was cruel."
"Pay back for the hair," he replied.
There was a click as if someone had picked up the phone
"Trowa did you tell them the news?!?" Quatre asked excitedly.
"No Quatre I didn't, why don't you tell Duo?"
"Duo… Trowa Proposed!"
"HUH?!?" Duo managed. "Well Quatre first thing you do is cut off that damned 'Una-bang'"
"Next hair crack I'm coming up to L1, cutting off your braid and ramming it down your throat," Trowa said calmly.
"I would never cut Trowa's hair … unless he wanted me too … I love him just the way he is,"
"Sooo Trowa who's the best man Rhshed or Catherine?"
"I'm coming to cut your hair for that."
"Good it'll give me a chance to give you a REAL bang cut"
There was a click as if someone hung up the phone.
"Trowa? Trowa? I was just kidding I don't really want my hair cut… and I think Catherine would make a great best man!"
"Duo when Trowa gets there, make sure to introduce him to your daughter." Quatre said laughing.
"I'm sorry Quatre I've got to go lock the doors and board up the windows."
"All right, bye!"
"Bye Quatre"
"Heero if Trowa stops by … don't let him in."
****
Duo sat the baby down on the bed. "Now Little One what should we name you? Korosu will only work for so long, and I'm not having a kid of mine called Nanashi."
"Don't even THINK about naming her Shinigami," Heero said who was busy rummaging through the closet looking for a box with computer disks in it.
"Of course not… I'd be ShiniMEGAMI," Duo replied.
Baby Hildie giggled and clapped her hands.
Heero came across a box labeled "Duo's Crap" "Hey Duo what's in this?" He asked.
"Hey cool you found that!" Get it down for me will you?"
Heero found the disks he was looking for and left the room. Duo closed the door behind him.
"Shhh …. Don't tell Heero," Duo said opening the box. Baby Hildie shook her head wide-eyed. Duo took various objects out of the box until he came to a pile of white folded fabric. He lifted if from the box gently.
"Don't ask me how this got in a box labeled 'Duo's Crap,'" he said shaking it out the fabric. "This was Hildie's," he added.
It was a simple white dress with bright blue sash.
"She was gonna fix it up and turn it into her wedding dress," Duo started again holding it up to his body.
Baby Hildie tilted her head to the side and cocked an eyebrow.
"Yeah OK. So it doesn't look great on me give me a break, will ya?"
"Going to Prom Duo?"
"HEERO?!? … How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough," he replied, continuing to lead against the door frame. "Hypothetically speaking of course, IF we named her Hildie, how will I know which Hildie you're talking about?"
"Well … good question, but I think we're smart enough to figure that out, hypothetically speaking of course."
"Name the damn kid Hildie Duo." With that he headed back to his office across the hall.
The new Hildie went into a historical fit of laughter, clapping her hands and kicking her feet. (which were clad in Matt's old bat-wing baby booties) Obviously, she liked the name. ****
Duo picked up Hildie and walked out of the bedroom. He briefly paused in the doorway of Heero's office.
"Ya know she can't sleep in our room forever … this is the only spare room we have…so... I guess this'll become a bedroom."
"She can share with the other demons," Heero replied flatly, while his eyes remained glued to the computer screen.
"Oh yeah that'll work well," Duo shot back sarcastically.
He started to walk away, but stopped again.
"Oh by the way, Relena's coming over." "WHAT?!?!?"
Duo calmly walked toward the kitchen. "Why would she do THAT DUO!?"
"Funny how people do that when there're invited,"
"I didn't invite her…"
"I DID!"
"Why the Hell-"
"Hey is it my fault that YOU got Relena pregnant and YOU have a almost 7-year-old daughter, that needs a father, but knows NOTHING about you? And well Relena and Anne just happen to be coming to L1 today so I invited her over."
"Omae o kor-"
"I wouldn't waste you're time talking since they'll be here in 15 minutes"
With that Heero ran toward the bathroom. "Damn you Duo I've been in front of that computer for almost 3 days straight! I stink!-"
"So is that a 'mission accepted'?"
"Omae o korosu." He replied from the bathroom.
Duo looked to the baby in his arms, "He is SO easy, you just have to get the hang of it."
Hildie replied with a slew of baby noises.
***
Ding-dong
"I'll get it! I'll get it!"
"No I'll get it!" Sam and Matt raced for the door fighting the whole way. When they reached the door it became an all-out wrestling match with kicking biting and clawing.
Duo causally made his way to the door, pausing only to step over the demons on the floor. He opened the door to see Relena and Anne.
"Hey Relena! Hey Anne!" "Duo!" Anne yelled running to hug Duo around the waist.
Both Relena and Anne gawked at the two demons who were still wrestling around on the floor over who got to answer to door.
"I said I'D get it!" Sam yelled getting up to slam the door in Relena's face, Only to open it again with a huge grin on his face.
"Konnichiwa Relena-san, welcome to my house," he said, motioning her into the house.
Still a little shocked from having the door slammed in her face, Relena followed Sam into the living room, where she sat down on the couch.
"Why thank you young man," Relena answered as Sam stuck his tongue out at Matt.
****
After Matt dragged Anne into his room to show of "his" collection of comic books, and after a shirtless Heero with wet hair came skidding out into the living room yelling "Is she here yet?!" things calmed down quite a bit. The adults sat around coffee table, while Duo tried to start up a conversation. So far he could only start up a one-sided conversation with himself.
Then Relena's pager went off.
Relena sighed, "I should go…I'm needed"
"Hey Relena You could leave Anne here with us for a while instead of dragging her along with you, Since she and Matt and Sam seem to be having a good time," Duo suggested.
"Well all right…if you're sure you don't mind," Relena looked to Heero, who remained expressionless
***
After Relena said her good-byes, Heero showed her to the door. They just stood in the doorway in silence.
"Well Heero thank you for inviting me over, and your children are charming." She started.
Silence
"Heero you seem to be trying to repel happiness…. Or you're waiting for happiness to find you. Find happiness Heero, whatever or whoever it is," She kissed him on the check and left, without giving him a second glance.
*****Duo*Vision*****
I walked through the Forrest. Sunlight beamed down through the canopy of green trees. For once I was on time and she was late.
"I'm sorry Duo!" She yelled running up to me with the picnic basket in her arms.
"It's OK, just remember to be as kind and forgiving the next time I'm late."
She set the picnic basket down on the ground, wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.
"What was that for?"
"I missed you," she said tears in her eyes.
"Well if that's the case, you should miss me more often." She laughed weakly, pulled into a tight hug and rested her head on my shoulder.
Everything was perfect. Too perfect to be real at least, in my life anyway.
That's when it hit me, the truth. I was dreaming.
"Hildie you're…."
She pushed herself away from me slightly, and I swear to God she sprouted long, elegant, feathery, angel wings.
I couldn't fight the tears back any longer, I was all-out-crying. "Why Hildie? Why did you hafta' go? I miss you so much. It hurts without you around," I managed to choke.
"Life is short Duo, I'll see you again soon enough,"
"That still doesn't answer my question, your dea- uh… Honestly, what good did it do?"
She pulled me close wrapped her arms around my neck again, then wrapped her glowing white angel wings around my entire body. She leaned so close to my ear her lips almost touched it.
"Because… Life can't be all perfect houses and white picket fences."
******
~Owari(The End)
*might write a sequel
~now for the Japanese illeterate
Omae o korosu-"I'm going to kill you"
Anata ga suki-"I love you"
Shinigami/Shinimegami God/Goddess of death
Nanishi-No name
Baka-idiot
Otosan (Otousan)-Dad/father
I think I got all the terms I used(in all the parts:1,2,3) if I missed one and You wanna know what it is just email me k?
Feel Free to Email me At:Akimanoangel@hotmail.com!
