By Echo
Disclaimer: I own nothing. That really sucks. Warnings: None. This is a humor fic. Thanks to my friend AKT for the chocolate cake recipe.
It was December twenty-fourth of the year After-Colony 200, five years since the climatic end of the Eve Wars.
Duo Maxwell and Hilde Schibecker were celebrating Christmas alone that year. They'd been invited, of course, to Quatre Raberba Winner's annual bash, but they'd declined. Hilde was afraid of what might happen if Duo was left alone in Quatre's house again. She was positive that last year, even though everyone had laughed, they really didn't enjoy baked goods with slightly-altered ingredients. Especially the Maguanacs. They'd spent hours decorating a chocolate cake that tasted like soap. ("But Hilde, baby," Duo had said at the time, "your shampoo looked so much like mayonnaise... How could I resist?")
Hilde was baking cookies while Duo was "out walking." He'd forgotten to get her a present, again, but Hilde didn't mind. She was actually baking the cookies more for his enjoyment than her own. Everyone knew Duo couldn't resist sugar. Ever. And his sugar highs were no longer completely unbearable. (After living with him so long, Hilde'd gotten used to Duo being crazy after eating sweets.) She also knew that gingerbread were the perfect Christmas cookie, and Duo, the eternal kid (despite the fact that he was twenty-one years old), loved everything that had anything to do with Christmas. He'd decorated their entire apartment with sprigs of holly and mistletoe. He'd started wearing a Santa hat, complete with white fur. However, he still wore all black clothing, so he couldn't yell at Hilde for not getting more in the spirit.
She smiled to herself, pulling the cookies out of the oven. 'Perfect,' she thought. 'Especially these two.' It had been difficult, but by manipulating her cookie cutters slightly, she'd managed to make perfect replicas of herself and Duo, his hair included. Now she just needed to finish the last batch of black icing before he got home.
***
Duo knew that someday, they'd look back and laugh at the tradition he'd inadvertently started, but for now he couldn't help feeling guilty. He'd never once bought Hilde's present before Christmas Eve.
Of course, this year, it hadn't been his fault. The travel agent couldn't give him the tickets until Christmas. Duo just hoped that getting Hilde the perfect gift would make up for not having it on time.
***
Hilde had just enough time to finish the cookies and get out Duo's present before he arrived home.
He walked in the front door, whistling Jingle Bells. He wasn't holding any shopping bags. Hilde felt a solitary tear roll down her cheek. She brushed it away before Duo could see. He'd always gotten her presents late, but he'd never forgotten before.
"Hey babe," he said, taking off his jacket. "Merry Christmas." He came over and enveloped her in a giant hug.
"Merry Christmas to you too," she mumbled into Duo's shoulder.
They sat down to dinner, laughing and talking about past Christmases. They called Quatre's house, just to see how everyone was doing. Hilde couldn't help laughing when she learned that Duo's post as trickster had been filled by someone, well, unexpected. The former Queen of the World had spiked the punch. Duo just didn't understand why it was funny when Relena did something, but Hilde always got mad at him when he pulled stunts like that.
"Dessert time!" Duo called. "I've been smelling these cookies since I got home, and I'm not waiting anymore."
Hilde smiled. Duo would never change. She couldn't stay mad at him for long, ever. But she was still upset that he hadn't bothered getting her a present.
Duo was on his third cookie when he realized Hilde had barely touched her first. "Come on, Sugar-Pie, what's wrong?" he asked in an extremely exaggerated Southern accent.
Hilde chuckled sadly. "Nothing Duo."
Duo got up and walked over to her chair. "Come on, Hilde. I've known you longer than that." He knelt next to her and wrapped his arms around her legs so she couldn't move. "I'm not letting go until you tell me." He gave her a two-year-old's grin.
Hilde felt like crying. He could see right through her lies, so there was no point trying to make one up on the spot. She took a deep breath before speaking. "You didn't get me a present this year, Duo." She didn't look at him. She just stared straight ahead.
Duo was about to talk, but Hilde started speaking again before he could. "I even got you this." She pulled a small box out of her pocket. Duo wouldn't let go of her legs to open it. "Fine. I'll do it for you," she sighed, opening the box.
Inside was a silver cross. "I bought it right after your other one broke. Did I do a good job keeping it a secret?"
Duo, for once, was speechless. After a moment, he said, "I've been a jerk sometimes Hilde," he relaxed his grip on her legs, "and you got me the best present, ever." He stood up. "Look at me," he tilted her head up so she was staring into his eyes. "I know, I'm a procrastinator, and I never get your presents in advance. But I would never forget to get you something for Christmas." He paused, never breaking her gaze. "I was going to save these for later, to surprise you, but," he sighed loudly, "you've forced me to give you your present now."
Hilde's eyes widened as Duo pulled an envelope out of his pocket. "I opened yours, you open mine," she smiled.
"Fine, fine." He slit the envelope open with his pocket knife, handing her the contents.
Hilde was speechless for a moment. In her hand was the one present she thought she'd never receive. Two tickets to Earth. "Duo, how'd you know?" she asked.
"Well, you've never been to Earth, and I haven't been there in a while either. I thought we deserved a vacation."
Hilde grinned at him. "Thank you so much Duo." This time, she stood up to hug him.
"And you thought I forgot. Tsk tsk."
"Wait! I have one more present." Duo looked at Hilde with a puzzled expression. "For both of us." She went to the kitchen cabinet and pulled out the last two cookies.
Duo smiled when he saw how much time Hilde had put into dessert. "This is the best Christmas ever."
"Yeah. I agree."
"Only one question, Hilde."
"What, Duo?"
"Did you honestly think I forgot?" He grinned mischievously.
"No Duo. I don't know what I was thinking. Will you ever let me live this one down?"
"No." His grin widened.
Looking at the cookies she was holding, Hilde decided to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
She lifted the Duo Maxwell gingerbread boy, taking one last look at her handiwork. Then she bit his head off.
"Hilde!" the real Duo Maxwell screamed.
Swallowing, Hilde realized this truly was the best Christmas ever.
© 2001 by Echo Ay
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