Home is Where the Heart is Part 2
A quick stop at the drive thru window of a small burger stand and soon Heero and Duo and the mysterious packages were secure in their room. Duo wanted to wolf down his two double cheeseburgers, large fries and jumbo drink but Heero persuaded him to slow down before he made himself sick, "How much fun to do think we will have if you have a stomach ache?" he stated nibbling at his own meal, "That would spoil all our fun." he added being his usual sensible self.
Supper finished, Duo flopped down on the bed as Heero moved the small table near his lover anxiously awaited his surprise. First Heero pulled out the pitiful tree with its droopy branches and shedding plastic needles. "Sorry about the condition," he apologized, "but there wasn't much left."
Duo grinned tentatively touching the fragile branches as if too hard a stroke would defoliate it altogether. "Its all right." he stated tilting his head to see if it looked any stronger from another angle.
"Maybe it will look better with these." Heero declared opening the box of stain balls and the card of bows.
Duo dipped his fingers eagerly into the crimson ornaments and began to arrange them, just so, on the spindly boughs. With the patient dedication of an artist, Duo prudently considered each placement of the scarlet spheres and bows.
Heero made no move to help or give advice. Instead, he sat back on the bed watching with heartfelt interest as his partner secured one ornament then leaned back to seriously study its location before moving on to the next. It was clear Duo wanted the tiny tree to be decked out perfectly to show Heero how much he appreciated his efforts to give him what little Christmas comfort he could.
At least thirty minutes later, Duo was finally satisfied with his project's outcome. "Isn't it beautiful." he proclaimed with a deep sigh.
"It sure is." Heero agreed taking Duo's hand, "And so are you." he sincerely stated giving his lover a warm kiss. His attention and comment was rewarded with a shy blush from Duo.
"Wait, I have something else." Heero announced lifting the next to the last bag from the floor. "First," he smiled, "we have cider, spiced the way you like it."
Duo grinned as Heero opened the snowman cups and poured some for them both. "Now I want you to take off all your clothes." Heero ordered letting an usually wide smile travel over his hardened features.
"I thought you would never ask, lover." Duo smiled quickly beginning to strip.
"Now don't get too excited all at once." Heero cautioned, "We will have plenty of time for loving. Right now I just want you to be comfortable." he added pulling back the bed coverings.
"Slip in." he invited moving aside to let his sweet Duo slid in between the cool sheets. "Come on, don't keep me waiting." Duo begged scooting over to make room.
Heero leaned over planting a brushing kiss on Duo's pouting lips, "Patience my love." he grinned reaching again into the bag.
He set the candles in a semi-circle at the tree's base careful to keep a safe distance from the branches. The last thing he wanted to do was start a fire. He lit each one. Their united flames, wavering through the glass bowls, cast dancing shadows on the wall as Heero switched off the bedside light. The candle light's warm glow and cinnamon scent filled the dingy room making it seem not as cold and lonely.
Heero pulled off the cookie tin lid setting the baked treats by Duo. "Oh!" came the short but pleased exclamation at the sweet goodies, "And they have sprinkles, too." Duo bounced in the bed grabbing one and taking a large bite.
"Hey, save some for me." Heero called as he got out of his clothing and slipped his naked form under the body warmed sheets.
He handed Duo his cider and helped himself to a cookie. The Gundam Masters leaned back on fluffed pillows enjoying their cider and cookies and just being together.
"We're going to get crumbs in the bed." Duo stated licking frosting from his fingers. "I hate crumbs in the bed."
"I will brush them out." Heero promised licking his tongue over Duo's fingers to enjoy the taste of frosting mixed with his sweet lover's skin.
"You know for some reason I don't care as much about crumbs now." Duo cooed sucking Heero's finger as far into his moist mouth as it would go.
Heero added a second digit quivering as Duo's tongue traced around and between before sucking in even harder. Reluctantly Heero pulled out his tingling fingers taking Duo's empty cup, sitting it beside his on the table.
"You seem to have frosting here, too." he observed leaning over to lick the sticky coating from Duo's lips. "And here, too." he moved his tongue over Duo's chin and back across his cheek.
"We don't need any more of these tonight." he stated relocating the cookie tin to join the empty cups. "I think you are already flying high enough without the added sugar."
Duo slipped his arms about Heero's shoulders leaning against his firm chest, "You always have that affect on me and you know it." He whispered running his tongue down Heero's neck. A second quiver, stronger than the one before, was his reward for his focused sensuous attack.
"It is so good being here with you." Heero said pulling the tie from Duo's braid freeing his silky chestnut mane. "I want you to be happy."
Duo leaned back locking his soft sight with Heero's blue eyes, "You know I always dreaded this time of year. It did nothing but remind me of what I had lost, what might have been if...." His voice trailed off with a choked sob.
Heero pushed back stray bangs looking deeply into Duo's moist eyes, "Shhhh, I know. This was never the best time for me either." he confessed. "But we are together now. Let's not dwell on a past we can't change and we certainly have no control over the future. We need to concentrate on the here and now."
"You're right. We have each other and that is all that matters. I will admit I was very disappointed when I found out we wouldn't be able to share Christmas at home with the other guys. Not that I didn't want to be alone with you, but, oh, you understand don't you?"
"Of course I do. I miss the guys, too. It would have been great to have the holidays with them. But this isn't so bad, is it?" Heero whispered pulling Duo as near as he could.
"This is the best Christmas I ever had and you are the reason." Duo sighed lifting his head until he was inches away from his precious partner's face.
"I have one more thing." Heero smiled handing the last bag to Duo. "I know it's not Christmas yet, but I want you to have this now.
Duo smiled in anticipation as he reached gingerly inside. His hand folded over something soft and fuzzy.
Extracting his present Duo found his trembling fingers held a small brown bear covered with long fake fur. Its large black glass eyes and button nose brought on a wider grin. The bear's ever-so-slightly turned up mouth offered a whimsical smile almost matching Duo's elated beaming. "I was looking at this in the store." he stated running his fingers through the smooth fur.
"I know I saw you." Heero declared. "Look, I know something like this may not be the sort of gift you give a man, but I did notice you were paying a lot of attention to it so I...."
"Oh Heero, its perfect." Duo whispered tears welling in his eyes. "It might sound strange, and I wouldn't dare tell this to anyone else, but the reason I was so interested was because it reminded me a bear I had when I was a child. When I went to stay at the Maxwell Church I had one small bag of personal things.
No one but Solo ever knew about the threadbare, ragged bear I kept hidden away in that faded bag. You know I would have been teased unmercifully if the other boys had found out so Solo promised never to tell. My secret died with him." Duo sighed wiping his eyes.
Heero drew him closer, "It's all right, I understand."
"I lost the last tie I had to my past the day they burned the Maxwell Church. Is it odd, after all these years, that I would still remember that dirty, ratty bear? I guess I was trying so desperately to keep my memories from slipping away. Something, anything, not seem so alone."
"No, it is not odd at all." Heero replied using his thumb to wipe away a crystal, violet tinted droplet as it slid down Duo's cheek. "We all need an anchor, even me." he freely confessed fighting back his own tears.
"This is the best Christmas." Duo repeated moving his arms to encircle Heero's neck. "Thank you." he whispered holding the bear to his chest.
"He will be our secret." Heero promised, "Like you and Solo. Will that be all right?"
Duo nodded. His long silky tresses sipped over his shoulders covering he and Heero and the small brown bear. Duo leaned passed his lover gently setting the stuffed critter under the tree. "Hold me, please." he sighed laying his head on Heero's chest so he could hear his heartbeat.
As the candle's light painted soft patterns on the wall and ceiling. As the scent of cinnamon caressed their senses and the silence of the star struck night eased their fears, Heero and Duo held each other tenderly. They were sure, no matter what challenge the war or the world might send their way, together they could overcome anything.
Duo glanced over Heero's chest letting his sight rest on the flickering light gleaming off the silken bear's fur and finding himself amused at its crooked smile. Snuggling as close to Heero as physical possible he moved his leg between his lover's muscular thighs content to be held in Heero's secure embrace. For that moment he dare to let himself believe in a future free from pain and fear. Gently kissing his sweet koibito, Duo Maxwell knew this Christmas was, indeed, the best he had ever had.
"I love you, Heero." he whispered.
"I love you, too." Heero answered with a reassuring kiss designed to begin a night of passion Duo would not soon forget.
OWARI
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