Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 68
Slowly rising from the couch, Quatre approached his braided friend sitting on the floor. Aquamarine eyes stared at the letter gripped in the running back's trembling hand. "Kyle Newbright?" he breathed, his face paling.
Nodding, Duo quickly tore into the envelope. Hands shaking, he unfolded the letter within. Heero sat up in his seat. With a deep breath, he silently willed his pounding heart to calm before it thumped out of his chest.
Once he finished unfolding the letter, the American read aloud, "Dear Mr. Maxwell. Congratulations to you and the Wolverines on making it to the playoffs this season. Now that the regular season is at an end, it is my knowledge that your contract is as well.
"Forgive me for discussing business around the holidays, but I wanted to ensure that I was the first to express my interest in signing you. Please contact me after the holiday season so that we can discuss this further. Sincerely, Kyle Newbright- Owner of the Green Bay Gladiators."
Tears were running down Duo's face when he finished the letter. Wiping his face dry, he whispered brokenly, "Oh thank God." All but jumping to his feet, he threw his arms around Quatre tightly.
Just barely able to stay on his feet, the blonde agent returned the tight embrace. Looking over his shoulder, Quatre swallowed roughly at the sad smile on Heero's face. It was a bitter sweet moment indeed. Torn between his excitement for his long-time friend reaching his dream, he was also at a loss over the quarterback' situation.
Not wanting his lover to think that he wasn't happy for him, Heero pushed himself onto his feet and headed over to rub Duo's back. When their eyes met, the running back gasped softly as his violet orbs widened. Suddenly stricken by guilt, he bit his lip and released his hold around Quatre to hold his partner tightly.
Kissing the braided head against his shoulder, the quarterback said sincerely, "Congratulations, Duo. I know you've been waiting a long time for this."
Beside himself as to what to say, Duo just leaned up to kiss him in appreciation. Clearing his throat, Quatre suggested, "Considering the late hour that it is now and how early the kids will be getting up, we ought to get ourselves to bed."
Grateful for the distraction, the running back pulled back from his teammate. "Good idea," he nodded. Taking Heero's hand, he led the way upstairs to their room. As soon as they were alone, Duo closed the door behind them and spun to face the team captain. "I swear that I didn't mean to offend you by any of this," he said in a rush. "It's just..."
"I know," Heero reassured, interrupting the other athlete's words. Cupping the sides of his face, he smiled lovingly, "This has been something that you wanted for a long time now. I'm just proud of you for all of he sacrifices you've made for those children. It's about time that all of that paid off for you."
Unsure how to bring up the discussion to what this all would mean for them, Duo felt his stomach churning over the matter. In the end, he couldn't afford to be selfish with his own wants. The kids came first, as they always did. They deserved the best that he could offer them. And if that meant having to break his own heart so that could happen, it would just have to be.
On the verge of a near emotional breakdown, all that the running back could do was breathe, "I love you." Not as willing to trust his own voice at that moment, Heero leaned in to kiss him soundly. The smile on his face said that he understood.
Letting their actions speak on their behalf, the pair began removing each other's clothes as they slowly made love. Not a word spoken between them, they simply expressed themselves with every kiss, touch and movement. When they found their release and collapsed beside each other, they curled up tightly and allowed their exhausted minds and bodies to drift off.
* * * * * *
Not long after the sun rose over the snow-covered horizon, Hope and Abdul slipped out of their bedrooms. Giggling on their way down the hallway, they were soon joined by Jamie, Sun and Camille. When they reached the master bedroom at the end of the hall, they took a deep breath and shouted together, "Merry Christmas!"
Instantly, the door opened to a fully changed Duo. Grinning widely, he cheered, "Merry Christmas, kids!" Quickly bending down, he scooped the smallest of his lot. As the little ones squirmed and laughed when he tickled them, the running back kissed their heads.
A bit more sluggish in their movements, the three teenagers entered the scene. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Flora chuckled, "I knew we could count on them to be our alarm clock this morning."
Smirking, Duo rose to his feet. He also knew all too well how excited the youngsters would be and so he made sure to be up and ready before they were. One-by-one, everyone who had been sealed away began making their way out into the hallway. Hilde and Lady Une had their cameras ready in hand as they headed downstairs with Solo and Quatre to be able to capture the reactions.
Freshly showered and changed, Heero made the scene with a wide smile. His smile grew as he was chorused a 'Merry Christmas' from the youngsters just before being ambushed with hugs. Snickering, he greeted each child with an embrace.
Once the reunion was over, Duo folded his arms and called over the excited voices, "All right, everyone. Ready to head downstairs?" Every little head nodded excitedly as cheers rose in response. "All right," he smiled. "Head on down."
In a rush, the kids charged down the remainder of the hall to the stairwell as they cried out. Taking their time, Heero and Duo followed with their hands joined. It was not long before they could hear gasps and wrapping paper being torn apart downstairs. The voices of their friends laughing chimed in.
His face bright with a wide grin, the running back stopped at the top of the stairs to turn to his partner. Squeezing the hand in his own, he whispered, "Merry Christmas, 'Ro."
Easily matching the brilliant smile, the quarterback nodded firmly, "Merry Christmas, Duo." He leaned in for a long kiss that was met with just as much fervor. When they pulled back, the couple descended the stairs together.
* * * * * *
It only took a few minutes for the children to tear into all of their presents. With so many hands around, it took even less time to clean up the crumbled paper and discarded boxes. As the kids played with Mary and enjoyed some of their new gifts, the adults were able to have their own gift exchange.
Gasping sharply when she opened the velvet box in her hands, Lady Une placed a hand over her chest. Eyes wide, she took in the exquisite diamond necklace and earrings inside. "Heero, this is too much," she breathed.
The team captain sat across from her with Duo curled up close as shook his head and smirked, "Nothing's too much for you. Not after everything that you've done for me." Winking, he added, "Wear it with the dress you picked out for your time with Trent and his family tonight."
Biting her lip, the young maid's eyes shimmered. Quickly rising to her feet, she all but ran across the room to embrace her friend tightly.
Hilde and Solo looked with on with the matching robes that they picked up for each other for their gifts draping them. Chuckling deeply, they looked to each other and shared a chaste kiss. In the young woman's hands were the tickets to a week-long the trip to the Bahamas that Duo had given them as a gift for a second honeymoon.
Opening the box in his possession, Quatre's own eyes widened. "Duo Maxwell," he laughed. Removing the gold watch within, he grinned widely, "How did I know that you catch on to my need for a good watch?" Sitting up from where he knelt beside the couch, he hugged his snickering friend in appreciation.
The gift exchanging continued until all that remained was for Heero and Duo to offer their gifts to each other. While the kids had been watching the adults before, they had also been enjoying their gifts. Now, all of their attention fell on the football players.
Almost nervous, Duo swallowed roughly while a grinning Jamie brought his large present to Heero from under the tree. Smiling nervously as he took the silver-wrapped gift up, he shrugged, "I really had no idea what to get you for Christmas at first, 'Ro." The team captain just grinned in understanding and rubbed his partner's tense shoulder.
"Umm... M-Merry Christmas," the running back stammered as he handed the present over.
Still grinning, Heero carefully accepted the gift and pulled back the shimmering paper. Inside of the box was another, smaller box wrapped in snowmen-printed paper. His head falling back, he laughed, "Oh no!"
Everyone around fell into laughter with him as he opened the second box to find, of course, another smaller wrapped box inside. The same continued for two more boxes of the same until all that remained was a small, red velvet box.
Tilting his head, the quarterback opened the lid to find a silver chain and cross pendant inside. Fashioned after the gold cross around his lover's neck, the pendant was an exact replica.
Cobalt eyes widening, Heero ran his hand over the pendant as he breathed, "Duo." Slowly, he removed the chain from its confinement to hitch the clasp behind his neck.
After a moment to admire the way the silver shimmered in the glow of the multicolored lights from the tree, Duo explained, "I thought it might be cool for us to have something in common. It might be kinda corny but-" he words were cut off when his teammate kissed him.
When he pulled back, Heero smiled to the wide violet eyes on him, "I love it. Thank you." A wide grin of relief spread on the running back's face. Quickly, he closed he distance between them for another kiss.
Flora, Tai and Marcus shared an excited look as the football players pulled away. On the edge of their seats in anticipation of Yuy's gift, they held their breaths.
Suddenly under the gaze of everyone in the room, the team captain felt the air rush out of his lungs. Up until the night before, he had his mind set and ready to his proposal. Now, with a pending deal coming from Green Bay, he was suddenly very unsure over the whole matter. Heart racing and palms sweating, he thought of what to say or do until he heard himself tell his partner, "I need a little more time to finish getting your gift together. I'm sorry."
Their hearts falling into the pit of their stomachs, the teenagers' jaws dropped in shock. Unbeknown to him what was originally intended as his gift, Duo just blinked. "Hey, no problem," he replied sincerely. "It's not about the gifts anyway." That said, he leaned in to kiss his lover soundly once again.
A thick and heavy chain of guilt wrapped around the quarterback's chest as he returned the gesture. Turning to the family, the braided athlete winked, "Breakfast will be up in a few minutes, kiddos."
Lady Une, Hilde and Solo all rose to their feet to give Duo a hand in the kitchen. As they left the room, Quatre cast a sullen looking Heero a worried glance. Something about what he had said to his braided friend just seemed off to the agent. His hunch was confirmed when he saw a pitiful threesome of teenagers ignoring everything around them with their heads lowered.
Quickly and without a word, Heero got to his feet and stepped from the room. The footsteps carrying from the hallway gave away that he was heading upstairs. Alone with the youngsters, Quatre lowered himself to his knees to join Marcus, Tai and Flora in their corner on the floor. "Would someone mind telling me what's going on here?" he asked quietly.
Upstairs in the main den, Heero was all but tearing the room apart for something that he could use as a replacement gift to his lover. Somewhere in his estate, there had to be something that Duo would like. But there was nothing to be found in his fevered search through drawers, closets and safes.
Growing more and more frustrated, the quarterback growled deeply and slammed the last drawer that he was sifting through closed. Tears prickled his cobalt eyes as he ran a trembling hand through his unruly hair. A few deep breaths were needed to calm his ragged breathing.
There was nothing in all of his home that Duo would want. He was not the materialistic type. Even if he never gave him a single thing, Heero knew that his teammate would not think a thing of it and love him all the same. That was what was making the whole thing so much more difficult to deal with.
"You missed a spot," a familiar voice informed quietly from the doorway behind him. Spinning, eyes wide, Heero found Quatre standing there with a sad expression on his face. As he stepped into the room, the agent closed the door behind him.
Determined in his steps, the blonde made his way to the ornate oak desk at the far wall. Tapping the small top drawer, Quatre stated, "You haven't checked in here yet."
A lump formed in the team captain's throat as he stared at the drawer hiding the engagement ring that he had fashioned for Duo. Lowering his head, he closed his cobalt eyes and sighed, "So the kids told you, then."
Quatre smiled at that, "Of course. Someone has to be the voice of reason here. Who better than one of their favorite uncles?"
Shaking his head, Heero frowned deeply, "You know as well as I do that I can't propose to Duo after receiving that letter from Newbright. He's been waiting for this opportunity, sacrificed for it so that his kids could live there. If I propose now, he'll feel forced to choose between his dream and me. I can't do that to him."
Patiently nodding his head in understanding, the agent responded, "I can appreciate your concern, Heero. And I think that it's wonderful that you're being so selfless about this." He tilted his blonde head and asked, "But have you considered that maybe he's hoping you'll be still in the picture of what he's been planning all along?"
The quarterback swallowed roughly, unable to trust his voice enough to answer. He honestly wasn't sure if he could hope for such a thing to be.
A quiet knock at the door had the two friends turning to watch as Marcus, Tai and Flora entered.
Closing the door behind them, they fell in line before their uncle. Her eyes red-rimmed, the Hispanic girl sniffled, "We want you in our family, Heero. You're not going to go back on what you told us about wanting to be a second dad for us, are you?"
Marcus bit his lip and reminded quietly, "You told me that you love our dad. People who love each other work things out, right?" Tai held his tongue, but the sad and expectant look on his face was enough to express his own distraught state.
"I... I..." Heero's mouth opened and closed as he tried to get the words out only for them to hitch in his throat. A fresh batch of small tears shimmered in his cobalt eyes as he turned his head away for a moment.
Stepping forward, Quatre rested a hand on either of the team captain's shoulders. "Duo told me that you did not want him doubting what you have," he said in little more than a whisper. "Don't you start questioning it now. Not after everything that you've been through together."
For Heero, those words acted like a fist to his chest. What little air was still in his lungs came out in a rush. Looking up to the aquamarine eyes locked on him, he nodded firmly, "You're right." Slowly casting his gaze to the teenagers, he said sincerely, "I'm sorry."
Each taking a deep breath of relief, the youths smiled and nodded back. "It's okay," Tai shrugged as the spokesman. "Sometimes we kids need to be the adults from time to time." Both Heero and Quatre enjoyed a good laugh at the truth in that statement.
Flora rubbed her hands together anxiously as she inquired, "So... you're still going to propose, then?"
Smirking, Heero walked over to the oak desk while removing the key hidden at the side. With everyone's eyes on him, he removed the small black velvet box from the top drawer. Turning to the others, he nodded simply, "Yes." Within the blink of an eye, he was nearly tackled by the laughing kids in a group hug. Quatre just looked on with a wide grin on his face.
Gently wiping away the tears from Flora's face, Heero suggested to the lot, "You all better head down for breakfast before your father starts wondering where you are." Gasping, the teenagers darted from the room.
Quatre stepped towards his friend and smiled, "I've known Duo for a very long time. And I always hoped that he'd find someone that would really care for him and his family the way that he needed. I'm glad that he found you, Heero. You're a good guy."
Taking the hand that was offered to him for a firm handshake, the quarterback grinned kindly, "Thank you, Quatre."
Hands still joined, the Arab pulled the Heero until their noses almost touched. Cobalt eyes wide and aquamarine smoldering, Quatre raised an eyebrow and warned, "But hurt him and no one will be able to piece your body back together."
Fully knowing that the threat was not an idle one, Heero's smile grew as he reassured, "I'd gladly let you see to that if I ever do."
More than happy with that response, the agent nodded. Slapping his friend on the back, he winked, "We better make our own presence known before the others send out a search party."
"Do me a favor and stall for me if anyone asks for me," Heero requested. Holding up the box, he said, "I need a little time to get things in order."
Smirking, Quatre replied, "You got it." He turned on his heels and headed out of the den. On his way out, he closed the door behind him.
His mission in mind, Heero took a deep breath and focused on what he needed to do. Smiling widely, his anticipation for the proposal returned. Whatever it took, he was bound and determined to make that day one of the best in Duo's life...
...the best in both their lives.
TBC...
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