[Place a name upon the night
One to set your heart alight
And to make the darkness bright
Paint the sky with stars]
--- Lyrics to 'Paint the Sky With Stars' performed by Enya
Ray of Hope Part 18
Taking up the large pail of soap water that he had prepared, Duo peered out the window of the kitchen deck to take in the clear sky. The weather was more than favorable to get some chores done that Saturday morning, and the busier he could make himself the better as far as he was concerned. After receiving the news that Sally had given him the day before regarding his biological father, the last thing he wanted was to be left to just his thoughts.
As he made his way down the main hall and towards the front door with the filled bucket, the braided young man called upstairs, "I'm going to be cleaning the lighthouse tower, Heero, in case you need me."
Quickly descending the stairs with a towel around his waist and concerned look on his face, Heero asked, "Do you need any help? It would only take me a few minutes to get changed so I could join you."
With a warm smile to his partner, Duo allowed his eyes to wander over his damp and half-naked body much the same way that Heero had done to him in the past. Forcing his thoughts to respond to the question, he shook his braided head, "Nah. I got it. I appreciate the offer, though. I just kind of need some time alone for now." Lowering the bucket, he walked over to and kissed the young sailor gently to further show his appreciation.
"Okay," the Japanese youth replied with a small, understanding nod before pulling his boyfriend in for a sound kiss. When they pulled apart, he rubbed the back of Duo's neck and whispered reassuringly, "I'll be here if you need me."
Swallowing hard, the lighthouse keeper leaned his forehead against the sailor's and breathed, "Thank you." Quickly sharing one last kiss, he turned to gather up the bucket once more as his partner held the door open for him.
While Duo made his way towards the lighthouse, Heero watched from the doorway until he was no longer in sight. With his heart heavy over seeing the normally lively American so down, he closed the door and made his way back upstairs to finish drying off from his shower and changing.
Once he was dressed, the Japanese young man entered the living room and moved intently for the vidphone. Quickly opening the monitor, he turned the small computer on to look into the caller directory. It did not take long for him to find the number that he was searching for. "I hope that I'm doing the right thing," he frowned deeply to himself as he stared at the small screen displaying the name and phone number.
Dialing quickly, Heero held his breath as his line began to ring. After two rings, the call was answered and the monitor revealed the face of the young woman displayed in the family portrait above the fireplace. Blinking in surprise, the short-haired lady glanced quickly to her own caller id then back up to the young man calling her. Realization soon filled her brilliant eyes as she grinned, "You must be Heero."
Her smile served to relieve some of the sailor's nerves. With a small smile of his own, he nodded firmly, "I am sorry to bother you, Misses Yuy, but there have been some recent developments regarding Duo that I thought you should know."
* * * * * *
The following morning, Duo and Heero were in the kitchen cleaning their breakfast dishes when the doorbell rang. Turning to face the main hall, the braided youth thought aloud, "Wonder who that could be. It's too early on a Sunday for any of the others to be awake, let alone up for a surprise visit."
As he dried his hands, Heero shrugged, "Well, only one way to find out." Despite his calm demeanor, his stomach was doing back flips as he tried not to give away that he already knew who was stopping over.
Making his way down the hall as the doorbell rang once more, the braided lighthouse keeper opened the front door. The moment he saw who was on the cabin doorstep, Duo's violet eyes widened with a sharp gasp. With tears filling his gaze, he whispered brokenly, "Mom." All but running to close the distance between him and the young woman that opened her arms to him, he hugged her tightly as he sobbed into her shoulder.
Noin held onto her son securely as she kissed the top of his braided head. Fighting her own tears, she rubbed his back soothingly and sighed sadly, "Oh, my sweet boy." Behind her, another figures approached the wooden porch.
Still trembling, Duo raised his tear-streaked face and smiled in shock to the young man entering the scene. "Solo," he managed as he quickly moved down the steps to all but knock his brother off his feet in a fierce bear hug.
With a deep chuckle, Solo embraced his little brother tightly as he rubbed the top of his head. "Good to see you, little bro," the blonde young man grinned widely. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Noin joined her two sons to wrap her arms around the two of them as they shared an embrace as a whole family once again.
Quietly stepping into the entrance way, Heero leaned his side against the doorpost with a contented smile as he watched the happy reunion. Any anxiety that he had prior to the gathering was instantly forgotten when he saw how relieved Duo was at having his loved ones back with him.
Yet another guest made his way towards the tight knot embracing each other. The tall man's long, blonde hair blew in the gentle breeze as he contented himself to stay a few feet back. Looking up when his mom and brother pulled back, Duo blinked his wide violet eyes when they fell on the tall man. With a wide smile, he greeted, "Zechs. You made it, too?"
With a lopsided, but very relieved smile of his own, Zechs walked up towards him with a firm nod as he replied simply, "Of course." Extending a hand for a firm handshake, he gently hugged the lighthouse keeper with his free arm.
Still overwhelmed as he took in the smiling faces around him, Duo's eyes continued to shimmer. "I-I can't believe you're all here. Granted, it's only been a few months since the last time I you came to visit, but I never expected to see you all now."
As she looked up to the cabin, Noin smiled warmly to the young sailor watching silently from the doorway. Gesturing to house, she commented, "Someone got a hold of me and said that you might need a few familiar faces around." Meeting her son's gaze once more, she stated, "We came as soon as we could."
Duo looked over his shoulder, his eyes widening once more at the sight of his partner. With a nervous grin, Heero waved to him. With a couple tears running down his face, the braided young man gave him a smile that radiated as he mouthed, 'Thank you.' Grateful for the short distance that he did not need to reply with a voice that he did not trust at that moment, the sailor nodded firmly.
Biting his lip, the lighthouse keeper frowned in concern as he turned to face his mother. "I hope that your coming here isn't interfering with your schedules."
With a snort, Solo reassured him, "Ever since we heard your bastard of an old man was sick, we've all been saving up more than enough time away."
The blonde youth nudged Zechs' arm as he smirked, "Besides, you are now looking at the new CEO of Lightway Intercolony Transportation. Blondie, here, just got promoted. And nobody gives the big guy, or his future wife and step-son-to-be when they need some time off." Zechs rolled his eyes at the endearing nickname that Solo and Duo had given him, an amused grin on his face.
His jaw dropping, Duo's owlish eyes turned to the tall man as he sputtered, "C-CEO!?" His grin threatened to split his face as he shook hands with him, exclaiming, "Congratulations!"
"Thank you, Duo," Zechs replied sincerely. "So, we can stay here as long as you'll have us." Tilting his head a bit, he said quietly, "I certainly hope that you do not mind our unannounced visit."
Laughing, the braided young man shook his head, "Are you kidding! This is great!"
From within the house, the sound of the kettle whistle had everyone turning to the door. "That would be the tea and coffee that I just started," Heero announced. Waving his hand as he stepped into the house, he offered, "I'll take care of that while you get comfortable in the living room."
With a deep sigh, Solo walked towards the porch as he grinned, "Thank God. Caffeine. This is way too early for me to be up and about on a Sunday." Shaking his head in amusement, Zechs followed after his soon-to-be-stepson.
Duo turned to his mom when they were alone and embraced her tightly once more. Noin chuckled deeply as she returned the hug and kissed his head. Gesturing to the door when they pulled away, the young woman smiled, "That Heero is quite a nice young man."
With a wistful smile as he looked to the doorway, her son said quietly, "You don't know the half of it." At that, the American wrapped his arm around Noin's waist and with a kiss on her cheek, he grinned, "Welcome back home." Together, they stepped into the cabin.
* * * * * *
That evening, Solo sighed deeply in content as he looked up to the star-filled sky. "I always loved this view," he commented as he lied on the grass lawn before the cabin. "Much as I like where we live now, it's always nice to come back to this place. Duo sure did a hell of a job taking care of everything."
From where he sat on one of the wooden chairs on the front porch, Zechs nodded, "That he did." Looking up to the sky, he grinned, "I envy you for growing up in a place like this. You could never see this many stars at night when you live in a big city." As he looked over to the ivory tower, its beams spinning and illuminating the darkness, he smiled in wonder, "It's amazing the beauty that lies in the simplest of things."
At the top gallery of the lighthouse, Noin took a deep breath of salty sea air as her eyes drifted closed. Sighing deeply in content, she looked over to her son as he stood beside her. With a bright smile, she cupped the side of his face and told him reverently, "Wherever he is, I know that Heero must be proud at seeing how well you've taken over for him."
Swallowing hard, Duo whispered, "Thanks, Mom."
Her hand covering her mouth, the young woman stifled a yawn. "Well, I best get ready to turn in for the night. It's been quite a busy day." Having said that, she kissed her son's cheek and told him softly, "Good night, Duo." And turning to the young man at her other side, she kissed his cheek and grinned, "Good night, Heero. Please see that he doesn't stay up too late working." Her last sentiment was punctuated with a wink.
"Will do," Heero chuckled deeply. As the pair wished their own 'good nights,' Noin turned and moved past the glass doors to make her way down the tower.
The moment that they were alone, Duo grabbed the front of the sailor's red T-shirt and pulled him into a fierce kiss. Once the shock quickly subsided, Heero was able to match his fervor. When they broke for air at last, the lighthouse keeper whispered, "I can't thank you enough for this."
Gently wrapping his arms around his partner's waist, Heero grinned, "No need. I just thought that-" His words were cut off when a sudden and piercing headache came on. With his hands reaching into his hair, he moaned.
Duo's violet eyes widened in concern as he said quietly, "Heero? Are you all right?"
With the stars above and sea below spinning in his vision, the young sailor's world was dissolved into blackness. The last thing that Heero was aware of was Duo crying his out his name in worry.
TBC...
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