Woke Up One Morning... Part 43
Standing in the living room we share, I watch as Heero nears the end of the footage recorded on Chang's microcamera with a smile on his face.
When the playback of Senator Renee Tishim getting what she deserved stops, his head falls back in a full on laugh. "That's fantastic," he snickers when he regains his composure and hands the device back to our guest.
"Yea, I'll be making copies to hand out to everyone," Wufei smirks and pockets the recorder back inside his leather jacket.
Checking outside to see the sun beginning to set, he winces and announces, "Well, I better be heading back home to Sally and Phoenix. It'll be our last night home before the move into Peacemillion tomorrow."
As he faces me, he smirks, "And I'm sure that you're anxious as hell to go into what else happened at the meeting today." I grin and nod enthusiastically as Heero blinks, clearly interested for further details.
Offering a one-armed hug to my friend, I tell him, "Give your girls an extra kiss for us." Wufei smiles and gives an affirmative before waving and heading out.
The second my husband and I are alone at the sound of the front door opening and closing, I spin to face him. "Oh my God!" I exclaim. "You will never believe how awesome that meeting turned out!"
Heero becomes a sponge, listening to me rattle off a quick run down of the discussions over L2 and the fact that it is still being looked at as a recipient for aid from the Assembly.
By the time I'm finished, I'm almost short of breath and grinning from ear-to-ear as I shout, "Isn't that awesome!?" My answer comes in the form of 'Ro wrapping his arms tightly around me. It's only then that I realize I'm actually shaking a bit in my state of overwhelm.
"Yes, that's wonderful news, Duo," he chuckles beside my ear. Rubbing my back, he comments, "While I may not be about to jump out of my skin, I'm thrilled." And I know that he means that, too.
Finally able to move my arms, I hold onto him and calm my nerves that have had one hell of a ride today.
In the back of my mind I have to constantly remind myself that even now, there is no guarantee that things will go as I'm hoping so badly.
There are still a lot of people on the panel who have not once sided with L2 for as long as the Assembly has been together. Still, it is a huge victory that it's lasted this long on the list of interests.
Even if things were to fall apart now, it still bodes well that it will eventually have a chance over the next few years.
Pulling back, Heero cups the side of my face and smiles, "Even more important to me is that the meeting went on without an incident like the one before."
He actually fights a slight flush as he admits, "I've been pacing back and forth here in between the calls that you were able to make."
Now there is a mental image that I can't help but snicker over. The guy really can be damn adorable.
I lean in to kiss his mouth gently and smirk, "Can't say I wouldn't have done the same if I was in your place." Now I feel my cheeks burning as I tell him sincerely, "And it's nice... having someone that cares about me enough to wear a few holes into the carpet."
Heero's small grin spreads further across his face just before he grabs the front of my shirt to pull me in for a deep kiss that takes care of any and all further discussion on the matter.
The sound of the doorbell ringing has us breaking apart. "Ah. That would be dinner," my partner announces.
Laughing as he moves for the doorway, I open my arms and jab, "So, you mean to tell me that you couldn't take a break in your pacing while you've been stuck here at home to cook something?"
As he peers over his shoulder, 'Ro puts on a fake expression of hurt and retorts, "Hey, I'm an injured man, here. You said yourself that I shouldn't be exerting myself more than necessary." He laughs loudly along with me while dodging the pillow that I throw at him before running from the room.
Shaking my head in amusement, I snicker quietly to myself. That husband of mine really is a piece of work sometimes.
He's definitely taking classes from me.
* * * * * *
Working late into the night of going through our packed bags, we compared what is inside with our master check list and managed to get all of the essentials packed away into two large suitcases each for us.
Not bad considering each person boarding Peacemillion is allowed four pieces of luggage to keep from overloading the ship.
Once we're satisfied that we have all we need, Heero and I moved to curl up together on the back patio couch wrapped in a thick blanket for a while before calling it a night.
Even though it's pitch black beyond the ring of light from the lamp perched just outside, the sound of the rolling waves and the smell of the sea air are more than enough to soothe the last of my jitters at the close of this crazy day.
Before we will be spending who knows how long in space aboard a ship, I close my eyes and take all of my surroundings in to lock them into my memory. Since this little trip back here was my partner's suggestion, I get the feeling that he has the same intent to hold onto as much of this as he can.
Resting the side of my head against Heero's shoulder, I smile when I feel his lips press against my forehead and his arms around my waist tighten.
"You know," he begins in a low, slow draw of his voice. "You did happen to mention earlier some possible safe ways we can take care of some tension."
The little bit of fatigue that was setting in is gone in a blink at that comment. Opening my eyes, I smirk wickedly up at him. "I take it that means you're interested in hearing my ideas?" I inquire while actually hearing the huskiness in it.
His answer comes in the form of a fierce kiss that almost makes the rest of the world completely fade away.
* * * * * *
"My God," Heero pants heavily as I spin myself so that we're facing each other. Chuckling deeply, I would have to second that sentiment. Turns out there are a lot of ways to indulge sexually without penetration involved.
And those other options are every bit as enjoyable.
Naked, sated and a little sweaty, we lie on the floor of the patio wrapped tightly around each other in the shelter of our blanket. A few keep kisses are shared and I can taste myself on his tongue as I am sure he can taste himself on mine.
That sends a pleasant shiver right up my spine.
Snickering, when we come up for air, I grin, "And another plus to go along with not hurting you, no clean up needed." 'Ro just laughs and pulls my body closer to nibble the nook where my shoulder meets my neck.
I sigh in content and close my eyes, taking in the additional pleasantries to my surroundings- namely his skin against mine and those light kisses.
We may not have the total romantic background of the stars above us, a glowing fire and the sea feet away like we did the first night we made love since it's a little too cold to be outside right now...
...But the moment is no less moving.
Lightly brushing the lose hairs that had stuck against the side of my face when my eyes stare up at the patio ceiling, Heero props himself up a bit with his other arm so that our eyes meet. Smiling lovingly down on me, he says in little more than a whisper, "You're drifting away. What are you thinking?"
I take a deep breath and my mouth curls up in a small smile as I answer quietly, "Just... thinking about life after this case again. Looking forward to when we can go at this all night if we want without having to worry about resting enough to be fresh for a move like the one that we have tomorrow."
His hand still ghosting over my cheek, he adds, "Looking forward to home, on L2?"
My smile grows at that and I shake my head, "I'm already home, Heero." Leaning into his touch, I tell him with every ounce of sincerity in me, "I don't care if I'm here, on Peacemillion, on L2 or the middle of nowhere. They're all just places."
Blinking in surprise as I lean up until our noses almost touch, he stays frozen in place. "You're my home," I breathe. "Anything else is just a place."
At the sight of a slight shimmer in Heero's eyes, my breath hitches just before my mouth is claimed as he lowers himself on top of me, stretching his body out over mine.
There is nothing but complete appreciation and love in the exchange.
We end up falling asleep out on the back porch after many rounds of kisses and whispered words, too tired to move and lulled by the sound of the ocean.
* * * * * *
"Hey, girly," I grin widely at a face I did not expect to see as Heero and I step into the military hanger just outside of the city limits.
All around, dozens of other agents are boarding the parked transport shuttles and saying their last farewells to their families. Standing by the carrier that she will be piloting, Danielle looks up from her check list of names while her passengers walk past her to board.
She looks over at us and a smile lights her face as she hands off the clipboard to her co-pilot beside he before running up. Nearly having to get onto her toes to wrap her arms around me, she sighs, "It's so good to see the two of you again."
Our hug ends when she pulls back and frowns deeply, "I... I wish to hell that I wasn't out on a recovery mission when..." Her voice hitches and she shakes her head when her blue-green eyes begin to water.
Brokenly, she whispers, "I never even got to say goodbye."
Gently raising her head with a finger under her chin that I remove when out eyes meet, I reassure, "You were where you needed to be. And pretty soon, we'll get our chance to pay Ivanov back for this, so let's focus on that. It's what Adam, Penelope and the others would have wanted."
The tears quickly dry before they can even fall as a firm resolve takes their place.
Slowly, another smile curves her lips and Agent Hawk nods firmly, "You're right. Thanks, Duo." Facing my partner, she smirks, "You have one hell of a husband, Heero."
When we both blink in surprise, she laughs loudly and gestures to the rings on our fingers that could have meant we were tied to just about anyone else and shrugs, "Hey, good news travels fast."
Chuckling, 'Ro quickly recovers to reply to her earlier comment, "I am a very lucky man, as I've been reminded by quite a few people now." I blush a bit, only causing them to snicker in amusement.
A thought crossing my mind, I ask Danielle, "Do you know if the other agents that were stuck in the middle of their missions have been reached and informed of where we'll be."
She grins, "Yes. There were just over thirty of them left and they're already on the Peacemillion. I can tell you first-hand that they're pretty relieved to finally have a safe place to stay."
I can imagine. After almost a week in the dark as to what was wrong back at headquarters, they had to be pretty damn scared out there.
"Well, I'm glad you made it back in time to be here," I tell her. "I'm ready to get beamed to the mother ship."
Danielle laughs and hurries back to her co-pilot's side to take up the list from him while Heero and I fall in line for the handing over of our luggage and boarding.
Inside the shuttle, we quickly find Wufei and Sally with Phoenix cradled in her mother's arms near the back. Taking up the two seats across the isle from them, we all fall into a friendly conversation that helps kill the time as we wait for takeoff.
The whole operation of loading up the shuttles runs smoothly and without a single hitch. The hatch doors to all the crafts close and is not long before the seventy-plus of the Preventers left on the Earth are lifted high above it.
* * * * * *
Phoenix slept soundly for the trip into space, only stirring when we hit a patch of turbulence as we punched through the ozone.
At some point, I dozed off as well until the familiar sounds of the craft's rockets burning down as a sign that we are preparing for entry and docking into Peacemillion.
My eyes snapping open, I stretch my neck out for the window beside Heero to see the massive ship only a few miles away in the middle of the ocean of darkness and stars around us. Smiling, I look at my partner as he stares intently at the sight ahead of us.
After a few more minutes roll by and Peacemillion draws nearer, Danielle's voice announces over the speaker system, "Please secure your seatbelts and prepare for docking, everyone."
Straightening in my seat, I hook myself back in and reach over to take 'Ro's hand.
Finally turning away from the window to meet my gaze, he smiles and squeezes. Drifting into the opened hanger of Peacemillion, we're turned and lowered into a shuttle bed without so much as a subtle jolt.
If she ever had had the opportunity, that little Danielle really would have made one hell of a Gundam pilot.
As the bay doors are closed and the hanger pressurized, we all get to our feet to stretch and organize ourselves. It's not long before another voice comes over the speakers to greet, "Welcome aboard the Peacemillion, folks."
My eyes widen as I gasp sharply at the tone that I recognize in an instant. Going off of the equally surprised looks of Heero, Wufei and Sally at either side of me, I know that I wasn't hearing things.
"Cabin pressurizing is complete and the back exit doors will be opening. Just be sure to watch your step on the way out," Howard's grin carries over.
My legs are moving before I even remember telling them to do so and I'm running down the aisle. I hurry for the sliding opening and take the short ladder of stairs down two at a time.
Already standing at the bottom of the stretch is Howard, arms open and laughing when I nearly tackle him to the ground in a tight hug.
"Hey, old man!" I cheer as I pull back and notice the amused faces of the Preventers walking about. I appraise my balding friend while I hold him out at arm's length.
As always, he still has on a bright Hawaiian shirt, shorts and those shades that I swear never leave his head. He hasn't changed one damned bit since the last time I saw him about eight months back and most likely never will.
Which is perfectly fine with me. I don't think I would ever recognize the guy who's been like a pop to me if I ever saw him in a suit, or even a pair of jeans for that matter!
Rubbing a fist into the top of my head, he snickers, "Good as hell to see you again, kid. You know me and the other boys would have stopped to see you sooner, but we've been busy as hell getting ready for this big arrival."
Quickly becoming serious with a crossed expression, he raises an eyebrow. "Now what is this business that I've been hearing about a wedding that I never got an invitation to?" he half-asks, half-demands.
My head falls back when I just break out in a loud laugh.
Suddenly, this ship just started feeling even more like home.
TBC...
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