Author: SkyLark
Pairings: 1x2
Warnings: Saaaap
Rating: PG-13
Betaed by ShenLong Deb
Archives: Debs-Dragon - GW Diaries
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor its characters. I just love playing with them.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Even the best laid out plans have a way of falling through. Working as a Preventer, you get used to that. However, when my weeks of organizing and preparing to propose to my lover of five years on Christmas morning while vacationing in the mountains were ruined by our being called away to duty, to say that I was disappointed was an understatement.
Unknowing of my intentions, Duo was even more upset than I was. He had been looking forward to actually experiencing a white Christmas for a change. Instead, we were to be stationed in Florida for a sting operation for what was expected to run right through the holiday.
Together, we managed to get the job done in record time. The bad guys were put away once again thanks to the team that we made. However, it was the early evening of Christmas Eve when the rights were read and the red tape work began. The last flights out of the state were booked solid and our flight crew at the office was already away on vacation. So, we were grounded for the next couple days.
I felt horrible watching Duo sitting on the windowsill of the small house that we had been staying at for over a week. Hidden in the woods, there was nothing to see but miles of beautiful greenery. The sky was clear as the first stars began to peer through the darkening atmosphere. His shoulders sagging, my partner continued to peer out and sighed deeply, "Well, maybe next year we'll finally have a white Christmas."
Next year. It was always 'maybe next year.' Somehow, something always seemed to come up to ruin that hope. Being the one who took it upon myself to see that Duo was always smiling, it was frustrating beyond anything I could explain to know that I could not give him such a simple wish that he'd had for as long as I knew him.
Along with that, I was upset that it seemed my own thoughts of how the holiday was going to go were not going to pan out. I was supposed to be on one knee the next morning in a cabin on a snow-capped mountain. While I am not normally the most romantic of people, I wanted my proposal to include all of Duo's favorite things-Christmas, snow, hot chocolate, a lit tree with a star on top.
The most wonderful time of the year. Only it was looking to be a very low one this time.
Pushing himself away from the window, my braided lover padded over to where I was sitting on the couch. Lightly kissing my head, he muttered, "Been a long day. G'night, Ro." I quietly wished him pleasant dreams and watched him climb the stairs to head to the bedroom that we'd been sharing.
Never one to be deterred from a mission, I wracked my brain for how I could pull off a Christmas miracle. Grabbing my light wind breaker not long after Duo had retired early for the evening, I stepped out into the sixty-five degree night air.
It had taken almost an hour to find a strong enough ice shooter to fire from the back of the house. Thankfully, flashing my Preventer badge was enough to keep the utility rental building open for one last customer. With enough chunks of ice that would last a couple days, the effect could not have been better. From inside and looking out, one would never be able to tell the difference from real snow.
One of the last convenience stores to close had one last, ten-inch tree along with tinsel and ornaments to ordain it. That was relatively easy to assemble and get in order, thanks to it being pre-lit. While it only came up to my shoulders, even on top of a table, it was better than nothing. Finished with my task, I crawled into bed and spooned with my lover to drift to sleep.
The following morning, Duo lightly kissed my lips when I stirred. "Merry Christmas," he whispered as my eyes blinked open. Turning in my arms, he gave me that smile that he only shares with me and all I could think of was how I hoped to see that every morning for the rest of my life.
"Good morning," I replied while pulling him close for another kiss. With a deep frown, I told him, "I'm sorry that we're not in Colorado like we had planned. I know how much you were looking forward to it."
Shrugging, he draped an arm around my waist and grinned, "It's all right. We'll have that some time. I'm perfectly happy just being with you." I knew that he meant every word of it and a few heart strings were tugged. Quickly sitting up, he offered, "I'll make us a nice breakfast to get the day started."
Duo crawled out of bed and slipped a white T-shirt on to go with the black boxers he slept in. I followed his lead and made sure to stay right behind him, not wanting to miss his reaction. When he reached the bottom of the stairs just ahead of me, he froze with a sharp gasp. The way his head was pointing, I knew he was looking through the large windows.
Unable to help the smile on my face, I stood beside him and watched the peacefully drifting 'snow.' Tears in his violet eyes, Duo looked away to the Christmas tree and lights that I had strung around the room. After taking it all in, he looked to me and breathed, "I-I can't believe that you did all of this for me."
And just like that, the words that I had been searching for came to me. "I'd give you the universe if I could." Pulling out the small box that I'd slipped into the pocket of my boxers before leaving the bedroom, I knelt before him. He stiffened in shock when I opened the lid to reveal the white gold band inside. "All I can offer you is my heart," I said with a surprising crack in my voice at the end.
Falling to his knees, Duo wrapped his arms around my neck and whispered, "That's all that I want." We sealed our devotion with a long kiss and I slipped the ring onto his left ring finger. A few tears rolled down his cheeks as he nodded to my unspoken question, "Yes."
We have had our real white Christmases since then. But, we never forgot curling up on that couch to watch that artificial snowfall with cups of hot chocolate while discussing our plans for the future.
Even if everything didn't go according to plan, we ended up making it the most wonderful time of the year after all.
OWARI
Happy Holidays to all my readers!! *hugs and kisses* All the best to you and your loved ones!
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