Hilde's Stormy Marriage

Hilde sighed contently to herself as she just finish taking inventory of the junkyard. It seem that it was growing as the days went by. It was because of the sudden Gundam battles that were now raging closer and closer to the colonies. She remembered briefly that she had been part of that war. And it angered her now to have been part of something so foolish. The colonies and earth's forces should be working together to build a better future then what she could now foresee.

"Hello? Hello? Is anyone in there?" A man, short and stocky stood infront of the main office, which doubled as her place of residence. Hilde bit her lip and dusted what grime and dirt she could off her herself and walked out. She still had smudges of grease on her and she had to look an awful mess, but thats the price you pay.

"Hello, I'm Hilde Scheibecker. Do you need assistance with anything?" She asked her arm extended.

The man also extended his hand and shook hers," Um, may I speak to the owner of this establishment?"

"You're speaking to her." He seemed stunned, but he quickly contained it as he briefly looked around.

"Um, I'm looking for an engine thats not in too bad of shape."

"A gundam engine? Are you a gundam pilot?" He could not be. He didn't seem the type. But she may be wrong.

"No, a friend of mine, he's a gundam pilot and he's itching to get back into the war. Is there some one else here that I could talk to? your husband or boyfriend maybe?" He looked worried and he had began to perspire a bit. The little beads planted themselves on his forehead and did not move.

"I'm not married, and I don't have a boyfriend. It's just me. I'm sure I can find an engine for you. Just wait here." Hilde turned and walked off. She should just leave him there. Men like that were a disgrace. They didn't believe a woman can do a mans job. He'd just piss his pants if he knew she had been a gundam pilot. Fighting in the midst of war. She had all the engines stacked haphazardly in one place. She dug through the pile to find a good one. She wished he had told her if this gundam pilot friend of his was gonna use the whole engine or just a small piece of it. She found one in good enough condition and brought it too him.

When she returned he had been surveying inside of her office and then stepped out as if it was nothing. Before she could speak he said." Ms.Schreinbeker, don't you get lonely out here by yourself? Don't you worry that something bad might happen to you? All by your self out here with no one to protect you?"

He was beginning to creep her out and she got on her guard, ready for anything. "Are you threatening me?"

He chuckled and shook his hands stupidly, "Oh, no. No that's not what I was going for at all. I mean. With the war and everything going on. Do you think its wise for you, a young woman, to be alone."

"I can take care of myself, if you are implying otherwise." she said and crossed her arms.

"No, I don't think you are getting it. Would it not be safer if you were married and had a man to protect you? In war, its everyone for them selves and gundam parts are needed."

Hilde still did not see the point in this mans rantings," Do you want the parts or not?"

"Yes thank you. What I'm saying is would you like to get married?"

"What the hell kind of game are you playing? "Hilde said angrily and almost pushed the man.

"Please miss, calm down. I have a friend thats in need of a wife quickly. My Gundam pilot friend. Please think it over. It's just for a few months. It'll benefit both of you. You'll have a much better place to stay, and protection, even if you can take care of yourself, I have no doubt that you can. Just please think about it. "He stopped and wrung his hands slightly," Um, how much do I owe you?"

" Thirty-one dollars."

He paid her and hauled the engine to his truck and then drove off. Good Riddance, Hilde thought as she watch the truck disappear out of sight.

Her? Get married to some gundam pilot itching to go back to war? As if. He'd just have to find some other lonely woman to prey on.

She turned and went back to work. It was a few hours later that she was finished and not another customer came by so she shut the front fence and locked up. Then headed for the shower. It was as she was lying down to sleep that she thought of what the man had said. It was lonely working here by herself. It really wasn't something you did alone. Even she had to admit that there are forces out there that she wouldn't be able to defend herself from. But was all that good enough reason to marry someone she did not know? Even if it was just for a few months. Would she be paid to marry him? The junkyard didn't bring in much and it was getting harder to live from it alone. The money would help alot.

Hilde turned and stared at the wall, that man had put ideas into her head and now she was actually considering saying yes! How ridiculous! She sighed and closed her eyes, then fell asleep.

It was about the same time the next day that the same man came around."Ms. Scheinbeker? Are you here?"

Hilde walked out from behind the pile of miscellaneous parts," It's you again."

"Um, yeah. Have you thought about what I said yesterday?Do you have an answer?" Again he appeared rather jumpy.

In truth thats all she had been thinking about the whole morning. She had weighed the pros and cons and then came up with a decision."Yes I've been thinking about what you said."

"And?"

"I've decided that I will take the offer. When do I meet this gundam pilot friend of yours?" It had been a tough choice and she wondered now why she was saying yes. What was driving her to commit to something so ludicrous as this?

"Well I have some things for you first," he lifted a briefcase and took out several sheets of paper" Um, heres a file on him." he said and handed her a sheet of paper with a picture on it and some stats.

"Duo Maxwell?" she thought to her self. Where had she heard that name from before? Below his name was some info on him. He was an orphan, with no family whatsoever.

"Um here is the contract. If you'll please sign this, where I've marked the X's" He handed her a pen and she read the document quickly. It was as he said it would be. She would have to stay married to him for six month, and she would have to appear to be a loving devoted wife.

Hilde signed her life away on the dotted lines. The man nodded to her slightly. "Thank you. We must go now."

Hilde's eyes widened,"Now?"

"He nodded, get some of your belongings, you can return in a few days for whatever else you will need."

Hilde gathered a few personal items and some clothes and locked up the junkyard. She sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window.

"Why exactly does he need a wife?" it was just a thought of curiosity , but she blurted it out.

"Well, when Duo was younger he was orphaned so he was taken in by a priest by the name of Father Maxwell. Father Maxwell had been very fond of Duo, and Duo had considered him a father, he even took his last name. But father Maxwell was killed along with the rest of the church. They were murdered. Duo escaped barely because of Father Maxwell." He stopped and stared off into the distance for a moment. Hilde felt something knot up in her stomach. She didn't know her parents either, they were killed when she was very young. She guessed it was because of her age that she didn't think that much about them.

"It was just recently, a week ago in fact that Duo was contacted by someone from his past. It turns out that before Father Maxwell had become a priest he had been a wealthy man. He had put it away, giving to the church anonymously. In his last will and testament he declares Duo the main beneficiary of his wealth. A portion of it going to the church. Father Maxwell loved Duo very much and wanted him to forget about war and death. So in order for Duo to inherit the money, so to speak, he'd have to have a wife. I guess Father Maxwell thought if Duo was settled down he would have love in his heart, in place of the sadness and grief."

Wow, Hilde thought. He had been through alot. War was cruel. But it also said something about Duo Maxwell. He must not have any love in his heart if he had to pay a woman to get married to him. But then what did that say about her? The woman that was gonna marry him?

Ok so what do you guys think? Good or not? please review!