A/N: Ok...so everyone who read/reviewed "When Roses Bloom in December" has been requesting a sequel or something to go with it...well this is it. It's a long project that will eventually encompass "When Roses..." I hope people will enjoy this mishmash of love stories following somewhat of a plot and time line. This story includes most characters from Gundam Wing, but it will vary characters/stories in each chapter. Thank you, and review if you like it! (Main Characters: 1xR, 2xH, 3x4, 5xS)

Disclaimer: Nope, unfortunately I don't own Gundam Wing, but I promise to put them all back when I'm done, relatively unharmed :)

Love is not love unless it's madness.

...

Growing Pains

Chapter 1: You're not cupid, Relena

"It's not okay to make you wait, to make you wonder why I can't hold you close and give you hope that this will be alright. I've gotta figure it out, before I lose you, love," -Erin McCarley, Gotta Figure This Out

AC 203

Colony L2-52109

"Relena." Hilde sighed, running thin fingers through her short, inky hair. She brought her blue eyes up to meet her friend's own again. "It's...complicated. You don't understand."

"You're right, I don't. You have the love of your life right in front of you and you refuse to admit it to yourself or him...or anyone else for that matter," Relena responded, grinning through the communicator's monitor slyly.

She and Hilde had been keeping in touch routinely since they had met nearly two years before under certain perilous circumstances. At first it had been more or less because their male companions were relatively in the same line of work, but now it was because of their bond as maturing young women in the need to often lay their problems out for one another...and possibly the fact that they were both having constant problems in the love department of their lives.

Hilde shrugged softly, giving the other girl a weak smile. "Duo is half of me; half of my life. He pays half the bills, buys half the food. He's the only guy I can stand talking to for hours on end and who l share my deepest thoughts with. He's my rock, he supports me in everything I do. He understands me and he never pushes me away when I need him. Why would I mess up what's already so perfect? How lucky am I already? Why add lover to the list?"

Relena's cheeks went pink at Hilde's choice of words. "Having Duo as..." She thought for a moment and opted for a more appropriate word other than 'lover,' "...as a boyfriend wouldn't mess those things up. It would only make them better...right?"

A tall frame filled the doorway of Hilde's bedroom, showing Duo's arrival directly behind his roommate. He cocked an eyebrow, backing away slowly as he caught a glimpse of Relena and Hilde's faces.

"What? What are you staring at?"

Earth

"Heero?" Relena's voice was soft, contented, and a tiny bit concerned. She and the Prussian blue eyed man were laying molded and intertwined perfectly in each other's arms. The morning sun peeked through the room's thin, vanilla curtains, playing shadows and sparkles of light throughout the bedroom.

"Hmm?" Heero's breath was warm on her bare skin. His lips traveled up her shoulder as he waited for what she had to say next.

"Does Duo love Hilde?"

Heero closed his eyes tightly, allowed his muscles to tighten for only a second, and then opened them again. Relena rolled slightly so that she was facing him, her own crystalline eyes searching his face for an answer.

"Why are we talking about Maxwell...this early...while we're still in bed?" Heero wondered softly, only a hint of irritation seeping through his exterior.

Relena smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry...it's just...they've been on my mind lately."

He buried his face in the crook of her supple neck affectionately. "And why is that?"

"Neither of them will admit that they're perfect for each other."

Heero sighed, not enjoying where their morning chat had taken them, but knowing full well he would be unable to change to subject due to Relena's strong will.

"I suppose he must love her...how long have they been living with each other and he hasn't put the moves on her yet?"

Relena laughed, pushing her fingertips against his once again wondering lips until he was facing her once more. It was such an un-Heero thing to say, but for some reason it made complete sense to her.

"You're right, you know." She paused watching his unchanging expression. "I think they're good for one another...I just wish they could see that."

"You're not cupid, Relena." Heero grabbed her willowy fingers and kissed them lightly. "Now, can we go back to bed and worry about this later?"

"Back to bed, hmm?" Relena's eyes twinkled with playful laughter. Heero returned it with a roguish grin and pulled the silky covers over their heads, veiling them from the troubles of the world and Relena's new preoccupation with the quintessential plights of ignorant love.

Colony L2-52109

The hallway light flickered on above her head, illuminating her sleep deprived body, tear stained cheeks, and pink tinged eyes. Hilde snuffled once, took a deep breath and felt a tremor of relief tingle through her body.

Her gaze shifted from the light switch to her bare toes to the bedroom door across from her own. Behind the worn mahogany, deep asleep like most of the L2 colony, was the root of her recent tears.

Hilde pushed her legs forward, opening the door a crack, watching the silvery slit of light hit the dark form sleeping soundly, buried in a deep layer of blankets with curious eyes. She walked in calmly on the balls of her feet, cat-like, not making a sound. She knelt by the edge of his bed, staring, immersed in his features. Duo.

She shook her head lightly, suddenly feeling silly about the whole situation. But she couldn't peel her eyes away from his form. Sinewy arms of tanned muscle wrapped tightly around his pillow, half of his face hidden beneath the folds of the milky white cushion.

Hilde pursed her lips as she gazed at this sleeping version of Duo. Why did she have such a problem with admitting it? Relena was right. She wanted him, she needed him. Why couldn't she just tell him that?

Her hand trembled as she reached out to brush his ribbony bangs of chestnut silk from his forehead. Her quick breathing pulsed through the gossamer thin strands, rustling them against his skin.

Two pools of violet ebony suddenly assaulted her. Duo's voice was rough with sleep. "Hilde? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she replied quickly, a pink flush burning across her cheeks. She pulled back her hand jerkily. "I just...couldn't sleep."

"So you decided to wake me up?" Duo's eyes trembled with sarcasm as he grinned at the petite woman kneeling beside him. She smiled nervously back at him, feeling completely embarrassed by the awkward situation that only she seemed to realize was taking place.

She sat back on her haunches as Duo kept gazing at her. Finally realizing that maybe he had been staring at her for slightly too long he averted his gaze, running a hand over his face and shaking off what was left of his exhaustion.

"I'm sorry that I woke you, Duo." Hilde bit her lip but gave him a tiny smile. "I'll let you get back to sleep."

"No worries Hilde. I'm awake now and so are you." Duo's tone was sincere as he twiddled absently with his bed mussed braid. "Want some hot chocolate? I bet there's a really good bad movie on at this hour."

Hilde grinned for real this time as Duo pulled himself out of bed and stretched his tall frame. As the two headed for the kitchen, however, her happiness faded a few ounces. "As long as we can find something other than a dumb chick flick this should be a worthwhile venture. I hate that mushy love stuff."

Hilde followed him silently, her head shaking slightly, and plopped herself down on their threadbare couch while Duo searched for a couple of clean mugs.

Duo Maxwell. The blindest man to ever walk the earth. He had faults...many faults. But his pros vastly outweighed the cons. Hilde had a school girl crush on him and wished to high heaven that she didn't.

But at that moment she had a major epiphany.

No matter what she did, there was one thing she knew for certain. She loved Duo, all of Duo. His quirks, his irks, his ridiculous smile, his hair, his laugh, his wise ass mouth, his incorrigible obliviousness.

And since she couldn't do anything about it, Hilde made a decision: she would make Duo Maxwell profess his love for her no matter what it took...fairness be damned. Rules and chick flicks were overrated anyways, right?

Edit: 3/10/10 (not anything drastic, just a minor revamp)

To be continued