Death's Engagement

Death's Engagement

"He actually did that!" Dorothy gasped as she looked at a blushing Hilde.

"Yes, he was so cute!" Hilde giggled. She looked at the rest of her friends seated around the dining room table. Relena was sitting there with a grin on her face, and Catherine, Sally, and Noin sat there with looks that said 'tell me more'.

Relena had invited them all over for a 'girls night only' to celebrate Duo and Hilde's engagement. Each of them had accepted without a second thought! Moreover, they all wanted to hear how Duo managed to ask her anyway.

Just then, the kitchen door opened, and Heero came in.

"What is he doing here?" Dorothy asked. "I thought you threw all the guys out for this evening, Relena." All eyes turned to the young politician, and she folded her hands nervously.

"Well…Heero told that he didn't want to go out with the guys, so I told him he could stay home," Relena answered. She received five glares.

"Jeez Relena, you're too soft," Hilde laughed.

"I am not!" Relena fired back. Oddly enough, it was Heero who saved her from more abuse.

"Easy ladies, my staying here this evening was conditional," he stated.

'Thank you, Heero,' Relena shouted silently.

"Conditional?" the girls asked. Heero gave them one of his rare smiles.

"Yes, I promised Relena that I'd cook for all of you tonight as a thank you," Heero explained. Five female jaws hit the table, and Relena had to stop herself from laughing.

"So, Relena, can the perfect soldier actually cook anything?" Dorothy asked.

"Heero…" Relena said as she winked at him. He opened the door between the dining room and kitchen, and the luscious smell of chicken stir-fry flooded into the room.

"Wow, that smells great!" Hilde said happily.

"Yes, Heero, that does smell wonderful," Catherine and Sally stated at one time. Noin just gave him an appreciative smile. She knew how well Heero could cook since she and Milliardo lived in the same house as he and Relena.

"Now, if you ladies will give me a moment, I'll bring it out," Heero stated and disappeared inside the kitchen.

A minute later, Heero walked out of the kitchen holding a large pan. He set it in the center of the table and handed them some plates. Everyone except for Relena dug in, and they all looked at her strangely.

"Aren't you hungry?" Hilde asked.

"Of course, I am," Relena replied, and she received an even more confused look from the others.

Heero came back in with a separate plate and placed it in front of Relena.

"Thank you," she said with a tender smile.

"Your welcome," he said and kissed her cheek.

"Ah, isn't that cute, Heero made her a separate plate," Hilde quipped.

"Not exactly…" Relena answered and bit her lower lip nervously.

"Hilde, you don't understand. I gave Relena a separate plate because nobody would want to eat anything that she eats; it's way to spicy!" Heero finished.

"He's right, I don't how Relena can stand the food she eats," Noin added.

"Oh come on, it can't be that bad…" Dorothy laughed and snatched a piece off her plate. She got a look from Heero and Noin saying 'You'll be sorry,' and popped the chicken into her mouth. Ten seconds later, she gagged and looked around for something to drink. She grabbed a glass of water and gulped it down as everyone roared with laughter.

"I warned you, Dorothy," Noin said as she laughed.

"Jeez, Relena, how can you…uh…how can you eat stuff like that?" Dorothy coughed out. Relena shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know; I just like spicy food…" Relena gazed up at Heero, and a wicked smile spread across her face. "…I like everything spicy don't I Heero!" she finished and smacked him on the behind.

"Relena!" Heero gasped, and she smiled impishly at him. Every female in the room was treated with seeing the perfect soldier turn the deepest shade of red that they'd ever seen. They burst out laughing and nearly fell out of their chairs.

"Care to elaborate for us, Relena?" Sally asked trying to calm herself down.

"I would be glad to," Relena answered.

"Oh no, you don't!" Heero interjected and put his hand over her mouth. "You do, and you won't be getting anything for next month!" The girls were surprised to see Relena nod her head, and Heero released her.

"Damn you," Relena muttered. It was Heero's turn to grin. She wasn't the only one who could play the power game.

"Relena, you're weak, girl, so weak," Hilde laughed and shook her head.

"Guilty as charged," Relena responded sadly. She knew that she'd got nuts without having Heero for a month - the torture of lying next to him but not being able to have him. Now, Relena wished that Heero didn't have enhanced capabilities because he had more control than she did.

"So Hilde, tell us, how did hair boy propose to you?" Noin asked as she tried to spare Relena and Heero any more humiliation. Hilde got a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Oh, it was so romantic," she sighed. Heero went to leave and let the girls have their time together, but Relena took his hand.

'Stay' she mouthed at him and smiled. Heero nodded his head, and Relena stood up. He sat down in her chair, and Relena sat down in his lap. She laid her head on his chest and listened to Hilde tell her story.

"So, here's the story," Hilde stated.

Flashback to two nights ago…

"Man, I hope I look okay," Duo said nervously. He'd asked Hilde to wear something 'nice' for this evening; he didn't want to say formal considering that he didn't have a suit. He'd chosen to wear a white button shirt with a pair of khakis and a black sport jacket. He only hoped that Hilde liked what he was wearing.

"I just hoped that I'm not overdressed," he muttered. Duo sat down on the living room couch and waited patiently for Hilde to come out of her room. They'd been living together for a while now; they simply had separate sleeping quarters.

Hilde emerged from her bedroom, and Duo felt his mouth turn dry.

'Good night, she looks hot!' he shouted to himself.

Hilde noticed her man's lack of speech and blushed slightly. She didn't have anything really formal to wear, but the girls- especially Relena and Noin- had taken her shopping for her big date. She had on a red cashmere sweater that was cut way too low for Duo's blood pressure to remain normal. Hilde also had on a black, velvet miniskirt and a pair of matching nylons. A pair of black high-heeled sandals completed the outfit.

'Damn, I've never seen in a skirt before; she's look incredible!' Duo gasped silently.

Hilde twirled around in front of him hoping that he liked how she was dressed. Relena had done her makeup for her but didn't put too much on. She had a slight amount of blush on her cheeks to accentuate the contours of her pale skin and a touch of ruby red lipstick. She had curled her hair then combed it straight again so it had a little bounce to it instead of staying in one place.

"How do I look?" Hilde asked appreciating the stare she was receiving from Duo. He smacked himself in the head to get his mind working again.

"Hilde! Babe…you look…you look…you look downright dangerous! I mean…if looks could kill, I'd gladly die now!" he gasped. Hilde chuckled at her comment.

"Good, I was hoping that you'd like it; I'm not used to wearing stuff like this," she said shyly. Duo walked up to her and kissed her softly.

"You look beautiful, Hilde," he said tenderly. This time, Hilde's blush hit her full force, and she touched her heated cheeks. Her eyes traveled over his attire, and she licked her lips subconsciously.

"I gotta admit, Duo, you look pretty good yourself," she said teasingly. Now, it was Duo's turn to blush.

"Come on, let's go, I'm starving," he said firmly.

"Well, I'm glad to see one part of you is the same," she laughed, and Duo just stuck his tongue out at her. He opened the front door for her and followed her out towards his truck.

"Duo, where are we going?" Hilde asked. Duo didn't answer but simply drove. After a few more minutes, she recognized where they were as he pulled up in front of a small building.

"Duo!" she said happily. He grinned at her.

"I know how much you love this place, and I wanted to bring you somewhere that made you comfortable," he said softly. Hilde leaned over and gave him a long, passionate kiss.

Duo knew that Hilde didn't like expensive, formal restaurants just like he didn't. Instead, he took to a place that he knew she loved. It was a small café on the waterfront a little ways from their home. Hilde loved the water, and Duo remembered the countless times that he'd sat with her simply watching the waves roll by.

He ushered Hilde inside, and they were seated almost immediately. Duo had called ahead and made a reservation for a specific table. It was a secluded two-chair table out on a balcony directly overlooking the water. He held out her chair, and Hilde smiled as she took her seat.

'Poor guy, he's trying so hard to be a gentleman, but it is kind of cute,' she said silently and giggled softly. Duo wasn't much for manners; he was direct and to the point! It was one of the reasons that she loved him so much; he was always honest and straightforward with her.

Once their orders were placed, they didn't say very much. Duo was took busy gazing into Hilde's eyes as he kissed her hand, and Hilde was too wrapped up in the way Duo was looking at her. She felt like a beautiful model being admired by a fan.

Duo tried very hard not to devour his steak like he normally would and succeeded very well. Hilde watched him with smile hidden behind her eyes. He was trying so hard to make this night special for her but why?

After they'd finished eating, Duo pulled Hilde to her feet and led her to the edge of the balcony. She moved into his arms, and Duo let his head fall on top of her black hair. He rocked her gently, and Hilde purred against his chest.

"I love you, Hilde, I hope you know that," Duo said softly.

"I know, Duo, I love you too," she replied.

'Now, it's time, Duo, ask her now!' his conscience screamed at him.

Hilde was surprised when Duo pushed her away, but her hands flew to her cheeks when he knelt down on one knee.

"Hilde, I'm not good at expressing myself, but I need to tell you that you mean more to me than even my own life. I don't know what I'd do with you! I love you, and I want to be with you for the rest of my life. That's why…" Duo stopped and pulled out a small box from his back pocket, "…I want to ask you. Hilde, will you marry me?" he finished and opened the box.

She just stood completely dumbstruck; she wanted to scream her confirmation at him but she couldn't speak; her voice was gone so she nodded franticly.

"Duo…of course…of course, I'll marry you!" Hilde finally blurted out.

'Yes!' Duo shouted inwardly. He picked up left hand and slid the ring onto her slender finger. He stood up and took his fiancé in his arms; he carefully brushed her hair with his fingers and smiled lovingly.

"Hilde, I promise to love you always," he said firmly. She smiled and kissed his nose.

"And I promise to love you with every breath I take!" she replied. The couple met in a passionate kiss than last no less than five minutes. They stayed in that position for at least an hour, letting their hearts speak the volumes of words that they couldn't say to one another.

End Flashback…

"That's how it happened," Hilde said as she gazed at the ring on her left hand. Every other female in the room let out a long sigh.

"How romantic!" Sally gasped.

"Yes, Duo really outdid himself!" Dorothy added.

As Heero listened to Hilde's story, he could feel Relena reacting to every word that was told. He knew that she wished it was her telling the story of a romantic engagement. Then and there, Heero made a promise to give Relena what she deserved- the engagement and the wedding worthy of a queen. Relena had told him that she didn't want to get married, but he knew that it was her secret wish. She was simply saying that it didn't matter because she loved him anyway.

'Relena, I swear that I'll give the courtship you deserve and so much more!' Heero said silently. He broke out of his planning to find a pair of aquamarine eyes gazing up at him.

"What is it?" a sweet voice asked.

"Nothing, I was imagining Hilde's story; I guess Duo listened to me after all," the perfect soldier stated.

"What did you tell him?" Relena asked.

"To just be himself and do what comes natural to him," Heero answered.

"Thank you, Heero, thank you for telling Duo that he didn't need to flatter me with fancy dinners to propose to me," Hilde said with a smile. Heero nodded his head slightly.

"You're welcome; I just hope that he doesn't have a nervous breakdown on his wedding day!" he quipped. Heero started laughing, and everyone in the room joined him.

Relena felt him pulling her closer and gently kissing her hair. It was his silent way of saying how much he cared about her. She'd learned to read his actions very well and could interpret his slightest action as an affectionate gesture.

Heero felt his princess nuzzling her face against his chest, and he realized that she understood.

'Who needs words when your hearts are united?' Heero wondered silently. 'Simple, you don't!' his own heart said firmly.