Bittersweet Symphonies:

Chapter 11: Sleep Tight

"Duo! I told you to wait for me!"

Duo only laughed. With only three days till Christmas Day, he wasn't going to wait for anyone. Not even Nikita, especially since she had wasted almost half an hour trying to get Attila the Bitch to come down and join them in their Yuletide preparations. Duo had already chose, chopped and began to trim their seven-foot tall silvertip evergreen tree. It had taken both he and Heero to drag the tree in the house. They stood it up in the living room in front of the bay window. After rummaging in the MS Bay, it had become Nikita's office, unofficially or course, he had found a metal object that would suffice as stand. Heero had held it, while Duo set the tree in the stand. Trowa had given him a box of decorations. No one knew where he got it.  One strand of white lights had already been strung through the crisp emerald branches.

"You were takin to long to get her." Duo put an unnecessary amount of emphasis on the feminine pronoun at the end of his statement. Nikita rolled her eyes, and bent carefully to retrieve another strand of lights.

"She said that she wasn't in the mood, she might be down later." She said beginning to run the strand of lights through the top row of branches. Duo scoffed, helping her slide the lights onto the branches.

"It took you thirty minutes to get that little bit of information?"

"Ok, so we talked, she is my sister. We are allowed to do that."

"Ok," Duo replied he sounded all too agreeable for Nikita. She narrowed her eyes and kept stringing lights. The decorated in silence until the strand wrapped all the way down the tree and the completed two more.  The silence was finally growing to thick for Duo to bear. He spoke up.

"What are you gonna get Heero for Christmas?"

Nikita shrugged, "I have no clue. I just know I'm gonna have a helluva time finding it."

"Yeah, he's a tough one to shop for. He doesn't seem to like anything."

"Besides weaponry."

Duo laughed. He nodded in agreement, and handed her the last strand of lights. They strung it through, and as they did Duo told a joke.

"Ok, this guy, he walks into a an ice cream parlor. He asks for some chocolate ice cream. The clerk apologizes, and tells the guy there is no more chocolate, 'Would you like another flavor?'  'Yeah, I want some chocolate ice cream!' 'But we are out, would you like any other kind?'  'Yup, some chocolate outta hit the spot.' 'We have none, would you care for anything else? 'Yes, I'd like some chocolate ice cream.' 'Can you spell the VAN in vanilla?' The clerk said. 'V-A-N' 'Can you spell the STRAW in strawberry.' 'S-T-R-A-W.' Finally she asks, 'Can you spell the FUCK, in chocolate?' 'There is no 'fuck' in chocolate.'

'EXACTLY! There is no fuckin chocolate! I knew you'd get it."

Nikita laughed as she plugged in the last strand of lights into the wall. They tree glowed, but it wasn't as stunning as would be at night. Duo didn't really care though, he was just glad that the lights didn't blow a fuse. (A/N: Don't you hate that? I DO, it happens EVERY TIME ARGH! Stupid little lights…)

"Okay, what's next? Isn't it garland?" Duo inquired. He stepped back to admire the tree. Nikita smiled and nodded. She pulled out a bundle of violet garland composed of velvet, and would look stunning with the one or two blue-violet strands of lights ran through the tree. Duo began string the garland at the top, and Nikita followed behind him making sure all was done correctly, and looked good.

The temperature in the room decreased by ten degrees. Julia brushed passed Duo, almost knocking him down. She was heated, about what no one was quite sure. But Duo had a feeling that Kita and he were going to find out in a matter of seconds.

"Where's Elliot?" Her tone was brusque, and her disposition was icier than the snowflakes that whirled around outside. Nikita froze, she faltered both in her movements and articulation. She was hesitant in replying. Julia drew patience from a part of her that didn't exist. She was running on empty.

"Where. Is. Elliot."  Julia spaced the words as if they were each their own statement. She pronounced each syllable as if Nikita was three year old. Duo watched the tender heart of his friend sink, and crumble into a million pieces. She was searching for the words to deliver the news to her sister, and keep from bringing herself to tears in the process. She had to be strong. She had to be strong for Julia, and be strong to spite her father. She had to, but she just couldn't do it. And she was taking far too long from Julia's perspective.

"Ou est Elliot?  Ne sais- vous pas?"

That was where Duo lost them. From that point on, English was a forgotten thing.

"Oui, Je sais." Nikita whispered.

"Ou?" Julia demanded. Nikita looked down at the ground, and contended with the tears that were filling her eyes and dangerously close to spilling onto her cheeks. Julia was tiring of the ambiguity fast.

"Ou?" She demanded again.

"Julia, s'il vous plait!" Nikita pleaded, "Je ne suis pas able."

"Pardon?"

"Je monnet."

"Monnet?"

"Oui."

"Je ne comprends pas."

"Tu will comprends."

"Mon Dieu," Julia responded sarcastically. She rolled her eyes.

"Duo would you mind accompanying the two of us?"

"Excuse moi?" Julia was almost shrieking.

"Ah, Silencion, jeune fils. Ill allers."

"Pourqoui?" Julia asked indignantly.

"Pourqoui?" Nikita repeated.

"Oui."

"Pourqoui pas?"

"Vous…" She trailed off. Nikita glanced out the window, and noted the snow. She mentioned to Julia.

"Une petit froid."

Julia left to get her coat, and Duo had set down the garland and was staring intently into her eyes. She smiled sadly. Duo smiled back, but knew that it would take a helluva lot more than a quick smile and wink to wash the sadness out of her eyes. He smiled and winked nonetheless.

"Duo, Je ne vous drais pas –"

"As sexy as you sound speaking in French, I'd prefer to understand what you are saying."

"Je regrette. Uh, I mean, I'm sorry." She laughed at herself in spite of her unhappiness, and though she was smiling for the moment Duo could tell that she wasn't happy.

"Now, what were you sayin?"

"I don't wanna do this, but she has a right to know. I mean; Elliot was her brother too. I assumed she knew. I called the agency to relay to the foster home, but evidently she never got the message." Nikita trailed off. She grabbed Heero's coat, which had been conveniently sprawled across the coffee table beside the couch. She slid into it. Duo was already ready. His coat was on the couch beside him.

"Will you drive?" Nikita requested.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"Drexel's."

Duo blinked. Drexel's was a cemetery. He said nothing, but Duo thought it a little harsh to take Julia to see the grave of her older brother. Especially when she was under the impression that he was still amongst the living. But Duo, being the cat that he was, was curious of Julia's reaction. This was his chance to see what's underneath. This was his chance to get a glimpse of her true colors. This was his chance to see if she had a heart. He wasn't going to miss it.

"Yeah, I'll drive you two." He replied. Nikita smiled, and Julia reappeared into living room. A blue bubble jacket had been zipped up over a white turtleneck, and hung just below the waistline of her dark denim flares. A matching hat was pulled down over her ears.

"You, Madame," Duo said turning to Nikita, "Need to dress a little warmer don't you think? I think the lil kid inside ya is gonna get a little chilly."  Nikita laughed and pulled a pair of gloves and a hat out of the oversized jacket. She slipped the gloves on, and the three of them hurried to the car.

The ride was unbearably silent for the first three minutes. If Duo remained in that car where tension and silence fused together to from the thickest, most uncomfortable atmosphere imaginable, he'd lose his mind. He popped in a CD that had happened to be laying in the glove compartment. System of a Down; they were one of his favorite bands.

He sang along with to the lyrics of one of the more melodious works of the band. He was surprised to hear he soft yet sweet voice of Julia follow along with him.

"Hey you…see me

Pictures….crazy

All the world, I've seen before me

Passing by…

I've got nothing

To gain

To lose

All the world I've see before me passing by…"

He smiled as the song picked up, and became more infused with hatred and anger.

"You don't care bout how I feel,

I don't feel it any more!

You don't care bout how I feel,

I don't feel it any more!

You don't care bout how I feel,

I don't feel it any more!

You don't care bout how I feel,

I don't feel it anymore…"

Duo smiled as he bobbed his head to the music, humming along to the next verse. He could still hear Julia's soft voice in the midst of the music. He was glad that they shared an interest in something. It would give him something to talk –though they would probably just argue – about. Duo's eyes kept averting to the rear view mirror. He could keep himself from admiring her beauty. He was careful enough to keep his longing glances furtive; Duo wasn't in the mood for another severe tongue-lashing. She was so good at those. Duo was scared of what she thought and didn't say.

The gravel ground under the wheels of the car as he turned left onto the gravel path that led to the Drexel Cemetery. The car bumped over potholes, and mounds of uneven gravel. He pulled into a parking space. Duo smirked inwardly. He felt right at home. He was the Great Destroyer. He was the God of Death, amongst a meadow of the dead. Gray, white and black headstones stretched further than the eye could account for. Gray, black contrasted with the landscape of gleaming new-fallen snow. Bouquets of yellow, white, red, and deep purple spangled the dreary landscape. Huge Weeping Willows with thick russet brown trunks that had been twisted and gnarled by the crafty fingers of the harsh winds. Its branches barely skimmed the virginal snow. They billowed in the icy winds. Snowflakes whirled around in the wind, and settled on the ground.

Julia was the first to step out of the car. The wintry scene had not failed to charm her, but the dreary, bleak rows and rows of crypts and headstones did not fail in breaking her heart. Especially one particular black stone. Elliot Pierre Triqué. The three names were inscribed in block letters, and a simple phrase that neither Nikita nor Julia would ever forget.

" To dust we return, and dust we shall remain…it's the only thing that beats the same."

Julia huddled close to her older sister, who gently and protectively slid an arm around her. She stroked her hair. Her body quaked as tears of loss slid down her cheeks that were kissed by the snow. Julia couldn't believe it. Elliot was gone forever. She was angry with him for taking Kita and leaving, but…there was hope for reconciliation. Now there was no hope for a loving relationship to blossom between them once again. There was no hope of hearing his laugh, or looking into his smiling brown eyes. Julia fought the onslaught of tears and sobs, but couldn't hide them. Her act had broken, temporarily, and she felt no shame in having her sniveling true self be revealed. She felt no anger. All she felt was pain, and she couldn't stop crying if she tried.  

Nikita tried to calm Julia down, with gentle sisterly strokes. But there wasn't much she could do…until an idea popped into her head like a baby into the world. She began to hum, a tune very familiar to the two of them.

"We saw fantasia in far off land…cry for the living in the desert sand…the people gathered 'neath the splintered moon… to hear the beating of an ancient tune…"

"Sleep tight," Julia whispered. Nikita smiled, and continued.

"The reaper's waiting in the wings…"

"Sleep tight," Her voice was stronger, less shrouded by crying.

"To reap a man of many things…"

"Sleep tight…" Duo could only watch as the scene unfurled before him. He was enchanted by their melodious singing.

"And through the eyes of destiny…"

"Sleep tight," She sang.

"You found the kingdom, but he holds the key." Nikita trailed off. Julia picked up her part.

"I met a seer who believes and dreams…the blood is flowing through eternal streams…dust you return…and dust you shall remain…it's the only thing that beats the same…"

"Sleep tight," Nikita sang.

"The reaper is waiting in the wings..."

"Sleep tight."

"To reap a man of many things…"

"Sleep tight."

"And through the eyes of destiny…

"Sleep tight." Both of their voice soared an octave higher than before. Chills shot down Duo's spine…and it wasn't from the cold. He blow out the breath he had been holding. He leaned back against the car. Julia was slowly pulling her mask back on. The tears had stopped flowing, though her eyes were still blood red. Her grief-stricken expression was replaced by a placid, dispassionate stare. Nikita wiped away her own stray tears, and their embrace was dissolved.

"She does have a heart," he whispered.

~

Yay! I didn't fall of the face of the earth!! :D LOL! The song Sleep Tight is not mine; Andrea Bocelli and Sara Brightman perform it. It's VERY pretty! You got working speakers? I'll sing it for you one day...lol. Thanx for reading and as always..

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