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I Will Never Be The Same, Part 9
Hilde licked her suddenly dry lips as she looked into the cobalt eyes in front of her. There was total disbelief and some anger mirrored in them. She didn't reply, but lowered her eyes to the hardwood floor.
Duo tilted her chin up with one finger, forcing her to meet his eyes again. "When were you going to tell me? Were you ever going to tell me that I had a son?"
"I…I was…eventually," she replied softly as she looked away again.
"You knew the day you married Robert that you were pregnant with my son," he stated in a controlled voice.
"I
knew. But what would've been the point of telling you. You were married to
Brittany."
"It wouldn't have mattered dammit! You walked out on me with the knowledge that you were pregnant with my child and to marry another man!"
"What was I supposed to do, Duo? At the time I didn't even know if you remembered sleeping with me!"
"You could've told me!"
"There was no point! You were married to a woman I despised, who hated me in return!" she exclaimed heatedly.
"It wouldn't have mattered, Hilde! I cared about you and you knew that. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do for you," he said in a softer tone as he took a step away from her.
"You couldn't do everything for me, Duo," Hilde said sadly as she turned away from him. "I wanted you to be happy even if the woman was someone I hated. I didn't want to ruin your chance to have a family that you wanted so badly."
Duo grasped her by the shoulders and turned her to face him again. "I realized when I married her that it wasn't her that made me happy. It was you. It was always you. You were the one who made me want a family. I wanted one with you."
His words stunned Hilde. "You wanted one with me?"
"Yes. I wanted one with you. You were the perfect woman. You did everything right. You were what I wanted, but I wouldn't chase after you. I knew in my heart you were way too good for the likes of me," he explained gently as a wry smile crossed his lips.
"You wanted me?"
"I always wanted you, I just didn't know it until it was too late. Until you were gone. It was like a light in my life was gone and all of a sudden I realized what I really needed, what I really wanted, was gone."
A watery smile crossed her lips.
"And I still need you, Hilde. I've always needed you."
Hilde lowered her eyes and looked at his hands holding onto her. "Than you understand why I had to leave without telling you."
"No, I don't understand. I want you to tell me why?" he asked as he led her to the living room. He sat her down on the couch, sitting down next to her.
"I was scared, Duo. I was pregnant by you and you were married. It wasn't right of me to interfere in your marriage. Robert loved me and I cared deeply about him. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time."
"You thought it was the right thing to do? To up and leave, without telling me? Especially when you were carrying my child. Why did you go through all the trouble to hide it?"
"Like I said, I was scared. To me, I thought it was some one-night stand. You were my best friend. I wasn't going to ruin our friendship because of one night of reckless passion. You were drunk, I was drunk, we didn't know what we were doing."
"I thought I told you I remembered."
"Yes, a few days ago you told me that. But I didn't know then!"
Duo raked his hand through his hair. "What a mess."
"You were not supposed to find out at all," she whispered as she looked down at her hands.
He raised his eyes to hers. "You would've kept this from me?"
"If Robert hadn't realized it, yes, I would have. He would've had the son he couldn't have."
"He
couldn't give you children?"
"No, we tried to get pregnant again, but it was discovered that he couldn't," Hilde said as she stood up and went over to the window. She rested her forehead on the cool glass. "He realized that Brendan wasn't his since the doctor mentioned that it was a miracle that I had gotten pregnant with our son in the first place. He said it was improbable. Robert just connected the dots and figured it out."
"His
eyes gave him away. Brendan has my eyes."
"It would've been better if he had been born with my eyes, but fate chose to give him yours. Almost a reminder of what was and what could never be. Robert wanted Brendan to be his so much."
Duo's lips twitched. "Would you have ever told anyone at all?"
"No."
"Dammit, Hilde! Brendan is my son! You would've gone through his life, letting him believe that he was Robert's son, when in fact he wasn't! And you would've kept it from me!"
"He's my son! I raised him and took care of him for the past few years on my own! I love Brendan more than anything! And if that meant I would live a lie for the rest of my life, fine! There's nothing I wouldn't do to ensure his happiness!"
Duo got up off of the couch and yanked her around to face him. "But he's my son too! You didn't get pregnant alone! He's part of me as much as much he is you!"
She
pulled her arm out of his grasp. Her breasts heaved with each breath she took.
"What difference would that have made when you were banging Brittany?"
"It makes plenty of difference since every time I took her to bed, all I could think about was you!"
"That's a lie!"
"Is it? Why do not sleep at night? Why, Hilde? Is it because you're longing for someone to be there? Is it because it's me that you want?" Duo demanded.
Hilde's mouth snapped shut as she stared up at him, her eyes flashing. "I don't need or want any man. I have all that I want here." She turned on her heel and pushed her way past him.
"I don't think so, baby," he said as he caught her arm once again, pulling her against him. He looked down into her stormy eyes. "You're lying through your teeth. I know you walk away when you lie because you don't want to look me in the eye because you know I'll see the truth lurking behind those beautiful eyes of yours. You want me and I will prove to you just how much you do!" With that, he kissed her. Hard.
She let his mouth take possession of hers for a moment, before, with all her strength, pushed against him, freeing her from his grip. "I don't," she hissed furiously.
"You do, I know you do," Duo growled as he looked deep into her eyes. "Stop fighting it."
"Leave me alone!"
"Never. I won't stop until I have what I want."
Hilde paused in her tracks as she started to leave the room. "And what the hell does that mean?"
"Oh, I'll tell you what it means, Hilde babe. I want my son," he said as he took a step towards her, "And I want his mother. I want you. I won't stop until I have you both. You can fight me every step of the way if you like, but sooner or later, I will have you and my son. I'm not going to let you get away this time."
She shook her head. "I'm not some prize to be won."
"No, you're not. You're the mother of my child. I want you by my side and if I have to fight you every step of the way, I will. I will get the both of you in the end. I'm not going to give up on you," he said silkily.
Hilde took an involuntary step back. She could see that conquering look in his eyes. She knew he could lay siege to the day he died. He was stubborn and determined. Part of her was rejoicing that he had always wanted her like she wanted him, but another part of her was running in the opposite direction. She loved him, but she knew he didn't love her. She was just the mother of his son, nothing more, nothing less. "Try all you like, Duo Maxwell. I don't give in easily," she said in icy voice as she turned on her heel and went up the steps to her room. She shut the door hard behind her and locked it. Flopping down on the edge of her bed, she ran her hands through her hair. "But for how long, I just don't know," she whispered.
Duo heard the door slam. He relaxed his stance and let his head fall back. "Hilde, just say that you love me. I know you're waiting for me to say it, but I can see it in your eyes when you look at me. I know what you're trying to hide. I love you, but if you want me to lay siege to you, than I will. I'm the God of Death, and I don't give up on any challenge, especially from the woman I love."
A/N: Another chapter done! Another twist thrown in! I hope you enjoyed this so far, so stay tuned for more! XOXO!!
