Disclaimer: I don't own them except for the kids!

I Will Never Be The Same, Part 11

Duo nuzzled his nose against something warm and soft. He sniffed. A grin touched his lips. Whatever it was, it smelled good too. He pressed his lips against the warmth before pulling away and running his tongue along the bottom of his lip. "Tastes good too," he thought as he smiled again. Then something silky brushed against his nose. Mustering the strength, he peeked one eye open. Midnight locks greeted his view. He opened both eyes and beheld the shining softness of his Hilde's ebony tresses. He could feel the weight of her breasts on his forearm that he had wrapped around her. Pulling her tighter against him, he started pressing kisses against her fragrant skin.

Hilde's lashes fluttered as she felt warm lips against her ear. Smiling, she knew exactly who it was. Folding her arm over the one holding her, she trailed her fingers over it. "Trying to wake me up, mister?" she murmured.

"Sort of," he replied as he gently nipped her ear. Chills ran up his arm from her lazy caress. "It feels good waking up next to you. You smell good. Taste good too."

Chuckling at his response she turned her head to look into those brilliant cobalt eyes of his. "Love the compliments first thing in the morning, Duo. Fishing for something?" she teased.

"Oh, just a good morning kiss," he responded with a boyish grin.

"Aren't you cute," Hilde laughed as she rolled over and cuddled against him. "But those were nice words, so yes, I think I'll give you a good morning kiss," she said as she pressed her lips against his.

Gathering her close, he opened his mouth over hers. Her lips parted willingly to allow the intrusion of his tongue. He swept the silky wet interior of her mouth at leisure. His hands glided down her hips and curved around her derriere, molding her too him. He ended the kiss after a few minutes, slowly removing his lips from hers. Pressed a quick kiss on the tip of her nose. "I love you," he said as he looked into her eyes.

Tears from his words burned the back of her lids as she laid a hand against his cheek. "I love you too, Duo," she said with a trembling smile. She burrowed herself closer to his warm body and let out a yawn. "Can we go back to sleep again? It's only eight. Way too early for a Saturday," she murmured, closing her eyes.

"Yeah, we can sleep some more," Duo, replied as he moved his hands to a more respectable level around her waist. He moved his fingers in soothing circles on her back as she cuddled up against him. It was torture being like this with her, but he wouldn't have it any other way. She was going to be his wife, the woman of his dreams. Closing his own eyes, he let the sound of her rhythmic breathing lull him back to sleep.

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Brendan rubbed his eyes as they sought out the clock on his bedside table. His ears strained for any sound that his mother or Duo would be up. "Funny, mom's not up yet and it's close to eight thirty," he wondered aloud as he slid from under his blankets. Peering out into the hallway, he quietly made his way to Duo's room at the opposite end of the hall. He knocked once, but didn't hear anything. Pushing open the door, he poked his head in. The bed was still made, no sign of the man he looked up to. A puzzled look came into his cobalt eyes as he turned and went towards his mother's room. Knocking again and not hearing an answer, he craned his head around the door. What his eyes found made a wide smile cross his lips. "About time," he said, as the smile became a pleased smirk. Shutting the door again, he rubbed his hands together. "Mommy will be happy now and Duo will take care of her." Still smirking with triumph, he made his way down the stairs to make his own breakfast.

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Hilde awoke first this time. She smiled against his neck as she felt his breath wafting over the top of her head. Her hands slid from his chest to his waist and wrapped them around him. Leaning back a little, she studied him. Chestnut bangs fell over his forehead in a boyish manner, brushing against his arched brows. She laughed silently as he wrinkled his nose and mumbled something unintelligible in his sleep. She never realized how lush his lashes were as they lay against his cheeks. She could only achieve that lushness with a mascara wand. Lifting her hand from his side, she placed it against his cheek. He looked so handsome and so adorable as he slept. It made her heart ache on how much she really loved him. "Duo," she whispered.

His nose twitched and he mumbled again.

Not being able to stop the faint chuckle that rose to her lips, she pressed a quick kiss on his. "Come on, sleepyhead, time to wake up."

"No," was Duo's petulant, child like reply. His face scrunched up, his eyes still closed.

Hilde rolled her eyes. She remembered how difficult it was to wake him up in the morning. He liked to ignore her and roll over. It always made her madder than hell. And that was before she discovered that her cooking was the solution. It woke him up and he would make a beeline for the kitchen and his plate. He was her braided glutton. "Come on, Duo. I'll make you some pancakes, with scrambled eggs, a slice of ham, and my famous hash browns. You can also have all the maple syrup you want."

His eyes popped open from her last statement. "Maple syrup and hash browns?"

She broke out into laughter at his sudden response. "Well that woke you up quick enough."

Duo grinned at her. "Well you're promising food, babe, how can I not wake up?"

"Such a glutton," Hilde said as she tweaked his nose before sliding out from his arms. Walking over to her closet, she pulled on a soft cotton wrapper. She looked back towards the bed. He was leaning on his elbow, staring at her. There was heat in his eyes. It made her flush and her insides feel all jittery. "Stop looking at me like that, Duo."

"And how am I looking at you?"

"Like you're mentally undressing me."

An unrepentant smirk crossed his features as he gazed up at her. "But it's so much fun," he replied as he scooted to the edge of the bed, swinging his legs over the side. He let his eyes slide over her, from her tousled hair all the way down to her very pink painted toes, and all that was in between. Dressed in white like she was, she looked just like an angel. His angel. Holding out his hand to her, he got down on one knee.

Tears flooded her eyes again as she took his hand.

Raking his teeth across his lips, he took a deep breath. "Hilde, will you marry me?"

A few of her tears slipped down her cheeks. "Yes, Duo, yes," she said, nodding her head.

His own throat constricted painfully as he stood up and gathered her into his arms. He caught her tears on his fingers, gently wiping them away. "I've been waiting to ask you that since forever. You were the one I should have asked to marry me in the first place. I've always loved you, Hil. Always. And now, it'll be forever. You're never leaving my side ever again."

"Oh, Duo," Hilde said tearfully as she gave him a fierce hug. His words warmed her heart and soul. The dream that she had carried around for so long was finally coming true. The man she had loved since she was a teenager was now going to be her husband. When her tears subsided, she leaned back against his arms. "We'll have to tell Brendan."

"I don't think that'll be a problem, babe. He adores me and you know, I think he's wanted me for you because I said I liked you. You're his entire world and he thinks that I can make you happy," he said as he stared into her blue violet eyes, "And I hope that I'll live up to his expectations."

With a quivering smile, she nodded her head. "You will. Don't worry about that."

"Come on, lets go see if he's up, and then you can make me that breakfast you promised," Duo said as he grasped onto her hand and opened the door. He heard the sound of the TV downstairs. "Look's like he's already up and eating."

"Yeah, he's a little pig, just like his father," Hilde said cheekily as she walked in front of him. She smirked at him over her shoulder.

He made a face at her comment and gave her a playful swat on her rear, earning an indignant expression. He smiled innocently in return.

Hilde rolled her eyes. "Men," she muttered as they walked into the kitchen and into the family room. The both of them stopped to watch Brendan's legs swing back and forth in the air. He was laying on one of the huge floor pillows and in front of that was his huge cereal bowl. He was still eating out of it. "Good morning, Brendan."

Brendan rolled his head back, so he was looking at them upside down. "About time the two of you woke up," he said with a bright smile on his lips.

Her eyes widened. "You knew we were still sleeping?"

Finally turning around and into a sitting position, he bobbed his head, making his black bangs brush against his forehead. "I wanted to see if either of you were awake yet, so I peeked in your room. You looked happy, mommy, with Duo there with you."

Her mouth fell open.

Duo stared at his son with amazement, before he gave a shout of laughter. He glanced at Hilde out of the corner of his eye. "Oh come on, babe. You have to admit, he's good, real good," he turned back to Brendan. "You knew I would wait up for her, didn't you?"

Brendan shook his head again. "Yup. You didn't look too happy when she left with what's his name, so I figured you would wait until she came home. And I saw you with her. You were smiling just like she was."

He let go of Hilde's hand and knelt down in front of his son. "And how would you like it, if I told you that I asked mom to marry me?"

A wide grin stretched across his face. "I would like it a lot. She wouldn't be up all night with you with her. And I like you."

"And I like you too, Brendan," Duo said he gave the small boy a hug.

Once again, tears pricked the back of Hilde's eyes. She knelt down next to them. "Brendan, I have something to tell you too. It might come as a shock to you, but I hope you'll be all right with it," she said as she turned him to face her. Smoothing back his charcoal locks, she smiled into his cobalt eyes. "I was married when you were born. Do you remember Richard?"

"Yes," he said, shaking his head.

"Well, he was your father at the time. I mean, he was the man that took care of you and me, but…you weren't really his…you were Duo's," she said, slowly, watching his face as he assimilated the information.

Brendan scrunched his forehead as he looked back and forth between his mother and Duo. Duo was looking at him. Turning to the older man, he studied him. "Can I see a mirror, mom?"

Struck by her son's odd request, she nodded her head and went to get her mirror out of her purse. Handing it to him, she watched as he held up to his face and then to his father's.

Tilting his head, he looked at his reflection and then at Duo's. "You have the same eyes as me."

Duo nodded. "Yes, we do, otherwise you take after your mother with her hair color."

The five year old turned back to his mother, who looked expectant. "Ok. I think I understand. But why didn't you marry him when you knew he was my father?"

Hilde let out a sigh of relief. "It's a long story saved when you're a bit older, love. You're not upset with me?"

"No, but I think in a way, I knew that Richard wasn't really my dad. He didn't feel like it when he would come and visit us with auntie Charlotte." He turned to look at Duo. "I'm glad that you're my dad. Will you live here with us or will mommy and I come to live with you?"

Duo smiled and ruffled his son's thick hair. "If mom doesn't mind leaving New York, you'll come to live with me in the Sanc Kingdom over in Europe. And if she wants to stay here, we'll stay here."

Hilde shook her head. "I would like to go back to the Sanc, Duo. I miss the rest of the gang and it will be good for Bren to meet our friends there. Do any of them have children yet?"

With a grin, he nodded. "Heero and Relena have twins, Conner and Clarissa. Both of them look like him, except for the eyes of course. And Sally and the Wu-man have a girl named Midori. Cute little thing that looks just like her mom. Quat finally married Trowa's big sister. And Trowa…still keeps the hearts aflutter by still being single."

Hilde looked back at Brendan. "Do you want to live there or do you want to stay here?"

"I want you to be happy, mom. I want to see this other place where you and dad are from."

Duo felt his throat get tight when Brendan called him dad. He hugged him tight. "Thanks, son. You'll like it over there, I promise. But you know what, we'll get married right here in New York. You'll get to meet all mom and dad's friends before going back to Europe."

Brendan nodded his head as he threw his arms around his father's neck. "I would like that."

Duo squeezed him tight again, before pulling Hilde into the family hug. He kissed her lips. "Is that all right with you?"

"Fine with me," Hilde said as she put her arms around him and their son. She kissed him back. "I love you, Duo."

"Love you too, babe," he said as he pressed a long sweet kiss on her lips as he held the two most important people in his life, in his arms at last.

A/N: I know it's been along time (cringes from some glares) but it's here at last. Another installment of Duo and Hilde for your reading pleasure. I hope you liked it! XOXO!!