Bonus Chapter II. Home Alone
1. Hostelry
Milliardo sat at his desk nervously tapping his foot as he planned his speech. The one that would prove he and Treize were no more than business partners.
'You know…' Lucrezia started, standing at the doorway.
He didn't raise his eyes from the blank page he'd been glaring at. 'What?'
'Relena doesn't live here anymore.'
'Yes…' he agreed distractedly. 'She married the manslayer.'
'Milliardo…' she insisted still standing at the threshold. 'We are alone.'
'We are.' He pushed down his annoyance. Why couldn't his speech write itself?
Lucrezia sighed, walking up to him. 'No…'
'Relena. I get it.'
'…clothes.'
'Oh…'
2. Culinary
'It's not like we never had a romantic dinner when Relena was around, but this just feels… Different.' Lucrezia commented as she took her seat across him at the candlelit table. 'Besides I asked the cook to make us something Relena would've never eaten.'
'And what is it?' he asked raising an eyebrow at the still covered platter.
'It's…' she lifted the lid excitedly and froze.
'I'm not eating that.' He informed her, fighting the urge to wrinkle his nose.
'Don't be such a child.' She admonished, readying a forkful. 'It can't be that bad.'
'So?'
Lucrezia blinked back tears.
3. Arboretum
Lucrezia took a deep revitalizing breath of fresh air. 'We certainly don't enjoy this garden enough.' She commented as they sat outside having some tea. Milliardo didn't answer. 'You're still working on that speech?'
He had long given up on frowning at the paper and decided to scowl instead. 'It's an important speech.'
'Yes, but how hard is it really? "Treize and I are not, have never been and will never be lovers. Good night.".'
'I do not sound like that. Besides that's hardly convincing.'
'Isn't it enough that we know the truth?'
He blinked at her. 'No, it's not.'
4. Sound
'Must you turn the volume that high?' Milliardo appeared at the doorway more amused than annoyed. 'You're acting like a teenager.'
Lucrezia could only smile sassily at him from the couch where she lied, her feet up on the armrest. 'I feel like a teenager.' She said, waving towards the armchair nearest to her. 'Won't you join me?'
He did, the smallest of smiles on his lips. 'I've figured out what to do about Treize.'
'Have you?' she turned down the volume.
'There's no need for speeches… It's actually quite simple.' He met her eyes. 'Let's elope. Like teenagers, right?'
5. Tyro
'We can do it right here. There's no one to see us and it will be cheap.'
'Milliardo… Don't think I'll let you do to our wedding what you did to Relena's.' Lucrezia informed him patiently.
'Noin.' He eyed her seriously, using her surname to make sure she was paying attention. 'I know you're new at this wedding planning thing, but I will make sure we have the perfect wedding so don't worry.'
She stared blankly at him for a moment before walking away. 'I'll book us a trip to Vegas. If we're eloping, we have to do it right.'
6. Pogonip
'Don't tell me you wish to get married in Vegas. That's hardly romantic.' Milliardo frowned doubtfully at her.
'Where else would you go? And "here" is not an option.' Lucrezia gave him the I'm-not-kidding look.
'I want a wedding that is just the two of us. Even though I do also want it to fix Dorothy's mess. Relena denied this to her fiancé… Are you so cold as to deny it to yours?'
She sighed. How could she argue with him? He was a diplomat after all… 'So where do you suggest we go?'
'Somewhere isolated… A mountain? Maybe Siberia?'
7. Salient
Lucrezia need only glance through the window of the chalet to know their private wedding was no longer a secret. Milliardo was a prominent figure and – in a way – so was she. They must have been dreaming when they thought the press wouldn't follow them across the globe…
'What can I do?' her fiancé shrugged innocently.
'You called them here, didn't you?'
'Someone needs to spread the news.'
'Well…' she mused. 'At least we are getting married… Finally.'
'You think Relena will be upset?'
'That we didn't tell her personally? She's on her honeymoon.'
'Please, don't remind me with whom.'
A.N.: A little more Zechs and Noin as requested by Fer82.
