Christmas Eve was never an easy day for Heero, and today was already shaping up to be a difficult one.

As happy as he'd been to wake up with Relena in his bed, looking like an angel in the morning light with her golden hair fanned all around his pillow... now the tension between them was so taut, Heero felt like he could reach out and snap it, like an invisible wire.

Relena was a ball of nerves beside him as he drove her back to her parents' house. They'd had to wait for the snow to stop, and for the department of public works to clear the roads; by then, it was mid-morning. Heero decided to go ahead and keep the shop closed for the rest of the day; he doubted he would have gotten much foot traffic on Christmas Eve, with or without the bad weather.

Relena's father had phoned Heero's apartment to ensure the two young people would be on their way, and while he hadn't shouted at Heero this time, the Reverend still sounded livid. Heero wasn't afraid of the older man – after all, he'd dealt with far worse – but it wounded him to see how much all of this was affecting Relena. His urge to protect her was stronger than ever, especially since he'd made her his own. She was his heart, his soul, and, if he had his way, his future wife. And that made him responsible for her. Knowing he was also responsible for her pain was nothing short of agonizing. Despite his annoyance toward the Reverend Darlian, Heero knew he had to suck it up and do whatever he could to mend fences between them. The last thing Heero wanted was to start his new relationship with Relena on the wrong foot, and create any division between her and her parents.

But if they refused to let Heero see Relena any more… they were going to have a problem. Heero wasn't going to let anyone separate him and Relena; not now, not ever.

He chuckled inwardly when he thought back to those weeks they'd spent together in the orphanage, how futile a venture it was for the nuns who kept trying to keep them apart. No matter how many times they were smacked with rulers or even physically pried apart, they always found their way back to each other. Looking back, Heero was sure the nuns must have been relieved when Heero's father finally showed up to get him, although dealing with a despondent Relena afterward was probably just as challenging. His chest constricted her at the memory, how she'd cried and reached for him when he was taken away. Odin had just chuckled and said "Atta boy" to Heero as he dragged him off to his new life. If fortune hadn't placed Relena in the same class as Heero, he didn't know what we would have done. He liked to think he still would have found her again, somehow.

He stole a glance of her now, her beautiful face etched in worry. Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, Heero placed his other hand on her knee. She tensed at his sudden touch, but then Heero felt her relax. She rested a hand on top of his, twining their fingers together. She expelled a deep breath, and Heero gently thumbed the back of her hand.

"I know you're anxious, but this will all be over soon," he said quietly. "We'll get through this, Relena. I promise."

"I know." Relena's voice hitched, but she shot him a brave smile. He glanced over to see tears glisteneing in her eyes. She reached up a hand to dab them away. "I just wish this wasn't so difficult."

"Some things are," he said. "Usually the things worth fighting for."

"Mmm. That's true."

Heero looked over at her again to see that her smile had widened. He smiled right back at her. He'd done so much smiling over the past twenty-four hours, his face was starting to hurt. Relena just had that effect on him.

"You know I'll always fight for you," he added, squeezing her hand in his.

"I'll always fight for you, too."

Heero chuckled. "I know, and I wish you wouldn't. But if you're going to insist on standing up to bullies for me, I ought to at least teach you how to throw a punch."

"Why bother when a good slap is just as effective?"

"Not really. Although I have to admit, I was impressed by your gumption." He found himself grinning at the memory of Relena's delicate hand connecting with Jack Holiday's face, and the look of shock that was scrawled across it. Before he recovered and attacked her, at least. As soon as that image popped back into Heero's mind, his blood began to boil. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Jackass," he muttered.

"Heero?" Relena was eyeing him quizzically.

Heero blew out a low sigh. "Just thinking of that ass who attacked you."

"Oh, that guy." Relena sighed. "I wouldn't say he attacked me, exactly, although he did ruin my dress..."

"That's assault. He should be in jail," Heero groused.

"Well, then. Technically, so should I," Relena pointed out.

"I don't think so. Notice no one was asking him if he wanted to press any charges."

"True," Relena sighed. "Well, I'll be happy if I never have to see him again, that's for sure." Heero grunted his agreement.

And then they were pulling into the Darlians' driveway. Heero's eyes scanned the familiar surroundings as he maneuvered his truck up the gravel drive, pulling up to the closed garage. He hadn't set foot on their property in… he didn't even know how long. Not since before Relena left for boarding school, anyway. He hadn't kept in touch with Relena's parents, either, not since he'd stopped going to their church. Without Relena there with him, Heero no longer saw the point. Of course, that probably didn't win him any points with her family.

"Here we go," Relena said softly. She squeezed Heero's hand, then leaned over to peck his cheek. He turned his face and stole a kiss on the lips. She smiled at that. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too." Heero kissed her again. "Try not to let this get to you, okay? I'm right here with you."

"I know, and I'm glad." Relena squeezed his hand again. "Okay," she said, a determined look crossing her features. "Let's do this."

God, he loved this woman. Heero found himself smiling at her for what had to be the millionth time since last night.

He climbed out of his truck and went around to help Relena, lifting her out of the passenger seat and placing her carefully on the ground.

"Careful; it's icy," he warned, frowning down at her shoes. "Don't you own any snow boots?"

Relena took Heero's arm and let him guide her up the driveway. "Of course I do, but I wanted to look cute for our date last night." She fanned her lashes at him.

"You always look good without even trying."

"That's what you think," Relena said gleefully. "Which is exactly what I want you to think."

"Well, you don't have to try to impress me; you already know I think you're gorgeous," Heero said.

"Oh, Heero," Relena sighed, gazing up at him with a dreamy expression.

"So next time…" Heero said as they climbed the short set of steps onto the front porch. "Maybe wear something more practical. I'd rather you not fall and break your neck."

Relena rolled her eyes playfully. "You sound just like my mother."

"Your mother's right."

Thankfully, it was Relena's mother who answered the door.

"Good morning, darlings," Mareen said brightly, pulling the door wide open. "Merry Christmas Eve!"

Mareen's blue eyes were sparkling as she leaned forward to peck Relena's cheek, then did the same to Heero. Not for the first time, Heero was struck by how remarkably similar Relena and Mareen were, which was even more apparent now that Relena was a young woman. Their resemblance was almost uncanny; no one would ever guess the two blue-eyed, honey blondes weren't blood-related. Heero had to wonder if that was one reason Mr. and Mrs. Darlian were so attached to Relena; they really saw her as their own daughter. It didn't matter that she wasn't their flesh and blood; Relena was a Darlian, through and through.

They followed Mareen into the foyer, where she took their coats for them and hung them in the coat closet. Which was unnecessary, but Heero was somewhat used to Mareen's hospitality. He hadn't experienced it in a long time, but he remembered how kind and motherly she was toward him when he was a kid. Heero barely remembered his own mother, Aoi, but he was pretty sure she was nothing like Mareen.

For one thing, she didn't decorate for the holidays; at least not like this. The whole house looked and smelled like Christmas, inside and out. Garlands of pine and holly were strung around the windows, railings and columns on the porch outside, covered with white lights that hadn't been switched on yet, but Heero noticed them immediately. There were candles in every window. Heero could only imagine what the big, white Georgian-style home would look like once it was all lit up at night; like a suburban fairytale castle. Fitting for Relena; this house was part of the reason he'd always seen her as a princess.

Inside the house, Mareen's sense of holiday spirit was in full force. The bannister on the staircase was also bedecked with garlands and lights. And from the foyer, Heero could see a massive spruce tree in the living room, impeccably decorated with family ornaments, more holly, lights and tinsel, topped with a glittering star.

But best of all were the scents mingling in the air: pine and spruce, cinnamon, gingerbread and vanilla, and freshly-brewed coffee.

Heero couldn't help but take a deep inhale. Relena noticed and smiled up at him.

"Smells good in here," he commented, feeling a tad embarrassed.

"Thank you, love. I've been baking," Mareen said, motioning toward the kitchen. "How about some muffins, and coffee?"

"Now's hardly the time, Mareen." John Darlian entered the foyer from the living room, looking crossly at Heero and Relena. Heero could practically feel Relena shrinking behind him.

"Hi, Daddy," she said meekly.

"Relena," John said, his jaw clenched. He turned to Heero. "Young man, I'd like to have a word with you."

"Oh, John, not now." Mareen waved a hand. "It's Christmas Eve. Let the two young people enjoy themselves."

John laughed dryly. "I think they already have."

"Daddy, I'm sorry–"

"Why don't you help your mother in the kitchen," John said to Relena, more of a command than a suggestion. His gaze was still fixed on Heero. "Heero, we can go have a chat in my study."

Heero did his best to remain nonchalant. "Sure." He turned to look at Relena, who had gone pale. Heero gave her a wink to reassure her; she gave him a faint smile before they went their separate ways, Relena following after her mother, Heero trailing her father.

The Reverend's study was in a small room down the hall and to the left of the foyer. It was just large enough to be a guest bedroom, but was filled with oak office furniture, including a massive desk cluttered with documents, file folders, and a stack of Bibles. Bookcases lined each wall, and every shelf was filled to the brim. The room smelled of wood and leather, with the aromas from the holiday decorations and baking wafting in.

Heero tried not to let the scholarly atmosphere intimidate him, although he always felt intimidated around academic types. It was a knee-jerk reaction; although he'd always done well in school, he hadn't gone to college since he'd gone straight to the Air Force. At this point he wasn't sure he'd ever bother, not since he'd taken over his father's shop. His future didn't include leatherbound books and degrees like the ones hanging in wooden frames on the wall behind the Reverend's desk. He wondered if the Reverend looked down on Heero because of it. Heero certainly wouldn't blame him.

That and the fact that Heero had insisted on keeping Relena out all night – sleeping at his place, and in his bed, no less – had Heero anticipating that this conversation would be anything but jovial. He gritted his teeth and braced himself for another confrontation with the Reverend.

John Darlian sat down behind his desk and motioned for Heero to sit in one of the empty wooden chairs in front of it. Heero sat warily, trying to think of how he was going to defend his decision to willfully disobey the Reverend's orders last night.

The Reverend leaned forward with his elbows on his desk, steepling his fingers. "Heero…" he started, his voice calmer than Heero expected. "I owe you an apology."

Heero's brows shot up. He quickly worked to recompose his facial expression.

"I shouldn't have blown up at you the way I did." John shook his head, his brown eyes warmer than they had been out in the foyer. "It's not often that I lose my temper like that, and I'm not proud of it." He loosed a sigh, shrugging his shoulders. "It wasn't very pastorly of me."

"It's all right; you're not my pastor," Heero said. He wasn't sure how else to respond to that.

"Not presently," John said. "But I have been in the past, and I would like to be again in the future... if you would consider coming back to church, that is."

Heero shifted uncomfortably in his seat. That, he was not expecting. He could handle a lecture on his lapsed church attendance, though.

"That said…" John leaned back in his seat. "I'd like to clear the air between us. Now, I can appreciate your reasoning for keeping Relena at your place last night, but I hope you understand how inappropriate it was."

Heero nodded once, feeling his jaw tightening. Okay, so he didn't like being lectured, period, even if he understood why the Reverend was doing it.

"I understand," he murmured.

"And it had better not happen again," John added more tersely. "Not unless you plan to marry her; and even then, she can only stay with you after you're married." His eyes narrowed. "Like it or not, Relena has a reputation to uphold as a minister's daughter. People talk."

"I'm certain that no one saw us leave this morning," Heero said, not that he thought it would help matters much. "We were very discreet."

"Mm-hmm." The Reverend didn't look impressed. "You are familiar with 1 Thessalonians 5:22?"

Heero shook his head to the side. "I… I'm not sure."

John picked up one of the Bibles from his stack and rifled through it, although Heero was sure it was all for show; undoubtedly, he had the whole thing memorized. The Reverend stopped his finger on a page and turned the book around to face Heero.

"Read that line, please."

Heero peered down at the text in front of him. "'Abstain from all appearance of evil.'"

"Do you know what that means?"

Heero felt his face heating. Did the Reverend think him stupid? "Yes."

"Then tell me."

Heero glowered at him. "It means… avoid doing anything that looks… questionable."

"Exactly right." The Reverend closed his Bible and set it aside. "Christians are to go out of their way to avoid anything that even suggests impropriety." He looked at Heero askance. "So you see… we have a problem here."

Heero nodded, feeling numb.

The Reverend peered closely at him. "Do you intend to ask Relena to marry you?"

Heero blinked, but answered without any further hesitation. "Yes."

John leaned further back in his chair, drumming his fingers on his desk. "And were you planning to ask for my permission?"

Heero's brow furrowed. "Yes… and no."

"No?" John frowned back at him.

Heero straightened in his seat. "I'd like to have your blessing, sir, but ultimately the decision is up to Relena."

The Reverend ran a hand over his chin. "I can respect that."

Heero gaped at him. Was… that it?

"I hope you're planning to do it soon, then," John added. "After last night… word will get around, and I can't have anyone speaking ill of my daughter." His gaze softened, ever so slightly. "Relena… she's all we have. Her mother and I have done our best over the years to guide her and orchestrate her life in a certain way. But, when it comes down to it…" His eyes glimmered. "We just want her to be happy."

"She is happy," Heero said. "And I'll do my best to keep her that way. Always."

"There's more to being a husband than that, you know," John said, and Heero sensed another lecture coming on. "A man needs to provide for his wife."

"I will," Heero said, but the Reverend held up his hand.

"And you need to be the spiritual head of your household."

Heero's brow creased.

"I'm not sure you're ready for that," John sighed. "But… we'll have to take things as they come." His eyes narrowed. "However, now that you and Relena have spent the night together, the situation is dire." His frown deepened. "We'll have to work quickly to mitigate this."

"All right…" Heero said, not sure what he was agreeing to.

"How would you feel about a Christmas Eve wedding?"

Heero's eyes bulged. "As in… today?"

The Reverend nodded once. "Town Hall should be opened by now, but it's also closing early due to the holiday. If you hurry, you may be able to get a marriage license today. Go to the Town Clerk's office and ask for Une; she should be able to expedite it for you."

Heero blinked. "But… I haven't asked Relena to marry me yet." Suddenly, the room felt too stuffy. Heero reached up and tugged at his shirt collar. "We've had one date."

"True, but you had many unofficial dates back when it was against our rules," John said. "But Mareen and I quickly learned that keeping you two apart was useless." He chuckled. "You've made that very clear."

Heero bristled. "That's why you sent Relena to boarding school."

"That's part of it," the Reverend admitted. "Of course, we wanted to give Relena the best education we could afford. But also, we needed to encourage her independence. She had a rather… unhealthy attachment to you."

Heero's face flamed, and his chest heaved. "You kept my letters from her, didn't you." It was a statement of fact, not a question.

"Yes," John said simply, and Heero felt his rage boiling over. "The school forwarded any mail addressed to Relena to me." He frowned at Heero. "Your affection for one another… it wasn't appropriate at that age. You were both far too young to be thinking and talking in those terms. Now, it's a little more palatable."

Heero had to work to keep his breathing calm. He clenched and unclenched his hands into fists as rage flowed through him.

"I understand you're upset about this," John said quietly. "But you must understand: it's a father's duty to protect his daughter. Relena was too young to be serious with someone; why, if I hadn't stopped you, you probably would've gotten her pregnant, and by now you'd have a four or five-year-old and be living in poverty." His eyes gleamed. "You do understand, Heero?"

Heero drew in a ragged breath. "I understand," he gritted out. He felt like punching something, but forced himself to rein in his temper.

"Frankly, it's a wonder I would even allow you two to get married after all this, but I spent all last night praying about it, and I believe this is what God would want. It's my job to counsel you in that direction." John leaned forward and tapped his fingers on his desk, looking at Heero intently. "I want you to do right by my daughter. Understood?"

Heero was still burning inside, but he nodded. "Affirmative."

John cracked a smile. "You can take the soldier out of the war, but you can't take the war out of the soldier, eh?" He pointed to a framed certificate on the wall behind him, one of the few that wasn't an advanced degree. "You know I was around your age when I served in the AEF?"

Heero nodded. He already knew that the Reverend had been in the Army during the first World War, although this was the first Heero had heard him speak of it.

The Reverend picked up a framed photo from his desk and turned it around to face Heero. The photo showed a group of young men in fatigues, each with a face-splitting grin. Heero recognized the younger version of John Darlian instantly.

"I didn't know what to do with myself after it was over," the Reverend said idly, smiling down at the photo. "But I'd always admired my chaplain, so I decided to follow in his footsteps, give the ministry a try, if God saw fit to use me." He shrugged one shoulder. "I never saw myself becoming a husband, let alone a father. Especially after Mareen and I tried, but failed to have children of our own."

The Reverend's smile grew. "Relena is the best thing that's ever happened to us. We truly believe God sent her to us. We love her like she's our own, and we always will."

"I know." Heero felt his anger starting to ebb away. "She's also the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Then I trust you will love and cherish her," John said firmly. "Marriage is not something to enter into lightly. And even though we may need to put a rush on things, I want to ensure that you both understand what you're getting into." The Reverend sighed and ran a hand on his face. "Unfortunately, we don't have time for marriage counseling, but I do plan to counsel the both of you throughout your marriage." His eyes gleamed. "As your pastor, and your father."

Heero wondered what that would entail, exactly, but felt he had no choice but to agree, if only for Relena's sake. "Yes, sir." But it was odd to think of the Reverend as his father, even father-in-law. The only father Heero had ever really known hadn't wanted to be one at all. It struck Heero then that if he and Relena did marry, he would become part of her family; he didn't have any family for her to join. In a sense, he would be more of a Darlian than she would a Yuy or a Lowe. He wasn't sure how that made him feel, not that he had much time to probe his feelings on a deeper level.

John started getting up from his desk. "Well, why don't we bring Relena into this discussion? She should probably be aware that she's getting married, very shortly."

"Wait." Heero shook his head to the side. "I'd like to have the chance to propose to her, properly. Relena deserves that."

"All right," the Reverend said, frowning down at Heero. "But you had better do it soon; time is of the essence." To wit, he glanced at the watch on his wrist. "Town Hall will be closing shortly, but if you hurry you should be able to get the license today. Then, bring it back to me and I will quickly officiate. We may be able to have the license filed before the end of the day, and then you two will be married in the eyes of God and the state."

Heero's head was spinning. "But… I don't have a ring."

"Not to worry." John moved to the side of his desk and pulled open a drawer. To Heero's astonishment, he brandished a small black velvet box and handed it to Heero.

"What's this?"

"What does it look like?" The Reverend smiled at him. "Open it."

Heero popped open the box to find a brilliant diamond, encircled by more diamonds, on a delicate gold band. He stared down at it, baffled by its sudden appearance. "I… where did this come from?"

"It belonged to Relena's grandmother. My mother," John clarified. "I've had it since she passed away. She said in her will that she wanted to give it Relena one day. Or to one of her suitors, should I find him worthy."

Heero's eyes were moist all of a sudden. "But… I'm not worthy." He snapped the box shut and handed it back to the Reverend. "I'm sorry, but…. I can't marry her."

John's face darkened. "We discussed this. You're going to marry her. I won't have you compromising my daughter's virtue. If you weren't prepared to marry her, then you shouldn't have spent the night with her."

Heero glowered at the older man. He would have lied and said nothing had happened between him and Relena last night, but lying to a minister in his own home… it was just asking God to strike him down.

"And no, you're not worthy of my daughter. You never will be." The Reverend's words sliced the air like a knife. Heero's chest clenched, even though he knew this to be true. "But none of us is worthy of God's love, either, and He offers it freely, at no cost to us other than to follow Him. That's what Christmas is all about."

John handed the ring box back to Heero, pressing it into his hands. "Love is a gift," he murmured. "You don't have to deserve it. All you have to do is give her your love in return."

Heero nodded solemnly. "I can do that."

"I know you can." John reached over and clapped Heero on the shoulder. "Now go propose to my daughter and hurry back here; we've got a wedding to pull off." He glanced down at his wrist again. "And… not a lot of time to do it. I need to get to the church in a few hours to get the building warmed up for tonight's service." His eyes glimmered. "Of course, we could always have the wedding during church… seems appropriate."

Panic gripped Heero like a vise. "Tonight?"

The Reverend grinned at him. "What better time than Christmas Eve? Relena loves Christmas."

Heero nodded, swallowing around a lump in his throat. He knew Relena loved Christmas, but Christmas Eve marked a tragic anniversary for him. Then again… perhaps it was time to let go of the past, and start making new memories with the woman he was going to share every Christmas Eve and Christmas with, from now on.

"All right," Heero said, newly determined. "I'm going to ask her."

The Reverend said something else to him, but Heero didn't hear him. All he could hear was the sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his ears as he followed the Reverend out of the study, back down the hall and through the foyer, into the kitchen where he found Relena standing at the kitchen counter, flattening dough with a rolling pin. She and her mother were smiling and laughing together as they worked side by side.

Relena turned when Heero entered the room, and her eyes shone at him. Then she looked from him to her father, and her face fell slightly, worry etched in her features. Heero couldn't wait to tell her there was nothing to worry about, unless the thought of a last-minute wedding terrified her as much as it did him.

But he was determined to go through with it, to do right by her, and to officially make her his own.

And so, half in a daze, Heero wandered over to where Relena stood, and looped an arm around her waist, drawing her to him. He didn't intend to kiss her in front of her parents, but it was happening before he could stop himself. She felt so warm in his grasp, and her scent intoxicated him, mingling with the scent of vanilla and cinnamon from the cookies she was baking.

He felt her lips move tentatively against his before she broke their kiss altogether. She turned questioning eyes up to him. "Heero? What's going on?"

He wondered if his face revealed his nerves, or his desire for her. Or some combination of both. "I need you to come with me," he murmured.

Relena's eyes widened. "Oh… um… all right." She twisted in his arms to look back at Mareen. "Mother?" She looked and sounded as dazed as Heero felt.

Mareen was beaming at them both. "Go ahead, dear. But do hurry back. We have lots of preparations to make for tonight."

Heero knew from the gleam in the older woman's eyes that she was in on the ploy. Which was confirmed when John and Mareen shared a knowing look across the room.

But he'd worry about his scheming inlaws-to-be later. Right now, his focus was on the woman of his dreams.

Heero and Relena left her parents' house together, but they hadn't made it back inside Heero's truck when Relena grasped his coat sleeve.

"Heero… where are we going?"

He turned and smiled at her, and pulled her in for another kiss. And even though they were supposed to be in a hurry, he took his time, savoring the feel and taste of her. Looking forward to doing exactly this, every day, every night, starting tonight, and for the rest of their tomorrows.

Heero pulled back to look at Relena, and she smiled up at him, her heart in her eyes. Her love for him shone unreservedly, and although Heero knew there was nothing he could ever do to deserve it, he knew he was more than capable of giving her all his love in return. He would give her everything he had, and then some, because she was everything to him.

Heero couldn't resist cupping her face in his hands and kissing her again, but first, he needed to answer her question.

"Home," he said, a smile dancing on his lips. "We're going home."

THE END

A/N: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's, friends! I hope you're having a wonderful 2020 so far! My goal was to wrap this story up with a neat little bow and have it delivered to you by New Year's Day; well, that didn't quite happen, but better late than never, eh?

There MAY be a bonus chapter, but we shall see... stay tuned, just in case! :D

Once again, I want to thank each and every one of you who has become invested in this little holiday story. I've been trying to bust my butt and get this out quickly, and your words of encouragement really helped light a fire under my feet! Now to apply that sense of urgency to the rest of my stories... lol :P But seriously, your words mean everything. Thank you from the bottom of my forever fluffy 1xR fangirl heart!

Love you!

- RFP