This is almos done, there's one more chapter to the main story, then some spin-off's of it.

I don't own it!

You're Under the Mistletoe

Chapter 6

A tired and angry Duo opened the door the his motel room, sometime after 12 am, December the 19th. He wasn't expecting to see Hilde, sleeping on the couch with the fluorescent T.V. light illuminating her features, and shadowing them at the same time. She stirred from hearing the click of the door lock, and wearily opened her eyes, Duo's face in front of hers.

It didn't take her long to remember what she was waiting up for, and she slapped him hard across his right cheek. "You said you were coming back, but you didn't! And you didn't call to tell me where you were going, or even that you were going somewhere!" She was far from done speaking her mind, until she saw Duo's face.

He had a forlorn expression, distant, it didn't seem like her slap even fazed him. 'He looks like a zombie...' "Duo?"

His eyes met hers, but it was almost as if he wasn't looking at her. "Yeah?"

"What happened over there?"

"He isn't coming. He just wants to be stupid."

Hilde had never heard Duo talk like that. It wasn't what he was saying, but how he was saying it. Duo Maxwell was a man of many words... and right now, he was talking just like Heero. Short sentences that were to the point, no detail only what someone asked. Only talking when spoken to. Duo had gone through many things, that Hilde knew, but his happy-go-lucky self always remained. 'Whatever did happen must have really gotten to him...'

~~~~~~~

Later that day, during the afternoon, the team F.H.F.C. met up again. Everyone was curious to know Duo and Heero had said to each other, and why Heero didn't come back with him.

"All right Duo, start talking."

"There's not much to say. He has some big executive job, and doesn't want to leave it, so he's going to stay."

"WHAT?"

Noin took a deep breath before trying to speak calmly, not letting her frustraion show in her tone. "Duo, this was your idea. Why didn't you try to convince him?"

"It wouldn't have worked, the guy's too stubborn. And he hasn't changed at all, maybe... maybe it was just a bad idea..." The three other people in the room were clearly surprised. Not only by what Duo was saying, but the fact that it was Duo that was saying it.

"You don't mean that... You should talk to him again--"

"I'm telling you, there's no use."

~~~~~~~~

This time of the year brought two emotions out of Relena. One was extreme loneliness, the other school girl giddiness. Walking down the streets in the market, she noticed the many couples hand in hand, the parents with their children, brothers and sisters playing in the snow. True, she had a brother, but he was occupied with more important things, and was too old to play with her in the snow.

The giddiness came from knowing she would receive many presents from the ball that was going to be held at the Cinq Kingdom, seeing the lights on all the houses at night, waking up to a fresh layer of snow each morning. 'If only I could wake up knowing I would see someone who would want to see me too...'

That was the problem. One way or another, the emotions were connected. She could think of how happy she was to go shopping during Christmas and then remember that there was no 'someone special' to give her diamonds or such luxuries. No matter how much she could enjoy the time of year, there was always something that would make her feel alone.

~~~~~~~

"We should go back to the colony and talk to him. Will you come, Duo?"

"You guys go if you want, I'm through with making him understand that he need to lighten up."

"But Duo--" Quatre started but stopped when Noin raised her arm.

"Listen, right now you're mad at him, but once that goes away, don't you think you''l regret it that you didn't try again."

Duo sighed, and closed his eyes. "Maybe I will. I guess when that time comes, I'll worry about it." Noin was going to protest when a metal object fell on the floor and skidded across the room, hitting Duo's foot. Duo bent down and picked it up, instantly recognizing it.

"It's not like you to give up on people so easily." They all knew that voice. But... Duo told them that he stayed on the colony, and that he didn't want to come... so why was he here? Did Duo change his mind unintentionally?

Heero stepped out of the shadows that he was covered in for most of the time, listening to their conversation and revealed himself to those unknown of his presence.

Duo snorted and crossed his arms, speaking with a nonchalant face. "So you decided to come after all."

Gomen nasai!! I know this is reeeeaaallly short, but... I'm sleepy :::: eyes close, head falls on desk::::

Readers: HEY!!! NO SLEEPING!!!

::::eyes fly open::: Hehehe, just resting my eyes, that's all. Well, Heero's on earth, and now it's time for him and Relena to meet again.... but that won't happen until the ball. How will they meet you ask?? When will they meet?? Do you really want to know?? If you do, just wait for the next chapter, maybe that one will say, or maybe the one after that. Until then, au revoir tout le monde!