By West Wind
Disclaimer: I have no claim to any of the GW characters. Only thing that is mine is the story line and any non GW characters.
It was finally here, Christmas break. Marimeia slowly pulled up Trowa and Relena's drive. She parked her car and made her way to the front door. It was locked.
"Must not be home," she thought to herself as she located her copy of the door key and let herself in.
She dumped her thing on the bench in the entryway and headed for the kitchen to grab a bit to eat. She pulled a soda from the frig, opened it and took a drink. She then turned her attention to the content of the frig. She claimed a slice of pizza before closing the door. She turned around and jumped in shock because Heero was standing on the other side of the island. Her soda splashed out of the can and down the front of her shirt.
"Heero, you startled me," she stated.
"I noticed," he replied gesturing to her pop covered flannel. "You are early," he added flatly.
Yah," she agreed as she put down her food and drink to remove her outer shirt. "My last final didn't take as long as expected."
She placed the shirt on the back of a chair to dry. She would wash the pop out later. She could feel his eyes on her as she moved around the kitchen. She looked up at him and smiled.
"What have you been up to?" she inquired. "I didn't see you the last time I was home."
"Nothing different."
She munched on the pizza.
"How's college?" he asked.
"Some of the classes are boring, others interesting. Meeting tons of people. Over all enjoyable."
Just then Relena, Catherine, and the children came home and Marimeia greeted them. Nathan wiggled out of his mother's arms and toddled around the kitchen with his sister hovering over him. He grasped onto Heero's pant leg as he started to fall. Heero picked the toddler up and placed Nathan on his shoulders. The boy giggled with glee and started patting the top of Heero's head. The sight of Heero and Nathan warmed Marimeia's heart.
"He is going to make a very good father, one day," she thought.
"Heero is going to watch the children while we go shopping," Relena informed her.
Marimeia smiled and asked Catherine, "Where is you son?"
"With his father. I didn't think it fare to saddle Heero with two kids under the age of two."
"Appreciate it," commented Heero.
"You ready to go?" asked Relena.
"Let me get my coat," Marimeia replied and fetched the needed item.
This year Relena and Trowa were hosting the gundam pilot Christmas and Marimeia had offered to help get things ready. Hilde and Duo had come over to help as well. Hilde was helping Relena in the kitchen and Duo was given baby-sitting duties for the five children, Relena's two and his three, they were to keep Duo from getting into trouble.
"Let's see… what do we have to do next?" pondered Relena as she checked her lists. "The turkey is cooking. The rolls are rising. We still have to put the fruit salad and vegetable trays together. Sally is bringing desert and green beans." Relena continued down the list of who was bringing what. "Any thing we are missing, Hilde?"
"Nope. That sounds like everything is covered," Hilde replied.
"Marimeia, would you start setting the table while Hilde and I put together the vegetable trays?" Relena asked.
"Sure," she replied. "You want me to use the plates in the cabinet?"
"Yes," Relena confirmed.
Marimeia quickly placed the needed plates, flatware, glasses, and napkins around the table, then stood back to admire her work. As she turned to enter the kitchen, she noticed one of the swaths of garland had fallen in the entryway. She entered to see where it belonged.
Relena had decorated her entryway with garland and ribbon radiating out from the chandelier in the center of the entryway to the walls, and from the chandelier hung mistletoe. The wayward garland had fallen from the chandelier to its current location on the floor.
"Well, I had better fix it," Marimeia said to herself before getting the ladder.
She set the ladder up and hulled the escaped decoration up with her. As she secured the loose end of the garland two of the ribbons fluttered to the ground. Marimeia growled at the difficult ribbons and was about to climb down to get them when Heero came in the door.
"Heero!" Marimeia greeted. "Would you please hand me those two escapees?" she asked pointing to the ribbons on the floor.
Heero nodded and picked them up and handed them to her. She tried once again to secure them in place and lost the garland. Marimeia let out a grown of frustration. Heero handed her the garland and one of the ribbons jumped out.
"How did Relena do this in the first place?" she questioned exasperatedly.
Heero picked up the rebellious decoration and climbed the ladder so he was behind Marimeia.
"I'll hold them, while you fasten them on," he said in her ear.
His nearness sent chills down her spine, but she forced herself to perform the needed act. Once they were secure, Heero climbed down and helped Marimeia off the ladder.
"Uncle Heero," called Gretchen from the stairway. "You're under the mistletoe! You have to kiss!"
Marimeia looked up at the mistletoe hanging from the chandelier. She had been hoping to be under it with Heero, but did not think it would happen.
"Yeah, Heero," called Duo with a mischievous grin plastered on his face, "it's tradition."
Heero glared at Duo, but he only laughed at his friends discomfort.
"Heero," said Gretchen, "you have to. Its Christmas time."
"Yes, Heero, you have to," echoed Marimeia's thoughts as she looked up at him for his decision.
Heero looked at the patiently waiting seven year old and gave in. He looked back at Marimeia and tilted his head toward her. Marimeia closed her eyes in anticipation. Heero place a butterfly kiss on her cheek and pulled away.
"Awe, Heero, that wasn't a kiss," called Duo after him.
"Yes, it was," Heero replied.
"It was so, Dad" stated Gretchen. "Just like you give me."
"She agrees with me," said Heero before folding the ladder and taking it with him as he left the room.
As for Marimeia, it wasn't what she had hoped for but it was better than nothing.
Marimeia followed Lady Une into the ball room for the New Year's Eve party thinking how much she hatted her dress. The dark green fabric of the long skirt keep entangling itself around her legs and hindered her normal wide stride. Lady Une was talking to some important person she did not know so she took the opportunity to scowled at her skirt and try to straitened it for the umpteenth time.
"Your face might freeze like that," teased Duo as he slid in beside her.
She looked up and smiled warmly at Duo and Hilde in welcome.
"Why such an ugly face?" questioned Duo.
"This skirt just won't behave," she whispered.
"Mr. Duncan, may I introduce you to my daughter, Marimeia, and Duo and Hilde Maxwell," said Lady Une as she turned her attention to the trio.
Pleasantries were exchanged. Before she could get pulled into some boring discussion Marimeia spotted Relena, Catherine, Trowa, and Quatre farther down the room.
"I just spotted Uncle Trowa and Aunt Relena," she stated. "If you would excuse me, I would like to say hello to them."
Blessed with the others permission, she made her way to her goal. Relena and Catherine greeted her with hugs and commented on how lovely she looked. Quatre gentlemanly kissed her hand, and Trowa gave her a peck on the cheek in welcome. Marimeia flushed slightly because Trowa's kiss reminded her of Heero's under the mistletoe. She allowed herself to be drawn up into their conversations, but was always keeping an eye out for Heero.
"Don't worry. He's around here someplace," whispered Catherine.
"Is it that obvious or did Relena tell you?"
"Bit of both," replied Catherine.
Marimeia scanned the crowd for any sign of Heero. She had got him to promise her at least one dance, and she was going to be sure he keep his promise. She had already danced a couple times with Trowa, Quatre, and Duo, even once with Wufie. She finally located him lurking in a corner with Duo talking at him. She made her way over to them.
"Can any one join your party?" she asked.
"No," replied Duo, "but you are always welcome."
Duo continued with his narrative about his children's exploits.
"All I can say is, I feel sorry for Hilde," commented Marimeia with a grunt of agreement from Heero.
"What about me!" exclaimed a mock indignant Duo.
"You get what you deserve," responded Heero.
Duo shook his head and mumbled, "I get no respect."
"Heero, why don't you come dance with me before Duo starts on another longwinded topic?" Marimeia asked.
"You think I'm longwinded, and I thought you were my friend," sniffled Duo and looked pitiful.
"You can't deny you do tend to talk a lot," pointed out Marimeia.
"I could, but it would be a lie," Duo responded with a smirk.
"And you may run and you may hide but never tell a lie," quoted Heero.
"That's me," chirped Duo as he grinned at his two friends. "And you, my friend, promised this lady a dance if memory serves me correctly, and you always keep your promises," he said while poking Heero in the arm which earned him a glare from Heero.
Marimeia grinned at the two comrades and their unique friendship. Duo always talking to and teasing Heero, and Heero would stare death threats he never acted on at Duo.
Without a word Heero turned from Duo and escorted Marimeia
to the dance floor.
Relena and Lady Une watched as Heero and Marimeia danced across the floor.
"I had hopped she would outgrow her infatuation with Heero," commented Lady Une, "but it appears to have become more than infatuation. She has set her sites on him and one day she might get him hooked."
"She tries hard enough," noted Relena.
"Too hard at times. I just worry about her."
"You have raised her well, rely on that. She had turned into a fine young woman who has to make her own choices and learn from her own mistakes," comforted Relena.
"Tell me that when you daughter starts dating," commented Lady Une.
"She is never going to date," added Trowa as he joined the two women.
"You know," said Relena as she watched the subjects of their conversation, "she might be closer to claiming her prize than she knows."
Trowa's gaze followed his wife's and he silently agreed
with her.
Marimeia was in heaven, she was dancing with Heero. His
one arm encircled her waist while the other hand held hers. She bathed
in his warmth and enjoyed the feeling of oneness as they moved to the music.
As they moved across the floor, she drew closer to him and placed her head
on his shoulder. She could feel Heero tense up under her hands when she
brought her body against his.
Heero looked at his youthful dance partner. He knew she still had feelings for him. He could see it every time he looked in her eyes. He was at a loss as to how to dissuade her interest in him. Five months ago he had told her he was not interested in her that way, but she only seemed more determined to pursue him. He just hoped she would give up soon and find someone closer to her age.
He felt Marimeia move closer to him and placed her head on his shoulder. Her nearness caused Heero's heart to beat a bit faster and a yearning to be closer to her. Heero rebuked himself and forced himself to not show the affect the temptress was having on him. It would only encourage her if she knew.
The dance ended and he allowed her to be clamed by another
partner before he walked off the dance floor to talk with Quatre and Catherine.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Happy New Year!!!" everyone shouted and started hugging and/or kissing those around them. Marimeia hugged her mother, Relena and Trowa before she hugged Heero.
"Happy New Year," she said as they embraced. Before she pulled away completely she gave him a quick kiss on the lips before moving on to hug the others.
To be continued …
Author's Note: That's it for now. I hope the scenes
don't seem disjointed. I am afraid that they may appear that way with the
gap in time I left between this chapter and the last one and with the gaps
between events in this chapter. I will try to get more out soon. ~ West
Wind