Imprisoned
Part 3: Engagement
By Moony
I know it's crazy, but what else can I choose to do? Relena seems willing enough, though I really hate putting her in this position. I hope she's right about them taking us for granted. I picked out a ring perfect for Relena, but also found a marvelous ring for Dorothy. I bought it too, just in case.
Relena was true to her word about letting the papers know, but what I found odd was that the papers head line read 'The marriage of Winner and Peacecraft… finally' I was confused and picked up the news paper to read the article. I saw a picture of Relena and I at the circus laughing about something. I began reading.
After months of secret meetings and dates Quatre Rabbaba Winner and Relena Peacecraft are planning wedding dates.
Quatre Winner runs the Winner Corporation in the L4 cluster of the colonies.
Relena Peacecraft, once Relena Darlene is the foreign vice minister between the colonies and earth after the AC war. She took back her Peacecraft name to rebuild her country of origin, the Sank Kingdom and has made it an institute for children to learn the ways of peace as well as one of the best educational institutes in the United Earth Sphere
The union of these two would make a stronger bond between the Earth and Colonies then ever before. We hope the best for them
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I glared at it for a moment. I had winced when I read only twenty-eight sisters instead of twenty-nine, but read on. I was surprised at the 'secret meetings and dates.' I suppose that's the way it would have looked. People can never accept a male female friendship. I suppose they have the right. Look what Relena and I were doing now. Would the papers have something to write about if either Heero or Dorothy showed up to crash our little wedding! And what a story it would be if both showed up and the bride and groom eloped with different people than previously assumed. I laughed out loud at the thought. I bought the paper to show Relena when I saw her today. I had made arrangements at the best restaurant in the city to propose to Relena tonight. The restaurant owner seemed in total exultation to serve all my needed. She apparently was a big fan of Relena's.
The next call I made was to a clothing store. Relena had asked me to go there and get a dress for her. I had no clue on how to choose a dress, but Relena gave me a woman's name to ask for and not to worry about a thing. I walked in and found many dresses around me. Didn't know women wanted or needed that many choices. An older looking woman approached me.
"Are you Emily?" I asked kindly. She smiled.
"You must be Mr. Winner. Relena called earlier. Yes I'm Emily. Stay right there and I'll get the box for you," Emily smiled and walked away. I stood there feeling rather sheepish in the store, but Emily didn't leave me waiting long. She returned with a long white box. "Here you are, Mr. Winner. I can't wait to see you again," Emily grinned. I took the box and left after thanking and paying her. I couldn't believe Relena spent that much on a dress. I would ask her about that later. I knew Relena wasn't into fashion as much as Dorothy was and I was sure she would have spent twice as much on something else much more, er, elegant I suppose.
I returned to my limo. My next stop was Relena's home to give the dress to her. I hadn't looked at it. It was no interest of mine, or at least at the moment it hadn't been.
When I dropped the dress off at Relena's mansion Relena had gone out to get her nails done and her hair cut or styled, maybe both. I didn't stay long. I too had to get ready for our meeting.
I stood in the hall at the foot of the stairs in Relena's home. I had done it many times before. I had my hands buried in my pockets. The roses I had brought were set on the table by the door. Relena had never made me wait this long. I wondered what was keeping her. Then I heard something at the top of the stairs. I looked up and the woman I saw was not the girl with whom I had confided so much in. I knew my face held my shocked look because as she walked down the stairs she blushed. She reached me and I was still stuck in awe. The dress I had brought to her was a soft sky blue that brought out her eyes even when she was at the top of the stairs. The dress was cut up to her mid upper leg. The top of the dress was cut low enough to temp a man, but just enough to keep everything a secret. Her hair was pulled into a beautiful design I could barely imagine how was done. It looked like a flower on her head. In her hair were tiny blue flowers that matched her dress.
"Do I look okay?" she whispered, bringing me back to reality.
"Okay?" I asked weakly, trying to find the words to describe how she looked. "You are incredible. If, if, you were anymore beautiful than you are right now I would think you were a goddess." Relena blushed and looked down. This gave me a moment to recompose myself. I offered my arm to her. "Lets get going." She took it and we walked out.
* * * *
Is jealousy an emotion that one gets because of love? I fear it is. I have avoided love for so long. Love has always been ripped away when I reach out to it. I lost my mother when I was five, my father only a short while after then my grandfather. I don't want the same fate to happen to him. But then again we were in war times then and now we aren't and he's with the woman who has established it. She was and in my mind still is a dear friend. I want to stop it, but wouldn't that be stopping their happiness? I had been sure only days ago Quatre was in love with me. Did I lead him to this? Had I rejected him to his breaking point? Oh, why am I so stupid?
I watched them together tonight. I saw him get on his knees and ask her. I saw her face light up and oh God I wished at that very moment I was she, but no. No. I can't be. I am not right for him. He's far too kind and gentle to deserve a cold, heartless bitch like me. Relena is perfect for him. Her kindness lights him and they both run businesses and can understand each other so well... Damn it! I wish I were she right now! They didn't see me there. I didn't want them to. I couldn't stand to look at the two after he so gently slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her with his soft, perfect lips. I left.
I don't know how to feel anymore. Once a person said, "act on your emotions." I find that very hard when you don't even know what you emotions are. Maybe I should talk to him personally about it. I wonder if he's feeling as I do now. She loved him and he ran from her as I did from Quatre. Could he be suffering the same as I am? No. He didn't see it happen. Oh they looked so in love. Would we have looked like that if I had just said yes instead of no so many times? I'm afraid I'll never know. Quatre's marrying Relena and I feel so helpless.
* * * *
He was upset, I could tell. He called me and that's enough to know he was upset.
"What can I do for you old buddy?" I said.
"Have you seen the papers?" he asked.
"No, why?" was my reply. I didn't really like reading, didn't even get the paper. If it were really important it would be on the news tonight.
"Relena's marrying Quatre," He said with a ring in his voice I couldn't comprehend.
"You're kidding!" I was very surprised. "Relena loves you though." Sometimes I regret it when I speak before thinking of what I say. I knew he had been thinking the same thing though. He was silent.
"I want to come over there," he said finally.
"Over where?" I asked. I wasn't sure if he meant Relena's or my place.
"Over at your house you baka!" He said. He was very aggravated, so I forgave him, as I always do anyway.
"Sure, you know you're always welcome here." Everyone always is at my place. Hilde loved company almost as much as I do. So I wasn't worried about her. Our kid on the other hand…
Hilde and I don't think marriage is necessarily something needed to have a relationship when you have children. That is merely society accepting you, so we never technically married, but we're married in our hearts and that's what matters.
We have only one kid now, but I want another. Hilde's not so corroborative with that idea right now though. Anyway, I have a son. I finally talked Hilde into naming him after me. I know it sounds arrogant, but all fathers are and I don't see myself as any exception. He's Duo Jr. and I'm way too proud for my own good. He had Hilde's hair, but he has my eyes, and my nose, and my mouth, and… Oh hell he has my face.
Heero was there a lot quicker than I expected, but Hilde knew, so I was okay. We welcomed Heero with open arms. Duo Jr. welcomed him by sipping up in his shirt. Heero didn't seem angry though. He watched my family in a way I've never seen. As if he was longing. He said nothing though. He just stayed with us. Until the last person I'd ever thought would call me called.
"Duo Maxwell?" Her voice was still as silky smooth as I remembered it. She was a perfect persuader with that voice. I confirmed that it was I, Duo Maxwell. "I want to know if you know where Heero Yuy is. Any information you have would be very appreciated." Was she being nice to me?
"Yeah, he's here at my place." Damn, I did it again… speaking without thinking. I really need to work on that.
"Oh how wonderfully convenient. Keep him there as long as possible Duo. It's a matter of life and death. I really must speak to him."
"It's about Quatre's and Relena's wedding, huh?" You'd think I'd learn, but nope. Duo Maxwell is the thickest headed person in the universe and I am the first to admit it, but with a smile of course.
"Just please keep him there, Duo," she begged. I told her I'd do my best and was about to hang up when she said. "Just one more thing, Duo dear. Do not say anything to anyone about our call okay?" I agreed, again without taking the time to think about how annoying that would be for me to do then hung up. I had no idea what all was going on, but I knew this would be pretty fun to watch.
