Sighing softly, Hilde groans looking through her clothes she shakes her head in despair. She had nothing to wear what so ever, not anything that was even half way good enough for a dinner at Relena's.
"Casual he says," Hilde mutters sighing "Sure its casual, I believe they said that one time and it was so fancy I about died." Rolling her eyes heaven ward she finally decides on one of the outfits she wore to work. It was blue and completely unflattering but it was as dressy, as any of her clothes got, with that and her glasses she knew they would talk. But there was no helping it. "Dang man who always agrees to this stuff," Hilde hisses. Changing her clothes quickly she heads for Marcail's room. She at least had some pretty outfits. Coming up to the door she opens it quietly and stops. Shaking her head she listens to her daughters idle chatter.
"You know Styth" she says as she fly's her gundam around in a circle "Un day ou are oing to be big and den we are oing to ill all evil bafe tubs." Nodding her head in an agreement to something that her undam said she smiles. "Yep, all bafe ubs and den we can et ad dirty as ee want and dere will be no Mommy to top us from getting dirty."
Chuckling softly Hilde scoops up the tiny girl. "Hello sweetie."
"Hello Mommy," Marcail says while wrapping her tiny arms around Hilde's neck and hugging her.
"What dress do you want to wear?" Hilde says while opening her closet door.
"Ress" Marcail yelps, while trying to wiggle out of Hilde's arms. "I no want to wear a ress!"
"Sweetie we are going to a friends house and you need to wear one."
"No fair Mommy." she wails "I HATE resses you can't run or pway in dem!"
"I know sweetie, but you still need to wear one."
"And you cant get dirty." she finishes in a wail.
"Marcail you are wearing a dress."
"But Mommy." she says pouting. "I no like resses."
"You're still wearing one."
"But."
"No buts now the pink or violet one."
"The urple one." she says before making a gagging sound "Me HATE pink. It nasty color." Helping her into the simple dress Hilde sighs 'Oh yes your fathers daughter all the way.'
"Are you both ready?" Duo questions from the doorway. Turning Hilde eyes him, he was dressed in a simple pair of slakes and a nice shirt. Turning around Hilde nods.
"Almost I just have to get her shoes on her."
"I no like shoes either." she mumbles, before frowning darkly this was a bad night for the little wild child. "Can I take my styth?"
"Yes." Duo says a grin lighting his face "Chris will have his Wing Zero so you to can play together."
"Who is Chris?" Marcail questions confusion lighting her face.
"Heero and Relena's little boy." Hilde says softly "He is two years older than you."
"Oh…who eero and elena?"
"The friends who were going to see." Hilde says as she finishes putting her shoes on her.
"Oh…da nice?" she questions as she follows Duo and Hilde to the car.
"Yes they are."
"Oh ota."
Twenty minutes later they arrived to the Vice Foreign Ministers house that she used when she was staying on L2. Looking up at Hilde frowns, it had been so long since she had been here, would they even want to see her? Or was that just a ploy so that they could pay her back for hurting Duo? She had never known them very well, except for Relena, who she had been very close to. But then again she had never told her friend about the notes before either. Looking at Duo's profile against the streetlights she sighs softly, he was no different than he had been when she had left three years ago. Well, his personality had grown up a little bit, but that was to be expected. Other than that and his bouts of seriousness, he was the same as the handsome man of 20 that she had known so well.
She on the other hand had changed so much, her clothes were baggy and unflattering, and her glasses were bulky and hit the majority of her face. Her hair past her shoulders now, since she had let it grow out since the war, was held back into a tight bun. She hadn't grown since she was fifteen, and now she felt grossly outmatched and by Duo. She shouldn't be here, she had decided that morning, and if it weren't for Marcail she wouldn't have stayed. It was to hard for her to be here, all of their memories hitting her in the face every time she turned around. Her life in the not so famous Relena Peacraft, was summed up in a couple of words, she was screwed.
"Mommy" Marcail whispers as she helps the little girl out of her car seat "It's big." her eyes wide she holds her hands up to be picked up. "Hold me." she whispers.
Picking the tiny child up she sighs softly. Her daughter had summed it all up. It was big. The biggest place on L2 in fact, and she for the first time that she had ever visited it, she was scared half outta her mind.
Knocking at the door Duo sighs before grinning at the butler that answered the door, the ever faithful Pagan. "Good evening Pagan."
"Good evening Master Duo." he says with is clipped manner, eyes widening slightly at the sight of Hilde. "Lady Hilde, it is good to see you again." smiling at Marcail he continues "And who is this lovely child?"
"This is Marcail" Hilde says feeling better at the sight of the old butler. She and Pagan had been friends once she wondered idly if he considered her one still.
"Such a lovely child." he says grinning "So like both of, oh do come in" he says shaking his head at himself in disgust. "I am sorry I forgot myself for a moment."
"Don't worry about it." Duo says a slight smirk hitting his lips. "It's perfectly alright." bowing as he walks off Pagan just shakes his head in humor.
"This way." Duo says taking Hilde's elbow and leading her towards the dinning room.
"I remember how to get there" she snaps eyes flashing at him, he was treating her like a baby.
Looking down at her he frowns slightly, but he nods in an agreement, although he does not relinquish his hold on her elbow.
Walking into the room Hilde bites back a moan; the whole gang was there, all the gundams, their perspective wives, and Lady Ann.
"Hilde." Relena yells grabbing the girl in a one sided hug, as she was still holding the terrified Marcail. "Oh, it is so good to see you again" she whispers in her ear. "You have no idea how much we have missed you."
"I have missed you to Relena." Hilde says softly a little bit of her old self-shinning through.
"And who are you cutie?" Relena says as everyone crowds around her and Hilde. Exchanging hugs and information with the couple.
"I am Marcail" the little girl says her eyes wide with awe as she stares up at Relena.
"Well, how do you do Marcail?" Relena asks.
"I am fine." she replies while holding tightly to her mommy's neck with one hand and clutching her 'styth' with the other. "I want down now." she says to Hilde, nodding Hilde complies with her child's demands. Looking up at Heero Marcail grins at the stotic pilot. "Hello." she says blinking up at him. Nodding at her Heero turns to look for Relena, only a second later to have his pant leg tugged at. Looking down he frowns at the tiny child before him.
"Do you know," Marcail asks softly, not at all put out by his stotic face, "Dat it dis ude to not smile at someone when dey smile at you?" She says blinking up at him. "My mommy gives spwankins to rude people." she says in her clear child logic confidant that her mommy could do anything.
"Oh really?" Heero says bending down eye to eye with her. "Your Mommy must be very smart then."
"Yes she is!" she whispers softly before smiling at Heero, this time getting her wanted smile back.
"I bet you like to play." Heero says.
"Uh hu."
"Come on." he says taking her tiny hand in his own "My son is in the nursery playing with his gundams right now."
"Undams?" she says her eyes going wide happily "Me wuv undams."
"Oh really?" he says smiling at the young girl, turning he catches Duo's eye before nodding in the direction of the Nursery, after Duo's nod of agreement he continues on. "Which one is your favorite?"
"Styth" she says smiling happily up at him "He is da best in da whole world!"
'Oh yes,' Heero thinks as he nods at the young girl 'She is definitely your daughter Duo.'
"What is she doing in that suit." Sally mutters to Noin from their vantagepoint on the balcony. They could observe their friends from there but not be heard. "I look better in my pregnant state than she does in that thing." she says shaking her head "And that's not saying much."
Shaking her head in annoyance at her friend's obvious sarcasm, she sigh softly. "Its veddy simple silly."
"Oh really care to explain?" Sally replies eyes rolling heaven ward at her friend's patent look.
"Do you remember when Zechs and I got into that big fight and we were like mad at each other for months?"
"Yes." Sally mumbles "How can anyone of us forget? You made our lives hell for like, forever."
"Nevermind that." Noin says rolling her eyes "I did the same thing she is doing though."
"Oh really care to explain, oh wise one?"
"When you get hurt or hurt someone, you are scared you are going to do the same to someone else, so you distance yourself."
"Well duh, it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out."
"Hilde is doing just that." Noin continues on a patient expression on her face "She is distancing herself by trying to make herself repulsive to any man that is around her namely, Duo"
"Why would she do that? He is her husband for crying out loud, and they have a beautiful daughter." Sally says confusion on her face.
"My guess," Noin says, "Would be that she is scared of hurting him or that he would hurt her."
"But he loves her," she protests "He would never hurt her no matter what she does to him."
"See that's the funny thing about love Sally dear. Everyone around you can tell you whats good for you in life and what to do. But you never can tell for yourself."
Looking at her friend in surprise Sally blinks "Noin dear I think that you missed your true calling in life, you should have been a marriage counselor."
"No way!" Noin say shaking her head vehemently. "I just learned a lot from hanging around Zechs, now you need to sit down."
"But I don't feel like it." Sally says rolling her eyes in annoyance.
"Don't make me go down there and get that chauvinistic husband of your up here" Noin threatens. "Because I know he will make you sit down."
"Whatever" Sally mumbles taking a seat. "It's not fair. Everyone gains up against me when I am pregnant."
"That is because you are enough by yourself to drive us crazy when were pregnant so we just return the favor when your pregnant."
"No thanks then," she mumbles "I don't want any favors."
Laughing softly Hilde looks around for Marcail, dinner had gone off without a hitch and she was as relaxed with this group of people has she had ever been. The only thing missing was her daughter who seemed to have disappeared off the face of the planet.
"She is in the nursery with Chris." Duo whispers into her ear.
Blinking Hilde turns around to face him. "Thanks for telling me now," she hisses rolling her eyes up at him.
Winking down at her Duo grins. "No problem Babe."
The sound of Relena tapping her glass with a spoon was the only thing that kept her from sharply retorting. "As you all know," Relena says a huge grin on her face, causing Hilde to chuckle it was her 'revenge is mine' grin. "Sally and Wufei are expecting their first child." A groan escapes Sally as she shakes her head at this announcement. "And in honor of this we are going to have a celebration dance." This said she smirks at Wufei's horrified look. "And our happy couple is to start the dance off."
Chuckling madly, Duo waves his wineglass as if in a salute "Here, here" he calls before he busts up in laughter.
Fighting back her own laughter Hilde shakes her head. Relena had been planning this for a long time she could tell by the look of victory in her eyes. They all wanted to get back at Wufei for all his comments at some point in time, and it looked like to her, that Relena had just gotten her two bits in.
A huge grin on her face Sally smirks as the music stars "As for the rest of us we shall dance during the next dance." She says her own smirks mirroring that of Sally's.
"I am not," Wufei starts only to have Sally cover his mouth with one of her hands. Pulling him up after her she leads him, with him protesting the whole way, to the dance floor. Wrapping her arms around him she smirks up at him.
"Relena how long have you planned that?" Noin questions.
"Since last year." she says a triumphant grin on her face "Oh, who would have thought one dance would embarrass the mighty Gundam Pilot Chang Wufei." She snorts shaking her head. "And with his wife no less."
"Its not that he is embarrassed," Quatre says smiling at Relena "It's that he never really dances and avoids it at all costs."
"Quatre." Noin says frowning at him "Stop trying to ruin our fun."
"He can't help it its Quatre." Hilde says.
"You know I just remembered something." Catherine says smirking at the other girls from her position next to Trowa "Hilde is back and that means the best of all prankers have returned."
Taking a slight mock bow Hilde smirks. "With a kid gals that means I have to be careful on what stuff I do."
"True, but you can give us the evil ideas and we carry them out." Iria say laughing "Hey the dance is done ladies its our turn." she says grabbing while grabbing Quatre. Following her lead the others quickly hit the floor.
"Would you like to dance." Duo questions with a look that was all too familiar to her, in his eyes.
"Sure." Hilde says softly. Taking her hand he gently pulls her out to the dance floor. Wrapping his arms around her he pulls her close. Following his lead she tentatively puts her hands around his neck, resting her head on his should she sighs. For the first time in three years she was completely at peace with herself and her world. For as long as she was in his arms then no one and no thing could harm her. To bad it could not last.
Blinking wearily Hilde smiles at the freshly scrubbed Marcail. "Mommy me no like Chris." she pouts darkly.
"And why is that sweetie?" Hilde says as she pulls her pajamas on her.
"Because he says that ing ero is etter than styth" her little brow creased in anger she frowns. "And dat it would beat him any ingle day of da year." she mutters. "But dat ain't true cause styth would whip is like last years trash."
"Sweetie you don't need to be arguing with him over which Gundam is better and which is wrong."
"But I knows I is right." she says her eyes going wide. "Styth is da best in da whole world, and den" she says her frown returning "He said I talked funny….Mommy do I talk funny"
Sighing Hilde tucks her into bed. "No sweetie you don't talk funny at all."
"Oh," Blinking sleepily now she sighs. "Why would he say that then?"
"Because he is a boy and boy's talk like that sometimes to get the upper hand."
"Oh…Why?"
"Because guys are like that." she replies tucking the sleepy child into her bed.
"Oh…okay" she mumbles before heading for the land of dreams.
Turnings around she sighs before blinking back her own exhaustion. She had left her purse downstairs, normally that wouldn't have bothered her only she had some documents that Mary had given her and she didn't want Duo to find them…just yet anyway. Heading down the stairs she hits the living room, blinking in surprise she frowns. "Duo are you okay?" she questions "Normally you are in bed asleep at this time of knight."
"Mmm…" turning towards her he sighs "Yes, I am fine" Nodding she reaches out and grabs her purse. "Hilde." he says as she turns to leave.
"Yes?"
"Have a seat." he says while stirring the fire in the hearth.
"Um…I really do need to be going to bed."
"Please."
Sighing in defeat she plops down, she never could hold out against him to long.
"What Duo."
Dropping the poker he sets down next to her. "Well me and Heero were having this conversation and he brought up some interesting points. And now I am going to relay them to you."
"Oh really?" Hilde grumbles scooting away from him.
"Yes." Reaching over he grabs her and pulls her into his lap. "You see when a woman tries to hide her gorgeous hair in a bun tighter than a nun's, her husband itches to pull it down." Reaching behind her he grabs the pins skillfully out of her, causing her hair to fall around in a tumble of waves around her face. "And when she covers her beautiful eyes with bulky glasses, he just knows how much better she will look without them. So he wants to take them off." Reaching up he gently pulls Hilde's glasses off of her face. "And when this same woman where's clothes that hide that gorgeous figure that is hidden beneath the fabric…" Leaping from his lap she is across the room in one second.
"I get it." she mumbles, brushing her hair from her eyes she glares at him.
"Do you Hilde?" He says his brows going up as he covers the distance between them in a few steps "Because you see I want my wife back, and you seem to be doing everything in your power to keep me from getting her back. Now I am taking these glasses and we are going shopping to get you some new clothes. Marcail as well, and I don't want any arguments."
"Duo I don't think" Hilde starts only to have him cover her mouth with his hand.
"No thinking Hilde, and no arguing. Don't worry about money I can more than afford to get you and Marcail clothing. Now you need some sleep because we have a busy day tomorrow so go to bed." Leaning down he kisses her forehead gently.
Blinking at him Hilde nods before she practically breaks into a dead run to leave the room.