A/N: //sigh// What a kick in the ass….I don't get to go on my vacation after all. //weep// Now I'm stuck here at home all summer!! Still, it does give me more time to write…..Read and be happy…And I'll be happy if you review!! This chapter's kinda fluffy, and it really doesn't do much for the plot, but I think it's still necessary. And at the end, forgive me if I got the ring bit wrong…I don't know very much about jewelry…
Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own em… Poor little chibi types like me don't own anything….sad, isn't it? Sadder yet, we all tend to be single, lonely people that have nothing better to do than sit around and write fanfiction. I know you are all totally shocked, traumatized, and mortified by this revelation, but try not to take it too hard-it might not be good for your health.
"Unhhhh," Duo moaned, trying to sit up. Gentle hands pushed him back down, and he opened his eyes to see Hilde sitting in a chair pulled next to his hospital bed.
"Don't get up, Duo. You may not feel anything now because of the painkillers, but you've got a major concussion, and you're just going to make things worse by moving around too much," she said softly.
"Hilde, how'd I get here? And where's Faith? She wasn't hurt, was she?" Duo wished he could forget the awful scene. And Heero and Relena were….
"Faith is here, Uncle Duo," Faith said. She clambered onto the bed and sat next to him.
"She wasn't hurt too badly, Duo. She was knocked out, but came to about two days ago. I haven't been able to get her to go to sleep since, though…" Hilde trailed off.
"That's alright, babe. Just watch and learn," Duo said. "Come here and get next to me, Faith."
He pulled the sheets back on the bed as best as he could, and Faith obliged, curling up next to him. Duo covered her up and kept his arm over her, and she was sound asleep in a few minutes.
"Simple, Hilde. All you've got to do is get her warm, then she'll doze right off. It was probably too cold in here for her, that's why you couldn't get her to go to sleep." Duo paused. "Babe, did Heero and Relena…..?"
"I don't know, Duo….Only a few of the people at the conference survived the bombing, but their bodies were never found. Nobody knows if they're alive or dead….Trowa thinks that Heero probably had a way out, but what if he didn't? Oh, Duo…what's going to happen to Faith if they couldn't get away?" Hilde asked.
"I bet they got away, Hilde. And if they didn't, well, Faith can stay with us. Well, unless Milliardo and Lu want her…..I mean, they are really related to her.."
"Yeah…But still, Duo, I can't help but feel sorry for her…"
Little tears began to course down her cheeks, and Hilde sobbed softly, burying her face in the sheets. Duo ruffled his fingers through her hair and wished there was more he could do. Then he remembered. His surprise. The one he'd been saving for when the conference was over and he was home alone with Hilde.
"Baby, do you have any idea where my clothes are? The ones I was wearing when the building was bombed?" he asked. Hilde looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy. She shook her head.
"Sally might know. She was with the people who brought you in. Should I go ask?"
"Sure if you want to. It's not that important. I just want the stuff out of my pockets. You know, my wallet and all that." Duo grinned at Hilde, trying to tease her into a better mood.
"Why? There's nothing in your wallet, Duo." Hilde grinned back.
"Yes there is! I've got pictures of the world's most beautiful women in my wallet."
"Really, Duo? And who would that be? You in drag and Dr. J's grandmother?" Hilde asked derisively.
"No. The ones of me in drag are in that box in the….I've said too much…." Duo trailed off as Hilde started cackling loudly. "My wallet pictures are all of you and Faith."
"Aww….how sweet. I'll be right back, Duo. I'm gonna see if I can find Sally."
Hilde left, and Duo watched Faith sleep beside him. She sighed and turned over, and her long brown bangs fell over her closed eyes. She was really the spitting image of Heero, from her dark brown hair to her Prussian blue eyes. She'd even perfected the death glare. Duo wondered if Heero had been anything like Faith as a child. But probably not with the way he'd been raised.
"I'm back, Duo," Hilde said from the doorway. "Sally said that everything they found on you that looked worth keeping is under your pillow. Guess there wasn't much there, huh, Duo?"
"Oh, I wouldn't know about that, Hilde. But would you mind fishing my stuff out for me, since I'm not supposed to get up?" he asked, grinning at her again. Hilde sighed.
"I know that look, Duo. I bet you've got something really gross in there…" Hilde trailed off, reaching under the pillow and feeling around. Duo winced when she jostled him a little; the painkillers were wearing off, it seemed.
"Sorry, Duo….." Hilde murmured. "….your wallet doesn't seem to be under here. There's something else, though…"
"Get it out anyway, babe. I can always replace the pictures in my wallet with new ones. But that might be something a little more important."
"Here." Hilde plopped the small, battered black box into Duo's hand. He closed his fingers around it and smiled.
"Good. I was afraid this mighta been lost. It's very important. We've gotta protect it, Hilde. We just have to!" Duo said, mock serious.
"Why? What could possibly be in that beat-up old box that's worth keeping?"
"It's a surprise," he said softly, trying to sound mysterious. "But….you probably don't care, do you, Hilde?" He moved to shove the box under his pillow again, and Hilde raised her eyebrow.
"With you it all depends on the surprise, Duo. But what is it?"
"Well…..I might be able to tell you…But you have to answer my question first. Do ya wanna hear the question?"
Hilde thought for a moment. Knowing Duo this was some kind of a prank. But she nodded anyway, thinking to herself, I hope this isn't something really perverted.
"I'm sorry I can't do this the right way, but I'm kinda stuck here, babe." Duo swallowed, and Hilde noticed that his face was turning red. Oh no. This has to be another of his sick jokes. He only gets that expression when he's up to something really big.
"Hilde, baby….will you…um, er…heh heh…." Duo stopped and cleared his throat. He took a deep breath, and forced the words out as quickly as he could. "Will you marry me?"
Hilde's eyes widened in surprise and she gave a little gasp. Definitely not what I was expecting, she thought. But really, this is so much better. She leaned over until she could rest her head on Duo's chest.
"Yes," she murmured. "A thousand times yes."
"Then you get the surprise, Hilde. Happy?" Duo asked, flipping the box open and handing Hilde the engagement ring Faith had helped him pick out. He really did like Faith's decision, though. The ring had a slender gold clasp, with a single sapphire that exactly matched Hilde's eyes. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
"I can't imagine being happier, Duo," Hilde said, letting him put the ring on her finger.
"Neither can I, babe. Neither can I," Duo replied with his trademark grin.
