Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters belong to Sotsu, Sunrise, and Bandai. Of course, this fic belongs to me.


The Kissing Bough
by Waltz195


A myriad of sparkling lights spread across the buildings of the restored MO2 resource satellite, lending it an almost magical air, as a gathering of important political officials attended the third annual Christmas Eve Memorial Celebration. Despite the lingering reminders of the loss of life during the wars and the attempted coup d'état, the atmosphere was one of good cheer and merriment, the usually stern government officials relaxed and joining in on the holiday spirit.

The tinkle of champagne glasses was heard throughout the ballroom and soft strains of seasonal music mingled with the lighthearted chatter of the conference's attendants. The chandelier shone brilliant white light onto the patrons who milled around, awaiting the entertainment that had been promised after the extravagant banquet had concluded.

However, one such person chose instead to remain seated, on a small chaise lounge tucked into a corner of the ballroom. Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian glanced around at her fellow politicians, a soft smile of relief upon her face.

She was not relieved that the celebration had gone on uninterrupted, as she had great confidence in the Preventers agents spread out along the outskirts of the crowd. Nor was her relief for the fact that even the most stubborn-headed officials were getting along quite well. No, the vice foreign minister's relief was for a far simpler reason.

'Good. He's not here,' she thought, scanning the room once more.

Her relief was from escaping the attentions of a rather persistent young admirer. Senator Gregory Deinwald, of the ESUN Eurasian division, was ridiculously intent on catching her under one of the mistletoe branches, or kissing bough, as it was called. Many had been strewn along the archways of the ballroom, by a homesick Earth delegate no doubt.

She would rather stay away from that particular custom this year. She simply didn't have the heart to tell the poor senator that his attentions were for naught. Especially when she found herself thinking about one particular gentleman more frequently around this time of year. One she had hoped she'd see again, though she suspected he was always close by.

Relena's musings were diverted as a boom of jolly laughter erupted from nearby. Turning her head, she saw someone dressed as Santa Claus saunter into the ballroom, his legendary girth and flowing white beard swaying as he walked through the crowd. Complete with a bulging bag of gifts strung over his shoulder, he was an exact reproduction of the well-known Christmas figure.

Smiling, she recalled memories of going to the nearby town centers with her parents and visiting with jolly old Saint Nick. It was one of the few holidays her family had actually had the time to spend together, which she cherished warmly.

Watching the Santa mingle among the guests, she noted there was something a bit odd about him, though she couldn't quite figure out what it was. As he was taking out small gift boxes from the bag and handing them out to the crowd, compliments of the ESUN public relations committee, she glimpsed the shifting of a dusky white braid against his snowy collar.

"A braid?" Relena wondered aloud. "Since when does Santa have a braid?"

Her curiosity getting the best of her, Relena tried to figure out who it could be under that jolly disguise. There were only a few people she knew with such long hair. It couldn't be her brother, she had just wished him a Merry Christmas on Mars about an hour ago. Maybe it was an ESUN representative or employee. Then, a rather far-fetched, yet imaginable, possibility occurred to her.

"Duo?"

Analyzing his appearance with renewed interest, she noted that the man had probably stuffed the suit with padding to appear more rotund. By the looks of it, he had also used temporary white hair pomade to finish the disguise. Add that to his jolly attitude and carefree manner and there was no doubt it was Duo Maxwell underneath that cap. His features were distinct enough for her to recognize him. But why on earth would he be here?

She guessed he was on assignment for the Preventers, as they sometimes called on the former Gundam pilots for sensitive missions that needed their expertise. Also, if he was here, then that would most likely mean...

Relena shook her head, exasperated with herself. 'Stop daydreaming, Relena. He was probably asked by Une, that's all. Just because he and Heero are close friends and usually work together doesn't mean that he's here too.' However, she couldn't quite convince herself to hope that wasn't the case.

At the end of last year, she had suspected that Heero had joined the Preventers, and been assigned to her personal guard. Since that time, her escort staff had changed every week and security had increased drastically. For a while, it seemed like she was guarded as closely as the legendary Fort Knox. Almost stifling really. Until she'd mentioned her concern about it to Une, of course, then it'd gone back to normal. However, sometimes, she still had the feeling she was being watched.

Given these facts, she had been positive, if not a bit hopeful, that Heero was always nearby. She had never actually seen him, but one could say she felt his presence often. Then again, it could have just been wishful thinking on her part.

Turning her attention back to "Santa", she suddenly wished she had a camera. Catching Duo in such a situation was just the thing she and Hilde could laugh over during her few visits with them on L2. It would be one of the rare times they'd be able to turn one of his tricks back on him. She was debating whether or not to go over and greet him, when someone not too far away called her name.

"Miss Relena!"

Stealing a glance to her left, she saw Senator Deinwald weaving through the crowd towards her corner. Only a few years older than her, the senator was not at all lacking in looks and charm, but rather a great deal of wit and sense. Armed with a cheery green business suit and a determined look on his face, she wagered he hadn't lost sight of his goal for the night.

Without a moment's hesitation, Relena quickly, yet gracefully, rose from the chaise lounge and made her way towards the red and white clad figure, apologizing to the owners of the feet she stepped on in her haste.

"Santa!" Relena cried gleefully, her eyes sending a silent plea to the cobalt ones she spied behind the white beard. "What a pleasure it is to see you! Come, we must discuss your appearance at the children's orphanage tomorrow."

Taking his arm, she all but dragged the poor Santa from the crowd, nodding and mumbling greetings to the understanding group around them.

"Of course, Vice Minister Darlian!"
"Anything for the children."
"What a splendid idea!"
"Such a charitable cause."

Casually walking arm in arm, Relena guided them to a secluded pillar in a corner on the other side of the room. Ducking behind it, she scanned the crowd for any sign of the senator before breathing a sigh of relief. Facing her companion, she noted the bewildered expression on his half-covered face.

"It's alright, Duo," Relena assured him with a smile. "I just needed to get away from someone for a while."

"You know it's me?" was his surprised, yet muffled, reply. Pulling down the white beard, the familiar face of Duo Maxwell gazed back at her. "But how?"

Reaching behind his cap, she gave the base of his presently white braid a small tug. "Even if you were old and misshapen, anyone who knew you would be able to recognize you because of this."

Duo sheepishly tucked the braid more securely into the collar of his costume. "Man, I know he's gonna cut my braid now..." he mumbled.

"He who?" Relena asked.

"Uh...did I say 'he'?" Duo stuttered. "I meant 'she'! Yeah, um...Une! Yeah, that's it! Une's really gonna chop off my braid...because...I...blew my cover! Yeah, she's sure gonna be ticked when she finds out...ehehe..."

"Hm..." Relena sounded quite unconvinced.

"So, who are you hiding from?" Duo smiled, quickly changing the subject. "Another zealous admirer of the ever beautiful and benevolent 'dove of peace'?"

Relena cringed and glanced behind her, just in case.

"More of a determined lackwit, really," she answered. "He's a nice guy, but he doesn't seem to get the message that I don't want to take part in the traditional Christmas 'kissing' custom."

"Ah, I see. He wants an early Christmas present but he isn't exactly welcomed on the receiving end is he?" Duo paused. "I wonder who is?" He wagged his eyebrows knowingly.

She blushed lightly at his hinting. "Well, what are you doing here yourself, Mr. Maxwell? Why are you pretending to be Santa Claus?" she countered.

"Oh, you know," Duo answered casually. "Une needed someone to be an extra pair of eyes for her and well, since I'm the only one available, I volunteered. Wholeheartedly, of course."

Relena thought for a moment. "But what about Hilde? As I recall you promised you wouldn't take on any more missions. In fact, I remember her threat perfectly..."

"Uh, yeah," Duo responded nervously. "Well, you know my Hilde. Always a caring and understanding soul. I told her I didn't have to go, but well, you know her, always putting others first. It's okay with her, as long as I don't get myself killed."

Relena simply lifted a brow. "Of course."

"Eh-heh. So, how are you enjoying the party?" he asked, casually tucking a section of his hat over his left ear, concealing it from view.

"Oh, it's going quite well," she answered, looking around the room once more. "Almost all of the Earth delegates are here this year. I noticed Une didn't attend, but I suppose she's busy with other matters. All in all, I can say it's been a good year for the earth and the colonies, don't you?"

Duo nodded. Ever since the end of the Mariemaia incident, everything had finally quieted down. The peace he and the others had fought for, though relative in sense, had finally come to be.

"Say, would you like to join us for Christmas dinner tomorrow?" he asked suddenly. "Hilde's been cooking up a storm lately and I don't think even I'd be able to finish it off. Plus, we never really get to see the old gang anymore." He smiled then. "Quatre's coming over from L4, but he's got to work like mad to meet all his deadlines. I have no idea where Trowa's troupe is, but he said he'd try to make it. And, I left a message for Wufei, but he's probably gonna be on duty for the rest of the week. The turnout's bound to be small. Hilde and I would really like for you to be there."

Relena was tempted to ask about Heero, but decided that dinner at Duo and Hilde's would be a great time in itself to catch up on old times. She had not seen any of the others in a long time, as well.

"So, what do you say?" Duo flashed his trademark grin. "Care to dine with the 'god of death'?"

"Sure." Relena smiled. "Why not? I'll even bring the champagne. Non-alcoholic, of course," she added jokingly.

Duo chuckled at the memory of how their kind, Arabic friend had commented just that after the Eve Wars. It was a well-known joke among their group now.

"Oh, Duo, do you think you could be Santa Claus for just one more day?"

Duo looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face. "What do you mean?"

"Why, to visit the orphanage of course."

"I thought that was just to get you away from what's-his-face?"

"At first yes, but now that I think about it, it would be a great present to them. You do know the one I'm talking about? The Center of Hope, established on L1 earlier this year?"

At his nod, she continued. "As a founder, I've visited often, though I really would like to give them more of my time. I can't, because of my schedule. A visit from Santa Claus would be a great booster for them this year, I just know it. I'll accompany you of course."

Duo thought about it. Remembering how he too had been orphaned as a child, more fortunate than others, touched a soft spot in his heart. Being Santa Claus to these kids would be giving them a great gift that he had lucked out on in the past.

"I'd love to."

"Wonderful!" Relena beamed. "I'm scheduled to arrive at the center around one o'clock tomorrow. I'll bring the gifts and you can meet me in the front office. By the way, when will the party start?"

At that, Duo snorted. "At the rate Hilde's been cooking, there'd still be enough food left at whatever time you came, even if we fed all the orphans in the colonies, and then some."

Relena chuckled. "Well, I'll be there at seven then. I'm suppose to meet with the finance minister before then, but that should be over with quickly. Oh, I'd like to invite someone if that's alright. You see-"

"Miss Relena! There you are!"

Duo watched as Relena's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, no..." She turned and hesitantly looked over her shoulder.

Sure enough, Senator Deinwald was striding towards them, a triumphant smile on his face. Whirling around, Relena shoved the whitened beard back onto Duo's face. "Follow my lead," she whispered, just as Deinwald arrived.

Without any invitation, the senator scooped up Relena's hand and gave it an adoring peck, oblivious to her less than discreet efforts to extract it from his grasp. He barely gave Duo a passing glance, focusing all of his attention on Relena.

"Miss Relena," Deinwald cooed, smiling at her with fixed concentration. "I almost lost you in the crowd."

'If only...' she thought, but smiled back at him. "Senator Deinwald, we meet again. Are you enjoying the party?"

The senator's answer was preceded by a dramatic sigh. "Alas, without your radiance by my side, this event is but a dark occasion that has lost it's sparkle, Miss Relena."

Duo let out a quiet snort. 'This guy's a total fake,' he thought with disgust. 'Brown-noser.'

"Yes, well, I'm sure the other guests are just as entertaining, Senator-"

"Miss Relena, please, call me Gregory. I find more enjoyment in your company alone."

"Nevertheless, Senator, I'm in a meeting with Mister...Claus, here. Perhaps we'll talk again after the tree lighting."

"That's what I've come to tell you, Miss Relena," Deinwald declared, sending Duo an appraising look, which the other man did not receive well. "They've started to gather the delegates. The President is getting ready to light the main tree."

Relena took note that, indeed, most of the politicians were already milling out of the room. Tonight was just not her night.

"May I suggest we leave, Miss Relena? I believe the President would like for you to say a few words, as well." Before she could protest, Deinwald looped her arm through his and lead her towards the nearest doorway.

Relena glanced back at Duo and silently mouthed "I'll call later". Duo nodded and shot her a thumbs-up as Deinwald directed them to a door which had a sprig of mistletoe conveniently strung above it.

At the last moment, Relena switched their direction and used a side-door instead, effectively avoiding the dreaded "kissing bough". As they moved out of sight, Duo wondered what the senator's reaction to that would most likely be.

Shaking his head, Duo lightly touched his left ear. "You're gonna have your hands full with her, buddy."