Part Two, for your reading enjoyment!

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It had been a month. Duo had waited desperately for thirty days, staying awake every night, so he wouldn't miss Heero's return. The funeral had taken place without him. He still hadn't talked to any of his old friends, even though their calls became more and more insistent, more worrying. Even Relena, he was surprised to see, had left numerous calls for him, begging him to talk to her, to at least let her know he hadn't killed himself.

But he couldn't. If they saw the shape he was in now, depression, drawn and haggard from sleep deprivation, they'd probably physically haul him away to either rehab or one of their homes to do the perceived dirty work themselves. Neither of which he wanted.

He lay listlessly on the couch, mulling over the possibilities for why Heero hadn't returned yet. He thought maybe it really all had been a dream, but then there was that note… Duo had the now ratty paper clenched in his hand. It had gone everywhere with him for the last thirty days. The small scrap was his only source of hope that this wild miracle was reality.

Duo felt a breeze against the back of his neck. Closing his eyes tightly, he refused to look, in case it was merely a window ajar. He was afraid he would disappoint himself. Inside, he was praying, praying with all his heart, to a God he wasn't even sure he believed in.

He felt a hand touch his shoulder. Warily opening his eyes and looking up, he found himself looking into the cobalt-blue eyes he loved so much. Duo threw his arms around his love, sobbing Heero's name through a sudden onslaught of tears. Heero returned the embrace, slowly rocking Duo, whispering comforting phrases Duo had always found so corny and clichéd. Now they meant the world to him. If he could have one moment forever his, it would have been this one.

Heero was the one to break contact. He sat there for a moment, just looking, as though it were just as shocking to him they were back together as it was to Duo. His eyes, already showing more emotion than Duo had ever thought possible, looked at Duo with concern. Duo watched as Heero moved one hand to his face, stroking his cheek softly.

"Duo," he spoke at last, "Duo, what have you been doing to yourself? You look awful."

Duo managed a lopsided grin. "Nice to see you too koi."

"You know what I mean," Heero said, softly admonishing.

"I missed you?" Duo replied hopefully.

Heero gave Duo that small smile. "My baka."

"I definitely missed hearing that," Duo grinned.

"Duo," Heero said tentatively, "I'm not here to stay. I want to…but they won't let me."

Duo's face fell, but he nodded. "I thought so. What's it like up there, anyway?" he asked.

"It's good," Heero replied, nodding slowly. "Duo…they offered me my own world; a perfect place for me to spend the rest of eternity in. They said that I could have anything."

"So…are you enjoying paradise?" Duo asked quietly.

"I didn't take it."

"You…you what?"

"They promised me everything Duo, except what I wanted."

"What was that?"

"You."

Duo sat there quietly, digesting this.

Heero looked uncertainly at his partner and continued. "They said I could have anything I wanted…except the companionship of a real person, a real soul. It would all be fake. An imitation. I didn't want it that way. I didn't want anyone but the real you. I told them, and they said there was another way. I could wait for you, and we could go to a new world together. It wouldn't be paradise, but I could go with you – the real you. So that's what I picked. I miss you so much already. I couldn't spend eternity without you."

"The Perfect Soldier's become such a romantic," Duo said wryly.

Heero shook his head. "Just a pragmatist."

"Huh?"

"How else would I get great sex?"

Duo glowered. "I'll take that as a joke."

"I'm…not good with humor." Heero looked down in embarrassment, cheeks flushing slightly.

Duo's expression melted into a warm smile. Heero could be so adorable at times. Insecurities led to kawaii mannerisms.

"You were never good at talking either, but you learned from a master. Wait for me…" the smile turned into a sardonic grin. "I'll teach you humor yet."

Heero smiled. A real, full smile this time, something Duo had seen maybe once. "I'll wait. I promise."

The Japanese boy leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against Duo's. "Ai shiteru Duo."

"Ai shiteru Heero," Duo whispered softly, before pressing his lips to his lover's in a full kiss.

Heero wrapped his arms around the braided boy, one hand going to the back of Duo's neck to force their lips together again. Duo hadn't realized just how much he had missed Heero until this moment. The smell, the taste, the touch, the way Heero kissed him, each movement of Heero's body, everything that was so familiar to him, so much a part of him… He needed more, and his love was more than happy to comply.

Heero was again the one to pull away, and a small involuntary noise issued from the back of Duo's throat in protest. Heero looked at Duo with a mixed expression of sorrow and contentment. He leaned forward again, until their foreheads touched.

"I have to go soon."

Duo sighed. "That's what I figured."

"It may be the last time I see you before…before you…"

"I understand."

Heero looked at Duo tentatively. "Can we spend the last few minutes…?"

"Just being together?"

Heero nodded.

"Anything for you, koibito."

Heero joined Duo on the couch, and wrapped his arms around his beautiful, chestnut-haired koi. Duo thought about how many nights they had spent like this. Just curled up together, reveling in the presence of each other's company. The mere fact that they had discovered their feelings for each other never ceased to amaze either of them. Duo hadn't felt so happy and content since the day that had happened.

He had been sharing an apartment with Hilde then, nearby the scrap yard.  It was late in the evening, and they had just finished cleaning the kitchen from dinner when the doorbell rang. When Duo opened the door, he found a very scared Heero standing there looking at his feet. The Japanese boy had mumbled something and flinched, as though he thought Duo was going to hit him. Duo had never seen Heero like that. Ever. He had to ask Heero to repeat himself three times before he got the gist of the message. And then he had nearly knocked the other youth off of his feet with a flying hug.

Duo smiled sleepily as his mind ran through everything he could remember since that moment. He felt Heero stroking his face again, playing idly with his bangs, and Duo snuggled up closer to him. The world might be crazy, but it was also wonderful. It was with these thoughts that Duo slipped into a wonderful, quiet world of dreams.

The End. Or part 2…?

Author's end note:

Well, I hope you liked. This is the first Gwing fic I've ever put up…the first piece of fanfiction I've ever put up, so please, review, tell me if it needs work or is good or, or SOMETHING! PLEASE! I BEG OF YOU!

*ahem* Sorry. n.n;;

Now about that "or Part 2…?" thing, you see, this was originally going to have some strange bizarre science fiction-y stuff in a second part, but a friend read it and said it was good as it was. I was also slightly worried that the bizarre second part would throw readers off the feelings they got from the first part. If anyone wants me to finish the second part, mail me or say so in a review, otherwise, it will remain as posted.

The title of this fanfic comes from the song "This was Nearly Mine" from the musical South Pacific. Great music. ^_^ The quote following the titles comes from…well, Star Trek. Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Bonding," to be specific. That may reduce my standing in some of your eyes, but I tell you, Star Trek is a great source of quotes! The translation is part of the aria Casta Diva, which was used in the score of the newest version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I like it a lot, and I had the thing on repeat the entire time I was writing this.