Author's Note: I LOVE THIS CHAPTER!! Just thought I'd let y'all know my opinion so you can copy it (the opinion). ^_______^ I re-read it recently, and I near died from the sappiness of it. I couldn't believe I wrote it! Winter's Roar—sorry about the cliffhanger, especially after how much I HATE them, but I couldn't resist! It just fit so well! Please don't hate me! ^__^
SDA
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Can Love Conquer All?
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Chapter Seven: Oh Yes, It Can
"Lu, I just have to tell you this. I love you. I've loved you from the moment I first set eyes on you! You make my soul sing, you are my purpose for living! Lucrezia Noin, nothing would make me happier than to have you be my wife." Nicholas Berter pulled out a diamond ring and held it to Noin.
Zechs, wishing desperately for a crow bar, held his breath, waiting to hear his beloved's answer.
Looking into Nicholas Berter's eyes, Noin said haltingly, "You…love me?"
Nicholas Berter placed his hands over his heart, and said with vigour, "With every fiber in my being! I love you, Lucrezia, I love you with all my heart. Without you near, I feel as if I've lost my soul. You make me glad to be alive! Just being near you, darling, is intoxicating! You are my Juliet, my Gwenavere, my Eve. My other half, my better half! Oh Lucrezia, I mean it when I say nothing, nothing, would make me happier than to have you by my side."
Maim. Murder. Kill. Explode. Leave alone with Heero. These words described Zechs' feelings about Master Nicholas Berter at that exact moment. Nothing would please him more than to tie a noose around Berter's neck and slowly, oh so very slowly, pull it tight.
"I…I…I…" Noin stuttered, seemingly speechless. Zechs didn't know if that was because she generally didn't know what to say, didn't want to say yes in his hearing, or she was so shocked no sound could come to her lips. Zechs, on the other hand, knew exactly what to say, but he had to wait his turn to berate Berter upside-down and sideways.
Nicholas took one of Noin's hands in his. "Please say yes, Lucrezia, say you'll be mine. I'll treat you to the best of my knowledge, I'll shower you with gifts, and I'll love you till the end of my days, I swear it!" It did sound like a rather promising life. Zechs' anger briefly transferred from Berter to himself. Maybe if he'd said something like that back in September, Noin wouldn't have left him. "Please, Lu, say yes!" So, Mister High-and-Mighty could be reduced to out and out begging. Curse the woman, would she hurry up and say something! Zechs suddenly became very aware that nearly the entire ballroom was watching the scene playing out before his eyes. His anger returned with a fury, and he happened to notice Heero nearby, and Heero always had something dangerous near his person…
"…Er, Nicholas, I…uh…" Noin was still flustered, searching for something to say.
Nicholas Berter's hair was flopping in his face, but his green eyes were filled with yearning as the man stared up into Noin's face. "I love you, Lucrezia! Come with me, and I'll make you happier than Zechs ever could, I'll treat you better than he ever could, and we'll make better and happier memories than you have with him!"
Finally something snapped inside of Noin and she was able to offer a response. Waving a finger in Nicholas's face, she said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, just how many ways can you go wrong in one sentence?"
Mr. Berter gave her a confused look. "What are you talking about, darling?"
"Don't darling me!" Noin snapped. "How dare you! What indication did I ever give you that I had any feelings towards you whatsoever other than friendship?"
"You called me Nick—"
"And how dare you insinuate anything about my relationship with Zechs! I've known the man since I was twelve! I've got better memories with him than you have with anybody! He already treats me like I'm queen of the world—" Which you will be, or at least Queen of the Sanq Kingdom, if I can convince you to marry me "—, which is something you haven't done yet, and I'm happiest when I'm with him! Even when I went to your stupid Thanksgiving dinner, the happiest moment I had was when I called my friends and I first saw his face—before you called me Lu and we had an argument, that is. Speaking of which, don't call me Lu anymore, or even Lucrezia! My name is Noin!" Wow. Who would have thought she could explode so? It made Zechs grin to see her standing there seething at Mister Properly-Pansified Berter.
In a most whiny voice, Nick said, "But Lu—"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Noin shouted, enraged at the man. Giving him a glare that would rival anything Heero had to offer, Noin stepped on her heel and twirled away from him to face Zechs. Much to his surprise, as soon as she made eye contact with him her face lit up like fire. What reason had she to blush? She'd just done exactly what she was supposed to. Pan fry it, if he grabbed her up now and kissed her senseless it wouldn't be anywhere near what she deserved.
Silence rang out like a thousand voices shouting. In a moment that seemed an eternity, Zechs reached for Noin and grabbed her up in his embrace. Forgetting for the moment that she deserved so much more, he kissed her senseless. Somehow during their lip-mashing session, they both managed to get out the words "I love you", and he slipped on her finger the engagement ring he just happened to be holding in his pocket.
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A little more than a year later
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Lucrezia entered the Peacecraft Palace with Zechs at her side. In her arms rested a tiny bundle, sleeping soundly. Smiling proudly, she lifted the tiny baby up to show the ex-Gundam pilots and their families, along with Lady Une, Mariemaia, and Pagan. Here was Victoria Merquise, the perfect baby born from the perfect marriage.
Sometimes the question would be asked: Can love conquer all? Everybody present in the room knew the answer.
Oh yes, it can.
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A/N: YAY, I finally finished it! I still can't believe all this started because of one line. I guess my brain woks in my favour after all! I'd like to thank everybody who's reviewed this fic, your reviews have meant the WORLD to me and I've made sure all my friends at school know about it. I'd list everybody, but I'm far too lazy to concoct a list…and then there's the fact that I keep forgetting to do it (this is saved on a different computer than the one linked to the internet). Once again, thanks for all the support!
Love, Luck, and Legolas,
~~Callisto