Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN IT!!!!

Authors note: Yes . . . I realise that this is getting just plain weird now . . . however . . .

Wait and See.

By Bubblegum Thai.

Chapter 5: Christmas wishes and mistletoe.

The few months passed and seasons changed from boring autumn to beautiful winter and finally, Christmas arrived. Like every other year, the large group of friends had been summoned to the Winner estate on L4 to celebrate the festive season. Areia bounced excitedly up and down in her seat, leaning over her love to look out of the window whilst he sat perfectly strait, reading a magazine,

"Hey Tro', what're you reading?" She asked, blinking at him curiously,

"An article on the rising economy in today's modern society within the colonies and its increasing effect upon the post-war shocks and clean-ups within the Earth sphere." He answered without taking his eyes from the page,

"Oh . . . sounds . . ."

"Boring." He sighed, placing the magazine carefully down in his lap and looking at her as she knelt in her own seat, her hands on his arm rests, leaning over him, staring with awe out of the window, "Areia . . . you've seen space hundreds of times, what's so fascinating out there?"

She shrugged and settled back in her seat,

"I don't know. I've always loved space." She shrugged, "Relena laughed at me once, asking how I could when I done so many terrible things out there in my Gundam."

"Hmmmm." Trowa mused, scratching the side of his head slightly, "Well . . . that's the past and now, we're in the present."

"Woah! Optimism to the extreme love!" She giggled, "Are you feeling alright . . .?"

"No . . . actually . . . I think that I'm coming down with something." He replied, closing his eyes and leaning his head back,

"Oh dear . . ." Areia sighed, "Well, we'll sort something out when we get to Quatre's, alright?"

He nodded silently, brushing bangs from his olive eyes as she ran a hand down the side of his face, tilting his head to look at her, she smiled slightly as he opened his eyes a slit,

"Y'know . . ." She whispered, "When you do that . . . you look really cute!" She chuckled. He stuck his tongue out, narrowing his eyes slightly, "Mmmm . . . even better!" She continued.

He smirked slightly, pressing his forehead against hers,

"Ladies and Gentlemen. If you look towards the exit you will discover that the captain has switched seat-belt sign on and we will be beginning our decent towards L4 in approximately one minute. Please remain seated. Thank you."

Areia smirked slightly,

"Damn . . . too late to join the . . ." Trowa silenced her by placing a finger to her lips,

"You're too bad for your own good!" He joked, shaking his head slightly,

"Yeah . . . but . . . you gotta love me anyway!" She teased, winking,

"Of course I do!" He smiled, kissing her forehead softly, "How could I not?"

After settling back in their seats, the over-head announcer switched on once again,

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain speaking. We are currently docking within the L4 colony. Please make sure to take all personal hand luggage with you as you depart the craft. I hope that you enjoyed your flight and that you also enjoy your stay here on L4. The current time is 2:34pm. Thank you."

Areia and Trowa stood, Trowa grabbing their bags from the over-head locker and carrying both out as they made their exit to the door,

"Y'know, you don't have to carry my bag everywhere." She giggled, cuddling up against him as he carried both carry-on bags in one hand with the other arm wrapped around her waist,

"I know . . . but I want too . . . you're so much better at talking than I . . . so I figured it only fair that if you do all the interaction, I carry your bag."

"Oh, so it's a fair trade and not a gentlemanly gesture?" She cooed, sniffling mockingly,

"Oh yeas, well, that, of course!" He added.

At customs, they presented their passports to the officers that awaited them there, both giving them very dodgy looks,

"Are you bringing any fruit or vegetables into the colony, miss?"

"Nope."

"Any animals, sir?"

"No."

Hand in hand, the pair wondered into the main area of the airport,

"Did Quatre send a car?" Areia asked.

Trowa shrugged,

"I'm not sure. I probably should have asked."

"Look! There!" Areia suddenly said, tugging Trowa in the direction of a chauffer who was dressed all in black, holding a sign. The sign read 'Barton' and Areia grinned slightly, "Oh how nice of him to consider me!" She teased,

"You know what he means! He's obsessed with everyone pairing off and settling down."

Silence enveloped the pair as they grew closer to the driver,

"Hello. Mr Barton? Miss Stevenson?" He asked politely,

"Yes! That's us!" Areia chirped,

"Hello. I'm Otis, Master Winner's personal driver. I have been asked especially to deliver you in Master Winner's favourite car."

"Oh, that was nice of Quatre!"

"Yes." Trowa nodded slightly,

"Allow me to take your bags."

"Thank you." Trowa nodded slightly, handing the bags to the driver before climbing into the back of the large limousine with Areia, "Hmmmm, I wonder what Quatre's up to." Trowa mused aloud, hugging Areia tight to him,

"Hmmmm . . . I wonder . . ." Areia added, burying her face into her love's chest, "Trowa, I love you."

"I love you too." He sighed, closing his eyes, "I hope that we have a good Christmas this year, unlike last year."

"Oh . . . you mean when you and Duo got drunk and started a fight?" She teased,

"Yes . . ." Trowa replied, carefully.

* * *

"Hey! Clown boy!" Duo cried as he staggered down the steps towards the frozen lake. Areia stood over her kneeling boyfriend, shaking her head and muttering a lecture under her breath,

"Trowa. I told you not to drink so much . . . now you've made yourself sick!" She exclaimed, a worried look on her face, seemingly ignoring Duo,

"Waddaya want, goddess of death?!"

"You . . . me . . . outside . . . NOW!" He screamed, "I wanna fight you!"

"Duo . . . for gods sake, get a grip!" Hilde fusses, running up behind him,

"Stay outta this! I gotta take the 'silencer' down!"

"Oh yeah?!" Trowa stood shakily and marched towards the braided boy, "You WOMAN!" He yelled, tugging on the braid,

"BRING IT!"

Areia buried her face in her hands. She couldn't watch her two best friends try and kill each other, so she stepped towards Hilde and held onto her, fighting back tears. She hated alcohol. She hated it with a passion. A sudden crash caused her to open her eyes to see a gaping hole in the ice and a lot of splashing in freezing-cold water,

"Oh no! THEY FELL IN!" Quatre exclaimed, now rushing towards the ice,

"Stupid boys." Sally huffed,

"Idiots." Wufei agreed.

Heero and Quatre, along with several servants eventually fished the pair of boys out, shivering, yet still clawing at each other,

"Will you pack it in already?" Areia fumed, pushing Trowa back and away from Duo before turning on her American and slapping him across the face, "How DARE you?!" She growled before turning sharply and embracing the shivering uni-banged man, "Stupid man!" She hissed, holding him close, as Quatre handed her a thick, heavy blanket. She wrapped it around him and kissed his cheek, "You're an idiot and if I didn't care about you so much I'd leave you SO fast!" She continued, her eyes burning evilly, welling up with tears, "Don't you dare ever do that again!"

* * *

"Heh . . . you were so mad at me . . ." Trowa murmured close to her ear,

"Just thinking about it makes me wanna hurt you both!" She snapped, "I hate alcohol SO much!"

"Yes, I know." Trowa soothed, "You still haven't explained why, though."

"Do I have to?" She sighed,

"No . . ." He replied, nuzzling her face, "But . . . perhaps it would help . . ." He smirked, "Besides . . . you'll have to open up to me eventually . . ."

"Oh . . .? And why's that?"

"Hmmmm . . . no reason . . ." He chuckled slyly, tearing away from her as they pulled up outside of the mansion.

She was left, sitting in the limo, confused as hell as Trowa stepped out, immediately being met by a full-on hug,

"Gargh!" Trowa exclaimed as the slender arms wrapped around his waist, "It's been SO long Trowa!" He gushed, "I've missed you! And Areia!" He peered into the car, "Oh good! She is with you! I got a shock for a minute! I thought that you'd split."

"Heh . . . no . . . not in this lifetime . . ." Trowa murmured before whispering, "I need tot talk to you later."

Quatre nodded and moved towards Areia . . .

That evening, Trowa and Areia were cuddled up on one of Quatre's many sofas. Sally and Wufei had already gone to bed whereas Heero and Duo hadn't even arrived yet,

"They're flight was late." Quatre mentioned when Trowa inquired,

"Oh . . ." He whispered, barely awake,

"Trowa . . . honey . . ." Areia whispered, "Are you really that tired?"

". . . no . . ." He whimpered,

"Why don't you go to bed, do you want me to come with you?"

"No . . ." He closed his eyes, "You're waiting for Duo."

"So . . . I'll see him in the morning."

"Yes, Trowa." Quatre cut in, "I think it would be good for you to go and get some sleep."

"Humph." Trowa ignored them and turned in his seat, curling up against Areia.

Areia rolled her eyes and dislodged herself from him when she heard the front door open. She ran excitedly around and hugged Duo tightly,

"Heya!" She giggled,

"Yo! 'Rei! What's up dude?" He chuckled, returning the tight embrace, "It's been so long!"

"It has!" She whimpered, closing her eyes,

"Hey look you guys! You're under the mistletoe!" Quatre suddenly exclaimed, "It's tradition! You have to kiss now!"

"But . . ." Duo protested, or, at least began before Areia tilted his head down to hers and kissed him softly,

"Merry Christmas Duo!" She cooed, "G'night!" She whispered before disappearing off into the den to drag Trowa off to bed.

- - - To be continued . . .