Title: Love you!

Part: 2/3

Author: Usagi-chan [usagilikesduochan@hotmail.com]

Warnings: death, sad, little bit of romance

Pairings: 1x2

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, I don't make money from fanfiction. I write only for fun and to get better at English. ^__^

Describtion: I... I really don't know what's going on with me. My first English fic on this ML and a deathfic. I hate deathfics! And now this. But I had to write it. Do you know 'Walker-Texas Ranger'? On Saturday the 24th August they showed the second part of an double episode in German TV and it was about a little boy, who had the HIV virus. He died in the end. It was so damn sad. But it was also great to see how he tried to do his best and learn as much as he could, till his death. He wanted to live a nice life, right up until his death. I think that's why this film inspired me so much. *sobs*

So, it takes place after EW. The boys live together for a while and during that time Duo seems to get a little cold. He goes to the doctor to make a little check and gets the shock of his life. He is infected with a hereditary disease, which will cost his life in the end. Duo becomes depressed. How should he go on with his life, with the knowledge, that he could die any day?

Feedback: Yes, please, more than welcome. ^____^

Archive:

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And I mustn't forget, many thanks to Psyche for helping with my translation from German to English.

"..." = Speaking

*...* = Thinking

~...~ = Review

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The next day Duo woke up late in the morning. After having no sleep for a whole day and crying so much, he had needed the rest. Things look much better when you are well rested even if you know that you have a serious illness.

When Duo opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was cobalt blue. He blinked and then he saw another kind of blue. Blue sky and sunshine smiling from the window in the bedroom, and on the bed in front of him cobalt blue eyes were fixed upon him in an intense gaze.

The owner of these blue eyes was a little bit tired because he hadn't slept much that night. But he did everything to hide this fact from Duo.

Duo yawned a little and smiled warmly at Heero.

"Morning, Hee-chan!"

"Morning, Duo" the Wingpilot replied quietly. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better now, thanks. I think I really needed sleep. Uhm, by the way how long did I sleep?"

Heero took a quick glance to the watch at the nightstand.

"Twelve hours now. Morning is nearly gone."

"Oh, really?" Duo called out and hopped out of the bed. "Then hurry, let's go downstairs and have breakfast before it's too late! I am starving."

He ran into the bathroom and came out five minutes later with body washed and teeth brushed. Heero still sat in the bed staring dumbfounded at Duo. The braided boy grinned when he saw the confused look on his beloved friend.

"C'mon Heero!" he dragged. "We are late anyway. And I am still starving."

The Wing pilot didn't reply. He only shook his head and hid a sad smile from Duo's eyes.

"You are unbelievable, my love," he whispered, too softly to be heard, and then got up from the bed to enter the bathroom. Ten minutes later, a fresh dressed Duo and Heero came downstairs and entered the kitchen where their friends still sat, talking. The two boys entered together hand in hand.

Quatre was the first of them who saw his friends.

"Duo!" he called out, happy and worried at the same time.

"Morning guys!" Duo said, grinning, and waved. "Sorry for worrying you."

"Morning Duo, Heero," Trowa and Wufei greeted, both regarding the Deathscythe pilot thoughtfully. Then Quatre noticed the hand tightly clasped around Duo's.

"You two are holding hands?" he asked, happy. Duo showed the blonde boy a wide grin but didn't get the chance to answer, because Wufei interrupted.

"As much as I am interested in the state of your relationship, what I would really like to know is what the doctor told you. I see your cold is gone now. Should I be happy or worried about it?"

Duo's grin faded abruptly.

"I thought about telling you," he replied. "But please be patient. Not now. I will tell you soon, I promise. But not yet. Heero knows, and that's enough for the moment in my opinion. The day is so nice, I don't want to ruin it with my problems."

"But without knowing we will worry a lot."

"There is nothing to worry about at the moment, Quatre," Duo pressed. "And if anything does happen I have Heero at my side, and he knows it all. Don't worry about me. Everything is fine at the moment. So please, let's enjoy the day."

Heero watched Duo talking to the other three pilots, unnoticed, while he ate his breakfast. Although, the Wing pilot didn't really feel hungry. The news of the night still swirled in his mind and now entered his stomach as well, leaving a feeling of sickness.

But when Duo told his friends that there was no reason to worry about him, Heero had do admit, this wasn't a lie. On one hand, knowing a friend is dying is definitely a reason to worry, but on the other hand, exactly as Duo said, there was nothing to worry about *right now*. Duo was fit and felt good at the moment. He wouldn't die tomorrow. Heero was sure of it. And, it was obvious that Duo wanted to enjoy what time he had left. Telling his friends would destroy the happiness he wanted to feel.

"Okay, guys!" Duo's voice interrupted Heero's thoughts, "Did you plan on doing anything today?"

Quatre shook his head in confusion.

"Should we?" asked Wufei.

"No, better not," Duo answered happily, "because I have a plan for today."

He got up from his chair and disappeared into the living room. Two minutes later, he came back with a card in his hand.

"I have had an idea what we can do today," he explained, while spreading the card on the breakfast table. "I want to have a picnic with you all; a picnic on the beach. But not on any beach. It has to be a special one. I know it's far away by car, but it's very nice and we can also camp there. What do you think?"

Wufei, Quatre and Trowa exchanged confused and very surprised glances while Heero thought for some minutes and checked the location of Duo's beach.

"We have to buy food for grilling, then, and wood for a campfire," the Wing pilot noted. "And, Quatre, do you have tents? I think Duo is right, it's far away so the best idea would be to camp there for one night or stay in a hotel."

"To camp is better", Duo interrupted. "The whole atmosphere would be nicer than if we stay in a hotel."

"So, you are in favour of a drive to this beach, Heero?" Trowa asked, a little bit surprised. Quatre started to smile happily.

"I am also for it," Quatre said. "To camp together would be nice. Hey remember, we are still teens. We lost most of our childhood because of the war. But now we have peace. And we have the right to enjoy our life and our friendship. So why not make a little party on the beach?"

"Thanks Quat!" Duo called out happily and hugged his friend. Trowa and Wufei nodded.

"Okay, a party on the beach," Wufei agreed. "So, Heero, since you have already begun planning, what do we need?"

"I think it would be best to write it down," Duo suggested. He grabbed some paper and a pencil.

"OK, as Heero said before, we need food, tents and wood."

"I have a tent for six persons," Quatre interrupted. "And I can also arrange for wood."

"Great, so you will be responsible for this two things, Quatre," Duo announced and wrote the name of his friend behind 'wood' and 'tent'.

"Trowa, would you help Quatre with the tent and the wood?" Heero asked. "We need someone to help him pack the things into the car."

Trowa simply nodded and Quatre smiled thankfully at him.

"Well then, I think Yuy, Maxwell and I should drive into town to buy the food," Wufei said.

"Uhm if you say so," Quatre started, hesitantly, "but will we really need three people for buying food?"

"Sure we do," Wufei answered. "We need Duo to choose, because I have to admit he has the best taste. Yuy will drive the car, and someone has to watch that Maxwell does not buy too much. Judging from the amount he eats at breakfast, I have no doubt that someone will have to make sure that he doesn't buy more than we can afford. And Yuy is too half hearted when it comes to Duo."

"Oh, Wufei, you are mean!" Duo pouted and showed the Chinese boy his tongue. Heero, on the other side, sent Wufei one of his best glares. Quatre tried to surpress his giggles and Trowa hid his grin.

"OK, then I guess we should start with our preparations so we can leave and arrive the beach before sunset." Quatre said, and they all nodded. The preparations went quickly. As trained Gundam pilots they knew how to organise, and they finished their work in less than one hour. And to pack their own suitcases wasn't something that needed much time, either. They didn't need many things. Only a swimsuit, a towel, some fresh clothes and air mattresses with covers.

So, about one hour later, everyone was sat in the car on their way to the beach. Heero drove, with Duo sat beside him, the directions in his hands. But Heero wasn't the only driver. The boys had decided to change every hour so no one would get exhausted. The only exception was Duo, because he had the card and knew the way best.

***

It was two hours before sunset when they arrived. The beach Duo had chosen was large and beautiful. He directed the others to a small bay, well hidden from view. And there was really no one there; they had the whole beach to themselves. Some kilometres away they could see a big pier with an amusement park. There was the place where all the people were. The five boys parked the car and started to unpack the tent from the trunk, and set it up on the sand, but not too near the water.

After they finished, Duo stretched himself and gave the others a happy look.

"OK now, before dinner, I want to take a bath," he announced. "Anyone want to come with me?"

"Sure, great idea, Duo," Quatre agreed, and threw a look over the crystal blue-green water.

"Congratulations, Maxwell, you chose a great place," Wufei admitted, and nodded. "I think a little bath before dinner sounds good. I will come with you."

"What about you, Trowa? Heero?" Quatre asked. The two boys declined.

"Go and have fun! Heero and I will prepare the food and the campfire first and join later," Trowa explained.

"Well, then let's go!" Duo shouted, excited, and ran to the tent to change his clothes. Quatre and Wufei followed, more calm, but still grinning. Some minutes later, the three boys were changed, and ready to enter the water. Duo arrived first, and let out a little yelp because the water was cold at the first touch. Wufei followed the Deathscythe pilot a little less hastily, and grinned evilly at Duo's yelp. The Chinese boy didn't care that the water was a little bit cold, and started to swim to warm up.

Only Quatre stood alone and left at the side. Unsure he let the clear waves touch his foot and shuddered a little.

"Cold," he shuddered.

"Hey Quatre, come on!" Duo shouted. "The water is not as cold as you think first."

"Ah, Duo, give me some time, please," the blond pleaded, letting the waves touch his feet again. But Duo wasn't in the mood to wait. With a big grin on his face, he sneaked up to the Sandrock pilot, now absently staring on the water at his feet. Before the Arabian boy knew what was happening, a big wave of water hit him. Shocked at the sudden cold, he let out a loud scream of surprise.

Less than one metre away, Duo stood in the water giggling at Quatre, who was now wet from head to toe. The braided boy had hit him perfectly.

"And now that you have felt the water all over your body, you can join us swimming, can't you, Q-chan?" Duo explained, laughing.

"Duo, you scoundrel!" Quatre yelled, and an evil smile came across his face. "Wait until I get you. You will pay for every drop of water!"

With these words he started to chase Duo through the water.

***

While Quatre was catching the Deathscythe pilot and driving him under water, Heero and Trowa had been making a little fire and preparing the food for grilling. Now that they were done, Trowa joined the group in the water. Only Heero was left. He laid near the fire and kept an eye on it, so nothing bad would happen.

After a while, an exhausted Duo got out of the water and plopped down onto the sand next to Heero and the fire. The braided teen closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the last warm sunbeams on his skin, while lying on his back in the sand. And the whole time he also felt Heero's heavy gaze upon him. The knowledge made Duo smile. But after a while it faded and he sighed.

"I hate to break this peaceful moment, but I can't help it. I have to tell you."

"Tell me what," asked Heero quiet and calm.

"There is something more the doctor told me. He said most people with this sickness fall into a coma in the end. And very few of them ever wake up again. I wish I could help it, but this fact is nagging at me. I don't want to die in coma. I want to see you when I die, Heero. I want to be able to look into your eyes right till the end."

Duo opened his eyes and looked into Heero's, who moved in closer to his lover.

"Duo," he whispered a little bit sad. He bent down and kissed Duo's lips. Soft and careful. The Deathscythepilot kissed back, just as soft and sweet. When they broke, he looked guilty.

"I'm sorry, Heero. Now I have ruined the mood with my babbling. But this urge to tell was so strong. I couldn't resist and I also feel better now. I'm sorry!"

"There is nothing to be sorry about," Heero interrupted in a harsh voice. "You will tell me whatever you want, whenever you feel the urge -- promise me! If it helps you to feel better then you have to tell me. Remember my promise? I said I would do everything to help you to feel better. And I don't want to break that promise. I am serious. I will never let you down. I love you too much for that."

Once Heero had finished speaking, Duo smiled warmly.

"Thank you so much," he whispered, and put his arm around the waist of the Wing pilot. "And I love you too!"

Their lips met, and they began once again to kiss, gently and sweetly. Quatre, Trowa and Wufei watched the scene from the water.

"So, they are really together now!" Quatre called out happily. But his smile disappeared fast.

"The only thing is," he said in a sad, worried voice, "I can't get rid of the feeling that this happiness won't last for long. I'm probably being paranoid, it's just -- we still don't know why Duo was so broken yesterday."

"If it helps you, Quatre, I have the same feeling about the whole situation," Wufei said, sighing.

Trowa nodded and added, "We all have this feeling of bad things to come, because of Duo's strange behaviour yesterday. But we can't do anything at the moment so we should try not to think too much about it, and be happy for the two."

"Yes, you are right, Trowa," Quatre agreed, and the gaze of the three boys returned to the two lovers at the campfire.

Duo and Heero were now sat together near the fire cuddling. Duo laid his head at Heero's chest and sighed, satisfied.

"Do you remember?" he asked quietly after a while, and pointed to the pier with the amusement park. Heero followed the gaze of his friend and raised an eyebrow.

"Remember what?" he asked back. Duo sent him a smile.

"Once that pier was a base from OZ," the braided teen explained. The face of the Wing pilot changed from questioning to knowing.

"Our first meeting," he whispered. "I tried to kill Relena because she found out about my identity and you rescued her."

"Yes, you were a bad boy then," Duo giggled. "A gentleman shouldn't shoot at a lady."

"Baka!" Heero told him, smiling, and gave his lover a light poke on the head. "Look, the others seem to have finished swimming. And the sun is setting. So go and change your clothes. And after that you can help me to grill the first meat."

Duo looked up from his comfortable place at Heero's chest and pouted.

"Nyaaaaaa, you are so mean, Hee-chan! How's about a little 'please'?"

"I am not the one who will starve," Heero replied grinning.

"Okay, okay, you win, but I want my old seat, when I come back," Duo committed and got up to run to the tent.

Fifteen minutes later Duo, along with the other three boys, had dried and changed clothes. They sat together now, grilling their food over the open fire. Duo had regained his old seat on Heero's lap as he had predicted and was now eating one steak than another. It was really difficult for the other boys to believe that only one day before, the same, now happy smiling and laughing Ex-pilot, had locked himself into his room for the whole day with an expression on his face as if the world had ended.

Especially for Heero, who was the only one who knew what was behind Duo's behaviour, it was hard to believe how strong his lover was. The Deathscythe pilot developed a strength and grace in front of his eyes, which the Japanese boy could only admire and envy. For him, it was not easy to live as before and enjoy the happiness he shared with the man he loved. Heero often had to fight back the thoughts of Duo's illness, and the fear that every hour they spent together could be the last one. He was afraid of that moment, when he would lose Duo forever.

But he had promised Duo not to cry for him as long as he lived, and also he didn't want to waste precious time with pointless worries about a future which none of them could change. Duo was more than right; they should enjoy the time they had.

The Wing pilot was pulled out of his thoughts when Duo nuzzled his head closer against his chest and sighted contentedly. He had finished his meal and so had Trowa, Quatre and Chang. Heero closed his arms around his lover's chest and smiled down at him.

"Finished? Happy?"

"Yes, very much, Hee-chan, thanks!" Duo whispered and smiled back. "It's nice now. Right the way it is. I wish we could stay like this forever."

For a second an expression of sadness washed over his face but it was as quickly gone as it had come. Although, the other boys still seemed to notice.

"Duo?" Quatre addressed his friend in a worried voice. The Wing pilot and the Deathscythe pilot exchanged a deep look. Then their eyes broke the contact, Duo nuzzled further into Heero's embrace and sighed deeply.

"I guess it's time," he started quietly. "Although I don't want to ruin the wonderful mood now, I think I have no choice. You are my friends; you have a right to know. And although I feel good today, I don't know if I will feel so tomorrow. If I have bad luck, I will never again have the chance to tell you."

He giggled a little bit.

"Funny, I said the same words to you last night, didn't I, Heero?"

The Wing pilot simply nodded and his lover continued speaking while facing his friends with a firm look.

"Before I tell you what happened two days ago, you have to promise me one thing. Heero had to promise also. Promise not to cry, no matter what I will tell you. Promise!"

Quatre went pale.

"My God, Duo, what the hell happened? Please tell us! If we have to promise you such thing... it doesn't sound good."

"In fact, it sounds as if we will hear something really terrible," Wufei added. Duo didn't answer at first. He only shook his head.

"First the promise, then I will speak." he said, determined. The three boys exchanged unsure looks with one another, and then looked over at Heero. Duo's lover had lowered his eyes and simply nodded when he felt the eyes of the others searching for help.

Quatre was the first one. He gulped hard but then nodded.

"I promise you, Duo!"

"I also promise!" Wufei announced.

"Me too!" Trowa added, the last one.

"Thanks, boys!" Duo spoke and smiled lightly.

Then he went silent for a long moment. He stared at the fire thoughtfully. As he lowered his eyes to the ground, he spoke again.

"It's difficult to know how to begin," he started. "The thing is... I have an hereditary disease. It's a not very well known kind of illness. And the worst thing is you can't recognise it until its breakout. The cold... was the breakout."

"And what... does this mean?" Quatre asked unsure.

"It means I will die soon," Duo answered soft. All three boys stared at him in disbelief. And Quatre went pale.

"Oh my God, Duo," he whispered near tears. "Please, please this can't be true!"

The Sandrock pilot swallowed hard and his body started trembling. Wufei and Trowa too had to swallow, staring at their braided friend with wide, shocked eyes.

"Please don't forget your promise," Duo said quiet and calm. "You promised me not to cry."

"We know, Duo, but," Quatre objected nearly hysterically, "what do you expect? You just told us you will die -- *die* Duo! It's really difficult to know this fact and not to cry."

"But I am not dead yet," Duo replied, smiling. "I can still get on your nerves and tease you with idiotic comments. I still live. And I want to enjoy the time. If you cry and be sad, I have to comfort you, and, truly, that is no way to live your life, is it? So you can cry for me when I am dead. But not as long as I am alive. Do you understand?"

The three heads nodded wordlessly. They understood and admired the Deathscythe pilot for his self-confidence. Heero pressed his arms around Duo's waist and it seemed like he didn't want to let go ever. Everyone was silent for a long moment, but then the braided boy again raised his voice.

"Will you... will you be there for me, as my friends?" he asked a little bit unsure? "I know Heero will be there for me, he promised."

He gave him a thankful smile.

"But as I said, I want to enjoy the rest of my time, and what I enjoy the most is being with my friends, having fun. It's... it's something I always wanted to have but couldn't because of the war, and because I was an orphan living on the street most of the time. After the war I thought that I would be able to fulfil my own wishes, but over the last two days so much broke, there isn't much left. The only thing I have now is you, my best friends, and the love of my life. I was thinking, if Heero is okay with it, I'd like to move in with him. And I know our holidays are over in one week, but eventually you can get some more time off and stay for a while with us?"

He looked around hopefully, and then his gaze came to rest on Heero, who looked back with a soft expression.

"Sure you can move to me, Duo," he said, in a soft voice, "Will you?"

Duo nodded, nothing but true happiness left on his face. Quatre used this moment to wipe away the single tear, which had stolen from his eye, after a hard fight not to cry.

"I think Sally, Catherine and Une won't have a thing against some more free days or weeks," he said, "And if we take free days now, we will work later for it. I will call Rashid when we are back and ask him to continue to represent me for a little longer."

"Catherine won't need me so much," Trowa added, in agreement. "I am sure she will be OK if I ask her for some more time."

Wufei nodded.

"You are more important than work," he said. "We sacrificed so much during the war; I think we have some right now to spend time together."

"Thanks guys," Duo murmured, and some tears escaped from his eyes.

"And, as you said, we shouldn't cry," said Heero, who saw the tears and swept them away with a soft touch. His lover smiled up at him and shook his head.

"I think it's only because I am exhausted and tired," he explained.

"When let's go to bed," Quatre suggested, and stood up. Duo didn't leave his place on Heero's chest with much enthusiasm, but he also got up, as did Trowa and Wufei. Heero followed last, and together they walked to the tent, to their beds.

Duo fell asleep as soon as he had dived under his blanket. Heero followed some time later, after fighting hard to get rid of all the unhappy thoughts which tried to enter his mind once again. It was Quatre, Trowa and Wufei who fought hard for sleep. Like Heero before, they had difficulties to accept the fact of Duo dying so soon. So it was late in the night when the three finally drifted off to sleep.

TBC...

*UsagiLOVESDuo-chan /'^^'\