Heero and Hilde both stood outside the apartment complex. Watching and waving at her family as they headed off back to their own home. After trying to persuade them to move closer to them. Kind offer, but neither of them were looking to live in such proximity to her family.
They stood until the family was out of sight in their cars. They would have watched them go at the airport but they both remembered that they had to go to work the next morning.
In silence they both walked back into the apartment. Taking the elevator back to their floor. If anything, it was more awkward now that her parents were gone then when they were here.
Inside the apartment, uncomfortable silence set in. Hilde knew she should enjoy it while it lasts. Because once the child is born, her life is going to be anything but quiet. But then again, it probably wouldn't be in this apartment anyway.
Heero was thinking much the same as he sat down on the couch. Hilde sat opposite of him. Things were back to normal. But for some reason, it didn't feel like it. It didn't feel like he wanted it to feel like.
Now that her family was gone, what would she do now? She knew Heero probably wouldn't want a child here. She didn't want to raise the child by herself either. They had been in such close proximity in the last week that she had barely though of Duo at all. She liked his warmth. He could be compassionate when he wanted to be. Or was it all just an act? All she knew was that she disliked the gap that now stood between them.
He watched her sitting across the room on the couch opposite of him. A sad expression on her face. Things were going to become hectic for her in the next 8 months. Had it already been a month that since she'd gotten pregnant? He couldn't just let her face it all alone. Not when he was partly the cause.
"You can stay here as long as you like. When you have the child." He heard his own voice and realized that it sounded cold and emotionless. He didn't like it anymore. The child deserved more than that. He wasn't even sure if she would let him be a part of the child's life. "When the child is born, may I. . .be a part of its life?"
Her sad expression brightened at him. As she heard him speak the last bit with what sounded like a little bit of hopefulness. Maybe she wouldn't have to face it all alone. At least she had somewhere to stay. "Of course." She grinned at him. "You don't think I'd let you out of it. Do you?"
"Hn." He smirked at her. Maybe things were not hopeless for him. For the first time he could remember, he had a real reason to live. They got up and prepared for bed. As they had to go to work at the Preventors the next morning. Something neither of them felt really prepared for. Or maybe it was just having to get up at all after the weekend.
Out of habit in the last week, they both headed for the same bedroom. They both stopped at its door and Hilde turned to look at him. A small blush on his face. "I. . .uh. . ." She stuttered, unsure just what to say at this predicament."
"Good night." He turned around and headed into the other bedroom. Not waiting for a response. It didn't have his cloths in it yet but he would fix that later. He couldn't believe he just did that.
Hilde watched him close the door behind him. That was a little awkward. Opening the bedroom door, she looked at the furnished room. Looking at how lonely it seemed for one person. She was falling for him. The contact that she'd had with him in the last week might not have been as close as she was with Duo. But it felt more intimate. On a more serious level.
Closing the door, she laid down on the bed. A queen sized bed feels very big when your used to sharing it with someone. She ran a hand over the empty pillow next to hers. "Goodnight."
O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Heero sat at the kitchen table the next morning. Feeling slightly more to normal as what was before her family visited. Routine was good. The morning paper, a small breakfast, and a cup of coffee in his hands.
Reaching for it, he brought it up to his lips for his morning dose of caffeine when he felt a hand pull it from his hands. He looked up to glare at the person for doing such an act of indecency. Only to see Hilde glaring at him just as ferociously.
Taking the cup of coffee, she poured it down the sink. Followed then by the pot of coffee sitting on the counter. "I'm pregnant. So I cant drink coffee anymore. And if I cant drink coffee, then neither can you!" She yelled him. Shoving a glass of OJ under his nose.
Heero beat his head on the table.
O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Duo walked the halls of the Preventor building. Looking for Hilde. He forgave her for what happened. It wasn't her fault. She was right. Like she always was. He would ask for her forgiveness. She had to forgive him. She always had before, right?
Last weeks incident with Relena was just a thought in the back of his head. And nothing more than an incident. As long as Hilde didn't find out, she would take him back. Like she always did. They had both decided to keep quiet about it. He couldn't blame Heero. He was his best friend. It was his own fault that he had gotten drunk. Heero would forgive him. And so would Hilde.
He spotted her coming out of the elevator with Heero. Grinning, he jogged forward to catch up with her. But stopped suddenly when someone else came into view. Relena jogged quickly over to him.
"Duo, I need to talk to you." She said pleadingly. Trying to push him back into one of the vacant offices. But Duo just ignored her.
"Not now Relena." Duo said none to lightly. Hilde had walked off. Damn. Now he would have to find her again. Relena stood in his way again.
"Duo, this is really important. About the other week. . ." She began but Duo just glared at her. Making her exasperated with his attitude. He continued to ignore her.
"Relena, we said we were not going to talk about it! Now if you can excuse me. . ." He pushed her away but she latched onto his arm. Pulling him into whispering distance.
"Duo! I'm Pregnant!" She whispered as loudly as she could into his ear without blurting it to everyone around them. They were getting enough odd looks from people as it was.
He stopped trying to walk and looked at her with a shocked expression. Relena let go of him as he suddenly went limp and fell to the floor. Everyone looked at them when Duo passed out on the floor. ". . .Duo?"
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Heero sat at his desk in his office. Watching though his window where he could see Hilde at her own desk. She seemed to be taking things a bit better than yesterday. His view was obstructed briefly by Quatre who was walking by. He waved as he passed.
Quatre waved to Heero as he passed his office. Stopping in step, he backtracked his steps and looked at Heero who was now focused on his work. Being empathic, he felt an oddly large amount of emotion coming from his emotionless friend.
"Hey, Heero, is something the matter? I'm getting very mixed emotions coming from you this morning." He walked into his office and had a seat on the edge of his desk.
Heero tried to glare at him but gave up. It was pointless to try and drive him off. He was like a leech. "At Duo's birthday party last month, I got drunk and slept with Hilde." He was blunt and to the point.
Quatre looked at him, slightly shocked at the proclamation. News he wasn't aware of as he had been in meetings in space for the past two months. He hadn't been able to make it to the party. His shocked expression lessened into that of question. "Is she pregnant?"
"No." He answered quickly. He hadn't talking to Hilde about when they would tell everyone. They had to soon before she started to show.
Quatre looked at him funny. Reading his emotions and noting how he answered that question a little to quickly for his taste. "So, she pregnant?"
Heero dropped his head. "Yes. Don't let it out just yet. She'll decide when to tell everyone." He was slightly thankful to see him nod in agreement. "Any words of advice?"
"Yes." Quatre nodded again. "As my religion defines, you being the father, you should marry her before she had the child." He got up and walked back out of the office to continue his own work. Leaving Heero with the most perplexed expression you could imagine. He had expected a lot of answers from Quatre. But he didn't see that coming.