Notes and disclaimers: I don't own GW, but the Saisos are mine!

Chapter 12

Rose didn't know it was Duo who had touched her until he had already fallen to the floor knocked out from the automatic defense reflex she had given him. She sank to the floor and pulled Duo's upper body into her lap. She gave a cry and choked out, "I'm sorry Duo. I'm so sorry." She smoothed back his bangs and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

The great thump of a body falling to the floor brought Tesuki and the other pilots into the other practice room. Tesuki nearly grinned while he said, "He didn't just scare you and you gave him your defensive moves did you?"

Rose looked up at them, tears streaming from her eyes. "I didn't mean to." She replied, sadness in her expression. She looked back down at the man in her lap and traced his face with a gentle finger.

Duo groaned as he woke and said, "What did you hit me with?" He felt her finger stop and was privately disappointed when it lifted away.

Wufei was the one who came out and said, "You idiot Maxwell. Did you forget she's a karate black belt?"

Duo opened his violet eyes and found Rose above him, tears running down her face. She gave him a small smile and wiped the tears away with one hand.

"I guess I did," Duo admitted. He sat up and relished that he had been laying in Rose's lap. But he wanted more.

"That was a stupid thing to do," Tesuki said, but he had a grin on his face while he and Duo gazed at each other. "Suzumi is still thinking karate. You shouldn't have scared her."

"Well, when you were yelling at me just a moment ago, you should have warned me." Duo retorted, rising and pulling Rose up with him.

Rose glanced at Duo, eyebrows raised and then looked at her brother, "Tesuki was yelling at you? What ever about?"

"You," everybody said. Rose blushed and remained quiet.

"Now, before anything else happens," Heero said pulling his gun out and aiming it at Duo.

"Heero!" Rose yelped, her eyes growing wide.

"Ask her or we'll have to shoot you." Wufei drew his gun too.

"What is this all about?" Rose demanded. She turned to Duo who had been staring at her. She couldn't read the emotions running through his eyes, but she hoped they were for the better.

Duo went down on one knee, still gazing into the girl's eyes. Rose looked at him puzzled, but when he took her hand in both of his she was no longer confused. She knew in that instant why they had all come.

"Suzumi Saiso, will you marry me?" Duo asked.

Rose stared at him and then lifted her eyes to the others.

Tesuki said, "You better say yes. Or all that we yelled at him will prove useless." He was grinning like an idiot. He knew she would say yes, no doubt about it.

She looked at the others, "Don't worry, we'll make sure he goes with the wedding. He won't be able to refuse and he won't leave you at the altar." Quatre and Trowa said with smiles.

Rose looked down at Duo again with tears forming in her eyes again, "Yes." She said. She sank down into his arms and hugged him tight. "I love you with all my heart Duo Maxwell."

As Duo claimed her lips in a deep kiss, the guns disappeared back where they had come from. Forgiveness was a truly wonderful thing, but love was even more wonderful.

The End

Note: SO? What'd you think?

2