Disclaimer: Gundam Wing doesn't belong to me. I didn't make any profit writing this story. Though it did give me a great deal of pleasure.

Warning: None, 1+2 friendship story

December 7th

If You Believe...

I remember a conversation I had with Heero once. It was during the first war and one of the few times we found ourselves together. It was winter and the shop merchants had set out the Christmas displays. Wreaths hung from light posts and there was an air of expectation that was almost tangible. It had been snowing since the night before and the world was still frosted in white, dirt and slush not yet having had the chance to ruin it. As we walked, our steps were muffled and snowflakes continued to fall, sticking to our eyelashes and hair.

We had stopped at the town square, hovering on the edge, watching but not intruding. A sleigh had been set up and a man dressed as Santa Claus greeted children as they climbed up to sit in his lap. An assistant took their picture. After a brief conversation the child climbed down, a candy cane clutched in their hand.

Heero watched the proceedings with a scornful look on his face. "In this day and age everyone knows Santa Claus cannot be real."

I smiled and shrugged; rather amused by how annoyed he seemed over something so trivial. "They're only children, Heero. They believe what they want to."

"But surely they know that's the mayor."

Trust Heero to spot the man despite his wig and impressive set of whiskers. I wondered briefly what kind of child Heero must have been and if he'd been as cynical as a six year old as he was at sixteen.

"It's Christmas. If you're a child, this is magic time."

"I don't understand." He was looking at me then, as if I held all the answers in the world, or at least the key to this particular mystery.

I had sighed and done my best.

"You're missing the point Heero. It's not about truth and logic. It's about believing and wishing and dreaming."

He still looked incredulous. I decided to try another approach. "Santa Claus is like believing in peace. It's totally irrational, right? Impossible. There will always be fighting somewhere, hunger somewhere, pain somewhere . . . and yet . . . and yet we go on every day hoping that peace is possible."

His nodded slowly and I could tell he was thinking about my words.

"But I believe in Relena, and she's real."

I rolled my eyes and stuffed my hands inside the pockets of my coat. "Now who's listening for sleigh bells? You and I both know that no matter how much Relena practices pacifism and how much peace her new government could bring, it'll only be a surface patch."

He scowled and we watched the children in silence for a few minutes more before continuing our walk. What looked like two friends out enjoying the festivities on Christmas Eve were actually two wanted terrorists checking exit points and scanning for Oz soldiers.

More illusions. I wondered if we would ever be exactly what we seemed and glanced over at Heero, making a silent wish to the night.

A wish that, if the Gods didn't hear me, maybe the spirit of Christmas would.

Please don't take him away. He has so much more to discover. I could show him if you let me. And even if you don't spare me, please don't take him.

I don't know if anything heard my wish that night, or if fate just decided to give us a break. But Heero survived despite all odds, and I was right there by his side.

In the end the big things do not give our life meaning but the small every day acts we practice. As I help another child climb into the sleigh where Santa sits, I remember my wish and smile. The little girl stares intently at the man dressed all in red and white and thinks for a moment before finally blurting out, "Are you really Santa Claus?"

Blue eyes twinkle and behind a thick white beard, Heero grins. "I am if you believe it so."