An: Well some of you came back. Thanks! Lol. I'm just happy anybody reads this thing. Though it is soon drawing to a close… sorry guys. But at least you'll know how it all turns out.

Disclaimer: I'm just gonna make this clear. I don't own Gundam wing, never have, never will, and I'm tried to writing it, so don't sue me b/c of any chapter!

Ch. 16 – On Bended Knee

"Hilde!" Duo called, swinging the door open with his free hand, the other filled with two dozen red roses. "Hild?" He questioned, puzzled by her lack of response. "Hilde?"

The room greeted him with an uneasy silence.

"Where could she have gotten off to?" He swung the door back closed with a loud 'thud,' and laid the roses down on the coffee table. Carefully he surveyed each tiny room of the house. "Hilde baby, you here?" He called once more, hoping this was some sort of joke.

On the kitchen counter laid a note. "There's some lunch meat in the fridge. Remember how you were gonna chase that guy away? Well, you were late. So I'm out to lunch. I'm sure you'll get by without me. You obviously were fine enough alone in bed last night."

"Oh no…what have I done?" He crumpled the paper up in his fist and threw it on the ground. "Where could she have gone? Why would she have gone? I know I screwed up. I know I did! But…it wasn't entirely my fault!" Then an idea hit him. "Well, I'll have her the surprise of her life when she gets home. Then she'll never give that guy…whatever his name is…another thought!"

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After a few moments of awkward silence, Hilde looked up from her plate. "You know this has been nice, but…I think I'm ready to go home."

"Really? Why you've barely touched your dinner, and we haven't even had dessert!" –You have to have dessert…-

"You know I'm just really not hungry anymore."

"But they have the best tiramisu! You just have to try it. Then I promise, I'll take you home."

"All right." She began twisting her napkin in her fingers. –I never should have come…I never should have come…-

"You look nervous all of a sudden. Is something bothering you."

Her head shot up from her lap. "No. Nope. Nothing's bothering me." She slapped on Duo's big, dumb cover-up grin.

"Any Dessert?" The waiter politely asked, gesturing toward a display table full of sugary goodies.

"Yes, for myself, I would like the chocolate cheesecake, and tiramisu for the lady."

"Very good choices. I will be back in a moment." And again the waiter disappeared, leaving them all alone in a room full of people Hilde had never seen before, all looking much too dressed for lunch. However, she was dressed in a ridiculous get-up herself.

-Why do people wear these? They're unflattering, horribly uncomfortable, hot, did I all ready say they make you look bad? I think I did…-

"Here you are." The waiter laid each tiny dish down in front of its recipient.

"Thank you, so much." Jason smiled warmly, then took a bite of his cheesecake. "Mmm...divine…you should try it."

Hilde took a bite of her own. "Not bad. Never had anything like it, but not bad."

Jason scooped up a mouthful's worth of cheesecake on his fork and lifted it across the table. "Here, have a taste."

"No.." Hilde laughed.

"Oh, come on." He gestured it toward her.

"Well all right." She leaned forward and engulfed the cheesecake with her mouth, then gently slid her teeth across the fork to clear it before Jason took it back.

"Exquisite isn't it?"

"Pretty good. Better than this weird T thing."

"Maybe they didn't make it as well today. It's usually a cut above."

"Maybe it's just not my cup of tea."

"Well, I guess you'd like to be getting home soon."

"Yes, thank you for a wonderful lunch though. It more than repaid a few simple questions."

"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I certainly enjoyed the company. Next time I breeze through, I'll call you up. How about that?"

"That might be nice." She wrote her number on the back of the receipt once Jason had paid.

"Thank you Masseur Anthony. We always enjoy your business."

-Anthony? His name is Jason…-

"And thank you." He took Hilde by the arm again and began to lead her out to the car.

"Why did he call you Anthony? I thought your name was Jason."

"Anthony is my middle name. It's the pen name I use, instead of using my real name."

"Oh, so most people call you Anthony, then?"

"The people I don't know or trust. But I trust you." His smile seemed to melt her soul as he looked at her. Hilde couldn't help but stare into those gorgeous green eyes of his. They were so easy to get lost in. They just seemed to get closer and closer the more she looked at them, and then, they were closer. It wasn't just her thoughts, they were getting closer and closer and closer, and Jason's arms wrapped around her waist. Suddenly his lips were against hers, and for a moment, she was paralyzed; but she quickly fought him off.

"Get off me you creep!" She screamed, running away.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to come on too strong. You were just looking at me and…I thought that meant that…I'm sorry."

"You should be! Now can I trust you to keep your hands off me until I get home, or should I call a cab?"

"No, no, I promise. I never meant to come on too strong."

"Just…just take me home."

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Duo flicked off the light switch and watched the candles glow. He had pulled all the blinds and lit nearly thirty candles periodically throughout the living room and bedroom. Twenty of the roses were still intact, but he had used the other four as pedals to sprinkle from the front door all the way to their bed. Two glasses were set out on the counter and champagne was chilling in the refrigerator. And the ring was still in his pocket. Everything was perfect to sweep her off her feet.

He heard a car pull into the driveway and the door crash closed. Then it pulled away quickly.

"Oh great, my dearly beloved it here." Hilde groaned, seeing his car parked outside. She trudged up to the door and swung it open. "Oh hunny, I'm home."

"Welcome home." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her sweetly, but she pulled away.

"If you think this is your way of apologizing for last night you-" She stopped short. Her eyes opened wide, and she looked around. "…Did an amazing job."

He closed the door behind her and smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that."

"You did all this for-" She looked down at the ground where a path of rose petals lay. "Roses!" She covered her mouth and almost cried as she followed it to their bedroom.

"Hey, wait a minute!" He came and stood in front of her. "Hold your horses. There's more stuff for here first."

She stood on her tip toes and looked up over him. "There are millions of roses on my bed!"

"Only twenty, but I'm glad you're excited. If I could buy you a million, I would."

"Oh!" She threw her arms around him. "Oh, Duo, I love you."

"Yeah I know. And I love you too, baby."

"So does this mean we get to take the roses…off the bed?"

"Yeah…"

"Good to see you're in better spirits today." She joked and kissed his cheek.

"But first, go and sit down on the sofa."

"Why?"

"Just go…" She obeyed and sat down and impatiently waited her next surprise. Suddenly, she heard the creek of the fridge and a loud pop.

"Duo Maxwell…is that…champagne?"

"You have no patience!" He poured a little in each glass, then disappeared into their bedroom and retrieved one of the roses.

"Duo, we can not afford champagne!"

"But we're about to have something to celebrate." He handed her a glass and the rose, then set his own down on the coffee table. He reached inside his pocket and drew forth a little black box, then went down on one knee.

Hilde gasped and tears came to her eyes before he ever said a word. –I was beginning to think this would never happen…-

He opened the box which held a little silver ring with a small, simple diamond in the center. "Hilde Schbeiker, you are the most gorgeous woman in the entire world. I don't know why in the world you ever paid any attention to me, as stupid as I am, but you are the greatest woman in the whole world. And you're even greater for having to put up with me…even if I am devilishly good looking." He grinned. "Baby, I love you so much, and I don't deserve you to, but I would spend every day of my life thanking your for it if you would do me the honor of being my wife."

"Of course!" She jumped into his arms and knocked him over. Together the laid on the floor laughing and kissing whispering 'I Love You' a million times over.

An: Aww, wasn't that great sapp? Everyone happy with Duo and Hilde right now? Cause I am!

Special Thanks:

Hououza – My buddy, you're back! Yeah, I knew you hadn't left me, but thanks for letting me know you didn't. lol. You should worry about that guy, really, u should.

Sam – Thanks so much for the suggestion, as you can see, I changed it!

Youkai No Rin – Thanks for your review!

Heaven'sgirl – Thanks again for reviewing, it means a lot.

Keeroshu – Well, be happy, Duo made it. Now if they make it all the way to the altar, that's still in the air. And yes, you're very very observant, the interview guy and Kevin are linked. See if you can't figure it out.

Rinny Leonheart – You're also very good. You and Keeroshu have got this figured out that all things lead back to Kevin. And I hope you get your happily ever after. I'm still hoping for mine, too.