The Meaning of Life Part 5
Just as Heero had hoped and prayed, the weather could not have been more perfect when he woke on what his parents were calling the 'Big Day'.
Smiling at the sound of birds chirping when he woke, he took in the bright sunlight melting past the cracks of the drawn shades in the bedroom. At the soft sigh against his shoulder, he looked down to his lover sleeping soundly in his arms.
Like every morning before, the artist was taken aback by the beautiful creature curled up to him. Gently brushing back long chestnut bangs, he drank in the peaceful heart-shaped face. Every quiet exhale came with a soft purr that resonated from deep within the neko's bare chest. In his sleep, Duo's tail wrapped tighter around the other teenager's waist.
Content to simply lie there and stare, Heero did not need to wait long before the neko sighed. His violet eyes blinking open, he rubbed them tiredly before looking up to find his partner watching him. Blushing, Duo grinned with a muttered, "'Morning."
"'Morning," the art student replied. Placing a kiss on the cat-eared boy's forehead, he tightened his hold on him and whispered, "Happy Birthday, love."
Suddenly becoming very alert, the neko sat up as his tail swayed to-and-fro behind him. "Thanks," he smiled brightly. And with all the innocence and joy of a child, he practically bounced in place asking, "So what's the plan for the day? You still haven't told me yet."
Pushing himself up, Heero chuckled, "Well, our friends thought that we all could catch a movie of your pick this afternoon then visit the ice cream parlor just like the 'old days.' Then I have something planned for dinner."
Never one to expect anything on his birthday since they were a gift in and of themselves, Duo was more than thrilled with the suggestions. The way his face shined in the faint sunlight, the artist's breath hitched in his throat. Over the past few days, he thought back to Relena's comment regarding how the neko seemed to be 'glowing'.
At that moment, Duo was certainly was doing just that. Enough so that he outshone the beams of sunlight that were spotting the room.
Suddenly sniffing the air, the studying lawyer's tall ears perked up. "Waffles," he realized aloud. All but jumping from the bed, he hurried for his dresser. "Blueberry waffles! My favorite!" he cheered while throwing a plain gray t-shirt on and quickly adjusting his disheveled braid.
Heero rose from the mattress while shaking his head in amusement. "Well I'm glad that you've been able to shake that stomach bug in time to enjoy your mom's birthday breakfast," he commented.
"Me, too," Duo sighed in relief. "That prescription that Sally wrote for me really did the trick." First to finish changing, he moved over to his partner and kissed the back of his neck. "Hurry up, 'Ro!" he called as he threw the door open. "We don't want breakfast to get cold!"
Quietly chuckling, the art major pulled his socks on last to finish his look and allowed the neko to lead the way down the hall.
* * * * * *
Gasping as he opened up the wrapped box that his father presented, Duo's eyes widened on the electronic organizer inside. Seated on the couch across from him, Noin and Zechs shared a warm smile as their hands joined. Please by their son's reaction, they looked back to him.
Still stunned by the hand-held device, the neko breathed, "I've really always wanted one of these. All of the good lawyers have one." Carefully lowering his gift, he closed the distance between himself and his parents to hug them tightly. "Thank you so much," he whispered.
"It's the best of the best out there. We know that you'll put that to good use," Zechs stated as they pulled back. When his son opened his mouth, he held his hand up and insisted, "Don't worry about the price. You're worth every penny and much more than that."
Over the last few years, the married couple had embarked on a successful business that allowed them to work from the comfort of their home. Neither one of them had been comfortable with not working another day in their life as Danielle had offered. The fact that she had given them their own estate was one thing. But making a living was another.
And such was the arrangement, that they would provide everything for themselves and their family on their own.
"Like you said," Noin began, "All of the good lawyers have one of those organizers. We can't have you ready to head out on into the world without one of your own."
Gently running a finger over the device, Duo could not help the wide grin on his face. A gift like this meant that he was that much closer to being like everyone else in his field. It actually made him feel a little more like his peers... more normal in a way.
Biting his lip, little Danny hopped from the couch with the wrapped item in his hand. "I, uh, made this for you," he announced when his brother turned to him. Looking almost nervous, he handed over his offering.
Duo blinked in surprise and accepted the gift with a warm smile. Unwrapping the square item, he found a ceramic 'plaque' made during the child's arts and crafts class with the multi-colored painted letters reading 'World's Best Big Brother.'
His violet eyes widening with another gasp, the braided neko turned to his little sibling as tears filled his eyes. Quickly scooping Danny up, he purred deeply while their tails twined. "This is the best gift I've ever received," he whispered.
When they separated, Duo held up his present proudly and announced, "I'm going to have this on the mantel in the house Heero and I are building when it's finished." Beaming, Danny threw his arms back around his brother with a deep purr.
From the door frame that he was leaning again, Heero smiled warmly and pushed himself off to stand straight when there was a knock on the door. "That would be the others getting ready to leave for the movie," he told his partner.
Nodding, Duo rubbed his little brother's head and stood to head for the door. On his way past his parents, he gave them each another embrace.
A hand on the small of his lover's back as they headed out, the artist grinned over his shoulder to the family. 'Good luck,' Noin mouthed while Danny waved excitedly. Zechs nodded firmly looking every bit the proud father as he offered a wink.
It would come as quite the shock to his son when he learned of the dinner that Heero secretly had with them towards the end of the school year to request for their blessing in his asking for the neko's hand.
They had been every bit as anxious as the Japanese young man in waiting for this day.
On the other side of the front door, Solo and the remainder of his clan greeted the couple with smiles as they all headed out together. Meeting up with everyone else at the theater, Duo's birthday was in full swing.
* * * * * *
Later that afternoon, it really was like old times when everyone gathered together in the ice cream parlor following the film, with the addition of the newest pack of nekos.
Excited as he was over the whole day's events, Duo was surprised over how tired he was feeling even half-way through the film. Not wanting to be rude, he fought his fatigue and kept a smile on his face for his friends to see.
By the time he returned home, the braided neko turned to his lover and asked if there was time for a quick nap. Taken by surprise, the artist really took in how tired the cat-eared boy looked now that he was not forcing himself to look alert.
Placing a hand on his lover's forehead, Heero asked, "A nap on your birthday? Are you feeling all right?" Only finding the skin cool to his touch, he lowered his hand and frowned in concern.
"A little lightheaded," Duo admitted with a shrug. "Maybe it's all just been too much excitement for one day."
That had been a half-hearted excuse. He was never one to tire easily, but he had noted over the last couple of weeks that he felt more and more fatigued as the days wore on. And he knew that his partner was catching onto that as well.
Not wanting his worry to ruin the day, the art major grinned and nodded, "There's plenty of time for you to take a nap. I have a few things that I need to get together for dinner tonight, so you lie down. If you're still asleep when it's time to head out, I'll come wake you."
Tail swishing lazily, the neko smiled while he leaned for an appreciative kiss before heading upstairs for their room. Biting his lip. Heero remained in the living room and watched his partner slip from his sight. Something was wrong. He felt it. And he knew that Duo was aware of it as well.
In a heap, the Japanese youth collapsed onto the couch and covered his face with his hands. Moments later, Danielle peeked her head into the room and scanned it for her future son-in-law. Finding that her boy was alone, she grinned widely and hurried to the couch. "I'm going to get started on dinner soon so the cakes will be finished by the time your friends all arrive," she informed in a whisper.
Suddenly realizing that something was not right when her son lowered his hands from his face, the red-haired woman frowned, "Heero?" Taking a seat beside him, she rested a hand on his shoulders and asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, but I don't know exactly what it is," Heero answered while meeting his mother's gaze. "I know that Sally and Howard gave Duo a clean bill of health aside from some stomach bug, but I know they're missing something. I can tell he knows it, too. He's been so tired lately... and not at all like himself somehow."
Danielle bit her lip and wrapped her hands around his. "Then you talk to them again," she suggested firmly. "If you're both certain that something was overlooked, make sure the answers are found."
Lightly cupping the sides of her boy's face, she smiled and said quietly, "But for today, just focus on how happy you are both going to be together. Whatever this thing is, it will be worked out. Don't let an unknown ruin all that you've planned today."
Allowing those words to take hold, the artist held back his concern. A small smile tugging his lips, he nodded in agreement. She was right, after all... it was foolish to allow an uncertainty take away the hard-fought happiness that he and Duo finally found. There was far too much waiting and planning for this day to let anything spoil it.
Rejuvenated, Heero rose from the couch after quickly hugging his mother. Turning to the wall clock, he thought aloud, "It's going to be a couple of hours before dark, so there is plenty of time to have everything set up." As the retired lawyer stood beside him, he asked, "Would you like an extra pair of hands to help you in the kitchen?"
Her face lighting with her grin, Danielle replied, "I certainly would like that."
* * * * * *
When Duo was lightly roused from his sleep, it was already dark enough out that the street lamps were on. Uncurling himself from the nearly perfect ball that he had curved himself into, he yawned widely.
Moments later, Heero led his lover by hand out into the night for their dinner plans. Overhead, millions of stars lit the clear skies along with the half-moon for a prefect evening. "So where are we headed that's on foot?" the neko inquired with a brilliant smile.
"You'll see in a little bit," his partner snickered over the other young man's childlike anxiousness. "Patience."
Quietly conversing as they continued to walk through the streets, the pair soon reached the large park at the edge of town. His violet eyes widening in realization, Duo let his hand slip away as Heero moved towards where his car had been parked in the first parking spot to remove a red-and-white-checkered blanket and food basket.
In little more than a breath, the braided teenager commented, "We haven't had a picnic in a long time. And we never have after dark, when we would have more privacy."
Heero freed a hand so they could latch back onto each other. Leading the way into the park, he smirked, "Privacy spare a few dozen witnesses." Tilting his head in confusion, Duo followed his lover quietly.
When they approached the clearing near the end of the sprawling trees and walkways lit by street lamps, the neko soon found those 'witnesses' that his lover was referring to. At the sight of the dozens of blinking, twinkling lights from the fireflies hovering around, the neko couldn't help the bright smile on his face
"Just like the night of our first kiss," he breathed. In fact, that clearing had been the very same spot of the event.
Returning the grin, the artist hummed an affirmative and took them to the center of the clearing to lower the basket and unravel the blanket. Duo shook his head in wonder and appreciation of his partner's romantic side.
Amidst their glowing friends and the stars above, the couple shared a pleasant dinner. Laughing and keeping a lighthearted talk, it was a rare experience for them to be outdoors and all to themselves.
Once the few items left that needed to be packed up were put away, Duo lay on his back to stare up to the heavens with his arms folded behind his head. Closing his eyes, he sighed deeply, "This is nice."
Quickly and quietly removing the box from the basket, Heero tied it to the end of the neko's braid that had fallen beside him. "Yes, it is," he smirked as he finished his work. Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on the pouting lips beneath him.
"Your birthday cake is waiting back home for dessert," the artist announced while light rubbing his best friend's arm. "We probably should head back since our families probably finished their dinners and are waiting on us."
Duo's eyes opened and he pushed himself up with a soft, "All right." The moment he was on his feet, he noticed his braid felt heavier than usual when it swung behind him. Frowning, he reached back mumbling, "What the-" His words cut out in a sharp gasp when his fingers grasped something metallic.
Violet eyes wide, he held the end of the rope of hair up to his face. Jaw dropping to open and close without a voice to speak, he finally managed a stammered, "H-Heero?"
Shifting to kneel atop the blanket, the Japanese youth reached up to free the ring. When he looked up into the shocked eyes watching him, a wave of nervousness suddenly washed over him as he took the neko's left hand. Clearing his throat against the lump growing there, he began, "Duo, you... you've given me so much in my life that I feel selfish asking this from you, too."
Tears welled up in Duo's eyes as he bit his lip. Whimpering softly, he squeezed the hand that rested in his own.
A quiet laugh bubbled from Heero's chest as he looked away. "I had this whole speech planned and I can't remember a word of it," he said, shaking his head. Looking back up to the heart-shaped face with his own eyes shimmering, he simply spoke from the heart, "You make my life worth living. I have a reason to wake up every morning, look forward to every day... because of you."
Completely ignoring the tears rolling down his face, the neko smiled lovingly in appreciation of those sentiments. Whatever had been planned, nothing could have been more perfect or appreciated than those words.
Reassured by that grin, Heero took a deep breath and wiped a stray tear with his free hand. Intently fixing their gazes together, he asked softly, "Would you marry me?"
All but collapsing to his knees, Duo threw his arms tightly around his lover's neck. Sniffling, he nodded, "Yes. Of course." His own arms wrapping around the cat-tailed boy, the artist released the breath that he had been holding and buried his face in a shoulder.
Pulling back, Heero reached for his fianc?s shaking left hand. Gently slipping the ring into place, he smiled while the neko held it up for a close inspection. Laughing, Duo closed the distance between them for a deep, searing kiss.
"I love you," the braided teenager breathed when they came back up for air, resting their foreheads together.
Replying in kind, the art major grinned, "Ai shiteru." Gently kissing his soul mate once again, he suggested, "Why don't we head home and tell the others the good news?"
Still beaming, Duo nodded excitedly. Together, he and Heero wrapped up the blanket and gathered their belongings to head back to the car.
* * * * * *
By the time they returned home, they were swarmed by their friends and family that crowded the living room. Even Treize and Lady Une were present along with their little boy. Moved to tears at having all of his loved ones close for the big event, Duo proudly showed off his engagement ring when asked.
Danielle, Trent, Zechs and Noin all took on the role of proud parents, more than thrilled that their boys were going to be exchanging vows as life partners. They truly were each other's soul mates and deserved to be together.
That night, all was right in the world.
Little did anyone know that everything they knew was about to be turned upside down very soon.
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page