Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Home for the Holidays ❯ One-Shot

Dawn was still hours away, but Duo had been unable to sleep. His
excitement was worse than that of a six year old child, but he didn't
care. //Hell, it's Christmas and I have every reason to be happy.//

He quickly padded out of his room, and down the hall, pausing only to
look out the window at the snow-covered landscape. grinning madly at
the starlit sight. He rushed downstairs, and found that Quatre's
servants had evidently been briefed ahead of time. Everything was
already ready.

[Oh, there's no place like
home for the holidays,]

Duo positively beamed as he looked around the living room of the
safehouse. Quatre had really outdone himself. The furniture had
been moved to the edges of the room to leave a large open area in the
middle and to one side. A Christmas tree stood nearly twelve feet
tall near one corner, shimmering with small white lights, while
colored lights glowed from the inner branches of the tree. Woven
in between a bead garland, a dizzying variety of ornaments hung from
the branches, small sparkling crystals, gleaming metal shapes, and a
rainbow of colored figures. A velvet clad angel graced the top. A
roaring fire popped and crackled in a fireplace trimmed with
evergreen boughs, red ribbon, and candles.

//Perfect...absolutely perfect.// Duo giggled with glee.

[`Cause no matter how far away you roam
When you pine for the sunshine
Of a friendly face]

//Quatre got it just right.// Duo rushed over to examine the gaily
wrapped presents under the tree. The size varied from the rather
large to the very small. Bows and ribbons decorated boxes and bags
that were already cheery in both color and pattern. He was picking
them up, reading the tags and trying to guess what was inside when
music began to play softly.

He turned around to see the sunny smile of Quatre as held out a mug
of hot cocoa. "Merry Christmas, Duo."

"Merry Christmas, Quatre...and you too, Trowa." Duo accepted the
mug, and smirked at the silent pilot through the rising steam.

"Merry Christmas." Trowa nearly smiled back, clearly amused by the
happiness radiating from Duo.

[For the holidays, you can't beat
Home, sweet home]

Duo heard the soft chuckle of Heero from the doorway, and turned and
grinned at them, and Wufei who wandered up behind him. Another round
of 'Merry Christmases' ensued, ending up with everyone settled to
look at the Christmas tree. Duo was slowly going out of his mind in
anticipation of when the presents would be opened. He fiddled with
his thumbs, the mug of cocoa, his braid, and was about to begin
messing with Heero when Quatre took pity. He went and fished out
presents from under the tree, one for each pilot.

Duo made himself sit still and not open his so that he could watch
the others. Quatre opened his first, giggling over the little lion
beanie baby from Trowa. Trowa actually smiled at the framed picture
of himself and Quatre that had very clearly come from the blond
pilot.

Heero and Wufei looked at their presents, then to Duo. "Go on and
open them, guys. Half the fun is seeing others get their gifts."

Wufei shrugged and opened his, smiling at a book of ancient Chinese
poetry. He gave Quatre a grateful look. Heero opened his with
deliberate slowness, careful to not harm the paper, knowing it was
driving Duo wild. Duo was practically bouncing up and down. "Get on
with it already, Hee-chan!"

Heero smirked, pulling the box out of the paper and opening it,
pulling out a CD. He bent his head to read the label. "Thank you,
Wufei. It's going to be very useful."

Wufei nodded, while Duo scrambled over to Heero to look at the CD.
As they tussled over looking at it, Quatre coughed, bringing them both
to a halt. "Duo, aren't you going to open yours?"

[Oh there's no place like home
For the holidays]

"Oh, yeah!" Duo's eyes lit up and he bounced back to his present,
plopping down beside it and ripping the bow and paper off in record
time. "Ooooooh...." Duo stared at the lovely leather bound book in
his hands reverently. A prayer book, and Heero had given it to him.

[`cause no matter
How far away you roam]

Duo practically flew into Heero's lap, giving him a huge hug. In his
startlement, Heero awkwardly hugged him in return.

Whispering in Heero's ear, Duo thanked him, "Oh, thank you Heero. It
shows you thought about me. I thought of you a lot as I was stuck out
there alone."

[If you want
To be happy in a million ways]

Realizing the others were staring, Duo climbed off Heero, and they
went back to opening presents. One by one, the boys shared the joy
of giving and each other's company, until the room was littered with
bits of paper and bows.

Duo wandered over to one of the windows, hugging the prayerbook to
his chest, to watch the first rays of dawn gild the snow. He
silently gave thanksgiving for the joy of a day that had barely
begun. As he prayed, Heero crossed over to his side, standing close in
silent companionship. Duo turned towards him, then noticed the sprig
of mistletoe hung from the rafter over their heads.

"Heero..."

"Yes, Duo?"

"Merry Christmas." Duo leaned forward, and kissed him briefly.

Heero stiffened at first in shock, then noticed the mistletoe. As he
leaned close to kiss again, he murmured, "Merry Christmas, Duo."

[For the holidays, you can't beat
Home, sweet home]

~~Owari~~