Epilogue

EPILOGUE:

EIGHT MONTHS LATER:

“This is Glenda Burns reporting live from the press conference that has indeed shocked the world and the colonies. Long time rivals and multibillionaires of the famous dynasties have finally come together to merge in what has to be the most daring in the history of business as we know it. Business and economic analysts around the globe have said that this merger will do more to benefit both companies as the employment rates are expected to increase due to more job opportunities. In other related news, after the earlier shock of discovering that Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy were a couple, both families have announced that they would be having an exchange of vows later on in the year. You can be sure that the who’s who of society will be there in full force to support this wonderful union…”

~&~&~&~&~

Relena, looking resplendent in a white off-shoulder designer evening gown, smiled softly and sat down next to her best friend on the swinging lounge chair. Leaning her head against his shoulder, she lifted his hand to stare at the plain gold band on his finger.

“I am so jealous,” she purred softly as she took another sip of her champagne.

“Should I be jealous of Julie, too?” Duo asked mockingly as he placed an arm around her shoulder, leaving a light kiss on her forehead.

Relena flushed at the name of her friend and lover. “No. Julie is no threat to you.” She twirled the end of his braid around her fingers for a moment before speaking again.

“Duo?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you happy with the ways things are with your parents now?”

Duo seemed to think about it for a minute before replying. “I guess mom did take it a bit hard at first, but I think she is coming to accept it. I mean she showed up tonight, didn’t she? And even spoke to both of them too.”

Relena nodded. “I guess it is kinda hard to swallow at first. And Helen?”

Duo grinned. “She’s been the one running around seeing that every thing was ready for us tonight. She is worse than mom at organizing stuff.” This caused both of them to laugh lightly as the image of the usual tomboyish young woman as a bustling maid came to mind.

Another comfortable silence fell as they swung gently in the cool evening breeze. The sounds of the party floated out to them as they stared at the stars in silence. “So, who’s the husband?”

Duo blushed. “No one is the husband and no one is the wife, thank you very much. We are equals. You don’t hear me saying that Julie is your wife now, do you?”

Relena chuckled and sat up, staring at the sparkling violet depths. “Aaah…I love you so much, Duo. And I am so happy that you are…well, happy.”

“Relena…”

“And if that boy does anything to hurt you, I will hunt him down like the dog that he is!”

Duo blinked at her vehement tease before leaning forward to kiss her gently on the lips. “Thanks a lot, Lena. I don’t know what I would have done without you…”

“Ahem!”

Both spun around as they noticed the green-eyed girl standing aside. Dressed in dark slacks and a sparkling white blouse, Julie looked just as stunning. “I came to steal her away from you, Duo,” she joked. “You wouldn’t mind now, would you?”

Duo gave a mock yawn and stuck his nose in the air. “Nah…you can take her. I was bored with her company anyway.”

“Stupid,” Relena muttered before chuckling and following her partner back into the party.

Duo closed his eyes and didn’t bother to open them as he felt the new presence sit next to him. “Having fun, Q-man?” he drawled lazily.

“Oh, yes, Duo,” came the slightly flustered reply. “Your engagement vows were quite moving and the party is quite exciting.”

Duo opened up an eye to glance at the red-faced Arabian. “Quatre? You are drunk.”

The blond giggled as he noticed his mate walk towards them. “Trowa insisted I try the wine. I think he was trying to get me drunk.”

“I only told you to take a sip, Quatre. Not the entire bottle,” Trowa commented dryly as he pulled the slighter boy gently to his feet. Wrapping his arms around Quatre, Trowa asked. “You coming to watch the fireworks, Duo?”

Duo nodded and rose to his feet, sticking his hands into the dark slacks he wore which complemented the black silk buttoned down shirt. Eyeing the crowd that had begun to make their way out to the lawns to witness the final display for the evening, he wondered where his mate could have possibly gone. They had spent the entire evening side by side until about an hour ago when Heero had said he had something important to do.

“Congratulations again,” came the smooth voice behind him as Duo spun around to come face-to-face with Zechs.

“Oh, hey Zechs, having fun?” Duo asked with a smile on his face.

“Sure am.”

Duo lowered his head and spoke in a low voice. “Look, I am really sorry things didn’t quite work out for us, you know.”

The blond man shook his head and smiled back in reassurance. “That’s okay, Duo. I knew I never had a chance in the first place. I don’t think I have a death wish.”

Duo chuckled before he felt his presence. It was almost creepy, the way he could sense his mate before he even spoke. Heero, dressed in a pair of black pants, as well, but in a white shirt, scowled in irritation at the long-haired blond, before his mate distracted him with a well-placed kiss on his exposed neck. Without saying a word, Heero made his intentions quite clear and Zechs nodded amiably enough.

Raising his glass in a salute, he replied smoothly. “I will leave you two alone. Many years of happiness to you both.”

Heero snorted as he watched Zechs walk away before moaning at Duo’s touch. Wrapping his arms around the lithe waist, he pulled Duo closer to him and edged his neck away, causing the braided boy to whimper at the loss. “Aww…I want to kiss you, Hee-chan.”

“I don’t want him talking to you again, or I will kill him.”

Duo blinked and stared at the serious expression on his mate’s face. “Damn…remind me not to bring the mail man home then.” At Heero’s accompanying growl, Duo shook his head and leaned it against his shoulder. “You should learn to relax more, Heero.”

His only reply was a grunt as the sky suddenly became filled with a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors. Duo ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ like everyone else, noticing that Heero never really said a word, although his eyes spoke volumes. Smiling softly, he craned his neck around to watch his friends with their various partners all focusing their attention to the sky as well.

He sighed in content and pressed his body tighter against Heero’s, as their hands clasped each other tightly.

“I love you, Heero,” he muttered softly, as another splash of green and red filled the night sky.

“Hai, Duo. I love you too.”

And as if to punctuate the already meaningful evening, the sounds of a popular song floated out towards the lawns, causing partners to reach out for each other to dance.

Duo raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. “Hey, Heero…wanna dance?”

A muttered ‘I don’t dance’ was quickly ignored as the American led his reluctant mate towards the other dancing couples.

Oh-thinkin about all our younger years

There was only you and me

We were young and wild and free

Now nothin’ can take you away from me

We’ve been down that road before

But that’s over now

You keep me comin’ back for more

And Baby you’re all that I want

When you’re lyin here in my arms

I’m findin’ it hard to believe

We’re in heaven

And love is all that I need

And I found it there in your heart

It isn’t too hard to see

We’re in heaven

Somewhere above the crowd on the third floor patio of the large mansion, two men stood side-by-side watching the dancers below them in faint amusement, especially the antics of a certain long-haired American trying to teach an unmoving Japanese boy the rudiments of moving his feet to music. Chuckling, the older reached for the younger’s hand and squeezed lightly, as eyes met in silent understanding.

“Do you think Peter and Masaki will ever forgive us?” Odin asked softly, as he pulled David closer to him.

David nodded gravely. “I hope they will, but I think they will be proud of the way their cousins turned out, right?”

“Hai. At least they will not make the same mistakes we made…”

David agreed mutely and leaned closer to the warmth of his partner, continuing to watch their sons dancing…at least something akin to dancing…

Oh- once in your life you find someone

Who will turn your world around

Bring you up when you’re feelin’ down

Now nothin’ could change what you mean to me

Oh there’s lots that I could say

But just hold me now

Cause our love will light the way

I’ve been waiting for so long

For something to arrive

For love to come along

Now our dreams are comin’ true

Through the good times and the bad

Ya- I’ll be standin’ there by you

And Baby you’re all that I want

When you’re lying here in my arms

I’m finding it hard to believe

We’re in heaven

And love is all that I need

And I found it there in your heart

It isn’t too hard to see

We’re in heaven

And somewhere in heaven, two souls finally found the peace that had longed been denied to them.

Forever together for all eternity…

-The End-