"Hey Hildey, do ya have a screwdriver?" Duo asked me while working on the broken car’s interior.

"Ummm… yeah. Here," I said and handed him it, "But the car’s battery? I think it died. There’s no use trying to fix it, Duo."

"Well, it’s worth a try," Duo said with a smug grin. I smiled at him. ‘Your so stubborn’ I thought.

"AHA!" Duo yelled out. Louder than the radio I was listening to. The car started a few seconds later. "What did I tell you, Hildey girl?" He came over and patted me on the shoulder. So, I pulled on his braid.

"So what braidboy! I know your weakness, remember?" After letting him kneel in pain I finally let go of his hair. ‘Heh, I’m so evil…’ I thought.

"I know your weakness too Hilde!" Duo stole my beret and ran out of the garage with it. Of course, I chased after him. From the corner I head a certain someone yell "Hathead, hathead!" and he dashed around the corner. I came to the side of our house… and saw nothing.

‘He’s hiding. I’m not that stupid Duo!’ I looked at the nearby bush, expecting him to jump out at any time. So I crept up to it… "GOTCHA!" I yelled. Silence. "…"

"YAAAAAA!!!" I turned around just in time to see Duo running towards me, beret still in hand. I had a gut feeling about this…

He grabbed me around the waist and started tickling me. I couldn’t help but burst into loud obnoxious laughter. I tried to get away, but my knees buckled and I collapsed. Duo fell on top of me and for a second all he did was stare at me. Then he smiled and handed me my beret.

"Braidboy," I said and tugged on his hair. Then I heard a small rumble. "Hungry?" I asked.

"Yep," Duo said and got up, patting his stomach. "C’mon, I think I have enough for us to go out and eat somewhere."

We got on the motorcycle I bough with Duo in front. He just had to get to drive it. It’s fine with me. I mean, hey, he can steer a gundam so I guess it’s okay. Plus we’ve never ridden on it together so I’d rather him in front. ^.^

When the motorcycle started and I had my arms wrapped around his waist, I felt different. Even through his leather jacket I could smell him. ‘Spicy’. I don’t know why but I felt safe. And comfortable. His hair brushed against my neck. It was the only visible skin ironically. I closed my eyes, and let his braid hit against me. ‘Why do I feel like this, Duo?’

We ate dinner at a fast food restaurant. Duo ate like a pig ordering everything on the menu. Not really, but you know what I mean. I didn’t eat much, because most of the time I thought about the feelign I had. But I hid it behind my hyperactive self!. Duo treated me to a comedy afterwards. During the movie, he put his arm behind my back. At that time, I got that feeling again.

When we got home it was dark. It was around 10:00 L2 Colony Time. We talked for a little while then got ready for bed. We have separate bedrooms, just pointing that out.

"Sweet dreams, Duo," I said softly, and went in my room.

"Same to you Hilde. G’night." I fell asleep instantly

"NO!" I woke up. 1:00 A.M. "Go away!" It was Duo. He was having another nightmare. For a few minutes, I didn’t hear him again. Then I heard a sob. Duo was crying.

‘Oh Duo… This is a bad one isn’t it?’ Hearing him cry brought tears to my eyes too. He must have gotten out of bed because I could see his light filtering in under my door. I listened as Duo got out of bed, made his way to his door, into the hallway, and… by my room? ‘The bathroom isn’t that way! The kitchen is.’ I crept out of my bed and creaked the door open just enough to peer into the kitchen. I watched him pour some hot coffee into a mug and walk over to the living room. The flashes of TV colors showed he was sitting on the couch. I decided to go out there, acting as if I just woke up. Duo heard me and turned to the kitchen.

"Hilde?"

"Bad dream?" I asked him. I knew the answer.

"Yeah. Can’t sleep." I sat beside him. The couch was cold so I curled up to duo. He put his arm around me.

‘That spicy scent… It smells so good.’ That feeling came to me again…

I woke up around 8. Duo was still asleep so I got ready for another usual day. That day was pretty usual for a fact. We fixed a few appliances that costomers were too busy to fix and Duo made his wise cracks ever other minute. I didn’t talk as much as I usually do. That feeling came to me again and again. Every time I came close to Duo, even look at him. It was a warm feeling, kind of longing. But why did I only feel it when I was with Duo? I wanted to be around him all the time. It’s stupid really but you would thing it was love, but it’s impossible to love anyone after a war. Everyone I was close to was lost. Parents, siblings, friends, pets… I was daydreaming half the day away. While I was cooking dinner, I almost burnt the chicken I made! I don’t remember much that went on that day, only that warmth…

I had a good dream. Duo and I went out on the town for the night. He gave me a kiss and kept hugging me. It was a lot of fun. Then a piercing scream broke it. I woke up.

"Duo!" I couldn’t help but run into his room. I saw him, leaning on his bedpost, head in hands. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I went straight to his bed and hugged him. I don’t even think he knew I came in until I hugged him. For a few seconds I was stunned. He was shaking and cold even though he felt clammy.

"Oh, Duo… It’s okay now," I paused for a second and moved my hands along his arms, trying to sooth him. Then I sat in bed next to him.

"I know that you can’t change your past, but you can’t stop blaming yourself. It’s not your fault." I made him turn his head and look at me. His face was tear streaked and sweaty. I brushed his bangs back and kissed his forehead then moved closer to his ear and whispered "And that’s a promise." The feeling came back to me. I glanced at the clock. 12:00 Midnight. Then I looked at his eyes. His eyes! They looked so deep, piercing.

"Hilde, help me, please…" he said pleadingly.

‘He needs me.’ I wrapped my arms around him. He did the same for me and for the first time our lips touched. ‘I finally got a kiss from my one and only…’ That feeling came back to me once more and it was truly love. The love Duo needed from me, Hilde Schbeiker. I slept with him from then on and he hasn’t had a nightmare yet.

--I hope you liked it! My first GW fanfic!

Comments, questions, flames? E-mail me @ Anime_chik_85@hotmail.com