From The Desk Of Scilja
Alas! The chapter everyone's been strangling me for! Counting the Seconds has finally come to its close. I thank all of you who have taken this journey with me! Oh, and major lemon warning for this chapter! This is where the rated R comes in. So take heed! Until, then! Enjoy this final piece.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing and its characters. I only have memorabilia to show my adoration for it.
Counting the Seconds
By Scilja
Epilogue
Normally the burst of sun through the skylight would cause a jovial reaction out of her. Instead, the sun did not do much today. The house looked bleak. Dismal. Empty.
Her injuries had healed on a progressing rate, though she would occasionally wince at the bruise left behind here and there. The splint that supported her arm had long been removed. She was able to get up and walk a few steps on her own. That was pride at its finest.
She expelled a deep sigh.
Something inside her told her she was just wasting her time. Even after two years, the feeling wouldn't go away. And strangely enough, it wasn't an unwelcome sensation. An image of him began to form in her mind, every detail set before her very eyes. He was an arrogant man. The firm set in his jaw whenever tough situations came his way. How his hair just couldn't be tamed, simply made to be wild. His strong, lean build. A golden tan that never faded.
But the one thing that was remained imprinted in the depths of her being was the way he held her. His hands worshiped her body. How gentle his embrace was despite his strength. The way his eyes bore into the very depths of her as if to take in her own soul. The smooth, velvet voice that whispered delicious words.
You're beautiful.
Eyes shut tightly. Stop.
Feel the way you fit against me, Relena…That's it…Perfect…
No. No…No!
Say it again, the way you say my name when I touch you there.
Heero…
She blocked out every thing that had to deal with that man. Enough. No more. No more.
Her fingers curled around the sheets of the bed, her nails dug into the mattress. Maybe it was the dosage of medication or her heart, but oh, god, who was she kidding. Something in the back of her mind just kept on persisting. No point on lying to yourself for your whole life.
She had fallen in love.
Relena jumped at the loud rapping of her door. The instant she unlocked it, the door widely flung open to reveal the livid face of one Heero Yuy.
Her mouth went agape as she looked at the man whom she thought would not see again. Heero's eyes were glinting furiously. She had to step back to make room as he moved into the doorway. His figure emitted a sort of compelling aura that rooted her to her spot.
"Lift up your shirt."
Relena stared at him, dumbfounded, "Wha - ?"
"Take off your shirt, Relena, or I will," he briskly passed her and made quick strides into the living room.
She shut the door and went after him. His tone left no room for argument but she wasn't going down that easily. Her gaze never left him, "You can't just barge into people's houses and demand they remove their clothes for you, Mr. Yuy."
He moved closer and she was given a clear view at the hardness of his eyes, "I believe I just did that, Ms. Darlian. I know the wounds are still fresh. If you won't accept that then accept how I thought when someone who was supposed to be at the hospital turned out to be gone. Isn't it a little too early for you to be home, considering the seriousness of your injuries?"
She felt his eyes bore into her and she folded her arm inwards over her chest as if to shield herself, "The doctor said I could have an early leave. My injuries have healed well."
Heero's brows drew together crossly, "Is that all, Relena?"
"Yes," she wished she hadn't glance away.
He caught the shift in her gaze and tilt her chin up, "Is that all?" he repeated.
"YES!" The word said a bit louder than intended.
"You're a terrible liar, Relena."
She moved away from his hold, "Mr. Yuy, I would appreciate it if you made your leave now. I've told you what you needed to know."
"Not all of it."
"Why are you pestering me like this?" she exclaimed.
She gasped when her shoulders were firmly grasped by his strong hands, "Because, dammit, I can't get you out of my mind." His mouth came down unto hers initiating a bruising kiss, punishing and unforgiving.
He locked his arms around her waste to lessen her struggles. Relena vainly attempted to twist out of his hold. When she realized her efforts were futile, she slackened against him. To her surprise, the kiss turned its course, becoming more gentle and passionate. Like the kind shared between lovers.
They broke away when her back hit the wall.
"Did you think I was just going to let you get home all by yourself?" He inclined his head to the side, his breath fanned against her cheek, "There could be sex-crazed perverts just lurking around."
Raising a brow, she faced him challengingly, just as she had done the first time they met, "Does that excuse you then?"
"Especially me."
There it was. That smug look on his face that she had come to adore.
No one had ever had this kind of hold on him, let alone a woman. He was moving at a stable rate the way he was before. Masterful focus and endurance brought him to be the man he was today. He had earned his place to the place of success with a leveled head. His entire life was set to this one path. Hardly did he take any detours or sudden turns; it was routinely. Everything he did was for the benefit of business, nothing more, nothing less. Most of his life was left to fend for himself.
Duo was first to break the routine through friendship, but he wouldn't tell that to the braided man save for his bloated ego. But it was Relena who introduced him to what his heart craved for.
Gael was right. One day a woman did 'sweep him off his feet'.
He admitted it. He needed her.
Then he stepped closer, their faces now mere inches away from each other. His hands gingerly found its way to her arms; they slowly came together, and the world around them melted.
"Babe! What are you doing?!"
Hilde turned her head to the overly concerned man a few feet away from where she stood. "Cooking, of course," she answered with an irate look as if he were to be that dubious.
She was about to stir the sizzling vegetables and meat when the ladle was seized from her. Annoyed that someone had interrupted the process of a delicious meal, she gave her full attention. "Duo! I need food to eat!"
"We both agree on that, but I don't agree on this right now."
"I'm not going to break from a few minutes of cooking, Duo!"
His arm arched further back from the reaching hand while he shook his head, "No way, Hil', at your present state you shouldn't even be standing." He laid the ladle on the nearby countertop; before she could make a lunge for it, he swept her up in his arms and carried her into the living room.
"I'll go tend the cooking from here," she frowned at his stubbornness but softened at the kiss he gave her cheek. "Rest."
There was no chance to go against him for he quickly went back to the kitchen to keep his word. She huffed at the failed attempt to feel useful but she had to smile at Duo's insistent worry and care.
She almost jumped when the phone rang. Before Duo could protest, she swiftly went to answer it.
"Schbeiker."
"Hilde?"
The brunette cried out with joy, "Rel'! Oh gosh, Rel', how are you?"
Relena smiled at the form curled up on the sofa they both occupied. His arm lay across her waist, the other around her shoulders, an array of dark hung attractively from his tilted head, and those deep, stormy blue hid behind closed lids.
"Hilde," her fingers flitted across his strong jaw line, "I'm home."
Five months later…
"Honey, your frowning is spoiling the mood," Noin fixed the corsage adorned on her wrist.
"He's making me soft," Milliardo rubbed the child's back before transferring the gurgling baby into his mother's arms. "I still can't believe it."
The woman clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, "Lighten up, dear. You knew you saw this coming. I thought that's what the Lightning Count was supposed to do," she lightly nudged his side.
"Noin, my military alias does not mean that."
"Could've fooled me," Duo smirked above the crown of a wine glass. "Noin," he nodded to the woman, "hey, kiddo," his full-fledge grin brought forth a bubbly laughter from the newborn boy.
"Can you believe it? Only a few more months away, darling, before we have one of our own," Hilde smoothed a small hand over her slightly concave abdomen.
Duo joined his hand on top of hers that allowed the rings adorned on their fingers to shimmer in unison, "I can hardly wait."
"Oh, geez, these shoes are killing my feet," she fell unto a chair as Duo caressed her nape, "who knew being maid of honor had to walk so much."
"Now how about the maid of honor gives the best man a kiss," he neared her face and chuckled when she playfully smacked his arm. "Remember, honor," he winked in which she waved it off, laughing.
A maroon-haired woman pulled a tall man by his arm, "Come on, Trowa, let's sit, I'm tired of staying on my feet."
"Hey, Tro'," Duo raised his glass in acknowledgement, "Cathy."
"My brother was sticking too much to a wall. I had to save him before he got sucked in," Catherine grinned while Trowa drank from a wine glass. "And you promised me we would dance, right?"
Trowa paused from his drink to nod.
Quatre appeared, loosening his collar to catch some air. "Unless you want to miss the first dance," he seated himself among them and pointed, "you're facing the wrong direction."
All heads turned to the centre of the room as music began to engulf the banquet hall.
Clad in a distinguished, black tuxedo, Heero stood in the middle, his hand outstretched to a slender one that belonged to the femme next to him. The veil long gone, the sparkle in her eyes could not be missed. The features of the normally stoic man deterred any doubts of his impassiveness, in its place a faint smile.
The satin, white ball gown swayed gracefully as Relena moved into Heero's arms, assuming a traditional waltz stance. They moved together in wondrous unison, just as they had done that one night.
They broke away, breathless and simply leaning unto each other. Relena laughed softly, her lips moving against his, "I appreciate the welcome back present, Heero."
She felt his mouth smirk, "I do what I can," he pecked her lips and made to initiate another kiss when she eased back.
"Wait, Heero, what about Treize? And ZW? Duo?"
Their eyes met intently, "Treize has been found and arrested with Quatre's and Duo's help. No charges were pressed, but rest assured, he is not going near ZW for as long as I'm here. Once news got out about the mishap with Treize, ZW came back strong and we are slowly regaining our position. Though it will take a while to convince some stubborn clients, that's what boardrooms were made for. And Duo, he is probably doing the exact same thing with Hilde as I am doing right now."
He ceased any more words from her by sealing their mouths together in another kiss. Years of passion shot out through them as desire ignited in fresh sparks. His hand slid up the back of her throat and curled around her nape as they kissed madly.
Their hands roved against whatever they could touch. Clothing rustled from unzipping and unbuttoning. The hand from her neck moved to smooth down her chest, parting the blouse to reveal her undergarments. She let out a breathy moan when he cupped a breast in his palm and caressed it.
"Heero," her head drummed against the wall as he placed mouthed moist kisses along her collarbone while he divested off his shirt. Her hands wove around the mused dark tresses. She clung to his neck as he tore off the remaining underwear. He lifted her higher and she wrapped her legs around his waist to prevent from falling. He gave his approval by laving at her breasts.
She brought him back for another kiss and took her chance to grasp him in her hand. "Damn," he groaned into her mouth at the work of her fingers encircling the rigid length of his shaft. He let out a long, low moan and buried his face in her air while she stroked him close to bliss.
He grabbed her waist to hoist her higher and positioned her right above him. He was all male, hard and rigid, and she coyly made ready to accept him fully. She impaled herself down on his length and they groaned in pleasure before meeting in a frantic, passion-driven kiss. For a few seconds, their ragged breathing mixed together as they reveled in the perfection they made together. He began to rock his hips against hers, she held unto him as they rose to blinding ecstasy.
Short breaths and moans mingled together as they experienced a very long, very wet climax.
Minutes passed and neither spoke, only drinking in each other's presence. Heero was first to move and she couldn't help but feel a bit empty when he left her. He compensated by pulling her to him where she caught the smug look of satisfaction on his features, "Hmph, male pride."
"Hn," his tongue darted along her neck for a taste.
She forced open her heavy-lidded eyes, content in his musky scent, "You're going to marry me, aren't you?"
He pressed a kiss against her temple, "I'm tired of running away, Relena, I've found my place to stay, that is, if you'll have me."
She brought his head down and they exchanged a languorous kiss, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
He smirked, "Good. Because I don't think doing it against the wall was the perfect way for a first time."
Relena cocked her head to the side, "Well, someone was impatient."
"I should be blaming you for looking so delectable. But now I can make love to you, slowly, fully, to take in all of you… the way it should be…"
END.