The Tailor

Chapter Nine

"Wait! What do you mean!" Relena tries to keep up with Hilde's pace. Hilde keeps going strait down the sidewalk. People move for her as Relena has to move to them. "WAIT!" Yells Relena, frustrated with the rude people on the sidewalk. Hilde stops. She doesn't look at Relena for sometime.

"I'm going to be the one to end it. Not you, not Dorothy and specially NOT Duo." She turns around to face Relena. "You two have done this before! But not to this extreme! Or have you paid them in the past?" Relena shakes her head 'no'. "Why am I asking?" She throws her hands in the air and continues on walking. "You could be lying!" Relena follows Hilde. The two don't say anything until they get to a crosswalk. "Why? Relena? Why are you so intent on making my life hell?"

"We wanted you to get over Peter! And we learned that we can't pick a boyfriend for you! So we went for a friend. Someone who you could talk to . . . since you won't talk to us!"

"Won't talk to you? I have always wanted to talk about it! But you never asked! And besides. You guys think I'm suicidal! I'm not going to end it like my mother!"

"What?" The crosswalk sign flashes and everyone walks across the street. "You-you said she died of a drug over does!"

"She did . . . and a bullet in the head."

"Oh God! Hilde . . . why didn't you tell us?" Hilde walks up the steps of her apartment building. She opens the door.

"Would it have mattered how she died? All that matters is that she left me!" Relena comes in and wonders why Hilde came here first.

"Hilde . . . why are we here?"

Hilde opens the door to her apartment. Relena walks in and sees how she was living. The place was run down but she could tell Hilde tried her best to keep it clean. But how can you keep a place clean with years old stains? Relena's heart goes out to Hilde. Here she is, a woman who worked from below dirt to almost Doctor.

"While you all thought, I was depressed and moping over Peter. I was here. Studying. Working because that's the only why I can survive. My mother was a . . . she was a prostitute. She worked in our house . . . " Hilde pulls a suitcase out of her closet. "I gave up my childhood so I won't become her. Sure we lived in a nice house . . . but not very nice thing happened in that house. I would never go that low as to sell myself but history almost repeated its self. When my mother died, I lost it. I was homeless and I was on my own. Never knew I needed her." Hilde laughs lightly as she places her clothes in the suitcase. She looks at her door to see if the mail came. It did and she walks over to pick it up. As she looks through it, she continues. "I didn't party with you during college because if I slipped I would never be able to get back up. I didn't have a family like you to fall back on. I worked so hard and got rejected from every medical college I applied to. Working at the hospital was the only way for me to get into a school."

"But why didn't they accept you?"

"I am a B student. They want me to be an A student, since I can't pay them. I can't spend all that time . . . I need to work so I can go to class! Ironic? Isn't? In order for me to get A's I have to give up my jobs but if I do I can't pay to go to class. That's why I went to Peter. He helped lighten the load. But when he left it didn't bother me. It was just like mother leaving . . . only problem, I now had to work even harder."

"That's why you took time off? To work at the hospital? Oh, Hilde. I thought . . . you . . . where just . . . well?"

"Weak? Thought I was just some weak school girl? Sorry, Relena. Unlike you I had to work for what I have."

"Hilde . . . that's not fair."

"Not fair? Sure. Just like setting me up with Duo and the others is not fair!"

"Hilde . . . you have to admit that he made you happy."

"He's just like Peter. Maybe even worse." She says in a soft whisper.

"Even worse? Hilde. He didn't leave you! Maybe he is telling the truth? Maybe he really loves you!"

"No . . . he can't. How can he when you paid him . . . "

"To be your friend! Falling in love with you was entirely his choice! In fact! We told him to NOT do anything but be a friend!" Relena rests her hand on Hilde's shoulder. "Hilde . . . "

"Relena. I wish I could believe you. I really do. Because I was going to reject my transfer to John Hopkins Hospital! My dream!" Relena remembers how Hilde tried over and over to get transferred to that hospital. It was so important to her. "But . . . " She drops the mail on the floor and walks over to her suitcase. "Looks like I have no choice. I need to go." She closes the suitcase. "I learned my lesson. I need to be free . . . so I'm letting go." She opens the door. "Good bye Relena." Hilde grabs her purse and letter from John Hopkins and leaves. Relena starts to cry. She really messed up. She ruined everything. But wait! She can warn Duo! Relena takes out her cell phone and dials his number. There is time for her to save Hilde from the final blow. Finding the truth about Duo.

The Tailor . . .

The phone rings. Waking Duo out of his trance. He gets up from the floor and walks over to the phone. Just as he picks it up a hand clad in a black glove stops him. Duo almost freaks at the site before him.

"L-Liz? Since when did you like the whole dominatrix thing?" He says in a nervous voice. He really doesn't like that type of customer. Odd how it is always the married ones?

"You broke off our 'date'! I want to know why! And I plan on finding out." The woman laughs as she pulls Duo back into the back room. Duo sighs. ("Just one more night and I can be with Hilde. Hope she can forgive me.") Little does he know that a very angry Hilde is on her way.

Moments later . . .

The door slowly opens and a figure creeps in. They carry a bag of some sort. It's hard to tell in the dimly light room. They slowly walk to the curtain that blocks the back room. Strange noises can be heard. They are soft . . . then suddenly a large crash and a door slamming open is heard.

"What do you mean you quit?." Duo storms over where his shirt is. He picks it up off the floor and turns to the woman.

"I'm not doing this any more! I can't."

"NO!" She grabs his shirt in an attempt to stop him from putting it on. "I paid you for two HOURS!" Duo lets go of the shirt, making the woman fall. He glares at her.

"Two? You are signed up for one." A wad of cash is thrown to him.

"Nope. While you where in the back I saw that I was the last one for the day. So I am taking two hours! Now get back . . . " The wad is thrown back at her.

"NO!" He crosses her arms over his chest. "I will no longer be you 'play thing'. I don't belong to you or any of the other women! I belong only to one now. And for her I am not going back to what I am! I quit!" The curtain is pulled back by a very angry Dorothy. She is grinding her teeth from anger. Duo glares at her. "What do you want?"

"Who do you belong to now Maxwell?" Dorothy steps closer. "Who? And if you say Hilde . . . "

"It's Hilde." Dorothy lets out a loud cry as she jumps Duo. He easily grabs her fists as she tries to beat him.

"Damn you Maxwell! You can't love her! You can't!"

"I love her Dorothy." He says calmly. "And I don't care what you say."

"I can't believe this." She stops her fighting and pushes away from Duo. "I can't believe Mr. 'I-don't-believe-in-love' is in love! And with Hilde?" She lets out a mad laugh. Duo is still calm and unmoved by her laugh.

"I'm quitting. And I am moving on with Hilde. You can bitch all you want but I'm not changing my mind."

"But Duo darling . . . " Spoke Liz. "What about us? And our 'dates'?"

"Liz . . . go back to your husband." He says sharply. He took his eyes off Dorothy to talk to Liz and when he looks back, a piece of paper is pushed in his face.

"Here take it!" Duo take the paper and sees that it is a blank check. "Name your price. I'll pay anything. Anything if you just stay away from her! Please, you'll only hurt her." Duo glares at the check. Then he rips it up.

"No." He says darkly as he walks up to Dorothy. "I will not leave her. And I will most defiantly won't hurt her." A long silence comes over them all. Dorothy is lost for words, Liz is just lost and Duo has nothing more to say. But one person does . . . one person who just walked in.

"Duo?"

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"Hilde!" All the color leaves his face. She wasn't supposed to find out this way! Liz glares at Hilde. She pushes Dorothy and Duo away.

"So you're Hilde. Not much of anything." Hilde looks at the woman with disgust. The woman is wearing a way too tight black vest and a black thong. Black boots that come up to her thighs and long black gloves. The woman goes on about how Hilde isn't worth it and how Duo should stay with his job . . . His job? Suddenly it clicks. Rage fills Hilde's heart. She pulls back her fist and before Duo or Dorothy could stop her, she punches the woman square in the face. Liz falls to the floor and cries. Duo and Dorothy stare at Hilde. She glares at Dorothy and smacks her. Then she turns to Duo. He shakes his 'no', trying to plea with her. She walks up to him. Duo sighs, he closes his eyes and readies himself for her attack. But nothing happened. When he opens his eyes, he wishes that she did. The pain in her eyes is a thousand-time worse.

"How much Duo? How much did they pay you?" Hilde holds her tears back. She won't cry in front of him.

"Nothing." He says. "I didn't get paid." Duo reaches for her but she smacks his hand away.

"Don't touch me!" She steps away from him. "You . . . you're just like my mother! God damn you! You're no better than her!"

"Hilde . . . I love . . . "

"No! You don't. You may think you are but you're not! I'm just like another customer for you. Aren't I?"

"No . . . Hilde please. Listen to me. I know what I am is something you have been trying to fight all you life. But I was never as strong as you. I gave up. But not anymore! I found you . . . You who are so strong. I really do want to start the salvage with you. I still do. But if you leave me I can't quit this job. I can't quit unless I have something worth more."

"Worth more? You lied to me! And you!" She turns to Dorothy. "It's bad enough you hired him. But to hire a male prostitute!"

"Hilde . . . we thought . . . "

"Shut up! All of you!" She screams. "I have to call my friend now and tell her I can't make it to the wedding because I gave my dress to a male prostitute!" Duo flinches at her words. Dorothy looks to the floor and Liz still lays on the ground crying.

"What's going on?" Came a cool voice. Everyone turns to see a man at the door way. He holds a large dress bag over his shoulders. Duo walks over to the man and take the bag.

"Thanks man. What do I owe you?"

"$300.00 dollars." Duo nods and offers the bad to Hilde. Tears fill her eyes. She grabs the bag and Duo grabs her arm. He pulls her close and whispers 'I may sell myself but I still love you.' Hilde pushes away, grabs her suitcase and leaves. Leaves without a good bye.

"What's going on?" Says the man.

"Nothing . . . Hero." Says Dorothy.

"Nothing, except my freedom just walked out the door."

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Two Days later . . .

Relena enters the shop. She sees Hero sitting at the desk. He glares at her. Relena smiles and walks over to him.

"How is he?"

"Why should you care?"

"Hero . . . "

"Relena. I thought you where different. What you are doing is killing him!"

"Not telling him where Hilde is makes me no different from your other lovers?"

"It's cruel. Not knowing is eating him alive. I should let it though, it is his fault for falling in love with her."

"I can't let him find her. She doesn't want to see him. Not even me! I hurt her . . . we all did. And I won't hurt her again." Hero stands up and leans closer.

"Tell me then."

"No." She laughs lightly. "You'll tell him!" Hero glances over to the curtain.

"No, I won't." Relena thinks about this. "He's sleeping." Relena nods.

"She's . . . staying with her friend Stephanie. But she is leaving to go to John Hopkins this afternoon." A blast of wind brushes past Relena and flows out the door. Relena looks stunned at Hero. He just smiles.

"I didn't tell him."

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"Hilde? Will you be all right?" Says Stephanie. They sit at the gate sipping tea and coffee.

"Yes? Why?"

"Well . . . I mean . . . "

"I'm over him."

"But . . . he did say he loves you . . . "

"Anyone can say that." Stephanie glares at her.

"Not true! No one can say it unless they mean it! True there are some who can say it and be wrong but . . . Hilde! He said he was going to give up his job for you! Doesn't that mean anything?"

"I can't forget what he is."

"But . . . look I don't know him. I don't know why he took the job but if a guy is going to change his whole life around for a person he hasn't know for a week! I say he is in love! Forget his past! Like you forgot yours!"

"I didn't forget my past. I kept it with me. Used it as a lesson. Like I will use this as a lesson."

"I feel sorry for you."

"What?"

"You really have that much hate in your hart? That you can't look over the ugliness of one life? You should know better than anyone. That some people have no choice . . . "

"I worked for my choice . . . "

"He did . . . is a really bad way but . . . I'm not getting through to you. I can't talk to someone you can't forgive." Hilde looks at her friend. Stephanie stands up and smiles weakly at her. "It was nice knowing you. Hope you find an un-scuffed love and happiness. Good . . . bye Hilde." She walks away. Hilde stares after her friend. A pain in her heart. Hilde shakes it off. They are calling the seats know. She stands up . . .

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"Hey!"

"Watch it mister!"

"Jerk!" Scream people as they are pushed down. Duo would say sorry but he needs all his breath to run. He read the flight plans and saw the only one heading off in Hilde's direction at noon. What luck! All he was to do if figure out this damn airport! And the right words to say . . .

**************************************************************************************

"Seats B-24 to B-9. Now boarding."

"That's me." She says to know one. She stands in line and waits for her turn. She looks at her ticket.

"I love you."

"Go away Duo." She whispers. But the words keep coming. His plans for them . . . they seemed so true . . . his words seemed so real. Were they? Hilde lets the people pass her. Soon she is the only one left.

"Miss? The plane is ready. If you are leaving then come now. It's you last change." Hilde looks at the woman and smiles. Tears fill Hilde's eyes.

"Yes. You're right. My last chance . . . " She looks at her ticket. Taking a deep breath, she grips the ticket . . .

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Two guards start to close the gate leading to the walkway for the plane. Just as they are going to close the door a man pushes his way through. They yell at him but he doesn't care. He has to make it!

"Please God! Don't let it be too late! Please . . . " Duo stops. He reached the end of the walkway. The doors are closed and the plane is gone. Gone with Hilde. She really left him . . . Duo turns around. He leans on the side wall of the walkway. Unable to hold himself up. He stares at the floor as the guards come up to him.

"Sorry mister. You can book another flight . . . " Duo shakes his head 'no'. He keeps his eyes on the floor as he heads out. The guards go ahead of him. Duo can feel tears in his eyes. He really loved her and she didn't believe him . . . Duo stops in mid track. He sees a white peace of paper on the floor. He picks it up and sees it is in two torn pieces. Duo laughs as he looks at them. He thanks God for giving him a second chance.

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Hilde sits in the park on the swings. She looks up in the sky and sees a plane fly by. Hilde slowly rocks back and forth. Winter seems to be over. The sun is out and the day is warm and pleasant. She sighs, wondering if she made the right choice. A shadow blocks the sun from her eyes and she understood that it wasn't the wrong choice.

"I guess we really are meant for each other." She laughs at herself. Duo sits down next to her. He looks at the sky, not saying anything. Duo takes a deep breath.

"Please give me a chance . . . "

"No." She says. Duo looks at her. She avoids his eyes. "I should be asking for a chance."

"What?"

"I should have seen it. You told me just . . . without a lot of detail." Duo smiles weakly. Not knowing if this is good or bad. "You were willing to change . . . "

"I still am. But only with you."

"I need to know if your love is real Duo. I need to know that this isn't some kind of one moment thing."

"If it is . . . then I will build a time machine and replay the moment over and over again, never getting tired of it." Hilde looks into his eyes and she can tell he has been crying. Her bottom lip starts to quiver as her eyes water.

"Oh Duo!" She jumps out of her seat. Duo does the same thing. They stand apart for a moment but rush to each other. "I love you! I'm so sorry for not believing in you!" She buries her head in his chest. Duo kisses the top of her head.

"But you did believe in me. You didn't leave."

"And you found me here . . . "

"I love you Hilde."

"I know. And I love you. Let's go to your new home." Duo smiles and takes her hand. He leads her to his car, talking the whole way on how she will love the place and the planes he has for the place. She smiles at him as they head off. A heavy weight seems to lift itself off of her and for the first time she feels happy.

Hilde still finished school. She is the doctor for the Maxwell Salvage Yard. Taking care of the many workers and being the personal doctor for Duo . . . her husband.

Duo left the Tailor and is now a successful business man. With the help of his wife. And with her help they built a beautiful house in the country for when the new family member comes.

Relena and Hero are going to get married. Hero left the Tailor also and is now working with Duo.

Dorothy is still Dorothy but she found a nice rich boy to marry.

Peter is forced to sell his company to Duo since he was going under. He still has his job but under he is no longer the boss. Duo and Hilde are. Oh . . . and Sarah left him. ^.^

All ended well. All ended with their loves close by. There will no longer be a gray day in Hilde's or Duo's life.

The End

Thank you for reading and . . .

Review!

^.^