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"25 Days of Gundam Wing"Written By: The Plotting Housewife Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to Bandai, Sotsu
and associated Parties. This work is written for pleasure not profit. Rating: PG Warnings: Fluff Pairings: No pairings (aside from a mention of
past Duo/Hilde). Summary: After Duo buys a ski resort, he invites the boys up for a holiday in the mountains. Prompt: Ski "25 Days of Gundam Wing " Chapter 3: Ski December in the Colorado Rockies was a magical time. The quaint mountain communities were decorated to the nines with festive holiday displays. Vacationers traveled all over the world to get a glimpse of the breathtaking snow-capped peaks, charming towns, and the enchanting snowfalls. The ski resorts were booked solid for the winter. People from all walks of life, from the experienced winter sports fanatic to the fresh-faced novice, were donning warm parkas and slapping on skis and snowboards to get a taste of the fresh powder. One such ski resort was also booked for the season, but not this weekend. This weekend was different, special. Duo Maxwell purchased the resort the previous summer and he’d been waiting months to close it down so that he and his boys could have a weekend to themselves. The loss of revenue would be worth the quality time he would gain with the four most important people in his life. Duo sent all but the most necessary staff home for the weekend. He would need some workers to stick around and keep the nuts and bolts of the place running. A building maintenance engineer, a cook, someone to work the ski lift, and medical personnel in case of accident, or illness. The lobby was decked out with long swaths of lighted garland and wreaths topped with big red bows. A twenty foot blue spruce stood in front of the gigantic arched windows. It took over a thousand strands of twinkling lights, several hundred colorful ornaments, and twenty employees to get the tree in its current gala state. A cozy lounge and sitting area offset the lobby. There was a large bar made from the same kind of logs that made up the rest of the resort’s structure and gave the place a warm and rustic ambiance. A large stone fireplace stood in the corner, a fire already crackling away. Overstuffed leather sofas and bear skin rugs provided a masculine touch. Strategically placed Mohave and Navajo artifacts embraced the rich culture of the area. Outside, it was quiet, peaceful. The serenity only broken by the occasional cries of coyotes and other wildlife. The ground was blanketed in three feet of fresh dump. No need to turn on the machines. Mother Nature had been good to them so far this year. The powder was soft and new, perfect for the slopes. Duo was tending the fire when he heard the woosh of the entrance doors open and he turned just in time to see snow swirling in followed by the four best friends he’d ever had. Tamping down on his excitement, he placed the tongs back on the rack that stood on the hearth, brushed his hands off, and ran to greet them. They seemed as happy to see him as he did them. He hugged them all and welcomed them, calling for a few employees to take their bags up to their rooms. They hung their coats in the lobby’s coat room, pulling off mittens, scarves, hats, and slushy boots. “Duo, this is absolutely beautiful! Such a beautiful place.” Quatre was starry-eyed, looking around in fascination. “This is really nice, Duo.” Trowa agreed. “Thanks, guys. It’s not too shabby if I do say so myself,” Duo winked, beaming with pride. “You’ve done well for yourself, Maxwell. I’m impressed.” Duo cocked his head, instantly playful. “Why, Wufei. Never thought I’d hear you sing my praises,” he quipped. Wufei scoffed. "Hardly. I never expected you to head up a ski resort is all. You were rather fond of that junkyard once upon a time.” “Yeah, well. After Hilde left and took everything including the kitchen sink, I decided I needed a new direction.” He linked his arm through Wufei’s and all but dragged him into the lounge. “C’mon. I’ll give ya the tour. Free of charge.” They spent the evening in front of the fire, chatting about life, love, and career paths while they nursed German beer and spiced cider. A rather intense round of chess between Trowa and Heero became a focal point of playful contention with Duo and Quatre taking sides, and Wufei standing as the neutral tie breaker and referee. Later that night, they retired to their rooms to sleep and rest up for an action-packed day of skiing. The following morning, after an incredible breakfast of Eggs Benedict, they set off for the alpine slopes. They rode the lifts up to the first hill, their balaclavas protecting their faces from the wind, ski-strapped feet swinging back and forth as the lift climbed higher and higher. At the top, they stood together, checking their poles, slipping on gloves, and pulling their goggles over their eyes. “Alright, ladies. Prepare to be amazed,” Duo announced as he stood at the edge and crouched. He angled his poles behind him and tipped his skis over the lip, then he was off down the mountain, yodeling the entire way. They spent the rest of the afternoon skirting the multiple steep inclines, showing off daring maneuvers, and riding the rush of adrenaline. When the sun went down, they headed back to the lodge, exhausted, cold, but bright-eyed and invigorated. They enjoyed a rib-sticking chili supper with homemade biscuits and sipped hot cocktails while they warmed their chilled skin by the fire. Duo initiated a game of charades that became nothing but a senseless free-for-all by the end of the night thanks the generous consumption of spirits. In the morning, they would leave, back to their own lives and Duo would open the lodge back up to the public. His heart ached at the thought of saying goodbye, but they promised they would return to the lodge next December. Duo’s bittersweet melancholy eased and after feeding them a hearty breakfast, he sent them on their way. He looked forward to doing this again next year. But until then, he had a business to run. He flipped his ‘Closed’ sign to ‘Open’ and welcomed the influx of excited guests with his usual charm and candor.
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