"A War Worth Fighting"

Written By: SkyLark

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundman Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.

Pairings: Eventual 1x2

Warnings: Swearing, angst, violence, angst, torture, did I mention angst?

Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*

Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm and
http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html

Rating: R

Summary: Duo is fighting in the second World War when he's captured by the enemy.

To view the pic by shiyasim that inspired this fic; click HERE

"A War Worth Fighting"

With the mail that followed the next couple of weeks, holiday wishes were extended between soldiers and their loved ones as the season neared.

In snowy Virginia, Merian wiped a stray tear from her smiling face as she held the letter sent by her fiancé wishing her the very best and all his love for the holidays. Kissing the paper, she added it to the pile sitting by a spread of framed pictures taken of Wufei in their last days together before he'd left for the war.

Further south, in mild-weathered Puerto Rico, Catherine pressed her own letter from her brother to her chest in an embrace. Placing the note in a jewelry box where she kept all of his writings, she carefully sealed it away. She took a calming breath to force the shimmer from her eyes before raising the hem of her long skirt and returning to the vineyard for an inspection.

Across the ocean, a proud father read of his son's adventures across Europe. Despite his own grievances against violence, he could not help but come to terms with his boy's wishes to do what he believed was right. Clearing the lump in his throat in finishing the letter, he handed it off to the anxious hands of his daughters in their wish to hear what their brother had to share.

Hundreds of thousands shared a commonality in their wish to be with their loved ones for the season, whatever their religious affiliation. They hoped and prayed for the safe return of the soldiers fighting for their countries and lives. And they all yearned for an end to the war at last.

But there were those that grieved the loss of their father, son, husband, friend. And there were others that still did not know if there would ever be a reunion with their missing. For them, the festivities were not nearly as joyous.

Such was the case for Lady Une.

As was the tradition, she and Zechs had been invited to Washington for a holiday party for the Senate. Hoping that a change of scenery and the company of friends might lighten her mood, she was happy to attend the event.

Light Christmas music played on the record players in every large room of the grade hall that had been rented for the occasion. Dressed in their finest, the Senators and their wives conversed and laughed together while sipping on champagne and enjoying the food being carried on silver trays by the wait staff.

Arm-in-arm, Lady Une and Zechs entered the festivities and were soon surrounded by supporters and well-wishers when it came to Duo. Politely accepting the kind words, the young mother soon felt a little more than overwhelmed over all of the attention as time passed and excused herself to 'freshen her makeup' in the powder room.

Finally able to breathe when she secluded herself from the crowd, Lady Une pressed a hand to her chest and closed her eyes while taking a deep breath. Appraising herself in the mirror when she managed to calm herself, she smoothed back the silk ruffles of her scarlet red gown and adjusted her drooping earrings.

"I just could not imagine losing one of my own children the way she has," a woman's voice spoke in a hushed tone just outside of the powder room. "Thank the heavens we were able to keep our own children safe at home."

Just before the door opened, a second feminine voice replied, "Yes. Why anyone in that boy's position would willingly accept going off to war is beyond-" Whatever was about to be said next came to a screeching halt with a sharp gasp when the door opened and the two young women looked with wide eyes at finding the subject of their discussion inside.

Her brown eyes narrowed, Lady Une held her tongue and brushed past the sputtering pair without a word. Just as before, the moment she was in the main room once more, she was continuously sought after by her friends so that condolences could be offered.

Desperately, the young woman searched for Zechs amongst the crowd for support. When she was not being approached, she could hear muttered whispers amongst the guests.

'It's just such a shame. Maxwell was a good lad.'

'He certainly was his father's child- strong and devoted to his country to the end.'

'What a terrible loss, that one is. He had everything going for him and what good came of it?'

'Few people are as loved as that kid was. He is going to be missed.'

Other comments of the like were being made all throughout the room. It was all becoming too much for Lady Une as she felt lightheaded and ill to her stomach. Unable to stay inside any longer lest she breakdown in front of everyone, she all but fled from the hall to step outside on the balcony overlooking the White House shining a few blocks away.

Covering her mouth the moment she was alone, the widow let out a loud sob as she finally allowed the tears to come.

A moment later, the door behind her opened as Zechs stepped out and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Kissing her head as it rested against his shoulder, he whispered, "Just say the word and we will go."

Gently pulling back, his lover shook her head and dried her face. "No, I'll be all right," she reassured in a trembling voice. "I just need a moment to clear my head." Sighing, she looked out to the White House and frowned, "This almost feels like my son's wake more than a holiday celebration."

Suddenly unable to hold back her thoughts, Lady Une's fists clenched as she folded her arms. Pacing back and forth on the balcony as her breath made vapor puffs in the air, she stated, "I am already tired of hearing people tell me that they understand what I am going through when they kept their own children home. I am sick of sitting here waiting to know whether Duo is alive or dead while everyone assumes the worst when I simply cannot do the same."

Turning to face her partner, she cried, "I just hate this not knowing anything! I need to know if he's hurt, or if he's sick or if he's perfectly fine and waiting to be found... anything! But the answers aren't coming!"

Quickly closing the distance between them, Zechs pulled her close once more and allowed her a chance to just cry against his shoulder. Kissing the top of her head once more, he sighed sadly. After weeks of being the strong woman that she was, it was only a matter of time before everything caught up with her.

"I wish," he began. Taking a breath, he continued, "I wish that there was more that I could do to get you your answers, love. This helplessness is killing me as well, but we are doing everything that we can."

Allowing those words to take hold, Lady Une was finally able to banish her frantic and dark thoughts. With a deep, long sigh she released her hold on the politician and stepped back. Her face wet and running with make-up, she wiped it clean with a handkerchief from her bag.

When all was said and done, she knew that Zechs was right. Every resource was being used. Every stone that could be turned was being pushed aside in search of her son's whereabouts. She may not like the constant waiting, but she would drive herself mad wondering about all of the things that may or may not be happening to Duo.

Biting her lip, the young mother looked through the closed glass doors that peered into the hall. The loud music and banter between the guests kept them from even being aware that there were two people on the balcony.

Lady Une shook her head and looked back to the tall sponsor. Grinning sheepishly, she said quietly, "I picked a fine time to fall apart like this. Please forgive me for my outburst."

Zechs smiled lovingly, "My dear, I would think less of you if you did not need moments like this to let things out. And you were correct in saying that no one past those doors understands what you are going through."

His voice thickening with emotion, he went on, "However, though I may not be Duo's father, I still love him as if he were my own. So do not forget that you are not alone in this. And it may take time, but we will get through it... together."

Nodding, the young woman wrapped her arms tightly around his neck to kiss him soundly while pouring all of her appreciation into the exchange. Quickly wiping the last of her tears away along with her lover's when they finally came up for air, she took one last deep breath and smiled. "I suppose that we best return to the festivities before someone realizes we are missing."

Suddenly realizing the mess that she must look after her crying, she reached for her bag to remove her mirror when Zechs' hand reached out for her own to stop it. Chuckling as he cleaned the last of the dark mascara with a thumb, he told her, "You look as beautiful as ever. No need to fret."

Just when she did not think it was possible, Lady Une fell in love with him all over again. Smiling from ear-to-ear, she took his hand in hers and squeezed it.

Together, just as they would continue to face the world, they headed back through the glass doors and into the hall.

And their return came just in time. President Roosevelt was being announced as an arrival.

* * * *

December 14th, 1944.

"No," Treize gasped as he reread the paper in his hands. His eyes narrowing, the man crushed the letter and tossed it into his burning fireplace. Pacing back and forth in his living room as the flames devoured the message, he growled and ran a hand through his hair.

The fool. That stubborn, ignorant fool.

For weeks, Treize had been working with Hitler in his suggestions to what the best way of fending the Allies off would be. More and more, the two argued over what they wanted to see happen as a sure victory for the Axis powers.

What the Fuhrer wanted was to strike the American and British troops that had been thinned out in the Ardennes in the west. It was right on the German/Belgium border, which was a direct slap in Adolph's face as his foes were practically knocking on his door. [1]

To regain the ground that they had lost to their opponents, Hitler planned to send thirty plus German divisions. By charging the Allied line head-on, they would form a bulge and break off the remainder of the troops before any reinforcements could come to their aid. [2]

As important as it was to push the Americans and British back, Treize was adamantly opposed to the idea. Using such heavy resources was a great risk. Not fully knowing the condition of the roads and bridges both on the way there and through the Ardennes itself, there was no guarantee that the bulge made in the Allied line would be enough to decimate them.

Not to mention the manpower that some thirty divisions of German forces would cost what military they had left to defend their homeland.

Even with dozens of Hitler's advisors telling him not to go through with the attack, he was now advising that the siege would go ahead. His men were already on the move and would most likely arrive at their destination in two days to begin.

Idiot.

This was not going to be an easy thing, even with a thinned out Allied defense that had no idea what was about to fall upon them. Sometimes what seemed the easy route turned to be quite the opposite if every aspect was not considered. And with this, too many things were being overlooked.

Casualties would be high. They always were when neither side of the fight refused to stand down. And should the Germans actually lose... well, that would be the beginning of what was sure to be the end.

With no promising victories for the Nazi force in some time, it could only be a foretelling of their demise in the war. Once that happened, there would not be a soul on Earth that would have mercy for Hitler or any of his devout followers.

Staring into the flames of his fireplace, Treize folded his arms and took a few calming breaths. If things began to turn unfavorable in this battle, he would have no choice in his next move.

He would have to leave Germany. Find a way to Japan. And hope that somehow there was still a chance to persevere.

It was going to prove to be a very tense few days and weeks before the strike would reach its conclusion. Until then, there was nothing to do but sit and wait.

...Perhaps pack as well. Just to be safe.

* * * *

Like so many other times, Heero was amazed to find himself doing something that under normal circumstances he never would have done.

In this particular case, he was wading through ankle-deep snow with a small saw in one hand and a baby Dwarf Japanese Black Pine- standing no more than three feet tall- that he gripped by its trunk in the other.

The reason for his state was that Duo had mentioned the night prior how he missed Christmas decorations. There was no request or suggestion on his part that anything be done to remedy that. However, Heero was compelled to do something about it. Hence his early trek outside to find anything that remotely resembled the standard evergreen trees used in the states for the holiday.

Stepping back into the flat, he kicked off his boots, top pair of sweatpants and jacket just inside the door. A quick scan around the living room revealed no sign of his 'roommate.' Straining his ears, the private could hear the quiet snore from the bedroom just down the hall and smiled.

Quickly going to work, Heero returned the saw to the indoor tool shed and gathered up a bowl big enough to hold a fair amount of water with the tree trunk planted inside. It took some creative use of rope and short stakes to keep the plant in place, but he pulled it off and set it away in a corner of the living room not seen
through the windows when one looked inside.

No longer worrying over why he was behaving the way he was, the officer took up some foil and tin from some of the used bottles and plastic bags that had been used over their stay. Cutting out different shapes and sizes in the material and tying them with some thin cord he found, he hung the 'ornaments' from the tree boughs.

Throughout his handiwork, he smiled to himself in recalling how his mother first shared the story of Christmas with him and its traditions. Like most American families would do, he and his parents partook in the usual events of tree decorating, stocking hanging and gift exchanging.

Most importantly for the holidays, of course, was how it brought his whole family together. Aunts, Uncles and cousins from both sides of the Yuy household would all come in to share a meal together as if there was not a single difference between them.

Few others ever had the chance to experience such a heart-warming thing. Yet another reason for Heero to be grateful that he was different from his peers.

Lucky enough to come across some gold-colored foil, he managed to cut and staple together a two-dimensional star that he placed on a simple stand that could be wrapped around the top branch when it was time.

Just as he finished placing the `tinsel' on the branches that he'd made by stripping thin pieces of tin foil, the sergeant heard his friend stir and shift himself out of bed.

When Heero gazed up as the braided private entered the room and froze with his hand at the back of his head where he had been scratching, he grinned at the wide violet eyes staring at the tree, "Um… surprise."

Finally finding his breath, Duo managed a whispered, "H-Heero… What?… Why?"

Climbing to his feet, the officer shrugged simply, "I thought that maybe this might brighten the place up a bit, considering the time of year. You were the one that mentioned this was your favorite time of year and you missed things like this." Suddenly not so certain that he had done the right thing when his companion's eyes began to shimmer, he neared him.

"Duo?" he asked softly. "I-is this all right?"

Shaking his braided head, his friend met his gaze and replied brokenly, "It's perfect." Only hesitating a moment, Duo closed the distance between them while wrapping his arms around the other soldier's neck.

Briefly stricken, Heero returned the embrace and rubbed his companion's trembling back gently. When they pulled apart, the private knelt down before the tree to stare at it in wonder. "It's perfect," he repeated in a breath.

Relieved, the sergeant knelt beside him to appraise the tree closer, himself. In the light reflecting off the snow outside, the multi-colored foils and plastics shimmered brightly like tiny lights. In the end, it looked ever bit as good as any evergreen decked with the finest ornaments.

Clearing his throat, Heero carefully took up the star and handed it over. "I left the last honor to you," he announced softly.

His wide eyes blinking in surprise, Duo took the ornament up with hands that he had to force still. Ever so gently, he wrapped the base around the top branch where it sat easily. Grinning from ear-to-ear, he wrapped his arms tightly around his friend's waist as he whispered a sincere, "Thank you."

A smile brightening his own face, Heero lightly patted the top of his friend's braided head, letting his hand travel down the rope of hair.

Sitting in a companionable silence just like that, the pair spent a good part of the remainder of the morning staring up to the little tree. One more moment when they could forget about the world and the war it was gripped in.

TBC

 

chapter 18

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