FanFiction.Net"Judgment Day" was sung by "WhiteSnake" on the "Slip of the
Tongue" album. It was co-written by Coverdale/Veandenberg

All Characters belong to Sunrise and Bandai. I don't own them, either...
This is part 3, Started from 'Silver Girl', went to 'To get me to you', and
finishing with a little Whitesnake... I know...I'm eclectic...:) This is the
final part, as you wouldn't believe how hard it was to find suitable lyrics!
I normally don't due songfics, usually preferring to just wing a story with
no plan...(course.. that's how Warning started out drama and ended up
humor....)

Now.....gather round me boys and girls while I wrap this baby up..........(P.S. - All flamers are stuck painting the wreck room!!! <and considering it's as big as the batcave, that's some job!>)

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~~The night is gone
The time has come
To find a new day has begun
An' it promises to stay......
To sooth the Pain of wasted years
An' kiss away the bitter tears,
A love to light the way....~~

"Hey, Beautiful, wake up..." Duo Maxwell gently kissed his lovers eyelids awake, grinning at the adorable confusion looking back up at him.

"Duo?" Hilde blushed, suddenly realizing that she was in bed, naked, with her best friend.

"A little too late for that, Babe." he snickered, enjoying the sight.

"Oh God..." Her face fell back on his chest in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.

Despite the heavy thoughts on his mind, he laughed outright. Something else the war taught him. Take each laugh as you got it. You might not be able to later.

"Aww, Hilde! Don't hide. It was wonderful." He brought his arms around her, holding her tightly to his leanly muscled frame. "I love you, Baby."

"I love you to. You wouldn't believe how long I've wanted to tell you that!"

"You should have told me a long time ago. Which brings me to this....."

"Duo?" Something in his expression frightened her. Not for herself. He would never hit her or anything. She was suddenly frightened for him.

" Hilde, I need to tell you about what I went through, that last mission."

His voice, suddenly serious, captivated her attention. The fun loving Duo that she was used to was slowly replaced by something not quite human. His eyes grew dark, and lifeless, and his voice never changed tone. She knew that he dreaded reliving the memories, and shutting down his emotions was a survival trick you learned to save your sanity.

He spoke of finding Wufei fighting for the other side, the undercover work, blowing up Deathscythe. Impersonally, he relived the moment where they realized that they were pawns of the idle rich. How the scientists manipulated them into wholesale slaughter. Towards the end of his story, his voice finally broke, and his sorrow was evident.

"We all trusted them, Hilde-girl! How can I have been so stupid? How can I even touch you with these hands?"

"Duo...I love you, regardless of the past! You fought for freedom, not for scientists! Even when the colonies turned against you, you still fought for them! I'm proud of you, and happy that you love me!"

"Are you sure?" He asked, hope shining in his eyes.

"Do I have to prove it to you?" she teased.

"Aww, Baby...If anyone is going to prove anything to anybody...."

He let his words hand in the air as he made love to her with quiet desperation.

~~And from the darkness
Comes a smile,
That reaches out for many miles,
touching everyone
No more shadows of the past
Your spirit free to fly at last,
Shining in the sun~~

2 months later on Earth

"Babe, your nuts!" Duo laughed at her.

"I'm nuts? Am I the one jumping in mud puddles?" she teased.

An impish look came over his face. She backed up, laughing.

"Oh no you don't, Duo Maxwell!" Quickly, Hilde turned to run, but his arm snaked around her waste and he dropped.. She landed on his stomach. Still laughing, he rolled over so that she was the one soaking up the mud.

"I don't see anyone jumping here! Wallowing, maybe...." Duo reached down to her chin, flicking a dab of mud off of her creamy skin.

:::::Should I tell him?::::: she thought.....

"Honey...." She started

"Hmmm?"

"I'm -"

"You know, Maxwell, that's why they invented bedrooms. Not everyone wants to watch your love life, interesting as it may be..." Damn! Zech's dry sarcasm broke into the moment.

They were on Earth for Relena and Heero's engagement party. He wondered if Relena would be upset if he killed her brother. Maybe he could claim it as an early wedding gift to Heero.....

Hilde sat up and sighed. Now was not the time......

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That Night

Dancing in the ballroom, with only the candlelit chandelier emitting light, Hilde looked up into her lovers face. They were alone, having stayed on the dance floor while everyone else went to eat dinner. It was now or never.....

"Duo...."

"Yeah...." He nuzzled her neck, guiding her in a tight circle....

"I need to tell you something...."

"What?"

"HEY! Hilde! Aren't you two going to eat anything?" Sally called out to them.

"ARGh!!....We'll be right there!" Hilde called back.

Duo glanced at her, confused.

"Later, Duo. Later..."

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The next day, Hilde was determined. Duo Maxwell was going to be told! No more interruptions!

With that in mind, she made reservations at thier favorite Italian restaurant for dinner.

They walked into the dining room of the restaurant only to be met by Heero, Relena, Zechs and Noin.

"Duo mentioned that your coming here, so we decided to meet you." Relena said.

:::::Duo, you idiot....::::::

The Next Morning

Hilde stretched, rubbing her stomach. Thank god, it was behaving. She heard nightmares at the OB/GYN's about morning sickness.....

She reached over for Duo....who wasn't there.

:::::::I swear! I'm going to really smack him this time!:::::

Marching downstairs, she ran into Wufei. "Have you seen him?"

For once, he didn't hand her any 'woman' crap.. Smirking, he pointed toward the garage.

"Thank you...." Time to sit on him until she got it out...

Walking into the garage, she stared. He was under the hood of a classic pre-colony mustang convertible. Shirtless, he had the coveralls unzipped to let out some of the heat. His face and chest were streaked by grease where he must have rubbed. And his hair was tied back by a blue bandana over his normal braid. The manifold lay on the floor, and Duo was scraping the old gasket off of the block.

:::Perfect....he's playing. He won't even hear me sneak up!!!::::

Halfway there, he looked up and asked her for a new blade.

::::How does he do that???:::

She handed one to him, then sat down on the rolling chair.

"Duo....I really need to talk to you..."

He had a strange grin on his face. He snorted, before saying, "Well, talk!"

Looking at his laughing features, she was unnerved. He obviously thought he knew something. Oh well...might as well spit it out.

"I've been trying to talk to your for two days. Honey...we're pregnant!" She grinned, holding her hands out in a 'tada!' gesture.

"Hmmmm..." Still grinning, he bent down and gave her a peck. "I know..."

"What?"

"Babe...I'm not stupid. Don't you think I can count?"

::::::I'm REALLY going to hurt him...::::::

She stood up, ready to kick his shins, when her saw her intentions. Reaching for a large glob of goo, he pretended to aim for her.

"AACK!!!" Hilde backed away, fuming....

"Hon, let me wash up before we tell anyone." Lecherously, he stared at her slightly larger breasts under her guinea t. "Care to wash my back?" Eyes narrowed, she decided a little bath time drowning was in order. Nodding, she grabbed the hand cleaner and said, "After you....."

~~Like rolling thunder
I feel the power of love,
It's a gift from heaven
And the Lord above...
We walk toward desire,
Hand and hand
Through the fields of fire
With only love to light the way
On the road to Judgment day...~~

A little over six months later, on L2

"DUO! Hurry!" His face on the vidscreen blanched white. He had been out salvaging for the last 2 weeks, and was at least four hours away. She had to practically push him out the door, as his hovering had just about made her snap....

"Dammit, Hilde! You swore that you had a few more weeks yet!"

"Shut up! The doctor told me first pregnancies were normally late! Just get home and meet me in the hospital!"

She was just about to sign off the call when his voice came over the line one more time.

"Babe, I love you."

Softening, she replied, "I love you, too. Now hurry home or your gonna miss your firstborn's birth..."

Take it easy, take it slow,
I'll take you anywhere you wanna go,
Places never seen before...
'Cos I love you, an' I need you,
I'll do my best to please you,
My love can open any door....~~

"Concentrate, Hilde! Look at my face, not the doctor. C'mon, Baby!"

"I can't do it! Duo, I'm scared!"

"Shhh! Don't cry, sweetheart!"

"One more push!" Dr. Gilberts voice came to them from the end of the table.

"I can't!" Hilde cried.

"Yes you can, Baby! Or do I have to tell Wufei that woman ARE too weak to handle pain?"

"DAMN YOU MAXWELL!"

Gathering her strength, she bore down, pushing past the pain. Moments later, she heard her child's first cry.

"It's a Girl! Papa, do you want to cut the cord?"

::::Boom!:::: Hilde looked down at the noise, and grinned. Wufei thought women were weak?

~~When you hear the thunder
In your darkest night,
I'll be there to hold you
When the lightning strikes...
So don't you worry,
You can ease your mind,
'Cos we'll still be dancing
At the end of time....~~~

Point Pleasant, NJ, summer vacation

The storm had just about blown itself out. They lay in bed, facing each other with nine month old Caitlyn lying between them. She had woken up, howling from the noise.

"She's almost asleep..." Her voice floated in the darkness as he brought his finger down on Cait's cheek. "Can you believe that she's our?"

"I keep telling myself that, Babe. She's so perfect! Who would have thought that the 'God of Death' could make such a beautiful munchkin?"

"Oh, you had help, Pally..."

"Hmm....well...let's say I put her to bed, and you can show me how you helped?"

~Who loves you, Who needs you,
Who'll do her best to please you,
I love you, I need you
I'll get down on my knees...
We'll walk toward desire
Hand and hand
Through fields of fire...
With only love to light the way
On the road to Judgment day....~~

Later that day, they walked down the beach together. Sally and Wufei were over for dinner. Sally took Caity out of Hilde's arms, insisting that she go walk with him.

Literally pushed out the door, she screeched as Duo took her hand and ran down to the waters edge. Looking into the sky, he pointed at an airplane that was flying low.

"Babe, look at that!" It was one of those banners that advertised for the local businesses. However, instead of an advertisement, it said, "Hilde, Let 's get married, Duo."

She almost fell to the ground. He caught her, bringing her into his lap on the sand. "You are really nuts!" She laughed. "Duo...that was so sweet!"

"So...is that a yes??"

"Did you even doubt? YES!"

Turning in his arms, she kissed him. Hearing the clapping in the background, she had to laugh. Stoic, irritatingly chauvinistic Wufei was videotaping the whole thing while Sally danced around in a circle with Caity in her arms. Suddenly stopping, Sally grinned and turned to her husband....

"You know, Wufei...I have something to tell you..."

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A/n - I know that the lyrics don't fit the ENTIRE story.... Um...all I can say.... they refused to follow the story line. :)lol....Too depressing...:)