Here you go, Saba! :) I know. it was supposed to be super sappy, but I couldn't do it!! It IS cute.. and just a LITTLE sappy, tho.....

Unplanned Gifts

By Caliko

Hilde left the doctors office with a secret smile on her lips and a glazed look in her eyes. Her entire life was changed, never to go back to the way it was.

:::Oh my! Duo!:::

She started to giggle uncontrollably, imagining his face as she told him the news.

:::I only went in for a check-up!:::

The truth was, she had never felt so disgustingly healthy in her life! No morning sickness, no strange cramps or headaches! Not even a craving! For that matter, she had even spotted lightly when her period was due! Of course, Dr. Marshall DID say that some women spotted the first couple of months.

It was rare, and he was going to monitor her condition, but he assured her that there was no reason why she wouldn't have a healthy child.

:::In seven months, I'll be a mother....:::

"A baby.." She said out loud, smiling wider at the wonderment in her voice.

:::HOW do I tell him? Should I act excited, and blurb it out? Or... maybe nonchalant, smooth, and watch for the exact moment when he realizes what I said....:::

She giggled harder, knowing that she was going to shout it out as soon as she walked into the door.

Everywhere she turned, she saw babies. In the sidewalk cafe's, kicking their feet in their strollers, or in the park, squealing in the sandbox. Stores had little infant dresses and trousers on display in thier windows, onesies in delicate pinks and blues. A photographer was just putting up new pictures in his window, of a child's first communion.

"A BABY! I'M Having a BABY!" She shouted, laughing into the surprised eyes of a police officer.

A chorus of 'congratulations' rained on her head as spun around, laughing. Hurrying her step, she almost skipped to the beat up building labeled, "Maxwell's Garage".

"DUO!" She shouted, looking around for 'Papa's' braided head. "Duo? Drat! Where is that man?"

He was no where to be seen.

She felt deflated, almost, as she had been pumped up to tell him her news.

:::Wait! Maybe he's upstairs!:::

She followed the stairway up into their apartment, only to be greeted by empty silence.

:::Where IS he?:::

Hilde actually stamped her foot in impatience.

:::Why do men disappear when ever you have to tell them something?:::

"Well, it gives me time to get creative...."

Hilde left, grabbing her keys on her way out. Duo insisted on keeping the little mustang running for her, even though she barely drove it. It was his way of making sure that she could get around in an emergency.

:::Yeah.. an emergency SHOPPING trip!:::

Within minutes Hilde was cruising back into the shopping district, and heading for the department store she had spotted earlier. Parking, she nearly ran inside, her hyperactive tendencies in overdrive.

:::Now.. what should I buy first? Something that will scream, 'BABY', without me having to say a word....:::

She wandered throughout the infant section until she found it. It was one of those round cribs with a white lace canopy and bumper set.

:::Oh well! There goes our vacation cash!:::

"Perfect!" she said, motioning to the sales associate. "I'll take the entire set!"

She was just tightening up the last screw when she heard Duo come in through the kitchen. Glancing at her watch, she was shocked to realize that she had been putting the crib together for two hours, and that she forgot to make dinner.

"Babe? What's to eat?" He called.

"I'm sorry, Duo.. I've been so busy that I forgot to make anything. You want to order pizza?"

He followed her voice to the spare bedroom, stopping at the door. Looking in, the first thing he saw was his wife kneeling on the ground with a screw driver in her hand. Then.. he saw the crib.

"Hilde? Are we expecting company?" He asked, not quite sure of what he was seeing.

"No. Here.. help me put this canopy up." She said, smirking when he just shook his head and took over the project.

"Hilde? If we're not expecting someone with a baby to visit, why do we have a crib in here?"

"I bought it because we're going to need it. Lower your end just a bit.. yes.. there.." she marked where the brackets should be and started to screw them in.

"Need it?" he asked, stunned.

"Um hum..." she smiled, nodding her head and hardly breathing as she waited for his reaction.

It wasn't long in coming as he lost his grip on his side of the frilly white cloud and it came down to hit him in the head. Rubbing it, he stared at his wife as if she were the loch ness monster asking for tea.

Letting the canopy hang there for a moment, he walked over to his wife and held her at arms length.

"How?" He finally managed to stutter, eyeing her petite frame in fascination.

"The normal way, Duo. You know, insert "rod a" into "hole b", and all that.." She pulled her sweater across her body, a little unnerved as he began to stare harder.

"Babe.. is it going to fit?" His voice was just a bit shaky, and Hilde felt a little bad for teasing him.

"Oh course it will! Duo, talk to me! I .. I need to know how you feel about it.."

"I need to let it sink in for a few minutes." He shook his head, bemused. "I can't.. me? A father? What if I lose him in the park or something?"

His eyes were frantic pools of violet as the repercussions were quickly sinking in.

"Duo.. you'll do fine!" She smiled, hugging his waist.

"But.. what if I drop him or something?"

"First of all, I'll be right there with you. Second... I don't think that you would ever drop your son, or daughter..."

"Daughter? OH NO!! I can't deal with little girls.. the first thing they want to do is get their ears pierced, then it's bikinis, make-up and boys. OH NO! I won't do it! This kid is going to be a boy!" He got down on his knees, rubbing her stomach and speaking into her belly button. "You are going to be a boy! Do you hear me, kid? That's my first order!"

Hilde, latched onto his shoulders, holding herself up as she started laughing. He glanced up to her, eyes dancing with mischief, and that smile that stole her breath.

"It's going to be a boy." He stated, solemnly raising his hand up next to his head, palm facing her. "Gundam pilot's honor!"

"You're a nutcase, you know that?"

"You love me." Duo laid his cheek against her stomach, holding her tight, as if she would disappear. He wondered if she realized just how many of his dreams she just made real. Suddenly quiet, he glanced up into her eyes, causing her breath to hitch in her throat as she stroked the silent tears from his cheeks.

He turned his head, reverently kissing her stomach, and said:

"Thank you, Hilde."

almost 17 years Later

"Nicole Lyn Maxwell! Where do you think you're going dressed like that?"

Sixteen year old Nicky winced as her fathers voice came over the loudspeakers in the salvage yard. She had nearly made it to the gates, only miscalculating her fathers position. She felt the eyes of her fathers workers looking at her, and just knew that they were laughing.

"I'm going to the pool, Papa!" she called up to the tower, praying that he wouldn't make too big of a scene. Her friends were waiting for her on the sidewalk.

"Not like that, your not! Get some clothes on! Did your mother buy you that bathing suit?"

"No! Aunt Sally did for my birthday, and I AM wearing clothes! Oh, I gotta go! Bye, Daddy! We'll talk later!"

She quickly made a break for it before her father could climb down the ladder from the tower.

Hilde came up behind Duo, wrapping her arms around his lean waist. "She did it again, didn't she?" Hilde laughed, remarking on Nicky's adroit ability to get away with just about anything.

"Yeah, she did. She knows I'll be waiting up for her tonight, but she doesn't seem to worry about it." He grumbled. "This one had better be a boy.. I don't think I can deal with another girl, babe."

His voice held a long suffering note, and if she didn't know better, she would think that he hated every minute of fatherhood. Thankfully, Hilde knew that he loved the challenge that his girls put him through. There was not a more dedicated Papa in the colony, after all!

Duo just sincerely wished that one of his six kids were a boy...