Archivist's note: The author extends credit to Adaina for doing the majority of Duo's text messaging lines. Written for Moments of Rapture's fifth anniversary.

The Luckiest Man Alive
by WickedGame

Or, what might have once been the rendezvous point.

"Heero! Position is compromised! Situation..uh.....fucked up! We need another way out!"

Heero angled his gun around the corner and shot, hearing the briefly satisfying sound of a body hitting the ground, hopefully injured enough not to follow. "Roger that."

Duo took a grenade off of his belt and pulled the pin. He grabbed Heero and covered his body with his own. Debris rained down on them and dust made them cough as a new hole was blown into the wall opposite them. Duo grabbed the back of Heero's shirt and hauled him up so that they could run. They could hear the enemy behind them, too close for comfort.

Heero opened a small chute, big enough for one person. He grabbed Duo and pointed. "Go!"

Duo didn't need to be asked twice and held onto his momentary reservations before sliding into the chute. Then he was falling and bumping and flailing as he scraped the walls of the chute. When he reached bottom he was bleeding and could feel that his left wrist and right ankle were both broken and that his ribs were definitely bruised. He didn't feel the pain though and adrenaline coursed through him as he waited for Heero.

When Heero reached the bottom he was unconscious. Duo held him and wanted to scream but there was no time. He carried Heero over his shoulder and opened a door into the auxillary docking bay. He knew it was a huge chance. He knew it would involve luck and skill. He threw himself out and ran toward the nearest personal shuttle.

He almost made it. If it weren't for the feeling of his back going out and his leg becoming useless he would have made it. Instead he and the injured form of Heero went sprawling over the floor.

The last thing Duo heard before everything went black was the sweet sound of someone yelling, "Preventers! Freeze!"

The beeping was what finally woke Duo. The incessant beeping of the many machines hooked up to him. He opened his eyes and there were tubes everywhere. He was breathing without any help and wondered how many days he had been in the hospital.

"Are you awake?"

Duo looked over and saw the lean form of Trowa sitting comfortably in a chair and holding a paperback novel.

"Heero?" Duo all of a sudden remembered exactly why he was in the hospital and all he could see in his mind was Heero's closed eyes...the blood...Heero shouldn't have looked that damned pale...

"He's okay. You were actually hurt worse than he was. He took a blow to the head while you took a bullet to the back. It took guts to do what you did but it almost cost you your life. You've been in and out for five days now." Trowa stood and grabbed Duo's bag of belongings. He fished out Duo's cellular communicator and brought it over to the braided man. "He might like to hear from you; I understand today is a special day."

Duo watched Trowa leave and then looked at his display. "Oh shit."

It was their anniversary.

Heero looked at the bedside table in surprise. His phone was going off. He picked it up and flipped it open.

There was a text message from Duo waiting for him.

Oi flyboy! Stop glaring at the nickname. As you would say...status? :-P

Heero smirked and felt a wave of relief that Duo was finally awake. His fingers moved over the buttons as he typed out a response.

I'm better. They say that they might release me tomorrow. I had a small infection they had a to get rid of. How are you? Have they said anything?

Duo smiled as he got Heero's response. At least he was okay. That's all that mattered. He quickly typed up another response grinning.

Wow! You mean you let them treat you!? You didn't go all macho on those poor nurses and doctors? He can be taught! No real word yet from the docs, babe. Though Trowa informs me that I got pretty fucked up.

Heero didn't mention that the only reason he had allowed the doctors to treat him was because he had been so worried about Duo that all he could think about was getting well enough to see him.

Macho? I was unconscious when they started on me and Trowa was around when I started to get out of line.

Heero sent that and then sent something else separately.

Thanks Duo. I only made it out of there because of you. When I woke up and they told me you were still unconscious I didn't know what to think.

Duo chuckled as he got the first message. He was sure, knowing Heero so well, that there was more to it than that but he graciously let it slide. When he got the second message, he felt his face warm and a soft smile graced his lips.

Getting mushy on me now, Yuy? You would've done the same for me and you know it 'Ro. I wasn't about to let you get hurt. Ever. I'm fine now that I know your okay. I love you, you know?

Heero let a small smile grace his face.

I know. It's just that...

He left it open ended, hoping Duo would know exactly what he was trying to say but couldn't.

The smile never left Duo's face as he got Heero's next message. He knew exactly what Heero was trying to say.

I know. I feel the same. Why don't you get some rest. You're gonna need it putting up with me once I get out here. :-P

Heero arched an eyebrow in slight indignation.

You don't think I can keep up with you? I've got enough stamina and strength to do things like that one thing that I do to your ear with my tongue....

Duo shuddered in his bed thinking of that particularly sweet way Heero had of licking the shell of his ear...it always sent tingles down his whole body.

I love you.

Heero smiled.

I know.

Duo thought for a moment and then pressed the buttons once again.

Five years ago today we decided to make things permanent.

Heero nodded and replied.

You insisted on tuxedoes. We could have gone with simple shirts and maybe even ties, but you wanted a tuxedo. You told me that you always envisioned wearing one when you got married.

Duo replied quickly.

Relena asked me two days before the event what color our little flower things that I can't remember what they're called were and I didn't even know we were supposed to have them. She dragged me to a flower shop and purchased pink roses for us both.

Heero remembered how he had put on a happy face for Duo even though he loathed the color pink.

You called me your awful husband instead of lawful.

Duo laughed.

You tried to give me tongue in front of all those people.

Heero smiled softly.

I remember quite a lot of tongue happening that night.

Duo laughed gently.

I remember quite a lot of tongue happening in the bathroom when no one else was around.

Heero sighed and entered a new message.

I didn't think we'd spend our anniversary apart. I had planned on a nice dinner and maybe going away this weekend.

Duo growled and replied.

We're alive to experience it. Isn't that enough?

Heero answered quickly.

It's everything. When we get out of here though you and I are hopping a plane for the islands.

Duo grinned.

You can count on it.

"Excuse me, Mister Maxwell? We need to change some of your bandages and give you some medication." The nurse waited expectantly by the door.

"Yeah, one sec." Duo looked down at his screen and smiled.

I love you. I have loved you for so long now I don't know how I ever lived before I loved you. Happy Anniversary.

Duo grew a little misty-eyed and replied quickly before putting the device on the table.

When Heero heard his device beep again he looked at the screen and felt his heart warm.

The nurse is here and needs my attention for a bit. But I wanted to tell you that I never felt more honored than the day that you married me. Five years now and let's hope it's many many many more. Love you. Get some rest.

Heero put the device on the table and lay back in his bed. He felt like the luckiest man alive.