Key:
(*)= lyrics
(=) = thoughts
(//) = memories
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*
The whispers in the morning
Of lovers sleeping tight
Are rolling like thunder now
As I look in your eyes
*

The night had gone so quickly. Had she really done this? Had she really ended up with this man of beauty and strength? Taking in the scent of the sweat and aftershave combined, she knew that she had. Feeling the hard body next to her under the blankets made for more of a reality than just the images in her mind.

He woke up slowly and rolled onto his side, grabbing her small frame and pulled her near him. The sound of his breath in her ear and the rustling of the sheets beneath him seemed almost natural as if what they had done wasn't totally against the rules, even though they knew it was. He could not be with her like that but after the night they'd shared he really didn't care.

The predawn of morning light penetrated the room through the opened curtains casting down a haze gray morning that would indicate shadows of rain or colder weather. If that were the case, being that it was Saturday, he would keep her in bed all day and never let her out of his sight. He knew that would never happen because of what day it was but it was a thought he would not let escape from his mind.

Hilde turned to face him, admiring the lithe form, muscular build and the shadow of dark that came from his eyes. She took in a deep breath and reached up to push a stray hair out of his face and turned in his arms, catching the sheet between her naked chest and his.

He leaned in and kissed her softly, holding her close and feeling her wrap her arms around his neck. Pulling away but not letting go, Hilde stared into his eyes, getting a clearer view of their blue depths. She took a deep breath, trying desperately to hold back the tears that seemed futile in fighting. They rolled down her cheeks as she stared at him, allowing him to roll gently on top of her.

"What's wrong," he asked her, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"I don't know," she whispered and pulled him down to her, kissing him once again.

*
I hold on to your body
And feel each move you make
Your voice is warm and tender
A love that I could not forsake
*

She kept her arms wrapped around his neck as he reached beneather her, placing his hand at the small of her back as he lifted her gently to him. His touch was sensuous and loving and something she would never expected from someone of his rank in life. She'd only ever known him to be cold and sometimes heartless and would never have imagined him being this gentle of a lover. A lover. That was what he had become to her and what she wanted from him. Not sex but love and he was willing to give it to her.

"Will you go with me tonight," he asked her.

"I'm already going with you," she whispered back and moved her head to allow his kisses to her neck.

"WITH me," he breathed. Hilde pushed away from him a bit and stared into his eyes.

"Won't we... I mean... can we _do_ that," she asked curiously.

He leaned down and kissed her gently and stared into her eyes.

"We can do whatever we damn well please," he answered her to which she answered that she would. She would do anything for him, she told him and revelled in the fact that he even wanted her to be at his side at the formal that evening.

"Yes... but right now..." she replied with a trace of seduction as she stared into his eyes.

"If you ask me to," he spoke and waited to hear the words.

"Make love to me..."

*
Cause I'm your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can
*

He helped her out of the car and paid the valet to keep the car safe. Hilde held her gown up above the wet pavement, trying to stay under the provided umbrella and not fall as she concentrated on the heels she wore.

"You look lovely," he whispered in her ear and though his thoughts were genuine and the compliment the same, it didn't stop her from feeling nervous at the fact that they were going to be formally introduced to the crowd. What would the others say? What would Lady Une say? Fornication among the ranks was not permitted even though it was allowed for Sally and Wufei but only because Sally voluntarily stepped down to civilian for him. They'd all acheived the ranks from Sergeant First class to Lieutenant Colonel and though she had also made the ranks, he was still above her.

"Relax," he whispered, "we'll be fine."

Taking a breath and standing straight, she suddenly transformed right before his eyes from the timid girl he'd taken home the previous night to the young woman he had seen in times past. She had matured in so many ways that he hardly recognized the fact that when he first met her she seemed to be a head strong, love sick teenager. Now, while still head strong, she was a grown woman with a sense of clarity and a desire to go what she was after.

=How did I miss that about her= he asked himself and made his way up to the canopy where he placed his hand on the small of her back and continued in escorting her the rest of the way.

At the door, he whispered to the doorman their names and then walked with her to the head of the stairs where they awaited their announcement. Genlty squeezing her hand, he stole a glance at her beauty and melted at her genuine smile.

"Lieutenant Colonel Merquise and First Sergeant Schbieker," the announcer called and the couple made their way down the stairwell to their designated table.

All eyes were on them, mouths dropped in gasps as whispers echoed throughout the hall full of all military personell. Hilde smiled as she replied to the hellos she received and even reached out, accepting a hand shake from some of her fellow elite. Zechs nodded his acknowledgements as he waited for her and then pulled her chair out for her, allowing her to make her place at the table of commissioned officers.

Lady Une eyed them carefully but said nothing as this was not the time, nor the place to bring up the formalities of what they attendance represented.

Lucrezia Noin also eyed the young woman and turned away, dispelling a tinge of jealousy and returned her attention back to the head of the room.

These glances, though harmless in appearance, did not escape Hilde's view but she didn't care. Zechs had told her that they could do whatever they wanted and if need be, he would defend his right to love her to whomever challenged his authority on emotion.

*
Even though there may be times
It seems I'm far away
Never wonder where I am
Cause I am always by your side
*

"Where are you," Zechs whispered.

"Where I'll be for ever if you asked me to," she replied softly.

The evening had passed slower than they would have liked but it had passed none the less. Hilde stood outside on the balcony, staring at the waning moon as it fell to the western ground. The air brushing around her sent chills down her spine but the warm breath on her neck counterbalanced it, causing the hair on her arms to rise anyway in a wave of bumps prickling her skin.

"Are you ok," he asked her.

"A little nervous about going to work on Monday," she whispered and turned around.

"Don't worry about it," he said, turning her to face him.

Zechs moved back and leaned up against the wall, pulling her with him and wrapping his arms around her. Hilde stared at him. His build was so defined; cut intricately to define the curves and bulges of his muscles from his strenuous work. He had the body that most men worked out indefinitely for and it came naturally to him. She stared at his blond hair and into his crystal blue eyes, though in this lack of light they appeared to be almost a dark indigo color as they had that morning. How did she manage to captivate him and hold him? How did she manage to get into his bed?

She wasn't sure how any of it happened and wasn't sure that she really wanted to know. She had developed feelings for him some time ago but would have never approached it had it not been for the alcohol running in her system the night before. It wasn't that she was drunk, for she was all too coherent with her surroundings and all that was going on from Sally and Wufei near getting it on on the dance floor to Quatre flirting insiduously with Trowa. She didn't miss the contact Duo had made with Relena but none of that mattered as much as the amount of attention Zechs Merquise was paying to her. It made her nervous, his eye contact he made with her.

//"Dance with me."//

Hilde leaned up against his chest and took a deep breath, inhaling his cologne. Black Suede. It brought the memories of the night before into her mind and she held closer to him, letting it play out in her mind.

//"Oh... ok..." Hilde whispered as she stifled a giggle and allowed him to pull her to the dance floor. It was a slow song playing and she wore the right pair of shoes to dance such a song with someone of his height.

"I never pictured you the type to dance," she whispered to him in a loud tone so that he would hear her over the music of the band playing.

"I do if I have the right partner," he relayed back, staring into her eyes.

He admired her form beneath his hands and watched how the soft glow of the lighting sparkled in her eyes. Were it anyone else, it would have been dull and shady but not in hers. Her eyes captured the brightest beads of light and they danced in her eyes as he danced with her.

"And I'm the right partner," she asked almost not believing his words, wondering if he'd had too much to drink.

"Are you," he asked back.

Lost in a moment of confusion, she stared at him wondering who had asked the question first and how it got to be so. If she had been drunk, she was now clearly sober trying to figure out the nature of his interrogation. She remained silent the rest of the song, leaning in and resting her head on the front of his shoulder, feeling his hand at the small of her back. Was he asking her for more than she meant to give? Was it her imagination playing with her, causing her to feel a lump that may have not really been there? Feeling herself blush at the thought, she pushed away gently from him but did not leave his embrace. She didn't want to think about that, not with him and not with the others staring at them as they danced.

"What's wrong," he asked her but she shook her head, afraid that if she opened her mouth to speak that she would say something totally regrettable.

As the night ended and everyone offed in their direction of home, he walked her to her car and held the door open for her. He stared at her, watching as her dainty fingers turned the ignition. She waited a moment and then pressed the gas so that the car would not over heat in it's idle position. She got out of the car and closed to the door to entrap the heat and shoved her hands into her pocket.

"So what are you doing tomorrow," she asked.

"The ball," he replied. He watched her lower her head as she nodded, remembering that they had to attend the Fourth Annual Peace Ball the following night. "Are you going," he asked.

"Only if I can bum a ride," she smiled up at him. "You can bum more than that," he replied, lifting her chin with his finger.//

Hilde sighed. She didn't know why he did it and didn't want to know but he'd leaned in and kissed her, inviting her back to his place. He'd even given her enough time to back out as he told her to follow him when she agreed. He said that if she didn't feel right about it that she could take her leave at any time but she hadn't. She followed him to his house and up the stairs and to his room and into his bed and beneath his naked form and she regretted none of it.

"What are you thinking about," Zechs asked her and looked down into her eyes.

"Being yours," she replied softly and took his lips with hers.

*
Cause I'm your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can
*

Zechs kissed her with more passion and easily lifted her into his arms, carrying her back inside as he closed the doors behind him. With soft caresses and a gentle disposition, he placed her onto the soft material of the bed and crawled up, laying beside her "Will you be mine," he asked her.

Hilde looked up into his eyes, shocked that he would ask her something like that after the night they'd spent together. It was hard to fathom something like this, hard to hold an image of being 'his' when it seemed that she already was.

"I dont... understand..." she spoke shyly and turned her attention to his chest.

"Make love to me," he whispered, leaning down to touch her lips with his.

Hilde stared up at him, feeling vulnerable and exposed even though the hideous gown she had been forced to wear at the announcements requisition was still covering her body. Zechs placed his hand on her belly, slowly sliding it around to the other side, waiting for her to decide if she was going to comply or not. She did.

Reaching up, she unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders to which he casually eased it off the rest of the way. Once it was out of the way, she pushed him down to where she could straddle him and removed his under shirt. Zechs closed his eyes as he felt her hot breath on his chest and her moist tongue tracing small patterns as she kissed it gently, nibbling here and there.

Next she undid his pants and slowly slid them off, not missing the erection he was now sporting. With the slightest movement of her hand over his arousal, she sent shock waves through him and delighted in watching him shiver.

Zechs watched her crawl her way up to him and then sat up as she pulled him closer to her. Reaching behind her, she pulled at the zipper and then let her hands fall to her sides as he pulled it the rest of the way down. Kissing her neck and shoulders, he pulled the velvet material off, exposing her soft, creamy skin and then moved her to stand. He moved to the edge of the bed to be near her and watched as she held the dress up over her breasts.

Pulling her close to him, not forcing her to drop it, he grabbed her face between her hands and kissed her gently, lovingly. With one hand still holding the fabric, Hilde reached around Zechs' neck and kissed him back. He gently eased her hand away from the hold she had and pulled the dress to fall to her feet and then pushed her back that he might admire her more.

Hilde stood naked from the waist up, only a g-string thong covering her inner chamber. Her hands rested at her side until he reached for them, grabbing them and pulling her to them.

"Make love to me," he whispered again and she moved with him to the bed, kissing his lips while stroking his erection before placing it at her door.

*
We're heading for something
Somewhere I've never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I'm ready to learn
Of the power of love
*

She'd always heard the other girls say that it got easier after the first time and now understood what they meant. This was only her third time having him inside her, he being her first, but the more they moved and the more she allowed it, she realized that it was becoming easier to adjust to. It didn't change the fact that every time the position deepened, so did the feeling but it felt better and better each time. She rode him slowly, kissing him, feeling his hands on her hips and then sat up, wondering how the mere change from leaning to sitting up right could cause him to feel like he was that much deeper within her. She was afraid of what he might think of her and what might happen at work and what Lady Une; _General_ Une would have to say about it. The woman had no problem what so ever in using rank against what she would consider to be an incompetetant decision among the ranks of her elite. From the look she received earlier that evening, there was not a doubt in her mind that this one of those considerations.

Zechs sat up, keeping in contact with Hilde and pulled her to him. He dried the tears that had escaped her eyes and held her close, entrapping her in his warmth. "I asked you to make love to me," he whispered. "Not the General, not the Corps, just me. You are beautiful, Hilde Schbieker and there is no one else in this room tonight but _you_ and _me_."

Hilde looked into his eyes as he forced her to look at him. He had to understand that even though she was twenty years old, she was still four years his junior and hadn't reached the level that Noin or Sally had. Relena was far more experienced in life than she was so he could not expect her to behave on Relena's maturity but she did have her own level and he knew she could bring it out at a moment's notice. He also had to understand that he was her first ever and she seemed still a little confused on how to handle these new emotions.

"I'm scared," she admitted finally; outloud to herself and to him.

"Of what," he asked as he rubbed her face, wiping the tears.

"That you were my first and I'll lose you to the call of duty because our ranks do not coincide with that of regulation."

Zechs gazed into her eyes, taking in the reflection of her sadness and expelled it through a solid breath before he kissed her warmly. He held onto her while he pulled her off of him and lay her down, falling softly beside her. Grabbing her hand, he placed it on his chest allowing her to feal his heart beat. It didn't matter anymore if they didn't finish what they had started. All that seemed important to him now was that she feel what he felt for her and understand that her fear was not a reality.

*
The sound of your heart beating
Made it clear suddenly
The feeling that I can't go on
Is light years away
*

Feeling the pounding in his chest, she said not a word to his silence as she matched his beats with hers. His heart was talking to hers, telling her that she had nothing to fear and that he loved her. He wanted her to understand that his ways were different from what she was used to in younger men hanging all over her and what not. He was a man, not a boy in a man's body. Slowly, lowering her defenses, Hilde pushed herself up to kiss him and rolled over with him to where she was once again on top of him. She opened herself up to him once more and felt him slide within her. Closing her eyes, she moved a little, forcing him deeper inside of her and then leaned down to kiss his lips. She parted them with her tongue and began moving as though she'd always known how to make love to someone and felt his hands all over her body. Soon his mouth found her jugular where he bit tenderly and began sucking lightly and then it moved and was then on her breasts, tasting each nipple, all while he moved to be sitting up with her rocking his world at the same time.

Seconds passed between this moment and that before he had her pinned beneath him and was now moving deeper inside of her. Her nails glided down his back in tender pursuasion while he held her body close to his and made love to her the only way he knew how. Before they knew it, they were covered in sweat and breathing heavily as she began to cry out her orgasm, becoming accustomed to the tightening in her stomach and the endorphins that would begin to run througout her body. She moaned and whined a bit and then began to escalate in soft whimpers before it was a full cry of passion and pleasure. Zechs continued in moving until she finally squeezed her muscles around him, holding him in place as she didn't want him moving any more inside of her. It hurt too much though it felt good as hell.

"Let go..." he coaxed and made it last that much longer, listening to her moans and cries of ecstacy. Not long after that, he felt his release at hand and begged permission to go inside her. It had not been a big thing before because both times, last night and that morning, he'd used a condom but this time, they bypassed that detail and she wouldn't let him stop in the middle to put one on. With a whimper and a quickly spoken answer, she gave him the permission he pleaded for and then tightened harder when he stroked her one last time, sending her screaming over the edge as he filled her completely.

"I love you," she heard and closed her eyes at the softest sound he made. It could have been the wind blowing in through the curtains but at this moment she didn't care and knew that his words were real.

*
Cause I'm your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'm gonna do all that I can
*

That next Monday, both walked into the building, receiving a few hellos from their peers and a few disgruntled looks from others. It didn't matter, Zechs had already told her so. They were able to have what they wanted because they were in control of their feelings and desires and it didn't matter to him what anyone had to say about it.

"Lt. Col. In my Office, _Now_," Lady Une growled upon seeing the new couple arrive.

Hilde felt butterflies being trapped in her belly and headed to her desk where a pile of paperwork lay waiting. Her head swam with scenarios and images of what was going on inside the General's office but she would never be prepared for what was about to happen. Grabbing a stack while she waited for her computer to click on, she saw a pair of hands rest gently against the finish of her desk. She looked up to meet a set of stealy eyes boring into her and tilted her head, waiting for the question to be spoken.

"Take a walk with me," the woman spoke to which Hilde stood up and outright protested the petition.

"What ever you have to say to me can be said right here, Major."

Hilde folded her arms, waiting for Noin to speak her mind, not caring that there were several eyes now watching them.

Noin stared disbelieving at the young woman and shook her head with an air of supremecy as she narrowed her eyes at the Junior grade officer.

"Let me tell you something," she spat, "I _hope_ you know what you're getting into because this little song and dance is not all that it appears to be."

Hilde stared hard at Noin, knowing that it was pure jealousy speaking and nothing more. Whatever had happened between them was enough to leave him indifferent on the subject and her seething with hostility toward him. It was nothing to her because Zechs had told her things that she was certain even Noin did not know. She hadn't even time to speak because at the moment she opened her mouth, she was called into Lady Une's office and so she walked away from the intensity of the woman's rage and into that of another.

=Out of the frying pan into the fire= she thought and jumped as the door slammed shut.

"You two are getting married," Une questioned in a hissed tone.

Hilde looked at Zechs, and then back at her Commanding officer.

"Yes, Ma'am," she spoke softly.

"Which one of you will be leaving the military," Une growled as she stared at them both.

"Why do either of us have to get out," she asked roughly. "Would you have resigned your postion had his Excellency not passed away?"

Hilde was now shooting from the hip and knew that Lady Une had taken this as a personal blow. The woman stood up and growled at Hilde, slamming her fist into her desk to demonstrate that she did not appreciate the girl's line of questioning.

"I am not the subject here and you Will remember that _I_ am Your boss," she spoke roughly.

"I understand that, _General_," Hilde pronounced roughly, "but You have to remember that each of us has a life to live _also_ and we have the right to have the feelings we have and the right to share them with whomever we wish, be they above rank or not."

Lady Une seethed anger as she glared at Hilde and turned to face Zechs.

"Get this settled or you're Both courtmartialed by Friday."

Zechs grabbed Hilde's hand and glared at the woman behind the desk as he pulled his young bride to be out of the office. Not caring about anything else or anyting that anyone had to say, he dragged Hilde out of the building and down the steps to the lot. Stopping at his car, he pushed her into it gently and placed his hands on either of her shoulders. "Are you Certain you want to do this," he asked her with compassionate tones.

"Are You," she asked back, staring cold stones into his eyes.

He leaned in and kissed her, holding her and then hugged her. "I meant what I said," he replied. "I do love you and will marry you, if you'll have me."

Hilde threw her arms further around him and looked up at him as tears began to fall from her eyes. Maybe she was jumping into this too quickly and there was a lot more to it than what met the eye. Maybe he was jumping in because he didn't want to deal with anything from anyone else. Maybe he didn't want to deal with Noin's constant barrage at him every time something happened and she was decoy out of that. Maybe she allowed doubt a foothold in her mind and he truly did love her and would truly go to any lengths to have her.

"I am not the reason you get out of the military," she whispered. "You are not the reason I leave the job that I do."

Zechs pulled her close to him, afraid to look at her as he felt tears stinging his eyes. He had given all he had to her and this was how she was going to take it? But then he had taken everything from her; her virginity, her love and her heart. This was how _he_ was going to take it?

"But you are the reason behind my happiness and if I have to fall out, so be it," he whispered and looked into her eyes. "I have never been willing to make such a decision so easily based on something I've felt," he said. "Please don't turn away from me because you fear General Une."

Hilde could not believe how much he seemed to have changed from one night to the next. Never in all her days had she ever imagined him to be the lover he'd been with her but in a million years would she have ever even Thought of seeing crystaline droplets fall from his eyes. It almost scared her but at the same time it fascinated her. Not even _Duo_ cried for her and he seemed the least stable of them all half the time.

"I love you," she whispered, taking her turn to wipe _his_ tears from his chin.

Zechs lowered himself to his one knee and held her hand in his.

"Will you marry me," he asked her again and again she accepted with a bright smile and tears.

~: Six Months Later :~

*
We're heading for something
Somewhere I've never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I'm ready to learn
Of the power of love
*

Hilde turned to face her groom and took a deep breath as she grabbed his hand. Repeating the words the father spoke, she tried hard to not let the tears get in the way but they fell anyway. It all passed so quickly that she wasn't even certain that it was over until Zechs lifted her vail and took in her beauty. "You may kiss your bride," the man spoke to which Zechs took a deep breath and let it out slowly and did as he was told.

Lingering at her lips for the briefest moment, he stared at her and then kissed her passionately, almost devouring her in front of the father and the rest of the church for them all to see.

Hilde squealed and giggled, pulling away from him to hug him and took another deep breath of her own. "I'm so ready to teach our children what I've learned of the power of love," she whispered.

"Then let's go home and start producing," he whispered back.

"I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Lieutenant Colonel Zechs Merquise," the father spoke and demonstrated the newly wed to the rest of the church.

Loud claps and hollars filled the room as Lady Une approached them, firm expression and all as though she still disapproved of their actions.

"Only someone who can completely understand the rules of what you two have could ever get away with speaking to me like that," she said and held Hilde's hands in hers. "Congratulations," she spoke and looked at Zechs. "Both of you."

Duo was the next to approach them, hinting to them that he had a favor to ask and wanted to be 'quiet' about it.

"What's you guys' secret," he asked, trying to get the full effect of what had happened.

Hilde smiled and pulled him to her, whispering in his ear. Duo pulled away, crinkling his nose in mass confusion, wondering where in all the world she came up with the answer she had just given. "WHAT? The Power of... Love?"

Hilde giggled and drew herself closer to her husband and turned to face him. Staring into his crystal blue eyes, she nodded and turned back to face Duo. "Yes, Duo. It's the power of Love."

*
The power of love...
*

"Then I guess I'd better get ready to learn it, huh," he asked and stared over at the girl he'd been dating now for about the same amount of time. Zechs looked up to meet his gaze and then growled. "HEY! How is that HE gets to date the Foreign Vice Minister and We have to fight to keep Rank," he spat at Lady Une. Lady Une shrugged, laughing. "That damned power of love," she replied.

~~~~*~~~~

THE END.

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