"Mmmm… Katrine…"

He wanted to sleep still. The pillow’s so soft, the bed so warm…

"Will you go out with me tonight…?"

Sometimes good things will eventually come to an end.

"Duo, I’m making breakfast!"

The God of Death woke up from his wonderful dream, back into the harsh world of Reality. He wished that he found out the conclusion to his fantasy, but he had other things in mind. Still in his black pajamas, the long-braided man got out of his Burgundy bed without fixing it and went straight to the brightly-lit kitchen, where the sweet smells of pancakes and waffles emanated from.

"Good morning, Beautiful!" he called out.

"Duo, I told you, stop calling me that!" Katrine pointed out. Of course, she didn’t say it straight to his face. She had to concentrate on her cooking, but Duo knew that she was concentrating on hiding her rosy blush.

"Did Heero come home last night?" Duo asked.

"No," she responded, "You know Zechs… even though the war’s over, he’s abusing his power as the Preventer 5 Colonel to punish poor Heero. It isn’t fair…"

"Rivalries live on, even after the battle…," Duo said as he made himself comfortable on the snugly Indigo Blue couch.

"Zechs has no right to go give Heero these many missions to complete in a matter of days… my gosh, he has schoolwork to finish, for crying out loud! He’s missing too many classes!" she protested as she fussed with her white apron. "Zechs is lucky that I’m not there to give him orders, or else I’ll be kicking his ass all over his office!"

Duo laughed hysterically. "Man, Katrine, why don’t you go do that now?" he proposed, "I would definitely love to see that!"

"Along with Quatre and the others, I assume…?" she added with that smile of hers, "Well, I can’t. Besides, if I did, I would win in three seconds flat."

Katrine kept on smiling while Duo couldn’t stop laughing. He could imagine it now… Katrine staring the 6’ man straight in the eye, only to kick him in the balls.

<Ding Dong!>

"Duo, can you get it? It’s probably Heero," Katrine requested.

"Got it, Baby!" he answered.

Katrine sighed as she went to check on her pancakes.

"Guys! Hi~!" he gasped, "Sorry if I’m in my pajamas. I just woke up!"

Katrine’s attention was at once robbed by this event. She walked up to the door and gasped just like Duo did. At the other side of the door were three familiar faces. One had short Platinum Blonde hair and peaceful Blue eyes. The other was a little thinner and taller, with Dark Green eyes and Brown hair. All were in the casual black Preventer uniform. Both were magnets for hungry women.

"Trowa! Quatre!" she leaped for joy as she hugged them.

"Long time no see, Katrine! How are you?" Quatre asked.

"Great! Now that you’re here," she told him.

"Hmm… it looks like you took care of the God of Death very, very well," Trowa chuckled.

"Is that the only reason you came to visit us, old pal?" Duo challenged him while cracking his knuckles.

One slick Black-hair, Black-eyed man seemed to be insulted by all of this. The other two were greeted with smiles and hugs but him. Katrine noticed this, and she plainly waved to him.

"Oh! Hi, Wufei," she said.

"Is that it?!" he sulked.

"Come on in you guys! I’m making an intercontinental breakfast!" Katrine beckoned.

Trowa and Quatre followed her immediately, but Wufei would rather stay outside. He leaned on the wall, folded his slightly muscular arms and closed his tense-looking eyes.

"Oh Wufei~!" Katrine sung.

"Go away you insolent woman!" he snapped, "I never liked you anyway!"

"I’m making Chinese dumplings~!"

Wufei finally gave up.

"Damn that woman!" he cursed as he walked into the apartment.

The five Sky Blue and White entrée plates on the black lacquered table were surprisingly clean in 20 minutes. Katrine’s amazed that for 3 young guys, they still don’t get fed very well in outer space. No wonder they came to visit her and Duo again.

"Katrine, that’s the best breakfast I ever had!" Quatre commented.

"Oh, thank you," she bowed to him, "I’m glad you enjoyed it."

"Thank you Katrine. It was very delicious," Trowa praised her.

"Thank you, Trowa," she bowed to him.

Duo looked at Wufei, who just stared into blank space. Not wanting the Chinese man to insult his girl ("friend"… jeez, he can’t make up his mind sometimes), he gave him a nudge in the stomach.

"<Sigh> Thank you, woman," he said rather reluctantly.

"Wufei-!" Quatre snapped with wide eyes.

"Wufei, don’t be rude to Katrine, " Trowa reminded him, "She worked hard to make a good breakfast for all of us."

"That’s all right," Katrine broke in, then looking to Wufei, "I’ll take that as a compliment."

"Just be glad she’s nice to you now," Duo whispered to the Solitary Dragon, "or else she’ll go kick your ass again like last time."

"Silence, you black-clad God!" Wufei exploded.

"Well, how is everything up there in the colonies?" Katrine asked in order to change the subject.

"Just fine," Quatre answered as he sipped his brown tea, "There hardly ever was an immense uprising of the sort, so we pretty much focused on having a real life."

"That’s great!" Katrine said, "How’s Dorthy?"

Quatre nervously blushed at the thought. He knew she was going to ask that question sooner or later. Too bad it was too soon.

"She’s- okay," the Arabian Prince barely answered, "Right now, she’s helping my sisters run the family business."

"And how’s Catherine, my little clown?" Katrine beamed.

"Scaring all of my female fans away," Trowa sighed in relief, "I’m glad she’s doing that."

"How’s Ms. Po, Dragon Boy?"

"I refuse to answer your insignificant questions, woman," Wufei remarked.

"That’s good too, Wufei. Tell her I said ‘hi’, okay?"

Just like Heero, Wufei gave her the silent treatment.

"So, where’s ‘The Man’?"

Everyone fell silent as they stared at Quatre. Talking about The Perfect Soldier was always a touchy subject for all of them.

"He finished his mission last night but never returned. Why do you ask?" Katrine replied.

"According to Miss Noin’s report, he attacked the wrong base. It was completely demolished, and there appears to be no survivors. There is no way we can cover up his tracks this time."

"That’s Heero for you."

"Katrine, he was supposed to take out the guerrilla army in the Philippine Islands, not the one in the Hawaiian Islands. Heero just can’t attack any base he feels like thrashing without proper permission."

"Heero does not make miscalculations."

"Tell that to Mr. Zechs."

"I will then, before I beat him up to a bloody pulp."

Duo began to snicker uncontrollably. The other three couldn’t guess what’s wrong with him.

"Is that why the three of you were sent all the way here from outer space? To personally scold your own friend?" she went on, "For your information, you’re doing Zechs’ dirty work again."

"Do you think we enjoy it?" Trowa sarcastically stated.

"It looks like I will have to pay him a visit then," Katrine decided, "It’s been a while since I saw that idiotic Baron."

"With that taken care of, why don’t we go see who is the guy who proposed to Relena then?" Quatre suggested, "I believe it’s going to start in 3 minutes."

"Yes. I hope it’s not that guy," Trowa agreed as he walked to the Indigo Blue couch, "If it is, we’re all doomed."

"So much for Relena’s 20,000 suitors," Wufei said as he followed Trowa,

"…Oh yeah, it’s 20,001 suitors. Forgot to count him."

Duo simply walked up to Katrine. "Kat…," was all he could say. His Cobalt Blue eyes, however, were telling her something else.

"This has been going too far," she explained to him, "I’m going straight to the Preventer 5 Headquarters first thing in the morning."

He smiled at her. "Thanks Katrine, for everything," he said, "From all of us. You really don’t have to do this for Heero-"

"I’m going to do it, whether he likes it or not," she insisted, "He’s been through so much in all 20 years of his life. What did he do to deserve this?"

"Zilch."

"Exactly. I’m not ‘The Heroine of Humanity’ for nothing."

The Darlian Residence has never been so full of flashing cameras or mobs of inquisitive people since Mr. Darlian himself was assassinated 5 long years ago. That was a horrific time back then. This time is different. The young woman with Light Brown hair and True Blue eyes peered out of her window to glance at the people below.

"Your Majesty!" one reporter called out.

"Miss Relena!" called another.

She showed them her pretty smile and waved at the adoring crowd before closing the Cream curtains.

I can’t believe it…, Relena thought in amazement, It’s all because of this…

She looked at her left hand. On her fourth finger laid the $700,000 Harry Winston engagement ring. With its diamond baguettes and 17-carat pear-shaped diamond all in platinum gold, it was without a doubt radiant in her eyes. Somehow, though, deep in her heart, something was pinching hard. She didn’t know why she was feeling such indescribable pain, but Relena ignored it.

Soon, I will make my announcement to my brother, my adopted mother, to the entire universe…, she told herself, and even to him.

But him… the one with those narcotic Prussian Blue eyes she can’t tear hers off of and Dark Brown hair… he is nothing but a long forgotten memory to her now. There is no use for him anymore. All he ever did was come in and out of her life as much as he pleased. And not once did he say hello or goodbye to her. Not no more. She has found a suitable replacement for that lowlife Gundam pilot she stalked only three times. The one she found is the man that he can never be. She has found her happiness. No more pain. No more tears.

…Right?

"Relena?"

There standing by the doorway of her bedroom is her man. At least she thinks so. Standing 5’9’’ in an elaborate military uniform with Dark Auburn hair and Apple Green eyes, he is the perfection of a man… on the outside, anyway.

"Darling, it’s time," he advised her, reaching for her hand.

"I guess so," Relena said with visible pain in her eyes.

"What’s wrong, Darling?"

"This- dress. I don’t like it."

It was an Aquamarine and White dress with embroidered flower motifs, designed for her by Katrine. In Reality, she loved it with all of heart, but she used it as an excuse to get off the subject.

"You look lovely tonight, Darling. I love it."

So much for that idea.

"Thank you, Stanhope."

Still, it wasn’t enough to go worry about other things.

"I know what is bothering you. You never thought that this would ever happen, am I right?"

He hit the jackpot. She can’t get out of it now.

"I guess so, Stanhope. Everyone’s been waiting for this moment for 5 years."

"Don’t worry, Darling, " he said with a tranquil smile (not as tranquil as Heero’s- and definitely not as angelic),"They’ll be glad you’ll be marrying me because I’m going to make you happy for the rest of your life."

"You’re right…"

Relena tried to hide the pain she was feeling as much as she could, but her heart was telling her a completely different story.

He isn’t the one for you…, it said to her, and you know it!

"Relena, Darling, let’s go."

"Yes."

Why are you putting up this façade, Relena? Aren’t you listening to yourself? Just dump the sorry excuse of a prince and run!

The two walked out of Relena’s bedroom down the long empty hallway.

Dear God, Relena, you are going to make the biggest mistake of your life. Don’t you realize that?

Once they reached the long flight of stairs, the enthusiastic media awaited them with showers of joy. She continued to fake her pretty smile for the flashing cameras.

You never gave your heart to him. You never uttered those three words to him either. But you’re going to marry him?! What’s wrong with you, Relena?!?!

She smiled she did, but her eyes showed her concern and pain.

"Miss Relena, will you tell us who asked for your hand in marriage now?" one reporter asked.

"Who is that man next to you, Miss Relena? A military officer of the Preventer 5?" a famous news anchor inquired.

"Don’t tell them yet. I’m doing this to keep the surprise a secret until we’re ready," her man whispered into her ear. She nodded.

He may rich and handsome, but is he going to provide everything that you really need?! Of course not! He’s not marrying you for Love!

"Miss Relena, will you show us your engagement ring?" a rookie reporter requested with a smile.

"Oh, of course!" Relena understood as she showed it off to the world.

You would rather give your body to a complete jerk like him than to love the other guy for the rest of your life?!?!

"But he never loved me…," she almost cried.

"What is that you say, Miss Relena?" a photographer said.

"Oh, nothing."

You’re 20 years old, Relena! You should know what Love is! It came from HIM!

"NO, IT DIDN’T!" Relena screamed.

Silence enveloped the large hall. As she realized that she just made a fool of herself (like she has with Heero in the past), her man held both of her unsteady hands in his.

"Are you all right, Miss Relena?" he asked in a sweet voice.

"I’m… I’m sorry," she apologized.

Quickly regaining her posture, Relena was surprised that she screamed her thoughts out loud.

I’m going to marry, she told herself, I’m going to marry-

Then she looked at her man.

Do I want to marry him…?

"Man… what happened there?" Duo asked as he attempted to grab for a cold can of Sapporo Beer in the refrigerator, only to have it snatched away by a frowning Katrine.

"It’s only for cooking, not for drinking, Duo," she warned him.

"I’m 20, Kat! I can drink whatever I want to now!"

"No no no, Duo," she urged as she pushed the whimpering God of Death out of the kitchen, "Now scat scat scat!"

"Remember, Relena has a tendency to talk to herself," Trowa explained,

"That’s what Pagan told us."

"She definitely is one psychopath…," Wufei commented, "Then Heero is one himself… I guess one psychopath deserves another."

Before he knew it, he was hit with pillows left and right.

"Dear goodness, Wufei, don’t you have anything nice to say for once?!" Katrine demanded.

"Since when?" Trowa replied.

"Forget it," she pouted as she threw the embroidered pillow right into Wufei’s face.

"I hate that woman…," the Chinese man snarled.

"But not Duo. He’s thinking of a way to impress her now, am I right~?"

"Not now, Trowa!" Duo blushed.

Quatre sighed heavily. "It’s just like the old times…," he said.

The gigantic striped circus tent has been vacant just for now. All of the equipment were out, but there was no one who wanted to perform nor there was anyone who wanted to watch. There was only one reason.

"Oh my God! Here it is~!" Catherine gawked as she sat close to the TV set. All of the other performers huddled close to get a peek.

"I wonder who it is…," a young kid asked.

"We all do!" a tall man pointed out, "It better not be that jerk Ms. Lollecte’s been telling us about."

"I hope so too," Catherine prayed.

"This is it!" one of Quatre’s sisters called out.

"Be quiet!" another shouted.

"I can’t see from here!" one complained.

It was the first time that all 29 Winner sisters were in the grand living room together. It was also the first time that they all agreed to watch only one thing.

"Maybe we should get another TV from one of the bedrooms?" the sister in the middle suggested.

"I’m hungry~!" the other sister in the middle moaned.

In spite of being in a very crowded room with quarreling sisters (not to mention a bad view of the TV), Dorthy could only speculate.

Miss Relena, don’t tell me and the entire world as well as the colonies that you will ignore what you’re heart is telling you…, she thought, Didn’t Ms. Lollecte taught you not to do such a crime to yourself…?

"This is interesting…," Sally said as she switched the channel to the live telecast. After defending the colonies with Wufei for so long, she deserved a long period of rest. She let her long hair down for once and rested on a real fluffy couch. Drinking her mug of dark roasted coffee, she scrutinized the man in the elaborate uniform as he and Relena walked together towards the long rectangular table. Despite the long shot of her being seated down by her man, Sally saw enough details on the uniform to recognize what it was.

"I don’t recall seeing that man working for us before…," she concluded,

"…Ohno… is that the man Ms. Lollecte warned us about?!?!?"

"May I have your attention please?" Relena requested.

The room became silent, as well as the world and the colonies. The time has finally arrived. After 24 long hours, all peoples will at last find the answer to their question.

"I have an announcement to make-"

She clenched her shaky hand. She didn’t want to do it, but she has to. She has no choice now. She might as well get it over with before she starts getting more second opinions. Then she felt an affectionate hand caressing her tense fist. Soon afterward, his hand held hers, and it instantaneously calmed her nerves. That gave her the strength to do what has to be done.

"I, Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian, am engaged since the eleventh of February, After Colony 200."

Everyone witnessing the huge event was getting impatient.

"The man who asked for my hand in marriage has always been there for me when I needed him the most."

She’s stalling-

" He is a sweet, caring and kind man. For the past 3 years, he gave me the love and support that made my life complete."

What a big fat lie. Well, all politicians don’t tell the complete truth.

Her man, standing beside her, smiled to all of the universe, but it wasn’t a compassionate one.

The world will soon know my name…, he smirked, And there’s no one that can stop it. Not even you, Katrine Quent Lollecte.

"So, ladies and gentlemen in this residence, as well to everyone else to the world and in outer space, I would like to introduce to you the man sitting beside me."

Too bad Relena didn’t realize who was actually sitting next to her, holding her hand the way she likes it. This took her man by surprise.

There was only one chair just moments ago, he remembered, and it was for her! How can she not notice I’m standing up?!

"Wait a second…," Quatre pondered as the noise level in the Darlian Residence’s majestic ballroom increased.

"That ain’t the jerk!" Duo shouted in amazement, "IT’S HEERO!"

"Heero proposed to Relena?!??!!?" Trowa asked dumbfounded.

"ALL RIGHT HEERO!"

"He did it! He really did it!" Quatre exclaimed.

Katrine looked at Wufei, whose mouth was wide open. She then smiled and sighed in complete bliss.

"Well I’m be damned," she said, "He hid that ring very well from us."

"We all should know Heero," Duo told her, "He does everything in the most flashiest way."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

"It’s Heero Yuy, girls!" the eldest Winner sister announced in the Winner Estate. Soon, that place was full of screams.

"Woo-hoo~! Miss Relena once again proves her taste in men~!" one sister cheered.

"I like him better than that other jerk anyway! He’s a cutie!" the hungry sister danced with glee.

"That lucky Relena! I wanted to marry Heero~!" the youngest Winner sister pouted.

Congratulations, Miss Relena, Dorthy smiled, It looks like you did listen to your heart after all.

"Trowa’s friend was the one who proposed to Miss Relena?!?" the young kid asked in surprise.

"YAY~! It isn’t that jerk who did it then!" the tall man praised. After hearing his quote, everyone else in the circus tent were praising him too.

"Way to go, Heero~!" the tightrope performer approved.

"I told ya it was Heero!" one of the truck drivers bragged before being barraged with red ripe tomatoes.

"He proposed to her…," Catherine cried as she wiped her tears away.

Sally simply smiled at the moment. "You made the right decision, Heero," she said, holding her mug up high, "Congratulations."

Relena, being the last person to know, finally looked who was holding her hand. It was him, the one she thought she got over with.

"Heero…"

The handsome young man in the black and gold uniform looked at Relena, who was completely speechless. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t think. All she did was stare into those hypnotic Prussian Blue eyes of his, all while holding his loving hand. There was something so different about him that she can’t put her finger on.

Her man, realizing the folly of his ways, was about to spoil everything with the truth.

"What is wrong, soldier?" Heero asked.

He looked at what he was wearing. It was the formal Preventer 5 uniform.

"Na…Nothing, Sir," the man saluted him.

"Then do your job right or else you will hear it from Colonel Zechs. Understood?"

The man saluted him once more. He never felt so humiliated in his entire life.

Heero then turned to the eager audience and introduced himself like a real gentleman.

"I am Prince Odin Lowe, Jr., her fiancé."

Soon, his friends who were watching the whole incident on TV had blank faces on.

"Odin-?" Quatre asked.

"Lowe-?" Dorthy inquired.

"Jr.?" Catherine questioned.

"Did I just hear him say he’s someone else?" Catherine’s circus manager wondered.

"Lowe…?" Sally thought to herself.

"Odin?! He just named himself after a god!" Duo objected, "I’M the only god in the Preventer 5!"

Relena, however, didn’t care about anything. She didn’t care about the numerous camera shots, the countless questions, the bright lights or the opinions of anyone watching at home. All she did was stare at him, holding his hand in hers.

He came back, she thought, feeling her eyes swell up with tears, He came back to me…

Amidst all of the celebration and confusion, Katrine was the only one with a clear mind.

"What did you just do…?" she said quietly, "Why did you do that…?"

Author’s Note: Well~ I’m glad I finished this Chapter! I didn’t realize that it

was THIS long! It’s quite a big scene, so I guess it did need

lots of description. Okay… in Japan, 20 years old is the mark

for adulthood. Not only is there a special ceremony for those

people who have reached the age, but also that is the legal

age for voting and drinking. On an interesting side note,

there are alcoholic beverage vending machines scattered all

across the cities of Japan. What’s more shocking is that a

teenager can get these alcoholic drinks without being

carded or questioned. Just as long he or she does not drink

it, that person is not committing a crime. Oh, how can one

use beer in cooking? Simple… it can be used to flavor poultry

and meats. Once heated up, the alcohol burns off, leaving only

the sweet contents of the drink. It’s just like using wine, only

it’s cheaper. And yes, Relena’s engagement ring really DOES

exist! Chapter 3 is coming up!

All Gundam Wing characters are the copyrights of Sunrise, the Sotsu Agency and Bandai. All rights reserved. But all of the other characters are MINE! ^0^