For today’s top story, Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian has officially announced her engagement to Prince Odin Lowe, Jr. last night at the Darlian Residence. What immediately followed is the cause for celebration all over the world and in the colonies, showing their approval for the husband-to-be. This jubilation has forced many companies and stores to take today off because none of the employees has shown up for work. Nonetheless, the World Nation Government has sanctioned February 14 not only as St. Valentine’s Day, but also as Her Majesty’s Day, an international holiday. It will be to commemorate Queen Relena’s engagement to the once long lost Prince of Outer Space…. I will have to admit, in my 20-year career as news anchor, this is the single most fascinating event in the history of all mankind. At long last, a marriage between Earth and the colonies is all that we need to show unity of all peoples. From everyone in this news station, I would like to say congratulations to the newly engaged couple, Relena Darlian and Prince Odin.

The deeply angered long Platinum Blonde hair man in the casual Black Preventer uniform turned off the 50" Gray Sony flat wall television before he could vomit. He noticed that the news anchor made a huge mistake- everyone’s celebrating but HIM. He can’t see the obvious reason that the public would embrace such a charade. All he sees is his already chaotic life shattering into millions of tiny pieces. After 5 long years, that young man suddenly asks for his only sister’s hand in marriage…?

At first, he refused to believe it. Then he thought how can that Perfect Soldier, being so callous and calculating, win her heavenly heart? It doesn’t make any sense to the Nail Blue eyed man.

"Congratulations, Zechs," the Ultramarine Blue eyed Noin saluted the former Lightning Baron as she walked into the immense bleak office, "You’re finally going to get a younger brother."

Him…? Heero Yuy, his brother-in-law…?

"Not as long as I live," he promised.

"Good morning, Prince Odin!"

He has to get used to this kind of attention. He, after all, said he’s the one who’ll marry Relena.

"Good morning, Your Majesty!"

Hmph. Like he’s really going to marry Relena.

"Good morning, Sir!"

He did it just to prevent that idiot Stanhope from taking her away.

"Good morning, Your Highness!"

Besides, he promised her that he’ll protect her forever always.

"Good morning, Prince Odin."

Wait a second… since when protecting Relena from jerks like Stanhope was part of his protection policy? He’s not threatening her life in any way.

"Good morning, your Prince."

He was only threatening her virginity.

"Good morning, Your Highness."

Oh God… what the Hell did he do now…?

"Odin?"

Walking aimlessly through the glorious 2-story neoclassical mansion with ubiquitous attendants, Heero was finally face-to-face with his lovely bride since the announcement of their "engagement" two short days ago. He tried to avoid her by all means, from having meals together to sleeping in the same bed, ESPECIALLY sleeping in the same bed. Thank God her adopted mother, Mrs. Darlian, strongly believe in the "Waiting Until Marriage" policy.

Since he can’t avoid her at all, he might as well study her then. The dress she wore was one of Heero’s favorites- a simple knee-length light Magenta sleeveless dress that seemed conservative but celebrated curves. With her straight hair completely down and that priceless Harry Winston engagement ring on her left hand, she shines in the darkness that he dwelled in for so long.

Now since he has nowhere to go, Relena took the time to analyze her fiancé. The ensemble he wore was one of Relena’s favorites, too- a Dark Green single breasted jacket with matching pants (in which the color reminded her of the tank top he’d regularly wear when the two first met), a crisp White shirt and a Crimson Red necktie. As Katrine simply puts it when she saw Duo all dressed up one day, "I wish he would wear a 3-piece suit more often."

"Odin, Sweetheart, I’d like to talk to talk to you alone, please," she requested politely.

That was the cue for all of the nosy servants to scatter off, including Relena’s loyal butler, Pagan. Once they were the only two in the same ballroom where it all began, Heero knew from her body language that she wants to play a game of 20 Questions.

"<Sigh> Heero, why did you do that?" she interrogated him.

"You know what I’m talking about."

"The engagement."

"Yes."

"Mission complete."

One point for The Perfect Soldier.

"Heero-! I- I can’t believe you!" wept the disturbed Relena, "Ruining the most cherished moment in my life was just a mission to you?!"

All that Heero could do was stare into her eyes.

"Answer me, Heero!"

Those eyes… so calm and blue and peaceful and always beautiful, now on the verge of tears… he wants to take it all away so she’ll never feel pain again, but-

"Heero, I could have been the happiest woman on Earth!"

Finally, he had something to say.

"Bullshit."

Two points for The Perfect Soldier.

"Is that all you have to say?" Relena pouted.

"Let me correct you. You could have been the most miserable woman in the entire universe if I didn’t interfere."

"I’m not the same person you once knew, Heero. I have finally found the one who truly loves me!" she lied.

"Only for the sex, " he stated in a monotonous tone.

"He does not! And I would never sleep with him before we wed anyway!"

Three points for The Perfect Soldier, plus a special Love point for Relena.

"None of the girls I know would anyway. They would rather cut his head off." Then Heero made a victory sign, only to indicate a pair of scissors with them. "BOTH of his heads."

Five points for The Perfect Soldier.

"You hang out with Katrine just a little too much," she muttered.

"She’s my superior, Relena," he told her.

"You’re getting off the subject!"

"Looks who’s talking."

Heero won.

"You wanted to declare to the world and to the colonies that you were to marry Prince Stanhope, but your eyes were telling them something else. You knew what to say to make everyone believe your white lies, but instead, you stalled. Most importantly, you knew I was the one holding your hand without noticing me at the press conference. Now tell me does that sound like you want to become Mrs. Stanhope? What in the world were you thinking when he proposed to you?!"

Now Relena’s seeing the picture. It is surprising how can a girl affect a man’s heart nowadays, especially a young man’s heart like Heero’s. She’s so glad she caught Pagan calling all of the news stations about her engagement to Prince Stanhope. She’s more delighted that those 3 long lonely years did not change Heero Yuy- difficult to talk to, but a sweet caring man if you’re nice to him. Well, if and only if.

"What a lousy excuse," Relena smiled.

"What?" asked a puzzled Heero.

"That’s not the reason you did it."

"What’s going on here, Relena?"

"Tell me why right now, Heero."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

She still has that touch to go make him talk a little more normal.

"You did it not because I was planning to marry a horrid man."

Then she walked up to him and stared deep into his Prussian Blue eyes. With her up close and personal, he studied her even more. The only change he saw was that she gotten more beautiful than he could possibly imagine. He wanted to take a step back, but her spellbinding eyes kept him in place. Only she can do that to Heero and get away with it.

"You think you can get out of this very easily, don’t you, Heero Yuy?"

Oh dammit… Relena can read his mind much better than Katrine can.

"Claiming to the entire universe that you’re my fiancé, and after that, make me announce that the engagement is off."

Why did he even bother getting involved in this whole scenario? He should of known that she will find out his plan eventually.

"And now you realize that protecting me from my 20,000 suitors is not part of your protection policy."

It’s not 20,000 suitors anymore. It’s one suitor now- and he’s it.

"I’m not letting you run away this time, Heero."

"Unless you tell me the truth, the show must go on."

So much for Heero’s plan. He now wished that he shouldn’t have saved her from a sex maniac.

"Com’on Sweetheart, my mom’s waiting for us in the garden!"

He is so doomed.

"Good morning, Prince Odin!" Mrs. Darlian greeted him as Relena dragged him outside to the misty morning air. The sun was peeking out of the Spanish Orange clouds, shedding its light to the sleeping Scarlet Lake roses and the dew-blanketed grass below.

"Good morning to you, Mrs. Darlian," Heero said unwillingly while shaking her hand.

Relena tried so hard to keep her laughter in. She’s torturing the poor young man to death.

"It’s a beautiful morning, isn’t it?" Mrs. Darlian began, "And such a beautiful beginning… just like it is right now with you as my daughter’s fiancé."

"Thank you, Mrs. Darlian," Heero groveled (behind her back, of course).

"You may call me ‘Auntie’, if you like," she suggested.

"Then you may call me Odin."

He’s such a perfect gentleman… well, at least he’s acting like one.

<Ding Dong!>

"Now who could that be?" Mrs. Darlian asked.

"Pagan?" Relena called out.

guests at the other side. But now, he can’t do that. Not only because Katrine has one of the fieriest tempers for a girl, but it’s for Relena’s sake.

"Hi, Pagan!"

"Ms. Lollecte!"

Heero thought his ears were deceiving him. He looked who came into the ballroom, and realized they weren’t. Relena, on the other hand, instantly recognized the familiar voice and sprinted towards the heavy wooden double doors.

"Good morning, Your Highness! Miss Relena! Congratulations on your engagement!" Quatre saluted them as well as the other 3 members of the Preventer 5. Heero felt so ashamed to have his own friends get into the act he set up, but he felt like taking out his gun since Duo is once again distracted by Katrine’s white jacket and short skirt. And he says that he’ll never go for a girl like The Heroine of Humanity-

"Katrine! Guys! Long time, no see!" Relena welcomed them with open arms.

"Same here, Relena! Congrats!" Katrine complimented.

As the best of friends attempted to fill in the void of the 3 long years, Heero felt it was definitely like the old times.

"What is this…? The Preventer 5 has come to my residence…?" Mrs. Darlian asked as she walked into the magnificent ballroom.

"Good morning, Mrs. Darlian. My name is Katrine Quent Lollecte, the Crown Princess of the Japan Islands Imperial Family," she bowed to her, "And I’m terribly sorry for visiting you at such an inconvenient time-"

Yeah, you sure did, Heero scowled.

"There is no need for an apology. There are a lot of strangers bearing gifts to my daughter and future son-in-law."

"That is wonderful, Mrs. Darlian. Fortunately, that is why we are here. Pagan, are you having any problems?"

"Most certainly not, Ms. Lollecte," Pagan confirmed as he brought in a rather huge White intricately wrapped box topped with a velvety Sky Blue ribbon.

"Wow… what is this?" Relena gasped when the old man gave it to her.

"I can’t spoil the surprise for you, Relena. All can I say is that he thinks you look sexy now, wait ‘til he sees you in that," Katrine smiled a sly smile.

Heero hates it when she’s picking on him.

"Thank you, Katrine!" Relena acknowledged. With the package in her hands, she carried it to the adjacent family room, where all of the other gifts were held in.

"And Prince Odin, this is for you."

She handed him something wrapped in an Ivory White silk blanket. He uncovered a majestic katana blade still in its Tuscan Red and Gold scabbard underneath the dainty folds.

"It’s from my family. They were so elated when you and Relena got engaged," Katrine explained to him.

"Katrine, this is one of the Sacred Treasures of Japan," Heero told her.

"Just take it, Your Highness," she demanded with a scornful face.

"Thank you, Katrine," he blurted out, giving himself a mental note: she hits like a man, not like a girl.

Mrs. Darlian got concerned for a moment, but remembered Relena telling her how she and Heero- um, Prince Odin are good friends with the Imperial Family Crown Princess. She also said Katrine’s one feisty girl, so she tried not to be surprised by that brief incident.

"No one has answered my question. Why is the Preventer 4 here?"

Mrs. Darlian questioned.

"Is there something wrong, Odin?" she asked.

"No, of course not, Auntie," he lied, "I am just fine."

Auntie?!?, all of the other Gundam pilots laughed to themselves.

"Well, Mrs. Darlian," Katrine started, "It’s-"

"I’m the Captain of the Preventer 5, Auntie," Heero broke in.

"Eh?"

"You are the Captain of the famous Preventer 5, Odin?" Mrs. Darlian gasped in awe, "This is amazing!"

What a great time to be in-between a rock and an even harder rock.

"Yes, I am. My family has a belief that if you want something, you have to fight for it."

Wait a second… that sounds like my brother’s philosophy-!, Katrine sneered.

"With that in mind, I joined the Preventers as soon it was formed and was quickly elected Captain. Now I make sure people like those riffraff Gundam pilots don’t create scenes of destruction for innocent eyes to see ever again."

The Wild Wing Boys are in dire need of a new punching bag at the moment- and they were looking right at him.

"But what about that man at the press conference? Isn’t he part of your team?" Mrs. Darlian pondered.

"He’s not part of the Preventer 5, Mrs. Darlian. The Preventer 5 is a group of specialists with the Preventers Organization," Quatre clarified, "We have our own objectives that are absolutely different than the people who merely work for the association."

Thank you, Quatre, Heero sighed in relief.

"Interesting, but it doesn’t explain why he left as quickly as he came in… Since all of you are here, will you have brunch with us? It does get lonesome here once in a while, and I will especially enjoy your company. Pagan, tell the chefs to make a fabulous menu for 8 people, please?"

"Yes, Ma’am," the elderly man confirmed and went to the kitchen.

"You may make yourselves at home until brunch is ready," Mrs. Darlian said.

"Thank you, Mrs. Darlian," Quatre acknowledged, "We appreciate it."

Now it was the perfect time for Katrine to scold Heero for his actions two days ago.

"Ms. Lollecte?"

"Yes, Mrs. Darlian?"

"I need to talk to you in private, please?"

Damn… such terrible timing.

"Of course, Mrs. Darlian! What do you want to discuss?"

"Well, you own The Wedding Gown Shoppe in Tokyo, right?"

"Yes. Is there something you need?"

As the two walked away, it became apparent to Heero that he is absolutely dead in his friends’ eyes.

"So~ what’s up, Your Highness?" Duo sarcastically remarked.

"Yeah?" Heero answered quite nervously. Sure, he’s The Perfect Soldier, but if it’s him versus The God of Death, The Silent Soldier, The Prince of the Desert and The Solitary Dragon, there is no chance in Hell he’ll ever survive.

"Who would have thought you’re the marrying type?" Trowa smirked.

"And you’re such a terrible liar… I can do better any day!" Wufei added.

"Just shut up or I’ll kill you," Heero threatened them.

"Whatever," Duo remarked.

"He-um, Prince Odin?" Quatre called out.

"Stop it with the ‘Prince’ crap. Just call me Odin."

"No can do, Your Excellency," Trowa smiled.

"What?!" Heero commanded.

"Congrats."

With a hug and a smile, a person will feel better everyday… that’s what Katrine told him. She was so right when his friends gave those two gifts to him.

"Also, we all have one question, Your Highness," Wufei pointed out.

"Name it," Heero said.

"This name- Odin Lowe, Jr.- what’s wrong with you? You can come up with a better name than that!"

Now wasn’t the time to tell his friends about that yet. No one’s ready- not even Relena.

"I guess Relena’s right."

"About what?" Quatre asked.

"I hang around with Katrine just a little too much."

"Oh, we knew that already, but now you get to hang around with your wife-to-be as much as you want to!" Duo grinned, "You don’t have to stalk her no more just to get a peeping show!"

"I’m giving all of you only 5 seconds to get the Hell out of here before I start hunting you down," Heero blushed severely as his friends roared with laughter.

"Too bad, my Prince. We’re here for the free food!"

Heero realized that his life is about to get much worse.

"Wow… this omelet looks so simple, but it tastes great! I have to meet your chefs, Mrs. Darlian!"

There she goes again. Katrine’s getting inspirations for brand new recipes. Like as if she’s not cooking good enough all ready-

"Oh… thank you, Ms. Lollecte. Is it true you enjoy cooking?"

"All the time! All of my friends and even my brother’s friends vie for my holiday feasts, especially my Christmas feast."

Heero wished that Katrine would just shut up so he can eat his ham, tomato and onion omelet that was laid on a Mulberry and White plate. She talks too much. Then again, all of his friends and especially his fiancée have the same problem, so he had to get used to the high noise level.

"Why is that, Ms. Lollecte?"

"Katrine makes the best sukiyaki in all of Tokyo, Mrs. Darlian."

He remembers that dish very well. For once, he has to agree with Duo on that.

"Sukiyaki…?"

"It’s her best dish, Mrs. Darlian. No words can describe its taste. You just have to try it!"

Katrine felt bashful. She’d never thought Duo would think of her that way.

"Hmmm… can you please put me on your guest list for the Christmas feast, Ms. Lollecte?"

The bright and elegant dining room was full of laughter. Heero, as usual, never laughed. If he did, it would be a maniacal one, and it wouldn’t fit the mood. Besides, he had other things to do, like watching Relena’s every move. He can’t believe that he is sitting right next to her at that cramped round glass table. It’s harder for him to believe that he is engaged to her, a perfection of a woman in his eyes. In Reality, he never did propose to her, he doesn’t want to propose to her, he doesn’t need to propose to her. He would rather die than to be married to her, but for some strange reason that he still can’t explain, he has no need for suicide.

"Is everybody else enjoying the food?" Mrs. Darlian asked as she cracked the boiled egg with her spoon.

"Yes, we are. Thank you," Trowa said.

"Relena?"

"It’s very delicious, Mother," she commented just before she tasted the toasted English muffin with raspberry preserves.

"Odin?"

Heero looked at his plate. It was barely touched. Looks like he was paying attention to Relena a little too much.

"Odin, go on and try it," Relena said in a sweet voice.

It’s strange to know that he’s a ruthless terrorist, yet one girl can speak to his hidden heart and his true self comes out.

"It tastes great. Thank you, Auntie."

Just when he thought he was out of the woods, he was suddenly put into the hot seat.

"Odin, how did you meet my daughter?"

Everyone suddenly stopped eating and stared into space. All but Mrs. Darlian knew that story too well, especially Heero and Relena. It started to play again in their minds… a 15-year old Relena finding the unconscious 15-year old Heero Yuy in a Goldenrod space suit at the beach near her home. Instead of the usual "thank you", he questioned her if she saw anything. Once the speeding ambulance came, Heero attempted suicide but failed. Instead, he beat up the paramedics and drove away, as if he was on a secret mission. Ah, such a wonderful way to introduce destined soulmates to each other-

"I met her at the beach, nearby this residence."

Wow… so far, so correct.

"I love nature and the way it defines beauty. The beach nearby this house has been reported to have one of the most spectacular views of the sunset, so I went over there one day to see if it is true."

Now it’s getting somewhere.

"Relena was just happening to be passing by before dusk."

Yeah, after that, he was checking her out!, Duo chuckled.

"She saw me all alone at the shore, so she walked down the flight of stairs and just started to talk to me."

The room was suddenly full of snickers. This bothered Mrs. Darlian.

"What’s so funny? Ms. Lollecte?"

"Sorry, Mrs. Darlian," Katrine apologized with watery eyes, "Prince Odin, go on with your story, please."

Heero knew what they were laughing about. So did Relena. But at least he’s being courteous to her adopted mother.

"She wanted to talk to me because she thought I was cute."

No one could hold it in any longer. As Heero’s friends laughed it all off, Relena felt her face getting hot all of a sudden.

So he did look cute when he was unconscious…, she blushed.

"What is the meaning of all this?!" Mrs. Darlian demanded.

"Relena is not the type of girl who would just go up to some handsome guy and say ‘Hey, you’re cute’ on their first meeting," Katrine explained, "Don’t you agree?"

"I guess you’re right, Ms. Lollecte."

"Mother-!" Relena protested.

"Ha ha ha~! She agrees with me!" Katrine laughed as she gave the guys a high-five, except Heero of course. He has an extremely tall tale to finish.

"And ever since, I’ve been dating her," Heero concluded.

"You were the one who asked her out first, Odin?"

"Yes, Auntie."

"Where was your first date?"

A- date? With Relena…? He wished that this topic was never brought up, but at least it wasn’t Katrine who did it. He had no idea how to go from there because Romance was not part of his vocabulary, but he tried to make it sound like it was.

"A walk on the beach."

"Oh! How romantic!" Mrs. Darlian sighed in bliss.

"Oh, my God. Does he think he’s really going to pull it off?" Duo whispered to the other three shocked members of the Preventer 5.

"We- did?" Relena asked with a nervous look on her face.

"Yes, Relena. I cooked you dinner over an open fire while we watched the stars and the waves."

"If he can cook-" Katrine sarcastically stated, knowing that if he can do that, he would copy her hard-earned techniques, and that means ‘run away, run away’ for The Perfect Soldier.

"Oh-! I loved our first date. He was very romantic," Relena smiled uneasily, knowing that going on a romantic date with Heero would happen only in her wildest dreams, and that means- well, The Perfect Soldier doesn’t know about this one.

"Prince Odin."

"You have permission to speak, Barton."

"Who made the first move? You or Relena?"

His friends were having too much fun. He wished he could kill all of them right now.

"I did."

Everyone looked at Relena. Now it’s starting to get more interesting…

"I kissed him on our first date."

Him- and her- kissing…? He had some vivid imagination at work and felt his face turn Rosy Red.

"Aw damn… she ruined it," Wufei moaned.

"Relena, you know you’re not supposed to kiss on the first date-"

"I knew it from the first day I met Odin that he was the one for me, Mother."

The fun ultimately came to an end. They knew that Relena meant those words from the bottom of her beating heart. Heero never expected her to say something so truthful.

"Um, can you pass me the hash browns please, Duo?" Katrine asked hesitantly.

Duo, sensing the situation, did what he was told. "Of course, Baby!" he answered.

Katrine wanted to smack him for that, but there was no use. Everyone else went into their own conversations, killing the silence that once enveloped the small room for a few short seconds. Relena, flabbergasted that she helped Heero end his tall tale that will never come true, went on eating her food silently. Heero finally understood what Katrine was telling him on Valentine’s Day: Wars don’t teach you anything but deceit, destruction and death, for Everyday Life teaches everything else.
"Relena…," he said with angelic eyes.

Author’s Note: Sukiyaki is a delicious but expensive winter dish in Japan. It

consists of thinly sliced beef, onions, grilled tofu, shiitake

mushrooms, chrysanthemum leaves and other vegetables

all simmered in a sweet and piquant sauce. All of the ingredients

are lightly cooked, and the sauce itself (which contains soy

sauce, water, sugar and mirin aka sweet sake) determines

the flavor of the entire dish. Hmm… what’s up with the sword

being out of the Imperial Palace? Basically, the Three Sacred

Treasures of Japan- the sword, the jewel (or orb, whichever

you prefer) and the mirror- are housed in there for the safety and

protection of the Imperial Family. It’s also said that only members

of royal descent may use the artifacts. If the Three Sacred

Treasures of Japan sound familiar, it should- the legend has been

used in countless anime, manga series and video games, from

Sailor Moon to The King of Fighters. <Sigh> Another breakfast

scene all ready, and it’s only the Third Chapter!

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^