"You’re all leaving now?" Heero asked.

"Yes. We have to go back to work, Prince Odin," Trowa informed him, "We’ve been stuffed enough to last until the next visit."

Underneath the sympathetic sun and cloudless Blue sky, in front of the charming Darlian Residence with Pagan awaiting orders to give them a ride to the nearest airport, Heero had to bid farewell to his four long-time friends. Just after that wild scene at the breakfast table, Heero’s comrades have to defend Love and Peace from the mentally deranged people who want to annihilate it from the memory of the populace. Too bad it can’t be Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Quatre Raberba Winner and Wufei Chang, like it was in the old times. That darn Zechs-

"Understood. Keep me informed of any new developments, guys."

"Yes, My Liege," Quatre saluted him, which annoyed The Perfect Soldier.

"Can you please stop putting me on a pedestal?" Heero requested.

"You’re a Prince now, remember?" Duo reminded him, "We can’t be rude to you."

"You were just earlier," he glared at The God of Death, remembering that unforgiving quote about him getting a sneak peak at a naked Relena- oh, now his face turned Crimson Red at the mere thought of it.

"Goodbye Relena!- Excuse me, Prince Odin- sorry guys, I gotta go!"

Before he could strangle Duo to death (what an exquisite dismal ending for him), Heero was unexpectedly shoved hard to one side. There’s only one person who does last minute things with such undetermined strength- a Reddish-Brown hair girl, to be exact.

"Katrine, what’s the rush?" Heero called out.

She stopped in her tracks and slowly turned her head rather reluctantly.

"You’re not heading back to Tokyo, aren’t you, Kat?" he frowned.

So much for Katrine’s plan to sneak out as quickly as possible. Once she faced the Preventer 5, all of them were staring at her with folded arms.

"Oh, me? Not just yet!" she sarcastically grinned, "I’m going to visit an old friend of mine first!"

They should have known. Nothing stops Katrine Quent Lollecte on her quest to publicly expose corrupt CEOs or power-hungry government officials-

"And I’m going with her," Duo volunteered himself, recalling where she’s heading off to.

"Do you have to, Duo?" she scowled at him.

"Your brother says I have to go just in case you take off on another useless escapade again."

"Great. That’s just what I needed," Katrine pouted.

"A protective brother or the time alone with Duo in your private jet?" Wufei simpered at her.

"I’m not thinking of that!" she griped.

"Don’t forget to join The Mile-High Club!" Trowa just had to say.

"YOU PERVERTS~!"

"Now I understand why Heero wants to kill all of us-" Duo sighed heavily as The Three Musketeers of Outer Space were having their fun teasing his flushing girl(friend, actually- at least in his mind).

Heero, as usual, stayed out of it. He would feel out of place if he tried to be a little more normal.
"Well, congratulations, Prince Odin. We’ll meet again!" Quatre saluted him for the last time, along with Trowa and Wufei. Heero nodded.

"Pagan, take them to the airport," he ordered.

"Yes, Prince Odin," the wrinkly old man agreed and opened the passenger door to the Pink and Gold-bordered limousine that laid before them.

"Isn’t this Relena’s-?" Trowa questioned.

"Just go. I’ll explain to her, Trowa."

"All right, Your Excellency. They say that Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

"Exactly, my little clown… they also say that I know how to make a living Hell here on EARTH!" Katrine warned them as she rolled up one of her sleeves. Fortunately, someone picked her up and carried her in his arms. Not one guy has done that to Katrine before- ever.

"Um, let’s go, Baby, okay?" Duo begged her. Once again, his Cobalt Blue eyes have put Katrine into a trance. It made her forget everything that’s around her- and was long enough to distract her.

"Let’s go guys, before she attempts to chase the limo!" Quatre commanded.

"Right!" Wufei answered as the three got into their getaway car, "Old man, drive like you’ve never driven before!"

Once the limousine sped off, Katrine snapped out of her reverie.

"Put me down, Duo!" she snapped, "They’re getting away~!"

Instead of obeying her command, he ran off to the parked antique White 1953 AD Cadillac Eldorado Convertible with her in his arms. While watching the entirely insane show, Heero finally remembered something. If he doesn’t tell Duo, he’ll get scolded for not reminding him for the fiftieth time in a row.

"Not now, Your Highness~!" Duo sneered once he got Katrine into the car, "I have a feisty cat on my hands! See ya!"

"Idiot," was all The Perfect Soldier could say when the Convertible containing a dissatisfied Katrine and a relieved Duo sped off in the opposite direction.

"Whew! That was too close," Wufei sighed in relief, sagging in the cushy Cream leather seats of Relena’s limo, "Remind me to do that again."

"I don’t think there’ll be a meal waiting for us the next time we’ll see her," Trowa said while looking at the back window, "She’ll be kicking our asses first, then she’ll cook."

"Hey, old man! Thanks for saving us today."

"Anytime, Mr. Chang," Pagan replied as he continued driving.

"Guys, don’t you think it’s strange?" Quatre asked with his head hanging low.

"What is?" Trowa responded.

"Heero claiming to be the lost Prince of Outer Space," he said, looking at them.

The other two looked The Prince of the Desert and caught his cold of silence.

"Yeah… now that you brought it up, the Prince’s been missing for almost 20 years…" Trowa thought, "… maybe even dead."

"The guy was under pressure…," Wufei explained, "If he said he was Heero Yuy, the colonies would go ballistic. They’ll be thinking how can our beloved leader be reincarnated into a 20-year old boy? I can understand why he used the guise of Prince Odin because he will be 20 by now- if he were still alive…"

After his friends went their separate ways, he begins to remember what Katrine told him at The Wedding Gown Shoppe 3 long years ago…

"I love weddings. Two people in love united in marriage… that’s so romantic. Don’t you love weddings, too, Heero?" she asked him as she sat in her Black leather chair.

"Ask me that again," he said with his back turned. He’d rather look at the multi-colored mosaic windows of the store and the neat shelves of fabrics at the sides anyway.

"Sheesh. Boys," she pouted, burying her heavy head into her arms on her cluttered triangular glass desk, complete with a state-of-the-art Macintosh computer.

"You’re weird," Heero told her. This made her look at him and smile.

"I knew that all ready. If I wasn’t weird, then I can’t survive in this crazy world."

She misunderstood him again. Well, he’s always been misunderstood, even by his friends. Except that one girl, the one he’s always worried about. The one that’s always in his mind- and in his hidden heart…
"Not that. You own this Wedding Gown Shoppe, but you’re a better cook."

"That’s what they all said, and look at me now," Katrine pointed out, standing up with outstretched arms, "I’m one of the most recognized wedding gown designers in the universe, all because I know how it’s like to have the perfect wedding gown on the most perfect day."

"Don’t you mean ‘I haven’t found Mr. Right yet?’" Heero hinted.

"Thank you for ruining my moment, Heero," she pouted.

Out of nowhere, The Perfect Soldier had the perfect idea. He can remember clearly how much his so-called partner-in-crime worships the ground she walks on. He simply idolizes her for her philanthropic acts of altruism to society and preserving the dying force of humanity, the thing called Love, something that Heero himself never experienced all of his miserable life…

"I hate to say it, but I know someone who’s right for you," he said to her.

"Since when you started playing Cupid?" she giggled.

"He’s an American, about my height with long braided Brown hair, a stupid-looking face and Cobalt Blue eyes. The only problem with him is- actually, it’s you with the problem because once you will meet him, I know you will never take your eyes off his."

Katrine laughed like a drunk hyena. In the back of her calculating mind, it played all of the scenes where her friends and older brother tried to set her up with desirable guys, despite the fact that she has a hectic schedule. Now Heero’s stepping up to the plate. She can see it clearly in her mind- a dorky man, just like the ones her friends made her date. This one will fall through the floor for sure.

"And you think I’m going to marry this guy- your friend, right?"

"At least he’s Christian. Isn’t that your definition of a man, Kat?"

"Whatever! And what about Relena Darlian, hmmm~?"

Katrine’s trying to change the subject to- wait wait wait a second here… Heero has never told her how much he cares for the Queen of the World. If he did, she’d poke fun at his first and only venture into- wait, he’s not-

"Shut up, Katrine," he scoffed, only to protect his bleeding heart.

"Oh really? I should shut up? Your three amigos in outer space told me the whole story about you and Relena- sounds like True Love to me."

"I’ll kill you, Katrine," he informed her.

"Hi, Relena!" she beamed, which threw Heero off guard.

"Relena…," he said with angelic eyes. With his heart pounding, he searched for the familiar face at the main entrance of the store, only to find a giggling Reddish-Brown hair girl behind his back.

"That was so cute~!" Katrine observed.

Darn. She played with his little mind just to prove her point. He wished that she didn’t do that. He felt like a fool following his- no, it can’t be…

"Look at yourself. You’re so infatuated with her," she justified, "I wouldn’t be surprised if I was designing her wedding gown three years by now."

"What makes you think I’m going to marry Relena?!" he blushed.

"They say the quiet people are the ones who do the most unexpected things, Heero. We’ll just have to wait and see, don’t we?"

"Heero?"

He forgot that he was still outside, basking in the warm sunlight. He turned around and saw a beautiful young woman standing at the threshold.

"Relena…" was the only word to escape his lips.
"We have to go to the L1 colony today," she notified him.

Ohno… that’s the last place he wants to go to right now, or any colony for that matter, not after what he did two days ago-

"The- both of us?" Heero asked unwillingly.

"Yes. Get your suitcase packed by 3:00 PM."

Looks like he has no choice but to tell her the truth once they get there. She is his fiancée, after all… or so it appears to be. It’s just that expensive Harry Winston engagement ring he can’t get rid of. Once it’s gone, he’s home free-

"Can’t you just tell them the engagement is off now?" Heero complained.

For the first time in 3 long years, Relena’s beginning to see the true Heero Yuy once again, thanks to Katrine’s lessons in Life, Love and Insanity. Little did she know that she’s the only one who brings his true self out.

"This is too much fun, Heero!" she beamed, "Besides-"

She stared into his Prussian Blue eyes again, but saw something that’s completely different from earlier in the morning. Something so calm and peaceful- almost angelic.

"- You didn’t tell me the reason you did it yet."

Here they go again-

"I told you already, Relena," Heero groaned.

"Not good enough," she smiled.

"Relena~"

"Why don’t you tell everyone yourself then? You are Prince Odin, after all."

Heero fell silent. He’s used to killing media people, not using them to his advantage.

"I won," The Queen of the World concluded and started to walk back into the Residence ballroom.

"You didn’t," Heero protested as he followed her, looking around for any suspicious servants and an innocent future mother-in-law.

"Yes, I did."

"No."

"Yes, I did, Odin, Sweetheart."

She’s starting to get on his nerves, like it was in the old times.

"Don’t call me that," Heero sulked.

"Why~?" she asked with a sly smile.

"It’s annoying. I hate it. "

"It sounds cute, and I like it."

His fiancée won. Looks like he has to get used to it as well.

"So you like to call me ‘Sweetheart’ for no apparent reason?" Heero snarled.

"Yes," she resolved.

Then Relena grabbed his warm hand and dragged him upstairs. He now realized that he would rather feel Relena’s wrath when he tells her about her limousine being "borrowed" at the moment than to keep up this diminutive hoax.

"Let’s go pack our bags, Sweetheart!"

"Why me…?"

"Katrine! Katrine! Wait up!"

Duo is astounded that Katrine can run on high heel shoes. Him trying to catch up to her isn’t.

"Where’s Zechs’ office?" she demanded, "I need to see him right now!"

Actually, he was physically present but mentally absent. He’s still stuck in the time warp of what happened just 12 hours ago, in Katrine’s private jet. He can picture the view he saw of the night sky stretching for miles on end. He remembers Katrine, having 2 unfavorable rough sketches of Relena’s wedding gown completed at that time, attempting to give herself a bad case of insomnia so she doesn’t find herself sleeping next to The God of Death (although it sounds- comforting- to her). Then he finds himself waking up in the middle of the night, only to see his earth angel fast asleep on the reclined leather chair at the jet’s right side. Such a serene scene made him walk up to her and- God forbid- he kissed her on the forehead. After that, he had the best night’s sleep in all of his life.

"Ms. Lollecte-!" Duo could hear Noin say, "You’re not supposed to storm in there without an appointment!"

Well, it’s back to business. He followed her straight into Zechs’ spacious office. It still looks the same as it did 3 long years ago, from the 50" Gray Sony flat wall television to the numerous awards on the walls to the massive wooden desk to the large windows in the back.

"Hello, Zechs. It’s been a while," Katrine greeted the shocked former Lightning Baron, who was sitting on his fluffy Tuscan Red leather chair, watching the sleepy sun rise above the horizon.

"Ms. Lollecte…?! What are you doing here?!" he demanded, "Didn’t Noin tell you not to interrupt me at a time like this?!"

"All you’re doing is absolutely nothing! That’s not what I call being busy at the moment. Besides, I have good reason to bother you."

As his blood pressure rose, he caught a familiar face in the corner of his eye.

"Maxwell! Do you have an explanation for this?!" Zechs ordered.

"No, Sir," Duo saluted him nervously.

"I will deal with you later," he jeered.

"Not when I’m around," Katrine interrupted with stern eyes. She leaned on the wooden table without the mere thought of sitting on the two mocking guest chairs. Besides, if Duo has to stand up, she’ll stand up as well.

"Katrine," Duo said.

"Keep him out of this. He is here because my brother requested him to be my bodyguard. At least he’s doing his job, Lightning Baron."

Zechs looked at The God of Death, who tried to hide his smile from him.

"How I handle matters here is none of your business. Ms. Lollecte, you have no authority to see me without an appointment," Zechs told her, "That is our policy here."

"Ms. Noin doesn’t need one to see you, now does she?" Katrine pointed out. Just like the last time, the Preventer 5 Colonel felt uneasy about her talking about the girl who never left his side, no matter what he did.

"Ms. Lollecte, she does not-"

"Answer the question, Zechs," she insisted.

He can’t talk her out of it now. The only thing he now wished is that Noin is not outside to hear all of this.

"No," he answered.

"Exactly. It’s rude to make your girlfriend get permission just to see you, am I right?"

Zechs wished she would just leave him alone right now so he can scold Duo for letting her barge into his office.

"She is not my-"

"Now onto business that concerns a very popular man around here. Does the name Heero Yuy sound familiar to you?"

Katrine’s treading on extremely dangerous ground- and Zechs can’t do a thing to stop her. Duo’s glad he’s here to witness it.

"What about him, Ms. Lollecte?" the Preventer 5 Colonel sarcastically replied.

"First you made him write 25 investigation reports a week, then you sent him on a suicidal mission where he almost died. After that, a janitorial job in the Preventer Headquarters plus his Preventer 5 duties as Captain and now 7 newly assigned missions a day… you don’t think I will notice what you’re doing, Zechs?"

"That’s all you ever do, Ms. Lollecte. Complain, complain," Zechs fussed.

"What about you? I bet your stomach cringed when you found out he’s going to be your brother-in-law," Katrine smirked.

Darn. Now she reminds him of his worst nightmare, just when he was about to forget it for a while-

"Hmm, I guess I can’t be the one to punish you then because you already are," she thought.

Zechs hates playing guessing games with The Heroine of Humanity.

"What do you mean?" he questioned.

"Who do want to deal with in regards to your punishment? He- I mean Prince Odin, or me?"

Oh joy- the choosing of the lesser of the two evils… like as if his life’s not messed up enough already-

"You, because I’m so used to it," Zechs reluctantly responded.

"Too bad," Katrine rejected.

Looks like it’s the greater evil for him.

"Ms. Lollecte-"

"Do I sense fear in your voice, Zechs?"

HIM? The former Lightning Baron, cowering before the young man who saved the world twice? The young man whose piloting abilities match his? The one who’s engaged to his strong-willed sister?!?

"He isn’t Heero Yuy, nor is he the long lost Prince Odin. And there’s no way on Earth or in space that he’ll ever marry my sister."

Katrine had only one thing to say.

"Oh, we’ll see about that. Enjoy your torture, Zechs! Let’s go, Duo!"

"Right, Katrine!" Duo answered, then saluting the Colonel, "Have a good day, Sir!"

Finally, the two have left his office. Now that he is alone, Zechs must plan for what lies ahead of him.

"Damn you, Katrine Quent Lollecte…," he cursed, "And Heero Yuy, we’ll see who you truly are…"

"Neither one of them is his real name…?" Duo wondered as he walked down the suddenly silent hall with Katrine. He didn’t seem to care if everyone were staring at them being together.

"Duo, what’s wrong?" Katrine asked, sensing his concern.

He can’t stand lying to the girl who truly cares about him, even though she has a temper that’s much worse than his-

"Ah, I have something to ask of you, Katrine-"

"Yes, Duo?" she responded with those mesmerizing Brown eyes looking at him.

"I’ve been thinking about this for a while-"

"Thinking about what?"

Here is his chance. The moment he waited for. He can’t screw it up, or else this one-in-a-million opportunity will never come again.

"Duo!"

That familiar voice echoed in his ears. Could it be…?

"Duo!"

It is her… Standing in front of them was a rather petite woman in street clothes with short Indigo Blue hair with short bangs at one side of her face and those pair of Violet Blue eyes, burning a hole straight through Katrine’s heart.

"Who are you?" Katrine asked.

Duo knew.

"Hilde…"

"Heero, where are we going?" Relena asked.

"You’ll see," he said as he made a left turn.

For the past 3 days, Heero’s keeping this little surprise from Relena, who desperately wanted to know ever since he enticed her with it while they were in the space shuttle. All he told her was once they reach the L1 Colony, he’ll show her the most beautiful mansion of them all. Now they are there, but it seems that the only things they have seen is a bunch of modern buildings and courteous people.

"Are we there yet, Sweetheart?" she asked again.

"No," he cringed. He still wished she stop calling him that.

"Heero, I have a meeting to attend shortly."

"Just wait, please."

"All right."

As Heero continued driving, Relena’s thoughts began to drift away into a world she thought she could never have. She knows that he’s not serious about anything other than fighting, but- but ever since he walked right back into her life and declared himself her fiancé, he seems so- different, so- compassionate all of a sudden. Then she looked at her engagement ring. It sparkled brightly, just like the- oh, it’ll never happen. He told her already… he did it just to protect her from the jerk Prince Stanhope- but somehow, it doesn’t sound right. She knows he did it for another reason- one that perhaps that doesn’t need explaining.

"Relena, we’re here."

She looked out of the car window. What a view that she saw with her own eyes. The car entered a paradise she has never seen. Green grass that was greener than the one at her house, tall trees that seemed to reach the heavens all lined up, spectacular gardens with blooming flowers of every season, crystal clear fountains that pours into the long reflection pools and a 3-story Victorian mansion awaited her. She was still gaping when Heero helped her get out of the Oldsmobile car.

"It’s been 16 long years, my Prince."

Relena turned around to see people- 450,000 of them, to be exact, consisting of Congressmen, VIPs and government officials, all dressed up in suits and formal dresses. Suddenly, they surrounded the engaged couple.

"We are glad you are still alive, Prince Odin," said one VIP.

"And better yet, you brought a beautiful woman with you," one government official smiled.

"I knew that already," Heero smiled back, looking at Relena, who blushed from head to toe.

"Congratulations on your engagement to Miss Relena, but most importantly, welcome home, Prince Odin," said one of the elderly Congressmen.

All of the Colonies’ Senates and government officials kneeled before them. Heero forgot they were going to do that.

"Please, stand up. You’re embarrassing me," he requested.

"Please do not leave us again, the long lost Prince of Outer Space."

Relena was taught never to use His Name in vain, but she just had to.

Author’s Note: Wow… no notes for this chapter (unless I want to discuss about The Mile-High Club)! All I have to say is another shock therapy is now in session!

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^