I do not own Gundam Wing. This fan fiction has no commercial value and I am not making any kind of profit or income off of this. 

Chapter 15

The videophone rang, disrupting the thoughts of the occupants in the study. The Ambassador looked over at his grandson, “It’s for you,” he said and left the room.

Frowning, Heero went to the videophone, half-expecting to see Dr. J there. When he saw Relena, he froze. “Mister Quincy,” she began in her best effort at her typical diplomatic air, “I am calling in reference to your kind invitation to the ball.” Her heart beat faster at the sight at him. He was beautiful.

“Relena,” he finally managed to say, and sat down.

She smiled. “I accept your offer to escort me, and look forward to meeting you again in person.”

He smiled in return, causing her heart to skip a beat. “It will be nice to see you again. The Ambassador said you agreed to stay here during the convention?”

“Yes, it was very kind of him to invite me.”

“Yes….”

“How have you been, Heero – I mean…”

He smiled again, “Please, call me Trente. I am well, thank you. And you?”

“Busy, as always,” she said with a short laugh.

There was silence for a moment, then he noticed her expression turned melancholy. “Well, I’ll see you soon, Trente. Good-bye.” Her transmission ended.

*             *             *             *             *             *             *          *          *         *

His psychiatrist, Robert, had been a regular visitor 5 times a week for three weeks, now. Every session left Heero emotionally drained. Today was no different.

“Your grandfather says Miss Relena will be arriving within the week. How do you feel about seeing her again?”

Heero sighed; he knew he would have to bear this line of questioning all week, “Apprehensive…”

“Good. Anything else?”

“Part of me is impatient, wanting to see her.”

“All right,” Robert nodded.

“Another part dreads meeting her again.”

“Why is that?”

Heero frowned, and ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know.”

“I think you do know.”

He fidgeted in agitation; he stood up, paced, then sat back down again. “I can’t…” he started, then frowned.

“You can’t what, Trente?”

“I can’t be with her. Not the way I want to.” He hung his head. “It’s just not meant to be,” he said sorrowfully.

“Why do you say that? She cares for you…”

“She’ll find someone else in time,” his voice was devoid of emotion.

Robert sighed; his patient was retreating again. “You have got to get over this feeling that you destroy everything you touch. It isn’t true.”

Heero looked up sharply. “Isn’t it?”

“No. Look, Relena is a perfect example. You haven’t destroyed her.”

“Yet. I have come close several times.”

Robert smiled slightly, “Well, I admit pulling a gun on her and threatening her life has been an unusual attempt at courtship, but you never killed her.”

“No, but…” his voice trailed off.

“But what?”

“Nothing,” he said, crossing his arms, and looking away.

“This isn’t going to work if you’re not going to be open with me.”

Heero frowned and began pacing again. “I think…I don’t know for sure, but I think she tried to kill herself the last time I was there.”

“Why do you think that?” Robert’s voice was full of compassion.

“She was in her room, her clothes were wet and there was sand on her shoes. It was freezing out, and she had been swimming in the ocean?” He took a deep breath, and looked at Robert, his eyes were filled with pain, “How could she do that? I don’t understand. She said she loved me, but….” He shook his head and turned away. “She’s always been stronger than that. I just don’t want to hurt her anymore.”

            *             *             *             *             *             *             *             * *             *

Relena’s shuttle landed on a private airstrip virtually unannounced.  For security reasons, only a few people knew when and where she would be arriving. A man in a chauffeur’s uniform approached her as she stepped off the jetway. “The Ambassador sends his apologies for not being here personally, but he had an emergency meeting.”

Relena smiled at the man, then looked as though she remembered something, “I’m sorry, I left something on the plane,” she said backing up a couple of steps. “I’ll be right back.” She turned and ran up the stairs to the shuttle. She addressed the pilot, “Call security, that man is here to kidnap me.”

The pilot looked astonished, but made the call. A few seconds later, a black Ferrari pulled up, and Heero got out. The ‘driver’ looked at him, and started to walk away. Relena appeared at the door to the shuttle, “Stop that man!” she yelled, pointing at the retreating figure. The man broke into a sprint. Heero ran after him.

Police cars arrived on the scene, surrounding the area. Gunshots rang out. Relena started down the steps, when a security officer detained her. “Don’t leave that shuttle until we have the situation under control,” he said.

A few minutes later, she was relieved to see Heero walking alongside two policemen. The officers were dragging the handcuffed perpetrator between them. Relena stepped out of the shuttle, and gracefully descended the stairs. Her eyes locked with Heero’s and she smiled gratefully.

“Miss Peacecraft?” One of the officers was addressing her.

“Yes.”

“Is this the man?” he asked, indicating the ‘chauffeur’.

“Yes,” she said quietly.

“What is the charge, ma’am?” asked the other officer.

“He tried to get me to leave with him. He said he was here to pick me up, but I knew he wasn’t whom he said.”

“Attempted kidnapping. All right, we’re taking him in. Is there somewhere we can reach you if we need a statement?”

Heero reached into his back pocket and pulled out a wallet. “She’s staying with me,” he said and handed the officer a card. “You can reach her at this number.”

“Very good, Mr. Quincy. Thank you for your help.” They led the man away.

Heero walked over and picked up her bags. He placed them in the trunk, and then walked around to the passenger’s side to open the door. She smiled at him, and slid across the seat. “Nice car,” she said with amusement. “You traded your Gundam for this?”

He shut the door without a word, and got behind the wheel.

No one spoke for several minutes, as he tried to decide which emotion was strongest. Anger won. “Relena, do you have a death wish?” he finally asked.

Her eyes grew round at his sudden outburst, “What?”

“Where are your guards, Relena?” his voice was dark with anger.

“I didn’t think…”

“No, you’re right, you didn’t think. How can you be so stupid and irresponsible?”

She didn’t answer; his words stung, and she had to look away.

They arrived at the house, and the butler, Phillip, came out to retrieve her bags, and show her to her room. Heero went to find his grandfather, and make a phone call.

            His grandson entered the study, anger written on his face. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“A man tried to take Relena,” Heero fumed.

“Is she all right?”

“Yes, she’s fine. The police have him in custody,” he responded, moving to the videophone. He opened a connection and soon came face to face with Milliardo.

“I thought I would let you know before you heard it on the news,” Heero said, skipping the formalities.

“Is she all right?”

“Yes, she’s fine. But where the hell are her guards?” he shouted.

Milliardo was stunned. “What do you mean? I had specifically assigned…” he stopped, his face red with rage. “Damn it Relena!” he cursed. “Where is she?”

“I’ve already yelled at her.”

“Thank you. You’ve always been there for her.”

“Hn…” Heero crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

“I’ll send her guard detail first thing in the morning. I trust you can handle her until then?”

“Yes. Let me know who is coming, and when to have them picked up.”

Milliardo nodded. “Give the Ambassador my regards.”

“I will,” he said and reached to terminate the call.

“Oh, and Yuy – thanks again.”

*             *             *             *             *             *             *             *             *             *             *

He stopped outside her room, listening. When he didn’t hear anything, he knocked softly. There was no response. Heero opened the door quietly, and crept in. She was sleeping. What was left of his anger disappeared at the sight of her lying there peacefully. “She’s so beautiful,” he thought as he closed the door and walked down the hall to his room.

The next morning, Robert arrived. Heero was surprised, but the doctor told him he was there for a social visit with the Ambassador. He accompanied the man to his grandfather’s study, and was startled to find Relena already there. She was perched comfortably in an oversized chair, looking casual in a summer dress and sandals. She was laughing at something the Ambassador had said a moment before the door opened.

He entered the room with the doctor, and they were promptly greeted by the old man, “Good morning, Trente, Robert. Robert, I'd like you to meet Miss Relena Peacecraft. Miss Relena, this is my good friend, Doctor Onze.” Robert bowed as he took her hand and kissed it.

“Pleased to meet you,” she said smiling slightly.

“I assure you, young lady, the pleasure is all mine,” he said, dropping her hand lightly. “May I say that you are even more beautiful in person?”

“Thank you.”

Robert looked over at Heero to smile his approval, but stopped when he saw the look on the young man’s face. “Well well, jealousy is a new one,” he laughed to himself, and quickly moved away from her. He took the Ambassador aside and whispered something in his ear. He grinned mischievously at the good doctor, green eyes sparkling.

“Trente, Miss Relena was just expressing her wish to see some of the sights around town. Seems that she didn’t get to see much the last time she was here,” he winked at her. “I hope you don’t mind, but I volunteered you to be her tour guide, if she’ll have you, of course.”

“Uh…Of course I would be delighted to have his company,” she said unaffectedly, “if he has no previous engagements.”

All eyes turned towards Heero. He bowed stiffly, and said that he would be happy to accompany her. He held out his arm, which she accepted, and they left quietly.

The two remaining occupants of the room laughed boisterously, and poured themselves some scotch. “I don’t understand why they haven’t gotten together before now. They’re so obviously in love,” the Ambassador said.

“Well, it stems from feeling of self-loathing. He doesn’t believe he deserves her love.” Robert said.

“Can’t you stop being a damn doctor for five minutes? I’ve seen a vast improvement in him. I dare say I have high hopes for them.”

*             *             *             *             *             *             *             *             *          *

“Where would you like to go?” he asked her. “There’s an art exhibit downtown, some shops and restaurants in the main square.”

“Could we go somewhere and talk?” she asked.

He glanced at her from out of the corner of his eye. “All right.”

They turned off the highway a few minutes later and stopped in front of a restaurant. When he walked in, he took the maitre’d aside and whispered something while slipping a bill into his hand. The host smiled and guided them to a private dining room.

“What did you want to talk about, Relena?” he asked once they were alone.

“You’ve changed a lot,” she said softly.

He looked surprised. “Yes, I have,” he said and leaned back in his chair.

“I wanted to say that I’m glad that you found your family – and your name.”

“Is that all?”

“No,” she was fidgeting with her napkin. “I wanted to apologize.

Now he was stunned. “For what?”

“For being so cruel the last time we talked. For being so stupid yesterday – you have every right to hate me,” she said quietly, while an overwhelming sadness settled in the void of her heart.

“Relena, I don’t hate you.” He sighed. “I could never hate you.”

“Why did you leave without saying good-bye?”

“I don’t know, Relena. I’ve been trying to work that out. So far, I don’t have all the answers.”

            The pain in her eyes was unmistakable as she met his gaze briefly before looking away.  It made his heart ache. “Relena, I can’t stand that I hurt you so much….” He looked at her with concern.

“Heero,” she said softly. “Will you ever be able to love me? I love you so much….”

“Relena,” he whispered. He got up from his chair, and pulled her into his arms. He stroked her hair, trying to comfort her. 

She looked up at him, and saw the emotion in his eyes. “He loves me,” she said to herself. “He hasn’t said it, but I see it there in his eyes.” She smiled; it was enough for now. Then she buried her face into his chest as he held her close.

They stayed that way for a while, until the waiter came to take their order. Heero smiled in amusement as she chattered happily about Duo and Hilde, her brother, Quatre, and her job. She asked him about his life, his family, what he did with his time. He told her about his grandfather’s intention of ‘grooming’ him for the Ambassadorship, his sessions with the psychiatrist, and how often he thought of her. He held her hand, and thought again of how selfish he was being. “I’ll only end up hurting her again,” he said to himself and his heart broke at the thought.