Disclaimer:  Standard Disclaimer
Authoresses Note:  I think writing this story has given me a whole new respect for this couple.  Ah, the power of words!  Anyways, expect a sexy Quatre, Relena dancing with some other guy named David, and a Heero and Relena fight in this one.  Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh.  Tee-hee!  But the romance really gets off with Part 3 and 4, so please stick around to read those parts.
Written By Desert Bloom
Title:  White Rose
Part:  Two

Another party.  They were all the same, weren't they?  Years ago, she had used these parties to compensate for all her paperwork, lectures, and interviews.  This one.this one was different.  There had only been one other party that had the honor of Heero Yuy with it, and that had been far from romantic.  They had danced, but it had been nothing like 'Ooh, he just swept me away, I was caught in his embrace and I couldn't leave.ah, I'm in love'!  Nope.  And he had not exactly whispered those sacred words in her ear, yes, those words: 'I love you'.  More like: 'I will kill you'.
It had been enough for her.  But now she was older, and she wanted so much more - she was also older and understood reality.  The concept that Heero was nothing more than an honorable assassin had just lately bloomed in her head.  Still, did she dare?  Did she dare to ask her bodyguard - upon which she had an impressive past with - to dance?  The answer:  of course not!
She shook her head.  She was startled at how immature she could be at times.  Important political figures would be making appearances at the Winner party.  She should be thinking about them, not some silly crush left over from her high school years. She sucked in her breath, exhaled sharply, and gave her hair a swat with her brush.  Thoughts like this must be forced out of her head.  She was mature now.  She had to accept certain realities.
"Why, Miss Relena, I do believe you are not paying attention."
Relena snapped awake, turning to see her friend.  Ah.  Dorothy.  An odd character.  No one could be quite sure of this one.  But Relena believed this she had a lovely heart, just as lovely as her appearance.  Dorothy was certainly very pretty, and had an uncomfortable way of making Relena feel scrawny and unattractive.  Her figure was slender, and had all the curves in the right places.  Her skin was very fair, her hair a simple white.  But above all it was those eyes that really captivated a person.  They were bewitching.  Icy cold blue, filled with a completely fake innocence.  Flashing, burning eyes.  Relena felt for Quatre, who probably got the full blow of those eyes in an angered stare.
Relena blinked, a little fazed.  Dorothy waited patiently until her friend's eyes lost their absent look.  She could not, however, still a little giggle.
"Dorothy!" Relena took a step back with the shock of it. "You're not wearing black!"
Dorothy's favorite color was black, but for the first time in a very long while, her dress was that of a dark blue.  "Yes, well, you gave me such a hard time about it at the wedding."
Relena smirked, placing her hands on her hips. "Its not the custom to wear a black wedding dress," she reminded Dorothy.
Dorothy rolled her eyes. "Come, I have to surprise Quatre.  He bought it for me, but I doubt he expected me to actually wear it." She paused, her eyes roaming Relena's attire. "You know, I never give you a problem about all the white."
Relena laughed.  Her bikini strap dress was indeed a pearly white. "You know very well that it's the Sanc Kingdom's color, and I must represent my people."
"And you are do a good job of it, Miss Relena.  You are, after all, our savior, our angel.  White fits an angel, just as it becomes you."

Quatre, in truth, had never like parties.  It had been his idea for the anniversary bash, but that was only because he had been feeling rather bored lately.  Very bored, in fact.  Plus he had been spending a lot of time reflecting on his Gundam days.  He was very thankful that the ordeal was over, but he missed the people he had met.  All of them were very close to him, especially the Gundam pilots.  Of course, if you're in exile together things tend to be that way.
He felt partially guilty that he couldn't invite everyone from those times.  He was far too much in the public spotlight, and all his known friends would become too.  There were certain people, like the Maxwell's; that he knew could not accept this burden.  Duo and Hilde had a little girl, and they were expecting another.  God knows where Heero was; Trowa was too busy with the circus.  He had managed to get Wufei here, on the excuse that he had been his bodyguard while Quatre was in 'hiding'.  This was of course a lie, but Quatre didn't really care.  Lady Une, Sally, Relena and Noin had been recruited as guests as well.  Besides that, he had his wonderful Dorothy.
So all in all, things weren't that bad.  Quatre made his way through the dense mass of people, his mind on Dorothy.  He broke through into a clearing - otherwise known as the dance floor.  The band had not started to play yet.  His eyes swept the area around the massive ballroom; finally falling on a pair just yards away.  He grinned, and went to them.
They had not noticed him yet.  He reached down and grasped Dorothy's shoulder, kissing the back of her neck affectionately.  Dorothy giggled, and spun to face him.
"'The Perfect Soldier's here, according to Relena," she whispered into his chest.  Quatre blinked, and stared at Relena, who smiled warmly during the whole display of tenderness.
"No kidding!  Where is he?"
Relena shrugged. "I wouldn't know.  Maybe back in some spare corner, watching me like a hawk."
Quatre nodded, squeezed Dorothy's hand, and went off to find him.

Parties.  How to describe his feelings about them?  He did not view them as meaningless, at least not anymore.  He understood that some people needed them to keep their spirits up, to be able to go on.  And if people didn't go on, it would mean Heero's entire life was meaningless.  No, parties were okay.
He himself had never liked them.  Some stupid girl had always decided him attractive and wanted to cling to him.  Jesus.
He leaned against the wall, his hands stuffed in his pockets, and his eyes flashing sullenness.  He combed the room for a sight of Relena - he was, after all, here to protect her.  He found her talking with Dorothy, that odd woman that Relena cared so much for.  He shook his head, a bit ashamed of his sharp words, for Yuy did not like to label.  He would kill, torture, but labeling was a no-no.
"Heero," the familiar voice came to his ears, and the assassin turned to him.
"Quatre," he bounced back levelly.
The blonde grinned, folding his arms.  He cocked a sassy eyebrow, which was unlike him. "Haven't seen you for a while.  You came back to her, huh?"
Heero was confused.  What was he hinting at? "I'm here on a mission." He explained, his tone purposely cold. "Conditions.are bad for Miss Relena for the moment."
Quatre nodded at this, unconvinced.  But he sensed that familiar death stare burning, and he didn't want that.  So he quickly moved the conversation to more petty things, and somehow managed to keep a conversation about the weather with the perfect soldier.

"Relena!  Dorothy!"
  Both Peacecraft and Catalonia swerved as a familiar voice boomed.  Along came Sally Poe, arms linked with Noin.  The two had always been good friends, just as Dorothy and Relena.
Relena grinned.  Quite a reunion this was becoming!  She felt guilty for her early distress at having to come.  She shook hands with Sally, and nodded to Noin.
She had barely known Sally during the war, and bonded with her most after the whole thing.  She had quickly learned just how involved Poe was with the Gundams and their pilots, which had surprised her.  She was also quite a female rights activist.  She took no sass from anyone, and was an expert at handling things politely and with elegant grace.  Not that she was anything like a tomboy.  She was quite pretty, with eyes to match Dorothy, and long blonde hair that was constantly in twin braids.
Relena was definitely glad to see her again. "This is amazing," she commented quietly. "I'm sorry we weren't able to do things like this more often."
Sally nodded. "Hilde and Duo send their regards, princess.  As well as Catherine and Trowa."
Relena started.  Catherine was not well known to her - she had only heard about her after the Gundam war.  But Hilde was an entirely different matter.  She had never been able to keep contact with the girl, but remembered vividly their conversation on Libra.
"How goes little Zoe?" Relena asked Sally, "And Hilde's fine with their next?"
Sally smirked. "Hilde's fine.  As for Zoe -" the woman let out a loud laugh, her eyes crinkling. "She has the mouth of her father!  I had the honor of talking with her on the phone the other day."
Noin laughed.  She remembered easily Duo, and if Zoe was anything like him. "Oh, Jesus.  What was that like?"
"Barely three years old and has the mouth of a motor.  Hilde's beside herself, what with both her and Duo."
They both laughed at that, and Sally was about to say something else, when someone interrupted. "Sorry ladies," he said with a dignified respect, "May I have this dance with Miss Peacecraft?"
Relena felt her body freeze.  It had been a very long time since she had been asked by a cute guy to dance.  She surveyed him over with questioning eyes.
He was tall, very tall.  His stature wasn't obese, but it wasn't exactly thin either.  His eyes were black, as was his hair, and he had the cutest little beard growing on his chin.  Yes, he was very nice.  But could she flirt with him?  That was the question, especially since she felt an uncanny devotion to Heero.  But she was her own woman, and Heero probably didn't give a damn about her.
Therefore she nodded to the other girls, and accepted his offer.

Heero watched the two dance with narrowed eyes.  Nothing wrong with Relena dancing, he supposed.  So long as she was careful who with.  Though his main suspect was Klia, it was only one suspect - his suspicion stretched to everyone.  He quickly scanned the fellow for any possible threats, found none, and relaxed a bit.  Not that Heero truly relaxed.  It was not in his programming.
He sucked in his breath.  He could not deny that he felt closeness to the girl, but he remained unconvinced that it was anything more than a respect.  He had never known true affection either, and sincerely doubted that he would know it now.  He shook his head, angered with himself.  He felt a small wave of what was called jealousy to see Relena in the arms of another.  And he hated that.  Heero was not to the beck and call of anyone!
He stamped his foot on the ground once, twice, trying to ease feeling back into them.  He should move around, he decided.  His feet were falling asleep, and that simply would not do for a bodyguard.  He had barely lifted his feet off the ground, however, when he heard the call of Lady Une.
He turned to meet her, and found another - Chang.  Jeezus, today was a nightmare.  Wufei greeted him with a nod, he wasn't thrilled much either.  Lady Une chose to ignore this, and ushered Heero to them.
"How are you with the mission?" she asked as soon as he was in range.
Heero shrugged, and Wufei's eyes flashed. "Fine.  I haven't found any evidence towards the Klia girl yet."
Wufei interrupted. "Nether have The Preventers.  We are suspicious only because of her past.  It is very dark and dishonorable."
Lady Une nodded. "I want us to bear in mind that it was not necessarily her acts, and she may hate her father.  There have been very convincing rumors of abuse."
Yuy's eyes flashed.  Abuse was only more cause - he ought to know.  If people were lucky they rebelled from the horror, but most of the time they succumbed to it, convinced there was something wrong with them and that their abuser was always right.  Knowing this only enhanced his suspicion.
"Any more suspects?" he questioned. Lady Une shook her head, but Wufei seemed to lean on a secret, which he wasn't sure of sharing.  But there was a glow of realization within moments, and he explained.
"There is a possibility that her protection - you and your fellow officers, might somehow be involved with this.  The attacker sometimes leaves a red rose at his scenes, of a variety that only exists in the gardens of Sanc Palace."
"Could be Klia."
Lady Une sucked in her breath. "Heero, the bullets this killer uses is top rate.  If it is Klia, we have no idea where the hell she got those."
The trio continued to talk for a long while, debating ideas and such, until they were all sick of it.

"So, what's your name?"
"David Smith.  Senator David Smith, actually, but I assure you I try not to be boring," He answered.  She decided he had a nice voice.  Gruff, yet sweet, quiet, yet bold.
She leaned into him, wondering why she felt so guilty.  She was over Yuy.  If Heero had felt so passionately about her, as she felt about him, things would have happened a long time ago.  David's body was so warm, she linked her arms around his neck, and his felt her hips, and she sighed with pleasant want, smirking to herself.  So.  She could still have a guy on her beck and call.
Plus this guy was different.  He didn't want her for her political position, and it seemed nether for her body.they had already had a pleasant chat, and Relena had found him charming and kind and wonderful.  Plus he was a talented dancer.
The song ended, and the band announced a short break.  For a moment David kept their embrace, which Relena considered a good sign.
"I'm sorry Relena," Another point.  Not 'princess', 'Vice Foreign Minister', 'Peacecraft, 'Miss Peacecraft', or even 'Miss Relena'.  Just plain old good Relena, thank god. "I have to leave early, because I have a press conference elsewhere," he continued, and Relena nodded at him. "And well, my advisors wanted to get you for a meeting, but I wouldn't mind an evening at this nice Spanish restaurant."
He handed her his card, and Relena smiled sweetly.  She gave it a quick look, and then tucked it into her pocket.  Her heart was racing.  Was he actually asking her out on a date?  Oh!  It had been so long since she had had a summer romance.
"It's a date." She told him.
David grinned, and knelt to give her a quick peck on the cheek.  Then he left, leaving Relena burning with attraction.  She felt her cheek softly, dimly amazed.  Ah!  The thrill of it.  She mused at her immaturity, thought to hell with maturity, and decided she needed a breath of fresh air.  Just to cool herself down.
She sighted a deck at the far corner of the large room, and promptly headed to it.  To be perfectly honest, she preferred nature to the droll of upper class society - such had always been her way, and always would be.  She resolved this firmly as the cool night embraced her.  The stars glistened down at her, and she smiled.  You could find much in a star.  Comfort, warmth, support, realization.  Relena closed her eyes, leaning on the railing, and blew out her breath in a lazy sigh.
Yes, she would give it all up for just one day with nature, one day to become truly human again.

Heero drifted back to the mainstream, Lady Une went for a conversation with a few other officers, and Wufei seemed to be seduced by Sally.
With their conversation done, he could finally focus on the task at hand.  To protect Relena.  He scanned the room for a sight of her.  Nothing.  Perhaps he just wasn't looking hard enough.He walked further on, around the dance floor and the band's stage.  He took a glance at the food bar, and inspected the bathrooms (just outside it, not in it).
Finding nothing, he was able to catch Noin's eye.  She looked a little bit depressed.  He wasn't quite sure why, but he suspected that it was because Sally was off with Wufei and Dorothy was with Quatre.  As for Relena.
"What's up?" Noin asked as he approached.
Heero shrugged. "Seen Relena?" he asked.
Noin shook her head. "The last time was maybe an hour ago, when she went off dancing with that guy." She took a swig of wine. "Is anything wrong?"
Damn!  Heero cursed silently inside.  But outwardly, he put a brave front. "No, I don't think so.  Forget it."

Relena let the gentle breeze caress her face.  It felt so good.  She truly loved to be outside.  L4's city lights burned at her eyes.  The air had a faint smell of cinnamon in it, the moon shined radiant, and the breeze rocked her hair back and forth.  She tried to still her golden locks for a moment by cupping them with her hands - but it failed miserably, so she let nature do its wrath.
Oh!  Relena loved how romantic the surroundings were.  They cast a wonderful mood of innocence upon her, and left her with a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Relena!"
Heero.  His words were spoken sharply.  It startled her.  She had never heard him speak to her like that before.  Slowly, a bit of fear filling her, she turned to him.
He looked awful.  His face was a ghostly pale, and his body was shaking slightly.  But the worst was perhaps his eyes - they were of a flame.  A horrid, ghastly flame of flickering, devious anger.
"What's wrong?" she questioned quietly.
"You're alone." He stated simply, and the irony of his words bit her.  Hah!  She was alone, true, but not in the way he was speaking of.
"I'll be fine here."
"You don't know that." Relena winced.  This was said quietly, but it roared with a silent pain.
Pain.  That was how it hit her.  He was pained.  She simply couldn't believe that after all he'd did to her, after all the coldness he had displayed towards her, that she should feel pity for him.  Well not anymore.  She was her own woman.  Granted, he would not raise his voice to her.  Not if he didn't want to face her anger.
"Jesus, Heero!" she swore, her hand sliding against the railing, "What could happen here?"
"You don't understand how dangerous it is.  Relena, this person killed twenty people already, and hints strongly towards you being the next target." Heero paused.  He was calming down now.  He just didn't understand what had come over him.while he had thought the worst back in the ballroom.while he had thought her kidnapped, or dead.he had been plagued by this ultimate hole.  It was like something had grabbed his chest and ripped it; like somebody had created this massive void in his soul.he shivered, for once afraid.  And Yuy didn't shiver, and he was never afraid.  Damn these new feelings!
Relena too began to quiet, shaken by his voice.  It betrayed his personality.  He was scared, and lost.  The near passion it contained.Relena felt her cheek, and found it moist.  She was crying - for this?  She shook her head, and stomped off.

Slam!  Slam!  Slam, slam!  Heero banged his door with obvious satisfaction.  Slam!
How many hours ago had the party ended?  He wasn't sure.  The whole affair was a haze - he remembered her tears as she fled from him, he remembered her tone as she screamed at him.  It was all he remembered, and he hated that.  He would not let anyone dominate his thoughts like this!  He was a soldier!  He was a professional!  He was Heero Yuy!
He was scared.
He cursed violently, slumping against the doorframe and to the floor.  His head spun, and his heart beat fast.  Sweat covered him, and he rubbed some of the grime off his forehead.  Then he placed his hands over his head, as if covering from some attacker's blow.  The only battle, however, was inward, and he cast the only blow.
He fought so hard.  So hard.  And he had never got any thanks.  He had never wanted any thanks either, until now.  At that moment a word of encouragement, a kind smile, it would have been the world for him.  And he had never wanted that.  Never.
He let loose another barrage of coarse words and vile oaths as someone pushed the door open.  Luckily, it was quiet enough for only him to hear.
"What's going on?  I heard a bad racket."  Rod.
"Forget it." Heero advised. "Please."
To his surprise, instead of pressing him for more information, Rod did just that.  Heero smiled a warm feeling of thanks.  Maybe Rod wasn't such a bad fellow after all.

She would have to hurry.  She didn't have much time.
Klia set down the hall at a steady pace.  She had promised Maurice that she would help him with the chocolate cake, and she hated to disappoint.  At the same time, she prided herself on being a neat freak, one that could simply not resist the urge to vanquish a few dust bunnies.  She pushed a bit of unruly bang back from her cheek, and her eyes caught Relena's door.  A little dusting, perhaps clean the windows.in her right hand she firmly clutched both a rag and a duster.  Her left held a pail of water.  Yes, Klia was ready for the battle that lay in front of her.  Let dirt fear her name!
In haste she pushed open the door, her eyes immediately roaming about.  The windows that you could no longer see your face in were to be her first target.  She sidled over to it, dipped her rag in the water and sprayed an odd powder on the glass.  Then she began rubbing.  A moment later she was done.  Klia studied her reflection quietly.
Small in frame.  Her face could be a little less plump.  Her eyelashes were all matted together.  Yuck.  Her bosoms were much too small and pointy.  Her hair was sweaty.  Ew.  And even though most people would have said that Klia was a very beautiful and attractive girl, Klia saw none of this.
She did, however, see someone else.  She spun around with a gasp of surprise to the figure sitting in the bed.
"Oh, Miss Relena, I wasn't paying attention, I didn't even see you there.I'm so sorry, were you trying to sleep.?  Oh, Miss." she continued on and on and on.  To Miss Relena it seemed silly for her to worry so, so she silenced Klia with a wave of her hand.   She did not know about how Klia's father would have punished such an offense, and she probably wouldn't want to.
"Don't worry about it, Klia," Relena smiled sheepishly, but it was easy to see that she was depressed.
Klia studied her carefully.  Her face was slack.  Her lips pursed in a sullen frown.  Her hands hung limply at her sides.  And her eyes held an empty feel to it.  Yes, Miss Peacecraft was saddened deeply.  Klia shook her head.  That wouldn't do.
"Miss, what's wrong?"
Relena blinked.  Was it that obvious?  She heaved a tired sigh. "Oh, don't worry about it, Klia." She advised. "Nothing that I would want to worry you about."
Klia shook her head, and to Relena's surprise, seated herself on the end of the bed. "I doubt that, Miss Relena.  You have the look of a destroyed lover.  Am I correct?"
"Klia." Relena wasn't sure what to say.  The pretty little maid seemed to have a better understanding of herself than she did.amazing.  Klia, though she may not believe it, was really quite an intellectual genius.  Slow but steady wins the race - or this time, the quiet ones understand all. "Sort of.  Am I really that obvious?"
Klia shook her head.  She vaguely wondered what was coming over her.  Her principles... "Miss, I've spent quite a lot of time that way myself.  I can tell."
"Oh, I hope you haven't.  You're only seventeen."
"You were barely fifteen during the one-year-war crisis.  Now, explain your woe.  I assure you I am good at secrets."
"Yes.  Klia, I -" she grinned, embarrassed.  So ironic that this should be the one person she confided in.  After all the fighting with her family!  Life was truly strange at times. "I spoke sharply to someone who...matters deeply to me.  Last night."
Klia nodded.  "I know what that's like very much.  My father once forbid a relationship between a servant and me." she paused. "Oh, I'm sorry.  I doubt you're interested, Miss Peacecraft."
Relena shook her head. "No, Klia, not at all.  And please, call me Relena."
"Yes, Relena."

Last word:  Argh!  So long!  Huge headache!!!  Next part has a little action, and I won't have to resort to distasteful murders to keep up the hype.  Relena and Heero as a couple become a lot better too.  Until then, thanks for reading.  And if Heero's Girl is reading this, let me just say HAH!  Did you enjoy a screaming Relena?