Chapter 1

Relena hurried out of the busy Parliament Building. The holiday season was finally in session after a long week of debates that she thought would never end. All Relena wanted now was to get home and to enjoy this precious time to herself. Pulling the hood of her coat up she sighed at the heavy snow that was falling outside. Today just happened to be one of those days that she had to drive herself to work. It was the only sense of freedom and excitement that she got lately. And at this moment, she was starting to regret her decision.

Building up her courage, Relena walked out of the doors of the building and instantly got blasted by the Arctic wind that accompanied the storm. Holding onto her purse and briefcase tightly, Relena ran to her car. She dug her keys out of her coat pocket and pressed the button on the remote to unlock her door. After cleaning some snow off of the door, she opened it quickly and jumped in to get out of the cold and wind.

After starting her car, Relena got her cell phone out of her purse and dialed home. After a few rings, the friendly voice of her butler answered the phone.

*Hello, Darlian residence. How may I help you?*

"Pegan, its Relena."

*Miss Relena, are you calling to have me pick you up?*

"No Pegan, I thought that I would let you know that I'll be driving myself as soon as my car warms up and I dust off the snow."

*Thank you for informing me Miss. I'll have a warm pot of tea for you when you arrive home.*

"That would be wonderful, Pegan. I'll see you within the hour. Bye" Relena shut off her phone and placed it back in her purse. She couldn't wait to get home and to sit down in front of a warm fire. Perhaps she would read a book, finish wrapping presents, or prepare for the Christmas party that she was hosting this year.... anything to keep her mind off of 'him'.

After turning the heater on full blast Relena made sure that her coat was buttoned up all the way. And with the ice scraper in hand she ventured back out into the snow and wind to clear off her car. Once she was done she quickly got back into her car and sat with her teeth chattering while trying to warm her hands up over the vent. 'Why didn't I let Pegan drive me today? I would be home by now watching the news and enjoying that pot of tea? But NO, you just had to have your way and drive your used car, whose heater doesn't seem to work.' She knew that she should have gotten a new car, but her security had forbidden it claiming that such a vehicle would draw attention to herself. They had approved her for a used car that was common on the streets, and therefore less likely to stand out. 

Relena looked at herself in the rearview mirror. Her cheeks and nose were red from the cold and her hair damp from the snow that had melted in the slightly warmed car. "You can be so stupid sometimes, Relena, you know that? Why am I talking to myself?" 

Relena buckled her seatbelt then put the car in reverse and back out of her parking space. Just before she put it in drive, a knock sounded on the driver’s side window. She choked on a sharp intake of air and jumped in her seat. Relena looked over to see two lively violet eyes staring back at her and a smile upon the owners face. 'Duo.' Relena smiled back at him while she put her car in park and rolled her window down a crack.

"Hey Princess, I was hoping to catch you before you left the building." 

Relena motioned toward the passenger seat and unlocked the door. "Duo get in the car. It's too cold for you to be standing out there." Duo nodded in agreement and Relena rolled up her window as he got in.

"Man it is cold out there. I'm starting to regret ever leaving the colonies." Duo rubbed his gloved hands together to build up some friction. 

Relena smiled, wondering what brought him out in the cold to find her. "Yes it is.... so you said you were hoping to catch me?"

"Yeah, I was in the area and I thought that maybe you would like some company on your way home. It's a long drive and you never know when an unsuspecting snow bank might get in your way."  

Relena chuckled with that thought. She more than likely might find herself in one considering this is the first time that she will be driving on snow covered streets. "I appreciate the offer, but how are you going to get back? Aren't you on duty?"

"I figured I would get a ride back to Preventer Headquarters when your security staff switches over for the night. It's really not a problem, Une knows where I am." Duo pulled out his cell phone. "She has me on a leash."

Relena smiled once again, put her car in drive, and headed toward the security gate. Once there, she waved at the guard on duty who returned the gesture and raised the gate for her to leave. Relena inched her car slowly toward the street and looked in both directions for traffic. A sigh escaped her lips when she saw only a few cars on the road. 'Please let me make it home with no problems.’

"Not very many people out, huh? The news reports are telling people to stay home. The weather is supposed to get even worse." Duo gave Relena a reassuring smile. He would have asked her if she wanted him to drive, but he could see the determined look in her eyes that she wanted to accomplish this on her own. 

Relena slowly pulled out onto the street and started home. "Well, if that is what is in the forecast then maybe you should plan to stay the night at my place. You know I have plenty of room and I'm sure Hilde would want you to be safe than back out on the roads. And... I wouldn't mind the company."

"Well then, I guess I might have to take you up on that offer." Duo replied while never taking his eyes off of the road in front of them. He wanted to be ready to give Relena any tips that she might need to make her drive home a safe one. "Start slowing up before you get to the intersection. It's safer to slow up early than late. Braking late can cause your car to slide on the snow and ice. And well you don't want to wind up in someone else's back seat now, would ya?"

Duo glanced over at Relena to see an 'I already know this' look on her face. He had to admit, for her first time driving in the snow she wasn't doing a bad job at all. So he decided to not bring up the subject of driving again. She wasn't a helpless woman who needed a man to step in for her. She has always been an ambitious woman, especially in politics, and he was sure that driving wasn't going to be any different. Duo chuckled slightly when the thought of Relena in rush hour traffic, honking her horn and cursing at the people in front of her flashed through his mind. 

"What's so funny?" Relena glanced over at Duo.

"Nothing... nothing at all. I was just thinking."

Relena kept her eyes glued to the road and couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as she came within three blocks of her house. All that was between her and her warm comfy couch and something hot to drink was one stop sign. Relena came to a stop at the four way intersection. There were no other cars waiting so she started to pull out into the intersection. At that time, a car on her left was coming to a stop too quickly and started to slide out into the intersection at her. Relena eyes went wide, and her limbs locked as she watched the car hurtle towards them.

"Give the car some damn gas, Relena!" Duo yelled at her, hoping to snap her out of her shock. When she didn't move, Duo repositioned his leg so he could step on the gas. He jerked the steering wheel, hoping to avoid the accident. They managed to evade the car but couldn't stop from sliding toward the sidewalk - towards a distant speck that rapidly took the form of a person. "Shit... look out you fool! Move!" Duo yelled at the guy, praying that he would see what was happening and safely get out of the way.

Relena closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands just as the car slammed into the snow bank and collided with the pedestrian. "Oh my God." Relena choked out as the car came to a sudden stop. She couldn't believe what just happened.

"Shit." Duo whispered himself. He looked out the back window to see the other car driving quickly down the street. "Stupid son of a bitch." He placed a hand on Relena's arm and shook it slightly. "Are you ok?"

"Yes, but did we just.... I mean did we...." Relena's hands were trembling; she was completely startled over what happened.

Duo gave her arm a squeeze. "I'll go check, you stay inside." He quickly shut off the car and got out to check on the person that was unfortunate soul. Duo knew that they had to have hit him. There was no way the guy could have gotten out of the way fast enough. He, too, had been frozen in place - either too shocked to move, or waiting for his demise.

Walking towards the front of the car, Duo pulled out his cell phone, ready to call for an ambulance. He could see the guy lying on his back, half-covered by the snow thrown at him from the snow bank they had hit as they came up on the curb.  Glancing back inside the car, Duo could see that Relena was watching him. He took a deep breath and approached the man. Kneeling down, Duo pulled off his right glove and pressed two fingers to the unconscious man's wrist, checking for a pulse. He sighed in relief when he felt a strong heartbeat underneath his fingertips.    

"Buddy are you ok?" Duo asked as he moved some snow off of the pedestrian's face. But his hand shot back and he gasped when he recognized the features of the person lying on the ground before him. "Heero?" Duo whispered. It may have been almost a year since he saw him last, but there was no mistaking the person half-buried in the snow. He had the same messy brown hair, and Duo was more than positive that when those blue eyes opened, he would get the glare of a lifetime. 'What in the hell? What are you doing out here... and so close to Relena's house?' Duo would have chuckled if the situation was any less serious than it was. "Hey, Hee...."

"Duo... is everything alright? Have you called an ambulance?"

Duo looked back at Relena; the sound of her voice had cut off the rest of his sentence. She was staring listlessly at her shoes, her eyes still wide and fearful. "That wouldn't be such a good idea."

Relena looked at him; all the color drained from her face. "Oh God, he's dead isn't he?".

"What? No... no just trust me on this one." Heero wouldn't need a hospital; he knew that the former Zero pilot could survive getting hit by a car. Hell, he had survived worse. Duo also knew that once Relena got a glimpse of just who their 'patient' was, she too, would agree with him. "Why don't you help me get him into the back seat?" Duo slipped his phone back into his coat pocket and moved to where Relena could get a look at whom it was that they had accidentally hit.

"Heero!" Relena couldn't believe her eyes. 'What is he doing here?' She thought as she ran to his side. She pulled her gloves off and smoothed one hand gently over his cheek. "He's so cold, Duo."

Duo quickly went back to the car and opened the back door. He returned and took a hold of Heero's arms. "He's knocked out cold. Let's hurry and get him to your place. You get his feet."

Relena nodded and forced herself to move from Heero's side. She carefully took hold of his legs and they both moved toward the car. With some maneuvering, they managed to get Heero into the car. Relena sat cradling his head in her lap. 

Duo closed the back door then got into the driver's seat. With a little bit of luck and good driving skills, Duo got them out of the snow bank and headed toward Relena's house only a short distance away. Duo pulled out his cell phone once again and called Pegan to let him know that they would be arriving shortly - with a guest that would need a warm bed ready for him when they got there. 

"What were you doing out here, Heero?" Relena whispered as she moved snow matted locks out of his face. 

Duo watched the two of them from the rearview mirror as he pulled into Relena's driveway. After shutting off the car, he got out to help Relena with Heero. As they approached the front door, it opened to reveal the pinched brow of a very worried Pegan.

"I prepared the guestroom upstairs next to your den, Miss Relena." Pegan said moving aside for them to enter. Once they passed he closed the door and hastened to help them. "Miss Relena why don't you let me take your place?"

"No, I'm responsible for this, and I'm going to take care of him myself." Relena replied as they moved up the stairs. Hearing a chuckle come from her "guilty partner" Relena glared viciously at him. She knew what he was thinking about her remark. As soon as they laid Heero down on the bed, Relena looked up at Pegan. "Pegan can you prepare the other room for Duo? He'll be staying with us as well."

"Is there anything else you need?" 

"No, nothing at the moment." Relena waited for Pegan to leave before glancing back at Heero. Duo was already in the process of removing Heero's clothing. Feeling guilt well inside her heart and stomach, she bent forward to help remove Heero's boots. But when she glanced up and saw Duo undoing Heero's shirt, she blushed and had to turn away.

Duo pulled Heero's shirt back down after he got a good look at the dark purple and blue bruises that were already forming on his right ribcage. "Relena, why don't you let me finish up in here? I'll check him over and make sure that nothing is broken. Besides, I think it would be better for him if he wakes up and sees me in here 'feeling him up' instead of you."

"Duo!" Relena's eyes bulged and her face flushed even darker shade of red. Her hand flew to her mouth when she saw Heero starting to stir. 

"You'd better hurry and get out of here. I seriously doubt that you want to be on the receiving end of a pissed off Heero. I'll explain everything to him." 

"If you need anything let me know."

"Sure, no prob." Duo smirked as he watched Relena rush out of the room just as Heero groaned and slowly opened one eye.

"Wh....where am I?" Heero reached up and touched the back of his head where it was throbbing painfully.

Duo sat down on the end of the bed and grinned. "How are you feeling Heero?"

Heero's eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the large smirk on Duo's face. "You were in that car."

"Yeah, but I wasn't the one doing the driving. You can thank your girlfriend for the bump on your head."

"She's not my.... Relena was driving?" The glare that had formed on Heero's face quickly vanished and was replaced with one of concern. 'Figures she would have to go and do something imprudent to add to the danger that she faces everyday.' "She's not a very good driver." Heero stated as he sat up and moved back to use the headboard for a backrest.

"Actually she's a very good driver." Duo stood up for Relena. "She never would have hit you if it weren't for that other driver and.... well I had a part in it as well."

"Figures."

"So is anything broken?" Duo asked as he watched Heero move uncomfortably.

"No."

"Are you in any pain?"

"No." 

"You're very good at lying you know that. I saw the bruising on your ribs." Duo smirked again at the scowl that marred Heero's face.  "I know... I know. It's your pride that makes you unable to admit things." Duo laughed and smacked Heero on the leg. "You have no idea how lucky you are. You get the chance of a lifetime having the woman that you love wait on you hand and foot. If I were you, I would fake it for a week or more."

"Maxwell." Heero growled, his glare intensifying. Duo was playing with fire and he obviously didn't care about the circumstances. 

A light knock on the door caught both young men's attention. They both watched Relena enter the room carrying a few articles of clothing. Relena kept her gaze away from Heero, she was unable to look at him in fear that he might be angry.  

"I.... I know that these won't exactly fit, they're Millardo's. But you can't possibly stay in the wet clothes that you're wearing. If you would let me wash your clothes then I'll get them back to you as soon as they're done."

Duo snickered and got up off of the bed. He approached Relena. "Thanks, I'm sure that Heero would thank you himself if he didn't have his head up his ass."

"You'd better not come back over here." Heero grumbled. He wouldn't admit to anyone that his body ached. He probably had a few bruised ribs along with the bump on the back of his head. If he wasn't in the shape he was in, Duo would be running for his life about now.

"You think I'm that stupid?" Duo smiled at Heero as he headed toward the door. "Everything seems to be ok, so I'm going to step out and give Hilde, and maybe even Une a call."

"Dinner will be ready within the hour; Pegan will announce it."

"There's no need for that." Duo smiled and patted his stomach. "I'll know when it's ready."

Relena smiled and watched Duo leave the room. But a feeling of dread crept through her as she turned to look at Heero, her smile dissipating in its wake. He was quietly sitting in the same spot on the bed, staring at her. Swallowing a lump that had formed in her throat, Relena approached him. "I'll be back in bit to get your clothes. The bathroom is through that door" Relena pointed to her left then turned to exit the room.

"Relena." She turned to face him again. Heero slowly got out of the bed, hiding the pain that shot through his side. "You shouldn't be driving, next time, you might kill someone." His eyes narrowed; his voice was that of a father scolding a child.

Relena held back that gasp of surprise from the tone of voice that he used with her. 'How dare he.' Relena left the room, but not without slamming the door behind her. 'Great Relena, that was just great. Now he truly thinks of you as a child.'