I don’t own it. As for the rest: 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

Heero slept fitfully, tossing and turning on the solitary twin bed in his apartment. He desperately needed his rest, but his dreams were filled with anxiety – and her. Finally, after an hour of lying there in restless sleep, his dreams took another turn - one both pleasant and painful at the same time.

He was back in Relena’s room, kissing her, and guiding her towards the bed. He lay her down on the soft covers, his mouth trailing down her neck as their clothes disappeared and his hands danced across her smooth silky skin. Just at the point where they were about to become more intimate, Heero’s alarm clock went off, jarring his mind and body from the fantasy too early for his liking. He sat up and glared at the obnoxious thing only a moment before picking it up and smashing it against the night table it used to sit on. The shrill alarm turned to a pathetic whimper as it protested the merciless beating it was receiving from the bed’s only occupant. If Duo thought a nap would somehow allow Heero the chance to unwind, well it wouldn’t be the first time the former Deathscythe pilot was sorely mistaken.

After taking out his frustration on the irritating former alarm clock that he had momentarily envisioned as Trevor’s head, Heero got up and made his way to the shower. He supposed he would have to dress nicely for wherever it was he was going to take Relena. “Relena,” he growled crossly trying to shake the feeling of desire that had taken hold of him in his dream. He climbed into the tub and let the cool streams wash over his aching body. “I don’t love you. Now marry me.” He shook his head. It sounded ridiculous, even to his own ears. He leaned forward and closed his eyes, letting the water run over his head, hoping it would help to clear his mind and make sense of everything. “I must complete the mission,” he told himself once again and took some deep breaths – pushing Relena to the far corner of his mind. “Nothing matters but the mission.” He opened his eyes; the world suddenly came back into focus, and he knew what he needed to do.

* * * * * *

Mission Headquarters (also known as Quatre’s mansion)

It was still early, the date was to begin at seven, and it was only five thirty, but Dorothy was frustrated beyond belief. She growled and threw the comb onto the counter, causing Heero to smirk at the thought that someone else was as irritated as himself -misery loves company, after all.

Not to be outdone, Dorothy marched out of the room to the grab the cordless phone. A few seconds later, she wandered back into her salon-style bathroom suite where Heero was sitting in a barber’s chair with a robe thrown over his shoulders to protect his suit.

“Yes, Catherine, would you please? I can’t take it anymore; the darn stuff won’t cooperate. Yes, I suppose if that doesn’t do it nothing will. Thanks a million, I’ll see you in a few,” she said pressing the off button and then setting the telephone down on the vanity. She smiled wickedly at Heero in the mirror, and it caused all the hair on the back of his neck to come to full attention. Instantly set on his guard by that look, he started to get up and was about to make a run for it when she screamed. “RASHID, ABDUL! Restrain him, he’s trying to escape!”

Two large Maguanacs quickly appeared, blocking Heero’s path to the door. He glared at them, tossed the robe on the floor and prepared for battle. He landed a roundhouse kick to Rashid’s stomach, doubling him over, and then ducked as Abdul threw a punch toward his jaw.

“Don’t hit him in the face!” Dorothy yelled at Abdul, distracting him momentarily, as Heero fell to the floor and swept his feet from underneath him. He quickly bolted through the open doorway, attempting to make his escape, only to stop short just on the other side of the carpeted threshold.

Duo grinned menacingly at his friend, from the other end of the pistol he was aiming at Heero’s head. “You have no idea the hell I’ve just been through. Do you want me to cuff you to that chair, or are you going to cooperate? ‘Cause I’m definitely not going to ask for any more time than what we were granted from Zechs this afternoon,” he said with a look that dared Heero to cross him.

The former Zero pilot threw him a withering glance and then turned to walk back into the master bathroom. It wouldn’t do to get his suit all messed up, and possibly his face, before his date.

He had just settled uneasily back into the cushioned seat and pulled the robe back on when the doorbell rang. Rashid and Abdul left to go answer the door.

A short time later, Catherine came rushing in, an unmarked white bottle in her hand, which she promptly handed to Dorothy. She smiled sweetly at Heero. “Big date tonight, huh?”

Heero glared at Catherine’s reflection in the mirror as Dorothy squirted some thick greenish liquid into her hand and then began running it through damp chestnut locks. With his hair gelled, Dorothy put the bottle down and reached for the comb. She started to part his hair, but the comb stuck. She couldn’t run it through hair as stubborn as the man who grew it. “EEEEK! Cathy!”

Cathy made a face. “Well, at least now we know how Trowa gets his hair to do that.”

“Let me see!” Duo shouted and pushed Catherine out of the way so he could get a look at Heero’s hair. What he saw caused him to double over and drop his gun as he burst out into laughter. The former Zero pilot’s mane was now arranged in Trowa’s typical fashion, in the style that was it’s own tribute to the circus performer’s acrobatic ability – they both managed to somehow defy gravity.

“Get this shit out of my hair, now!” Heero cursed at Dorothy, who had given up on trying to tame Heero’s unruly mop and was laughing, too.

Scowling bitterly, Heero bent over the sink and let the water run over his head. Duo recovered from his laughing fit first and handed his friend a bottle of shampoo to help remove the difficult gel from his hair. It took three washings to get most of it out, but his locks still wouldn’t do much besides hang in his face – only more stiffly now than before. Dorothy threw up her hands and stormed out of the bathroom. She had lost the battle of wills – to Heero’s hair.

A short time later, Heero stood stoically in the living room, getting the best of Quatre’s sane advice. “Talk to her, Heero. Well, at least try – I know you’ve never been one to say much.”

As if to demonstrate the point, Heero continued to stand there and look blankly at his friend. Quatre sighed.

“If she asks you questions about yourself, Heero, promise me you’ll try to answer them. Even if it makes you feel uncomfortable. Please – it will mean a lot to her, and towards you getting a second date.”

“Give him some advice on how to make a move on her, Quatre,” Duo called out from his seat on the sofa.

“What?” Quatre asked with a slight blush coloring his cheeks.

“You know, make a move on her – put his arm around her, get her to kiss him. Oh, I forgot, he’s already got the kissing part down,” Duo laughed.

“Shut up, Maxwell!” Heero growled fiercely, not appreciating the joke made at his expense.

“Oh, already I’m in trouble. No, seriously though – tell him how to make a move on her, so we can maybe put this mission to bed. Pun intended.”

Quatre blushed furiously, and Heero just turned to glare at his skating-on-thin-ice friend. “Why don’t you do something useful, instead of trying to commit suicide?”

“Suicide?”

“Yes, you obviously want to get yourself killed.”

“Actually, my suggestion is useful. I figure if you get her pregnant she’ll have to marry you,” Duo replied and stood up to cross his arms in a mock pose of indignation.

Heero drew back his fist and was about to strike, when Quatre reached out and stopped him. “Heero, just ignore him. He’s being an idiot. Relena’s too much of a lady to want to do something like that on a first date, Duo,” Quatre admonished and then continued, turning his attention back to Yuy. “So you should respect her. Kiss her at the end of the date, but don’t ah…don’t be…”

“Don’t be trying to make out with her the whole night, Lover Boy,” Maxwell finished the sentence flippantly.

“Duo, I’m sorely tempted to shut that mouth of yours for good. But I don’t want to get blood on my suit before my date with Relena. Remind me to hurt you when I get back.”

Quatre smiled and shook his head.

“So what is the plan?”

“You’re going to take her to Chez Roberts, it’s her favorite place to eat. Your reservations are at 7:45p. That should give you plenty of time to pick her up, even if she’s running a little behind, and get to the restaurant. Dinner should take approximately an hour and a half. After that, you will take her to Club Swing for Swing Dancing to golden oldies. And then…”

“What? Swing dancing? You’ve got to be kidding. You didn’t tell me to wear my zoot suit, Quatre.” Heero growled, sarcasm dripping from every word. “I draw the line at swing dancing. I won’t do it.”

“Heero, this date is supposed to be special. You want her to believe you put a lot of thought into doing something she would like. We have it on authority that she’s been dying to go. Each evening they give lessons before you ever step out onto the dance floor,” Quatre argued patiently.

“No. I’ll take her to dinner, and then home. I’m definitely not taking her swing dancing.”

“It’d be a great workout,” Catherine piped in with a smile.

“I’d rather be shot in the head – it’s more humane.”

“Heero, it’s your mission to take Relena swing dancing.” Duo said with a smug smile.

“Mission denied. Do you really think I’m that stupid, Maxwell? Don’t answer that.”

Quatre looked at his friend sadly. “Well, the backup plan is that you take her to see a movie that she’s been wanting to see – it finally opened this weekend.”

“Mission Accepted. Dinner at 7:45p, what time is the movie?” Heero questioned. A movie was a good plan – not too much talking, just sitting next to one another…maybe putting the obligatory arm around her as Duo had suggested earlier, but nothing too strenuous on his part. Yes, that would work perfectly, he thought with a slight smirk registering on his face.

Quatre picked up the paper sitting nearby. “There’s a ten oh five showing at the Cineplex nearest Chez Roberts, on 2^nd and Montrose.”

Heero nodded. He knew where the theatre was – it was the one they found Relena at all those days ago when this whole thing started. He turned to leave but stopped, frowning ever-so-slightly. “What’s the name of it?”

“What?” Quatre asked.

“What’s the name of the movie?”

“Love Everlasting. You’ll enjoy it, I’m sure,” Quatre replied and tried to keep the smile from showing on his face.

Heero scowled bitterly at the title. It didn’t sound like something he’d enjoy. In fact, it probably didn’t have any senseless violence at all. He shuddered at the thought of watching some boring movie with women babbling on about ‘relationships’ and the like. But he had accepted the mission, and so it must be done. He hoped he’d get some sort of appreciation from Relena for being so considerate. He glared at Quatre and then turned to stalk out of the room.

“Wait! Heero, don’t forget to bring the flowers we picked out for you to give her. They’re in the entryway on the table – with the card and candy.”

Heero stopped in the doorway and looked back at Quatre in surprise. “Card? Candy?”

“Yes, chocolate releases endorphins that give the same type of euphoria as being in love. We figured it couldn’t hurt your situation. The card is something very thoughtful and tasteful – we took the liberty of forging your signature on it. And the flowers are perfect for the occasion – pink, not the white indicating purity, nor the red of full-blown love. You’ll make an excellent impression. All you have to do is not screw it up,” Dorothy said, giving him the rundown of the gifts he was giving his date. Heero just nodded and then left. The remaining occupants waited until the door had shut, and then broke out into laughter.

Duo crossed the room and shook hands with Quatre. “Nicely done! Getting him to go to that mushy romance movie by telling him he had to take her swing dancing! Too funny – I didn’t know you had it in you.”

Quatre smiled sheepishly. “It’s all about strategy. I’m surprised, really, that he fell for it so easily. I think he’ll do fine, he just needed a little push in the right direction. What do you think, dear?” Quatre asked, putting his arm around his wife’s waist and kissing her cheek. Dorothy turned her head to look at him and leaned back into his embrace.

“I don’t think he has a prayer. But I’d love to watch him go down in flames,” she replied with a mischievous half-smile.

A devious grin lit up Duo’s face at those words, and he quickly excused himself. Catherine left shortly after – totally in the dark as to what had just transpired.