Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing and the same applies to all chapters.
Love is not a fairy tale
BY: Ame-San
Prologue
Dim light of the silvery moon cast itself into the peaceful chamber through the fragile glass door of the balcony and landed on the end of the embroidered sheets protecting the bed. The slender figure resting underneath the cover seemed to be in deep slumber, yet only she knew of her own pretense. Her body remained motionless, but her mind was in an endless turmoil with thoughts of the past, present, and the future. She was uncertain of the cause of her insomnia. Was it excitement and anxiety to her upcoming wedding, or was it fear and worry on her lover's well being. She leaned toward the latter cause. He was leaving for another mission in the morning, another mission to save the world as its protector. He had taken the job for the past eight years excluding the war times, and tomorrow would be his final mission because he was getting married to her, which indicated that he no longer lived for himself but for her and their family. Death was irreversible.
She propped herself up and sat up on the bed with her back leaned against her pillows. She gave up on sleep after her numerous exasperating attempts, and decided to read her unfinished book on her night- stand. Accidentally, she knocked over the picture frame that stood beside it when she tried to turn on the light. Disregarding the book, she picked up the picture frame instead. It was a picture taken on their first date, and he was smiling slightly in the photograph.
" Heero, you are smiling!" Her eyes widened at his rare expression.
" Huh?" He didn't know why she was so shocked, he was only smiling. " Why?"
" Oh, nothing. It's just I've never seen you smile before." She whispered blushing with embarrassment.
" Hey, I have smiled before, Relena." He objected to her comment. " Injustice."
" Oh, now you sound like Wufei." She chuckled.
Their first date was like the ending of a children's fairy tale, the beginning of the happily ever after part, where the hero and the princess lived in peace and harmony after he rescued her from danger. She smiled inwardly at the memory and involuntarily glanced at the diamond engagement ring on her left hand.
" Relena, we've known each other for ten years." He said staring intensely into her eyes.
" Ten years." She echoed.
" And we have been together for five years. Are you happy with me, Relena?" He asked.
" Of course, Heero." She answered and looked at him in confusion.
" Then, would you marry me?" He bent down on one knee, took her hand and waited for that fateful reply with loving eyes.
" Yes." She was too overwhelmed to say anything but that, yet that was more than enough for him as he slip the ring up her finger silently and kissed her trembling hand gently. A single tear fell from her eyes and found its way down her fair face.
That was the day he proposed, the day that she knew that their love was indeed a fairy tale, not her wistful daydreams. Everything was perfect, just like her prince charming.
She closed her eyes in content and embraced the picture frame. She tried to tell herself that she was just being paranoid, and he would be just fine during his last mission. After all, he was a Gundam pilot and he could pull through any situation. Despite the self-reassurance she dialed his vidphone number wanting to see his face for comfort.
" Heero?" She saw his image popped up on the screen.
" Relena?" He had been up most of the night preparing for his mission. " What's wrong?"
" Nothing. I just want to see you that's all." She smiled. " Heero, don't leave tomorrow before I get there, ok?"
He chuckled at her request. " Don't worry, Relena. I won't go anywhere until I get to see you. I'll be fine."
" I know."
" Try to get some sleep, ok? You have to go to work too, you know. "
" Ok. I'll see you in the morning then. Love you."
" I know. "
The phone was disconnected. Once more she set herself down to the bed and closed her eyes. She felt much better after seeing his face, she always did. Shifting her body to her side she hugged his invisible form beside her and let sleep take her to the dreamless land.
****
" So did you sleep at all, Relena?" Heero asked with concern the next morning when they were all gathered at the front of the Preventer's building.
" Somewhat, but I'm not that tired." She reassured him by embracing his strong body.
He hugged her back and pulled his head back a little to see her face.
" Heero," She looked him in the eye." Promise that you'll come back to me, ok?"
" What's the matter? Hey, I'm only leaving for two days, it's not the end of the world. Relena, don't worry, this mission is suppose to be easy." He tried to comfort her.
" Just promise me that."
" Ok. I promise you that I'll come back to you, and I'll always be by your side to love you and protect you."
"Good, you better."
She let go of his arms around her and brought her hands to the back of her neck unclasping the seal on her necklace, the one he gave her as a birthday present a few years ago. She gathered the silver chain and the charm that was in a shape of a dove in her petite hand and motioned him to take it.
" Here, bring it with you as a reminder of me, I guess. Just don't lose it." She smiled faintly.
" I'll treasure it." He took the silver object.
" Hey, Lena," Duo came with Hilde by his side. " saying good bye to your lover boy there?" He teased. " Don't worry about him. As the best man I'll do my best to keep Heero out of trouble and...women."
" Duo!" Hilde poked his side with her elbow.
" Hey, I was only joking. Well, see you later." With that he walked to the waiting car and left her behind. "Yo, Trowa! Don't just sit in there all by yourself..."
" Sorry, guys." Hilde apologized for Duo. " He'll never change."
Relena nodded in agreement and turned back to Heero. " Well, you better go now, and be very careful. You have a wedding to participate in five days. Don't think I'll forgive you for letting me do all the preparation for the ceremony all by myself."
" Yes ma'am." He made a mock salute and kissed her softly on the lips before heading toward the car.
She sighed and waved at him when the car took off with Heero, Duo, and Trowa. She stayed there until they were out of her sight.
