<p><b>Warning:</b> Okay a lot of people don't like birth and hospital fics and I can understand why...but I haven't gone into detail and it isn't overly descriptive so don't worry. Beware the cuteness at the end! WAFF warning.
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<p align="center">Five Pieces of Heaven:
<b>The Promise</b></p>
<p align="center">~~~*~~~</p>
The year was AC 204.
?You shouldn?t be out there at all.? Heero was clearly irritated.
?It was just a little meeting and they needed me,? Relena insisted, ?I?m okay.?
?What about the press??
?No,? She glanced around, ?There were a few reporters, nothing big.?
?I?m coming to get you,? Heero responded immediately.
?No wait! You?re not even at home and it would take you ages to come down from where you are. Will you just calm down? Duo?s here; he?ll drive me back. I don?t want a fuss.?
Heero seemed to mull this information over, ?Is he there right now??
Relena glanced over her shoulder at Duo who was waiting with his hands in his pockets. When he noticed her look, he waved with a grin. She smiled, ?Yeah he?s here.?
?Hand it over,? Heero?s tone invited no argument. Relena sighed and held the phone out to Duo, who came over with a confused look and took it from her. Relena crossed her arms and watched him intently. Duo was a very expressive person and it was clear from the way his grin froze that Heero was probably letting him know how angry he was that Relena had come here and held the braided man responsible.
Relena understood that she was in a ?vulnerable position? and that the closer the time drew, the more nervous Heero became. She also sympathised because she knew deep down inside he had never had the responsibility her condition thrust upon him before and he stressed over it often. Before, he had barely even cared about his own self preservation and now?well he had too much to think about. He always managed to hide it well but those who knew how to look beneath his stoic surface could tell what was brewing inside. Relena smiled, and passed a hand over her swollen belly, once the baby came everything would be all right.
?You okay princess?? Duo?s voice brought her back to the present. She smiled and nodded. Duo let his shoulders droop and handed her cell back to her, ?Sheesh, Heero could lighten up though you know. He promised me all sorts of horrible tortures if I don?t get you home safely.?
Relena patted his arm, ?He?s just joking with you?? And then seeing Duo?s face, ?Okay maybe not but don?t worry about it, you?ll get me home.?
Duo sighed and gave her a smile, ?Sure thing princess.?
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Duo whistled to himself as he drove down the empty stretch of road. Relena made a noise behind him and he glanced at her through the rear view mirror, ?Relena??
She turned her head from the window, shifting slightly uneasily in her seat. ?It?s nothing Duo, just making myself comfortable.?
Duo turned his eyes back to the road but flicked them back at her after a while, ?Do you want to make a stop somewhere??
?No, it?s not necessary,? She smiled. Reassured, he concentrated back on the road.
The day was really hot and the windows were rolled down so the fresh breeze could waft in through the car. After a while, Relena shifted again and bit her lip as a contraction caused a brief pain through her body. <i>That was quick</i>, she thought apprehensively. Maybe she ought to tell Duo, but then could it be a false alarm? It wasn?t regular?yet, and she remembered being told that it would be regular, a few minutes apart and would get more painful.
She should really make sure though shouldn?t she?
She waited for another to come and confirm her suspicions but none came. She relaxed a little into her seat, <i>false alarm then</i>, she thought with relief. She rested her hands on her stomach and closed her eyes, <i>stop scaring me baby</i>.
Duo glanced at her again through the mirror and smiled.
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?Dammit!?
Duo pulled the car on the side of the road, eyeing the temperature gauge with trepidation. It was going dangerously into the red and if he didn?t stop then eventually he?d be forced to when the engine overheated. Hilde?s voice floated into his mind.
<i>?Duo Maxwell! When are you going to get rid of this hunk of junk and buy a new car??</i>
Get rid of his baby? Never! Duo grinned. He bent over to open the car door. ?Nothing to worry about Relena, the car?s just gotten a little hot so we need to wait for it to cool down. We?ll be on our way soon.? He bent over to flick the latch that released the hood.
?Duo??
?Hmm?? Duo was still bent over.
?How long is it going to take?? Relena?s voice was faint. Duo looked up in alarm and observed that she was rather pale. ?What?s wrong??
She looked apologetic for some reason, ?I?m in pain.?
?Oh my god! Are you trying to tell me you?re having the baby?? Duo said in a higher-pitched voice.
?Not yet,? Relena said thoughtfully, ?I think I might be getting ready for it though.?
?OH my god!? Duo panicked, ?Oh geez what do I do? Heero?s going to kill me, I can?t deliver a baby! We should have packed a doctor in case of emergencies!? He nearly shrieked.
?Duo for goodness sake!? Relena said, pursing her lips, ?I?m not having the baby right <i>now</i>. I just think?I need to maybe get to a hospital soon.?
?Okay I?m calm, I?m calm,? Duo breathed and eyed her like she was a bomb liable to explode at any minute. She shook her head and rested it back on the seat, ?Honestly, are you planning to panic like this when Hilde goes into labour?? Duo scratched his head, ?Well I mean?no but?geez I?? He looked really flustered. Relena felt sorry for him in that instant, it wasn?t really fair that this was happening to him right now. It was just earlier than expected. She squeezed her eyes shut and let out a breath as another contraction coursed through her. Duo seemed to panic again. ?Okay, let?s call Une and get her to send down some emergency services like a helicopter and a full team of doctors...?
?And why not send a full armed guard while she?s at it?? Relena said in amusement, ?Duo, this situation does not call for such drastic measures and I doubt Une will appreciate you wasting resources and time like that.?
?But you?you?re?? He said helplessly.
?Don?t you dare suggest my position entitles me to any kind of special treatment.? She said angrily, ?Will you please just get the stupid car working and get me to a hospital??
?But what if something?s busted?? Duo eyed the car, ?Even if it cools down and I take a look at it, it might be the case that something needs to be replaced or fixed.? He flicked his eyes up and down the road rapidly, as if looking for some form of escape. A miracle appeared in the distance behind them. Duo?s eyes lit up.
?That?s just great,? Relena sighed, ?Then you?d better call Heero and get him to??
?Maybe we can hitch a ride with those people?? He pointed behind her. Relena raised her eyebrow, ?Okay?we can ask.?
Duo jumped out of the car and waved his hands like a maniac. The vehicle came closer and was revealed to be a red pickup truck. An elderly man leaned out the window, ?Car trouble young man??
?Yeah,? Duo said desperately, ?Could we get a ride to the nearest hospital? She?s pregnant??
There was a loud exclamation that scared Duo off his feet. A large woman came bounding around the other side of the truck and headed towards Relena. ?Oh you poor thing!? She cooed, ?Let?s get you out of there.? She helped Relena out of Duo?s car. ?Why, it?s the Vice Foreign Minister! Aren?t we lucky dear??
?Well I?ll be, we sure are Mary,? The man chuckled. ?We?ll be glad to help.?
?Thank you,? Relena?s legs buckled as another painful contraction passed through her and Mary had to hold her. Duo leapt to her side and supported her arm. ?Young man, what are you doing driving around your wife out here when she?s like this?? The woman scolded Duo severely. Duo raised his eyebrows and realised since he was dressed as a Preventer they thought he was Heero. Little was broadcasted publicly about Heero, thanks to certain measures Une had taken, and people were left knowing little about Relena?s husband except that he was a Preventer agent. He opened his mouth but before he could correct them, Mary spoke.
?You?ll have to get in the back, there?s no room for you.? She sniffed unsympathetically. Relena clutched her sleeve, ?Please, I?d rather he was with me.?
The woman gave Duo a black look, ?But??
?I?ll sit in the back if that?s what it takes,? Relena said stubbornly. Mary eyed her fondly and nodded. ?Me and Henry have some blankets in the back.? She and Duo helped Relena settle down and arranged blankets around her so she was as comfortable as she could be. Henry started the car and drove off. Relena held on to Duo?s arm tightly and squeezed it tightly when she had another contraction.
As they were driving along, Relena leaned her head against Duo?s arm and said in a whisper, ?Duo, call Heero please??
Duo nodded but then his cell started ringing of his own accord. His eyes widened when he saw it was Heero; the guy had to be psychic or something. He flipped it open, ?Yes??
?Why isn?t Relena picking up her phone??
Duo gulped; they had left Relena?s cell back in the car. ?Erm?? He glanced over at her to see she had her eyes closed and he also noticed Mary was looking at him intently. He should tell Heero what was happening but all that emerged from his mouth was a lame, ?She?s asleep.?
There was a pause at the other end. ?I?? Duo could almost hear Heero?s jaw tightening as he struggled to form the words, ?I?wanted to make sure everything was ok.?
?Yeah, erm?everything?s ok,? Duo chuckled nervously, ?It?s just that??
Relena gasped loudly and clutched at his arm. ?It?s getting worse?? She groaned, painfully sinking back against the blankets and waiting for it to subside. Duo closed his eyes and waited for it.
?What was that Duo?? Heero?s voice sounded deadly quiet.
Duo swallowed and took a deep breath, ?Well you see...
The-car-overheated-and-Relena?s-kinda-well-she-thinks-she-might-be-having-the-baby-so-
we-had-to-hitch-a-ride-with-this-couple-and-we?re-heading-to-the-nearest-hospital.?
There was silence again.
?Where are you now?? Heero sounded terribly calm. It was frightening.
?In the back of a pickup truck?? Duo said weakly.
?Just tell him to get down here fast,? Relena said urgently. Duo didn?t need to though, Heero had heard her through the phone.
?Tell me the name of the hospital where you?re heading,? Heero demanded.
Duo looked at Mary but it was Henry who called out the name from the front. Duo repeated it to Heero and finished the call. He wiped his forehead and breathed. ?He?ll kill me later,? He moaned. Relena chuckled faintly. ?This isn?t your fault Duo...?
?Who was that?? Mary asked curiously.
Relena smiled, ?My husband.?
Mary was speechless, ?Then who?s he?? She pointed her finger at Duo as if it were a spear.
?My friend?? Relena explained, ?He?s looking after me.?
?I see,? Mary said, still sounding rather suspicious about it all. Duo groaned inwardly. Oh well, seems like there would be a few tabloids about this in the near future, gossip about Relena proved to hot news after all.
Henry slowed and let a driver turn into the road, for the fifth time Duo noted. ?We have right of way mister,? He said frustratedly, ?Do you have to give way to every car that wants to come in?? Henry slowed and let another driver turn onto the road in front of them, ?Now young man, be patient. We need more kind drivers on the roads these days and I know if I were in his position I would greatly appreciate it.?
?Yeah but if I were in his position I think I?d understand we?re in a hurry here,? Duo muttered.
Eventually they turned into the drive of the hospital and Duo had Relena rushed in. She managed to thank Henry and Mary from the bottom of her heart and received blessings and well wishes from the both of them before they wheeled her into the room. Duo convinced them they didn?t need to stay and that matters were taken care of now. He was sure he could feel Mary glaring at his back while they left. Alone, he sent a quick prayer of thanks and sighed in relief, sinking against the wall next to the room they had taken her into. ?I swear,? He shook his head, ?And to think I?ll have to go through this again with Hilde.?
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Duo winced as Relena?s cry filtered through the door. He could hear the murmurs of the hospital staff as they tried to soothe and guide her. He yawned tiredly and felt his eyes droop. The doors burst open down the corridor and a very tired looking Heero approached him in a rush. The guy looked absolutely terrible and his eyes were dazed. He looked lost, as if he had directed his mind to the single purpose of reaching this destination and didn?t know what to do next. Duo couldn?t blame him, he must have had a long drive and judging by the fact that he had arrived now, he must?ve driven hard and fast and probably gotten here half on adrenalin alone.
?You okay buddy?? Duo patted his shoulder sympathetically. Heero brushed a hand roughly through his dishevelled hair. ?Relena?? He asked. He wanted to see her?make sure she was okay.
Duo pointed at the door, ?She?s in there,? He said softly. ?She?s been going at it for hours now.? Heero stared at the double doors blankly and then straightened as he prepared to go in.
Relena cried out loudly from beyond the doors, making him falter. The strained sound was accompanied by a series of excited voices and stretched until her voice faded out. Suddenly a tiny wailing emerged from the room and echoed down the corridor. Heero froze and a shocked expression took over his face. Duo clapped him on the back and beamed at him.
?Congratulations, you?re officially a dad now.? He grinned.
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Heero felt insubstantial; like he was walking in a dream and hadn?t woken up yet. When he walked into that room though, the sight of Relena propped up in bed and the smile that appeared on her face when she saw him told him it was a good dream. He went straight to her side and stared at her as if he had not seen her for a lifetime.
She looked exhausted, her hair was matted to her forehead from the exertion and her face looked drawn and weary. She fell into his arms when he reached for her and pressed her cheek against his chest. ?I?m all right,? She answered his worried look, ?Just tired.?
?I should have been here?I?m sorry ?? He started but she shook her head, ?You?re here now, that?s all that matters.? He pressed his lips into her hair as she closed her eyes and just let herself relax in his embrace.
Shortly after, a nurse entered with a clean, wrapped up bundle of white cloth in her arms. Heero couldn?t stop staring at it. Relena pulled away and held her arms out with a light in her eyes. The nurse handed the baby over, gave Heero a curious look and then vanished through the door.
?Look at her Heero, isn?t she beautiful??
?Her??
?Her,? Relena confirmed.
Heero leaned over a little tentatively, as if he were afraid of what he might see. A little peach coloured face with light wisps of hair poked out from a gap in the white material swathed around it. Small nose?mouth?ears?a miniature model of a human. Sure he had seen babies before, but not this close, not so carefully. She had her eyes closed and had brought her little hands up to emerge out of her wrappings. Her fingers twitched slightly. He watched her quietly, taking in every detail, trying to control the torrent of feelings that coursed through him at the sight of her.
?Hold her,? Relena looked up at him. He stared back at her uncertainly, but she looked determined and he couldn?t argue. He held his arms out slowly, taking note of the way Relena held her. He held her in the same way, the thick white bundling she was wrapped in making her bulky and warm to hold. He watched her quietly, aware that Relena had sunk back onto the bed and closed her eyes from fatigue.
It was a perplexing thought that this little thing was his, belonged to him and Relena. He felt an odd rush of affection and?possessiveness. She was a part of him that nobody could take that away.
?What shall we name her?? Relena?s voice gently broke through his thoughts.
Heero?s mind went blank. He had no name, had been given code names all his life, and he was at a loss now that he had the freedom to choose a name for his daughter. ?I can?t think of anything,? He said helplessly.
?I thought of a name?? Relena smiled and he looked at her with a raised eyebrow, ?Ayame.?
?That?s Japanese for Iris,? He stated.
?Mmm?she?s as pretty as one,? Relena said fondly, reaching over to stroke the curls on her baby?s head. The little girl stirred at the touch.
?You don?t have to pick a name that?s??
?I know,? She cut in, ?But I like flowers and it...sounds right.?
There was a knock and Duo poked his head around the door. ?Is it safe to come in?? He grinned. Relena chuckled, ?Yes Duo, come and see her, we just decided on a name.?
?Which is??
?Ayame Yuy.?
Duo peered over Heero?s shoulder and broke out into the widest smile ever. ?Aw, she looks like a little princess! I?m afraid I?m handing your title over to her Relena. This one?s my princess now.? He joked. Relena laughed, ?That?s okay, as her godfather you can call her that if you like.?
Duo and Heero both turned round, startled. ?Godfather??
?Why not? You?re more than suitable.?
Duo looked touched, ?Gosh, I don?t know what to say.?
?How about thanks?? Relena said, amused.
Duo grinned and his eyes sparkled, ?This is a momentous occasion. I gotta call Hilde?and everybody!? He excused himself and left the room in a hurry to find the nearest phone.
?You don?t approve?? Relena asked Heero, who was staring after him with a frown on his face. He turned to look back at her and his gaze softened. ?No, Duo did manage to get you here and despite being an idiot, he?s?okay.?
?Wow, don?t let him hear you say that,? Relena giggled.
The bundle quivered in Heero?s arms and wriggled, little fists uncurling and curling again slowly. Ayame opened her eyelids slowly and revealed her Prussian blue eyes. She stared up at Heero curiously.
It was a sight that rocked him to his core. This little baby looking at him was completely innocent. When she grew to recognise him, it would be based on what he was to her from this point now, not what he was once and that thought made his chest ache. He was a father now?nothing else seemed to matter anymore. It was as if somewhere, some invisible slate had been wiped clean and a fresh start was being made. Heero felt new, like he had finally woken up from his dream. Ayame suddenly scrunched her face up and opened her mouth in a perfect little circle as she yawned. She then rubbed against the soft material she was wrapped in and closed her eyes again, drifting back into sleep. The corner of Heero?s mouth twitched upwards and his eyes glimmered.
?If everything I went through was to get to hold you right now and call you mine then it?s been worth it.? He whispered and closed his eyes. Ayame made a soft noise and shifted slightly. He glanced over at Relena who was sitting up again, staring at him with tears glistening in her eyes.
?I?ll always protect you, never let you know the horrors of war,? He said hoarsely, ?You?ll never be alone and you won?t become lost?like I once was. Most importantly, I don?t want you to know about my past,? He shuddered, ?The soldier?Gundam pilot?I don?t want you to have to bear the burden that knowledge would bring. You?ll be free from that fate.? He swallowed, ?That?s my promise.?
Ayame shifted again in his arms and this time, one of her fists got caught in part of the wrapping and she flailed it about in her sleep, whimpering uncomfortably and squeezing her eyes as if she were about to cry. Heero tucked her into his arm, releasing one hand and freed her tangled fist.
She flexed her little fingers, her features softening back into peaceful sleep, and wrapped them around one of his fingers instinctively.
A seal on his promise.
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<p><b>A/N:</b> So there you have it...that's how Heero made his promise to her on the day she was born.
<---- Kawaii so desu a ne 
---->
It was so cute! 
That really made my day, thanks alot Midge. 
