Becoming Chapter 3

[Angeldreams]

Becoming - Chapter 3

A/N: Again Don't Own, Don't make $ or cents, no sue...

This chapter continues the flashback... Would really appreciate reviews?

____


Relena Darlian was tired and drained. Looking back at the last week, Relena was glad that Millardo called her when he did. Her mother began slipping in and out of conscious a week ago. One last week with her mother, one week to prepare to say goodbye. Relena had stayed with her mother at the hospital the whole time. She sat by her bed, talked to her, and tried to comfort her the best she could. When her mother no longer responded to her, Relena kept talking. She was hoarse from talking so much.

It happened a couple of days, she thought, after her mother completely stopped talking. A distraught Relena had fallen asleep in the chair next to her mother's bed.

"Relena," her mother softly said, slowly trying to take her daughter's hand, "Relena I love you. Thank you for sitting with me. I'm so proud of you."

"Oh mother!" a tear threatened to form on her cheek.

"Relena, would you please go get me something to drink?"

"Of course" was all that was heard by Relena before she left the room. Heero, standing by the door, raised an eyebrow, but made no attempt to follow her.

Relena returned about ten minutes later to find that Heero was no longer standing at the door and that her mother's room was buzzing with activity. She burst into the room and saw her lifeless mother holding something to her chest. Relena walked over and touched her mother's hand. She then took the object lying on her mother's chest and found it was an old picture of the Darlian family together.

The doctor looked at her, knowing that no words were necessary, but still she vaguely remembered hearing ?I?m sorry.? A nurse then entered and took her mother away.

It was sometime later that Relena noticed Heero leaning against the wall behind her. His face switched between looking at the floor and at her. Her unfocused gaze went back to where her mother once lay, not believing what had just happened.

"Relena, you need sleep."

She numbly nodded and followed him down the hall and out the door of the hospital. Soon she found herself being led to a room with a soft bed.

The next thing Relena remembered was opening her eyes and finding Heero sitting beside her. Watching her. She didn't even remember her head hitting the pillow.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"A few hours."

"Oh."

Relena stretched her tired back, still lying in bed as Heero got up to leave her. It was then she realized all the planning she had to do. "I have to get going, I've got to go to the funeral home and make arrangements,? exclaimed Relena with a mix of panic and urgency in her voice.

She heard him say over his shoulder, "Millardo already took care of it. Be ready in 10 minutes to leave."

The door then closed.

--Later that week--

The funeral was beautiful. Hundreds of people showed up to mourn the loss of her beloved mother and to show support for Relena. As the day passed she had a strange sense of detachment from the world and all that was real. She didn't connect to anyone or anything and hadn't cried since her mother died. To those closest to her, Relena seemed dead. And, although they were concerned, they decided to give her time.

Looking back, Relena vaguely remember condolence after condolence, the faces and words a blur. She stood by her mother's grave, long after everyone had left, starring at the freshly turned dirt.

At this point Heero began to be concerned. Relena had barely spoken to him in the last week. She didn't even feel his presence. He heard her tossing and turning at night, heard her footsteps pacing the floor. He saw her tired blue eyes and the difference in how she carried herself. It wasn't safe here. She needed her rest.

"Relena" he said slowly. She didn't look at him.

"Relena."

Again no answer, no recognition. He walked over to her and touched her cheek. Her eyes flashed and then filled with nothingness once more. He squeezed her hand and gently pulled her to the waiting car. She numbly followed.

Back at the hotel, Heero walked Relena back to her room and began making preparations for her. He got out her nightgown, called room service for something to eat, and drew a bath for her.

"I'll be back later" was all he said before leaving her to enjoy her bath.

A half an hour later, a newly showered Heero reappeared in her room to find she was still in the tub. The food he had ordered was untouched. Walking into her bathroom, he discovered she had fallen asleep. Even in her sadness, she was beautiful. Her long hair pulled just over the side of the tub as to not get wet. Her face was relaxed in her slumber. He walked over to her and gently stroked her cheek, causing her to wake and open her blue eyes.

He was sorry he had waken her, as remembering about her mother instantly changed her face back to one that held such pain. He sat by her tub, looked at her, and continued to rub her cheek and then ran a hand down her hair.

"Come on Relena, let?s put you to bed."

Relena stood up and took the towel that Heero gave her, not even registering that it was nice of him to turn his back. Relena dried and put on her nightgown. Heero heard the swish of fabric and knew she had dressed so he turned around once more to find her starring in the mirror with a look of disbelief. He walked back over to her, touched her soft hair. He reached down to pick her up and carried her to bed.

It was after Relena was tucked in and Heero planned to leave that he heard a soft request, "Stay with me, please."

He turned around to find her looking at him. "Heero, I need you. Please stay."

He walked over to sit in the chair next to her bed.

"No, I want you here with me" she said with somewhat of a blush.

As Heero lay down next to her, she rolled over to place her head on his chest. Without realizing it, one of his arms moved to encircle her waist. She briefly smiled and then fell asleep.

He held her like that all night, not understanding why he stayed or why he noticed how beautiful she was.

?Being close to Relena was getting to be more and more difficult? he thought as he buried his nose into her hair and fell asleep.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Angeldreams on 2002-04-23 18:40 ]</font>