Last Exit to Eden - by Divine Serenity

[blackrose]

<center>Last Exit to Eden</center>
By Jenevieve

<i>Approximately 5 years have passed since the end of Endless Waltz and the Gundam pilots are now in their early 20s. They have all been scattered about settling into their new lives since their last meeting (at the end of Endless Waltz), but are re-united with news of a wedding. </i>
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Disclaimer: I don?t own any of the Gundam Wing characters or rites to the story (though I wish I did ^_^). Only Christian Mallory and his family are my own crazy creations. I wrote this story for pure enjoyment, and not for any sale purposes. I also don?t own rites to Amanda Marshall?s songs ?Beautiful Goodbye? and ?Last Exit to Eden?: She is just a brilliant lyricist and singer who I greatly admire, and inspired this story! The picture attached was with permission of the website owner. I also apologize to those who are not fans of Relena-Heero or Duo-Hilde pairings but I am. Feedback is always accepted just please no negative comments based solely on the pairing?this is my first fanfic so please don?t hesitate to send me any constructive comments! Enjoy! And if you do like it, please let me know! ^_^ (hershekis2@aol.com)
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<center>
Fed up with my destiny
And this place of no return
I think I'll take another day
And slowly watch it burn.
Doesn't really matter
How the time goes by
Cause I still remember you and I
And that beautiful goodbye...
- Amanda Marshall, Beautiful Goodbye</center>


Vice Minister Dorlain rested her forehead against the cool glass of the large office window before her, her fists systematically clenching and unclenching in frustration. How long had they been debating for? It felt like forever. Sighing she stepped back, resting herself against the corner of a large mahogany desk, and closed her eyes concentrating on her breathing in attempt to calm herself. Behind her the gentle hiss of the automatic door opening reminded her that the respite was only momentary.

?Vice Minister, they?re ready for you again,? a male voice called to her gently from behind. She smiled as she recognized the voice.

?Are they actually ready to come to an agreement?? she replied, her eyes still closed.

?Well Representative Winner has been talking with them, and you know that that always seems to do the trick.?

?Representative Winner,? Relena smiled again. ?Christian, you?re always so formal!?

Christian Mallory grinned as he moved forward towards Relena, giving her a gentle squeeze on the right shoulder. ?Shall we??

Sighing heavily to show her irritation, Relena opened her eyes and patted him on the arm, allowing him to lead her back into the main conference room. Since the war had ended and Marimaia defeated, a lot had changed and the steps towards uniting the Earth and the colonies had moved forward faster than expected, and Christian Mallory was proof of that. Chris was the first freely elected representative entrusted with the power to speak for all of the colonies. He was only a few years older than Relena and royalty by blood like her. His family traced their roots back to the Mediterranean kingdom of Naples but Chris had been born and raised on the colonies. His past and charismatic personality had made him an ideal link between Earth and the colonies and he had become a good friend and confidant of Relena?s, causing more than one tabloid to hint at something more going on between them. In reality though, they were just close friends.

Relena took her seat at the head of the table and waited for the others to take their seats, including Quatre. With the destruction of the gundams, Quatre had turned his attention to his family and helping Relena to re-unit the Earth and the colonies. He had taken over his father?s business and become a prominent and influential businessman, causing him to be a continual presence at all colony-Earth related peace talks and negotiations. He had grown quite a bit in the last few years, his body filling out, but despite his new physique he was still the same gentle patient Quatre. Always the peacemaker, Quatre helped to maintain an air of diplomacy at otherwise heated meetings and acted as mediator, much to Relena?s relief, especially when she herself would lose patience with fellow politicians.

?So gentlemen, are we ready to start again?? Relena flashed a pleasant, agreeable grin.
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?Beep beep beep?? the gentle pinging of the computer monitor roused the young dark-haired man from his sleep. Rolling over he pulled the small laptop computer close to his face and squinted at the screen. He had a new email. Yawning he sat up, the sheets falling around his waist, the green light of the computer screen illuminating his bare muscular chest and arms. Placing the laptop in his lap he opened the email. Duo?s smiling face appeared on the screen. It was a video email. He casually turned the volume up and leaned back against the cheap wooden bed frame, his arms folded behind his head.

?Hey Heero! Man you?re a ghost! Took me forever to track you down. Anyway, guess who?s getting hitched? That?s right man! I asked Hilde to marry me and the crazy girl said yes! Can you believe it? Threw me for a loop, I gotta tell you. So anyway we?d like you to come to the wedding. We?ve booked a little out-of- the way spa resort by Lake Ichiro on Colony X95, a treat from the Protectors Agency for all our help during the war, and everyone is coming, so you have to show. Besides, I kinda need a best man and dude I figured you need a little romance in your life, even if you have to experience it vicariously through me. ((Duo grinned like the Cheshire Cat.)) I included the directions and a free shuttle ticket courtesy of one Vice Minister Dorlain.? The image of Duo broke into an even bigger grin at the mention of Relena and he winked at Heero. ?So see you in 3 days.?

Heero stared at the computer screen for a few more seconds before closing it and rolling back over in bed. But he couldn?t sleep. He stared for a long time at the far wall, memories and feeling stirring deep within him.
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?Hilde!? Catherine squealed, throwing her arms around the dark-haired girl. The two young women embraced tightly, enjoying their reunion. Behind them, Trowa Barton emerged from the taxi toting several small pieces of luggage behind him.

?Hey Trowa,? Duo called as he made his way over towards the taxi. ?What?s with all the equipment?? He gestured towards the luggage.

?Sister,? Trowa nodded towards Catherine, who released Hilde just enough to glare back at Trowa.

?Women,? Duo sighed, scratching the back of his head.

?Watch yourself mister!? Hilde sauntered over. ?I have 3 more days of freedom and I can still drop your sorry ass.?

?Still being pushed around by women, are we?? Sally Po?s voice teased from behind.

?Sally!? Hilde grinned. ?You made it!?

?Yep, the agency granted all of us a 3 day stay,? she pointed behind her to the large black town car that was being unloaded. Zechs Marquise (also known as Millardo Peacecraft), Lucrezia Noin, and Chang Wufei swarmed around the car, unloading luggage in a bustle of semi-chaos. The four veterans had become members of the Preventor Agency after the war. Sally and Wufei teamed up as the agency?s elite parole unit, spending most of their time on the far outskirts of the colonies as the first line of defense and warning against any emanate dangers that reared up. Zechs and Noin on the other hand had set out on a new terriforming project for the Earth Sphere Alliance. It was ideal for Zechs who was nothing more than a ghost, having officially been killed by Heero Yuy at the end of the war, and Noin thoroughly enjoyed that she had her best friend and confidant all to herself.

?Well it looks like the gang is almost all here,? Quatre called from the porch in front of the hotel. Behind him Relena and a blond-haired handsome young man stepped onto the porch.

Catherine?s eyebrows rose as her eyes took in the young blonde man. ?Nice, very nice,? she muttered to herself, moving forward to embrace her friend. Zechs shot his sister a sinister look, giving the young man beside her a questionable glance.

?Wait, who are we still missing?? Hilde snuggled against Duo. ?Dorothy isn?t arriving until tomorrow.?

?Heero,? Duo smiled down at her.

?I told you not to get your hopes up,? Hilde began, pushing slightly away from Duo to get a better look at his face. ?You know how he is??

?Yep, and here he is,? Duo winked at her pointing at an approaching taxi. Turning their heads in unison, the group watched a small faded taxi slowly pull up.

?Thanks man,? the driver called, dollar bills in hand, as Heero Yuy stepped out of the taxi and into the dust of the dirt driveway.

?Hey, Heero! Good to see you! I knew my best man wouldn?t let me down,? Duo tapped the roof of Heero?s taxi, signaling the driver to take off.

Heero just nodded, turning instead to Hilde as she reached out to embrace him.

?It?s good to see you,? she said softly against his hair.

?You too,? he smiled, a break in his normal shielded demeanor. ?Congratulations, both of you.?

From her position on the porch Relena had a full view of Heero?s arrival and her breath caught in her throat, memories and emotions so carefully locked away began to seep to the surface. ?Breath, Relena, you have to remember to breath? she thought to herself. Her heart began to beat a little faster as her eyes slowly wandered up his body. He had grown a little since she saw him last, the remaining traces of gawky adolescence replaced by the smooth, muscular vitality of adulthood. He looked amazing, the slightest hint of the muscular chest and arms that lay hidden just beneath the surface of his white T-shirt and leather jacket. Heero felt eyes on him, piercing him. Looking up his eyes met Relena?s gaze and he felt his chest tighten. As his eyes locked onto hers Relena?s body went rigid, and she fought to swallow.

?Relena, are you alright?? Christian gently placed his hand on her arm, noticing the change in her body posture.

?What..oh Christian,? she tore her eyes from Heero, and turning to face Christian smiled. ?Yes, I?m, I?m fine.?

Heero noticed the intimate way Christian touched Relena?s arm and he felt heat grow inside his chest. What was wrong with him? He knew he?d wanted to see her, but why was he getting so worked up over something as little as a touch from another man? Quickly he re-adjusted the hold he had on the small duffle bag slug over his shoulder, diverting his attention from his own thoughts and allowing his stoic mask to slip back into place. He'd get to talk to her later.

?Well looks like we?ve got everyone now,? Hilde began to lead the way into the hotel, scooping up one of Catherine?s bags on the way. ?Nothing?s planned until later tonight so you can all get situated and have some quality relaxation time this afternoon.?

?Relena, you have to join me in the hot springs,? Catherine winked, grabbing her arm and pulling her into the lobby with her. ?They feel absolutely amazing!?

As the others moved into the building, Heero and Zechs held back, each lost in his own thoughts.

?Zechs, are you coming?? Noin called, snapping him back to reality.

?Be there in a minute,? he waved, turning to look at Heero. ?She looks happy,? he said to no one in particular.

?Yeah she does,? Heero shrugged, starting to move forward.

?She looks good too,? Zechs kept pace with the younger boy. ?It?s been so long for all of us to be re-united like this, for a reason born of love instead of one born of hate. Ironic. I guess everything comes full circle and you cant? escape your destiny no matter how hard you try.? The two pilots had stopped walking now, Zechs leaning against the door frame of the hotel, Heero staring off at the mountains that lined the dirt road in front of the hotel. ?It?s good to see her again.? Zechs turned and slipped into the hotel.

Heero let out a heavy sigh. It was good to see her, and she certainly did look good, much better than he remembered, much better than in his dreams. But what did it matter? His mind settled on the image of the young man touching her arm. Flashing images of the war exploded and faded before his mind?s eye. What use was he to her anymore? No war to protect her from. What could he possibly offer her? Despite his insecurities he couldn?t deny that it was good to see her, and with a slight smile tugging ever so gently at the corners of his lips, Heero turned and headed into the hotel.
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A new voluptuous moon sailed high above the scattered clouds, casting the pool below in a soft velvety light. Relena laid back on a plastic tube, letting the cool water lap at her toes and fingers, the warm air sucking the remaining beads of water from her skin. It felt so good just to relax, alone for once. Smiling to herself, Relena replayed the day?s evens over in her head.

The reunion with the others had been bitter sweet. She had enjoyed the afternoon catching up with the other women during a ?girl?s only? full body spa treatment, a gift from Lady Une who had been unable to attend the wedding. It had felt so good to be surrounded by just women, and Relena had relished the pampering and quality gossip time, a treat she rarely got as a solitary female politician in a male-dominated field. She was excited to hear of the new discoveries Noin had been making with Zechs in respect to the terriforming project, and she couldn?t help but smile at how Noin went on and on about her brother. Relena had always loved Noin and secretly wished her brother would realize just how amazing she was and make the older woman?s dreams come true.

Catherine and Sally were both doing equally well. Catherine had finally taken over control of the circus and she was enjoying having Trowa around full time again. In the last few years she had helped Trowa regain some of his lost memories. She?d even taken him to see their parents? grave, finally giving him the time to grieve and re-discover himself. She had had a whirlwind relationship and brief engagement with one of the animal trainers but they had parted on mutual terms and remained close friends. Sally on the other hand continued to work for the Preventor Agency and had finally been able to win over Wufei?s trust and respect. They remained close partners, much like Relena and Christian were ? allies and confidants but nothing more.

As for Hilde, well the girl was a little whirlwind of joy. After the war she had gone into business with Duo, running a small garage and mechanical parts distributing company. While Duo took care of deliveries, Hilde had taken care of the books and helped as a mechanic. She had briefly fallen for a fellow mechanic and her relationship with him had been the impetus prompting Duo to finally reassess just what Hilde meant to him. ?And he finally made the first move,? Hilde giggled, her eyes closed, her head resting against the porcelain back of her mud bath. ?We haven?t looked back.?

Of course the girls had also pressed Relena about Christian, and more than one of them looked doubtful about Relena?s answers. Sally brought up several different tabloid headlines, while Hilde teased Relena about Christian?s physique. ?So why aren?t you two more than just friends, I mean the boy is gorgeous!?

?We just aren?t,? Relena shrugged. ?He?s just Christian.?

?But you two get along great,? Hilde countered.

?Yeah, he?s intelligent, funny, and charming,? Relena admitted.

?And you?re together constantly,? Hilde wouldn?t give up.

?Yeah,? Relena stared at her pruning fingertips.

?And he?s rich, royalty, respects you, and is gorgeous,? Catherine joined in.

?I guess.?

?Then what?s the issue? Relena, do you need a formal invitation? Ask the boy out!? Hilde grinned.

?It?s not that simple,? Relena stammered. ?We?re just friends?I don?t really look at Christian like that.?

?Well you should start to, before someone else does,? Catherine winked, her fingers tapping thoughtfully on the side of her own tub.

?Is there someone else?? Hilde smelled intrigue.

?Someone else? Hilde, don?t be silly,? Relena blushed slightly and examined her cuticles even more intensely.

?Uh huh, ok,? Hilde shot Relena a disbelieving look.

?No really, there isn?t anyone else,? she nodded defiantly but in her heart she wasn?t so sure. Why didn?t she want Christian? Was she holding onto a childhood fantasy? What chance did she have that Heero would ever change? And Christian, Christian was solid, dependable and affectionate. Maybe she needed to grow up and let go of foolish dreams.

After the spa treatment, Relena had enjoyed a nice dinner with her brother. She missed Zechs so much sometimes and it was so good to see him. They talked about politics of course, Zech?s military training and history always pushed him towards discussions on current political evens, but they had also talked about how they were each doing. It meant so much to Relena to have her brother open up like he did, to see his life focusing on things other than honor and the ?mission?. She had heard enough of that from Heero during the war. Relena couldn?t resist pressing her brother about Noin, and took silent pleasure in watching her brother squirm a bit over the issue. He hadn?t changed; still the proud, courageous warrior unable to handle the female sex. Of course he had turned the tables on her, subtly tapping her for information on Christian. She could tell he was impressed by Christian?s ancestry and political prowess, but she still got the sense that Zechs didn?t fully trust or like the young man much. She almost found the whole thing comical. ?As if he has anything to worry about from Christian,? Relena mused to herself.

Dinner with Zechs had ended abruptly after that, as Hilde and Duo prodded everyone outside to the back patio where the first of the rehearsals was held. It wasn?t much of a rehearsal, more of an assignment of roles. Hilde had asked Catherine to be her maid of honor, with Relena, Noin, Sally, and Dorothy (upon her arrival) filling out the rest of her half of the wedding party. Relena was pleasantly surprised to find that Duo had convinced Heero to serve as his best man, finishing off his own party with Quatre, Trowa, Wufei, and at the last minute Zechs. Both Zechs and Wufei looked as if they wanted to be anywhere but in the wedding party but Hilde had made a scene about having an equal number of men and women, and Duo had no option than to give in. Thankfully Wufei and Zechs were both feeling charitable. After roles were assigned, the minister had them run through a brief entrance and exit. Relena couldn?t help but feel a bit disappointed when she was paired with Trowa for the exit, and later the reception. She watched Heero quietly as he escorted Catherine about. If only they?d been paired. It would have been a perfect and easy way to strike up a conversation and catch up. To his own credit, Trowa was a perfect escort and, picking up on Relena?s change in mood, he did what he could to keep their conversation lively, taking her mind off of Heero for a bit.

Yes, the day had been bitter sweet; Relena had been able to catch up with her friends and even spend some quality time with her brother, but bitter still. She hadn?t found time to talk with Heero alone, and as she floated gently on the water Relena began to fully realize how badly she missed having him near. He had been protecting her for so long, and it had taken her a while to get over not seeing him, even on occasion. She heard about him every now and then, mostly from Quatre and Duo, but Heero was a ghost and he could even lose the other pilots when he wanted to. What did it matter anyway? What was she holding onto? They had never gotten together. He had never professed love for her. Hell, he?d never really even given much of an outward expression of affection for her at all. Still she had harbored a silly crush on him. Every time he had come to her rescue, every time he had almost psychically known that she had needed him, every time he was close to her, she felt whole, complete. His courage had been her courage, his faith in her giving her the reason she needed to keep going, to keep fighting even when it seemed pointless. He had been her guardian angel, her bodyguard, and in an odd way her best friend. Heero had been able to see her in a way no one else had ever been able to do. There were times when Relena had been convinced he could see into her very soul. His intensity was intoxicating, and she had soaked up every drop of it. But that was over 5 years ago. They were children then, fighting for the survival of a very different world. Things were different now, she was different now and she was sure he was too. Yet despite her best efforts Relena couldn?t stop the butterflies from flapping in her stomach as she thought of his arrival that morning.

?What is wrong with me?? she groaned aloud, dropping her fists heavily into the water. Water splashed up onto to her chest and face causing her to curse. Sitting up she brushed the water from her eyes. As she removed her fingers she noticed the figure standing at the far end of the pool, his face illuminated by the moon.

?Heero,? she jumped slightly at his sudden appearance.

?I?m sorry,? he replied, his voice low, empty as usual. ?I didn?t want to disturb you.?

?How long had he been standing there?? Relena wondered to herself, suddenly becoming acutely aware of that fact that she was wearing only a thin blue bikini. As nonchalantly as possible, she slid off of her tube, and made her way over to the side of the pool. Climbing out as quickly as she could without making herself look nervous, she grabbed a white towel and wrapped it around her hips. Scooping up another one she began to shake the water from her hair when she heard a splash behind her. Turning she saw Heero moving smoothly just beneath the glassy surface of the water. Sitting down slowly on the edge of a nearby chair she watched him swim to the other side of the pool. He surfaced with barely a sound, his brown hair slicked against the back of his neck and along his head. He treaded water for a few moments, his back still to her, and Relena took advantage of the moment to allow her eyes to wander over the muscles that had been previously hidden beneath his t-shirt and jacket. He definitely had continued his training, and Relena felt her breath catch in her throat. He was gorgeous. She felt her heart beat a little fast. ?No,? she chided herself. She wasn?t going to act like a foolish child. He was her equal, he was her friend. Rising she picked up another towel and made her way over to him.

?Towel?? she offered him. He looked up at her, his eyes unreadable behind his stoic mask. His gaze held hers for what seemed like forever.

?Thanks,? he finally smiled at her, and Relena felt herself exhale. She?d been holding her breath the whole time. Bending down she passed him the towel. Heero felt his chest warm, as her fingertips gently touch the back of his hand as he took the towel from her. He couldn?t help but notice the way her own bathing suit top and towel hugged her curves just in the right places. She had grown even more beautiful then he remembered.

She smiled back at him as he climbed out of the water, wrapping the towel around his own waist. They stood for a few moments in silence only a few feet apart, neither sure of what to say.

?So how have you been?? Relena began.

?Alright,? he shrugged.

?Quatre told me you were finishing up some additional degree at college??

?Yeah, advanced biotech and mechanical engineering,? he replied dryly. Silence. He dropped his eyes to the concrete beneath his feet, ?How about you??

?Same old same old,? she smiled. ?Negotiations and treaties. At least I have Quatre to hang out with at most of the meetings this time around. He?s a big help as always.?

?Yeah he tells me things are going much more smoothly now,? Heero glanced up at her.

?Keeping tabs on me?? she teased back, raising an eyebrow.

?Just making sure you?re doing ok. I?ve seen you ever now and then, at press conferences.?

?Why haven?t you ever stopped to say hi?? she moved a few steps towards him.

?I wasn?t sure what to say,? he admitted, casting his glance back down at his feet. Suddenly he looked up at her, his eyes were so intense, capturing and holding hers. He moved towards her ever so slightly, his hands reaching out and gently holding her wrists. She took in a sharp breath, his body so close to hers. ?There?s so many things I?ve wanted to say,? he continued, his voice low, husky. Relena?s breaths came in shorter and shorter gasps and she noticed his chest was heaving faster as well. Heero leaned in closer. ?Relena?..I??

His lips were inches from hers. He watched her eyes begin to close, her breath sweet against his face. Suddenly a glint of silver to his left caught his attention, and in one fluid motion he flung himself and Relena into the pool, just as a single shot rang out. ?BANG!?

Relena had opened her eyes at the last second, having felt Heero?s hold on her tighten and his entire body tense up, allowing her a split second to suck in a breath of air before hitting the water. She sank beneath the water, Heero on top of her, his body shielding hers. Heero moved fast, grabbing Relena?s hand and pulling her downward with him. Two more bullets whizzed past them, cutting sharp paths through the water. Relena turned sharply, looking back up at a dark figure?s wavy outline above the water?s surface. Heero directed them beneath the shadow of the pool?s large diving board, the darker water shielding them a little more from their assailant. Clouds rolled slowly across part of the moon, deepening the shadows. Out of her peripheral vision, Relena could see the figure above searching for them, moving around the outskirts of the pool trying to get a better shot. Heero finally stopped just above the bottom of the pool, directly beneath the diving board and began pulling on one of the porcelain tiles that lined the walls of the pool.

Relena watched him helplessly, her lungs burning, her heart pounding. How many minutes had past? Or had they only been underwater for seconds? She couldn?t tell but her lungs felt as if they?d explode. She slammed her eyes shut, willing her lungs to hold out a little longer, but soon began to thrash in desperation. Glancing over his shoulder, Heero could see the pain in Relena?s bulging cheeks and quickly he moved towards her. Relena snapped her eyes opened as she felt Heero?s hand encircle her waist, calming her body. With his other hand he cupped the back of her neck and pulled her towards him, covering her mouth with his. Relena stared into his eyes with disbelief. This was certainly not the time for something like this! Heero stared back at her steadily, and she felt the tip of his tongue brush her lips. Instinctively she parted her own lips and felt Heero blow air gently into her mouth. Realizing what he was doing Relena greedily accepted the air.

Seconds later Heero released her, and returned his attention to the tile in front of him. Blushing ever so slightly, Relena turned her attention back to their attacker, scanning the edge of the pool for him, but could make out nothing. Moments later she felt Heero tap her gently on the shoulder, and turning she saw a small doorway open in the wall of the pool hidden in the shadow of the diving board. She noticed that none of the pool water was draining out through the door and realized it must be filled with water as well. But where did it lead, and how did Heero find it? Relena?s questions were quickly forgotten as she felt fire rising in her lungs again, and before she could react Heero?s mouth was over hers again giving her more air. All she could do was stare back into his blue eyes, her heart pounding in her chest. They had been underwater for over 5 minutes now and he had already shared his single breath of air with her twice. How could he possibly still be alright? Sometimes she couldn?t help but agree with Duo: Heero Yuy wasn?t completely human!

Releasing her, Heero led her through the doorway and into a water-filled tunnel that was pitch black. Glancing over her shoulder, Relena watched the door close behind them. She felt the water parting in front of her, the residual waves made my Heero?s own kicking feet and quickly she blindly followed after him. After what seemed like forever, Relena made out a faint glow ahead, illuminating Heero?s swimming silhouette in front of her. Her lungs were numb from pain at this point and she started to feel light-headed but still she pushed herself, willing her body forward with all her strength. Suddenly the tunnel opened into a dimly lit pool, and Relena felt Heero?s hand on her arm pulling her quickly to the surface.

The broke the glassy surface of the pool with a huge splash, both of them welcoming the rush of cool air into their lungs. Relena coughed as she shakily made her way to the side of the small circular pool, her nails digging into the stone walled edge of the pool. Reaching out she took Heero?s hand as he gently helped her from the pool but when she tried to stand her knees just buckled. Heero caught her with ease, lifting her in his arms and carrying her to a stone bench nearby.

The two sat gasping for a few minutes, side by side on the bench. Finally Relena regained her composure, ?Heero, what?s going on? Who was that? Why were we being shot at??

?I?m not completely sure,? Heero sighed, leaning back against the cool stone wall behind them. ?For the past year, the other pilots and I have been aware of a conspiracy to kill us. I don?t know if you are a target as well, but each of us have been targeted at one point or another. That?s why Duo and Hilde chose this place for their wedding. It?s out of the way, discrete, and allows for a variety of different ways of escape,? he gestured towards the stone pool they had just come through.

?Speaking of which, how did you know how to get out of that pool??

?Duo told us about it today. This hotel use to be known for its hot water springs, which were interconnected by a system of tunnels to keep the water circulating among all the natural and man-made pools. A few years back the springs dried up for some reason and the owners replaced them with a series of man-made pools, keeping the old tunnels for maintenance purposes. This place is full of backdoors. Right now we?re actually in the basement of the hotel,? he replied one eye opened watching her look around anxiously. ?But it?s ok, we?re safe now,? he sat forward, his hand resting gently on top of hers.

?Thanks,? Relena smiled back at him, her own fingers gently rubbing his hand. She stared up at him, nervously biting her lip. Her whole body seemed to tingle and she couldn?t be sure if it was from all the adrenaline that had been pumping through her veins or the nearness of Heero?s body. Gently he lifted her hand in his, bringing it to his lips.

?Heero! Relena!? Hilde?s voice broke the moment, and Heero dropped Relena?s hand quickly. ?What happened? We all heard gun shots outside, and couldn?t find you two! Are you both alright??

?Yes, thanks to Heero,? Relena replied, climbing to her feet. She wobbled a bit, but Heero snaked his arm around her waist to steady her. ?Thank you,? she smiled at him. He nodded; releasing her once she regained her composure. ?I?ll tell you all about it once I get in some dry clothes, Hilde,? Relena sighed accepting a towel held out to her by Duo who had just arrived.

?Relena, I just heard! Are you alright?? Christian burst passed Duo, his arms encircling Relena?s small frame in a giant bear hug. Stepping slightly back, he kept one hand protectively on her hip, as he gently brushed her wet hair out of her face. His eyes ran frantically over her face in the dimly lit room, searching for the slightest injury that might have befallen her.

?Chris, I?m fine,? Relena smiled, a little surprised by Christian?s outward displaces of concern. ?Luckily I had Heero with me.?

Christian glanced past Relena for the first time, acknowledging the existence of the young man behind her. His eyes met Heero?s and the two men eyed one another cautiously. ?Thank God you?re alright,? Christian returned his gaze to Relena?s face, gently caressing her cheek with his hand.

?Really, Chris, I?m fine,? She flashed him another brilliant smile in an attempt to alleviate his fears. ?Right now I just want to get to into some warm dry clothes.?

He stared at her for a few more minutes, not fully believing her, his face still twisted with concern. ?Of course,? he finally whispered his face relaxing into a smile. Turning slightly, he led her out of the basement. Glancing over his shoulder his eyes met Heero?s. ?Thanks.?

Heero watched the two of them leave, his jaw muscles flexing ever so slightly, his dislike for the blond-haired young man evident on his face. Slowly he broke his gaze, and reached for the towel Duo held out for him, wrapping it around his waist.

?What happened?? Duo pressed as he and Hilde followed Heero out of the basement and back up to Heero?s room.

?I was targeted,? Heero replied, pulling a clean t-shirt, jeans, and other articles of clothing out of his duffle bag which lay on his bed.
?Heero, you?re living out of your suitcase!? Hilde scoffed, helping herself to his clothing and placing them in the dresser drawers.

Duo rolled his eyes at his fianc?e. Sometimes Hilde could really miss the point. ?Could they have been after Relena?? Duo frowned.

?No, I was definitely the target,? Heero turned to face his friend, lifting some of the dark hair that was matted to the back of his neck. A small red streak was evident just below his jaw bone by the back of his neck.

?Are you?? Duo began.

?I?m fine, just a nick,? Heero assured him. ?It was close though. Whoever is after us is getting better at the hunt. We need to be prepared for anything.?

Duo nodded, glancing over at Hilde who continued to unpack Heero?s belongings oblivious to the conversation. ?I?ll talk to the others.?

Heero nodded, turning he headed into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Seconds later the gentle rush of the shower could be heard through the closed door.

?Come on Hilde,? Duo leaned down, kissing his fianc?e on the back of the shoulder. ?We need to tell the others about the attack.? She turned to him, fear in her eyes. Pulling her close, Duo kissed her gently on the forehead. ?Everything?s gonna be fine, I promise.? She nodded against his chest, and taking his hand they headed down to lounge where they knew the others would be assembling.
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The hot water felt good against Heero?s cold skin. He stood under the shower head, letting the full force of the water hit him in the face. Shaking his head, he turned to let the water wash over his shoulders and down his back. It felt good, inviting, comforting?just like her touch; a million tiny fingertips running up and down his back, her fingertips. Relena. Heero closed his eyes, her face floating before his as it did every night since he?d seen her last. He could feel her mouth against his. He could taste her ever so slightly still, and his chest tightened, longing for the taste again. He had almost told her. He had been so close to doing it, to taking advantage of this second chance he?d been given, but fate had interrupted once again. Maybe they weren?t meant to be together. Maybe they were meant only to leave a mark on each other?s lives but to go their own paths. Or maybe he was trusting too much to fate. Heero shook his head again, this time harder as if to shake his very thoughts from his head. Instead he turned his thoughts to Christian. Why did he dislike the young man so much? What was it about the young prince that left a bad taste in his mouth? Was it just that he was competition? No there was something more. Something in his gut told him that he needed to keep an eye on Christian Mallory. Was it jealousy? Or was he genuinely worried for Relena?s well-being again? Heero sighed heavily, resting his head against the opaque glass of the shower?s sliding door. He was letting his emotions cloud his judgment, his instincts. He?d have to work harder, keep his senses sharp. They were all in a very dangerous position. Someone had discovered the location of Duo?s wedding and the stakes were now higher than ever. Opening his eyes, Heero watched the steam billow up around him, and turned his attention back to his shower, pushing Relena Peacecraft, Christian Mallory, and the night?s attack to the recesses of his mind.
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Relena lay in the dark of her room staring up at the ceiling. She rolled onto her side to get a better look at the clock by her bed. It was 2:30 a.m. and she was still no closer to sleep than she had been 3 hours earlier when she had taken refuge in her bed from the worrying and planning that had been going on in the lounge. She flopped back onto her back and closed her eyes listening to her heart beat. Suddenly she had the strange feeling she was being watched. Her heart began to pound and ever so slowly she rolled onto her side to face the door. Sure enough the door was sliding open ever so slightly, fingers curling around the door frame. Relena bit her lip to keep from making a sound, holding her breath in preparation to scream for help.

Heero?s head peaked around the edge of the door, and Relena let out a sharp sigh at the sight of his blue eyes. ?Heero, what are you doing here?? she whispered.

He jumped slightly at the sound of her voice, and she was amused that she had managed to catch him off guard. His eyes fell on her face and he stepped into the room, closing the door silently behind him. She sat up in bed, pulling her sheets up around her chest, covering her silky nightgown. He sat down on the edge of her bed, his eyes taking a careful survey of her room before he answered her. ?I just wanted to check on you,? he whispered back.

She smiled re-adjusting herself so he could sit better beside her. ?I?m fine. Not really able to sleep right now but I?m ok.?

He stared at her, disbelief in his eyes but slowly his features softened, and he returned her smile. ?Good.? He began to rise, preparing to leave.

?Wait,? she whispered, reaching out and grabbing his hand. She blushed when she saw the surprised look on his face. ?Sit here with me for awhile.?

He sat back down, holding her small hand in his own. ?Tell me about Christian,? he suddenly asked, moving closer to her.

?Christian? Well there?s not much to tell that you don?t know. He?s the leader of the united colonies, prince of the Scaparzo line of Naples, Italy, and was born and raised on the colonies. Why do you ask?? she watched Heero?s face intently. Was he jealous? Did he think Christian was a threat to him for her? Or was there something else that he was hiding from her, some other concern?

?I was just thinking there isn?t a lot about him that any of us know, other than the superficial facts. I was hoping you could shed some more light on the rest of him.?

?What is it, Heero? Is Christian in some danger?? she frowned ever so slightly.

?No, not at all,? he smiled back. ?I was just wondering.? He patted the back of her hand reassuringly. The patting slowly turned into a gentle rubbing, and he found his lips longing to touch hers again.

She looked back at him with the same intensity. ?Heero,? she began tentatively.

He looked her square in the eyes, giving her his full attention.

?Heero, there?s something I?ve been meaning to tell you,? she stammered. She couldn?t take his gaze anymore and stared down instead at the hand that he held. Her heart was pounding. ?It?s been so long,? she continued. ?I?ve missed having you near me, I really have.? She nibbled at her lower lip nervously. ?It?s just with everything that has happened, everything we?ve been through, I?ve?? He hooked his fingers beneath her chin, lifting her face to his own. She stared into his eyes. ?It?s just with tonight?s events, I was so afraid??

He released her hand and gently brushed a few strands of her hair out of her face. She reached up and placed her hands over his which had come to rest at the corners of her jaw. He cupped her face gently in his hands, running his thumbs gently back and forth along her face. ?Heero, I was so afraid I was going to lose you,? she stumbled over her words. ?I?ve wanted to tell you for so long, I just never knew when or how, and now I?m afraid that if I don?t I may not get another chance. I??

Before she could finish she felt his lips close over hers, warm and gentle. She closed her eyes as his lips rested softly on top of hers. Slowly the kiss deepened, and he dropped his hands down to her waist pulling her body to his. She returned the gesture, wrapping her arms around his neck, her fingers burying themselves in his soft thick brown hair. His lips pressed tighter against hers, and she slowly parted her lips to match his intensity. His tongue ran gently between her lips, running along her own. Her heart felt as if it was going to explode with pleasure. Her whole body tingled with the intensity and gentleness of Heero?s kiss. Seconds seemed like years and Relena let herself melt completely into the young man?s embrace.

?Heero,? she whispered against his hair, when he finally released her, his lips running softly along the curve of her neck. He breathed her in, her scent intoxicating to him. She tasted so good, he wanted nothing more than to consume her body and soul, but his mind wouldn?t let him forget the reality of what had happened that night and reluctantly he released her from his embrace.

They sat for a few minutes looking at one another, unsure of what to say next. Finally Heero broke the silence, rising to his feet. He raised her hand to his lips, gently kissing the back of it. ?Try to get some sleep. You have a busy day ahead of you.?

She smiled back at him.

Turning he headed towards the door. Glancing once more at her, he closed the door behind him.
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The first rays of the early morning danced across Relena?s closed eye-lids and slowly her lashes began to flutter, letting soft rosy colored light into her eyes. She yawned, rolled onto her side, and stretched. Was it morning already? Did she dream everything, or had last night?s events actually occurred? And Heero. Had they finally kissed? Had all she?d been longing for finally become part of reality? Her fingertips brushed gently against her lips, as her mind replayed Heero?s kiss in her mind. Yes, it had been real! He had been here, next to her, and he had kissed her with the same longing and desire she had for him. But did he feel the same way about her, or was it a one time thing, born out of vulnerability and fear? She had to find out. Smiling Relena climbed out of bed and began to rummage through her dresser. She needed to talk to Heero and the sooner the better.
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Quietly Relena opened her door, stepping out into the thick carpeted hallway, where the rays of the sun were slowly chasing away the early morning shadows. Turning to close the door behind her, Relena was startled to find Christian asleep on a small chaise next to her door, his gun locked and laying beneath the pillow that he had propped himself against. ?He must have slept here all night!? Relena shook her head, retrieving an extra blanket from her room. Gently she placed it over Christian?s sleeping figure. He was trying so hard to protect her, to keep an eye on her. On some level it almost seemed like Christian wanted to be one of the gundam pilots, to share in their adventures. He certainly was a sweet young man, and Relena leaned in giving him a soft kiss on the check. Christian moaned ever so slightly in his sleep, and a smile tugged at his lips. Quietly Relena slunk down the hallway, and without a sound opened the door to Heero?s room, closing it silently behind her.

At first the room seemed empty, the bed neatly made, next to no sign that anyone was even living in the room. ?Heero?? she called quietly, poking her head into the bathroom, but it too was empty. Puzzled, she turned back into the bedroom, her hands planted on her hips, her eyebrows furrowed. Where could he be?

Just as the thought echoed in her mind she saw him leaning forward against the iron railing of the balcony that opened off his room. From her position she could see his eyes were focused somewhere below him, and she quietly watched the morning breeze tussle his brown hair, his whole figure silhouetted against the ever brightening morning sky.

?There were two more attacks early this morning,? his voice made Relena jump. He hadn?t even turned around, but somehow he had known she was there. She moved out onto the balcony, and turned to face him, her lower back resting against the railing.

?What happened? Was anyone hurt?? she asked softly, her gentle eyes running over the cold emotionless mask he now wore, so starkly different from their encounter earlier that morning.

?Quatre and Trowa were both attacked a few hours ago. It seems Quatre stayed up late trying to dig up any new information on who is behind all of this, and someone just strolled right in and tried to kill him.?

?What! But how??

?No one knows the details. He was all alone at the time, but what we do know is that no one else heard a sound from the room at first, and the location where he was found and the contents of the room depict only a sudden momentary struggle. It?s as if Quatre knew whoever attacked him and never expected to be harmed by the person. Apparently whoever it was eventually snuck up behind Quatre with a piece of twine and attempted to strangle him. He was able to put up somewhat of a fight, knocking over a glass vase which woke Trowa and prompted him to investigate. When he arrived he found a dark figure standing over Quatre?s unconscious body. The man took two shots at Trowa with a silencer, hitting him in the shoulder and thigh, but Trowa was able to hit the man and continued to come at him until the assailant decided it was best to leave,? Heero sighed heavily, closing his eyes and bowing his head.

?Are they both alright?? Relena whispered, reaching out she placing her hand lightly on Heero?s shoulder.

He glanced at her hand and then up at her face. His eyes looked exhausted, and Relena almost thought she saw sadness and pain in them. ?Trowa?s wounds aren?t too serious but Quatre is still unconscious.?

?Where are they??

?Here. We all thought it would be better to keep them here where we can keep an eye on them. They?re vulnerable now and would be ideal targets for whoever attacked them to finish them off.?
So much was shining through Heero?s eyes at that moment that Relena was almost frightened by it. Something more had to be bothering him. ?Heero, what is it?? she pressed.

He turned away, averting his eyes from hers. His hands which had been folded across the railing began to clench and unclench, and he leaned forward so he was resting more fully on his elbows on the railing. He didn?t say a word but his face told Relena everything. ?They were attacked while you were with me,? she said softly. He closed his eyes in reply. She realized he was blaming himself, for not being there to protect them, and she roughly grabbed his chin forcing him to turn and look her in the eyes. ?There is nothing you could have done. Even if you?d been there with Trowa, Quatre still would have been hurt, and you and Trowa might have been seriously wounded or killed! You can?t be responsible for taking care of everyone. Quatre and Trowa are gundam pilots; they above anyone else understand and know the risk of the life they?ve lived and the choices they?ve had to make!? Her eyes were flashing with such conviction, and she continued to hold his chin tightly. Suddenly she released her hold, her voice softening, ?I don?t want you to regret any of your time with me this morning.? She felt like a child, and turned from his gaze, glancing instead below where she had seen him looking before. To her surprise she saw Duo and Hilde arguing.

?She wants to call off the wedding. She?s worried more people will be hurt and that it would just be easier to wait. But more than that she?s afraid he will be the target next, and just wants to get out of here,? Heero interpreted the scene below for Relena.

?And let me guess, Duo doesn?t want to??

?He wants to marry her, and is convinced that we?ll always be hunted in some form or another and waiting won?t change that. He knows what our pasts mean to our futures and he wants to enjoy it all while he can.?

?I guess none of us are meant for Eden,? Relena sighed.

Heero shot her a questioning look.

?None of us are meant to find peace and true happiness,? Relena continued. ?We?ll always be fighting the war in one form or another.?
Heero looked back down at the couple below. Duo tried to put his arms around Hilde to pacify her, to make her realize he would be safe, but she pushed back from him. The stood motionless for a few moments then Hilde turned and ran back into the hotel. Duo silently watched her leave, and then ever so slowly made his way inside.
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The wedding was put on hold temporarily and Relena spent most of the day with Catherine trying to cheer up Hilde and assure her it would all be alright. Wufei kept a careful watch over Trowa and Quatre by standing guard just inside the door to the room where they were both being treated, and Sally assisted the doctor that had been called in as best she could. Zechs and Noin continued to meet with the hotel owners and staff, going over the building layout and investigating any employees who could be seen as potential threats. Duo, who wanted nothing more than to be alone, had left early to pick up Dorothy from the nearby airport, while Christian offered his help in learning all the pilots could about their attackers. Heero was the only one whose activities for the day remained a mystery. He had excused himself shortly after his morning conversation with Relena on the balcony, something about some information he had received before she stopped in to see him. He had borrowed the owner?s small pick-up truck and driven into town. As far as Relena could tell he hadn?t returned.

?I just want to be alone right now!? Hilde sniffled, fumbling to close her door behind her. Relena shot Catherine a helpless look as the two girls tried to push the door back open. ?Please just leave me alone.? Hilde wiped the back of her hand across her eyes which were red and puffy from hours of crying. Her voice was hoarse and raspy, her body completely exhausted.

?Maybe we should let her be,? Relena whispered to Catherine. The door finally slid shut and the clicking of the lock echoed in the empty hall. Sighing heavily Catherine let he forehead fall against the door.

?I?m going to see if Dorothy?s arrived yet,? Relena gave Catherine?s shoulder a gentle squeeze. ?You should go check on Trowa.? Catherine nodded, pushing herself up from the door.

The warm afternoon had finally given way to the cool chill of dusk, and Relena watched the fading sun set, casting the sky in a brilliant array of colors. To the north she noticed storm clouds moving in, and felt the breeze begin to pick up. Relena shivered at the site of the approaching storm clouds. It couldn?t be a good omen.

?He just called in,? the elderly woman behind the front desk called over to Relena who stood just outside on the front porch. ?Miss Dorothy?s flight has been delayed so Master Duo is going to wait at the airport for her. He said not to worry about him.?

?He would say that,? Relena replied, more to herself than to the older woman.

Reaching up, Relena retrieved Catherine?s light blue shawl from the coat rack which stood next to the doorway. She knew Catherine wouldn?t mind, it was just Relena felt completely useless at the moment and needed some time to clear her mind. Draping it over her bare shoulder, she stepped out onto the porch and began to make her way along one of the many scenic trails that traced the outline of the hotel?s property. The world around her was silent; only the rising wind made a sound as it rustled the trees around her. Relena pulled the shawl tighter around her shoulders, the wind whipping her hair about her face and the skirt of her white sundress about her shins. Minutes passed and Relena quietly watched twilight fall over the countryside, stars flickering on one by one above her head. She tried desperately to focus her attention on the world around her, fighting back her worries and concerns. She fought against images of Quatre and Trowa lying injured in their beds, images of Hilde?s tear-streaked face, and most of all against images of Heero.
Suddenly a snapping branch behind her brought her back to reality, and the danger of the past two days sent her adrenaline pumping. ?Who?s there?? she demanded to the silent shadowy world behind her.
?It?s just me,? Christian?s voice floated back to her, and Relena felt her shoulders relax. Turning she flashed him a genuinely happy smile.
?I saw you leave and thought you might need some company,? he returned the smile.

?You?re always welcome to join me, Chris.?

?I know.? With a few quick strides he was beside her. Offering her his arm, which she graciously accepted, the two began to continue along the path, heading down through the woods towards the lake that sat at the edge of the hotel?s property.

?Were you able to learn anything more today about who?s behind all the attack?? Relena gaze up at him.

?Sadly no,? his cast his eyes downward in defeat, or was he hiding something?

?It?s alright everyone knows how hard you?re trying. You?ve been a huge help, Chris, and we all appreciate it,? she gently squeezed his arm, her eyes carefully searching his face for a hint at what was really going on beneath the surface. Her words, however, seem to perk his spirits up and he began to walk more confidently.

They walked in silence for several minutes, each alone with their own thoughts, each taking in the soft evening beauty around them. Finally the reached a clearing beside the lake and Chris stopped, taking Relena?s hands in his. Gently he led her to a rocky outcropping on the bank and helped her sit, nestling himself down beside her. The wind picked up a little more and Relena shivered. Instinctively Christian put his arm around her shoulders pulling her into the warmth of his body. Relena smiled to herself, snuggling closer to her friend. She always felt so safe beside Christian. He really was a wonderful man.

?I?ve been so worried about you,? his voice rumbled softly across the wind. ?If anything ever happened to you, well I?d never forgive myself. You?re so important to so many people, Relena. This world would be lost without you.?

She smiled, her head resting against his shoulder. ?I?m not that important, Chris.?

?Don?t say that! You most certainly are,? he tilted his head so he could look down at her. She glanced up and was surprised by the urgency in his eyes. Christian tightened his hold around her arms. ?You?re very important to a lot of people. You?re very important to me.?

?You mean so much to me too,? Relena smiled lazily. ?Without you I don?t know if I?d be half as successful or strong as I am. You?re a great friend, and an amazing leader.?

They sat in silence, watching the clouds move across the moon, the water of the lake lapping at the shore with muffled splashes. ?We should probably head back soon,? Relena finally sighed. ?It?s getting late and Duo should be back soon with Dorothy.?

Christian nodded, and helped her to her feet. They walked most of the way back in silence, until they were almost within ear-shot of the hotel. Stopping suddenly, Christian turned and looked down at Relena. ?You know I would never harm you, that I would never let anyone else hurt you??

?Chris, where is this coming from?? Relena frowned.

?Just tell me you know that. That you know how much you mean to me, to the cause.?

She nodded. ?I trust you completely.?

?Good,? he smiled with satisfaction. Impulsively he leaned down kissing her on the forehead. ?Please don?t ever forget that.?

?I won?t,? she whispered back, as they continued towards the hotel.

Suddenly she noticed a figure standing directly before then in the middle of the pathway. ?Get away from him, Relena!? Heero?s voice left little room for protest, and Relena realized quickly that his gun was drawn and aimed right at them.

?Heero? What?? she looked from Heero to Christian and back again with complete confusion.

?I said get away from him. Now, damn it!?

?But why??

?Relena! Now!?

Hesitating ever so slightly, Relena began to move ahead towards Heero glancing back at Chris with uncertainty. ?Heero, what?s going on??
Heero didn?t reply. Instead he moved steadily forward until he was by her side. Turning back towards Christian, Relena was shocked to see his gun drawn, a silencer snuggly attached to the barrel. Relena had to do a double take. Chris was aiming right back at Heero.

?Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?!? Relena demanded, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

A sudden deep rumble of thunder and streak of lighting lit up the night sky. Taking advantage of the exploding thunder, Christian opened fire at Heero, but the gundam pilot was one step ahead of him. Diving to his left, Heero?s left arm encircled Relena?s waist while he returned fire. Into the bushes the two flew, Heero turning his body so that his shoulders and back took the impact of the ground, cradling Relena gently against his own body. Quickly he rolled to one side and leapt to his feet. He hungrily scanned the foliage around them then bent down pulling Relena roughly to her feet. The rain started then, falling in icy cold sheets.

Standing there shivering and confused Relena looked around for Chris but he was no where in sight. Suddenly two more bullets tore through the surrounding trees, embedding themselves in the tree behind Heero?s head.
?Get out of here!? he cried over the rain, waving his free hand at Relena. A third shot zipped past, grazing Heero?s upper arm.

"No!? Relena cried as she watched blood spurt from Heero?s arm. ?Chris, what are you doing?!?

Heero grunted at the bullet?s impact, but kept his focus. ?Run Relena!?

But Relena was too afraid, too confused to budge. Suddenly Heero moved forward, grabbing her by the hand and dragging her along beside him. They moved quickly through the woods moving back towards the lake, wet leaves and branches slapping them in the face and arms. They were both completely drenched and the path before them had become slick with mud. Stumbling on a root, Relena fell forward but Heero?s arms caught her before she hit the ground. The force of her body knocked him off of his own footing, and the two slid through the mud down a sharp embankment.

?Come on,? Heero prodded, his voice low, pulling Relena to her feet. They kept running forward until they burst into the same clearing where Relena had sat with Christian early that evening. Lighting lit up the sky again and thunder crashed all around them. It sounded as if the whole world was being torn apart, and to some extent Relena felt like it was. What was going on?

Suddenly Heero grabbed her roughly by the arm, pulling her into a thick set of brush to their right. ?Heero,? she began, but he clamped his hand over her mouth, his face inches from hers. He moved his index finger to his lips indicating for her to stay quiet. Minutes seemed to pass with each heartbeat. Suddenly Christian?s wet figure could be seen creeping into the clearing.

?Relena,? he cried. ?Relena you need to get away from him! Please Relena trust me! I couldn?t tell you before because I didn?t want to hurt you. Remember I swore I would never do anything to hurt you? Well I?m sorry I?m the one who has to tell you this now but the assassin, it?s Heero!?

?What!? Relena squeaked. Christian turned and fired straight at the sound. Heero dove on top of Relena, pressing her body into the soft muddy earth. All Relena could hear was the sound of her heart pounding in her ears. Chris had shot at her! No, that didn?t seem right, but he had! Relena could feel Heero?s breath hot on the back of her neck and she began to realize that Christian hadn?t shot at her; rather he was using her voice to find Heero! Her muddy fingers shoved strands of hair that were twisted and matted across her face out of the way, desperate to see what was going on. Heero?s body remained tense and heavy on her back, his eyes focused on the danger nearby.

?Relena, I?m not trying to hurt you! I want to protect you! Please come out, come out to me!? His voice echoes off the trees around them. Minutes passed slowly. The thunder pounded overhead and with each burst of lightning Christian scanned the bushes for Heero and Relena. Finally, frustration setting in, he began yelling again.

<a href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... ntinued</a>

[Morrighan]

Rose, the end of this got cut off!

Seems like a great story so far!

[Raspberry]

I read it earlier On some website... Though I don't remember adress...

[blackrose]

ACK! When I previewed it, it was all there.

[blackrose]

Part 2

?Let her go! Neither of us want to see her hurt! Let her go and face me as a man, you coward!? he smugly taunted Heero.

Relena felt Heero?s body above her flex. Turning she looked up at his face. He wore the stoic stone mask heavy on his features but his eyes were burning with what looked like anger, almost hatred. What was going on?

?Come on, show yourself!?

Slowly Heero began to rise. ?Heero, no!? Relena whispered, grabbing for his arm, but he brushed her off with ease, stepping out into the clearing.

?Finally,? Christian growled. The two men glared at one another, fingers pressing ever so lightly on the triggers of their guns.

?Why are you two acting like this?? Relena demanded storming out after Heero. She was finally sick and tired of everything. ?Stop the macho crap!?

?He?s your enemy, Relena. I?m trying to protect you from him. Heero?s gone crazy. For the last year he?s been hunting down and systematically killing off each of the scientists who created the gundams, and now he?s shifted his focus to the gundam pilots! Why do you think Quatre invited his attacker into his room? Heero?s his friend, and poor Quatre never suspected a thing!? Christian spat the words out with such venom and hatred it made Relena?s blood run cold.

?That?s impossible,? Relena snapped back. ?There?s some mistake, Chris. Heero would never do something like that. Besides, he couldn?t have attacked Quatre because he was with me at the time.?

Pain broke out across Christian?s face, and for a moment his gaze moved from Heero to Relena. But just as quickly it returned to Heero, his face twisted with more hatred then before.

?Why don?t you stop lying and tell her the truth?? Heero growled.

?For the last time, will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?? Relena was on the verge of tears, her whole body shaking with frustration and rage. The two of them were acting like children!

?Christian is a trained assassin and member of the group that is responsible for the death of the 5 scientists, as well as the attacks on us in the past year.? Heero replied his voice even and cold.

?What?! There must be some mistake,? Relena cried, shaking her head wildly.

?There?s no mistake,? Heero replied. ?Quatre woke up a half hour ago and he identified Christian as the one who attacked him!?

?Quatre must be confused! Chris, tell him! Explain to Heero that you didn?t do what Quatre said you did!?

?I also received an email this morning from Dr. J. It was sent out on a delayed timer as an encoded file and contained the information he had uncovered concerning the assassination of the other scientists, which we didn?t even know occurred until this morning. Seems Dr. J recorded it the day before his own murder. He was afraid that we might be next. He named the Zeno Foundation as the company funding the assassins. Think Relena! The Zeno Foundation is funded by the Mallory family! They are the remnants of White Fang!?

Relena swallowed hard. It couldn?t be true! But it all made sense!

?I?m sorry Relena,? Christian finally spoke, his voice soft.

?But why?? Relena felt her knees getting weak, but she fought to maintain her composure.

?Why! Because the gundam pilots and those who created them must be destroyed! Think about it Relena, how can we ever fully attain peace if the symbols of the war, the gundams, live on? And they do live on, everyday for the last 5 years they have lived on through those who controlled them. The gundam pilots are murderers! Worse than that they are butchers! Do you know how many innocent people they killed? The sins they have committed are beyond imagination, beyond forgiveness! They were bred for death, destruction, and murder and deep down inside, at their very core, it is all they know how to do, all that they are. For peace to truly triumph, war must be completely erased. Soldiers will be obsolete in the new world we are working so hard to create, and those that can not adapt must be exterminated!? Christian ranted wildly, the lightning illuminating his face, twisting his features.

?How can you say that?!? Relena screamed back. ?The gundam pilots fought to save both Earth and the colonies from the true purpose of Operation Meteor! They risked their lives to protect me, to protect and ensure peace! Wufei and Sally are continuing to do that through the Preventor Agency. If you sentence them based on their actions then what about my brother? What about Noin, Sally, and Hilde? They all fought! We all did, me too! Why not aim your gun at me??

?Sally, Noin, and Hilde did fight, but they were soldiers. They followed orders and fought for what they believed in. They were not created, not trained to kill to the extent that the pilots were. Look at him!? Christian gestured towards Heero. ?Look how calmly he aims his gun at another human. Think of all the times he promised to kill you, all those he struck down without hesitation! And you, you , Relena are the peace. Without you peace can never be obtained and I would give my own life before I would let that peace be harmed! Heero is no friend of yours! No matter what you feel for him, remember he can never feel for you! He would cut you down without a second thought if it suited his mission. You are nothing to him!?
Relena felt tears hot on her cheeks but she kept her eyes locked on Christian. ?And my brother! What of Zechs??

?Zechs Marquise has been dead since the end of the war. Those who know your brother?s true identity are either dead or would never reveal his secret and risk their own life. As long as your brother continues the mindless work he has been conducting with Noin he is of no concern to me. Besides he may be strong but he could never become what the gundam pilots are. He would never be as powerful a martyr, as powerful a symbol.? Christian glanced back at her, seeing the anger and sadness on her face. His voice and face soften. ?I?m sorry, Relena. I?m sorry but I?m going to have to hurt you this once. The gundam pilots must be eliminated!?

With that Christian fired his gun at Heero. Heero dodged the bullet easily and began to return fire when Relena stepped in the way. ?Relena, move!? Heero cried.

?No!? she held her arms outward at her sides, her soaking wet body shielding Christian from Heero. ?I won?t let you two kill each other!? Her voice was shaking, her chest heaving with sobs but she held her ground, her jaw set firmly in place. ?You?ll have to shoot me, Heero!?

?Damn it! Stop playing around Relena and move!? He moved towards her, his gun aimed right at her face, his eyes ablaze.

But she wouldn?t be intimidated. ?I?m sorry Heero, but this is not the way,? her voice was barely auditable above the thundering storm. Wind whipped her hair wet and heavy around her face, her sundress slicked to her body. She was standing in the middle of a war, but she wouldn?t be moved by the explosion and hatred that floated around her, and Heero couldn?t help but admire her courage. She was truly amazing.

While Heero squared off against Relena, Christian took advantage of his shield, slowly moving his gun he aimed and fired at Heero. The bullet hit Heero square in the chest, and the impact sent him staggering backwards.

?No!? Relena screamed, running towards Heero. She reached out for him, but he pushed her aside, his aim still at Christian. Slipping in the mud, Relena fell to the earth hard, her head striking the ground. The world around her swirled and she could taste blood in her mouth. Struggling as hard as she could, she tried to push herself back to her feet but her body was too heavy, and all she could do was watch the two men fight through a dizzying haze of pain and water.
Heero fired once, twice, hitting Christian in the arm that held his gun. Christian swore, the bullet spinning him round and he was forced to drop his gun. Heero staggered on his feet for only a moment, then ran straight for Christian throwing his full weight against the young man. Heero?s attack took Christian by surprise and the two tumbled backwards, Heero on top of Christian. Blood ran down Heero?s shirt as he punched Christian repeatedly in the face and head. Try as he might Christian was no match for Heero, and within moments his head lolled to the side, blood running down his chin.

Wincing in pain, Heero climbed to his feet, his gun aimed at Christian. Christian coughed up blood, his eyes looking up at Heero with hatred. ?Do it! Finish me! It?s what you?ve been programmed to do! It?s who you are!?

Heero stared at Christian, the blood stain on his shirt growing larger. ?You?re right,? he replied, his jaw clenched in pain. ?That?s what I was programmed to do and who I was, but a long time ago someone taught me that even a sinner can be redeemed, that who I am can be used to save life instead of just taking it. Besides, five years ago I made a promise to myself that I would not have to kill again and I?m not about to begin with you. You?re not worth my time!? With that Heero fired two shots into the ground on either side of Christian?s head. Slowly Heero?s gun dropped from his hand, his eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed to the ground.

?Heero!? Relena cried crawling to his side she gently lifted his head into her lap.

?Relena,? he whispered, his eyes trying to focus on her face.

?It?s going to be alright. You?re gonna be fine,? she cried softly, her arms holding him tightly. ?Help! Someone!? she screamed, but the thunder muffled her cries. ?Heero, I have to go get help, but I?ll be back soon. Just hang in there!?
As quickly as she could Relena began to head up the trail then thought better of it. Turning around she scooped up Heero and Christian?s guns. She?d be damned if she was going to let the two of them finish each other off while she was gone. She ran as fast as she could, branches and bushes tearing at her dress, skin, and hair, her head still a little dizzy from her fall. After what seemed like ages she saw the lights of the hotel ahead of her. ?Someone help!? She cried, bursting into the main lobby.
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Heero lay on his back staring up at the rain as it fell down on his face. Every now and then lighting lit the sky above him and he could see some of the stars as the lightning faded. It was strange but he didn?t feel any pain anymore, even the thunder didn?t seem quite as loud as before. Closing his eyes ever so slightly Heero swore he could see the stars more clearly through the moving clouds above. More and more of them came into view as the storm began to ebb, and Heero found himself smiling softly as he watched them. His mind began to drift and soon he was in Wing Zero again, flying among the stars, looking down on the Earth. He had secretly always loved those moments, watching the emerald and blue of the Earth swirled up in the soft white of the clouds. In those moments he had felt true internal peace, and for the first time in his life Heero realized how much he missed those moments.

As Heero stared harder at the stars his mind drifted to other memories. Moments spent with the other gundam pilots, battles fought, and even sparse memories of his childhood on the colonies. The stars above him began to grow dimmer, and he struggled to see them. Relena?s face slowly filled his mind, and his thoughts drifted from their first meeting, to their first dance, to the end of the war, to the defeat of Mariemaia. She truly was inspiring, her courage and her faith so pure and innocent. He had never met anyone like her and he doubted he ever would. She had touched him more profoundly then he would ever admit to, and it was because of her he had been able to complete his mission in the war and had been able to continue on living in a world that no longer had any use for soldiers. If he hadn?t met Relena Peacecraft he probably would have ended up dead by the end of the war or a mercenary for higher, with not even the slightest inkling that people like him could ever fully wash the blood from their hands.

The world around him was growing softer and softer and he felt as if he was sinking into the wet earth. Even the rain drops didn?t feel quite so wet and cold anymore. He continued to stare upward, welcoming the silence that was slowly enveloping him. He felt numb but it wasn?t a bad thing, rather it was warm and inviting. He felt his body giving in, nestling deeper and deeper into the numbness. Above him he noticed a figure move into his field of vision. A bolt of lightning illuminated Christian?s face above him. The young man?s lips were moving but Heero couldn?t hear his words. Suddenly, a hand pressed over his lips and nose and Heero could feel the cool air being blocked out. Part of him wanted to fight, to push the hand away, but he was too tired, too sick of fighting. The silence and warmth enveloped him more and more and all he wanted to do was fade away into it.

Suddenly the figure of Christian doubled over and a faint popping sound penetrated through the peaceful silence that filled Heero?s ears. He watched Christian fall out of view. Suddenly several figures appeared above him. He could make out Duo and Relena?s faces leaning in closest to him. Behind them Zechs and Noin seemed to hover in space. Relena was saying something to Duo and then down at Heero, but he couldn?t make out the words. He felt a sudden stabbing pain in his chest as Duo pressed something down on it and he felt his body being lifted from the ground. His head flopped to the side and he saw Sally and Wufei standing over Christian. He felt a hand gently caress his face and slowly Relena?s face came into his view. Then the world went black.
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<a href="http://blissfulignorance.com/phpBB/view ... ">Continue to Epilogue</a>

[Morrighan]

Yay, Rose, you fixed it!! *glomps Rose*

This is an awesome start to a fic-writing career! I'm off to read the epilogue now!

[Wingnut]

The AN's at the begining make reference to a pic used with this fic. Do you have it and if so can we see it Rose?

[Jenevieve]

I read it earlier On some website... Though I don't remember adress...

Glad you like it...I'm actually the author, Jenevieve...I've only posted it on a little Heero/Relena site before this one but it's great to know someone has arleady read it...it's my first one so what did you think of it?

[Jenevieve]

The AN's at the begining make reference to a pic used with this fic. Do you have it and if so can we see it Rose?

Hi, I'm the actual author Jenevieve...sorry I'm new to this and had rose post it for me. Anyway, i got the picture from the first site I posted this fic on. You can find it here:

http://heeror1.tripod.com/

What did you think of the story? It's my first one

[Jenevieve]

Yay, Rose, you fixed it!! *glomps Rose*

This is an awesome start to a fic-writing career! I'm off to read the epilogue now!

Hi, I'm Jenevieve, the author of this fanfic...sorry I had to have rose post it because well I wasn't sure how to. So you really liked it??? Oh that means so much thanks!