Fallen Angels Chapter 4

[Egg Drop Soup]

‘ Thinking ’
“ Speaking ”
// Song lyrics //
Flash backs or dream sequences
(Interruptions)
*** = Different scene

Description: a QWxRP fic
Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing. I do however own this story line.


Fallen Angels
By: Egg Drop Soup


Chapter 4….


It had seemed that over the years, the stress and emotional out take on her body had started to take its toile. Scar tissue began to appear anonymously on parts of her body. The scars had dulled under the treatment and medication she had been put under, but if she didn’t stop, her condition would worsen and not even any medicine would be able to help her.

Quatre, along with the others watched her sleeping form. Her face had long lost its healthy glow and it began to quite resemble the bed sheets that the girl laid smothered in them.

Relena’s frail form tossed and turned within the mountains of sheets, cries of help gripped at the prospectors. Sally moved hastily to her side, taking off the covers that shielded Relena from the light of the room and quickly put a cold, wet towel to her forehead.

Relena let out a muffled sob as her body withered in rejection to the cold air that blew against the vulnerable skin, left uncovered by the nightgown she wore. Her arms were etched with scratches and claw marks, that she in her fears and nightmares had done herself self-injury.

Sally continued to dose her brow with water to cool the ever-threatening fever. Quatre moved slowly toward her bedside, he took her hand in his and kissed it repeatedly, as he brought his lips to her ear and whispered soothing words until she once again became quiet.

Hilde walked toward the bed and took over Quatre’s job in comforting their friend. She idly brushed the hair from Relena’s face. “I…I never knew she was suffering like she did.” She grabbed her friend’s hand in her own tightly. “I never saw her sad, so I figured she had forgotten him…Relena…I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

Duo knelt beside her. “No one knew Relena was under such stress, it’s not your fault…Hilde.”

Hilde looked up at him, watery eyes hollowing her smile. She was happy that he was there to help support her. Hilde then turned back to face the unconscious girl. “Relena…I just wished that I could of done something…” A hand came down on her shoulder gently.

“I’m sure Relena knows you care about her.” Sally said comfortingly as she squeezed reassuringly on Hilde’s shoulder before turning around with a clipboard in her free hand, examining the heart monitor and the IV that gave Relena her supplements.

“Sally?” Catherine piped in almost a little shyly. “What can we do to help her?” She looked down at the knitting she had begun last night when they all had just arrived at the Peacecraft Mansion, after getting the call from Wufei and Sally, who informed everyone about the situation.

Sally’s eyes softened as they looked at the circus performer who held tightly to the bundle of yarn in her lap. “This kind of illness can’t mainly be cured with just medicine. The patient requires support, friends, and family, anyone who could encourage the patient to get their strength back. The outcomes of stress won’t go away only by just giving her a couple of pills and antibiotics, the patient has to have the will to become healthier.”

Catherine nodded hastily. Trowa grabbed a hand away from her knitting and held it tightly in his own. “Its ok to be scared Cathy, we all are.”

Catherine nodded and smiled at her brother and squeezed his hand lightly in thanks.

Dorothy walked over to the bed, joining Hilde and Duo. “It seems so impossible. When I first heard the news I couldn’t believe something like this could happen. I guess I was also wrapped up in the modern belief that Relena was the strongest person in the world. Nothing could ever happen to her.” Her harsh blue eyes gave in to a look of sadness.

“Relena is like the rest of us.” Wu Fei spoke from his position, leaning his back on the wall. “She feels pain just as we all do. We forgot over the years that she was a girl; instead she became a godlike figure, a beacon, and a savior. But that savior was still a little girl. A scared little girl, searching for someone to save her, just as she saved each of us.”

Dorothy smiled in agreement. “That’s true. Miss Relena was always very kind to me.” She bit her lip. “Even when I…all I had done to her…She never once second guessed herself at accepting my apology, and I am very honored to be able to find some way to help her.”

“I think we can all agree that she saved us all. Whether it was her smiles or her words, they all showed us that peace really could be found.” Trowa commented from his spot still by Catherine.

“I plan to stick with Relena on this one.” Hilde said enthusiastically. “Friends don’t leave their friends, especially when they need you most of all.” A thought crossed her mind and she pondered a while and then voiced her own thoughts. “I think…this is the first time Relena has ever needed someone to save her, since the wars.”

“Well, we’ll be the ones to save her this time.” Duo said as he placed a hand over Hilde’s, which held Relena’s. “By the look on everyone’s faces, I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to do it.”

The determination in everyone’s features was evident. They were ready, they would do all they could to help Relena recover, but the main part of the recovery depended on Relena’s will to live.

***

“What’s this?” Cold surrounded her and she wrapped her arms around her instinctively. “Where am I?” her words were drowned out by its own echo. The only thing she could see and feel was the darkness that loomed before her.

She heard a distant tapping, it came from her left and she quickly turned to face that way. She saw a figure walking toward her, the figure’s shoes getting louder and louder with each step it took.

Each step made the figure grow closer as well, and it stepped out of the shadows, clad in the old Renaissance like uniform that Relena knew all too well. The tied back honey blond hair was in a big ponytail boy.

‘It’s me?’ panic came to her as her mind screamed out accusations. ‘How can that be me when I am clearly me?’

Another tapping came from her other side and she met another image of herself. The same aquamarine eyes stared at her mockingly from her other self, dressed in her usual casual wear of a blouse and skirt. “Me? Again?” She shook her head at the sight of another Relena…but two Relena’s? “This is so stupid! There is only one Relena, and that’s me, not these two!”

“Oh but your wrong. The one on her right, the first to appear declared from its kneeling position before her. “There are many you’s in this world. There is me, the political side of you, the one the people all look to and admire and then there’s-

“Me,” the other continued. “The ones your friends mostly see instead. The troubled girl, hidden behind the mask she carries. The one who, like the people she serves, has her own fears and worries. But amongst the worries and doubts she carries a strength that holds her together, the will to make everyone she loves happy.”

“But yet…she is not happy…” The political facade retorted.

“Of course I’m happy!” Relena yelled as she sat up to face the accusing forms.

The second one to appear giggled at this. “Are you trying to convince us or yourself? You needn’t bother to try and convince us of something that isn’t true. We ARE you. We know the thoughts and insecurities you have grown accustomed with over the years. You shouldn’t try to hide them from us when we have already seem them.”

“You don’t take care of yourself.” The political her stroked away the locks of golden hair that shielded away her eyes.

“By allowing harm to come to yourself you hurt those who care for you.” Her casual form whispered as she clutched Relena’s hand nearest to her.

Her political form that nodded in agreement crossed her arms over her chest. “What you are is stubborn. The happiness you could have had is right before you and yet you do not take it.”

“Happiness?” Relena narrowed her eyes at both of them.

“Yes, happiness…Quatre would bring it to you, if you’d let him…but all you do is turn him away…” The casual form breathed the words into her ear, but the whisper was more like shallow air that came from the beings mouth.

“Don’t you remember how he would hold you? No man ever showed you such devotion as he has, before.” The political form chimed in.

“But…I have Heero…”

“Really? Then where is he?” the political form challenged. “Where is your protector?”

“He’s…”

“Nowhere…”

“Gone for good…”

Relena looked at the two forms that were she. They were right. Everything they said to her was true. “He’s never coming back…”

Relena’s eyes fluttered open and widened hastily at seeing the faces that greeted her from her bedside.

“Relena!” Hilde yelled in relief as she tightened the grasp on her hand. “You’re awake!”

“Hilde?” Relena looked at her, not sure of what to say. “Why are you…?”

“Oh!” Hilde let out a sheepish laugh. “We had heard that something had happened and we all rushed over to help.”

Duo nodded from his seat next to Hilde. “That’s right. Quatre was the one who stayed by your side, longer than anyone else did. After he took you to the hospital, he never left you, not once in 16 hours you were out.”

Relena glanced toward him measuring his features closely he did indeed look tired. Dark circles claimed the skin underneath his eyes. His hair was ruffled and his clothes were wrinkled. She lowered her gaze when he looked toward her upon hearing his name.

Sally came over to Relena’s beside along with a glass of water and a few pills. “Here, this one should stop the headache, the other should stop the pain in your stomach and the other should help with anything else that might bother you.”

Relena smiled as she took the pill and glass and was able to swallow the gulps of liquid with the help of someone supporting her back so that she could sit up.

Sally quickly tucked in the undid covers and muttered a slight goodnight while hastily pulling the other members of the crew out so that Relena could get her well deserved rest.

Relena felt contented at the thought that she had such good friends and closed her eyes in a fruitless errand in search of sleep.

***

It was 12:30, but Relena still couldn’t find the ability to let her slumbers claim her weary body. The struggling body against the sea of comforters would not subsume to the exhaustions she was facing. Relena let out another sigh as she turned and twisted her body around again, to face the clock. It was now 12:39.

She sighed.

It was a hopeless, she might as well just let her body stay up for the rest of the night, and lord knows how tired she was.

She let out a yawn as she hastily brushed back the covers. The thin shirt and shorts didn’t altogether shield her from the cold air of the fans. She drew forth her robe from its place on the coat rack that rested in its corner near the bedroom door. She shielded the exposed skin underneath its cotton barriers.

She had been in her room for so long that it felt strange to walk down the all to familiar hallway. Relena felt a twinge of guilt as the sound of a small rumble rang in her ears. Her stomach was impatient with the much lack of food it had been through. There was another reason for why she should go down stairs.

Shrugging sheepishly, she slowly eased her way down the last couple of steps of the staircase. Each creaking stair had made her uneasy. Constantly turning around and looking this way and that for any sign of Sally or Noin, running toward her so as to put her back in bed. She let out a small grin at how stupid she must’ve looked.

The tiled floor of the kitchen felt the same as it always had, underneath her bare feet. She made her way to the fridge, easily on tiptoe so as to not wake anyone. When upon reaching her desired spot, right in front of the fridge, she slowly opened the door, pulling the handle delicately in the awkward silence.

The sight of the fridge’s containments was heaven to Relena’s growling stomach. She moved her delicate fingers to grab the bag of food that called to her the most…the marshmallows!

The gooey, lovely, most favored of all snacks.

Marshmallows!

Relena was sure that that and that alone would cease her tummy’s cravings. The plastic bag in her hand gave her some kind of an accomplishment. She felt a glow at having reached her goal. But the pride that filled her was soon gone as she felt the alto familiar feeling of someone’s eyes boring into the back of her head. ‘Heero…?’

He was standing there, in the doorway of the kitchen. She couldn’t make out whom it was, for the light from the open fridge door didn’t show much of his features. She only knew that the figure was male.

A fear seemed to clutch at her body, she couldn’t move. It was similar to a time of suspended animation, her legs glued to the tile floor and her hands turned to stone by her side. Her lips were the only part of her body unconsumed by fear and they alone managed to obey her. “Who..?”

The figure straightened, and then began to walk foreword, the shadows gave way to the light and the dark that shielded away the blonde hair and blue eyes were no longer present.

“Quatre?” Relena cocked her head to the side questioningly, ‘For a minute you looked like…’ relief evident in the tone of voice she chose her words. “Why are you…?”

“I heard you get up, I just wanted to make sure you were ok. Sorry if I intruded on your midnight snack.” Quatre nodded his head toward the bag of marshmallows that still were in her hand.

Relena’s felt a heat rise to her cheeks in embarrassment. She waved her hands around sheepishly. “No-no, I…I was getting them for Hilde…Yeah…and Duo…you know how they like to eat….”

Quatre chuckled at the sight of her non-ability to lie straight. “Yeah, well…I guess I should get going back to bed. I bet Duo and Hilde can’t last long without those snacks. Goodnight…Relena.”

He moved to turn away from her, but Relena made hast to catch his hand with hers, surprising not only him, but also herself. He looked at her, confused, and Relena’s eyes smiled warmly toward him as her mouth twisted franticly trying to form the right words. “Quatre…I was thinking…its really cold right now…and I…I was going to make hot cocoa…would you…would you join me? A cup of hot cocoa is rather lonely when you have no one to share it with.”

Quatre looked at her for a long while, the silence gripped at her and made her feel uneasy. “Ok, but let me make it. You’re still sick, right? Go on and sit at the kitchen table. You can watch me show off my hot cocoa skills this time.” With that he gave her a wink and pushed her gently toward the table he had mentioned. She took her seat and curiously watched him attempt to make the so-called “best hot cocoa in the world.”

***

Warm…warm and yummy!’ Relena grinned as she took another sip, allowing the milky foam to cover her upper lip.

The cocoa was just as Quatre had said, and she felt somewhat guilty when she plopped another dozen marshmallows in her mouth. Her taste buds screamed in the utmost compliments as they always did when upon tasting whatever Quatre had made. She was in bliss, and she took it all in, the warmth and happiness that she hadn’t indeed felt for a long time.

Suddenly aware of how embarrassing she must’ve appeared, she looked up shyly to see his smiling face looking back at her.

A blush found its way to her cheeks at the warm, angelic, cerulean smile he graced her with.

He was…

Relena never seen him look so…was it attractive? The way his carelessly set bangs framed his pale face, mirroring the blue eyes…. oh how she felt held in place by those eyes. His unbuttoned shirt showed off the things she wished she had noticed before.

‘When did he get so…buff?’ Relena’s brain sped thru impure thoughts faster than lightning. ‘And why didn’t I notice it before?!’ she mentally smacked herself at the ignorance of that question. ‘Damn shirts! If he had only worn a tight one for once, I would’ve known how buff and muscle bound he was, along time ago!’

She let out an exasperated sigh as she mentally continued to carry on about the injustices of everything.

“Um…” Relena mustered another sip of cocoa. “This is really good Quatre. And I mean really good. You’re cocoa puts mine to shame.”

Quatre’s eyes seemed to light up a little. “Really? You like it? That’s good, I hadn’t made cocoa in a long time, so I’m happy that it didn’t turn out bad.”

“Are you kidding me?” Relena stammered after taking another sip. “This is the best I’ve ever tasted in my life!”

His reaction to her praise was that of embarrassment, as he waved his hands toward her in an attempt to quiet her compliments. She could easily tell that amidst his modesty, he enjoyed her words of flattery. His eyes became that of ones that are full of pride and he slowly stood up, his face taking on a serious expression.

His body had truly changed over the years; his arms were longer and evidently stronger. The masculine aspects of his body had so long ago changed from that of a young boy to a grown man. His face still held a feminine grace, as it had so often before, and that’s what added to his charms, that no matter how much he looked like a grown man, the innocence of a boy still remained with him.

That was what seemed to allure her the most.

His innocence.

He leaned across the edge of the table and slid his fingers over the top of her lips wiping off the traces of foam left there by the cocoa. “Well, not only can you call me when you need a pancake maker, but anytime you need someone to make hot cocoa, just call me.”

Relena stared blankly at him, her mind screaming at her to say something witty or smart, but nothing came to mind, and then finally, when she had an idea of what to say and no sooner had she opened her lips to utter a few words, Duo and Hilde came bounding into the kitchen, followed by the rest of the gang who had awoken to the smell of cocoa. Quatre quickly brought himself away from her and greeted the others from his seat at the table.

“Quatre…I’m very disappointed in you…” Duo began as he and Hilde made their way over to join them at the table with cups of freshly poured cocoa. “You are supposed to share stuff with people.” Duo held out an accusing finger, while Hilde nodded in agreement.

Relena chuckled at the sight of the two of them along with the other members of the crew all enjoying the hot cocoa on the cold night.

Sally made her way over to the table carrying a small bottle of pills. She handed Relena one and smiled almost happy, she herself was up so late. “Relena, I can understand why you’d be up so late, but please, take a pill and go to bed soon. I’m turning in myself, and I don’t want to wake up finding you in critical condition.”

Relena smiled understandingly as she placed a hand on top of the older woman’s hardworking ones. “I understand Sally, and not to worry, I’ll be in bed soon. I’m sure even if I wanted to stay up Quatre, Dorothy, Hilde and Duo wouldn’t here of it.”

Dorothy nodded from her seat to the left of Relena. “I’ll have her in bed in at least 30 to 45 min.” She raised her hand upward in a way of giving the Doctor her word.

Sally chuckled at how the girls were acting. “Alright. Just be careful, all four of you should be in bed soon.”

“Man, Sally. You’re making us seem like we’re 15 again.” Hilde whined from her own spot at the table.

Sally let out a warm smile and descended back to her room. Wufei had muttered some excuse about having to help Sally finishing some reports and he took on after her, leaving only five people to claim seats at the table.

“Trowa and Cathy had a show today, right?” Hilde asked as she joined in with Relena on munching down upon the marshmallows.

“Yeah, Trowa said that it wouldn’t end till about after midnight,” Quatre muttered as he, himself, grabbed a marshmallow. He drank the last of the cup’s contents and excused himself, quietly putting his objects in the seat and leaving the room.

Dorothy was rather irritated with the scene, and she nudged Relena lightly with her elbow and nodded her head toward the same door that Quatre had left out of. Both girls excused themselves and once they were out of the kitchen, Dorothy took hold of her arm and dragged her back to Relena’s room so as to talk to her privately.

Dorothy quickly glanced outside the door, into the hallway, making sure no one were to try and listen in on their conversation, being satisfied that no one would eavesdrop she locked the door, she now felt more comfortable, they wouldn’t be interrupted.

“Relena.” Dorothy sat down next to her on the queen size bed. “What do you think of Quatre?”

Relena was startled by the question, but this was Dorothy, and she was always so straightforward. “What do I…think?”

“Yes.” Dorothy said in an amused tone at the hint of hesitation that the other young woman held in her voice.

“I don’t know. I guess he’s a good friend.” Relena said dryly. What exactly was Dorothy trying to get at?

Dorothy smiled, a Cheshire grin spread across her face. “But earlier, you two looked quite cozy together.”

‘How is it that Dorothy always seems to know everything?’ Relena sighed, “I love Heero.”

“But if you continue to keep waiting for something that is not coming back, then you’ll only be more unhappy than you already are. Do you want to miss the opportunity with someone who might really care about you? Do you want to do that?”

“I don’t want to hurt anyone-

“That’s just it, you are hurting people, not just others around you, but you’ve gotten so wrapped up in the emotions you’ve withheld inside you, that you’re wasting away in front of us, and no one knows how to help you.”

Relena felt the tears forming at the corner of her eyes as she clenched her fists together in desperation for them not to fall. “I…I can’t forget him.”

Dorothy cast her a sad glance and moved closer to her side. “Miss Relena, you can remember him, you can keep him and the love that went with him deep in your heart…but…you have to learn to love others.”

‘Just like my dream selves had said.’ Relena looked up at her. “How can I learn to love someone else?”

Dorothy took hold of the other woman’s hand and tugged her toward the open window of the room. Sitting outside on a bench, bathed in moonlight, was Quatre. “I think he could teach you…” Dorothy said as she leaned her chin on the slightly shorter girl’s shoulder as she pulled her into a slight hug from behind. “Relena…we make our own happiness, and I’m sure…Quatre will bring you all of that which you deserve.”

“Dorothy…thank you…”


AN: Is it at all good so far? The lemony part is next…hopefully the ones who read it are a reasonable age. I don’t want people getting’ pissed off at me. The next chapter is the last one. Thanks again to all whom review.

Love,
Egg Drop Soup