AN: OMG! Can it be? Why yes it is! It's an update! And I give my sincerest apologies for waiting so long to get this chapter out. I really love this story (and not just cause I have Trowa paired with Lena
) and want to finish it and make you all happy! This chapter has been dubbed Heero and The Old Woman: A conversation.Relena Was Dead: Chapter Six
by Wicked Child
Heero woke late the next day. Very late to be precise. He cursed himself when he noticed just how late, ten o?clock. Never in his life?barring self destruction and the like?had he slept that late. Quickly showering and dressing, he took one last look at the map bought detailing the region where Trowa may or may not live.
He bought a coffee, surprisingly delicious, from a local shop and drove to the destination. The house bearing the address given to him by Quatre was a two story home built during a time when space colonies were just a dream and no closer to reality than peace. The house itself seemed quiet, with no movement on the inside so far as he could tell.
From where he parked his car, Heero saw that the house was well kept having been recently painted a soft yellow with green shutters and white trim. The yard, though beginning to die from the oncoming winter, was neatly trimmed with well pruned rose bushes among other botanicals Heero didn?t care to recall. The yard even had a picket white fence and wrap around porch. A few chairs were set off to one side separated by a small table.
How quaint.
An elderly woman came out of her home directly next door to Trowa?s. Her heavy frame ambled toward her mailbox when Heero decided to question whether she knew Pilot 03.
?Excuse me ma?am,? he called out.
The woman looked up, her blue eyes startled. As Heero approached and finally reached her, the woman?s eyes narrowed in suspicion. Even in the current age, not many Asian looking men were commonly seen in the American Mid-West.
?How can I help you?? she asked warily.
There was no way he would get the information he sought if he acted in his usual manner. Heero smiled. He didn?t do it often but when he did, his handsome face became devastatingly handsome and he would, at times, use it to his full advantage.
?I was wondering if you could help me.? Heero produced an older photo of Trowa from his jacket. It was taken not long before Relena?s ?death.? ?This is an old friend of mine. I haven?t seen him in six years but was told that he may live right there next door to you.? Heero pointed to the yellow house for emphasis. He didn?t think the old woman was daft but figured it was a normal thing people did.
The woman studied the photo, plucking it from Heero?s calloused hands into her pudgy ones. It contained the five former Gundam pilots as well as Sally, Noin, Une, and even Zechs. Mariemaia had taken the photo as it had been a hobby of hers.
?Huh,? she grunted. ?You look the same. Unhappy.? The woman looked at Heero. ?Were you two close??
Heero shook his head. ?Sadly no. A mutual friend of ours recently passed and I wanted to inform him. No one knew were to find him so my friend may not even know.?
The woman studied Heero for a moment longer before responding. ?Yeah I know him. Sweet fellow he is. Wonderful wife and kids. Darling family really. Don?t see much of that these days.?
Heero?s pulse quickened. So Trowa does live here!
?Yeah Mr. Bloom is one sweet man. Always helping me out around the house fixing this and fixing that. Mrs. Bloom, oh what a darling!? The old woman gushed. ?Whenever my ?thritis acts up, she?s over here cooking and cleaning. I don?t know how she manages it with a husband and two little ones.?
Despite his excitement at finally finding Trowa, Heero continued to listen attentively nodding and smiling when appropriate. He leaned in close when the old woman leaned forward as to tell him a secret.
?I think there?ll be a third little one soon too. Ana isn?t showing but she?s got that glow about her.? The woman nodded sagely, believing that aged knowledge means wisdom regarding all aspects of life.
Trowa, married and has kids. Heero had a hard time getting his head around that idea. He had thought that at one point in his own life he would have a wife, namely Relena, and several little runts creating havoc and being spoiled by Quatre and learning not so legal habits from Duo, while they learned all about justice from Wufei. He never thought that Trowa would be the type to settle down. Who?s Ana? Is that Relena?s new name or am I completely off base?
?What does Mr. Bloom say?? Heero asked, referring to the possibility of another child.
?Who Triton?? The old woman waved her hands dismissing the comment. ?He said no more after Bella Rose was born but that doesn?t mean a thing. He said the same thing when their first one, Maxwell was born. I think he?ll be just delighted. Family seems important to him.?
Heero smiled again. ?Family is important.?
The old woman grinned broadly. ?I take care of those two little one while Triton and Ana are out of town.?
?It?s good to know that there are fine people like yourself to help out when help is needed,? Heero praised her smiling. He looked around the old woman?s hard and noticed that it too was well kept though the house itself needed a paint job. He returned his attention back to his elderly informant.
?Tell me, how long has Triton lived here??
?Six years now and I hope for much longer,? came her matter-of-fact response.
Heero stuck out his hand and smiled again thinking that he had used up a lifetime of smiles for this conversation. ?Thank you. Don?t tell Triton about me. I?d like to surprise him and I just don?t think anyone should tell him about our friend.?
The two shook hands vigorously. For an old woman, she had a strong grip.
?No problem sir. The kids get home around two forty-five and Ana meets them out front. She gets home from work around two o?clock.?
Heero nodded. ?Again, thank you.?
Heero left the woman, his head swimming.
At precisely two o?clock, a dark green, four door sedan pulled into the bright yellow home?s driveway. The windows were too dark for Heero to distinguish the driver but guessed that it must be Ana Bloom. He cursed himself for having forgotten his laptop at the motel. This ?mission? was making him lose his edge. He smiled ruefully. Relena always had that affect on me.
Forty-five minutes later two children came running down the street, back-packs flying from side to side as their laughter rang out in the brisk autumn air. Both had light brown hair with streaks of gold in the sunlight, and as they got closer Heero could see eyes of an unmistakable shade of green.
?Mama!? the girl, Bella Rose called out to a slender woman standing on the side walk.
Heero hadn?t noticed that a woman had emerged from the house. His breath caught in his throat. The woman?s honey blonde hair was swept up in a twist, her peach colored skin slightly pink from the same autumn air the children laughter echoed in. She wore black slacks with a pale blue satin blouse. She looked beautiful, exquisite. Out of place in the town. She looked like royalty.
?Relena.?
The little girl leapt into her waiting mother?s arms and kissed her.
?Look what I made mama! It?s a picture of Papa when he was a clown!?
Relena, or was it Ana? Heero wasn?t sure what to call her, but the mother took the picture and gushed. ?Oh Papa will be so very proud. It looks just like him Bella.?
The little girl beamed with pride, her cherubic face scrunched into a grin. Relena set her down and told her to go on inside before turning her attention to the older child.
?And you Maxwell? How was school??
The boy shrugged. A lot had been riding on the occurrences at school that day but he didn?t want to give his emotions away so easily to his mama. ?Fine. Got an ?A? on my spelling test.?
Relena nodded. She had expected him to do well on that test but his ogre of a teacher decided that two tests, one right after another was in the children?s best interests. It was the second test that worried her. ?And math??
Maxwell shrugged again, slightly pouty this time. ?It was a test. Everything I studied for wasn?t even on it.?
Relena sighed, fearing the worst for her son and ready to console him. ?Oh honey, I?m so sorry. I know how hard you studied for that test.? She reached out and moved some of her son?s bangs out of his eyes. It reminded her of his father.
Maxwell smiled. ?Somebody gets to have a pizza party!?
Relena laughed and clasped her hands together in delight. ?You passed it!?
Her son nodded enthusiastically. ?I aced it mama. I was the only one who got everything right.?
?That?s wonderful sweetie! You take after your father in that department.? Relena hugged her son tightly, happy that his day had gone well and nothing horrible had happened to either of her two treasures.
She had been unable to sleep lately, sensing that something was coming but unable to pinpoint what or when. She was just thankful that it had so far not involved her children or husband. Her husband. He had been gone for over a week and while that was not unusual, his lack of communication was. She missed him more now than when they had first become involved.
?Come on mama,? Maxwell said breaking his mother?s train of thought. ?Let?s go inside and start a fire!? The little boy tugged on his mother?s arm. He seemed to have a penchant for starting things on fire.
?You go on in. I still have to check the mail. And don?t go near the fireplace unless I?m with you.?
?Okay!? Maxwell ran into the house while his mother turned toward the street and the mailbox.
Instinctively Heero ducked down in his car. He didn?t want Relena to know he was there just yet. That he knew for certain but unfortunately it was the only thing he knew.
Relena noticed the unfamiliar car parked across the street. It was a black luxury car, not unusual for this area but something told Relena that it was wrong. She quickly retrieved her mail and went back inside the house where Bella was screaming that Maxwell had poured juice all over her on purpose.
Oh Trowa. Come home soon! I need you.
*~*~*
AN: Can I just say, that I love Trowa on page 29 in the Art of Gundam Wing book? *sighs dreamily*
.
The day that happens is the day I say, "Trowa? Why would I want Trowa? Gimme Zechs anyday!"
And I will tell you that there will be no suicide at the end. Nope nope. If I ever kill Heero in a fic, and I will, it will be by the hands of another rather than his own. Self-detonation not included in suicides.