Missing by a Mile ch 22/? Romantic Comedy

[blackrose]

<center>Missing by a Mile
by the Black Rose</center>



AN: I know, you don't care for any excuses and aren't reading my blathering here anyway. So, here's to hoping you'll enjoy it, despite my slacking. Chapter 23 is already drafted, pending a few revisions. Remember, death = bad. Reading = good. *hugs* Love, Rose



PS ? Thanks, as always to Stella for beta-ing. *glomps Stella*


Chapter 22



Trowa was going to pay for this, and he was going to pay dearly. Heero tried to comfort himself with fantasies of his fist connecting with the green-eyed Preventer's jaw. But the country music blaring in the background dragged him too quickly back to reality.

Escape was impossible. He stared at the bag of "date wear" and felt his blood run cold. He was trapped. Relena had seen the hat and thought he intended to wear it. She didn't know he'd had help arranging the date or tricking her out of her room; as far as she knew he'd picked the damn thing out himself. There was no getting out of it.

He traded his uniform shirt for the white t-shirt in the bag, grumbling at how tight it was. Heero glared at the belt buckle with the huge deer cast into it, and then turned his attention to the cowboy boots. He wasn't entirely sure whether to be thankful the acrobat knew his shoe size or not, but he made a mental note to wear the pointy-toed things when he finally got around to kicking Trowa in the ribs.

He tugged the intricately decorated boots on, then picked up the vile...brown felt...thing up off the floor. He held it between two fingers like it was diseased, and just could not bring himself to put it on. He shoved it and the bag in one of the lockers as a knock sounded on the door.

"Heero? The lesson's starting."

He stepped out of the bathroom, and intended to grab her arm, drag her over to the dance floor, then stare her down until she forgot about even mentioning that he wasn't wearing the hat. But as soon as she saw him, her eyes lit up, and the most beautiful smile seized her features. It always made him want to return the gesture, but he had seen his smile ? it was not attractive. His face was too pinched to be able to pull it off. It was more likely to frighten her than endear him closer to her heart.

He blinked and the next thing he knew, she was in his arms, sliding her hands over the t-shirt that did little to hide the toned muscles of his chest. Her breath registered on his cheek an instant before her mouth nibbled a kiss on his lips. He raised an eyebrow, but bent his head to return it. Relena broke away, still smiling brightly up at him.

Suddenly, the corners of her mouth turned downward and tiny creases appeared along her forehead. "Where's your hat?"

He felt his face start to form a scowl; she gave him a sly glance that reminded him of seduction.

"You'll look so handsome. You brought it with the intention of wearing it. Please?"

This was so not fair... He threw her a black look then marched back into the locker room to retrieve it.



He stomped out, still only carrying it perched in the palm of his hand. Light blue eyes danced up to meet his and he felt his insides deflate. He was going to have to wear the damn hat.

Heero ducked his head and willed himself to shove the distasteful thing on top his- A hand came up and stopped his progress. Was it a reprieve?

"Here. Allow me." Relena took the Stetson from his grip. She leaned close, her body pressing against the length of his. She reached up, balancing on tiptoe to place the hat over his thick mane that never combed into anything no matter what he did to it. He could feel the heat through the tight shirt he grudgingly wore and thought that if this was the way she would put a hat on him, the object of his distaste was going to have to be knocked off several times throughout the course of the evening.

Relena withdrew, and her fingers came up to brush stubborn locks of chocolate bangs from his eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and so was... Heero couldn't help but notice she was wearing a top with no shoulders, and an extra triangle cut out ? revealing the pink tint to her chest and swell of her cleavage. She was...smirking at him, now.

The hat was heavy, but Heero wasn't sure if that was the reason he was sweating. He could just imagine how completely un-cool he looked in the ridiculous attire. From the corner of his eyes, he caught his reflection in a nearby pane of glass and winced.

If Duo had seen this...

"I wish I had a camera."

Heero couldn't help it. He grimaced. She gave him a little shove as if to snap his face out of the expression.

"Oh, stop being so moody. It looks nice on you. So does that shirt. Don't tell me you suddenly got some fashion sense."

"Huh?"

"All you ever wear is uniforms."

"I'm usually working. I wore a suit the other night."

"I know. You looked so handsome, too." She smiled and bit her bottom lip, and he reached out to tuck some loose hair behind her ear. "Relena..." Heero bent forward to kiss her. It had been too long...

The volume of the music dropped and a voice rose above the din."All right! If everyone's ready, how about we get started with the lesson?"

She spun around and grabbed his arm. "Come on, cowboy. Let's go!"

Heero followed after her, glaring at the world, but knowing they probably couldn't see his efforts at contempt beneath the infernal hat.

<center>******************************************************</center>

"Right, shuffle, two, step left, shuffle, two, now spin. Very good. You, over there." The instructor pointed at Heero and started off in his direction, the fringe on her vest swinging with every step.

"You have to hold her like you like her. Is she your sister?"

He glowered at the woman, secretly wondering how a human being was able to function with hair that big. "No."

"Then stop holding her like she has cooties and put your arms around her like a man."

The former gundam pilot had no time to utter a word of protest as the instructor pushed him a step closer to Relena and placed his right hand on her... His eyes widened and his date blushed a deep shade of crimson.

"There, that's more like it. Dance partners are supposed to look like lovers." She smiled and winked at Heero. "I think you'll make excellent lovers," she said then turned on her heel and clapped for attention. "Now, class, get out on that dance floor and let's see some boot scootin' boogie!"

Heero held still and held his breath. Relena's face was currently hidden in his chest, the rest of her body pressed firmly against him. A certain part of his anatomy was glad she wasn't moving away, as much for the attention as the embarrassment of walking out onto the dance floor with an unmistakable bulge in his increasingly tight jeans.

"Heero? I think you can take your hand off my..." She trailed off when she met his gaze. "Heero?"

He leaned down and kissed her hard on the mouth. His hands pulled her closer as hers tangled in the back of his hair. The thought of becoming lovers right then, at the far end of the club crossed his mind for a second before she stepped back, took his arm, and led him onto the dance floor.



He'd heard people say that in order to dance, you just had to let the music lead the way. He'd also been given the rather ludicrous advice: get lost in the music. But dancing, to Heero, was nothing like that. His mind had a built in metronome that kept time for the rest of his body. And so he moved ? efficiently and expertly to the beat ? while the more conscious portions of his brain took in their surroundings, the other patrons, the building exits, the list went on.

A dark-haired man caught his attention from across the room; he was staring too intensely at Heero's dance partner. The Preventer lifted a hand to tilt up his hat just a bit and spun Relena to a location behind him. He sent the man a glare over his shoulder. The man ducked his head and twirled his own partner.

Which reminded him.... He pushed Relena gently away then spun her back to him. Her soft form collided with his, and he went back to leading them in the otherwise insipid activity commonly referred to as dancing.

Two hundred beats later.... He realized he was dancing with an immovable rock. He glanced down for the first time since they'd stepped onto the floor and found her rooted to her spot, her eyes staring at a point over his shoulder. He turned to look, but saw nothing. He spun back around, anxious to find the source of the problem. Again the thought of a reprieve surfaced, only to be quashed by the icy tone of her voice.

"Take me home."

Heero tensed. He glanced quickly around the room. He had already surveyed it for possible assassins, thieves, kidnappers, etc. and found that a few men needed to keep their eyes to themselves and lifted higher than Relena's rear-level, but other than that.... No one who looked remotely suspicious. Which meant ... I'm the one at fault.

"What did I do wrong?"

She continued to stare over his shoulder. "Nothing. Just take me home."

"Relena... "

She tried to move away, but he wouldn't release his grip. "Let go."

"Tell me what's wrong."

"There's nothing wrong, Heero. You don't want to be here, I don't want to be here with someone only doing their duty. So, let go."

He raised a hand and cupped her chin, slowly turning her face to his. "When did I say I didn't want to be here?"

"You're being my guard." She tried again to pull from his grasp, but he continued to hold her tight against him.

"I am your guard."

"Dammit, Heero. There are hundreds of Preventers who can be my guard, whom I can order to take me dancing and they would have to go. You're supposed to be my date. I thought you wanted to be here with me." Relena twisted in his grasp. "Let go."

"No. Relena..."

She looked up at him, her blue eyes shimmering in the overhead light. She doesn't want my protection. She just wants.... She just wants... He swallowed against a lump in his throat. "I'm not about to...let you go."

A gasp slipped from her throat, and her eyes widened, then closed. He felt her muscles slacken, and she no longer resisted his hold. He drew her close and she buried her face in his chest. The music changed to something slower, and he let his head droop to her shoulder, relief and warmth coursing through him that she had stayed.

The two swayed quietly to a heartbreaking song about two lovers saying goodbye. Heero had never been one to pay much attention to lyrics, but there was nothing else to do except hold her and feel....

Something clutched at his chest, and he didn't know why. A man's voice filtered into his thoughts.

No matter how hard I try

I always make you cry...



Damn country music. He wondered why it was anyone listened to the stuff when all they sang about was losing wives and dogs and girlfriends... and pick-up trucks. His fingers itched for a self destruct switch.



Come on baby it's over let's face it

All that's happenin here is a long goodbye...



Relena's arms tightened around him, and the voice was lost somewhere in the scent of her hair and the heat of her embrace.

The last of the melody faded from the room, and he reluctantly disentangled himself from his dancing partner. Another song began immediately, upbeat once more, but probably just a happier tune about how the man had lost his job and decided to drink all weekend with his friends.

"Why don't we get something to eat," she said and stepped away, heading for the back of the club where a bar and restaurant operated as part of the entertainment. He grabbed her arm before she got too far, and pulled her back.

"Why won't you let me protect you, Relena?"

Her head bowed and he strained to hear her speak over the blaring music, but her words couldn't have been any clearer if she'd shouted them into the club's massive sound system.

"Because I don't need you anymore."

His mouth went dry. How many times had he dreaded hearing those words? They were the threads of nightmares he never admitted he had.

"Not as my protector."

His jaw tightened and he let go of her arm. "Then why am I here?" He turned to walk away.

A light touch on his shoulder stopped him mid-stride, and a soft voice rushed into his ear. "Because...because I want to be with you. It's easy to be with someone when you need them.... But to want to be with them... Is different."

"It's a choice."

"Yes. I choose to love you, and because of that, I want to be with you. And the want becomes almost a necessity on its own."

Like protecting you... Is...Is that- He spun around and took her hands in his. "Then marry me."

She seemed frozen, her wide eyes locked on his. "You say you want to be with me, then marry me." He frowned. "I won't accept another refusal, Relena."

"Heero...I--"

A force slammed into him from behind. Heero stumbled a half step before whirling around and shoving the drunken cowboy off his back.

"Woops. Schorry." The man slurred and lurched away. The Preventer turned and saw his date escaping towards the restaurant. He frowned and went after her.

I won't accept another rejection.

<center>**************************************************</center>



Her heart raced as she sat down and felt the waiter's eyes burn into the skin of her somewhat exposed chest. She blushed and took refuge behind a menu.

"What can I get for the pretty lady to drink?"

Relena peered up over her menu just as Heero arrived. He slammed his hat down on the table and shot the waiter a withering look. The smaller man gulped and muttered something about being back in a minute, then ran off in the direction of the kitchen. She went back to staring at her menu.

"You didn't answer my question."

Relena swallowed and continued to hide her face in the plastic laminated booklet. She couldn't look at him. She didn't have the heart to say no, but she couldn't say yes, could she?

It was like a dream, the thought of being his wife, but?

"Relena..." His hand came up to the top of the menu and pulled it down. She closed her eyes. She just couldn't....

His voice was gentle, softer than it's usual tone. And she could swear it trembled for an instant before it faltered, and fell to just above a whisper.

"Answer me, Relena...."

<center>**************************************************</center>



She was in a daze; she barely ate, and her companion wasn't any more talkative than usual. A different waiter finally came back to take their request, but Relena didn't even remember what she ordered until it was placed on the table in front of her.

Heero's appetite, however, wasn't tarnished. Once he had finished his meal, her date sat, looking somewhat smug with his arms crossed over his chest while she picked at her food.

She looked up at him. "Tomorrow?"

He nodded.

"I see."

He was staring at her, and she had to turn her gaze back to the table. She wanted to ask him a thousand questions, but none of them came to mind in any sort of coherent way that she could have voiced them. He paid their check and picked up his hat from the table, leading them out to a darkened, mostly deserted corner of the club in between the restaurant and the dance floor.

He stopped and turned to face her, the hat still gripped in his palm. But instead of putting it on, he handed it to her. She blinked, and glanced up at him. His dark blue eyes glinted; she got the impression he was laughing at her. Relena frowned and held it out. "Oh no, you're wearing it, not me."

He smirked and bent his head a bit, allowing her to place it back on his head. His arms went around her before she could pull away.

"I think you wanted me to do that," she said and hugged him back.

"Hn." His hands smoothed up from her waist to cup the back of her head. He leaned in just enough to meet her lips in a soft kiss.

"I think you wanted to do that, too."

He smirked.

"Are we going to dance some more?"

"If you want." He kissed her cheek, then her neck...

"Mmmmmm, I'd like to spend some time maybe away from the crowd a bit. I think there are a few things we should?" He kissed her again, this time a little more demanding. She could feel it, that hot and cold sensation that made her whole body tingle and ache to be closer. "Ahhh, talk about. Uh, Heero..."

His lips found her neck again and he nudged her nearer to the door. "We could go back."

"N-no. Not yet. Please?"

He released her and she stepped back. Underneath the Stetson, a stern expression gripped his features. Relena took his hand and raised it to her cheek. "They have a hay ride, that's all. I don't know when it starts, but I always wanted to go on one. I'm afraid I'll never get you back here, after tonight, so, could we?"

The frown relaxed and he nodded, then led her the rest of the way to the dance floor. And when he took her in his arms again, she knew right then and there that she was lost. He held her close, his heart pounding next to her own.

Please, Heero, don't break it....

Not...not again.



<center>**************************************************</center>

The night sky overhead was a clear, deep blue and Heero couldn't help but admire the stars the way they could only be seen from Earth. How long had it been since he had last viewed them like this? He couldn't remember.

The hay ride was a ridiculous affair, but she seemed to be enjoying it ? itchy hay and all. She lay stretched out on a small bed of straw, her entire left flank pressed against him. Warmth seeped into his skin where they touched; he'd found since the night began, that he felt...cold, whenever he wasn't touching her, even if it was something simple like holding her hand.

He looked down at her, lying there, looking so peaceful and wondered vaguely what she was thinking about. Heero removed his hat and sunk down into the pallet, arms tucked behind his head - as if somehow he could absorb her thoughts without words if he could just get closer..... She glanced at him and smiled, but remained silent. They lay there, just the two of them - since Heero had bribed the wagon driver - drinking in the crisp, evening air beneath the light of the stars.

The thought registered that he'd never felt more comfortable, or...

"Do you ever wonder what it would be like, if you were just a regular person? Maybe grew up on a farm and lived a normal life?"

So that's what she'd been thinking of. He weighed the question a moment; the way she asked it seemed...important somehow. "Yeah," he said in a quiet voice. "All the time." He glanced at her in his peripheral vision. She was staring up at the sky; the moonlight danced in her eyes, and streaked her blond hair silver.

"Me, too. I used to dream that I grew up in a small village." He propped himself up on one elbow to face her. She closed her eyes and continued to talk, as if she was lost in her dream.

"My parents didn't have a lot of money, but we were happy. I knew my brother, and I even dreamed I had sisters, and we were all so close."

His breath caught. He didn't know why.

"We could talk about anything." She continued. Her eyes remained shut, and he wondered if it was because it was the only way she could say these things. But why? Why was she telling him this?

"If she asks you questions about yourself, Heero, promise you'll try to answer them. Even if it makes you feel uncomfortable. It will mean a lot to her..."

"You were there, too. Always with me?" The wagon jolted a bit and a piece of hay fell into her hair. He brushed it out, and swept some strands away from her face. Her eyes fluttered open and her moonlit gaze fell on him. "Sometimes, you'd be the handsome boy next door, or maybe just a friend I met in school. I know it's silly..."

"No. I don't think it is."

She smiled. "Thanks."

"I'm glad I was there."

Her hand found his. "Did you have any dreams, Heero?"

"I used to... A long time ago, dream about my parents. What it would have been like. To know who they were. Who I am."

"Have you ever looked for them?"

He sat up and shook the straw from his hair and clothes. "Yeah. After the war. But I can't remember anything before Odin took me in."

"I don't... You've never told me about...what you did before you came to Earth." She arranged herself in a sitting position beside him, her shoulder touching his. He turned his head once more to gaze up at the stars.

"Heero?" She touched his arm.

"It's not something... My life, Relena..." His hands balled into fists as if they could grasp the words he was searching for.

"I want to know, Heero. If you want to tell me."

"I..."

She smiled ? a smile that reminded him of something he couldn't, shouldn't touch for fear of breaking it. Her blue eyes had changed, and he felt like he was looking at her for the first time. Her. Relena Darlian. A girl he met at school one day. Just a girl....

"I love you." Her voice shook when she said it, but her expression never wavered. He'd heard her say it on a couple of occasions, now. But this time was different. Something broke inside him, like a support beam he'd been trying so hard to hold onto, to protect ? afraid that to let it go would be to crumble underneath some crushing weight he couldn't bear alone.

"And nothing you've done in the past can change that."

He took a deep, shaking, breath and swallowed against the unfamiliar heat in his eyes. A tear rolled down her cheek, and he quickly reached up to brush it away. She leaned into his touch and then, in the next heartbeat, he felt her lips beneath his as he devoured them in a hungry kiss. He broke away and tugged her close to a position half-sitting in his lap. He buried his face into her shoulder and held her. Relena's hands came up to cup the back of his neck, threading through and stroking his hair.

There was no sound except for their breathing, no thought save for the recognition of a warm feeling that seemed to flow from her into his body, bolstering the broken place that didn't seem so broken anymore.

After a long moment, he lifted his head and pushed some stray hairs out of her eyes. It almost hurt to pull away. He swallowed and focused on something in the distance, trying to figure out where to start and what to say. Her left hand slid back into his grasp and gave his hand a tender squeeze. Before he knew it, words formed on his lips and ushered out in a steady stream.

"The earliest thing I can remember is traveling to an abandoned colony..."

************************************************************

AN: As I said above... I have a draft of ch 23, so it shouldn't be too terribly far behind. Maybe a week or two depending...?



I'm sure there's more that I need to say but I'm so sleepy right now. Enemy ch 7 is in progress, and my FMP! Fic Dinner and Dessert chapters 2-3 are being beta'ed as is Work Daze ch 2. I'm overworking Stella, so bear with me as she catches up on what Lemony Loyce *snicker* dubbed my "writing frenzy". *lol*



Much love and appreciation for bearing with me for so long. ~Rose

[Kiyoko]

Oh my god, I can't believe it! Another chapter from Missing by a Mile! Its a miracle, strike up the band!...eh sorry, I got a little carried away. I'm just soooooooooooooo over joyed that this story has FINALLY been updated! I've been waiting forever! Excellent job as always, your work always has a superior feel to it. The hayride scene was so cute! I'm all emotional now. I can't wait for the next chapter! Keep up the phenominal work!

HEEROxRELENA forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chibi Reli]

Oh man. I've been waiting for the next chapter. It's sooo good. I love the cowboy thing.

[WhiteWindRRose]

"And nothing you've done in the past can change that."

hmn
there is the same issue in Enemy!
interesting...

loved the chapter. keep on writing! (not like you can stop)

[RyanEX2000]

Fluff(grimaces).Not my favourite theme....but what the hey.
Poor guy deserves a break.

I eagerly await the next chapter of BEL.

[blackrose]

Oh my god, I can't believe it! Another chapter from Missing by a Mile! Its a miracle, strike up the band!...

Heero: As long as it's not a country band....
Rose: *smacks Heero with cowboy hat* Be quiet. It pays off in ch 23. Promise.
Heero: O_O I get a lemon scene?
Rose: *smacks Heero with cowboy hat* I didn't say that. But you do try really hard... ^___^

I'm just soooooooooooooo over joyed that this story has FINALLY been updated! I've been waiting forever!

I know. I'm sorry for that.

Excellent job as always, your work always has a superior feel to it. The hayride scene was so cute! I'm all emotional now. I can't wait for the next chapter! Keep up the phenominal work!

*hugs* Thanks! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Originally, this chapter was twice as long, but I realized that the part that picked up after this point just really was a separate chapter. It needs a little more work, but look for lime coming up!

Heero: I like lemon better. I DESERVE lemonade for the cowboy hat and country dancing.
Rose: *points to beginning of story* No, no you dont.

Oh man. I've been waiting for the next chapter. It's sooo good. I love the cowboy thing.

Thanks! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I know the wait was way too long, but the next chapter should be out fairly quickly...

*hugs* Thanks so much for reading!

Love,
Rose

[Morrighan]

So beautiful... Makes me wanna cry....

I wanna see more sometime soon!!

[blackrose]

hmn there is the same issue in Enemy!
interesting...

I guess you've figured out who wrote both parts... I didn't even realize the similarity until you mentioned it. So, it wasn't done intentionally, however, I do think there is a subtle difference between the 2.

In Missing, Relena's statement about "nothing he has done in the past" comes after he mentioned what he considers his greatest sin - killing the little girl. Relena's offer, in my opinion, then is an offer of forgiveness, absolution. The broken place inside where he expected a crushing weight is his expectation that to admit his 'crimes' is to lose Relena's love. What he was going to say to her in the car when that slipped out, is that she always looks at him like he's a hero (no pun intended). A guy capable of doing noble, heroic things, and he doesn't see himself that way because he knows he makes mistakes, and has made grave mistakes in the past.

?You just?at least you used to, always, look at me like I was infallible. It?s difficult to say things?to express?.?

That was the line that was cut. Anyway, that's what *I* see in Missing.

As for Enemy, Relena's statement that "Nothing from your past will change how I feel." Was more, to me, that she doesn't think herself above him, no matter who he supposedly was back home. If he was a pig farmer or day laborer, it wouldn't change who she saw him as right here, or right now, as a matter of social status. Heero is reticent to talk about himself in Enemy not because he has anything to hide or be forgiven for, but he doesn't like to talk to the other guys - he's not really an 'open' character type because he has, probably, abandonment issues with having 1) lost his parents so young, 2) been raised from such an academic standpoint by his uncle. He was forced to excel from an early age, and didn't know many people his own age. So, he grew up too fast, and is more 'mature' than other guys his age. He doesn't, at first, want to tell Relena about his past because again, opening himself, and it's kind of a fear that she'll realize he's not worthy of her - something he knows, admits, but hates.

It *IS* similar, I agree. Again, it was unconsciously done, and probably just stems from my way of seeing Relena's character, and her unfailing belief in Heero that no matter who he really is, or what he's done, she KNOWS him, the real him, is a kind person, a truly good person, just more or less rough around the edges.

My apologies for any repetition. O_o

Love,
Rose

[blackrose]

Fluff(grimaces).Not my favourite theme....but what the hey.
Poor guy deserves a break.

Yeah, he did, especially after I made him wear a cowboy hat and deal with all that country music. *I* like country, but Heero hates it with a passion.

As for fluff... Yeah, you can tell you're a guy. *lol* I know, and I suck at writing fluff, but this is the largest concentration o' fluff in the whole fic thus far, and I think for what I have planned for the rest of the fic. I *think*. Fluff time's over in ch 23 for sure.


The air was stifling, his hat had fallen off somewhere behind him, sweat trickled down the side of his head. He pushed her roughly against the wall of the foyer; her soft gasps fueled an overwhelming hunger for her skin.

"Uh, He-ero?"

Plot comes back in ch 23 for a bit, and then there's the lime. Will Heero actually complete Operation Early Wedding Night?

I eagerly await the next chapter of BEL.

*lol* Yes, well, I've written a good portion of my part. Stella has some ideas on hers and began working on it yesterday, from what she told me. So, we're making some good progress. We're shooting for, I think, by May 14. Don't hold me to that, though.... Stella and I are going to Anime North in Toronto that weekend, so if we CAN manage it before then, we will, if not, it'll be after that.

Thanks so much for reading!!!

Love,
Rose

[blackrose]

So beautiful... Makes me wanna cry....
I wanna see more sometime soon!!

I promise. You will. 23 is written, it just needs a bit of touch up. I *think* it should only take a few days, but I'm not positive about the chapters breaks. I've been re-thinking them a bit lately, so if I add to it, it might take a little longer.

Either way, it should be up before I go to Anime North on the 14th.

*glomps* Thanks so much for reading!!!

Love,
Rose