Love Beyond All Fear 9/13

[Gundam Girl]

Although this is not a major chapter, it is necessary. But watch out for ten, because everything?s gonna blow sky-high. Please let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing.

Love Beyond All Fear ? Chapter Nine

By Gundam Girl

?Mr. Winner, I?m glad you?re here. Your paperwork has just finished being drawn up. Oh, and I see you have Mr. Barton with you as well.? The young redhead secretary smiled, pulling self-consciously at the sleeves of her pink suit jacket. ?That?s all the better then.? She reached into a drawer of the large mahogany desk she sat at and retrieved a manila envelope. Pulling from it several sheets of paper, she held out two pens. ?If both of you will please sign all of these.?

?Thank you, Cassandra,? Quatre said to the granddaughter of his and Trowa?s business attorney. ?Is Mr. Vente in today??

?Not today, sir. He?s in Queens on a case for an electric company I can?t remember the name of.? Her smile turned a little silly. ?He asked me to tell you that he wishes you success on your project.?

?We want it to work,? Trowa replied, handing the pen back to her as he finished scribbling his signature. ?It has to. For all those people.?

?It?s so wonderful. Who would suspect that two men three years out of the military would put together an organization to help immigrants??

?Well, we?re not completely severed from the military,? Quatre reminded her gently. ?That?s how we were able to get governmental backing in the first place. And your grandfather was an enormous help, of course.?

?He served America as well, so of course he was willing to help some fellow soldiers.?

Trowa and Quatre knew that as well. Vente?s brother had died at Germany, thirty minutes after Vente had gotten back to New York City from Germany himself. He had almost immediately resigned from the army, unable to face the horrors of war. He had pursued law, settling down with his wife and having two children. Neither Quatre nor Trowa had imagined that for their selves right away. If either of them did resign in the near future, it would be to totally dedicate themselves to their new project.

The Winner family fortune was more than useful for the finances it took to create this organization. With hundreds of immigrants flocking into the country every year, it was Quatre who had first proposed that help needed to be given to these fresh, confused people. They hoped that people from China, Korea, Ireland, Poland, and anywhere else would be provided with homes and jobs with their assistance.

As they walked out of the Vente Law Firm with bundles of documents, their destination the temporary office of the apartment they shared, Quatre?s brows lowered over his kind eyes. ?Do you think this?ll work, Trowa??

?I?m hoping to God it will. There?s too many people who think they?re coming to a rich country and end up poorer than church mice.? His cool green eyes met his friend?s. ?We have to fix that.?

?Yeah.? Quatre nodded absently. ?I was thinking? Could we ask Heero to help??

Trowa seemed surprised, and little shook the tall Barton. ?Well? I don?t know. Heero has a pretty steady job now. And Catherine?s nursing job pays better than usual, so I don?t really think it?s necessary??

?Maybe not for his life, Trowa, but what about his heart? He?s not fully recovered from Relena?s? From Relena,? he amended. ?He might not ever be. Don?t you think this would help him out a bit??

?No,? Trowa answered solidly without any hesitance whatsoever. The bluntness caught Quatre off guard, and the partners stopped in the middle of the bustling New York City street. ?I think it would only hurt him more. How could we ask him to help others when he didn?t get to help the one person he wanted to the most??

Quatre?s hand fisted around the handle of his briefcase. ?There?s always a part of me that?s never going to not think it wasn?t partially our fault. If we hadn?t held him back then??

?The only thing we would have succeeded in doing was letting him die out there, too. We saved his life, Quatre.? Trowa?s voice, however, sounded a little low, as though he was still convincing himself of this. He was.

?But at least they?d have died together! He loved her.? Quatre stamped one of his feet, almost kicking a teenager skateboarding by. ?And she loved him. In such a short time, I don?t know how it happened, but it did.?

?Then maybe they weren?t really in love,? Trowa said quietly.

?Oh, come on, it?s been three years. And look at Duo and Hilde!?

Trowa?s chest tightened. ?This isn?t the place to discuss this. If you think we should ask someone, I?m sure Wufei wouldn?t mind putting in an effort. He was an immigrant once too.?

Quatre wanted to ?discuss? (vent) more about Heero and Relena, but he sighed. He had a project to focus on. ?You?re right. And I know Sally would like to help too.?

?She works with Catherine, so it won?t be hard to contact them. Let?s call him tonight.?

?All right.? Quatre continued on his way with the taller man, but he shoved his free hand into his pocket dejectedly. There was so much left unsaid about the past?so much ignored. Relena?s death had just been swept aside from their lives. All except for, he had little doubt, Heero?s.

---

Howard hated the sea air. Well, he hated the sea. The sea took people places on little boats of dreams. Placed like America, and he was the one not on the ride. So the sea air constantly reminded that by scent, even if we wasn?t looking at the grayish water.

Unfortunately, the ocean town close to his sister?s house was the only place he had to stay at for right now. And what little business it provided was necessary. The two girls he had hired were in appointments right now, so he was strolling the streets, looking for possible workers. There weren?t many here ? most of them were at Nibiki?s. Damn his sister?s gentle heart. She knew nothing of professionalism.

He passed fisherman, sailors, and women with baskets of flowers for sale. Howard took pride in that the kind of flower he sold so expertly was not the kind you merely sniffed and admired the prettiness of.

?Howard! Howard!?

Were one of those scrawny brats finished already? It had only been twenty minutes or so? With a sigh, Howard turned to face whichever working girl had come to gripe, and saw Relena hurrying to him, her face perspiring and pale.

?Howard,? she gasped as she neared him. ?Treize is dead.?

Behind his dark sunglasses, his eyes widened to an amazing circumference.

?He was going to kill my baby!? she pleaded. ?And?I shot!?

?You did what?? Heart jumping and knowing he was getting too old for it, Howard backed away from the golden-haired girl and saw the child clinging to her side. ?Who is that?? He tore his eyes back up to Relena?s face. ?No way, hon. You?ll be followed, and there?s no way in hell I?m going to get caught up in you murdering Treize Khushrenada ? for Chrissake! This is good-bye.? He turned on his sandaled heel, but Relena caught his shoulder.

?But we have to leave!? Relena protested. ?We have to go, now! Derek and I must set off for America tonight!?

?Derek? Is that the name of this brat? When the hell did you have a kid?? Howard was still full of incredulousness. ?And what, just like that, do you expect me to rig you up some tickets for passage to the States??

?Please,? Relena cried, half-sobbing. ?You?re the only one who can do it. Lie, cheat? But he can?t die, Howard, Derek can?t die here like this.?

?Tell me how you think I?m the one to manage this,? Howard requested tesily. ?And while you?re at it, tell me why in the world I should, Princess.? The last world was snarled out.

The tears spilled down Relena?s white cheeks, but she wiped them away. ?Every day, every second,? she revealed to Howard, her heart straining with each word, ?I hear my marine telling me to bring him his son.?

Every piece of contempt inside Howard lay down and died. Slowly, he crouched down on the gravel street, and removed his sunglasses. Wonder was in his gaze as he peered into the face of the dark-haired boy with the shy countenance. He could see the European ? his mouth Relena?s and must of his complexion was as well. He had his mother?s hands, long-fingered and slim, most of which from caused by starvation. But the hair, the shape of his eyes, the line of his nose ? that was Japanese. But what convinced him were the eyes ? the blue that was too dark to come from Relena and too light to be Japanese.

?What are you saying?? Howard half-whispered. ?That this boy is??

?Heero Yuy?s child, the son of a US sergeant.? Relena?s voice trembled. She lifted Derek up into her arms and pressed her lips to his forehead.

?Let me see him, let me see him!? Howard implored, and the mother reluctantly passed the boy to him. Howard held him up so that they were eye-to-eye. Derek stared at him curiously, and a grin spread over the elder man?s paper-like face. ?Relena,? he stated, ?this bastard is the most beautiful sight I?ve ever seen.?

Relena pressed a hand over her mouth, too overcome by too many emotions. Disgust at Howard for looking over her son like he was an item, love from the bottom of her heart that still belonged to the man who had helped make him?

?Don?t you understand?? Howard asked excitedly. ?He is? He?s a passport! Right here, in my very hands.? He gave Derek a little shake. ?This child is American! They?ll have to let us inside the country!?

She inhaled sharply. ?Is that true??

?As true as my blood runs through my veins,? Howard replied. ?Oh, Relena! Relena!? Like the old days, the wheels in his head turned and worked fiercely, planning and plotting. ?Listen closely ? you and I, we are half-siblings. You must tell yourself it, Relena, you must believe it! Your father married my mother, a geisha ? now, don?t give me that look, believe it! You cannot tell a good lie unless you convince yourself that the lie is true.?

?Howard,? Relena said nervously. ?I?ve never fooled the government, I don?t think??

?Do you want to go ahead and tell them that you shot one of their commanding officers and he lies dead now? Or do you want your son to group up in golden streets, playing with other children who are as happy as he deserves to be?? As expected, Howard?s words had the desired effect, and Relena sobered immediately.

?I want him to be with his father. I want to see my husband again.?

?Of course you do! Now, you leave everything to me!? With glee, Howard returned Derek to his mother?s arms. ?Care for him well, Relena, and don?t let him out of your sight!?

?I won?t,? she promised, with hardened resolve.

?Meet me back here in exactly four hours ? a ship embarks for Morocco then.? A fevered gleam covered Howard?s bared eyes. ?I will get you and your son to the USA, Relena. I swear it as a man.? Just like he swore to get himself there as well. He slipped his glasses back on, and stumbled back a bit when Relena suddenly put Derek down and flung her arms around him.

Howard stood stock-still. It had been a long time since he had been embraced by anyone.

Relena pulled back, tears wetting her face in addition to the joy lighting it. ?I can?t thank you enough. I?ll never be able to!?

?Never mind that,? he said, his tone softer than usual. Perhaps a mother?s relief was getting to him. Something. ?Be here in four hours.?

?I will. I promise. Derek!? Relena swept the boy up. ?Do you hear, Derek? This man is taking us home!?

Derek seemed to understand somewhat. He murmured ?mama? to Relena and hugged her with his little body, a smile bright on his face. Relena sighed with gratitude that he had not yet lost that smile.

She made a vow then and there that he never would.

---

Sally was smiling as she stepped out the delivery room. Stripping off her used latex gloves, she tossed them in a trashcan and went to the front desk a few corridors away. ?Prepare all of Mrs. Morgan?s release papers, Catherine. She?ll be out of here by noon tomorrow.?

?Did the birth go well?? Catherine asked brightly, shuffling through a filing cabinet and sticking the papers in her typewriter obligingly.

?Like a miracle ? as always. A boy, eight pounds, fifteen ounces? Jonathan Christopher Morgan, flaming red hair. He?s beautiful.? Sally poured herself a cup of water from the dispenser in front of the receptionist desk. ?You should go see him when you go on break.?

?I will. I love babies.? Catherine drank from her own mug of coffee, her face lit with happiness for the new parents in the closest room.

Sally tilted her head, considering her fellow nurse?s words. ?So you?ve said hundreds of times. Cathy?why haven?t you and Heero had children yet? You told me he said he?d like them one day. And it?s been two years. And I know you want kids.?

?I?I do!? Catherine busied herself, typing ever faster, ducking down her head to hide how her gray eyes had dimmed. ?It?s just? It?s not happened yet. We?re? We?ve made love, of course, Sally, dozens of times??

?Dozens? In two years, only dozens??

?Well, these things don?t happen every day.? Catherine paused. ?Ah, well. I guess they do, but not to everyone in New York City.?

?Being in New York City has nothing to do with it,? Sally smiled. ?Honey, do you want help? If you?d like, I can prescribe you some??

?I don?t think that?s necessary. I guess God just isn?t ready for us to have children yet, and honestly?? She lifted her shoulder. ?I don?t think Heero and I are either.? The shoulders slackened again.

?You?? Sally made a sound of disbelief that sounded incredibly like her fianc?e of three years. ?What are you talking about? You?re the ready-for-anything person.? She aimed skeptical eyes at the auburn-haired woman.

?Maybe. Not with him. You should know love makes people a little crazy.?

Sally?s heart skipped slightly as she thought of Wufei. ?Yeah,? she muttered, tucking her clipboard under her arm. ?Tell me the hell about it.?

Catherine grinned. ?Trowa tells me you two have another date planned.?

?We were discussing August,? Sally sighed. ?Or November. Wufei does like the fall??

?Wufei liked the fall last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. I say you two just elope already and be done with it.? Catherine stood up. ?Well, here are your papers.? She ripped them from the typewriter and handed them to her superior. ?Give my regards to Mr. Morgan.?

?I?ll do that. Don?t work too long, Cathy, we close up in an hour.? New documents in hand, the Asian woman turned to go back to the happy mother?s room. ?Then you can go home and try the baby thing with Heero again, huh?? She wiggled her brows and was off.

Cathy smirked, shaking her head, but the smile faded as soon as her friend was out of sight. Sally knew nothing of the problems at home. No one did. Hell, Heero didn?t even know all that much of it.

She made it home that night two hours later. When she walked in the door of the apartment, she thought Heero was still working late at the insurance office that had hired him three years ago, even back when he was still a depressed war survivor. Yet there was one light on, and she found her husband sitting in the armchair, the dim lamp glowing over his head, and a book in his hand.

Seeing him there, her heart did a flip. Ever since she was a little girl, she had dreamed about being married to a man she truly loved with all of her heart. Now that she was, she was a happy woman. She had a job she enjoyed in a city she adored. She was in love with a man who was pleased to be sitting quietly at home with a novel.

So why did her soul feel like it might crack at any second?

Heero?s head rose from facing his book, and his lips smiled at her ? but his eyes were as expressionless as ever. With his deep voice, he welcomed her. ?Hey, Cathy.?

Catherine let out a small sigh. Setting down her purse, she crossed the room to him and hugged his head, pressing it against her chest, and kissing the top of his unruly brown hair.

?Are you alright?? she heard him ask with sincere concern.

?Yes. I?m fine.? Catherine felt his strong hand rest over hers atop the arm of the chair. ?I love you, Heero.?

As always, he only held her hand tighter. It took him several moments, but he managed ? he always managed. ?I love you, too.?

She told him she was tired and she wanted a shower. As she stepped under the stream of warm water, she comforted herself with the fact that he had never felt her tears.

---

?You want to what?? Wufei asked into the phone.

?No, we don?t want to,? Trowa corrected him. ?We?re going to do the organization we told you about. And we?d really like it if you helped out.?

His mouth full of instant mashed potatoes, Quatre called, ?Pwease!?

Trowa nodded. ?Please.?

Wufei sighed. ?And this will be when??

?We want to appeal to the New York governor before the end of next month,? Trowa told him firmly.

?Are you serious??

?There?s no sense in beating around bush. We have a point to make.?

Wufei smiled. ?I think I?d hate myself forever if I couldn?t help a kid I was just like once. Meet me at Central Park tomorrow morning. I want to hear about your plans.?

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Review please! (Next chapter is going to be intense!)