Author: Midge-14
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I don?t own Gundam Wing or the 1939 Wizard of OZ film.
Summary: It's just nerve racking moving to a new place but Relena finds it harder when she's chased by a conniving witch and thrown into a magical world where the only helpers she's got are Brainless, Heartless and Cowardly.
Notes: I just had to post the second part because it has more Heero/Relena interaction.
PLEEEEAAASSEEE REVIEW! I really need the feedback even if it's a negative response
<p align="center"><b>Chapter I - Moving to Kansas</b></p>
<p><i>Part 2</i></p>
Relena was sitting on top of Heero with her dress spread out around her, her legs on either side of his waist and her hands resting against his firm chest. He lifted himself up on his elbows, dishevelled, with his brown hair hanging low over his eyes looking more mussed than normal. His chest was firm and warm through his shirt. His eyes were staring at her deeply and she felt embarrassment rise up from her stomach.
?I?m sorry!? She finally managed, ?I didn?t mean to fall on you.? She slid off him and missed the flicker of his eyes and his sudden intake of air. He sat up and just stared at her silently. Relena flushed again, ?I hope you?re not hurt??
?No.? He brushed a hand through his hair and stood up. He dusted his shirt and trousers and then to her surprise, offered her a hand. She took it gingerly and when he pulled her up, her head reeled a little and she fought to keep her focus. He still hadn?t let go of her hand and was it her imagination or did his eyes seem more intense than normal? Her head suddenly felt lighter and she swayed causing him to pull her close and support her against his body.
?I?m feeling dizzy,? She said apologetically and he wrapped his arm around her causing her to blush.
?You did just fall out of a tree.? He said dryly and began to move back towards the house. Relena suddenly pushed against his chest, ?Toto!? She called and brushed away his hands as they reached for her. Although her consciousness swam with haziness, she managed to pick up a silent bundle of brown fur before Heero?s arms came back to steady her and she gave in and let him lead her back to the house.
He deposited her with a very worried Noin and left too quickly. Noin checked her over for injuries but Relena insisted she was fine. Toto wagged his little tail and silently stared up at them. Relena explained how she found him but then a sudden fear took hold of her and she begged Noin to let her keep him. Noin soothed her fears and promised that she would convince Zechs.
And Zechs had taken a lot of convincing. He eyed the dog with distrust but with two women on his case, one looking miserable and the other looking cross, he gave in reluctantly and Relena had thrown her arms around him in joy, which made him content that he had made her happy.
<p align="center">~~+~~</p>
That night, she was sitting and staring at the stars by her window when she saw a dark figure walking out in the field. Curious, she pulled her long thin coat over her white nightgown and clambered out of the loft window; made her way across the sloped roof and slid down the pipe to land on the ground. Toto stared at her from the window before giving a soft bark and following. Relena caught him as he jumped off the roof and into her arms. She set out to investigate.
Out in the fields at night, she felt the cool breeze rustle her clothes and the grass caress her legs. It was a wonderful feeling and she almost forgot why she was out here until the very shadow she had been seeking approached her and the moonlight illuminated Heero?s face.
?What are you doing out here?? He growled.
His tone caused anger to flare up inside her, ?I could ask you the same question.?
His eyes went intense and he crossed his arms before replying slowly, ?I couldn?t sleep.?
Her anger melted away at this admission and her face broke out in a smile, ?I couldn?t sleep either,? She said gently. Toto wriggled in her arms and leapt down to run free in the grass. Relena followed after him and a soft rustle behind her indicated that Heero was following. Relena brushed her hair back from her face and looked upwards as they walked.
?The stars are beautiful aren?t they??
?Hn,? He was still staring at her.
?I never noticed how wonderful they are,? She said sadly. ?Out here, they shine so much but in the city, the street lights glow brighter.? She closed her eyes and stopped. ?Everything?s so free out here, it?s different, so lonely??
She started when she felt something soft drift across her cheek. Heero quickly pulled his hand away, ?You miss the city,? He stated.
Relena tilted her head at him in puzzlement, ?Yes I do. I also miss my parents and that?s not going to bring them back. This is my home now and I just need to?? She faltered, ??I need to make my heart believe it.?
?Your heart?? Heero echoed quietly.
Relena pulled her coat about her and shivered, ?I don?t really know what my heart wants. I want to be happy here but then I long for home too?I?m so lost.?
She lowered her head desolately and did not notice him draw closer until his hands gently took hold of hers. She turned her glittering eyes up to look at him and her breath caught in her throat as she saw how dark his eyes had become.
?Relena?? He said softly and then pulled her close and kissed her. She gasped as his lips brushed roughly over hers and prised her lips open. She leaned in and responded by twirling her tongue around his and pressing herself closer to his body. They both shuddered with the sensation but he suddenly stiffened and pulled away. She looked at him in a daze. He backed away and shook his head.
?I?m?I??
He abruptly turned and walked off fast. She realised he was leaving and snapped out of her stupor and to call out, ?Heero wait!? But he had long gone and there was no one but her and Toto who was watching her closely with his visible eye.
<p align="center">~~+~~</p>
Over the next few days, Relena tried her best to make herself happy on the farm. Everyone, including Noin, was always busy with feeding and looking after the animals but her brother wouldn?t let her help out no matter what she said. Noin explained to her that he knew she had never done hard work like this in the city and he didn?t want to reduce her to it now. Relena tried to convince Zechs that she wanted to help so she could feel like she was a part of the farm but he had patted her head affectionately and sent her off to the fields to play. Relena was outraged, she was 16 years old and she didn?t need to be treated like a child!
She had also tried to become friends with the farmhands. Noin, ever a source of information, had explained a little something about each of them. Wufei had lost a wife to sickness a year or so ago and it had broken him so that he became convinced women were nothing but trouble and he was strong without them. Duo was just a simple boy who wasn?t very bright but was jolly and carefree. His only friends being silent and serious as well, he was sometimes unsure of himself and was prone to mistakes. As a result, he always got into trouble with Zechs Noin admitted ruefully. About Heero, to which Relena listened attentively, Noin knew little. He hardly talked or revealed anything so he was a mystery. All she knew was that he had no parents and had grown up alone finding work here and there. He worked hard and relentlessly and everyone, including Zechs though he would never admit it, admired him for his strength and focus.
Armed with this, Relena set out to befriend them all.
It had turned out to be a terrible disaster.
There had been that incident with Wufei?
<i>
Wufei was approaching the well with a pail and Relena was giving Toto a drink from the bucket. She turned to him gently, ?Shall I draw some water up for you?? He grunted and swiped the bucket from her, proceeding to draw it himself. Relena sighed, ?You could have said no thanks, I wouldn?t have minded.? No reply. ?Look I know you?ve had a bad past but that doesn?t mean you can push everyone away and not talk about it.?
He stiffened, ?Who told you about my past??
?Noin told me when I asked her.?
He turned on her sharply, ?You have no right to pry into my past! That?s all you women do, gossip and pry. I?m so much better off without any of you!?
Relena?s eyes softened and she reached out, ?Please Wufei, don?t torture yourself. I know what it?s like to lose someone. You can?t let sad memories rule your life and happiness now.?
Wufei went still and twitched, ?Meiran?? Before Relena?s hand came to rest on his shoulder he jerked away, his eyes flashing.
?I don?t have to listen to you; you?re weak! Leave me alone!? He shouted and stalked off.
</i>
And then things had been going good with Duo until?
<i>
Relena had ventured into the barn looking for Duo and had found a pile of papers by a haystack. It looked like some sort of plan for machinery and there were various annotations and notes all over the place. As she was studying it, she heard a noise and saw Duo approaching her with a wild frightened look in his eyes.
?Wow, what?s this Duo??
Duo scratched the back of his head and snatched the papers from her hand, ?Errr nothing?it?s nothing!?
Relena looked up at him with wide eyes, ?But it looks like something you?ve been working hard on. Why don?t you explain it to me? It sounds very clever??
Duo gulped and shook his head, ?its not clever?don?t tell anyone please??
Relena frowned, ?But why not??
Duo shuffled his feet, ?It?s just a stupid idea?everyone already thinks I?m an idiot.?
Relena smiled and took his hands gently, ?I don?t think you?re an idiot, you just let everyone walk all over you. You need to be more confident.?
Duo pulled his hands out of her grasp, ?No?no I can?t.?
?Duo?listen to me, you?ve got to??
?I?m not listening! You?ll get me in trouble again. Zechs tells me off for letting you help me.?
?I never meant to get you in trouble Duo, I thought we were friends?? Relena looked at Duo full of hurt.
Duo didn?t say anything and looked down at the floor, ?Just promise you won?t tell!? He pleaded and Relena held back her tears.
?I?m only trying to help. I won?t say a word to anyone, promise.?
Duo let out a shaky breath and then grabbed the rest of the papers and ran out.
</i>
And then there was Heero.
She could still remember the feel of his lips against hers. She never thought he would ever do something like that and the action confused her greatly. Her heart pounded whenever he was close and when she thought of him, she didn?t feel so lonely anymore. The city and her old home were replaced with thoughts of him kissing her. She wanted to talk to him so she could understand what was going on in her heart and his. She didn?t know what to make of it because he was blank and impossible to read. The only way was to ask him outright if he liked her. There was no doubt that she was in love with him already.
With her attempts at the farm such a failure, Relena spent her days with Toto. He became her closest friend and the brightest light in her life. He played with her; snuggled close to her when she was sad and always looked at her as if he understood what she was saying and feeling. With him, Relena fell in love with countryside around the farm. They ran in the grass, climbed up trees, explored the ponds and lay on the ground simply staring at the sky. Relena realised that without Toto, what happiness she had would be non-existent.
He meant the world to her.
<p align="center">~~+~~</p>
She was at her window again that night thinking of Heero when she saw his figure slip out from the barn where he and the other farmhands slept. She wasted no time in slipping out the window and following him out onto the fields with Toto scurrying behind her silently. He immediately sensed her presence and turned round to meet her with an air of weariness about him.
?Couldn?t sleep again?? She teased lightly.
?What do you want?? He answered roughly and she was taken aback. Concern mirrored her pale blue eyes.
?I wanted to talk to you,? She replied and stepped closer. ?Is something the matter??
He narrowed his eyes, ?There?s nothing to talk about. Go back to your room.?
She cocked her head to the side, puzzled, ?Why are you being like this?
He was silent.
She shook her head and took hold of his arm, ?I want to talk about why you kissed me??
He stiffened and felt like a block of steel but she pushed on, ?It?s just that you haven?t?well I hoped?? She blushed, ?I like you and I want??
?It was a mistake.?
The words shocked her right to her core. She let go of his arm and stepped back uncertainly. He looked straight at her and all she could feel was cold.
?What?what are you saying??
?I don?t feel that way.? He replied monotonously and her heart shattered. She paused but eventually pushed on, trying to understand him.
?What kind of way do you feel then??
It was his turn to step back as she came closer and his eyes flashed with what seemed like confusion and?fear?
?I don?t feel anything,? He said
Relena frowned, ?You must feel something.? Okay, maybe he didn?t like her but it wasn?t the end of the world. She had to keep her control so she gathered the broken pieces of her heart and drew forth her strength. ?Talk to me Heero.?
?I don?t know what I feel,? He was clearly confused now and looking at her with a mixture of something that she couldn?t make out clearly. He straightened and suddenly composed his face into an expressionless mask till even his eyes became clouded.
?I?m here to work so let me do my job and don?t get in my way.?
The level of control she had maintained fell apart, ?I?m in your way??
?You?re a distraction,? He refused to meet her eyes.
<i>A distraction</i>, hot tears ran over her cheeks, ?Is that what everyone thinks? I just get in everyone?s way? I?m trying so hard to fit in but I?m just a nuisance to you all?? She sobbed, unable to stop.
Heero brought his face up sharply and stepped towards her, reaching to brush her tears away. His eyes flickered as he seemed to struggle with some inner turmoil and he stepped back again. Relena saw none of this with her head lowered to the ground and even as she looked up at him finally, the filmy haze of her tears obscured him.
?Thank you Heero,? She said sincerely, ?I finally understand why I can?t convince myself that this is my home now. That?s because it isn?t and it never will be if nobody really wants me here.? She couldn?t face him anymore so she turned and ran back to the house leaving him staring after her.
Toto looked at Heero as he stood there like a stone statue. The man eventually shook himself and turned to notice the little dog that tilted his head at him. Toto tottered up, whined and nudged Heero with his leg in the direction of the running girl. Heero looked after her and moved his foot forward making the little dog bark in approval. His eyes suddenly clouded again and he shook his head, ?I?I can?t.? He turned and paced off in the opposite direction. Toto growled in annoyance and then scurried after her on his little legs. He caught up with her and she took him into her arms without a word and clambered back up into her room.
She stood there bathed in the light of the window like a lifeless spirit. Toto whined and nuzzled against her foot. She suddenly shuddered and fell to her bed sobbing. Toto leaped up beside her and pushed himself into the crook of her arms. She curled up and hugged him closer as he licked the salty tears off her face.
?You?re my only friend,? She whispered and buried her face in his soft fur. She muffled her cries while he lay there, bearing it quietly before she lifted her head in anguish.
?I miss you father,? She cried. ?Why did you and mother have to go away and leave me on my own? My home is with you. I want to go home, I want to go home,? she repeated brokenly.
Eventually her tears slowed and exhaustion led her to fall into an uneasy sleep. Toto stayed in her arms throughout the night and he licked her comfortingly every time she murmured and the heartbroken words emerged from her lips.
?I want to go home??
<p align="center"><b>End Chapter I</b></p>
*begs* PLEASE REVIEW I really need some motivation.
