Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Captivation ❯ Chapter 12 ( Chapter 12 )

LOL - Chapter 11 got your attention, didn't it! Thanks to everyone who sent me comments and encouragement to finish this off. I am sorry that the final chapter has taken so long to get out, I had real difficulty writing the epilogue and changed it three times before I was satisfied (at which point it was longer than the actual chapter >_<) Hope you enjoy this!

Captivation

By kmf

Standard Disclaimer applied

Chapter Twelve

Heero strode through the trees on the Sanq estate under the darkness of an overcast evening sky. He did not really care which direction he went in, he just needed to walk - to do anything to get his mind off Relena. He had not been able to face getting into the stuffy carriage with Dr Jaye and had curtly told his old guardian that he was going to walk to Maresfield. It had been easy to ignore the doctor's protests as he walked determinedly off the main drive into the solitude of the Sanq Hall grounds. Heero needed the distraction of physical effort, he needed and wanted physical pain to divert him from the mental pain he felt.

As he walked away, he heard the carriage depart down the driveway, the gravel crunching in the coolness of the evening air. Dr Jaye was happy with the conclusion of Heero's relationship with Miss Peacecraft, but Heero was not. His mind was whirling with images of Relena beautiful and innocent in her white nightdress and her hair unbound, long and golden. An angel. She had looked like an angel. But the words that she told him were not angelic.

Relena had helped Une. She had helped the woman who had killed his sister.

…"Treize hinted that Une was responsible, but it was never confirmed."…

Relena's voice rang clear in his mind. That was true, it was not confirmed. But the hint had come from Treize himself and Relena had believed it at the time. So had Heero. So had everyone else who had heard the tale. Why now did she choose to disbelieve? Why did she choose to go against him?

Heero had never cared for Une. He knew when he met her at Helena's wedding that she had feelings for Treize. He had observed her coldly watching the bride and had seen the animation that had come into her eyes when Treize addressed her. She had been a woman deeply in love with his sister's husband. In love to an extent that was to prove unhealthy - Une had given up everything for Treize: her husband, her fortune and her sanity.

Heero tripped over a root of one of the hornbeams in the dark and found himself sprawled across the grass, the heaviness of his fall jarring the breath from his lungs. He lay there welcoming the slight pain in his hands and knees, which cut through the numbness he felt. He closed his eyes and pressed his face into the dewy dampness of the grass. His mind, however, would not be distracted from the analysis of Relena's words.

Une had been deeply in love with Treize. Was it possible then that she would try and take credit for an occurrence that would give Treize pleasure? Was it possible that Une had taken responsibility for a death? Had Une remodeled herself into someone new, just to experience a few golden moments of approval from the one she loved? Heero rolled over onto his back and looked up at the stars. He supposed it could be possible, if she had been so desperate to please Treize.

And did that then mean that Helena took her own life? His sister had always taken much pleasure in living, Heero found it difficult to conceive that even life in an asylum would drive her to commit a mortal sin. And Helena knew that Heero would have freed her from her prison if she had just waited long enough for him to return from abroad. He shook his head. No, he could not conceive of circumstances horrible enough for her to commit violence upon herself.

But Relena had rescued Une when she thought that Une had committed the crime, a nagging voice in the back of his mind reminded him. Heero grimaced. As if I could forget, he thought. Relena had an overwhelming capacity to love, forgive and to help others. It was what made her special. It was what made her her. Her compassion shone and glowed like a beacon to him. Her beauty had initially attracted him, but it was her compassion that won his heart.

Heero groaned, raising himself up onto his elbows. He was an idiot. What she said was true. If she had not helped Une she would not have been acting true to herself. She would be the Relena that he had fallen so much in love with. Heero replayed the last words he said to her in his mind.

…You are mistaken…

He quickly got to his feet. How could he have been so cruel to her? How could he have lied to her, even when overtaken by the anger he had felt? Heero started running back to Sanq Hall, quickly retracing his steps. He would beg for her forgiveness; surely if she had it in her to forgive Une then she could forgive him.

Heero had wandered further than he originally thought. Either that or his impatience to be back at Sanq Hall with Relena was causing the trek to take longer than he imagined it ought. As he ran he thought of what he would say to her. He would not apologize, he could not. It was not in his nature to apologize for what had been said, or in this case not said. He would admit that he acted wrongly, that he was incorrect in his assessment of the situation, but he would not say he was sorry.

Heero had an unerring sense of direction and, after the occasional stumble and curse in the dark, he perceived Sanq Hall in the distance. It looked cold and shadowy in the darkness of the night, the only indication that anyone was up was a pale light issuing from a second story window. It flickered in the night breeze dimly illuminating the curtains that, caught in the wind, were hanging outside the window.

It was Relena's room, he was sure. He could not recall the decor of her room, he could not remember the shade of curtains, and indeed in the grey dim light of night he could not really discern the shade now. The vision of Relena in a state of undress holding her shawl close to her slender body had overwhelmed him, her surroundings had been insignificant and not worth noticing. Heero did, however, know now where her room was since his abrupt visit, and he was sure that the only illuminated room was hers.

He smiled slightly. Perhaps she had waited up because she knew that he would return to her, before even he had known. She knew him better than he knew himself, she was so perfect for him. Before this night was gone he would make sure that she was his forever.

Movement in the room arrested his vision. A shadow cast by the candles showed the approach of Relena to the window. Not wishing to disturb the servants and perhaps cause more gossip and scandal for her, Heero prepared to call up softly and ask her to come down. Before he could call, his voice caught in his throat.

It was not Relena.

...Dr Jaye...

Heero felt instantly intense anger towards his old guardian. How dare he interfere again in his life. He watched as Dr Jaye lifted the sash window to its full height and peered out into surrounding grounds. Instinctively Heero hid behind the tree, thinking of reasons why Dr Jaye should present himself to Miss Peacecraft. And why Miss Peacecraft would entertain him in her room.

Heero frowned. Yes, Heero himself had been received in her chamber, but that was only because he had forced his way up there. Had Dr Jaye done the same thing? Surely she would have said no to the old man where she had said yes to him. Heero could not imagine the Dr being forceful enough to demand to see Relena. But he could see him secretly visiting her without her servants' knowledge. It was well within the doctor's personality to be sly.

The doctor moved away from the window and Heero moved closer to the house. He quickly considered his options. He could knock on the door and request entrance to Sanq Hall or he could take the direct route to Miss Peacecraft's room by climbing up the virginian creeper that decorated the front of the Hall. It was old and offered an easy route. Heero had been skilled in climbing trees in his youth and he thought that he still retained enough of those skills to make his ascent an easy one.

As he stood considering, he suddenly felt a pang of uneasiness wash across him. A nagging feeling, an anxiety that made him catch his breath and look up towards Relena's window. He had to get up to her immediately, he knew in his heart that something was wrong. He quickly moved to under her window, the pale light emanating from it did little to illuminate the creeper upon which he had decided to climb. He used his hands to feel for the thickest part of the stem and hoped that it grew basically in the direction of the lady's room.

Although the creeper was old, the stem itself pressed quite close to the masonry necessitating Heero to support his weight by his toes, or by turning his foot and using the side of his foot to balance. He was grateful that he still wore his kid gloves, the bark was sharp in places on occasion puncturing the material of his gloves and causing him to wince. Heero did not allow the pain to distract him, he knew that he had to get to the room as soon as he could. As he disturbed the foliage, dust from the leaves floated in the air and into his eyes making them feel gritty and uncomfortable. Moths were disturbed, cobwebs coated his face but so precarious was his perch that he could not wipe the threads away. Slowly he inched up the vine, wincing as he encountered parts that did not support his weight, the sticky tendrils pulling away from the cracks in the masonry in small showers of brick dust.

Finally he was within a couple of feet of the window. Hearing footsteps approaching the window he pressed himself against the foliage and peered up. Dr Jaye was again looking out, before pushing at the sash once again in what Heero perceived to be nervousness. What was his guardian doing? Heero was close enough now to hear any conversation, but the doctor was silent, as was Relena. Dr Jaye moved away from the window again and Heero began to climb the perilous last few feet to the safety of the window. He did not contemplate what he would say to Miss Peacecraft and Dr Jaye when he tumbled through onto her bedroom floor, he just needed to be off the vine as soon as possible.

Heero's head was level with the windowsill when he heard more movement. White clouded his vision and the soft scent that was Relena. She was sitting on the sill and Heero realized that his face was level with her posterior. Heero felt himself flush at the notion and moved up another foot or so, silently not wishing to startle her especially with his face so near a part of her anatomy that he ought not to be even considering. But as he moved up and got a better view, it was he that was startled.

Relena was leaning against Dr Jaye's shoulder, his arms were firm around her slender body whilst her arms were limp at her side. Her head was nestled against his shoulder, her face hidden by her golden locks. Dr Jaye's eyes were closed, his face pressed into her hair. He looked for the world that he was comforting Relena.

And then Dr Jaye gently removed his arms from around her and pushed her.

Heero felt his heart stop as Relena fell backwards. Her head tipped back, her hair spilling away from her face to reveal that her eyes were closed. She made no attempt to stop her fall, no automatic reaction. Heero braced himself and using his body arrested her fall, her upper back balanced precariously on his shoulder, her neck limp, her head bouncing on his back. She tipped a little to his left forcing him to release his left hand hold of the creeper to wrap his arm around her pulling her close. His hand across her chest sensed both the beating of her heart and her rhythmic breathing and he almost shouted in his relief that she was alive.

His good cheer was only momentary as the additional weight of Relena caused the creeper to start pulling away from the wall and for him to lose his precarious balance. Heero cursed out loud.

"Heero!"

Dr Jaye had opened his eyes to see that Heero had arrested Relena's fall and that Heero himself was now in danger of falling. The Doctor reached out around Relena and grabbed his ward by the lapels of his jacket pulling him closer to the building. For a brief moment all three were pressed close together, Relena sandwiched between the two men, her legs still hooked over the windowsill. Heero used the opportunity of Dr Jaye's grip, which secured Relena, to release his own hold of her and establish another handhold on the creeper, pressing his body against the girl cradling her between him and the building to ensure she did not slip further.

Dr Jaye continued to hold onto Heero, concern in his eyes for his ward. Moving up with Dr Jaye's support Heero used his body to push Relena up and over the sill until the balance of her weight cause her to slide into the room. Dr Jaye moved to one side and pulled Heero the remaining way up the wall and into the room.

Heero spared no glance for the Doctor. His mind did not have room to consider why Dr Jaye had pushed Relena. Heero only had eyes for her and he knelt beside the unconscious girl who lay sprawled and undignified on the floor of the room. He pulled off his gloves and pulled her up into his arms. Her head lolled back revealing the viscous bruises around her throat. Heero growled at the sight, smoothing her hair away from her face.

"Miss Peacecraft.." Heero whispered "Relena...", he held her close, trying to be as gentle as possible as he did not know what other wounds she had suffered from. She stirred slowly, as if from a sleep, her brow furrowed in discomfort. Heero glanced up at Dr Jaye who stood hovering beside the couple, his claw like hands twisting at the material of his jacket in his agitation "What have you done?" Heero demanded.

"...Heero.." Heero turned his attention immediately back to his charge as she whispered words, croaky and faint from her bruised throat. "I knew you would come back." she managed to say.

He embraced her tightly, disregarding all convention. If discovered her reputation would be ruined, to be found embracing a man in her boudoir in a state of undress would spell the end to any chance of re-acceptance into society. But Heero did not care. He had to hold her close to reassure himself that she was alive, and that she had forgiven him for his treatment of her.

"Relena.." he began "Please forgive me." he started. He hesitated over the words that came so hard to him but which he knew he needed to express "I was wrong not to trust your judgement. Thank God I realized it when I did." He buried his head in her hair, allowing himself the pleasure of kissing it.

He carefully got to his knees, still holding her close, then stood lifting her weight in his arms and carried her over to her bed. He laid her gently down, smiling slightly at her blush as she reluctantly loosened her grip from around his neck. He sat on the bed and smoothed her hair back, his gaze once again falling on her bruises. He hand stopped its movement and his eyes narrowed. He turned to confront Dr Jaye who had edged towards the door.

"Why?" he grated.

"Because I knew you would not be strong enough to stay away!" Dr Jaye said, poised to flee at the first sign that Heero would move towards him; he recognized the barely controlled anger in the younger man's eyes. "You have worked so long and hard on your career, I could not stand to see you throw it away for nothing."

"For nothing?" Heero surged to his feet, his hands clenched in his outrage "I love this woman. If you had killed her do you think I would have continued to care about anything?"

"You did before." Dr Jaye retorted, then lowered his eyes to the floor unable to watch as realization came to Heero.

"Before..?" Heero repeated the doctor's last words. He went pale as he understood what the doctor had said "Helena." Heero glanced at the still open window then looked back at Dr Jaye "You killed Helena."

Dr Jaye said nothing. He did not defend himself, indeed there was nothing to defend. He backed up a step as he saw a murderous gleam in Heero's eyes.

"..Heero.." a tortured whisper came from Relena, and Heero tore his eyes from Dr Jaye and turned back to the girl on the bed. Her eyes were open and she stared intently at Heero, lifting her hand towards him.

Heero immediately took her cold hand in his and sat on the edge of the bed caressing it. He watched as she grimaced as she tried to speak, the bruising on her throat making it difficult to talk.

"..do not.." she managed to say, before Heero reached out one finger and touched it to her lips.

"Hush." he said, not wanting her to hurt herself by talking, and not wishing to hear the words he knew she was trying to say to him.

She smiled gently, then pulled his hand from her mouth. "..forgive.." she said so softly that Heero could have claimed not to hear. But he knew what she was saying.

...Forgive him for what he has done both to me and to Helena...

Heero could not help but be amazed at the depth of compassion that Relena displayed. She was willing to forgive the man who had come so close to claiming her life. Heero, however, was not sure he could be so forgiving. He had trusted Dr Jaye all his life. Dr Jaye was to all intents and purposes father to him and Helena. How could this man, for the sake of Heero's career, have murdered poor gentle Helena? What had twisted the old doctor so that he considered a political career more important than life?

Relena kept staring at him and Heero could tell that if she could talk freely she would be pleading with him to let the Doctor go and that revenge would solve nothing. Heero felt calmer as he looked into her blue eyes. He had not listened to her and not trusted her before and that had led them both to this point - her bruised and battered, and him finally knowing the truth about Helena. Heero wished that he had listened to her. She would have been safe in his arms and he would have been blissfully ignorant as to the true perpetrator of the death of Helena. He closed his eyes, coming to a decision.

This time he would take heed of her.

He did not look at Dr Jaye again. He could not trust himself to look at the man who had killed his sister and attempted to kill the woman he loved without having the raging anger begin again and the desire to take his revenge overwhelm him.

"Go." he growled at Dr Jaye, opening his eyes again to gaze at Relena who rewarded him with a smile "I never want to hear from you or see you again." Still he looked only at Relena, watching as she closed her eyes and a single tear rolled down her cheek. He caressed it away, listening to the door close behind Dr Jaye and his rapid footsteps down the hall.

Relena opened her eyes again. "Thank you" she mouthed, her throat too sore to produce more than ragged sounds. Heero reached down and pulled the girl into his embrace, and her arms tentatively crept around him giving him comfort. He buried his head in her hair again, breathing in her lavender scent trying not to think about what would have been if he had been but a few minutes later arriving at Sanq Hall. Heero pulled back slightly, smoothing her hair away from her face. She was tearful and was beginning to shake slightly with the shock of what had happened setting in. But she smiled bravely back up at him, her lips tempting him to draw close again.

"You will marry me." Heero whispered to her. It was not a request, it was not a question. It was a demand. Relena's smile broadened.

He kissed her then, gently on her mouth. It was the first kiss that Relena had experienced, her innocence making her shy. But with his touch sparks of pleasure awoke deep inside her, almost painful surges that made her whole body feel alive. She kissed him back, tentatively at first but then with growing passion. She delighted in the feel of his arms around her, pressing her close to his chest, his fingers losing themselves in her hair.

And all too soon it was over. Heero pulled himself away from her reluctantly, his breathing heavy and voice rough as he repeated "You will marry me." He stared into her dazed eyes

Relena's reply was quiet, scarcely audible, but firm and decisive.

"Yes."

* * * *

Epilogue

Relena had not seen a great deal of Lord Yuy since the night he had clambered up the virginan creeper to save her life. Almost as soon as Heero had demanded that she marry him, Peygan had burst into the room having been woken by Dr Jaye's noisy retreat. The old butler cut a startling figure dressed only in his night-shirt and slippers and clutching a poker in his hand. He had misconstrued the tableau before him, assuming that his young mistress was being forcibly restrained by Heero rather than being held in a cherished embrace.

By the time the servant listened to reason, Heero had been forced to retreat to a corner of the room, evading the flurries of poker play whilst trying to explain the situation. It had taken Relena sending a pitcher crashing to the floor to draw Peygan's attention away from Heero, who swiftly disarmed the older man. Peygan had been shocked by the story and was profusely sorry for so nearly (in his mind) dashing the brains out of the young Lord. Heero needed no apology and was extremely grateful that the servant was so loyal to Relena that he would risk his life to defend her. Peygan, however, still had not gotten over his mortification of attacking a peer and still flushed red whenever he saw Heero.

The three of them had decided that the night's events should be kept secret. The scandal that already surrounded Relena would just be intensified by the news that she had entertained two men in her bedroom whilst in a state of near undress. Peygan had voiced his concern over the absent Dr Jaye, but Heero assured him that his old guardian would not return. Relena suspected that Heero was not absolutely sure about this point as he insisted that she travel to Bath that very night to join her brother and sister-in-law. His reasoning was that she would be hard pressed to hide the marks that Dr Jaye had pressed into her throat from the servants. Peygan would do his best to suppress rumors below stairs, but even he had limits and he doubted that he would be able to restrain Mrs Noventa's tongue. Heero had also wanted her to visit a doctor as soon as possible and he was certain that Millardo would have found a reliable physician in Bath that she could attend.

Heero had not accompanied her, as much as she had wanted him to. He had stated, correctly, that it would not be acceptable. But he did tell her that he would soon be visiting Millardo to ask his permission to wed his sister, which he did within a day of Relena arriving in Bath.

Millardo had refused to admit Heero to his house firmly placing the blame of Relena's injuries with Heero. Heero, showing the stubbornness that Relena knew and loved refused to leave and declared loudly on the doorstep that if he was not allowed in via the door, then a window would do just as well. Reluctantly Millardo had let Heero enter and had listened impatiently to his request to marry Relena. At the end of Heero's monologue Millardo had refused.

It had taken the intervention of Lucrezia to finally change Millardo's mind. Relena did not know exactly what passed between the couple or what reasoning Lucrezia used to sway Millardo, but she had been singularly impressed with the results. Millardo immediately became civil to the younger Lord and agreed to the posting of the bans at the Maresfield church.

Heero had returned to Maresfield after kissing Relena to a near breathless state in front of both Millardo and Lucrezia (the former of which had gone such a shade of red that Relena feared he was going to suffer an apoplexy from his suppressed rage). Relena had been left feeling quiet bereft of Heero's company until Lucrezia had started organizing the wedding including taking her shopping for her wedding trousseau once Relena's bruises had faded.

Millardo, Lucrezia and Relena returned to Maresfield eleven days before the date of the wedding. Early the following morning Relena and Lucrezia set about the task of delivering wedding invitations. The simple cards had been printed in Bath and polite etiquette demanded that these cards be delivered precisely ten days before the celebrations to those people whom the bride and bridegoom wished to associate with after they were married. The guest list was not long, Maresfield was not a large village and there were not many people left there of whom Relena could claim a close personal acquaintance.

Lady Une accepted her invitation with much pleasure, as did Mr Barton. Hilde did not receive an invitation, nor did her two sisters, for Relena had written to her personally the week before begging her and her siblings to be her bridesmaid "for although I have no sisters of mine own to ask, I do count you closer to me than any other." Hilde and her sisters were delighted to accept and showed much delight over the gifts of dresses to wear to the ceremony.

The last call was paid to Lady Dorothy Catalonia, a lady over whom Relena had pondered long and hard before inviting. Relena was upset that Dorothy had rejected Mr Winner outright and had driven him away, for Relena would have dearly liked to have the young ambassador at her wedding, together with Catherine and her husband Rashid. Relena had finally decided to invite the Lady because it would give her the perfect opportunity to ask Dorothy why she had done as she had and perhaps offer her a chance to sway her mind.

However, Relena's plans were foiled for as they arrived at Lady Catalonia's estate she and Lucrezia found it to be shut up, sheets placed over furniture and stables empty. A young maid was still looking after the house and answered the door at Relena's tentative knock. She explained that Lady Catalonia was no longer residing at her estate and was not expected back in the foreseeable future. Relena immediately assumed that Dorothy had returned to London to follow the lifestyle she enjoyed prior to the death of her cousin. The maid, however, quickly gossiped that Lady Catalonia was abroad and that she had taken off suddenly after moping around the house for several days. Without any prompting the maid informed Relena and Lucrezia that Lady Catalonia's destination had been 'an Arab country' and that it was 'simply shocking to travel such a distance on her own' and that 'she was likely to be kidnapped and sold by a fierce heathen if she was not very careful'.

On this note, Relena had thanked the maid and left, tucking the final invitation in her reticule. She could not suppress the delight she felt at the news, and could not help but smile in her happiness. She knew exactly where Dorothy had gone; in search of Mr Quatre Winner. Dorothy was not the type of person to let the dangers of travel dissuade her from searching out her soul mate, even if she came to the conclusion that Quatre was the right man for her a little on the late side.

The final days went by in a blur of activity for Relena making the time pass so quickly when she was sure it ought to pass slowly. And when day finally did arrive Relena was the first to admit that the weather gave her great concern. When she awoke that Wednesday morning the first thing she did after leaving her bed was to draw back the curtains. Thick fog greeted her making it almost impossible for her to see the scarlet and crimson leafed hornbeams that grew in the Sanq Hall gardens.

She wanted the day to be perfect for herself and Heero, even to the extent that she had chosen a 'lucky' day, Wednesday, to be wedded on. Not normally a superstitious person she felt that with all the disasters that she and Heero had encountered since their first meeting, any scrape of good luck she could summon for the occasion would be a good thing. Heero had chuckled at her reasoning, but had conceded on the day; he did not care as to when they got married, just so long as they did marry.

As the morning progressed and the fog began to lift, Relena began to feel reassured that the day she had chosen was lucky after all. By the time she reached the chapel she was sure of it. The sun shone brightly on the autumn day chasing the last of the clouds away, robins flittered in curiosity around the hedgerow that surrounded the chapel ignoring the small crowd of villagers that had gathered to watch the bride alight from her carriage.

Relena felt nervous as her step-father helped her down as she knew that she had not been in favour with the villagers since the incident with Lord Treize. However, most everyone was smiling at her with open honest looks on their faces. To one side stood a troop of young children all dressed in uniforms; tidy grey dresses with white pinafores for the girls, and grey short trousers and jackets for the boys. One girl and boy came forward holding out a small bouquet of wild flowers for her - blue Field Speedwell, Mayweed, pink Camion, and Seabious - whilst politely curtseying and bowing.

"You look beautiful Miss" the girl breathed as Relena accepted the gift and Relena recognized her to be Mariemaia - her face had filled out from eating good nourishing food and her short cropped hair had gained half an inch in length and was looking glossy and healthy.

"Thank you Mariemaia." Relena smiled and allowed the child to touch the smooth material of her dress. Relena had had difficulty choosing a dress to wear for her wedding; her wardrobe was full of wonderful clothes. The dress she had finally decided to wear had been a favourite of Catherine's and Relena trusted Catherine's good taste even in the girl's absence. It was a soft pink, worn over a white satin slip flounced with crape. She wore a small bridal veil fastened to her bonnet with a brooch of pearl and pink topazes. Her hair was simply dressed in light curls and parted on the forehead courtesy of a nimble fingered Lucrezia. To complete the outfit she wore a necklace and armlets of pearls and pink topazes, which Millardo had given her the night before telling her that they belonged to their mother. On her feet she wore white satin slippers and white kid gloves adorned her hands.

"They are all impressed by the school." Reverend Darlian whispered to her as they moved towards the steps of the chapel, his eyes moving towards the waving people "They can speak of nothing else, especially after some of the London papers ran articles on it." He squeezed her hand "It is always the way in small towns - the gossip of last month ago is forgotten when something more interesting this month comes along."

Relena smiled and waved back to those outside the church thinking that just a few weeks ago they would not have even looked at Miss Peacecraft for the shame that surrounded her. How quickly life changed - and within a few minutes she would no longer be Miss Peacecraft, but rather Lady Yuy.

And then she was in the church and walking up the isle looking at Heero. He waited for her at the alter flanked by a very smart looking Duo and Hilde and her sisters who all looked beautiful in their matching light blue robes with cream pelisses and cream satin lined bonnets. Relena felt a touch of sadness fall upon her for if her step mother had still been alive Heero would have escorted her first up the isle and her dear Mama have been smiling encouragement at Relena as she walked towards her new life. Heero looked at her nervously as she approached mistaking the sadness in her eyes for trepidation on her part. She smiled shyly up at him as Reverend Darlian gave her hand to Heero and Heero relaxed, a small smile playing on the edge of his lips.

The ceremony was presided over by the Reverend Taylor who had recently taken over the parish from the retiring Reverend Darlian. A young kind man, he smiled encouraging at the couple before him as he asked them to repeat their vows to each other. Relena said her words quietly, looking deeply into Heero's eyes as she did so, and Heero repeated the same words to her with such honesty, sincerity and commitment that she knew that he was etching this oath upon his very soul itself.

…For richer and for poorer

…In sickness and in health

…Forsaking all others

…Till death we do part..

Relena felt tears well up in her eyes as Heero gently took her left hand and pulled off the kid glove. The Reverend Taylor held out his bible upon which sat a thick heavy gold ring that the clergyman had just blessed. Heero picked it up and gently slid it upon Relena's finger, his eyes never once leaving hers.

"I now pronounce you man and wife." The Reverend finished with a smile "You may kiss the bride."

Heero still holding Relena's hand bent down to her upturned face and touched his lips gently to hers. Relena's eyes shut as an overwhelming sense of joy filled her, she was now his wife and that gentle-fleeting kiss was a promise of more to come. Feeling his lips leave hers, she gave a little sigh of happiness and opened her eyes to see Heero smiling at her. He held out his arm and she took it, holding it tightly as they walked down the isle of the church into the yard where the villagers all still waiting. They started to applaud the newly married couple emerged from the church.

As the church bells started to ring, Reverend Darlian threw handfuls of rice towards Heero and Relena. Heero looked startled at the act, as did the other guests, but Relena laughed and explained.

"It is a tradition in China - a wish of good luck for a newly wed couple."

Heero grinned as he helped Relena into the carriage waiting to take them back to Sanq Hall and the wedding breakfast. The open carriage had been decorated with white ribbons and had old shoes strung out behind it.

"I do not need any more good luck." He said as he clambered up into the carriage beside her sitting as close as he could. He held her hand in his "My captivating wife, I have you and that is all I ever want in this world."

The End

Phew! Its over and done with. I really hope you enjoyed this and would appreciate any feedback you care to give me. Was the ending too sappy, not sappy enough? Did I give too much information about the other characters, or did you like to know what was going on.

I have had some people ask if this is going to turn into a trilogy. The answer is no. I have run out of Heero and Relena plot for this AU, and I think that if I write anymore its just going to become formulaic. I may at some point write some side fics - Duo and Hilde and how they resolve their relationship interests me, as does Dorothy treking halfway across the world hunting Quatre. But in the sort term I shall now take a break from all things Regency (..er, though I think my turn with Waltz of Wings is looming…).

Thanks for any feedback you care to give ^_^