Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Counting the Seconds ❯ Chapter Fourteen ( Chapter 14 )

DISCLAIMER: I have no rights to claim Gundam Wing as my own. :P

Counting the Seconds

By Scilja

Chapter Fourteen

"Hey."

"Hey," Hilde croaked softly. Chuckling, she gave Relena a tired but happy smile. "I'm not the greatest sight for sore eyes, huh?"

She reached out to grasp the frail hand that lay on the bed. A small grin came on her lips from the brunette's statement. "I think you look great."

Indeed, the petite woman had some of her original color returning to her skin. There were no wires or beeping monitors surrounding her as before. Only a line of IV fluid attached to her hand to provide the nutrients she lacked from her period of illness. Though her eyes were circled darkly, the familiar glimmer was back in their depths.

"Sorry I held the project back. Didn't exactly plan on this happening," Hilde said.

"Don't be stupid, Hil'! All that matters is you getting better," her friend squeezed her hand reassuringly. "By the way, Chaucer sends his wishes for you to be bouncing around soon."

The hoarse laughter that came sounded delightful to Relena's ears. "Tell him he can bet on it." Her brow furrowed then, "Rel, are you sure you can handle everything?"

Her blonde colleague rolled her eyes, "Of course, 'Hil! Don't worry. Just be sure to get back on your feet in two days. Your trip is set to go, and I expect you to get some much needed rest when you get back," she pointed out when Hilde was about to protest. "Just take care of yourself. Leave everything to me."

Seeing that the famous Darlian stubborn streak made its appearance, Hilde leaned back on her pillow. "Humph, and I thought this vacation would do you good at R & R," her voice held a sarcastic tone.

"I'll give the final details to Mr. Maxwell before I leave Hawaii. Afterwards, I will check out of our suite and go back home ― where I should find you in bed taking it easy."

Hilde smothered a laugh, "Look forward to it."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She stepped into the hallway of TMG Corp. The day before, she had told Duo of her early departure. He was surprised at the sudden leave but understood nonetheless. He was somewhat worn from having spent long hours at the hospital with Hilde, but that seemingly lost smile had returned on his features. Silently thankful that he asked no further questions, she handed Duo the final outline to the advertising for Z-Scape, checked out of their room, grabbed her luggage, and hopped on the first plane to the head office of TMG.

She hadn't spoken with Heero ever since their dispute in her hotel bedroom. Despite their argument, Relena couldn't help but need more insight to the "leak". After all, Barnes was the key witness to this situation. Since she was his employer, it was partly her responsibility to gain knowledge about the entire ordeal.

Relena walked up to the secretary busily typing away behind the counter, "Excuse me, but could you notify Mr. Peacecraft that Ms. Relena Darlian is here for her appointment?"

The woman looked at her behind oval-shaped lenses, "Ms. Darlian! Oh, I apologize for not having noticed you, but do go right ahead! He is expecting you."

Dreask's VP ambled through the gold encased glass doors amidst the buzzing of the secretary's intercom. As she walked, she looked down at her lavender skirt, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles. She saw one door opened to Peacecraft's office waiting for her entry.

"Ms. Darlian," the man that sat in the black leather chair stood from his desk and offered a seat to her.

Not once in her career has she met the man in person, so she was quite taken back at his appearance. Long white-blonde hair cascaded down his back, but it gave him more of a masculine air. From his height and build, she estimated to be around his late twenties. What struck her the most were his eyes, a stern blue that was well guarded of his character.

The closer she stepped, she did not imagine him to look at her in astonishment. Well, for having said nothing for the next few minutes, it came to be more of a shock. Her nerves were starting to become jittery at his hard stare.

"Rellie?"

Her eyes widened at the single word he uttered from his mouth. It felt as if a bolt of sudden panic shot right through her. An unexplainable waver coursed through her entire body. She was speechless. Her ears thundered to what they just heard.

Only one person had been given the right to call her that. The last time she heard it was years ago, years of her childhood. The one person that had given her that personal nickname could be no more than -

She gawked at the initial 'M.' etched on the gold triangular nameplate. Relena blinked incredulously at the face of the tall man before her, saying in a barely audible whisper, "Milliardo?"

At the sound of his name, the man rounded his desk and stood right in front of her. Slowly, he raised his hand to trace her cheek, as if to prove she was real.

With a tilt of her head, her eyes misted over as a genuine smile flourished from her lips, "Hello, brother."

Milliardo engulfed her in a firm embrace. He instinctively stroked the middle of her back as he had done in their youth. The same old action brought comfort whenever she felt sad or was in tears. Relena couldn't help but feel like her four year old self again.

The young woman closed her eyes at the rising joy building inside her, ecstatic that the childhood she once thought was gone was very much alive. The blonde femme looked at her newfound relative with fondness, "I thought you were gone. With mama and papa no longer here, I did not know whether you were alive or not."

"My little sister, I have never stopped holding on to that hope." His voice, bold as she had always known it to be, carried a hint of instability due to their long lost reunion. "After years of searching and coming up with nothing, then you suddenly come tumbling into my life." He pulled back and smiled, giving his eyes a boyish air.

As quick as elation came, a troubled frown crossed his features, "Where have you been hiding all this time? I almost circled the world to find you."

Relena thought deeply at first then grasped it knowingly, "What name did you look me under?"

"Peacecraft, of course."

The young VP shook her head, an apologetic smile on her lips, "No wonder you came up with nothing. I went under my adoptive parents' name, Darlian." She shielded her eyes under her bangs, "I did not learn of the origin of my last name until the year my father passed away."

"I'm sorry. My sympathies to Mr. Darlian."

Her gaze went back to his face, "That's alright. Thank you."

Indicating for them to take a seat, he continued, "Where have you been all this time?"

"Earth."

He let out a mock snort. The corner of his lips lifted as he looked at her, "I can't believe that you're here."

She nodded, "Well, that makes two of us."

"Are you sure you're the Relena I know of?"

"How can I be sure you're the Milliardo I know of?"

"The same girl who could always be seen dragging around a pink rat?"

"The one and only boy who said he would never grow long hair because they were for girly girls," she eyed his lengthy tresses and arched a brow, "and look at him now."

"Touché."

She cast a leer at him, "And for your information, it was a rabbit."

They laughed together at that, even more pleased they had found each other.

Milliardo leaned back in his seat, "Tell me about your life."

Had he been a stranger, Relena would have been long gone at the direct question. But this man, carried that very familiar aura about him, and that made it especially certain he was her brother. She clasped her hands together on her lap, "My childhood remains a blurred image to me. I hardly remember a thing, only bits and pieces of it. But what I do remember is staying at an orphanage. Around the age of five, I was adopted to a foster home from the guardianship of the Darlians. I was lucky enough to live with a family who genuinely cared for me with their hearts."

A heartfelt smile shaped her lips at the thought of those memories, "The Darlians were the most wonderful people to me. They raised me with good morals and gave me a fulfilling education. Not to mention a loving house to go home to and the endless nurturing. Years of schooling have landed me a good impression on the representatives of Dreask, and I was hired on first appointment. Two years later, I was given a more than gracious position as the Vice President of the company."

Having never lost contact with him, Relena raised her head at him, "That's a short sum up of my life, Milliardo. Now won't you indulge me by telling what you have been up to?"

He chuckled lightly. The little girl that he once pushed against the swing to bring forth bubbling laughter was none other than the highly esteemed and clever woman before him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Mr. Yuy! What do you have to say about the betrayal of your own employee?"

"How will you plan to carry this one out, sir?"

"Where does ZW stand now against TMG Corps.?"

"Mr. Yuy, you've been arranging campaigns with Dreask for Z-Scape. Tell me, what relationship do you have with Ms. Darlian?"

Heero scowled angrily as he by passed the several microphones held out by hounding reporters. It took a lot of his will not to knock them out, his reputation being the only thing that was holding him back. How his hands curled into fist already, itching to lunge at the leeches that craved juicy tidbits.

He then stopped his fast tread and turned to face the media. Seeing it as a sign that he was going to speak, many more rushed near him thrusting recorders, cameras, and microphones up against him. He bit his back tongue to prevent from yelling angrily, and muttered a low but firm, "No comment" before stepping into the vehicle made ready for him. Immediately the bodyguards that surrounded the black vehicle obstructed the sea of unsatisfied reporters who were still determined to get a final word.

When they had driven a few miles enough to have escaped the any following reporters, Heero dialed a number on the car videophone. He ran his hand through his brown tresses, a sign he was irritated and cross. The last question especially rung at his nerves. Damn parasites, always hungry for his love life. Those people weren't taught the meaning of 'personal'.

'Won't they ever give it a break?!' Even his vacations didn't make out to be like intended.

Right after he went through Relena's door, he headed to the headquarters of ZW, noting to Duo to finish off the final details of Z-Scape for him. He called his secretary to inform her of his early return. The news that followed became a quick blow to him. Hearing the possibility that one of his employees was haggling with the competition came down on him hard.

What vexed him more was that Relena was right. She had been honest to him from the start and he mistook her as some deceitful stranger. He insulted her on many levels. This had to be the greatest blunder in the life of Heero Yuy.

Immediately at his return, he went straight to the problem at hand, connecting to other firms and conducting ways to put everything back to its spot. Phone calls were made, papers were signed, and messages were sent. The office and everyone in it was buried in chaos, but all loyally continued to do their part.

An image flickered unto the screen, showing the face of Duo Maxwell, "Yo, Heero! What kept 'ya?" His faulty grin hid the tiredness in his eyes.

"Duo, give me an update."

At once the coordinator grit his teeth, "Not good, man. Aside from the fact it's hellish to get anywhere without junk gossip in your face, we are trying to get a hold of TMG to confirm all this crap. But I'm telling 'ya, it's taking way too long. Every second our reputation's sliding down. Our partners and stock holders are already starting to pack their bags."

The CEO cursed blatantly but kept his focus onwards. "Maxwell, you keep those people on their feet and chain them if you have to. Not a word to those reporters at any cost. I'm going straight to their head office."

Cobalt eyes widened surprised at the last statement. "You what?! No shit, Heero, but if we can't get a hold of them, what makes you think you'd be able to march right in?"

That earned him a pointed glare, "I'll find a way."

His friend sighed exasperatingly, "Suit yourself, it's your whacko idea." That made another fierce glower from Yuy. He raised his hands in surrender, "Alright, alright. Just be careful, Heero, you got it? Your grandpappy won't be too pleased if he hears his only grandson screwed up royally."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, Maxwell."

"Hey, now!"

"How's Hilde?"

Taken back at the complete change in subject, Duo's features slowly softened at the sound of the woman's name, "She's doing a lot better for sure. After two more days at the hospital, I made sure she went back home safely."

"That's good," he said.

Duo meant to question of Relena, but since Heero didn't press on the topic, he thought it was yet too touchy to tread. He looked worriedly at his friend. Strangely enough, he's been acting differently since the past few days. He looked beat.

"I'm counting on you," Heero leaned on his knees.

In response, the braided man gave a cheeky grin, "You can trust me, buddy. Good luck."

The terminal was shut off.

TBC…