Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Did You Know I Loved You? ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Did You Know I Loved You? Part 2

By Sultrysiren

I awoke slowly, drifting up towards consciousness with a deliberate slowness that told me just how much I missed Treize then. He was away, somewhere in space, while I got to deal with the aristocrats here on earth, and was not planning on returning until sometime next week. I missed him sorely; he spent more time with me than he did at his manor now; helping me with paperwork, giving me backrubs, little things that I took for granted until this sudden absence. He never told me where he was going, or why. He just told me he was going to space and when he would return. It puzzled me, but I figured he had his reasons, and I wasn't about to question him about it. I felt it was his right, and as long as he wasn't seeing someone behind my back. I was sure he wasn't so I was fine with it. Well, as fine with it as I could be. And, after all, he had only been gone a few days. It wasn't like he had disappeared months ago.

I finally rolled out of bed, sparing a glance to my right in hopes that he had come home early, but was disappointed. I was alone in my bed. Instead of brooding about it, though, I just got up and got dressed for the day, preparing to face the world once more.

Pagan had my breakfast ready for me as I came downstairs, eggs and pancakes with bacon and orange juice. Once more I looked towards the spot where Treize normally sat, hoping to see him, swallowing a sudden lump in my throat as I saw his chair was empty. I blinked my suddenly watery eyes and sat down, wolfing my breakfast as fast as I could. I wanted to start working as soon as possible to hopefully distract my mind from Treize.

I had long since finished breakfast and was attending to the daily paperwork my job generated almost nonstop when a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," I said, puzzled but glad for the break.

Pagan came in, Quatre just behind him. "Mr. Winner is here to see you, Miss Relena."

"Thank you, Pagan," I said as I stood, smiling. Pagan nodded and stepped out. "Hello, Quatre. What brings you here?" I stepped around my desk and gave Quatre a quick hug, then gestured for him to sit before I did as well.

Quatre sat down gracefully and folded his hands neatly in his lap. "I am throwing a party and wanted to invite you personally." He was smiling slightly, but looked a little apprehensive.

I smiled at him. "I would love to attend. Is it for any particular reason?"

He nodded. "Zechs is alive, and returning to earth. He doesn't want the media to know as of yet, but he did send a request for a party with those he used to know. Obviously, you are first on the list, Relena, but it also includes Noin, Une, the gundam pilots, and a few others."

I was overjoyed to know that my brother was indeed alive and returning, but my heart and expression froze when he mentioned the gundams. It wasn't that I had a problem with that; Quatre and I had managed to become good friends, and I kept in contact with the rest of them except for Heero. No, it was the thought of Heero, the man that I once loved being there and that Treize was supposed to return around then.

"Are you all right, Relena?" Quatre's expression had gone from slightly excited to worried. I smoothed my face out and smiled at him. "I am just fine, Quatre. I just need to know when it is so that I can be sure I will be able to attend." Hopefully he would believe me, but I wasn't going to bet on it.

He looked at me funny, but then at least he seemed to accept that. "It's in a week from today."

I flipped through my book even though I knew it was free. I paused on the right page, the day of Quatre's party and looked back up, smiling. "I'm free."

He smiled back at me. "Perfect. I know we'll all look forward to seeing you."

"And I look forward to seeing everyone again." That was the truth. It had been a long time since I had seen them all at once. Quatre I saw regularly, Trowa I saw when I went to visit Catherine, Duo had the habit of just dropping by whenever he felt like it (which, in all honesty, was fine, as it gave me a break from a tedious and stressful day), and Wufei I saw whenever I went to Preventers headquarters. Heero, however, I hadn't seen since the Eve Wars and Mariemeia had tried to take over. Quatre used to keep me updated, but after I had gotten involved with Treize and my feelings for him waned, he seemed to pick up on that and stopped. "Are Dorothy and Lady Une going to be there as well?"

He nodded, a wistful smile on his face. "Yes."

I smiled back, knowing that smile all too well since it was the one Treize and I shared. Last time I had seen Quatre, him and Dorothy had just gotten together. "How's Dorothy doing?"

He must have realized why I asked, because he blushed slightly. "She's doing really well," he answered.

"I'm glad to hear it." I leaned back in my chair and glanced at the clock. "It's almost noon. Would you like to go to lunch with me?"

"I would love to, Relena, but Dorothy and I have plans for the afternoon." He checked his watch. "And it's getting late, so I really must be going."

I nodded. "I understand, Quatre. Another time then. Say hi to Dorothy for me."

Quatre rose, smiling. "I will."

I rose as well, gave Quatre a quick hug goodbye. Once he had left, I looked at my desk, swamped with papers, and sighed. I deserved a break, with all the hard work I had been putting in recently. So I hit the intercom button. "Pagan? I am going out to lunch today."

"Very well, Miss Relena. I will ready the car."

"Thank you, Pagan." I released the intercom button and went into my bedroom to change. I took off my gray colored suit and put on a simple ankle length cream colored dress with a mandarin collar and slits up both sides. I grabbed my purse, made sure I had everything I needed, and went out.

"Where would you like to go, Miss Relena?" Pagan asked me as I got into the car and shut the door.

"I was thinking that out of the way noodle place, you know the one, right?"

"Yes, Miss Relena."

The car took off, and I sat back, sighing. I really wasn't sure how I felt about seeing Heero again, since it had been going on four years the last time we had seen one another on the plane, when he had given me that bear. That bear had slept with me every night until Treize and had gotten together, when it had been put on a shelf, almost forgotten and certainly lonely now that all the attention I used to pay it was now for Treize.

"Is everything all right, Miss Relena?"

I looked up, startled, as Pagan addressed me. I guess my thoughts had shown on my face. "I'm not sure," I answered truthfully. "It seems that my brother is all right and he is returning to earth. He requested a party of sorts, people he used to know, so that he could see us again before he came back into the public eye."

"That is very good news, Miss Relena."

"Yes, that is very good news. I am glad that he is okay. The problem is, Heero will be there."

"I see," Pagan said. "That is a problem."

"Yes," I muttered.

"Is Mr. Treize going to attend?" Pagan asked, changing the subject.

"I don't know. It seems that Quatre doesn't know he is alive, because he made no mention of him. Add to that, I don't know how my brother feels about his old friend, as the last time they saw each other, he seemed to hate him." That really mad my heart ache all the more, for I cared for Treize deeply, and while I didn't know my brother as well, I loved him as a sister should.

"I don't think you should judge your brother's feelings for his old friend based on the last time they met."

"You're right, Pagan, I shouldn't. But if Treize comes back, I can't bring him along just because, and not only for that reason." I sighed and rubbed my temple. Quatre would welcome him, but I didn't know how the other pilots would react to seeing him. And if Une was there… that would be bad. Especially if she found out that we were together. That would hurt her so much, and I had grown fond of her. And if Treize left me for her, I would be devastated.

"Don't think about it too much, Miss Relena. If Mr. Treize comes back before the party, I am sure he will understand."

I thought about that for a second and smiled. "Thank you, Pagan. I am sure you are right."

The day of the party had rolled around, and I hadn't heard from Treize. I wasn't worried about it, since he had been unable to give me an exact date. I was looking forward to seeing everyone again, anyway, and Heero was the last thing on my mind, so I was too excited to worry even if I wanted to.

The outfit I picked out was a sleeveless black formal that flared out around me. I added black gloves that came almost all the way up my arms, a black mesh wrap with oriental flowers delicately embroidered over it, and a tiny beryl necklace that Treize had given me. He said that beryl was once exchanged long ago between lovers to cement their love. It was the little things like that that I adored about him, and since something like that no one else would probably know, I felt I was safe.

"Why don't you come in with me, Pagan? I know that you would like to see Zechs."

Pagan smiled at me. "No, Miss Relena, I will wait to see him. You go and enjoy yourself."

"Ok, Pagan." I got out of the car then, made sure that I had my purse, and made my way up to the front door.

Quatre was the one who answered. "Hello, Miss Relena. Do come in."

I smiled at him. "Hello, Quatre." I stepped through the door, smiling back at him. It was a relief to attend a function as a friend, rather than as Vice Foreign Minister Princess Relena of the Sanq Kingdom. There would be no expectations of me tonight beyond those of a friend, and in Zechs' case, a sister.

"I'm glad you made it, Relena," Quatre said, smiling widely.

"I had to come, Quatre. It's been along time since I've seen everyone, especially all together, and I want to see my brother as well."

Quatre nodded as we made our way into the heart of the house and to where everyone would be gathering. "That's understandable, Miss Relena. He is your brother, after all."

I smiled and went to reply, but whatever it was I was going to say fled my mind as we entered the room where the party was. All the pilots were gathered there, including Heero.

"Hello, Relena," Heero said, walking towards me, hands idly shoved into his pockets. My smile froze on my face and I glanced around the room. Everyone else was here except for Zechs. Shit.

"Hello, Heero," I managed to say, my smile animated once more. It lacked some of the affection I once held for him, even I could tell that, and he noticed, freezing briefly before he continued walking to stop right in front of me. "It's been a long time," I added.

"It has been." Heero was the same stoic boy I had last seen: he was taller, more filled out, but still as silent and still as hard to read as ever. Funny, I used to think that I knew Heero Yuy better than I knew myself. Maybe I had been right then, but no more. I no longer knew him. Heero was a stranger once more, the new boy I had found on the beach and the new boy at school. The only difference was that I was no longer intrigued by him; he was no longer a mystery in some ways, no longer someone I wanted by my side as a lover, and no longer a source of my longing. He was nothing beyond a man that I shared a common past with. Heero had gone from potential lover to an old and grown up friend. Hopefully he wouldn't take it too hard. Hopefully.

TBC…