Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Heero and Relena ❯ Post-Endless Waltz ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, or anything associated with it. I do, however, own this story! Yada, yada, yada.

A/N: Yeah! The server is back up! I can finally update!!! *TAKE TWO!!!*

I edited Chapters 1 and 2 per some input I received on how to make them better. I also discovered the more chapters I write, the more confused I become! Hence, I'm naming each chapter now. I'd like to thank all of my reviewers who haven't been able to review due to FF.net getting their new server up. I appreciate the diligence FF.net is showing toward their clients in their efforts to get the server back up and running smoothly. *crosses fingers* Now, here is Chapter 3 for your reading pleasure. Please review!!!

Rating: I rate this chapter "PG-13" due to the second of two flashbacks.

Heero & Relena

Post-Endless Waltz

(Eight months after Chapter Two: Relena's 16th Birthday. December 26, AC 196, the day after GW:Endless Waltz' war ended.)

Heero opened his eyes to the stark, white light that filled the room. He allowed his eyes to focus before observing his all too-familiar surroundings. The IV needle in his left arm didn't surprise him as he was used to being constantly injured. What he wasn't used to was waking up and finding that he wasn't alone.

<<<I just don't understand her.>>> he thought to himself.

She was sitting on a rather uncomfortable-looking chair, leaned over at the waist to lie with her head on her arms over the edge of his hospital bed. She was sound asleep.

Relena looked as if she'd been there all night, and perhaps some of the day before. He didn't know what he was feeling as he observed her light slumber. <<<Humph. Stubborn girl.>>> He thought to himself. He saw a wisp of her hair trailing down her cheek, and reached out to push it aside, only to find his hand weighted down. He looked down to observe that she had one of her hands coiled around his. Even as she slept, her grip was not light, or tense. It was firm, and yet gentle. Her chest heaved up and down with her silent breathing, and he couldn't help but wonder if she always looked so completely stunning in her rest.

<<<Completely stunning? What am I thinking?>>> he chastised himself.

Heero allowed himself only a moment to enjoy the feel of her skin against his before gently retrieving his hand. She quickly awoke, startled out of her sleep. Missing his hand immediately, she turned to face the set of concentrated Prussian blue eyes leveled at her. She smiled.

"Heero," is all she said. She may as well have spoken volumes to him.

"Relena," he said, as he freed his hand, brought it up to her face, and gently caressed her cheek. She leaned into his caress, closing her eyes as if trying to permanently capture the moment.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, not meaning to sound as harsh as he did.

"Waiting for you, as usual," was her reply.

She had always amazed him. Not even the other Gundam pilots were able to read him the way she could. She had disregarded his harshness not out of ignorance, but because she knew he had asked out of relief of seeing her there. She stood up and stretched, glancing over at the machines' displays before returning her gaze to him. She reached out and stroked his cheek as gently as he had stroked hers. He reached up his free hand, and took hers. <<<What am I doing?" he thought. He gave her hand a squeeze before letting it go.

"You shouldn't be here, Relena," Heero blurted out.

"You're one to talk. By the way, Wing Zero is completely wrecked. The engineers are saying there is no way to repair your Gundam, so they asked me if they should start on rebuilding it from scratch."

"What did you tell them?"

"I told them to wait for its pilot's decision, or else face his wrath," she said smiling.

"Humph. Where's Wing Zero now?"

"Milliardo has it."

"Zechs has Wing Zero! Don't you realize what he could do with it?"

"Why would he want Wing Zero when he has the still-intact and perfectly working Tallgeese?"

"Is Une crazy? Why did she give the Tallgeese to Zechs?"

"Because he's changed. Or perhaps you think people don't deserve second chances?"

Heero stayed quiet with that double-pointed remark. She faintly smiled and moved her hand up to push his bangs back from his forehead. He tried to stay angry with her, but her gentleness and sweet scent lulled away his chagrin. Trying to ignore Relena's faint caresses, Heero closed his eyes and resorted to his usual logical thinking.

Lady Une isn't stupid. She had come close to killing all of the Gundam pilots at one time or another. That was saying a lot for her. Although her newly "restored" personality now faced dealing with normal emotions, she was still the level-headed, shrewd soldier she has always been, as she more than adequately proved in the Earth Sphere President's basement yesterday. Not only had she saved Relena's life, but she also hadn't hesitated to kill Dekim Barton, if only he hadn't been killed by his own soldier one millisecond before she could pull the trigger. No, if Une trusted Zechs enough to fly the Tallgeese, then he supposed he could place a smidgen of trust in Zechs concerning the Wing Zero. Temporarily, that is. Besides, it would make Relena happy. (A/N: I couldn't figure out how to slip it in, but Zechs is Relena's older brother and only sibling, not to mention Heero's number one rival in combat. Zechs Merquise is the alias Milliardo Peacecraft used as a soldier for Oz during the long war. Civilians now recognize him as Milliardo Peacecraft, but soldiers continue to recognize him as the "Lightening Count" Colonel Zechs Merquise. Currently, Heero still does not trust Zechs.)

"Heero?"

"Hn?"

She sighed, now running her hand through his hair. He unconsciously leaned into her hand. He came out of his thoughts and looked up at her. She was still smiling at him, loving him with her eyes.

<<<Loving… Relena loves me.>>> Heero thought drowsily. He completely relaxed under her hand and dropped his guard. She stroked his hair until he had fallen back to sleep.

Heero didn't know it, but he had fallen asleep with a touch of a smile lightly-etched on his features.

She stretched and sat back down in the rigid chair beside the bed. He was so peaceful when he slept. No one would ever believe this handsomely-rugged 17-year-old had killed so many hundreds of people without a trace of mercy. How many times had she been in his sights for assassination? She had lost count, not that she had cared since after the first time he had tried to kill her. She took his hand in hers and lay her head back down to join him in sleep. At least they could be together there…

(Monday morning, January 9th, AC 197.)

<<<Gee, why am I not surprised?>>> thought Relena, as she surveyed Heero's empty bedroom. Noin had told her earlier at breakfast that Heero had left during the night.

***flashback***

"Why did you keep that information from me!" Relena practically yelled, frustrated that Noin hadn't given up the habit of keeping secrets.

"It's what he wanted. Please forgive me, Miss Relena, but Heero made me promise not to tell you until after he was gone," Noin replied. Relena sighed, forgiving both soldiers for just being themselves.

***end flashback***

He had stayed just long enough to make sure no one else tried to kidnap her. He had also seriously beefed up her security and left strict instructions with Noin on how to continue in his absence. Relena couldn't help but smile thinking that he cared about her to the point of ignoring everything that he had ever been taught growing up. She sat down on the guest bed and stared wonderingly at the pillow. Relena often wondered just how horrible was Heero's life growing up the non-human way he had?

***flashback***

(The Sanc Kingdom during Relena's rule)

Heero had admitted to her that he had been specially-trained in all the arts of war from birth. A few days later, he had further admitted to her that HE HIMSELF IS the secret weapon, Operation Meteor. His parents, one unknown scientist and the other an unknown brilliant soldier, had been picked to perfect his DNA. He was taken out of his mother's womb early, and incubated with DNA enhancements.

His speed, agility, stamina, and healing processes were all enhanced beyond the normal human levels. His mental processes were also enhanced with accelerated nerve transmissions and superior memory recall. The final touch was to add some of the real Heero Yuy's DNA to the genetic mix. (A/N: The real Heero Yuy was a peace leader from the Colonies back in the AC 170s. He was assassinated. His murder was one of the catalysts for the 20+ year war. The brutal destruction of the Sanc Kingdom back on Earth, along with the assassination of the entire Peacecraft family, excluding Milliardo and Relena, was the other catalyst for the long war.)

He then told her the REAL WAY Operation Meteor was supposed to have happened back in April of AC 195. (A/N: Refer to the movie "Endless Waltz.") However, Heero knew all the details of Operation Meteor, unlike the other Gundam pilots. He knew that once the other four Gundams had secured the Earth, he was to be the final instrument in the Earth's destruction. His orders, after destroying the Earth, were to destroy the other four Gundams and their pilots, as they would naturally rebel against himself and the Barton Foundation. (A/N: The Barton (Family-owned) Foundation funded the Space Colonies' rebellion against the Earth for over twenty years. This foundation is the reason why the Gundams, and Heero, were created, and why the other four pilots were recruited and trained.) Heero's final orders were then to fly to a desolate area out in space and self-destruct himself and his Gundam.

Relena had been horrified. She had turned away from him, sparing him from witnessing the extreme pity she felt for him. He had taken her turning away that she no longer wanted anything to do with a abomination such as himself. Heero had turned around and started to walk away, when she quickly turned around, rushed up to face him, then grabbed him around the neck with her arms and held him tight. She cried, her tears stinging her eyes. She had never realized why he had tried time and time again to end his life. From jumping off a hospital-skyscraper to self-destructing his Gundam, Heero had been looking for an escape from his own destiny. She hugged him closer, more hot tears staining his school uniform. It was a while before he had put his arms around her waist, and rubbed his hand up and down her back, trying to calm her.

Relena wasn't sure how long she had cried before he had lifted up her chin, and kissed her for the first time. It was so gentle, Relena couldn't help but lose herself in the kiss. She protested when he suddenly broke away. He rubbed his forehead against hers, breathing in deeply, then he released her and strode quickly out of her office. Relena stared after in him confusion and hurt. Her head began to ache, so she laid down on her office couch, falling asleep quickly.

***end flashback***

Relena, still sitting on the bed, noticed the card on the table. She opened it.

*Relena, Gone back to space. Duo is with me. You are safe for now. Heero.*

She smiled. He knew she would be worried about him trying to commit suicide again, so he had gone back to space "suffering" Duo as company. She laughed. As much as Heero would never admit it, the other pilots were his best friends. Relena was well aware that Heero thought of them as his brothers, especially Duo and Trowa. Her smile grew as she wondered how long it would take Heero before he regretted riding in a shuttle alone again with Duo's incessantly happy chatter. She had never seen Duo unhappy. She remembered a time when she had once been that way too.

"Be safe and come back to me, Heero," she said as she tucked the card away inside the vest pocket of her business suit, then stood up, and left the room.

I'm aiming for only 5 more reviews before putting out Chapter Four: The New Guy. Please review and feel free to give me any suggestions! =)