Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Precious Moments ❯ Soft Reassurances ( Chapter 7 )

Precious Moments

Chapter 7 - Soft Reassurances

By Angel Love

Author's notes: This is bit more of a filler chapter than anything else. I focused on the romance here because I felt that I needed to bring Relena and Heero closer together. I also plan on getting the two married; so don't fear that I will never get there. I promise, I will!

Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Gundam Wing. The Anime Gods are still laughing from when I asked them. I also don't own `No Place That Far' by Sara Evans.

As Heero hung up the phone, he felt as if a brick had been placed in his stomach and someone was trying to squeeze the life out of his heart. He turned to look at Trowa and Quatre, who were watching him with concern. "Quatre, call Dr. Phillip. Tell her that Relena has collapsed in one of the clearings on the property. Trowa come with me, Duo says that she is no shape to be able to ride back."

Both nodded their understanding. Quatre reached for the vidphone as Trowa and Heero headed out of the mansion, towards the stables. With a quick word to the head groomer, two of the stable hands were following them to Heero's jeep.

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Relena moaned slightly as she fought through the fog she was in, trying to get to the soft concerned voice of Duo. Slowly she pried her heavy lids open to focus on his violet eyes that were hovering just above her face.

He gave a sigh of relief and he felt himself start to breath normally again. "Thank God!" he exclaimed, and then softened his face with his grin. "I was worried that you were going to make Heero beat me to a bloody pulp."

She gave him a small smile, closing her eyes as she tried to regain her equilibrium and sort through the fog that still filled her head. "Heero?" she asked softly.

He smoothed her hair in a comforting gesture that was more for him than it was for her. "He's on his way. I called him right away."

Again she gave him a soft smile and just rested her aching head in his lap, while he continued to gently run his fingers in her hair, her loose ponytail had come out when she collapsed into him.

A short time later Heero had pulled the jeep into the clearing, slowing down to be careful not to scare the horses. However he was out and running towards where he could see Duo cradling Relena without bothering to shut the engine off or the car door.

Relena slowly opened her eyes, shifting her head slightly as she heard his approach. She gave him a soft smile and he dropped to his knees beside them. "Heero," she breathed.

"Relena," he answered with a small smile.

Without a word Duo shifted the drowsy princess into his friend's arms, knowing that the other man needed to assure himself that she was all right. He moved away from the couple to give them some privacy.

Heero's eyes traveled over her body in a quick glance, knowing that he wouldn't find any physical harm to her but checking anyways, before his gaze settled back on her face. He was relieved to see that she was awake and somewhat responsive. But he was concerned to see how tired and out of it she seemed. "I think we need to get you back to the mansion. I had Quatre call Dr. Phillip."

She nodded her head, closing her eyes at how dizzy the small movement made her. "Horses?"

"I brought two of your stable hands with me. They can take them back." He looked over his shoulder to see that Trowa was already instructing them what to do.

Duo handed the horses over to the stable hands before turning his attention over towards Heero and Relena.

Heero nodded at Duo, grateful to his friend for handling the situation the way he did. He knew that he would find out what exactly happened later, but now they just had to get her back to the house. He slowly rose with her securely in his arms and headed to the jeep.

Without a word, Trowa had the backdoor open allowing Heero to slide into the backseat with Relena without disturbing her too much.

Duo nodded at the two boys, who held the reins of the horses waiting for them to leave before they did as well. Then he slid into the passenger seat as Trowa took the drivers, sneaking a look back at the soft expression on Heero's face.

Relena quietly rested against Heero's shoulder, lost in the rhythm he set as he rubbed her back and secure in the knowledge that he would take care of her.

As they got back to the mansion, Dr. Phillip was waiting at the front door with Quatre. She was in her mid-thirties with her long black hair pulled into a French braid and pale blue eyes that shown with her concern. She nodded a greeting to the guys as they walked up but her attention was quickly captured by Relena. "Let's take her up to her room," she said quietly to Heero.

Ten minutes after Heero had left Relena alone with Dr. Phillip in her room, found him pacing the hall outside her bedroom like a trapped animal, while the other boys watched him in concern.

The doctor walked out of the room and gave them all a small smile but focused her attention completely on Heero. "She's fine, just emotional and physically exhausted."

"I thought that her leaving her position as the minister would help ease that stress that was weighing her down. I thought that this type of situation wasn't supposed to happen," Heero snapped.

She just smiled softly at him again, understanding his frustration and helplessness. "It has helped her immensely. But from what I understand from her, these last couple of days has been rather eventful for her. From the arrival of these three," she motioned to the boys, "to the consummating of your relationship. It takes its toll on her already taxed body."

Heero looked down in shame, a light blush spreading across his cheeks. "Are you saying that it isn't safe for us to...?"

She placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it slightly. "No, it is perfectly safe for the two of you to have intercourse. I don't suggest you try to do anything tonight. She just needs to rest for the rest of the day. She should be fine again in the morning."

"Will this keep happening? Will she keep collapsing on us?" Duo asked quietly.

"It may," Dr. Phillip answered quietly. "Relena tends to ignore the warning signs her own body gives her. She seems to think that she can keep pushing the envelope. But I have a feeling that the four of you will keep a closer eye on her from now on." She looked around. "May I ask where Mister Chang is? I thought that he got clearance with Preventers to stay here with her."

"He did," Heero answered. "He went to Mars to bring back her brother. We thought that it would be a good idea for him to be here with her."

She nodded. "That is a very good idea. She needs to settle everything that she can. It will help alleviate some of the stress and she will feel a little better. But I don't suggest that she see her brother today. Her fragile nerves can't handle it. In fact I think you better limit who she sees to one person." She looked pointedly at Heero, knowing that he would be the one to be with her.

They all nodded their understanding. Heero didn't answer because his attention was already on the person on the other side of the door.

Seeing Heero's shift in attention, Quatre stepped forward taking the lead. "Thank you, Dr. Phillip. May I see you to the door?"

She gave him a bright smile and tucked her arm in his, and then he led her down the hall, with Trowa and Duo close behind.

~ I can't imagine any greater fear

Then waking up without you here ~

Heero took a deep breath and headed into the room, trying to quell the fear that wanted to overwhelm him. His training as a soldier had never prepared him for this.

~ And though the sun will still shine on

My whole world would all be gone

But not for long ~

Relena was sitting up with a bunch of pillows propped up behind her. She gave him a shy smile, fearing that he was going to yell at her for not taking care of herself. "I'm sorry that I worried you," she said quietly.

~ If I had to run, if I had to crawl

If I had to swim a hundred rivers, just to climb a thousand walls ~

Heero shook his head and gave her a small smile, letting her know that he wasn't angry with her. "I'm just glad that you are alright."

~ Always know that I will find a way to get to where you are

There's no place that far ~

He climbed onto the bed and sat beside her pulling her into his arms possessively. He buried his fingers of one hand in her hair, while the other gripped her around the waist. He fought the tears that filled his eyes at the thought of her pain and how scared that she must really be.

~It wouldn't matter why we're apart

Lonely minds or two stubborn hearts ~

Relena shifted so that she fit more snuggly against him, molding their bodies together. She didn't mind that his hold on her was really tight, almost to the point of bruising. She needed to feel his strength as much as he needed to feel as if he could hold her here with him.

~ Nothing short of God above

Could turn me away from your love

I need you that much ~

Heero wished so much to tell her everything that he felt at that moment, but he couldn't find the words to express how much he loved her, how much he needed her, how much this was slowly killing him to watch her slowly slip away from him, knowing that there was nothing that he could do to stop it.

~ If I had to run, if I had to crawl

If I had to swim a hundred rivers, just to climb a thousand walls ~

Relena wanted so desperately to take away the pain that she saw reflecting in his eyes. She wanted to protect him from the further heart that her illness was bound to put him through. She had never wanted to be the one to cause the shadows that she glimpsed on his face. She had only wanted to ease his tortured soul, to give him something to live for. And now, she knew that she was only going to hurt him more in the end.

~ Always know that I will find a way, to get to where you are

There's no place that far ~

Heero gently massaged her back in rhythmic circles, trying to pour all of his emotions in the touch. He tried to make up for his lack of vocal skills in the way he held her closer to him. He wanted so much to give her the strength that she needed. But he had to settle for just holding her against him on her bed in the middle of the afternoon.

~ If I had to run, if I had to crawl

If I had to swim a hundred rivers, just to climb a thousand walls ~

As she felt him pull her tighter against him, she knew that no matter what the circumstances were. She was just glad that he was here with her now. She was glad that she could see the love he felt for her, feel it in his touch, hear it in the words that he couldn't say, the fact that he was here with her now spoke volumes on his love for her. She slipped her arms around his waist and pulled herself as close to him as she possibly could, savoring his warm embrace, speaking softly to him in the silence.

~ Always know that I will find a way, to get to where you are,

There's no place that far ~

Heero sighed into her hair, burying his face in its silky strands. His heart skipped a beat as he heard her softly whisper gentle words of her love for him. He knew that he would do anything for her. Even if it meant that he would stand by her side watching her slowly fade away. He knew in his heart that when all was said and done, they would be together again. That knowledge gave him strength and comfort.

~ Baby there's no place that far ~

To be continued...

*Relena and Angel pop up*

I hope you guys enjoyed this one; I focused a bit more on the romantic side of the story.

Relena: *sighs* Isn't my Heero sweet?

*nods* Too bad real men aren't that sweet. Anyways, the next chapter will bring Milliardo and Relena face to face. So any ideas and comments would be appreciated.

Relena: Angel also wants to thank everyone for the ideas, even though she is still going to be a meanie and kill me *sticks tongue out at authoress*

*rolls eyes* I promise that in my next fic you won't die.

Relena: *grins* Thank you.

And now we shall say adieu...

*Relena and Angel disappear.