Disclaimer: I Do not own Gundam Wing, etc.

Shattered Dream and Silent Tears- chapter Two

Relena quickly opened the door, and I heard her gasp in shock and surprise...

"Noin! Milliardo! Why-what-what are you doing here?!" I walked up behind her, to see our visitors. There stood Zechs and Noin. Noin smiled happily, while Zechs merely nodded.

"Well it is Christmas, and we thought we'd come see you. I hope you don't mind our popping in unannounced, but we just wanted to let you know we were here, before going to a hotel, since you were on the way and everything."

"Come in please. Miss Noin, what do you mean hotel? There is plenty of room here-"

"Oh no, we don't want to intrude. Noin just wanted to have a chance to come and see you during Christmas." Zechs interrupted. I watched as the two women embraced,

"Oh it seems as if forever has gone by since I saw the two of you!" Relena stated as they pulled apart; she turned towards her brother and smiled, but made no move towards him, and he did likewise, answering with only a nod. "But I really insist that the two of you stay here instead of a hotel."

"Thanks. Our bags or out in the car."

"Great. Um…" turning she looked around, and spying Pagan, called him over, "Pagan, can you please go and check to see if the largest guest room is presentable?" she paused, looking back over her shoulder, "Or would you prefer separate?"

"Whatever is best for you, is fine."

They got their bags, room, and things in and situated, and Noin looked at Relena.

"What were you planning to do today, Relena? I hope we aren't upsetting your schedule, or anything."

"Oh no. I was just going to do some Christmas shopping with Trowa."

"Would you mind too terribly if I came along? I have a few things to pick up, also."

"Why should I mind? I'd be delighted." she glanced in Milliardo's direction, giving Noin a questioning and unsure look. Noin smiled, and looked at him,

"Zechs, we're going out to do some shopping. You can come with us if you like, but when did you say you have to meet with Colonel Une?"

"Whenever I feel the need to." he looked at me, "Are you going to be the only bodyguard watching out for her while she's there?" Silently, I nodded. "I'm coming."

"That's not necessary, I know what I'm doing." I stated coolly,

"I'm still coming." he recoiled, his eyes narrowing, then looked back at the awaiting women. Noin cleared her throat,

"Ah-well-yes, let's be going then, shall we?"

The mall was packed with people doing last minute shopping, and picking out last minute gifts for the people that were at the bottom of their gift list. Noin and Relena continued to talk gaily, catching up on the time they had been absent, talking about the past, who they had on their list to buy a gift for, what they wanted to buy them, and about a million other things that women find to talk about. We came into a department store, and both Relena and Noin took in a armful of clothes into the dressing room to try on; Zechs and I waited outside.

"Why are you here?" I asked, turning to him. He didn't look in my direction, instead continued to scan over store with his watchful frozen blue eyes,

"Do I need a reason?"

"Considering you are the same man that declared war against his little sister, and only shows up again when her life is in serious danger, yes, you do need a reason. Why are you here?"

"Noin missed her, and wanted to come and see her for Christmas, and somehow or other, I ended up here as well. I didn't plan on it. I think it's best if I stay out of her life."

"Why is that?"

"Because my hands are bloodstained, just like yours, except worse. I don't want to damage her image or influence among the people." I smiled somewhat at his answer, he turned to glare at me,

"What are you laughing about?"

"She couldn't care less how blood-stained your hands are. If she did, we'd all be in a lot of trouble."

"Hn. Easy for you to say. She doesn't forgive me, I haven't given her a reason to, where as you have made it obvious that you are remorseful for your sins and the death with which, you were the cause, but I have not. I do not make request for forgiveness for my sins, because it no longer matters."

"Relena would either laugh at you right now, or slap you in an effort to make you open your eyes."

"Hn. You don't understand because you don't know. She's angry at me for what I did-"

"Are you getting all of this from when she was on Libra and told you that she didn't know if you were Milliardo, or if you were Zechs Marquise?" he looked at me sharply,

"How do you know about that?!" he demanded,

"You obviously don't know your own sister very well, do you? I've known Relena for five years, lived with her for three. How I get my information is irrelevant, but it's the fact that I know it, and I also know that she forgave you a long time ago, as she did all of us. She forgave Colonel Une, who murdered the closest person she ever had in her life as a father, now why should, or would, she hold more contempt in her heart for you, than she did for Colonel Une? You are her brother, no matter what identity you take on, you will always be her brother, and always forgiven for you have done, did, or will ever do. She will forgive you more easily than she will anyone of us."

"Hmph."

"Hey Trowa?" Relena called, her head peeping out of the dressing room,

"Yeah?" I stood to my feet and took a step towards her, she motioned for me to come over to her. When I got close enough to the room she was changing in, she opened the door some and turned around,

"The zipper is stuck, and I can't get it." she explained. I unintentionally sucked in a breath. She was wearing a strapless dress, that came to about mid-thigh, and the back, being unzipped and stuck, exposed her beautiful creamy soft skin to as low as the small of her back. I swallowed, it was so close, and yet so very far out of my reach. How smooth it must be to touch! To feel! How I longed to caress her skin with my fingers! Shakily, I clasped the zipper, easily fixing the problem with it, and slowly zipping up the back, hiding her creamy skin once again. I hesitated, letting my hands rest on her bare shoulders. I felt her shudder under my touch, as chill bumps cascaded over her skin; she turned to face me,

"T-thank you." she whisper breathlessly. We stared at each other a moment, but it seemed as if an eternity passed in that time. I began to turn away,

"Call if you need anything else." I heard the door shut behind me, and an agonized sigh filled my head. Would she always be so far out of my reach? Would there always be a barrier between us? Would there never be a time when we could just be together? Would she care for me the way that I care for her?

"Okay, I'm done. Is Relena out yet?" Noin asked, emerging from her dressing room, an armful of clothes in hand.

"Yes." came Relena's reply, she appeared from behind Noin, caring a armful of clothing, just as big. Noin laughed,

"I thought you were here to Christmas shop!" Relena straightened her shoulders,

"I am. See these are for Hilde, Catherine, and Dorothy." she paused, and looked at me, "Trowa, you're her brother, what do you think about this dress for Catherine?"

"I think she is going to love you forever."

"Do you think it'll fit her? I mean, I tried it on, and it's a little big, but I thought she'd fill it out better than I."

"It looks about her size." she grinned,

"Great! Now let's see… that's three people off of my list, how is your list coming, Noin?"

"Oh yeah…" Noin teased, acting if she'd forgotten all about it, "I should get stuff for other people too…"

And so the day went, going from store to store, shopping for gifts, giving advice when it was asked for, and helping carry some of the bags. Milliardo and I didn't talk the rest of the time there, nor did Relena and I, unless of course if she needed advice or help with something…

~~*~~

I grabbed another box, and began the process of wrapping it, glancing up at Relena as my hand grazed hers. She smiled at me, and got a piece of tape. We sat in the middle of her room, surrounded by boxes with names written on them, wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, and the already wrapped presents. Again, I looked at Relena, her brows were furrowed together as she concentrated on wrapping the gift in front of her. She's clasped her bottom lip in between her teeth, as if to help her in her task. But, what caught my eye was the slight blush that tainted her cheeks.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she jumped at the question, blinking several times, then looked blankly at me,

"I'm sorry, what?"

"You looked as if you were performing brain surgery rather than wrapping a present. What's on your mind?"

"I-uh… nothing really." she replied hastily, her blush spreading across her cheeks, as she averted my gaze and turned back to the gift in her lap. I grabbed her hand; she stared at it a moment, then sheepishly looked at me, "Well… it's about earlier. Before Noin and Milliardo came… And I was just thinking about what you were saying. That's all." I kissed her. Her lips were soft and warm. Just the briefest touch, and then I forced myself to pull away. I hadn't planned on kissing her, but I knew I'd never regret it. Her cheeks were flushed, as she looked up at me, her face so very close to mine, her lips too temptingly near. Gently I kissed her again, cupping her cheek in my hand. There was slight hesitation, but then she began to respond, cautiously kissing me back. Her mouth moved enticingly against mine, her kiss timid and sweet, yet it was bold and alluring. I traced her lip with my tongue, begging for admittance into her sweet mouth. I felt her shudder, and open up to me…

"Relena?" Noin called, knocking on the door. Relena tensed, and pulled away, looking at the door in alarm. I moved away from her, sitting in my original position, and began to make myself busy with wrapping a gift, while my mind was still buzzing from her kiss. The door opened some, and Noin popped her head in, "Hey Relena, Pagan was wondering if the two of you would like some hot chocolate."

"Yes, I'll come down with you to get it. You need to get out of here, though. What if you saw your gift? I'd have to go shopping all over again."

"Well, he's in there." she replied, jerking her head in my direction. Relena glanced at me,

"Well, I don't have his gift yet. But come on let's go help out Pagan." she replied getting up, she looked down at me, "Do you want some cocoa?" I nodded; and she smiled as a faint blush again tainted her cheeks, then turning left with Noin.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~(Relena's POV)

Absentmindedly, I stirred the drink in my hands. My mind was buzzing. Trowa had kissed me. I hadn't minded, I hadn't felt shocked, though I was at first surprised, and it was strange how… natural it had felt, as though to kiss him, or to have him kiss me wasn't something new. When in fact it was. Trowa was the second man in my life to have kissed me; and the first was Heero. Heero… In the years that he had been gone, he had never once been far from my heart or mind. I was constantly thinking of him, worried if he was okay and safe, wondering if he still cared, or if he had found someone else, who was able to help heal his heart in a way that I couldn't. Wherever he was, I had always hoped that he was happy. That was all I had ever wanted for him, was to make him smile, to take away the nightmares that haunted his eyes, and the demons that tortured his soul. And just when I had thought it was hopeless, and that I might as well give up… he's kissed me. And I didn't see him again until the Mariemaia incident, and since then I hadn't seen him again. But I still loved him, I always had, and I knew that I always would. Even if we both met someone else, no one would ever take his place in my heart, and I would never love another man the same way that I had loved him.

But what about Trowa? What had he been trying to tell me? I hadn't been able to figure it out earlier, but then he'd kissed me, and I knew what he'd been trying to say: he loved me. But did I love him? I cared a great deal for Trowa, yes I loved him, not like in a brotherly way, but not exactly just friends either. He was someone I could talk to and trust, someone that I could confide in. He was always honest, and though I had always seen him as quiet and reserved, after he'd become my bodyguard and moved in with me, I learned different. He had a very dry sense of humor, and could tell me a joke, and because he was so serious, it always took me a minute to realize he was joking. He said that the only other person that saw that side of him was his sister Catherine, whom he often called Cathy or Cat, and that it had been over a year before he really started to let her into his life, and bring down his walls. I loved Trowa, but I didn't know if it was the same way that he loved me.

"Hey Relena, wake up." Noin stated, waving her hand in front of my face, "Earth to Relena." I blinked,

"I-uh-yes?" Noin laughed at me,

"Care to come back to reality so I won't feel all alone? What were you thinking about?" I looked at my cup of cocoa, remembering something else that had made me anxious about Milliardo being here for Christmas.

"Well, I'm actually having some friends come over to stay a week for Christmas. I know you wouldn't mind, but I'm worried about Milliardo, and how he'll handle it."

"Oh? Who's coming?"

"The gang. Duo and Hilde, Sally and Wufei, Quatre and Dorothy, Lady Une and Mariemaia, Catherine, and I invited Heero, but I haven't been in contact with him since the Mariemaia incident, and don't even know if he'll get my invitation. But do you think Milliardo will flip out, or will he be okay with them if they come, or will he leave? I really don't want him to leave, I'd feel awful."

"Hm… I don't know, I'm sure he'll be fine, I don't think he'll leave. Though I don't know how he'll react to be around them, or them being around him."

"I promise to not kill, torture, torment, or physically disable any of them that come." a voice replied, turning, I saw Milliardo leaning against the door frame, arms crossed across his chest. After a moment, a small smile tugged at his features, one that promised his sincerity. I smiled, this was going to be one of my best Christmases ever!

~*To Be Continued*~

{AN: That's what she thinks! Boy is there going to be a lot of fun in the next chapter!! *grins evilly*}