Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Getaway ❯ Putting It Back Together ( Chapter 2 )

Standard Disclaimers Apply: I don't own Gundam Wing or any of it's characters thereof. I'm also making NOTHING off of this story. I do this merely for my own enjoyment, or torture possibly. Depending on your point of view.

 

Special thanx to: StormRaven My partner and muse (one of them).

Greengal48 She's been my co-muse and beta in the background, and I decided that it was high time she got some recognition. Big Huggles!

 

Relena's Getaway

Chapter 2: Putting It Back Together

 

One Week Ago…

 

“You just need to get laid.”

 

“What?!” Relena couldn't believe what had just come from her long time friend, Dorothy Catalonia.

 

Dorothy merely shrugged and tucked a lock of her platinum blond hair behind an ear. “I'm telling you, you need to get laid. It's the best stress reliever known to woman. Besides, you don't want to be ESUN's oldest living virgin, do you?” At Relena's blush, Dorothy said, “Didn't think so.”

 

“Oh, stop it, Dee. If you make her blush anymore she'll permanently turn red,” said Hilde, playfully bopping Dorothy on the arm.

 

Relena, Dorothy and Hilde were enjoying a nice lunch at an Italian place that Hilde knew of. It had great pasta, better tirmisu, and a wonderful outdoor terrace where you could sit while the weather was warm enough. After Dr. Shiae ordered her to take the weekends off, Relena hadn't had the first clue what to do. Hilde and Dorothy did, as this little excursion had been dubbed `The Ladies' Weekend Out'. They had put the whole thing together.

And while it was only Saturday afternoon, Relena really was enjoying herself; it was just hard to relate to these two sometimes. They were both far more laid-back than she was, not to mention more experienced. Maybe that was the problem…

 

“So, how do I go about rectifying that problem?”

 

Both Dorothy and Hilde stared at Relena like she had just grown two heads. Relena shifted a little under their scrutiny but stared back at them seriously.

 

“You mean it?” asked Hilde.

 

“You're serious?” asked Dorothy.

 

“Of course I mean it. Do you think I would've asked if I weren't? It's like you said; I don't want to be a virgin much longer, but I have absolutely nil in this area of expertise. So…help?” Relena looked like she'd just swallowed the last of her pride to say that.

 

“Well, well. Decided on being human after all, have we?” asked Dorothy teasingly.

 

Relena shot her a mock glare but couldn't hold it long before she started to giggle. Soon the three of them were giggling. After a few moments they settled back down and Relena sighed.

 

“Yes. It's definitely time I gave in and admitted to being human, with human wants and needs. I just have this problem of not being able to relax. I'm always so business oriented. It's like my mind doesn't seem to work unless it's in full over-drive, anything less and it stalls. It's ridiculous!”

 

Hilde reached over to pat Relena's hand sympathetically. “It's ok. Dee and I have been watching you and waiting for this day to come. We knew you'd crack eventually. And now that you have we're here to help you through it.”

 

“I'm glad. I wouldn't have had the fist clue what to do.”

 

“Oh, sure you would. It just would've taken a little longer to get that brain of yours to click into `Relax' mode. It's ingrained in women to work hard, but playing hard is there too. You just need to remember to take some time to relax and have some fun. Which brings us back to your last question. Are you sure you want help? Between Hilde and myself I'm sure we can teach you plenty of tricks to use on that certain someone.” Dorothy wiggled her pointed eyebrows, causing Relena to chuckle again.

 

“Yes. I definitely want some help. I mean, I know what I want and I know who I want, but I don't have a clue how to go about getting it.”

 

“Well, first of all, Heero's a tough nut to crack,” said Hilde. “But if you put your mind to it, I'm sure you can get under his skin. He is only male after all.”

 

“Are you sure we can't find you a more promising candidate?” asked Dorothy. “Someone that will give you the wonderful kind of night you'll love to remember?”

 

At Relena's indignant look, Hilde chuckled lightly.

 

“Oh, Dee. You know she's only after one man.”

 

Dorothy rolled her eyes. “You mean `One Machine'.”

 

“Now that's not quite fair, Dee. Heero's come a long way in a few short years,” protested Relena. Dorothy still didn't look convinced. “Well, you have to admit he's loosened up a little. He talks regularly, he smiles, he even laughs on occasion.”

 

“Yeah, and from what I've heard, he's hung like a mobile suit!” Hilde whispered boisterously.

 

Dorothy rolled her eyes again. “You'd probably have better luck if you screwed his gundam,” she muttered.

 

Relena didn't even dignify that remark with a reply, but looked at Hilde with interest. “How would you know about his…thing?”

 

“Duo told me.”

 

“And how would he know?” asked Dorothy.

 

“Well, duh! They were partnered a lot in the war. You learn a lot about people you're that close to.”

 

“Uh-huh, sure,” said Dorothy teasingly. Hilde playfully bopped her again.

 

“No, seriously. I bet we could even get Duo in on this. I know he's been trying to get Heero to make a move on Relena for years! He'd be thrilled to help pull the pole out of Heero's ass!” said Hilde excitedly.

 

`And that brought us to where we are now,' thought Relena as she came back to the present and the beautiful countryside around her. Duo had jumped at the idea to help them and had come up with this weekend's getaway. He and Hilde had a little chalet up in the mountains near the lake and he said he knew where there was a cabin for sale in the same area he could probably rent. She'd been thrilled when he got it and gave her the keys with a whispered, “Knock him dead.”

 

For Relena's part, she had worked on Heero a little more every day. Although she thought that Duo was too, because every day Heero's mask seemed to crack a little more. He was still doing a good job of keeping his hands to himself but she had kissed him two more times without him pulling away like he'd been burned. All in all, she figured she was doing fairly well.

 

Ten minutes later found them pulling up a winding, overgrown driveway that opened up to a breathtaking view of a log cabin on a hill.

 

“It's beautiful,” she breathed as Heero pulled the bike to a stop near the porch.

 

“Yeah. Duo really outdid himself finding this place,” agreed Heero.

 

Relena got off the bike looking around the cabin to the view of the lake beyond. “Oh, the lake's right there! You think we can go down there tomorrow?” she asked, looking at him pleadingly.

 

Heero smiled at her. “Anything you want, Princess.”

 

Relena's smile turned mischievous as she walked back up to the bike where he was still sitting and effectively pinned him to the seat with her look. She placed her hands on his shoulders as he turned to face her more fully.

 

“Anything?” she asked him sweetly.

 

He surprised her by putting his hands on her waist and looking steadily into her eyes. Her eyes locked with his a moment before they wandered to his lips. He knew she was going to kiss him. He wanted her to. Truth be told, he needed her to. Her head descended and their lips touched. An electric current ran through them both. Her lips felt incredible as he tightened his grip on her, pulling her close and deepening the kiss. Her lips were petal soft as he allowed himself the luxury of tasting her, if only for a moment. Her soft sound of pleasure didn't help his rapidly growing need for her either.

 

`Get a grip on yourself,' he mentally chastised himself. `You're supposed to be here making sure she relaxes, not to give her the workout of her life.' He seriously doubted that she could keep up with him if he gave into his body's pressing urges.

 

Heero gently pulled back, breaking the kiss to drag in a calming breath. He looked into her eyes and nearly groaned at the heavily lidded passion that smoldered in her sky blue depths. He knew that if he let himself, he'd sweep her off her feet and into the cabin to do everything his body was begging him to. Unfortunately, he didn't think ravaging her constituted as `relaxing'. The delimma was taken out of his hands as his stomach made its presence known, growling loudly. Relena leaned forward, hugging him, and laughed.

 

“Ok, I get the hint. It has been a while since we last ate. Let's go see what we can whip up, shall we?”

 

Heero nodded. “Duo said he was gonna stock it for us.”

 

Relena undid the couple of buckles holding their two duffels to the bike and hefted them both. Heero eyed her as she proceeded to pick up both bags.

 

“Here,” he said, starting to dismount, “let me get those.”

 

But Relena waved him back saying, “Don't. I can get them. They're not that heavy. Besides, you can be putting up your bike. The forecast said rain for Friday and Saturday evening and it's starting to get awfully dark for being 5pm.”

 

Heero looked up, noticing that the storm front he'd been watching as they drove had started to set into their area in earnest. He nodded, looking back toward her. “Alright. I'll only be a minute.”

 

Relena nodded as Heero started the bike back up and headed around the house with it. Her initial inspection of the cabin as they came up the drive didn't do it justice. It was a two-story log cabin with an enclosed wrap around porch that seemed to stretch the whole way around. She took their bags and walked up into the porch and to the front door. The key Duo gave her worked on the first try.

 

The door opened into a spacious living room, furnished still, with a large fireplace set into the far wall. Putting their bags down next to the sofa, Relena started looking around. It had a bathroom on the right and a doorway to the kitchen on the left. The stairs to the next floor were beside the bathroom. Relena went upstairs to find four bedrooms. Three were obviously for children, although large enough for the teen variety, with a bathroom in the hall between them. The last was a master bedroom with it's own bathroom. They were all still furnished as well. The master bedroom had a king sized bed that still only took up about a third of the room.

 

Relena smiled as she imagined the two of them entwined on the bed, snuggled in as it snowed outside. It was startling how easily that image came to mind. `Get a grip, `Lena,' she told herself. `Just because you've loved him forever and you're planning on seducing him doesn't mean he's gonna want to spend forever with you up here.' She sighed, letting the daydream die in peace as she headed back downstairs.

 

Once there she headed for the kitchen. It too was a large and spacious room with half of it being dedicated to the kitchen and the other half holding a large dining table that could easily hold ten people. There was a bar in between the two areas that had a little white square on it. Relena picked up the paper finding that it was a note from Duo.

 

Hey Ro, Lena,

I stocked the fridge and freezer just like I said I would. There's even stuff in the cabinets. Hilde helped me so I know we got stuff you both like. If you need anything else I'll get it tomorrow. Hilde and I are literally right down the hill from you. We'll stop by tomorrow and see how you're doing.

Relax and enjoy yourselves.

 

Duo

 

Relena smiled and proceeded to find exactly what they'd stocked the place with.

 

When Heero came in ten minutes later, she was already in the process of thawing some salmon steaks in the microwave. She was so engrossed in getting the meal put together that she didn't even hear him as he stood in the doorway and watched her. He never realized how much she liked to cook. She didn't do it much at home. Loni, her housekeeper, tended to do most of it. He did it sometimes too. He was under the assumption that she didn't know much about it. But as he watched her, he noticed that she seemed to be doing a good job.

 

Moreover, she was smiling brightly and humming quietly to herself. Whatever song was going through her head made her sway gently side to side as she stood in front of the stove. She had found an apron somewhere and was wearing the frilly white thing as she cooked. It gave her a homey look that he'd never contributed to her before. He'd moved into her house as a security precaution and during that time he'd learned quite a bit about her, but this was a side he'd never seen.

 

The show before him gave rise to the image of her doing the same on a daily basis with a family surrounding her. The image came too quickly and too easily and it winded him thinking about her with a family. Especially when he wanted so badly to be part of it. `Stop it, Ro. Politics are her life. She's not going to settle down anytime soon, especially not for you,' he scolded himself silently. But watching her like this made that familiar ache spring to life in his chest. The one that wanted to sweep her up and away from all the stress and hide her away from the world in a place very much like this. Somewhere they could have a quiet life.

 

Relena turned around then and noticed him standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame with an intense look on his face.

 

“Is something wrong, Heero?” she asked him. He almost looked lost in thought.

 

He shook his head, clearing it of the torturous thoughts. “No. Everything's fine.”

 

“Are you sure? You looked so serious a moment ago.”

 

He smiled lightly and walked to the bar, taking a seat to watch her as she cooked their meal. “I was just thinking that I hadn't seen you cook anything this intricate before. Frankly I'm a little scared you're gonna poison me,” he teased.

 

She shot him a mock glare and shook the spatula she was holding at him threateningly. “Keep it up, Heero Yuy. I just might make you fend for yourself.” He snickered. He did more cooking than she did and they both knew it. She tried to scowl at him more fiercely, but gave up and laughed. “You could do it. I know. Seriously though, I really know what I'm doing here. Salmon's one of the few fish I can cook well. It's one of my faves, you know,” she said as she turned back to the stove.

 

“I didn't, actually.”

 

She looked at him briefly and smiled. “No? Well, you learn something new every day then.”

 

It wasn't long before she had their meal plated and she joined him at the bar, the frilly apron having been left hanging on a hook beside the fridge. Heero was pleasantly surprised to find the meal was wonderful. They ate in silence for a few before she brought his attention to the note. He nodded.

 

“I knew they were close. And Duo said something about dropping by Saturday morning.”

 

She smiled. “Good. Maybe we can go down to the lake together and have a picnic. What do you think?”

 

“I think it sounds great, as long as it's not raining.”

 

Her lips twisted slightly. “Hmm. I didn't think about that. Oh well. If it is, then we'll just have to find something inside to occupy ourselves with.” She smiled again and wiggled her eyebrows playfully. He couldn't help it. He chuckled. She was just too cute sometimes.

 

After they finished dinner, Heero helped by loading the dishwasher. For a log cabin this place had all the creature comforts. Heero ideally liked things a little more rustic when he was out in the wilderness, but with Relena along, he was glad that it was well equipped and stocked. He'd never seen her camp and didn't even know if she knew how to rough it. After loading the dishwasher Heero went to find where she'd gotten off to.

 

When he walked into the front room he found her coming back down from the upstairs.

 

“And what were you up to?” he asked.

 

“Just taking our bags upstairs. They looked tacky next to the couch.”

 

“Oh.” The mention of their bags upstairs made him think about the bedrooms and how they hadn't figured which bedrooms they were going to take. Just as he was going to say something about that, she sidetracked him.

 

“Um, Heero? It's raining outside. Do you think I could get you to build us a fire?” she asked.

 

He hadn't noticed the rain, but decided it was a good idea. He nodded, heading for the front door. He'd noticed where there was a good supply of wood cut for the fireplace and stacked along one side of the porch. When he got out there he noticed that it was indeed raining, and hard. He was glad they'd made as good a time as they did on the way up here. He'd hate to think of them getting caught out in this. He made a few trips, bringing in several pieces of wood and stacking them in the cubby beside the fireplace before starting on the fire itself. Before long he had it roaring to life.

 

“Well, that's better,” said Relena from behind him. He turned to find her standing just behind him holding a glass of wine out to him. “Here. I thought it might help warm us up.”

 

Heero stood up, taking the glass and sniffing its contents. It had a nice aroma. He took a sip. Sweet and slightly spicy. It was a good vintage, one he recognized. Quatre had no doubt decided to add this as his contribution to their weekend in the cabin. He noticed the bottle in an ice bucket and looked at it. As he thought, Quatre had left a note on it saying hello and relax.

 

“He's so sweet,” said Relena as he read the note. He nodded.

 

“Yeah. He's very thoughtful. Always has been.”

 

Relena took hold of Heero's free hand and lead him to the overstuffed sofa, pulling him down onto it with her. It was dark brown leather and still chilly to the touch. She shivered slightly and snuggled up next to him.

 

“Brr. Leather sofas are always so cold. Keep me warm?” she asked.

 

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her more firmly against him. He knew it was going to be torture, but who was he to refuse her?

 

“Anything you want, Princess.”

 

She looked up at him from where she was tucked under his arm, facing him.

 

“Why do you always call me `princess'?” she asked.

 

He arched an eyebrow. She'd never questioned it before. He thought about it a moment, then shrugged.

 

“You are, aren't you?” he answered.

 

She shook her head. “No. Not anymore. I was queen for a while, but then I gave up my title. If I had merely stepped down I might still be technically a princess.”

 

“Really? I guess I just don't see where it matters much. You were born a princess and no matter if you gave up the title of queen or not, I still see you as a princess.” He ran a hand down her back. “You still act like one.”

 

“Gee, thanks,” she said after raspberrying him. “I see how it is. You think I'm stuck up.”

 

“Not at all,” he said as he smiled at her. “In all the time I've lived with you I've come to see you for exactly who you are. Stuck up is the furthest thing on the list of adjectives that describes you.” He surprised them both by pressing his lips to her forehead gently before continuing. “You're elegant, refined, and practical; Not to mention caring, talented and beautiful. You do everything for everyone. Your whole life has been dedicated to other people. And you do it all without expecting so much as a thank you for all you do. Is there any question why I call you `Princess'?”

 

His heartfelt description warmed her core more than the fire and wine combined could.

 

“I never knew you felt like that. I always thought you thought I was just a spoiled brat that didn't know how to stay out of trouble.”

 

Heero winced at the familiar words. “One day I'm really gonna kick Wufei's ass for that comment. It was totally out of line. It was my choice to move in with you. I don't see where he got off sticking his nose into it.”

 

Relena reached across Heero's lap to set her glass on the end table before placing her hand on his cheek.

 

“I can see where he was concerned. I took up so much of your time before you moved in with me. He was probably afraid I'd work you to death. Considering how much I have worked you since you've moved in, I'm surprised you haven't quit on me. I wouldn't have blamed you.” She looked down, resting her head against his chest. “As it is, you've matched my pace, never complained and acted like my knight in shining armor. I can't thank you enough for that, Heero.” Her arms slid around him, hugging him tightly.

 

Heero put his glass down and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her back. He nuzzled her head with his cheek, the sweet berry smell of her shampoo tickling his nose. Holding her felt good, too good maybe, but he wasn't about to pull away from her yet. Some of the few times the ache in his chest went away was when she was in his arms. She looked up at him, her eyes slightly misty, and he knew he was lost. Good intentions be damned, he ducked his head toward her and claimed her lips with his.

 

Relena's heart skipped a beat as Heero kissed her. It wasn't the soft gentle kiss like they'd shared on the bike. This one was hungry, needy, and she gave into it fully. One of his hands slid into her hair and cupped the back of her head, tilting it to a better angle for him to ravage her mouth. Her hand slid back up to his face, gently caressing his cheek. A soft whimper escaped her as his tongue pressed against her lips, demanding entrance.

 

Ok, people. No killing the cliffy-beast. (She's helping me with chapter 3 as we speak.) Stay tuned for the next installment. ^_^

~NekuYasha