Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Two Can Play ❯ Reconciliations ( Chapter 4 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: For the four *billionth* time, they all are not mine.

Author's Notes: Don't ask me where this story came from because I have
no idea. It's probably the after effect of breathing in all the bug
spray my brother and I perfumed my room with, trying to kill a
cockroach. That stuff is lethal. Anyways, I hope things in this story
aren't too wacky and that characters aren't too out of sync. We killed
the bug, by the way. One down, literally trillions to go. Orginally,
this story was posted as twelve parts at a different site. I hope you
like it.

Dedication: To my friends. My support system.

****

Two Can Play

Part Four

by Kristen Elizabeth

****

The gown was perfect for a pre-Christmas ball. Made of a rich, forest
green velvet, it clung to every curve Relena had, even creating some
that she didn't. It was innocent enough not to be scandalous, yet just
sexy enough to remind everyone that the person wearing it was no
longer fifteen.

She had picked it out with Heero in mind. Now, as she stared at her
reflection in her bedroom mirror, she wished she could take it back.

"Relena." There was a light rapping on her bedroom door. After a
second, Millardo opened the door a few inches. "Are you ready?"

She took a breath. "As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose."

Her brother stepped further into the room and gave her outfit a
once-over. "You look lovely, Relena."

Relena smiled. She had half expected him to start ranting about the
low cut neckline or the high slit up one side. "Thank you."

"Come on. The limo is waiting." He held out his elbow.

"Just a minute. I have to get my coat." She ran for her closet and
started rifling through it.

"You know..." Millardo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "There is
something missing..."

She threw him a glance over her shoulder. "Millardo...it's supposed to
be backless."

"No, it's not that." He reached into his tuxedo jacket. "I think it
might be this."

Relena watched as he extracted a jeweler's box from his pocket. "What
is that?"

"An early Christmas present." He opened it up and pulled out a lattice
work of diamonds. "It belonged to our mother. Salvaged out of the
wreckage of the old palace. Pagan's had it for years." He approached
her. "I've been waiting for the right time to give it to you."

"Oh, Millardo..." Relena's eyes flooded with tears. "It's so
beautiful."

He reached for her wrist and fastened the bracelet around it. "She'd
be so proud of the woman you've become, Relena. I know I am."

She threw her arms around her brother's neck. He held her for a long
moment. Finally, Relena drew back, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"We're going to be late."

"Damn...Lucy's already in the limo." Millardo turned around. "Get your
coat. We'll be waiting."

After he left, Relena stared at her wrist. The diamonds were cool
against her skin. She looked in the mirror and raised her hand to her
throat, to show off the bracelet. Next to her bare neck, her wrist was
overdressed. She reached for her jewelry box.

The first thing her fingers touched was his necklace. She picked it
up. The gold heart caught the lamp light and shone. Quickly, before
she could change her mind, she fastened Heero's gift around her neck.
Her outfit complete, she located her jacket and started out the door.

****

"Oh wow!" Hilde tightened her grip on Duo's arm. "Have you ever seen
such a wonderful tree?!"

Duo looked down at his girlfriend. Her blue eyes shone with
excitement. Smiling, he pulled her closer to his body. "It's pretty
amazing", he agreed.

She reached a hand up to touch his cheek. On her third finger, a
single diamond caught the light from the tree and sparkled. "I love
Christmas", she sighed, happily.

"I can think of something I love more", Duo murmured into her hair.

"Are we interrupting?" Hilde and Duo turned their heads to see Quatre
and Trowa approaching them. Quatre smiled and took Hilde's hand,
bringing the back up it up to his lips. "It's been too long. You look
lovely, Miss Schbeiker."

Duo was surprised to feel a twinge of jealousy as his fiancee blushed.
However, Quatre was simply speaking the truth. She did look beautiful.
Her gown was muted silver-blue, a color that he never would have
thought could possibly look good. On Hilde, however, it transformed
her into some sort of incredibly sexy ice princess. An ice princess
with the warmest of hearts.

She tucked her arm back through Duo's. "Are we all early or is Heero
late?"

"You're all early", Heero said, coming around the Christmas tree. He
glanced at his watch. "According to her security detail, Relena left
five minutes ago. Taking traffic into account, she should be here in
fifteen minutes. That gives us plenty of time, once Wufei arrives, to
go over the plan."

"There's an actual plan?" Hilde raised an eyebrow. "And I'm part of
it?"

"Everyone's a part of it, babe." Duo winked. "It's going to take all
our powers combined to get Heero la..." He stopped when he caught
Hilde's look. "To get these two crazy kids together."

"So, what is this plan?", Trowa asked.

Heero glanced at the entrance to the grand foyer and the people
streaming in, decked out in holiday finery. "I'd rather wait until
Wufei arrives to lay out the plan."

"Don't hold up on our account." Wufei approached them, arm in arm with
Sally. Her red silk gown perfectly complimented Wufei's traditional
Chinese formal wear.

"Nice pajamas", Duo snickered.

Wufei threw him a patronizing glance. "Did you do something to your
hair, Maxwell?" Duo's lower lip protruded as he reached for his braid,
protectively.

"All right. Since everyone's here now...", Heero began.

Quatre winked at Trowa. "The plan."

"Here's how it'll go down. Duo, don't even think it." Heero tugged at
the knotted bowtie around his neck. "Hilde...you're the first player
in the game...."

****

Relena accepted the gloved hand held out to her by a livery-clad
Preventer and stepped out of the limousine. She looked up at the
entrance; bright strings of white lights illuminted the building with
Christmas cheer. The faint strains of a string quartet playing carols
floated in the night air. Instinctively, she reached for Heero's hand.
Her fingers met with empty space.

She closed her eyes, feeling rather moronic. Heero wasn't there beside
her. She had not given him any indication that she *wanted* him to be
there. In fact, she wasn't even sure if he would be attending tonight.
Part of her hoped that he wouldn't. It would probably kill what little
self-control she was managing to maintain to see him in his tuxedo.
Only Heero could make evening clothes look so damn good.

"Relena...everyone's waiting for you." Her brother beckoned to her.
Relena lifted her head and cleared her throat. Her people were
waiting. She would not let them down.

****

Hilde Schbeiker did not consider herself a daring person. True, she
liked doing daring things every now and then, but that was in the
privacy of her own home with only Duo as a witness. And goodness knew
he wasn't talking. Not if he ever wanted a repeat performance.

So, she was forced to ask herself how a not-so daring person like she
was found herself heading straight for the Vice Foriegn Minister,
former Queen of the World, in the middle of a ballroom full of the
world's most important and influential people, preparing to have a
frank talk about sex.

After having survived the recieving line and being forced to shake
hands of every single one of those important and influential people,
Relena was finally alone as she headed for the ladies room. Hilde
followed her.

Relena stood in front of the lighted mirrors, staring at her
reflection in the glass. The faucet of the sink in front of her was
running, but she made no move to do anything with it. Hilde turned on
the sink next to hers. "Merry Christmas, Miss Relena."

The other woman blinked and looked at Hilde's reflection in the
mirror. "Miss Schbeiker....hello. Merry Christmas." Relena smiled
politely.

Hilde pulled a lipstick tube from her evening bag and applied a coat.
"You know you can call me Hilde, right?" Relena nodded, but said
nothing. The melancholy she emenated was not lost on Duo's fiancee.
Hilde continued. "I love your dress."

"Thank you." Relena glanced over. "I like yours, too."

There was a long pause as Hilde finished with her lipstick and
desperately tried to think of something to say. Why couldn't Heero
have given her a script or something? And why was this part of the
plan, anyways?? It wasn't as though she knew Relena that well. How was
she ever going to bring up the subject of sex? Sex with Heero, at
that??

Relena's voice broke through her thoughts. "Is that an engagement
ring?"

Hilde blinked and looked down at her left hand. "Yeah. I mean,
yes...it is." She couldn't stop the silly grin that settled on her
face. "Duo asked me to marry him."

"Congratulations", Relena said, warmly. "I'm sure you two will be very
happy."

She seized the opportunity before Relena could leave. "He caught me
completely off-guard when he asked. I suppose in Duo-land, asking a
girl to marry you right after having sex is a good idea. Still, it
guaranteed that I pretty much had to say yes, which might have been
what he was thinking. It's hard to say no to man who's just made
you....well, you know."

Relena's cheeks flushed pink. "No. Actually, I don't."

Hilde bit her lip and threw caution to the wind. She could only pray
that Relena wouldn't take any sort of offense to the sudden turn their
dicussion had taken. "Do you mean that you and Heero have never...?"
Relena shook her head. "But you've done other things...right?"

Feeling quite like a little girl, Relena played with her new bracelet.
"We've never had time to get..." She blushed deeper. "...really into
things. There was one time..." She stopped, too embarassed to
continue.

"Oh, it's okay, Miss Relena. Go on", Hilde encouraged.

"I don't think I can talk about this sort of thing with you still
calling me 'miss'." Relena's eyes twinkled. "Please call me Relena,
Hilde." Hilde bobbed her head in acknowledgement. "Well..." The Vice
Foriegn Minister glanced around the bathroom to make sure it was
empty. "We were on our way back from a state dinner. It was just the
two of us in the limousine. We started kissing..." She trailed off.

"You can't just stop there, Relena." Hilde leaned against the marble
counter. "What happened next?"

Determined to prove that she wasn't a baby, Relena continued. "I was
wearing a skirt, so it was very easy for him to..." She put a hand to
her throat, surprised to find that her skin was warm. The memory was a
powerful one. "I'd never felt anything like it. It was like..."

"Stars dancing in front of your eyes?", Hilde supplied.

"I suppose it could have gotten to that point, yes. But I made him
stop."

Hilde blinked. "Why'd you do that??"

"Because...it was getting to the point where I wouldn't have been able
to stop it. And I wasn't ready to go that far." Her lower lip
trembled. "I'm still not ready, I don't think."

"Well..." Hilde straightened her back. "You have more willpower than
most women, Relena."

Relena frowned. "What do you mean?"

Hilde crossed her fingers. This had better work... "I'm sure I don't
have to tell you how attractive Heero is. Not as cute as Duo, mind
you, but definitely sexy. It takes a strong woman to keep herself
under control around a man like that."

"I have to keep myself under control. I can't afford to behave
otherwise."

"And you have my respect for that", Hilde assured her. "If Heero were
the type of guy who was just looking for a good time, I'd say you were
doing the right thing, unquestionably. However..."

"However?"

Hilde picked up her evening bag. "Anyone can see that he's very much
in love with you."

Relena wet her lips. "That doesn't make it all right for me to lose
control."

Duo's fiancee raised her glitter-dusted shoulders. "I don't know. All
I'm saying is that no one who's ever been in love with someone could
ever look down on you for being a normal, healthy, sexual being." She
smiled. "I think I might have said too much for one night. It was good
to see you again, Relena."

The Vice Foriegn Minister's reply never came. Hilde didn't mind; she
hoped she had left the other girl with a lot to think about. Emerging
from the ladies room, she quickly made her way back over to Heero and
Duo. Her fiancee handed her a glass of champagne.

"How did it go?", Heero asked.

Hilde smiled and raised her glass. "Phase one...complete."

"It's Noin's turn now." Heero took a gulp of his own drink. "The plan
has reached its critical point."

"Don't worry", Hilde reassured him. "From what she told me she was
planning to do, I can assure you, Miss Noin will not fail."

****

In a very dark, very tucked away corner of the ballroom, Lucrezia Noin
slipped to her knees in front of her fiancee and reached for the fly
of his tuxedo pants.

Millardo braced himself with one hand against the wall. The other hand
ran through Noin's dark hair. "Lu...someone could walk by..."

She looked up at him. "That never seemed to bother you back in the
Academy. If I remember correctly..." She pulled the zipper down
slowly. "...formal events turned you on."

"We were a lot younger then, Lu. Besides..." He closed his eyes upon
feeling her breath over his half-hard, still-covered length. "I'm
supposed to be setting an example..."

"An example for whom?" Noin kissed the wedge of grey underwear she had
exposed; his hard flesh jerked under the cotton.

His words were forced. "For...Relena."

"Oh, that's right..." She hooked two fingers around his pants and
pulled them down, leaving him open to her lips and tongue. She licked
him teasingly. "Speaking of Relena..."

"Let's not...speak of Relena." He bit his lip to hold back a moan as
her tongue danced around the tip of his shaft.

"I just think it's sad....that Relena can't experience....this sort of
thing....with the man she loves."

Millardo looked down. Noin's lips were wrapped around him, surrounding
him with the warmth of her mouth in between her words. "Why are we
still discussing this?", he asked.

His fiancee pulled back and wiped the corner of her mouth. "All right
then. I'll stop."

"No! No..it's all right. Sweetie, you can talk about anything you damn
well want to."

She smiled and resumed her ministrations. "So....don't you
agree....with me?"

"Um..." He held back another moan. "I guess...um...wait...what were we
talking about?"

"Relena..." She sucked softly on the tip of his length. "And Heero."

He shook his head back and forth against the wall. "No...she's
too...too young. Can't ruin...her reputation..."

"Being...with Heero...like this...would sully...her reputation?"
Millardo's stomach muscles flexed as he nodded. "Well then..." She
pulled her lips away. "What does that make me?"

The loss of sensation as well as her words left him speechless.
"Lu..."

"I'm a woman first and a high ranking officer second." Noin licked her
lips as if to remind he what he was missing. "Why does Relena have to
be a politician first and a woman second?"

Millardo lowered his head. "I never thought about it like that." He
lifted his chin. "But life isn't fair, Lu. We all make sacrifices for
the things that are important. And Relena is very important to the
world."

"Then, the loss of her sexual identity is the sacrifice she makes?"

"Until she's married, yes."

Noin began to laugh. "Excuse me while I wrench that giant stick out of
your ass."

"I don't find that very funny." He crossed his arms over his chest.
With his pants around his thighs, he presented a very comical picture.
Noin continued to laugh. "Why can't anyone see my point of view?"

She kissed his toned abdomen. "Someone does see your point all too
well. And she's miserable because of it. Not to mention the man she
loves."

Millardo scowled. "Oh, I'm so sorry that I'm making it hard for Heero
Yuy to get off."

"That's not what he's after and you know it." Noin was suddenly
serious. "He loves her. Probably more than he loves his own life."

"Even if I cared, which I don't, it doesn't erase the fact that Relena
has to be very careful how she conducts herself. She's in the public
eye; she can't afford to..."

"Get caught with her pants down?"

Millardo glanced down at his bare flesh. "Cute."

Stifling a laugh with her hand, Noin shook her head. "What can I do to
make you see reason?" Before he could reply, she took his length back
into her mouth. He drew in a sharp breath. "What do you...say? Will
you...talk to her?"

"Lu...this isn't...god damn", he hissed. "This...isn't fair..." She
raised an eyebrow and continued, harder and faster. "I give in!
I...give in...I'll talk...to her."

Noin ran her hands up his chest under his shirt. "What...will you
say?"

He watched her head moving up and down. He could never deny her
anything, even when she wasn't blowing his mind away with her talented
tongue. "That...she has..." He squeezed his eyes closed in pleasure.
"...my blessing....and approval...."

The lips wrapped around his hard flesh smiled.

****

Heero watched as Noin and Millardo re-entered the ballroom a half hour
after they had disappeared from it. They briefly kissed before
Millardo got pulled away by a gaggle of senators. Noin made her way
over to him, lifting the hem of her white ballgown as she ascended the
shallow set of steps leading up to the bar. Her hair was slightly
mussed and her lips were swollen.

She passed by him with a smile and wink. "Mission accomplished."

Heero decided right then and there that, although he was grateful for
it, if he never found out how she had convinced Millardo to advocate
for his and Relena's sex life it would be too soon.

****

****

Heero Yuy had always liked to think that, if presented with the
situation of seeing Relena with another man, he would not have a
typically male reaction. Meaning, he wanted to believe he would stay
cool and calm, secure in her feelings for him. Completely unpossesive.

The minute he saw her talking with expensively dressed, slicked-back,
portly, tuxedo-clad diplomat, he realized something important about
himself.

He was definitely the jealous type.

****

The evening was turning into a holiday disaster, on a par with the
Christmas of 196 when she had been abducted by a facist eight year
old. Although someone had been at her side constantly for the entire
evening, Relena had never felt more alone. When she saw him across the
ballroom with Duo and Hilde, she wanted nothing more than to leave.

As she had feared, he looked incredible. He was as comfortable in a
designer tuxedo as he was in spandex. His hair hung over his eyes as
always. And just as always, it made him look even sexier. She bit her
lip. Why wasn't he looking at her? Why hadn't he even come over to say
hello? This was the man she had almost given her virginity to only
days earlier?

Suddenly, as though he could read her mind, he looked at her. Their
eyes met across the ballroom. Prussian blue crashing into crystal.
Like a scene in a movie, the rest of the ballroom dropped away. It was
only her and Heero. Time slowed down. He lowered his eyes, looking
down the floor. After a second, his gaze lifted again and the corners
of his mouth turned up in a smile that nearly melted her knees.

"Miss Relena!"

She was thrown back into reality, her stare with Heero broken as a
slightly chubby man about her height stepped in front of her. Relena
blinked and frowned as the man reached for her hand. "Miss
Relena...it's been years! You look even more lovely than you do in
front of a podium."

"I'm sorry", she extracted her hand with careful politeness. "Do I
know you?"

The man smiled, revealing slightly crooked teeth. "Perhaps it would
help if I tried to kiss you."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't tell me you've forgotten your fourteenth birthday party."

She put a hand to her throat. "Harold? Harold Lodim?"

Harold spread his arms. "One and the same."

"My goodness..." Relena looked him over. "You've...changed."

"You haven't. You've only gotten prettier. And more poised." He took a
step closer. "If I may say so, your speeches are so very inspiring.
Sometimes..." He lowered his voice as though confessing a great
secret. "I have to record them."

Relena fought to keep her lip from curling up. "How very..."
*Psychotic.* "...flattering."

Harold glanced over his shoulder as the quartet struck up a waltz.
"Would you like to dance?"

Biting her lip, Relena looked past Harold. Across the room, Heero was
no longer watching her. Instead, he was deep in conversation with
Quatre and Trowa. A little part of her crumbled. She took a deep
breath. "That would be...nice."

****

"What is she doing?"

Quatre rolled his eyes and looked past Heero's shoulder. "She's just
talking to some guy."

"Who is he? Do you recognize him?"

The blond man squinted. "I think he's Minister Lodim's son. Relena
must have gone to school with him around the same time you met her.
He's our age."

"You wouldn't guess it by the bald spot", Trowa said, dryly.

"Oh..." Quatre scratched his cheek. "They're walking to the dance
floor."

Heero's eyes narrowed as he stared at the wall. "All right. You two
know what you have to do."

"I suppose it would be way too difficult just to ask her to dance,
right?"

"Trowa..." Heero gave his friend a look. "I'm doing this just as much
for you as I am for Relena and myself." Quatre blushed and immediately
pinched himself for doing so.

Buttoning his tuxedo jacket, Trowa set off on his mission with Quatre
only a step behind him.

****

"...so the doctor drained the fluid and told me to stay off my feet
for three weeks. He'd kill me if he knew I was dancing."

Relena gave her dance partner a weak smile. "If you want to stop..."

"No, no. Do you realize that every single guy in here is staring at
us, wishing they could be where I am?" Harold's hand pressed harder
against her bare back.

"I'm sure that's not true." Relena delicately cleared her throat.

"Oh, it is", Harold assured her. "Truth be told, I'm rather surprised
you agreed to dance. I had heard you were involved with someone."

Relena glanced over at Heero. He was drinking champagne and talking to
Duo. "Well, you can't believe everything you hear."

"That's very true. After all, the rumor mill has you paired with one
of your bodyguards." Harold shook his head. "Like the Princess of the
Sanq Kingdom would shack up with some nameless soldier. It's
insulting."

Her jaw clentched. Before she could spit back an appropriate reply, a
gloved hand tapped Harold's shoulder. Quatre Winner smiled at them.
Like some angel with gold-spun hair, he was there to rescue her.

"May I cut in?"

Being a gentleman raised in society, and knowing the extent of
Quatre's wealth and position, Harold gracefully stepped back. As soon
as he was out of earshot, Quatre put his hand on her waist and picked
up the waltz. "Having a good time?"

She wanted to cry. How could she tell him how much she appreciated his
gesture....yet how much she wished he was someone else right then?
"Quatre...thank you. I was about do something I was going to regret."

After she had repeated Harold's comments about Heero, Quatre lifted an
eyebrow. "I think in a situation like that, no one would mind if you
decked a diplomat's son."

Relena laughed for the first time in days. "You are such a good
friend. I love you very much."

"You know, Relena...if you weren't in love with him and if I
wasn't..."

"I know." She kissed his cheek. "I know."

Harold returned. "May I finish my dance?", he asked politely, but
firmly. His breath smelled of alcohol.

Rather than create a scene, Quatre stepped back. "Thank you, Relena."
She nodded as she watched him walk away. Once again, she was alone
with Harold.

His hands were rougher on her waist, but not enough to draw anyone's
attention. "You're friends with Quatre Winner?"

"Good friends. Why?"

He shrugged. "I suppose there isn't any harm in that. Women always
hang around gay guys. What is it...like a security blanket or
something?"

Every muscle in her body was rigid. "You pompous, little bald..." Her
insults were cut off by someone crashing into them. Just in time, she
moved out of the way as the person they had bumped into lost a hold on
his drink. Red wine spilled all down the front of Harold's tuxedo.

Employing every acting skill his time in the circus had given him,
Trowa's face was a mask of concern. "Oh damn...I am so embarassed. I
wasn't even looking where I was going."

Harold shook out his arms; a few drops of wine hit Relena. "I should
say you weren't."

"Shit...I ruined your shirt." Trowa shook his head. "Really....this is
unforgivable. What can I do to make it up to you?" Before Harold could
reply, Trowa reached into his jacket and pulled out a handkerchief. He
moved to clean up Harold's shirt and pants.

"Hey...it's okay!" Harold backed away before Trowa's hands could touch
his pants. "I'll just...go to the men's room." He plucked at his red,
wet shirt. "Miss Relena....wait for me?"

Relena bit her lips, desperately trying to control her laughter. "Not
in a million years", she replied happily.

After Harold had stalked away, Relena let go, laughing harder than she
could ever remember having laughed. Several people turned to look at
her, but she ignored all of them. "Trowa..." She held her sides.
"Whoever brought you out of your shell deserves some sort of award."

Trowa took her arm. "Don't worry. By the end of the night, that person
will be getting his reward." He began leading her off the dance floor.
"Now, there's someone who is dying to dance with you."

She stopped, resisting him. "No...I can't...I can't face him. Not
yet...not here."

"I'm referring, of course, to your brother."

Relena relaxed. "Millardo?" She turned around to see the man in
question approaching.

"May I steal my sister for a minute, Captain Barton?", he asked. Trowa
indicated that he was free to do so. Relena felt herself being pulled
back onto the dance floor.

There was a second of strained silence as they danced. Finally, he
spoke. "We need to talk about the other day." She lowered her gaze,
preparing for another lecture. "I think I owe you...an apology."

Her head shot up. "Millardo?"

"Relena...for most of your life, I protected you from the shadows.
When I finally got the chance to step out of the shadows, I may have
gone overboard in my duties as your older brother." He touched her
cheek tenderly.

"I..." She shook her head. "I don't understand."

Millardo nodded. "It's all very confusing, I know. That's why everyone
has to find someone who makes it all easier. And as much as it pains
me, I have to believe you've found that someone." Before he could
change his mind, he continued. "It might not matter, but I want you to
know that whatever choices you make for yourself, you will always have
my support and understanding."

Relena's eyes watered. "But...my position...."

"Relena, anyone who would scorn you for loving someone has never loved
someone themselves."

She blinked back the tears. "Who are you and what have you done with
my brother?" He laughed. "Seriously...why are you doing this?"

"Let's just say that my financee is very persuasive."

Looking up into the eyes that matched her own, all she saw was
sincerity. It was too much to take. Stepping back from Millardo, she
put a hand to her pounding head. Her other hand clutched her stomach.

"Are you all right, Relena?"

Before she could reply, a strong, but gentle hand replaced hers over
her forehead. She blinked, recognizing Sally Po. The Preventer
physician felt for her temperture. "She's burning up!", she declared.
Several couples around them stopped dancing to watch the scene
unfolding.

"Oh...I'm all right. I'm just...." Relena's words were stopped as
Sally began to examine her.

"Hmm...lymph nodes are swollen..." Sally turned the Vice Foriegn
Minister's head from side to side. She reached for her wrist.
"Elevated pulse...pale complexion....skin is clammy...." She looked at
Millardo gravely. "I think we need to get her to the hospital."

He blinked. "Um...is that really necessary?"

"I'm afraid so." Sally gestured to someone across the room. In a
second, Wufei was at their side. There were hushed whispers across the
room. "Wufei, let's get her out of here."

Before she knew it, she found herself being lifted off the ground. Her
protests were lost as Wufei carried her out of the ballroom.
"Really...I'm absolutely fine. Dr. Po....there's nothing wrong with
me."

They stepped into the cold night air. Sally smiled down at her. "It's
all right, Relena." Her limousine was waiting for her. "I prescibe
lots of bed rest."

Relena found herself being set into the backseat of her limo. Wufei
closed the door and knocked on the roof to signal to the driver. The
limo pulled away from the curb with a great screech of tires.

Throughly confused, embarassed and angry, Relena balled up her fist.
Her nails dug into her palms. "Eddy", she addressed her driver.
"Please just take me home." There was no reply. "Eddy...did you hear
me?" When the driver still didn't say anything, she leaned forward.
"Eddy?"

Duo Maxwell turned his head away from the road and winked one violet
eye at her. "Sorry, princess. You're stuck with me."

The color drained from Relena's face. "Where are you taking me, Duo?

"I distinctly heard the good doctor prescibe bed rest." He turned a
sharp corner. "I promise, there will be a bed where I'm taking you."

"Duo..."

"Hey." He looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror. "Don't you
trust me, princess?"

She pursed her lips. "Not really."

Duo laughed. "Fair enough. Well, do you trust him then?" She couldn't
think of an answer. "Relax, princess. We're almost there."

True to his word, in only minutes, Duo brought the limo to an abrupt
halt in front of a row of apartment complexes. Relena immediately
recognized them.

Heero lived here.

Duo turned around in the front seat and gave her a broad smile. "Do
you want me to walk you to the door?"

She shook her head. "I've been here before."

"Remember", he called to her as she stepped out into the snowy street.
"Bed rest!" The door slammed behind her. Grinning, Duo waited until
she disappeared through the door of Heero's apartment before he
screeched away from the curb.

Within minutes, he arrived back at the conference hall. Trowa, Quatre
and Hilde were standing in the snow, waiting for him. He pulled up to
the curb and rolled down the passenger side window. "Hey baby..." He
addressed Hilde with a leer. "Looking to party?"

"Excuse me", she teased back. "Just what kind of girl do you think I
am?"

He shrugged and looked at Quatre. Trowa's arm was very obviously
around the blond man. "What about you? Looking for a party?"

Quatre leaned back against Trowa. "Already found one. But thanks."

"Guess it's just you and me, babe." He indicated the car door. "In or
out?"

Smiling to Quatre and Trowa, Hilde slid into the limousine and pulled
the door closed behind her. "So, how did it go?"

Her fiancee grinned wickedly. "Exactly according to plan."

Hilde clapped. "Excellent." Clearing her throat, she waved her hand.
"Driver...take me home."

Duo turned off the engine and unbuckled his seat belt, ignoring her
command. "Babe, have we ever done it in a limo?"

She pretended to lose herself in thought. "Not that I can recall, no."

"Well then..." He crawled through the partition and sat down next to
her on the wide, plush seat. She giggled as he pulled her onto his
lap. "There really ought to be a first time for everything..."

"It is a night of firsts", Hilde eagerly reached for his shirt buttons
as she felt him sliding her dress up around her thighs. "Who says
Relena and Heero should get all the fun?"

****

****

She stood on the snow lined steps of his apartment. Her shoulders
shook, but she wasn't sure if it was anticipation or the weather.
Mustering all her courage, she knocked.

A minute passed. For the entire sixty seconds, Relena held her breath.
Towards the time her supply of oxygen began to run out, she became
convinced that either she had made a huge mistake or Duo's sense of
humor was beginning to border on cruel.

And then the door opened. The warmth from his apartment hit her,
reminding her how cold she was. Her teeth chattered as she opened her
mouth to speak. "You're here." She shuddered to think how fast he must
have driven to arrive here before them.

"You're freezing." Heero's fingers were so hot against her cold, bare
shoulder. "Where is your coat?"

"I didn't really have time to grab it." She crossed her arms over her
chest.

Without another word, Heero pulled her inside. As he closed the door,
Relena could hear Duo screech off down the street. She took a
tentative step further into the hallway. Heero's apartment was like
Wufei's inner feelings. She knew he had one, but she rarely saw it.
Most of their time together was spent at the mansion or the limousine
or the office. As she glanced around, she remembered that she really
liked coming here.

But she was still freezing. Heero noticed and reached to embrace her.
Instinctively, she pulled back. "Relena..." He let his arms drop. With
nothing else to do with them, he stuck his hands in the pockets of his
tuxedo pants. "Have I done something to frighten you?" She pressed her
lips together and shook her head. "Then, can I at least touch you?"
She nodded.

Nothing felt more right than the starched cotton of Heero's shirt
pressed against her cheek. Underneath it, she could hear his heart
beat. A single tear danced down her nose. It felt as though it had
been years since she had been in his arms.

He lost his fingers in the gold curls tumbling around her bare
shoulders. Her perfume fogged his brain. It was all he could do to
keep from crushing her lips to his. "So...", he began. "Where have you
been for the past few days?"

Her eyes opened and she realized what she was doing. It took all her
willpower to pull away from him. "I've been....busy."

Heero nodded. "Avoiding me."

"I was not avoiding you...much." Determined not to smile, she broke
completely away from him and wandered into the living room. A small
gasp of surprise escaped her lips.

The rooms Heero called home were small and clutter-free. The walls
were white-washed with next to nothing adorning them. In fact, the
only picture in the entire living room was a small, framed one of the
two of them, taken the previous summer. She was reclining against his
chest; his chin rested on her shoulder. Duo had snapped the picture
when they weren't looking. Heero had seemed upset at the time, but
judging by its prime spot in his living room, he hadn't been *that*
upset.

But the picture wasn't what shocked Relena. In the corner of Heero's
very minimalistic apartment was a very minimalistic Christmas tree.
Clearly chosen by a man not used to picking out Christmas trees, it
was on the scraggly side. Still, it filled the room with a lovely pine
scent, as any good tree should. Heero had obviously taken pains to
decorate it. Strings of colored lights were draped across the
struggling branches; store bought ornaments dotted the tree in a
haphazard pattern.

It was like finding a water fountain in the middle of the desert.
Relena could feel the tears rising up behind her eyes.
"It's...wonderful, Heero", she whispered.

"Well, I've had a lot of free time lately." He dug his hands deeper
into his pockets. "I've never had a tree before."

She turned around to see him. With his hands in his pants and his hair
flopping over his brow, he looked very much like a child. But the
pent-up emotion in his eyes, not to mention the smooth muscles exposed
by the extra undone button on his shirt, were anything but childish.

Relena took a breath. "We're long overdue for a talk, aren't we?"

He lifted his shoulders. "I wish I knew. Ever since the ballroom, I've
been on a need-to-know basis with you...only apparently I haven't
needed to know anything."

"I never meant to hurt you." She touched the heart hanging at her
throat. "I just needed some time to think. About you and me and...you
know."

"Sex?", he guessed. Relena nodded. "Has something changed? Do you not
want to be with me anymore?" She opened her mouth to reply, but he
kept talking. "Because if that's the case, I'd like to know now before
I do something that will push you even further away."

She clutched her throat. "I'm just so confused, Heero. I don't know
what I want anymore."

"It's not that hard a decision to make, Relena. You either want to be
with me or not. Simple as that."

Her eyes grew stormy. "Maybe it's easy for Heero Yuy to put labels and
expiration dates on his emotions, but I'm very different. It's not so
simple for me to make this choice. So don't try to make me, all
right?"

There was a minute of silence. "Tell me what you're thinking", he
asked, quietly. "Tell me what's changed."

"I don't know!" She brushed away tears. "You say that you want
me....and I know that I love you..." Relena covered her eyes with her
hand. "But I want us to make love for the same reasons....because our
feelings for each other have grown too great for a hug and a kiss at
the end of the night. Not because we're both twenty years old and
everyone around us has found someone to share a bed with at night."

"Do you think that's why I want to be with you?"

Relena's watery gaze met his steady one. "You're the one who couldn't
distinguish between love and lust."

"Only because I feel them both when I'm around you." He took one hand
out of his pocket and reached out to touch her wet cheek. "I want you
because I love you. I don't love you just because I want you. Can't
you see that?" She nodded again. "Then tell me...what's this all
really about?"

She looked up at the ceiling. "I'm scared", she whispered.

"So am I." He stepped towards her. "I'd like to confront that fear.
With you."

Her chin lowered. "And when you've had me...?"

Heero cupped her face with his perfectly rough hands. "I'll never let
you go."

As she stared into his unblinking eyes, everything suddenly made
sense. Her hands covered his on either side of her face.
"Heero...please make love to me."

He continued to gaze down at her. "You're sure?"

Relena brushed her lips across his. "I'm sure. No interruptions, no
hesitations. Just you..." Her tongue flicked out to lick his lower
lip. "...and me."

The sensation of her tongue sliding across his lips was too much for
any normal man to take. He pulled her closer, kissing her deeply. She
whimpered in surprised pleasure.

"Bedroom?", she asked between kisses.

Heero broke the kiss and shook his head. Leaving her side for a
moment, he flipped the living room lights off...every light except the
Christmas tree. The colored lights cast a rainbow warmth across the
room. It was more sensual than candlelight and more special than a
blazing fire. He didn't need to say anything and she knew...they would
be making love by the light of the Christmas tree.

She kissed him again, slowly and sweetly. "I always imagined I'd be
wearing something white and satiny..." Stepping back, she turned
around and lifted her hair off her back. "Could you?"

He fit his chest against her back, burying his face in the crook of
her neck as his fingers found the zipper holding her dress together.
Kissing her neck, he pulled the zipper down; his fingers dipped
between the velvet of her gown and the even softer velvet of her lower
back.

The straps of her dress were falling down. "Let me get those", he
said, huskily. She nodded, mindless when his mouth was doing such
amazing things to her throat. Her eyes closed as he pushed one strap
off her shoulder. The other fell in the same manner. With her dress
loose around her torso, it was very easy for Heero to slide his hands
around her chest, underneath the bodice. Suddenly, he held a breast in
each palm.

"Oh god...", she breathed when his fingers found the tight centers of
each breast and gently rolled them. His tongue laved up and down her
neck, just below her ear. It was all she could do to keep standing.
"Heero...." Her arms lifted over her head to wrap around his neck. "I
want...to touch you..."

Her innocent request hit him like a shockwave. His rapidly hardening
groin was keenly aware of her soft backside pressed up against it.
Gently, he pushed his hips into her, letting her feel his arousal. She
gasped and pressed back.

He needed to taste her. Pulling his hands out of her dress, he turned
her around to face him. The dress fell, pooling around her feet,
leaving her in nothing but a tiny pair of black satin thong panties
and silk stockings, supported by a garter belt. He gently pulled her
back to his body; his hands slid from her waist down over her bare
bottom. Heero had to smile; he was the only person in the world who
knew that the Vice Foriegn Minister wore this sort of undergarment.

Relena sought his mouth again. His tongue was hot against hers. Her
nipples rubbed against his starched shirt, illicting exquisite agony.
As much as she loved it, she wanted to feel his bare skin against her
breasts, like the day in the ballroom. Her fingers fumbled for his
shirt's buttons.

He looked down and watched her rip his shirt apart, eager to get at
his chest. "And here I thought you were innocent", he teased.

She kissed him again as she pulled the tails of his shirt out of his
tuxedo pants. Pushing the shirt off his corded arms, she pressed her
chest to his. It was even better than she remembered. Flesh to flesh.
If she still had any doubts, they disappeared in that second.

Heero's arms wrapped around her as they kissed. The need to taste her
had turned into an all-consuming passion. He walked her back to the
couch. Rather than push her onto her back, he scooped her up into his
arms and laid her down. Heero stood for a second, memorizing the
lucious picture she made on his leather couch.

Relena reached for him, begging for his touch. Something caught in the
back of his throat. This amazing creature actually wanted him. Wanted
his kisses and caresses as much as she wanted his love. He set a knee
on one side of her body and laid down, careful not to crush her. She
could have it all. His every touch, every kiss...

His heart and soul.

She ran her fingers through his hair as he kissed a path down between
her breasts. His head turned and his tongue flicked out, teasing one
nipple. A tug on his hair told him the time for teasing was over.
Relena moaned when he took the hard tip of her breast into his mouth,
suckling it with slow determination.

One arm slid under her body to lift her back up, giving him even more
access to her breasts. He nibbled around the aureola, pushing the
boundary between pain and pleasure. Then he softly licked, soothing
away any hurt.

Relena felt herself being driven mad with the pleasure. The center of
her body was hot and wet. Quite unaware, her hand slid between their
bodies and down her flat tummy, into the triangle of black satin.

Heero looked down and then back up at her. Rather than insulting, it
was the most erotic thing he had ever seen. After all, he reasoned,
how could one get pleasure from another person if they weren't even in
touch with their own body?

Her eyes opened upon feeling his lips on hers. She made a move to draw
her hand away from herself, but he gripped her wrist and held it in
place. His hand joined hers between her thighs. To accomodate him, she
spread her legs a bit wider. Her flesh was warm and slippery with
desire. "Show me where to touch you", Heero breathed into her ear.

She guided his fingers, sliding them up and down the edge of her body.
Her head fell back when they hit a particular spot. "Oh god..", she
moaned. "Right there..."

He doubled his effort on the sweet spot. The nails on her free hand
dug into his back; she whispered his name several times. The intense
warmth in her lower body was spreading; the stars Hilde had spoken of
were dancing in front of her eyes.

Then, everything stopped. Heero pulled his hand away and took hers
with it. Her forehead crinkled. "Heero?" She watched as he kissed her
hand; their entwined fingers glistened in the warm light. Before she
could protest, he slid her finger into his mouth and gently licked it
clean.

Sugar and salt. He greedily took another finger into his mouth,
watching her innocent shock with passion-lidded eyes. When their
fingers were clean, he found himself craving more. Addicted from the
moment he tasted her. She had always been his weakness. Or maybe his
weakness was his strength.

Relena kissed him, eager to taste his mouth. Licking his lips, she
squirmed underneath him, struggling for a more comfortable position.
They both realized, in that moment, that the couch was not going to
work. Heero thought quickly. He lifted himself off of her and stood
up.

"Where are you going?"

He touched her cheek adoringly. "I'll be right back."

When he returned from his bedroom a moment later with his comforter
and pillows, she was standing by the Christmas tree, naked except for
those scandalous panties. Her hair was tousled from the couch; it hung
in messy curls around her bare shoulders. She turned when she sensed
him enter; her smile was bright. He nearly dropped the things in his
arms.

"Come here", she beckoned, crooking a finger at him. She giggled as he
struggled with the bedding. "I'm surprised that you didn't think of
this before, Heero."

"There were too many other things to..." He stopped before he could
say 'plan'. "...think about."

Relena took a step towards him, her hands propped on her perfectly
flared hips. "Someday...when we're old and settled...you'll have to
tell me about the plan I was subjected to tonight."

His expression was so thoroughly confused that Relena knew she had hit
upon the truth. Other women might have been mad or felt played with,
but she simply reached for him again. Any plan that brought them
together like this was just fine with her.

Together, they spread out the blankets and pillows. "It's like an
Arabian harem", Relena laughed. Her amusement melted into desire as he
knelt in front of her. She looked down and watched him kiss her bare
belly; his tongue darted briefly into her navel.

Heero glanced up; her eyes were glazed over with need. His thumbs
hooked under the tiny black strips of satin around her hips. Slowly,
he tugged, pulling them down her legs. He took his time with her
stockings, rolling them down ever so carefully until she could step
out of them.

As much as she wanted him to continue what it seemed like he was
getting ready to do, Relena found herself slightly upset that there
she was, naked and exposed, yet he was only bare from the waist up.
Kicking her underwear away, she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Stand up", she whispered. Puzzled, he did as she asked. Her hand
innocently brushed over the front of his pants as she leaned in for a
kiss.

"Relena." His fingers circled her wrist. "Don't worry about me....I
want this to be good for you." He closed his eyes when he felt her
lips working over his collarbone. "Relena..."

She silenced his protests completely when she licked down to his
nipple. Her mouth was doing incredible things to an area of his body
that had never thought could be manipulated this way. To his utter
surprise, she didn't stop at his chest. Slipping to her knees in front
of him, she kissed each ridged muscle of his toned stomach.

Heero's hands were in her hair. He whispered her name as she reached
for the top of his pants. She frowned; he was still protesting her
explorations. "Heero..." She undid the fastener and began to pull the
zipper down. "*I* want *this* to be good...." She spread the fly of
his pants open, fighting back a blush when she realized he had nothing
on underneath them. "...for you."

Truth be told, she was doing it for him, but also for herself.
Everything she knew about sex was either clinical from her adopted
mother or girlish gossip passed on in the halls of her school. She had
no real perspective on male anatomy, despite having felt Heero's
substantial bulge against her lower back. She was determined to
aquaint herself with his sex before things went any further.

The mere fact that she wanted to do something so intimate blew Heero
away. He had expected to do this to her; biology almost demanded it.
But only in his greatest fantasies had she ever returned the favor. He
almost seemed to grow harder as she tentatively tugged his clothes
down. But it was nothing compared to the pure feeling that shot
through him when her tongue delicately licked over the head of his
arousal.

Heero's fingers tightened in her hair. "Damn", she thought she heard
him mutter. Deciding there was nothing to be frightened of, she
enveloped the head of his shaft into her mouth. He groaned loudly. A
thought occured to Relena. This was a treat, like an ice cream cone or
a popsicle. She should give it the same sort of attention. With
virginal eagerness, she did just that.

His head spun. His knees weakened. She was very happily driving him
crazy. He could barely think, but the one thought that managed to get
through compelled him to gently tug her mouth away from his length.

"Relena", he said, raggedly. She looked up with a soft smile, slyly
licking the corner of her lip. He took a breath. "This has got to
stop."

"Heero?" Relena was crushed. Had she done something wrong? Did he not
like what she was doing? Or was it the fact that it was her? "Why?
What did I do?"

The confusion and hurt in her eyes was too much for him. Dropping to
his knees, he took her face in his hands and gave her a sweet kiss.
"What you did was nearly make me ruin everything." He brushed his
thumb across her cheek. "If you had kept going, I would have..."

"Come?", she finished for him. Heero blinked. "I wanted you to."

He kissed her again. "I want to, too. But I want you there with me
when I do."

She had never wanted anything in her entire life as badly as she
wanted him in that moment. "I love you, Heero."

The words she needed to hear were whispered into her hair as he pulled
her nude body against his. "I love you." As if to prove himself, he
gave her another soft kiss.

Their lips danced against each others. Slow and sensuous. It was
carnal, yet loving, Sweet and warm. As they kissed, he guided her down
onto the blankets. He lay over her, loving her lips, letting his
hardness settle against her hip. She shifted until he was lying
between her legs. Her knees came up, preparing for him.

But Heero had other ideas. He caught her lower lip and gently sucked
on it, breaking the kiss with a moist pop. "You drove me crazy", he
told her. His voice was low and husky in passion. "Now....it's my
turn."

He dropped a few kisses onto her body as he made his descent, but he
didn't linger. He could still taste her sweet nectar in his mouth and
he was craving more. She was completely ready for him; she lay open
and willing to his lips and tongue. Not for the first time around her,
he let everything go, focusing entirely on being human. A human in
love with another human, hell-bent on making her scream in ecstasy.

She whimpered as his breath fanned the golden curls at the center of
her body. He really was going to drive her crazy. She felt his fingers
spreading her open, exposing her very core of desire.

Completely by accident, he found what he supposed should have been his
goal along. When his lips brushed over a hard bump at the top of her
sex, she gripped his hair, almost painfully. From that moment on, he
concentrated his kisses and his swirling tongue on that spot, only
occasionally breaking away to lick the sweet folds surrounding it.

Relena extracted a hand from his hair and brought it up to her mouth.
She needed something to bite down on; the pleasure was excruciating.
Her teeth clamped around her knuckle as she tried to raise her hips up
to meet his mouth. His hands were on her inner thighs, holding her
lower body down. Finally, she could take it no longer. "Heero!", she
screamed. "Please...please. I need you to..."

Heero didn't need to hear the end of the sentence. He lifted his head,
licking her juices from his lips. Sliding back up over her, he
captured her mouth again in a salty-sweet kiss.

His sex rubbed against hers. She ached from wanting to feel him inside
her. "Now, Heero", she whispered.

"Wait...Relena." He pulled his hips back. "Not yet."

She nearly screamed again, only this time it wouldn't have been in
pleasure. "Heero...."

He shook his head against her shoulder. "I told you I'd take care of
you." Before he could change his mind, he got to his feet. Relena
twisted around until she was lying on her stomach. She watched him
reach for his discarded tuxedo jacket. In a moment, he was back with
her on the blanket. He kissed her as she pulled the square package
from his hand.

"I've only practiced this once", she confessed. "At a girlfriend's
house when I was fifteen." She carefully tore the package open. "I
hope I get it right. It looked okay on the banana."

Heero had to laugh. "I find out more and more about you every day." He
helped her pull the condom out. "I hope I always will."

She reached for him, circling him with her fingers. With a little
awkwardness, she managed to roll the protective sheath onto him.
Smiling, she laid back on the blankets, pulling him down with her. "If
you stop things again, I'm going to be upset", she told him.

He kissed her long and deep. Once again, his arousal settled against
her soft folds. "I won't stop. Unless I'm hurting you."

"I don't think that can be helped." Relena reached between them,
guiding him into her body. She closed her eyes. "Please,
Heero....now."

One hand held him up over her. His other hand reached for hers,
entwining their fingers as his hips slowly moved forward. The more of
his length that was enveloped in her, the more her discomfort grew
until finally, she squeezed his fingers and cried out. He kissed her
throat, then her lips. "Hold onto me, Relena", he whispered.

She felt a tear slip down the side of her face. It was partially a
tear of pain, but more a tear of complete love and fulfillment. He was
so gentle with her; she almost felt bad that she wasn't enjoying this
more. She had known it would hurt. She had not known that most of the
hurt would come from the look in his eyes. It was hurting him to hurt
her.

Heero bit his lip. It was biology's cruelest joke. He was feeling
nothing but intense pleasure as he slid his body into hers. She was in
pain. His pleasure was making her hurt. "I can stop", he offered when
she whimpered a moment later.

"No!", she protested. "I'm fine." Unconciously, her body shifted,
searching for a release from the pain. Her muscles squeezed around
him. He groaned, burying his face in her neck. It was then that she
realized something. Yes, it hurt. And no, it probably wouldn't bring
her pleasure this time. But the fact that she could give him this much
love and intimacy was worth all the pain.

"I'm fine", she repeated. Her leg lifted, pressing down on his
backside....pressing more of him into her. "I want you to make love to
me, remember?"

He nodded. Taking a deep breath, he sank completely into her. She
cried out softly. Neither of them moved for a long minute. Finally,
Heero lifted his head. "Are you alright?"

Relena contemplated his question. "I think..." She frowned. "I think I
need you to move."

"You mean...get off of you?"

"Oh, no! I mean..." She kissed him. "Inside me. Move inside me."

He obeyed, slowly and steadily. At first, the gasps she made when he
thrust in were full of pain. As he found a rhythm, she began to gasp
in pleasure. Despite what she had thought earlier, it was beginning to
feel very good. He slid in and out of her body, filling and refilling
her soul with each thrust. His lips held hers captive, making love to
every part of her body.

"Oh god...Heero", she moaned. "Harder..."

Surprised, he did as she asked. The pleasure tripled. Her sex gripped
his like a hot, wet vice clamp. He never wanted to withdraw from her
heat. But the boiling sensation in his body signaled the oncoming
peak. Heero squeezed his eyes shut. "Relena...."

She bit back a stab of disappointment. It was feeling better to her,
but there was still pain. And she was nowhere near the height of
feelings she figured she was supposed to be. "Please, Heero....let
go."

Heero shook his head. "I want you...with me."

Before she could reply, she found herself rolling to her side, Heero's
sex still within hers. He rolled again until she was sitting on top of
him. The new position pushed him even deeper inside her. A bolt of
pleasure shot through her body. He smiled up at her and reached for
her breasts.

Unconciously, she moved her hips, riding his body. His muscles
contracted as he fought back his climax, busying himself, instead,
with her breasts. The added sensation of his fingers on her tight
nipples brought her closer to the edge. Her head fell forward.

"Heero...I'm...oh god..."

He closed his eyes. "Come with me...Relena."

Another roll of her hips and she was there. Every nerve ending was
raw. Her body was sweaty as white heat spread throughout her entire
being. Dimly, she could hear herself screaming. Could hear Heero
calling out her name as his own bliss rocked his body. For a moment,
they were not two bodies joined, but one body melded together for
eternity.

It was a moment she wanted to live in forever. And one she would never
forget.

****

****

"I could get so used to this."

Trowa glanced down at the blond angel curled up against his bare
chest. "Me too."

"But, it's not just the sex." Quatre sat up. His lips were swollen
from hours of kissing. "I like having you here, in my bed." He smiled
impishly. "You make a good pillow."

"Yes, but can a pillow do this?" Trowa reached under the covers,
searching.

Quatre's eyes rolled back. "Only the very best...pillows", he
breathed.

His lover kissed him again. "I have to wonder, though...", Trowa
murmured into Quatre's ear. "Was this victorious sex or consolation
sex? In other words..." He nipped at the other man's throat. "Did
Heero finally get laid?"

"Who knows?" Quatre shrugged. "And frankly, who cares? I've been
wanting you in my bed for so long. This bet just gave me an excuse to
drag you here."

"No dragging would have been necessary", Trowa assured him. "In
fact..." He reached for his favorite new toy again. "We have a lot of
time to make up for."

****

"I think I'm dying."

"You are *not* dying."

Duo nodded and placed a hand on his sweaty chest. "Yes, I am.
Congratulations, Hilde. You fucked me to death."

"I didn't hear you complaining a few minutes ago." Hilde flipped down
the lighted mirror in the backseat of the limousine and checked her
hair. It was hopelessly tangled. Her makeup was long gone, but her
cheeks glowed pink with complete sexual satisfaction.

He shook his head. "Can't complain. Too...weak... Fucked...to
death..." He grinned. "But what a way to go..."

Hilde flipped the mirror back up. "I bet you could do it again if you
really tried."

"Oh, not fair!" Duo struggled to sit up. "You can't challenge me like
that!"

She leaned against the inside of the limo door; her fingers gently
caressed the slope of one breast. "You don't have to take every
challenge that you're presented with, Duo."

"The hell I don't!" He somehow managed to get to his knees on the
plush seat. "What are the terms of this bet?"

"No terms." She reached out with her foot, slowly walking her toes up
his leg. "I just want to see if you can do it again."

He pounced on her. "You're on!" Hilde laughed as he bumped his groin
into hers several times with quick, rapid thrusts. She drastically
changed the teasing atmosphere when she captured his head in her hands
and brought his lips down for a slow, lingering kiss. He could feel
himself hardening again. "Babe...", he whispered. "What are you doing
to me?"

Hilde smiled. "Loving you."

****

"What are you doing to me, woman?"

Sally looked up at Wufei. Her lips glistened in the candlelight.
"Can't you just relax for a minute and enjoy this?"

"You have me at a disadvantage", he informed her. "I do not like
that."

"Really?" She blew lightly on his hard flesh. "You had me fooled..."

"Besides..." Wufei caught her under the arms, gently hauling her up
until they were face to face. "It doesn't work if only I'm getting
something out of it."

She blinked several times. "Wufei..." He cut her off with a deep,
searing kiss.

"You talk too much, woman."

Sally pushed him back onto the bed and sat on his stomach. "If you
call me 'woman' one more time....I'll leave." She cupped her breasts
in her hands. "And I'll take *these* with me!"

He crossed his arms. "You wouldn't."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because." He quickly sat up and flipped her over, pinning her
underneath him. "You want this as much as I do."

Sally turned her nose up. "You would think that."

Wufei shook his head. "I *know* that. Woman."

"What did I tell you?"

He kissed her again. "I don't remember." His tongue fought its way
into her mouth. She resisted, making it impossible for him to kiss
her. "Stop fighting me..."

"Stop calling me 'woman'", she retorted.

"Stop ordering me around."

"Stop treating me like..." He caught her off-guard while she was
speaking. His tongue slid into her mouth. "Oh...fuck", she gave in.

"That was the plan."

Sally laughed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and let him kiss
her. He was Wufei, nothing would ever change that. He would always be
stubborn, he would always be condescending, he would always call her
'woman'.

But he would always be there. And that was enough to make everything
else insignificant.

****

"If I told you I was pregnant, what would you do?"

Millardo held his breath as he stared at the ceiling. "This isn't
hypothetical, is it?"

Noin shifted onto her side next to him, propping her head up to see
him better. "It might be."

"Might be? Meaning you don't know for sure?"

She nodded. "So...what would you do?"

He twisted around to face her. "I'd marry you tomorrow."

"Zechs..." Her eyes watered. "Don't be ridiculous..."

"Lu, you've been wearing that ring for three years. And every year we
find a new excuse to extend the engagement and avoid the wedding." He
lifted one shoulder. "Maybe I'm tired of avoiding. And if there was a
baby in the picture..."

She flopped back against her pillow. "I want to say there is...but I
just don't know yet." He pulled her towards him. Noin buried her face
in his bare chest, breathing in the clean musk scent of the only man
she had ever loved. "I could very easily marry you tomorrow", she
confessed.

"Why don't you?"

Noin blinked. "Zechs...I might not be pregnant."

"I didn't ask you to marry me because I thought you were pregnant", he
reminded her.

"We can't get married tomorrow, Zechs. There's too many things to do
and not enough time to do them in", she protested. "Protocol to
follow...people to invite...food to have catered...arrangements to be
made."

He sighed. "I see."

"We'd need at least a week."

She was looking at him with the smile he could never resist. "A week",
he repeated. "That would be..."

"Christmas Eve."

"Could you marry me on Christmas Eve?", he asked her.

"I could." Noin lifted her chin for a kiss. "And I will. Could you
marry me on Christmas Eve?"

Millardo gently rolled her slender body under his, eager to bury
himself once again inside the woman who possessed his soul. "I could
marry you any day."

****

"Heero?"

"Hmm?"

"How do you say 'I love you' in Japanese?"

He continued to run his fingers through her tangled curls as he spoke.
"We don't have a native phrase for that", he replied. "Japanese
culture places emphasis on action over word. Words can be abused too
easily. When Japan opened up to Western cultures in the 19th century,
an actual phrase had to be made up. So we use the word for love and a
conjugated form of the verb "to know" and..."

"Heero. How do you say 'I love you' in Japanese?"

"Ai shiteru." He kissed the top of her head. "Ai shiteru, Relena-ko.
Anata ga daisuki."

"I love you, too", she murmured. "And ditto on whatever else you
said." He chuckled. With a content sigh, she pressed a soft kiss into
the crook of his neck. "I love this. I love being with you like this."
Relena tightened the arm draped over his chest, hugging him fiercely.
"I could stay right here forever."

He swallowed a lump in his throat. "Then stay. You never have to
leave."

She laughed. "I'll do all my work right here. Your chest will be my
writing desk and I'll do all my speeches with my head on your
shoulder."

Heero kissed her forehead. "I'm serious, Relena. I want you to wake up
right here forever."

His words were heavy, but spoken with such obvious sincerity. Relena
pulled away, a natural reaction for someone so emotionally overloaded.
"So, tell me. Is there anything you want for Christmas? I am having
the hardest time shopping for you."

Heero glanced down. Her fingers were absentmindedly playing with his
nipple, making it stiff. The insistent bit of pleasure reminded him of
what had just taken place between them. He looked off to the side;
next to the blankets lay the torn condom package. He closed his eyes.
One day, there wouldn't need to be a protective sheath between them.
She would be pregnant with children they had created together. They
would be even happier.

"What do I want for Christmas?", he repeated her question.

"Please just give me a general idea." Relena sat up, her hair tumbled
around her breasts.

Heero paused. "I want you to agree to marry me."

****

"Okay....you can look now."

Noin opened her eyes. Her reflection greeted her in the mirror, but it
was like she was seeing a whole new person. Her hair, shoulder length
though it was, had been swept up with soft curls framing her face. She
broke into a wide smile. "Hilde, you're a genius."

The younger woman blushed. "It's not that big a deal. I had two older
sisters. All we had in common was our hair." She looked at Relena.
"Would you like me to do yours, too?"

Relena nodded happily. Hilde moved over to her chair and began combing
out the Vice Foriegn Minister's long locks. "Lucy", Relena addressed
her brother's bride. "Do you still need something borrowed?"

Noin nodded. "And something blue. But Sally's on her way with that."

"Here." Relena reached around the back of her neck, hard to do with
Hilde brushing her hair out. She managed to unclasp the gold chain.
"Heero gave this to me. You can borrow it for the ceremony."

"Thank you, Relena." Noin took the necklace with shaking hands.
"God...am I supposed to be this nervous?"

Hilde twisted a section of Relena's hair. "I know I will be when I'm
in your place."

*Me too*, Relena added silently. A small smile played on her lips.

"That's a very creepy little smile", Noin teased her. "Do you have
something you'd like to share with the rest of us?" Her soon to be
sister-in-law shrugged innocently. "Fine...fine", Noin continued. "I
guess if you can't share your secret, I can't share mine."

Before Relena could protest, there was a knock on the door. "Something
blue has arrived", Sally called out from the hallway. The door opened
a second later and the Preventer physcian stepped inside. "Garter
belt, anyone?" She held up one in pale blue.

"You're a lifesaver, Sally", Noin told her best friend.

"Don't mention it." The blond woman plopped down onto a plush loveseat
with a tired sigh.

Feeling slightly out of place amungst the women she didn't know very
well, one of them being her former commanding officer, Hilde finished
braiding Relena's hair. "Are you all right, Dr. Po?"

"It's Sally, sweetie. And I'm fine. Just exhausted." Her blue eyes
gleamed. "I was up all night. So was Wufei..."

Noin laughed. "Good for you. I thought I'd be awake too, especially
when I saw Heero disappearing into Relena's room, but I guess the
walls in the house are thicker than I thought."

Relena's face flushed bright red. "Are we that loud? We're not that
loud..." She clapped a hand over her mouth. "I mean....I have no idea
what you're talking about." Her brother's bride continued to laugh.
Sally joined in and even Hilde was biting her lips furiously. Relena
gave in. "I can't help it. He has more stamina than a man should be
allowed to have."

Sally shook her head. "I know what you mean. Why do you think there
are bags under my eyes?" She grinned. "And a happy look on my face?"

"So, if a former Gundam pilot makes an inexhaustable lover..." Hilde
ran a comb through her own dark hair. "Quatre and Trowa must be slowly
killing each other."

Noin stood up and disappeared into her closet. "That's the way I'd
want to go."

"I second that", Sally piped up.

"I third it." Hilde smiled, relaxing a bit.

Relena rubbed her pink cheek. "I fourth it."

A moment later, Noin stepped out clad in the slinky, white silk gown
she had picked out for her wedding day. She turned around. "Relena,
could you zip me up?"

The younger girl did as she was asked. "I still can't believe you went
with this dress instead of the other one."

"The other one was something you'd wear whenever you get married,
Relena." Noin adjusted the gown's thin straps. "Lovely,
feminine...poofy, but not me."

Relena coughed delicately. "I'll remember that. I'm poofy."

"You know what I mean...princess-cut, full skirt....girly." She
smoothed down the silk over her hips. Turning sideways, she examined
her flat belly critically. Sally raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Hilde caught a glimpse of her watch. "Oh no! Ten minutes to go. I had
better get out there; I told Duo to save us some seats."

"Ten minutes." Noin swallowed heavily.

"I'll come with you", Sally offered. She turned to Noin. "You look
beautiful and I'm so very happy for you."

"Thank you." Noin blinked back a tear. In a moment, she and Relena
were alone. She cleared her throat. "Where did I leave my shoes?"

Relena picked up the white slingbacks. "Right here." She held Noin's
hand as she stepped into the shoes. "What's left?"

"Just this." Noin propped her foot on the bed and tugged the garter
belt up around her thigh. "There we go. The shoes are old, the dress
is new. The necklace is borrowed and the garter is blue." She made a
face. "How very cliched."

The younger girl laughed. "I think it's perfect."

"As perfect as anything gets, I suppose." She sighed and sat on the
bed. "Did I mention that I'm nervous?"

"Everything is going to be fine. You love my brother. And he's always
loved you." Relena crossed her arms over the bodice of her forest
green ballgown. It was serving another purpose as a last-minute
bridesmaid's dress. "That's rare."

Noin tilted her head to the side. "I don't know. Hasn't it always been
that way with you and Heero?"

Relena fought the sappy grin forming on her face, but it broke through
despite her efforts. She just couldn't keep it a secret any longer. "I
suppose it has...we just never realized it." She looked down at her
hands. "He asked me to marry him."

"And you said..."

"That I'd have to think about it."

Noin laughed. "I get a Christmas wedding and you get a wedding
in.....?"

"Oh, I'd say July", Relena answered. "Seven months sounds about right
for an engagement. No possibility of scandal."

"July is good." Noin stood up and reached for her bouquet. "I'll have
had the baby by then."

Relena's mouth fell open.

****

"Whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder."

Duo snickered in his seat as he watched the newly wed couple. "Babe",
he whispered loudly. "When we get married, the priest is gonna have to
speak in plain English."

Hilde gave him a look. "I like the traditional lines, buster.
Besides..." With the rest of the small crowd, she stood up. "What if I
want to say my vows in German?"

"What if I want to say mine in Pig Latin?"

"What if I smack you around some?"

Heero snorted. "He'd like that."

"Only if it's you doing the smacking, Yuy." Duo puckered up his lips.
"Ow!"

"Nice right hook", Trowa complimented Heero.

The Perfect Soldier nodded. "I've had a lot of practice."

"Shh!", Quatre silenced them. "You missed the whole end of the
ceremony! Kiss and everything."

Heero returned his attention to the makeshift altar at the end of the
grand foyer in the Peacecraft mansion. Millardo and Noin were holding
hands, preparing to walk back down the aisle. Relena followed them,
holding onto Noin's bouquet. As she passed by her friends, she caught
Heero's eye and winked. It was supposed to be a private sign of
affection, but unfortunately Duo caught it out of the corner of his
eye.

He turned to Trowa. "How much do you want to bet that those two will
be walking down the aisle themselves pretty soon?"

Hilde clapped a hand to his mouth. "Haven't you had enough betting?"

"No more bets", Heero declared. "Look where it got you last time."

Duo reached for his braid, still pouting. "My poor hair...."

"At least Heero didn't have to wear women's underwear", Quatre
reminded them all.

Wufei looked at his friends. "I've suddenly decided that I really like
being absolutely clueless."

"I'm wishing that I was clueless, too." Sally looked a little green.
The thought of Heero in women's underwear...it was unsettling.

Her bridesmaid's duties fulfilled for the most part, Relena joined
them as the other guests began to filter out to the parlor for the
reception. Heero immediately wound his arm around her. "What are we
talking about?", she asked, happily.

"Heero", Quatre told her, tactfully.

"Underwear", Duo answered truthfully.

"Do you have anything to contribute to that?", Trowa inquired.

Before she could think, she replied, "Heero doesn't wear underwear."
For the second time that day, she put her hand to her mouth. "To
bed!", she quickly continued. "He doesn't wear any underwear to bed!"
But the damage was already done. Biting her lip, she gracefully
extracted herself from Heero. "I'll be....with Lucy and Millardo."

Duo watched as she made a hasty escape. "Now I remember why she's my
favorite politician. She can't lie to save her life."

"Do you really not wear underwear?" Quatre's nose wrinkled.

Trowa crossed his arms. "I'm never borrowing a uniform from you again,
Yuy."

Heero shook his head. "I'm not involved in this conversation."

"Do you at least wear it to weddings?" Duo made a face.

Hilde swatted her fiancee. "You're not one to tease, Mr. Bikini's
Aren't Just For Women."

"Hey! Those were an experiment! The saleslady said they'd give great
support!!"

"Why are we still talking about this?", Wufei asked. "There are other
things we could be discussing."

"Like what?", Sally wanted to know.

Wufei gave them his tight-lipped smile. "Like when Barton and Maxwell
are going to give me my money. I believe the total is one hundred and
fifty dollars, if my calculations are correct."

"Why do they owe you money?", Heero inquired, cooly.

Duo discreetly drew his finger across his throat. "Ix-nay on the
oney-may, ufei-Way", he said between clentched teeth.

"Actually, Duo owes me a little chunk of money, too", Trow added,
deviously.

"And why does Duo owe *you* money?"

"Ix-nay! Ix-nay! Ease-play!!", Duo cried. Heero threw him a deadly
look. He chuckled nervously. "Hey...shouldn't you go find Relena,
Heero?" Trowa and Quatre nodded in agreement.

Heero broke away from the group with another look that indicated he
would be demanding answers later. He found Relena in the west parlor,
having her portrait taken with her family. He watched her smile for
the camera, looking completely at ease with her brother and new
sister. When she caught his eye as soon as the picture was taken, she
excused herself and went to him.

"Are you mad at me?", she asked, worried.

He shook his head. "It would take a lot more than that, Relena."

Lifting her chin, she gave him a soft kiss. "What would it take?"

Heero's arms slid around her slender waist. When he pulled her against
his body, she felt a now-familiar ache spread through her. "Something
along the lines of you saying 'no' to what I want for Christmas."

She smiled and crooked a finger at him. "Follow me." Like a man who
knew when to shut up and follow orders, he obeyed. Relena led him to
the empty study and locked the door behind them. He scanned the rows
of books.

"Why did you bring me..." Heero stopped when she reached behind her
back and undid her zipper. The dress fell, baring her breasts.

"I didn't quite know how to wrap your gift", she told him. "So, I
figured I'd just give it to you unwrapped." The dress fell the rest of
the way. "My answer is yes. Merry Christmas, Heero."

He scratched his head, laughing to himself. "I'm very glad. Or else my
present would have seemed rather out of place." Reaching into his
jacket pocket, he pulled out a small, velvet box.

Relena let him slip the ring onto her finger. And a moment later, they
began to celebrate. Just the two of them.

****

****

I hope you enjoyed the story! Thank you for taking the time to read
it!!

Kristen Elizabeth