Disclaimer: I am merely borrowing the personalities, names and surroundings of Gundam for this story and none of them are originally mine.

Mixed Feelings

Heero followed Duo and Hilde through the busy streets. He yawned in relief and smile at the bright blue sky. Finally, he could live a normal life as Heero Yuy and not as " that Gundam pilot". For the last two years, he spent most of his time getting settled in an apartment and finishing his education and he got a job as a technician at an airport. Thought he was living a normal life, he was alone. Heero and the other four young men hadn't seen each other for these two years but just a month ago Duo and Hilde moved the parts shop/ junkyard close to where Heero lived. Now Duo, Hilde and Heero spent most of there time going out to shops, markets, theatres and all around the vast city but Heero couldn't help wonder where Relena was.

~

Another speech. All Relena did now was make speeches, attend meeting and other events of the sort. She hardly had time for herself anymore. Even her brother made time to get married and raise children. She wanted her old life back. She wanted to go to school with her firends, who went on with their lives. She wanted to live with the only father and mother she knew and sometimes she wanted not to remember what happened in the war. She hugged her teddy bear tightly as she layed in her bed thinking about the speech she had to make infront of USUN. This kind of pressure wasn't for girls her age. Girls her age were going to proms or hanging with friends; she envied those girls.

Relena stayed awake for another three hours thinking about, no not her speech, but her birthday that was tommorrow. She remembered dancing with Heero on her fifteenth birthday party and watching Heero on her sixteenth birthday from an airplane and the bear that would remind her of him for the next year. Just last year she remebered councilmen setting up a magnificant party with her brother and new wife Noin but there was no Heero that year or would be this year.

~

Duo stood in line to buy tickets for the show while Heero and Hilde waited for him at the entrance. Heero looked at Hilde and relized how much she changes. Her hair was a bit longer and neater and she didn't look as dirty as she did when she worked in the junkyard on the colonies. He wondered if anyone else had changed but one thing was for sure Duo hadn't changed one bit.

Duo came over to them as his usually cheerful self and friendly slapped Heero on the back. His long braid which had cut shorter up to his mid back swung back and forth as the three walked into the tent and sat up in the stand where there was a good view of rings and high wire. Duo passed them all programs and left to buy them snacks. Heero didn't really liked the circus but didn't want to be stuck at home doing paperwork. He skipped through the thin program and found something that caught his eye.

"Hilde, look, page twelve, it's Trowa and Catherine." Heero ponited out to her.

"It really is Trowa! This is great!" she said as Duo sat down with a tub of popcorn and a tray full of candy apples.

" What's so great, guys?" he asked curiously.

"Trowa is in the show!" Hilde said excitedly.

"Oh Trowa Barton. 'The five will be reunited once again', well that's what Quatre said before he left. Wonder what's he doing in a city like this."

The show started as a group of clowns came out. One after another the clambered onto an elephant or horse and circled a metal cage. In the metal cage was a fierce lion and a clown that just stepped in. Suddenly, Hilde yelled, " TROWA!" and broke the silence. Trowa waved to them and the rest of the audience who began to cheer exictedly.

They watched Trowa tame the lion and control it with hand movements. The lion began to jump through a ring of fire and do other amazing tricks that made the audience, "Ooo" and "Ahh". Then when all the tricks were finished Trowa sat on top of the lion and bowed his head. There was a wave of cheers and excitement as the clowns headed backstage and arcobats came out to the center ring.

After the show, Heero, Duo and Hilde met up with Trowa. He was sitting with Catherine who was going through paper work. She left as soon as she saw them.
Trowa greeted them and the four left to eat out in a restarant Heero suggested.

~

The next day, the decoraters was arguing which color the flower should be for the birthday party. Relena watched them as she waited for Pagan to start up the car.
She shuffled the papers, reviewing them as Noin tied up her hair.

"Guess what, Relena?" Noin tried to make conversation.

"What?" Relena asked.

"Mariemaia and Lady Une are coming over after the meeting with USUN and they're staying for the party. Now you'll have some company."

"I don't need company, Lucrezia, I need friends my age."

"Relena, I know it is hard for you to be the vice foreigh minister and being constantly away from your friends. It'll be okay, you just have to keep hoping, get me? Well I better go check in the kitchen."

Noin left Relena puzzled. What did she mean by I have to keep hoping?, she thought. She piled up her papers neating and grabbed her coat. Pagan was already outside holding the limo door open. He wished her good luck and they drove off. She stared out the window and even if it was impossible, hoped desperatly Heero would come to her party.

~

"That was some meal! How'd you find such a great dinner, Heero?" Duo sounded amazed.

"I go here all the time." Heero said with his eyes on the front door of his apartment.

Heero unlocked the door and asked his guests to be seated. He sorted through his mail and found a beautiful envelope that had the scent of roses, that reminded him of Relena. He opened it and the scent exploded infront of Heero and was the most delightful thing he smelled. Inside the envelope was an elegant laced invitation. It was to Relena's 18th Birthday party. He smiled at it as he read it.

"Heero, what's wrong?" Hilde asked in puzzlement.

"He got an invitation to Relena's party." Trowa answered Hilde as he stared at Heero pleasantly for this was the first time he had seen him happy.

Hilde smiled too, wondering what he was thinking. Duo hopped on to the couch and took a wiff of the rose scent and smiled foolishly. Suddenly Heero dropped his smile into a plain look when he saw everyone looking at him.

"We got one to." Duo said rest his head on Hilde's shoulder.

"Me too." Trowa said." It's tonight, are you coming, Heero?"

Heero looked down and continued to shuffle through his mail. There was another letter but with no sender. He opened and read it carefully, hoping it was from Relena.

Dear Heero Yuy,

It has been three years since I saw you. I only know you as a great and invincible Gundam Pilot. You are terrific in my eyes. You showed everyone there was more to wars and battles than just killing your enemy. For that you and the other four Gundam pilots need memorial or awards. But I didn't put this in you mail box this morning to talk about fighting. I want to know the real you. The real Heero Yuy under Wing Zero. So please meet me at the park at 5:00pm . I'll be waiting under the memorial of the great martyred leader of the space colonies, you were named after.
- Dorothy Catalonia

Dorothy! His mounth hung opened and his eyes became confused. He looked up at the clock and it was already 4:40 but should he go? Duo jumped up from his seat and grabbed the letter. He smacked his forehead after reading the letter and that gave a signal to Trowa and Hilde to come over and read it as well.

"Your going!" Duo exclaimed when he saw Heero grab his coat.
" Duo, the war is over. She isn't going to kill me, especially in the park." Heero said.
"But Heero, were talking about Catalonia! She probable wants to start a war again or something I dunno! She isn't very nice, if you know what I mean."
"Didn't you tell I should trust more people and that not all people are bent on killing me?"
"Yea, but-"
"I'm going. I'm not going to stand her up, like I did to Relena at her birthday last year. So, you, Hilde and Trowa can wait for me here after you guys get ready for the party. Don't worry, I'm not going to stand you guys or Relena either." he said opening the door and walking out.