Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

The former soldier stood, as a statue, hidden away in the shadows of an empty hangar. His Pussian blue eyes studied his friends as they trickling in, most late for the meeting he'd called. The sound of their whispers tickled his ears.

"Heero hasn't shown, yet?" The man with the long, chocolate braid down his back fidgeted nervously as he approached the Chinese pilot.

"No."

"Sheesh. This should be the most awkward meeting we've ever had! Don't you think?"

The Chinese man looked into his companion's violet eyes inquisitively for a moment, and then resumed his mask of indifference. The answer would come. Duo was never one to withhold gossip.

"You know? With Relena and Quatre?"

"You shouldn't believe everything you hear," another voice answered as a taller man with green eyes approached, his dirty blond bangs covering half of his face.

"Trowa." Wufei nodded. His own raven hair was pulled tightly into a small tail at the back of his head, as his dark eyes scanned the shadows, settling on the stalking angel of darkness.

Duo looked around. "I want to agree, Trowa, but he's been staying there for five months! Granted, sometimes business brings him through, but that—that's called 'moving in'."

Trowa rolled his eyes, looking away.

Wufei's gaze did not budge once he met Heero's eyes. He remained solid, himself, trying to read the Japanese man's expression as Duo gabbed on about what had always seemed to be their leader's love interest.

"Sorry I'm late," Quatre called out as he ran into the hangar. "I hope I'm not the last one here?" He looked at the three men in the light, laughing nervously, as he raked his hand through his platinum blond hair. His light blue eyes also scanned the shadows, not immediately seeing the dark anomaly.

"Nah," Duo answered prematurely. "Heero's—"

"Been here the whole time." The dark, earthy voice sent a chill through Duo's whole being. Heero's eyes were locked on the loud mouthed target as he emerged from his hidden perch. "If you're done discussing other people's lives, we can go on with this meeting, and make sure that they all live to make those personal choices—as we've promised."

Now all of the pilots were looking at Heero, except for Duo, who stared at the ground in a cold sweat.

"Yeah," he mumbled, praying for a change in subject.

"The Vice Foreign Minister has a conference to attend on L3 in one week's time. As you all know, this is the most unstable colony cluster. Her presence is imperative. As is the strength of her security detail."

Wufei shook his head. "No offense to Relena, but the Vice Foreign Minister may very well cancel the trip. Sally has sited unspecified health reasons for the last four cancellations to space. The fact is that she hasn't been up for travel, and I doubt that will change this week."

"Why has Sally not specified her health reasons?" Duo asked.

"Doctor-Patient confidentiality," Wufei answered lamely.

"Since when?" Duo flailed his arms in exasperation.

Trowa's head shot up. "She has the right to her privacy, just like anyone else," he rebutted.

"Her presence is imperative," Heero repeated. He turned his attention to Quatre. "See that she is there."

Quatre's mouth dropped open. "You know as well as I do that you can't make Relena do anything. If she's not ready to travel, she won't budge." His voice remained low, and humble, but passionate.

Heero looked away, unmoved. "The colonies are unstable. The Earth is counting on her to maintain the peace. No one can reassure the people like she can. She will go, whether she feels like it, or not."

"NO, Heero!" Quatre's voice nearly cracked as he snapped at his unofficial leader.

The angry, dark blue eyes turned on him, meeting the direct challenge.

"If Relena says no, then the answer is no. I will not try to force her to do something at a time like this."

Heero stepped forward, looming over his target.

Quatre met his glare, and held his ground.

Trowa stepped forward, gently brushing Quatre behind him to diffuse the argument. "We still don't know how Relena will be feeling," he said, looking down at Heero. "Let's move on with this meeting and we'll cover our plans at Relena's house on Wednesday. If she refuses to go at that point, we can reevaluate our situation, and Heero can speak to her directly."

"Very well," Heero conceded. "Duo and Trowa, you will go back to Preventer's headquarters with Wufei. Lady Une and I will meet you there with further parameters and details. Quatre, I will present you with your mission and equipment on Wednesday, quarter 'til midnight. I trust you'll be available?" An unfamiliar sarcasm laced his voice when he addressed the blond representative of L4. "Wufei, arrange for Sally to accompany you to the Darlian home, as well. Zechs is also getting restless. The world can't wait for Relena to feel better. We need answers."

Wufei shot him a challenging look, but nodded.

Heero gave one, last icy glare to Quatre before turning on his heel to leave.

Duo blew out the breath he appeared to have been holding the whole meeting, once Heero had faded from sight.

"That went well," he announced, scratching the back of his head.

Quatre looked at him in silence, green with anxiety. His eyes dropped the ground. Now he had to face Relena.

:::

Quatre walked into the bedchamber, barely lit by the unwelcomed afternoon sun, sneaking through the cracks in the velvet curtains. The room felt stuffy as he made his way to the window, cracking it to encourage a circulation in air. Surely the soft scents of the European summer would help the occupant's mood.

"Quatre," a female voice gently made its way to his ears.

He closed his eyes, smiling sadly. "How are you feeling, Princess?"

The girl forced herself to smile, also, under her messy honey blond hair. Her soft, light blue eyes looked damaged next to the marring dark circles she'd developed. "I didn't sleep, at all, while you were away," she admitted.

He nodded, climbing into the bed, beside her, and pulling her into a soft hug. "You're needed on the L3 colony, next week."

"Quatre," she whispered in protest.

"I know," he answered, gently petting her head to calm her. They sat in silence for several minutes, as he comforted her.

The silence was broken by Quatre's labored sigh. "Heero's asking questions."

She shot him a look of dread. "You can't tell him—?"

He shook his head. His face was crippled with broken empathy. His eyes began to fill with tears. Tears for her pain. "I am here for you. Only you."