A/N: Here's a little songfic I wrote. The idea was in my head for a while. It's not too long, a little language but nothing a 13 year old hasn't heard before.

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and the song "Dance 'Round the Memory Tree" do not belong to me. I use them both purely to share their awesome with others. Oren Lavie is the original artist of the song, I recommend checking them out!

Please read and review!

-picimadar

Dance 'Round the Memory Tree

Words we have said
Grew in my head
Colored my thoughts
Sang me to bed

Relena tried to stay away. The family home had belonged to people she barely remembered, a past that had been locked away so long it was hard to tell what she really did recall, and what was just her mind trying to fill in the blanks. The palace was nearly empty, long white sheets draped over what remained of the furniture, what hadn't been destroyed in the fire.

The walls had been repainted, repaired, and in some places rebuilt, bringing the decrepit building back to its original splendor, an enormous, unique palace wedged between the ocean and the forests of Sanq, the mansion that had once housed Relena, her parents, and her brother.

Now it was empty, and she felt sorry. The space went unused, abandoned for 364 days of the year. The one other day, she was there, waiting.

The night slowly came, and Relena headed up the grand foyer stairs to prepare for bed. Alone in the house, she had given her guards the slip, bringing only a change of clothes and a few personal items. One of these was a small, plush teddy bear, which she pulled out of her bag as she sat down on the large bed in what had once been her parents' room. At 20, she may have been seen as too old or even strange for hanging onto the bear, but those who knew her understood that it went beyond the typical childhood sentimentality.

She tried to stay away, but year after year, she failed.

Setting the bear down, she pulled off her green pullover sweater and jeans, undid the loose braid in her hair, slipped into her favorite pair of flannel pajamas, and climbed into bed. That night she dreamed one seamless dream, filled with promises, regret, hope and longing.

Lost memories
Grew into trees
Covered the doors
Swallowed the keys

The next morning she awoke, feeling more rested than she had in months. The night's dreams had settled her, assuring her she had made the right choice. Sitting up, she fixed her hair slowly, and considered what to do with her day. Alone and somewhat isolated, Relena smiled. The house was nearly silent, the only noise the steady pounding of the ocean against the rock nearby and the calls of a few seabirds searching for their breakfast.

Thinking of breakfast, the young woman's stomach growled, and she threw her legs over the side of the bed. Padding down the servants' stairs to the kitchen, she looted through the cupboards and fridge, checking that the delivery of goods she had ordered had indeed arrived. Seeing everything was in order, Relena put a pan on the stovetop and popped a few slices of rustic, homemade bread into the toaster. A few local families supplied her with the small bit of produce she needed for her short stay, and she appreciated not having to involve anyone too public with her needs.

Sitting down at the small kitchen table, she ate slowly, savoring the meal she had made and reading a novel she had brought with her.

After breakfast, she cleaned herself up, taking a long, hot shower and changing into clean clothes. The day was warm, summer just beginning, and she dressed accordingly, a sleeveless top and a pair of khaki capri pants appearing from her bag. She decided to spend her day in the sun, trying to get a little colour she otherwise missed sitting inside at her office job.

Opening one of the large back doors, she stepped out onto a beautiful patio headed into the facing woods. Anyone would worry about getting lost in amongst the thick trees, but Relena had traveled the path she followed now every summer for years. Knowing exactly where she was headed, she continued her hike, passing small herds of deer, a few young fawns among them, playful and carefree. Smiling to herself, she continued on her way.

The hours passed, and eventually she reached a small clearing, a few large and out-of-place trees growing amongst what had obviously once been a small farmer's field. A small home still stood, built from stone and nestled at the edge of the denser part of the forest. Relena crossed the clearing to the cottage, admiring the trees surrounding her. They had grown since the last time she had visited, even though they were decades old, some over fifty.

Reaching the house, she put down the small backpack she had brought, ate a small, simple lunch, and fell asleep, mesmerized by the dappling sun between the leaves of the trees her parents had once planted.

A few hours later, night loomed, the twilight spreading over the forest. Waking slowly, Relena took her bag and opened the door to the cottage, closing it behind her. Fumbling in the dark for a few moments, she pulled a flashlight from her bag and looked around the tiny, one-room building. Finding the fireplace, she built a small fire, bringing in some wood from outside and using a magazine she'd read on the flight over to tinder it. Once it began warming the room, Relena lit a few candles and a small oil lamp.

Relena smiled again, her stresses dissipating the longer she stayed away from her office, the strain of dealing with the everyday, mundane things she did. Living so simply, off the grid, free from bodyguards, assassins, reporters and senators, Relena had a renewed sense of calm.

Even still, when the door swung open, she jumped. She wasn't sure why, she had known he would come, just as he had every year for the past three. Even still, she turned quickly to face the door, putting down the matchbox she held in her hand.

Winters have come and gone
You know
Winters have come and gone
You know
But I'll meet you young and free
For a dance 'round the memory tree

Heero Yuy stood there, staring at her just as she stared at him, the same look of near surprise, mingling with fatigue, and maybe even happiness. He walked in, closing the door behind him, and put his own bag down. Slipping off his shoes, he walked over to where a small bench sat in front of the fireplace and held his hands out to the flame, warming them.

"Did it take you long?" Relena asked, joining him. "You look half frozen… it wasn't cold at all earlier."

"I came in by boat, it's colder on the water," he replied, not yet looking at her. The two sat for a while in silence, before Relena excused herself, putting a large pot of water over the fire to boil and pulling some of the remaining bread and a thermos of milk from her bag.

"Have something to eat," she nearly whispered. "You look like a skeleton."

He looked at her now, taking in her form. She looked thin, too, and tired. The past year had been a long one, and though he didn't know much, he assumed it was likely just as arduous as he past one had been. He was glad to see that she was smiling, her hand outstretched to him with the half-loaf still in it. He took it, his fingers brushing hers, and he felt her shiver before drawing away from him.

"So tell me," he started, "what have you done this year?"

Relena smiled again, an ironic, half-smile. "Unfortunately, not much. Everything's a process. To do one thing, you have to file seven petitions, kiss the rear ends of the 25 right people you need to sign the petitions, go to the fifty galas of the twenty-five people whose names you need… and then, when you finally think you're done, it turns out that idea you had actually needs five more filings to go through. I don't even know what to do about Mars anymore. I've funneled all the money into it I can, for now. I've been trying to get more private financial backing, but it's not easy. People aren't convinced that colonizing another planet won't—"

"End up like the colonies did," Heero finished, swallowing a deep drink of the milk before putting the thermos back down. The water began boiling, and Relena added some soup stock to it she had brought, stirring it slowly. "They're afraid that if we send people up there, they'll want to be separate from the Earth."

Relena sighed, turning back toward him. "Exactly. I don't know how to convince them otherwise." Sitting back down, she moved closer to Heero, resting her head on his shoulder. He reached out and started stroking her long, honey-coloured hair, trying to reassure her.

"It'll be fine. Just keep doing what you're doing, we'll take care of everything on Mars."

Relena turned to look at him again, intrigued. "What's it like, on Mars, anyways? Sometimes I feel like a fool for trying to extol the benefits of a planet I've never even set foot on."

Heero looked at her, his face remaining typically stoic. "It's cold."

She laughed, a full, unrestrained and beautiful sound that moved something deep within Heero, and he found himself wanting to hear it more and more.

"Not just cold," he continued, "completely fucking freezing. The minute you step out anywhere, even with all the suiting on, you think you're going to die. Antarctica was nothing compared to it. But it's beautiful," he said, looking somewhat whistful. "The ground, the wind, the people working together to achieve something so monumental… it's pretty incredible."

Relena smiled once again, admiring his words. Although not the most feeling man, Heero had always been succinct. When he thought something was beautiful, it was because it genuinely was.

"You know I can't stay," he whispered, his hand moving along her arm to her shoulder, along the porcelain skin of her neck until he could cup her check.

"I wouldn't ask, Heero. I can't go with you, I wouldn't ask you to stay," she replied, leaning into his hand and shifting closer to him on the bench, until the warmth of their breaths were mixing before them.

Heero closed the gap, kissing her suddenly, deeply, holding her face with both hands as though if he let go she would slip away. Relena held him with the same fervor, her hands roaming his neck and back, clinging to the sweater he wore, pulling the young man closer so she could run her hands through his soft hair and feel the smooth skin of his face.

Separating finally, the two lovers stood, and Relena led Heero by the hand to the small bed. Blowing out the nearby candle, she laid down, pulling him toward her.

Said I forgot
But I did not
Dreams we have had
Play in my head

It had been a over a year since Heero Yuy had seen Relena Darlian. The previous year he had been unable to return, forced to stay on Mars, working, slaving to make it livable. Unable to contact her, he had hoped she would understand, and had decided to let the thought rest.

He loved Relena Darlian. If Heero Yuy knew it, felt it emanating from the depths of his heart, then there was no way that Relena was oblivious to it. Heero also loved space, and working on Mars had given him a sense of purpose that he hadn't had for years before. He had Relena to thank for that, and no way to show her how he appreciated her understanding and faith in him, as well as the other pilots who were working alongside him on the red planet. Setting up Mars as a refuge for retired soldiers, Relena had turned it into a paradise for men and woman who, after the war had ended, had felt useless, purposeless.

Because she had done this, they could not be together. They both understood. He hoped she would just understand he was not abandoning her, or his promises, their dreams, just postponing them for the greater good.

The second year, Heero returned to Earth, but Relena never came. After battling with customs, space shuttles, boats and cars, struggling through the forest and arriving at the clearing, he waited. He waited all night and into the next day, noticing the new, small tree growing amongst the enormous others, but no Relena. Unable to contact her and unwilling to risk exposing their secret relationship, Heero had returned, despondent, to Mars. Assuming it was his fault, he had fallen into a cycle of regret, pain and depression, isolating himself from his coworkers and the few friends he had made, blaming himself for losing the one person who had truly understood him. Another year passed this way, and Heero remained unsure of what to do.

Finally, it was Trowa Barton who made his mind up for him. Sitting next to him at the small, newly built bar on Mars, the tall man struck up conversation.

"Surprised to see you here, Heero," he said, nodding to the bartender to thank him for the drink. "The flight out to Earth leaves in the morning, shouldn't you be packing?"

Heero turned lazily to face him, his eyes clouded with sadness. Saying nothing, he took another long gulp of his fifth drink, choosing to ignore his friend.

"You have to go, Heero." Trowa said, a sense of finality to his words.

"I don't. She didn't come. She… didn't come," Heero responded, putting his hands on the bar. "She won't come." Getting up quickly, he started walking toward the door.

"You're no longer needed here, Heero," Trowa called after him. The dark haired man stopped in his tracks, but didn't turn to face his companion. "We don't need you here anymore. The building will keep going without you. More and more people are coming in every day to help. We don't need you, Heero, but she does. Go to her. Wait for her. Find her."

Heero did not respond, continuing out the door. Trowa smiled to himself, sipping his drink.

Surpsiring everyone but him, the next day, Heero Yuy was missing from Mars.

Did we believe
The cry of the leaves?
Did we regret?
Would we forget?

Heero walked quickly along the dock of the shipyard, his small number of belongings packed inside a few suitcases. Leaving them secured near the old Peacecraft mansion, he continued straight away into the forest, throwing himself along the now barely visible path.

He felt a rush of emotions he hated experiencing; fear, regret, anger, frustration. All these boiled just below the surface of his thoughts, causing him to lash out at the greenery in his way, scaring off woodland creatures and birds as he thrashed through the thicket. Finally, he started speaking aloud, as if to coach himself, preparing himself. "She won't be there, she won't come. You fucked up, Yuy, and now you're paying for it. Should have just stayed on Mars… this was such a mistake. She won't come. She didn't come."

Reaching the clearing, he looked around for the woman he so desperately sought. No sign of her was there, no clothes, no bags, no smoke from a fire, no food. Breaking down, Heero slammed his hand against the doorframe of the old cottage. "I knew it!" he shouted, venting his anger. Crossing the field angrily, he threw himself into fighting with one of the oaks standing there. "You fucking idiot! You knew she wouldn't come!" Striking the tree until his hands bled, he turned and looked at the now larger sapling standing near it. He approached it, and seizing the trunck of it with both hands, went to break it.

He heard a gasp and turned towards the source of the noise.

No amount of coaching could prepare him for the new emotions that flooded him as he reached the clearing. There, standing before him, was Relena, his love, his life. She ran to him, throwing herself into his arms. Sobbing into his chest and showering him with kisses, he returnd her affections, falling down onto the soft grass and pulling her on top of him, letting his hands explore her body, as though making sure she were real.

After a while, the two separated, and Relena rolled over onto her back. "Do you know what this forest is?" she asked, turning her head towards him. Heero slowly shook his head, still recovering from the shock of finally seeing Relena again, in the flesh, after so long.

"My father's parents, my biological grandparents, started it," she started, turning back over onto her back. "They planted a tree every time a family member was born. It think it goes back farther than that. Some of these trees could be over one hundred years old, for all we know. See those two oaks there? My father and his brother, my grandfather planted them. That black willow is for my brother, and this chestnut tree was planted when I was born." The silence again engulfed them.

"Heero, I'm so sorry," she said, her hand stroking his face. "I'm so sorry—" She gasped again as he quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand away from him.

"Why?" he said, his anger becoming renewed. "Why didn't you come? I waited for you, I risked everything coming back here for you, and you didn't come. Why, Relena? Why?" his voice broke, his eyes clouding as he shoved her hand away from them.

Relena looked sorrowfully, brokenly at him, before standing up. Wrapping her arms around herself, she rubbed her arms. "There's so much you don't know, Heero… there's so much I have to explain. Please, come with me," she said, extending a hand to the man she loved.

Heero looked at her carefully, before taking her hand and following as she led him not to the cottage, but back through the woods. They passed most of the journey without speaking, Heero merely following the young woman until they reached the palace grounds. Once they crossed the surrounding fence, she spoke.

"Heero, I'm so sorry. I meant to meet you earlier, but I was waiting at the palace.. you must have walked right past and I didn't see you… I figured you either hadn't come, or would be here, so I hiked out and there you were," Relena said breathlessly. "I'm sorry I missed you. I'm sorry I didn't come last year. I broke my promise, and I—"

Heero cut her off violently. "Relena, just don't," he said, walking past her as she stared at him, "I don't need to hear your excuses. I didn't give you any, I don't want any from you. I'm going to get my things and go to South America. Une needs agents there."

Relena reached out to him, almost frantically. "Heero, Heero please, don't go," she said chasing him as he quickly crossed the lawn. "Heero please, I have to explain, please don't leave," she continued to beg as he changed his trajectory slightly and headed towards the house. Relena continued to try and hold him back, to block him from the house, but he pushed her to the side, gently but forcefully.

"I'm going in to clean up and eat, and then I'm leaving. I suggest you head back yourself, I'm sure someone is missing you," he said, opening the back double doors and walking inside.

"Heero please! You don't understand!" Relena shouted, standing in the door.

Sleeping quietly in a large, decorated crib in the main room, a baby awoke from the noise, crying slightly.

Suddenly, Heero understood.

Crossing the hardwood floor and approaching the crib, he looked down at the infant it contained. Gurging as it calmed, the baby girl stared back at him, two deep blue eyes locked with his, set in a round, smiling face surrounded dark brown curls. Relena approached him slowly, frightened.

"Heero, I wanted to explain, I tried to find you, to contact you, but Mars is so far… the messages never got through…" she said, approaching the crib from the opposite side. Her young love continued to stare at the baby. Reaching out, he slid a hand under the infant's head, one under her back, and picked her up carefully. Handling his daughter as though she were a delicate doll, his eyes filled with tears, and he turned to face Relena. Apologies came to his lips but were never uttered, as she came close to him and kissed him once more.

"Her name is Sitara," Relena said, reaching out to stroke the girl's hair. The baby smiled, wrapping her hand around Relena's finger. "Heero, I—"

She never finished her sentence. Neither of the two needed any explanation.

Winters have come and gone
You know
Winters have come and gone
You know
But I'll meet you young and free
For a dance 'round the memory tree

A/N: The end? You decide! Seriously. If you wanna know more about the little family, I could write one-offs about this situation forever. If it reaches… 30 good reviews, I'll upload a sequel! (P.S. 30 is totally arbitrary. If people review and demand a good sequel, I've got one in mind. I'm totally susceptible to bribery and flattery!)