*** Welcome beloved readers! By (un)popular demand I'm back. A few people pointed out to me by chapter 16 of "Ain't It Funny" that it really would suit a sequel. I'd thought about this briefly before and dismissed it. But I was inspired the other day (can't remember what by) to think about it again and I came up with this. I hope you enjoy it….don't worry if you never read "Ain't It Funny" because I made this fanfic readable as a "Stand-alone" too. So every one should be happy! Please R&R!!! Usual disclaimer! ME NO OWNY YOU, NO SUEY! (I read that on another fic and laughed out loud, so if I stole it from you, pelase don't slay me!!!) (oh and the song's "Dante's Prayer" by Loreena McKennitt. I don't own it either) ENJOY! YBP
Chapter 1When the dark woods fell before me
And all the paths were overgrown
When the priests of pride say there is no other way
I tilled the sorrows of stone
Wufei rolled over onto his back and sighed lazily. A very definitely feminine hand sailed across his bare chest slowly and slid down his stomach. Relena rested her head against Wufei's shoulder and looked up at him. His hair spread out over the pillowcase like a dark halo. He glanced down at his wife, the edge of his mouth twitching into a small smile. She looked tired but satisfied as she leant against him. Last night had been…pleasant to say the least. It seemed to be a privilege to even speak two words to Relena these days. Her political career had her constantly on the move and he was kept preoccupied with his promotion at the Head Quarters. With schedules as hectic as theirs it usually meant having to rent a hotel room to have anything resembling a night in together.
Wufei heaved himself up and sat on the edge of the double bed. Relena rubbed her hand affectionately across his back, smiling softly at its familiar warmth and smoothness. However Wufei tensed noticeably before getting up and crossing to the adjoining bathroom. Relena propped herself up and watched his muscular form move across the room, a hurt look developing on her face. There was the sound of water running and then silence. Why had he acted as if she repulsed him? That certainly hadn't been the case last night.
Relena wrapped the thin sheet around her body and followed him into the bathroom. He stood, his soft olive skin illuminated in the warm morning light, bent over washing his face in the sink. A mane of black hair trailed over his shoulder, hiding his expression. His wife's face relaxed a little. She couldn't help but find the intimate sight before her beautiful. Wrapping her arms around his middle she leant against his back, her short blonde hair sticking to him as though with a mind of its own. He was so warm and comfortable that Relena found herself wanting to spend the rest of the day held against him.
Wufei looked up into the mirror as he felt the pressure against his back. Relena's arms slid around his stomach; her fingers blazing flirtatious circular trails over his rippled abdomen. The simple movement caused a relaxed smile to blossom with a humorous snort, across his tanned face. Behind his reflected shoulder, Relena's eyes peeped. He could see from the way they shone at him that a smile was hidden behind. Small familiar lips were on the skin of his shoulder blade and tickled like feathers.
I did not believe because I could not seeThough you came to me in the night
When the dawn seemed forever lost
You showed me love in the light of the stars
"Wufei…" She mumbled against his flesh. "What's wrong?" She was right. There was something eating at him. He never was any good at expressing how he felt to anyone and even in the two years Relena had been Mrs Chang, he still hadn't found it easy. The tall dark Chinese man sighed, leaning against the countertop. She was so patient and understanding; just what was needed to defuse him when he was in one of his admittedly tempestuous moods. And yet, it wasn't fair to expect her to pick him up every time he fell. He felt weak, no not weak but…a burden…an added trouble to a woman responsible for solving a whole myriad of troubles. All he could give her in return was his body and affection. Maybe that was enough for Relena. Despite these insecurities, he knew she loved him and as for him he owed her a lot that even his love couldn't pay for. Now he was becoming dissatisfied with what he had and it made him feel small and greedy.
"Nothing, I just wish…" he felt her lift her head as he spoke, summoning her attention. Angry at the words he was about to use, he tried again. "Damn it! We're married and we hardly see each other!"
Relena smiled at his frustration. That was all that was bothering him? She knew how he felt about their relationship. To him it was something holy and to be protected. Too often it was evidently troubling him; it wasn't enough that he loved her. He always felt he fell short.
Ducking beneath his outstretched arms, she stood squarely in the haven they created. Letting the bedcover fall to the floor, Relena circled his neck and drew up to his face. "Well, we have the rest of the day off…why not make up for lost time" He stared at her seriously for a moment as she raised her eyebrows questioningly. A mischievous grin crept onto his face as she giggled against his mouth.
Cast your eyes on the oceanCast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
Relena Dorlain Peacecraft Chang buttoned up the last on the front of her business suit and smiled slightly at the professional air it gave her. Pushing her now shoulder-length hair behind her, She wriggled in her suit, fitting it better over her curves and contours. The tall, slick figure of her husband appeared in the mirror beside her and placed his arms around her waist. She smiled contentedly at him, placing a hand over his.
"Do you have to get that plane today?" Relena giggled at Wufei. He sounded like a petulant little boy "Oh Jackie, I'll see you on Wednesday." He planted a small kiss on her neck "Yes…But I have to go back to Sally's taunting" He added with a small scowl.
Her husband truly was a contradiction. One moment he viewed life as though it were a game of chest and he the player, and then next nothing seemed to matter but getting one over on his Preventer partner. She patted his face in a cajoling manner to which he moaned in irritation. He really could be a baby sometimes. Relena was comforted by the change in the man she was wed to. Who could have imagined that the young Gundam pilot all those years ago would find his inner child?
The mountain rose before meBy the deep well of desire
From the fountain of forgiveness
Beyond the ice and the fire
Pulling away from the cavern of her neck for a moment he frowned only just realising what she had addressed him as. "Why do you persist in calling me that stupid nickname, woman?" Relena inwardly sighed. Some things never changed! "Because "dearest" I happen to think it's cute." The name "Jackie" had originated when Duo and Hilde's son Jake had taken an interest in Jackie Chan movies. Personally Relena blamed it on his father. The child was only three years old and had already seen over half the man's collection! Being the only Chinese man the young child had been exposed to he automatically associated Wufei with the action star. To see Wufei's face bloom a magnificent shade of crimson had been priceless. Her husband snorted next to her, before playfully nudging her away. She returned his gesture with a smack to his bare posterior and a giggle.
Cast you eyes on the oceanCast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
Wufei tied his tie in a half Windsor knot, pulling it tight and adjusting it under his collar. Straightening up his shirt he turned his attention to the stringy black hair messily whipped back into a ponytail. He had been seriously thinking about getting it cut, but wouldn't let Relena win that over him. Ever since she had opted for a "more mature" style she had teased him about his "girly hair". She really knew how to push his buttons, but then that's part of the reason he loved her. She knew what he needed when he needed it. Raking long slender fingers through the sleek black, Wufei wound the band around it. Satisfied with his appearance, he slung his Preventer's bomber-jacket over his shoulder and repeated the action Relena had performed only hours earlier – he left the hotel room.
He usually didn't mind going back to work on a Monday morning. He felt useful now; useful and important. Ever since Relena had entered his life, she had changed him, rearranged him from the twisted inner form and later from his outer form too. After the shooting it had taken a heavy toll on his heart, knowing that the woman sleeping in the next room could never be paid back for his kindness and love. Sure he had issues still. He still felt unworthy of the "weak woman" and sometimes wondered why she stayed with him, when she could have any young sparkling celebrity with money, a promising future and a clean past. But when he held her and looked into those cerulean eyes he found what he was searching for. There was love there and no matter whether he was worthy of it not, she gave it freely anyway. Over a long period of time he'd finally decided to drop everything he had held dear, for her. His pride, his inner turmoil, his arrogance, and his prejudices just didn't matter anymore. He was willing to be her slave in a manner of speaking. For a long time she had lived to serve him as he recuperated and now he wanted to keep her happy and contented. Which was a hard thing to when you only saw one another twice a week! He hated their schedules! Even after Sally had swapped shifts with him, he found he was still only permitting himself to spend a few hours with Relena a week. He had thought about packing in his job, but then he would remember all the effort Relena and Sally went to keep his position for him and forget all about the idea. Plus he didn't want her to see him as the lovesick puppy he really was.
Opening the door to his large black Land Rover, Wufei revved the sleeping engine into a soothing purr. Starting off out of the car park he waited for an opening in the traffic and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Since he had been promoted all sorts of useful gifts had been showered on him. Such as the Rhino-like vehicle he was driving now. He hadn't liked the idea at first. It seemed foreign and wrong, but now he understood why. His hours were a mess! He could be somewhere one minute and be called somewhere miles away the next! A car was essential! He was use to travelling with Relena as her escort and such, but it didn't always seem worth it when he didn't have the same incentive. He wondered remotely what Relena was doing now. Something he did a lot when the real world held no interest for him.
Though we share this humble path aloneHow fragile is the heart
Oh give these clay feet wings to fly
To touch the face of the stars
Relena flipped the tray on the back of the chair in front, into an upright position; tucking it away. She sighed and shoved the small laptop into her briefcase, before leaning against the chair. She was exhausted. It had been an early start for her and neither her nor her husband had gotten much sleep last night. She smiled at the memory. Nights like the last were high points in their relationship. Sure they had their arguments; what couple didn't? But their confrontations were far from bitter or petty and always resulted with an affectionate "make up", which was always the best part. She knew how much their life apart bothered Wufei. He'd changed so much over the past few years and it made her smile to think of all they'd accomplished together. He'd found himself and began to build his own personality instead of just being a machine to carry out the ideals of his dead wife. He relied upon and worshipped Relena, but in actual fact she owed much of who she was to him. Through understanding what he went through and getting inside his head she grew as a person too. She learned to trust in what her heart told her and the work of others. But…there was still something missing.
Breathe life into this feeble heartLift this mortal veil of fear
Take these crumbled hopes, etched with tears
We'll rise above these earthly cares
So often she'd tried to put her finger on it, but never succeeded. What this was she didn't know, but somewhere down in the pit of her stomach, she felt the need for something more between them: something that might change the monotony that they lived in. It was true that absence makes the heart grow fonder and she enjoyed every passionate moment they shared together, but there had to be more to life than work, sex and conversation.
Sighing very quietly, Relena shut down that part of her thinking for another time and focused her attention on the ever changing, ever unchanging view of space from the shuttle window. She had a long week ahead of her. The L2 general election was coming up and as a more or less fixed representative of the stable Earth government, she was expected to make appearances and be seen to be taking an interest in sphere-wide matters. But in fact all she really wanted to do was go home to her lovely penthouse apartment with her husband and eat mint-chop-chip ice cream in front of a roaring fire and watch "Casablanca" over and over again in his arms. The thought conjured a smile onto her tired face. Okay that would be the first thing they did during their next week off together. But first she had boring politicians, press and speeches to meet, greet and make. Wednesday better come soon!
Cast your eyes on the oceanCast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
Please remember me
AN : So whatcha think of Chapter 1? I liked it I must admit. If anyone's read of my other stuff you might notice improvements in my style…it's called concentration lol. I've been working on it hehehe. Well until next chapter adios!
