Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

"Good morning, boys!" Relena cried as she glided into her kitchen. Her lavender sundress and honey blonde hair danced around her as she swayed and spun like a giddy child. Her light blue eyes twinkled with excitement to greet the new day, and her loyal bodyguards standing over the coffee pot.

Duo studied her with curious violet eyes, not being used to anyone, aside from himself, being in good spirits come morning. The long haired American's partner only responded with one raised eyebrow, and a long sip of black coffee.

"Heero?" Duo sounded wary.

"Hn?"

"What's wrong with her?"

"Hn."

"You would say that," he stated sarcastically. Heero usually erred on the side of silence, in direct opposition to his friend's personality, and it somehow kept the louder guard entertained.

Relena mixed the creamer into her morning Joe, watching the men with a smile of elation on her face. She answered their curiosity with silence and amusement, as she held her secret a few minutes longer.

"Did you sleep with her?"

Finally the stoic partner responded with an insulted and disapproving glare. "What?"

Relena laughed. "No. Heero's not interested in me. You know that."

The accused studied her with sharp, Prussian blue eyes. "Hn."

Duo shot her an expressively questioning look, and continued searching for an answer. "Then who did?"

"No one," she giggled. "But—" She paused, letting the men's attention focus on her with growing impatience. Relena flushed thinking about the night before. She'd laid awake for hours rehearsing the memories in her mind. The smiles, the talk and the kiss. Oh, the kiss! "I'm going to see him, again, next week!"

The stern one straightened, furrowing his brows. "Who?"

"Henry McDaniels. You know him. He's the Finance Minister."

"Doesn't ring a bell," he lied. Yes, Heero remembered him. He was leering at the young Vice Foreign Minister for the majority of the recent fundraiser, like a hyena on the prowl. Heero hadn't let the man out of his sights. He was quite familiar with the hungry shadows in that man's eyes, and his intentions were anything but innocent.

"Well, I spoke with him last week about some of the upcoming events to raise money for the colony orphanages, and he suggested we talk more over dinner this weekend—last night. I accepted, and I had a really nice time. He wants to see me, again, next week. Isn't that great?"

Heero glared pensively at nothing in particular on the ground, considering the proper response to the situation, while Duo silently watched him. Duo also had a bad feeling about the way this Finance Minister was looking at their close friend, but even looking at Heero, now, he couldn't confirm the instinct. For so long he'd suspected Heero had feelings for Relena, and a simple tension on the subject proved neither point completely. It only hinted that something was, in fact, wrong, in Heero's mind, but to top of the surplus of possible causes, Heero always looked tense.

Duo finally resolved to tell her what she wanted to hear, so she would let the subject pass. "That's wonderful, Relena," he smiled. "I'm glad to see you so happy."

She blushed at him, sipping her drink, as she retreated from the area with a genuine smile plastered across her face.

Duo stood silently by his companion for several torturous minutes, allowing them both time to think. "McDaniels, eh?" He broke in.

"Hn."

"What are you thinking?"

"Probably the same thing you're thinking," he replied.

"You gonna tell her?"

Heero shifted his thoughtful gaze into his shallow coffee, giving a long pause before he answered. "Relena's parents died when she was still young. They may never have told her."

"Then we should warn her?"

"Telling her in haste would do more harm to our friendships with her than good. We should be very tactful about this. But waiting too long could have consequences, too." He let out a long sigh, as if coming to a fateful conclusion. "I'll tell her. She may listen to my advice. You'd best stay out of it."

Duo crossed his arms, nodding in agreement. He'd stay out of it. Heero was better at getting through to her, anyway.

:::

The men stood dutifully by their charge throughout the remainder of the week, ignoring the long conversations and flirtatious looks from her colleague to the best of their ability. Friday found Relena dancing around in the privacy of her bedroom, bursting with excitement for her evening out.

As she ran a soft brush down the long locks of her hair, Relena's daydreams were interrupted by a gentle knock at the door. She opened it to find Heero looking away from her, with his hands tucked away in his pockets.

"Heero? Come in."

Heero turned to face her as she opened the entrance. He took her by the arm and guided her back to her vanity. "Sit down," he said, his face stony and grim.

"I'm fine—"

"Sit. Down. I have something I need to say, and you're not going to like it. Sit down."

Relena's sigh showed a hint of frustration, but she did as she was asked.

"Listen to me, Relena. I know you aren't going to agree with what I came here to say, but I'm going to say it, anyway. I wouldn't be doing my job as your friend or your guardian if I didn't. You will not argue with me." He looked down at her with an authority he seldom used. "Just hear me out," he said.

"You were only fifteen when you lost your father," he started, leaning against the wall by the mirror. "Your brother's occupied on Mars, and I understand that your job has kept you from the experiences of other women your age, so there are some things I think you should know. I presume that you're searching for a healthy relationship, but as a woman of your quality, you will find the dating arena filled with men who fall into all different categories of pariah. Where most women deal with men after merely sex, there will be men after your money, your power and your celebrity.

"My concern with McDaniels," he continued, as he placed his palms down on either side of her, leaning in for emphasis. "Is not an interest in your fame or your fortune. I don't even suspect he's after your power. McDaniels is classic. You may not see this, and I doubt you'll heed my warning, but I've seen the way that man looks at you. He is only after one thing. And as your friend, in your family's absence, I advise you to hold him off. Whatever you do, do not sleep with him. Once he's had his fill, I expect that he will move on, with no thought to your feelings. He will break your heart."

Relena's eyes filled surprise and offense. She opened her mouth to argue back.

Heero cut her off, putting his finger on her lips as he straightened his stance. "That being said, this is your choice to make. And no matter what you choose, I will support you. If I am wrong, I will be happy for you. If you do get your heart broken, regardless of how or why, I will be here. I will not mention it, again. I will not say I told you so. I will be here, if you need a shoulder you can lean on. Because I love you. I'm your friend, and that's what friends are for. To support you."

With that, he stood straight and walked to the door. "Have a good time, tonight, Relena," he said, without even looking back.