DISCLAIMERS:
The characters of Shin Kudoseki Gundam Wing
belong to Sotsu Sunrise Agency. The novel "A Perfect Lie" was written
excellently by Dinah McCall and heavily influenced
this fic. Some parts and dialogues may have been adapted.
Don't own any of them.

Prologue

"Why are you here?" Heero Yuy asked.

"Can we talk?"

Instantly Heero's defenses went on alert. Fifteen years ago Relena Dorlian had been nothing but a scrawny kid with braces, but she was obviously a very grown-up woman now. And that meant, based on his experience, no more to be trusted than her sister Catherine had been.

"I don't think we have anything to talk about," he said shortly.

She couldn't quit. There was too much at stake for Relena to quit.

She took a deep breath. "Please, Heero, you must listen to me."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, damn it, you do! Catherine is dead… murdered. My father is in intensive care, and Evan has been kidnapped."

The floor swayed beneath Heero's feet. Catherine… the name left a bitter taste on his tongue. Finally he managed to mutter a response.

"I'm sorry, but none of that has anything to do with me."

Relena took a deep breath. "Yes, it does," she said. "There's still Evan."

"Evan? Who the hell is Evan?" Heero asked.

"Your son."

                        *****

Bel Air, California

16 years earlier

She had chosen the elegance of her father's library to give him the news because it represented everything she wasn't willing to loose. Granted, Heero Yuy was more of a man than she had ever had before and when she was being brutally honest with herself Heero Yuy was the best thing that ever happened to her.

She closed her eyes. Heero. She loved him as much as she was capable of loving someone other than herself. But her father had given her, her choices and she was appalled of how easy it had been to be swayed. She opened her eyes. It didn't matter anymore. There was no turning back now.

Hearing the sound of an arriving vehicle, Catherine turned toward the library window just in time to see Heero get out of his car. In the sunlight his hair was a dark messy mop and she knew all too well how beautiful his body was beneath his sport coat and slacks. She drew a deep, trembling breath as she felt a sharp pang of regret. Never again would she be able to run her hands through his luscious chocolate locks or the sour taste of his lips against hers. There was no easy way to say what had to be said.

                        *****

Heero patted his pocket as he strode down the hall toward the library, making sure the engagement ring he'd purchased yesterday was still there. No matter how many times he'd been with Catherine- and God knew there had been plenty-the sight of her still took his breath away. And now knowing that she carried his child… words failed him. He'd thought all night about what it would be like to be a husband as well as a father. The responsibilities were great but he was ready for them.

Moments later, he entered the library, seeing Catherine standing at the window, he hurried towards her. "Hey Beautiful," he said, resting his hand on her belly. "Feeling okay?"

Catherine stiffened and moved out of his embrace. She needed distance between them to say what had to be said.

Heero frowned. "Something wrong?"

"Not anymore," she said briefly. "As of nine o'clock this morning, there is no baby."

If she had pulled out a gun and shot him point blank, Heero wouldn't have been more shocked.

"You miscarried? Why didn't you call me? My God… are you alright?"

The hurt on his face made Catherine's stomach turn. "No, I didn't miscarry," she paused. "I wasn't ready for motherhood, that's all. And before you say anything else this thing between us is just not going to work." She frowned and then pouted when Heero's face went flat. "Don't sulk. You know how I hate it when you sulk."

"Sulk?" Heero's voice was barely above a whisper. "You think I'm going to sulk?"

Suddenly the look on his face became frightening and Catherine subconsciously took a step back.

"I wasn't sure how you would-"

"You had an abortion without a word to me first?"

Catherine was getting nervous. It was time to cry. "You don't understand," she said softly, knowing full well how radiant her blue eyes looked filled with tears. "I'm too young to settle-"

"Jesus Christ," Heero muttered and turned his back on her. He had to get out. Now. Before he did something he would regret.

When Catherine realized he was leaving, she knew she would never see him again. There was a part of her that regretted that more than anything else she had done. Before she could stop herself, she cried out.

"Heero, wait!"

He paused, then turned, and as he did, she wished she'd never called him back, because she would forever remember that the last look on his face had been one of pure hate.

"We were good together…weren't we?" she asked and then was ashamed.

Heero shook his head, as if trying to clear his thoughts, then stared at Catherine as if seeing her for the first time.

"You were nothing but a fuck," he said, and then he was gone.

Catherine gasped. The ugliness of what he said was not as painful as the truth of it. And it was truth that sent her to her knees. She heard the car door slam as he got inside, heard the sound of his engine rev as he sped out of the driveway, and then he was gone. Fresh tears spilled out from beneath her eyelids as she covered her face with her hands.

"Sissy…what's wrong? Why were you and Heero fighting?"

Catherine looked up. Her little sister, Relena, was kneeling at her side. "Get out," Catherine sobbed. "Leave me alone."

So she did. Moments later, Catherine was left with nothing but dreams of what might have been and the echoes of what will never be.