Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

A/N: This is mostly about childbirth. Not too graphic, but if it grosses you out, skip it. ;-)

Pain.

Sharp, tearing—shooting—pain.

She couldn't even tell where it was starting. It was too much. She was drowning in it.

Excruciating.

Her eyes flew opened, but her vision was still blurred from sleep. All she could see was the whirling of the dim colors of her bedroom, as she tried to make out her surroundings.

"Breathe."

Heero gave that command. His hand slipped into hers, squeezing her gently for assurance.

Had he come from over, by the window?

Why were the lights on? Low, but on.

"Breathe through it, Relena."

"I'm trying," she attempted to whimper, but the words were broken, drowning in the ocean of pain.

"Concentrate. Breathe out."

She shook her head, tears in her eyes.

"Do it."

She tried to sniff, but her lungs were filled to capacity with useless air. She had to push it out, steadily. Her entire body shook with the effort as she blew slowly, emptying her chest, and clearing the way for fresh oxygen.

When she gasped, he seemed to relax, using his free hand to rub her arm consolingly. "You can do this. Just breathe, Relena."

She looked into his eyes, the color of her face evening back out with every labored breath. His expression was soft, slightly worried, as he pulled her through. He felt like an anchor or an angel to guard her. His eyes told her that he would stay by her side. He would keep her safe.

She blinked, allowing a tear to escape, but Heero was faster than the rolling salt water. He caught it with his thumb, offering her the kindest smile she'd ever seen. She wanted to smart off about dying, since that's the only reason he would smile, but the pain still made it impossible to speak. She pressed her forehead to his, wishing the contraction to pass.

As suddenly as it started, her womb relaxed, leaving a dull ache in its wake. She tested her voice in the next sigh, searching for words. "You're awake?"

He nodded, silently, standing to his feet. There was a fresh pitcher of ice water on the night stand, no more than an hour or two old. He poured her a glass, handing it to her once she'd readjusted her body into a seated position.

"It's nearly four in the morning," she commented in an openly bewildered tone as she glanced from the clock to his book, at her feet.

"You've been in labor for hours. I couldn't sleep."

"You could feel them?"

"Your entire body contracting? Yes."

"I don't think I did."

"You did. You'd cry or whimper, but you tried to rest through them."

"Oh." She took a long sip of the cold water, allowing it to slip into her tired and upset stomach. "When do you think we should go in?"

Heero leaned against the wall, studying her before closing his eyes. "It's up to you. Your labor is strong and regular. I suspect you entered the early stages during the day and didn't notice. Likely, you're going to be running out of time, but you still may want to try and rest as long as you can."

"What if we wait too long?" She grimaced.

Heero's gaze darted to her, again, with a glisten of amusement. "I think I can handle it."

The politician wrinkled her nose in disapproval. "You would."

Relena closed her eyes, rubbing her hand in large circles over her tired neck muscles. "My whole body aches," she commented.

"Do you want a back rub?"

She smiled at him, unwilling to ask aloud.

Heero scoffed quietly, lifting himself from the wall, again. "Move forward," he commanded. He climbed behind her, settling himself with his legs propped on each side of her. She leaned forward, over her belly, to allow him plenty of working area, as she rested her arms on his knees. Her gentle moans and sighs encouraged him as he brought her back to a more comfortable state.

"Will you be there when I have the baby?"

"I won't leave you. Even if you ask me to."

Her body tensed under his fingers as another contraction overtook her. Heero's arms wrapped under hers, pulling her back, against his chest, so his lips were at her ears. Softly and steadily he whispered encouragement in her ears, reminding her to breathe and soothing her inherent panic.

"I owe you an apology," she whispered in a tired tone, once the wave had passed.

"Hn?"

"For what happened when—" Relena's voice wavered, unsure if she could say his name, especially at a time like this.

"Jeremy."

The sound of it burned in her ears. She nodded. "I was so upset, and I took it out on you. You didn't deserve that."

Heero grinned, where she couldn't see and pulled her back, against him, again. "I know," he cooed into her hair, idly closing his hands in hers.

:::

At the doctor's command, Relena gave one last push, breaking for air as her head hit the pillow behind her. Heero wiped the sweaty hair from her brown as she caught her breath. He kept looking at her, but his attention was completely on the doctors.

And then Relena noticed what she heard.

Nothing. No cries of freedom from her baby's first breath. There was not electric joy running through her veins at his voice.

The nurses whispered in hushed tones as the rushed the baby away from Relena's bed to a small exam table on the opposite side of the room. The Relena could see the panic, but the baby was out of sight for the nurses blocking her vision. She started to lift herself, driven by concern, but Heero firmly pressed her back down. His eyes assured her that she'd best wait. The nurses didn't need the distraction. Even the delivery doctor seemed to be still, waiting for a response from the child.

Relena was incredibly aware of her child's distance, along with the heavy pounding of her heart. Each second was an eternity, waiting for the first scream. Her mind ran through a thousand different possibilities that could prevent the breath; her heart begging her son not to die. She was sure there could be no greater torture on earth as Relena lay helplessly waiting for someone else to save her baby.

She turned to Heero, fighting the panic. "Go," she whispered, unsure if he would even comply.

Like a racehorse at the gate, his grip released her as he bolted across the room. He stood at the wall, his Prussian blue eyes studying every speedy movement of the nurses. His eyes did not move from Benjamin as the women toiled away, and Relena's did not move from Heero's face.

Suddenly, both the mother and her companion jumped at the weak, labored squeak the boy elicited. She reminded herself to lie still, until his second breath, which came out in a wail. Heero smiled, a true smiled, when her son kicked to life. His skin began to take on the expected flesh tones of his mother as the nurses wiped him clean. In moments Relena heard the words she'd never expected.

"Here you go," the nurse commented, handing the child to Heero. "Congratulations, Daddy."

Heero's eyes widened in slight surprise as he registered the comment, but Relena noted that he did not rebuke her. He simply offered her a gracious nod, and looked down over the boy's face. His cheeks were flushed in complaint to hunger, and his skin was swollen and healthy. The little boy tried to flail in protest, but his swaddling held him still. There was a shine in Heero's eyes Relena had never seen before, but something of it made her want to cherish this moment forever.

After a few long seconds of observing her handiwork, Heero made his way back to the mother. "Benjamin," he said, placing the seeking child against his mom's chest.

:::

"Hey, Buddy," the tall man called as he threw an arm around Heero's shoulder. "What'cha doing?"

Heero glared up at his violet eyed comrade in warning, before going back to his work. The fool's long, dark braid bounced with his movement as he hopped to his toes for a better look at the paperwork.

"What'cha got there?"

"I'm helping, Duo," Heero answered in a pained tone. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting with the lady and the baby."

"Good. They're over there," he pointed at the bed, where a very tired Relena was beaming up at them.

"'Ey. Is that a Birth Certificate? You should name him Benjamin Yuy."

Relena could see the pen freeze in Heero's hand. He shot her an unreadable look, and then turned his irritation on Duo, again. "It is a Birth Certificate Application, and it is not your concern."

"I'm just saying," he called, as he finally pulled away from Heero and made his way to the bed. "If you're gonna stick around this time, you might as well put your name down. She'll make a father out of you, yet!"

Relena blushed at the sound of her outrageous hopes being voiced in jest.

Heero seemed to sigh, continuing with the paperwork. As he reached a spot lower on the page, he stopped, again, staring at her long and hard. She was about to ask what was on his mind when he went back to work, not saying a word to her or anyone else in the room.

"So who are you naming the godfather?" Duo asked Relena in a whisper, as he pulled the baby close to him.

"Quatre," Heero answered firmly.

Quatre, who sat quietly at Relena's shoulder, smiled kindly.

Duo glanced back, making sure he wasn't joking, and then pouted at the mother. "But why?"

She smirked, unwilling to answer.

"Other than the fact that he acts his age, and is thus more responsible than you?" Heero answered, as though the first part was self-explanatory. "Because he protected the baby before your loud mouth even knew about him."

Relena looked away, still smiling, in spite of her exhaustion.

Duo slumped in protest, never letting his eyes leave the sleeping form in his arms. "He's beautiful, Lee. You did good."

"That he is," Quatre agreed, placing a hand on her arm.

She bore her teeth in a feeble attempt to be cordial as the drugs finally took her and she drifted off to sleep.