I do not own Gundam Wing. This fan fiction has no commercial value and I am not making any kind of profit or income off of this.

AN: This is the second in a series of 3 chapters regarding Heero and Relena's past. This will hopefully answer many questions, and resolve much confusion.

Chapter 12 will pick up where chapter 8 left off. Just so everyone knows the game plan…. Thanks for your patience.

PS: Midnight Tenshi – Heero's "real" name, in his Episode Zero (it's my opinion that it's technically not his real name – in the sense that you'd find it on a birth certificate….) is Odin Lowe, Jr. Odin Lowe is the assassin that trained or raised him before Dr. J. In this fic, he's Heero's half-brother.

Chapter 10

10 years ago (continued)

Three weeks later, Heero sat staring silently at the desk in front of him. "Sergeant Po", the engraved desk plate read. A woman in her twenties with long brown hair wearing a police uniform smiled kindly at him as she sat down. "Well, Mr. Yuy, it says here you have to complete 200 hours of community service, and serve 6 months probation. That means I'm your new best friend."

Heero scowled at that remark.

"So, what's your favorite charity?"

"Huh?"

"Do you have a preference for how you want to serve your community?"

"I don't know, feed the homeless?" Heero said sarcastically.

"Done."

"What?"

"Tomorrow, I'll pick you up and take you over to the Homeless shelter on 6th Street. A group meets there every Saturday to serve food to those less fortunate."

He glared at her. "I can get a ride there myself."

"Yes, but that's how you got here in the first place," she laughed. "I'll pick you up at 8."

"AM? As in the morning?" Heero's voice escalated.

"Yes, in the morning. This is not supposed to be fun, remember – this is punishment."

"Fine," Heero growled. "May I go now, Sergeant?"

"Call me Sally. Yes, you may go. Do you need a lift home? I'm leaving now, and can give you a ride."

"No, I'll walk," Heero said gruffly and left.

At the homeless shelter, Sally escorted him in and introduced him to the director. He noticed that all the other volunteers were older women, and groaned inwardly. "Why did I have to steal that car?" he scolded himself.

He was half-listening to the boring explanation of what he was supposed to be doing, thinking again how lame it all was, when she walked in. Blonde hair wafting in and around her flushed face before the door blocked out the cruel winter wind. His eyes widened in surprise, there was no mistaking it – she was the girl on the tape. He recovered quickly, masking his expression, but continued to watch her out of the corner of his eye.

Relena arrived slightly later than usual at the homeless shelter she volunteered at every Saturday. With her adoptive father being a politician, it was an unspoken requirement that she find some way to 'give back' to the community. She didn't mind, though, it felt good to help people in need.

She walked into the kitchen, and almost fainted. There he was, that boy she saw every night in her dreams. It was always the same, his crystal blue eyes staring right through her as he aimed his gun and fired. There was so much pain in those eyes. She felt a strange urge to comfort him. She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts. "What is he doing here?" she asked herself, afraid of what the answer might be.

She had not spoken a word about what had happened that night. She never would, either. She wanted to forget. But a small voice nagged at the back of her mind, "You just don't want to turn him in…."

"Relena," the director greeted her. She was an elegant lady in her fifties, her brown hair pulled back smartly in a French twist. She looked too good for a place like this. "Come, meet our new volunteer."
Relena smiled hesitantly and crossed the room. He was leaning back against the wall to the kitchen, his arms crossed in a posture of resentment. He just stood there scowling at her from under his long bangs. He wore dark blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a black leather jacket, and certainly looked anything but friendly.

"Relena Darlian, this is Heero Yuy."

Relena held out her hand, "Pleased to meet you," she said softly.

He shook her hand, and their eyes met. "Those eyes again," she thought and couldn't help but shudder. She looked away.

"It's a pleasure. Are you sure we haven't met before?" he asked with a deadly smirk.

Her eyes widened but replied calmly, "I don't believe we have. I'm certain I would have remembered." She let go of his hand.

Momentarily satisfied by her answer, he nodded, "I guess you just look familiar."

There wasn't enough ventilation in the kitchen, so he was sweating profusely in the heat that was generated by the stove and the ovens. He cursed himself again for stealing that car, and went back to stirring the soup. He and a few others were in charge of preparing the food, while Relena and the rest served it to their 'guests'.

When all the plates had been filled, he grabbed a glass of water, and took up a position in the corner of the room, watching. He found his gaze time and time again drifting back to 'that girl.' He didn't know quite what to make of her, really. He observed that some of these people, despair and sadness long etched on their faces, suddenly smiled under her attentions. An ember of hope ignited in their eyes as she interacted with them. He noticed the other volunteers didn't get too close to the 'unwashed' masses, but Relena sat at their tables, and even hugged them as they left the shelter. "But could she ease the pain in my own heart?" He quickly quashed the thought. "She's dangerous," he told himself again, and went back to work.

He didn't tell Odin about her that night. He wasn't sure why. For some reason, he felt like he could trust her, but dismissed the thought as illogical. "You can't believe some feeling, your life's on the line!" But that didn't stop her from invading his dreams.

School started back after the winter holidays that Wednesday, and being on probation meant not skipping class. Sally picked him up. Heero was beginning to hate her.

She dropped him off with a cheerful, "Have a good day!"

He glared at her from underneath his bangs, then walked off towards the main building. A few moments later, he felt a hand on his shoulder and stopped.

"Hey buddy!" a familiar voice greeted him.

Heero turned around and glared at Duo. The happy-go-lucky boy with long brown hair tied neatly back in its usual braid quickly took his hand off Heero's prized black leather jacket.

"I know I know. Don't touch the leather. Sorry, man I forgot." He rolled his violet eyes behind his friend's back.

That jacket was the only thing Heero had that was truly his. He had earned enough money one summer mowing lawns with Duo to buy it. Duo felt truly sorry for his friend. He practically had to sleep with it on for fear Odin would take it from him.

"What do you want, Duo?" He growled.

"Geez, is that how you greet all your friends?" he asked as he fell into step with Heero.

There was no response.

"What do you say we blow this Popsicle stand and grab some breakfast? I'm starving!"

"Can't."

"Why not? You've never needed to go to class to pass…"

"I'm on probation."

"Ass! Good motivation for going to class, though. What'd they get you on?"

"Joyriding."

"Joyriding isn't a crime!"

Heero smirked, "It is when it's not your car."

Duo laughed. They kept walking until they arrived at the locker the two boys shared. Duo turned the combination lock and opened it. He peered in at the shelf of textbooks.

"What's your first class?" he asked.

"Calculus," Heero replied flatly.

"Ugh, you're killing me! I'm still suffering through Algebra. You know a guy as smart as you…you should go to college. Seriously."

"Hn…"

Duo pulled the textbook for his first class, and then handed Heero his calculus book. Suddenly, musical laughter floated down the hallway. Duo turned, and saw a beautiful blond girl with clear blue eyes walking towards them. She was engaged in conversation with someone and hadn't seen him stop and stare. Not dropping his gaze, Duo closed the locker door and elbowed his friend in the stomach. "Get a load of her!"

Heero followed his gaze, and inwardly cringed. "Relena," he said, just barely above a whisper.

She looked up from her friend and met Duo's eyes briefly. She had long coal black lashes that enhanced the blue of her sapphire orbs. Duo was instantly smitten. Her gaze continued to travel past Duo to something just behind him. Heero. He looked at her and their eyes locked. She appeared surprised, but only momentarily. She smiled, turned and said something to her friend, then made her way towards him. Heero couldn't believe it.

"Hello, again," she said softly.

He nodded at her.

Duo spoke up, "Hi! Haven't seen you around before."

Relena smiled slightly. No he hadn't seen her before. "I just transferred in."

Her father was the ambassador to the UK, so she was constantly being shuffled from school to school at home and abroad. A staunch proponent of a private school education, this recent transfer to a local public school was due to the fact that her father didn't approve of her last "boyfriend". Relena had assured her father that Quatre had just been a friend, but to no avail. He was the son of one of Ambassador Darlian's political rivals, and therefore off limits. The other private school in town wouldn't accept a mid-year transfer, so here she was, talking to a strange boy with long brown hair and smiling violet eyes, and being glared at by a brooding juvenile delinquent.

"What's your name?" the strange boy asked her.

"Relena Darlian," she said and held out her hand.

Duo flirtatiously bowed and kissed it. "Very pleased to meet you. I'm Duo Maxwell."

Grinning, Relena mock-curtsied in return and quipped, "You're too kind, good sir."

The warning bell rang, interrupting their good time. Duo groaned. "Gotta go. Maybe I'll see you around?"

"Maybe," she said to his retreating back. Then she turned and ran right back into Heero.

"Oh!" she said in surprise.

He glared down at her.

"I'm sorry."

He grabbed her elbow and pulled her along the hallway and out the door. Once outside, he glowered at her and said, "You're playing with fire, here, little girl."

Her eyes widened at the words. "I wouldn't, I won't…."she stuttered.

His gaze was intense. Relena felt his eyes burning into her, she couldn't hold it; she had to look away.

"Heero," she said, gaining courage, "I won't say anything. I promise. I just couldn't…" her voice trailed off as she took in the cold expression on his face. "I guess you wouldn't understand."

"What I understand is that I'm not going to prison," he growled at her.

She nodded.

"I'll kill you," he said and walked away.