A/N: Ok guys, I wanna apologize for there not being a break between scenes. There's supposed to be (I didn't forget) it just got deleted I guess. So I'll be more careful from now on. If it gets to be a problem I'll repost the part. Of course, do remember I wrote this story over a year ago. Thanks to my reviewers, new and old, TanyaPotter, Kami-Crimson, and M.J.L.S! And I'm glad you consider me worthy for your author alert list. Well anyway, I'll let you get to reading.

Part 10

Relena is, of course, a very understanding and kind person. At least that's the perception she gave off, and, in fact, it was a rather good description of her. So when Heero called and relayed Trowa's message, it didn't even take 5 seconds for her to say "yes" about meeting with Catherine. She was actually quite curious as to why a complete stranger would wish to speak with her, although many did simply because she was a celebrity. But this Catherine person seemed different. And besides Relena trusted Trowa's judgment, he was a sensible young man, even if she'd only spoken to him a few times. If Heero thought it was worth telling her about the request, then she had no choice but to listen.

2 days. That was all she had until the encounter with this new person who would hopefully not be even remotely similar to Dorothy and her fascinations with war. Hopefully Catherine would be a sweet girl with the same hopes for peace as herself. But Relena would not judge her based on her beliefs. That was why Relena was such a strong leader, because she was a person of good judgment.

The only question on Relena's mind was, why, now, was this Catherine so interested in meeting her? Why had she not asked to meet her before? Another question that need not be answered as the question's answer would have nothing to do with what kind of person Catherine was. Time was not something you judged by. Whatever the reasons, Trowa's description made Catherine seem like a very nice person.

Relena looked at the clock. "3:40AM?" She asked aloud, and then unsteadily shifted sides and closed her eyes again. Why had she been thinking about Catherine, the person she would meet in a few short days when there was so much else to do and think? She couldn't be distracted by future events that had little significance in her hectic schedule. She should have been thinking about more important things like peace, stopping Heero and the other Gundams, or changing her name to Relena Peacecraft. In the public eye she still preferred to be called Relena Dorlian, although as a leader of the Sinq Kingdom, the Peacecraft dream, the name Dorlian hardly seemed fitting. She was, after all, a true Peacecraft, and the only of the siblings with very little blood on her hands, even if she still felt like a Dorlian. She should have been contemplating those things instead of her upcoming meeting with a citizen of Earth.

"Earth?" Relena thought. "Hmmm, maybe I should take a trip to space. I could use a break, though I doubt there's much time for one. As unsafe as it is here on earth, especially for delegates of the Sinq Kingdom, in space on the…colonies it must be 10 times worse." Slowly she pulled herself out of bed and gazed through a tiny window that had drawn her attention, "How could I possibly sleep with so much to think about?"

She turned away from the window and put her hand to her forehead so quickly it seemed like a rocket launching off the surface of Earth had taken control of her body. "No I will not think that way." She cried as a wet tear spilled down her glistening cheek.

Even in the moonlight her skin glistened, her eyes shown like big round fireballs only they were much cooler and safer. She allowed herself to cry only for a moment before returning her thoughts to Heero and the dangers of being a Gundam Pilot. Zechs would not have been proud if he saw the way she was handling herself anytime she had the chance to be alone. Crying would not bring peace. Then again what would? She was finished with feeling sorry for herself; she had to be strong for her people, even in the dark confines of her room. Her room? Wasn't that a child's term for a place of dwelling? The only place they could feel secure and find peace? Wasn't this her quarters and not her room? Since when had she referred to it using that term, it had been a very long time. In fact she didn't even remember those days it was so long ago. She stomped her foot against the carpet in an attempt to release anger, since when did she have anger?

Since the war began again. This new war infuriated her because there was no fight for peace or order; it was a meaningless fight to bring chaos. She held her beliefs strong, same as she had done throughout the last war: the war that had both given and taken her brother from her. And alone in this room, she couldn't possibly come to terms with this war or her life.

X

At first, as Catherine walked up the stone steps to the large manor of the Sinq Kingdon, she was cautious acting like a lost little girl. Perhaps she was wrong about the date? Anything could have happened; this could even have been another of Trowa's pranks or broken promises. But as she was led down a long corridor by a small silent woman who seemed as if she was going to cry, Catherine calmed down slightly allowing herself to control her nerves instead of the other way around.

"Relena has been anxious about meeting you, I don't know why. Normally she's quite calm about visitors." Her guide said.

"I've probably come at a very stressful time, by the way what's your name?" Catherine asked.

"Lucrezia Noin, but please call me Noin or Miss Noin." Noin replied.

Catherine nodded, "You probably know who I am."

"I do." Noin answered never changing facial expressions.

Catherine took it as a sign that the discussion was over, and she couldn't have been more right if she tried. Catherine stared at her feet the remainder of the journey, half afraid that if she dared gaze at Miss Noin then her guide would burst into tears. And likely she would have too, but it would take more than the stare of an innocent girl to get Noin to show her true feelings, especially to a stranger. Her attempts to look content apparently weren't passing, because this girl she was escorting had an oddly sympathetic curve to her features.

Not skipping a beat, Noin led her guest to a small brown door that, had you not been a trained professional, you might have missed the door entirely. Silently she knocked, getting louder with each thump. Normally she would have simply burst into the room, but with Catherine around she felt like being courteous and polite.

"Come in?" Came Relena's courageous voice from behind the door.

"Welcome!" She stood and shook Catherine's hand as they entered.

Noin bowed and left leaving the 2 alone.

For some odd reason Catherine had pictured the pretty young woman in front of her as less of a kind person, though she could see now that Relena had everything: brains, looks, and kindness. All the important qualities she wished she had.

"I am Relena Dorlian, how can I help you?" She asked in her normal bubbly voice that Heero as well as many others found quite annoying, but Catherine found it quite welcoming.

"Catherine Bloom." She replied, "Charmed."

"Heero says Trowa spoke very highly of his adoptive sister." Relena joked.

"Yes, that may be true, but I'm a little concerned about him." Catherine sighed.

"Really?" Relena asked getting interested.

"I've told him so many times not to get involved with the war." Catherine shook her head, "He just won't listen."

"Yes I know exactly what you mean." Relena laughed, so Catherine was a person who wanted peace after all.

Catherine looked at her suspiciously arching her eyebrow, how could anyone know?

"I've had just as little luck with Heero," Relena stated reading her mind. "They're just too stubborn and independent."

Catherine nodded finally feeling at ease with Relena. "Maybe we can come up with some way of stopping those 5 from fighting."

"4 actually, one of them came to his senses on his own. But I've already tried to stop Heero…" Relena began.

"But you were alone, you know what they say '2 heads are better than 1'." Catherine said.

"Yes, they also say great minds think alike." Relena laughed.

"And not so great minds too." Catherine agreed, "Probably why those Gundam Pilots think so much the same way!"

"That was mean!" Relena sarcastically.

"So?" Catherine asked.

Relena couldn't help but laugh.

"So you went to all that trouble to get in touch with me just to help me convince the Gundams not to fight?" Relena asked.

"Yep." Catherine smiled.

"You know what?" Relena smiled, "Your plan is just crazy enough to work."

"Yes, let's call the boys together and see if they can resist us." Catherine agreed.

Relena nodded, "They don't stand a chance."

"You know nonviolence can be such fun!" Catherine grinned evilly.

Relena nodded, "But it's a lot of hard work too."

"Probably not as hard as running a circus!" Catherine countered.

"Yes, well I've never tried that." Relena said.

Catherine picked up the phone, "Who shall we call?"

"Trowa is easier." Relena said.

"Heero it is then." Catherine agreed.

They kept giggling as the phone rang and finally Heero picked up. Catherine handed the phone to Relena.

"Heero?" Relena asked. "No wait, don't hang up!"

Catherine put her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

But they had no luck with Heero, they were definitely right; Trowa would be easier. But they had no luck with him either. They tried several arguments, peace, war, future, past, present, family none of it affected them, at least not enough for them to stop fighting. Catherine had barely survived the battle between Trowa and the mobile suites, piloted by real humans, and yet he refused to stop fighting. How many people would be less fortunate? How many people would have to die for them to realize what they had to do? Or were Catherine and Relena really wrong, were their jobs to protect the weak Sinq Kingdom? The Sinq Kingdom was only weak because they did not believe in war, they had no weapons to protect themselves, and maybe the Gundams were supposed to protect the Sinq Kingdom and it's beliefs so that one day there would be true peace.