Chapter Ten

Dear Daughter,

I'm sorry I haven't been able to call you to let you know of this horrific news. I am actually having someone type this email for me.

Relena, I am sick and in the hospital. I didn't want to worry you, but now the doctors have informed me that I only have a few more days and there are many things I have to tell you before I go. I must insist that you come see me immediately. I implore you.

Love, Mother

Relena gapped at the computer screen in disbelief. Her mother was sick? She had been sick? Why wouldn't she have told her? They were the only living relatives they had left and her own mother didn't tell her she was sick. So many thoughts rushed through Relena's mind. She couldn't figure out why her mother had kept her illness a secret. Her mind was spinning, trying to figure out when she could have gotten sick. Relena thought back to the last time she had spoken to her mother. It was the night of Hilde's barbeque. That had only been a couple weeks ago. What could have happened within those couple weeks? Her mother certainly sounded and looked fine the last time they spoke. Relena couldn't remember any subtle hints that could have let her know her mother might have been sick.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice that Heero leaned over her computer, reading the email upside down. She couldn't comprehend anything that was going on around her. She could have been attacked at that very moment and she wouldn't have noticed. She thought she heard Heero say something, but she didn't know what. Her eyes were still fixed on the computer, only words like 'horrific' and 'sick' stuck out to her. Her mother was dying.

Suddenly, Relena was shaken violently. Heero was standing in front of her; dark blue eyes piercing her and making her come back to her senses.

"We have to go." He said shortly.

"I want to see my mother." She said, demand ringing in her tone.

"You can't."

"I want to see my mother. Did you not read the email? She's dying. I have to see her, Heero."

"You can't."

She stood up, fists clenched tightly and she said, with no hint of wavering, "I am going to see my mother, Heero Yuy. You are more than welcome to come with me, seeing as I need protection, but I will go without you."

She watched as he sized her up. She could tell he was waiting to see if she would change her mind or if there was any way he could convince her to change her mind. There wasn't. Her mother wanted to see her and she wanted to see her mother as well. Knowing Heero only a little bit, she felt she knew that he would quarantine her until things got under control. This might be her last chance to ever see her mother again.

"Heero," she said, clearing her throat to keep the stern tone, "I will go wherever you want me to go if you let me see my mother this one last time. That's all I'm going to ask of you. After this, I will follow all of your orders, even if I don't agree with it."

After a moment, Heero smirked and nodded. "Close up your office. You won't be back for a while."

:::

Relena's heels clicked loudly down the hospital halls as she sprinted towards her mother's room. The nurses stopped what they were doing to watch the crazed business woman run through their hospital. Heero walked a steady pace behind her, keeping up with her with amazing ease. He was a bit taller than her and he seemed to be more leg than anything else.

Relena could see her mother's door. She picked up her speed, but regretted it as she nearly collided with the nurse that was exiting at the same time.

"Can I help you?" The nurse asked, gripping Relena's shoulders to steady her.

"I'm here to see my mother. I'm Relena Darlian."

"Oh, she's asleep. I'm afraid she might not make it through the night."

"Can you tell me what happened? I spoke to her just a couple weeks ago and she was fine then." Relena asked, clenching her hands to her chest as she gathered her breath.

"Well, Miss Darlian, we ran some blood tests and it looks as if your mother had been poisoned. It obviously wasn't a large quantity, but enough to make her sick. Over time, the poison has been attacking her liver and heart. I'm sure the last time you spoke to her was one of her last good days."

"Poisoned!?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Who would do such a thing to her?" Relena asked in disbelief, mostly to herself. She knew the nurse wouldn't have any answers for her. Slowly, the nurse patted her on the back gently and left Relena deep in her own thoughts.

"Relena, you're too exposed here. Get into her room and stay away from the windows." Heero ordered in an uncompassionate tone.

Relena snapped her head up and turned abruptly on her heel, "How could you date such an evil woman? She's trying to kill me and she has killed my mother. Are you in on it too? Are you helping her get to me? You showed up out of nowhere and you expect me to trust you suddenly? I don't know why I've been listening to you. I was just fine when you weren't in my life."

Taken aback, Heero let his mouth hang open slightly. He didn't fight her as she slipped into her mother's room, slamming the door in his face. She had been right to question his motives and he knew it. She only hoped that she was wrong about him and that he was honestly trying to help her.

"A lady does not raise her voice." A weak voice said bringing Relena out of her rage.

"Mother!" She said, running over to her bed and hugged the brittle looking woman. Relena could feel the bones of her mother's arms wrap around her back. It was the most uncomfortable hug she had ever received.

As they let go, Relena was surprised to see her mother crying. Her mother never cried in front of her. She was always told that tears were very private and shouldn't been seen by anyone.

"Don't worry about me anymore, Relena. This was another risk I was prepared for. I asked you to come here so I could inform you of what I'll need of you once I pass." She cleared her throat, continuing, "You have to take over my position. All of it, not just the half job I was doing. You're fit and young enough to handle its entirety. Now, I know you don't want to take on that kind of responsibility, but I think you will when I tell you this horrible secret your father and I have been keeping." She sighed, hanging her head.

Relena was silent, listening intently to her mother's last words.

"Your father and I aren't your biological parents. We adopted you when the pacifist family, the Peacecrafts, was murdered. We worked for them when they were in power. However, the Khushrenadas were equally as powerful, but represented war and tyranny. They destroyed the Peacecrafts and your father and I were only able to get you out safely. We've been working fervently to keep the Khushrenada's out of power and peace still in the world. We need you to take up our position. Keep them from taking over. You know enough of what we do to keep the Peacecraft ideals from diminishing."

"I…I don't know why you think I still know what's going on. It's been years since I've heard you say anything about what's going on."

"You watch the news, I know you do. You know enough to get you started. I had my assistant pack up all the necessary files for you to look over."

Relena shook her head, refusing to accept all of this information. "I can't. I have to go into hiding, Mother. People are attacking me as well."

"I know. The briefcase is already waiting for you at the new safe house."

Frustration finally began to seep out of Relena's façade, "Who is after us? Who am I supposed to trust, Mother?"

The weak woman settled into her bed more, smiling weakly at her adoptive daughter, "That answer should be obvious, Relena, and trust only those you want to trust."

Relena gripped her mother's frail hand tightly and sat in silence. It didn't take long for Relena to notice the beeping of her mother's heart slow and her breathing becoming shallower. Relena cried for the first time in many years in front of her mother. Even as the heart monitor let out the low, long beep signaling the stop of her heart, Relena didn't move. She watched her mother's face as the nurses and doctors came bustling in, announcing the time of death and the routine condolences.

She was alone now. She had to go to some safe house that she had no idea where it was and she had to work the moment she got there. She would now have to find a way to the safe house seeing that Heero had surely abandoned her for her outburst and accusations.

The sheet was moved over her mother now and the lights had been shut off before she exited the room. She took her time, trying to figure out what she was supposed to do. She thought about calling Duo or Hilde and that maybe by some wild hope that they would know where she was supposed to go. It was long shot and she knew it. She watched the tile floor as she made her way out of the hospital. She didn't regret accusing Heero. She regretted not finding out where she was supposed to go. He had been the only one to be there for her during this mess that had some idea of what was going on.

Halfway down the hall she stopped. Confused, she began to look around as if the some clarity would reveal itself to her within those cold, white walls. She wasn't about to cry, but she did allow herself to sigh heavily, a sign that she was about to call it quits. Suddenly, a firm hand rested on her shoulder.

She turned to see Heero standing behind her. All anger and confusion aside, she was glad to see he stuck around.