Here's another update! Thanks for reading.

Chapter Ten

Relena stared at the pallium above her head. The sunset was teasing the horizon as it slowly made its way downward. The last drop of gold clung to the ever dominating violet hues. Her mind and heart were racing. Everything felt a blur to her, and she couldn't think straight. She played with the princess cut solitaire ring with her fingers. The white stone caught the last remaining seconds of daylight as she continued to look at the lakefront. The waves were rolling and coalescing with one another.

"If only it were simple." She palmed the sand, wondering what she should do. She hadn't said yes or no to be exact. Dave made her promise to think about it, and told her to keep the ring for the time being.

In the distance, she heard laughter coming from her family's summer home being carried with the lake breeze. Dave was probably telling them how they first met and how she turned him down twice before finally giving in.

She let out a soft sigh and continued to watch the rolling waves. There was enough on her plate too. Besides her pending engagement, Dave also broke the news that the two of them would be out of a job, since the practice wanted to bring in two full time physicians. Talk about life changing events.

Light footfalls were heard coming from behind her, but she continued to stare straight ahead.

"Penny for your thoughts?

She smiled and let out a small laugh. She still played with the ring in her hands.

"Have you thought about it?" He asked sheepishly.

"Yeah I have."

"And?"

"I still need more time," she looked at him pleadingly. Her eyes caught a glimpse of the moonlight.

"I understand." He took a rock and chucked it into the lake. "I think your parents like me."

"By the sound of it, it sure does." She punched him in the right shoulder. "At least, we finally got around to having dinner with them."

"I was thinking."

"Hmm?"

"Seeing that we're both going to be unemployed soon, move with me back to Montana."

"That's an interesting proposition." She leaned on his shoulder, "Getting tired of the big city already?"

"Truth…yes." He looked out at the water. "The big boss already sent out our letters of recommendation out to a clinic in my hometown."

"Wow," she played with a handful of sand, and watched the tiny granules fall from her grasp.

"Like I said just think about it."

"I will." She leaned in to kiss him, as she felt his arms snake his way around her.

…

Relena turned away from the sleeping form. She felt his arm around her waist, but he was sound asleep. She pulled lightly at the white sheet to cover herself. Somehow they managed to sneak in from the beach up to one of the guestrooms.

Her eyes focused on the corner of the window, and a sliver of the moon shown through. She loved this type of summer nights, where she could just let her emotions run and enjoy what she had in front of her. It gave her some sense of clarity.

Every time, she kissed Dave, it didn't feel like she was there. Her mind drifted back to Heero, and even her own heart knew it from the start. She couldn't keep playing this game, and no matter how she played, someone will eventually get hurt.

"Can't sleep?"

"Yeah," she stretched herself out, letting the white sheet pool down at her waist. "Sorry if I woke you up."

He leaned in and pulled away at her blond hair being highlighted by the moonlight. He placed feather light kisses at the base of her neck and created a trail down her left side, paying close attention to several scars left from her surgery.

She turned towards him and returned his affection. "You are really making this hard for me. Aren't you?" She watched his grin widen in the darkness.

The two cuddled under the covers and listened to the waves breaking against the rocks.

"Have you had an imaginary friend before?"

Dave looked down at her, wondering where this conversation was heading, "Maybe…I don't remember."

"Say if you did, would you believe in them?"

"You mean like Santa Claus?"

"You're such a tease," she poked at his chest, "for real now."

"I guess it all depends," he twisted a strand of her hair in her fingers. "I know some of my younger patients describe them all the time, and you just play along in their game."

"What happens if you thought they can be real?"

"Maybe they just have one of those faces." He bit on his lower lip.

"Maybe." She leaned in to kiss him.

"Where is this conversation really going?"

"I was just curious that's all."

He kissed her on the top of her head, "You must've had some pretty good anesthesia during that surgery."

She laughed, "In my wildest dreams."

"I hope it was me that you were dreaming."

"My lips are sealed," she teased at him. "Besides a girl doesn't kiss and tell at the same time."

…

Weeks passed and the final day came. A huge red circle was drawn on her calendar. It was her last day at work with Dave. Over the past weeks, she slowly regained her strength and increased her patient load much to Dave's dismay for her stubbornness and persistence in the matter.

She had another hour before her last patient. Everything was caught up to say the least, no open charts left and her personal objects were already packed in boxes.

Heero managed to disappear from her life once more. She tried tracking him down a couple days earlier, but no one remembered ever seeing a man that fit her description.

"He did it again."

She looked out her office window, and looked at the water front. Out there somewhere, he was there in the middle of it all. She tucked a strand of her loose hair behind her ear and continued to watch from her window.

"Would I miss this," she thought to herself. With Dave, she knew he could be depended on and that he was real. He was something unexpected that found his way in her life. Plain and simple. And with Heero, she had known him since she was a kid. A product of her imagination to keep her occupied on those long trips that her parents took to meet dignitaries. And he too, managed to sneak in on her at the most unexpected place of all.

"Relena, your next patient is here." A voice from her phone rang off.

"Thanks," she punched a button in return. With that, she grabbed her stethoscope and went to see her last patient.

She composed herself before knocking on the door, and took a quick peek before walking in. "My my, Alexis, you're getting big."

"Why thank you, Miss Relena." The pigtailed girl sat on her mother's lap.

"I hear its your last day today."

"It sure is, Mrs. Flood." She scooted closer to her patient. "So I take it, Alexis, is getting ready for kindergarten."

"Yup," she piped in.

"Alright let's get started then."

"Can you first check Kat?"

"Is she sitting next to you?"

"How did you know?" She looked at her curiously.

"I have a knack for this."

After demonstrating the exam on her imaginary friend, Relena quickly took the chance to check her young patient. "See that was quick and simple."

"Yeah, but do I have to get shots too?"

"I'm afraid so, but maybe Kat can hold your hand or something."

The little girl had her reservations and tried to hold in her sniffles, "I don't know." She clung to her mother tightly.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered into her daughter's ear.

"Do you want me to give them?"

"Okay," her voice still hesitant.

"That's a good girl," she patted on the top of her head. "You're a big brave girl." Relena got the tray setup, and these are just going to feel like little bee stings. In seconds, everything was done. "See that wasn't that bad."

"Heero was right about you," the little girl looked up at her.

"About what," the young physician assistant was surprised.

"You have a good heart, and he likes you a lot."

"And do you know where he is?" She placed a Hello Kitty band-aid over the injection site.

"No, but he left me with Kat."

She patted Alexis on her head again. "Well thank you for being my last patient. I'm going to miss you."

"You're not going far way now?" She looked up pleadingly with her doe eyes.

"I don't know."

"I'm sure going to miss you, Relena. Hopefully I can find someone just like you for Alexis."

"It's a pleasure and take care the both of you."

Alexis jumped off her mother's lap and quickly ran to hug at her legs. "Bye Miss Relena."

She watched the pair leave through the doorway, and while she was disposing the needles, she felt a pair of eyes watching her every move.

"Come on Kat!" Alexis' voice called out from the hallway.