Chapter Eleven

Relena was sitting up now. Her eyes only half open, but she knew the phone call had been important and needed her full attention. Currently, Heero was sitting on the edge of the bed, head buried in his hands out of frustration. He had hung up the phone abruptly, making Relena jump slightly.

"Heero?"

"That was Lady Une. She's changed your security for L4."

Relena's half opened eyes popped wide at that. Heero wasn't going to be joining her for the tour or the meeting? "Why?"

"She needs me to help execute the infiltration. Since I've been to 06E3 I will know more of the stable exits and entrances than anyone."

"Who's the replacement?" She bit down hard on her bottom lip. Une wouldn't let just anyone replace Heero, but she didn't think they would nearly as impeccable as him.

"A junior Preventer named Claudio. I've met him before. He'll keep you safe the entire time."

"I really don't feel comfortable with someone I don't know. Why can't it be Duo or Trowa?" She hung her head, "Or even Wufei?"

She heard him sigh heavily, "They're just as crucial to the infiltration as I am. Une needs all of us there. I trust her to make the best call to protect you."

"If you say so."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, trying to digest the drastic change in plans. There wasn't any point in going back to sleep. She had acquired three hours of sleep, but now with this change of plan, her nerves had hold of her and she would toss and turn for the remaining two hours that she was allowed. She removed the blankets and walked to the bathroom, still trying to digest that Heero wasn't going to be near her this time around. She had never met this Claudio before and she certainly wouldn't trust him. Even though Heero said he was good, she didn't feel this new man was going to have the same loyalty as the others.

:::

Heero drove Relena to the space port before he was needed back at the Preventer Headquarters. He said it was safety measures that he delivers her to Claudio himself, but Relena knew that he didn't want to separate from her either. Ever since they were seventeen, he had never been away from her when she had important outer space meetings. He was always there, even if it meant he met up with her on the shuttle.

Not this time.

The car ride was silent. She had seen out of the corner of her eye that Heero continued to open his mouth as if to say something. There wasn't really anything to say. He couldn't make any more promises that he hasn't already made.

Heero pulled the car into the port, stopping only when he saw Claudio emerge from the shuttle. Slowly, he walked to the side of the car and let her out. She saw the two men exchange nods and Claudio walked back inside. Heero pulled her suitcase out of the back of the car, but didn't urge her forward. It was almost like he was regretting having her go. This was a high risk operation and he wouldn't be there. There was a high chance she would be kidnapped or shot and no Gundam pilot was going to be there. All of the other pilots protected her as if they were protecting their own wives/girlfriends. They didn't think of her as just the Vice Foreign Minister or former queen of the ESUN, but as a friend and love interest of their own comrade. That was why she trusted them all so much more.

"Relena…"Heero's voice was rough.

She turned on her heels, trying her best to smile at him. She wanted to show him that she wasn't worried, even though her hands were shaking. She had clasped her hands together in the car so he wouldn't see. It was always useless because that man saw everything.

"I'll be all right, Heero. Just hurry and infiltrate before the meeting tomorrow. I think that's when he might attack." Her voice cracked slightly, but she refused to notice it.

He nodded, pushing her forward now. Her suitcase was placed in the shuttle, because Heero had packed her briefcase inside. Relena had a sneaking suspicion that he might have bugged all of her belongings. Relena stood close to him, taking in his scent as if it would be the last time. Of all the years she had known him, never had she grown old of his scent. It was always tantalizing. It such a manly smell, even when he was fifteen. She sighed heavily, slightly lifting her foot to take the step into the shuttle.

Arms were around her suddenly. A hard chest was pressed against hers and she felt his hot breath on her cheeks a second before her lips her trapped in his. Their first kiss was like this, brought on suddenly, but this one was longer. She counted the seconds as they kissed. Once he forced her lips open and slipped his tongue into her mouth, she lost count and reveled in his taste. She felt shivers go down her spine when his tongue flicked the roof of her mouth and she couldn't suppress a moan. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

"Sorry Agent Yuy, but it's time for us to depart." Claudio said suddenly from behind them.

Relena regretfully released him when she felt his arms slacken around her waist. Her corners of her lips curved upwards slightly when she stepped back. Heero was giving his signature death glare to the junior Preventer and she felt sorry for him. Everyone knows not to interrupt Heero with whatever he's doing, unless it's Duo. The braided pilot has received more death threats than Relena and he never seems to mind. She saw Claudio cower back into the shuttle, but the moment was over. They were going to part ways now, but there was still the satisfaction of knowing that their 'relationship' was going to move forward.

He was always her source of strength. Something so simple as him being near or a few kinder words brought her so much confidence, but now that he had actually kissed her, she felt like she could take on the world and all of outer space. She could deal with Charles and all of Libertatum now without any fear. This was going to be easy to do and once Preventers arrived, all she would have to do was sit back and let them take over. All she really had to do was play dumb and accept everything Charles said. He would let something slip. There were still rumors about the nuclear weapon and hopefully she could attain some more information about it.

As the shuttle pulled out of the harbor, she looked out of the window, surprised to see Heero still there. He was leaning against the car, arms crossed over her chest and eyes glaring into her window. Claudio sat beside her silently. She waved quickly to Heero, just as the shuttle gained speed and started to lift off.

She smiled to herself, leaning back into the seat. She was about to try to get more sleep when she felt something press against her temple. It was cold and hard, but she didn't need to see it to know that Claudio was holding a gun to her head.

She sighed, hanging her head and simply said, "Libertatum?"

A.N. Almost done with this story! Just a few more chapters then I can focus solely on Picture of Success. I hope everyone is still enjoying this story, though!