Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing.

After Quatre headed back to the hotel, Heero secured the house and laid to rest on the couch. Within a few hours he was brought to his feet by the sound of her screams.

"No! NOOOOO! Benny! Benny! NO!"

Heero grabbed her solidly, pulling her from her nightmare into his embrace.

"It's over, baby," he whispered, rocking her in his arms as he woke her. "It's all over. You're safe now." He kissed her gently on the top of her head, mumbling words of comfort into her white-blonde hair. "I've got you, princess. You're safe, now."

Mary clung to him for dear life as she started to drift back to sleep. He tried laying her down to walk away, but she gripped him the way her mother had ten years before. She needed him, now.

Heero softened, sinking into the bed, next to her. He cradled his daughter on his chest, keeping her safe in her dream world.

:::

"Well I'll be damned," a familiar male voice broke into Heero's dream, backed by the lingering scent of an angel. "What a softy. Maybe he's just got a weak spot for princesses, eh?"

"Shut up, Duo," she whispered, scolding. "You'll wake them. Go away."

Heero struggled for consciousness as the woman closed the visitors out, accidentally fanning a gust of her scent toward the bed. As the wall of roses hit him, Heero's eyes flew open of their own accord.

"Relena."

He looked down at the child in his arms. Her knuckles were white from clinging to his shirt. He slowly peeled her fingers back and slipped out of the bed.

Stalking out of the bedroom, he aimed his aggressions at Duo first. "How did you get in?"

Duo shrugged, grinning guiltily.

He turned the angry tone to Relena. "I told you to stay at the hotel."

She raised her head, never afraid of a fight. "I decided you were wrong."

He clenched his jaw in frustration. "You don't even know what's going on."

"I know my enemies tried to kill my daughter."

"They weren't your enemies." He turned away from her to emphasize his disinterest in her theory.

Silence fell between them for several moments. Duo was lost with the revelation.

Relena swallowed hard, dropping her eyes to the floor. They know, she realized.

"By coming here, all you've done is put yourself in more danger."

"Then she shouldn't—"

"I'm moving her tomorrow morning. She's going to stay with Trowa."

Relena's mouth dropped open, wanting to beg for her daughter back, but she knew it was pointless and unwise. "Can they hide her efficiently?" She finally asked.

"Of course."

He started fiddling with the coffee pot. "Duo, secure the apartment," he barked.

She let him work silently as she approached him from behind, leaning on the counter.

"Nightmare?" She asked softly.

"I take it she's never been in an explosion, before," he answered, without turning back.

"Never lost a friend, either," she said.

Heero sighed heavily. "I didn't want this for her," he mumbled.

Relena could feel it in her chest. She took a breath, fighting the emotions he was putting off. "You've done everything you could," she said, putting her hand on his arm.

Heero looked down into his wife's eyes. He wanted to apologize for the trouble they were in, but there were no words. He just dropped his gaze to the empty floor.

Relena tucked her arms around him and buried her head in his chest. "Thank you," she said. "You saved her life."

He accepted her advance, bracing the tired princess in his arms.

"I told you I'd watch out for her," he stated simply.

Duo turned from the door, looking at the couple confused. Wow, he thought. I knew she'd moved on, but I didn't realize she was so over him she could touch him like that without feeling it. He sighed, disappointed, looking away. I guess ten years does something for the scars of the heart. So much for a romantic ending.

Heero knew that if he held his wife much longer, Duo would be suspicious, but he couldn't bring himself to push her away. He remembered the empty feeling of regret and rejection Mary had given him when she pushed him away the day before. The thoughts made him squeeze Relena tighter.

"This is the beginning of the end?" Relena's voice was gentle, knowing his heart.

"I can't—" He grappled for words to explain his feelings. "But there's no turning back."

He looked down at her, his eyes pleading with her to agree.

"You want me to say it was the right decision," she interpreted.

Stepping back from him, she looked to the floor. "It was. Then. But is it still right for her, now?" She looked back into his eyes, asking him the exact question he'd been pondering, himself.

Heero crossed his arms and leaned on the counter, staring into space as he considered the events that were being thrown at them. If a choice they made had ever been tested in the fire, this choice was being tested, now. Part of him was relieved that they were both questioning it, but his defenses knew that someone had to be the strong one to hold the line. He sighed, planning to put the fight off for another day.

"Mr. Yuy?" A small voice came out from behind the bedroom door as it opened. "Mr. Y—" Mary stopped cold as her mother's face came into view.

"MOMMA!" She cried, rushing into Relena's arms. "Oh, Momma. I've missed you. I was so scared!"

"Ahem," a light hearted man's voice broke through the reunion to suck up some of its own attention.

"Uncle Duo!" She pushed from her mother and leapt into the long haired brunet's waiting arms. "Oh, Uncle Duo. I've missed you, too."

Heero pulled back on his envy as his daughter kissed Duo on the cheek.

Duo blushed playfully. "Gosh," he said. "You're so sweet."

He set her down and his eyes suddenly widened with excitement. "Hold up. I have something for you. Close your eyes."

She obeyed, covering them with her small hands.

"Okay," Duo said a second later. "Open up."

He focused on the gift. "My TEDDY!" She threw her arms around the teddy bear with even more passion than she'd shown the adults.

Relena smiled, looking at Heero as he began to recognize the bear. It was so familiar, under the ware, scars and newfound scorch marks. He'd given his wife that gift for her 16th birthday. A small smile snuck across his lips, realizing that his daughter's favorite comfort toy was originally a gift from him.

Suddenly everyone froze when there was a knock at the door.

"Closet." Heero's soldier mode was out, sending his guest to the back.

"Oh," Duo mumbled teasingly. "Seven minutes in Heaven." He raised an eyebrow. "With two princesses."

Heero scowled as he grabbed Duo by the arm and threw him into the wall at the back of the closet. Duo met his glare with a smirk, unmoved.

"Fine," he answered, crossing his arms. "I can see you're still not a morning person."

The girls squeezed in, Relena smiling up at Heero, whose jealous side she seldom got to see. He looked into her eyes as he closed the door and made his way back to the living room. He loaded the gun and answered the intruder in his usual, threatening fashion.

The metal of the gun nearly melted when it met Wufei's gaze. Nothing could scare the Commander, least of all a pistol.

Heero smiled, letting him in without double checking if he'd been followed. If any of Heero's friends ever did their job, right, it was Wufei.

"Is Relena here?"

Heero nodded, knowing the officer was more than annoyed, as well. "I told her not to come," he clarified to knowing ears, as he led him to the back closet.

When the door opened, Relena met Wufei's stare and rolled her shoulders back obstinately. Duo, however, slumped and whimpered out in front of his superior, tail tucked. Mary, who was innocent, sat quietly in her mother's arms, looking up at Wufei with puppy eyes.

"I've missed you, Master Chang," she said.

His face softened, to Heero's surprised. Wufei lowered himself next to her, brushing a stray hair from her face. "I thought I lost you, back there," he said gently. His eyes misted as he looked at her in honesty. "Don't scare me like that."

He reined in his emotions again, hardening himself as he stood to face her father. "What's the plan?"

"I'll bring her to Catherine Bloom tomorrow at dawn. Meet me there and we'll move forward."

Wufei nodded. "Until then?"

"She stays here, and we lay low."

"But if you're the target—"

Heero looked away. "There's no safe way to move her until tomorrow. But Relena shouldn't be here."

Wufei shook his head. "It's too late. We can't move Relena during the day."

Heero glared at her. "She's not safe here."

"As safe as the girl is."

Heero turned and left the room. "I can't protect both of them," he mumbled.

"You have no choice," Wufei said coldly.

Heero growled in frustration. "Don't put me in a position where I have to choose."

"Protect the girl," Wufei stated, making the choice for him.

Heero looked up into his eyes.

"Relena will agree."

He knew Wufei was right. The only one even questioning the possibility of Relena's life taking president was Heero. They all loved her, but the girl was their baby. For Heero, he loved the girl, more strongly, even, than any of the others, but Relena was his angel.

"Protect the girl," he agreed, accepting the mission.

"Duo," Wufei called out as he turned to leave. "Return to the hotel at nightfall, with the Minister."

Relena sank onto the floor, satisfied with her fate, as she hugged her child close.