A/N Happy Thirsty Thursday! No I didn't disappear, just a little bit of a rough start to the week. My daughter unfortunately caught a 24-hour bug and was sick for a few days. But I just so happen to have the chapter written just not edited, so here ya go! This is also what happens when you don't sleep in while your child is away for the weekend ;).

Anywho... I need to address something quickly so there's no confusion down the line. I have been going back to the beginning of this story and making the necessary corrections that I missed. I'm also editing the chapters to break them up more. With that being said when I do post the new updated ones the chapter numbers will change. I will note in my A/N when this happens so there is no confusion. Don't worry about going back and re-reading, nothing has changed story wise. It's just a heads up so say if we go from chapter twenty-one to chapter thirty you're not freaking out thinking you missed something. Also, thank you to those who review! I appreciated still more than you can imagine. To those who have been reading, and there's a lot of ;), just PM me if you don't want to leave a review. I'd honestly love to hear your thoughts! I promise I don't bite! Hahaha. Alright on to the newest chapter(s)? ;)

-MM

Chapter Twenty-One
Secret Plans

By the time Heero had gotten back to the Senate House Relena was already fuming. He had left her with a couple of agents as he ran back to HQ to grab a few things he needed before they went back to her office for the rest of the day. The half-hour trip turned into over an hour between finding out Serena was in fact at Preventers and Wufei's impromptu request to have Serena help him. All of which had Heero's head spinning. Then to top it off between traffic and the fact he had stopped to grab Relena one of her favorite coffees - as an apology - he had now been gone a total of an hour and forty-five minutes.

Luckily for him, Relena wasn't mad at him but rather one of the bodyguards he had left to look over her. From what Heero saw the poor guy must of said or did something wrong because Relena was giving him the full treatment. She was running through the list of procedures and protocols. Heero smiled to himself as he came to stand next to her. Even when Relena complained about the long and possibly never ending list he had created, she still knew when it was acceptable to bend the rules slightly and when it was completely out of the question. Like right now.

"Agent Douglas, you and I both know now is not the time to be slipping up. These procedures are put into place not just for my safety but for yours as well. Please, next time do not forget that." Relena had her chin lifted with all the poise of a politician that she was.

"Is everything alright here?" Heero asked. Eyeing Agent Douglas who looked like he was about ready to hightail it out of the building.

"Yes sir! Everythings fine." Matthew Douglas said as calmly as he could muster.

"Agent Yuy." Relena said turning herself to face him. "I think Agent Douglas needs another reminder of what our procedures and protocols are. I have already refreshed his memory but I think it would be wise if you were to sit him down and go over them again." Heero would much rather prefered her to call him by his first name, but he'd be lying if he didn't mind having her say his last name with such an authoritative sound to it.

"Hn. I appreciate your opinion Ms. Darlian." Heero saw the twinkle in her eyes and the small smile she gave him before she schooled her face.

"Thank you. I believe I am ready to leave now. Am I going back to my office with you, Agent Yuy?" Heero nodded his head before placing a hand on the small of her back. Thanking the other agents before they started walking back down the hallway towards the parking garage.

"I hope you know that I do really like it when you take your safety into your own hands." Heero whispered to Relena as they walked. He heard her chuckles as she turned ocean blue eyes to him.

"I'm happy that I made you proud. You've drilled them into me more than I think you have to Matthew. I do feel bad but he needed a reminder. Especially with us being on high alert."

"You should know them like the back of your hand. For this very reason. Matthew also hasn't been on duty with you for some time. But you were right to go over them with him. I'll make sure I do as well."

"I do really like him. I hope I didn't scare him too bad." Heero chuckled.

"He'll be fine. I would like to have him put on full time for your detail. That's if Une agrees and second, if he really wants to after this." Relena swatted his arm playfully.

"Heero! I'm not that terrible!" Heero smiled before he opened the door to the garage. Scanning the area before they headed towards his SUV. Just because they were having a lighter moment during their work day didn't mean that he could slip up. Relena was his number one priority.

"We need to make one stop before we head to your office." Heero said once inside the vehicle.

"Oh?" Relena lifted an eyebrow at him. "And what is that exactly?"

It was all Trowa needed to hear before he crushed his lips to Serena's. Her lips parted eagerly as he pushed his tongue into her mouth. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulling her closer. He wanted her to feel how he truly felt about her. Her arms had wound themselves around his neck as they continued searching each others mouths.

Trowa broke the kiss to look into her eyes. His hand holding the back of her head as her midnight blue stared into his own emerald green. "Whatever happens we'll deal with it when the time comes."

"How can you be so sure?" Trowa could see the doubt swimming in her eyes. Serena had let her guard down, if only for a moment, but then she was right back to putting up the wall she surrounded herself with.

Trowa may not have known her for years, but in the short amount of time they knew each other he was able to pick up quickly on a thing or two. Serena may have been opening up more to him but she still kept a lot of things to herself. Always guarded when it came to certain things. He never pushed her on those topics knowing it could push her away from him. He was also just as guarded, but when he was with her those walls of his were slowly starting to crumble with every look she gave him. Something about her was different than anyone he had ever met, and regardless of whatever the outcome may be, Trowa knew without a doubt that he wanted to make this work. He knew he couldn't just walk away even if she had said no. He needed to know. Needed to find out why he felt such a strong connection to her and why she was the first person to ever make him feel this way.

"Because I believe in what this could be." Trowa saw her guard come completely up. Her eyes had changed from a softened beep blue to the hard steel blue. "Don't do that..."

"Don't do what?"

"Don't block me out because you're unsure." Trowa frowned slightly.

"I have my doubts."

"And you're allowed to have those feelings." Serena sighed as she turned her head away from him.

"I don't know how to be in a real relationship. I don't know what goes into making one "work'" She said turning back to him.

"A relationship takes two people willing to work together. Serena it won't be easy at times but you can't just shut down. You need to be honest with me. Though I don't think that'll be a problem for you." Trowa's lips curled up at her questioning look. "You like to be very straightforward about some things."

"That's different."

"How so?"

"Sex and a relationship are two different things." Serena frowned before pulling away from him. "I don't associate the two. It's just easier for me."

As much as her words stung Trowa understood. He had been in her shoes more than once on the subject. "I understand that, and I appreciate your honesty." Serena's brow lifted. "That's all I want from you is to be honest. From there we can work on whatever issues you have or if you're unsure about how you're feeling. I'll help you."

"You're too trusting, Barton."

Trowa laughed. "With you, yes." Smiling he reached out to pull her back into an embrace. Trowa felt Serena rest her head against his chest. "Just give this a chance." They stood together for a few moments before Serena's voice broke through the comfortable silence.

"I need to go…" Serena whispered as she pulled away from him. Leaning in Trowa kissed her one last time.

"I'll bring you to Une's." He said pulling away from her.

Serena had been sitting in a chair opposite Une for the last few minutes. Une was still on the phone with the President and Serena was starting to wonder why Une had allowed her secretary to let her in the first place. Though it could've been because the poor girl was freaking out.

The moment Trowa and her had stepped off the elevator and made their over to where the girl was sitting, the girl had gone completely pale. Serena had glanced at the name tag once they got close enough.

Felicia Willington.

Serena guessed she was around the same age as she was. Though she was stumbling over her words as she spoke to Trowa. Serena had watched the girl's face as Trowa placed his hand on her back when he asked her to sit for a moment. Felicia had frowned before pulling herself together when Trowa had turned back to address her. Serena had simply walked away. She wasn't interested in what they were talking about.

Insteading of sitting she had walked around the open space looking at various plants and pictures hanging on the walls. Not even a minute later Trowa was standing next to her. Telling her she was to go straight into Une's office and that he'd wait for her.

So now here she sat. Staring at anything that was within her line of sight. She was half tempted to get up and just walk around but thought better of it. It would've been impolite of her to do so. Serena cursed to herself. She was sitting straight, her legs bent and leaning to the side before she changed her posture. Leaning back in the chair she crossed her arms over her chest. Closing her eyes she tried to rid herself of the - at this point - useless posture. She didn't need to be formal here.

"Alright, thank you sir. Have a good day." Une hung up her desk phone before turning back to face Serena. Her face held a hint of irritation to it. "I apologize for taking so long. I'm sure you heard I was speaking with the President." Une noticed the immediate change. Serena had opened her eyes, her face softening. Slightly.

"It's alright. What did you need to speak to me about?" Une wanted to laugh. For a fleeting moment she looked just like Heero when she spoke before she relaxed her face further.

"We have a few things to discuss. I'd like to start with the special project you've been working on."

"What about it?" Serena lifted a brow. She thought they were on the same page.

"Have you completed the blueprints for both the Mobile Suits and Gundam?" Une's face was a complete mask. Serena wondered why Une wanted them detailed so much. Not like they could take them out using a .45 caliber gun.

"I have."

Une nodded her head. "Good. I would like you to send them to me. I want to go over them before the meeting."

"Why?" Serena saw Une's face harden. "You do realize that you can't just destroy them without your own Mobile Suits or similar weaponry. My Gundam, if someone was foolish enough to finish and pilot would be able to destroy anything in it's path."

Une laughed this time. "Yes Serena I am aware of that, and I know that you know that I once did pilot Mobile Suits. Even Heero's first Gundam." Une tried to relax herself, maybe she'd get Serena to be more on board with her idea if she came off differently to her. "Serena, we need the blueprints because you're the only who knows how they function and what their capabilities are."

"Yes, we discussed this already."

"Yes we did." Une nodded her head. "But there's something else I need from you." Serena didn't like the feeling she was getting. "If we were able to locate the Gundam would you be able to use it to stop the Mobile Suits if ROE were to use them to attack the Earth or Colonies?"

Serena cringed inward. She could… if she reprogramed the ZERO system. "Yes, but that's a very big if. We don't even know if the Gundam is completed and if the suit is finished getting to it won't be easy. As far as the MS's last I knew there was a total of two-hundred."

"What?" Une's face paled. Serena swore she told her.

"I thought I informed you of this. Not all the suits are piloted by soldiers. There's a good number that are Mobile Dolls." Une tried to jog her brain. There's a possibility that Serena did tell her.

Pinching the bridge of her nose. "Alright, regardless I know now." Une knew that was too big of a number for just one person to handle. "We have the Aventinus that can assist."

"The Aventinus only has enough firepower to take out a quarter of those suits. I can always hack into the MD's system and deactivate them." Une snapped her head up. The look in Serena's eyes screamed determination. "The MD's are based off my training and simulation exercises. They fight the same way I do. Even if I weren't able to fully deactivate all of them I could handle them."

"How do you know about the Aventinus?"

Serena's lips curled up. "I know a lot more than you think I do. But what I can tell you is even with the ship's onboard weapons it won't be enough to take out two-hundred suits on its own." Une hated to admit that Serena had a valid point. What was worse was that Serena knew this information.

"Can you locate the Gundam then?" Une knew if they had the Gundam, Preventers would have an upper hand. It was just a matter of finding it and bring it to Earth.

"Wufei gave me a list of locations that were left on the data we collected from the base in Russia. He believes I can find the locations of where ROE is hiding."

"I want you to work on that." Serena nodded her head. "There's also one more thing I need from you. We need to plan on how you'd like to proceed with the arrests. I want you to be fully apart of this even if you can't be out in the field. You'll need to go over every report. It'll be too easy for any one of these people to lie. We can't be running around with false leads. They may say something that might help trigger something within you."

"I'm not sure I follow. I don't mind going over the reports but as far as what they may say," Serena shook her head. "There's only one person whom I want brought here. The rest interview and gather as much information as possible. But… Christopher Edman. I want him brought here."

"He wasn't on the list you've provided."

"He was the last one I found. I haven't sent in that report yet. But I want him brought here." Serena's eyes darkened. "I want to personally interrogate him. He's the best chance we have of finding out any information."

"You know him personally?" Une knew the answer even before she asked.

"Yes."

"I'll think about it."

"There's nothing to think about. He won't tell you a damn thing. You're better off letting me handle him. Edman worked closely with me. He knew just as much about the Gundam and what the leaders were doing." Serena's lips curled up. "He was their go to for keeping tabs on me. He may not think that I knew, but I did."

Une leaned back in her chair. Serena was starting to make a convincing argument. "What else can you tell me about him?"

"He recently joined Preventers." Serena's smirk widened. A hint of excitement shone in her eyes. "Three months ago." The moment the information left her mouth, Serena knew she had won her case. Une kept her eyes on her for a few minutes before responding.

"I'll make sure he's brought here. But," Une sat up straighter, leaning her forearms on her desk. "You will abide by my rules."

"No deal." Serena watched as Une's eyes went wide before narrowing. "I want permission to interrogate with no restraints." Serena curled up her lips as she leaned forward. Lowering her voice. "I won't kill him, but I want permission to use force when necessary."

"Serena I can't just allow that. We have rules and regulations."

"Which you've ignored since I've been here. Edman is mine. If you want answers let me handle him." Une frowned. Serena knew how to work the system and she was right. She had allowed the rules to be thrown out the window in Serena's case. Hell she was breaking every rule there was. Especially if they obtained her Gundam.

"You will be fully monitored and if at any time, and I mean that Lowell, if you push the limits I will have you removed from the room. And I won't allow you to go into the room right away. I'll have Heero or Wufei go in first. See what he's willing to say. Do you understand?"

Serena's lips curled up again. "Send Heero in first. It'll be icing on the cake when I walk through the door."

"He knows about Heero and you?" Serena nodded her head. Une thought about it for a moment. "We'll discuss it when the time comes. I've agreed to this much for one day but we do need to discuss how we should proceed with the rest of the arrests."

"I thought we agreed on arresting everyone all at once. It makes the most sense. If word got out, which it still might, we need the upper hand in gathering all of them."

"Yes, but I want to know who we should start with. The ones you feel might run first."

Serena narrowed her eyes. "I don't know all of them personally, not the mention there's a chance I missed some. I was going solely based on facial recognition before I found a pattern. I feel the best plan of attack is to plan to arrest all of them at once. It leaves less room for error. The only question is who can you trust to handle this."

"I have people who work for this agency that I can trust. I can't risk sending anyone from here. Heero is too busy with Relena's security. Trowa is your…" Une paused.

"Babysitter? Yeah I'm still well aware of that. I do agree that Heero needs to stay here. It's too much of a risk sending him out and that could potentially lead to another attack on Relena's life if word were to get out that he was gone for an extended period of time. What about Duo and Wufei? Could we send them to a few locations?" Une shook her head.

"Unfortunately we can't. I need them here. But I do have people I can count on. I'll draw up a plan and send it to you later. If you agree we'll start right away with preparations. I want this done and over with as fast as possible."

"Agreed." Serena said.