Chapter Twenty-Eight
Melody trudged down the stairs, sleep still lingering like a dead wind. She gripped the handrail, fully expecting herself to lose her balance, as she fought to stay awake. She got little to no sleep, and as irony would have it, she felt like she could faint dead away and sleep for days, untouched by reality. But she knew she had to go to work and face the tyranny of her father, her boss.
Somehow she felt like today would be her last.
She groaned and rubbed a palm over her face, cursing her fears and her inability to stand up for herself in the face of adversity. She felt weak, like the odd one out, while boarding with the Gundam pilots and their comrades. They were the very definition of strength and courage. She felt like a hindrance.
She almost wished Quatre was there to make her feel better. He always had a knack for doing so. But she knew his place was next to Lista, keeping her and their unborn son safe from her father.
It sickened her to know that her own father seemed unbothered that he would be responsible for the death of a baby. She liked to hope that he was all talk, and when the time came, he would not be able to do it.
But she knew that was merely her own wishful thinking. Her father was ruthless. That much she knew now. In his position, he could do just about anything to her, to the Gundam pilots, and even to the Colonies themselves. He could easily place the order to drop a colony onto Earth, just as Dekim Barton had planned in the original Operation Meteor. He could alter the orbit of several colonies, causing them to collide into one another in a burst of fiery devastation.
She swallowed the growing lump in her throat at the thought of such destruction that would ensue at one single command from her father. And he wouldn't even break a sweat. He would merely sit in his office, sipping expensive brandy, and watch what he would term as his own brand of fireworks.
"Daydreaming can be dangerous around here," a low male voice said, snapping Melody from her musings as she walked around the corner from the staircase, bumping straight into the pilot of Alto-Long at the entrance to the kitchen.
Unnerved by the firm clamp the pilot's hands had on her shoulders, Melody blinked several times before stammering out a response. "I'm sorry, Wufei," she apologized quickly, bowing her head. "It won't happen again, I promise." She jerked away, starting to scamper off into the kitchen for a much-needed mug of coffee, all the while berating herself for sounding like a whimpering coward.
"You don't have to worry so much," Wufei said suddenly, causing Melody to come to a jumpy halt, spinning over her shoulder to look at the ebony-haired man. "Di Nevella and Winner should be well-protected, especially with Barton running security detail for them both. And, of course, Winner won't let the woman go anywhere near the battlefield. She won't be able to, anyway, and neither will he. They don't have any means. You can expect their involvement in the war to be minimal, if nonexistent altogether."
Melody heaved a sigh, honestly relieved to hear him say such words. But her worries didn't lie with just Lista and Quatre. "Thank you, Wufei. I know they'll be all right." She hesitated before turning around, preparing to once again seek the coffee her body craved.
"Your father is an arrogant prick," Wufei continued, causing Melody to turn around and face him once more, her expression baffled. "He thinks he has us figured out, that he'll be able to defeat us and that will be the end of it. But it won't. Not by a long shot." He shook his head and scoffed, the mere prospect of Merrick's victory all but laughable in his mind. But his amused smile quickly faded behind his trademark frown. "He won't be able to hurt you, so you should stop worrying."
Shocked, Melody stared at Wufei for a moment, silent and thoughtful. "Thank you, Wufei."
"Sure." Silence fell between them again. "So, with Barton gone and Yuy wrapped up with something else, I've been charged with picking up Maxwell from the hospital. Maybe you'd like to join me rather than staying here by yourself."
Melody's eyes lit up, her need for coffee suddenly gone. "Of course! I would love to see him and make sure he's doing well."
Wufei nodded in agreement. "Well, a week in the hospital has done enough for him. He's done nothing but complain since he woke up. Having you with me might help take the brunt of his annoying chirping on the way home."
Melody giggled in agreement and followed Wufei to the front door. She suddenly felt like she was part of the team, and even though Quatre was no longer with her to keep her safe, she knew his friends, her friends, would do the job for him. She suddenly felt like her father could no longer touch her.
"Home, sweet home!" Duo exclaimed as he walked through the front door, his arms high in the air. "Well, not home. Gundam garage, sweet Gundam garage!"
Wufei sighed purposefully. "Maybe I should take you back to the hospital where you can annoy all the nurses. No wonder you're back as early as you are. Doctor Vale probably couldn't stand to be around you anymore."
Duo scoffed, waving him off. "Just admit you missed me and get over it, Wufei." He winked at his Chinese comrade, clicking his tongue.
Wufei shook his head. "Go rest that trap of yours or I'm hauling you back," he grumbled as he disappeared around the corner.
Duo chuckled and turned to Melody, who was staring at her feet. "Hey, you okay?"
Smiling weakly, Melody nodded and walked straight into the kitchen where Noin filled a tall mug with steaming black coffee. She turned her attention to the doorway when she caught the flash of Melody's bright purple shirt. Duo was trailing in after her, grinning wide as he made his grand entrance.
"Good morning, Melody. And welcome back, Duo," Noin greeted, smiling. "Would you like some coffee? I just made some."
"That would be great, thanks," Melody said, sighing, as she took a seat next to her at the table. She folded her hands on the wood and looked down at them, rotating her thumbs in nervous circles.
"I'm starving!" Duo exclaimed, heading for the pantry to make himself some toast. "I think I could eat a whole loaf of this bread!" He turned over his shoulder to Melody. "You want any, Melody? I'll make us a bunch."
Melody quickly shook her head. "No, thank you. I'm not hungry."
The Deathscythe Hell pilot frowned and started placing slices of bread in the toaster. "You should eat something anyway. You're not eating a lot to begin with, I noticed." He shook a clean butter knife at her threateningly. "Don't make me call Quatre and tell on you."
Melody stifled a chuckle just as Noin placed coffee in front of her, void of any additives. "Thank you," Melody said again as she slid her hands around the ceramic, enjoying the feel of the heat radiating into her palms. The steam barreled into her face as she drew in a deep breath through her nose, relishing in the strong smell. The former Italian lieutenant obviously enjoyed her morning beverage strong. The two women had that in common.
The ginger-headed woman suddenly felt a sharp pinch on her arm, causing her to jerk her cup, narrowly missing hot coffee spilled all down her chest. She clapped a hand over her arm, rubbing it softly. She glared at Duo. "What was that for?"
"Stop worrying so much," he scolded. "It's gonna make you sick."
"I'm already sick," she corrected as she took a quick sip of her coffee. She moaned contently as it left a hot trail down the back of her throat. "I know I have to face my father today, and it's the last thing I want to do. There's no telling what he'll have to say to me now that he knows I'm with all of you. I didn't even have to tell him I was. He just…knows. He knows everything. I've managed to avoid being around him, but today he's going to want to have a meeting with me. He arranges one every week so he and I can stay up to date on everything. I won't be able to avoid him now."
"Well, if he knew everything, Lista and Quatre would probably already be dealing with him," Duo mumbled matter-of-factly as he hurriedly took a bite of his toast. After swallowing, he shook his head. "But he doesn't have a clue where they are. He doesn't even know that they separated from us. So, right now, we're all good to go. We don't have to worry about anything right now, so don't worry unless you have something to worry about."
Melody frowned. "I do. He made it apparent that I was his enemy. For all I know, he'll reveal me as a traitor, a conspirator, and have me removed from office and then sent to prison." She winced at the thought, shaking off the nervous shudder that careened down her spine.
"Just like he did with Lista, save for the prison part," Noin added as she lifted her mug to her lips, taking a long drink of her cooling coffee. "I think he would have done it by now, though, if that was his intention. The last thing he wants is for you giving us inside information. He'll probably just try to make sure everything you find out will be minimal, if nothing at all. He'll make his move when it's most convenient for him to make it look like he's a hero to the Colonies." She groaned in disgust and took another sip of her coffee.
"Well, there's no telling when he'll do half the things he probably has planned," Duo pointed out after finishing his first piece of toast. He picked up another one and lifted it to his lips. "But we'll be ready for him. It's not like he's gonna win anyway. He's an overconfident idiot, and that's gonna be his downfall in the end."
"Aren't you being a little overconfident yourself?" Melody asked warningly, her fingers tapping against the warm ceramic of her half-full mug. Duo and Noin both turned to her. "How do you know that you will be able to win against him? I'm sure he has plenty of plans, and he'll do everything he can to carry each and every one of them out. We can't possibly predict them all."
"No, we might not be able to predict them, but we'll be able to do something about them," Noin corrected. "We'll do whatever we can to keep the Colonies and everyone living here safe from him. When he attacks, we'll answer, and we'll do everything we can to claim a victory over him."
"Which we've pretty much done every single time," Duo reminded her, grinning. He ignored the amused smirk on Noin's face and turned back to Melody. He rested a hand on her shoulder. "Look, I can't guarantee that we'll win every single time, but I'd like to hope we will. Then all of this will be over even faster."
Melody lowered her head, masking the continued worry in her eyes. "I hope so," she murmured. "I hate seeing what my father is planning to do with the Colonies and with all the people here. They deserve to live their lives in peace. It's what they want. It's a sin that he has as much power as he does. And I can't do anything to stop him. People don't know me well enough to listen to me."
Noin and Duo exchanged glances with one another, contemplating Melody's words. "I think the fact that you're his daughter would be enough," Noin spoke up. "I think it's important for you stand up to him and to announce your feelings to the public. If his second-in-command—his own daughter—is in disagreement with his actions, that might be enough for them to question his intentions."
Melody took another drink of her coffee, silently disagreeing with Noin's positive reinforcement. She didn't have that much faith in the Colonists, or in herself.
"Do you want one of us to come with you to work today?" Duo asked, finishing off his second slice of toast. Melody looked at him in shocked curiosity. "He won't try to do anything with one of us there following you around all day. We could be your bodyguard."
Melody flashed him a grateful smile, but shook her head. "No, that's all right, Duo. Somehow I think that would just anger my father further. I need to face him alone. It's not something I can get out of at this point. He's made it clear that I am his enemy now, although he may not show it when we're around everyone else. Either way, I'll figure out how to best deal with him." She stood from the table, taking her coffee with her. "I should get ready. Thank you for the coffee." She turned from the room and hurriedly strode out, sighing deeply.
She may have been coined as her father's enemy, but that just as well made him hers as well. She would fight back in her own way. She just didn't know how yet.
Heero sat in Lady Une's office, arms folded over his chest, ankles crossed, as he waited as patiently as he was able for his boss to enter the room for their meeting. It gave him the opportunity to rehearse everything he wanted to say in his head. He didn't expect a favorable reaction to what he had in mind to begin with; he had to be sure he could convince Lady Une and Archer both of what he wished to accomplish.
The door to the office opened, prompting Heero to turn over his shoulder, watching as Lady Une and Archer Burke walked through, expressions unreadable, neither happy nor angry.
"It's good to see you doing well, Heero," Archer said with a nod as he shut the door behind them. Lady Une walked behind her desk and took a seat, folding her hands atop the wood. The Secretary of State offered his hand, giving Heero's a firm shake in greeting before sitting down next to the Gundam pilot. "Sorry we haven't been able to see you when you called several days ago. Things have been hectic on our end for a while."
"It's nothing," Heero said, shaking his head. He returned to his former posture—arms and ankles crossed—as he turned to Lady Une. "I wanted to talk to the both of you about something."
"Well, we assumed it was something important by how urgent you seemed to talk to us on the phone," Lady Une replied, smiling playfully. "And from what Wufei has told us, Duo is now out of the hospital and back with all of you. That's certainly good news for all of us. But before we get into anything else, would you mind giving us your report on Lista and Quatre?"
Heero nodded once. "They have successfully moved into the colony. Trowa has taken residence at a nearby colony and is commanding a small security team to watch over them until further notice. Lista's family is being closely watched on another colony, and they have been ordered to stay under strict house arrest. Lista's father was disagreeable on the matter, but with his military background, he understood the protocol. There are still four of Quatre's sisters that have to be accounted for, but the others have also been moved to separate locations, all kept confidential from each other. They have been respecting the wishes of Preventer on the matter, so we've had little difficulty in getting them to comply."
"Good." Lady Une relaxed against her chair, sliding her hands from the desk to her lap. "Merrick knows nothing of this security matter. I am supposed to file a weekly report with him and the Secretary of Defense, but I will keep this out. All Preventer members have been ordered to do so. Preventer is in existence to support the peace of the Colonists, and if that means going against the Colonies' leader, then we must."
"I'm glad you feel that way, because that is what I wanted to discuss with you," Heero said. "You already know that Merrick has become aware that Lista and Quatre are reunited, not to mention he knows about Lista's pregnancy. It's because of this that Merrick has targeted their families. He's only going to become more ruthless. As a result, Preventer has to publically pull away from his command and take stance with the Gundam pilots."
Archer thrust himself from his chair, staring down at Heero as if the pilot was speaking a foreign language. "That's preposterous! Do you have any idea what you're asking?"
"I'm aware of the difficulty that would accompany such an action, but it needs to be done," Heero responded, unfazed by Archer's outburst of anger. "The Colonists need to know the truth. I don't want them blindly following Merrick to the point that we're going to be pointed as the traitors. They haven't made a solid decision on who to trust, and we shouldn't wait for them to make that choice. We have to gain favor with them before Merrick pulls more of his tricks and continues to lie to them."
Archer scoffed, shaking his head and walking to the other side of the room. "Unfathomable," he spat. He spun over his shoulder, folding his arms over his broad chest. He looked to Lady Une, who sat silent, thoughtful. She looked like she was almost considering Heero's suggestion. "Une, you can't possibly be thinking that this can be done. You know what this will do."
She sighed deeply and ran her fingers through her straight brown locks, pulling rogue strands from her eyes. "I know you don't like the idea of pulling away from the government. We receive our funding from them. They could easily shut us down. But right now, I think it would be in our best interest to do so, as impossible an idea it seems to be. I'd have to agree with Heero on this."
Archer's eyes widened, nearly stumbling forward in utter shock. "Une! You can't be serious!"
Lady Une stood from her seat, sighing heavily. "I don't like this idea any more than you do, Archer, but you know that if we don't take action, Merrick is going to succeed. And we shouldn't expect Heero and the other Gundam pilots to handle him alone. They need assistance, whether they admit it or not. I would personally feel better knowing our futures were in more than their hands, as capable as they are."
"If it makes you feel better, Quatre's Maguanac Corps has sworn their allegiance to the Gundams," Heero spoke up knowingly. "And they have kept their mobile suits, as well. They have come to space to help us, when and if we call for aid."
Archer waved him off, his scowl deepening, threatening to leave permanent creases in his forehead.
"Try to understand, Archer," Lady Une pleaded, her voice softening. "You know just as well as I do that Heero is right. We have to break away. If we do, the people that Merrick threatened may very well do the same. If they do, they have the power to take away his command over the Colonies. We have to try everything we can right now for the better of the people, whether it seems the right thing to do or not."
The Secretary of State bit back a curse. "If we do something like this, it will be political suicide. If we break away from the Colonies and act as an independent group, the Colonists will realize that the government is in mayhem. Chaos will ensue, for God's sake."
"Chaos will ensue either way if we don't do something," Heero pointed out matter-of-factly, nonchalantly closing his eyes and lowering his head. "But we have the opportunity to act now and prevent Merrick from getting his way. If we stand by and continue to do his bidding, the Gundams will eventually lose."
"What?" Archer closed the distance between him and the sitting pilot; Heero could feel his body heat slamming into him, could feel the air between them squeezed to nothing, but he still made no move to look up at the other man. "What makes you think you'll all lose?"
"The Gundams work for the people. If the people choose Merrick's side, then we lose momentum. We'll be fighting a lost cause," Heero explained. He opened his eyes and stood, facing Archer eye-to-eye. "I'm not asking anymore, Burke. I'm telling you. Preventer has to break away, or the Gundams will be useless in the end. We can only fight so much without being backed up by the people we're fighting for in the first place." He turned to Lady Une, who stood silent watching the altercation. "If we do this, Merrick will lose supporters, and thus will lose power."
Archer released a forced gust of air, groaning loudly as he raked thick fingers through his spiky hair. "I can't believe this is going to happen," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "No way will this work."
"Well, I wouldn't say that just yet," Heero replied. "I know someone the people will listen to, someone they have always believed. If she said the world stopped turning, no one would look to see if she was telling the truth. They would believe her."
Lady Une's chocolate eyes widened. "Heero, do you mean…?"
The Wing Zero pilot nodded and he craned his neck back, staring up at the ceiling. "Yeah. We need Relena."
Heero watched her walking towards him in her usual pink pantsuit, honey-colored hair swaying behind her with each delicate step she made. She was sandwiched between two black-suited men, both twice his own size.
He felt her gaze on his, the brilliance in her blue eyes captivating, holding more power over him than she understood.
"She looks quite happy to see you," Lady Une whispered, leaning down to his height.
Heero said nothing. The smile on the Vice-Foreign Minister's face told him everything he needed to know. He cursed himself for focusing on the perfect curve of her mouth, the sheer rose lip gloss she sported that glimmered in the overhead lights of the headquarters.
"Vice-Foreign Minister Darlian, it's a pleasure to see you," Archer's deep voice greeted from Heero's other side just as Relena came to a stop before the Wing Zero pilot.
Her smile widened and they shook hands, hers far too small within Archer's broad grip. "Thank you, Secretary Burke. I'm glad to see you well. You, too, Lady Une." Her eyes once again fell on the cold cobalt of Heero's, her lashes doing nothing to hide her obvious thrill to be several inches away from him. "It's good to see you, too, Heero."
He nodded, acknowledging her. "Relena."
"We should go inside, and we'll discuss matters," Archer suggested, moving away from the door he had blocked to Lady Une's office.
Relena nodded and turned to her bodyguards, speaking a soft order for the two of them to remain outside. They did as she bade, standing on either side of the door as Relena strode into the office, followed closely by Heero, Lady Une, and Archer.
As soon as the door shut with a soft click, Relena spun around, her happy smile now transformed into a despondent frown. "I have to admit my distaste for not coming to know of these events while I was on Earth," she said, propping a hand on her jutted hip. "This has been going on for far too long. Merrick Wysor should not be allowed to commit such crimes. What can I do to help?"
"Please sit down, Relena," Lady Une said, signaling to one of the chairs in a half-circle on the other side of her desk.
Relena was quick to shake her head, her obstinacy rising to the surface. "No, thank you. I'll stand. I've done enough sitting today."
"I'll tell her," Heero spoke up suddenly from the corner of the room. He exchanged quick glances between Lady Une and Archer, his eyes menacing. "Alone."
Archer opened his mouth to rebuke, but felt the gentle graze of Lady Une's hand. "Very well," Lady Une replied with a nod. "We'll be outside if you need us." She tugged the Secretary of State from the room, knowing very well that Heero wished to have his time with Relena while he had the opportunity.
Heero waited for the click of the door latch before establishing eye contact with the Vice-Foreign Minister. He inwardly faltered, her eyes all but tearing through him. He swallowed and loosened his arms to his sides. "I'm sure you're upset that you weren't told of the events up here while you were on Earth," he started. He snapped his head away, no longer able to defy the breathless glare she gave him. It challenged his every strength, diluted his every weakness. "We felt the situation wasn't bad enough for you to know of it."
Relena frowned. "It doesn't matter. I should have been told nonetheless. I don't care who it is that's disrupting the peace; it's part of my job to prevent that, and I cannot do my job if I'm not informed." Her face softened, placing a palm over the bridge of her heart. "Lady Une briefed me on my way here. She told me what happened with Lista and Quatre. It's simply awful that Merrick Wysor would do such a thing. I can't begin to fathom how Lista felt to have so much ripped from her, not to mention being forcibly removed from her cabinet position."
"You didn't know?" Heero asked, incredulous. "That news didn't reach you on Earth?"
Relena folded her arms over her breasts, her lip curling into a displeased scowl. "No. I have every reason to believe no one wanted me to know to begin with."
"That's because they knew you would abandon your duties on Earth to return here," Heero said matter-of-factly. "But you know now. And the reason we asked you to come here is because we need your help in convincing the Colonists that Merrick is the traitor, not the Gundam pilots."
"I'll do whatever needs to be done, Heero," Relena vowed, closing the distance between them. "I don't want people to think you're a traitor. You're not. You've done so much for the Colonies, and for Earth. None of you deserve this. Merrick should not be allowed to have this kind of power. He needs to be impeached."
"It's more difficult than that, Relena," Heero informed, shaking his head. "He threatened the cabinet. That's how he was able to remove Lista from office in the first place. Lista is unable to do anything in the public right now. She and Quatre have gone into hiding. She's pregnant."
Blue eyes widened, Relena gasped and pressed a palm over her mouth. "Pregnant? My goodness." Her hand slid down her throat, fingers gripping the silver necklace lying delicately upon her uniform. "I understand now. She doesn't want Merrick to know the truth of her condition."
"Merrick already knows," Heero corrected. He showed off his own scowl, clenching his hands into fists at his sides. "That's why Quatre insisted on taking her into hiding. He doesn't want Merrick to get what he wants. He wants Lista dead. He wants all of us dead, for that matter. Preventer has taken security measures to ensure both Lista's and Quatre's families are safe and in hiding. We believe Merrick means to target them."
"How awful," Relena breathed, shaking her head in disbelief. "I can't believe everything he's done while I've been gone." She peered up at Heero desperately. "What can I do?"
"Preventer is going to disband from the Colonies' government and support the Gundams. We need you to talk to the Colonists, tell them about Merrick's intentions," Heero explained. "You're the only one who has enough voice with the Colonists to help us get rid of him. They're going to panic as soon as they find out what Preventer has planned. We need as much support rallying behind us as possible to strip Merrick's influence. They trust you. They'll believe you."
Relena lowered her head, taking in Heero's words. She knew as well as he did that eventually, if left untouched, the chaos in the Colonies would stretch to Earth and cause another full-out war, just like before. "I'll do anything," she said, her voice firm with resolve, the sparkle in her eyes more vibrant.
"It's not that easy," Heero replied. "You do realize the repercussions this will have on your career." He watched her clasp her hands together at her chest, her face suddenly saddened. "This is a lot of pressure on you. No one is expecting you to do it. It's asking a lot for you to sacrifice."
"It doesn't matter," she said, shaking her head. She lowered her hands to her sides. "I would be sacrificing human life if I didn't do this. My career means nothing if people die. I'll pick up the pieces later, when the war has ended and Merrick is taken care of." A smile tweaked onto her face. "I know the dangers involved. I know my own life will come into fire by getting caught up in this, and I am fully prepared for that."
"Merrick will not touch you," Heero seethed, causing her to snap her head up at him in surprise. His teeth clenched together. "That man will never come near you so long as I have something to say about it. You won't be leaving my sight until this is over."
Relena smiled appreciatively and rested her hands on his shoulders, pulling herself close to him. His body heat intoxicated her, choked her, but she drew close to him, pressing her lips softly against his cheek. "Thank you, Heero," she whispered in his ear. Her hands grazed down his chest and away from him, returning to her sides once more. "I know I will have little to worry about while you're there with me, protecting me as you've always done from the shadows."
"I won't be in the shadows," Heero said, causing her eyes to widen in surprise. "I'll be right next to you. Merrick will know what he's dealing with when he decides to come after you. That man will come nowhere near you. I won't allow it."
A warm scarlet blush heated Relena's cheeks as she chuckled and nodded in understanding. "I'll hold you to your word, then." She brushed past him, walking towards the door. "I'll go and speak with Lady Une and Secretary Burke on this right away. I'll do what needs to be done." She rested her hand on the metal doorknob, prepared to leave the room, but felt a firm grip on her wrist.
Relena spun around, surprised, as Heero tugged her towards him. She stumbled right into his chest, and as she prepared to apologize profusely for breaking such a personal boundary, Heero pulled her hand to the center of his chest, allowing her fingers to curl over the thick cotton of his jacket. Her heart was like a train off its tracks, uneven and clambering noisily in her chest.
"Heero…"
He made a soft, unrecognizable noise in his throat, confirming he'd heard her murmur his name. He closed his eyes at the exact moment his lips touched hers, gentle and searing. Her cinnamon-flavored lip gloss tingled on his mouth, hungering to taste more of its spice mixed in with Relena's own brand of sweetness. He hardly expected her to have such a strong taste upon her; he almost expected something light and smooth, like vanilla.
Relena seemed to be full of surprises.
As much as he wanted to continue standing there in Lady Une's office, kissing her and tasting her, he pulled away, thus releasing her wrist. She hesitated before uncurling her dainty fingers from his jacket, staring up at him longingly, breathlessly. She opened her mouth to question his sudden, albeit satisfying, kiss, but his hand reached up to her face, cupping a palm over her satiny, rose-colored cheek. She stood still as a statue, unsure of what to do or say; he'd turned her into a stammering love-struck girl in a matter of seconds.
She felt fifteen all over again.
After a careful graze of his thumb over her cheekbone, he pulled away from her and walked away, the pattering of his boots nearly silent against the plush carpet. She suddenly remembered how to function and spun around just as he exited the room, leaving her full of unanswered and unspoken questions. She watched him walk down the main hall, brushing past her bodyguards, Lady Une and Archer, silent as air, even as they inquired on his short meeting with the young vice-foreign minister.
Her fingers slid across her lips, basking in the afterglow of a kiss only Heero Yuy could deliver.
Quatre's fingers rested on the receiver of the phone, feeling the warmth from his hand quickly disappearing. Lady Une's words continued to ring in his ears; they were words of hope and promise. He knew having Relena on their side would be very beneficial for them all, but he knew what risks she was taking. He knew she would easily become a target of Merrick's, just as they had.
But Lady Une had reassured him that Heero had branded himself as her own personal bodyguard. That seemed to sate the Arabian pilot's nerves. He knew Heero would succeed in protecting Relena from any violence Merrick had to offer.
Things were moving right along. He couldn't wait to deliver the happy news to Lista. It would certainly help keep her spirits high. Plans for the baby had kept her joyful and smiling since they arrived, much to his relief. He worried endlessly for the woman carrying his son, believing her nerves would eventually get the better of her. But things had been favorable for them so far.
He only hoped their luck would continue to hold out.
He left the kitchen, hurriedly taking long strides into the living room where he'd left Lista to take Lady Une's phone call. "Sweetheart, I have—" His voice dropped from his throat when he saw her, beads of sweat snaking down her face, her knuckles turning ghostly white as her fingers dug into the back of the sofa. Color drained from her face, her eyes shut tight and her teeth clenched. He rushed to her side, wrapping a protective arm about her back. "Lista, what is it?"
"Braxton Hicks," she hissed, tears breaking through the corners of her closed eyes. "Just…give me a second."
"You need to go to the hospital," Quatre said firmly, snapping his head back and forth worriedly as he took in his surroundings. The car keys sat on one of the end tables. Lista's jacket hung on the coat rack by the front door. He grabbed one of her hands, unhinging her grasp from the sofa. "Come on, sweetheart. I'll bring the car around."
"No," she said, shaking her head wildly. "I'll be fine. It'll pass." She broke her hand from his and clutched his shirt, nearly yanking it from his shoulder. She opened her eyes and released a heavy breath, moaning raggedly.
Quatre led her around the sofa and eased her down. He knelt down before her, cupping a hand to her face while he held one of her hands, coaching her to take deep, even breaths. His eyes peered at her belly; he wanted to touch her there, take her pain away, but he feared doing so would only cause her more agony. "Look at me, sweetheart," he urged, teal eyes locking in with emerald. "Just breathe. Calm down. Keep looking at me."
She nodded in understanding, blinking the tears out of her eyes. Lista drew comfort from Quatre's soothing voice, the brightness in his eyes as they spoke their own placating language, easing her into a state of utter relaxation.
The ache began to cease, melting away to nothing in the next several long minutes. She drank in the air around her and closed her eyes for a moment, loosening her body, as well as the grip she had on Quatre's hand. She whimpered, angry with herself for worrying him as much as she did.
"How do you feel?" he asked, crawling up her limp form. She opened up her eyes and saw him hovering above her, his other hand now framing her face. He brushed drops of sweat from her cheeks, studying the wrinkles in her forehead as they slowly vanished. "Do you need anything?"
"I'm okay," she murmured. "Sorry for that."
Quatre was already shaking his head. "No, you don't need to be sorry for anything. Just relax for a little bit." He settled himself next to her, his added body weight pulling her into him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pressed his mouth against her temple, still damp and salty from the sweat that dewed over her skin.
"Tell me what Lady Une said," she asked tiredly, resting her head against the soft, warm plain of his chest. "You seemed rather excited. It sounded like good news."
"It is," he said, nodding. "First off, Duo has been discharged from the hospital. He seemed to be doing rather well."
Lista's eyes glowed. "He is? I'm so glad! I can just imagine how antsy he was getting there. God knows he doesn't like hospitals, not to mention sitting around doing nothing. Maybe one of us will have the opportunity to speak with him since we didn't get to see him before coming here."
Quatre nodded in agreement. "Yes, it would be nice to speak with him ourselves. I'll have to see if we can."
"Okay, so you said first. So there's something else good, too?" Lista asked, tilting her head to the side in curiosity.
"Yes. Preventer is planning on breaking away from the command of the Colonies and joining the side of the Gundams."
Lista's eyes widened, and she jerked away, staring at him in disbelief. "What? That's…"
"Unbelievable, I know," Quatre interrupted, finishing her thought. "It was Heero's idea. Archer was against it at the beginning, but Lady Une believed it was the best course of action. Chaos is sure to unleash itself once it happens, but I think it will help make the Colonists understand what is happening. Heero has also asked Relena for her assistance and support. She has quickly agreed to make an announcement stating that Merrick is the traitor and all the Colonists should support the Gundams."
"That's wonderful," Lista said, a smile stretching across her face. "The Colonists will surely listen to her. Her voice has always been firm with the citizens. They trust her wholeheartedly to do the right thing for them."
"In a way, it's traitorous for us to do such a thing," Quatre said, turning away. "We know that Relena has an active voice. Having her is like having a handicap."
"Don't tell me you feel bad for Merrick," Lista replied, her brows furrowing. "He doesn't deserve that compassion from you."
"No, of course not. My guilt doesn't lie with Merrick. It lies with the Colonists," Quatre admitted. "Of course they will listen to anything she says. She could announce that the sky has miraculously turned yellow on Earth and, like drones, they would agree with her without any evidence. She has that effect on people."
"But they know they can trust her, so you should be absolved of any guilt," Lista pointed out. She cupped his chin in her finger and urged him to look at her. She offered him a smile, one that seemed to lighten the atmosphere. "They know Relena wouldn't lie to them. It's not traitorous that way."
Quatre kissed her in the middle of her temple again, this time letting his lips linger. They sat in silence for several moments. "Relena sends her love," Quatre suddenly announced. "Heero told her everything that has been happening. She extends her congratulations to us on the baby. She wants to see us soon, hopefully before the baby is born. I promise to do everything I can to arrange for that."
Smiling slowly, like the moon creeping past the horizon at sunset, she pressed her palms against his cheeks, pulling him close to her, her sweet breath beating delicately against him. "I enjoy hearing your promises. You are normally able to keep them," Lista whispered, her voice low and coming out as an enticing purr.
Quatre swallowed, quickly noticing the tone in her voice. Was she trying to seduce him? He'd gone a torturously long time without experiencing her at her most intimate, and given her fragile condition, he didn't wish to put her health, or the health of their child, at risk to sate such a feral hunger growling deep within him.
And so he cleared his throat and pushed the animal down deep. "I wish I could keep them all, sadly," he said, shaking his head. "I suppose I will have to work at that to ensure it happens in the near future."
Lista shrugged and pressed a chaste kiss against his lips. "Well, I hardly expect you to keep every single promise. Don't commit yourself to doing so."
Quatre frowned. "I would not make such promises unless I had every intention to keep them, Lista. I do not make empty vows, especially to you."
The Italian woman, defeated, rested back against his shoulder. She closed her eyes and sighed, knowing full well the man meant every single word. She released a robust chuckle from between her lips, feeling him shift next to her in response. "I have a request."
"Anything, Lista. What do you need?" he asked, peering down upon her.
She finally opened her eyes and matched his intense gaze, her smile unfurling. "Ice cream. Your son seems to be begging for it right now."
Quatre stared at her for a moment before laughing heartily. "I see your contractions have not allayed your desire for frozen desserts."
"Of course not," Lista said with a smile. She patted a hand against her belly. "I like my sweets, and apparently so does he."
"That you do. And so do I." He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss against the side of her jaw before pushing himself up. "What flavor would you like? I think we have several different kinds. And if none are to your liking, I will have some delivered."
"Strawberry," she answered, folding her hands atop her blossomed belly. She held out three fingers. "Make it three scoops, please. We can share."
Quatre nodded and turned on his heel, war a far cry from his mind. Everything floating about in his thoughts was Lista, their unborn son, and copious amounts of strawberry ice cream.
