Title: Centrepiece

Author: Karina

Rating: PG

Pairing: Relena + Pagan + Alice Darlian

Notes: Challenge 96. Baby Series 3 #52. Takes place shortly after One Must Not.

Spoilers: None

Warnings:

Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for betaing this work.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.

Title: Centrepiece

Old world formality. There were days she could scream with frustration because of old world formality.

She hated it, though admittedly there were occasions when it had its uses, such as keeping irritating suitors a respectful distance from her. Formality was wonderful when it permitted an island of calm to exist in a crowded room in which she could shelter in, however briefly. Her island of calm was finally, thankfully, within reach.

"Pray, have a seat, daughter."

Relena smiled graciously at her escort who bowed and, as was proper, backed off, leaving her to take the last few steps to mount the dais alone. Alice Darlian stood on the left side of a vacant, high back chair which should have been reserved for Milliardo, Pagan standing on the right. Her mother stood before the slightly smaller seat which had been Relena's nominated seat for the evening. The symbolism of the gesture was unmistakable, she was to take the larger seat.

//This does not bode well.//

A security guard stood at Pagan's elbow, a silver tray with a crystal goblet of what she fervently hoped was orange juice, preferably icy cold, in hand.

Relena settled her rump in the chair and maintained the pasted on patented smile of the Princess in public as the orchestra struck up a waltz and Pagan passed her the drink.

"What happened to Milliardo?"

"We have a small incident in progress." Pagan murmured. "Your brother has been placed in protective custody."

Not good, but not unexpected either.

"Heero?"

"I have assigned him to oversee the matter."

Relena sipped, finding the juice to be refreshingly cold. "What happened and don't bandy words with me."

Oh, that was a smirk; she was quite capable of reading the subtle twitches of the old man's moustache. She had grown up with Pagan and considered him a grandfather figure more than a servant. He was so much a fixture in her life that she did not want to contemplate the world without Pagan.

"Mr. Yuy is having the contents of a drink analysed and your brother has been placed under observation until the results are assessed."

"Poison?" Relena hid her reaction as best she could, unable to stop herself from looking twice at the orange juice she was sipping. "Who… no, this is Milliardo we are talking about. Some idiot would take any opportunity to try for him. I fear I did not do my brother a service pushing him onto the throne."

"Miss Relena, things are never so simple."

"Dear, he is as safe here as he would be anywhere. I beg you; don't go down the road of 'what if'." Her mother settled into the seat beside her. "It serves no purpose."

Relena sighed, remembered to smile prettily for the watchers and straightened her spine. "Then I am the centrepiece for the remainder of the evening, yes? Pray, explain what changes have been made to my schedule."

End

Karina Robertson 2008