Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, its characters, or you.

For the heart I once had

Chapter 9

Aalia was happy to snuggle up against Trowa when he came to join her in bed. His movements were stiff from lack of exercise, and the hours of traveling back to Earth hadn't helped matters any. But they were back home, in Trowa's apartment, and she felt incredibly happy to have him all to herself again.

The past few weeks it had been difficult to have some time alone, being surrounded by her family at the main Winner estate. Now there was time for just the two of them again, and their preparations for the future.

"I'm so tired," she murmured, while burying her face in his shoulder. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess…" He rubbed his hand over the forming scar on his chest. The skin was still looking raw and tender, but he didn't feel much pain anymore and could start working out again in a few days.

She knew he looked forward to that. Trowa had hated being stuck in bed. She shifted so she could kiss him and smiled warmly against his lips when he tangled his hands in her hair to keep her in place.

"Go to sleep," he murmured against her hair when she drew back. "You need your rest."

"Hmm…" She lowered herself down again and got more comfortable against him. "I love you."

His lips twitched against her forehead. "I love you too."

-x-x-x-

It wasn't so hard to get adjusted to life on Earth again. Aalia picked up her studies again, and Trowa was happy to help her with her research on Dunya's work for the Barton Foundation during the evenings. There wasn't much to be found. The Barton Foundation had been stringent in cleaning up after themselves, and whatever information was left was either incomplete, or seized by Preventer and therefore unaccessible.

Still, it was nice to sit with her nestled against him as they poured over the data. She seemed to be happy with the snuggling too. Her pregnancy was something the both of them were still getting used to. Trowa found it hard to imagine what life would be like with the baby, but he'd do whatever it took to ensure Aalia's happiness.

So, in secret, he started taking some steps to secure their future together. He started looking for a suitable house to live in, one where they could raise their child. He didn't think about asking her to marry him yet. Their relationship was still so new, and he didn't want to rush her.

"Has a date been set for the court case yet?" she asked one day.

Trowa shook his head. "No. From what I gathered, Duo and Heero stumbled upon new evidence, so the date had to be pushed back."

"Oh…" A frown marred the skin between her eyebrows. "And now?"

Trowa wound a lock of her hair around his fingers. "You're not going to worry okay? He has been transferred, and if we even get an inkling that he is planning something, he'll be in solitary confinement until the court case starts."

Aalia nodded and the air left her lungs in a rush as she exhaled. "I'll try."

Trowa hooked his fingers under her chin and pressed a lingering kiss against her lips. "Good."

"But it's not easy you know…" She admitted with a little pout. "I have not only myself to think of now."

Trowa found his lips twitching and he reached out to let his fingers trail over her belly. She wasn't showing yet, but the idea that his child was growing inside of her often filled him with wonder.

"I know," he murmured, while pushing up her shirt so he could press a kiss against her skin. "But you're safe."

She slipped her arms around his neck as he nuzzled the soft skin of her belly, and a smile formed on her face. Her eyes were warm with affection as she gazed down at him.

"Dunya would be so happy if she knew we've found each other," she said softly.

"It's a nice thought, isn't it?" he agreed.

She nodded and her smile widened. "Yeah… I miss her."

He took her hand and entwined his fingers with hers, squeezing gently. "She'd have been proud of you."

"You think?"

"I'm certain."

-x-x-x-

Aalia quietly unlocked the door and tiptoed into the apartment, a giddy feeling swirling inside her stomach. She'd just returned from another shopping trip with Relena. There was a smile on her face and she practically radiated happiness. She had had the most amazing time in Relena's company, who had dragged her all over Brussels again, resulting in an array of shopping bags that hung on her arms.

She quietly closed the door and made her way into the living room, only to discover it empty. She glanced at the clock, as Trowa was usually home from work by now. She stood still and waited, listening for a sound.

It came when she heard the bathroom door open and close. A moment later the shower was turned on. Trowa was home. She went into the bedroom and dumped her bags in the corner, looking through them until she located the little gift she had bought him. She sat down on the bed, clutching the gift in her hands. She would wait for him.

It didn't take long for Trowa to return from his shower. He had a towel wrapped around his hips and water droplets still clung to his skin. Aalia had to bite her lip at the gorgeous display of skin and muscles in front of her. She would never get enough of looking at him. He literally took her breath away. She eyed the forming scar on his chest. It was healing well, but there would always be a mark.

He made his way over to her and bent down to kiss her. She smiled into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck, still holding the small present. She let herself fall backwards on the mattress and took him with her, sighing in bliss when he deepened the kiss. She put down the present and slid her hands over his back, enjoying the way his skin felt under her fingers. Trowa made a noise in the back of his throat and shivered. He broke the kiss and buried his face against her throat.

Aalia gasped when he playfully nipped her skin. She knew he was going to leave mark and she couldn't bring herself to care. She loved when he branded her as his.

Trowa propped himself up on his elbows to look at her, eyes darkened with desire. But he hadn't missed that she had held something in her hand before. "What did you bring me?"

She chuckled and grabbed the present once more, and pushed it into his hands. He sat down beside her and she looked at him curiously as he opened up the present. The wrapping fell onto the sheets and she smiled as she saw the expression on his face. What she had bought wasn't really a present for him. The moment she had seen it she knew she just had to have it.

Trowa held the small plastic box in his hand. Inside was a pair of soft green baby socks. He looked up at her with a small smile on his face. Aalia smiled back and felt a tightening in her chest when she saw the raging emotions in his eyes. He was happy.

"Do you like them?" she asked softly, suddenly feeling a little shy.

He nodded and pressed a kiss against her cheek. "Yes."

She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his shoulder. "I saw them and… I just couldn't resist!"

He chuckled and held her, nuzzling her hair. "We'll have to buy a lot more stuff for the baby."

"I know… we could turn the guest room into a nursery."

"No."

"Why not?" She pulled back to look at him, a questioning look on her face.

"Let me get dressed and I'll tell you."

She was forced to let go of him when he got up. He handed her the box with the socks and walked over towards the closet. Aalia willed herself to look away from him when he dropped the towel and started putting on clothes. She busied herself with opening the plastic box and took the tiny socks out. The fabric was incredibly soft and she rubbed one sock against her cheek. Her baby would wear them…

She blinked against the tears that suddenly came up. She rested her hand on her still flat stomach. Her baby… She couldn't stop the tears anymore and the rolled down her cheeks.

Trowa looked at her in alarm when she sobbed. "Aalia?"

He made his way over to the bed while pulling on a t-shirt. He knelt down in front of her and cupped her cheek. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing…I'm just so happy," she laughed through her tears. She reached up and wiped at her cheeks, sniffling awkwardly. "What did you want to tell me?"

"Right…" He helped her to her feet and took her with him into the living room.

She hadn't noticed the newspaper on the dining table before, but now she did. He pulled the newspaper towards them and pointed to an ad. "I found us a house."

Aalia's eyes widened. "You… you're serious?"

He grinned at her. "Yes."

She looked at the ad. It was a house for a family, with a garden… in a child friendly neighborhood. There was a picture of the house in the ad as well. She sighed dreamily. It was perfect, cozy, lovely.

"What do you think?"

"That it's perfect." She gave him a bright smile and kissed his cheek.

Trowa wrapped his arm around her. "Great. Then we can go check it out and make a bid on it."

-x-x-x-

Trowa made his way to Commander Une's office in a hurried pace. There was a frown on his face as he moved down the corridor. Une's tone had been worried when she had called him, but she had refused to tell him over the phone what was bothering her.

He barged into her office and found her on the phone, barking down the line furiously. "Get it done now!"

She slammed her phone down and looked up, gesturing for him to sit down. "We've run into some trouble."

Trowa sank down in one of the chairs in front of her desk. Some gut feeling told him he was not going to like what she had to say.

"Razouli has tried to contact someone outside of prison again." Une rubbed her temples and sighed. "The call didn't go through, so we're very lucky on that. He has been placed into solitary confinement."

"Good," Trowa said.

"We can't risk Aalia Winner's life. I've made arrangements for her to go into witness protection."

Trowa's hands clasped the edge of his chair in a white knuckled grip as he fought to contain the numb feeling that spread in his chest. He tried to keep his focus, but it was damn hard with the rushing sound in his ears.

"What?! You can't."

"It's just for a few months, until the court date," Une said pragmatically.

"This is my woman you're making decisions about!" Trowa snapped. "She's pregnant!"

"All the more reason to do this." It was obvious she wasn't fazed by his anger. "Trowa, I don't want to put her in unnecessary danger. And neither do you."

"But you can't just go and arrange things without me knowing about it!" He was more than angry now. He was furious.

"I'm telling you now. I'm sorry, but I see no other way to guarantee her safety."

Trowa got up and started pacing. Damn it! He had faced greater challenges, more dangerous situations than some criminal locked behind bars who wanted revenge. And yet he felt so powerless. He couldn't protect Aalia. His body was still recovering and not strong enough, and she couldn't protect herself without risking the baby. Heero was back on track with working out, but Trowa knew he couldn't ask his friend to risk his life again like that.

"Until the court date," he said, laying down his ultimatum. "Not a day longer."

Une gave him a small smile and nodded. "I'll see to it."

He had no other choice. He'd have to let her go…

- End chapter 9 -