His motorcycle sped through the dark, chilly night down the road. He made it faster than he'd anticipated, although it would still be quite the ride back. Everyone was asleep. Infiltration would be easy. The mission objective would not be hard to find and he had no intention of lingering there. He snuck into the mansion through his usual methods and made his way to the target's last known location.
It was folded and waited on the back of the couch as if expecting his arrival. He grinned and picked up the delicate piece of well-used cloth and tucked it carefully into his jacket. He scribbled a brief note explaining its disappearance and made his way promptly out into the night.
Heero did not understand the idea of any object being considered so precious. He had not been allowed comfort items and so was never able to form an attachment to anything. Once, he found a pretty rock that he carried back to the base. Dr. J had been quite cross.
"Such elements of sentimentality are unnecessary and will almost always be used as a weakness against you." J glared from behind his goggles.
The rock was taken away from him and his desensitization training ramped up afterward. He still remembered how it felt to lose the rock… the memory of his daughter's anguished tears was enough to soften even the perfect soldier.
"Sweety, I'm sure grandma Mareen will be happy to send you your blankey." Heero had carried their sleeping daughter out to the car when they left Relena's mother's house. The blanket had, unfortunately, been left behind and it was their daughter's favorite thing to snuggle when she went to bed. Heero tried in vain to help by offering a temporary solution.
"Mimi, can't you just use a different blanket for tonight?" Heero asked. His daughter shook her dark curls.
"I can't, daddy! There's only one blankey!" She began to sob again.
"I'll call your grandmother in the morning. Maybe she can-" Relena tried, but their daughter would not be deterred.
"No, mommy! You don't understand! I feel like I abandoned her! She's my best friend! What if blankey thinks I don't love her anymore?"
"Now, honey, mommy and daddy go away sometimes too, right?"
"Uh Huh."
"And as much as it breaks our hearts, we can't always take you with us, but you still know we love you, right?" Mimi sniffled.
"Yeah."
"I'm sure blankey knows you love her and that you'll get her back as soon as you can." The child nodded and Relena climbed onto the bed where their daughter snuggled close. Relena stroked her cheeks and forehead as she hummed a soft lullaby. Heero sighed. He knew what he had to do. Walking forward, he leaned in and kissed them both.
"I'll be right back." His wife's questioning glance was met with his smile as he made his way to the garage.
He sped off on his motorcycle, desperate to make it home in time for Relena to get at least some rest before her trip. He reached their home in just under his estimated time and pulled into the garage. He parked his bike, took off his helmet and hung up his keys and made his way into the house. His daughter's light sobbing and his wife's soft humming reached him as he climbed the stairs and made his way down the hall.
Relena remained on the bed, cradling their daughter. He would never tire of this: seeing them, his two princesses, together and safe. He took a moment to smile and take it in. He didn't deserve them; he knew this and yet he thanked whatever higher power was above that he had them in his life.
Finally noticing him, the corners of Relena's lips turned up slightly in a small, exhausted smile. Heero walked forward, kissed her lips tenderly and stroked Mimi's hair.
"Wake up." He said softly. "There's someone who wants to see you." His daughter stirred and opened her aqua eyes.
"Daddy?" Heero smiled, unzipped his jacket, and pulled out the blanket. "Blankey!" She reached out her tiny hands and he gave it to her. The sheer joy and relief on her face made everything worth it.
"Blankey! I promise I'll never leave you again!" She snuggled her face into the small blanket and laid down. "Thank you, daddy!" Heero leaned down as Relena made her way off the bed and kissed his child's forehead.
"Goodnight, Mimi."
"Night daddy!" He turned to his wife who waited for him at the door and turned off the lights and shut the door.
"That was one of the sweetest things you could have ever done." She stated and wrapped her arms around him.
"Hn." He gave her a short kiss. "If we had more time…" he kissed her neck. "I could show you a few more 'sweet things' I can do." She laughed softly and tucked her head into the crook of his neck. After a moment of just holding each other, she looked up at him, pulled back and grabbed his hands.
"Come on, you." She said as she tugged him along. "If I am going to sleep, then I am going to need you." He grinned and followed her lead, grateful to be her favorite thing to snuggle.