His control was slipping. Three days and no one had had any idea where to find her. No lead. No clue or trace of where she was taken or even when. They said she was taken in the middle of the night. They said there were signs of a struggle. They say they found traces of her blood on her floor. Her blood. There wasn't enough for the wound to be fatal, but she was hurt. And she was gone. And she was the only person in the entire world that gave his life meaning. And when he got Duo's call, he dropped everything and came back. They had him out on a mission; one only he could complete, but he didn't care. She was gone. In danger. And they had nothing to go on.

But he did, and knew where they took her. He found the traces of mud left from their boots. Relena obviously got a hit in because a few drops of blood on the scene were not hers. He had to smirk at that. She always was a fighter. Still, his blood boiled. They took her. His wife. He should have been home with her. He could tell she didn't want him to go but she would never ask him not to. She knew he was the best; had told him so many times. But now she was gone. And there was no note or sign of who or why.

But he had the mud. The mud was comprised of particulates and sediments led him to a warehouse; one outside of Sanc. And the dark SUV's with heavily tinted windows and the armed guards stationed outside were what he needed to see. He could take them all out. It would be easy. All he had to do was retake out his gun and-

No. He promised her. No matter how desperately he wanted to save her, he couldn't give in. Couldn't kill. If he did, he might not be any way to come back from it. He couldn't simply attack head-on either. Not without alerting her captors. Again, the thought of sniping them one by one came to him… He mentally shook himself. He promised her. He promised he would never kill anyone ever again. If he did… if he killed again, especially for her, he didn't know what would happen. Especially not with her. Could she forgive him? Would she? He wanted to think she would. Hoped she would, but in the back of his mind…

The guards were moving. Changing shifts? This was his chance. Sneaking around back, he knocked out the replacement guards and grabbed the keys. Snuck in through the door and hung back in the shadows. He needed to listen. To wait. But all he wanted to do was kill them. Kill them all for taking her. For hurting her. He needed to know where she was. That she was still alive. So he stopped. Waited. Listened.

"-bitch got him good!"

"Heard she broke his nose this time."

"Yeah, but he got her good, too. Looked like it hurt."

That did it. They hurt her. Again.

Heero leapt out of the darkness. He wanted them to know he was there. Wanted them to fear him. Fear his revenge.

He lost track of how many he took down. Some died, shot by the stray bullets of their comrades. He didn't care. Each body that fell was one less in his way. It would have been easier to kill them himself. Snap their necks. Shoot them. But he promised her. And she was the only thing keeping his humanity in check. He changed for her. Some believed in him and he wanted her to believe in him. Wanted to be the man she saw in him…

He pinned one of the men against the wall. The coward grunted in pain as Heero twisted his arm.

"Where is she?" He growled. The man was panicking.

"I-in the basement!"

"How many men?"

"Five! N-not counting the boss!"

"What do they want with her?"

"I don't know!" Heero twisted harder. "I don't! I swear it!" Heero knocked him unconscious and proceeded forward, repeating the same process until he reached the basement.

Five men waited. Armed. Aiming at him. The first fell before he could shoot a single bullet. The next nearly got a lucky hit, but Heero dodged and put his foot into the man's face. The next three were easy enough. Too scared to focus. Rookies. All lucky he made his promise and was determined enough to keep it. All that was left was the door.

And he broke it down.

The coward stood, using Relena as a shield, gun under her chin and a huge smirk on his ugly face. Relena had a black eye, a swollen lip and a gash on her cheek. She seemed otherwise unharmed although he would make sure she received a thorough inspection later. Her eyes held relief and a trust that permeated his soul. Heero flicked his gaze up and his eyes locked with the other man's. He could see it. The unmistakable look of fear. Heero hardened his gaze.

"Take another step, or so much as breathe incorrectly, and I'll decorate the ceiling with her brains." Heero narrowed his eyes.

"You have time for one shot. And if you use it to kill her, you're a dead man regardless."

"You're bluffing. I heard the great Heero Yuy doesn't kill anymore."

"I promised her I wouldn't." Heero watched a sweat beaded the man's face. "If she dies, I don't have to keep that promise." The man's hand trembled, his resolve clearly faltering. And then Relena made her move. Relena threw her head back into the man's chin. The gun went off, bullet grazing her skin. Heero saw red. He charged and in one swift move, grabbed her, grabbed the gun from the man's hand and slammed him into the ground. Heero pointed the gun down at the man's head. Visions of Relena; bloodied, bruised, in this man's arms.

He wanted to kill the man. Felt the urge to kill him. It would be so easy. Then the man could never hurt her again… But her hand touched his. And her head pressed against his shoulder. He felt the tension begin to flow from his body.

"Heero." Her soft voice soothed him. "Let's go home." Heero closed his eyes and lowered the gun, emptied the chamber and tossed it across the room. He almost lost control. Almost broke his promise. But he didn't. As always, she kept him grounded. She was the light that kept his soul from going dark. He reached down, grabbed the pathetic man by the throat and picked him up to pin him against the wall. The man laughed.

"So… it's true." The man gasped. "The great pilot of… of the wing zero gundam has… gone soft. And all because… of a woman." Heero locked eyes with him again and tightened his grip on his throat.

"I've learned the value of life. And you owe her yours."

"I don't owe that bit-" but Heero knocked him unconscious before he finished speaking. As the man's body slipped to the floor, Heero turned to his wife, eyes once more taking in her appearance. She was bruised; a bit bloody and looked like she hadn't slept in days, but to him she'd never been more beautiful. He walked to her, took her face in his hands. Rested his forehead against hers.

"I knew you'd find me." She whispered. And he pulled her to him and kissed her, holding her as though she might disappear. When he pulled back, he looked into her eyes, deeply.

"Are you alright?" She nodded.

"A little roughed up, but nothing serious." He leaned in and touched his forehead to hers again. He felt her falter, her knees buckled and he caught her.

"Liar." He lowered her to the floor and held her to him.

"I didn't want you to worry." He would always worry about her. She was the only person in the world he cared about. He noted that the back of her head was caked in dried blood, but the wound seemed to be closed. Still, he couldn't help but feel this was his fault.

"Forgive me." He whispered. She pulled back this time, brow raised quizzically

"For what?"

"For not being there." He said, his voice strained by the unexpected lump in his throat.

"This wasn't your fault." He wanted to believe her, but there was more to his guilt.

"When they told me- when they couldn't find you, I almost lost control. Almost broke my promise."

"Heero-" She caressed his cheek with her thumb.

"I wanted to. To kill them. For hurting you."

"But you didn't." She raised his chin to look him in the eyes. "You kept your promise and you saved me. You are so strong."

"I'm nothing compared to you." She giggled. It relaxed him and perplexed him. In spite of everything, she could find it in her to be so understanding and still laugh. She was amazing.

"If you say so." She smiled and kissed him. "Now, let's call Preventer and get things wrapped up here so I can go home. I am in desperate need of a good meal and a hot shower." Heero couldn't help the microscopic grin that formed on the corners of his lips. "And you'll be joining me for both." Heero's grin widened. He wasn't about to argue with such a statement. In spite of it all, he had succeeded. He didn't lose control. He saved her. And in doing so, saved himself. His world returned to him and now he could be at peace again.