Title:  Underneath the Stars

Author:  Midlight Bunny

Rating: PG

Type: Crossover (SM / GW)

4.  Changes for the New Future

"Now back to you in the studio, Katie."

"Thank you, Greg.  Today's top story comes as a surprise.  Vice Foreign Minister Dorlian has announced that her long lost sister, Serenity Peacecraft, will take over as the representative of the rebuilt Sanc Kingdom.  At the press conference earlier today, Dorlian assured the public that her sister would successfully represent the kingdom and would lead the people in the right direction to maintaining the peace.  Rumors are also surrounding the new princess, saying that she is engaged to Quatre Raberba Winner, the head of the Winner Corporation in space.  Or as one newspaper states, 'the princess has found her prince.'  In other news..."

*

Heero Yuy sat in his small apartment, watching the pictures of Relena, Usagi, and Quatre alternate on the screen.  He didn't quite know what he was feeling.  One second he felt content that the princesses had gotten over him.  Then jealousy would rear its ugly head and he felt like smashing the TV into a million pieces.

'She had said she would wait for me, no matter how long.  She said that she needed me to return to her.  Yet I'm still in space; light-years away from her.'

He believed her words, but how could he deserve her?  He was tainted with the blood of war, while she was purity itself.  Still, were the stories true?  Was his princess going to marry one of his friends -- one of his comrades that fought alongside him in the war?

Fear crept in and almost suffocated him.  The thought of losing her killed him.  He needed her.  Maybe even more than she said she needed him.  She was his light; always there to guide him out of his darkness.  If it wasn't for her, he would have let death take him long ago.

Resolve hit him.  He had to find out for himself if she still needed him.  If she didn't, he would walk away and let her go.  If she did, gods help anyone who got in his way because then he would never leave her side.  If need be, follow her to the ends of the universe.

Now all he had to do was see her.

*

Heero stared at the mansion in front of him.  For the last twenty-four hours, all he could think about was her and finding the truth.  So many emotions filled him; fear being at the forefront.  His hands shook at his sides and his palms grew sweaty.

'A mission was never this hard,' he thought as he willed himself to calm down.  Taking his single bag in hand, he ascended the steps to the Peacecraft Academy -- a place he could remember all too well.

*

"Welcome back, Mr. Yuy," greeted Pargan.

Heero turned to face the princesses' guardian.

"Pargan," he replied.

"What brings you back to the Sanc Kingdom?  Some unfinished business with the princess?"

Heero could have sworn that the other man was taking humor in the situation.

"Miss Relena, Miss Usagi, and the others are currently in her office.  Would you like to be escorted there?"

"No, but I will be staying here for awhile."

"Very well.  I shall get someone to escort you to a room."

Pargan proceeded out of the main hall, but stopped at the door.  Softly he spoke over his shoulder, "Heero, take care of her.  If you fail to do so, you answer to all of us."  With that said, he stepped out of the room.

Heero wasn't sure he heard correctly.  So lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the woman standing in front of him.

"So you are Heero Yuy...," she stated.

Walking around Heero, she inspected the man who had stolen her princess's heart.  He was an inch or two taller than her…  Good build…  Alert…  All in all, he exuded the persona of a soldier.  Yet, her princess loved this man…  Everyone in the higher positions knew.  At that time, even before laying eyes on this "Heero Yuy", she had already concluded that this man's head was hard as a nail to keep the woman waiting this long.  Not long after, her mind was sidetracked a moment as profanities ran through her head on what type of idiot the man was.

"What?" he questioned the predatory looking woman, who had eased her inspection.

Her mental ranting ceased as her eyes narrowed on the man.

"Why are you here?" she questioned.

"None of your business."

"When it concerns Kitten, it concerns me."

"Kitten?"

Ignoring the question, the woman introduced herself, "Haruka Tenou, Head of Security."

He tried again, "Who is Kitten?"

Haruka waved off the question with her hand.

"I will show you to a room now," she informed him and abruptly turned to leave.

Heero grabbed her arm.  He knew she was keeping something from him.

"Who do you call Kitten?" he asked in a deadly tone.

Adding pressure to the hold, Heero watched as the woman's gaze turned deadly.

"If you hurt her, I will kill you," Haruka hissed through her teeth.

*

Since his arrival right before sunset, he had been waiting for Usagi to return to her room.  He stood in the shadows, uncertain of what would happen this eve.  To stay or return to space.  This life altering decision was to be made tonight, of that he was certain.

Nearly four hours after his arrival in the Sanc Kingdom, he could finally hear her voice drift down the hallway.

"...Thank you for coming...  Thank you for coming...  No, no, no.  I'm not getting it right,"  Usagi huffed as she stomped through the hall.

"Okay.  I say, 'Thank you for coming here today, ladies and gentlemen of the press...'"

Heero listened to her speech as she spoke in a voice that conveyed strong authority.  Serenity was so much like Relena, yet different.  They both had strong personalities and beliefs, but it was Usagi's heart that floored him.  She just had that personality that was addicting; you couldn't go long without it.  The fact that outweighed all others was that she had needed him, trusted him, and cared for him.  True, Relena had felt the same, but she had moved on after she realized he would probably never return.  Never return...

'Never say never,' Heero recited in his mind.

*flashback*

"Thank you for keeping your promise."

"I brought Relena back.  You shouldn't thank me.  It was a mission."

Usagi reached for his hand.  Still standing by his side, she felt him tense at her touch.

"Thank you for returning to me," she restated almost inaudibly.

Heero's face remained blank as he stared at their hands.

"Heero," she continued.  "Don't go away."

"I can't stay.  I don't belong here."

"Yes, you do.  Don't you see?  I love you, Heero Yuy."  The stars reflected in her eyes as she confessed her love for him.  Silence hung in the air as Usagi's heart was slowly breaking.

"If you need to go away for a while, I'll wait for you.  If I have to, I'll wait forever.  Just tell me that you'll return to me."  Usagi tugged on his hands.  "I don't care if you love my sister or if you don't return my feelings.  I just need to hear you say that you're not leaving me forever."

He stared off into the distance.

"Please," she begged.

Heero looked down upon the distraught princess.  He wasn't sure what to say.  If he did comply with her request, he would be breaking everything he learned under Dr. J.  Yet, it would be following his heart.  It would be following Adin's final words, but there was no place for him in the Sanc Kingdom… especially at the side of a princess.

"I may never return," he stated.  Heero turned from Usagi's weeping form.  With hurried step, he left the garden to pack up his meager belongings.

*end flashback*

Heero waited to hear the running of water before he entered her room.  He could hear her muffled voice come through the thin wall.  His ears perked up when he heard his name.  Slowly he made his way to the door and opened it a crack to listen to her.

"If only you would come to me.  I need your strength... ('You are strong.') but you love my sister, don't you?  That's the reason why you won't come back to me...  ('I was scared.') Every time I'm near you, I only reminded you of her...  ('I only see you.')  I'm not as strong as Lina.  Did you see that?  Is that why? But don't you see that I need you?  I think about you everyday."

*flashback* (After the battle of X-18999)

Heero was taken to the hospital after he collapsed in Relena's arms.  He awoke to find himself in a hospital bed with bandages all over his body.  Without a thought to his injuries, he slid out of bed and over to the closet to find his tank top and a pair of jeans.  He quickly put them on, then left the room.

*

Usagi made her way to the hospital.  Heero had been taken from Brussels after a day of observation and transferred to the Sanc Kingdom yesterday.  They said he would be fine, given some rest, but she couldn't wait to see him.  She feared that he would leave without seeing her.

A block from the hospital, she spotted a mop of familiar hair.  Tailing him up and down several streets, she rounded a corner to find him gone.  Her heart leapt in her throat.  She had been so close.  Jogging to the next intersection, Usagi was surprised when she was pulled into an alley.

Freeing herself from the hold, she prepared to defend herself, only to find the illusive pilot.

"Why are you following me?"

He looked at her straight in the eyes.

She timidly stepped forward, smiling up at him.

"I wanted to see you.  You were going to leave without seeing me?  Weren't you?"  She looked away with a slight hurt expression.  "I meant what I said, Heero.  I will wait for you."

Usagi braced herself against his chest and lightly kissed him on the cheek.  Pulling away, she whispered in his ear, "And I will always love you."  With unshed tears in her eyes, she hastily made her way back to the school.

*end flashback*

Lost in his thoughts, Heero failed to notice she had finished her bath.  As if to withdraw from the intrusion, he jumped away from the door causing it to open wider.  He swore at himself and hoped that she wouldn't notice, but she did.  Before Usagi made it two feet out of the bathroom door, he caught her from behind.  He could feel her tense and covered her mouth with his hand.  Securing her against his body, he could smell her -- strawberries and cream.  The scent had always stayed in his mind.

Once he knew that she wasn't going to scream, he let his hand fall to meet the other at her waist.

"What do you want?" she breathed out.

Heero brought his lips closer to her ear.

"You," he whispered.

Instantly her body relaxed in his arms.  He could have stayed this way forever, but he wanted to taste her.  Something he imagined as a dream, when she turned with her rosy lips parted.  Ceasing the opportunity, he leaned down and kissed with her with all the emotion he could muster; all the emotion that she brought out of him.

When they ended the sweet kiss, he drowned in the love her eyes were revealing.  His heart sped up.  He knew what he was feeling.  His love...  love for his princess.  He wasn't paying attention to their wandering feet, until he felt the edge of the bed hit the back of his knees.  Stopping next to her bed, she ran her fingers over his face and uttered one word, "Heero."

*

Heero awoke to find Usagi snuggled in his embrace.  Last night, they had held each other and relished in the comfort the other brought -- the security of loving and being loved in return.  All too soon he found himself in his own room as she prepared for the press conference.

To say that the other four ex-pilots were surprised with the arrival of their last member was an understatement.  When Pargan had told them, they immediately went to hunting him down for a 'talk'.  Apparently everyone in the mansion decided to give him the 'talk'.  He was sick of it.  Why couldn't he have stayed in bed…  but that would not be for there was someone he had to talk to…  Relena.

*

Walking through the twists and turns of the mansion, Heero made his way to Relena's office.  If he knew her well enough, the Vice Foreign Minister would be making final preparations for the press conference.  From the looks of it, he was correct.  There she sat behind her oversized desk trying to have three phone conversations, each on different phones.

"Um, uh; yes; hold on; that's fine; I'm sorry, what did you say?"

By watching Relena, he was beginning to wonder where her secretary, Hotaru Tomoe, was hiding.  He didn't get much time to think about it because Relena finished her conversations rather quickly upon seeing him arrive.

"Hello, Heero.  Pargan informed me last night of your arrival.  I take it that you've already spoken to Serenity?"

 "I have...  Relena...," he couldn't find the words.

Racking his fingers through his hair, he fought the urge to turn and leave.  How was he supposed to tell his love's sister that he didn't love her, but that he loved her sister?  His mind was in disarray.

Relena shook her head.

"Don't say it, Heero Yuy."  Surprising, she smiled brightly at him.  "I know you love my sister.  How many times I wished it were me...  (Her gaze turned wistful.)  I've watched you two for over a year.  I'm happy for both of you and your relationship is fine with me.  Don't waste time trying to let me down gently.  There is no need."

Now Heero was curious.  Relena seemed to be relieved to have this conversation.  Alarms were going off in his head.  They were all saying that she was hiding something.

"Who is he?"

She was startled by the question.  "Why do you ask?"

"You've fallen in love with someone."

"I can never fool you, can I?" she chuckled.

He just stared at her, awaiting an answer.

Relena sighed.  She would have to tell him sometime.

"Fine.  If you must know, it's Duo.  Only Haruka and Pargan know about our relationship..."

*

The press conference had gone well.  Thankfully the press had accepted the fact that she wasn't romantically involved with Quatre.  Now she had to deal with the matters of state.  Not to mention, she had big shoes to fill, but it wasn't time to think about it.  Tonight she would celebrate in her own special way.

Lying down on the cool grass, she was mesmerized by the stars overhead.  They always seemed to shine down on her as if they were a million angels watching the earth.  It always brought her comfort, no matter what happened.  That was why she loved Heero so much.  He was her angel.  He always protected her and his presence always chased away her fears.

Usagi giggled when she imagined a winged Heero in a toga.  Her laughter grew louder as she added to the picture: a harp, halo, and sandals.

Heero found her rolling around like a hog in mud.  (It didn't help that once in while she would snort.)  This was definitely one of the times he wished he had brought a camera.  Clearing his throat, he waited for her to calm down.

Usagi jumped up and hugged him.  Resting her head in the nook of his neck, she smiled up nervously.

"Did you talk to Relena?"

*flashback*

"Duo?"  Heero was beginning to think he needed an ear exam or have his head examined.

Relena giggled.  "You see, Heero, you gave me strength during the war…  Strength that motivated me to stand up and take control against all adversities.  But now... (She lightly rubbed her temples.)  Now I need someone to alleviate the pressure of having the power to make all of these changes.  And what can I say, Duo makes me laugh."

Heero watched her eyes light up and her smile broaden.

"Now I have to 'talk' to Duo..."  The braided ex-pilot was going to get a taste of his own medicine for threatening him earlier.

*end flashback*

Usagi's jaw dropped.

"W-what?" she sputtered.

"Relena loves Duo."

She lightly hit him on the arm.

"I heard what you said, but why didn't she tell me," Usagi pouted.

"The less people to know lowers the chances of anyone finding out."

Usagi rubbed the back of her head sheepishly

 "Or she didn't tell me because I told Michiru that Haruka had feelings for her.  I mean those two were tiptoeing around each other.  Everyone saw it except for them and..."

"Two weeks," he interrupted.  (Usagi was confused.)  "They have been seeing each other for two weeks."

"But how did you know I was going to ask that?"

Heero merely smirked.  It didn't last long for Usagi yanked him down on the grass and kissed his smirk away.  He was surprised, but managed to maneuver her on top to avoid crushing her.

The kiss became demanding and their hands started to roam.  Heero broke the kiss before it got any further.  He had made a promise to himself before he left L2 and he was going to keep it.

It had taken him all day to find the perfect one, but as he clutched the box in his hand, he knew that she was worth the heavens and nothing less.

Usagi was straddled on his stomach.  She was definitely sure that she was missing something because he had a far off look in his eyes and what looked to be the started of a goofy grin.

*

Relena and Duo watched the scene below them.  All the memories of the past two years lead to this moment.  Heero had learned to love and Usagi would have the strength to lead.  The future looked bright.

Duo embraced Relena.  "So I heard from a little birdie that you loved me."

Relena was slightly shocked, but then she realized that Heero must have told him.  Before she could answer, he kissed her.

"I love you too," he whispered.

Relena pecked him on the lips and snuggled further into his arms.  The future was definitely looking better.

*

Heero cleared his thoughts as Usagi sat down next to him.  Sitting upright, he captured her hands in his larger ones.  Pulling the velvet box from his pocket, he opened it for her to see.

"Marry me?"

Tears of joy escaped her eyes.  Usagi flung her arms around his neck.

"Yes.  Yes, Heero.  I will marry you."

They pulled away from each other, enough for him to slide the ring onto her finger.  Moonlight shone on the ring causing a small sparkle to appear in the star sapphire.

Usagi clung onto him as she started to laugh.  Heero was deeply puzzled.

"We've had two press conferences in the last three days.  Now we are going to have another one.  (She continued to laugh.)  I bet the tabloid reporters are going to be there.  (A mischievous gleam entered her eyes.)  Maybe we should tell them I'm pregnant... what if we have twins.  No, quadruplets.  Or how about sextuplets.  What do you think, Heero?  Heero?"

She didn't receive an answer from his still form.  Pushing his shoulder with one finger, Heero fell over.  The poor man had fainted.

Usagi lovingly put his head on her lap and chuckled, "Men."

*owaru / end*

Ended: January 05, 2003

Last Revised: December 24, 2003

Number of Chapters: 4

Author's Final Notes:  This fic was meant to be short and with hardly any direction.  It was due to the fact that I wanted to see just how much time and thought went into creating one.  I think that I revised this fic over 30 times for errors in plot, grammar, spelling...  I'm just that way.  For all of you, who are wondering if there is anymore to the fic, sorry.  I really didn't mean to end it that way.  (And for all I know, this may not be the end.)  Anyway, I hope I did an okay job and thanks for reading.  =)
Midlight Bunny  ( 0 ^ ; ^ 0 )

P.S.-I wanted to get this last part out as a holiday gift to everyone reading this fic.  Happy Holidays!

An extra thanks goes out to reviewers.

Zaeria – Relena did move on to happy-go-lucky Duo.  Even I wasn't expecting myself to write that one. ( ^ ; ^ )

Yui Yue – The senshi made cameo appearances in either name or in person, but I didn't include much (only a bit in the beginning) of the SM storyline.

Gackt Camui Loves You – You guessed it!  She whispered "Heero"…  I couldn't torture everyone by making it a dream, so he really did come back.  As for "steamy" parts, I had to keep it within the PG rating…  Can't say that I wasn't tempted…  ; )  Thanks again for being such a faithful reviewer.

kylarachan – Thanks for e-mailing your review to me.  It really brightened my day.  Sorry for the confusion.  ^.^;

Crystal-Winter – Thanks for your reviews.  They remind me of my eagerness to read fics.

Lady Light – Sorry for leaving you in a cliffhanger…  They make you read the next part to find out what exactly happened.  *sigh*  I think that I make this cliffhangers partly for myself because I edit them so much…  and have read them so many times.

Thu-Tram89 - …went a step forward…  engaged…  I'm debating whether to use the quickie established engagement for a sequel to this fic… but I wouldn't be able to work on a new fic until summer.  =(  Everyone: Let me know what you think.

The whole story will be compiled and added as chapter 5 on New Year's Eve.