Hearts In Ice
Part 5: The Diagnosis
written by NemKess
Sally looked up as Relena entered. Though the younger woman looked as calm as ever, one cheek was bright red and she was holding a bloody rag to her nose.
"Heero kicked me."
Sally's eyes widened. "He WHAT!?!"
Relena's lips twitched with what might have been humor. It was gone so quickly that the older woman decided that she must have imagined it. Must have been wishful thinking, she thought. With a sigh, she led Relena over to a table. A brief examination proved that nothing was broken and that the bleeding had stopped.
disclaimer: they don't belong to me. not getting paid. don't sue
Hearts In Ice
Part 6:
written by NemKess
Noin was becoming a bit frazzled. It was nice, even flattering, that everyone liked and trusted her well enough to share things with her, but there were times, like now, when she just wanted to tell them all to get a shrink So far today, she'd been cornered by Sally, Wufei, Quatra, and any number of other, less significant people. They all seemed to think that she had all the time in the world to sit around and chat. On top of that, she was busy trying to reassure Zechs that he hadn't made a mistake in calling Heero.
Word of the sparring match had reached their ears within minutes of the actual incident. None of the stories were the same. In the end, Zechs had sent her to find Sally and Wufei and get the real story. Though he was upset that his sister had been hurt, Noin felt certain that it was the fact that Heero's appearance didn't seem to have affected her that was actually bothering him.
Now she was running around trying to locate the two combatants.
I don't recall our vows saying anything about ' I shall be thou's messenger until death', she thought with a frown. He really was trying to run her ragged. One of the disadvantages to being married to the boss, she supposed. It made him think she would do anything without complaint.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she finally spotted the pair. Relena was sitting Indian style on the ground, smoking and ignoring the man standing next to her. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans.
Noin frowned at the cigarette, but chose not to mention it. She was just glad that she didn't have to search anymore.
"There you guys are. I've been looking all over for you." she called as she approached. Heero turned to face her, a questioning look on his face. Relena flicked a glance in her direction, but otherwise didn't acknowledge either of them. "Zechs needs you in his office."
With a sigh, the younger girl stood, threw down her cigarette, and smashed it with her heel. Without a word, she turned and walked sedately towards her brother's office. Heero moved to follow her. Noin could only shake her head.
She opened the door and ushered them into Zech's office. She was about to turn and leave when he spoke up, asking her to stay. "No, Noin. I need you in here. Besides, you look like you could sit for a few minutes." When she nodded and moved to take the third seat, behind the silent pair. Relena was just staring off into space. Heero appeared to be getting uncomfortable with the silence. The thought brought Noin up short. Heero, uncomfortable? It just didn't seem possible. Still, having watched her sister-in-law all these years, she was well aware that things can change.
"Thank you for coming," She turned her attention back to the main desk. "I also want to thank you, Heero, for coming so quickly. With the upcoming World Delegation Session coming up, I didn't want to take any chances. Relena, starting tomorrow, I want Heero by your side every waking minute. If you aren't in your room, he had better know where you are. Understood?"
Though Heero nodded, the young woman looked directly at her brother for the first time since they'd gotten their. "No."
"Rel-"
"It'll have to start the day after. I'm busy tomorrow." Noin and Heero could only look on in confusion. Zechs, however, understood.
"I'm sorry, Relena. I had forgotten. Fine. The day after tomorrow, Heero will begin his duties as bodyguard. The Summit is 3 weeks away." He turned to look at Heero. "We'll need you at least that long. Is that acceptable to you?" Heero nodded. "Good, then the two of you may leave."
Noin watched as they left. Then she approached the desk. Leaning over it, she looked directly into her husband's eyes. For once, he couldn't look back at her. "What exactly are you hiding from me, love?"
"Nothing." She only narrowed her eyes. You're lying, she thought.
As much as she wanted Zechs plan to work, she honestly felt it was too late. They didn't need to be pushing Relena and Heero together, they needed to be encouraging the girl to get out, to date someone she could stand. Noin had known from the beginning that Relena didn't like Pierre. The man was the biggest stick in the mud she'd ever met. Noin sighed. She wished Relena could find a love like she and Zechs had. Once upon a time, that might have been Heero. Now, there probably wasn't man in the universe who could accept what she had become.
"Zechs, it's not going to work. Relena doesn't care anymore. She just-" She paused, not wanting to upset him. "She just doesn't feel at all anymore."
He shook his head in denial. "No, you're wrong. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean she doesn't feel."
"I hope you're right." I really do, she continued to herself. Not only for yourself, but for Relena and Heero too.
to be continued.
disclaimer: they don't belong to me
Hearts In Ice
Part 7
written by NemKess
BEEP..BEEP..
Relena sat up rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She yawned a bit and got out of the bed. Figuring it would be the best way to avoid Heero today, she'd decided to sleep in her own apartment that night. Her eyes shadowed for a moment as she became fully awake and aware of just what today was.
She dressed with care. She had someone to visit today.
Her first destination was the florist on 32nd Street. The owner knew her and had her order ready. Putting the bundle in the car for her, he thanked her and waved as the car pulled away. Relena sat back into the seat.
"Will you be wanting me to wait for you, Miss Relena?" She looked up to see Burt, her chauffer.
"No thank you. I'll walk home when I'm done."
"Yes ma'am." The rest of the trip was made in silence.
"Here we are." Relena looked up and nodded. The young man got out and opened the door for her.
"Thank you." She stepped out of the car and looked around at the quiet surroundings. With a sigh, she turned back and pulled her bundle out. She held herself still for a moment and took a deep breath. For this one day, she would actually make an attempt to find what was left of her humanity. She squared her shoulders. I can do this.
She walked under the arch. Silent eyes watched her as she picked her way around the various obstacles. She didn't stop until she'd reached her goal. Quietly, she knelt and placed a bouquet of roses between her real parents graves. "Hi guys. It's me again. I just wanted to say hi." She moved down to the next set of graves. "Hi mother, father. I miss you." Here she placed wildflowers, they had been her mothers favorite until her death, two years ago. Pagan was next. He had died in the same car wreck. Her long-time employee who had been more like a beloved uncle. He received daisies. She came to a stop at the last tiny grave.
Baby Peacecraft
June 17, A.C.200
Taken before she ever had
a chance to live.
"Hi, sweetie. It's mama. Happy Birthday." She placed a small doll next to the worn and faded toys already resting there. "Guess what? You're daddy's back on Earth." She sat with her back against the headstone and began humming a lullaby. She sat there in silence for a long while, thinking. Every year, she came here to honor those whom s he had loved and lost. There were only two people in this world who truly loved her, who weren't in this silent city- her brother and his wife.
Though she knew Sally thought she came here just to commune with her lost child, Relena had another reason. That was important, but it wasn't the only one. She came here every year to remember that she was human and she did have feelings, however deeply buried they may be.
A rock skittered behind her, causing her to look up. Heero was standing behind her, his eyes glued to the tombstone. Tears were trying to escape those pools of cobalt blue. He looked at her suddenly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
to be continued..
Hearts In Ice
Part 8: A Father's Tears
written by NemKess
Heero dropped to his knees beside Relena. The sight before him was.. staggering. He squeezed his eyes closed, trying in vain to stifle the tears.
"I took 'I'm leaving, you're staying' to mean you wanted to sever the ties between us." the young woman beside him commented. Her voice was flat. "Besides," she added "I didn't know until it was too late. There was no point in making anyone else suffer."
He'd spent the last 5 years trying to convince himself that he was right, that they were better off apart. He'd almost succeeded. Besides, even if he WAS wrong- No harm, No foul, right?
But there had been harm. There was no doubt in his mind that if he'd stayed, this grave wouldn't be here. A vision of a happy little girl with honey blonde hair and cobalt blue eyes danced thru his head. It was followed by one of him and Relena as they'd been before. Every feeling he'd ever had for her came surging up from the dark corner he'd buried them in so long ago.
"I love you," he whispered.
She looked at him, something akin to pity in her eyes. "Then I am truly sorry for you. As I recall, it's not very pleasant to love someone who doesn't love you back." She stood up then, brushed off her skirt, and left him alone with his thoughts.
Heero's tears came in full force. Silent sobs wracked his entire body.
He cried for the baby he'd never been able to hold, the child who would never ask him questions. He cried for Relena and the changes he'd noticed in her. But most of all, he cried for himself and everything he'd thrown away.
"I'm sorry," he sobbed brokenly. "I'm so very sorry."
As his tears finally slowed, he noticed the small offerings laid around the headstone. A faded pink baby's rattle was propped to one side. Beside it, sat a ragged brown teddybear that seemed somehow, familiar. A Barbie doll and a raggedy ann. doll, both of which had seen better days. And lastly, a new looking china doll. 5 toys for 5 years.
His face hardened into what his friends would have recognized as his 'Mission Accepted' look.
Like Relena, he addressed the tiny grave. "I can't bring you back. I can't even change the mistakes I've made." He gazed off in the direction Relena had gone. "But I CAN make it up to her. Somehow, Someway, I'll make things right."
He hesitated only a moment before kissing his fingertips and pressing them gently against the smooth stone.
to be continued