~Please R&R! This is my last chapter!! Of course, there might be an epilouge.....

6. Loose Ends

Panting, Relena stopped her sprint in the bathroom. She had closed and locked the door and was lying in the the bath tub. Confused tears streamed down her cheeks yet total joy filled her being. He had kissed her! That always meant something. Yet her sides were aching and she was alone. She had hurt him. Yet she could not stand for Heero to fall in love with Iria. Not while the real Relena was still alive and perfectly well. Even in her wildest dreams she had never imagined that this sort of thing would happen. It woudl be so perfect for anyone else but 'Iria'. As Relena lay in the tub she made a resolution to visit Heero in the evening and tell him the truth. She would write a note, he would not see her before the meeting. It would be brief but begging him to meet her on her balcony. Then,she would appear to him without her contacts and with her hair gathered at the nape of her neck. If indeed the kiss was love though. That would be the only thing required for the meeting.
Slowly Relena rose, and slowly she wipped her eyes and washed her face of the black mascera that tell-taley had smeared in her confusion. She slipped out the bathroom door and crept into her own room, finding Heero gone. Then, she composed the note. She crept out into the hall, and slipped it under his door. She then ran back and closed her door, before Heero could open his in alarm.
Tucked inside her santum, Relena waited nervously for the dinner to be annouced and for it to release. She spent the hours pacing and removing and putting in again her contacts. Finally, she tyed her hair back, took out her contacts, and bundled up to stand on the balconly. It had gotton cooler since she fled, so many fateful hours before. Even with her windbreaker, Relena was cold. The sun was almost set and as she watched its last rays sink below the horzin as she reviewed in her mind what she was going to say.
There was the tell tale creak of the doors, the soft footsteps and the opening of the glass doors, singaling Heero's arrival. "Iria," he asked, though his voice did not represent that.
Relena'a intestines were knotting horribly and she feared she would be sick. She took in a deep breath, and then turned around. She watched Heero's expression for a few minutes.
At first he was puzzled, then horrifed, then angry. "Relena?" he questioned.
With that, she collasped, letting all of her tears rush out. She nodded, and fell into his arms. She could feel him struggle to get comfortable holding her, and then paused for response.
"Why?" he demanded, sounding angry but not prying her from his grip.
"It's just like 'Iria' told you. Except instead of dying, I realized what I had done, but I knew my life was doomed to the office. So I faked my death and came with an urn full of ashes as Iria Annon. I thought I could get to know me through my friends, since I had lost myself at work," Relena explained.
Heero was silent, dead silent for a few moments. Relena inwardly shook at the thought of his next words. If he didn't accept it, and tolerate it, she could go one leaving as Iria Annon. She would leave for Paris after all this had settled and live out her long life there.
"Relena, is it really you? Would you really do something as stupid as that?" Heero asked, pulling her away from him. Tears rolled shamefully down her cheeks and she stood slumped before his judgemental gaze. He had felt before, why couldn't he feel now? Couldn't he feel remorse, as he had when he though he had lost her?
"I should have really died," she mummured, turning to face the lonesome yard again.
"Relena," Heero's voice begged, though it sounded pinched and unnatural. She looked back, but just for an instant.
Heero was standing inh is stiff solider postion but his empty eys were watered, and his lips pursed into a thin line. He took a step towards her, and then another one. He reached out and set his hand on her shoulder, in an understanding.
"I'm not going back to being Relena Doralin. She's dead and scattered to the four winds. I will move to Paris when all the guests leave." she informed him.
Silence again. This couldn't be good news.
"You could come too. We wouldn't have to go to Paris...," Relena suggested, whirling to face Heero.
Heero only stared at her, though she could see the complexity of his thoughts on his crinkled brow. Then, his face broke into its placid but emotionless mask. He had found his solution.
"I can't leave directly after this, but I'll find you." Heero slowly answered.
"Thank you,"she whispered, throwing her arms around him, giving all the formalites to the wind. She sensed his surprise but it didn't last long.
They shared a long, passionate kiss before Heero set her down, smiled really faintly and left.


Precisecly Six Months and one week from this day...........

"Ms. Annon? Someone's here to see you," Mrs. Browning called from her desk.
"Thank you, Ann. Send my vistor right in," 'Iria' responded, shuffling her report claims to the side. She was now the owner of a very sucessful perfume company just outside Paris. She sighed, and rubbed her temples. She was happy though, even with all of the old stress. 'Iria' had refreshed hopes, hopes and a love that would never die.
She watched the pale oak door that seperated her from Mrs. Browning, her secratary. 'Iria' sat on the cornor of her desk, tapping her shoes in anticpation.
Slowly, the door swung open, revealing the guest. He was wearing a nice, pressed suit,with a tie that had been loosened and a pristine white shirt that had been unbuttoned at the top. He had sandy brown hair but its inveitable spike revealed his true identiy.
"Heero," smiled Relena, rushing at the disguised man she had been waiting for. She leaped into his arms hardly surpressing the giggle that came to her throat. It was so wonderful to be in love and have someonewho loved you that much and more in return.
"I've got our plans. How does Hawaii sound to you?" whispered Heero as he spun her around and set her down.
"Magical," returned Relena/Iria. She took his hand and led out the door, yelling her command for her loyal secratary to be the new leader and then vanishing down the elevator and out into the awaiting 'get away car'.



-Lady Scythe
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