Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters belong to Sotsu, Sunrise, and Bandai. Of course, this fic belongs to me.


The Kissing Bough
by Waltz195


Senator Gregory Deinwald waited impatiently as the Vice Foreign Minister finished her speech, shifting from one foot to the other. Had it not been for his political training, he would have begun to twiddle his thumbs in nervousness.

The senator was not a manipulative man. Well, no more manipulative than many of his fellow politicians, that is. Any normal, ambitious young senator would do the same in his position, he told himself.

He was just trying to get into her good graces, and possibly her affection. Accomplishing this, with Relena Darlian, would equal influence, and influence meant power. Both of which the Vice Foreign Minister had in great supply. The Earth Sphere committees would vote on the newest trade agreement in a few weeks, one he himself would be backing, and he needed her support.

Deinwald felt a bit guilty at the thought of using her influence for his own, and in a way he was attracted to her, but, in truth, she was a bit...intimidating.

There was something in her calm, confident manner that disconcerted him a bit and convinced him that she would not be easy to win over as he had first thought. But, he hoped maybe a kiss under the mistletoe would better his chances. Earlier in the evening, Deinwald had somehow gotten the impression she didn't quite like him, but he was sure her feelings would sway under his flattery and charm.

A wave of applause spread across the congregation, as Miss Relena concluded her speech, and Deinwald joined in. It was amazing how influential she had become these past few years, considering her youth. Even briefly holding the title of 'Queen of the World'. Another fact that puzzled him to no end.

Watching her exchange greetings with the President and other delegates, Deinwald decided to meet her near the stage. Making his way to the front of the crowd, he was determined to show her what a charming fellow he could be.

'Oh no, here he comes,' Relena thought in a panic, smiling all the while as a congressman babbled something or other about the increasing disinterest in studies of ancient sewage and sanitation protocols.

"I can imagine," she replied, humoring the politician's wayward discussion.

Out of the corner of her eye, Relena could see Deinwald making his way to the stage's small flight of stairs. She really didn't feel like dealing with him now, considering she had counted at least six different exits with mistletoe on them. This just wasn't her night.

Then, Relena noticed a faint blinking red light, just at the edge of her field of vision. There, a door was partially hidden behind a curtained portion of the stage. Inspiration struck, and she smiled in relief.

If she could just get past the President's old advisor, without him launching into a tirade about how young people didn't respect politicians anymore (except her of course), then she would be home free.

In a rather hurried manner, Relena shook the hand of everyone she passed, commenting on what a lovely night it had been, but that she really must be going. Not bothering to look behind her, Relena rushed to the back of the stage, slipped through the door and closed it silently behind her.

Unbeknowst to her, the red light above the door changed to green, indicating it had been lock from the inside.

"Where in the world is she going?" Deinwald mumbled to himself, watching as Relena disappeared behind the heavy stage curtains.

A bit bemused at first, he realized that he would have a better chance of charming her if they were alone. That thought in mind, he too proceeded to the back of the stage. But, due to a great deal of good timing, he was intercepted.

"Whoa! Hold it right there, pal!" A young man in a Preventers uniform cheerfully blocked him, holding his right hand out to emphasize his words.

What was rather strange about this particular Preventer agent was the low Santa Claus cap he wore, a black baseball cap added underneath. The combination of headgear effectively kept most of his face from view.

"Is there a problem?" Deinwald asked, rather irritated that he'd been deterred once again.

"Well, not for me," the agent replied, grinning widely. "But if your shuttle's the big, gold one being towed away as we speak, then yeah, I'd say you got a problem."

Deinwald paled, all thoughts of Relena suddenly gone from his mind. That shuttle had taken him months to customize and decorate, gold plating, upholstery and all. It was his pride and joy. Being the fickle-hearted, materialistic individual he was, the senator quickly left the conference hall to rescue his beloved aircraft.

Behind him, the young Preventer was grinning widely as he twirled a set of shuttle ignition keys on his finger.

"Of course, you'll probably need the keys." Duo Maxwell grinned cheekily from beneath the cap's bill.

It had been fun messing with the guy's shuttle. He imagined it'd take the senator a while to find it. If he ever did, that is.

Turning to the stage curtains, or rather, what was behind them, he gave a small salute. "She's all yours, buddy."

After closing the metal plated door, Relena took a moment to listen for any activity on the other side. Satisfied that she hadn't been followed, she turned to inspect her surroundings, and was immediately enchanted by what she saw.

She'd never really gotten to see most of MO2 while it was being decorated earlier, but she definitely wished she had seen this room.

Dozens of gold and white Christmas lights had been strung up along the ceiling, lending the room a warm, magical glow. The plain metal walls were hidden by large bolts of gold drapery, decorated with traditional holiday greenery. She could even hear the familiar strains of Christmas music drifting through the air. At the center of the room, a Christmas tree stood proudly, decorated with simple white lights and ornaments, a bright golden star perched on its highest bough.

'This is the kind of Christmas I remember,' she thought, approaching the tree with a soft smile. 'Simple and cozy, as it should be.'

Gently caressing the outline of a dove-shaped ornament, she wondered who had taken the time to decorate a hidden room, when the outer ballrooms were extravagant in comparison. Captivated by her surroundings, she failed to sense the presence behind her.

"You seem to have lost your escort, Relena."

Her heart stopped, for what seemed like an eternity, before starting up again at a rapid pace. She knew that voice. Had dreamed of hearing it again for a very long time. Slowly, she turned to face the speaker.

When her eyes met with Prussian blue, she could only whisper, "Heero."

Before her stood the former Wing Zero pilot, having appeared as silently and mysteriously as always. They stared at each other for the longest time, neither moving nor speaking, content to just gaze into the other's eyes.

Heero had known she would come, just as he knew the meaning behind the emotion shining in her eyes. Whether it was intuition or something more, this special bond they shared, he welcomed the time it brought him with her.

She hadn't seen him for almost two years and even then she had memorized every detail of his face. The proud tilt of his head, his forever unruly hair, were just as she remembered them. The post-war years had been kind to him, smoothing the fatigue and hollowness from his young face. By the looks of how his simple Preventers uniform hung on his frame, he had kept himself well-trained and fit. And the light she had seen behind those cool, dark eyes so long ago had not faded one bit. For that she was eternally grateful.

"Hello, Heero..." she ventured, delicately breaking the lengthy silence.

He nodded in return. "Relena...You look well."

"As do you."

Thinking back on the many times she had rehearsed what to say if she ever saw him again, she found it difficult to speak. Relena cleared her throat. "I assume you're here on Preventers business?"

"Not exactly," Heero answered, moving away from her to slowly circle the tree. "It's actually a more important matter. Though the Preventers are aware of it."

'He never gives me a straight answer,' she thought, turning to trail behind him. "Oh? Is it something I can help with?"

"That depends." Turning to face her, he asked suddenly, "Would you like to dance?"

Relena paused to look at him bewilderedly, suddenly aware that the room had begun to fill with new music. She recognized the beat as that of a waltz. A familiar tune that brought back a rush of memories.

Looking up into his eyes, she was surprised to find him staring at her, his dark eyes intent and watchful. Mistified, she thought of nothing else as she placed her hand in his, and they twirled in time to the music.

It seemed like just yesterday they had been like this, so close together, totally engrossed with the other's presence. But she was not so easily deterred, she wanted some answers.

"Depends on what?" she asked, willing herself not to melt into his steady embrace, as he led them through the dance without a single misstep.

"You," Heero answered simply.

Before she could question that, he increased the pace, and she found herself clinging to him against a rush of excitement as they quickly swung around the room. It took a while before he slowed down and she was able to think again.

'What was I asking?...Oh yes...'

"Me?" Relena asked apprehensively. "Why me?"

"Because," he replied, slowing their movements to a halt. "You are the reason I am here, Relena."

If he had said that at any other time, she was sure her heart would have burst from happiness. But past experiences had taught her not to misread such statements, they were often only literal. Still, there was a part of her that ached when she hoped that his words conveyed more than a sense of duty.

"Of course," she answered, trying to hide her disappointment. "I guessed you were on my guard duty. It would be logical you'd be here tonight because of that."

Heero studied her a moment before shaking his head, a small smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.

"It's not that," he replied, gazing at her softly. "I'll have to tell you sooner or later, but not tonight." He stilled any further comment by placing a finger on her lips. "Look up, Relena."

Slightly vexed by his behavior, and at his ordering her around, she looked up without much thought and froze. How in the world could she have missed it?

There, strung to a light fixture by a single golden thread, was a large bundle of mistletoe.

Anything she might have said died on her tongue as she looked back at him, suddenly drowning in the wealth of emotion she saw in those dark Prussian eyes. As he leaned closer, her eyelids fluttered close and a blush stole across her face, anticipation racing through her veins.

Their lips grazed lightly at first, experimenting with the sensation of the caress. Then finally, they came together, softly flushed against each other. A warmth surrounded the two, showering them with a glow of a shared, unspoken emotion. Relena wished it would never end, cherishing the exquisite feel of him against her.

It was Heero who finally broke the kiss, tracing his lips softly along her cheek to her ear. "Until tomorrow, Relena..." he whispered, his breath caressing her skin. He grasped her hand and kissed it lightly, leaving a small object in her palm.

When at last she opened her eyes, it was to find the space in front of her empty. Heero was no where in sight. She looked down at the notecard that was left in her hand. Opening it, she read the message and smiled.

Relena,

I will see you at the party.
Bring the mistletoe.

Heero

Relena turned the notecard over and, sure enough, attached to the back was a sprig of mistletoe.

"See you soon," she whispered to the room at large, holding the card to her heart. "Heero."

And she would indeed see him again. Under the kissing bough.


Author's Notes: Has it really been so many years since I first posted this fic? How time does fly. Now, you can all enjoy this fic in all its revised goodness. The sequels, "The Christmas Party" and "A New Year, New Beginnings" are now up and you can see what happens to Heero and Relena. Also, there is a side-fic called "For the Children", which deals with Duo's visit to the orphanage. Go check out those stories, the final installments of this fic series. Happy Holidays! D - Waltz195