27
The Marquis was frightened for Relena's safety and called Heero over for tea and scones. The Marquis answered the door and led Heero to the back patio and invited him to sit in the wicker chairs with satin covers. The cloth that covered the matching table was silk, and tea was brought out in porcelain cups and saucers and the scones were on pewter trays.
"Heero, may I ask you a question?" The Marquis asked, buttering his scone.
"Certainly."
"Is Heero Yuy your real name?"
"No, sir."
The Marquis paused. "Then why in the world do you use it?"
Heero sighed and looked away. "I'm a Gundam pilot."
"You jest," the Marquis smiled.
"No, sir. I am a Gundam pilot."
The Marquis looked at Heero, who was very serious.
"You're just a boy," the Marquis muttered in disbelief.
"I prefer to be called a young man. A lot of people don't believe me, but I am a pilot." He looked at the Marquis.
"What is your real name?"
"I can't tell you. My name is confidential."
"Why in heaven's name not?"
"I've sworn not to reveal my name until I'm either 21 and married, 50 and not married, or my Gundam is destroyed."
"Interesting conditions," the Marquis commented, sipping his tea. "Heero, I called you here because I worry about my granddaughter more and more everyday. I would appreciate it if you took her into hiding today."
"But Marquis," he contradicted, arching his thick brows, "if I take her out too early, she might lose a limb or something."
"For further protection, we told the papers and such that she wouldn't be released until tomorrow. I knew you'd be on your way to see her today. You would have been told that you could take her then, but I thought it would be less of a shock if I told you instead. She's waiting on you now. Heero," the Marquis looked him square in the eye, "I don't want my little girl to die. She and Milliardo are all I've got since her mother passed."
"I'll take care of your granddaughter. You have my solemn swear." Heero left the table.
"Heero," the Marquis called just loud enough for him to hear.
"Yeah?"
"She's not my granddaughter."
"Come again?"
"My name is Milliardo Wayridge, but when my mother married my stepfather, I changed my name to Peacecraft, which was his name."
"You're Relena and Zech's father?"
"Yes, but they don't know that. I'm only telling you because you must know how much I care about my children."
Heero nodded, and jumped over the elegant fence.