Chapter 9:
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Lark sat back and frowned. The repairs on Wing Zero were taking longer than they should have, and she only had two days before she had to leave for Quarrentine. She sighed, at least Wing Zero is all I have left.
"Lark!" Lark looked down to find Relena trying desperately to get by Heero.
"Relena?" Lark asked in mild surprise as she stood and leaned over the rail to yell at Heero, "Let her come up!"
Heero looked up at her and sighed, "Alright, but I warn you, keep her away from anything mechanical, or you'll be sorry."
"AC," Lark replied jokingly, "Why don't you come up here and do some work for a change?"
Heero put his hands up in mock defense, "Sor-ry!"
Lark met Relena on the stairs, "You're just in time. I need a break."
"Would you like to go get ready and come to the mainland for lunch?" Relena asked her as Heero joined them.
"I-a-a......."
"Oh go on," Heero interrupted.
"Do what?" Lark asked in surprise, "But what about all the work that's left?"
"I and the others can do it," he said, "It won't go as fast without you here, but we'll take care of it. So go on and have a good time. Plus we have two more days. Don't worry."
Lark reached up and tucked her bangs behind her ears, "I was hoping on leaving early. Every minute we wait, Khan has more opportunity to wreak havoc across my planet."
"Armand will keep him at bay until we arrive," Heero assured her.
"But we can't leave it all on Armand!" Lark exclaimed.
"It's been how long so far? Three months? What's a couple more days?"
"AC!" Lark argued. "He's going to go after my family if I don't return soon. Hwoarang's already being used for target practice and Father, Garrik and Baek are in some rotten prison cell with sickness and darkness, and poor mother is forced to hide in the woods with Chu-San."
"Lark!" Heero raised his voice over hers, "Armand is protecting your mother and Chu-San...."
He was cut short, "And who is protecting Father and my other brothers?!"
"They can take care of themselves," Heero said as he took her by the shoulders then hugged her to him, "You need to chill out and take a break for a while. Octavian won't harm your family if he can help it, and Khan is his puppet to use as he wishes. You and I both know that Octavian will trade the lives of your family members for you, so I'd rather be totally sure that I can beat him first before I go rushing in unprepared."
Lark sighed as she laid against Heero, "I'm sorry, you're right."
Heero laughed as he pushed her away and put his arm around Relena, "I'm always right."
"I don't know how you can put up with him," Lark said as she looked at Relena.
Relena just shrugged, "He protects me, and yes we may argue all the time, but I love him."
"We don't argue all the time," Heero protested, "Just some of the time."
_____
"So," Lark asked in between mouthfuls of lo mein noodles, "Are you gonna come to Quarrentine with AC?"
"With who?"
"A-Heero," Lark corrected herself, "I'm sorry, I guess I'm gonna have to get used to calling him Heero."
Relena frowned, "I don't know if I'll be able to leave my office. I am the ruler of the largest empire on Earth."
"Yah," Lark agreed, "That is a problem."
Relena looked up at her and smiled, "I'm sure he hasn't even thought about taking me along."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because it's true," Relena replied, "It's not that he doesn't want me to come, it's just that he wants to keep me from danger."
"But you could be an asset to our team," Lark argued.
"No," Relena paused, "I'd be a burden to him, he wouldn't be able to concentrate on his missions. Besides, I'd probably get kid-napped again." At the questioning look on Lark's face, Relena replied, "Don't ask!"
"Well," Lark replied, "If he does love you, he sure doesn't show it."
"I know," Relena said as she took a sip of tea, "But he shows it in other ways."
"So you haven't even brought it up that you would like to go along?"
Relena sighed, "I know what he would say, it's too dangerous, you have to take care of the Earth......My brother Miliardo can take care of Earth!"
"Miliardo," Lark thought out loud, "Don't believe I've had the privilege of meeting him."
"You'll meet him one day," Relena assured her, "After all, you will become the ruler of Quarrentine right?"
"That's what the legend says," Lark replied.
"See, and my brother and I negotiate with other planets and colonies," she smiled, "Maybe Quarrentine will become an asset to our list."
Lark smirked, "But Miliardo believes in war, you can't leave him in charge can you?"
Relena looked down at her plate, "My brother definitely is not a pacifist Lark," she looked up, "But I'm beginning to think that pacifism will never come to be. I'm seriously contemplating on going to Quarrentine with Heero---if he asks me---and leaving Earth in Miliardo's hands."
"You're serious?" Lark asked incredulously.
"Yes," Relena replied, "I am."
_____
Quatre walked slowly down the dimly lit corridor. It was quiet today, very quiet.
He had finished his share of the work to update Wing Zero and was now on his way to the conference room. Lark and Relena had returned an hour ago from their little lunch date and Lark had called a meeting. What about? He would soon find out.
When he entered the room, everyone was present except Relena, Lark and Heero. He took a seat on Wufei's right.
"Hey Quatre," Duo greeted, "What's happenin'?"
"Nothing," Quatre replied, then looked around, "Where's Lark?"
"She'll be here in a few minutes," Trowa answered, "Heero and Relena were arguing and she's trying to fix it."
"Ahh......" Quatre said, understanding etched on his young face. Heero and Relena could go at it for hours if they were left alone long enough. Usually he just went for a long walk and came back when it was over. They never stayed mad at each other for long though. Quatre shuddered, I hope when I find someone our relationship isn't like that!
"Good, everyone is on time."
Quatre was pulled out of his thoughts as Lark and Relena entered with Heero in close tow.
"Modifications to the Gundams should be finished by tomorrow," Lark paused, "I'm hoping on leaving for Quarrentine the day after tomorrow. If you have some things which will prevent your departure in two days, speak now."
Still standing, Lark leaned over the table and looked at each pilot in turn. Her mind was still clouded by the final adjustments, then Quatre broke the silence, "Are you sure that we will be able to pilot the Gundams? I mean, you did just advance them a hundred times over, shouldn't we have a practice run?"
Impatient to get home, Lark glared at the blonde Arab, "Quatre, how well do you know Sandrock?"
Quatre was taken aback by the question, "I know Sandrock like the back of my hand."
"Then don't worry," Lark interrupted, "Sandrock won't let you down."
That seemed to satisfy Quatre, for he sat back in his chair and folded his arms silently, "Anyone else?"
"Can I come?" Relena asked suddenly. She had addressed Lark, and Heero was not about to interrupt, she seemed tense, what is Lark's problem? he thought, silently seething in his anger.
Lark turned to look at Relena, then turned to Heero, who had his eyes closed tightly, waiting for the verdict, "I believe AC should answer that one."
Relena sighed as she looked at Heero, hoping, just maybe, that his answer would be yes. He frowned as his brow furrowed in thought, "Relena, what if something goes wrong? How will your brother feel with having Earth as his responsibility because his sister went off and got killed."
"Miliardo already gave me the go ahead!" she protested. "I want to have some fun for a change Heero Yuy!"
"All you see in this mission is a good time?" Heero asked incredulously. "That's not why I don't want you to go."
"Why is it your say anyways?" Relena shot back angrily. "You don't own me."
"I'd like to."
"What'd you say?" her anger was forgotten, replaced by confusion. Relena had loved Heero, it seemed like forever, but she had never expected that he actually loved her back.
Heero looked at her without smiling, "I would like to spend the rest of my life with you, and I don't think that I'll have time to protect you on Quarrentine." He got up and moved over to where she was seated across from him and took her hands in his, "Wait here for me Relena. After we defeat Khan, I'll come back and get you. We'll be together after this battle, I promise."
Relena stared at him in silent surprise, nodding her head, the tears began to fall.
Reaching up a gentle hand, Heero wiped the tears from her eyes, "I've already contacted Miliardo."
Relena nodded, she was going home and this time she did not protest. "Yes," was all she said.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Lark sat back and frowned. The repairs on Wing Zero were taking longer than they should have, and she only had two days before she had to leave for Quarrentine. She sighed, at least Wing Zero is all I have left.
"Lark!" Lark looked down to find Relena trying desperately to get by Heero.
"Relena?" Lark asked in mild surprise as she stood and leaned over the rail to yell at Heero, "Let her come up!"
Heero looked up at her and sighed, "Alright, but I warn you, keep her away from anything mechanical, or you'll be sorry."
"AC," Lark replied jokingly, "Why don't you come up here and do some work for a change?"
Heero put his hands up in mock defense, "Sor-ry!"
Lark met Relena on the stairs, "You're just in time. I need a break."
"Would you like to go get ready and come to the mainland for lunch?" Relena asked her as Heero joined them.
"I-a-a......."
"Oh go on," Heero interrupted.
"Do what?" Lark asked in surprise, "But what about all the work that's left?"
"I and the others can do it," he said, "It won't go as fast without you here, but we'll take care of it. So go on and have a good time. Plus we have two more days. Don't worry."
Lark reached up and tucked her bangs behind her ears, "I was hoping on leaving early. Every minute we wait, Khan has more opportunity to wreak havoc across my planet."
"Armand will keep him at bay until we arrive," Heero assured her.
"But we can't leave it all on Armand!" Lark exclaimed.
"It's been how long so far? Three months? What's a couple more days?"
"AC!" Lark argued. "He's going to go after my family if I don't return soon. Hwoarang's already being used for target practice and Father, Garrik and Baek are in some rotten prison cell with sickness and darkness, and poor mother is forced to hide in the woods with Chu-San."
"Lark!" Heero raised his voice over hers, "Armand is protecting your mother and Chu-San...."
He was cut short, "And who is protecting Father and my other brothers?!"
"They can take care of themselves," Heero said as he took her by the shoulders then hugged her to him, "You need to chill out and take a break for a while. Octavian won't harm your family if he can help it, and Khan is his puppet to use as he wishes. You and I both know that Octavian will trade the lives of your family members for you, so I'd rather be totally sure that I can beat him first before I go rushing in unprepared."
Lark sighed as she laid against Heero, "I'm sorry, you're right."
Heero laughed as he pushed her away and put his arm around Relena, "I'm always right."
"I don't know how you can put up with him," Lark said as she looked at Relena.
Relena just shrugged, "He protects me, and yes we may argue all the time, but I love him."
"We don't argue all the time," Heero protested, "Just some of the time."
_____
"So," Lark asked in between mouthfuls of lo mein noodles, "Are you gonna come to Quarrentine with AC?"
"With who?"
"A-Heero," Lark corrected herself, "I'm sorry, I guess I'm gonna have to get used to calling him Heero."
Relena frowned, "I don't know if I'll be able to leave my office. I am the ruler of the largest empire on Earth."
"Yah," Lark agreed, "That is a problem."
Relena looked up at her and smiled, "I'm sure he hasn't even thought about taking me along."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because it's true," Relena replied, "It's not that he doesn't want me to come, it's just that he wants to keep me from danger."
"But you could be an asset to our team," Lark argued.
"No," Relena paused, "I'd be a burden to him, he wouldn't be able to concentrate on his missions. Besides, I'd probably get kid-napped again." At the questioning look on Lark's face, Relena replied, "Don't ask!"
"Well," Lark replied, "If he does love you, he sure doesn't show it."
"I know," Relena said as she took a sip of tea, "But he shows it in other ways."
"So you haven't even brought it up that you would like to go along?"
Relena sighed, "I know what he would say, it's too dangerous, you have to take care of the Earth......My brother Miliardo can take care of Earth!"
"Miliardo," Lark thought out loud, "Don't believe I've had the privilege of meeting him."
"You'll meet him one day," Relena assured her, "After all, you will become the ruler of Quarrentine right?"
"That's what the legend says," Lark replied.
"See, and my brother and I negotiate with other planets and colonies," she smiled, "Maybe Quarrentine will become an asset to our list."
Lark smirked, "But Miliardo believes in war, you can't leave him in charge can you?"
Relena looked down at her plate, "My brother definitely is not a pacifist Lark," she looked up, "But I'm beginning to think that pacifism will never come to be. I'm seriously contemplating on going to Quarrentine with Heero---if he asks me---and leaving Earth in Miliardo's hands."
"You're serious?" Lark asked incredulously.
"Yes," Relena replied, "I am."
_____
Quatre walked slowly down the dimly lit corridor. It was quiet today, very quiet.
He had finished his share of the work to update Wing Zero and was now on his way to the conference room. Lark and Relena had returned an hour ago from their little lunch date and Lark had called a meeting. What about? He would soon find out.
When he entered the room, everyone was present except Relena, Lark and Heero. He took a seat on Wufei's right.
"Hey Quatre," Duo greeted, "What's happenin'?"
"Nothing," Quatre replied, then looked around, "Where's Lark?"
"She'll be here in a few minutes," Trowa answered, "Heero and Relena were arguing and she's trying to fix it."
"Ahh......" Quatre said, understanding etched on his young face. Heero and Relena could go at it for hours if they were left alone long enough. Usually he just went for a long walk and came back when it was over. They never stayed mad at each other for long though. Quatre shuddered, I hope when I find someone our relationship isn't like that!
"Good, everyone is on time."
Quatre was pulled out of his thoughts as Lark and Relena entered with Heero in close tow.
"Modifications to the Gundams should be finished by tomorrow," Lark paused, "I'm hoping on leaving for Quarrentine the day after tomorrow. If you have some things which will prevent your departure in two days, speak now."
Still standing, Lark leaned over the table and looked at each pilot in turn. Her mind was still clouded by the final adjustments, then Quatre broke the silence, "Are you sure that we will be able to pilot the Gundams? I mean, you did just advance them a hundred times over, shouldn't we have a practice run?"
Impatient to get home, Lark glared at the blonde Arab, "Quatre, how well do you know Sandrock?"
Quatre was taken aback by the question, "I know Sandrock like the back of my hand."
"Then don't worry," Lark interrupted, "Sandrock won't let you down."
That seemed to satisfy Quatre, for he sat back in his chair and folded his arms silently, "Anyone else?"
"Can I come?" Relena asked suddenly. She had addressed Lark, and Heero was not about to interrupt, she seemed tense, what is Lark's problem? he thought, silently seething in his anger.
Lark turned to look at Relena, then turned to Heero, who had his eyes closed tightly, waiting for the verdict, "I believe AC should answer that one."
Relena sighed as she looked at Heero, hoping, just maybe, that his answer would be yes. He frowned as his brow furrowed in thought, "Relena, what if something goes wrong? How will your brother feel with having Earth as his responsibility because his sister went off and got killed."
"Miliardo already gave me the go ahead!" she protested. "I want to have some fun for a change Heero Yuy!"
"All you see in this mission is a good time?" Heero asked incredulously. "That's not why I don't want you to go."
"Why is it your say anyways?" Relena shot back angrily. "You don't own me."
"I'd like to."
"What'd you say?" her anger was forgotten, replaced by confusion. Relena had loved Heero, it seemed like forever, but she had never expected that he actually loved her back.
Heero looked at her without smiling, "I would like to spend the rest of my life with you, and I don't think that I'll have time to protect you on Quarrentine." He got up and moved over to where she was seated across from him and took her hands in his, "Wait here for me Relena. After we defeat Khan, I'll come back and get you. We'll be together after this battle, I promise."
Relena stared at him in silent surprise, nodding her head, the tears began to fall.
Reaching up a gentle hand, Heero wiped the tears from her eyes, "I've already contacted Miliardo."
Relena nodded, she was going home and this time she did not protest. "Yes," was all she said.