Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or Borrowed Hearts.
Chapter Eight
The following morning, Relena was still confused about her feelings for Heero. That man didn't realize how much he was capturing her heart, and it was just by being caring to her son. Last night they had stayed at the ice rink for quite a while, and by the time they got home Evan had fallen asleep. Heero had carried him back up to his room and tucked him, too. He had smiled when Evan woke up just enough to say "Goodnight, Daddy", and it was a contented smile. Relena had watched him look fondly at her son, and her eyes had started to water when Heero bent down and placed a soft kiss on Evan's forehead. She was in bed by the time he left Evan's room. She had pretended to be asleep when he came in. She had heard him moving around and then stopped near the bedside table. Then she heard a sad sigh, but it was so quiet that she thought she had imagined. So she had peeked opened her eyes just a bit and saw Heero head into the closet. His head was down with his bangs hiding his eyes from her gaze, but she could tell he looked sad. She wondered why he would look that way, but she couldn't figure it out. That had kept her tossing and turning all night.
"Darn that man! Darn him for stirring up all these emotions! And darn Hilde for putting into my head the fact I'm falling for him," Relena muttered to herself as she hurried down the stairs. Because she had tossed and turned last night, she woke up late. It was already past nine, and no one had wakened her up. What was that going to look like to Quatre?
"Good morning," Quatre greeted her when she walked into the living room.
"Good morning," Relena said back and looked around the room. Heero was across from Quatre, and both were holding stacks of papers. Evan was sitting next to the coffee table, trying to put together a puzzle. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to sleep in so late. Why didn't you wake me up?" She willed herself to look directly at Heero.
Heero met her gaze and smirked at her. He saw her surprised expression and smiled even wider. "You looked very tired last night, so I thought you should sleep some more."
Relena didn't know what was so amusing, but it was nice to see him smiling again after what had happened between them. It was still somewhat awkward to be around him when she still had to figure out her feelings, but at least they didn't have to tiptoe around each other. Playing along, she placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Still, you should have woken me up." Heero glared right back, understanding what she was doing and said she needed her sleep.
"Did you all have breakfast yet?" she asked instead. Everyone said yes, and she smiled, thankfully that they didn't wait for her.
"Mrs. Bradbury made French toast, Mommy," Evan added, looking up from his puzzle. "There's more in the kitchen."
"There should be unless Duo ate it all. He's been in there a long time," Heero grumbled when Relena started to head for the kitchen. "For all the time he comes here you would think that the kitchen was his instead of mine."
Relena stopped and threw another glare at him over her shoulder. "Duo is welcome here anytime. Besides, you don't step into that kitchen enough times to claim it at yours."
Heero was enjoying this banter between them. It made him feel like they were really married. "It's yours then, I assume?"
"Yes, and I'm willing to share once you cook enough dinners as I have," Relena continued. With a nod, she went into the kitchen.
"She's right, you know. It really isn't yours until you cook in there," Duo said as he walked out. He had overheard the conversation and couldn't help but comment. He sat down on one of the chairs and grinned at Heero.
Heero wanted to tell Duo to shut it, but he remembered Evan was sitting on the floor and thought better. He didn't want a lecture from Relena.
Quatre had watched the exchange between Heero and Relena in silence and smiled to himself. There was still hope. He glanced down at Evan who was trying to figure where the pieces went for the puzzle. Heero had leaned over to help Evan when the boy couldn't fit a piece in.
'Yes, there is still hope for them,' he thought, nodding.
****
For the rest of the morning and afternoon, Evan stuck close to Quatre. He needed more proof that Quatre was an angel even though he had the feather. His mom wasn't going to believe him unless there was more. Also, he was sticking close to Heero to make sure everything was all right. When they were skating last night, Heero had sat out most of the night while he skated with his mom and Quatre. Evan was afraid they had argued and wasn't speaking to each other. That had happened with his Uncle Zechs and Aunt Lucy. They did talk again, but it took a while. Evan was happy to see that his mom and Heero were talking again. His plan to get them together won't work if they ignored each other. He was glad Heero wasn't looking all sad anymore. Now he needed to see if his mom was still unhappy.
"Do you want another puzzle, Evan?" Heero asked when he noticed that the boy had finished.
Evan shook his head and got up. "I'm going to see if Mommy's done baking." He had smelt the delicious scent of cookies baking a while ago, and he was hungry now.
"No need, dear." Relena appeared holding a plate of freshly made cookies. She set it down on the table. "It's all done."
Quatre picked one up and bit into it. He smiled blissfully and looked at Relena. "This is delicious." Evan nodded his agreement since his mouth was full. The other two men added their compliments, too.
"Well, thank you. I'm glad you like them. Not everyone had said that last time," Relena stated as she watched her son grab another one.
"Last time?" Quatre asked. He was curious to know who wouldn't like these wonderful cookies. He sure did, reaching for a second one.
Relena suddenly realized what she had said. She had mentioned the time she had baked cookies for everyone at the office. Then she was an employee, not the pretend wife of Heero Yuy. "Um...it was...uh...when was that?" she turned for Heero for help.
Heero opened his mouth to answer, but his mind was drawing a blank. What to say? Luckily Duo spoke up, saving Heero from answering.
"It was at the last Christmas party at the office," Duo said quickly. "Not everyone enjoyed Relena's baked goods."
"You have Christmas parties?" Quatre questioned. "That's great. Heero, you treat your employees very well. Many people I know don't throw a party for their employees. They think it's a waste of money and time."
Heero shook his head, indicating he didn't think so. "They work all year, so they deserve a little break." He was going to kill Duo later for thinking up that. Why did he say that when he knew there was no such thing?
"Will you be having one this year? I would be happy to help," Quatre declared. He looked very eager and smiled at Relena.
"Well..." she turned to Heero again for help. She could tell that he was reluctant, but Heero nodded anyway. It wasn't like he could refuse.
"Yes, we'll be having one next week, and Relena won't mind some help," Heero said, successfully dumping this matter onto her shoulders.
Relena forced a smile at everyone before saying, "Yes, I would love your help. Heero, what's the number of that restaurant from last year? Is it in your study?"
"Sure, I'll give it to you now," Heero replied. He got up and followed Relena to the study. Once inside the study, Heero shut the doors behind him.
"I'm going kill Duo adding this party on," Relena said under her breath, sitting down. "As if there wasn't enough we have to do." She continued to mutter to herself.
"Get in line. You can have what's left." Heero started to pace back and forth, ignoring her rambling. "Quatre's going to expect a party now, so there's no backing out of it. I need to find a restaurant that still has openings for parties, but at this time of the month there's hardly any left. Damn it." This was getting to be a major problem.
"I know a restaurant," Relena said suddenly, looking up.
"You do?" Heero stopped pacing. "Where?" He sat down on the table in front of her.
"I have a friend who owns one, and Hilde always has room despite the busy season," explained Relena. "I'm sure she'll welcome the business."
"Great. Call her," Heero sighed with relief. "Money isn't a problem."
"It won't be anything fancy though," she warned him.
Heero dismissed that with a wave of his hand. "It doesn't matter. Anything will do. Will she be able to do everything in a week?"
Relena thought it over for a few moments and then nodded. "She should. I'll go there to help, too, and I suppose if Quatre wants to help, he can."
Suddenly taking her hands into his, Heero looked directly into her eyes and smiled gently. "Thank you for doing this. I know it wasn't in the job description."
Relena felt a blush slowly rising up to her cheeks. She glanced down at their hands and smiled herself. "It'll be fun, I guess. I've never plan a party before."
"You are a lifesaver. First you show up at my doorstep, and now you get me out of this mess." Heero released her hand and gently lifted her head up again. Prussian blue met aquamarine.
"I just suggested a restaurant," Relena stammered. She couldn't really think straight with him touching her. The warmth of his hand seeped into her skin, making her feel hot. His intense gaze wasn't helping either. She couldn't look away. His fingers moved up and slowly caressed her cheek, this time sending a chill down her spine.
"Still, to put up with all this, you're really something," Heero said, his voice growing softer. He cupped her cheek, and she unconsciously tilted her head into his hand.
Relena continued to stare into his eyes. She could lose herself in them. Then something changed. If she wasn't mistaken, she saw a touch of tenderness in them. And love? No, she had to be wrong. Why would he look at her with love? She heard him speak again.
"Before this all started, did you know I felt like I was drowning? I couldn't breathe, and things were becoming so dark around me. Besides that, I had closed myself off for so long that I almost felt like a snowman, the snowman you thought I was," Heero whispered. He leaned in to gaze more deeply into her eyes. He didn't know why he was pouring his heart out now to her, but he couldn't stop.
"Heero..." Relena stopped as she felt her eyes tear up.
"But then you and Evan showed up just like that and started to melt the snow away. Started to bring me up to the surface where I could breathe," Heero continued on fervently. "And now..."
Relena shook her head wildly. "No, don't..."
Heero was confused when she pulled away and stood off to the side. She wrapped her arms around her as she tried hard to hold back the tears. He got up and moved to comfort her, but she moved away again. "Relena?"
"Don't, Heero. Don't make this harder than it already is," Relena pleaded.
"I don't understand." His arms dropped back down.
"Everything has to go back to the way it was before." Relena repeated the words she had said to Hilde. "When this is all over, it has to."
"What are you talking about?" Heero asked anyway even though he had an inkling as to what she was saying.
"We have to go back to you not knowing me and vice versa," Relena said. "When Quatre leaves, we go back to being employer and employee."
Heero closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on what was happening. He took a deep breath and looked at her again. "You're saying that when this is over, you're walking away?" Heero was hurt, and he could hear it in his voice.
"That was the deal, wasn't it?" she replied softly. Her heart twisted painfully at the anguish she saw in his eyes.
"Yes." He was forced to agreed. "But things have changed." Heero took a step forward and reached out to touch her.
Relena stepped back and shook her head again. She knew he was right about things changing, but one thing had not. He was still her employer, and it wouldn't work out. Situations like this never work out. She felt the tears she was holding back begin to fall. Relena turned around quickly so Heero couldn't see them. She took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Relena..." Heero said again. He didn't want to see her cry. "Why?"
"Let us do our job and leave," Relena stated as firmly as she could. "And then things will go back to the way it was." She knew she was repeating the same words, but she had to keep reminding herself. With that, she opened the doors and hurried out of the room before she could disgrace herself anymore. In her haste, she didn't notice her son standing behind the door.
Heero just stood there. He didn't understand why she had to do this. He poured his heart out to her, and she left him hanging. Anger began to well up inside him, directed at her for causing him to feel this way. How could she leave him after all this? How? And why? Why did she had to do this? Then he heard footsteps coming his way, and Heero settled back into his mask with ease. After all, he certainly had enough practice.
"Heero, is everything all right?" Quatre asked, coming into the study. He had seen Relena go upstairs in a hurry, obviously in distress.
"Of course." Heero made sure he appeared impassive before turning around. "What could be wrong?"
Quatre made no reply, but he could clearly see the pain in Heero's eyes. What had happened? Only ten minutes ago, he and Relena seemed to be in friendly spirits, but now they were out of sorts. He followed Heero back to the living room. Quatre sighed and thought, 'Hope just vanished again.'
Evan had been hiding in the corner and had heard everything. He knew he shouldn't have eavesdropped on his mom and Heero, but he had to make sure everything was all right. Now he knew. They weren't all right. He and his mom were still leaving after Quatre left. He wasn't going to get a dad. It wasn't fair. Evan got up and headed to his room, but before he went up, he peeked into the living room. Heero was still talking with Quatre and Duo. Evan liked Heero a lot, and he knew his mom liked Heero, too. So he didn't understand why they had to leave. He turned around went upstairs. He found Ebony on his bed.
"Hey, Ebony. It looks like we're really going to leave," Evan said, sadly. He rubbed Ebony's back. "I'm going to miss you." She purred and arched her back. Evan pulled her onto his lap and continued to pet her. "You're such a nice kitty."
She meowed and looked up at him. She had on a 'Don't give up so soon' look if cat could look like that. Evan understood. He didn't know why, but he did.
"You're right, Ebony. I could still get a dad. I still have my plan." Evan smiled mischievously. Ebony meowed again in response to his smile, happy that he wasn't sad anymore.