Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to Bandai and Sunrise. Not me. Please don't sue.

Undercurrents

By Cinpii

Chapter Two: Reluctance

(Flashback)

"Mom, Dad, don't go," Relena begged her parents from the backseat as they were driving to the airport. She leaned forward and placed her hands beseechingly on the shoulder rests of both seats. "I never even heard of Hicville - er, Windwood. I don't want to go."

"I heard that," Relena's father wryly replied, not taking his eyes off the road.

"Relena honey," her mother told her, turning around in her seat to face her only child, "It's not Hicville. Just because the town's population is under five thousand doesn't mean it's a village filled with hicks. Why don't you think of this as an adventure? You'll be in the country, away from all the pollution and chaos of city life. When you get back, you can tell all your friends about it."

"I like the hustle and bustle of LA. Why can't I just stay home? I won't know anyone. Besides, it's cold in Connecticut, I like California better."

"You'll make friends fast, Honey. Besides, Mason Yuy has a son about your age, he just turned 17. I think his name was Heero."

"Really?" Relena perked up at that small bit of comforting news. A guy her age. Hopefully, they'd become fast friends. Rolling the name around her tongue, she smiled. "Heero." It was a nice name.

But she still didn't want to go.

Especially to some place that was so small, mapmakers hardly bothered to even give the town recognition. Relena had spent 15 minutes trying to find Windwood, CT, and all she got in return was frustration and sore eyes. And she still didn't find the elusive little town.

"But why couldn't I go with you to Mars? Or stay in LA? Anywhere is better than a dinky little town in the middle of nowhere..." the petulant teen trailed off, muttering.

"Rellie dear," her father said, using her childhood endearment, "Now you know that it's illegal for a 16 year old to live by herself for a year. Even if it weren't, I wouldn't be able to rest easy knowing you'll be all alone. What if something happens to you? You'll be better off living with the Yuy's. Besides, you can't come with us to Mars. It's a very dangerous project and only the select few can go..."

Blah, blah, blah, Relena thought. She heard it all before. Sometimes it really sucked having world-famous scientists as parents. And she was really starting to hate the Vice Foreign Minister for thinking up such a stupid idea like colonizing Mars. She hardly saw enough of her parents as it was, and now they were scooting her off to live with strangers in nowhere land.

Relena sighed. She didn't want to go without a fight, but it looked like she already lost. If only she was two years older. If only she had relatives. If only Mason Yuy, her parents' only non-scientist friend that wasn't going to Mars with them wasn't such a damn recluse. If only colonizing Mars wasn't her parents' dream child and such a once in a life time opportunity for them. If only...

"Argh, ok, ok, I give," Relena grumbled. It was too late anyway. LAX was already in sight. She'd be on the plane to Connecticut in an hour and then in the taxi for the three-hour drive that would take her to the Yuy's.

Leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes in defeat, she didn't see her parents' satisfied smiles or the thumbs up they exchanged.

"I hope Mason and his son like me," Relena whispered softly to herself.