Chapter 4

Distracted, Heero glanced upwards immediately. Having committed the entire building layout to mind some years before, he knew exactly which room was above the kitchen table: Case's bedroom. His eyes shot to Relena, and saw the immediate worry on her features.

Without another word she stood and left the table, heading directly to the stairs. Heero's heart involuntarily skipped a beat as he saw the maternal fear flash across her face, caught the instant concern in her eyes. She loved that little boy…their little boy.

"Is everything okay?" he asked before he could stop the words.

Relena didn't stop, but started going up the stairs as she said over her shoulder, "He falls off his bed sometimes…when he has nightmares."

Nightmares? The kid…his son…suffered from nightmares?

For some reason, such an innocent little thing struck Heero's heart, and before he could stop himself, he was following her. His head was screaming that the minute she had turned her back he could've dashed away, made the perfect escape - but he had known for a very long time that whenever he was near Relena, all reason and practicality was thrown to the four winds.

He studied her back as they climbed the stairs. She was thin, too thin, but she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She paused at the top of the stairs, listening, and Heero nearly ran into her. He stopped just inches away, and suddenly couldn't breathe. Being this close to her, he could smell the subtle scent of her shampoo, could see up close the graceful curve of her neck, could watch the soft porcelain skin shining in the light. Suddenly Heero was flung into a storm of memories - days filled with her laughter and the unspeakably wonderful feeling of having her in his arms, days of feeling his heart warm when she flashed that brilliant smile…days of knowing that he was in possession of the most precious thing in the entire universe.

Relena moved down the hall, and he was pushed roughly back into the present. Reality struck - he had a son - and once again the now-familiar emotions swarmed over him: concern, worry, self-hatred, anger…regret…

It had been so long - but Heero knew, always had known, that he was still in love with her. He just couldn't let her know that. He stepped down the hall after her - why, he had no idea.

They came to Case's door again, and Relena darted inside instantly. Heero caught just a glimpse of the little boy sprawled on the floor, cheeks flushed and hair damp with sweat, and couldn't move. There were features on that sweet little face that were his -

"Oh, God," Relena whispered. She had crouched next to Case, and immediately Heero sensed her intense worry. "Heero, come here," she said, her voice strangled.

His mind flashed Run, get out of here!, but his name had fallen from her lips. He was powerless.

Relena's slim hand was on Case's forehead. She shook her head, swallowing, and then pressed her cheek to his. "Oh, God," she said again. "Heero - feel him."

She obviously had no idea what she was doing to him. In her worry she didn't realize that before today he had never even seen his son in person, let alone touch him.

"I - I can't," he whispered, choking slightly on the words. Just being this close to the little boy - and her, at the same time - was affecting him in so many ways he thought he might burst into a million pieces.

Relena didn't hear him. She was pressing her hand against his face again, and then pulling off the covers twisted tightly around Case's body and running her hands over his pajamas. "Heero, it's like - it's like he's on fire," she whispered. He heard the tears in her voice and his heart began thumping - hard. He could never stand to see her cry.

Before he knew it, a hand was reaching out, and very, very softly, Heero rested his fingers on his son's forehead.

His fingers almost felt as if they were being burned. Without meaning to, he gasped. The little boy with his face, his eyes…his little boy had a raging fever. Case was very sick, and he would die if he didn't -
"Get to a hospital," Heero said immediately, raising his gaze to meet Relena's.

The last time he had seen that much fear in her eyes was the day she had told him she was pregnant. It was a deep, heart- and stomach-wrenching fear that, he knew, twisted your insides until you could hardly breathe. "Okay," she whispered, nodding, her breath almost frantic. She leaned forward, slipping her arms around Case, but Heero stopped her -

"Don't," he said, the words slipping out even as his mind screamed in opposition. "You can't carry him."

Looking up and meeting his eyes, Relena suddenly realized what this must be like for him. "Heero…" she said, tears making her voice scratchy.

He could not believe the words he was speaking, even as they tumbled out of him. "Let me take him. Get a bottle of water and a blanket and meet me at the car."

She almost questioned him, but the look in his eyes told her not to. Biting her lip, Relena stood and left. She didn't doubt he knew where the garage was.

Alone in the room with his son, Heero gazed down at the child and almost felt as though he could not breathe. His eyes unwillingly flashed to the balcony doors - and escape - but then Case gave a little cry in his feverish sleep, and before he knew it, he was wrapping his arms around the blond little boy, cradling him to his body, and walking out the door.

There were so many emotions and thoughts running through him that Heero didn't notice the stinging of hot tears in his eyes.

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Relena turned the keys in the ignition and sat in the car for a brief second, resting her head against the steering wheel.

Today had been so…surreal. There was no other way to put it. She had saved her career in a single speech - but that was nothing compared to the fact that he had been in the same auditorium to hear that speech. He had spoken with Case…and then he had come to their house. She had spoken with him for the first time in six years - and now, the man that was Case's father was carrying his sick son down to the car. A man Case knew only as a stranger. The man she knew…as her soulmate.

The garage door opened, and she lifted her head. Heero was holding Case as gingerly and protectively as any father who hadn't spent six years not knowing his son…Relena's heart broke. If he left after this, she knew it would break her heart beyond repair - again.

She got out and went around to help him lay Case down in the back seat. They worked together, arranging his burning body in the most comfortable position they could find. Twice their hands brushed, and twice Relena felt her body respond to his touch - even after six long, lonely years. Finally, Case was settled, and she met his eyes. "You can drive, I'll - "

"No." Heero's voice was soft, and his eyes were on his son. "I'll - " he swallowed, then tried again, "I'll sit with him."

Relena cherished that car ride like none she had had before. Case was sick in the back seat, she was driving like mad to the nearest hospital, but amidst all the anxiety and worry she still felt tears prick her eyes when she looked in the rearview mirror and saw Heero hesitantly brushing Case's blond locks out of his eyes.

The tears began to fall, silently, one by one, when she watched him pull his hand back sharply, shaking his head at himself, and resumed a silent vigil.

AU: Eee…::dodges tomatoes (and stuffed animals!):: Sorry! It's short! I know! I have like 5 minutes to update so unfortunately the break between Chaps 4 & 5 came a little sooner than I had…hehheh…previously thought…but everyone still loves me, right? ::hopeful look::

Review?? ::hopeful look again::

::rapid-fire tomatoes::

Okay, maybe not.

Luvs! =)