I'm so sooorrryyyy , I have been TOO BUSY lately. AP Bio, MUN, and volleyball practice double-teamed with homework to beat the crap out of me for these past two months. BUT I SURVIVED! Yup! No AP or VB so I'm finally free. Hope you guys enjoy this because I also experienced some major writer's block. Yikes! Anyhooos.

Thanks to all who reviewed and to those who are still reading this long neglected fic. I LOVE YOU ALL!

I don't own Gundam Wing.

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They were all seated, faces solemn. A heavy feeling hung in the room, choking any joy that had dared to enter. Just a few rooms down, their friend lay, motionless...but very much alive.(A.N. I can't believe you guys thought I would kill Heero! Come on! Those two didn't go all this way so that he can die!.)

The only concern was whether it would stay that way.

Zechs got up from his seat, walking towards the glossy window overlooking the pitch-black sea. As he moved, his eyes drifted over the slumped figure of his sister. She sat there with her head hanging low, eyes frozen on a ring that fumbled through her pale fingers. He was overwhelmingly relieved to know she had not been injured and yet his heart sank at her sight. He would be blind to not notice the feelings she had for Heero, and he could feel her anxiety floating around her body. He stopped inches away from the glass, eyes searching the darkness outside, glancing at the rare lights that cut through the velvety blackness.

It had been about 2 hours since they arrived at the hospital and he knew that everyone was exhausted. He looked towards Charlie who was seated beside Anna, his hand gently stroking that of her own.

"Charlie." His voice ran smooth and low, alerting the dark haired man.

Charlie stood up, sending his girlfriend a reassuring look before coming beside Zechs.

"What's up?"

"I want you to take the girls back to the mansion, they're better off getting some rest. I'll stay here just incase anything comes up."

Charlie nodded and walked over to the group. The girls were very hesitant to leave, but they knew better than to go against Zechs' words. Zechs suggested that Ray and Mark return as well, seeing as there was not much they could do there.

Relena refused to budge, not to Zech's surprise. He was about to respond when Noin came beside her and sent Zech's a warning look. Convincing this stubborn politician to leave was going to be a waste of time.

Half an hour passed after Charlie had left with the group. Relena's head rose for a moment to slowly look across at the four gundam pilots and her brother. Noin, who had decided to stay as well, was seated beside her, her face staring at the empty wall with a look that indicated her mind was lost in thought.

"Mr. Peacecraft."

Seven heads shot up at the intruding voice. A tall man in a doctor's coat approached and shook Zech's hand.

"Hello sir, I'm Dr. Warren I believe you are the people who brought in the young man about 2 hours ago. Haden Yuki?"(A.N. Yeah it's an alias. Guess whose? )

"That's correct."

"Well, I have some news to deliver concerning your friend."

The doctor looked at the staring faces around him, all of which looked caught on their last breath.

"The injury to his head was not a direct shot, we fixed it up with about 11 stitches. The bullet deeply grazed his head but did not penetrate the skull. The side opposite that grazed by the bullet hit the ground rather forcefully, so he is suffering a concussion, nothing serious. We found two other wounds, one on his arm. It seemed to have been the result of a near missed bullet..." The man stopped to scratch his nose and took in a deep sigh before continuing. "Unfortunately there was a direct hit to his upper arm. The wound will take some time to heal, but it still poses no threat to his future mobility. It cost him some blood but he'll manage. I'm still amazed by all the bullets he missed, especially the near fatal one to his head." The doctor pointed to his head, indicating where the bullet had breached.

"Anyway, he is still unconscious. We recently put him on pain killers, so he might be out for another while. Other than that, he seems to be doing just fine."

Relena exhaled her long kept breath, relief rushing through her body.

"Can we see him?" She didn't sound too tired, but the exhaustion in her face gave it all away.

"Yes, but only one at a time. If it gets too crowded in there you'll be knocking all the equipment around. Heh heh."

The pilots went in first, checking up on their irregularly silent comrade. Zechs and Noin came with Relena as she entered the room, despite Dr. Warren's request. Relena looked him over with a sharp pain searing through her gut. He lay still, with his pale face tilted to the side. Bandages encircled part of his head, protecting the wound left by the speeding missile. There were IV's and monitors clinging to him, his upper left arm covered with a strong white cloth.

And for a moment it hit her. The fact that this seemingly invincible man was actually far from immortal. If that shot had been any more accurate, she would have lost him in a heartbeat. Just like that, no more Heero. She felt hot tears swell in her eyes as the thoughts swarmed through her head.

"Leave me, please."

Noin sent a concerned look towards her husband. He gripped her shoulder reassuringly and slowly headed out the door.

Relena heard the door shut behind them, leaving her with her fallen hero. She took a seat beside him and stared at his features once more. Soft fingers extended towards the clammy ones of the patient before her, gently holding on to his still hand.

Her mouth searched for words to speak, but found none. The tears that had waited patiently on the tip of her eyelids escaped their temporary restraints and ran down her cheek. She didn't hold it back any more, all the strain from the day and from all she could remember just poured out of her as she bowed her head and cried silently...until the pitying sandman sent her into a deep sleep.

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It had to be one of the most odd awakenings he had ever experienced. He could feel his consciousness awakening, but his lids refused to open. He shifted his sore body, and felt a strange numbing pain in his arm and head.

'Where am I ?'

His lids stirred open, taking in the afternoon glow coming from the window beside him.

'Monitors, IV, white washed walls....funny smell.....great I'm in a hospital.'

He looked down towards his arm, noticing the heavy bandaging surrounding it.

'What happened yesterday? I don't even remember how I got here.'

He shifted into a seating position, which to his surprise was easy to attain. It was then that he actually noticed the sleeping figure before him. Her arms were folded on the bedside, nestling her head in their soft nest. He saw a blanket around her shoulders and smirked at her resting form. She must have fallen asleep beside him.

He couldn't see her face but he knew she must have been exhausted. He gently brushed a few strands of hair away, giving way to a clearer vision of her glowing cheek. She must have felt his touch, even in her dreaming state, for she began to stir.

Violet eyes fluttered open, only to be greeted by glistening Prussian blue ones.

"Oh my gosh...Heero!"

Her arms flew around his neck instantly, and he tried his best to resist the pain that suddenly bombarded his muscles.

"Ah! I'm sorry I forgot about your injuries!"

She came off of him but remained in a sitting position directly beside him.

"How are you feeling?"

"Not too great."

"Your arm?"

"Numb."

"What about your head? Back? Any pain at all?"

"Not really. And you?"

"Oh me? I-I'm fine. I was really worried about you." She lowered her face down to stare at her hands once more.

"I can see that." She sent him a questioning gaze as he brought his hand up to her cheek. His thumb ran across a faint line left by the tears she had so freely wept.

"Oh."

She suddenly brought her hand up to her face, blushing from his discovery.

"Ok, so I was really really worried about you."

He chuckled at her silly smile. His eyes took in the very features he had memorized, but they looked over her in a new light. Relena brought an arm up to his bruised cheek, running her thumb gently over the wounded skin. She spoke in a low, whispered tone.

"Why does it always take one of these horrible events to remind me of how easily I can lose you?"

He could see pain swimming in her eyes. A sad, hopeless feeling of longing and exhaustion.

"Hn. I feel your pain."

She sent him a quizzical glance. Heero took her hand in his own, bringing his arm up to claim the one that was caressing his cheek. He could feel her small hands in the barrier of his own, warm, sheltered.

"When I had that gun right at my head, I realized that I was so close to death once again, but this time it felt different. For once I was concerned with getting us both out of it alive."

He looked to see if she was following, yet her look held the same questioning gaze.

"You know why?"

She shook her head.

"Because I didn't want it all to end without telling you something you really deserve to know."

"...And what is that?"

Heero leaned in towards her. Her eyes widened with surprise as she felt his lips stop right before hers, his breath tickling her face. His eyes were open, cutting through the glossy ones of her own. Her mind was set on his every word and action, and just as her head was blurring from his close proximity, his next words came as a strong bolt into her body.

"That I'm in love with you."

It didn't take half a second for him to finally capture her lips. Relena was dumbstruck for a moment, but she recovered quickly, closing her eyes and bringing her hands up to run across his jaw and neck. The kiss was fairly short and gentle, and Heero slightly withdrew to look into her eyes, giving her a chance to respond to him if she should.

She did respond indeed. With a teary smile, but a completely glistening one. She leaned in towards him and whispered to his lips as he had just done.

"You know what?"

"Hn."

"I love you too."

His smile lifted her soul to an unimaginable level. She could feel her heart skip a beat as he leaned in for another kiss.

'He loves me...'

The words were the last to pass through her head, as she kissed him back with a long awaiting passion. Her arms moved and wrapped tightly around his neck, careful as to not pressure his injuries too much. He on the other hand didn't seem to take notice of his wounds as he brought his arms around her back and pressed her closer to his body. He couldn't think of anything besides how right it felt to touch her this way. Her every movement over his body heated him with delight, and his hands couldn't seem to stop caressing her. Her lips were blessed with sweetness as his tongue touched them before dueling with her own.

The kiss deepened with each passing second until it became almost impossible to breath from the lack of air. They pulled apart, eyes opening to lock on to the other pair. Relena smiled and snuggled into his embrace, allowing him to place his chin just above her head.

"SURPRISE!!!"

Relena jumped into Heero's lap at the sudden barging in of a familiar braided pilot who was now balancing chocolates and flowers in his hand. Heero's eyes narrowed instinctively as he prepared to address the frolicking Duo, but his words were cut off by much louder ones.

"DUO MAXWELL! ARE YOU INSANE?! HE'S ASLEEP GET OUT O-" Hilde came in after him, stopping just as she saw the two staring figures.

"Oh Heero you're awake!"

"See I told you he'd be up by now."

"Don't you even start with me! This is a hospital not a child's birthday party, you can't go around yelling off the top of you lungs."

"Ah come on babe it's too depressing here I had to brighten the mood. And what better to bring a smile to your face that chooocoooolate." Duo hugged the boxes, dreaming of the sweet contents they withheld. Hilde rolled her eyes and turned towards the two lovers.

"Hee hee, you too, you were at it again huh?" Duo smiled mischievously.

"Again?" Hilde sang with curiosity.

"Yup, you should have seen them yesterday, wow they were all ov-"

"Maxwell! Stop disturbing the silence there are sick people here!"

Milliardo burst in with a rage that equaled that of a Spanish bull being taunted by a red cape. His eyes caught his sister sitting in Heero's lap, and they narrowed sharply.

"May I ask what's going on here?"

Regaining her wits from the sudden surprise Relena quickly got up off of Heero to sit beside him and regained her poised stance, her cheeks heavy with blush.

"Nothing, Duo just surprised us that's all."

Relena looked innocently at her brother's stern face, and yet she was completely unaware that he was mentally smirking.

"So Heero which one do you want?" Duo approached his friend with the opened box of Belgian chocolates, "this caramel colored one looks mighty good!"

Heero rubbed his temples with whatever energy was left in his arms and let out a deep sigh.

"Actually I'd prefer if you just leave me alone."

Heero looked at his friend and immediately regretted doing so. Duo was putting on his best puppy dogface and whimpering as he inched the box closer to Heero.

"Duo..."

googly eyes googly eyes

"No..."

whimper whimper

"I'm warning you..."

pout pout pout

"Fine!"

Heero's patience was abnormally low at the moment so he took the box and placed it beside him, hoping to put an end to Duo's horrible acting.

"Now please leave."

"Hey! Your gona eat all that yourself?! Ever heard about sharing?"

"DUO!!" All the voices in the room rang out in unison.

"Alright alright sheeesh!"

Suddenly a large crowd of people piled in through the door, each poking their heads in further to see the commotion.

"Heero! Thank goodness your awake!" Quatre smiled brightly and came to stand beside his friend.

The whole gang came in, crowding around their awoken friend, glad to see him doing well. The commotion attracted several nurses to the room, until the doctor finally came and ushered the crowd out, saying that they needed to give him more time to rest.

Relena remained beside Heero as the room emptied out. Trowa looked back at the two as he exited through the door, a gentle smirk lighting his face. He closed the door behind him, leaving the two alone.

"Get some rest Heero, with luck we can get you out of here within a few hours." Relena smiled gently and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Heero felt the electricity run through his veins at her mere show of affection, and he felt like doing anything but sleeping.

"Let's just go now." He attempted to rise from his bed, but firm hands held his shoulder back. He raised his head to meet the firm look in Relena's eyes, of which he immediately challenged with his own.

"Don't even think about it. They still have to run one more full examination on you before you can leave, and trust me you need it. This is the only hospital on this side of the island so we can't risk any more emergencies."

He decided not to challenge her further, though his stern look remained plastered on his face. The alarm clock read 2:45, he had been out for over 12 hours.

"Alright, fine. But I'm not staying another night here."

She smiled at him as he folded his arms in a stubborn stance.

"Thank you."

She hugged him gently, snuggling into him as his arms found their way around her. His hand moved in a repetitive motion as it ran through her golden locks and down her back. Relena withdrew a little to look him in the eyes, giving him a perfect opportunity to lean in for another long desired kiss. It was short and simple, but nonetheless sweet.

"Get some rest." Relena spoke softly and got up towards the door. "I'll see you later."

He nodded his consent, eyes glued on her holy figure as she smiled and left the room. The clicking of the door snapped him out of his trance, and for once he was completely alone again. He sighed deeply, leaning back into his bed. His chest felt so light, his heart freed of a long ridden burden. He still found it hard to swallow, how those three simple words meant so much and cured him of his loneliness. He had finally confessed and had been returned the very feelings he had desired. Nothing could make him happier right now, as he drifted off to sleep with images of her fresh in his mind.

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Personally it isn't my favorite chapter but HEY! He confessed! Woopeee! An Epilogue coming shortly, UNLESS you guys want more than one chapter, its all up to you so LEAVE A REVIEW!

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R&R