Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or the songs "If you're not the one" by Daniel Beddingfield and "My Baby you" by Marc Anthony, even if they are SO romantic and I love them…swoons to Marc Anthony CD as she sings along .

Chapter 22

"Relena, Heero wants to talk to you." Rachel said as she walked into the hut. Relena looked up, a little nervous.

"Um, why?" Relena asked. Rachel shrugged and said, "Not sure, it's probably nothing. . ."

"But, wasn't he suppose to be making dinner?" Relena asked as she stood up.

"Oh, he got busy with something so he asked me to make it."

"I can help!"

"Noooo, you can go to Heero and find out what he wants." Rachel pushed Relena out the door. Relena turned and said, "What if he wants to tell me how he feels!"

"Is that really a bad thing?"

"Huh?" Rachel shoved Relena out the door and closed it, leaving Relena to feel confused as she walked slowly down the walkway. No one was out at the moment so she felt alone, a cold breeze blowing by her.

I feel like I'm walking down death row. . .Relena thought as she approached Heero's hut. With a deep breath she reached up to knock on the door. Her hand froze and she stared at the wood, scared out of her mind.

What if he wants to tell me he doesn't like me! What if he tries to tell me I creep him out! What if it's nothing and I'm just freaking out! Just knock on the door, Relena. Relena finally let out the breath she was holding and knocked softly on the door.

It's her! Okay, keep cool. . .don't freak out. . .Heero jumped up, making sure his new outfit looked neat and he didn't smell too overpowering. With a sigh, he walked to the door and opened it, looking into Relena's fake smile.

"You. . .asked for my presence?" Relena said, trying to look calm. Heero nodded and said as he stepped aside, "Come in, I need to talk to you." She swallowed deep inside as she felt butterflies building up in her stomach. Stepping in, she caught a scent in the air that tickled her nose pleasantly. Heero closed the door and faced her, saying, "Have a seat." She sat down on his bed and looked up, admiring his new clothes.

"You look very nice tonight, Heero. . .I like your shirt." Relena said shyly. Heero tried to smile as he said, "Yeah, I got it earlier today." Relena sniffed and said, "Is that Old Spice?"

"Yes." He looked down at his normal orange sneakers and they toed the floor nervously.

Okay, Heero, this is it. No turning back, this is your moment to tell her how you feel. Now, open that mouth you have and say something! Heero thought to himself. He stepped forward slowly and said, "Relena, I. . ."

Relena looked up at him, a little nervous. He grit his teeth as he said, "I wanted to. . .sing you some songs." Relena blinked in surprise and said, "Sing. . .for me?"

Is this a good thing or his way of saying goodbye? Relena thought as she clenched her skirt in her fists tightening in her lap.

"I haven't been able to say anything to you because every time I try. . .I. . .choke. But, I think it might be because I don't think I deserve to say anything to you. My mind tells me to leave you alone but. . .but my heart says. . ." She looked up with hopeful eyes, staring into his nervous Prussian blue irises, quite visible around his shrunken pupils. He looked away, his heart pounding in his chest as he thought, Now, start the song and stop being nervous, she's waiting for you! He leaned over, pushing a button on his laptop. A tune drifted from the small speakers and Relena listened to it for a brief moment before Heero knelt in front of her and took her hands, looking into her eyes.

"♪If you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad today? If you're not the one then why does my hand fit yours this way? If you are not mine then why does your heart return my call? If you are not mine would I have the strength to stand at all? I never know what the future brings, but I know you are here with me now. We'll make it through, and I hope you are the one I share my life with.♪"

Oh, Heero. . .Relena's heart pounded in her chest as she listened to his slightly shaky alto voice.

"♪I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand. If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am? Is there any way that I can stay in your arms? If I don't need you then why am I crying on my bed? If I don't need you then why does your name resound in my head? If you're not for me then why does this distance maim my life? If you're not for me then why do I dream of you as my wife?♪"

"Heero. . ." Relena gasped. He put a finger over her lips.

"♪I don't know why you're so far away, but I know that this much is true. We'll make it though, and I hope you are the one I share my life with. And I wish that you could be the one I die with. And I'm praying you're the one I build my home with. I know I'll love you all my life. I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand, if I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am? Is there any way that I can stay in your arms? 'Cause I miss you, body and soul so strong that it takes my breath away. And I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand today. 'Cause I love you, whether it's wrong or right, and though I can't be with you tonight, I know my heart is by your side. I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand, if I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am? Is there any way that I could stay in your arms?♪ I love you. . ." Relena gasped, her heart leaping in her chest as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Heero. . .I. . ."

"Relena, that's exactly how I feel about you. I can't live without knowing that I'll see you everyday, see that beautiful smile you give me, even though I don't deserve such love and devotion."

"No, I love you so much, Heero, I'll always be with you." Relena fell into his arms, hugging him tightly as she sobbed. Tears came to his own eyes as he whispered, "Thank you. . .for caring so much."

"I thought you hated me, you never talked. . .I was getting worried." He pulled her back and said with a smile, "I guess it's a good thing I did this now then, huh?" She laughed and said happily, "Yeah, it is." They hugged again, feeling the warmth of each other's hearts beating in their chests, sharing the life that their newfound love brought to them. Heero kissed her cheek and held her close as he got up and sat next to her on the bed. She leaned into him and he cradled her in his arms, rocking slightly as he said, "I did have one more song I wanted to sing, if you don't mind."

"Not at all. . ." Relena whispered, drifting into a state of bliss.

"I couldn't find the music for this one so you'll just have to be happy with my singing."

"Why wouldn't I be. . ." She said lovingly, snuggling her head into his chest, listening to his heartbeat. He stroked her hair gently as he started.

"♪As I look into your eyes, I see all the reasons why, my life's worth a thousand skies.You're the simplest love I've known, and the purest one I'll own. No, you'll never be aloneMy baby you are the reason I could fly, and cuz of you I don't have to wonder why. Baby you - there's no more just getting by. You're the reason I feel so alive. Though these words I sing are true, they still fail to capture you, as mere words can only do. How do I explain that smile, and how it turns my world around, keeping my feet on the ground! My baby you are the reason I could fly, and cuz of you I don't have to wonder why. Baby you - there's no more just getting by. You're the reason I feel so alive.♪" Heero held her tightly as he sang his heart to her.

"♪Ohh - I will sooth you if you fall, I'll be right there if you call, you're my greatest love of all!♪" Relena sat up, so taken back by the passion in his voice as she stared awestruck into his wild eyes, burning with the love he had for her. He stared deep into her eyes, singing passionately, "♪You are the reason I could fly and cuz of you, I don't have to wonder why. My Baby You - there's no more just getting by! Cuz you're the reason I feel so alive. Oh Relena, I feel so alive.♪" She melted into his arms and said, "Oh Heero. . ."

"Relena. . ." Heero lifted her chin and kissed her deeply, pulling her close into his arms as they melted into each other's embrace.

Way to go, Heero. . .Rachel thought as she stepped away from the hut, smiling happily at the budding love. She sighed and walked back to her hut to make dinner, floating on a cloud as she went.

"Rachel? What's with the sudden happy mood?" Duo stepped out as she passed by. She fluttered over and kissed him on the cheek, saying, "Come help me make dinner."

"Okay. . ." Duo said, not going to complain with a kiss. They walked together to her hut and went inside to find food to create a meal out of. About 30 minutes later, they brought a warm meal out to a table and chair set in the middle of the camp.

"Sit the food down, I'll call the others." Rachel said.

"I was wondering what this was for. . .who would have thought, eating at a table. . ." Duo commented with a sarcastic grin. Rachel rolled her eyes and cleared her throat, calling out, "DINNER TIME!" Quatre came running out, saying, "Food? Really!"

"Yes, have a seat." Rachel said with a smile. Chang came walking out of his hut and said, "Good, I'm starving. Should I take some back to Trowa or let him starve?" Duo seemed to have "Starve" on his mind as he growled under his breath. Rachel ignored Duo's comment and said, "He may join us, if he's comfortable with it." Duo looked at her with a surprised gaze and said, "What!"

"Duo, there's no point in holding grudges, there's no room for that in a war situation like this when we need to work together to bring peace to this world."

"You're forgiveness and strength is honorable, for a girl." Chang commented with a slight cynical smile as he turned, saying, "I'll go give him his opinions."

"Thanks, Chang." Rachel said, her eyes narrowed as she glared at the laughing Chinese boy.

"He's right, you're being very kind to him about this. Even if this is a war, you have every right to be mad at him." Quatre said. Rachel sighed and said, "Like I've said over and over, it's what I believe in."

"Yeah, but is all this forgiveness really worth it?" Duo muttered.

"Yes, Duo. I love God and respect his wishes so if he wants me to forgive Trowa, I will." Blinking in wonder, Quatre said, "God?" Just then, Relena and Heero came out together, holding hands and smiling happily. Duo whistled and said, "Looking spiffy today, aren't we?" Heero smiled and said, "Yes, I thought I was due for a change."

Wow, he didn't shoot me a death glare, he's in a GOOD mood! Duo thought as he helped set the table. Heero pulled out a chair for Relena and she sat in it.

"Thank you, Heero." She said, a hint of love in her voice. He seemed to purr as she touched his hand, holding it to her cheek. He sat down and said, "Sorry I had to dump all the dinner making on you, Rachel."

"Oh, it was no problem at all, Duo helped me make it."

"Better get Chang to test it first, I might have accidentally put too much chili powder in the food." Duo grinned. They laughed happily and all looked up as Chang walked up with Trowa behind him looking at the floor with his hands in his pockets. Heero got a stern look on his face and Relena squeezed his hand. Rachel took the initiative to ease the mood as she said, "Ah, come sit down everyone, the food's getting cold." Duo pulled out a seat for her and sat her, sitting next to her while fighting the urge to tackle Trowa and kill him. Rachel smiled and said, "You guys don't mind if I pray before we eat, do you?"

"Of course not, we'll all pray." Duo said, holding her hand. They bowed their heads as Rachel prayed out loud.

"Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us together on this pleasant evening for dinner. Let the food be good and not make anyone sick as I'm not quite sure what I was doing. Just kidding!" They stifled laughter as she continued.

"But anyway, thank you for my friends and fair health, keep us all safe from danger. In Jesus name, A-men." They all said amen in unison and looked up, smiling happily as they began to pile food on their plates.

"Mmm, these mashed potatoes are delicious!" Quatre said as he grinned happily, taking another forkful of the white pile on his plate and eating it.

"Thank you, it's a specialty of mine." Rachel grinned.

"Hey, who barbecued the chicken?" Relena asked as she cut a piece of chicken from the breast on her plate. Duo pointed at Rachel and said, "She insisted she knew what she was doing so I let her do it while I cooked the broccoli and cauliflower."

"I should hope that I knew what I was doing, I've only been barbecuing for 7 years!" Rachel commented mockingly.

"Really? Do you do it for fun?" Quatre asked.

"Well, sort of. I participate in a competition every year, I always get first place and go on to state so I guess I'm pretty good." Rachel grinned.

"Modest, isn't she. . ." Chang commented. They laughed and ate more in silence. Heero glanced over at Trowa and watched him slowly poke at his chicken, pulling small pieces off into a pile on his plate and leaving them there. Trowa felt his gaze and looked up, feeling a little uncomfortable being there. Heero gave him an "Eat it, don't play" look and Trowa obeyed, slowly picking up some food and putting it in his mouth.

"So, how did you check out at the hospital earlier?" Relena asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"Oh, he said I only had a cold and gave me some medicine. These boys really saved my life, I probably wouldn't have made it if it weren't for them!" Rachel said, patting the boys on either side of her.

"Why, what happened." Trowa said timidly. Everyone looked surprised and Rachel stared at him.

"It was cold and I was extremely wet and weak from using my powers too much lately. I could have gotten pneumonia but Quatre and Duo kept me warm all night and morning." Trowa looked ashamed as he stared back down at his plate.

"Oh." Trowa said before stuffing some mashed potatoes in his mouth. The group sat in awkward silence again as they ate and stared at their food. Duo finished his third plateful and let out a content sigh, saying, "Well, I'm stuffed."

"Finally, I thought you'd go for a fourth plate of food!" Chang commented, finishing his second plate and stopping.

"Nah, don't wanna be too much of a pig!" Duo chuckled and slid his chair back, standing and stretching lazily. Rachel tickled his stomach and he quickly brought his arms back down to grab her hand, laughing. Rachel smiled and said, "I'm done too, maybe we can go for a walk to work off the big meal."

"Big meal? You only had one plateful! And it wasn't even a full plate either!" Duo complained.

"A full plate does not mean that you can't see the plate under all the food, Duo." Rachel rolled her eyes and he tickled her sides, saying, "You're going to waste away if you don't eat more!"

"And you'll turn into a blimp if you don't eat less!" Rachel said, puffing out her cheeks and stomach. Everyone laughed as she ran off, trying to escape Duo's tickle attacks. Trowa stood up and picked up his plate, saying, "I'm going to my room." He walked away and everyone watched him go. Relena frowned and said, "He seems really miserable about what happened, maybe we should do something."

"He needs to think about what he did, just leave him be." Heero said, finishing off the last of his vegetables.

"Okay. . ." Relena said reluctantly, watching Trowa slowly open his door and walk in, closing it behind himself quietly.