Same claims apply!!!

Chapter 4: Her Emotions

Fooled Myself

Heero ran a hand through his messy chestnut hair. 'There's no better time than the present to see her. I suppose. ' He stretched his legs out from underneath the desk. He'd been doing his work since early that morning. And frankly the laptop was getting to his eyes. He rubbed them with the palms of his hands. He needed a break.

Heero quickly changed and prepared for an evening jog. He sat outside on the lawn in front of his apartment building and began to do his routine stretches. He lay on his back raising his leg up to his stomach. Finished, he dropped his leg and slowly closed his eyes. The wind blew and rustled the grass around him. The day was so beautiful. Never before this new life was he able to see the colonies for just what they were; a place of peace, joy, and beauty. 'I've changed so much. I wonder if she'll be surprised. I wonder if she'll be the same.' He sighed and rolled over. He needed this jog to clear his mind.

Yet the more Heero ran the more he thought about the wedding. This time the thought dawned of him 'I'm not only seeing Relena I'm seeing everyone.' A smile curled onto his lips. 'I'm really looking forward to this reunion.'

Relena's hand hesitated for the hundredth time as she went to pick up the receiver of the telephone. 'Do I really want Scott to come? Should this be my time? Do I want him at this wedding which brings back a lot of my past? Am I ready for him to meet Heero? The guy I've told Scott so much about.' Closing her eyes and shaking her head, her hand finally hit the target and the other began dialing.

It rang and rang...no answer. 'C'mon Scott if I don't do this now I don't know if I ever will.'

"Hello you've reached Dr. Scott Riley's house. Sorry I can't come to the phone right now but if you'll leave your name and number I'll get back to you ASAP." BEEP.

"Hey Scott, I didn't want to do this over the answering machine but I have a big favor to ask-"

"Relena?" She got cut off by Scott's overpowering voice, she could tell he was out of breath from trying to answer the phone, "Sorry honey, I didn't mean to yell I didn't want to miss you. I just walked in through the door. It was a busy day at work ya know?"

"Yea I know what you mean..."

"Is everything okay?" His breath was beginning to steady now.

"Yea everything is fine but I just wanted to ask a big favor of you."

"Anything Relena."

"Well Scott remember my friend Hilde? She's getting married to Duo." She paused, 'Why am I so nervous?'

"Wow, that's great I mean when I met them I knew that those two were perfect for each other!" He laughed as though he was sharing a good personal joke.

Relena smiled to herself and continued. "Hilde asked me to be her Maid of Honor and naturally I told her yes. I...I wanted you there with me Scott."

"Is that all Relena? Is that your big favor? Well of course I'll go, did you really doubt that I would?"

"There's more though Scott. I just want you to know this. Everyone is going to be there including Heero..." Her voice dragged off. It wasn't unlike Scott to get jealous over her.

"Hmmm. I see. Heero's that guy right? The one you loved before?" His voice lowered.

Relena felt desperate. "Yes it is. But you have to understand. You helped me when I needed to get over him. I have you now. Heero's just a friend." She hoped she was convincing him. The more she talked to him the more she realized that she now desperately wanted him to come with her to that wedding. So many people would be there that she hadn't seen in a long time and Scott would be her backup strength.

"Heh. Well Relena I trust you. In fact, I would love to go to that wedding with you. I truly would."

Relena's body flooded with relief. 'Talking to Scott makes me feel calm. How could I have forgotten how much I love him? How could I have ever not wanted him to come with me? I'm so silly sometimes.'

"Scott talking to you has given me so much relief, you have no idea. I was building myself up to make this call."

"Oh Relena, you worry too much."

"I know, I know. I'm not sure when but Hilde will call me soon and tell me when we need to leave for the wedding. Is that okay with you?

"Perfect. I'll tell the hospital I need some days off tomorrow."

"Thank you Scott. I need to go now but I will talk to you later."

"Relena I love you."

"I love you to Scott." Relena hung up the receiver and walked outside of her room doors to the outdoor patio. She looked out over the pond; the silver crescent of the moon reflected off the calm waters and glistened. Relena thought back on her conversation. 'There I have it. Proof that I love Scott, I don't think I would ever be happy without him.' She hugged herself against the crisp wind blowing against her body. 'I think I'm finally ready to face him.' Yet something still wasn't right.

"Okay Zechs what's troubling you?" Noin stepped out of the bathroom a robe wrapped around her body and her hands were busy rubbing her hair with a towel. She sat on the bed and crawled to where he was laying.

"Hm? What are you talking about?"

Setting her head on his chest she continued, "This morning when we were talking to Relena something was wrong. Don't tell me otherwise, I know you too well."

Zechs chuckled under his breath. He began to stroke her damp hair with his hand "Yes, I guess you do know me too well. Frankly I think you know what was bothering me, or who was bothering me." He looked at the woman hugging him. "What do you think about their reunion?"

Noin closed her eyes slowly, "Well I think that Relena has matured and she's moved on a little more. I can't say much for Heero, who knows what's going on in that boy's head?" Zechs sighed but Noin continued. "Don't worry so much, what's meant to be will be no matter how much you dislike him."

"It's not that I dislike him. He's an skilled fighter and shows great dedication in every aspect of his life but-."

"But she's your younger sister and you want what's best for her, I know. But this is her life. Relena's old enough to make her own decisions. Stop being afraid to let her grow up." Noin opened her eyes and sat up to look at Zechs in the eyes, "She's smarter than you give her credit for."

Zechs looked away from her gaze, "I just hope she knows how good she has it with Scott. He's a young man who will take her places and treat her in a way that I will approve of."

Noin began to get up and make her way to the door. "Where are you going?" He called after her.

Without looking behind she responded, "You and you're sister are more like each other than you think. I'll be back." She walked out of the door leaving behind a very confused husband.

A gentle knock at the door brought Relena back to her reality. Shivering slightly she turned around to go back into her room. When she stepped inside Noin had already come in and had set herself on Relena's bed.

"So what brings the honor of your visit?" Relena asked sarcastically, setting herself on the bed across from Noin.

"Well really I just wanted to talk. We haven't done that in a while. I've been a bad sister." Relena smiled remembering the promise that was made when Zechs and Noin married. The two women had adopted each other as the sisters they never had.

"No you haven't Noin. You're the best and you know that."

"Aw we're having a moment!" The two women stared at each other and broke into girlish giggles. When they collected their composer again Noin continued. "Actually Relena I'm here because of this exact reason. I haven't heard you laugh like that in a long time. And after this morning well-."

"This morning? What do you mean?"

'Oh you and your brother are definitely related.' She rolled her eyes, 'No doubt about it.'

"Well I saw you this morning. You looked worried or stressed, I wasn't quite sure. I thought that maybe you needed to talk to someone." When Noin finished Relena silently stared at her contemplating whether or not she should tell Noin about her morning's troubles.

"I'm glad you asked Noin, I actually would like someone to talk to. Well not really just someone I've wanted to talk to you all day. It's kind of complicated, but I'll try. This morning when Hilde called me she slightly mentioned that Heero would be at the wedding. I can't explain why but my whole body trembled. I was so nervous and scared all of a sudden. Just his name and I fell apart. Then I suddenly began to think of Scott and how this would all affect him. And for the first time in months I doubted our relationship all together. I mean I thought that Scott was helping me get over him. My thoughts were moving so quickly I barely had time to sort them out. You know?" Relena looked at Noin with wondering eyes. Noin knew there was more to the story.

"So I thought that maybe I didn't want Scott with me when I went, I figured it would be awkward for both of us. Him having to meet all those people from my past and me knowing that he felt uncomfortable. And Heero, I didn't know if I wanted them to meet. Well anyway I called Scott and he is going and I feel so much better about this situation. At first I thought bringing him would weaken me but the more I thought about it he would be my strength. It's like I forgot how much I loved Scott because Heero will be a part of my life again. And the more I think about it the more I realize Heero and I had a past but I think that Scott and I will have a future. Am I making any sense?"

"Not really but young love rarely does. So are you okay?"

"I hope so; I haven't felt as confused as I did today for a long time. But I think I have my feelings sorted out for the time being." Noin thought that she was still looking stressed.

"So that's it right?"

"At least for now! I love Scott and I am taking him to the wedding and he will meet my friends and I will introduce him to Heero without fear. I'm proud of Scott."

sigh "I was hoping that I would be a bigger help to you tonight but you sound like you pretty much have it all figured out. Well Relena I love you ." Noin walked over to Relena's side of bed and gave her a tight hug. "You know to come to me whenever you need help right?"

"Of course. Goodnight Noin." Noin walked to the door and waited for Relena to crawl into the covers. When she did Noin turned off the light and shut the door behind her. While walking down the hallway into her own bedroom Noin let out a light laugh. 'What in the world was that girl talking about? Heero always did trouble her mind this way.' Turning the hall light off Noin patted herself on the back. 'What would this household do without me?'

Heero returned home late from his jog. When he stepped into his apartment he noticed the blinking light of the answering machine. 'Hm. Looks like it's from Duo.' Heero pushed the button and listened to his best friend's message.

"Hey Heero it's Duo. Hilde and I have talked and we know what's going on now. If it's not too much of a problem we need you here for the wedding in 2 days. It's short notice bro, I know. But I mean what else do you have to do? Give me a call when you get this message. Later."

'Duo is one of the biggest procrastinators I have ever met. Two days! That's crazy. I'm going to have to work double time tomorrow.' Grudgingly Heero began to call Duo back. Sure it was late but Heero felt justified in making a call to that postponing punk.

Finally after minutes of ringing a weary voice answered the call.

"...mmmmmmm...."

"Hey Duo just want to let you know I will be there in two days as instructed. Sorry for waking you."

"Yea whatever Heero. I'll talk to you later." And that was it. Duo hung up the phone and Heero was quite pleased with himself. Now that he had such little time he figured he would do a little more work before he went to bed. 'The sooner the work is done the sooner I'll leave.' Heero plopped himself down in front of his laptop and continued his work. 'I wonder if Relena will be there early too.' He violently shook his head. 'No time for that. Work first. Always work first.'

Well I only got one review last chapter! Thank you silver-tiger-vixen. Actually thanks to everyone who has reviewed you are the reason I write. Well I'm hoping that they will meet next chapter we will see how that goes! I hope I didn't confuse anyone too much in this chapter it's kinda late at night and I can get sloppy if I write late at night! Well anyways I hope you enjoyed! Please review and be honest so I can improve!!!

-Fairleigh