Chapter 16 - Surprise!
At breakfast time the next day Rei made her way slowly, with faltering steps, still not quite recovered from the day before but strangely enough Heero had not come to get her as he usually did and that worried her. She hoped that he was still well. As she reached the bottom of the stairs she found Trowa waiting for her, silent as always, his face revealing nothing. Rei knew immediately it had not been her that Trowa was waiting for, she could see the disappointment in his eyes.
"Good morning Rei, may I escort you to breakfast?" Trowa asked her ever so politely noting that for once Heero was not attached to her sleeve and Rei nodded her head taking his arm allowing him to lead her. As they walked Trowa seemed to be trying to form words but not knowing what to say. He finally managed to get it together after a few moments of silence.
"I wanted to thank you, I'm not sure what it was you did for Heero, but I appreciate and admire you for doing whatever you did, we would not have been the same if Heero had not been with us," Trowa told her softly, not looking at her but Rei could feel the thanks coming from him and smiled up at him, wishing she could tell him that there was no need for thanks.
Wishing she could tell him that if he wanted Relena he would just have to tell her how he felt, he would have to open himself up to Relena frightening as the idea would be to him, but as always Rei remained silent. As they reached the door to the dining hall Trowa finally looked down at her and Rei saw respect for her in his eyes and she was pleased for she considered Trowa to be a good man, hard working and determined, dangerous, deadly, but a good man. Good enough for her daughter as well, though she could tell no one else that.
In the dining hall Ami and Quatre like always were first at the table, Mako and Wufei were already there, and they seemed to be talking about something extra special. When Rei entered the room Mako looked over at Rei her face flushed with excitement.
"I'm getting married as well Rei, the same day as Ami and Quatre, just after them!" at those words Rei's face broke into an excited smile as she broke away from Trowa and ran to hug her friend tightly. I'm very happy for you Rei assured her and Mako sighed with contentment as Duo and Minako walked through the door singing a song together.
"We're, going to the chapel and we're, gonna get married, going to the chapel and we're, gonna get married, gee I really love you and we're, gonna get married, going to the chapel of love!"
Rei didn't even hesitate as she hugged the elated Minako. Even allowing Duo to plant a sloppy kiss on her own cheek which she discreetly wiped away when his back was turned, much to Minako's amusement.
-Let me guess, you are getting married as well?- Rei asked Minako and Minako giggled joyously.
"Yes we're getting married on Sunday with Ami and Quatre, after Mako and Wufei," Minako confirmed and the room was abuzz with chatter as Rei quickly found a seat at the table beside Trowa.
She wasn't very hungry and so grabbed a piece of toast and was in the process of buttering when the door opened to reveal Heero and Relena hand in hand. Duo's mouth practically fell open at the sight especially when he spied the ring on Relena's finger.
"No way," he let it slip before he could help himself and everyone stared first at Duo and then back to Relena and Heero.
"Relena and I will also be married come Sunday," Heero announced and that announcement stunned the room into complete silence.
Rei's heart went from her chest to her feet all in a matter of seconds. Before she knew it she was running from the room and back up the stairs to her room, her safe haven. Heero watched her go and longed to follow her to see if she was all right, but his new mission called him to be a protecting fiancée, he could not deny his duty, his mission. Then he wouldn't be perfect anymore. But as those thoughts entered his mind Heero began to wonder. Would It be so terrible to not be perfect?
The news hit Trowa similarly and he too stood and excused himself opting to follow Rei. Relena watched Trowa go her heart heavy, wondering why she cared so much that there was a look of horrified betrayal in his eyes. Heero had come to her that morning informed her of the message Relena knew Lady Une had sent to Heero on Relena's request, but after what Heero had said to her the day before, Relena wasn't sure that marriage to Heero would benefit her at all but she couldn't say so out loud. Not when she had arranged this.
Trowa found Rei in her room clutching at the little dress she had made with the roses, as well as the finally finished rose cape Trowa knew she had been making lately from updates to Lady Une by Quatre. In her hands she held another dress of roses, big enough for a grown woman, it was nearly finished but for the front part of the bodice.
"I guess you were as surprised as I?" Trowa asked her and Rei turned to look at him, pain obvious in her violet eyes.
Rei nodded to confirm, not knowing why she was so upset and Trowa sighed deeply thinking that for once someone actually knew exactly what he was feeling and that comforted him.
Trowa took a seat by Rei on the loveseat and watched as she forced herself to continue her painful work. Neither made a sound during the hours that followed. Both were trying to deal with the pain that was killing them both deep inside and for different reasons, neither could say out loud why they were hurting.