(Just as a note, I made some slight changes at the end of chapter 8 and if you have not read it, I ask that you please do so. Thanks.)

Chapter Nine

Lucrezia had just walked out of the airplane and was standing by the thing that carried luggage by moving the carpet under it at the airport. As she stood there, she wondered what she and Heero should do together since she had the rest of today and this week off. And if she would get the chance to, she'd ask her boss to let someone else go on the next business trip instead of her. She realized that leaving her husband the way she did was a mistake. When she finally got her luggage and now sat in the cab, she thought about seeing Heero right now. It was the least she could do. Lucrezia looked at the clock on her watch and knew that by the time she got to the school, the day would be over and Heero could take her home.

"Please take me to the city high school please" Lucrezia told the cab driver.

"You know, you really don't have to stay here and keep rearranging the room" Heero said to Relena who was doing her usual self assigned chore of picking up the trash and putting back the desk properly.

"I know, but don't you just like it when things are neat and clean?" she said stopping in order to face him.

"I couldn't care less" he said acting as though he didn't care but smiled anyway from his chair.

"Oh? Is that so Heero?" Relena said coming closer to him taking a seat next to him. She placed a hand on his cheek touching it. "Then I'll just have to find someone else who actually cares" she said softly up close. Heero smiled and wrapped an arm around her. "Oh I don't think so…" he whispered and aimed for his lips to touch hers but the sound of the door opening stopped him and the both of them quickly removed themselves off of each other.

"Hi Heero!" Lucrezia said surprising both her husband and his assistant.

"Lucrezia…" Heero said surprised and walked up to her to give her a hug. "I missed you" he said not afraid to sound too emotional.

"Me too" she said. "I have today and the rest of this week off. I think we should go out and have a good time."

"I'd like that"

"Oh Relena! Sorry I didn't see you there, hi!" Lucrezia said noticing that Relena was also there at last. "How have you been?"

Relena watched Heero and his wife hug each other and then spoke. After a few moments, Lucrezia finally saw that she was there. "How have you been?" the older woman asked.

She wore a casual smile.

"Fine thank you. I hope your trip went well."

"Yes, it was ok" Lucrezia answered. "So Heero, when are we leaving?" she asked.

"Well… uhm right now if you want to"

"Alright, so let's go home then" she said and walked out the door.

"Your wish is my command' Heero said. "Well, bye Relena and forget about any work that was assigned-"he said while turning to his assistant, but stopped when he saw that she looked…hurt? "Relena? What's wrong?"

Relena was looking down at the desk. "Relena? What's wrong?" she heard Heero ask. What was wrong? She shot him a quick look. "Heero, what is going to become of us with Lucrezia in our lives?"

"Relena… what do you mean…by us?"

She was a little surprised by the question. "Heero… you love me don't you?" She felt as though she didn't need to ask and had a feeling it was true after all they had been through, but it would feel good to hear it from him.

He remained silent.

"Relena, listen… I… I do care about you and everything, but we can't-"

"Heero? Do you still have work to do?" the both of them heard Lucrezia's voice coming from hallway.

"No honey, Relena and I were just finishing up a few things. I'll there with you in a second" Heero called out to her. Then he gave his attention back to Relena. And sighed. "I…I…I'm sorry but I…" he gave another sigh. Not knowing what to say, he left with a muttered good-bye.

That night, Heero and Lucrezia were getting ready to go to bed. Heero had finished brushing and flossing his teeth and sat on the bed thinking while his wife was in the bathroom. Relena did deserve an explanation from him but he just needed time to think about what he should say. Or maybe he knew what to say, but just… he just didn't want to hurt her or anything. Also, there were other things that were bothering him. Chiefly, his broken promise to himself. 'Oh god, why did I do that? ...' And then that made him think about Lucrezia to whom he was supposed to be committed and faithful. Oh, what a bad husband he must be.

"Heero?" Lucrezia asked beside him on her side of the bed. 'What's the matter? Aren't you glad I'm home?" She leaned on his shoulder.

"Yes, of course of am, it's just that…" Heero started to say trying to think of something believable. "… I've just been thinking a lot about… the baby while you were away."

"Really Heero?" she said surprised. "I didn't think that you would."

"Neither did I. So when would you want to have one?"

"Well right now wouldn't be too bad" Lucrezia said looking at Heero in a serious kind of way. He returned that serious look. He reached over and kissed her on the lips and pressing down on her so that he ended up laying down on the bed on top of her. Heero reached over for the light on the cabinet with his arm and turned it off. There was just too much to think about and he needed to distract himself from it, even if it was just for tonight. 'Now, on with the night' he thought.

(Alright sorry about another bad chapter. Anyways, I think this story is or has reached its denouement so it probably won't be as interesting as it was in the beginning… sigh… I guess I ought to keep trying huh? I'm expecting this also to end in just a few more chapters. Please forgive my lack of skill and commitment(if that's the problem).