Jealousy
Chapter 6: Where did the time go?
Pairings: 2+1/1x2
Disclaimer: I own nothing therefore I get nothing
Warnings: none

Summary: It has now been several months since Duo disappeared, but Heero hasn't giving up hope of finding her. His number suspect is Relena but she a careful sly fox. Will Heero be able to find any evidence behind her scheming or will he succumb to her charm and forget all about his wife.

oOoOo

- One year later -

A lot had changed over the course of twelve months. Quatre and Trowa were the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. Even Sally and WuFei decided to put their bid in as future parents with no immediate results, but that's not say the couple isn't having fun while trying. In addition to the baby boom, Zechs and Noin announced that they were expecting again. Out of all the joy there was one who couldn't feel it, couldn't share in the happiness around him.

Heero Yuy rang the doorbell of his co-worker, Milliardo Peacecraft. He had been invited to Zechs' oldest son's sixth birthday bash. He wasn't in the right state of mind to celebrate anything. His wife and child disappeared without a trace a year ago. There was no point in being happy about anything.

Heero worked mostly from home for fear of a mental break-down. Without Duo being near him to keep him balance, there was no telling when he would reach his limit. Quatre suggested a change in scenery, so with little to no fuss, Heero packed his things and moved near the owner of Winner Enterprise, Inc.

The Cobalt eyed youth sighed in relief when he did move to L4. Always in the forefront was Relena Peacecraft, Milliardo's sister and pain-in-the-ass. She was an annoying itch Heero could not rid himself of. At first, Relena was expressing her deepest sympathy and wished for his wife's safe return but as the weeks dragged on into months, the Vice-Foreign Minister's personality shifted, but ever so slightly.

She started inviting Heero to dinner, which he declined. On other occasions she would come by his house with food – just to make sure that Heero was eating properly, since he no longer had a wife to care for him.

Heero growled in frustration at Relena's attempts at getting him to notice her, but all her efforts were in vein. The former Wing pilot would remain alone for the rest of his life because Duo's alluring scent was etched into his memory.

oOoOoOo

Pacing in her brother's study, Relena was practically in tears. Zechs watched his sister. He knew when she was in a state that it was best to stay quiet and wait for her to get over whatever problem she found her self in at the moment.

"Why Milliardo?"

"Why, what, Lena?"

"It's been a year! And I'm still no closer to him than when that bitch ditched him!"

"Lena, you and I both know that Duo didn't ditch Yuy. Someone abducted her. You should know by now that Yuy cannot be with anyone else."

"Whose side are you on?"

"I'm not on anyone's side, Lena. It has been made perfectly clear that whatever those damn doctors did to Yuy and the other pilots are permanent. Sally even managed to get some information about the Sensory Project.
Face the damn facts Lena, Yuy can not and will not love any one else but Maxwell."

"It's always about her! For once I would like to be happy and being happy is being with the man I love."

"Wake up out of your dreamscape!" Milliardo shouted. He didn't understand why his sister was so hell bent on wanting someone she couldn't have. "Now, I suggest you stop fantasizing about Yuy and get on with your life and find someone else who would care for you and not some ghost or lost hope."

"But Mil-"

"This discussion is over," the older Peacecraft said.

Milliardo left his study in search of his wife and a glass of brandy. His sister really knew how to stress out someone.

Relena wisely kept her mouth closed and meekly followed her brother into the main ballroom. Hopefully, she could find Heero without drawing too much attention to her self or to him.

oOoOoOo

The birthday celebration was in full swing. Kids ran about the yard chasing after the guest of honor. One little kid, however, stayed inside watching from the sliding glass door. The adults milled about chatter about work or cooing over the newborn.

Noin saw her son and went to him but the little guy didn't move. "Hayate, why don't you go and play with the other kids outside?"

Dark messy locks shook negatively.

She bent down to his level. As she was about to ask him something else the little boy took off into the throng of adults. When Noin next located her silent child he was in the arms of one bewildered ex-Wing pilot.

Not only was the sight a perplexing one, the next words to tumble out of the one year old mouth was equally astonishing, "Da-da!"

Heero nearly fainted as did Noin. This was the first time that Hayate actually spoke.

"I'm sorry Heero. He's been acting a little grumpy of late and I think he's a little jealous of Milliardo because today is his birthday."

"That's okay, Noin," Heero replied dismissing the incident. "I'm not your Dad big boy. Your Dad is right over there. See," Heero whispered softly to the toddler while pointing at the blond walking toward them.

"No! Da-da!"

Hayate started to squirm and wriggle in Heero's arms as Zechs tried to pluck him from his co-worker's embrace.

"Waahh!"

Heart wrenching sobs echoed from beyond the closed doors. Zechs took his son to his room and put him to bed. The others turned from father and son and looked to Heero. Relena was about to approach him but he quickly said good-bye and left.

oOo TBC oOo

A/N: Tell me what you think. I know it has been awhile since I've last updated but a lot has been happening in my personal life that wasn't allowing me the time that I needed to write. I hope that this will sedate all of you until my posting.

Will Relena get what she wants? Or will Heero discover that she was the one behind his wife's kidnapping. Well, to find out you have to stay tuned for the next chapter.