I do not own Gundam Wing. This fan fiction has no commercial value and I am not making any kind of profit or income off of this. I also do not own the quote below…and don't know who to contribute it to - other than perhaps the creators of Xena (don't ask).

You could miss your true path by the width of a hair, but that is the same thing as missing by a mile.

Chapter 3

Relena drove her rented sport utility vehicle up the gravel road to her small cabin getaway. Nestled amongst a beautiful, hilly area, the cabin was her favorite place to escape. Situated far from city life, the view from her private residence looked upon a rare, few rooftops dotting the horizon; rolling hills fell into beautiful seascapes in the distance.

She arrived just as the sun sunk to its lowest point in the sky - the stress and strain from the day already loosening its hold. The ESUN Minister made herself a cup of tea using a gas burner, tea kettle and one of her gourmet peppermint teabags. She sipped at the relaxing beverage and settled into one of the chairs on her front porch.

The vision from her front lawn of the stunning, swirling violet and ginger sky at sunset was the remedy she needed. Peace and serenity as thick as the cloud cover hung over the ocean waters in the distance. The feeling of separation, of being 'off the grid' drove the knotted feelings of anger and disappointment from the center of her body. Relena smiled into her mug; she planned on spending the entire weekend away from it all; most specifically: away from 'him'.

She sighed as the sky began to grow chilly and gray; the scent of solitude lingered in the air.

...

Relena moved about the cabin by candlelight. There was something so peaceful about being in a place with no electricity. No commercial radio or television to corrupt the blissful silence that surrounded her. No phone calls could reach her. She was isolated and loved every second of it….

'Brother,' she sighed and pressed her eyes shut. The pained expression on Milliard's face swam behind her eyelids, and she knew that every moment of happiness she experienced, he was spending in utter torment – worried sick about his sister. She wondered briefly if he would kill Heero for falling prey to one of the oldest tricks in the book, and almost smiled at the thought. Heero's problem was that he underestimated her. He thought she was helpless and that she needed him.

But, she didn't. Not for a long time. Not anymore. She was tired of being hurt by the 'little prince' she fell for so long ago. He had broken her heart too many times. She was determined not to let him do it again. And that was why he had to go.

In her weaker moments, Relena would admit that she still loved and believed in the former Gundam pilot that had, at first, tried to kill her, then swore an oath to protect her. A part of her soul told her she always would…. She closed her eyes and remembered:

Heero. She was so happy to see him again. She tried to be friendly, outgoing and was on her 'best behavior' whenever he was around – smiling at him even when she was angry or upset, putting on that cheerful façade to hide her frustrations and stress. She thought he cared - that he wanted the job. But, gradually, her delusions faded as he barked orders at her and refused even the smallest of her kind gestures. He didn't even want her to smile at him.

"Why are you always smiling?" He glared down at her with sharp blue eyes carved from stone.

Relena flinched at his harsh tone. "I was just being friendly," she said, stepping back and away as she felt pain sear her chest. She took a deep breath.

His scowl deepened at her words. "Hn. We are not required to be 'friends'. I work for you – that's all."

That had been the final blow to her heart. Afterwards, she didn't, wouldn't smile at him; she avoided speaking with him. And she had tried, every chance she got, to get away from him. At first, she had underestimated his determination, and was caught several times – at her window, on her balcony. One time, he caught her opening up the air vent in her office. She never made up excuses and he never gave lectures. He just made his report and let Milliardo handle it.

The longer this went on, the more she had withdrawn into herself. Until she couldn't take it anymore. Exhausted from weeks of stress and a long flight, she felt tears begin to slip down her cheeks and wiped them away.

Relena set her jaw. "I won't cry over him," she told herself. No, there was no point in crying over a man that would never love her, even though she loved him with all her heart.

The call came in via CB, early Saturday morning. The Peacecraft Mansion looked like a command center inside with Preventer agents encamped around various pieces of electronic equipment set up on the fly. Most of the occupants appeared haggard and worn after a full night without sleep.

Milliardo rose to talk to the-soon-to-be-dead-by-her-brother's-hands diplomat. Hard, sapphire eyes watched him cross the room. At the door, Zechs turned and glared at the young man, then continued into the kitchen to take the call.

"This is Zechs."

"Hello," Relena's voice crackled over the radio.

"Are you all right?" He got the most important question out of the way, first. 'You'd better be okay because I'm the one that gets to kill you.'

"Yes, I'm fine. I wanted to tell you not to worry. I'm okay where I am."

His jaw tightened and he felt his temper flare. "Relena, do you have any idea how worried we've all been?" He barked, holding the CB away from his mouth as he yelled.

"I'm sorry, brother, I really am. I just – I just had to get away. I needed to think. I really am sorry I worried everyone." Her voice sounded…so young, so girlish. He often forgot that the diplomat and former world leader was also a young woman who had been forced to grow up too quickly. She'd been twenty-three since she was fifteen. He expelled a long, cleansing breath.

"I'll forgive you, on one condition," Zechs' voice was stern.

Relena's sigh could be heard through the connection. "What's that?"

"You're going to tell me what's been bothering you for the last three months."

There was a small pause filled with the white crackling of the radio frequency. "Okay. Is that all?"

"AND ….you're not going to do this again. Do you understand me? If you even think of ditching your guard detail again, you will not have to worry about terrorist groups trying to kill you. Because I will do the job myself!" Milliardo resumed shouting into the receiver.

"All right, brother. I'll tell you - on one condition."

"What's that?" Zechs's dry tone mocked his sister like they were siblings squabbling over a toy. Then realization hit, and he knew the words before they spilled out of her mouth.

"Heero will be reassigned."

"No."

"Then I'll continue doing as I please."

"Where are you, Relena?"

"I'm at my cabin. Please let me stay. I'm safe here and I'll be back at work first thing Monday morning," Relena's voice pleaded.

"Relena…."

"Please brother, I need this. I promise I'll be careful and we can talk Monday night. I'll tell you anything you want to know. Just let me stay this weekend."

"Relena, I expect a call tomorrow, understand?"

"Yes, brother. Tell Noin, Duo, and Hilde that I'm okay, and not to worry."

"I will."

"Oh, and brother?"

"Yes?"

"Was Heero even the tiniest bit upset?" Her voice practically squeaked as she asked the question. Zechs felt the last of his energy drain from his body. He sunk into a nearby chair, his eyes closing as he breathed a heavy sigh. The next words were spoken with quiet compassion. "Yes, Relena, he was upset. I can't promise it's for the reason you hope it is, but he was upset."

There was a long pause.

"Relena, let's talk when you get back. Enjoy yourself – relax."

"Thank-you, brother."

Milliardo left the kitchen and called for everyone's attention. He informed them that Relena was all right and thanked them for their efforts and concern. The assembly was promptly sent home, and they all quickly left to go catch up on missed sleep. All except for Heero. The two men glared at each other for a moment. "You're dismissed, Yuy."

"For how long?" The even monotone sounded harsh with lack of sleep.

"Until Tuesday. After that, I'm not sure. Relena will be back Monday, and then she and I are going to talk. Depending on that she has to say…."

"So, I don't get a chance to defend myself?"

"Defend yourself?"

"Against her accusations that I am inadequate."

"Yuy, you are inadequate. And we're not talking about the same thing. You're the best the Preventers have, the best damn mobile suit pilot I know, but…"

"But?"

"This has nothing to do with any of that. This is Relena we're talking about – and I'm not going to have this continue. She's going to be happy, and if that means assigning someone else to this job, it's what I'll have to do."

Heero nodded.

"Go home, Yuy. We'll talk Tuesday morning."

The weekend passed by too quickly; the time spent alone was refreshing. Monday didn't even dare to defy her. After Judy cleaned up the remains of her tape recorder, Relena set to work – the public office pleasantly Heero-less. She practically skipped to the car at the end of the day and even enjoyed a quick nap on the ride home.

...

When she arrived at the mansion, her brother greeted her with open arms, and she returned the hug with full force. The fleeting thought passed through Milliardo's mind - It had been far too long since he had held her like this. He had dismissed most of the staff, and even Noin was out shopping with Sally for the evening. Brother and sister ate dinner and enjoyed easy conversation. 'She seems more like her usual self.'

After dinner and coffee, he asked if she was ready to have their 'talk'. Tension crept back into her posture and expression, but she nodded. They adjourned from the dining room to talk in Milliardo's office.

It wasn't cozy or conducive to a personal conversation, such as the one about to occur, but his office was private – and set up to record her every word. Since he wasn't certain which course of action he would have to take, her brother and security advisor – often two conflicting job titles - wanted to record their talk and ask for Noin's opinion later. He felt a slight pull at his conscience, but believed he was doing it only for Relena's benefit. So, he went ahead and pressed the button located underneath his desktop.

"All right, Relena. Now, tell me, what's been bothering you?"

She stared at him, her eyes wide and mouth slightly open as if her voice had somehow frozen in her throat.

He decided to try a different tactic. He softened his tone and said, "Relena, I think I know what's going on."

A small cry escaped her lips before she looked away. "You do?"

"Relena, I'm not an idiot. I can see what's going on. You're in love with him, aren't you?"

She paled. "Am I that transparent? I guess he knows, then, too…. Has he known all along?"

"Relena, that boy wouldn't figure it out if you had Wing Zero show him his entire future complete with kids, grandkids and your actual wedding day. You could probably tell him to his face and he still wouldn't understand."

"He's so cold, Milliardo, but I know he can be kind. I see it sometimes when he looks at me. Then he does something like tell me not to smile at him; or he'll say my 'chatter' annoys him. I know it sounds like some love-crazed teenager, but it hurts to be around him all the time and know he doesn't care." Tears welled in her eyes briefly before she mastered them. What looked like anger burned instead. He got up from behind the desk and moved to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, Relena, I truly am. Tell me, how can I make it better?" He asked, folding his long-estranged sibling into an embrace and stroking her golden hair. "I wish I could make him care for you, Relena, but…"

She looked up and gave him a shaky smile. "You can't make it better, brother. No one can make him love me. It will be all right." She rested her head on his shoulder. "I just want the pain to stop…." Her posture stiffened and she glanced up at him again. "But I don't know how to end it."

Milliardo tightened his embrace.

Heero sat, unaware of the scene in Milliardo's office, at the dinner table with Duo and Hilde. He noted how the newly titled Mrs. Maxwell had cooked a lovely dinner, and would, every-so-often, get up and fetch something that her 'beloved' husband had requested. It amazed him to see a woman as stubborn as he had always known Hilde to be (and that Duo always complained she was) suddenly turn into such a submissive creature – willing to provide comfort and love at her husband's request. As well as cook, clean, and fetch.

'Hmmm….' He thought. 'Interesting. I wonder if Relena….' Heero didn't finish the thought. He was interrupted by Duo's loud chattering.

"So, buddy, any thoughts on what you'd like your new assignment to be?" The former Deathscythe pilot smiled what could only be described as an evil grin - from his place across the table.

Heero glared at his friend.

"Hilde – babe, will you bring Heero and me a couple of beers?"

She smiled. "Sure thing," she said and headed off to the kitchen.

"You don't even know why they're going to re-assign you. Do you?"

"Relena says I'm inadequate for the job," he bit out from between clenched teeth.

Duo laughed. "Yeah, right!"

The former Zero pilot sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Zechs won't reassign me."

The self-proclaimed God of Death shook his head. "I wouldn't be too sure about that. They're supposed to have their little 'talk' tonight. My bet is that once Zechs knows what's bothering Relena, you'll be history."

"You know what's bothering her?"

Duo's eyebrows shot up into a question mark. "Uh, yeah! I was her bodyguard for almost a year before they reassigned me. I consider her a close friend, and we would talk sometimes late at night…." His voice dwindled as he glanced down at the kitchen table. He shot a sly look up at his friend.

"Hn." Heero frowned.

Duo grinned. "You really don't know, do you?"

"No."

"Geez, Relena will kill me, but it's not like everyone else doesn't already know."

Heero didn't like the mischievous grin on Duo's face. His eyes sparkled with humor and Heero wasn't sure if the former Deathscythe pilot had made another joke at his expense. He glared at the man with the long braid, just in case.

Duo couldn't contain it any longer. A masculine giggle bubbled forth and erupted into full blown laughter. "I can't believe…." He gasped breathlessly as he laughed so hard he almost fell out of his chair. Heero sat across the table from him, quietly observing his friend's insanity.

"What?" He finally asked.

"I just can't believe you don't know!"

"Don't know what? Tell me, or I'll crack your head open and use what's in your skull to make an omelet!" Heero shouted.

Duo immediately sobered. "Geez, man, sorry. It really isn't my place to tell you, but I figure you'll find out sooner or later."

Heero shot him another scathing look.

Dancing violet eyes dimmed as he met his friend's gaze. "She's in love with you, man."

Heero's stomach fell to the floor. "Is this another one of your jokes?" He stood up from his chair, fists clenched and ready. Duo met the challenge, poised to strike any time his 'buddy' wanted to begin having some sense beaten into his stubborn head.

The kitchen door swung open, garnering the two combatants' attention. Hilde stood, two beer bottles in hand, her dark eyes darting back and forth between her husband and their guest. "What's going on?"

Heero unclenched his hands and ran one through his thick mane. "I don't believe you." He turned away and took a step towards the door. "She doesn't love me." How could she love me?

"Oh, my God!" Hilde advanced on her husband, slamming the bottles onto the table before whirling around to smack Duo upside his head. "Relena's going to kill you!"

Heero spun around at the sound of Hilde's voice. Her face turned a violent red color, and she was glaring at her spouse.

"It's true?" Heero croaked. The world spun at an odd angle; something wasn't right. How could Relena be in love with him?

He didn't stay to see the fight between the two lovebirds; he drifted out of the house in a trance-like state.

"She loves me?" He shook his head. "Stupid girl."

But something inside him had changed with Duo's revelation.