Heero stared at Relena. He hadn't seen her in person for almost a year. Her face, even though she was sleeping now… had matured, thinning out and reveling the higher cheekbones of the Peacecraft family. Relena's childish bangs were gone, longer strands replacing them. Even with longer hair and a young woman's face, Relena still looked so young… and with her face blank she seemed so innocent. Heero pushed a strand of hair away from Relena's face. Her face was so blank…

Heero checked her pulse. It was still there, just fainy. This was his fault…

Heero had never felt such a pain before. It was as if someone was squeezing the life from his heart and it hurt so badly. Heero clutched his chest and grabbed Relena's hand. He fell into a chair at her side. His pulse was erratic and he couldn't breathe…and for the first time in a long time he couldn't control his body.

"Relena—" He called through clenched teeth, "I'm sorry." Heero fell into unconsciousness.

Relena knew she was in a hospital before she even opened her eyes. The smell of them had always made her sick to her stomach. She felt sick now, her body throbbed and was cold, but at the same time she had an unbearable weight on her chest, she struggled against the weight with every breath. She felt too weak to even open her eyes, but she forced herself to anyway. Heero was in the chair next to her, holding her hand. She couldn't feel it before because along with everything else, her arms and legs were numb.

"Heero." She tried to smile, but a ruthless pain in her chest stole her breath. Relena pulled her hand away from Heero, she put her hand on her chest to hold the bursting pain inside her, but she found a thick bandage instead of skin or cloth there. Heero stirred, suddenly he was awake.

"Relena!" He grabbed her hand and put it to his face, kissing it softly.

"You've never been this happy to see me!" Relena smiled, feeling welling up in her chest, Heero had never kissed her before.

"I thought you were going to leave me." He muttered, touching her face gently. She felt her happiness grow, Heero was with her, at her side, loving her, nothing could feel better then that. Heero's fingertips traveled from Relena's face to the bandage on her chest. "This is my fault."

"What is?"

"You don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

"You were shot, Relena." Relena was surprised, that explained the pain, bandages and hospital though. "The bullet is still in you, they can't take it out. You lost too much blood. You have to rest now." Relena got over her surprise then and looked at Heero, he seemed worn out.

"Of course. You should go sleep somewhere suitable, though. I don't want you to get a neck ache or anything. Have you eaten yet? How long were you sitting there?"

"Relena." She stopped, "I've failed you." Relena looked at him incredulously.

"Don't be an Idiot. You've never failed me. You're here now, that's all that matters. But I can't rest if I'm worried about you, go rest and get something to eat."

"You don't have to worry—"

"I want to worry, because I—" Relena was interrupted when Milliardo walked into the room.

"I need to speek with Heero." Heero nodded and followed Milliardo to the hallway outside. Heero hid his surprise when he saw Duo, Trowa and Quatre sitting on the couch by the door. "You four are the only ones qualified to protect Relena from whoever is killing her. The Nurse Heero knocked out admitted that the organization has unlimited funding and resources, that claim applies to several organizations and we can't get her to admit to who it is. Until then we have to assume Relena is a target." Milliardo handed each young man a folder. "All the details are in there, in two weeks there is a summit and the treaty that will seal the peace will be signed. Relena must be alive to sign it or surely war will break out again, she is such an influence… to loose her would be catastrophic. Lucrezia and I will be investigating and will let you know if anything helpful comes up. You take her away tonight."

"Where's Wu-Fei?" Quatre asked, "Isn't he coming?"

"I was unable to get a hold of him, but four former Gundam pilots are enough, don't you think?" Duo smiled.

"You bet we are. We'll keep the princess alive." Duo looked around. "Anyone hungry? I love hospital food."

"I hate it." Trowa said, Duo looked offended and glanced hopefully at Heero, who glared at him, his eyes then fell on Quatre who was shaking his head viguroslly.

"Sorry, Duo. I can't stand hospital food and I have to run home to take care of a few things…" Duo tried to look as hurt as possible.

"Fine then." He stalked away, alone. Quatre stood.

"I better get going." Trowa followed Quatre.

"I'm coming with you. I don't want to be alone when Duo gets back." The two walked away together, Heero watched them leave and then turned away to go back into Relena's room.

"Heero," Milliardo stopped him, "I owe you—"

"You owe me nothing." Heero shut the door.

AN: Honestly this story was a friend's idea, but he writes romance like crap (like I'm any better, so sappy am I...), so I'm doing it for him. I refused at first, but he kept taunting my writing ability. So I'm really doing this to prove I can write like I love a character when I really hate it. For the record though, even though I want Relena to be eaten alive by slugs or fire ants, I do support that Heero and Relena HAVE A RELATIONSHIP. Get over it people, they do. Anyone Read 'Blind Target'? Please Review, I beg you, I'll take anything, but your flames will be used to burn Yui alive for making me do this. Keep tuning in though, it will get better. Eventually.I swears. Maybe.

Mena