Chapter 3

"I was jumped… left for dead..."

Relena felt like she was going to be sick...

"Oh… Oh my… my god! How-how could he…?" She stumbled backward.

"When I woke up three weeks later, you were gone!" She took in his words. Surely he hadn't given up that easily. Surely he had...

"Did… did you look for me?"

"I tried." The hopelessness and anger she heard in his voice twisted the knife deeper… "Your father-" that term made her blood run cold.

"Step father."

"What?"

"He's my step father. He married my mother when my real father died in a car wreck…" His eyes narrowed a bit as he seemed to process what she was saying. "He legally adopted my brother and I; changed our names… but I changed it back. I'm Relena Peacecraft again."

"That's why I couldn't find you…"

"Part of it, probably, but I'll wager he didn't make it easy on you either."

"It was nearly impossible. He said I could never deserve you…" He looked down, fists clenched and she felt her heart ache all over again. "I joined the military to pay for college. When I got out, I heard you had gotten married!"

"Married?" He nodded. Her stepfather had gone too far!

"So I gave up. I enrolled in college to make something of myself… and now I've found you… and… you're not...?"

"No." She gave him a small, weary smile. "I'm not married." She sighed, unsure what she felt. "Disinherited and working on my degree, but... not married." Heero sighed, relief flooding his deep blue eyes; the same blue eyes that had always held her heart… She glanced down, her eyes once more taking note of his naked, perfectly sculpted, chest… She felt her cheeks heat and mentally shook herself to regain control of her thoughts.

"I was... told you left…" Heero stepped closer… "He said he offered you a deal and you took it…" his eyes locked with hers… she saw the pain, the relief… the desire... "I should have known… you never… never would have abandoned me…"

"Relena" He closed the final distance between them and pulled her to him, arms wrapping around her waist. She snuggled into him, burying her face into his naked chest...

"All this time…" she whispered. "We've lost so much time... because of him."

"Then let's not lose any more…" He pulled back and, with a tender finger. Lifted her chin to look in her eyes. He caressed her cheek and leaned down and in, claiming her lips with his own...

He pressed his lips to hers, gently and she felt her body light on fire. Her hands slid up his muscular chest and wound around his neck as the kiss deepened. He moaned and pulled her closer as though trying to make their bodies meld. He coaxed her lips open with his tongue… A moan vibrated up her throat as his hands began to tug at her shirt… She pulled back, fighting the haze of passion with what remained of her sense of reason. There was more to discuss; more to say before they could go any further.

"Heero… we still have to talk" He groaned softly and dipped his head to kiss her neck.

"No…" The heat of his lips against the sensitive skin on her neck made it hard to focus…

"We haven't seen each other in years…"

"Mmhm…" He was so warm… the fire in her stomach was growing, spreading… He lifted his head to look into her eyes. The desire she saw in his deep blue pools threatened to drown her… stole her breath..."You said yourself… we've already lost too much time…" His lips claimed hers again and she was lost as the flame of her desire cried to be quenched in the ocean of his...

She slid her hands up his toned chest until they locked behind his neck. His hands separated, never leaving her body as one went behind her head and the other the small of her back. The evidence of his desire pressed against her as he pulled her closer. Their tongues began to dance as a primal groan tore from his throat. The hand on her lower back grabbed her ass as he shifted their weights and began to steer her backward to the bed, half picking her up, lips never leaving hers...

He tugged again at her shirt and she pulled back long enough to help him pull it over her head. His eyes removed her nearly naked chest; desire… passion… and something else burned in their depths… affection… awe… love...

"Heero…" She called to him like a soft prayer as she reached back and unclasped her bra. Her eyes locked with his as she pulled the straps from her arms and let it fall to the floor. Again, his eyes hungrily drank in her nakedness as he closed the short distance between them and seized her lips with his. Her fingers found the top of his jeans and she fumbled with the button at the top. Heero chuckled and pulled back, taking his pants off, leaving him in his boxers before ke kissed his way down her torso, stopping above her clothed womanhood. She felt her cheeks heat in a strong blush. He unfastened her button and zipper and pulled her pants down…

"Relena…" He whispered her name softly before taking her hand in his. He kissed her hand. His eyes locked with hers. "Marry me." She felt tears prick her eyes as her free hand went to her lips in a gasp that came out as more of a sob.

They ate Chinese food and washed it down with cream soda as they sat on a blanket under the stars. This was their spot: their jungle gym. Her head rested on his shoulder, their hands entwined as the song of crickets serenaded them. His thumb massaged her palm lazily and she sighed. Her eyes felt heavy, sleep promising to take her in her moment of absolute comfort.

"Relena?" His deep tenor broke through the haze.

"Hm?"

"Marry me?" She giggled and nuzzled his neck, thinking he was joking… and then she remembered: Heero didn't joke. Not about things like that. She sat up and looked at him, eyes wide. His own eyes were serious: deep and swirling with everything he felt for her… He meant it… He really wanted to...

"Yes." She felt tears prick her eyes. A large smile curled on his handsome face. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a simple silver band… As he slipped the ring on her finger he leaned in and captured her lips in a sweet kiss...

"I already told you 'yes', once," She smiled, eyes pricking with tears. "That answer has never changed..." She looked down at him and saw his eyes light. Reaching down, she pulled off her panties, the heat increasing as she felt his gaze on her.

"You're… still so beautiful…" Her eyes fluttered closed and she looked away.

He stood and lifted her chin with one gentle finger, leaned in and placed a soft, chaste kiss on her lips. Lifting her up, Heero carried her to the bed and laid her down with the utmost care. He pulled off his boxers and his impressive length sprang free; hard and ready… He smiled down at her as he climbed onto the bed to hover over her. It had been so many years... Every caress sparked an uncontrollable flame…. A searing heat... Their bodies craved it… needed to be enveloped by it… To quench it together... and quench it they did… Taking time to show their love to one another in the most intimate of ways… They collapsed together, placing gentle kisses on one another as the haze of their contentment lulled them...

There was no clock on the dorm wall and she wasn't wearing a watch. There was no way to tell how long they'd been alone; how long her roommates had been gone or when they might return. She should be concerned; afraid they may walk in and find them together.. naked... on her bed. Her cheeks heated again as she studied his face; she had the strongest urge to kiss his stubble… her eyes took in his impressive firm, marveling at every rippling muscle… and the scars… so many scars… They reminded her that she still had questions...

"Heero…?"

"Hm?" He stirred and turned to face her.

"Did you really join the military?"

"Yes."

"Is…" She danced her fingers across his skin almost reverently. "Is that how you… got all of these scars?"

"Hn." He watched her fingers.

"What are you majoring in here?"

"I decided to go for a law degree. I can nail bastards like your stepfather that way."

"He'll get what he deserves someday…" She muttered. Every scar on his body could have been avoided. Every wound, evidence of her father's betrayal. How much had his actions cost them? Heero had thought she was lost to him. How had he coped? Her heart had taken forever to heal…

"You're not still moping over him are you?" Silvia Noventa, daughter of a family friend inquired. "It's been a whole year! There are other men you could spend your time on instead of pining for that loser." Relena's stomach twisted into a knot.

"We've been through this." Relena looked up from her advanced mathematics book. "I'm not pining for anyone. I'm focusing on my studies. Something you should be doing."

"Yeah, sure. Studies." Silvia rolled her eyes. "I don't know why you're trying so hard. There are plenty of eligible rich boys just waiting to show you how well endowed their… estates are."

"Will you let me study? This business management degree won't earn itself!"

"Sure, fine. But it's a real shame. I hear Quatre Winner's family throws amazing galas."

Her friends had always tried to get her to forget him. Relena couldn't count the amount of the incidental blind dates she found herself on; knowingly or otherwise. They had meant well, and-truth be told-she had had no intention of pining or waiting for his possible return. She had considered dating but her schedule simply left her no time to actively pursue anything romantic with anyone. Heero had been away… in the military...traveling… did he ever…?

"Heero?"

"Hm?"

"When you… were in the service…" she felt her throat constrict in apprehension. "Did you… see anyone… I mean… were you...?"

"Was I ever with anyone else?" She nodded, suddenly embarrassed. "No." Relief washed over her at his answer.

"You weren't?" He shook his head.

"No matter what your father thought, I always intended to find you again." He reached out and brushed a few strands of hair from her face. She could spend forever like this… with him...

"And you?" His question broke her thoughts. "What happened after that night?" She sighed.

"I never dated anyone either." She watched something flash through his eyes: relief? "There was never any time." She fiddled with her necklace absentmindedly. She was surprised when his fingers joined hers on the charms.

"The ring…" He took the silver loop between his fingers. "You… kept it." Her cheeks heated again.

"I tried to get rid of it… I wanted to… but part of me… hoped… you never really abandoned me…" She covered his hand with hers.

"Relena…"

"And after lying to me about you, I was sure my parents would be cross if they knew I had kept it… I added charms to hide it from them… and, as time went on… from myself." She looked down, but Heero raised her chin to meet her eyes.

"My 'father' wasted no time shipping me off to a private college… He tried to force me to marry the son of one of his business partners… I refused. After that, he... disowned me…"

"Relena! You get back in there this instant and accept Mr. Winner's proposal immediately!" Her father huffed.

"Relena, your father-" her mother began.

"Stepfather!"

"Relena! Your father is right! This is the chance of a lifetime!"

"You're siding with him, mother?" Relena scoffed. "I don't know why I'm surprised."

"You ungrateful, spoiled-!" Darlian yelled.

"Insult me as much as you want. I don't love Quatre and I know he doesn't love me and if you cared anything about my happiness at all you wouldn't try to force this!"

"And look where love got you last time! Did it do you any good then?" A flash of Heero's blue eyes crossed her mind sending a sharp pain to her heart.

"I don't care! I'm not going to be a pawn in your social game!"

"You listen to me and you listen well!" He growled. "You will March back in there, apologize for your rude behavior and accept his offer right now or I'll disinherit you and kick you out of this house!" She looked at her mother. The woman said nothing; merely bowed her head. Relena felt the rage of defiance build within her. She turned, straightened her posture as tall as she could and looked him in the eyes.

"That's fine with me!" She shouted back. "I will live with my brother until I can attend college this fall!"

"If you think I'm going to pay for your education-"

"I don't want anything from you!" She smiled and stood her ground. "I will find a way on my own!" She turned to leave. "I'll be gone in the morning." She stormed out leaving her mother and step father calling out to her...

"He did everything he could to stop me, however, he couldn't touch the trust funds my father put in place. I lived off of it until I found a job… I enrolled in community college and then came here as soon as I got the funding necessary… and now…" She smiled and shifted closer. "now you're here…"

"Mhm…" She kissed his lips and his neck.

"And we're…" She kissed his clavicle… "together again…" She looked up at him. "And I can wear the ring…"

"I'll get you a new one. Better."

"I don't need a new ring. Just you." A warm smile curled onto his sexy lips.

"You're sure?" She raised back up and looked deeply into his eyes and nodded.

"I'm finally happy." He kissed her.

There was still so much to discuss; logistics about what their reunion meant for their careers and their futures. But not now. There would be time. She would make time and she knew he would too. Now, it was just them. After five long years, they were finally together; the flame of their love rekindled all thanks to the unexpected November heat.