This tenderness comes as a surprise

Drinking where the riverbed was dry

Trees in the wind trembling with love

Brace yourself and nestle into me

Bear it all like falling autumn leaves

You don't even know me that well

Now every blossom's ready to explode

Rooted in the cracks along the road

The world is a dream that we could freeze

"Sailor to Siren," Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop

Afternoon sunlight flooded the room, casting its firelit glow on the white bedspread, which was already ablaze. It had been, for hours, due in part to the sweat-slicked skin of its current inhabitants, who, for obvious reasons, had no intention of going anywhere.

Never before had Relena experienced summer on a January day. It felt as if her bed had turned into an oasis, where everything seemed to move in torturous, yet delicious, slow motion.

Gone was the frantic pace from the night before, when she and Heero had all but rushed at one another, fueled by the sudden igniting of their passion and, undoubtedly, alcohol. Now, they took their time discovering one another, finding new ways to give and receive pleasure, learning what their two bodies, fused together, were capable of. But the passion, though unhurried, was still very much there; Relena swore she caught a spark in Heero's eyes every time they met hers.

She had wanted to ask him, at some point, if this was also his first time, but then she didn't doubt that it was. After all, they were the same age, or so she assumed; she realized that she still didn't know his birthday, nor his real name, although she knew he probably didn't, either. But she wasn't about to bring all of that up and risk upsetting him. Still, she couldn't help but feel vulnerable as they laid together in such close proximity, closer than she ever knew two people could be. And yet she was still keenly aware of the things that kept them far apart.

"Heero…" His name passed through her lips as his were busy trailing kisses along her neck, his fingers pressing into her hips. He grunted slightly as he adjusted himself between her legs, then resumed thrusting at a slow, methodical pace.

"Hm?" His eyes flitted up to meet hers briefly, and he looked slightly concerned. "Are you ok?" He frowned. "Does it hurt?"

"No," Relena said quickly, wincing a bit as she felt a sudden pinch at her center. "I mean, a little, but…"

"Sorry." Heero immediately ceased his movements and took his hands off her hips, reaching up to cup her face. "Do you want me to stop?"

His tenderness never ceased to take her by surprise, even though Relena had caught glimpses of it in the very beginning of their entangled history. Like the first time he ever touched her face to brush her tears away, only to whisper in her ear that if she got too close to him, he would kill her. The emptiest of threats, as it turned out, but still; witnessing the full spectrum of emotions from Heero Yuy was enough to give a girl whiplash.

Relena shook her head and smiled at him, taking his face in her own hands, lowering him to her so that she could kiss him firmly on the mouth.

"No," she whispered while their lips were still close together. "Don't stop."

Heero frowned at her. "I don't want to hurt you." And Relena couldn't help but laugh, because it was the complete opposite of some of the first words he'd ever spoken to her.

"What?" Heero asked, his frown deepening.

"Nothing," Relena said with a giggle. "I was just thinking of how far we've come…"

"Hm." Heero's eyes flickered as he moved his hands down to grip her waist. "If we'd done this any sooner…"

"What?" Relena teased. "Would it have changed the outcome of the war?"

"Yeah. I probably would've lost," said Heero, his lips creasing. "I would've been too distracted."

Now Relena was frowning. "Wouldn't it have made you want to protect me more?"

Heero shook his head. "I already wanted to protect you… once I knew who you really were, and what you meant to the world."

"And when did you start to feel… something else for me?" Relena had always wanted to know, but in the handful of times she'd been alone with Heero, she'd been too shy to ask him how he felt. And usually, they were busy discussing world-upending matters, and she would try to push her girlhood crush aside to deal with whatever crisis was threatening life as they knew it. Even then, she'd always hoped he could tell how much she cared for him.

Well. If current circumstances were any indication, clearly he'd been aware that there was something.

Heero lowered himself beside her on the bed, dropping his head onto her shoulder. Relena reached up to run her fingers through his hair as he made himself comfortable against her.

"I guess… I sort of always did," Heero answered slowly. The confirmation made Relena smile.

"Sort of?" she teased, enjoying the feel of his silken hair in her hands. She'd never expected it to be so soft, although it wasn't the first time she'd touched his hair, or held him to her chest like that. Why, even a week ago…

"Well…" Heero rolled his shoulders and tilted his face to look up at her. "It took me a while to realize."

No kidding! She wanted to yell at the boy she'd spent two years falling in love with, but she managed to keep the retort to herself.

"But… after we met," Heero continued, "and you kept following me around, despite my warnings…" He shot her a reproachful look, as if he was about to reprimand her once again for her reckless behavior. "I couldn't stop thinking about you," he concluded. Relena's heart soared.

"I felt the same way," she told him, pulling him closer to her. "Needless to say, you left quite the impression on me."

Heero let out a snort. "You seem to like dangerous things." His eyes danced up at her. "At first I thought maybe you had a death wish..."

"That you would have been happy to fulfill," Relena added. Heero's scowl returned in full force.

"No. I never wanted to kill you," he said firmly, tightening his hold on her waist. "Even though I thought I might have to… for my mission…" He frowned. "I guess I figured I'd scare you away."

"And that worked so well," Relena joked. This time, Heero didn't laugh or even smile. His eyes hardened, and he looked away from her, toward the windows where even the gleaming sunlight couldn't burn away his dark expression. Relena noticed the change in him immediately. "What's the matter?"

"Relena…" Heero moved off of her to sit up fully, and the sheet that had barely covered them pooled around his middle. She sat up, too, clutching the rest of the sheet to her chest.

"What is it?" she repeated, struck by a sudden sense of urgency. Whatever it was, she hoped she hadn't said something to drive Heero away… she knew that, despite his strength, his emotions were far more fragile than he would ever let on. She was beginning to realize it didn't take much to tip the scales. She stretched her hand out to him and rested it on his arm, hoping to return to the cozy place they were just moments ago.

"Tell me," she pleaded.

Heero said nothing, but took Relena's hand and gently pulled her to him. She breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn't going anywhere; not yet. He drew her onto his lap and into an embrace, pressing their bare chests together. Relena wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him tightly, as Heero's hands came up to rest on her back, tangling themselves in her long hair.

Relena didn't dare speak - she could barely even breathe - as they held each other. All she could think was that she never wanted the moment to end.

"Relena…" Heero pulled back to look at her, and the look in his eyes frightened her. He wore the heavy mantle of a soldier, when earlier, however briefly, he had been just a teenage boy with her.

"Last week," he began, "when I fired at the Barton mansion… there was no way I could be certain you would survive."

Relena frowned, but nodded. "I know, Heero... We talked about this. I understand." She gave him the most tender look she could muster as she pushed an unruly lock of hair from his forehead, hoping the gesture would soothe him. "Why do you still feel so guilty?"

"I could have killed you," he answered, lowering his eyes. "Easily. Along with everyone inside."

"But you didn't." Relena gripped his shoulders. "You didn't kill anyone that day. And you don't have to, ever again."

"I hope not," he said warily. "But I don't know if that's true. What if I don't have a choice?" He raised his eyes slowly to hers. "I had to take that shot, to stop Mariemaia. If I'd ended up killing you…" He broke eye contact again, frowning deeply. "I would have ended my own life."

His words pierced her heart. "Heero…" She squeezed his shoulders, not knowing what else she could say or do. "Why?" she whispered at last. "Why would you say that?"

He looked at her through hooded eyes. "Because I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

Relena frowned as she sat studying him. During the course of their conversation, he appeared to be shrinking further into himself. But she couldn't allow him to do that, and continue punishing himself.

"I would want you to go on," she said softly, bringing her hands down to rest on top of his. "All I've ever wanted, in the time I've known you, is for you to find peace." She tilted her head to try to look him in the eye, but his head remained turned. Relena sighed. "Heero… you of all people should get the chance to live the life you deserve."

Heero scoffed, still refusing to meet her eyes. "The life I deserve," he echoed, his voice hollow. His face had darkened as the sunlight began to dwindle, casting shadows across the room. "I should be dead already," Heero said flatly.

Relena had to resist the urge to slap him, if only to knock some sense into him. "Stop that," she scolded him. "Are you forgetting that you saved the whole world?"

At last Heero turned his head to look at her, his eyes sad and distant. "What would it matter if I saved the world, but lost you?"

Once again, his words all but broke her. She tried to draw some strength. "It's a risk we both take, with the types of lives we choose to lead," she answered calmly, "We must be prepared to make sacrifices-"

"I'm not letting you die," Heero said suddenly, seizing Relena by the shoulders. But she was more stunned by the desolate expression on his face, and that his eyes were moist.

"And if you do," he added, his voice as stormy as his eyes, "then I'm going with you."

Relena sat perfectly still, absorbing this. Not that she could have moved, if she'd wanted to; Heero's grip rooted her in place.

"Heero…" she whispered as realization struck her. "Is that why… is that why you want to go to Mars with me? To make some kind of atonement?"

"No," Heero said firmly, tightening his hold on her, as if he were afraid to let go. "I just…"

Just then a peal of bells sang out from Relena's phone, which was charging on her bedside table, effectively breaking the spell between them. She turned her head and looked blankly at the blaring device.

"Oh," she said quietly, feeling too dazed to bother answering whoever was interrupting them.

"Maybe you should get that," Heero suggested, his voice already much calmer than it had been. "Could be important."

"It's my brother," Relena said, looking down at the screen in dismay. Panic seized her chest. "I'm not dressed!"

"Hang on." Heero got up and retrieved Relena's sweater from the floor, tossing it over to her. She caught it and shrugged it over her head, swiping on the phone just in time to keep the call from being dropped. Heero stood off to the side of the bed and pulled on his boxers, followed by his shirt.

"Milliardo, hi!" Relena answered breathlessly, careful to keep the phone's camera aimed directly at her face.

Her brother's frosty image glared up at her. "What are you still doing in bed? It's well after noon."

Relena struggled to calm the flush creeping up her neck. "Well, I am on vacation-" she started. She hadn't even realized it was that late, but then she and Heero had been rather preoccupied…

That did it; Relena's flush deepened, and she cursed herself for failing to keep under control.

"Where's Yuy?" Her brother interrupted, his single arched brow suggesting he suspected something. Relena was about to cover for Heero, but he spoke up beside her.

"I'm right here, Zechs."

Milliardo's eyes glowered. "Why don't you show yourself, coward?"

Relena began to sputter in protest, but Heero merely rolled his eyes and took the phone from her hands. "What do you want?" he barked.

"What are you doing in my sister's bedroom?" Milliardo seethed.

"None of your business," Heero retorted, his face taking on a haughty expression. Relena barely suppressed a groan, not wanting to make matters any worse.

"She's my sister," Milliardo growled. "I've entrusted her to your care. But if you've done anything to compromise her-"

"Compromise her what?" Heero's eyes held a positively wicked glint. Relena knew then and there that if the upcoming procedure didn't kill them, Milliardo would.

"That's enough!" Relena cried, reaching for the phone. But her brother was still addressing Heero.

"Why haven't you brought Relena back to Brussels?" he demanded.

Heero's eyes rolled again. "I'm not her parole officer," he retorted.

Milliardo scoffed in response. "You still have a job to do, Yuy."

Relena bristled at this. "Oh, so Heero's my guard dog now? I don't think so." With that, she snatched the phone away from Heero, and glared down at her brother.

"He was supposed to relay information to you," Milliardo huffed. "Has he even done that? Or has he been too distracted to communicate properly?" His eyes narrowed to two silver slits, and his insinuation was obvious. Relena decided to ignore the implication.

"You know we've been hit by bad weather up here," she said calmly. "It makes no sense for us to travel until the next storm has passed. And, yes," she added, "Heero told me what is expected of me." She let out a huff of her own.

Milliardo's eyes widened slightly, and his severe expression eased. "I see."

"Now," Relena continued unabashedly, "when would Une like to have this meeting?"

"Within forty-eight hours," Milliardo said.

"All right. Then we will see you in two days." Relena glanced over to Heero. "I need at least that much time to get my affairs in order here."

"Fair enough," her brother responded. "I'll see you then."

Relena nodded, biting her lower lip. She didn't want to think about what she was going to learn in that meeting. She had two days to prepare herself, mentally and emotionally. She wondered if that would be enough.

"Try not to worry, Relena," Milliardo was saying to her, as if he could read her troubled thoughts. "Everything is going to be alright."

Relena didn't know if she wanted to laugh or cry. She knew he had to be lying for her comfort, which didn't make her feel any better. She just nodded again.

"Take care of yourself," her brother added, his expression softening.

"You as well," Relena answered.

"And Heero..." Milliardo added.

"What?" Heero grumbled beside Relena, as she angled the phone toward him.

"Look after her for me," Milliardo said solemnly, his features taking on the mask of a soldier once more.

"I will." Heero nodded resolutely.

Milliardo's lips curled into a sneer. "And if you touch her for any reason other than her personal protection, I'll take joy in killing you myself."

Heero chuckled darkly. "I'd like to see you try."

"Yuy-" Milliardo thundered.

"All right, I'm hanging up now!" Relena blurted. "Goodbye, brother."

She disconnected the call before Milliardo could finish whatever he was about to yell at them. Relena sighed and tossed the phone across the bed, then flung herself back onto it as well.

"Ugh, I can't believe he found out we're having sex," she moaned into her pillow. To her annoyance, Heero laughed.

"It's not funny," she snapped at him.

"He was bound to figure it out eventually," Heero said nonchalantly. "I mean, it would be pretty obvious to anyone… what else would we do snowed in all by ourselves?"

"Have stirring intellectual discussions over chess?" Relena sighed. Heero just laughed again.

Relena let out another groan before forcing herself to sit up. "Oh, no, it's fine; laugh all you want, Heero. I'm just mortified, that's all." She shot him her iciest glare, although she could tell by his expression that it was not having its intended effect. In fact, Heero looked downright amused.

"I'd rather give Zechs another reason to hate me," he said with a smirk. "Makes things easier. I was almost starting to worry he'd gone soft."

"And why is that a good thing?" Relena wasn't sure she even wanted to know.

Heero's eyes gleamed. "That way if I ever do have to kill him, it will be justified, because he will have tried to kill me first." He said this as if it were perfectly logical. Relena just gaped at him.

"You actually scare me sometimes, Heero."

"Sorry," he said, reaching over to brush a loose strand of her hair from her face. "Are you hungry?"

Relena's stomach growled at the mention of eating, which she realized they had neglected to do, all day. "Um, yes…" she answered, blushing.

"Good. Let's go eat." With that, Heero hopped off the bed and picked his pants up off the floor.

Relena glanced outside her windows to see that the sun was slipping beneath the trees, but it was still only late afternoon. An idea struck her, and she turned to Heero and smiled brightly.

"Want to go out?"

He frowned as he pulled on his pants. "Where?"

"I know a nice little place in town." She looked up at him hopefully. "It's quiet. And private. And the food is really good…"

"Hm." It was clear from Heero's stony expression that he was already rejecting the idea. "I don't know…"

Relena stood and sauntered over to him, still wearing nothing but her oversized sweater. She looped her arms around his neck, prepared to unleash the full power of her pout, should he try to refuse her.

"The people of Sanc know me, and they know not to bother me," she said imploringly, fanning her lashes up at him. "I promise, we can have a nice, uninterrupted meal." And maybe even a little fun, for a change, she thought.

Heero drew in a breath, hesitating, but she saw something flicker in his eyes. Perhaps even he longed to act like a normal teen every now and then.

"How can we be sure it's safe?" Heero asked her, and she could practically see the wheels turning in his mind, predetermining his actions should anything go awry.

"Of course it's safe," Relena said confidently. "I'll have my bodyguard with me." She looked at him pointedly. Heero quirked a brow.

"Yeah, well bodyguards aren't really supposed to multitask-"

"And boys are supposed to take girls on dates before they sleep with them," Relena interjected. "We're doing it all backwards."

Heero was nonplussed. "I took you to that dance at St. Gabriel's…"

"That was nearly two years ago," Relena shot back. "And that hardly counts; we only even got one dance in before Oz attacked…" Although she had to admit, it would have been pretty funny if that harrowing event constituted as a date in Heero's mind.

"Hm..."

Relena could see the struggle in his eyes, and sensed he was about to cave. "Don't make me say 'please,' Heero," she said with a pout. "That would just be embarrassing…"

He inhaled through his nostrils, his chest heaving, and Relena half-expected to hear a 'no,' when he relented.

"Fine."

Relena released him and clapped her hands together.

"Ok, then! I'll just get dressed." She realized she was going to have to reexamine the contents of her closet- and figure out what on Earth she was going to wear.

Heero's mind seemed to have taken a similar track. He frowned and raked a hand through his hair. "If this is a date, then I should probably take a shower."

"Oh, good idea," Relena mused, realizing she needed one, too, considering how sweaty they'd gotten earlier. Which gave her another idea... she smiled seductively at Heero, and nodded in the direction of the master bathroom. "Care to join me?"

Heero chuckled and shook his head. "If I do that, we're never getting out of here. I'll just use the shower down the hall."

Relena sighed and turned back toward her closet. "Fine…"

"Meet me downstairs in twenty minutes," Heero said, turning toward the bedroom door.

"Thirty," Relena countered. "It will take me at least that long to wash and dry my hair."

"Your hair looks good as is."

"Are you kidding?" Relena gaped at him. "It's a tangled mess." She ran her fingers through it, demonstrating. Heero's face broke into a grin.

"I like it like that," he said simply. His boyish smile was enough to cause Relena to melt through her floorboards.

"Yes, well," she stammered, trying to force her attention back to her hair, "I'm at least going to attempt to brush it..."

"Do what you want," Heero said with a shrug. "Just get your cute butt downstairs in twenty minutes."At that, he swept past her, but not before delivering a playful swat to her bare bottom.

"Hey!" Relena shrieked and tried to smack him back, but Heero had already maneuvered out of her reach.

"Twenty minutes," he repeated gruffly, and exited the room.

And Relena was so distracted preparing for her date - a real date - with Heero Yuy, she had all but forgotten about their earlier conversation, and the darkness that loomed on the horizon.

A/N: Happy Sunday Sunday, my loves! Thank you for your patience while I work on this and my other stories... the plot bunnies are running rampant in my brain, as always. And yes, my bunnies happen to be especially fluffy...

Newly in love Heero and Relena are my favorite versions of Heero and Relena... as you know, if you have read my other stuff on here :P #FluffQueen

Anyway, pease stay tuned; there is much more to come... and as always, please let me know what you think so far! I hope, wherever you are in the world, that your Sunday is full of fluffy goodness ;)

Hugs!

- RFP