[A.N.] Heelo everyone! welcome to the next installment of PAS. I am so happy to have you all following along! I hope you are enjoying it! As always, please let me know what you think in the reviews section! without further ado, enjoy!

~Serene

Relena couldn't sleep. She looked out the window of their room from her spot on the window sill let her thoughts run wild. She loved him. He promised to protect her despite the growing threat of Une's anger. A shiver went down her spine as she remembered the electricity she felt when he touched her. What would her brother say if he knew his little sister had followed a cliché and fell in love with her rescuer? She felt like a foolish school girl, and yet she had never felt better. For the first time in years she didn't feel alone. For the first time in years she had a family that loved her and would do anything to keep her safe; especially him. As much comfort as that thought brought her, it also caused her pain. She held the rose he gave her, now dried and preserved. Of all the things she'd ever been given, a simple rose meant more to her than anything. It was a small bright spot in her darker train of thought.

Une wanted her dead and Relena knew the queen would stop at nothing until she had achieved that goal. Relena pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them. Her friends knew the risks and still welcomed her, invited her to stay and allowed her to become part of their act. She loved them all dearly and as much as she wanted to believe she belonged with them, she knew she never would. Une would eventually find her and there was no telling what would happen when she did. Despite Heero's words, she wasn't sure she wanted to take that risk.

"I see something is keeping you up, Princess."

"Dorothy."

"I know we haven't been exactly friends, Relena, but I wondered if I could talk to you alone." Relena studied the older girl. Saying they 'hadn't exactly been friends' was a bit of an understatement.

"What is it you want, Dorothy?"

"I told you, I merely wish to speak with you and enjoy the pleasure of your company."

"I am in no mood for you false-flattery, Dorothy." Relena stated, turning from her.

"Relena, please… I really must speak with you. It is important." Relena glanced around the room at her sleeping companions.

"Very well, but let us go somewhere else. I don't want to wake them."

"As you wish." Dorothy said. Relena followed the older girl down the stairs to a table in the farthest corner of the pub.

"Now, what is so important?"

"Do you care about our troupe?" Relena raised a brow.

"Why do ask such a thing?"

"I am just curious. How much do our friends mean to you? You haven't known them as long as I have and surely a princess has better people in her life than a handful of traveling performers."

"Don't be ridiculous, Dorothy. This group had been the only family I have had since Une came into my life. I love them all, even Wufei, although we have a bit of a strange relationship."

"May I ask you one question then?"

"If you must." Relena was slightly annoyed.

"If you love them so much, then why are you willingly putting them all in danger?"

"Dorothy—"

"The queen is determined to kill you and anyone that gets in her way."

"Don't you think I know that?"

"Then WHY are you still here?"

"Because…" Relena paused. What was her reason? True, she loved them all and true she felt she belonged with them but she also knew her presence there was a danger to them. She sighed sadly.

"I know they are all fond of you and I know you are fond of them but it is that fondness that can lead them to acts of foolishness. They would not fare well against the Queen's guards should they find us. The only one in our troupe with any fighting experience is Heero and he alone would not be strong enough to defeat them. You know he would try." Relena's heart stopped for a brief moment. Heero swore he would protect her, but Dorothy was right. "I see the way you look at him. I know you're in love with him. The question is: are you willing to risk his life for your continued freedom?"

"No."

"The queen met with me, Relena. I went outside for a bit of air and she called me over. She told me that unless you give yourself up she will kill them all one by one. Think of what she would do to Heero if she found out how you feel about him." Relena knew too well. Une was cruel and would not be above torture. "Please, protect our friends. I don't want to see you hurt, but if it comes down to you or them, I choose them." Relena glanced around the room at the sleeping women who she had come to know as her friends. She thought of the men in the next room and what they meant to her and to each woman in the room. She couldn't let any harm come to them for her sake. She knew what she needed to do. Clutching the rose tighter, aqua met grey as their eyes locked.

"Tell me where to go."

Une paced back and forth across the frosted cobblestones. Had Dorothy failed her? Had the girl decided to ignore her generous offer? Une paused and tapped the ammulate around her neck in thought. The red gem seemed to glow in response. The item under her cloak would be more than enough to deal with her problem once and for all. The apple would ensure that the young upstart of a princess would no longer be able to interfere with her plans. Still, a thought nagged in the back of her mind. Power, while it lasted, was a wonderful asset but it never lasted forever. There was only one way to keep her power strong and ensure her continued power. She had done it once before, long ago. It hadn't been easy, but the end definitely justified the means.

As the moon slipped behind the dark evening clouds, she saw her prey approach. The young woman was alone, as instructed, her head held defiantly high. Une couldn't help the evil snarl that formed on her lips. The princess was walking to her inevitable death and yet she still showed the proud visage of a victor. The soft sounds of the young woman's tiny feet on the cobblestone echoed through the courtyard; the cadence of the girl's own death march.

"You actually came." Une sneered. She stared at the younger woman. She seemed healthier. Her skin was still as pale as the snow but now held a sun-kissed glow that made Une nauseous. The black dye in the princess's hair had been convincing enough that it had been a decent disguise; however, the aqua eyes that glared defiantly at her were the same intense orbs that she remembered. The girl's silence, however, was annoying.

"Nothing to say, Princess?" She taunted. Relena's eyes continue to glare defiantly in the night. "Don't you want to plead your case? And surely you must have questions for me." The younger woman continued to stand in silence. "Well, say something!"

"You called me here. There is nothing for me to say."

"I see." Une sneered. "Then let's get down to business." Une stepped forward. "You thought you'd escaped me." Une reached out a hand and ran it through Relena's black tresses. "Did you really think a little black dye and a traveling band of misfits could hide you from me?" Une began to circle the girl. "So young… so pretty… it's no wonder the people love you. You give them hope. As long as you exist the people will believe they have a chance against me. A bright light like yours must be extinguished."

"Then do it." Une paused.

"What?"

"You asked for me to meet you, to surrender myself to save my friends. I have done so. You have no more reason to gloat. Do what you planned and be done with it."

"So eager to die? You disappoint me, Princess. Honestly, you're my sister-in-law. We're family. I couldn't possibly just kill you; no, I have much bigger plans for you." Une smirked and reached into her cloak and pulled out the pouch she had been so eager to use. "Inside of this satin bag is the key to my victory. With this, I offer you a peaceful death, painless, and quick." Une smiled as she pulled out the seemingly innocuous item.

"An apple?" Relena stared at the red fruit in the older woman's hand. The smirk on Une's face made Relena's skin crawl.

"You were expecting a dagger? Please, you know how I hate messes." Une's sarcastic chuckle gave her a chill. "One bite of this apple and you will fall under a sleep like death never to awaken, at least, not while I have anything to say about it. You will hear everything around you but be able to respond to nothing. It's such a delightful thought!" Relena looked at the apple and then at the evil queen that held it.

"If I do this, do you swear no harm will come to my friends?"

"Relena, you wound me—"

"Swear on your magic that you will leave my friends alone and that no harm will come to them." Une rolled her eyes and grimaced.

"Fine, alright! I swear on my magic that no harm will come to them, I'll leave them alone and I'll even throw in their guaranteed freedom in my land. Do we have a deal?" Relena glanced back towards the inn. She thought of her friends and the dangers they faced. She couldn't let that happen again. Reaching out, she took the apple and held it up, closing her eyes.

"Congratulations, Une. You've won." Aqua met cold chestnut as a smirk formed on the older woman's face. In one quick move, she took a bite from the apple. 'Good bye, Heero.' She thought as she felt her throat close up. Her last sight was of Une's evil glare before her world went black as the Queen's wicked laughter echoed through the square.

Good bye, Heero.

"Relena?!" Heero bolted up with a start. Something wasn't right. The night was colder than it should be. He ran out the door to the girls' room before he even knew where he was, pounding on the door frantically. A slightly disheveled, very peeved Sally opened the door.

"What?"

"Where's Relena?" Sally paused.

"She's right over…" He pushed into the room. Each of the girls were now awake and staring at him with various degrees of annoyance. "She's—"

"Gone." Dorothy said, her voice sad. Heero turned his attention to the light haired girl. She was the only one not ready for bed and in fact looked as though she'd been awake for hours. Heero stormed over and grabbed Dorothy by the shoulders, pinning her against the wall.

"Where is she?" He growled.

"She went to meet with the queen."

"When?"

"They were supposed to meet at midnight."

"Where?"

"In the town square." Heero released her and headed for the door. "You won't make it in time." Dorothy said. "Please, Heero. She did this for you."

"You sold her out." Duo piped up.

"I didn't mean—" Heero was out the door before she could finish her excuse. He raced down the stairs and out the front door. He dashed down the alleyways with a speed unrivaled by any man dodging carts and barrels. He had to get there. He promised he'd protect her. He promised her and now she was meeting with the very woman who wanted her dead. He sprinted around the final corner just in time to see the queen's carriage leaving the town.

"Relena!" He ran after the carriage but was stopped in his tracks by a force he couldn't explain. His muscles wouldn't listen no matter how he willed them to move.

"Sorry, lover boy." The queen's voice came from thin air. "I promised her no harm would come to you and while I hate keeping my word there is more at stake than my annoyance. I can't have you running into danger. Don't worry, I will take excellent care of her while she still lives. Tah-tah!"

"NO!" He continued to struggle, putting everything he had into it. His legs ever so slightly began to move.

"My, what a strong will you have. Can't have that, now can we. Be a good little boy and run on back to your friends." Heero found himself flying through the air, stopping just before he hit a wall. As he recovered, he got back up on his feet just in time to watch the queen carriage drift out of site. Heero saw something among the shadows on the cobbles. Relena's rose lay on the ground where she must have been taken along with an apple with a single bite taken out of it. Both were ominous reminders of his failure. He picked up the rose and clutched it to his chest.

"Relena… I'll find you." He said before running back to the inn.