Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. ^-^

Song used: Collide by Howie Day

Back to Zero

a 1xR, 3xR fanfic by Ines Kanoyan

Romance/Drama

Chapter 7 Collide

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you

On the day of Arthur's pseudo-birthday, Sophie received a call from the Duke and Duchess of Nuremvia to pay them a visit. It had been a year since Arthur had last visited the kind and loving parents of Sophie - the same year when he was relieved of his duties as Sophie's bodyguard, for him to live a life of his own. But still, Arthur has become very close to the Nurembergs, after all the kindness they have shown him. He considers them his family. They have rebuilt his life by taking him in their kingdom and even giving him his name, Arthur Wallace. They had gotten that from a former butler (deceased) who had no living relative and made it appear that he was Arthur Wallace, the butler's only son.

"It's nice to be back here," Arthur said, as he and Sophie got off from the private limo that fetched them from the main city and drove them to the door step of the Nuremberg House.

"I know," replied Sophie as she smiled. "Feels good to be back home. The city's kind of stressful."

They wasted no time outside and headed towards the main hall where the Royal Couple was waiting for them. They were just in time for dinner. And Arthur felt a warm feeling of belongingness upon stepping inside the house.

The Duke and Duchess of Nuremberg were not the typical high profile royal blood, not that they could not but they had always been practical and simple. They treasured intimate gatherings and valued their relationships, not only with family members, but with the general populace of the kingdom. Tonight, they ate at the intimate dining room of the Nuremberg House. No huge banquet table or fancy numerous ornamental furnitures, just a simple table for four with enough scrumptious food enough to fill one's hunger and satiate the appetite. The room had an air of privacy and homey feel not only for the Nurembergs but most especially for Arthur.

"So, how are you doing, coping up at school? Living on your own?" Duchess Malena Nuremberg inquired.

Arthur glanced up to her and replied, "All is good, Your Highness."

Duchess Malena frowned upon hearing Arthur's formalities once again. "I told you to call me mother."

Arthur grinned uncomfortably. No matter how nice and all, the Royal Couple were to him, he just couldn't manage to be that bold enough to call them as they were his parents. He knew who he was, well, maybe not completely, but he knew he was no royal blood.

Again, Sophie came to his rescue. "Mother, let him be. You know how much of a shy guy he is," Sophie said turning things as light as they can possibly be.

"Well, he wouldn't have any problems if he learns to overcome that shyness and manages to court our lovely daughter," teased Duke Malcolm, winking at Sophie playfully, a comment which forced the food abruptly down Arthur's throat.

"Father!" Sophie bellowed, making her cheeks turn hot red in shame. "Arthur, do not take Father seriously, ever!"

The Royal Couple laughed heartily upon Sophie's overly defensive reaction.

Ever since they met, Arthur always felt how nice and caring Sophie was to him. She had taught him everything. Well, he did not necessarily forget everything but Sophie was always there to guide him and support him if there was anything he needed help. He was doing well with all the everyday stuff, but everything about himself-what he was like, who he was and what he wanted to be-was unknown to him. The Royal Couple, being the nicest people in the world, had no qualms providing Arthur with the assistance he needed in rebuilding his own life. They entrusted Sophie to him when they made him her lead security detail and from then on he pretty much led a new life with the Nurembergs.

That night, before Arthur retreated to his room, Duke Malcolm requested to talk to him in private. He led him to the balcony, overlooking the beautiful and spacious forest backyard of the Nuremberg House.

"Thank you," was the duke's opening statement.

Arthur was mildly surprised upon hearing this. 'What could he be thankful for?' he thought to himself.

The duke, seeing Arthur's reaction, went on. "For helping our daughter grow up."

Arthur still couldn't understand. The duke chuckled at Arthur's blank expression and proceeded to the table where he poured out wine for the both of them.

With glasses of wine on their hands, Arthur felt they were about to have some serious talk.

"You know before you came, Sophie was like a prodigal daughter to us. Spoiled and always gets her way." The duke proceeded again. "We were starting to worry we brought her up the wrong way, but when you came, we saw for ourselves who she really is and the things she is capable of. I didn't know that she can be a responsible person and really take care of someone if she really wanted to."

"I wouldn't know where I would be, if not for her." Arthur replied. "And, also if not for you and the duchess too."

The duke smiled heartily at Arthur. "You are like family to us Arthur and we know how much you mean to our Sophie. Please continue to take care of her for us."

"You need not ask me that Your Highness, " Arthur replied as they struck their glasses for a toast, as if sealing their agreement.

The night after her birthday, Relena called Sophie to finally tell her all about Heero Yuy. Sophie decided they meet up after their respective classes and talk personally.

They decided to meet at the café were Relena and Arthur celebrated their birthdays. Relena was already there when Sophie arrived.

Relena swallowed hard upon seeing Sophie's countenance approach her. She was stunning and perky as usual. She greeted Relena via a light peck on her cheek and a warm 'Good morning.' Relena smiled forcefully trying to hide her nervousness.

"So, what's up? You told me this was something very important. Couldn't wait until we see each other at class, huh?"

Relena shook her head. "No," She forcefully clenched her fists to control the trembling from all over her body. This was proving to be getting really hard for her. Here, Sophie was being perky and as casual as ever while she was nothing but stressed and nervous.

She swallowed hard, as if all her fears, paranoia and nervousness were something edible that can be forced down her gut. "I came to tell you something about Arthur." There, she finally said it. She tried to focus on Sophie's eyes but she just couldn't bear to look at her.

"Oh great!" Sophie hooted. "I've been sensing a thick air of unknown awkwardness from you coming from his presence last time."

Sophie tried to sound as perky as possible but she still couldn't comprehend why Relena was acting all nervous and awkward. She had always thought Relena was the complete personification of calm and confident as she has experience in dealing with a variety of people from her status as the Vice Foreign Minsiter.

Relena smiled uncomfortably and in mild distress. "Really?"

"Really! You were not your usual self!" Sophie said as she rolled her eyes incredulously. "It was like you just saw a ghost!"

Relena giggled at that. Recalling the incident, she may have that tendency of giving out her nervousness through her eyes; they may have widened a bit when she saw Heero emerge with Sophie.

"Sort of," she said after drinking her cold, freshly squeezed orange juice.

Sophie's eyes widened and then narrowed into slits. "Spill the beans, what is it about Arthur?"

Relena's face quickly turned serious. "How long have you known him?"

Sophie shifted in her seat, to face Relena more properly. "Three years."

"That was the time when a man named Heero Yuy disappeared after a plane crash."

Sophie's eyes mirrored her contemplating thoughts. She went back to that day when she first saw a young man struggling for his life on the shore.

"You mean,"

Relena nodded and finished Sophie's sentence for her. "Heero Yuy looks exactly like Arthur."

Sophie gasped as she placed her hand to cover her mouth. Her other hand was trembling. "Oh my god!" she cried. "You know who Arthur really is?"

Relena closed her eyes then nodded slowly.

Inside her car, Sophie couldn't help but ponder about everything Relena had told him about Arthur. Sophie learned everything about Heero Yuy that day. And how different was the casual, all-friendly Arthur from the silent and morose former Gundam pilot. Relena had been thorough in describing Heero Yuy to her. She had told him how brave and selfless he was during the Eve Wars and how everybody admired his skill and prowess in handling mobile suits and fighting the war. That he was the driving force behind the destruction of the huge chunk of the Libra that could have obliterated the Earth and that he was also involved in stopping the uprising led by Mariemeia.

Sophie had also seen who Heero was for Relena. She had been passionate enough to share how he impacted on her life. How meeting him has changed her from being an empty-headed spoiled brat to the former Queen of the World who advocated for peace across the entire universe.

All of these have explained Relena's reaction upon seeing Arthur. He was, after all, the man Relena had been indirectly telling her about. Not that Relena actually told her that Heero Yuy was the man she had always loved but she was not blind nor insensitive not to deduce that from all her actions and from how beautifully she described this Heero Yuy. It was like how Arthur is to her.

"I just want him to remember everything."

Relena had said. And she had said, 'yes'. Why would she prevent Arthur from knowing who he was? He had every right to know. They've been trying to find that out for three years, and the reason they probably haven't succeeded was maybe because all information about the former Gundam pilots were classified. And, they didn't even thought of him as a Gundam pilot in the first place. This was good news. Finally, Arthur will know who he is! But, why does it feel so heavy for her? Why wasn't she feeling anything but, fear and confusion? It was as if someone was about to die. It was as if she was about to lose someone.

She was distracted from her thoughts when her car moved to a halt and her driver glanced back to her and said, "We're here Madam."

To which she smiled and said, "You wait here for a while."

Sophie got off and sighed heavily as she gazed at the apartment building where Arthur was residing.

Arthur was quite surprised to find Sophie outside his door on a Sunday night. Sophie rarely visits him on a Sunday night as tomorrow they both had to go to their classes.

He led her to his couch just in front of the television set and headed straight to the fridge to offer her something to drink. Sophie went on to sit quietly until he came and joined her.

"What's up?" he asked as he placed Sophie's drink on the table.

Sophie shifted uncomfortably in her seat and bit her lip. "Nothing much, just wanted to see you."

Arthur raised his brows, befuddled. Sophie was looking straight at him. Her gaze made it look like she was contemplating on something that Arthur failed to recognize.

She sprung from her seat and in no time was wrapped around him tightly.

Arthur's eyes widened and his body tensed as the beautiful blonde squeezed herself tightly around him. Arthur slowly and unsurely made his hands move to return the embrace.

He knew they were close, but intimacy was something new to him. Not that, he was not attracted to Sophie in any way, but he had so much respect for her that he made sure he treated her well.

Sophie found herself smiling upon feeling his warm touch on her back.

Never breaking apart from him, she said, "Promise me, you won't forget me, Arthur."

Arthur moved her so they were facing each other and looked at her in the eye. It was as if he was trying to read her thoughts. Sophie stared at him waiting for his response.

"Promise me!" she demanded, when she got impatient waiting for Arthur's reply.

Arthur was still confused but managed to say, "I promise."

Sophie hugged him again and rested her head on his shoulder, feeling his warmth and savoring his touch. "I don't wanna lose you. You're my best friend."

Arthur smiled heartily and thought he understood. He stroked Sophie's blonde hair gently and said, "You're being needy today, huh?"

Sophie smiled, glad that Arthur let her do this to him. It was true. She needed him. Badly.

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

Arthur found it a struggle to get out of bed the following morning. He had spent the whole night thinking about Sophie's gesture. She had been unusually needy that night. Hugging him out of nowhere and even making him promise that he would always be there for her. In his three years of living with Sophie and a year of living in the city and knowing different people, he had been acquainted with the protocols in dealing with people. The concept of family, love and friendship had been fairly familiar to him as well. He wouldn't deny that he hadn't felt any of those within the three years he had been with Sophie. Of course, she meant something to him. She was actually very special to him. It was safe to say she was his best friend, a person he deeply trusts and cares for.

But, others saw that in a different way. Wherever they go, people always thought they were romantically involved. Not that it was absurd, for Sophie was really a very attractive lady-pretty, smart, kind and affectionate. What Arthur couldn't understand was why he doesn't feel anything at all when he is with her? His friends at the paramedic ward always tells him various stories of how they lust or dream of their girlfriends or any hot female. They would constantly say how it excites them, sends electric bolts into their bodies and when they're in love they describe how different it is when you're with that person. They say you just know, you just feel. They always tease him with Sophie and he always tells them that there is nothing. The truth is, there was really nothing and it appalled him. It was logical to like Sophie, to feel something for her especially when she's that attractive and that nice and loving.

But, even last night, when she hugged him tightly and had her face inches from his, there was nothing. No electric bolts, no feeling whatsoever!

'Man, what is wrong with me?' Arthur thought.

OUCH!

He was deeply engrossed on his thoughts, that he didn't notice he had bumped into someone on the street. His reflexes were quick enough to prevent the person from falling by holding onto its arms.

"Sorry," he muttered as he got to see who he bumped.

It was a woman with long golden blonde hair. When she slowly raised her head up to look at him, he felt something.

Her cerulean blue eyes gazing at him made him weak in the knees. He seemed to lose himself in those pools of blue that reflected his own feelings which he finds hard to comprehend.

'What is wrong with me?' Arthur thought to himself again.

It was Sophie's friend, Relena Peacecraft. They meet again.

I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

Relena immediately bowed her head and said, 'I'm sorry' as well. Arthur sensed that she was suddenly tensed and aloof. She composed her stance at once and smiled uncomfortably before proceeding to walk very fast. Arthur, on the other hand, found himself staring at her, dumbfounded.

Arthur watched in awe as she maneuvered hurriedly out of his way. From the spot he bumped into him, he saw something which might have been hers. True enough, when he picked it up, it appears to be her school ID.

"Oh shoot!" he exclaimed when it dawned on him, that she won't get in the University without it. He ran as fast as he could to catch up with her.

He found her by the main gate of Easton University. She was hunched as she fumbled inside her bag apparently searching for something. As he approached, he sensed her panic and the urgency to which she has to find that thing. The guards also looked concerned at her.

"Um, excuse me," Arthur said , as he was just behind Relena who was still fumbling the insides of her bag.

She stopped to lift up her head in his direction. The two guards also looked at him. Arthur raised the ID up and said, "Is this what you're looking for?"

Relena snatched the ID from him hurriedly and waved it to the guards. She then bowed her head to him and said, 'thank you'. And soon enough Arthur watched as she sprinted inside the premises of the Easton University.

Don't stop here
I lost my place
I'm close behind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind

'Why was she always in a hurry? Why can't she look at me? Why does she look nervous and uncomfortable with me? Sophie said she was nice and fun to be with.'

Arthur wasn't at all paying attention to the lecture. It was a huge lecture class in forensic science. It was easy not to listen. Arthur found himself thinking of her at once the lecturer started blabbering about theoretical stuff which Arthur found no interest in. He recalled this morning's events: how he had been wondering why he doesn't feel anything when he is with Sophie but when he had seen Relena this morning, he actually felt something! But, he couldn't seem to rationalize what it was. He just found himself wondering about her and how she had managed to arouse alien feelings within him.

Arthur remembered the first time he had seen her. It was the day of his birthday, just the other day. Sophie had been so thrilled to see her. She introduced her to him. He couldn't understand but, she looked so familiar or was she just so damn beautiful? And he looked forward to shaking hands with her. But, she was acting awkward and not comfortable at all, it was as if something was off. He casually greeted her and extended his hand for a handshake. But, she just stared at it and then stared onto his face. Arthur felt something in his stomach, something weird.

'Why was she staring like that?' he again thought to himself as he continued to recall the incident.

But, when she took his hand and held it. It felt different. It was something he had never felt before but it also felt weirdly familiar. It almost felt like he had held her hand before. He noticed that she was feeling uncomfortable, so he shook off his weird thoughts and tried to act like nothing was wrong. It explained why he tried his best to be bubbly and tried to talk casually during the whole time. But, she just kept staring at him.

Arthur recalled how he had felt during those times that he felt her eyes were on him. He felt somehow nervous but also frustrated. Nervous because he couldn't understand why those beautiful, mesmerizing eyes were staring at him and frustrated because he too wanted to look at her but not, without her knowing it and she feeling awkward and all.

He sighed and found a bunch of his seatmates glance at him. Then, he realized he must've made an audible sound. He bit his lip and tried acting indifferently as he made himself concentrate in listening to the boring lecture instead of daydreaming about Relena Peacecraft.

You finally find
You and I collide

You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide

-TBC-

A/N: Guys, thank you for all the reviews and of course to my beta reader, lady rinoa! Please continue to review and do not hesitate to share your thoughts and suggestions for the story. It really helps if you drop a review so I know how my story is doing. :)

Ines Kanoyan