Chapter Two

A week passed since the banquet and Heero was still lingering around. Relena saw him standing in front her office building, donning a Preventer's jacket and talking to Commander Une. Relena couldn't say she was surprised. He had worked for them before he decided to vanish into the colonies. She knew it was only a matter of time before he was back on her security team and hovering over her constantly. Five years ago, she was thrilled for his company, even the silent days. Now, she wasn't sure how she should feel about it. She was only six weeks away from the wedding and her schedule was filling up with the preparations for it and also meetings and speeches for her position as the Vice Foreign Minister. She was a busy woman and this old flame coming back into her life was the last thing she wanted to get distracted with.

She tried as hard as she could to not sigh heavily or ruffle her hair in frustration each time her thoughts went back to Heero. He hadn't spoken a word to her since the banquet, but she knew he was here, around her constantly. Tony had seen her for lunch, which she was grateful for. He was always able to get her mind off of stressors. Mostly, he spoke to her about his troubles and paid no attention to hers. She hadn't actually had anyone to complain about her job to in five years. Once she had tried to complain to Tony, but he gave her a small sympathetic smile and interrupted her before she had finished. At first, she was startled by his interruption, but after a while she started to become comfortable in it. Through all of her speeches and debates, it was nice to sit back and listen to someone else speak. She spoke so often throughout her day that she hadn't even noticed she wanted to be the silent one at least once. Heero had always let her speak, never interrupting her. He gave his opinion on situations, but never interrupted her. His responses were short and to the point. In privacy, Heero spoke to her often and freely, but their private time was sparse, even as her private bodyguard. He was always working, never quite out of soldier mode for her to get the personal answers she sought for. Eventually, she stopped trying and pushing, knowing that he would speak to her when he wanted. She had extended her arms often enough over the years that she was sure he knew that he was always able to turn to her if he needed to.

Her day had no interruptions other than Tony's visit. Not a single Preventer stopped by or phoned her. She actually had a good day, but the knowledge of Heero lurking around stopped her from realizing it. Her drive home was silent, where she would usually make small talk with her driver. When she arrived to her small two story home, she was pleased to see it vacant. For the past week, noting was out of the ordinary for her. Her life continued on as if Heero hadn't walked back in. She realized, as she entered her home alone, that she was expecting something from him. She was waiting for him to show up and disrupt her peaceful life like he always did. Her usual routine was supposed to be catty walloped now, but nothing changed. She closed the door, leaning against it now and slowly letting herself slump down to the floor.

She didn't understand it anymore. Was she glad to see him back? Was she glad he was all right? Was she angry he came back into her life? Or was she angry that nothing in her life had changed since his arrival last week? Was she expecting him to save her from this mundane life she's created around herself because she was bored? Her life always seemed so much more exciting whenever he was around. Was she expecting something more from him after five years?

She didn't know. She had no answer to these questions. She didn't even know if he'd run off and gotten a family after all this time. Hilde insinuated that he hadn't, but no one really knew what Heero had been doing after all this time.

After a few minutes, Relena picked herself up and mentally shrugged. She had nothing to do with Heero's life anymore and she had her own to worry about. She didn't know what brought him back to Earth, but it obviously wasn't her. She discarded her heels in the entryway and strode into the kitchen for a bowl of cereal for dinner. Her late nights were always this way. She kept little to no food in her house because a majority of the time she was off having a business dinner or spending time with Tony. She leaned against the counter, looking out the window and still lost in thought and a bowl in her hand. She didn't hear the knock on the door. She didn't hear the footsteps come into her house. She didn't even hear a voice call her name.

Once she finished her cereal in a distracted manner, she set it in the sink knowing she'd clean it later and turned to get ready for bed. At the sight of the intruder, she jumped. She wasn't accustomed to screaming so she didn't, although her voice did get caught in her throat. After a second, a few savory words exhaled through her mouth, making the intruder smirk.

"Damnit Heero! You could have knocked!"

He crossed his arms, "I did…three times."

"Oh…" she turned away, staring out the window again. "Can I do something for you?"

"Hn." Came his none committal grunt. She turned back to look at him, surprised that he was staring at her intently. She smiled half-heartedly, waiting. If she gave him enough time, he would answer her question. "I came to talk to you, actually. I hoped you would be alone so we could catch up."

"Catch up? Since when does Heero Yuy not know everything about my life?"

"Since Yuy stopped investigating." He said coldly.

It felt like a knife going into her heart and twisting. Never, in a million years, did she think he would stop keeping a watch on her. He may run off and do whatever he did, but she always knew that he kept up with her. He always kept up on her life and if she ever got into trouble, he would be there for her. She hoped the hurt didn't cross her face.

She put on her political front, forcing a smile and said, "Well, I think I have some time to talk with an old friend."

He smirked at her, moving aside to let her walk out of the kitchen. She moved forward, trying to keep distance between them. She sat down on the couch in her white and soft blue living room, tucking her feet underneath her and rested her head in the palm of her hand. Heero took the chair in front of her, sitting stiffly and not looking relaxed at all. He remained silent; his dark blue eyes watching her intently. She was uncomfortable, but she refused to show it.

"So, what have you been up to?" She started, still forcing a smile onto her face.

He hung his head slightly, placing his elbows on his knees, "Various jobs, and finished school."

"Really? Good for you, Heero."

"I guess I was just trying to find a place for an ex-soldier. I just wanted to see if my life really could be anything other than war and peace."

"And?"

He nodded slowly, "It can. I was bored half of the time, but it is possible for me to live a life that isn't full of weapons and fighting. I think I slept for an entire week the moment I found an apartment on L1."

"That's not surprising. You hardly ever slept, even after the war." She paused, looking down to the carpet now and trying to gather her courage to ask the real question. She cleared her throat, "So, why did you come back?"

"Didn't Hilde tell you already?"

"Not really. All she said is that you went to L2 once I made the announcement I was engaged."

He nodded slowly, staring at her as if she missed something. She hadn't though. She had thought for hours about what Hilde had said and she still didn't see any hidden meaning behind it.

Heero cleared his throat, reclining finally back in the chair, "Duo and I had to come up with some sort of plan to stop you from marrying Tony Samoz."

"Why?" Relena barked, letting her mask slip and anger flash across her face. All of her friends, other than the politicians, tried to tell her that it was a bad idea; although, no one ever explained why.

"Eventually, we came to the conclusion that we would just have to go to Earth and, as Duo put it, 'wing it'."

She huffed, "I don't see why it's such a horrible idea that I marry someone that cares for me? Why should I not, Heero? Give me one good reason why I should not marry Tony and I will give it serious consideration."

He smirked again, "Relena, you're looking for a reason not to marry him, but you can't admit it. You know it's a bad idea. Tell me, do you love him?"

"Of course."

"Do you love him like you love me?"

She was speechless, letting her mouth hang open at his question.

"I don't think you do. I think you needed someone to replace that void in your life that I used to fill. I know what I was to you and how I made you feel and I'm sorry it took five years for me to figure my own emotions out." He sighed, "You can't marry Tony because who you really want to marry is me."

Okay, second chapter up! Does anyone know what this story is going to be about yet? I gave a horrible summary on purpose.