Pre-Script:

Going through some editing of this chapter

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There isn't much else to say other than this might have some 3R fluff. While I can see Dorothy and Quatre together, I still ship strongly 3x4 and as you will see the close friendship between Relena and Quatre.

Darlian Dairies

Chapter two: Clumsy People

When the video call came late that evening Quatre was surprised to see Relena on screen. Out of all the gundam pilots He was the one who worked most closely with her. Often they would tag team debate discussions, have long meetings in the privacy of their homes, and even go out to the occasional work dinner when time allowed. It had gotten to a point the tabloids were calling the two a secret couple.

The two of them however laughed it off but sometimes the blond prince of space wondered what it would be like if it were true. The idea bounced around in his head as he stared out the window at the simulated moon before the video phone rang. It would mean the women his sisters have been sending would stop and also the constant questioning of 'who the lucky girl' was going to be. As for Relena, he wondered if it would ease up on her more aggressive suitors who were more interested in lifting their position or her wealth.

The only problem with the plan however was one Heero Yuy. How would he feel? Sure he did a fantastic job guarding the young officials' body and ideals but he did a terrible job at protecting her heart. He was truly clumsy with anything that dealt with that woman's heart.

Yet, Quatre found that all of them were clumsy.

A familiar face appeared on the screen, a soft smile and warm eyes greeted him.

"Miss Relena!" He smiled warmly at the screen. She looked more alive as she waved compared to the past few months. Her eyes were sparkling and there was something renew about her. Maybe, just maybe she was calling to tell him that she and Heero eloped.

Hell would freeze over first.

"Quatre! I feel like it has been ages since I've seen you." Relena leaned forward resting her chin in the palm of her hand. "I have a favor to ask you though so forgive me for being so forward but I couldn't wait after I decided."

Or maybe it had….

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow and waited for her to continue.

"I want to take a holiday…and I was wondering if I could…" She toyed with her hair looking away from the screen. "If I could come and stay with you for a bit."

Nope, Hell was still a boiling; it was a rings of fire paradise.

"Of course Miss Relena!" Quatre couldn't hide his grin; at least her visiting was good news. "But can I ask what brought it on?"

" Can it wait until I am there…I'll be coming alone."

It was cryptic but the Winner heir had a feeling of what wasn't being said. "Of course Miss Relena anything you need, just advise me of your shuttle time and I'll have my personal team meet you."

Her shoulders relax and with a nod as the plan was set, "thank you Quatre I just…I just need to get away." The young empath could hear the tears in her voice. All of this sudden planning was making him worry. There was something wrong but only a hunch on the cause, it would have to wait until she arrived.

Of course he had his suspicions though. It all was centered around a green tank and spandex short wearing solider.

"You are always welcome here Miss Relena, you are very dear to my heart." The young man nodded touching the screen gently unable to ease a friend in pain in physical form.

"I'll see you tomorrow night then, I will leave in the morning." With that Relena smiled one last time before the video feed faded to black.

This all was troublesome, but his mind went to the only person who could have caused this. What was Heero doing? Or the better question what was Heero not doing?

OooOOooo

The shuttle ride was uneventful but guilt settled on her like a wet blanket. Heero did nothing but stare as she packed. He didn't speak in protest about her safety, he didn't complain, nor did he give her some sort of snide comment about taking a holiday. The man just stood there like an abandon dog that was being left behind.

His stare haunted her even as she stared at the earth from space. Her mind wandered aimlessly and without purpose. Below her the beautiful glass bead was soaked in equal amounts of blood and tears. Yet it always remained so beautiful from space. It remembered her of his eyes; the same clear blue that had shed just as many tears and seen just has much blood.

He was down there still…unless he already moved onto his next mission. In an stubborn attempt to avoid the guilt that was clenching her heart she looked away and closed her eyes. Three hours and she'll be at the Winner Residence.

In three hours, she'll finally be just Relena.

Soon a still peace overcame her and sleep clung heavily to her body. It was a lie to say she wasn't tired and Dorothy's visit made it worse with that dangerous insight. At 18 she came into power, partly out of respect for her late father, both adopted and biological, and of her own sheer strength. Most of the world still saw her as queen that united the world while the colonies saw her as the angel of peace. Both of these responsibilities were shoved upon her by her brother and that man.

At the time she hadn't realized it but now she could see their plan. As smart as she was, Relena still failed to see their duty, their shame, which they shifted to her. It was because of that she was in this position. While one had died for war, the other lived removed from it as if he were dead; they left the weight of peace for those left behind – herself, the former Lady Une, and the gundam pilots.

The price she paid however was her freedom. She was no longer Relena a girl – a woman who could simply live for herself. She could not spend idle days shopping, make friends for the company, nor could she even go alone to the movies. Things she took for granted back in her child hood. No, the former princess had to live for others- those who lost their lives, those who still live with the grief of war, and those who now live in peace.

Her mind wondered to the relics of war, the former gundam pilots and their lives now. Duo Maxwell still kept in close contact with her; he was a friend and confidant in times where she couldn't find Heero. They often passed information to each other their lives and the direction of their own objectives. It helped that they shared laughs at Heero's expense as well. His girlfriend-not-girlfriend also played an important part in Relena's current life, though they don't share close bonds the girls shared an understanding that grew from their chance meeting on Libra.

Trowa Barton was still a man she didn't understand but had a soothing aura. One that Relena could understand why Quatre enjoyed his company above the others. They had only met in passing a few times but Relena respected his insight and quiet kindness that radiated off him. The young man still worked in the circus but found he was working in the Preventers more often than not.

The Chinese pilot Wu-Fei was one she hardly had contact with. He now worked closely with Sally Po and Chief Une. He was the less approachable but took his work in protecting peace as seriously as the others. There actually wasn't much for her to think or say about that pilot.

Lastly there was Quatre who led the Winner cooperation. He stood as a representative of the colonies in the time of peace and worked to rebuild the damages done due to the wars. He was the only one of the gundam pilots who fought on the same battle field as her. Quatre understood how she fought and kept fighting while bullets were gone and the bombs disarmed. It was why she was running away there at least for the week.

She couldn't keep going without rest (even though on most days she'd argue that) she wasn't the prefect solider like Heero. Relena, after the Eve Wars, finally realized she could never be like Heero. No matter how much she wanted to.

She still remembered the day she sprained her ankle and he had the nerve to tell her 'I thought you were stronger than this'. He goaded her, pushed her, and demanded too much of a weak human with a head full of unrealistic ideals.

And it was that sort of attitude he always seemed to squash when he was around her.

"Miss Darlian we have landed." A gentle hand jarred her from her restless sleep.

Blue eyes opened slowly to stare at the preventer who was assigned to escort her. He was a young man around her age who had bright green eyes and sandy brown hair. He smiled down at her gently and offered her a hand. " We have zero-g here so let me help you up."

"Thank you Mr. Rogers." Returning the kind smile with one of her own she took his hand after doing her seatbelt.

It didn't take her long once leaving the shuttle to spot the blonde man with the warmest eyes she had ever seen. He was waiting for her with a matching smile. Relena's calm smile turned into a grin as she left the preventer and floated into the arms of Quatre Winner.

"Miss Relena!" he laughed as he spun her around in the weightless air. He had grown much like Heero. The blonde was now closer to his father's height while his body was still slight and kept the lean muscles of his youth. The young CEO however still kept his casual fashion of his family, keeping true to their desert heritage.

"I've missed you Quatre" She whispered into his chest while her arms clung to him.

Gently he held her with a soft smile, "Come on, let's return to my estate." Quatre's eyes went to the preventer, "Thank you for delivering the Vice Minster but we will no longer need your service, she is in very safe hands."

Preventer Roger was a bit taken back ready to argue when the former princess looked up. "There is nowhere safer than the Winner's estate Mr. Rogers. "

If the pissed look didn't show his offense to that statement, his tightly pressed lips and stiff salute would.. "If that is your wish…I shall be here to escort you for the return trip."

Maybe, she thought, it hurt his pride? Relena studied him for a moment before brushing the thought aside for now. With another smile, Relena nodded looping an arm with Quatre's floating with him to the exit. She could feel the calm already coming over her. This was indeed the best choice after all.

The ride to the Winner Estate was filled with heated talk about what the other has been doing lately. It was the casual coffee talk two friends had after not seeing each other for a few months.

The general gossip, which would always be more interesting than affairs of state.

"So…Duo and Hilde, they haven't actually made anything official?" Relena raised an eyebrow as they pulled up to the large building.

"Of course not…Duo denies everything still even when I tease him." There was a mischievous smile that didn't match the angelic face.

"I'm sure he'll come out and make a move…eventually." Relena laughed and let the Space CEO help her from the car.

"Maybe he needs a little push, but what kind of push I'm not sure yet. Maybe at your birthday party we can come up with something Miss Relena." Quatre laughed as he guided her inside, his body guards flanking them at a respectable distance.

"About that…." Relena sighed as she took a step into the impressive home. It didn't stun or shock her, after all she grew up in wealth and around others with wealth. Quatre's taste however was professional and even though he was far from cold the main entrance lacked a home's true warmth. He steered her to the elevator which lead to the pent house that was located on the top floor.

The guards entered in the set of codes to allow the metal doors to open and the two step through. "About that?" The fellow blonde echoing her.

"It seems Chief Une has already planned my party and it will be a political affair." The girl let out an irritated grunt and leaned against the cool walls as they surged upwards. " It seems that since I skipped my 17th birthday for work, my 18th was a hijacking, she saw it fit to have me stationary in my own home full of preventer security with a bunch of old men and women. In her words 'there will be no incidences this year' sadly I don't think that counts as a normal birthday do you?" For some reason tears prickled at the corner of her eyes.

"Miss Relena…" The young man looked at her helpless but grabbed her hand as they reached his floor. Not replying yet he took her to his spacious living area. The style was interesting. Low couches circled the outer portion of the area with a small table and plush pillows to act as chairs around it. Decorative floor lamps and tapestries added a bit of tribal flavor to the room.

"Don't miss Relena me Quatre." Another irritated sigh, mostly at herself escaped her lips as she half fell half lowered herself to one of the floor pillows. Her blue eyes stared up blinking away those pesky tears. "I am just…so frustrated at myself" The words were coming out easier then she thought. "I'm frustrated at for the last three years something horrible has happened on my birthday. I'm frustrated that I can't be myself around anyone but you pilots. I'm frustrated that…that I….." And with the word vomit the tears just slipped down her cheek.

Three years ago she cried so easily. Now, she felt like she hadn't cried in ages and it was all coming out now.

Relena knew Quatre was sitting beside her now. At first he was looking away and let her have her cry. He didn't stop her, or chided her, or even tried to comfort her. After a few more dozen tears he gently pulled her up to a sitting position before wrapping his arms around her slight frame. Face tucked away into his chest she cried, truly cried and let herself go. The time for words had passed, and with clingy fingers Relena held onto him.

At first she didn't make any sounds just her quiet weeping filled the air. Gentle hands stroked her hair soothing the fear that clenched her chest, and the dam was broken. For a good twenty minutes Relena shifted in-between wails and hiccupping completely soaking the man's chest. When the tears were gone, no longer having the energy to make anymore Relena just clung to him numbly.

When was the last time someone held her like this?

Made her feel safe.

She remembered when her mother would hold her as she cried, how her father wouldn't be far behind. That was when she was just Relena.

How she missed being just Relena.

Quatre's soothing touch was lulling her to another sleep. One, where she found no answers but at least rest.

He whispered something to her, in what she figured was his native language but she couldn't understand. But it caused her to smile softly as sleep took her.

OOoooOooo

"Sleep well little princess." Quatre whispered to her softly stroking the soft strains of hair. At first her tears shocked him but he figured she needed to cry. So he allowed his shoulder to be the one she found find comfort on.

This is what happens when the worlds expects too much out of a person. It was true the pilots had given their souls to battle, but after the war was over they had nothing left to do. It was people like Relena who carried the weight of their actions.

Heero was right she was the strongest of them all, and he was honestly surprised she hadn't broken down sooner.

Thinking of Heero, his eyes darted to the shadows of his hallway. First Duo and now Heero. He really needed to fix his security. Shifting Relena gently down to the pillow, he grabbed a blanket and covered her before standing.

Well it worked out for the best that he was here; the two needed a distraction from each other.

Not bothering to announce the obvious Quatre made his way to his office, knowing Heero would follow. Once the door was shut and the light flickered on he turned to look at his fellow friend and comrade. The two stared at each other for a long moment before Quatre made to ease the tension with a smile. "She is exhausted Heero, and sometimes a woman needs a good cry."

The man just snorted and looked away.

"So are you going to explain why you broke into my home and watched from the shadows?" leaning against his desk Quatre poked what he assumed was the wounded wolf. It was a dangerous thing but it had to happen.

Another 'hn' came out of his lips his eyes narrowing slightly. There was an inner battle going on and it was clear in the reflection of those blue eyes. "Or are you going to tell me why she came here without you? And you still felt a need to sneak onto her shuttle and follow her?" Oh that hit the nail on the head as the man's jaw muscle twitched.

"Heero you hn-ing isn't going to change anything." Arms crossed the blonde waited for an explanation of his actions.

Another pregnant silence followed before the 01 voice filled the air. "She doesn't need me."

For a moment Quatre felt his eyebrows shoot up but before he could refute that statement the ex-pilot continued.

" She hasn't needed me for a long time Quatre, she is strong on her own and I've been only weighing her down. What she has been working for is the focus of her life but every time I return to stand by her I feel that I only get in the way." This was one of the few times Heero actually voiced his feelings, but he continued on as if needing to hear them out loud himself. "She told me once that she wanted me to visit her more because I give her strength to go on but I feel like I have the opposite effect." He drew a hand through his hair almost as if irritated at it.

"I can't follow her where she is going."

And there was the truth of the matter.

"Heero….have you told her this?" The two of them were so good at communicating to others but when it came to each other, Quatre was sure they failed completely.

"…"

As shown by example A. With a shake of his head, "Well…it is a good reason why you are here because I have a mission for you concerning Relena and a possible threat. I think…you should take the time to go on it and sort out what you are feeling. It is you always telling us to follow our emotions so take some time to figure out yours." Offering a small smile he moved to brief Heero on the mission.

In truth it was a good thing Relena was here with him it would be the safest spot for her at the moment. It seems in honors of her 19th birthday some organization was planning to attack. Why and for what reason he hadn't a clue but Duo was already working on the case. He was sure Heero was already working on some lead and didn't bother to fill anyone else in on it.

They should be working with the preventers but once a gundam pilot- always a gundam pilot. It often meant working alone and ignoring any form of organization unless going undercover. Wu-Fei was the only one who seemed to like to belonging to one which was odd but understandable.

"I take it you already have some kind of lead on them….but Duo is going to C93-39 to see what he can find, I am sure he could use the backup…." Seeing the nod Quatre relaxed his shoulders some. Really Heero and Relena were too much alike….too much of a work-a-holic

"She'll be safe here…actually Trowa is in town so I was thinking we would go visit him and Cathy." He beamed a smile which seemed to lighten the mood some but didn't banish whatever demons Heero was currently fighting.

Mission accepted Heero had nothing else to say or do but exit.

Quatre could only put his face into the palm of his hand, what hopeless fools he had for friends.

OooOOooooO

Heero hadn't meant to say as much as he did to the empath but it couldn't be helped. He just wanted to exit quickly just in case Relena would wake; it was hard explaining to Quatre why he was here but to her? He wasn't sure if he had the ability to even look at her in the eyes at the moment.

Something however made him stop and drew his eyes to the sleeping girl on the floor. The blanket was pulled up around her and slightly tangled between her legs. Strains of hair stuck to her tear stained face as she ungracefully snored softly. Her eyes were still a bright puffy red and he could even see a bit of snot trailing down her nose.

And he couldn't help but think she was beautiful even now.

Without thinking he took a few steps towards the woman before kneeling. His hand instinctively went to brush away the hairs that stuck to her face checking for a fever. "You need to take care of yourself more…" Heero chided her softly feeling the heat radiating off her.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't jealous. That he hadn't thought about punching Quatre the moment they were alone but he couldn't direct it at anyone but himself. He was upset that he couldn't be the one she cried to, the one who couldn't – or wouldn't – hold her, the one who didn't comfort her.

He flinched slightly when center of his current conflict moved closer to him moaning slightly but didn't pull away. Heero had seen this before. Whenever she had a fever she would break down into an emotional mess. Most of the time it could have been about the sky being blue but part of him was sure it was about her current situation.

Countless hours of sleep lost and the trips spent between all areas of earth and space played havoc on her immune system. Thought, he knew she would be too stubborn to rest until she broke past her limit which is where they are now.

Quatre was right though he had to sort out his own emotions before he made any mistakes. About to pull away he felt a small hand gripped his and a small amount of fear washed through him, she woke?

Eyes darting down he relaxed when he saw the glassy look, she was still in her fever and most likely think this was a dream.

"Heero…" She mumbled softly with a smile. "stay…" Relena held his hand to her face sighing at the touch, "I have a fever again don't I?"

When he could only grunt a yes in response she closed her eyes turning onto her back. "are you a dream?"

He didn't respond, he wouldn't lie but he wouldn't confirm the truth. Instead he just stroked her face brushing away any tears that still remained.

"Of course you are…only dream-Heero would still be here." The bitter laugh wasn't something he expected but still he said nothing.

"I was kind of hoping…the real Heero would be here…." Did this woman ever make any sense?

"Rest Relena." He ordered her softly.

"Kiss me and maybe I might."

Heero froze and stared down at her. She really did lose her mind to the fever. The woman only stared back at him expecting to either wake up or find out he was the 'real' Heero. The glassy look was clearing as her conscious was putting everything together.

"Rest." He ordered again but slowly he pressed his cool lips to her heated forehead.

As if that was all the proof she needed Relena's eyes closed content to rest. Heero though was unsure but there was a mission to complete.

And hopefully it would clear his mind.

Heero pulled and tucked the blanket around the Vice Foreign Minster one last time before standing and exiting the building the same way he came.

Post Script:

SO, I found a plot bunny and coaxed it out. The arc to come will have beaches, coconuts, some wonderful terrorist, and two stranded people on an island.

I see it lasting roughly around two or three chapters and ending on I hope a high note. I might end the fan fiction after that unless lightning strikes twice.

All of this is assumedly taking place a month before Relena's 19th birthday party as we know in FrozenTear Drop which ends in Relena being sealed away and sent to Mars. I may or may not follow the path of FTD but however I set it up maybe something along those lines anyways.

Next Chapter:

Relena and Quatre visit their old friend Trowa Barton. It seems like these peaceful days could last forever but that was never her or the gundam pilots luck.

Meanwhile on the mission Duo and Heero find the plot to kidnap Relena. It seems their plans had to accelerate due to the Vice Minster's quick get away from her duties and to L3.

Hoping their not to late the two race back to the colony.

Please Review! I enjoy reading what you think! Thanks!