The person who wrenched open the door and stumbled forward was a she. And she was tall, blond and wearing a pink suit.

"Kayla?!" Relena gasped from the floor.

Heero's finger rested comfortably on the trigger. "Don't move." Kayla raised her arms obediently, but her hands weren't empty. She was holding what appeared to be a mobile phone, but to a bodyguard, it could have been a bomb.

"Surrender your device," Heero barked. "Place it carefully on the floor and slide it over."

Kayla's face was flushed, beads of sweat apparent even from the other side of the room. Relena watched as the woman hesitated.

"Now," Heero hissed.

Kayla did as she was told. Relena started to reach for the device once it was near them, but Heero stepped in front of her hand, blocking her with his foot. He kept the gun trained on Kayla's face and reached down slowly with his free hand to retrieve the item before addressing its owner.

"What are you doing here?"

Kayla swallowed. "I…"

"Answer the question!"

"I thought you were arrested," Relena piped up.

Kayla grinned slowly. "I escaped. The police force here is quite incompetent."

Heero clicked the safety off his gun. "Why did you come here?"

"To see you both. Of course." Kayla blinked at them with a childlike expression.

"You didn't get what you wanted last time so you came back for more?" Heero's eyes tightened into a nasty glare.

"No. They confiscated my machine." She frowned. "But don't worry, I'll get it back."

"You're not taking us with you this time. I'll blow your head off if you make one move."

Relena's eyes widened. She knew Heero was deadly serious and hoped Kayla would be reasonable. She was standing there, shaking visibly, her arms still up in the air, saying nothing as Heero continued to berate her.

"I mean it. One move and you're leaving this room in pieces."

Relena watched as Kayla struggled to get her shaking under control.

"Now tell me what you're doing here."

"I wanted to see if it worked," Kayla blurted.

Both Heero and Relena looked confused. "See if what worked?" Relena asked.

"The drug I gave Heero." For once, Kayla looked genuinely afraid, wincing as Heero charged closer.

"The what?!" he growled.

"It's just an amphetamine." Kayla squeezed her eyes shut as Heero pushed the barrel of his gun against her forehead.

"A… what?" Relena frowned, worried that Heero had been poisoned. She thought of the way he'd been shaking earlier; that wasn't like him.

Heero frowned. "It's a chemical stimulant that's found in hallucinogens, such as cocaine. So you wanted me high?" he growled at Kayla. "What for?"

"What I used is more of a phenthylamine," she answered weakly. "It's like a mega-dose of aphrodisiac."

That word, Relena knew. Her eyes widened. "But why?"

Heero looked flummoxed. "You…"

"You're not high, Heero!" Kayla cried out. "You're just… horny."

"Is this some kind of sick joke?!" Heero looked like he was about to pull the trigger. Relena leaped to her feet.

"Heero, wait!"

"I wasn't trying to hurt you, Heero!" Kayla cried again, turning her head to the side, wincing as if she expected to feel the blow any second.

"Then why did you do it?" Relena asked calmly, standing behind Heero.

"I just… I wanted to get him riled up."

"Why?"

"So you would do it with him and I could film you!"

Relena could practically feel Heero shaking in anger. "You crazy bitch."

"Heero," she warned.

"Not now, Relena." His gaze was fixed on Kayla, his lip snarling into a scowl. "I'm ending this nonsense."

Relena quickly pulled out her phone and started tapping away. "Heero, I just sent a text to the front desk. They'll send security up. There's no need for you to take any further action."

Heero was still aiming his weapon. "She'll just break out of jail again."

Kayla remained wide-eyed. "I don't want to go back to jail!"

"Would you rather be dead?" Heero barked.

Kayla sniffed. "No…"

"Kayla, you're going somewhere where you can get help. I'll make sure of it." Relena fixed a hard stare on the other woman. "Do you understand me?"

Kayla bobbed her head up and down, blond bangs shaking. "Yes, Relena. I'm sorry."

Relena wondered why her enemies always ended up apologizing to her. "Don't be sorry. Swear you'll never do anything like this again." The look she gave Kayla was heavy with pity, conveying the full weight of her disapproval.

Kayla swallowed. "I won't."

"Heero," Relena tried again. "Back away now."

"No."

Relena sighed. Just then, the hotel security, along with a few police officers, broke in the hotel room door, brandishing guns and tasers. She turned and eyed the splintered door in dismay. "Now that was a little unnecessary, boys…"

"The situation is under control," Heero said flatly.

"Stand down, sir," a uniformed man instructed Heero, flashing a badge at him. "We're taking her into custody."

Heero glared at the man but eventually obeyed, holstering his gun. He trudged over to Relena, averting her gaze.

"Let's get out of here."

Relena watched as Kayla was handcuffed and led out of the room, looking back at them with one last mournful gaze as the officers dragged her down the hall. Relena just sighed again, ignoring Heero for the time being in order to answer questions from the officers that stayed behind.

It was a deja vu of the night before, except this time Heero urged the law enforcers to do a better job of guarding their prisoners while Relena advocated for Kayla to receive mental health counseling. A suited man who introduced himself as the hotel manager hurried into the room while they were still giving their statements to the police and apologized to Heero and Relena, offering to give them the room for free for the rest of the week. Relena just waved him off but thanked him for the gesture.

"We're checking out," Heero interjected. "Immediately."

Guests staying nearby were peering out of their doorways, but when the manager left he asked everyone to return to their rooms. Their voices sounded far away to Relena as finally, the police swept out of the room, leaving her alone with Heero once more.

Relena… His voice was far away from her, too. He brought her back to the present by touching his hand to her face. "Relena."

She shook her head, blinking several times. "Hm?"

"We're leaving. Let's go."

Heero took hold of both their suitcases, along with his laptop bag and Relena's, leaving her with just her briefcase and purse. She followed numbly behind him.

They didn't bother to check out at the front desk, assuming the manager had taken care of things. They stepped outside of the hotel and started walking toward the spaceport, which was located a short distance away.

"Sorry I didn't have time to get a car," Heero explained needlessly. "But it's not far to walk." Relena didn't answer. He turned around. "What's wrong?"

Relena looked anywhere but his eyes. "What's wrong?" she echoed. "What just happened?"

Heero stopped in front of her. "I know you're shaken up, but I didn't think we should stay there. Not with the door busted. And we were planning to leave, anyway."

"I know." Relena looked up at him sadly. "We were running away together. Weren't we?" Tears pierced her eyes.

"Why are you crying?" He frowned.

"Why do you think?" Relena scrubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm humiliated, Heero."

He shook his head. "I don't understand…"

"That drug Kayla gave you?! That explains everything!" Relena threw up her hands. "Your distractedness. And the shaking. A-and all that kissing and caressing… you never act like that, Heero. Never, in all the years I've known you."

He gazed hard at her and shook his head more firmly. "Relena-"

"I feel like such a fool. To think that that was you!" Her voice broke. "It wasn't, was it? It was all just… an effect. A stimulant, you said. You never would have done those things on your own."

Heero stepped closer to her.

"Relena."

"No, don't." She put her hands up to block him from advancing any further. "You can't talk your way out of this one. You were drugged. That wasn't you."

He glowered at her. "You believe everything you hear?"

She glared back at him. "Not, but-"

"Well, you want me to take a drug test, or what?"

"Actually, that's not a bad idea." She jabbed a finger at him. "You should go to a hospital and get checked out…"

"Not happening. I'm fine."

"But-"

"Relena." He was in her space suddenly, gripping her by the shoulders. "This is me. I'm not hallucinating; I'm not under some spell. I'm myself. Heero Yuy." He looked her straight in the eyes, pushing his face close to hers.

"Until you get tested, I'm not going to believe you." She raised her chin defiantly.

He dropped her shoulders. "We'll miss our flight."

"I don't care. I need to know who and what I'm dealing with."

Heero shook his head. "Relena, I know a little about chemistry. Amphetamines are in a lot of things. Even food. You like chocolate, don't you?"

Relena looked at him crossly. "I know what you're getting at, Heero, and it's not funny."

"No, you don't." He grabbed hold of her hand. "So you eat a piece of chocolate and it releases dopamines and makes you feel good, right?"

Relena rolled her eyes. "Sometimes. Maybe."

"And a kiss can do the same thing."

She looked away from him. "So?"

"So…" Heero drew her closer to him. "Some chemicals are released and have temporary effects. Slight changes in mood or behavior. Amphetamines release happy chemicals…"

There was that damned happy again.

"My point is, they don't alter your personality. They don't change who you are." Heero reached up and stroked her face.

"But they can affect who you're attracted to, evidently."

Heero chuckled softly. "I was already attracted to you. I've always been attracted to you. That wasn't the drug."

Relena sighed. "But it made you do things that were… out of character for you."

"You mean it made me act on my feelings?"

"Yes." Relena nodded before realizing what he was saying. "No, I…"

"Feelings that were already there," Heero pointed out, tracing her jaw with his finger. "So maybe I got a little boost. If you believe a drug like that could have so strong an effect on me. I'm doubtful."

"Really?" Relena looked up at him with hopeful eyes. She really wanted to believe him.

"Relena, I love you." He used his hands to bring her face closer to his. "I should have told you sooner."

She blinked back more tears. "Heero, I don't know if I can believe you…"

"Do you believe me now?" He was reaching inside of his jacket. Relena gasped when he retrieved a small velvet box.

"Heero… what is that?"

"I was going to give this to you later."

"Later?" She clutched at her chest. "When?"

"During our… vacation. I figured I should do it somewhere romantic."

Her hands flew to her mouth. "But Heero… we just decided to go away together spontaneously. You couldn't have planned any of this…"

"I was planning to ask you to go somewhere with me after the conference." He gave a casual shrug. "I figured you'd agree. If not, I would have thought of something else."

Relena's mind raced to work it all out. "But… how long have you had that?" She pointed at the box with a shaky finger.

"A while."

"And you just carried it around, thinking you'd get around to asking me, oh, eventually?"

Another shrug. "Yeah."

She wagged her pointed finger at him. "You were going to take my virginity first."

Heero frowned. "Not necessarily."

"Hmm, it certainly seemed that way..." She was triumphant, as if she'd caught a thief.

"Well, maybe that was just the drug." His eyes glinted in humor. Relena rushed to smack him but Heero caught her hand just in time.

"Think about it, Relena," he spoke softly to her angry face. "If I didn't really love you, why would I be carrying around a stupid ring?"

Her mouth fell open. "How do I know it's a ring? It could be earrings, or a necklace…"

Heero dropped her hand and held the box out to her. "Open it."

Relena backed away. "I really shouldn't…"

"You know you want to." Heero pressed the box into her hands. "You don't believe me? See for yourself."

She struggled for a moment internally before her curiosity won out. Her hands shaking, Relena slowly pried the velvet box open, only meaning to take a tiny peek inside. But with one little pop, the box sprang open.

Relena gasped as she beheld, nestled in blue silk lining, the most perfect, round-cut diamond surrounded by a diamond bouquet and filigree intricately woven together on a delicate rose gold band.

She quickly snapped the box shut and thrust it back at Heero, tears flowing freely down her face.

"But… but how did you… where…?"

"I ordered it from a specialty designer. Noin helped me, via the internet. I hate shopping."

Relena felt as though she couldn't string a coherent thought together as she stared at Heero. The stoic, handsome, floppy-haired young man she'd fallen irrevocably in love with when she was just a teen with a crush on the "bad boy." Who grew up to be her protector, her confidante. Her dearest friend.

Finally, she took in a sharp breath. "Heero. I don't know what to say..."

"You don't have to say anything right now." He tucked the box carefully back in his pocket. "I haven't asked you anything yet."

"But Heero…" Relena struggled to keep up with his brisker pace as he took off toward the lights of the spaceport gleaming ahead. "The cat's already out of the bag, don't you think?"

She couldn't help but think of how lovely that ring would look on her designated finger right about now. Of course, she didn't mean to be superficial; she'd just waited for so long for Heero to make a move and now here he was, at last declaring his undying feelings for her. Her life had changed dramatically, all in the course of twenty-four hours.

Part of her wanted to send Kayla a "thank you" note.

Heero threw her a look over his shoulder. "You're coming, aren't you?"

She harrumphed, mildly annoyed he hadn't just proposed then and there. After all, he had the ring.

"Why don't you wait for me?" she called after him sweetly, adding under her breath, "I've been waiting for you long enough."

Heero stopped short and turned to face her. "I heard that," he said, his features relaxing into a smile. He held out a hand to her, which she took, meshing their fingers together. Then they resumed walking, Heero dragging their luggage along with his free hand. "Better?"

"Much better." She winked at him playfully. "Husband."

"Husband?" Heero frowned. "Hm..."

"Relax." She reached over and poked his side with her free hand. "I'm just trying it out. You said we were beyond the boyfriend and girlfriend thing, remember? And you did buy me a ring, so…"

"So, you're my fiancee?" His frown deepened. "That doesn't sound right, either."

"Hey, don't look at me! You're the one who wants to propose," she teased. "I didn't make up these silly names."

"Let's just skip it all, then."

Relena gasped, afraid of her hopes and dreams being dashed once more. "But, Heero-"

"Unless you're hell-bent on some big, fancy wedding…" He glanced down at her with what she thought looked like pleading eyes. "We could just get this over with tonight."

Relena fixed him with her own version of his death glare. "Get this over with?"

"I didn't mean…"

"Remind me why you were planning to propose to me, again?" Relena stopped in her tracks and whirled on him, balling both hands at her hips.

Heero stopped, too, and ran a hand through his unruly hair. He looked far off and seemed to be weighing his words carefully.

"Two reasons," he started.

Relena relaxed her posture a bit, folding her arms over her chest. "I'm listening."

"One." Heero took a step closer. "I thought it would make you happy."

She couldn't help but roll her eyes. There it was, tonight's buzz word. "Oh, I'm happy all right…"

"Two." Heero took another step, closing the distance between them, reaching up to Relena's face, leveling her with a tender look.

"Because if you marry me, no one will ever be closer to you. I want to be the only one who gets to be that close to you. Because you are my only one."

Relena's breath caught, both at Heero's words and the emotion swimming in his eyes. She had seen that look before, briefly. But then Heero had pushed her away, sending her careening into zero gravity while he shut the cockpit to Wing Zero and zoomed off into space to battle her brother to the death.

So things hadn't played out that way, exactly, but it was a tense moment nevertheless. Now, there was nothing else between them, and the only thing they had to worry about was catching a shuttle back to earth.

For their honeymoon.

Heero had paused, his hand still resting against her cheek, as if waiting for her to say something.

"Heero," Relena whispered when she finally found her voice. "You've always been the only one for me. I can't picture my life without you in it. And I don't want to."

"You don't have to," he murmured before brushing his lips against hers. She savored every lingering second of the sweet, gentle kiss before he broke away and whispered urgently, "Marry me."

Shivers cascaded down her back. She worked to still her shaky breath.

"Before I give you an answer…" She pulled her face back from his and looked him squarely in the eyes. "Tell me. Is that an actual proposal, or just another phase of your security plan?"

Heero's chest rumbled as he laughed. How she loved that deep, masculine sound. She hoped that she would start getting to hear it more often.

"Both." He lowered his voice as if reciting a sacred oath. "I will always keep you safe, Relena, if you let me stay by your side."

These words made her tremble even more, but she tried to look collected. "Hmm…" She sighed breezily, tapping a finger to her chin. "And what if I say no?"

Heero moved back in closer, smirking. "I'd have to override you. For your own safety, of course."

"How patriarchal of you," she quipped, giving him another no-nonsense look.

He picked up on her playfulness and shrugged. "Have it your way, then. I guess you could always fire me, or marry someone else. But then I would make that other person very uncomfortable, because I'm not going anywhere."

Relena's heartbeat quickened. "No?"

Heero took both her hands in his and clasped them to his chest. "No."

"Well." Relena cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing. "You make a very compelling argument. I suppose I'll have to say yes."

His expression changed again as his eyes seemed to light up, like clouds parting to reveal the sun. He took in a sharp breath, then leaned down and pressed their foreheads together.

"Yes… you'll marry me."

"Yes." Relena's eyes flitted up to meet his, and she smiled. "If you insist."

Heero pulled her tightly to his chest, drawing her into a slow, deep kiss.

"I do."

The End

A/N: Thank you to all of the readers who have reviewed, followed and favorited this little story! You complete me! Happy holidays!