Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

Though Relena herself had not known Spanish in her life, she understood enough to be greatly impressed by the sound of the words on Heero's tongue. His lips moved with incredible speed and efficiency, and the R sounds rolled off his tongue with so much feeling that it nearly gave her chills. Standing at the kitchen door, watching him speak and play with the children in the night, she felt fully at peace.

"Do you understand him?" Viuda Anita asked, as she stopped near Relena.

Relena looked perplexed for several moments.

"The language," Anita clarified. "Do you understand what he is telling them?"

A small, glowing smile graced Relena's face. "No," she said softly, not taking her eyes from the group before her. "But it still sounds beautiful."

"I actually did not realize that Spanish was not Señor Heero's first language, when I met him. He speaks it very well."

Relena shook her head in disbelief. "That man does everything perfectly, doesn't he?"

Anita smiled a long while, just watching the minute cues on Relena's face. "That he does," she said, finally, in a knowing voice.

Relena looked at her blankly for a moment, and then smiled as she changed the subject. "How long have you known Heero—if you don't mind my asking?"

Anita grinned, gesturing toward the youngest child who was easily between six and seven years of age. "You see Jaymes?"

Relena nodded.

"He was two years old."

A feeling of slight surprise crossed Relena's breast. She'd never known Heero had such close friends for the last four years. Of course, Heero was never one to tell of his experiences or acquaintances without being pressed by someone he trusted.

"My husband had just died, not long before, and we had all made our way to the market place. Outings took a while to get used to, after losing Marco. They were still chaos. I'd hardly noticed the Japanese boy standing nearby, watching—everything. Fortunately, though, he was watching us.

"At some point I realized I had not seen Jaymes in several minutes. Trying not to panic, I began asking my older children where he'd gotten off to, but none of them had answers. Little did I know, Heero had not only overheard my newest observation, but he'd watched my son wander off.

"How blessed am I that he was there, that day? Jaymes had already captured Heero's attentive interest because he'd begun playing with a lizard, on a curb—right under a produce truck, where I couldn't see. Gloria a Dios, Heero was almost to him when the driver put the truck in gear. Before anyone realized what had happened, Heero dove for the vehicle, pulling my son from under the wheel to safely under the carriage, saving his life."

Relena's face showed slight surprise during the story, but she laughed internally knowing there was not surprise in the reckless way Heero had saved the child.

"As apparently tends to happen with Heero," Anita continued. "He managed to endure some nasty lacerations on his arm during the ordeal." She rolled her eyes, making Relena chuckle. "I got him cleaned up and insisted he stay for dinner. Without being asked, he busied himself helping me around the house, filling the needs my husband had left in his sudden passing. And then—he was one of the family." She smiled warmly. "I can barely remember life before him."

Relena studied the woman's face. The soft wrinkling around her eyes defined where she had laughed, but the worry lines atop her head were doubtless from newer stresses of being alone in the world, with such a large family to provide for. Raking her eyes over to the children, Relena found herself impressed at their behavior and mannerisms. For the stresses this woman now faced, on her own, she was doing a fine job bringing up the children she'd been given to love.

"They're all so fond of him," Relena said.

Anita sniggered sarcastically, gesturing toward the girl who had first greeted them when they arrived. "None so much as Anjelica."

Relena tilted her head, curiously.

"Anjelica is the one a person should watch out for—namely you."

Relena looked back into the night, noting that, as all the other children wandered away at Heero's suggestion, Anjelica stayed. She watched him gently prod her to wander with the others, but she held her ground. The girl looked at him, eyes glittering with admiration far greater than that of her siblings.

"Young love?" Relena asked, smiling awkwardly.

Anita nodded, clearly amused. "She's obsessed with him."

Relena scoffed, "It's certainly not the first time for him, I'm sure."

The elder woman threw her another knowing look. "How long have you and Heero been so—involved?"

"Involved? Not very long."

"But in love?"

"I can't say for him," Relena admitted. "But I think you know I was before I had reason to wait it out."

Anita lifted her chin, studying the patient man. "You were the obsessed one?"

Relena blushed, refusing to answer. "Anjelica is persistent," she commented in admiration, steering the conversation back to the girl.

"Si. She's not one to take 'No' for an answer."

Relena giggled in response.

"I remember one night," Anita said, starting another story. "Heero had worn all of the other children out, convincing them to take themselves to bed, but Anjelica would not be moved. She'd missed him over the months that he was away, and she intended to take up every moment she could. So late into the night, they sat right there, where they are now, and looked up into the stars. He entertained her with stories of heroes and champions form eons ago, so impressive to the gods that they had their likenesses etched into the heavens.

"Finally, Anjelica found her nerve, and informed Señor Yuy of her intention to marry him." She paused a moment, adding, "She found her nerve to tell him that she would marry him. It was more a command than a proposal, after all."

"What did he say?" Relena asked with a smile.

"No, of course," Anita answered. "He tried to let her down lightly. He told her that she was much too young to have eyes for a grown man as old as he. He softly suggested that she find an object for her affection who would be more her age. Someone she went to class with and had more in common with."

"Did it work?" Relena wondered aloud.

"No. Like I said, she's stubborn. She told him that when she turns ten, he will be twenty-five. When she turns fifteen, he will be thirty. But when she is twenty, he will only be thirty-five, and then their marriage will not be seen as inappropriate or frowned upon."

Relena shook her head, amused by the logic of a child.

"Heero, of course, found this deterrent little more than amusing, but she went on to explain how as they age, the difference in their ages loses potency with each passing year, as the ratio grows smaller in comparison to the years they passed."

"So what did he tell her, then?"

Anita sighed. "He explained to her that he is too much a vagabond for a girl like her. She needs to find a man who can be around. He said that he travels far too often, and his life is far too hectic, to consider allowing her to take part in his chaotic life. A girl as beautiful as herself deserves a boy who will be here, to dote on her and support her family."

"And?"

"That's when she became angry."

"Why was she angry?" Relena asked.

"She knew," Anita answered cryptically.

"Knew what?"

Anita smiled, softly, her eyes twinkling with wisdom as they met Relena's. "She asked him who 'she' was."

Relena's cheeks flushed.

"She asked who the woman was that stood between them. Who was this great beauty he felt he wanted more? Who was this 'musa'?"

"And he told her?"

"Of course not," Anita scoffed. "But he told me."

Relena looked confused.

"He's never spoken of you with words, Señorita. Only actions." She paused, allowing Relena to chew on the information. "He turned his face to the night sky in silence, taking in the stars. But the stars of the night, in all their brilliant majesty, could not compare to the deep pool of passion I saw when his thoughts turned to you."

Relena gingerly brought one hand up, over the opposing arm to smooth away the goosebumps as she thought of the look he would give her in their intense moments. Turning her eyes back to him, she asked, "If he never spoke of me, how did you know it was me, when we arrived?"

"Other than the fact that he would only bring the women he trusted most to my door? It is the same as everything else. That kindness and passion were in the same place; his eyes. Even so, when I looked at him, tonight, I knew the apprehension of a man that was bringing his lover home to meet his family."

Relena gave her a strange, questioning look.

"Heero didn't bring you to Mexico for food, Bonita. He brought you somewhere intimate. He's giving you part of himself that he has offered to no one else. You must realize that."

Relena took a breath, processing the gesture.

"Relax, Ministra," Anita smiled. "I gave him my approval."

Relena looked at the older woman for a moment, taking in the compliment and the joke. Finally, she began to chuckle, accepting the moment—now with all of its glory.

Viuda – Widow

Gloria a Dios – Praise God

Bonita – Pretty

Thank you to Jester, Fer82 and especially Thaire for help with the language on this chapter! ^_^