I Love You

~I have a smile

stretched from ear to ear

to see you walking down the road~

Heero walked down the sidewalk on L1 colony, his head down and his hands shoved deeply in his pockets.. Three years after the war, and he still couldn't get over it. He hadn't found a steady job, or founded any stable relationships. There was always one thing on his mind, however. And that was how to prove himself. He had to prove himself worthy of her love. He had killed hundreds upon hundreds of people, and she beleived in total pacafism. That was not a stable basis for a releationshp, he thought to himself.

He walked by a vid-screen, where the Vice Foreign minister's profile was being displayed as she gave yet another interveiw. Heero allowed himslef a small smile as he drank in her features. Her hair had grown longer, and it had a blonder tint to it. Her features were as delicate as ever. Her eyes, however, had not lost their spark. She continued on in her speech, her voice soft, but authoritative.

"Relena," he heard himself whispering. Quickly, he looked over his shoulder to see if anyone had heard him. Seeing that no one had, he took off towards the space port.

~we meet at the lights

I stare for a while

the world around disappears~

Relena stood at a podium, adressing a meeting of the delegates. Her voice rang strong and clear through the huge auditorium.

She's changed, Heero thought, as he stood in the back, covered by shadows. She is stronger. As he listened to her spout her ideals of a totally pacafistic nation, the more he wanted to run up there, take her in his arms, and.....

Heero shook his head to clear it as Relena's speech ended, and the crowd applauded enthusiastically. For a moment, she looked up, and her eyes gazed over the group and focused on a lone figure. Giving a small smile, she left the stage and proceeded to her seat in the front.

The blue eyed pilot was frozen to his spot. She had seen him. That wasn't in his plans. He was only supposed to see her. Not the other way around....

"Damn..." he muttered. He noticed that the delegates were dispersing, and he had to leave before she saw him again.

Quickly, he walked out the main entrance, hoping to go unnoticed.

~just you and me

on this island of hope

a breath between us could be miles~

He was almost to the revolving door, when a hand grrabbed his arm and spun him around.

"Heero?"

He sighed, knowing that there was no fooling the person who discovered him.

"Heero Yui. I never thought I would see you again. And yet here you are...and in all places, at a Peace Senate."

Heero nodded his head in cordiallity. "Hello, Dorothy. I see your sense of humor is still intact."

He smiled bitterly and responded,

"Of course."

He gave a grunt of acknowledgement, and took a step towards the door.

"She still thinks of you," Dorothy said quietly, almost too quiet. This stopped him in his tracks, however.

"Of cousre, she would never admit it, though." the blonde continued, "But if one would look very closely, they could tell that her mind is occupied on matters other than the peace of the world."

He looked over his shoulder at Dorothy, then continued on his way, trying to convince both her and himself that he didn't care.

~let me surround you

my sea to your shore

let me be the calm you seek~

He walked away from the auditorium, despite the tugging feeling he had in hid chest. He walked away from the only thing he ever wanted from life. He walked away from love.

A black car slid up beside him, and a very familiar profile presented itself.

"Heero? Is that you?"

Her voice. It was tearing him up inside. It was all he could do to not break down and cry at the sound of it speaking his name.

"Relena," he responded in his usual monotone voice.

She exited the car and approached him.

"Heero..."

~oh and every time I'm close to you

there's too much I can't say

and you just walk away~

The pilot felt his throat constrict, and his palms get sweaty. This can't be happening, he thought as she came neared to him. This wasn't part of the plan.

"How are you, Heero?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but all that came out was air. He tried to talk, he really did. He wanted her to know that he was in pain, being tortured even by her presance. He wanted her to know that every moment of every day of the last three years he had spent thinking of her. He wanted to tell her he loved her.

"Heero..." Relena sighed. "I don't know why I even bothered. You haven't changed at all."

She turned to go back to her car, a tear on her cheek.

~and I forgot

to tell you

I love you

and the night's

too long

and cold here

without you

I grieve in my condition

for I cannot find the strength to say I need you so~

NO! he thought. I can't let her go without her knowing. But something held him back. A very strong feeling gripped him in its death hold and would not let him go. His eyes widened in panic as he saw Relena get in the car. There was something wrong. There was something very, very wrong.

~oh and every time I'm close to you

there's too much I can't say

and you just walk away~

"Relena!" he yelled. "Get out of the car!" Heero ran over to it and began pounding on the glass. She spun around and glared at him. He saw her lips move to form the word 'no'. A frenzy ripped through him, pure adrenaline poured through his veins as he tore the car door off its hinges and grabbed Relena, just as the vehicle exploded into flames.

~and I forgot

to tell you

I love you

and the night's

too long

and cold here

without you~

They sat on the sidewalk where they had fallen, the impact from the explosion having sent them flying, Heero holding Relena's shaking body to his. He had almost lost her. Almost lost his second chance.

"Heero...why?" Her eyes looked up at him with curiousity and fear.

"Because I forgot to tell you something."

Then, he brought his hand up and gently caressed her cheek. "If I would have told you this sooner, this would have never happened. Nothing would've been able to harm you."

Relena's breath caught in her chest. "What is it? What do you need to tell me?"

His throat constricted in nervousness and hs mouth went dry. He looked down, not meeting her eyes.

"I love you."

Relena looked away from him, and he looked up, scared of what her reaction was going to be.

"I've waited my whole life to hear those words," she whispered. Heero reached up and wiped her tears away with a hand, and held her close.

Owarii