<html><head></head><body>Name: Tara Lynn
Email: Zechs Merquise79@aol.com
Title: And the Past Fades Away...
Category: Romance / Angst

And the Past Fades Away

*Ring ring*
The ringing of the phone quickly caught the young man's attention. He lifted

his head up, placing the sponge and plate on the side of the sink, his hands

dripping with water.
*Ring ring*
He swiped a small towel hanging to the right of the sink, drying his hands

with it as he quickly made his way to the ringing phone, his long platinum

blonde hair swaying behind him. Holding the towel in his left hand, his
right
hand picked up the phone.
"Hello?" He answered in his usual mysterious voice.
"Zechs. Hi." Said a female voice on the other line.
"Noin.." He said. "How are you?"
"Fine.. um.. I was wondering.."
"Yes?"
She was happy she wasn't doing this in person, or he would

clearly see what she saw as she looked in the mirror. Even though her dark

colored hair covered a portion of it, anyone could clearly see that she
was
blushing. She felt a bit awkward, because she was blushing at such
a small
thing to ask... not really a date, but still, the thought of Zechs
coming
over made her feel unusually happy. She's known him for so long,
but yet ...
she never did let out her true feelings for him. But since
he was always so
close, she felt good that he was at least this close....
"I was wondering... if your not busy ... if maybe you would like to come
over
for dinner? I... if your busy I can understand.."
He smiled. "Of course I'll come over. I wasn't planning on anything

tonight, so sure.. I'll be glad to."
"Great!" She replied. "I'll see you
at...6:00 then?"
"Sure. I'll see you then."
"Alright, bye Zechs"
"Bye."
He hung up the phone and looked at his watch. It read 5:30. "Hm.. no
time
to get ready, I guess I'll go like this.." He said outloud to himself,

looking in the mirror. He was dressed in his Preventer's uniform, he was
busy
cleaning up around the house so had no time to get changed. He looked
over to
the unfinished dishes with his usual ice blue gaze. "I'll finish
up later.."
He said. He was always happy to go somewhere with Noin. They
were out a lot,
but every time, he never let out his feelings to her. He
was always too
scared that she wouldn't feel the same way toward him. Even
though she was
always so kind to him, always so caring. He still had doubts.
As long as she
was his close, he could live with it. "For now..." He mumbled
to himself and
walked out the door.
The smell of steak, corn and rice filled the entire house. Dinner was

almost done, and Zechs would be coming soon. She looked down at herself.
She
was in her Preventers uniform. "How.. usual." She said outloud to herself.
He
would have to deal with it.. she was cooking since she got home, and
had no
time for anything else. While the dinner was cooking, she made her
way to
setting the table. About halfway through setting it she jumped up
from a
knock at the door.
She walked to the door, and opened it slowly.
"Hi Zechs." She happily
greeted him. "Hello Noin."
She smiled. "I guess you've been busy too." She said. "He smiled. "Yea,
I was
cleaning around the house as soon I got home from work." He walked
in. "What
are you making?" "Steak, corn and rice, it's just about done
and all I have
to do is set the table." "I'll do that for you." "No, you
don't have to, I'll
take care of everything." "I insist, please?" She laughed
a bit, and pushed
him over to the couch. "No, now you wait like any good
guest." She laughed.
He grinned and rolled his eyes. "Heh, fine... " She
walked out to the kitchen
to continue cooking. "About 5 more minutes."
She made her way to the kitchen
then stopped, staring at Zechs, who had
the table set, and was pouring wine,
he looked up at her. "Sorry but...
um.. I couldn't resist?" "Zechs, your
impossible.." She laughed, and headed
back to cooking.
He took a seat at the table, just after finishing
pouring the wine. He
could smell the dinner cooking, thinking of how talented
she was.. Heh..
everything she does IS perfect.. everything... anyone could
easily fall for
her.. she has every quality anyone could ask for... talent,
beauty,
kindness.. I still wonder... she could have anyone she wants...
she wouldn't
be interested in a cold hearted killer like me.. I almost
killed her that
once... Peacemillion... I still regret that... I was so
close to killing
her... I don't deserve her kindness after that...
The dinner was delicious, all he could do was compliment her. "Zechs

would you like to stay a bit? and watch TV or something?" "Sure."
They sat on the couch, drinking wine. "So how's Relena?" She asked.

taking a sip of wine. "She's fine, helping to profit the Sanc Kingdom get

rebuilt.."
"That's such a beautiful country.."
"It is... it was beautiful back when I was a child.."
He paused.. still holding the empty glass of wine in his right hand. The

images once again flashed in his mind... the Sanc Kingdom.. the flames....
I
can still feel the heat of those flames.. the Sanc Kingdom burning into

nothing, I could hear the screams... He shut his eyes.. as if trying to
block
out the thoughts, it was useless..

The young six year old stood
near his dying father... a terrorized look
on his face, no one was suspecting
this sudden act of inhumanity... the
garden the young prince and his small
sister were playing in, suddenly
bursted into flames, Relena started to
cry, being only at the tender age of
two, not knowing what else to do.
He quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her
inside, where he thought it
was safe, it only lead to more horror, he quickly
turned his younger sister
away from the bloody body that lay on the floor. It
was his father, he
quickly lead Relena to another room, then ran out, running
to his father...

The thoughts wouldn't go away... he shut his eyes tighter... still,
the
thoughts rushed into his mind like a raging river...

He kneeled next to the dying man, his eyes wide... "F.. father.." He

choked out.. "Milliardo.. listen... get Relena... get her out of here..

please.. you two escape..." "N.. no.. please father don't die!" He gasped.

"You two can lead this world to peace.. I know you can.. it's ok if I..
die..
one life.. isn't going to matter... please Milliardo..." And the
young boy
watched as his father took one last breath, and died... He slowly
stood, then
spun around hearing a scream, his little sister, he darted
into the room
seeing a huge shadow tower over her.... "No!" He screamed
remembering what
his dying father told him.. "Get Relena... get her out
of here.." He darted
outside, the man approaching Relena not knowing Milliardo
was there, he ran
to where one of the attackers had fallen and died, probably
accidentally in
an explosion, and grabbed the gun out of the holster...
feeling the cool
metal on his hand.. he ran back to the room, aiming the
gun at the huge
shadow that towered over his little sister, about to kill
her. He squeezed
his eyes shut and pulled the trigger, a massive "BOOM"
was heard, and the
power of the blast, jerking his whole body back.

The gun fell to the floor, making a loud clack as it hit the floor,
the
man who threatened his sisters life fell, dead. He raised his arms
a bit and
stared at his hands, the same hands that held the gun.. the same
that pulled
the trigger, the same... that killed a living person... this
was against his
fathers ideals... he had killed someone.... I can't...
I can't carry out what
father wished me to after doing that.. I.. Only
Relena can now.. He looked up
to his little sister, she was still crying,
they stood there for what seemed
to be like hours. He then heard footsteps
and glanced out the door, it was
Pargan, their butler. "I... I can't be
seen.." He darted to the door, not
shedding one tear, knowing Pargan would
take care of Relena.. He would have
to be dead.. along with his family,
he could no longer carry out his fathers
ideals... his hands were just
slightly tainted with blood, but it was all the
same to him, he right then
swore, he would protect his sister, never letting
her know he was her brother..
her brother who failed her.. who failed her
whole family.. who failed himself..

The images... rushing through his mind, all the pain he went through, all

the feelings he kept inside... he couldn't take it...

Noin quickly
turned to Zechs at the sound of something breaking, or
shattering, seeing
the glass he held in his right hand fall in pieces to the
floor, his fist
was clenched, the blood seeping through his hand and
trickling to the floor.
He sat there, as if nothing happened, the thoughts
still flashing through
his mind. She quickly stood up, "Zechs, are you ok?
Stay here.." She quickly
darted away, out of sight.. he sat there... hardly
knowing what was going
on, his mind was clouded, and he hardly noticed her
come back and bandage
up his hand. She looked at him with worry in her eyes.
"Zechs?" She softly
called out to him. He didn't respond.
The painful memories of the past.. all built up inside for so many

years.. he couldn't hold it all in any longer. So he did the only thing
he
could think of... he suddenly dived at her, wrapping his arms around
her
waist in tight embrace, placing his head just beneath her chin, his
eyes
squeezed shut, trying to hold in the stinging of tears that were forming
in
his eyes. Her eyes widened at such a sudden movement, she's know him
for all
this time, and somehow knew what was wrong. She put one arm on
his back. It's
ok.. "It's ok Zechs.." She whispered, stroking his hair
softly, "It's ok, let
it all out... I'm here.."
He wish it could be
that simple... he knew she was comforting him as a
friend and telling him
to let out his emotions.. but.. what about his
feelings for her? They couldn't
be easy to just let out, especially if he
knew she wouldn't feel the same.
Why not just do it? Just.. say it..? He
thought. Just do it.. He took a
deep breath. and slowly raised, keeping his
arms around her waist. "I.."
He paused.. "I don't know any other way to say
this but............ I love
you..." She wrapped her arm around his neck and
hugged him "I love you
too Zechs.. I always have." He pulled back a bit,
coming face to face with
her, wanting to gaze into her eyes forever. He moved
closer and pressed
his lips against hers, kissing her softly. She kissed him
back wrapping
both arms around his neck. He slowly broke the kiss and
slightly brushed
his lips against her ear, whispering, "I'll never leave your
side again.."
She nuzzled into his shoulder, "I'll never let you leave..I
always want
you near me... always.."
As they spent that moment together they both realized that they were

destined to be together, no matter what happened in the past, they knew
they
would be together forever...

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Bah, I hope you all enjoyes mah fic! ^_______^

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