-- Part 2 --

Relena ignored the various flashes and the numerous television cameras as she and Miliardo walked down the center aisle of the cathedral to the altar. ‘When I leave here, I will no longer be Relena Peacecraft,’ she realized, the butterflies renewing their fluttering in her stomach. ‘I am giving my life to someone else.’

The music was beginning to fade as Miliardo gave her a final kiss on her cheek. “I wish you all the happiness in the world, little sister,” he whispered. Then he turned and went to his seat.

She took the final steps to the altar alone. She handed her bouquet to Noin. With a radiant smile, Relena turned and offered her hands to her groom.

“You’re breathtaking,” he said in an awed voice.

She laughed softly. “You, too.” Smiling broader, she turned to the minister. He looked down at the young couple with a peaceful smile. Folding his hands together, he turned his attention to the congregation.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union in marriage of Relena Dorlian Peacecraft and Joshua Andrew Carnegie. Marriage is a blessed event . . .”

* * * * *

“If anyone in this congregation has any reason as to why this couple should not be joined in marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Josh smiled at her, his green eyes promising a happy future together.

“I object.”

Relena gasped and turned in the direction of the voice. ‘No,’ she prayed, ‘not today.’ Her knees trembled as she watched Heero Yuy march to the altar.

“Relena, don’t do this,” he said, his dark blue eyes pleading with her. “I love you.”

She descended from the altar on shaky legs. She walked purposefully to Heero. He simply watched her as she pulled her hand back and slapped him, the sound echoing in the church. Ignoring the murmurs of the onlookers, she turned and ran out of the sanctuary.

Josh watched Relena run out of the room before he descended from the altar. He glanced at Heero, who was absently rubbing the red spot on his cheek.

“You must be Heero Yuy,” he said quietly, his tone emotionless.

Heero simply nodded. Without another glance, Josh walked out of the room. Quatre and Duo grabbed Heero and heralded him quickly out of the room, while Noin and Trowa contained Miliardo.

“That was not the reaction I was expecting,” Heero stated in a dazed tone.

“It was her wedding day, Heero, for God’s sake,” Duo cried.

“I had to tell her,” Heero said miserably.

Quatre exchanged a look with Duo as they pushed Heero through the massive double doors. ‘For the Perfect Soldier,’ Duo thought, ‘you have horrible timing.’

* * * * *

Josh found Relena sitting on the edge of a fountain, her veil in a crumpled heap several feet away. She was sobbing into her hands, her whole body trembling with emotion. Wordlessly, he sat down beside her, gently rubbing her back.

However, it soon became clear that she wasn’t going to face him.

“I thought you were a pacifist,” he joked.

Relena gave a shaky, bitter laugh. “So did I.” She wiped her face with her hands and slowly turned to face him at last. “Josh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Relena,” he said. “Nobody knew this was going to happen. In a way, it’s a good thing.”

Relena gazed at him with weary eyes. “Josh,” she pleaded. However, he silenced the rest by softly pressing his finger against her lips.

“You need time to settle all this out, Relena,” he said softly. “You have to. Take all the time you need. You know where to find me when you are ready.”

He rose and gently kissed her forehead. Relena squeezed h is hand before he slowly pulled it away. Tears filled her eyes again as she watched him walk away.

She stared at the water of the fountain, her reflection distorted by the constant rippling of the water. She desperately wished she would wake up and discover that this was all a nightmare. She dipped her fingers into the cool waters, knowing she wasn’t even deluding herself.

‘A nightmare,’ she thought bitterly. ‘My wedding day has turned into a nightmare.’ She had seen the questioning look in Josh’s eyes when Heero announced his objection. It seemed that she was destined to always cause pain for those she loved.

She heard Heero enter the garden and approach the fountain. Yet, she refused to turn around and let him see the tears that he had caused her. She had promised herself a long time ago that she was finished with tears over Heero. However, today had shown how easily he could prove her a liar.

“Why today, Heero?” she asked, letting her voice carry all the weariness she felt. She continued to stare at the water. “Why did you have to pick today to tell me?”

His reflection appeared by hers on the water’s wavy surface. She took a moment to study it. His hair was still wild, hanging down in his dark blue eyes. Yet, his usually emotionless face appeared sorrowful.

‘You should feel bad,’ she thought angrily. ‘I thought I was over you.’

“I’m sorry that I’ve hurt you,” he said softly. “I won’t apologize for telling you my feelings. I am sorry for the timing.”

“Do you know how many years of my life I waited for you to come and tell me you love me?”

She turned and finally faced him. Her blue-green eyes were red-rimmed from her tears and flashed with anger. “Do you know how many nights I cried myself to sleep over you?”

She stood up, stepping toward him with every angry word. “I don’t know what I ever saw in you!”

Pain flashed in his eyes and he clenched his fists. “You saw something, Relena,” he said softly. “You saw something in me that I didn’t even know existed. It has taken me a long time to deal with that.

“You saw my soul when I was convinced that I didn’t own one. You kept me alive through my missions by making me want to live.”

Relena closed her eyes, desperately trying not to cry in front of him. When she managed to open her eyes, she could read the conflicting emotions in his eyes. He sighed.

“I need time to think, Heero,” she said, addressing him for the first time in a calm tone. “I have to sort everything out.”

He paused and slowly brushed the back of his hand against her cheek. “Do what will make you happy, Relena. I mean that. But I couldn’t let you get married with letting you know how I feel.”

She just nodded. She pulled away from his touch and re-entered the church. Her dress suddenly seemed suffocatingly tight. She had to get out of it. She had to get out of there.


Part II Relena ignored the various flashes and the numerous television cameras as she and Miliardo walked down the center aisle of the cathedral to the altar. ‘When I leave here, I will no longer be Relena Peacecraft,’ she realized, the butterflies renewing their fluttering in her stomach. ‘I am giving my life to someone else.’ The music was beginning to fade as Miliardo gave her a final kiss on her cheek. “I wish you all the happiness in the world, little sister,” he whispered. Then he turned and went to his seat. She took the final steps to the altar alone. She handed her bouquet to Noin. With a radiant smile, Relena turned and offered her hands to her groom. “You’re breathtaking,” he said in an awed voice. She laughed softly. “You, too.” Smiling broader, she turned to the minister. He looked down at the young couple with a peaceful smile. Folding his hands together, he turned his attention to the congregation. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union in marriage of Relena Dorlian Peacecraft and Joshua Andrew Carnegie. Marriage is a blessed event . . .” * * * * * “If anyone in this congregation has any reason as to why this couple should not be joined in marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace.” Josh smiled at her, his green eyes promising a happy future together. “I object.” Relena gasped and turned in the direction of the voice. ‘No,’ she prayed, ‘not today.’ Her knees trembled as she watched Heero Yuy march to the altar. “Relena, don’t do this,” he said, his dark blue eyes pleading with her. “I love you.” She descended from the altar on shaky legs. She walked purposefully to Heero. He simply watched her as she pulled her hand back and slapped him, the sound echoing in the church. Ignoring the murmurs of the onlookers, she turned and ran out of the sanctuary. Josh watched Relena run out of the room before he descended from the altar. He glanced at Heero, who was absently rubbing the red spot on his cheek. “You must be Heero Yuy,” he said quietly, his tone emotionless. Heero simply nodded. Without another glance, Josh walked out of the room. Quatre and Duo grabbed Heero and heralded him quickly out of the room, while Noin and Trowa contained Miliardo. “That was not the reaction I was expecting,” Heero stated in a dazed tone. “It was her wedding day, Heero, for God’s sake,” Duo cried. “I had to tell her,” Heero said miserably. Quatre exchanged a look with Duo as they pushed Heero through the massive double doors. ‘For the Perfect Soldier,’ Duo thought, ‘you have horrible timing.’ * * * * * Josh found Relena sitting on the edge of a fountain, her veil in a crumpled heap several feet away. She was sobbing into her hands, her whole body trembling with emotion. Wordlessly, he sat down beside her, gently rubbing her back. However, it soon became clear that she wasn’t going to face him. “I thought you were a pacifist,” he joked. Relena gave a shaky, bitter laugh. “So did I.” She wiped her face with her hands and slowly turned to face him at last. “Josh, I’m sorry.” “It’s okay, Relena,” he said. “Nobody knew this was going to happen. In a way, it’s a good thing.” Relena gazed at him with weary eyes. “Josh,” she pleaded. However, he silenced the rest by softly pressing his finger against her lips. “You need time to settle all this out, Relena,” he said softly. “You have to. Take all the time you need. You know where to find me when you are ready.” He rose and gently kissed her forehead. Relena squeezed h is hand before he slowly pulled it away. Tears filled her eyes again as she watched him walk away. She stared at the water of the fountain, her reflection distorted by the constant rippling of the water. She desperately wished she would wake up and discover that this was all a nightmare. She dipped her fingers into the cool waters, knowing she wasn’t even deluding herself. ‘A nightmare,’ she thought bitterly. ‘My wedding day has turned into a nightmare.’ She had seen the questioning look in Josh’s eyes when Heero announced his objection. It seemed that she was destined to always cause pain for those she loved. She heard Heero enter the garden and approach the fountain. Yet, she refused to turn around and let him see the tears that he had caused her. She had promised herself a long time ago that she was finished with tears over Heero. However, today had shown how easily he could prove her a liar. “Why today, Heero?” she asked, letting her voice carry all the weariness she felt. She continued to stare at the water. “Why did you have to pick today to tell me?” His reflection appeared by hers on the water’s wavy surface. She took a moment to study it. His hair was still wild, hanging down in his dark blue eyes. Yet, his usually emotionless face appeared sorrowful. ‘You should feel bad,’ she thought angrily. ‘I thought I was over you.’ “I’m sorry that I’ve hurt you,” he said softly. “I won’t apologize for telling you my feelings. I am sorry for the timing.” “Do you know how many years of my life I waited for you to come and tell me you love me?” She turned and finally faced him. Her blue-green eyes were red-rimmed from her tears and flashed with anger. “Do you know how many nights I cried myself to sleep over you?” She stood up, stepping toward him with every angry word. “I don’t know what I ever saw in you!” Pain flashed in his eyes and he clenched his fists. “You saw something, Relena,” he said softly. “You saw something in me that I didn’t even know existed. It has taken me a long time to deal with that. “You saw my soul when I was convinced that I didn’t own one. You kept me alive through my missions by making me want to live.” Relena closed her eyes, desperately trying not to cry in front of him. When she managed to open her eyes, she could read the conflicting emotions in his eyes. He sighed. “I need time to think, Heero,” she said, addressing him for the first time in a calm tone. “I have to sort everything out.” He paused and slowly brushed the back of his hand against her cheek. “Do what will make you happy, Relena. I mean that. But I couldn’t let you get married with letting you know how I feel.” She just nodded. She pulled away from his touch and re-entered the church. Her dress suddenly seemed suffocatingly tight. She had to get out of it. She had to get out of there.


Part III Back to Broken Dreams