-- Part 3 --

“Thanks, Michael,” the anchorwoman said, turning to smile into the camera. “In other news, the identity of the man who interrupted the ‘wedding of the century’ is still unknown. Sources close to both Vice Foreign Minister Relena Dorlian Peacecraft and businessman J. A. Carnegie have continued in their refusal to comment on the matter. However, there is some speculation that the mysterious man could be an acquaintance of the Vice Foreign Minister during the Eve’s War.

“Our sister station, WXTV, has this footage of the interrupted ceremony.”

Relena winced as she watched Heero approach the altar. She watched herself as she slapped him and ran out of the room, leaving Josh and the shocked spectators. The clip ended and the news proceeded to the local weather.

However, she groaned and fell back on the bed, covering her face with a pillow. Quatre gave her a slightly amused look and clicked the TV off with the remote. Eventually, she removed the pillow to breathe.

“You know that they would cover this,” Quatre said gently.

“But for four days?!”

Duo’s smile broadened. “Slow time for the news. Want me to go blow something up to shift the focus off you?”

“That’s very tempting, Duo,” Relena replied, sitting up. “But I have to say no.”

“I know, I know, but it was worth a try,” he stated with a shrug. His grin made her smile for the first time in days.

“They’ll find something else to cover soon,” Hilde said. “Let’s go get something to eat.”

Relena laughed at the brightening of Duo’s face at the mere mention of food. “You guys go ahead. I don’t feel like going out.”

“Relena,” Quatre said gently, “you haven’t been outside this hotel room for three days. You can’t hide out forever.”

Relena sighed but nodded. “I know, but I can’t face the media circus yet.”

“Okay,” Hilde said. “Duo and I will go and get us all some take-out. What’s the pick tonight?”

“I’ve heard that there’s a great Mexican restaurant a few blocks from here,” Quatre stated.

“Yeah, I think I know that one you’re talking about,” Duo replied. “What’s your pleasure, Relena?”

“Surprise me,” she replied with a smile

“Oh, a lady with a sense of adventure,” he cried gleefully.

Hilde rolled her eyes. “I’ll make sure it’s edible.”

“Thanks,” Relena replied.

Duo pouted but, since Hilde was ignoring him, he gave it up. “How about you, Quatre?”

“I’m feeling a little adventuresome, too. Surprise me as well.”

Hilde grabbed her coat and tossed Duo his. “Be back soon.”

Sure that the pair was gone, Relena turned to Quatre. She caught him staring at her with a concerned expression. When he realized he was caught, the Arabian gave a slightly apologetic smile.

“How’s Josh?” she asked.

Quatre was responsible for introducing Relena to his business acquaintance J. A. Carnegie at a party at one of his estates. The two had hit off immediately. Relena found his relaxed attitude and his sense of humor refreshing, accustomed to pushy and manipulative politicians.

“You should ask him yourself,” Quatre replied with mild reproof. “But he’s fine, considering.”

“And Heero?”

“Trowa’s helping him hide-out from your brother and Wufei’s latest crusade for justice.”

“Really?” she asked with a hint of a smile.

“Yes, at least until Wufei nearly attacked a guest in the hallway who was unfortunate to resemble Heero. Sally hauled him back to the Preventers before he does do something.”

“I’ve wondered what Trowa was up to,” she said. She stared out the window, watching the indigo sky fade to night. “Everything’s such a mess, Quatre.”

He sat down beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “I know, Relena, but you will have to face it and the outside world sometime.”

She nodded but continued to stare out at the window.

“Do you want to come stay at my place?” he offered.

“No,” Relena replied with a shake of her head. “I need to be alone for a while. Not that I don’t appreciate what all of you have done these past few days.”

“We’re your friends,” he replied simply as they turned to finish watching the sunset.

Relena thought about the past couple of days. Due to some arm-twisting from Noin, Miliardo had finally agreed to give Relena some time off from her duties. However, Miliardo would never agreed to let go off for the personal time she needed. With a sigh, she glanced back at Quatre, who turned to her once he was aware of her inspection.

“Yes?”

“Is your invitation still open?”

* * * * *

Relena watched the bellhop carry the last of her bags down the hallway to the elevator. Miliardo and Noin had left a few hours earlier, making her promise to stay in touch and entrusting her into Quatre’s care. The Arabian was waiting for her downstairs in the lobby.

“I’ll be a few moments,” she told the bellhop as the elevator doors opened. “Please, go ahead.”

The young man nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

She watched the metallic doors to slide close before she walked slowly back down the hallway. She had been dreading this moment ever since she had made her decision. Yet, it was the fairest solution she could find.

Taking a deep breath and summoning all her courage, Relena rapped softly on the door. From the other side, she heard a voice say, “I’m coming.” Her heart sped as she heard the approaching footsteps.

The door opened and Josh blinked in surprise at his visitor. “Relena? Um, would you like to come in?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head softly. “I can’t stay long. I’m leaving in a few minutes.”

“Leaving? Where are you going?”

She took another deep breath. “I need to get away, Josh. But I wanted to see you first. I need to tell you how sorry I am.”

He shook his head. “Relena, you don’t have to apologize.”

“Yes, I do,” she replied.

She held out her hand, a black velvet box sitting in her palm. Josh’s eyes went from her eyes to the box and back to her. He closed his eyes and shook his head in disbelief.

“It’s not fair for you to wait while I make my decision,” she stated quietly. She stretched out her arm, the box now a few inches away from his chest. “Please, Josh.”

Nodding slightly, he took the box. “I’ll still wait.”

She looked up at him. “Don’t wait too long, Josh.”

Then, she turned and walked to the elevators, her rigid posture not giving any indication of her tears.


Part III “Thanks, Michael,” the anchorwoman said, turning to smile into the camera. “In other news, the identity of the man who interrupted the ‘wedding of the century’ is still unknown. Sources close to both Vice Foreign Minister Relena Dorlian Peacecraft and businessman J. A. Carnegie have continued in their refusal to comment on the matter. However, there is some speculation that the mysterious man could be an acquaintance of the Vice Foreign Minister during the Eve’s War. “Our sister station, WXTV, has this footage of the interrupted ceremony.” Relena winced as she watched Heero approach the altar. She watched herself as she slapped him and ran out of the room, leaving Josh and the shocked spectators. The clip ended and the news proceeded to the local weather. However, she groaned and fell back on the bed, covering her face with a pillow. Quatre gave her a slightly amused look and clicked the TV off with the remote. Eventually, she removed the pillow to breathe. “You know that they would cover this,” Quatre said gently. “But for four days?!” Duo’s smile broadened. “Slow time for the news. Want me to go blow something up to shift the focus off you?” “That’s very tempting, Duo,” Relena replied, sitting up. “But I have to say no.” “I know, I know, but it was worth a try,” he stated with a shrug. His grin made her smile for the first time in days. “They’ll find something else to cover soon,” Hilde said. “Let’s go get something to eat.” Relena laughed at the brightening of Duo’s face at the mere mention of food. “You guys go ahead. I don’t feel like going out.” “Relena,” Quatre said gently, “you haven’t been outside this hotel room for three days. You can’t hide out forever.” Relena sighed but nodded. “I know, but I can’t face the media circus yet.” “Okay,” Hilde said. “Duo and I will go and get us all some take-out. What’s the pick tonight?” “I’ve heard that there’s a great Mexican restaurant a few blocks from here,” Quatre stated. “Yeah, I think I know that one you’re talking about,” Duo replied. “What’s your pleasure, Relena?” “Surprise me,” she replied with a smile “Oh, a lady with a sense of adventure,” he cried gleefully. Hilde rolled her eyes. “I’ll make sure it’s edible.” “Thanks,” Relena replied. Duo pouted but, since Hilde was ignoring him, he gave it up. “How about you, Quatre?” “I’m feeling a little adventuresome, too. Surprise me as well.” Hilde grabbed her coat and tossed Duo his. “Be back soon.” Sure that the pair was gone, Relena turned to Quatre. She caught him staring at her with a concerned expression. When he realized he was caught, the Arabian gave a slightly apologetic smile. “How’s Josh?” she asked. Quatre was responsible for introducing Relena to his business acquaintance J. A. Carnegie at a party at one of his estates. The two had hit off immediately. Relena found his relaxed attitude and his sense of humor refreshing, accustomed to pushy and manipulative politicians. “You should ask him yourself,” Quatre replied with mild reproof. “But he’s fine, considering.” “And Heero?” “Trowa’s helping him hide-out from your brother and Wufei’s latest crusade for justice.” “Really?” she asked with a hint of a smile. “Yes, at least until Wufei nearly attacked a guest in the hallway who was unfortunate to resemble Heero. Sally hauled him back to the Preventers before he does do something.” “I’ve wondered what Trowa was up to,” she said. She stared out the window, watching the indigo sky fade to night. “Everything’s such a mess, Quatre.” He sat down beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “I know, Relena, but you will have to face it and the outside world sometime.” She nodded but continued to stare out at the window. “Do you want to come stay at my place?” he offered. “No,” Relena replied with a shake of her head. “I need to be alone for a while. Not that I don’t appreciate what all of you have done these past few days.” “We’re your friends,” he replied simply as they turned to finish watching the sunset. Relena thought about the past couple of days. Due to some arm-twisting from Noin, Miliardo had finally agreed to give Relena some time off from her duties. However, Miliardo would never agreed to let go off for the personal time she needed. With a sigh, she glanced back at Quatre, who turned to her once he was aware of her inspection. “Yes?” “Is your invitation still open?” * * * * * Relena watched the bellhop carry the last of her bags down the hallway to the elevator. Miliardo and Noin had left a few hours earlier, making her promise to stay in touch and entrusting her into Quatre’s care. The Arabian was waiting for her downstairs in the lobby. “I’ll be a few moments,” she told the bellhop as the elevator doors opened. “Please, go ahead.” The young man nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” She watched the metallic doors to slide close before she walked slowly back down the hallway. She had been dreading this moment ever since she had made her decision. Yet, it was the fairest solution she could find. Taking a deep breath and summoning all her courage, Relena rapped softly on the door. From the other side, she heard a voice say, “I’m coming.” Her heart sped as she heard the approaching footsteps. The door opened and Josh blinked in surprise at his visitor. “Relena? Um, would you like to come in?” “No,” she said, shaking her head softly. “I can’t stay long. I’m leaving in a few minutes.” “Leaving? Where are you going?” She took another deep breath. “I need to get away, Josh. But I wanted to see you first. I need to tell you how sorry I am.” He shook his head. “Relena, you don’t have to apologize.” “Yes, I do,” she replied. She held out her hand, a black velvet box sitting in her palm. Josh’s eyes went from her eyes to the box and back to her. He closed his eyes and shook his head in disbelief. “It’s not fair for you to wait while I make my decision,” she stated quietly. She stretched out her arm, the box now a few inches away from his chest. “Please, Josh.” Nodding slightly, he took the box. “I’ll still wait.” She looked up at him. “Don’t wait too long, Josh.” Then, she turned and walked to the elevators, her rigid posture not giving any indication of her tears.


Epilogue: Decision Back to Main Page