Chapter 1

Relena studied Dekim cautiously and stood her ground as he pointed the gun at her. Although the panic began to rise and the familiar fear of death was there once again, Relena didn't falter or show it. After all, it wasn't the first time someone had pointed a gun at her. Or the second. In fact, Dekim wasn't the first person who had threatened her life.

Relena stole a moment to reflect on the day she met Heero Yuy.

She had never met anyone like him before. She was curious as to how ended up on Earth, washed up on shore. She only wanted to get to know him before he threatened to kill her. What she had to done to receive a death threat at that time she never knew. She wondered still a year later what would have happened if Duo hadn't stopped Heero from shooting her…

Relena smiled slightly at the memory. "A smile? Really Vice Foreign Minister, are you happy about dying?" Dekim said to her. "I'm fully prepared to die Dekim. Death doesn't scare me anymore," Relena said. As Dekim laughed at her remark, Relena remembered when she learned about Heero's identity and his mission, and the night he spared her at the dance. She remembered the second time he pointed a gun at her, as she was then Queen of the World. Again, she made it out alive.

She came to her senses, looked at Dekim and stood her ground. He became both furious at her smirk and amused. "Ah Relena Peacecraft, you've accepted your fate. I do apologize your use was no longer needed and it had to end this way. Farewell!" Dekim exclaimed.

In the split second before Dekim pulled the trigger, Mariemaia was running to save Relena. This little girl, this child, who was manipulated by her crazed grandfather to start a world war, was going to take a bullet for Relena. A seven-year-old girl was going to die for nothing. As noble as it was, Relena couldn't let this girl's life, which hadn't even been lived yet, be taken away. She was ready to die for the sake of peace. Sixteen years isn't long, but from it I've started something, she told herself. Something had told from the very beginning she wouldn't make it through this.

The shot was earsplitting in the tiny safe room. The vibrations bounced off the walls and deafened all those still in there. Mariemaia stopped dead in her tracks. She looked from Dekim to Relena. Before she could do anything at all, Relena forced her out of the way. Mariemaia watched in horror as the bullet ripped through Relena's chest and out her back. As Relena fell to the ground, Heero's image came to her mind.

Mariemaia gently laid Relena in her lap. "Why Relena? Why did you do it?" she cried.

Relena managed a small laugh. "Mariemaia….your life is just beginning. Once you think for yourself, you'll be able to live a life that's full and possibly make a difference. You can show the people now what true peace is..." She winced in pain.

Dekim Barton sneered at the dying Minister. "There you see? Everyone is easily disposed of. Come now Mariemaia, let us finish what we-!" Another shot rang out. Dekim fell dead with one bullet wound to the head.

"Mission accomplished."

Relena stirred slightly as she recognized the voice. Heero staggered over to her, badly injured himself. "Relena." He spoke in his usual monotone voice, but Relena could tell there was genuine concern in it.

"Heero….it's funny in a warped sort of way….I always thought you'd be the one to kill me," Relena whispered. The blood had gathered in a pool now around her.

Heero tenderly took Relena into his arms. The affection she showed for him in her face alarmed him. She was accepting her death and he couldn't understand why. She wasn't the misguided, immature girl he met a year ago. She had grown strong and he knew, although indirectly, some of the reasons were because of him.

"You aren't supposed to die this way."

Relena smiled as the tears streamed and she touched his face. "Don't worry Heero. You've spent all this time protecting me, watching over me, and this is how it ends. I had hoped I'd be able to get to see you one last time….dying isn't so bad now…." she breathed.

As Relena began to take her last breaths, Heero realized, in that moment, that she loved him. After all the threats he made to her, she loved him. And in his heart he knew he loved her too. Somehow he had always known, but could he never bring himself to acknowledge those feelings. He had always been alone, and relying on himself was all he knew.

"Relena….I…." He couldn't finish the sentence. Relena had stopped breathing, a peaceful smile on her face. At the same time, the last of his energy finally failed him; as he kissed her forehead, Heero slumped over, a single tear running down his face.