Hi everybody - sorry it took me a little longer than usual to put this up (I'm moving next week and I have a ton of stuff to do),
but I couldn't sleep so here you go. I'm not the greatest at writing about the mobile suits so you'll have to bear with me, but
there's finally some Heero and Relena moments that make it all worth it. Hope you like it! Thanks to all who keep reading! -
Stella

Formalities and disclaimers, in verse - *ahem:*
I do not own this Gundam Wing
The characters or anything
I have no deals or copyrights
But this is how I spend my nights
Writing, typing till the morning
Please don't sue me, hence this warning

Ok, I'm tired and you get it - here's the story!

Heero's Peace - Part 6

It was the most evil looking thing he had ever seen, and it was coming at him from the right. 'So that's the Morning Star," Heero
thought after Wing Zero's sensor alerted him to the presence of the enemy. Zechs and Noin were on the resource satellite routing
out the remainder of the Lowen Faction. Heero and the other pilots had made their way through all of Tremen's mobile suits
successfully, but this was his fight right now. The Morning Star was difficult to see at first against the darkness of space since the
gundam was all black, but it was soon very distinguishable by the white pointed ornament on the helm which sat atop a set of
glowing red eyes. He sent out a communication signal to the enemy suit, and the pilot responded. "This is General Tremen, as
you seem to well know. I will not surrender without a fight. This machine is superior to anything you have, so you best discard your
weapons and release my men. The satellite is mine."

Heero responded, "I am the pilot of the Wing Zero gundam and I am here to prevent you from taking this satellite. Most of your
men have surrendered and your mobile suits have been destroyed. I urge you to discard your gundam now."
Heero did not expect the reply that he received. "It's you then, Odin Lowe's boy. It would seem only fitting that I kill you as well.
Who would have thought that you'd survive let alone be one of the gundam pilots. This should prove very interesting." The screen
went blank. Morning Star didn't take long to come into to full view, and the first thing Heero noticed was the blazing beam saber in
the right hand of the menacing machine, and in the left was the reason why the gundam was called Morning Star. The mobile suit
carried a giant flail. It was quickly advancing, swinging the massive ball with mini beam saber spikes around on the large chain
that was attached to the rod clenched in it's hand. He'd never seen anything like that before. He studied as much of the gundam
as he could, queuing it up on Zero's screens when it was still a fair distance away. 'So it comes down to this: me and the man who
started all this madness from the beginning.' Heero turned the Wing Zero to face Morning Star, Zero's angel wings spread out, the
beam saber ready. This time he was fighting for more than peace and some ideal, he was fighting for a future with her. His eyes
were trained on black gleaming monster headed toward him, his hands were on the controls ready to strike. Heero breathed
deeply and strengthened himself with thoughts of this morning - thoughts of Relena...

"Heero?" she said, tilting her head to one side, eyes wide in disbelief. Her voice was nothing more than a whisper, hoarse and
scratchy from the tube that had been down her throat. He stood at the door looking every bit a caged animal, but he knew that he
could not turn around and leave. 'Didn't they tell her I was here?' he wondered, thinking that with Duo's big mouth there was no
way that Relena wouldn't have known every single thing that had happened since she'd been unconscious. All he could do was
stare at her. She put him at a loss for words, for actions, especially when she looked at him the way she was looking at him right
now. Her eyes were filled with tears, but she was smiling. She held out her hand, just as she had in the dream, and he began to
walk slowly to her. Every step was an effort and his whole body felt heavy, but he kept his eyes fixed on hers. Finally he stood
beside her bed. Something was happening and for the life of him, he had no idea what to make of it. Heero lowered himself to
the bed, and she wrapped her arms around him, tears streaming from her eyes. He sat there limply for a moment, then lifted his
arms to return the embrace. He was trembling, and only then did he realize that he was crying as well.

General Hydek stood in the waiting room with Zechs and the other pilots. All the pieces were coming together now. Lieutenant Kahn
had reported back to him that Tremen had boarded a shuttle headed for a resource satellite near colony L1 early last night. This
morning Wufei Chang and Sally Po had called in with a lead on Operation Morning Star. Apparently three of the labor bosses that
been causing conflicts between colonies and earth were all working for Tremen. It was all part of an elaborate plan to hide the
illegal mobile suits and break down the communications so that Tremen's siege would have little or no resistance. The plans for
the Morning Star were taken from Dekim Barton before his death; it was the lone gundam that didn't get built at the inception of
Operation Meteor because the scientist in charge had been killed.

Zechs sat with his arms folded and his head down, listening to the information. He smiled slightly, knowing Tremen hadn't counted
on having to fight the Wing Zero. He wanted to pilot it himself, to fire the blast that would kill the man who had been the cause of
all his pain. At the same time, he thought to himself, 'Heero deserves that revenge every bit as much as I do.' Looking up, Zechs
addressed the group. "I want to clear this up as quickly and quietly as possible before gets a hold of this news. Colonies will want
to start militarizing on their own and we just can't have that. The situation has to be under control by the time people hear about
it."

The rest of the group nodded in agreement. Trowa looked around the room and finally spoke up. "Obviously Tremen is desperate
at this point. Look at all the tactical errors he's been making. He had to have known that people were on to him because it forced
him to act hastily and make mistakes."

Quatre interjected, "So it's best to attack as soon as we can since chances are he won't be prepared for it." Luna looked at him
nervously.

"You're not going to fight are you?" Quatre didn't look back at her right away. He was searching for a way to gently explain why he
had to. She glared at him, her eyes begging him to give her the answer she wanted.

"Luna, I must. If I don't then it might mean an end to peace. If we don't fight now, then we'll have to fight later on. Later on could
be much worse." He squeezed her hand, praying that she understood. She simply took a deep breath signifying her acceptance
and slumped back into the chair.

Duo smiled at her, holding Hilde's hand as well. "Don't worry, we won't let anything happen to him." Hilde exchanged sympathetic
glances with Luna, thinking that this is how life is when you love a former gundam pilot.

"When are you leaving?" she asked.

"I've mobilized the Preventers," Zechs answered. "Noin's making arrangements for mobile suits for all of us, and the engineers
are making final checks on the Wing Zero. We should be able to leave in two hours."

They held each other for what seemed like eternity, Relena surprised at Heero's reluctance to let go of her. Noin had been the one
who had told her everything, though it was Duo who had started it. Relena had listened intently, feeling like she had woken up in
an alternate universe. All of the information had yet to sink in. Heero was here, and had been on earth the whole time. He was the
lost heir to the Kingdom of Lowen. He had come back to save her from the man who killed their parents. Even with the truth about
the Wing Zero, she had wanted to get out of bed and go to him, but the nurses staunchly forbade it, so Duo had gone to get him
instead. Now she held him in her arms for the first time in nearly a year, but the strangest thing was that he was holding her, too.
They broke apart and Heero eased her gently back down on the pile of pillows. He kept his head down, unable to say anything to
her. She put her hand on his cheek, feeling the wetness from his tears. He grabbed her hand and held it there for a moment,
finally looking her in the eyes again. "I know, Heero," she whispered. He made a noise that sounded like short laugh. Duo hadn't
disappointed him. But there was one thing he was pretty sure that Duo hadn't told her. He took the opened letter out of his jacket
pocket and placed it on the bed. She seemed confused at first, but then a look of horror overtook her as she recognized the
envelope.

He studied her face, and managed to ask her a question. Glancing at the letter, he quietly asked, "Did you mean it?" He was still
holding onto her hand and he tightened his grip.

"Yes," she said softly, nodding in affirmation. Relena was being honest but was still unsure whether or not that was the answer he
wanted.

"I'm sorry," he said in what seemed to be his usual emotionless tone. Her heart sank and she bowed her head, feeling the rest of
her body go limp as well. 'I'm sorry. That's all he has to say!' So he hadn't wanted her to mean it? Didn't he want her to love him?
She felt as though she could scarcely breathe. He seemed not to notice her reaction as he was struggling to go on. After taking a
deep breath several minutes later, he continued talking. "I'm sorry that I didn't come to see you all year. But I watched you,
everywhere and everyday." The rest of his words had caught her off guard and she lifted her head, her pulse quickening. Heero
still looked as though he wanted to bolt from the room, and he, having considered that possibility already, figured that Duo would
be waiting out there and just toss him back in, so he had to go through with this.

"Wing Zero was rebuilt on orders from your brother and Noin. No one wanted to deceive you, but we thought it best you didn't
know. The man who hurt you has built a gundam and it has to be destroyed. He's the man who..." he realized he was just running
at the mouth because he couldn't say what he wanted to. She knew about all of that; he was sure; the gundam, the bombing,
Tremen. Relena watched him, waiting for him to finish his sentence, all this talking was uncharacteristic of Heero. When he didn't
say anything else she sat up again and lifted his face so that he was looking at her. "Relena, I..." She regarded him with a look of
eternal patience letting him know that she would wait for him to finish what he wanted to say. "Relena, I love you too."
Despite herself she let out a gasp. Did those words just come out of Heero's mouth? The words she's been waiting to hear for
years? She knew he had to be feeling awkward, but she didn't let him turn his face away. Instead she stared right back at him.
"And I love you, Heero. I always have." He would never forget the way that she smiled at him just then for as long as he lived.
And she would never forget that he actually smiled back. He leaned in close, brushing a lock of hair away from her face and
behind her ear. He closed his eyes and touched his cheek to hers, just feeling the softness of her skin. He pulled back and they
were facing each other, lips practically touching and...

"Knock - knock," the door opened and Duo was standing there looking every bit the part of the cat who had swallowed the canary.
It only got worse when he saw how close they were to each other. Relena blushed deeply and Heero shot Duo a look that might
have killed any normal person. "Uh, sorry for interrupting, kids," he said, trying not to laugh. "Heero, we have some things to take
care of."

Heero turned to Relena who sat up as straight as she could. "I'm going with you," she announced, trying to make herself look
strong. Three years ago Heero might have told her to do what she wanted, but now there was no way he was going to let her go to
outer space. He wasn't alone because not a moment after she spoke her brother and Noin marched into the room and Zechs
looked straight at her.

"You are staying right here!" he said sternly.

She stiffened and responded, trying to sound commanding with what was left of her voice. "Am I just supposed to stay here in bed
while the rest of you go off to outer space and risk your lives? I can't, I'm coming with you. Perhaps there doesn't need to be a
battle, if we can talk to this man..."

Zechs cut her off. "Relena, he murdered our parents, and Heero's, and he tried to kill you twice! If we don't stop him he's going to
take the resource satellites and build an army of mobile suits. There will be no talking."

"I have to try, Milliardo. How many more lives need to be lost in senseless battles? I couldn't face my people or myself if I didn't
try to put a stop to this without fighting."

Zechs looked completely exasperated. Heero knew he would fare no better if he tried to argue with Relena. Just then, Quatre
stepped in.

"She could go to the L1 with Luna and Hilde. My guards will be with them at all times. Relena, you can address the people from
there." Zechs shot him a cold look, but everyone else seemed to feel it was a fair compromise.
Relena agreed and started to get out of bed. Heero had to catch her as she wasn't particularly steady on her feet. He handed her
over to Luna and Hilde, saying a silent farewell with his eyes as he left the room. He had to go get the Wing Zero ready.

Zero's white wings were fanned out as the engineers made the final modifications. The gundanium gleamed under the huge
halogen lights of the hanger. He looked it over as everyone finished with what they were doing. He had personally overseen the
rebuilding process all year in this secret place below the Sank Kingdom. "Hello, Zero," he said swinging into the cockpit to do the
final checks himself. The engines had been fired up and all systems were go. It was like he'd never been away from his gundam.
An incoming call flashed on the screen. It was Noin.

"We're all set Heero. We'll be flanking the shuttle carrying Relena until it's safely in the colony. The other Preventers will meet us
at a rendezvous point between the colony and the satellite." Heero nodded that he understood as the giant steel doors above him
opened, revealing a wide expanse of sky.

"People of the earth, the colonies and the resource satellites, I am Vice-Foreign Minister Relena Darlian. This message is not
intended to alarm you, but it is a warning. A terrorist group calling themselves the Lowen Faction has seized one of colony L1's
resource satellites. This group is also responsible for the disputes between the colonies and satellites that have been occurring
over the last few months. Our team of Preventers is on their way to deal with this situation and ensure that this group does not
succeed in it's misguided plan. Right now I am appealing to General Niles Tremen and his soldiers to discard their weapons and
surrender peacefully so that yet another unnecessary battle does not have to happen. I give my word that you will be treated fairly
and that no harm will come to you if you abandon your plan now. I also appeal to you, the people, to have faith in the Preventers.
They are here for your protection and to preserve the peace. Thank you."

The echo of Relena's words still rang in Heero's ears as he faced the black gundam, ready to fight. He raised the shield to protect
himself from the Morning Star flail and braced himself for the impact. Let the battle begin...

End Part 6