The Journey Forward--Part 2
Part II

Heero could feel Quatre’s eyes on him as he closed the door behind him. Relena turned at the sounds. Yet whatever she had to say was quickly forgotten as she stared at him.

Never one to loose an advantage, he used the opportunity to study her.

She was much too thin. He noticed that directly. While she had always been slender, her cheeks were now hollow and her clavicles were too prominent.

Relena was pale, too. Usually her ivory skin glowed with life. Now it had a sickly gray tinge to it.

But it was her eyes that bothered him the most.

The blue-green eyes that lighted up whenever she saw him were dull. They were lifeless. Her expression was defeated and resigned.

And that was what bothered him.

In all the years that he had been acquainted with her, Relena had never given up fighting. Yes, she was a pacifist. Yes, she worked for peace for Earth and the colonies.

But she fought to achieve her goals.

Relena chose to fight with words, diplomacy, and connections.

He flexed his hands slightly. These were the weapons he used for most of his life. “Hello, Relena.”

She gave a ghost of a smile as she said, “Hello, Heero.”

They fell back into silence but it was easier now. They stood facing each other on the balcony as the wind played around them. He looked her in the eye and she didn’t look away.

That gave him hope.