The Journey Forward--Part 3
Part III

Relena leaned back against the balcony, keeping her eyes on Heero. It seemed so unreal that he was there. She placed a hand on the warm stone to keep herself anchored to reality.

She kept waiting for him to say something, anything. She hoped for some clue as to why he was there. But he kept looking at her, almost studying her. She knew that she should be unnerved but couldn’t summon the emotion.

“Quatre should be here soon,” she announced. She gripped the balcony. “Does he know you’re here?”

“He knows.” His voice was even, betraying no emotion.

“So that’s why,” she murmured.

“Why?” he echoed.

“Why he hasn’t come yet.” She smiled but the expression didn’t reach her eyes. “He’s giving us a moment alone. So considerate of him.”

She watched the wind play with his hair. He seemed oblivious to the strands dancing in front of his eyes. He merely continued to watch her.

“You haven’t asked me yet, Heero.”

She caught a hint of confusion in his gaze. “Asked you what?”

“How I’m doing.”

“I want to determine that myself.”

“And your conclusion?”

He remained silent.

She wasn’t surprised. She felt very little. Eventually she pulled her eyes away from his face and back to the garden. She didn’t know how long they stayed that way before the doors opened.

“Lunch is ready,” Quatre announced. “Would you please follow me to the dining room?”

Relena glanced briefly at Heero before following Quatre back inside. The Perfect Soldier only lingered a moment. Then he closed the doors behind him as he entered the house.