Relena rolled things over and over in her head, nodding once or twice when she thought she was being asked a question. Her partner’s incessant chatter about the party, the state of world affairs, and all things in particular was beginning to give her a headache. Thankfully, the music stopped just then.     “Would you like some champagne?”     “No, thank you, sir. If you’ll excuse me…,” Relena said, starting for the ballroom exit, and intending to go back to her room before the next song began. Yet she was waylaid once more. She couldn’t refuse, but she was so tired.      “Gentlemen, I…,” she began, but a hand grabbed her from behind and pulled her to the dance floor.     “Excuse me, may I have this dance?” a deep and slightly amused voice said.  Blue eyes met blue as Relena looked into the face of her new partner. “Heero?! Why, how…?!”  Heero put a finger to her lips. “Just dance.”     Relena nodded, obeying. She guessed it was nice to be spared for once from the honeyed words and phrases made by overeager and over-polite admirers. Yet to be rescued from that by the one person she wanted to hear them from the most…      It was irony at its worst. She missed Heero so much, she didn’t realize it until she saw his eyes looking down in amusement at hers. She wondered why he had come, where he’s been, what he felt for her — if he missed her, if he liked her, if he loved her…     But she knew she wouldn’t be getting any answers. It had never been his way, and probably still wasn’t. Maybe she was better off with a headache while dancing with one of her arrogant suitors. Relena sighed, placing her head on Heero’s shoulder. All this thinking was making her anxious. And Heero was very quiet.  Too quiet. Maybe he’s dancing with me out of courtesy, too? Or maybe he’s doing his duty, protecting me from would-be assassins… She wanted to look into his eyes, to read the truth there, and cease the nagging voice in her head. But, she was afraid to see the lack of emotion in them, the same lack of emotion he displayed as a Gundam pilot, which she had already seen countless times before. If she saw them in her present state of physical, emotional and psychological distress, she would promptly break.     Relena was so focused on her thoughts, that she didn’t feel when Heero’s arms pulled her closer to him. However, she did feel him gently kiss her hair. Startled, she looked up, and realized they were out on the balcony. She turned to him questioningly, surprised to see that he was smiling. He tipped her face up and brought his lips gently down on hers. When Heero released her from the kiss, Relena was slightly dazed. She didn’t know what to think, so she dared herself to gaze into his cobalt blue eyes. His once emotionless pools of blue were tinged with confusion, mystery, amusement, longing and… love. A love for her that she felt to the core of her soul. Her own eyes glistened with tears. Heero slowly caressed her face before wiping them away. And if she still wasn’t sure from the look on his face about what he felt for her, their next kiss abolished all her doubts. Relena wrapped her arms around Heero’s neck. She didn’t need the honeyed words, the sugary phrases, the endless compliments and flattery. This was enough. ***     Lady Une surveyed the couple from behind the curtains of the ballroom, and smiled. She decided she would have to cancel all their appointments and meetings, and let their worn out Peace Minister rest for the next day or so. ***     Relena felt the sun’s rays in her bedroom, certain without looking that the opposite side of her bed was empty, and Heero had already left. When she opened her eyes, her glance fell on the pillow Heero had used. A pink rose lay there, with a note placed on top of it. She sat up, pulled the covers to her chest, and read the note. She smiled. Relena bowed her head. She pressed the note against her heart, the ring finger of her right hand glistening in gold and white against the sunlight. Relena,     I am yours, FOREVER. ~End~

 

Sheila's fantasy dream date involves a certain bishonen that is often the topic of her fan fictions.

Nic did the fan art using only a mouse and paintbrush. Her fantasy dream date is also a bishonen, specifically one of the characters she drew.