Dedicated to my Number One

A/N: Yes, everyone, this is the final chapter to False Veracity. I must say that it was great fun to write. All thanks to you, my reviewers. Ah, and I can’t leave out AngelOfDeath10. This brilliant fic is yours after all.

If you like fluff, then check out Flatline. It’s possibly the fluffiest thing I’ve ever written.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, Heero Yuy, Relena Peacecraft/Darlian or any of the other characters. I’m not even lucky enough to own this fic. On the plus side, I’m fortunate enough to have such wonderful readers.

010

The next day passed in a rush. There was a movement of arms and people. Infinite meetings and updates. They were finally going to make a big push since the Queen was expecting a covert operation. It was an assault like they’d not done since the early days: when they thought they might be able to topple the regime when it was young. Everyone worked hard and those who seemed to drag the day before attacked their work with surprising vigor. If any of them remained the same after talking with Relena, no one commented. It was understood that this was for her, but even more importantly it was to get Miss Peacecraft back to continue preserving the peace they were trying to attain here for themselves. It made their task doubly noble.

Both Heero and Yuy were anywhere and everywhere. More than one person was sorely confused as the normally omnipresent leader was literally in each place they looked. And, as it was likely to happen, certain ‘things’ would be mixed-up; the wrong Heero Yuy was told information or asked a question that needed to go to the other. But, sorted once more, the pilots had a good (if nervous) laugh about the whole ordeal.

During all of this, Relena didn’t know what to do with herself. There wasn’t much to aid with...not that she’d understand how to operate or accomplish. She once offered her assistance in physical labor, but Heero shot her down almost immediately. And arguing with him was out of the question. As much as she wanted to. Luckily, Dorothy all but hastened to her rescue and roped her into repairing the bullet-proof vests and other protective wear the fraction would be donning early the next morning. In truth, the lot of it was in a sorry condition. Relena breathed a prayer of thanks that her mother insisted she learn to sew. It did come in handy every once in a while.

So she spent her day adding padding, stitching up holes or vulnerable areas, and the like. The kitchens were the only place open enough to operate...but was congested with the most traffic. At least it made it easy on Dorothy to drag away soldiers as they walked by toting boxes of this or that. She checked and re-checked sizes and equipment, quite forceful when she had to be. Relena was reminded of the real Lady Catalonia in these instances. It amazed her how similar and completely opposite they were.

After ceaseless hours of mending and threading had been completed, Relena dropped her needle with an air of satisfaction, if not exhaustion. It was strange. She knew that these tools would assist in bloodshed and death, but...it was a comforting feeling, being able to help those that would fight for the cause. To know that she’d aided in the best way she knew how. Without it being a speech.

“I think we’re finished,” Dorothy voiced, her eyes sweeping over the piles of uniforms. “And just in time, too.”

Relena flexed her tired fingers. “In time for what?”

“Heero’s gathering the lot of us in the common room for a brief meeting before bed.”

“Heero?”

Dorothy chuckled. “Our Heero. Not yours. I bet the Mr. Yuy you know and love would rather do anything than say a few words to a crowded room.”

Relena laughed in spite of herself. She felt that she needed to hear that noise at least once before...she shook those depressing thoughts away and stood, ready to follow Dorothy and the other workers. Her sleepy mind barely registered the throng of people joining together as one to listen to the final words of their leader. The assembly was antsy, but silent. They all waited with unshakable determination: the thought that even though tomorrow might go badly, they’ll make their presence known. After all the work done the past twenty-four hours, it was hard not to think in such a way.

Yuy towered head and shoulders above the rest, standing on some type of unseen, makeshift platform. He scanned the sea of faces and smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began. “Tomorrow we make a stand. Tomorrow we show the Queen what we’re made of. Tomorrow we fight. Not only for ourselves...for our friends. But for our future. A future that deserves peace and freedom. That needs it.” Yuy paused and squared his jaw. “Even if we fail or die trying, by God, we are going to leave our mark in this chapter of history! And as such, we will be victorious no matter the outcome...”

Stirred, Relena was impressed with the man all over again. Yuy was meant to be a leader. He had the heart for it. If only her faux would let go of the power that trapped her as much as it fed her. Then she could be happy with this man. The shell of a human being she’d met a few days ago was not who she was. Not really. If Relena believed that that was all this reality’s Relena could be, then she’d be selling herself short. Even if the woman wasn’t her. They shared the very same core.

A round of applause marked the end of Yuy’s speech and he lowered himself back to the floor after suggesting that they all get plenty of sleep. This was in vain as most everyone was too anxious to leave for bed, though their bodies ached for rest. So, not knowing what to do with themselves, the men and women alike searched the room for their fellows in an attempt to initiate a prolonged good-night.

With the same mindset, Relena decided that she’d rather say a proper farewell now than wait for the next day. She worked her way over to the pilots and, without a word, hugged them tightly around the neck, one after the other. Nothing was said between them. Nothing needed to be. But Relena was surprised when everyone responded to her. Even Quatre and Duo.

“Be careful out there,” she worked up the courage to say.

“For you...” Trowa reasoned. “Anything.” His happy-go-lucky expression sobered. “Take care of yourself.”

Relena nodded and turned to Dorothy. “I’d like you to keep my suit. It’s only fair since you let me borrow your clothes for the past few days.” She smiled and recalled Dorothy’s first impression of her outfit when she’d arrived: filthy and covered in dirt. “It really looks quite nice when it’s washed.”

“Miss Peacecraft...” the Lady’s eyes watered. “I’d be honored and delighted. But only if you keep my dress. It’ll serve as a reminder to you.”

Relena wasn’t sure if Dorothy wanted the reminder to be a good or a bad one. Possibly both. On one hand it represented the loving kindness she’d received and the ‘new’ friends she’d made. On the other...it was a painful souvenir that would prompt Relena’s thoughts into what could have been. How fortunate she really was. And what path to steer clear from. “Thank you so much. I’m going to miss you all...”

Wufei patted her shoulder. “We’re right where you left us.”

She really was going to miss this side of 05.

Relena bade them sweet dreams and departed for her dorm. It was amazing to her that she knew the way and didn’t get lost. She’d become familiar with this bunker so well now...now that she had to leave it. It was a strange and fleeting thing to walk the damp, brick hallways and feel a sort of regret. For more than a few things. Being the cause of all this was one. Relena wished, more than anything, to shut off her mind. If only for a little while. She didn’t want to think...and she hated trying to not think about what was going to happen. It was, for one thing, futile. And her nerves couldn’t take much more.

Before she knew it, Relena was standing in front of her door. She hesitated before moving inside. What sort of unpleasantries would come to her during the night? When she shut her eyes to rest, what sort of images would she be plagued with? Relena bit the bullet and entered, not at all startled to see that Heero wasn’t there. He and Yuy had more preparations than anyone and she doubted he’d be getting any rest tonight.

16 hours.

Relena walked to her bed and positioned herself on top in Indian-style. She rested her elbows on her knees and clasped her hands together in front, not knowing what to say or even what to do. She didn’t want to think. Not about how she might never make it back to her own reality. How Dr. J’s invention might not work at all. The fate of her and the others. Heero...she didn’t want to go down that line of thought. A chill worked its way to her bones and she climbed under the covers to abate the nausea that followed. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not sleep. The only thing she could do was lie there with her eyes shut, praying this was all just a dream.

Rlena might have slipped into some state of unconsciousness. She wasn’t sure. But she became acutely aware of Heero’s presence all of a sudden. And not because of any noise he’d made. But because of his touch. He was sitting on her bed, caressing her face.

“Sorry,” he apologized. “It’s almost time...” Heero trailed off and left it at that.

Relena opened her mouth to reply, but the fingers against her cheek were met with resistance. At first, she wasn’t sure what to make of it until her breath came short and her eyes burned. Then Relena took note that she was crying again. Funny, she thought she was past that. “I’m afraid,” she divulged, propping herself up so she was face to face with him. “I’m afraid for you.”

“Hn.” Heero leaned forward and rested his forehead to hers, content with this last calm. “Don’t be.”

Relena almost laughed aloud at this. “I can’t just stop.” She tucked her face into his neck and held him close as if her life depended on it. “I love you too much.”

Heero returned her embrace and remained that way until a knock to their door roused him. He shifted as close as he possibly could, molding his body to hers for these last, precious seconds. If all went badly, then they still had this. “...I love you, too.”

010

Heero surveyed his surroundings, all the while tuning out the rapid fire and haphazard detonations. The once hub-of-a public square was now completely devoid of pedestrian life. Soldiers, pawns of the Queen as well as Yuy’s forces, littered every inch of the busted pavement and sidewalks. The thunderstorm...it wasn’t helping his vision any.

Heero pulled back and resumed his position behind the two-door vehicle. He stole a glance at Relena and a rare look of concern crossed his face. She was hunkered down, head to her knees, with her arms tightly clasped over the much-too-big helmet...and shaking. Relena hadn’t been prepared. Sure she’d seen the effects of war and even been right in the middle of the battles themselves, but she’d never been exposed to something like this.

Rain poured from the heavens in buckets. That was for the best as the inferno would be less likely to spread that way. Several blocks of government buildings were currently burning. Quick and ferocious. The fires were started both very methodologically and very slowly so that people within could vacate the area before the building burst into flame. All in all, Quatre’s explosives had done their job. The Queen’s HQ was still being evacuated and, to add to the commotion, it was also becoming a war zone.

Shots and screams and blood.

It was like his days in the war. Heero felt a flashback begin to overtake him. But he wouldn't let it as he focused on what was more important here: There was only one hour left. Relena was here with him, encased in a bulletproof vest and helmet, but still very vulnerable.

Out of the corner of his eye, Heero discerned Yuy, Trowa, and Wufei advance, leading more forces from behind. As planned, they’d provide the cover fire while he, his faux, Duo and Relena made a break for it. Undoubtedly risky, but doable. Nothing short of death would stop him. Heero was going to get Relena back...even if he didn’t make it himself in the long run.

“Relena.” He took her by the hand. If they didn’t go now, there might not be another chance. And they couldn’t afford any mistakes at this point. She gazed back at him with such worry and fear it...broke his heart. “Stay close to me.” His grip on her tightened and he took off into the fray.

They were in the clear, the other two right behind. Trowa stayed on point, directing the battle, just as Quatre had organized the demolition squad. Wufei guarded their rear.

The trek across the street seemed an eternity. Every shot fired gnawed at Heero’s tension and he buried the urge to throw Relena to the ground and protect every inch of her. He kept his focus ahead, expertly side-stepping over the prostrate bodies, and managed to make it to the other side as quickly as possible, nearly carrying Relena in the process. Once there, he dodged into the alley and swung his charge around to meet him, his back now to the firefight...just in case. Heero scanned her body, double-checking that she wasn’t injured. He was able to breathe a sigh of relief. But it was only momentary.

Yuy and Duo caught up with them. The latter crouched low to the ground and scoped the area for pursuit. Finding none, he issued the silent signal to move onward with the plan. Yuy then slung his rifle over his shoulder and entered the access code on the panel next to the entrance there, unlocking it without hindrance.

“Move.”

Duo stood and took the lead, not bothering to keep his gun lowered in case they met with any offense. Heero trailed after him with Relena in tow. Yuy secured the door and followed suit.

Everything was running smoothly. Like clockwork.

010

They made their way up flights and flights of stairs, moved with the speed of fear from the battle below, causing Relena’s memory to relapse in a fit of scenes from not so many years ago. Not enough years, was more like it. Maybe there would never be enough time to distance her from this sort of violence. The war should be over. For everyone.

Upon reaching the top, Duo quickly shot down the guards before Relena could cry out to have him spare their lives. At the sight of their bloody and lifeless bodies, she turned her head away as Heero guided her by. The loss of life was staggering...and she wasn’t sure she could take much more of the hostility. To distract herself, she glanced at her watch. The single hour hadn’t started flashing left, but it must be close.

The four of them sprinted down the hall and forced their way into the Queen’s room where Relena’s faux stood passively by her window...watching the carnage below as the core of her empire burned. The war would no longer be underground in this reality. Soon the people would see that true freedom could be obtained. And the Queen could no longer hold them back.

Today she had underestimated Heero Yuy and she had lost.

“The remote is on my desk. It is unharmed.” She didn’t turn or acknowledge them in any other way. “I don’t know what it is, but it must be important. My best scientists couldn’t figure it out in the short time we had it with us. They know someone excessively brilliant made it.”

Yuy moved towards her, arms outstretched. “There is always time, Relena. Just walk away from it all.”

She rounded on him, her blue eyes brimming with nearly a decade of suppressed mourning. Her hand followed in one fluid motion and he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. Even as his came up on instinct.

“No, Heero,” she whispered. “This is how is must end for me. This is the path I choose. Maybe a few years ago I could’ve turned back, but now it’s too late. If you don’t shoot me, I’ll shoot you. One of us will win today.”

“You know that isn’t a win.”

“Shut up! Shoot me as you promised you would!” The Queen stepped closer to him. “Kill me, Heero! KILL ME!” Her eyeliner trickled down her rouge cheeks as tears finally slipped from her lashes. “If you really love me-“ She didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, she pulled the trigger.

Two shots rang out.

The Queen bent double, coughed up blood, and clutched a hand over the punctured lung she’d just received. Her gun dropped heavily to the floor and she fell right along with it.

Duo’s hand shook as his gun smoked, his aim true.

Time stilled.

Relena took all of it in with bated breath, wide-eyed and unbelieving. It didn’t seem real. It couldn’t be. As Heero clutched her tighter to his side, she looked to Yuy...who was untouched. He hastened over to his beloved as she collapsed, catching her before she hit the ground.

“Blanks, Relena?” he asked.

The Queen nodded and she smiled weakly at him.

“You knew I couldn’t shoot.”

“You,” she wheezed, “should have.”

Yuy traced the features of her face, running his fingers down her jaw line. “I love you, Relena, even now.” Yuy watched as the light she’d once had shone in the depths of her eyes. Just for him.

“And I-” She jerked in his arms, obviously in immense pain. “...you. Love. You-”

Yuy silenced her with a desperate, final kiss. His Relena returned it, relaxing in his arms, and then released herself to death.

010

The flashing watch caught Relena’s undivided attention...but first she needed to do something. She made a point to walk over to Duo and Heero’s eyes following her even if his body did not. 02 stood contemplating his gun. Relena’d seen scrutiny like that before. Heero. And she knew what the former pilot meant to do.

“Promise me something, Duo.” He hesitantly looked up at her. “Don’t kill yourself. Hilde wouldn’t have wanted it and neither would I. Especially me.”

Duo returned his interest back to the weapon, ignoring Relena again.

“Promise me!” she shouted. “There was too much blood today.”

He gave a brief nod. It wasn’t reassuring, but it was as close to affirmation as she was going to get. “Go.” As Relena turned, he caught her hand. “Tell her. She never died. Tell him, too.”

Heero slowly made his way over to where Yuy stood. The both of them locked eyes for a long, intimidating moment before he held out his hand. His faux took it. “You’ll know what to do.” He was giving him a vote of confidence. It was as nice a thing as he could offer at the moment.

Relena stepped up next to Heero as their portal finally appeared.

Yuy looked at her, his eyes dead. “I didn’t want you to be her,” he explained softly. “I wanted her to be you.”

Relena sighed and bowed her head. “In time you’ll see that isn’t true. She gave you what she could.” Her throat tightened. “I would have done the same in her place.” She was trying her best to offer the gift of a guiltless conscience, but no one but himself could provide that.

“Thank you.” He understood, at least. “Will you ever come back?”

“I’ll check back later...someday...so you better get to work fixing it all.” She smiled before Heero pulled them both into the swirling mass of light.

010

Commander Une was going to kill Heero Yuy. No...better yet, she was going to hand him over to Zechs, let him have his way with her agent, and then kill him.

At the moment, she was faced with one angry Peacecraft and four of the five Gundam pilots. All of whom were anxious, frustrated, and confused. She kept explaining, over and over again, that she’d been the last to see both Heero and Relena...that they’d gone down to Research and Development, sub-level 14, to view one of Dr. J’s inventions. The old man, however, refused to say anything about the two. Which got him a one-way ticket to immediate lock-up and solitary confinement.

Une massaged the bridge of her nose. Either the good doctor had done something with Heero and Relena or...

“Good Lord, they’ve eloped!” Duo laughed and stretched out his arms, lacing his fingers behind his head. “I never woulda thought he had it in him.” A cheeky smile spread across his face.

The other three pilots didn’t have much to say about that.

Zechs, on the other hand, was raving. “Enough,” he growled. “I want Yuy, dead or alive, here at HQ within the next twenty-four hours!”

Une was about to reply when a burst of radiance blinded her so entirely, she shielded her eyes with the back of her hand. By the time she was able to see anything, the very MIA’s landed right in front of her at a speed that sent Heero skidding across her polished desk and right into the wall. Fortunately, Relena was cushioned from a similar fate by his body. Une was, in no uncertain terms, stunned into a rare state of complete stillness of mind and body.

Duo was silent for once. Wufei’s scowl fell away into something short of a gape, biting back a colorful word or two. Quatre chuckled uneasily and rubbed the back of his neck. Trowa folded his arms across the chest and simply stared. All of this for only a few, simple reasons: Heero was splattered in blood and covered in layer upon layer of smoky dust. Relena was clad in a bullet-proof vest and helmet, similarly sooty. But the most shocking thing of all was the moment Heero quietly asked Relena if she were hurt, removed her helmet with a flourish (he wasn’t going to be hampered by another one of these...), and kissed her ruthlessly for quite some time. He was so relieved that he didn’t care who saw it.

Zechs blinked at the sight once...twice...and then opened his mouth to say-

“What happened, Minister?” Une interrupted him altogether. She stood and placed a firm had on Zech’s shoulder. Just in case.

“Never mind that,” Relena gasped when Heero relinquished her. “Where’s Dr. J? We need to have a discussion.” Her eyes were set in a way Une hadn’t seen since her first year as VFM.

The Commander’s smile was priceless. “I’m sure he’ll be very curious to hear what you have to say. Once we let him out of his cell.”

THE END

A/N: Hurray! I’ve finished a more-than-a-one-short story! I hope you guys enjoyed it. I know I did. If you like my stuff, I’m going to be writing a GW fic named: First Time for Everything. Something to look forward to.

Drop me a review and I’ll drop you a reply!

God bless!