"Relena, I'd like to have a word with you." Zechs draped an arm around his sister and stifled a laugh at her expression, pretty features turning into an adorable frown.
"Do you have to?" she asked, slightly annoyed with her big brother's sudden intrusion on her conversation with Dr. J.
"Uh-huh."
The old man nodded and shooed her away. "We were finished talking with the young lassie anyway."
She gawked. 'Huh?' What was going on? They weren't finished yet. She had loads of other questions about the mission.
"Now?" she looked up at her brother again.
"Yes, now." With that, he led her out of the lab and into another room that had two small bunks.
~*~*~
As soon as both siblings settled on the bunks opposite each other, Zechs grinned sheepishly. "Noin, Une, and Treize are still as shocked as I am about you and Heero."
Relena sighed. She was in BIG trouble. She just hoped her brother was in a good mood. Nice as he was, he was not to be messed with.
Zechs rubbed his chin and echoed her sigh. "Noin said I had to deal with you."
"That's her opinion," Relena smiled weakly.
"Treize said I had to be stern with you."
"Treize would," she countered again, a tinge of annoyance in her voice.
"Une said I had to be severe with you. In fact, I think the word 'harshly' came in with the package. Harshly severe as she put it."
"Pretty normal for that old schoolmarm! That's her bed. Let her lie in it," she grumbled, sarcasm laced in her voice.
Her brother momentarily chuckled, his sharp features relaxing into a smile.
"Relena, do you love Heero Yuy?" The man smoothed down his platinum-blond hair and looked at her with his azure eyes.
"Bits and pieces," Relena answered with a rueful smile.
The older Peacecraft smiled gently, proud of the inner strength that the young woman was displaying. "I understand. But there is one thing I can tell you, Relena. 'To thine own self be true.' "
He had hardly finished his sentence when a pair of arms nearly robbed him of breath. "That's about as severe as I can get with you, Relena," he grumped in his throat.
Relena tightened her arms around her brother's neck, hoping to hide her giddiness by burying her face in his chest. "You're the most WONDERFUL brother in the whole world."
"I have my failings."
"We all do, brother of mine. We all do."
"I know that. Now get your arms off of my neck, or I'll get asphyxiated."
He didn't really mind the hug his sister was giving him. It had been so long since she had done that, after their parents passed away and he dimly remembered a little sprite with sandy-brown locks and sparkling aquamarine eyes climbing onto his lap and hugging him with all the strength that she could muster.
~*Flashback*~
"Relena? Sweetie, what's wrong?" A teenaged Milliard had asked when his little sister had climbed up on his knee as soon as he had settled down on the couch.
He had been doing odd jobs to support himself and his sister through school. It didn't help to know that they weren't far from being evicted because of their astronomical bills. He had to leave Relena with his best friend, Noin, everyday so he could go to school and work double time.
She looked up, revealing a tear-tracked face and glassy eyes. " Why can't we be a happy family?" she asked plaintively.
He smiled, smoothing her hair down and hugging her close. "I have news for you�We ARE a happy family, Relena�No family is perfect, but they TRY...That's what makes them happy..." There was a hint of sadness in his voice, for he knew that the little one's perception of a happy family was one with a mother and father, both of which the siblings no longer had.
She wisely said nothing more about the issue, knowing how tired her big brother was. And then, she whispered softly in his ear� "I love you, Milliard."
The young man's heart expanded and he held on tighter to the little form. "I love you too, Relena-girl."
"Even if I'm a brat sometimes?"
"Even if you're a brat sometimes, kitten�That's why I wouldn't trade you for a million dollars," he added.
"You wouldn't?" came the startled query.
He decided to add a little humor in the air around them. "Well�maybe if it were for a Ferrari and a Yamaha guitar, I would�" he chuckled at her cutesy frown.
She pouted. "No fair! You meanie-mo!"
"Only a joke, Relena-girl! I would never do that�if I did, I'd be missing you. From that cute head of hair to your adorable freckles, " he laughed at her, touching a finger to her button nose.
"I do NOT have freckles!" she cried indignantly. He only laughed, hugging her tight. 'She's the only one I have left�'
~*End of Flashback*~
The siblings made their way back into the lab, both of them smiling. Relena was definitely proud of her brother. He had taken the role of both mother and father after their parents passed away and he had made it a point to fill their house with laughter day in and day out, no matter how tired he was.
And now, he was letting her go, letting her decide on her own. She remembered the teasing when she brought her older brother on "Bring Your Father" Day. It had been pretty painful, but she learned to deal with it. Milliard had taught her to be strong for him, their parents, and most importantly, herself.
"Are you ready, Relena?" Heero eyed her with his cold gaze. He had donned his impenetrable shield again.
His face was now an emotionless mask, but she didn't notice. The adrenaline zinged through her, giving her a tingling thrill.
"Bring 'em on! It's time to kick some ass!" She grinned, strapping on her bulletproof vest.
"Ugh! I haven't gotten used to THIS," Wufei complained. "This thing feels like VELCRO."
"Your HEAD will soon feel like velcro if you don't stop, Wufei," Sally retorted, sweetly, as the others laughed. Cathrine slapped her on the shoulder. "Good one, Sal!"
Wufei opened his mouth to snap some remark at her but decided to mutter instead. "Women."
Duo snorted as he helped Hilde into her vest. "I think Kung-fu Boy has met his match."
Sally tossed her braids behind her shoulders. "Lesson number one, girls: When in a fight with a man, don't use your fists. OUTTALK him." Relena grinned ear to ear. 'I like that one.'
"Duly noted, Sal," Dorothy smirked, elbowing poor Quatre again.
The blond youth winced. He was sure that he was going to get bruises at the end of the mission.
