Heero glanced nervously back into the darkened hallway that led to his bedroom. It was quiet, with many hours until dawn. It wasn't likely that she'd wake up, but there was always the chance.

"I missed you," Duo whispered, as if she could possibly hear him too. "I-I had a dream about you."

Heero felt his heart warm, and he softened, whispering back, "I dream of you too." He sighed shakily. "It's so good to hear your voice."

"Yours too," Duo replied, just as unsteadily. "I don't like having to wait until she goes away on state business. It's getting longer and longer between those trips. Do you think she suspects?"

Heero shook his head, unconsciously cradling the phone. "No, I don't."

Duo sighed longingly. "Heero."

Heero closed his eyes tightly. "I love when you say my name. I could listen to your voice forever."

"You know I love you, Heero," Duo told him in frustration. "I know you love me too. There has to be a way to leave her."

"The scandal..." Heero reminded him unnecessarily. They both knew what would happen to Relena's reputation if her husband left her for another man. She would end up a joke on everyone's lips, instead of the respected ambassador of the peace.

"Why did we have to find out how we felt about each other after the wedding?!" Duo snarled. "Why did we wait until --"

"It's no good going over it again," Heero soothed. "It won't change anything."

"This is killing me," Duo groaned.

"Don't," Heero replied, knotted inside with anguish, "You make it hard to stay faithful, and I have to, Duo."

"Sorry, I just..." Duo sighed.

"I know..." Heero replied very softly.

"I love you, Heero," Duo told him.

Heero shivered under the pure sound of emotion in Duo's voice. "I love you, too, Duo." He tried to give Duo hope. "She's going away again soon, Duo. It won't be long..."

"Not long at all," Relena said tightly as she took the phone from Heero's startled fingers.

Heero stared at her, fear running down his spine, as she stood before him in her night gown, eyes shimmering with tears. She looked down at the phone, as if she wasn't sure what to do with it, and then she lifted it to her ear. "Duo, I won't live a lie, even for the sake of a government. Heero's coming to you, tonight."

Relena hung up the phone then and stared at nothing very hard.

"I'm sorry," Heero choked out. "We didn't know... not until weeks later, when he came for that party, the one honoring veterans. We just... I realized I'd never gotten over him."

"Love is funny that way," she whispered. "It just hits you when you least expect it." She shook her head, waved a distracted hand, and told him, "Pack, now. Go to him. I could hear how much you love him in your voice. You... You never talked to me that way."

"I'm sorry," Heero repeated.

Relena walked away, going into the guest room and locking the door, leaving him to pack and change his life.

The phone rang again. Heero picked it up with a shaking hand.

"Duo?" he whispered.

"Yeah," Duo sighed.

"Say my name," Heero urged, cradling the phone against him and needing that strength.

"Heero," Duo said, giving it every bit of his love.

Heero felt tears. "I'm coming."

Duo's voice caressed him, "I'll be waiting."