She always asks on the last night of her stay, when we're flopped on the couch, Heero on the computer, and I always know what she means. Why did I wait so long to tell Heero how I felt about him? Why did I wait so long to stand at his side? Why did I wait so long to accept the life he offered? He makes you so happy, she says, you could've started this sooner.

I always just smile at her and shrug, and she laughs and we go on. But I know the answer, just as Heero knows, without my ever having said it. I didn't wait at all. I didn't stand by the wayside and watch my dream pass by. There was no lingering, no second guessing. Of course we were shy with each other when we did get together, but there was never a question of whether we would ever leave.

To the world, it seemed like forever before we stood in front of each other and finally faced the facts. But to us, there was no waiting. No waiting before he grabbed my hand under the table. No waiting before our first fight. No waiting before I knew I loved him. So I smile at her every time, just as Heero smiles back.

It all happened when it was supposed to. We never have to wait for each other. We always just know.