Through Heaven and Hell

Disclaimers: I don’t own anything.

Author’s notes: Here’s Part Three. This is the final part. Hope you all like it.

Through Heaven and Hell

Part Three: Confrontations

Chapter One


Trowa got out of the car, looking at these bse before him. It was rundown, looking as if it could just fall apart at any time. The paint was faded and chipped, many of the windows broken.

“Are you sure this is the place?” Trowa asked, not bothering to look at Zechs, who stepped onto the sidewalk beside him.

“This is the address of Jeffrey Peterson.” Zechs replied.

Trowa walked to the front door, Zechs walking beside him. He knocked, wondering how anyone could live in such a dump. A young man answered, his black hair in wild disarray. “Can I help you?” He asked, politely.

“Are you Jeffrey Peterson?” Zechs asked.

“No. I’m his brother, Gary. What do you want with Jeff?” He asked, rubbing his eyes wearily.

Trowa held up a picture of Relena. “Do you know this woman?”

“Yeah, that’s Relena. She used to date my brother, but that was over a year ago.” Jeffrey replied.

“Have you seen either her or your brother recently?” Zechs asked, as Trowa put the picture back in his pocket.

“No. I haven’t seen Relena in over a year, not since she and Jeff broke up. And Jeff just vanished a few months ago.”

“What do you mean, vanished?” Trowa asked, staring intently at the young man.

Gary looked at him, “Just what I said. One day I come home from work and he’s gone. He packed up some of his stuff and just took off.”

Trowa wanted to ask more, to demand that this man tell him where Jeff was, where Relena was. But Zechs spoke first, “Well, if you see either of them, give us a call.” The tall blonde pulled a card from his pocket and held it out to Gary.

“Sure.” Gary replied, taking the card from Zechs. He turned and went back in his house, shutting the door behind him.

Trowa glared at Zechs as they walked back to the car. “Why didn’t you ask him if he knew where Jeff would go?”

“There’s something wrong about this. I can’t put my finger on it, put I think he’s hiding something.” Zechs whispered.

Trowa stopped in his tracks, thinking of what the older man had just told him. If Gary was hiding somng, ng, then they’d have to keep an eye on him, to watch his every move. Hopefully, they would find Relena soon.


Chapter Two


Relena pushed herself up from the floor. How had she gotten herself into this mess? Why hadn’t she just stayed at the hospital?

She looked around, noting the odd smell in the basement she was now in. It smelled moldy. She had been here for over a day, ever since she had confronted Jeffrey about all those letters. Relena had wanted to get him to stop, to try and talk some sense into him.

At first, it had seemed as if she was getting through to him. But then, he suddenly turned violent. Relena remembered the strikes of his fists against her face. Then his hands wrapped around her throat, squeezing all the air out of her. She tried to pry his fingers away, but it was no use. In only a few moments, everything went black as she slipped into unconsciousness.

Now she was locked in a basement, trying to figure out a way to escape. Her throat was sore, her entire body aching. Already, she could feel the swelling in her face, from where he had hit her. She tasted blood in her mouth and hoped she wasn’t hurt too badly.

Above her, the door opened and somewalkwalked down the stairs. Relena looked up, watching as the dark figure approached her. He stayed in the shadows, his face always hidden. But she knew immediately that it was Jeffrey. There was no one else it could have been.

“Now why did you force me to do this to ” H” He asked, his voice disgusting to her. She couldn’t believe what the two of them had shared so long ago.

“I didn’t make you do anything.” She spat out, as she stood. She wouldn’t let herself be dominated by this freak, even if it only made him mad.

“Yes, you did.” He replied, calmly. “You left me for that nameless bastard. If you had stayed with me, this never would have happened.”

“I left you long before Trowa and I . . .” She began, but he didn’t let her finish.

“It doesn’t matter when you fornicated with that disgusting creature.” His voice had become venomous, and she reflexively recoiled from him. “You bore his weak offspring. Your body is tainted with his filth.”

“He’s more a man than you’ll ever be.” Relena said, her voice filled with her defiance.

Jeffrey turned and stalked away, apparently tired of the conversation. His body language showed his frustration, and Relena smiled, knowing that she had gotten on his nerves.

Of course she knew that if she continued like this, he would probably kill her. But he was most likely going to do that anyway. If she got to him even a little in the time she remained alive, at least she could die happy.

Relena sat on the ground, her body tired. She was sore all over, but her mind was lost in thought. Her son, her little boy was in an incubator. She hated herself for leaving him, for abandoning him. But she knew she couldn’t just sit around and wait while Jeffrey continued to stalk her. This had to stop now, one way or another.


Chapter Three


Trowa once again stood in the hospital, watching his son. Still, the prematurely born child, struggled to stay alive. But he did look better, at least he did to Trowa. But what did he know about children anyway? To be perfectly honest, he never thought he’d ever be a father.

“You should get some rest.” Catherine said as she walked over to him.

Trowa didn’t turn his attention away from his son. He watched every move the boy made, afraid that if he looked away he might miss something. “No, I'm fine.” He replied.

“There’s no use lying to me, Trowa Barton.” She said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Now, go get some rest. I’ll keep an eye on junior here.”

Trowa finally looked to her. “Do you think he’ll make it?” He asked, his voice full of hope.

“I'm sure of it.” She replied, her smile wavering.

He could see the doubt in her eyes, hear it in her voice. He feigned a smile, “I hope so.”

Catherine stepped forward, laying her hand on his arm. She smiled again. “You know, you and Relena are going to have to come up with a name for him soon.”

“I never even thought of that.” Trowa replied, wondering what name his son should have. What name was right for the son of an ex-Gundam pilot?

Relena should be here, he thought. She should be there helping to choose the name. Trowa’s eyes filled with tears at the thought of Relena. All this time, she had been trying to protect him, throwing away all concern for her own feelings. She was willing to give up all her happiness and be left to raise a child alone, if only to protect him.

A single tear fell from his eye, rolling halfway down his cheek. He closed his eyes against the others, not wanting to cry, trying to keep up the hope of seeing Relena again.

“Trowa?” Catherine said, brushing the tear from his cheek.

He opened his eyes to look at her. Her eyes were kind, filled with sympathy. He didn’t say a word as he lay his head against her shoulder, wanting to feel some human contact, needing to be close to someone. She just held him in her arms, her hands rubbing his back soothingly.

He wept silently onto her shoulder, feeling so ashamed that he was reacting like this. His own tears shouldn’t be falling while Relena was in danger. He should be strong, not overcome with emotion. But he just kept on crying, not able to stop himself.

“You were thinking of Relena, weren’t you?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

His body shuddered at the mention of her name, his voice choked by his tears. “Yes.” He answered when he was finally able to speak.

“You'll find her.” Catherine reassured him.

Trowa didn’t speak, didn’t move. He just let his tears come forward, not knowing what else to do. All the while, Catherine held him close, whispering comforting words into his ear in her attempts to help.


Chapter Four


Zechs paced his office, wondering how long it took for those guards to get those files on Jeffrey Peterson. Relena was in danger. Who knew what that bastard was doing to her if he had her?

He slammed his fist on the table, frustrated. What did Relena think she was doing, leaving like that? Did she think she could stop him on her own?

But in his mind, he blamed himself for all of this. He should have stayed in that hospital room with her. He never should have left her side. It was all his fa

There was a knock at the door. “Come in.” Zechs nearly shouted, barely able to contain his own anger.

A guard walked in. He stood at attention and saluted. Zechs returned the salute, although he wasn’t even in the military anymore. It was just an old habit.

“Here are the papers you requested, sir.” The guard said, holding a folder in his hand.

Zechs took it from him, not even looking at the man as he dssedssed him. He was more interested in the file he held to care if the guard left or not.

Zechs quickly opened it. His eyes went wide as his read the words. He couldn’t believe what he saw. He had been tricked. He ran out of the office, knowing that he had to tell Trowa about what he had found.


Chapter Five


Trowa was laying on a bed, staring at the ceiling. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t even think of sleep, not while Relena was still out there somewhere.

He jumped as his door was thrown open and Zechs burst in. He stood, wondering what could be so important to rush in like that. His mind immediately thought of Relena. “What is it?” He asked, his heart filling with fear, seeing the expression of anger on the other man’s face.

“We were tricked.” Zechs said, waving a file in the air.

“What do you mean?” Trowa asked, as he approached him.

Zechs handed him the file. As Trowa scanned the words, Zechs spoke. “Jeffrey Peterson doesn't have a brother. At least not anymore. GPetePeterson died over ten years ago. He was accidentally killed by his brother.”
hat hat bastard.” Trowa mumbled. He threw the file to the floor. “He’s got Relena.”

“That’s what I was thinking. I don’t think he’d take the risk of keeping her too far away from him, so she must be close by him at all times.”

“His house.” Trowa said through clenched teeth, his rage barely controllable.

“Let’s go.” Zechs said, turning to walk away.

“I’ll get my gun and meet you outside.” Trowa replied.


Chapter Six


Relena stared at the plate in front of her on the floor. How could she eat, knowing that she might never see Trowa again, that she might not see her baby? She pushed the plate away.

“You don’t like my cooking?” Jeffrey asked, crossing the floor to stand in front of her.

“I’m not hungry.” She answered, averting her eyes away from him.

“Why did you leave me, Relena?” He asked, as his hand brushed ast hst her cheek.

Relena pulled away, hating the feel of his touch. “I never felt anything for you.” She hissed. “It was just a one night stand, some stupid fling when I was lonely.” She said, remembering the loneliness she had felt after her breakup with Heero so long ago.

Trowa hadn’t been in her life then. He had moved out of the country. She was desperate, thinking that no one would ever love her. So she sneaked out of the house, and went to a bar. It was the first and last time she ever stepped into a place like that. Jeffrey had seemed like a nice enough guy, so she went home with him. They never met again after thatht. ht. Relena wanted to forget about that particular time in her life.

She had never told Zechs, never wanted him to see her as anything other than his little sister. If he knew what she had done, she would hate him, just like Trowa hated her now.

“That’s not true. You know it’s not.” He smiled.

“Yes it is. I love Trowa.” She said, her eyes filling with tears. But she held them back, not wanting to show weakness in front of him.

A hand collided with her cheek and she let out a gasp at the stinging pain. She turned back to him and spat in his face. “I could never love something as disgusting as you.”

Before she could even get the last words out, his hands wrapped around her throat again. She struggled to breathe, struggled to pry his fingers away from her. But, just like last time, it was no use. He was so much stronger than her.

The blackness slipped into her vision, as her world slowly dissolved. Her heart pounded with panic, knowing that this time he wouldn’t stop. This time she had gotten him angry enough to finish the job.

As she prayed for a miracle, a blast echoed throughout the basement. The hands around her throat fell away and she gasped for breath, struggling to take in a lung full. She coughed, wondering what had happened.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Jeffrey laying on the floor, blood pooling around his still form. Hands grasped her shoulders and she forced herself to look away from the body.

She smiled, letting out a laugh as she saw the sparkling green eyes of the man she loved. Relena threw her arms around him, afraid to ever let him go. “Trowa.” She whispered, her voice ragged and hoarse.

He put his arms under her, lifting her from the floor. “You should have told me about him. I could have helped.” He whisp.
.

“I’m sorry. I wanted to protect you.” She replied.

“I know, I know.” He said, “I love you Relena. Please don’t ever leave me again.”

“Not even if he comes back from the dead to stalk me again.” She said, a small smile creeping onto her face. She laughed despite her fear. She was just so happy to be with Trowa again, to have him in her life. As he carried her out of the house, she saw Zechs. He was beside the front door, and he smiled as Trowa carried Relena past him.

Epilogue


Trowa looked over at his sleeping wife. They had only been married a short time, just under a week. The months they had spent apart were hazy at best, as if it had all been some horrible nightmare. And that’s how Trowa wanted to think of it.

He knew about Relena’s fling with Jeffrey, as did Zechs. But neither Trowa nor Zechs could feel any hatred for Relena. Zechs was a bit disappointed that Relena had been so careless as to go to a bar for a one night stand, but he had said that he was only happy that she was still alive. He said that no one could ever make him see her as anything other than his little sister, no matter what she did.

Jeffrey was dead, from the bullet that Trowa had fired. Relena was back to health, and once again pregnant. He ran his hand over her belly, knowing that he wouldn’t miss anything this time around. When this child was born, he would be there. He would be there for everything.

His son was healthy and strong, sleeping in a cradle near the bed. Although they could have had a nursery, neither he nor Relena wanted little Michael to be that far away.

Relena opened her eyes. “Staring again, I see.”

“How can I not stare when I have an angel for a wife?” He answered.

She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. Trowa pressed his lips to hers, happy in the knowledge that Jeffrey was dead, that he would never be able to bother Relena or anyone else.

Trowa knew he woueverever leave her again, and she would never leave him. All they had been through had only brought them closer. They had gone through heaven and hell, and finally they could be happy together.

The End

This probably wasn’t my greatest story. I got writer’s block and had such a hard time finishing this part. The ending wasn’t great, but I couldn’t think of anything else. But I hope you liked it. Please Review.