Bedtime Story

By Shi no Tenshi

A mother sits beside her daughter, who is tucked snugly into bed. The wind blows the daughter’s locks of golden blond hair over her piercing cobalt eyes. She attempts to blow her bangs out her face, before her mother tames her hair with a single hand stroke.

"Mommy, tell me a story."

"It’s late Adeline, and you have school in the morning."

"Please?" The daughter flashes the shining smile she had inherited from her mother.

The mother smiles at her five-year-old bundle of joy. "All right."

"Yay!"

"A long time ago, not very far away, lived a princess."

"Did the princess have long yellow hair and pretty blue eyes like me mommy?"

"I guess you could say so, you conceited little girl."

"What’s conceited?"

"Never mind. The princess loved a soldier, who was fighting in a war."

"Was the soldier handsome and brave and riding a big white horse?"

"You’ve got the handsome and brave part down, but he didn’t exactly ride a white horse."

"Then what-"

"Adeline, are you going to let me finish?"

"Yes mommy."

"The soldier was very dedicated to his missions. He always completed them, no matter what. He fought very hard, and the princess was always worried about him. Then, the war ended. The princess was overjoyed, because she thought she could now live happily ever after with her love, but instead of coming to the princess, the soldier disappeared."

"Where did the soldier go, mommy?"

"He actually didn’t go anywhere. He just needed some time by himself, to ask himself whether he actually did love the princess back. He stayed out of sight, and not even the princess’s guards to find him."

"He must be really good at Hide and Seek then."

"Yes. He was really good at hiding. Anyway, one day the soldier decided he did love the princess, and went back to her."

"And they lived happily ever after?"

"Yup. They got married, and they lived happily ever after."

"That was a good story mommy."

"Alright Adeline. It’s way past your bedtime." The mother kissed her daughter on the forehead, and walked out of the room, where she was met by her husband. Together, they strode down the red carpeted and intricately wallpapered hallway to the master bedroom.

"That was a highly simplified version of our life story," the father remarked, amused.

"Yes, I know Heero, but she’s only five. You can tell her the whole thing when she gets older," the mother responded, pulling her hair out of its braid.

"No…you can Relena. I don’t have enough patience with her…and her millions of questions."

"You have the patience to pilot a Gundam and execute complicated missions, and you don’t have the patience to spend time with your own daughter. I sometimes wonder why I loved you."

"Hn."

Relena stood on her toes and gave Heero a kiss. They’d been through hell together, but they’d made it out alive.

"Good night Heero. I love you."

"’Night Lena. …Love you too."

Author's Notes: So…how'd you like it? I've had this idea in my head for a long time, but I haven't had time to get it down until now. Please review!

Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.