Well..this is my first shot at a multichaptered fic. I really love the whole Neo/Murrue dynamic, and thought why not? Hope you all enjoy.

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The tiled halls of the massive white battleship were silent, night beginning to fall over the tiny island nation of Orb. A tall brunette stood by the clear observation window, her hand on the cool glass. There wasn't much too look at, the view of the coastline obstructed by the wall of the port Archangel was stationed in, a long staircase climbing up the side of the grey wall.

The woman sighed, her attentions focused inward rather than out. She slowly traced the glass with her fingertip, her brown eyes fluttering shut. I still can't believe it. Yesterday when his face popped up on the screen. Did this really happen? Did he really say that he knows me? Did he come back? Or will I wake up and find this all a dream? She smiled at the vision. That all too familiar cocky grin, the confident words. His words. The last words he had said to her. The words she never thought she would hear again. He really can make the impossible possible, a soft laugh escaped her lips.

Murrue leaned back against the smooth wall, tawny eyes scanning the corridor. She frowned a bit, remembering the pain in his eyes and voice in yesterday's sunset. All this time, I was focused on my own pain...my own loneliness. I didn't even stop to think what he must have been feeling. Selfish, I know, she huffed quietly, her arms folded across her chest. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to doubt the very essence of who you are. What did the Earth Alliance do to him? I'm sure whatever it was, it must've been awful. We've all seen what they're capable of doing. The brunette jumped slightly, startled by a familiar, deep voice.

"You okay?" The tall blonde stood there, his purple shirt unzipped at the collar, his sleeves rolled up in Mwu's signature style. He looked down at the young captain, concern filling his cerulean eyes.

"Yes. I'm fine, thanks," she turned her head, her lips curving upward in a small smile. "I was just thinking...," her quiet voice trailed off, her gazed focused on the blue floor below her. "I...I'm sorry for not noticing how much pain you were in all this time..."

"There's nothing to be sorry for," he placed a hand on her slender shoulder, gently squeezing it. "You didn't know. So don't worry about it, okay," he gently patted her back through the thick material of her blue and white uniform.

"When did you start to lose confidence in who you are?" She looked up, staring out the glass window. "That must be so hard for you to deal with."

"I think it was shortly after I came here. This place...it just seemed so familiar. Like I had been here before. At first I just shrugged it off to deja vu. You know the feeling you've been somewhere before, yet you know you haven't. But the feeling was too strong to be a coincidence. I even saw you." He smiled down at the brunette, amused by her reaction.

"You...you did?" She stuttered, her heart beginning to pound in her chest. Her topaz orbs were wide as she stared at him, unable to hide her confusion. "When?"

"It was when I tried to land the Skygrasper. I saw myself in the same situation, but it was different. You were there, but you were wearing an Earth Alliance uniform. I still don't know what to make of it, but I could see you so clearly. It felt so real."

"This ship...it used to be part of the Earth Alliance. Until they betrayed us at Alaska. They left us to die. And if it weren't for...," she stopped herself, unable to continue. "So that's how we ended up with Orb."

"I see. Now I'm sure what I saw was real. And I know that the feeling that I've known you for a long time is real too," he reached across, brushing a stray auburn lock out of her face.

"I...," she looked down, porcelain cheeks flushed pink. "Thank you...for helping us out like that...and for coming back here," she stammered, pulse still racing.

"No problem. It feels right to be here. To be with you," he smiled warmly. "And I feel that if I do stay here a lot of my questions will be answered."

"I hope you find what you're looking for," she looked up at him, returning his smile.

"You hungry? I thought that maybe we could go grab a bite to eat," he grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers between her own, pulling her down the hallway, a wide grin plastered across his face.

"Wha...?" She stammered, mouth agape as he led her down the long, empty corridor. She laughed as he turned around and winked at her, his eyes sparkling with familiar mischief.

"So how did you end up captain of this thing?" He took a sip of water, the two sitting in the battleship's mess hall, empty trays of food atop the table. "You don't exactly seem like the typical captain," he chuckled, taking another large gulp of the cold liquid.

"It was an accident, I guess," she began. "I was an engineer...involved with the production of the Earth Alliance's new mobile suits. But when ZAFT attacked Heliopolis, all the senior officers were killed, leaving me as the highest ranking officer."

"I see. It seems like this ship has really been through a lot." Neo looked across the table at his companion, his eyes lost in her beauty.

She sighed, shoulders slumping slightly. "It has, and I'm sure there's more to come. We'll just have to wait and see what the Chairman's next move is going to be."

"Don't worry. We'll get through it, and I'll be here by your side. Where I know I belong." He reached across the table, taking her slender hand into his. He smiled as she stuttered, the pink blush returning to her pale cheeks.

"I'm...I'm glad you're here," she smiled as he squeezed her hand gently. Whatever was waiting for them, they would get through it...together.

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A/N: This was partly inspired by the scene in GSD episdoe 44 when Murrue and Neo are talking by the observation deck. I don't know exactly how this is going to play out yet. But please...trust me, okay?

Hope you all enjoyed, and please review.