I swear this entire new series was made for you, Maeve. Happy belated birthday 3 - I actually plan to make this a multi-chaptered with the first few years in Relena and Trowa's romance/post war lives.

As usual, I own nothing. No GW, nope. That goes all to Bandai, Sunrise and the big wigs!

AC 195

When Relena first set foot inside Peacemillion she was greeted by a barrage of familiar faces. Heero had been correct when he said she'd be happy to join a ship that would be happy to have her. While Heero was immediately in mission mode, looking for ways to stop her brother and the White Fang, Relena found herself smothered by the ship's tennants. The first had been Miss Noin, a welcomed surprise as they'd last seen one another in Sanc. Quickly she was spun to meet Quatre, another welcomed friend who quickly assessed her well being.

Duo grabbed Relena into a close hug, happy to see she'd survived the ordeals of the war up to this point. With a friendly kiss to her forehead, Duo pulled back and brightly smiled: "Good to see the aristobrats didn't have you killed, Princess. We've been worried, especially after his fanciness - see Treize, took control again."

Relena chuckled, knowing their worry was legitimate and understandable.

"Treize understands his position in the world, Duo." - Noin is careful to add in, the subtle hint that Duke Khrushrenada would do nothing to displease those of higher rank than he was well placed. Relena nodded, placing her arm over Duo's forearm. - " Treize was kind to explain why he was quick to dismiss me as 'Queen of the World'. He knew Milliardo has officially come undone and that it would be unkind and uncouth to prompt siblings into an 'undignified battle'."

"Remind me, why should any of us believe him?" - Duo plops down on a nearby seat, the snark in his tone undermining any of his body language.

"You don't," - Relena began, gliding towards a nearby bench - "But this doesn't mean we cannot give the man the benefit of the doubt at this point. We need to reach some sort of plateau,"

A deep, condescending laugh interrupts as Relena spots a pair of figures she'd never met. One of them wore a space suit and his facial expression gave away his Chinese heritage. He looked at her in contempt, whether as the other man with the wild fray of bangs in his face seemed indiscernible.

"So this is the Queen of the World?" - The one in the space suit asked, forcing Duo unto his feet and giving him a glare worthy of Heero's appraisal. Relena said nothing, trying to comprehend what she'd done to gain this man's dislike. Noin moved in her direction, almost distrusting of the individual in the room. - " Former Queen, if you were paying attention to the news, Wufei. You know, your mortal nemesis is now the new Ruler of Earth. So save your contempt to where it belongs, the war. Relena's done nothing to earn this bullshit, except be an ally to all of us."

The brunette by the man she now knew to be Wufei moved away, reaching ahead to shake Relena's hand. "A pleasure to finally meet you, Relena." - She heard him say and thus, Relena was forced to look up, greeted by a pair of smoldering green eyes. A small blush crept over her face as her mind slipped back, trying to place this voice that she knew she'd heard before… - "Oh yeah, Lennie, that's Trowa!"

She hears Duo call out, seemingly choked. Relena's attention and head snapped to the side, where Wufei held Duo in a headlock. Both men seemingly arguing and getting aggression out of their system in a matter that didn't phase anyone on board. Relena rolled her eyes at the on going state of aggression, leaving for Quatre to get in the way of their fight, Noin yanking Wufei rather rashly and Duo fielding complaints about someone pulling his braid.

"Don't mind them, it's a daily ritual by now."

Relena's attention went back to the brunette before her, a smile curving her lips.

"I take it that you're a pilot, as well?" "We indirectly met, Antarctica." - He fills in the information, quietly shooting a glare in both Duo and Wufei's direction. - "I was there when you showed up to read Madame Noventa's letter." "Didn't you patch in our channels so I could speak with Heero?" Trowa nodded, causing for Relena to offer a simple smile. The gratitude in her general body language conveyed to Trowa all he had to know. For a moment, it all seemed to them that the world, the war, outer space - it had all stopped around them. Noise was only background music to them, as Trowa quietly reached to brush a strand of hair away from Relena's face. - "Thank you for that, it meant a lot…"

"He needed to hear it, plus…" - Trowa paused, reaching to smack Duo upside the head as he was trying to chase down Wufei now that everyone had let go of each teen - "I lived with Heero after his attempted self-detonation. No one else saw what I saw. He was looking to die and anyone who would be as kind as to do him the favor. I think he was hopeful that Zechs would go through with it."

"That is what Madame Noventa said...and Sylvia. For what it's worth, I am glad my brother didn't go through with it. His life, none of your lives are expendable."

"They aren't?" Relena nodded, but before she could say much more - a familiar head of blonde hair caught her sight. Trowa glanced to the side where Sally Po stood, arms crossed and a wide grin on her face - "Relena! Glad you've joined us."

"Major Sally...or should I just call you Sally?"

"Sally works just fine, I am just happy you are safe…" - a gentle pat of Sally's hand on Relena's shoulder made the teenager blush lightly. Trowa felt his heart strings pull against his chest. This young girl meant so much to so many and here he was, wonder if he too, had a place amongst those people. But the way she looked at him, that polite smile that paved way to a heartfelt grin was warming him to her. A captivating girl and he, an expendable life to be lost in the field.

There is no true happiness for those who fight, like he.

"Trowa!"

His head snapped up, his eyes finding Quatre looking from a higher platform - "We have to go, Howard found some interesting stuff in the thing Hilde brought from Libra. Heero wants everyone to get briefed in before we go out there."

When Trowa went to follow Quatre, he turned his head to catch a glimpse of Relena Darlian. The way she seemed engaged in conversation with Miss Sally meant he didn't have to say goodbye just yet. It meant an excuse for later, one he'd gladly take before the final fight. For the briefest of minutes, he could've sworn he saw her look back - a trick of the eye, he tells himself before pushing his body upwards to float towards the upper platform. The war was coming to an end, but would any of them live past the war?