A pair of blue eyes glanced up, watching the clock slowly tick seconds away. A frown tugged at his lips, hoping that the time had passed faster. Settling back down against his pillow, he sighed in disappointment. She'll be here soon, he reminded himself, tilting his head into the golden sunlight streaming in through the small window. He smiled despite his still healing injuries, the warmth a welcome change from what he had grown used to aboard that ship.

A gentle breeze cooled the tiny room, the fresh air invigorating. Flipping through a magazine, his smile grew, looking forward to another of her visits. She appeared around the same time every day, bringing him various books and magazines to keep himself occupied during the hours he wasn't asleep or undergoing exhausting rehabilitation so that he could walk again.

"Flowers?" He chuckled, surprised by the unexpected gesture. Roses of every color filled the glass vase she held, bringing a smile to his scarred face. She sure is something,he sat up in the bed, wincing slightly at his protesting wounds. Though still without his memories, he just knew that she was someone special. Spending time with her was the highlight of his day, just as it had been when he had first awoken on the Archangel.

She could only smile, amused by his confusion. "I thought this room could use some color," she explained, setting the arrangement of colorful blooms on the stand beside his bed.

"I'll have to get you some….when I get out of her, I mean," he laughed at the faint blush that spread across her porcelain cheeks.

"I'd like that," the brunette murmured, her voice barely audible. "You haven't changed a bit," she teased, sitting down in the plush chair beside his bed.

"Is that so?" Mwu flashed his signature grin, settling his bandaged back against a soft white pillow, tired from the intense physical therapy he had to endure every day. But no matter how tough his day had been, having her with him made it all worth it. "So, how did someone like you end up in the military?"

"I don't quite know myself," she laughed, his smile infectious. "It wasn't part of my original plan," she explained. "Guess I wanted to see new things," she laughed at the unexpected turns her life had taken. "I ended up an engineer up on Heliopolis."

"Is that how we met?" His azure eyes were full of interest, intrigued by finding out more about not only himself, but her as well. His first impression of her was indeed right. She was an enigma. He could easily figure out how he had ended up a pilot, the thought of flying seeming like an exhilarating experience, but her?

Nodding, she smiled at the memory of their chance encounter that chaotic day on the space colony. "I guess you could say it was an accident," she shrugged her slender shoulders. Turning her head, her expression fell a bit, his eyes looking out the window wistfully. "You want to go outside, huh?" He really hasn't changed at all, she giggled inwardly.

"It's so peaceful here," he sighed, his expression much lighter than it had been in the tiny room. He knew being confined in there was for the best. So that he could heal faster. But he couldn't deny how good it felt to feel the warmth of the sun and the gentle ocean breeze.

"You always did like Orb," she leaned her back against the bench she sat in, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight peeking through the shade the towering trees offered. "We stayed here for a while…during the war. I used to catch you sitting on a cliff, just staring out into the ocean."

"It's easy to see why," he grinned, watching a few birds hop around the lush grass that covered the hospital grounds. "This place seems like paradise," he breathed in the crisp air, his mood much lighter than it had been since he had first opened his eyes that day in the Archangel's infirmary. "Have you seen all of it…this place?"

"No," Murrue shook her head. "I've mostly just seen the military facilities. I haven't really had a chance to see the rest," she admitted. Or someone to see it with, her expression fell slightly. She turned her head to hide the hint of sadness in her marigold eyes, not wanting to worry him.

"I'd like to take you out…when I'm better," he didn't know how, but he could sense the underlying sadness that was still there, no matter how much she tried to hide it. She's been through a lot, but she tries to hide it. "How does that sound?"

"Are you asking me out?" She raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Would you like me to?"

Nodding, she smiled gently. "But not until you're better," the brunette reminded him playfully. You're just the same…with or without your memories…, she closed her eyes, tilting her head into the calm breeze.

"What do you want to do…when this is all over?" She murmured contentedly, nestling her head on his chest, her fingertips skimming his bare chest.

"That shouldn't be too hard to figure out," he chuckled devilishly, pressing a light kiss to her forehead before settling back into the bed

"Besides that," she giggled. "Not that it doesn't sound nice," she smirked impishly, snuggling as close to her lover as she could get before pulling up the sheet to cover them.

"Hmm…," he thought for a moment. He really hadn't planned too much for the future, as if the thought was somehow taboo. Though maybe it really was when your life hung in the balance every time a battle erupted. "I'd like to take you out….maybe to the beach, or a restaurant," he mumbled drowsily, their activities finally catching up to him.

"I'll hold you to that," she whispered, drifting off into the land of dreams, the war forgotten, if just for a moment.

"I wish I could remember. You. My past. Sometimes it feels like they're right there. That I can just reach out and grab onto them. And other times…they feel so far away. I keep running, but they never get any closer. Like I'm running in place," he sighed, his eyes still watching the sparkling ocean. "Sorry. I didn't mean to burden you like that."

"You don't ever need to apologize for that," she shook her head, her soft voice firm, yet gentle. "You were there for me when I needed a friend the most," she blinked back tears before continuing. "And I'll be here for you," she gently squeezed his hand.

The fiery disk sank lower and lower in the sky with each passing minute, nearly touching the ocean horizon. The sky was ablaze in a colorful display, the sparkling waters making that much more brilliant. A pair of dark eyes watched the scene, a warm mug of coffee resting atop the sand beside her.

It's funny how things turn out, she sighed, hugging her knees close, her long hair fluttering in the light wind. Guess I never really did have things figured out after all,she managed a weak smile, sipping the steaming liquid. But maybe things aren't so bad. I know it didn't seem like it at first. He's still the same person…and even if he never remembers, I think we'll be okay, the brunette's smile grew, and for the first time in what felt like ages, looked forward to a much different future than what she had expected.