This chapter written by SuicidalImbecile.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Matrix.


"Are you saying I should leave my own apartment?" Trinity asked in disbelief.

"If you don't, I will," Neo shot back.

Trinity scoffed and walked into the bedroom, pulling out a bag from underneath the bed.

Neo heard her muffled sobs and drawers opening and slamming shut. He slowly felt his way into the room.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm leaving until I can figure out how to deal with you," Trinity replied exasperated.

Neo didn't think she'd actually leave. Before he could explain to himself what had just happened, Trinity pulled the drawstrings of her bag shut and brushed past Neo in the doorway.

"Wait. Where are you going?" Neo asked, almost desperately.

Trinity sighed and opened the front door. She put her bag down, took a step towards Neo, and said, "Maybe Morpheus' or Link's. I really don't know."

Neo nodded slowly as Trinity picked the bag up again and walked out of the apartment.

Closing the door and gently leaning her head back on it behind her, she heard a muffled "I love you," from inside. She closed her eyes tightly, deciding that as much as it pained her to leave, she had to. She would try Morpheus' first.

Trinity knew she could've gone to Ghost's but decided it could only make matters worse with her and Neo.

Walking through the crowded corridors of Zion, Trinity got many curious stares by Zionites passing her by. She heard whispers, probably asking each other where 'the One's' lover was going with a packed bag.

Finally, after a long and awkward walk, she arrived at Morpheus' door. She knocked quickly and waited until it opened, revealing Niobe.

"Trinity! I didn't expect to see you."

Niobe sounded truly surprised. She was wearing a long silky red dress, one of the nicer articles of clothing Zion had. Her dark braided hair flowed freely along her shoulders, standing out beautifully against the color of her dress.

"Niobe, who is it?" Morpheus asked from inside.

Trinity and Niobe ignored him as Niobe asked politely, "what're you doing with a packed bag? Is something wrong?"

Trinity was about to answer when Morpheus came to Niobe's side and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Hello, Trinity. It's nice to see you." His voice was genuine and Trinity knew she'd come to the right place.

"Can I stay here for a little while?" Trinity asked, smiling weakly, watching Morpheus and Niobe's faces contort in confusion.

"Neo and I had a fight. We just had to get away from each other for a while," clarified Trinity, a tone of sadness coming through her words.

"Oh," said Niobe, hearing, for the first time, about a conflict between Neo and Trinity, "I'm so sorry, Trin."

Niobe enveloped her into a hug while Morpheus took his arm away from Niobe to pat Trinity's back affectionately.

"Of course you can stay here," said Morpheus.

Trinity tried to hold back her tears as best as she could, but her will failed her. She cried feely into Niobe's shoulder.

Her hysterical sobs drew more attention to her in the open doorway and Niobe hugged her tighter.

A minute later, when Trinity had calmed down, Morpheus took her bag that had fallen to the ground and ushered her inside. Niobe still had an arm around her and said to Trinity, "You can stay in the guest bedroom…"

Trinity nodded thankfully and wiped her eyes dry, noticing clearly now a candlelit dinner she had disturbed.

"I'm so sorry, I interrupted your dinner."

"It's quite alright," said Morpheus, placing the duffel bag next to the bed in Trinity's new room.

"Do you want something to eat or drink?" Morpheus asked, gesturing towards the kitchen.

Trinity shook her head. "No thanks. Go finish your dinner. I'm just going to get some rest.

"Alright," said Niobe. "If you need anything at all, we'll be here."

Trinity put on a fake smile. "Thank you."

Hours later, Trinity woke from a dreamless sleep to hear Morpheus' voice in the other room.

She looked at the clock sitting on the nightstand beside her, reading 10:03 PM.

Trinity sighed heavily and got up from her bed, arching her tired back and combing her hair with her fingers.

Carefully and quietly opening the door, she saw Morpheus hang up the phone mounted on the wall, and turn to face Niobe.

"What did Neo – Trinity?" Niobe said, seeing her awake in the door frame. "I thought you'd be asleep all night."

"Who was that?" Trinity asked, her voice raspy.

Morpheus cleared his throat. "It was Neo… asking if you were here."

"Oh. What did you tell him?" Trinity moved closer towards the couple.

Niobe looked nervous as Morpheus said, "I only told him that you were staying here. When he asked to speak to you, I told him you were asleep."

Trinity stared at him for a moment, knowing there was something else either he or Neo said. She didn't want to interrogate him however, as she was still grateful for the hospitality.

"We saved you some rice," said Niobe suddenly.

"No thanks. I just came out to get some water," Trinity lied.

Morpheus left the kitchen to go to his room and Niobe followed quickly after him.

Trinity took a mug from the cabinet, filling it with tap water, while straining her ears to hear Morpheus and Niobe.

"There's something else, isn't there?" Niobe asked in a low voice.

"Yes," replied Morpheus.

"What?"

"Let me just say I don't think the next time Ghost and Neo encounter each other, they'll have a peaceful conversation."

Trinity clenched the sides of the counter and bit down to stop herself from crying.

The man she loved was planning on fighting her best friend? How did things get this out of control?

Trinity thought about the damage Ghost and Neo could inflict on each other. She decided she wouldn't let it happen. She ran to Morpheus' room, telling him and Niobe quickly, that she would be back later.

She put on a pair of worn out boots and started sprinting to Ghost's apartment, his being closer than her and Neo's apartment.

She ran through one of the markets, not caring when she bumped into someone who accidentally spilled something sticky and wet on her. She briefly looked down at her shirt, but decided getting to Ghost's was more important.

When she got closer, she slowed to a jog, reading the numbers next to the doors until she spotted Ghost's number. She banged her fist against the door until Ghost opened it.

"Hey," he greeted cheerfully, before noticing the look of anguish on Trinity's face. "What's wrong?"

Trinity leaned against the door frame, still breathless while trying to tell him about Neo's intentions.

"Whoa, settle down. Catch your breath first," Ghost advised.

He invited her inside and Trinity collapsed on the couch nearest to the door.

"Neo found out about us meeting and got the wrong impression. I packed a bag. Now I'm staying with Morpheus. Neo called him. And I think he wants to fight you."

Trinity spat out her words quickly, taking deep breaths in between sentences.

Ghost was speechless as he gathered all the information she'd just thrown at him. After a minute he said, "You've got some stuff spilled on your shirt. I'll get you a different one."

Trinity almost laughed at the off topic statement Ghost made, but felt too exhausted to rebuke his concern.

She leaned back on the couch, hoping Neo wouldn't show up anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Neo sat on his couch, wondering why Kid was so late. Neo had called him, asking for help, over an hour ago.

Neo waited another minute before hearing a knock at the door. He answered it to have Kid come rushing into the apartment.

"Hiya Neo! Sorry I'm late."

"Hi Kid. It's fine. Look, I need some help getting somewhere in the city."

"Where do you want to go?"

"Ghost's apartment. You know where it is?"

"Oh, yeah. I think I dropped off some paperwork there once," replied Kid.

"Good. Let's go then," concluded Neo, following Kid's disappearing back through the city.

They walked quickly -mostly because Neo would walk ahead and Kid would have to keep up so he could lead- making it about a fifteen minute journey.

"You good now?" asked Kid.

"Yeah, thanks Kid," replied Neo, watching him wave quickly and leave.

Neo turned and knocked on the door.

"It's probably Sparks. He's been bugging me all day," said Ghost from inside, still trying to find an appropriate shirt for Trinity to wear. She'd taken off her sweater, only to be in her undershirt now.

"Want me to answer it?" Trinity asked.

"Will you?"

"Sure."

Trinity opened the door widely, putting on a smile, until she saw Neo standing before her.

"Neo?" Trinity gasped, with her eyes wide open and mouth dropped.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Neo asked angrily.

"Me? What about you?" Trinity shot back, although she was well aware of why he was there.

"Hey Trin, I don't know if this shirt will fit you but…" Ghost said loudly, coming to the door.

"Excuse me?" Neo growled.

Ghost reached Trinity's side, spotted Neo, and realized what he'd just said.

"Oh shit… this is definitely not what it seems like Neo."

Before either Trinity or Ghost had time to react, Neo landed a hard punch straight into Ghost's face.

"Neo!" Trinity screamed, shock and fear paralyzing her in the doorway.