The hangar bay was a hive of activity. All around were mobile suits, workers, technicians, a lot of whom, to his delight, he recognised now. Friends, colleagues...he remembered them. Remembered their names, things about them... Grinning boyishly, he undid the seat straps and hit the control to open the cockpit, floating out into the cavernous room. For the first time since coming back to this ship, the noise and chatter didn't bother him. Instead it made him happy. He belonged here. And also...he belonged somewhere else - with someone else. Glancing around eagerly, he looked for any sign of the dark hair, the slender frame.

But she wasn't there.

Murdoch was, however. Floating downwards, he caught the gruff chief's attention. The older man grinned, waving cheerfully. "Welcome back, Colonel! Good job out there!"

He nodded, managing an awkward smile. "Thanks. Uh...have you seen Murrue?"

Murdoch looked surprised. "The captain? No, she's not been down here. She's probably still up on the bridge..."

"Yeah..I guess. Thanks again.." With that, he made his way from the noisy hangar, leaving his friend there staring bemusedly after him. He still had work to do, of course, locking down Akatsuki, checking it over...but this was more important. Deep in thought, he made his way along the quiet corridors. He was a little hurt that she hadn't come to find him, but then again, there was a lot still to do even though the battle was over. Right now the bridge would be as busy as the hangar bay, and she would be there in the middle of it. Typical Murrue...

Whistling to himself, he floated past the observation deck on his way to the bridge - and stopped short. Standing by the window, illuminated by the stars and lights of nearby ships, was a slender dark-haired figure. Grinning happily, recognising her instantly, he moved to stand beside her.

"I didn't expect to find you here..."

She didn't answer. Baffled, he leaned closer, only to gasp when he saw her reaction. He'd expected happiness perhaps, or anger that he'd risked his life again. But instead, Murrue was crying. Not sobs, or hiding her face in her hands - she'd never liked letting people see when she was sad - but simply standing there, eyes closed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Not understanding, but hating to see her in pain, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Murrue, what's wrong?"

She looked up at him, more tears swimming in amber eyes. "Mwu..."

He nodded, and she closed her eyes again, the tears escaping. "I see. You must hate me right now.."

Mwu blinked. Hate her? How could I ever... "Why would I hate you? How could I?"

"Because of...what happened," she replied softly, thin hands twisted together. "Between...between you - I mean Neo - and I..."

"You think I'd hate you for that?" Without giving her a chance to answer, he wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close, breathing in the scent from her hair. "There's no way I could ever hate you. I love you, silly..." She made as if to pull away, but he wouldn't let her, holding her tighter. "And I certainly wouldn't hate you for that. I wanted you to be happy if anything happened to me.."

Murrue seemed a little reassured by his words, but was clearly still unhappy, tears soaking the fabric of the pilot suit he wore. Not quite knowing how to help her, he continued to hold her close, murmuring endearments. How could she think I'd hate her? She's the only person I've ever loved...

"Aren't...you happy?"

Murrue smiled a little, nuzzling closer to him. "Yes.." She was happy. She had accepted Mwu was gone, but it hadn't stopped her missing him, and certainly hadn't stopped her loving him. Him being back here, just as though he'd never left - it was wonderful. But still...him being here...

"He's gone, hasn't he?"

Mwu made a questioning sound, muffled by her hair. Sighing, she raised her head to look up at him, reaching to trace his scar with a finger. "Neo. He's gone, isn't he?" To her frustration, more tears started to well up, and she buried her face in his pilot suit as much out of embarrassment as out of sadness. That was the real reason she'd been crying. She knew Mwu wouldn't blame or be angry with her for finding happiness with someone else...it had been what he'd wanted her to do if he'd never come back. But now he had his memories back, she had Mwu...but had lost the man he had been. Lost Neo. His kindness, affection...he'd done so much for her, made having to fight again a little more bearable. She'd loved him, been happy with him. And..

"He's not gone."

"Huh?" Blinking back her tears, Murrue looked up at him. He was smiling, the sheer affection in that smile almost taking her breath away, and as she stared, he carefully wiped away the last of her tears before kissing the tip of her nose.

"He's not gone," he repeated. "He's still here. Everything he did, everything he saw...I remember. I have my own memories back, but I still have his. And I know how he felt..." His smile grew, becoming the exuberant boyish expression she remembered so well, but had rarely seen from Neo. "He loved you. The time I - he - spent here...he'd have spent it all with you if he could have. And when he used Akatsuki to defend the ship, he did it for the same reason I did.." Leaning down, he brushed a light kiss to her cheek. "To protect you.."

Knowing she was blushing, Murrue huffed. They really are the same, aren't they? "But..."

"But you don't need protecting," he replied, chuckling. "I know. Indulge me."

"It seems that's all I ever do," she pointed out mildly, earning another laugh and a hug. She accepted the teasing with good grace...realising now just how much she had missed it. Neo had been gentle and kind, charming even, but also rather quiet. Mwu on the other hand, having the lifetime of memories Neo lacked, had a little more self-confidence...but he didn't seem as noisy as she remembered. Perhaps being Neo...changed Mwu somehow? "You're different, aren't you?"

"Am I?" he asked in surprise, looking down at himself as though the changes were somehow visible. "Is that bad?"

Not being able to hide a smile, she shook her head. "No, it's not bad. I just meant that you've maybe changed a little bit. Neo was quieter, and I wonder if that's made you quieter too?"

Mwu considered this, then shrugged. "Maybe it has. But however being Neo changed me, it hasn't changed how I feel about you..." Carefully, he ran a finger down the side of her face, causing her to blush again. "And you know, you've changed too."

"I tried to," she admitted.

He grinned, looking her over affectionately, and was rewarded with another blush. Outwardly, Murrue was the same, long dark hair curling over her shoulders, slender figure, and those beautiful amber eyes looking up at him. Even as Neo, with no memories of her whatsoever, he'd been drawn to her. He'd wanted to stay with her, and as he'd got to know her all over again, he'd fallen for her all over again. I'd never met anyone like her before. To me, she was perfect. Even when I was a prisoner...when she was meant to be my jailer, I wished she'd visit me more often. I wanted to join the crew...because I wanted to stay with her.

Now he understood that the Murrue his amnesiac self had fallen for was different from the one he remembered. She was stronger, her already formidable spirit shining brighter than ever. She'd missed him, she'd admitted that much, but she'd also said that knowing him had made her a better person. And in turn, knowing her had made him a better person. Being around her had changed him...helped him to smile, and he'd been grateful for that.

"You changed me," he said softly. "You helped me remember how I was supposed to be.."

He understood a little better now. Everything here had begun to remind him of his life before, the ship, the crew, the brief time he'd spent in Orb, but more than anything...it had been her. Her kindness, her love, had done more to reawaken his old self than anyone or anything else. Grinning again, Mwu caught her by the waist and swung her round in the air, enjoying her delighted giggles.

"Thanks so much.."

"You're welcome, I guess," she said, wrinkling her nose. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she leaned down from where he still easily held her up in the air and kissed him on the forehead. "But I didn't do anything. And besides.." She smiled, the expression impish. "I wouldn't have minded at all if you hadn't gotten your memories back.."

"Oh?" Pretending to be scandalised, he set her back down. "So you'd prefer me with amnesia, would you?"

She just smiled sweetly. "Well, you were more polite. And very charming. I could have gotten used to that..." Mwu grumbled, folding his arms and pretending to sulk, and she giggled. Standing up on her tiptoes, she ruffled his hair - then squealed with laughter as he tickled her ribs. "No, no, stop it!" she shrieked, wriggling to try and escape. "Stop it!"

Ending the tickle torture, he pulled her close. "So, you'd really prefer it if I had no memories?" She couldn't answer for a moment, breathless from laughter, and rested her head on his shoulder to calm herself. She stayed like that for a while, nuzzled close, and he was more than happy to let her, breathing in the scent of roses from her hair.

"I guess.." she began, voice soft, "that memories don't matter that much. It's here that counts.." Reaching up, she tapped his heart. "What you remembered changed...but what you felt didn't. Maybe that's part of the reason we got together again?"

I never thought about that. That I didn't really 'fall' for her...but that things were just picking up where they left off. That even if I'd never gotten my memories back, we might still be together...because I always loved her, and she still loves me...

"You're right.."

"Of course I am," she replied, raising her head to regard him gently. "So whatever you want to remember, whoever you want to be...as long as you stay right here with me, I don't mind."

"All right then. What else do you want to happen?"

Murrue considered this for a moment, then brightened, giving him that playful smile he loved. Standing on her tiptoes again, she kissed the scar that wound across his nose.

"Didn't you tell me that when the war was over, you wanted us to go home? Well, that's what I want too.."

Delighted, Mwu scooped her up into his arms, swinging her around again. What he'd always wanted. For it all to be over, and to go home with her. To live a normal life by her side...to settle down. She'd accepted he was gone - but he'd reappeared back in her life as though nothing had ever happened. One step forward, two steps back...

But then again, did moving on mean forgetting? She'd gotten on with her life, had become stronger for it, but it didn't mean she'd left everything behind. She loved him, had loved Neo...didn't that mean she loved who he was now twice as much?

"Is this moving on, or moving back?"

She giggled, leaning forward to cup his face in her hands. "I don't care."

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( Possibly the weirdest ending to anything I ever wrote :sweatdrops:

Please read and review! )