"Hey, Dearka, over here!" Dearka and Mir turned at the voice of Athrun calling them over. They just arrived at Haven Park and Mir was mesmerized by how beautiful it was. The fresh air felt so good; she smiled to herself. She felt like running all over the place, till she couldn't run anymore.

"Hello, Miriallia, how are you doing today?" Lacus asked.

"Oh, I'm fine. This park is beautiful! I can't believe how beautiful it is." Mir said excitedly, hardly able to contain her joy.

"I'm so glad you like it." Lacus replied clapping her hands joyfully. "Athrun and I hoped that you would enjoy it here. If we walk this way it will take us to the merchant booths, and if we go that way it will take us around the whole park."

"Ending at the merchant booths?" Mir asked.

"Yes." Lacus replied.

"I would really like to go all the way around, but if that's too much for you guys we could meet up." Mir suggested.

"A walk sounds good." Athrun replied giving her a smile.

As they walked, Lacus and Mir walked in front enjoying the scenery and pointing out different things. Dearka and Athrun walked behind them talking about tomorrow's meeting.

"So, how are you enjoying the Plants?" Lacus asked.

"To be honest this is the first time that I really got to see anything, except when we were driving to and from the wedding. I've been busy at home, trying to learn how things are done." Miriallia replied conversationally.

"Well, there are many enjoyable things to do here. If you every feel like you want to get out just give me a call." Lacus said friendly.

"I hate to be forward, but aren't you an amazing pop star here on the Plants? Don't you have to be careful as well as take responsibility for you work?"

"Oh, yes, but it's really not bothersome to me. I enjoy meeting the fans and there is always some with me, even Haro accompanies me." Lacus said smiling.

"Haro…Haro." The pink-faced ball said.

"Oh, that's…great." Miriallia said looking at the ball.

"Is something the matter?" Lacus asked as Mir tried to slow her pace.

"No, I just feel like running. Weird, huh?" Mir said as she rubbed the back of her head.

"That's not weird at all. Why don't you?" Lacus looked at Mir with a smile. "I'm not much of a runner, but you can go."

"Really? You don't mind?" Mir asked practically jumping up and down.

"No. Go ahead."

Mir started to sprint, as Lacus informed the confused gentlemen what Mir wanted. After a few minutes, she started to jog. This feels so good! She started picking up the pace, enjoying the lush greenery, tall trees, and the lake. When she got to the bridge that took you to the other side of the lake she slowed down. Focusing on her breathing she walked on the bridge and leaned on the railing, watching the lake underneath her. She smiled as a gust of wind blew through her hair.

"That's her." Mir heard someone say. "She's the one Dearka had to marry." Mir saw in her peripheral Lunamaria and the first girl she tried to befriend walk on the bridge.

"You know she tried to talk to me." The other girl said. "As if, I would ever talk to her."

"Shiho, I can't believe she would even have the courage to do that. You know those naturals are as weak as they come."

"Oh, I know." Shiho answered as they passed Mir, glaring at her. Their murmurings finally faded out as they walked out of hearing distance.

Mir leaned her chin on her hands keeping her eyes on the lake. She shuddered at their comments.

"Having fun?" Dearka asked as he came up beside her and placed his hands on the railing.

"Yeah." Mir responded with a smile. Without warning Dearka pulled Mir into his chest and hugged her.

"Don't listen to them, you're not weak." Dearka said as he tightened his hold.

"Thanks, Dearka, but they were also speaking the truth. I am the 'one' you 'had to marry.'" Mir said.

"You're not so bad, cutie. I think I'll live." Dearka said laughing as he let her go.

"Please, you would bolt the doors to keep me from leaving you alone, with your pathetic self." Mir teased. "Where are Athrun and Lacus?"

"They're coming." He said as he leaned his back on the railing. "You really can run!"

"Than…wait, were you following me?" Mir asked.

"I couldn't just let you run by yourself. Plus, we didn't establish any place of meeting." Dearka replied in his defense.

"Well, let's see if you can keep up." Mir said daringly as she took off laughing; passing Lunamaria and Shiho.

"Ladies." Dearka said as he laughed running after her. When they had reached the market place, Dearka reached out and took hold of Mir's arm. "Caught you."

"Be…cause…I let…you." Mir said trying to catch her breath.

"Sure." He replied sarcastically; his breathing normal. "You want something to drink?"

"Wa..ter...wo..uld...be gre...at." They sat on a stone wall waiting for Athrun and Lacus.

"So, aside from music, what do you enjoy?" Dearka asked.

"Oh, let's see, I like lots of things. I mean, I'm pretty open when it comes to activities. I would have to say that my all time favorite things to do, is to play baseball and read, as you probably already guessed from the box you opened." Mir replied.

"I have to admit, though, I was still surprised to see the baseball glove."

"There you are." Lacus said as she and Athrun walked toward them. "Did you enjoy your run?"

"Yes, it was fun watching Dearka try to keep up." Mir replied teasingly causing them to laugh.

As they walked through the market place they would stop a various booths and look at what they sold. In the end, Lacus bought a set of hair accessories, Athrun a magazine of self-built mechanisms, and Dearka a couple of albums. Mir stopped at one stand and looked at a halter dress that had caught her eye. It wasn't girly but it wasn't plain either. It was blue and fitted till the waistline and then flowed into an A-line skirt. In the front were it dipped down a little, was a small with bow. The halter straps were white, as was the fringe of the skirt.

"Do you want that?" Dearka asked as he came up behind her.

"I…" She blushed as she looked down. She only had her Orb bank card.

"What size are you?" Dearka asked nonchalantly.

"As if I would say."

"Mir, come on. Let me buy this for you." Dearka said as he stood in front of her, blocking her from leaving.

"Ah, no, that's okay." Mir said embarrassed.

"Please." He said huskily as he raised her chin to look at him. Mir barely remembered how to breathe as they stood there.

"Thanks." She said as she as they came out of the store.

"No problem, princess." Dearka replied.

"What's wrong?"

"I just feel sort of bad. I heard you tell Lacus this was your first time out and about on the Plant and the fact that we still have to get your Driver's ID and a bank card made me think how I haven't been paying attention to you." Dearka said as they walked slowly getting closer to Athrun and Lacus.

"Look, why don't we start fresh? Okay. No more blaming things on external circumstances."

"Huh?"

"I mean, why don't we just focus on what we need to do and not worry about the past?" Miriallia said conversationally.

"I mean, what's done is done and we both have done things towards the other that we wish we could take back. You more so than me, but who's counting?" Miriallia said with a playful smile.

"Hey, I resent that." Dearka said returning the smile. "But it sounds good to me." He said wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Yeah, but we're not there yet, dummy." Miriallia said as she squirmed out of his grasp and caught up to Lacus and Athrun.

"Darn." Dearka said with a shrug as he followed her.