A.N. Hope you enjoy!


"So what did you mean when you said my father needed a different perspective?"

The question would have seemed a little out of place anywhere else but between the two of them nothing seemed out of reach. During the last several weeks Relena had found herself in a fast friendship with the older girl. Over many nights of hot cocoa and in depth conversations she found herself sharing secrets and telling stories about her day that she normally thought others would find unimportant. It seemed so strange. She had always wondered what it would be like to have a real friend and now it had happened. Thiana was full of interesting ideas and points of view that would make her father's hair stand on end if he knew.

She had never really given much thought to her father's politics. Politics was merely something brought up at banquets and dinners and conferences. Politics were things that took her father from his family, or at least, that is how she had seen things as a child. Now it was merely a way to start a conversation. What do you discuss with a man you hardly ever see? The answer? His job. She often pretended to be interested in his current business just to be able to spend a little more time with him. In truth, she had no interest in politics at all, although she'd been told she was a natural. She even had joined her all-girl school's debate team to try and gain a little more recognition from her father. In retrospect it made her feel rather foolish.

"I don't mean anything bad. I was merely meaning that your father sees things from only one angle when there are so many other points of view that should and must be considered." The other girl's response reminded her of exactly what they were doing.

"But father says that the colonies and the earth should be able to reach an agreement soon. He thinks that the argument against the alliance is a valid one that, if addressed properly can be easily resolved."

"There is nothing wrong with talking things out. And if coming to an agreement through these debates is possible than so much the better. But nonetheless confrontation of this conflict is necessary one way or another."

"But wouldn't that just turn the discussion into a verbal battle?" Relena found herself surprisingly eager for the older girl's response.

"But that is what a discussion is; a verbal battle that if handled incorrectly could lead to a war. It's just a nice way of saying debate, or an assembly for more pacifistic politicians who say they have moved on from petty wars and fights. Fighting is a necessary part of life. Humanity cannot live without conflict, however, with the right amount of effort and the proper negotiation these verbal battles do not always have to end in the type of violence that leads to death. I can see your father's point in that. However his lack of ability to acknowledge that not every discussion is a peace talk could lead him to trouble. Sometimes to reach an agreement a battle must play out."

"But how can you live your life if you expect everything to always be so conflictive?"

"By always being willing to make the necessary choice given to you by the circumstances you encounter no matter how hard it may be and then continue forward. You have to keep fighting for what you believe in and never let them win."

This statement didn't really surprise her. According to what Thiana had said, peace, in her opinion, was a necessary interval between the inevitable squabbles of mankind. War and violence were ingrained in the human consciousness and so therefore would forever exist. However, Thiana did not disapprove of peace, merely the idea of pacifism. Not everyone needed to fight and fighting was not for everyone. In fact, Thiana seemed to think that fighting should be avoided whenever possible. She had told Relena that battles of every kind be they verbal or physical were sort of an art in and of themselves. The way the two parties involved seem to dance around one another verbally and physically could almost seem beautiful in a different perspective.

"But enough about politics. I didn't teach you how to sneak out just to have a political debate ourselves. No, now it's sparring time." They entered the recreation room where Thiana's guards, Doc and Broadway, were waiting. They smiled. "Boys, it's time for her next round of training. Play nicely." Relena had only a few minutes to prepare before Broadway took his position across from her.

"Don't worry little lady. I'll take it nice and easy on you." He winked at her and she found herself excited to begin.

Relena rolled her eyes at his comment and took her stance, and then the exercises began. Broadway began with basic punches giving her plenty of time to respond accurately to his every move. It wasn't long before she found herself slightly annoyed. They were still taking it way too easy on her. Doc finally suggested stepping things up by changing the routine to a worse situation.

Relena blocked Doc's fist as it sailed towards her head then found herself ducking Broadway as he tried to wrap his arms around her in a choke hold. They had only recently started doing the two-on-one exercises to give her an idea of how she would have to move if ever she encountered such a situation. So far the hand to hand techniques had been kept to the basics; bare minimum moves to help her have a better chance at fending off unwanted assailants. The two men were so much larger than she was but were always so careful not to hurt her. At times it almost seemed like they were afraid she would break. When she confronted them about it they merely laughed it off and joked about harsh breezes blowing her away. She had to admit that even next to Thiana she was tiny but she hated it when they took it easy on her.

"How am I supposed to learn properly if you never treat this as the real thing? What if I get attacked?"

Doc and Broadway exchanged glances nervously and Relena felt herself fighting annoyance. The two glanced over at Thiana who was currently looking through a stack of papers as if asking what to do. The older girl merely looked up at them, nodded her head and continued her work. Relena smiled. Thiana was a bit of a puzzle to her which was one of the many things she liked about her new friend. It was at that moment that the computer beside Thiana beeped as it alerted her to a vid-call.

"If you will excuse me gentlemen we should proceed to the next phase of her training while I answer this rather important call." Relena noticed the two men exchange knowing glances as Thiana excused herself.

"Ok little lady, time for you to learn a little something about firearm safety." Doc smiled as he took off his sparring gloves. She noticed the nickname they had recently given her: little lady. She liked it. Training with these two had been a real adventure; one she hoped wouldn't end any time soon.


"How's your 'ambassador' mission going?" His laugh sounded through the ear piece in response to her glare.

"It's going. Dorlan doesn't trust me at all so he's tried to set a permanent shadow on me. Yet somehow the young ward of Treize Khushrenda keeps slipping away… I think I'm giving the poor guy performance issues." She innocently smiled into the screen as she watched Zechs sputter on his drink.

"You've been hanging around Broadway to long. You're starting to talk like him."

She waved her hand at him while shaking her head. "It won't be long now, and I'll be able to leave which will remove Broadway and Doc from being my 'Bodyguards' so no need to get jealous."

"I'm not jealous!"

Thiana raised an eyebrow as if to say 'oh really?'

"I miss you." His soft response caught her off guard "I just wish there had been a way I could have been there." Her face softened as a feeling ran through her warming her from the inside out.

"I know. I wish it was you here instead of them but we both know why you can't be here." She raised her head and watched through the large glass viewing area. While this was a peaceful colony there had been soldiers here before and they had needed a shooting range. Now while her guards were here they had reopened it for target practice, and training just to pass the time. She watched as Doc again repeated the correct way to load a magazine and insert it into the gun to their newest trainee, Relena Dorlan herself. If only her father could see her now. Thiana had no doubt she'd be kicked off the colony as fast as he could get the take off plans approved.

"I know…" He sighed as he rested his head in his hands.

"You look tired."

"And you look as mischievous and impish as always." She smiled in response to that.

"Zechs…" He looked up at her words his eyes piercing even through a fuzzy vid screen. Her usual words of retort died in her throat. She wished she could talk to Treize about what was going on. She remembered their conversation about jealousy when Noin had almost kissed Zechs, but Treize had written her reaction off as just the possessiveness of a friend. Now she wasn't so sure, mostly after their kisses. Three simple kisses. Well the second one hadn't been simple and she still felt slightly flushed, remembering that stolen moment.

"Thiana?"

"I really miss you too." She whispered back. She knew that she had shocked him. He had always been the one to use those words while she had joked them off or teased him about them.

A silence settled between them as they just looked at each other through the screen. She knew there was confusion in her eyes as she didn't fully understand everything and she didn't like that. But in his gaze she found a solid rock for her in the mist of her own minds' chaos. She'd never felt this for anyone. All of her connections ran deep but she knew that if something happened to what was forming between them she'd shatter, and that realization terrified her. She'd survive. She knew she'd always survive but she didn't know what she would be afterwards. Yet in his gaze all those thoughts were hushed for the moment.

"How's she doing?" she smiled in thanks at his change of topic and he just nodded.

"Well, she's hitting the target with a fair amount of accuracy. If the person is close range she'll hit her mark." She looked back out the window watching the small bullet like paint balls hit the target 25 yards away.

"You're teaching her how to shoot? I thought you were teaching her self-defense moves"

"I am, but everyone, even if they don't believe in the use of guns, should know how to handle one for their own safety." She glanced back at the screen and saw him shaking his head.

"She should never even touch a gun. She's clean. She should never live with the thought that she took another person's life."

"Zechs…Zechs. Listen to me." She waited for him to look back at her. "I'm not teaching her to kill. I'm teaching her the proper handling of a gun so if she ever holds one she doesn't shoot herself. And you never know what life will bring; you need to be prepared for anything, mostly with what's on the horizon. I'd rather a person save themselves then hold so tightly to their beliefs that they let someone else use their body, or kill them." She knew her voice was hard but she hated this fight. She'd had it many times with politicians, and it was mostly the pacifists.

"I know." He sighed knowing she was right.

"She reminds me of you." She smiled at his shocked expression. "She's so easy to tie up in knots but she catches way too much. She actually noticed me sneaking out a couple times. Which is the reason we now have defense lessons, I had to tell her I was coming out to the barracks to get training to protect myself."

"You're kidding me."

"No I'm not. For a fourteen year old, who's never had any training, she's not bad. She catches things not even trained politicians, or soldiers would about a person."

"There's more isn't there…" She sighed looking straight at him.

"There's that intuitiveness." She paused before continuing. "It's just she's only fourteen. Yet there are times I can see a haunted look in her eyes. Children should never have that look placed in their eyes."

"Thia…" but he stopped because he didn't know what to say. She was right. Children should never have had to go through what Relena had gone through. No one should have had gone through was she herself had gone through. He watched her through the vid screen and wished he could do something but didn't know what.

"Yet it happened," she took a deep breath "and I believe she'll be one of those that will use it to make things better. If she's ever told."

He just nodded knowing she was turning the conversation and he glanced at the alarm clock next to his bunk. "What time is it there?" he asked turning back to the screen.

She glanced at the clock. "11:50 pm, why?"

"Oh, no reason, just that in ten more minutes it'll be your birthday." He smiled as he saw her slight blush. "Happy sweet sixteen Thiana." He held in his laugh at she shifted. She never really knew how to take her birthdays. He just shook his head at the workings of her. "Now, even though I would like to continue this conversation I must say goodnight."

"Thank you, and Goodnight Zechs, be safe."

"You too." With that they both disconnected and she sat up from the desk removing the ear piece sighing as she lightly ran her fingers against the screen.

'SNAP OUT OF IT!' she yelled at herself before giving herself a mental shake.

She quickly stepped out of the small booth and headed towards the small group.

"If you practice so much why don't you use actual bullets?" Relena asked as she placed the gun on the platform.

"While we need to practice on our aim, we never believe you should waste bullets. That's why we use these instead of real bullets. They act the same but they can't cause the same damage." Thiana replied as she walked up behind all three.

"Thiana!" Relena gave a slight jump. She obviously hadn't heard her approach at all and even though it always happened Thiana knew it unnerved her.

"Ward, how's Lightening?" Doc asked as he turned towards her giving her a teasing knowing smile, and was able to hold off from laughing at her eye role.

"Lightening is fine. Ugh I hate that tag." She shook her head.

"Doc!"

"Broadway?" the two men looked at each other before Doc connected the dots that Broadway was silently sending him, and they both turned as one on Thiana.

"What are you two doing?" Thiana watched as they both moved towards her.

"Do you trust us?"

"It all depends on what you two are going to do?" she eyed them as they were right in front of her, as she really wasn't one for surprises.

"We're good guys aren't we, little lady?" They both had turned at the same time to look back at Relena which placed them on either side of her. Thiana had the sinking feeling they were cornering her for something and was about to run.

"Guys…."

"I don't see why not?" Relena answers with a look of confusion on her face.

"See Ward, she says you should trust us." Doc said.

"So trust us." Broadway finished.

"Um… no." Thiana replied getting ready to turn yet they already at her. Each man swept an arm under each of Thiana's before lifting her off her feet and started walking her back towards their housing.

"WHAT THE….. Put me down! Don't make me hurt you. You both know I can" Thiana wiggled in their grip judging their weaknesses before truly making her move.

"Come along little lady." Broadway hollered over his shoulder.

"Please, do stop the wiggling Ward. Just play nice" Doc said reaching over and patting her on the head.

"You'll pay." Thiana vowed giving him a death glare to rival all death glares.

They entered the guys' housing and she was placed on one of the chairs. She went to jump up but Doc held her down while Broadway went into the kitchen area to retrieve some things.

"Little lady, if you would be so kind." He called from the other room.

"What are you doing?" Thiana hissed at Doc who, in return, just laughed before the lights were dimmed and she heard a whispery voice start singing 'Happy Birthday' in a very bad rendition of a way a person named Marilyn Monroe had sung it for a politician or so Broadway had told her.

Then Doc joined in and the two did their famous rendition, well at least they thought it was famous, as a small cake was placed with lit candles before her on the coffee table. Doc finally stood up setting her free as she watched Relena bring in one present, a cutting knife and four plates with forks.

"Guys…" Her voice was softer now as instead of glaring at them she was smiling.

"Happy Sweet Sixteen Ward!"

"Now blow out the candles and make a wish!" She laughed at their childlike antics and leaned forwards blowing out the candles which was immediately followed by a round of cheers.

"I'll cut the cake. Open your present." Doc said as he quickly took the knife making two slices before dishing out the four pieces. Relena handed her the present and she read the note saying it was from Hawk, Broadway, Doc, and even Romeo.

"You guys shouldn't have done this." She replied.

"We know, but we wanted to. And since you can't be home with Treize we wanted to make sure you had an un-political birthday celebration." Broadway replied taking his plate and sitting down.

"You'll get Lightning's and Treize's gifts tomorrow but seeing as what that is we thought it would be better given without all the doves flying about." Thiana laughed at Docs response mostly at his use of this code word for pacifist. "Now open it!"

"Ok Ok" she smiled before ripping into the wrapping, and froze. "No… you didn't…" she finished taking off the paper. "You did!" She held in her hand the highest priced scope out there for sniper guns. Hawk had the last model but this was the new one. She had been drooling over his for the last three years.

"We all saw how much you loved the one Hawk has and we knew for your sixteenth we couldn't just give you anything it had to be as great as you." Doc explained.

She didn't know what to say to that. So she didn't say anything. Instead she launched herself across the room landing in between them while giving them both a hug. "Thank you. You have no idea what a great gift this is."

"Just wait till tomorrow and you see what Treize and Lightening have sent." Broadway laughed. "But you're welcome." As he slipped his arm around her in a hug.

"You deserve this for everything you've done. Happy birthday" Doc said returning her hug.


Relena took another sip of her punch. The night was going as well as she hoped. When Thiana had come to stay with them and she had learned that the older girl's birthday would be occurring during her time with them, Relena had insisted on planning a birthday party. It hadn't taken much to convince her father. She found herself quite proud of how she'd easily received her father's consent. Glancing around the room she found herself wholly pleased with the overall turnout. The room was a splendid mix of green and silver, two of Thiana's favorite colors. Her father had insisted she invite a few of the colony's key families most likely so that Thiana's birthday could be used as yet another opportunity to feel out the current political situation. She hadn't minded. The more people that attended the party the easier it was for her to blend into the background. Socializing wasn't really her strong point. When confronted by a crowd she could more than hold her own but if she could avoid such unnecessary attention she would.

Another glance around the room easily revealed her friend. Thiana looked absolutely gorgeous. Relena found she was slightly jealous. The older girl's dress fit her perfectly and indeed she hardly looked only sixteen. The dress was a fun and flirty thing but fully respectable. It's high neck line fell into a low scoop over her back. While the hem hit just above her knee in a cut that had it swirling from even the smallest movement. In the right light the dark silver color gave a strange glow around her. Every eye was on her. She was the very picture of grace and poise and it made Relena wish that one day she could be looked at with the same amount of adoration. As Thiana started slowly making her way over to her, Relena found all thoughts of jealousy put aside under Thiana's friendly glance. Tonight was supposed to be all about the older girl.

"I can't thank you enough for this party although you really didn't have to go to all this trouble." Thiana reached for a cup of punch and Relena could hardly blame her. The young woman had been engaged in numerous conversations since the moment the party started.

"It was no trouble at all. It's the least I could do since it's your birthday. I wanted a way to show you just how much I have appreciated having a friend like you."

"In that case I'm the one who should be throwing you the party." The two began to laugh together. "Your friendship means a lot to me too." Thiana smiled.

"I'm glad to see that the two of you are enjoying yourselves. Happy birthday, Miss Khushrenda." Relena's father had walked up beside them, his usual political mask in place. Relena still could not understand why her father disliked the girl so much.

"Thank you Vice Foreign Minister. I was just telling your daughter how honored I feel to have such a celebration thrown for me. It really wasn't necessary." She watched as Thiana used her own political mask, a technique Relena had begun to emulate with shocking accuracy.

"Nonsense, it seemed only fitting that since you are away from home on such a special occasion that we make sure it was celebrated properly. Speaking of celebrating, your guardian could not be here but he sent your gifts for you. They are waiting for you in the sitting room along with a video." Relena watched Thiana's eyes light up in anticipation.

"Thank you, Mr. Dorlan, if you'll excuse me. Come on, Relena." The older girl all but dragged a laughing Relena to the sitting room where, sure enough, two boxes, one much larger than the other, laid on the side table, right next to a vid-screen. Thiana pressed play, obviously eager to hear whatever message her Guardian might have for her. It wasn't long before an image came up of someone who Relena could only guess was Treize Khushrenada. He was sitting behind a lavish oak desk with his elbows resting on its surface, his hands folded in front of him. A smile transformed his features as if he could actually see Thiana come to focus even though it was a recording.

"Happy Birthday, My Panther. I cannot tell you how it grieves me to be unable to be there for such an important day in your life. And while I know you understand it still makes me want to outdo myself with spoiling you. So I have sent you a gift. Please take a moment to open it if you would."

Thiana looked down at the package and Relena watched her open it carefully. The older girl's eyes lit up. "Treize…." Inside the box was a pair of black patent-leather high heels. The shocking part of the shoe was found in the heel as it was formed from silver metal. Relena didn't know why but she had a feeling she was seeing more of a weapon then a fashion statement.

"I hope you are as pleased with my present as I imagine you are, but I must tell you that it is not all. Those shoes are merely a prelude to your other gift."

At that moment, the camera angle shifts and suddenly, on the screen was a black sports car, a jaguar with pin-striping that were only a couple shades lighter then the black. So it looked like a trick of the eye. 'Just like a black jaguar's spots' Relena thought as she found herself instantly envious.

"I found the car truly a fitting present for you. I know you have your custom bike that you helped design last year but this is for when it rains." Even through the vid-screen it was easy to see a teasing glint in his eyes. "You can start driving it as soon as you return home. It will be waiting for you, as will we all. Never forget the place you hold Thiana. I wouldn't change the last 5-and-a-half years for anything. Now, I'm sure Zechs would wish for you to open his present. It should be there as well. Happy sweet sixteen, panther."

The connection ended and Relena looked at her friend. The smile on Thiana's face couldn't have been any broader, yet there was a small hint of sadness that couldn't leave her eyes. Relena blinked slightly, shocked, but when she looked again it was gone. 'I must have imagined it.' She shook her head as Thiana reached for the final package. Relena was shocked again with the way it was opened almost tenderly. Yet she didn't think on it for long as she gasped at what was inside.

"Oh Zechs…" Thiana whispered as she lightly ran her fingers over the custom made necklace. Relena moved closer to get a better look and couldn't believe it. The piece hung from the simplest of chains in the color black. But it didn't need anything fancy as it would catch the eye of anyone who looked. The main pendent was all about two inches. The longest piece was an inch and half long onyx stone shaped into the form of a stiletto dagger. Her eyes widened as she saw the light glinted off of the edges of the onyx. It was set in a black metal that matched the chain and she just knew it was sharp.

As her eyes moved up to the top the same black metal had now been shaped into the form of a panther's face while two sapphires sparked fire from the animals eyes. It made Relena think of what Treize had called Thiana: 'Panther'. While she never would have designed or picked out this piece she realized how much it fit her new friend, 'A beautiful, dangerous work of art.' Again she gave herself a mental shake. Why was she thinking that way about her friend?

She watched as Thiana quickly fastened the chain around her neck before looking at her reflection in one of the decorative mirrors.

"I think it's wonderful that they had the forethought to do this for you." Thiana just smiled giving a small nod as she ran her hand over the necklace again before she slipped it under the neckline of her dress. Relena was shocked. 'Why had she done that?' She was snapped out of her thought as Thiana turned around with the classic look of a teen who had just received a car and once again Relena couldn't help but realize how such an expression seemed just a slight off.

"I can't believe he bought me a car!"

"It was a very lovely gift. He really cares about you."

Thiana just nodded, that look of sadness flashed through her eyes again. "Sometimes, I don't feel I deserve it, but it's always in those moments he does something like this, reminding me, he wouldn't change a thing." The two sat down on the couch both lost in their own thoughts.

"You should probably be getting back into the party. You are, after all, the guest of honor." Relena smiled at her friend

"Aren't you coming too?" Relena shook her head.

"Not right now. I think all the excitement is getting to me."

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I just need a moment to catch my breath. I'll take care of everything in here. You go on. I'll join you shortly.

"Alright then," Thiana stood up and slowly started making her way back to the party. "See you in a bit."

As Thiana went to rejoin the party Relena walked to the window. She didn't feel the desire to follow. Thiana's gifts had been perfect. Her guardian and her friends had been so thoughtful to get her such wonderful things. She found herself envying such a bond. The older girl was merely Treize Khushrenada's ward and had only been so for a short time and yet the man knew exactly what she wanted. Her own father who had known her for her entire life couldn't say the same. He bought her a limo: a pink limo to be driven by someone else. The wrong color, the wrong kind and ultimately, the wrong choice. Thiana's friends had bought the girl a sniper scope (a strange choice in her opinion) one that the older girl had wanted for years. Yet another of her friends had gifted her with a beautiful custom-designed necklace.

Relena sighed. She was grateful for the car. She knew how fortunate she was. In fact, she felt eaten by guilt at feeling anything but satisfied with her father's present. However, she couldn't help but wish that her family knew her half as well as Thiana's did. Pressing her fingers to the cold glass of the window she took a deep breath and exhaled. Soon it really would be her birthday. Her father planned to take her back to earth to hold a proper celebration of their own. She only hoped that by then she could make herself come to love her father's generous gift. Steeling her resolve, she put on her best smile and rejoined the party. Today was Thiana's day and she was determined to make sure her friend had as good a party as possible.