"You did it!"

The crew of the Archangel were lined up in ranks in the ship's hangar bay, just as they had been before the ship left Orb. But this time, they were at Copernicus, about to head off back to PLANT. All they had needed to do was to stop here to pick up one special passenger..

The girl had shot through the hangar bay doors, her excitement and enthusiasm clear to see. Blonde hair flying, she'd thrown herself at a rather confused Kira, laughing happily. This display by the Chief Representative of Orb was rather different from the dignity she'd shown as the ship left Orb. Now she was much more like the eighteen-year-old she was meant to be. Letting go of her twin brother, the girl ran and hugged Lacus as well, who hugged her back, giggling. The rest of the crew smiled as they watched, knowing how hard it must have been for Cagalli to have had to stay behind on Earth while everyone else risked their lives for her and their country.

Finally, letting go of her friend, the young official turned to the crew, and bowed in gratitude.

"Thank you so much...for saving Orb, for doing your best to bring an end to this war.."

When the crew dispersed back to their duty stations, Cagalli turned to Kira. "Where...where's Athrun?" The boy looked apologetic. "Since he knows most of the Minerva crew, he and Meyrin-chan stayed behind at PLANT...to sort of be mediators, as a lot of them are angry about their ship being taken out. Plus, since Captain Gladys was killed, a lot of them are kind of...bereft."

The girl looked disappointed, but she did seem to understand. Nodding slightly at Kira, she floated gently over to where Archangel's senior officers stood.

"Captain Ramius...thank you. I know that you most likely didn't want to fight Minerva...so thank you." Murrue smiled softly, reaching out to the young girl and placing a hand on her shoulder. "There was no other way, I know that. And it was worth it..because we were able to help save Orb." The girl looked down sadly. "I wish I'd been able to talk to Captain Gladys one last time..when I was on her ship, it seemed like she understood what would happen, with the war and everything." Sighing, she brushed blonde hair from her eyes, and looked up at the man standing beside the Captain. "Well, Colonel, did you take care of Akatsuki? It's not damaged?"

The tall blonde man grinned, blue eyes twinkling. "Not a scratch, ma'am" he replied, saluting.

Cagalli frowned. Something about him seems different. Back in Orb before..he was respectful, quiet. Now he's..teasing me? He's just like...

Later, as she was talking with Kira and Lacus, she remembered that conversation. Looking up at her brother and friend, she decided to ask them about it. "The Colonel..he seems different now. Did something happen?"

Kira smiled a little. "In the battle to destroy Requiem, he was out there in Akatsuki. The Minerva fired their positron cannon straight at Archangel, and he blocked it, just as Strike did at Jachin Due. But...something different happened this time. He got his memories back. He's Mwu-san again now."

Cagalli grinned. "I knew it! That's why he's different..why he was teasing me! The captain..she must be so happy." Lacus beamed. "It's so nice to see them like this..they're inseparable now, almost."

As the Archangel left the lunar city to return to PLANT, Cagalli discussed ideas with Murrue and the other captains, as well as Kira and Lacus. The best course of action, it was decided, was that Cagalli should be accompanied inside PLANT by Lacus and the fleet captains, to give the best impression they possibly could.

"Plus.." said Murrue softly, "if the worst should come to the worst, at least they'll know we have a pretty big military force. But I don't think that'll happen."

As the ship sped towards it's destination, Murrue stood with Mwu on the observation deck, explaining the situation.

"So..I'll be part of the peace delegation to PLANT. I'm not sure how long it'll all take, but I will be away for a few days at least, maybe a week." Mwu looked surprised at that, but then grinned. "Great. I'll come too!"

Murrue sighed, pushing back dark hair from her eyes. "You can't, Mwu. Only the captains are going. And someone has to take command of Archangel if I'm going to be away.."

He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to him. "Can't the kid do it?" he whined. She looked up at him, seeing the sad expression in his eyes. "No...Kira-kun has to stay on Eternal, because Captain Bartfeld is coming to the talks as well..."

Now Mwu felt even worse. His lingering jealousy towards Bartfeld still hadn't completely disappeared, even though Murrue had reassured him that they had only been friends. And now Bartfeld was going to spend the next few days - maybe even a week - with Murrue.

It's not fair. He spent the last two years with Murrue..time I never had. And now he's spending the next week with her, when I've only been reunited with her for a couple of days?

Not to mention the fact that he still didn't trust those Coordinators. The kid, the princess, the others on Eternal..they were okay. But those last two years with the Alliance...he'd been taught to be suspicious, wary. And knowing no different...

He knew that there was no need to be this way. But habits were hard to break...

"Do you really have to go?" he asked, knowing how childish he sounded, but not caring. "Can't the others take care of this?"

Murrue leaned into him with a sigh, the scent from her hair enveloping him. "I wish they could. But all captains have to go, and the ship ZAFT knows best is Archangel. If I don't go..it could be awkward."

She brought him close in a hug. "I have to go back to the bridge now. But I'll come find you when my shift ends, okay? We won't be at PLANT till tomorrow." With a light kiss to his cheek, she was gone, leaving nothing but the trace of her kiss, and her scent behind. Mwu sighed, and turned to look out of the window at the silent starfield beyond.

The next morning, Murrue awoke early at the alarm's beeping, and quietly slipped out of bed, not wanting to wake the one who slept beside her.

I don't want to wake him up...because I'm not sure I want him there when I have to leave. Because saying goodbye is still painful...

"Murrue?" His sleepy voice sounded from the depths of the pillows. She turned to him as she finished dressing, leaning down and kissing him on the forehead. "Get some more sleep..it's still four hours before your shift starts.." Opening one blue eye, he stared up at her. "Then why are you awake?"

"Because I have to go, remember? To the peace talks?" His other eye opened as he remembered the conversation from the day before, and he got up himself, retrieving his uniform from where it lay on the floor, and donning it hurriedly.

"Mwu..you don't have to get up.." she protested, knowing that it would do no good. He didn't answer, throwing on the hopelessly crumpled jacket, then taking her into his arms.

"Mwu!" Murrue gasped, amber eyes widening in surprise. He hugged her tightly, face buried in her hair. "Please..." he muttered, "please come back soon, and promise me that you'll take care of yourself, okay?" She smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. "I'm sure I'll be all right, but I promise that I will." Standing up on the tips of her toes, she pressed her lips to his in a loving kiss, which he immediately returned. The kiss dragged on for several minutes, neither of them wanting to let the other go, not knowing when they would be able to be together again.

Finally, the need for air forced them to break apart, and they simply gazed at each other. But of course, time was something that couldn't be stopped, and she needed to leave soon. His fingers ran through her thick auburn hair gently, as if memorising the way it felt. "I love you..you know that, right?" he whispered, and she smiled. "I do. And you know that I love you. I'll be back soon.."

In the hangar bay, the small boat that would take the delegation across to the hourglass-shaped PLANT colonies waited. Kira gave Lacus and his sister hugs in farewell, and watched as they climbed aboard. Murrue stood before Mwu, smiling softly, but her dark eyes betrayed her sadness. Raising her arm, she saluted Mwu. "Well, Colonel, please take care of the ship for the next few days.." He saluted back. "I will, " he replied softly. "You know that you can depend on me, Captain.." Murrue nodded, turning around and heading for the boat. Just before climbing aboard, she turned and looked back, a hint of tears in her eyes. Then she was gone.

As the boat left the ship, Mwu sighed. It's so dumb. The way we were acting, it's like she's leaving forever. But we both know that's not true. She'll be back in a few days. But it's hard. The last two times we said 'goodbye', we never knew if we'd see each other again. I guess...we both still remember that too well.

But she would come back. And he'd be here waiting when she did. She had given him the responsibility of taking care of her ship, and he would do just that.

On the boat, Murrue looked back at her ship as she sailed towards the PLANT colonies. She was angry at herself for being so miserable.

It'll only be a few days..why am I acting this way? It's probably because goodbyes are still hard for the two of us. And I've only just gotten him back. But it'll be all right. She smiled to herself. He'll be waiting for me, I'm sure of that. And then we..don't have to be apart again. This time, it really can be forever...

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( XD please read and review! )