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Yet another lively day in the life of a seventeen year old politician. One who'd been in the government since she was only fifteen. A stark change from the life she'd lived in elegance and ease in the lap of luxury when it was her father who was the foreign vice minister. She retreated into her cozy condominium in Brussels, to be close to the ESUN headquarters. Loping up the exact twelve steps from the curb to the walk to the door, Relena set down her case, on which she'd laid her trench coat due to the early morning drizzle. The escort car she traveled in idled as its driver, the resident guard, made sure the coast was clear. Relena retrieved her key and opened the door. The guard hustled in first to check the security system while Relena hung her coat on the rack and propped the case against the wall in the hallway that led to her downstairs office.

Would you like anything to drink, Mr. Chang? she asked with a bit of false formality, now in the kitchen.

Wufei, who had been assigned to this post due to a lovely bout of peace, shook his head. He had come into the absolute trust of the vice minister in the past month he'd been with her, and she had also come into his.

I have some brandy if you'd like it, she told him as he looked around upstairs.

When he came back down, he found her in the kitchen picking a few pieces of chocolate candy from a milk glass holder. He smiled faintly. Everything's safe, Miss Darlian. He added his own formality.

They dropped the class act and calmed down. After their usual exchange of friendly mockery. Relena dug through the candy, so far unseen.

Her resident guard crossed his arms and asked, What are you eating?

Peanut M&M's. Do you want some? She held up the shiny, cream like container and watched as he approached to take a handful. You know, I'm glad we're not arguing anymore, Wufei.

He popped a red one into his mouth and leaned against the counter. I got over our differences while I was fighting Heero. During the Mariemaya coup.

Relena took a few more M&M's and put the dish back where it had been before. I guess we were just a bit too stubborn. Before now, I mean.

It's a give and take relationship. The only true way to make a loyal and trustworthy friend is to make battle first, I think. Wufei peered out the window behind her. Before his eyes it started to rain again. That's how Sally and I learned how to get along.

Looking around, he noticed that there was a lack of fur in the house. Relena got herself a bottle of water from the refrigerator as he finished off the M&M's. Where's the dog?

Relena unscrewed the top. She passed away last night.

Wufei studied her faint expression. I'm sorry.

She was old. I can remember her being around since I was little. She recalled all the times she'd spent playing with the dog, a big bundle of white fur. I'm just glad that she made it through the wars, and that she went in peace.

Nodding thoughtfully, Wufei couldn't manage not to notice the sorrow in her voice. He remembered the car idling in the front and dusted his hands off in the trash can to prevent any left over debris of the M&M's getting on the floor. I'm due back at Preventer soon. I should be going.

Relena yawned and followed him to the door. Take care.