They were all seated in Rashid's office/control room. Safa was accessing her private computer files from the colony. Anna sat waiting trying not to be hurt by their sudden and intense dislike of her. Quatre sat with his arm around her trying to reassure her. He had tried to talk to Rashid and Safa but they were not in the mood to listen.

Rashid was looming over her. "Is there any way you can confirm your identity?" Anna could tell he hoping this was just an elaborate scheme to gain access to the Winner fortune.

Since he was thinking about it, she was able to pick out what he was looking for as confirmation of her identity. It was obvious she didn't have any written ID. Anna pulled her hair over her right shoulder and showed him the crescent scar behind her left ear. She'd gotten it when Shelby had literally yanked the lab's restraining device from her head. Both women had one. It was a lasting reminder of what had been done to them. Quatre who was sitting on her left side was also looking at the scar. She remembered how he had laved the scar with his tongue and tried to kiss it better. Jeez was that only last night? They'd only met two days ago yet it felt like years.

If it was possible Rashid seem even more upset by the sight of the scar. Now he had to deal with the knowledge that there was something deeper going on that he had no knowledge about. He hated flying blind into any situation.

They were all distracted from their own private musings when Safa had uploaded the message on to the largest monitor.

The image of Rajel Winner filled the screen. His face was suffused with a look of joy mixed with sadness. Anna felt her throat constrict wishing for the millionth time that she could have saved him. The image opened its mouth and spoke:

"My dearest Annabella, you can only be watching this if you heeded my advice and sought Quatre out. I'm glad the two of you have been able to meet in person. I have a few things I'd like to say to you that I didn't get a chance to say before:

First, thank you. I've been working like a madman for the past few days to ensure I'd gotten in touch with all of my family. Thanks to you I got the chance to say good bye.

Second, I insist that you stop blaming yourself for my death. Blame the stupidity of war. If my passing meant anything, I hope it brought true peace."

"It did." Whispered Anna

"Third, tell my family the truth. I know my family. If you need protection they will give it to you.

Last, I want you to have something. They were to be handed down to Quatre, but if you're watching this I'd like you to have them and I'd hope he would approve." He held up a small jewelry box with a pair of ruby earrings inside. Anna heard startled gasps from Quatre and his sisters, and a surprised grunt from Rashid. Anna herself was stunned by the extravagant gift. The earrings were very beautiful and looked very expensive.

"My love to you Annabella" Rajel said blowing a kiss to the screen "I'm truly glad I got to meet you. I hope you will be happy." And the message ended.

To Anna's surprise, Quatre started to laugh. He was holding his forehead in his hand shaking his head and laughing. When he pulled his hand away she could see he had tears in his eyes like her, but he was definitely laughing. She looked over at Rashid the other women who were staring at the younger couple as if they didn't know which one was the most odd.

"Quatre, I don't see what is so funny about your father offering me a pair of earrings. I didn't expect any payment in return for helping you so you can keep them if you like." He started laughing harder! She tried to check in his head for the reason for this hilarity but he was blocking her! I should have never told him how to hide a thought from a telepath!

Between gasps he said "No darling you'll be getting the earrings. Definitely." His sisters made definite sound of protest to this idea but he silenced them with a look.

Rashid recovered quicker than them "Before we go any further, I'd like to know what truth she is supposed to tell us. Just how is it you knew Rajel?"

Anna summoned up her courage. She was still naturally resistant to telling people the truth about her, but she was also finding it was getting easier.

"From your research about me I'm sure you found out that I was born in a small town bordering the Sanq Kingdom. Unlike what you read I did not die with my family when the country was overthrown. I was sent to an orphanage with hundreds of children in situations just like me. Government and church officials did their best to place us in foster homes, but I was different and kept getting sent back. Like Quatre I was an empath and that kept making others uncomfortable. When I was nine I was sent to this family who figured they could use my abilities for their own gain. They'd try and use me for theft, extortion, you name it. They had a nasty habit of not feeding me for days. When I was ten I'd had enough and I ran away. I came across an alliance officer eating lunch in an open café. My empathy told me he was a decent man so I walked up to him and said I'd do anything he wanted if he'd share his sandwich with me." Anna smiled at the memory "I was taken into custody for trying to solicit an officer. I wasn't really, but I knew he would be able to help me and he did. Or at least he tried."

She went on to explain about how the officer had pulled every string he could to get her into the OZ program he'd heard about. "I never got to OZ I was sent to an entirely different program with an entirely different agenda."

"You should be thankful you weren't in OZ." commented Rashid.

"No Rashid I'm not. In OZ I would have just been a mindless soldier. In the other program I was a human test subject" in brain augmentation she finished telepathically.

Shelby was right. She might as well have sprouted wings, scales, six more eyes, and god knows what else. They couldn't have looked at her with more horror if she had. They were revolted down to the core. Rashid had pulled out a weapon from his desk and was aiming it at her.  

"Rashid! Stop this!" Quatre yelled moving in front of her. "She is not a danger to us!" seeing that Quatre had no intention of moving, Rashid lowered his weapon but kept it in his hand.

Please I know this is a terrible shock but if you would give me just a few more minutes of your time I can show you everything. She sent to them.

Safa walked regally over to the small couch that was opposite the one Anna was still sitting on. "Very well" she said "show us."

Anna guided the other five people in the room through her memories. Not just the ones at the lab, but memories of how they aided the gundam pilots during the war, and her conversations with Rajel. She even added a few memories of her schooling and how she really was a psychologist. Perhaps she went a little over the top, but she desperately wanted these people to accept her. She stopped when Quatre put his hand on her shoulder and whispered "that's enough"

Seeing the glassy looks in their eyes she was afraid she somehow harmed them. It took them a few minutes to absorb all they'd seen and felt. She didn't dare try to read what was going on in their minds. When Safa stood, Anna stood up with her unsure of what to do of say. Quatre's sister bust into tears and threw herself at Anna. Narine and Laura glomped onto her a second later. Was this a good thing? She stood there awkwardly waiting for some sign as to what to do next. When they all pulled away from her she still had no clue as to what was going on.

"You're right Quatre. The earrings do belong to her." Narine said smiling.

"What? Excuse me? Earrings again? I told you to keep them!" What was the big deal about some stupid earrings? Laura and Narine were practically dancing with excitement and Rashid had come to stand behind his lover his arms loosely circling her waist. They too were smiling.

Quatre came up and turned her to face him "Anna, the earrings are a part of a larger set with a necklace and a ring. Traditionally, it has been worn by the Winner brides for generations. My father in his not-so-subtle way was saying he wanted you to be my wife."

He gave Anna a moment to absorb that thought while he pulled a small box out his pocket similar to the one Rajel had.

"That's why I was laughing. I went through hell trying to get this here before we arrived." He opened the box to reveal a very large ruby ring. "I had a perfectly good proposal planed. Then my father has to go and steal my thunder. How many men can say their dead father performed their marriage proposal?"

Now it was Anna's turn to burst into tears. "Quatre don't. Please don't ask me. You can't marry me."  The puzzled hurt look on his face broke her heart. "Please Quatre. Sooner or later the public will find out about me. I don't know when or how, but it became a certainty the moment Shelby and Duo began their relationship. Don't you see? Having a psionic for a wife will only hurt you. Your reputation will be ruined."

She was about to explain further but Quatre started laughing at her again. Worse, everyone else seemed to be in on the little joke because they were smiling too.

"My silly little sandrock, is that what you're worried about? My reputation? By Allah, you had me worried it was something serious." He took her into his arms and looked down at her. "Didn't you learn anything from my father and me? The Winner family is indeed wealthy and influential, but family always comes first. There isn't a Winner alive who would choose money over love."

She was gaping at him dumbfounded. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him. Even to look at the ring he was holding under her nose.

"Now Annabella Rosemarita Petronovitch will you marry me?" he asked smiling.

She looped her arms around his neck and answered him with her mind and voice. "Yes Quatre Rebarba Winner I will marry you."