Elaina woke with a start, inside she was panicking, until she realized it hadn't been a dream. She remained in a sleeping George's grasp, against a tree and under the stars. Her lip quivered slightly -- Someone actually loved her. A small tear formed in the corner of her eye, and she snuggled against George more, getting closer. This is all she ever dreamt about, was being loved, and now she had it. It was more amazing than she'd ever imagined. Something struck her though. She couldn't be with him… He had a lover already.

And besides, she couldn't be with a noble, even if this was the future and not like medieval times. This wasn't right, she was nothing but a piece of trash, something that no one should love. She didn't want to do it, but she did. Gently, she slid out of the young, handsome knight's hold, making sure not to wake him. Her eyes couldn't leave his face for the moment, and she knelt in front of him, tenderly placing a kiss on his cheek. The necklace on her neck was taken off, and she put it around his neck without waking him.

"I love you," her voice trembled as tears streaked her lovely face. She tried not to let them choke her, but they did. Finally she rose to her feet and took one last loving gaze towards George.

My knight in shining armor. Please don't hate me for this," More soft murmurs escaped her ruby lips as she turned away and started walking, until she was out of ear-range, then started running.

She ran as fast as she could, tears blinding her vision and a sob choking her breathing. Her icy eyes only proved to be their coldest now, no longer in the warmth of someone's love. She had to get as far away from him as she could.

[I] ::I don't deserve his love or his kindness. His affections are meant for someone else.:: [/I]

That is what she kept telling herself, over and over until it was embedded in her brain. Finally, she came upon a train station. Maybe she could do some free labor and board it. . .

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As soon as the sun started rising, the beams hit George's face and he stirred. Opening one eye, he looked down.

Elaina? Where was she!

He began to panic as he stood. No, he told himself. No, he couldn't loose her. She was more amazing than anything he'd ever known. Why was she gone? Was it a dream? George felt something around his neck, and clutched it, then took it off to see it better. It was Elaina's silver necklace. A small silver rose charm was attached to it.

"My rose, why have you left me?" he asked the wind, holding back a sob, and clutching the rose-charm necklace to his heart. "Why?" his voice was naught but a mere whisper now and his heart felt torn.

It had only been no more than a dozen hours, and he felt more love for her than anything he'd ever felt before. This was certainly something most unexpected.

His feet finally moved as he walked around, keeping an eye out for Elaina. He had to find her. He just had to. Why did he feel he wouldn't be able to go on without her? Now, he was in an even worse condition than he'd started out as. He had started out as a man puzzling over why his lover had left him so, and all the events surrounding recent Gundam fights. Now, he was heart-broken as his love had disappeared. His true love.

"No," George slapped his forehead with his available hand. "I'm not going to think like this. Obviously she knew we weren't meant to be," his voice ended in a whisper. "I don't deserve such a sweet, lovely woman," s distressed sigh. "I won't look for her, she ran from me."

"Geeeooooooorge!" a shrill voice carried by the wind, reached George's ears. It took him a moment to register it, but finally looked up after a few more calls of his name. What a surprise, Marie Louise was calling his name, in a frilly pink dress, wandering over the park. "George DeSand?! Where are you!" she sounded desperate. George fastened the necklace around his neck once again, and hid it in his tunic.

"Marie Louise," he called, trying not to sound depressed.

"Oh George! There you are!" a huge smile came from the princess as she hurried towards the redheaded Gundam pilot. "I've been looking for you, and you must be so sad. I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me," she apologized with sincere sorrow, but George wouldn't be able to be taken back so easily. He couldn't, it wouldn't be right. His heart belonged to someone else.

"George?" her voice was worried now. "I said I'm sorry, I really am. . ."

"Of course you're forgiven m'lady," George bowed slightly, showing his respect.

Nothing more than respect. Obvious Marie Louise was oblivious because she took George's hand with a relieved smile. "Let us return," and off she was, pulling the knight along with her.

"Were you out here all night?" she asked, very surprised.

"Yes, I was," George answered emptily, trying to keep any emotions out of his voice, whatsoever. He had to talk to Raymond. He just had to. . .

"Raymond has cooked a lovely breakfast for us," the princess' words only proved to make George even more sad. He could've invited Elaina to breakfast. That would've been wonderful.

"Sounds wonderful," George gave a forced smile.

They continued on for a while, until they reached the DeSand family mansion. George's Gundam Rose towered proudly over the mansion, and that brought a smile to the man's lips.

"They repaired it," commented the princess as she led him inside. "Raymond! I found him! He slept in the park!" she called out.

Her voice almost hurt George's ears, especially compared to -- No! He MUST not compare them anymore. Elaina was a ghost lover, and Marie Louise he couldn't love anymore. He'd forget about Elaina and break the news to Marie Louise, but he must talk to Raymond first.

"Oh! George, we were so worried about you!" came the butler's releived voice as he hurried out of the kitchen door with a smile on his wrinkled face.

"Yes I'm fine," George made eye contact with the butler, who immediately knew George had something to say to him.

"Miss Marie Louise, would you mind picking some fresh flowers for the table?" Raymond looked ath the princess.

"Of course not," the blonde girl smiled and was off. As soon as she was out of the house, Raymond took George into the kitchen.

"What is it?" he asked worriedly.

"I. . .I met someone amazing last night," the knight's violet eyes softened as he told his story.

Raymond nodded as he listened, surprised yet not, at the same time.

"You're in love with her. Deeply in love," he drew a conclusion, looking George in the eye again. "Hopelessly if I must say," the butler gave a sigh. "And you're wondering what you should do?" he raised a gray brow.

George hung his head, almost as if in defeat. "Yes."

"You should follow your heart. Remember Fina and Schwarz?" the butler asked about the Neo-Scotland fighter Schwarz had fallen in love with. Ciara had returned the love, but they'd never gotten together. Schwarz had died before either confessed their love. "Do you want to end up like them?"

The knight shook his head with much concern in his violet eyes. "No, of course not."

"Then I suggest you search for her," Raymond smiled. "And Marie Louise is coming back. . .I suggest you mention it to her at some point," he said as they heard Marie Louise return. "And soon," were his last words before leaving the kitchen. "Ahhh, very lovely. Thank-you much m'lady."

George stood there.

 ::Do you want to end up like them?::

That had really gotten to him. No, he wanted Elaina to feel as much love possible before he died. Raymond was right, he must find her. He must. . .


But something continued to come to his mind. Elaina had asked him never to leave her, yet she so willingly left him? That same question came again. . .Why?

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On the vast plains of Neo-Germany, were Gundam Rose and Burning Gundam, locked in a graceful duel. George had gotten Domon Kasshu, Neo-Japan's fighter, to train with him for the time being. Domon has hastily agreed, even though Rain was pregnant with their second child. Of course, she'd scolded him and gotten mad, but she saw the desperation in George's eyes, and therefore allowed her cocky husband to train some.

The two battled on for a while, and finally Gundam Rose broke free of close-range combat and stood quite a ways away.

"Domon! I have something to talk to you about!" George shouted, deactivating his Gundam and jumping out.

"Yeah? Hold on," Domon did the same, and ran towards George. The knight's voice sounded troubled. "What is it George?" the black-haired man asked his friend as he came up next to him.

"Several things, actually," the young Neo-France pilot commented.

"Well, spit it out already," as always, Domon was as impatient as ever.

"First off, I need help and advice," George looked away, half out of shame and embarrassment.

"Yeah, yeah. . .well what is it?" Domon was practically tapping his foot on the ground now out of anxiety.

So George told the whole story of his 'one-night-fling' and Elaina. Domon actually looked quite interested, and was actually listening for once.

"I havn't told Miss Marie Louise yet, but I have told her I don't think we're meant for eachother. I don't think Elaina and I are 'meant-to-be' either, but Raymond suggests otherwise," the knight concluded, with a faint blush on his fair cheeks. "But I do know I loved her, even though I barely knew her," his eyes were saddened. He wanted her to know that so incredibly bad.

"Wow, to think George DeSand actually did all that," the cocky black-haired man grinned playfully, now sitting on a rock that had been nearby.

"I know, it's so un-gentleman-like," sighed George, putting his forehead in the palm of his right hand, then shook his head. "This is so. . ."

"Confusing? New? Strange? Wondeful?" Domon suggested a few words.

"Yes, and more," the red-headed knight nodded in agreement, taking the hand off of his forehead and running it through his hair. "What do you have to say?"

"Well, first off. I say you should find her and tell her. That's easy," the young martial-artist focused his eyes on George, even though they looked distant. "I'll help you. You look like you need a lot of help," he gave another grin. "Now, is there anything else?"

Somehow, George wasn't satisfied with Domon's answer, but decided to go along with it. "Well, something about a battle I had been in," he murmured, not taking a seat on the grass in front of Domon. "A gundam fighter showed up suddenly at my house one day, wanting to battle. Of course I accepted, I needed to train with someone. And he seemed like a capable opponent. But, the battle ended so much more quickly than I'd thought," George's eyebrow furrowed into a frown.

"Easy match eh?" chuckled Domon, shaking his head.

"Yes, easy for him," the Neo-France pilot was staring straight at Domon now. "I think he's even strong enough to defeat you, Domon. I really do."