Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing…But as soon as I do there sure as hell will be more episodes, damn it.

I was awoken this morning by the phone. In case you people didn't know, which I'm sure you didn't since you don't know me, I don't like being awoken by foreign objects. Seconds before smashing the unsuspecting phone against the wall and into a thousand pieces, I heard an easygoing voice from the door that I recognized. It was my good friend, Grace. I liked her, so I refrained.

But if it had been anyone else I would have annihilated that phone.

"Hello…" I said in a rasping voice, that I'm sure made me sound like the undead. Great.

"Well, you're sounding chipper," Grace remarked.

"It's four in the morning. How happy am I supposed to be?" I moaned.

"Oops, I forgot what time it was, I've been up since three. And you were always on a different schedule than me. Sorry!" she said breathlessly. That's what I liked about Grace. She was actually nice to people and meant it at the same time. That is something I haven't found often. "Anyway," she continued, "You'll never guess who we got a call from this morning!"

I greeted her with silence.

"Go on…Guess!" she exclaimed. Still more silence from me. "Oh fine, I'll just tell you…" Grace was always so predictable. "Veronica."

Suddenly I was awake and kicking. I was ready to go, and was asking questions a mile a minute. Grace didn't get a word in edgewise, even for an answer. Then suddenly I got a hold of myself, and asked, "What did she want?" I was prepared to hear things such as a kidney, blood transplant, part of my liver, my first-born child, so on and so forth, but instead Grace just simply replied, "She just wanted to see you Tate."

"Are you serious? That's all? No obscene amounts of money or anything?" I asked incredulously. "That doesn't seem like the Veronica I knew."

"Obviously you and I don't remember the same Veronica then…" Grace said, "because I don't remember her being quite the same cold, calculating person you're making her out to be."

"Well she didn't backstab you quite the same way she did me, did she?" I replied angrily.

"Yeah, well…" Grace tried.

"Well, what?" I said irritated at her attempt to defend Veronica.

Grace took a deep breath and continued in a controlled voice, "She was my friend too, and she left me just as unexpectedly as she left you. You weren't the only one confused by her leaving."

"You're right," I sighed, "I'm sorry."

"That's all right. Anyway, she called to say she wants to meet you at Bernie's Bar. You know where that is don't you?"

"Of course, but what time does she want me there?" I asked.

"She said something about seven. I don't know her number so I suppose she just expects you to show up. She was always flaky like that."

"Well if she calls, tell her I'll be there."

"Try to be civil, Tate," Grace implored.

"Oh, I will be," I said. I would have to try really hard though.

Later…

The bar had absolutely no smell in it. This struck me as odd, because every other bar I had ever been to had a smell of old smoke and beer. But of course, this was on Earth and they never followed any of the rules, even the ones they set. This bar was uncomfortable and I had the strange feeling someone was watching me. I took a look around me and I didn't see anyone, or in any event, no one was looking at me.

I sat down at the counter and a robot rolled over asking me in its simulated voice what I wanted. I asked for water on the rocks and the robot had dispensed some into a glass on the opposite counter. It brought it over to me on a small tray attached to its arm. I drank some of it without looking and was surprised to find the taste muddy and metallic. I thought about how the Earth's water supply was starting to wear thin in the last few years. Then I looked down.

The damn robot had actually put rocks in my drink.

I hate robots.

Especially ones who think they're funny.

Or at least programmed to think so.

I had my drink replaced with a glass of water and ice. It didn't taste half as bad as the first one, but it was still fairly disgusting. All there was left to do was sit and wait for her to come. I swirled the glass around listening to the sound of the ice clinking against the sides. I sipped some and glanced at my surroundings. The entire place was conventional, with straight lines and plain colors. There were only a few people sitting around, talking, arguing, and generally conversing. It was the most boring bar I had ever been to. The robot bartender zoomed around filling orders, and if it were possible, seemingly enjoying the duties while throwing out witty one-liners.

While I was busy looking around there was a small swish as someone slid in beside me on another stool. I glimpsed a red dress and black hair. It was her.

"Well, hello. Tatum," she whispered in deep voice. "It's been a long time."

"Yes it has," I replied. It had been five years since I had laid eyes on Veronica. She hadn't changed much, except for that look in her eyes. She lost that careless look. The young, innocent look I had admired so much. She got what she deserved. "So what's the deal? Why do you call me here now? It's been five years."

"When did you become so questioning? The Tate I knew was much more rash," she charged quietly, with a far off look.

"Yeah, well like you said it's been a long time," I bit back while taking a drink.

"Look. I didn't call you here for an argument…" she started.

"Well you're about to get one," I growled.

"You know, ever since they made Mars inhabitable, you Martians have become intolerable!" she accused. "You think you're so much better than everyone else because you haven't had to clean up your planet. You haven't screwed it up yet, that's all."

"Don't bring planetary relationships into this, you know that's not what this is about," I replied. "This is about you and me, and your lack of ability to remain faithful." And besides I was born on Earth and I lived there now. I only lived on Mars for a year.

"Oh, you're not going to bring that up again, are you?" she practically yelled.

"And what if I do?"

"Oh God! This is why I left in the first place! You and your unbearable personality. You were always so argumentative. I thought maybe you had cooled off after all these years, but I guess not." She started to get up to leave but I grabbed her arm.

"Look, I'm sorry. I'm just a little bitter," I attempted at an apology. I was never very good at apologizing to people. Call it an Achilles' heel. People were starting to look at us now. She resumed her position, this time a tad bit more reserved. Obviously she had noticed our gathering attention. "So what have you been up to these days," I tried at conversation. People were starting to look away.

"Well, I'm still dating."

If you could call it dating. She was never much of one for sticking around long, as I found out in my relationship with her. Although we weren't in a sexual relationship (we're both girls, and I don't exactly swing that way), we were good friends. Then she left, and I didn't find out where she went until two years ago. She ended up in some flea-ridden apartment on a colony. Funny how that comforts me a little.

"You know how it is. Paying bills, working. I just called to find out how you've been. I guess I always felt a little guilty for leaving the way I did."

"Well I'm still alive if that makes you feel any better," I retorted. She laughed nervously and looked away. "Why are you here anyway? And how did you know where I was?"

"I have my connections. And I just wanted to catch up…" I just looked at her, disbelief apparent on my face because she then cried, "Really!"

"For some reason I don't think you'd go out of your way to see me."

"Well I do have a date, he'll be coming in about half an hour."

So now it all comes out. I knew she came here for a reason. She wouldn't just call me up any old time for chitchat. She was never like that, even when we were younger. She had to have a hook, a reason for coming other than me. I was old news. I knew there had to be another cause.

"So…who's the lucky man?" I asked.

"Oh, you wouldn't know him," Veronica replied. Doubtfully I would. I didn't get out much anymore, and her type weren't exactly the kind of people I would be making friends with anytime soon. We were quiet for a while. She took a nip of whatever it was she was drinking. I suppose she got it while we were having our quiet, which was a rare moment for us. We were always arguing or deep in conversation. We had always been such good friends. Apparently she wasn't stupid enough to order rocks. I let the silence sip me up and then spit me back out when she asked, "Did you hear about Lola?" She was always out of nowhere like that.

"Yes I have," I dully answered. Of course I had, every idiot and his monkey I knew had heard about Lola. Then again I lived with her. But I wasn't going to tell Veronica that. She didn't need to know that, and it was Lola's business alone that she was pregnant.

"I can't believe that's what happened to her. I thought she had more sense, and she didn't like guys when we went to school," she said in skepticism.

"That's the way it goes, I guess. Things change, and people do things you don't expect them to," I reflected.

"That was almost philosophic, Tate," she wryly said. "I wouldn't have believed it of you."

"Why thank you," I replied.

"Oh, it looks like I have to go. He's here," she rushed. She picked up her things and smoothed her dress down, while looking over at her date. Who happened to be old, fat, bald, and probably rich beyond human comprehension. She was shallow, but she was also beautiful enough to get anyone she wanted. Figures she'd go for a guy with cash.

"Doesn't look like someone you would usually go out with," I commented.

She smiled knowingly as she walked away, with that swing of hers she always had, and waved while saying, "Hey, it's a free meal. It's been nice seeing you, Tatum."

I chuckled, and just like that, she walked off. I would probably never see her again, and that didn't bother me. Maybe we'd meet again, maybe we wouldn't. Maybe she would get her priorities in order, most likely she wouldn't.

That's how life is. People can be merely players on the stage, in bit parts. You could know people for years and then, one day out of the blue, you don't know them anymore. Not like you thought you did. They aren't the same gentle, pure people you saw on the surface. Below, there are flaws and imperfections galore you never saw before, because you were blinded by a false light.

Everyone has those faults. And that's what makes it okay, because everyone has something in common that way. None of us are perfect. That explanation wasn't good enough for Veronica though, so she left. But it's fine by me.

I stayed at the bar for a few more minutes, attempting to savor my disgusting water. I then got up, clumsily tried to smooth my skirts, and then made my way toward the door. As I walked out, I saw another old friend.

Jesus, they were popping up all over the place now.

Anita. It had been years since I had seen her. She and I had always liked each other well enough, but she had been closer to Veronica. Which didn't make me much more fond of her now. Part of me hoped she wouldn't recognize me so I could just push forward and be on my way, but the other part of me was hoping to meet up with someone nice at least once today.

Well the latter half was gratified when she turned to me and cried, "Tatum, is that you!" I turned and smiled at her. She looked so much different than from what I remembered. Her hair was short and brown, but when we were younger she had the most gorgeous blonde hair. Shows what I know. "It's been so long!"

"You don't look anything like yourself," I replied. I was serious. She was skinny too. A long time ago she was, well, large. Now she was smaller than me. Damn Lola and her eating for two, while dragging me down with her.

"Well, you know, people change," she supplied.

"I guess," I replied.

"Have you been here long?" she asked.

"Not really, I just finished talking to Veronica. You remember her don't you?" I told her. She got a look, like she was just told she missed her baby say daddy for the second time. Disappointed, but not to the point of tears.

"Really? I haven't seen her for a while. We didn't talk much after she left you know."

"I haven't talked to her a lot either," I said. We continued like this for a while and I found I liked her even if she had been Veronica's friend. She had lived on Mars for a while and was now visiting some friends on Earth. "So what else are you up to?"

"Well, right now I'm looking for somewhere to live."

"Why not here?"

"I didn't even think about that! I just wanted to get away. That's a good idea, and I don't think I'll find anything on Mars," she replied. "Where do you live?"

"I live around here. Been here for a few years. I could offer you a place to stay for a little while," I suggested. "You'd like my roommates."

"I think I might just do that," she answered.

I gave her the number to the place Lola, Grace, and I owned, and told her to call us if she needed anything.

And that is how it all started…

Much much later…

Where were we?

Oh yes.

I had just met Anita. She seemed nice at the bar, and called a few days later. I would go into more detail about what life was like after that, but you'll get the point from my story. Anita turned out to be quite a character; she was almost as irritable as me, and twice as strange. Grace took to her well, but Grace takes to everyone well. Lola didn't like her quite as much as I hoped that she would, but we didn't think Anita was going to stay very long. I liked her fine. I found she gave us another focus of interest. Plus I also didn't think she would stay long, so all of her quirks, that would have gotten on my nerves any other time, didn't bother me quite as much.

Anyway, she ended up staying. For a long time. Five months to be exact.

We were somewhat annoyed by this development once time caught up with us and we figured out what had happened.

"So when are you going to leave?" Lola asked.

"Anxious to get rid of me, are you?" Anita replied.

"Oh…a little," Lola said with a sweet smile on her face.

"Well, I don't plan on leaving for a few more weeks," Anita said from the couch, as if Lola wanted to hear that. "I have a friend coming to pick me up, and then I'll get my stuff."

"Where are you moving to?" Grace asked.

"Somewhere out west I guess…" she said.

"Way to be decisive," Lola grunted. She was getting touchy in her pregnancy.

We were all sitting in the living room watching television, or at least I was. Anita was busy drawing or writing, whatever it is that she does. Grace was reading, and Lola was knitting.

We had all changed little over the months. I was still pretty much the same. My hair was still dark brown and shoulder length, but I had a tendency to keep my hair in pony-tales now. My eyes were still the same dark brown too. I always envied Lola's hazel eyes because they were interesting. Grace was still the blonde that I was so envious of, with her bright blue eyes. Lola's hair was much longer now. We had all tried to bother her into cutting it like some pregnant women do, but she liked her bright-red hair long.

Anita of course, changed quite a bit during the last five months. At first her hair was brown, which I thought was strange since she was originally a blonde. But then I figured it out one Saturday when she came out of the bathroom with bright blue hair. She dyed it at least four times since she moved in with us. After it was blue it became pink, then it was platinum blonde, and the latest color was purple. Her hair is still short though and her eyes have stayed the same constant golden brown.

Well, anyway, I was watching the news and seeing nothing interesting. The world wasn't up to much anymore after the war ended. Peace was nice, and Relena Peacecraft seemed to be doing her job well considering her age. She was only a year younger than my nineteen, and the same age as Lola and Anita. Grace was only seventeen, which was one of the few things that irked her. Anyway the vice foreign minister was giving another one of her speeches and quite frankly looking bored about it. Then there was a knock on the door and we all jumped at the sound. I clicked off the television.

"Who's gonna get it?" Lola asked.

"I'll do it," Anita said. "It could be for me anyway."

Anita went to the door and didn't return for a few minutes. We all returned to what we were doing previously, except I didn't turn on the television, and just waited for her to come back. She walked back in with a puzzled look on her face.

"What's wrong?" Grace asked.

"Nothing really," Anita said. She had a medium sized brown package in her hands. She was looking down at it. "This is for you, Tate," she said while handing it to me. "It's from Veronica."

"Why in God's name would Veronica send me something?" I asked.

"I don't know," Anita replied. "But the man at the door said you had to get it and it was pretty important."

"What do you think it is?" Grace asked as I weighed the package in my hands.

"Maybe it's a bomb…" Lola suggested, bending forward as best she could with her huge stomach.

"I doubt that," I answered. "She wouldn't send a bomb with her name on it."

"Yeah, Veronica was dense at times, but she wasn't that dense," Anita said.

"Look who's talking…" Lola muttered with a roll of her eyes.

"What did you say?" Anita growled.

"Not now you guys!" Grace ordered.

"What?" they both yelled, being interrupted during another one of their usual fights.

"Look…" she whispered as I opened the box.

Inside there was a smaller box with a letter on top. It looked as if it had been written in a hurry, and then just stuffed in the box. I picked it up and started to read aloud.

"Dear Tatum… I knew when I met you back at the bar on Earth that I could depend on you. You were always so dependable to be untrusting so I knew I could give this box of information to you. You would never let it fall in the wrong hands. If you so decide to look in the box, be careful. You probably won't understand what you will find. But if they do come, give the envelope to those who you know need the information. I leave you and your wonderful intuition to figure out the rest. Yours Truly, Veronica."

"Well, who are they?" Lola asked. By everyone else's looks, they all wanted to know the same question. Who were we suppose to give this crap to? This didn't make sense.

"Leave it to Veronica to order you to do something and not tell you what the hell you're doing," Anita stated.

"You know, I never did like Veronica much," Lola said.

"I didn't mind her," Grace said.

"You don't mind anyone, though," Anita said.

"I mind you though," Lola snapped.

"Tell me. Why is it that I didn't know you sooner? We were both friends of Veronica's," Anita asked, getting annoyed now.

"Happy chance, apparently," Lola shot back.

"Shhhh…" Grace whispered.

I was now opening the box. I wanted to know exactly what it was that people were supposedly going to come for, anyway.