usual disclaimers apply

Ch.2


Lady Une woke up feeling very confused. For a few seconds she wondered why she was lying in bed fully dressed. Then it all came flooding back to her. Trieze, Trieze is back. And last night, he had carried her up to the bed. Lady Une blushed at the memory. She had felt so warm and secure in his arms. She quickly shoved the thought out of her mind, it's not her place to think of things like that. But it all seemed too good to be true. Lady Une sprung up and almost ran out the door, please don't let it all be dream she thought as she hurried down the main staircase. She glanced at the clock as she passed it. 7:00 am. If Trieze is really here, then she knew exactly where he is right now. In front of the room door, she took a moment to regain her breath and pushed open the door. "Good morning Lady Une." Trieze sat at the round table. In one hand he held a cup of tea, a few small green birds sat on his other hand. He was wearing his old OZ uniform, in fact, he looked no different then how she saw him everyday during the War. "Good morning your Excellency." Lady UNY's face was as calm as ever, but she was jumping for joy inside. Trieze gestured towards the chair opposite him causing the birds to take flight. " Please, sit down." Lady Une sat and looked around the room. This was the Sunlight Room. One of the walls was made entirely from glass with a door that leads out to the garden. The light is very good here especially in the morning, which is the reason why Trieze likes to have breakfast here. A man placed some pastries and a cup of tea in front of her. Trieze nodded to him. "You may go." The man bowed and left. Trieze turned back to Lady Une. "I think I startled you by appearing so suddenly yesterday, I apologize for that. I think it will only be fair for me to tell you where I have been all this time. When the Tollages II exploded, the cockpit was left intact. The force of the explosion threw the cockpit out of the battlefield. I was picked up by Colony XLL08965 and put in a hospital where I fell into a coma. A group of OZ soldiers found me there. They cared for me on that colony until I woke up last month. I returned to earth as soon as I could."
"I am just glad you are alive and well Trieze-sama," said Lady Une.
"I am very fortunate, but there are reasons why I have returned to earth. I want to keep an eye on things. After all, peace is very fragile." Trieze paused slightly. "I also wanted to see Mariemeia," he looked away from Lady Une, "I hope you can forgive me Lady, I was young and foolish then."
"I understand, sir. She will be home tonight"
Trieze look relieved. "Good. We will be going to the Preventer's headquarters."
Lady Une nodded and stood, "I will make preparations at once, sir."
Trieze stood too. He took a step towards her and caught her hands in his own. Lady Une felt a blush spread across her face. "Y-your Excellency!" She felt her legs turn to liquid. Lady Une could only look at him. She never noticed how handsome Trieze is. His tanned features are every girl's dreams. And his eyes, usually emotionless and hard, were pools of light blue. They sparkled with strange emotions. Damn, you are falling in love with him. But haven't she always been in love with him? Never in her entire life has she felt so helpless. She had been calm even when she faced death. But now, all of her emotions are swirling together. She was drowning in those blue eyes. Did he really love her? With great effort, Lady Une wrenched herself back to reality. Trieze is too good for her. She was merely his servant, an extension of his will, unworthy of his affection. It is foolish for her to think he loved her. She pulled her hands back. "Excuse me sir." She turned and walked out the door.

Trieze watched, as she walked away from him. His eyebrows drew together thoughtfully. I suppose I shouldn't have done that. But she looked so beautiful this morning. During the War, he had rarely seen her with her hair down. The hair around her face has softened her features. Even though she still had a military air around her, she was no longer the ruthless soldier from the past. Before, he was always so busy and never really gave her much thought. I guess I made her feel insecure, I penetrated the walls she built around herself so easily. She is used to being in control. Trieze walked into the garden and bent down to smell some roses. She is just like a rose, beautiful and elegant, but even roses cover themselves with thorns for protection. He will wait for her. One thing that the War taught him is that patience has its rewards.