Chapter 3: Shuttle to Earth

It had been four days after the bombing on Bunker street but everyone was still plagued with the ping of guilt of all of the lives lost. Shasta had brought the doll to the little girl's funeral and it was baried with her in her grave and the necklace was around her neck. For some odd reason Shasta felt that she needed to give it back to the little girl and she did.

It was late in the afternoon and Hilde and Shasta were on their way to the airport to catch their shuttle to Earth. They hadn't said that much but their expression said it all, they were nervous to see Relena after such a long time. It would be espeically when both their husbond's were gone. Shasta wanted to see her friend badly to hug her and mourn together and remember the memories they shared.

They neared the airport and soon parked the car. The drive had taken 2 hours to get to the airport from their house. They would be leaving for a total of one month. All to visit Relena. They all needed eachother since their husbond's had that mission together. They were even thinking of enrolling Shasta in school with her friends. After all they were going to be their for a month so why not?

"Sweety are you alright?" asked Hilde as she peered over at Shasta who was in very deep thought. The question popped her train of thought.

"Ya, I'm fine are we already here?" asked Shasta as she looked around in the indoor parking lot. It was full of cars, ever since the bombing the people in L2 were wanting to leave the colony for good. Never to come back. It made no sence to Shasta why people would leave it was in a different section of the city, but still it did sent shivers down her spine.

"Yes, were here. Now help me with our luggage and let's get going or were going to miss our shuttle," said Hilde as she handed Shasta her huge suitcase. They packed their stuff into two enourmous suitcases so they wouldn't have to carry a lot of stuff. Shasta had her photo album with her. Her mother carried her own sacred thing. She had refused to take off her wedding ring only if a body was found.

They walked through the doors and went through security quickly and walked toward their gate. They were on shuttle E57. It had touched down minutes ago and were letting people out of the shuttle at the momment.

"It's good that we didn't leave any less or we wouldv'e missed the shuttle," laughed Hilde trying to lighten up the mood as they readied to board the shuttle.

"Momma, when do you think Quatre will come to Relena's? I really want to see him," asked Shasta as they started to walk into the tunnel that would take them to the shuttle.

Shasta was ahead of her mother and sat down next to a man with her mother on the other side of her. Shasta thought her looked so familiar but it was hard to tell since he had a hat on and was looking out the window. He looked at them and smiled. That did it Shasta knew who it was.

"Quatre!" squelled Shasta as she flew into his open arms. She hadn't been this happy in forever. She had missed him so much. Hilde almost topled over as she looked at Quatre.

"It's so glad to see you Quatre!" joyfully said Hilde as she hugged the man. She breathing eased as she became less nervous.

"It's so great to see both of you again. It's been a while now, in fact when was the last time I saw you two?" asked Quatre as he released Hilde and smiled warmly at them both.

"It's definilty been at more than five months at least," said Hilde as some tears trickled down her face.'Finally someone to be happy to see!' thought Hilde as she wipped away the tears. Shasta was so happy her smile looked like it was ingulfing her entire face. She thought of Quatre as a older brother.

"I missed you so much Quatre! And you kept your promise to come to the party," exclaimed Shasta as she hugged him again.

"Hilde, I'm still so sorry for Duo....I just wanted you to know that Duo was like a older brother to me. I guess I looked up to him some how," said Quatre as a lose tear went down his face. Hilde bit her bottom lip as tears spilled over her eyes and cascaded down her face. Shasta snifled as she tried to fight back tears but they won and spilled over.

"Thank you Quatre, that is very nice of you to say. I'm really happy that you are Shasta's god father. Your very close to us your like family," choked out Hilde past the quiet sobbs. Shasta leaned her head on Quatre's shoulder and cried her eleven year old heart out.

The plane touched down after five hours of flight. The whole trip was talking about the old days and going through Shasta's album and laughing and crying mixed in all in one. As they umboarded Shasta looked around and examined Earth. Something in her didn't feel right. She could feel something was going to happen. But she shook it off as they all started toward bagage claim.