You've probably already guessed by the title, but yes, this is an angsty fic. I tried to add some lightness to it so it's not all 'OMG-Mwu-is-dead-and-I'll-never-see-him-again'. I hope I did okay...

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"Captain!"

"Evade!"

"Impossible, there's not enough time!"

She'd watched as the positron beam headed straight for Archangel's bridge. She had sat frozen in the face of certain death, unable to move, unable to do anything. Then, it had happened.

The damaged Strike, already on it's way back to the ship, had thrown itself in the path of the beam, attempting to deflect it away from them.

She'd watched wide-eyed, knowing that there was no way the mobile suit could survive a hit like that.

The pilot's voice came over the comm, cheerful as always, as though this were no big deal.

"I knew I could make the impossible...possible!"

Then the Strike exploded into a fireball, and vanished.

She'd sat there in shock for a few moments. This is a nightmare, she'd told herself. He can't die, he promised he'd come back to me. In a minute, I'll wake up, and he'll be here with me, like always...

But as the seconds ticked by, she had realised the awful truth, and an agonising pain began in her chest.

Tears cascaded down her pale cheeks, and she'd buried her face in her hands. Her cry was one of pain, anger, andgrief.

"Mwu!"

That had been several hours ago. The battle which had claimed Mwu La Fllaga's life was over, and a ceasefire declared. Most of the crew were celebrating their victory, together with friends and loved ones. But one person was alone. Murrue Ramius floated down Archangel's corridors, mind and heart numb. She had been all over the ship, not knowing where she was going, not knowing what to do with herself. She had even been down to the hangar bay, hoping for some idiotic reason that the last few hours had all been a terrible dream, and he would be there waiting for her, big happy smile on his face, ready to enfold her into a massive hug. But of course, the space where Strike should have been was empty.

This is worse than before, Murrue thought. Back when her former lover had died, she had been in the engine room of the ship they served on, helping to keep everything running. She had been so busy, she hadn't had time to worry about what was going on outside. She hadn't known that he had been killed until after the battle. The pain of finding out from one of his fellow pilots had been incredible, a wound that still hadn't healed, even to this day. But she hadn't seen it happen, hadn't seen how he had died. But with Mwu...

She'd watched her beloved die in front of her, trying to protect her and the ship, and there had been no way to save him. She had only been able to watch. As a result, this pain was far worse. It felt like thatwhen Strike had shattered into fragments, it had taken her heart with it.

The auburn-haired captain placed a hand to her chest, feeling the metal chain and coffin-shaped locket that rested beneath her uniform. At least she had something to remind her of her mobile armour pilot. But for Mwu, she had nothing. They hadn't been together long enough for that. No photographs or trinkets, only memories.

If it hadn't been for the lasting impression the boyish blonde pilot had left on the crew and on her, he might as well not have existed. As Murrue floated down the hallway, she stopped outside a particular door.

This was...had been...his room.

Without even knowing, her feet had led her down the familiar route to Mwu's quarters. But this time he wouldn't be there to open the door and pull her into his loving embrace. His room was just a room now, empty and silent.

Tapping in the code to open the door, she entered the room...and gasped.

The room felt like him, like he was still there. It felt comforting, loving.

They say a house reflects the personality of the one who lives in it, she thought. I guess this is the same.

The room's atmosphere seemed to swirl up around her, as if it was trying to soothe her. Even the scent of the air reminded her of Mwu.

She couldn't take it anymore. Before, on the bridge, there had been a battle going on, and she'd needed to keep it together, to be strong for the sake of her crew. But now, there was no need to keep it in.

Murrue sank to her knees as the door slid shut behind her, and burst into tears. They floated up to surround her in the zero gravity, sparkling in the dim light.

"You idiot!" she sobbed. "Why did you do something like that? Why did you have to be so brave? Why couldn't you have kept your promise?"

"Why did you make me fall in love with you, then leave me all alone?"

Somehow, she found the strength to stand, and made her way over to his bed. Curling up on the covers, she breathed in his scent from the fabric, soaking it with her tears. Memories rushed through her mind, of often waking up in this bed, with him sleeping beside her. Memories of her first visit to this room, painfully shy and nervous.

Thinking about that made Murrue laugh softly in irony. She had been so determined after her former lover died that she would never fall in love with a soldier again. Knowing that she, or they, could be killed at any time in war, it wasn't worth having her heart broken again. But then she had met Mwu.

At first, she hadn't thought much of him. Boyish, loud, and overconfident, he had annoyed her at first. But gradually she had got to know him better, and discovered the kind and generous person underneath the brash exterior. He became her best friend on the ship, then she'd realised that he maybe liked her as more than a friend. She would often catch him staring, or have to scold him for flirting. She'd kept him at arm's length as long as she could, telling herself that he was just a flyboy, that he wasn't her type, that he probably had a girl in every port, anything to quell the heat that spread across her cheeks when she thought of him, or the little jump her heart had started to give when he smiled at her.

Please, she had prayed one night, to anyone who would listen. Don't let this happen. Not again...

But it had been too late. When he walked away from her at Alaska, it had felt like her heart was being squeezed, the pain was so bad. She had known then that, despite all her best efforts, she had fallen head-over-heels in love with Mwu La Fllaga.

And look where it's got me, Murrue thought bitterly. She had been foolish enough to make the same mistake twice, and she had gotten the same result twice, left grief-stricken and alone. She supposed that she should hate Mwu for breaking his promise and leaving her like that, but she couldn't bring herself to do it, however hard she tried. He had been such a wonderful person, so full of happiness, optimism, and love, that it was impossible to hate him.

They say that everyone in the world has their one special person somewhere, the one person who balances them and completes them perfectly. Most people never even get to meet them, let alone be with them.

"They also say that you don't realise what you had until it's gone" Murrue mumbled out loud.

"Well, I found that one special person for me, and I didn't know it. Now that I do, it's too late..."

Wrapped in the covers on Mwu's bed, she finally fell asleep, worn out from the battle and her own sadness.

And as she slept, she dreamed of the last night she had spent in this room. The last night she had spent with her lover.

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"Please don't go out there...please..."

Mwu looked at her in surprise, halfway through taking off his uniform trousers. "What are you talking about?" he said, finally kicking off the offending garment. "You know that I have to."

"I'm scared, okay?" replied Murrue, looking down at her hands as she sat on his bed.

"I'm scared that you won't come back..."

Mwu smiled at her. "Don't worry so much. I've always come back before, haven't I?"

He struck a heroic pose in the middle of the room, clearly forgetting that he was clad in just a pair of boxer shorts.

Murrue collaped in a fit of giggles.

"Seriously, though" Mwu said softly, joining her on the bed, and pulling her close to him so they were laid in each other's arms.

"I'll come back because I have you to come back to. And because when this war is over, I'd like for you to come live with me."

Murrue went crimson "L-live with you?" she stuttered, amazed.

"That's right" he replied, stroking her hair.

"W-why would you ask me something like that, when we haven't even been together for very long?"

Mwu pulled her even closer, so that she was looking right at him.

"Because I love you, that's why."

Murrue's heart practically turned a somersault. "You...you do?" she squeaked.

He laughed and kissed her on the cheek "More than anything. Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, suddenly realising she was crying.

"I-I love you, too..." she sobbed. "I never thought I'd be able to tell you. And I'd love to live with you. But now I'm even more scared that...that..."

She was cut off as Mwu kissed her. "Don't worry. For tonight, let's just be concerned with each other, rather than with what might happen, okay?"

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Murrue smiled as she awoke, breathing in the familiar smell of the room. Without opening her eyes, she reached out a hand to caress the one beside her, only for reality to come crashing down when she grasped only empty air.

That's right. Mwu's gone, and he's never coming back...

She started to cry again, the pain and loneliness of yesterday coming back in a rush. She was alone again now. But staggering to her feet off the bed, she wiped away the fresh tears. She had gotten used to being alone once, she could do it again. The crew needed their captain, and now that the war was over, it was time to go home.

As she made her way out of the room, her foot caught against an object she had missed yesterday. It was halfway under the bed. A uniform cap. Mwu's cap. Murrue picked it up and hugged it close to herself. Now she did have something besides her memories.

"Goodbye, Mwu" she said to the empty room. "Thank you for being there for me, for loving me and making me happy. Part of my heart went with you when you left, so wherever you are, I'm still with you.

Sleep tight, my love"

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( That wasn't hard to write, but I didn't enjoy writing it.

Tomorrow's story will be happy, so watch out for that.

Thankies for being nice, and please read and review! )