This is something Jadzia and I came up with yesterday on the forums. If Neo-san had saved the Archangel from being spammed by the Tannhauser, but didn't get his memories back, what might have happened?

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The battle against ZAFT had ended over half an hour ago, and mobile suits and pilots were returning to their ships, to be greeted by their friends and loved ones. Akatsuki had also returned to it's ship, but the one person it's pilot wanted to be greeted by wasn't there. Neo sighed, and went to change out of his pilot suit.

I should have guessed that she wouldn't be here. Why would she be?

He'd known in his heart that the Captain wouldn't be there, yet, from the bottom of that same heart, he'd hoped that she would be...

Leaving the mechanics to lock down Akatsuki, he made his way out of the hangar and towards the bridge. After all, where else would she be so soon after a battle?

Murrue was on Archangel's observation deck. She had wanted to visit the hangar, but had stopped herself. The thought of being there when he came back made her feel unexpectedly shy. Would he even be pleased to see her there? So she had stopped halfway, not wanting to go back to the bridge, but too scared (which also made her cross) to go any further.

If I did go, what would I do? What would I say to him? I know what I'd like to happen, but...

When he had blocked the Tannhauser with Akatsuki, her heart had stopped for a moment.

It was happening again...history was repeating itself...

No... she had silently screamed, please don't let this happen...please don't make him leave me too..

It was like a curse, everyone Murrue had ever fallen in love with ended up being killed. First him, then Mwu, then...

But he hadn't. The Akatsuki had reflected the beam, and remained intact. The Colonel's face had appeared on the screen, reassuring them that he was alive. He had no idea of the significance of what he had just done.

I want to see him...to tell him how happy I am that he's okay...but what do I do?

Neo was making his way up the corridor on his way to the bridge when he passed the observation deck, and saw the very person he wanted to see.

"Captain?" She turned around, and gasped. "Colonel!"

Neo made his way over to her side, wondering why she was standing here.

"Are you okay?" he asked, looking down at her. All she did was turn away and gaze out of the window.

"Why did you do it?" she asked softly.

Neo was confused. "Do what?"

"Throw yourself in the way like that...you could have been killed..."

Now he understood. She was angry at him for what he had done, and with good reason. Neo hadn't even considered the fact that he could have been killed, but even if he had, it would have been worth it.

"Because I wanted to protect you." he replied.

The Captain shook her head, auburn hair flying. "I'm sure the crew is very grateful to you. But still..."

"No, you didn't hear me right. I did what I did to protect you."

Murrue looked up at him in amazement. He did it for me? She could feel the heat beginning to spread across her cheeks, and she glanced away again, afraid of giving herself away.

"Still.." she began, attempting to be professional. "you shouldn't have taken a risk like that. If you - if you had been..." her voice trailed off. It was too painful to think about.

"If I had died," said the Colonel gently, "would you have been sad?"

"Y-yes, you're a valued crewmember, and I..." she stuttered.

He reached out and grasped her chin in his hand, tilting her face up so she was looking right into his deep blue eyes.

"Is that the only reason?" he whispered. She couldn't answer him, she just blushed deeper.

No...no, it isn't...but I...

"I wouldn't have died, I'd have found some way to come back to you. Because, remember, I said I had something important I wanted to tell you." Leaning down, he whispered three words in Murrue's ear, which caused her heart to start racing. Pulling out of his hold, she backed away a few steps.

"H-how can you? You've only been part of the crew f-for three weeks.." she stuttered.

"That doesn't matter. And anyway, it feels like I've known you for a very long time..." he replied.

Murrue turned away and put her hand to the window, the cool glass soothing her warm skin.

He...he loves me...How do I answer him?

"It doesn't matter if you don't love me back. All I wanted was to tell you how I felt. Even if you hate me."

"N-no!" she gasped in shock. "I don't hate you...And I want to answer you...but I...I..."

The Colonel smiled. "You need time? Take all the time you need. However long it takes, I'll be waiting."

He pulled her into a light hug, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'll be waiting" he repeated.

Later that day, Murrue was sitting in her office. A hot cup of coffee stood on her desk, but it was like she never saw it. She was too busy thinking about what the Colonel had said to her.

A soft knock at the door startled her out of her reverie, and she almost knocked the cup over.

Is it him? "Come in!"

The door opened, and Miriallia walked in. "Captain, are you all right? You've been in here most of the day, and you're...kinda spaced out. What happened?"

Blushing fiercely, Murrue stuttered out her story.

Miriallia smiled when she heard about the Colonel's confession. "That's so sweet! I got the impressionquite a while agothat he liked you. So how do you feel about him?"

The look on the Captain's face told Miriallia all she needed to know.

"You love him too, huh? Did you tell him?" Murrue shook her head. "Why not?"

"Because...because...I...he's so...like..."

"He's like the Commander? That's because he is the Commander. Everyone on the ship knows who he really is, and even he probably thinks he does. But even if he wasn't, he'd still be himself."

Murrue still looked scared. "If I...did tell him, would I be betraying Mwu's memory?"

Miriallia raised an eyebrow. "How could you be, if he is him? Think for a moment. If he wasn't the Commander, if he was just himself, how would you feel?"

Murrue closed her eyes and thought about him. Even if he wasn't Mwu...

Even if he wasn't my Mwu...he's still handsome, and kind, and brave...he's...

As she thought, a blush reappeared on her cheeks, and she opened her marigold eyes. "I'd still...feel the same way.."

"Well then, you should tell him, if he's waiting for an answer. And you know that even if he wasn't him, the Commander would want you to be happy. You can't be afraid to love someone."

The next day, Neo stood on the observation deck alone, deep in thought. His mind was on what had transpired yesterday. The Captain had looked so scared when he told her how he'd felt, and he was worried that she was upset. But he didn't regret telling her.

I kept it inside as long as I could. At least I was able to let her know how I feel, even if she doesn't feel the same way about me...

Neo jumped in surprise when the Captain floated up and stood next to him. He had been so lost in thought, he'd never noticed her.

"C-captain...I..you scared me!" he said, laughing nervously. She didn't answer, just smiled gently. And slipped her thin hand into his.

Neo looked down at their hands in complete amazement, then smiled happily and squeezed her hand.

"This...this is your answer?" he asked in a whisper, hardly daring to hope.

She shook her head. "No, this is..." Standing on her tip-toes, she whispered something in Neo's ear which caused his face to light up in happiness.

"Really? You do?"

The Captain smiled again, and nodded.

"Even though I'm not him? You still..."

"Because you're you. It doesn't make a difference if you aren't him."

Neo laughed and pulled his captain into a tight hug, relishing in the feeling of her body against his. There was only one more thing he wanted to make this dayperfect.

Leaning away from her slightly, he gazed down at her. Her cheeks were pale pink, and her eyes were shining. A smile still graced her lips as she looked up at him. She's so beautiful...

Bending down, he entwined his fingers in her thick, soft hair, and ever so gently, pressed his lips against hers.

The kiss lasted only a few minutes, but it felt like eternity.

When they broke apart, Murrue looked up into his eyes, and her heart jumped. The look in those blue eyes was so familiar and loving.

He's still here, even if he doesn't remember. He's still watching me...

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( Sappy? You betcha. OOC? More than likely. But I couldn't care less :laughs:

I think it's cute, and it was tough to write anyway. Neo-san always is.

Inspiration came from the Cardcaptor Sakura manga, and Kare Kano. Don't ask me why, I have no idea...

Please read and review, even to laugh at my fangirliness... )