AN: last part


Part III

---

"Waltfeld-san? Are you, are you okay with this?"

"Hmm?" the ex-Zaft commander turned to the Coordinator boy beside him. He was so lost in thought that he was slightly startled by his suddenly appearance, and sudden question.

Lowering his coffee mug, he glanced at the boy quizzically. "What do you mean?"

Kira turned away, slightly embarrassed. "I mean, with Mwu-san being here, and everything…"

Andy raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I be okay with it?"

Kira looked back, somewhat concerned. "I mean, he doesn't remember, and Murrue-san…" he trailed off, not sure whether to say it or not. "And you really care for her, don't you…" he mumbled, not sure how Andy would react.

But he just took a sip of coffee, smirked, and asked casually, "Has anyone told you that you're a nosy kid?"

"Actually…" Kira smiled slightly at a memory from Colony Mendel. But he trailed off, eyes clouding over. He shook his head to clear it.

"I'm sorry. I was just worried. I thought everyone would be happy if I brought Mwu-san back. But I never thought…"

"Who says I'm not happy about it?" Andy raised an eyebrow.

"So…you're fine with this?" asked Kira uncertainly.

Andy patted the boy on the back. "Don't worry, nobody blames you for bringing him back. In fact, we're all grateful. Especially Captain Ramius."

Kira smiled, grateful for the assurance. "Thank you Waltfeld-san."

As Kira left, Andy whispered in a sad, barely audible voice, "Now if only you can bring Aisha back for me…"

He turned back to the window, staring out at the cold waters. He sipped his coffee, suddenly missing his warm desert and his Aisha's warm smile. Maybe that was why he was attracted to Captain Ramius, because her smile reminded him of Aisha's.

But she wasn't Aisha, and he could no longer pretend that she was, the reality of everything reminded him of that. But oddly, he wasn't devastated about it. In fact, he was sort of relieved. He could practically see Aisha scolding him.

"You're too kind, Andy, too generous."

He shrugged. Nothing wrong with that.

He saw Aisha shake her head, teasingly warning him.

"But you'll lose out a lot that way."

How can I lose something I never had in the first place? he answered matter-of-factly.

She sighed in surrender. "Oh Andy, you just don't get it, do you…"

--

Andy watched from a distance as Murrue's relationship with Neo grew. The other man seemed much more at ease now, as if returning to his old self that they all knew well. Andy felt somewhat left out, no longer needed, as Murrue seemed to spend more and more time with Neo, talking and laughing with the blond man in ways that Andy had never seen her do with him. In front of Andy, she was always so poised, so reserved, so much the role of a responsible warship captain. Even when she was happy, she did not smile as she did now. Andy realised that only he could make her truly smile, that only he could make her truly happy. And there was nothing else to do but watch them together from the shadows, feeling content that she had found her happiness.

See, Aisha? I never had it in the first place.

He saw Aisha shake her head sadly.

"What about you Andy…"

He shrugged. That's my fate I guess.

--

"Good morning," greeted Andy as he handed the Archangel captain her favourite kind of coffee. "At least, I think it's morning. Hard to tell these days. The water blocks out everything."

She laughed as she took the mug. "Yes it's morning."

"So," Andy glanced around, "You're alone." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Her smile tightened. "Yes, well, he's not," she stammered, looking away.

Andy became silent, letting it drop.

The two sat in the cafeteria in silence, feeling rather awkward.

"You know, I'm happy for you, Captain Ramius."

She looked somewhat startled as she returned his gaze. She bit her lip, unsure of how to respond.

"Thank you," she answered finally.

They fell silent again as they stared at each other. Andy didn't need words to understand what she really wanted to say.

"I'm sorry Captain Waltfeld," her troubled marigold eyes told him.

He shook his head. "I'm fine with it," his dark blue eyes answered.

She smiled, somewhat sadly, but genuinely.

"Thank you for everything."

--

--

Captain Waltfeld of the Eternal sighed in relief as he heard that the signals from the Justice and Freedom have been confirmed. It seemed that the pink princess shared this sentiment.

Everyone was relieved that the ceasefire had been called. They were sick and tired of fighting yet another pointless war.

As the chaos of the battle subsided, the Clyne Faction met together to decide what to do next. Captain Ramius' face appeared on the monitor, inviting Andy to come to the Archangel to celebrate. It felt eerily like déjà vu to him, except this time, this time, she was smiling instead of in tears. Because this time, she wasn't alone. He spotted the blond man standing next to her. Something about him seemed different as he gazed at her.

He accepted her invitation and made his way out of the Eternal bridge. There would be time for questions and stories later.

--

"Ah, Captain Waltfeld!" her voice greeted him as he entered the Archangel bridge.

"Hey," he answered. "That sure was something, wasn't it?"

She sighed. "Yes, but I'm glad that's over."

The blond man beside her gently rubbed her shoulder in assurance. She noticed and turned to him with her warm smile. He smiled in return, gazing lovingly at her.

Immediately, Andy knew what had happened. He was a bit surprised, yet he wasn't surprised at all.

This wasn't Neo Lorrnoke standing beside her, it was Mwu La Flaga.

Andy was happy that Murrue finally had him back, but he was also somewhat sad and slightly hurt due to selfish reasons.

"Guess you'll be moving out now," Andy commented casually.

"Eh?" she looked back at him, startled at the sudden inquisition, before nodding shyly.

Andy thought he saw a shadow of surprise and doubt cross the blond man's face at the exchange, but didn't say anything.

--

Andy walked down the hallway of the Archangel, heading for the cafeteria. The celebrations had died down, and they were taking a break from the preparations for the peace talks.

"Captain Waltfeld!" a voice called from behind him as he reached the entrance to his destination.

The person in question stopped and turned, seeing La Flaga heading towards him.

"Yes?"

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" asked the blond man.

Andy shrugged. "Sure."

They sat down at a table across from each other. Andy waited patiently for the other man to decide on what to say.

"Uh, I have to say," he finally started, somewhat embarrassed, "It came as quite a shock for me to learn that you and Murrue have been living together for the past two years."

"I'll bet it was," Andy laughed. "But don't worry, there was nothing of that sort between us."

Mwu looked somewhat surprised at the other man's frankness. Then he laughed too, at himself for worrying over nothing.

"Murrue told me that you took care of her in my…absence. And well," he turned to Andy with a grateful smile, "I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for her."

Andy smiled. "I should be thanking her. She was the one who kept me company and helped me move on."

Move on? Then Mwu suddenly remembered seeing a picture of a blue-haired woman, and recalled faintly that she had been his girlfriend who had died protecting him in the previous war. All of a sudden, it didn't seem fair that he and Murrue were getting a second chance, yet Andy couldn't.

"I think that was the reason we actually decided to live together," Andy explained softly. "We were in similar situations and had an unsaid understanding. I didn't want to suffer alone, and I didn't want her to suffer alone either. She needed a place to stay, so I invited her to live with me."

Mwu listened in silence, feeling that guilt again, for hurting her.

"Do you," he asked Andy quietly, "Do you ever blame her for what she did?" Then he added softly, as if to clarify himself, "Because sometimes, sometimes I think Murrue blames me for leaving her."

Andy shook his head. "You want to blame them, be angry at them, for leaving you behind, for causing you so much anguish and guilt, for causing you nightmares and tears, but when you actually try to, you find that you can't. Because you loved them, and still do. I can never blame Aisha, or hate her, for what she did, even if I get frustrated sometimes. I just can't bring myself to feel that way even if I tried." He looked up at Mwu with a gentle smile, "And I'm sure Captain Ramius feels the same way. I know she does."

Mwu smiled in thanks, feeling relieved at those words, and the two fell silent again.

"I gotta say, it was quite a surprise to see you show up at Berlin," Andy changed the subject, chuckling slightly.

Mwu raised his eyebrow sarcastically. "Then I guess you know how we felt to see you show up all of a sudden on the Eternal," he chuckled. "We seem to have a lot in common."

"Yeah…more than you'd know," mumbled Andy in answer. He wasn't sure if he wanted Mwu to hear that or not.

"So," Mwu started, wanting to break the silence seeping in between them. "Was I a jerk when I first returned here?" He looked guilty as he recalled making Murrue cry.

"Oh, most definitely," Andy replied with a grin. "Many times I've had to bite back the urge to punch you."

Mwu laughed. "Well, thank you for being honest. I remember you looked quite angry with me when I first came here. Now I understand why," he chuckled, somewhat nervously.

Andy shrugged. "But, you came back at Orb. So I guess that counts for something. Besides, it wasn't entirely your fault." Then his tone turned serious as he stared at Mwu, "But, if you ever try to pull something like that again, I won't be able to forgive you so easily." He grinned wryly at the other man, who returned the gesture.

"Don't worry, I won't forgive myself next time either."

"Well, take care of her, would ya?" Andy stood up to leave. "Oh, and one more thing," he turned to the blond man, who looked surprised at his next comment, "Don't forget to invite me to the wedding."

END


AN: boy, I haven't updated this forever, 'cause I couldn't figure out a couple of scenes for a while.

I know I said last chap that this was gonna be more than 3 parts, because I planned for more scenes, but I decided to put all of the scenes together in one chapter (besides, 3 is a good number...)

aww, poor Andy, I really do feel sorry for him, he's left all alone again... but I think he'll manage. I really love Andy/Aisha too, and sometimes wish they could have a second chance too...

I've always thought that Andy and Mwu are a lot alike, in their personalities and preferences, perhaps more than they realise. (In case you didn't pick it up, Mwu was the first one to tell Kira he was "a nosy kid" in Colony Mendel)

Some of the stuff was taken/re-written from my other Andy stories, "Over Coffee" and "Forbidden", like the after-war scene, and some things in Andy's conversation with Mwu (which I really liked writing, because they're so alike).

Well, hoped you liked my 3-shot. and spare a review?