It felt like she was standing on stars. The window afforded her a magnificent view of the main city of Aprilius One. The lights of the buildings below, and the stars shining through the clear hourglass shape of the PLANT colony made her almost dizzy - as though she were alone in the middle of space...Closing her eyes against the dazzling display, she rested her forehead against the glass. It had been a week since the small Orb delegation had arrived at the colony, since the peace talks had begun. So far, things were progressing well - the ZAFT council seemed more than willing to reach an agreement. Lacus-san had wondered in private if their eagerness now wasn't because of the former Chairman's steamrollering of everyone...they wanted control back.

But she didn't really care about that. I just want...to go home...

"What do you think?" Turning at the voice, she smiled at the sight of her young friend. "Oh, Lacus-san..." Glancing back out of the window, she sighed. "It's beautiful here. This is where you grew up?" The girl nodded, moving to where the older woman stood. "This was home for almost all of my life...until Father died. I suppose in a way, this will always be home..."

Murrue placed a hand to the cool glass. "Back in Orb..before war broke out again, Commander Bartfeld was talking about coming back here, with you and Kira-kun. He...invited me to come too. I guess he knew I missed being in space, even though I'd never mentioned it..."

"Do you think that was the only reason?" Lacus asked, sitting down on a window seat. Murrue smiled. "No," she admitted, "I don't..." She had known for quite some time how Andrew felt about her, and she couldn't deny that it was flattering. But...

"I don't think I could have got through the last two years without him - he's a very good friend. But it's better that it stays that way.." she said softly. "I couldn't return his feelings." She shrugged helplessly. "I love Mwu too much.."

Her young friend smiled, leaning against the window. "You'd have waited forever, wouldn't you?" Murrue nodded. "When I lost him - thought I had lost him, it hurt more than anything I'd ever felt. Like my heart was shattered...and only he could mend it.." Thinking of her fiance, she closed her eyes again, an expression of pain shadowing her pale face for a second. Lacus reached out to squeeze her hand gently. "You miss him, don't you? Do you want to go back to Archangel?"

"No," was the reply. "It's...all right. I do miss him, very much. But I spent two years without him - what's a few weeks?"

More than I thought. Back then, things were different. I thought that Mwu was dead...that I would never see him again. It hurt..but not as much as it's hurting now. Because I know he's alive, that he's waiting for me. He's so close, but I can't see him...

"When are you planning on getting married?" Lacus asked, impish smile on her delicate face. Murrue blushed, but smiled too, fingers twisting together nervously. "I...don't know.." she murmured. Her hand moved to rub her stomach. "Before she's born, I hope. It's been a month since he asked me, and we both decided to wait a while...to give us time to get used to the idea of being engaged first. I have to admit - it took me a while. Even though we have the baby -or will -...for some reason, the idea of being married was harder to imagine."

"But now?"

The young captain's blush deepened. "I accepted him, didn't I?" Shaking her head, she slumped against the window. "Now that I've had time to think about it..oh, I don't know. I want to marry him, but I want to know when..."

"Why don't you ask him?" That voice came from the open doorway, where Cagalli was leaning against the frame. The girl was grinning, the mischievous expression identical to that of her twin brother's, who was standing beside her. "Kira just told me your two little secrets. How come you haven't told anyone else?"

Murrue smiled. "Mwu and I are happy with things the way they are - being a secret for now. Although when we do decide to get married, we'll have to tell everyone..." Cagalli nodded. "So, like I said, why don't you just ask him? No-one said that it always has to be the guy to decide. If you want to get married, just tell him." That idea made Murrue giggle, imagining her fiance's face if she did that. But it was certainly an idea worth thinking about..

"So what time are we starting tomorrow?" Kira wanted to know, and Cagalli rolled her eyes. "7AM. Why, I have no idea. Either they want to get all this finished as soon as possible, or they want to know how dedicated we really are to this peace. But hopefully that means we'll be finished earlier.." Murrue nodded, but she wasn't really paying attention, instead gazing out of the window.

I miss you...but I'll be home soon. And then, we never have to be apart again...

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It felt like she had been gone forever. He did his best to focus on his work, on Akatsuki's maintenance, and his role as acting captain..but it was hard without her. He couldn't talk to her, couldn't rely on her for help...he was alone, without really being alone. Of course, he had his friends, but he wasn't able to rely on them the way he relied and depended on Murrue. These last four months, he had come to realise just how much the young captain meant to him. What am I...without her?

Was he really anything - or anyone? Slumping back onto the bed, he gazed up at the ceiling. Murrue had given him back his life and his heart..he owed her everything. Part of him resented that...the fact that he loved her so completely that he felt lost without her...but at the same time, he was happy about it. He'd never been able to love anyone before he'd met her, and now that he knew what it felt like, he never wanted to give it up.

But the downside is...how lonely I feel when she isn't around...

Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs, Mwu got to his feet and left the room. Perhaps he would be able to think better with a change of surroundings. It was late at night...the ship was empty. Pacing the corridors, the blonde man found himself at the observation deck. The lights of the dock and ships below twinkled, matching the stars beyond the windows. The setting was beautiful, but it didn't interest him. He closed his eyes, leaning his head against the glass.

"Now you know how she felt..." Mwu opened one azure eye at the voice, glancing at the other scarred man leaning against the window. "This is how she used to be," Bartfeld continued. "In the first few months, she would stand at the window, or on the balcony, just staring at the stars. She said it made her feel as though you were there with her.." Mwu scowled. "Every time I see you, you seem to make it your business to remind me that I don't deserve Murrue. Newsflash: I know. I don't. But she waited for me...she.." He slammed a fist against the window. "Dammit! Leave me alone! It hurts enough!"

Bartfeld raised an eyebrow at the younger man's anger, but pleased by it. "I will," he said. "Because now I know how much you miss her." Without another word, he walked away. Mwu watched him go, not comprehending at first.

Did he make me angry deliberately...so he could see for himself how much I love her? Is it his way...of protecting Murrue?

Smiling to himself, he turned and walked back to the room he shared with his fiancee. He understood. Bartfeld was letting her go, even though he cared a great deal for her, because she loved another. He was just making sure that I really felt the same way about her...

She would be home soon, and when she was..he'd never let her go again.

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The peace talks were progressing nicely, Lacus-san and Cagalli-san speaking quietly with the Chairman and his aide. It had initially surprised Murrue how young this new Chairman was. Just a boy, really, with silver hair and ice blue eyes. She felt as though she had seen him somewhere before, but she couldn't place where. His aide was about his age, a young woman with long chestnut hair and violet eyes. It made Murrue smile at the thought - that perhaps children really were the ones who could change the world.

Will you be like that, little one? she thought, one hand placed on her stomach. What will you be? How will you change the world?

As if in answer, she felt a faint flutter. The young woman frowned. What was that?

A moment later, it happened again...a flutter. And then she realised. The baby..she's moving. She's...kicking. Did...she hear me? A small tear trickled down her cheek..a tear of happiness. It hit home at that moment, that this tiny form within her was a living, breathing person..and part of her.

"Murrue-san? Are you okay?" Kira had leaned over from his seat, whispering to her. "You aren't in any pain, are you?" She shook her head, the tear falling to her lap. Without a word, she reached to take the boy's hand, placing it on her stomach. Kira frowned, not understanding at first...until he felt it. His eyes widened. "Wow..." he breathed. Murrue nodded, not able to speak. Leaning back in her seat, she smiled. Thank you...

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( :grins: Did I just make Tiger into a jerk? Mwahahahahahahahaha!!! XD

Please read and review! )