Wufei and Heero have a chat then sit down to dinner with Trowa.

When Wufei got there, the food we'd decided to order for him had just been placed on the table. He refused to eat though, requesting that I give him my briefing on the situation right away.

"Come on, Wufei. That can wait until after we finish eating at least," Trowa said.

I saw Wufei's face turn stern and I pushed out my seat and got up. "It's okay Trowa. This won't take long." I said. "Go ahead and eat."

The restaurant had a large outdoor section and a railing overlooking a pond. Since hardly anyone was outside thanks to the cold weather and time of day, I took Wufei to the most remote corner and leaned against the railing, looking out onto the pond. He leaned against the railing too so that we were facing the same direction. People looking out on us wouldn't think much of two friends enjoying the view and we'd be free from any spying lip readers. But, Wufei - lacking subtlety as usual - had come in his Preventer uniform, so ultimately we were lucky there didn't seem to be anyone around.

"Is this about Sylvia?" I asked.

I felt more than saw Wufei's shock.

"I shouldn't have expected less from you," Wufei said.

"It was obvious," I said. "There's something big going on and after everything last year, Preventer is still on high alert. I am impressed you guys caught on so fast though."

"Don't underestimate us either," Wufei said. I could hear the smile in his voice. "Tell me exactly what happened."

I launched into a full explanation of how Sylvia had come to me, seeking a favor for the debt I owed her, right up to the part where I left her at her family home here on the colony. I left nothing out. I trusted Wufei and I knew Preventer would need every scrap of information it could get if they were going to be able to catch these guys and keep the peace.

Wufei was silent after I finished talking. I was sure it wasn't what he wanted to hear. Then again…

"They sound like a formidable enemy for even you guys to have trouble with them. I can't help but find myself getting excited," he said.

I cast a sidelong glance at Wufei and saw he was still staring out at the pond, but with a grin on his face. I thought about giving him a warning but instead I turned back to the pond myself. No, I trust him. Honestly, I'd learned to trust all of the other gundam pilots implicitly.

"Is Preventer going to be able to handle this?" I asked instead.

Wufei let out a small sigh. "I hate to admit it, but there is a possibility we'll need you guys' help. We're still hiring skilled soldiers, but we don't have many people at a high level. Most of these soldiers aren't physically or mentally up to the task of having more power yet."

I said nothing. Wufei always seemed to think I was strong but...My memories flashed back to the man I had let die in order to protect myself. I want to protect the peace we won but...am I really up to the task? The words I had once said to Dr. Winner came back to me. "I want to become a stronger person," I had said. "I want to be able to live a normal life."

...I'm supposed to be leading a normal life now, but I just keep getting pulled back in.

"Sorry," Wufei said.

I looked at him, questioning.

"That we're still so weak that we have to rely on you guys," Wufei said quietly. "We're getting stronger, but we're not there yet. I know you want to have normal lives. But please...lend us your strength until we're stronger."

I stared at Wufei. "Wufei…" I couldn't hide the surprise in my voice.

Wufei looked back at me and smiled. "I guess Sally's rubbing off on me after all."

A slight smile played over my lips at that. Sally was a tough woman, I knew Wufei would be just fine with her. But...I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"I don't think I'm strong at all. I've started therapy." Wufei's eyes widened but I quickly went on before I lost the nerve to tell him what I needed to say. "Trowa was right. I shouldn't have taken this job. I let a man die. I promised never to kill again, but even in this new world...Someone died because I screwed up again, to save myself. Even if he was my enemy, he could have been saved!"

Wufei said nothing and I fell silent, unable to look him in the eye. I'd heard that during the rebellion none of the Gundam pilots let a single soldier die, even though they were their enemies. And yet when I was in the same situation, I threw him aside in an instant to save my own pathetic life. I felt frustrated when I realized I was finding myself falling back into my old way of thinking. That my life was worthless and that I should just let it end.

What was the point of all the progress I've made if I'm just going to end up like this again?

Wufei's voice cut through my dark thoughts. "That man was mistaken. Like I was. It's true he could have been saved and even might have changed to help sustain the peace like I did."

Each of his words pierced through my heart as if Relena herself was chastising me. But Wufei went on.

"But this man chose the path that he did because to him, it was the best one to take," he spoke haltingly, as if he was figuring out his thoughts as he spoke. "He knew the risks and died doing what he thought was right for him."

Wufei looked at me now. "If I had died back then, fighting you, I would not have had any regrets. I was doing what I thought was right - even if I was wrong - I had judged it to be right. And if you had killed me then, it wouldn't have been your fault or your responsibility. Because I had chosen to become your enemy because it was the right path to me."

I didn't say anything as I turned Wufei's words over in my mind. "How can you say that it wasn't my fault? I chose his life over mine, Wufei."

"You reacted on instinct, as any trained warrior would," Wufei said firmly. His face was serious and filled with conviction. "If he had the choice, that man would have chosen his own life and killed you without regret. He made his choice, and he was too weak to survive making the wrong one."

Another silence fell between us. I wasn't sure if Wufei was right but what he was saying didn't sound wrong, exactly.

But what would Relena say?

I still had no answer for that.

"Oh, and I don't think you're weak for seeking treatment," Wufei said with a smile. "Seeking to heal the wounds of the past will only make you stronger. There are many different ways to accomplish that, and I believe you chose what was right for you. Just as the rest of us will choose what is right for us."

Wufei really had changed. I remembered him as a confused, angry soul who always fought alone. But here he was, telling me that seeking help didn't make me weak.

"...Thanks, Wufei," I said finally, pushing off the railing and turning to him. Wufei's words hadn't removed all doubt from my mind, but he had made me feel better. It was the last place I expected to get support from, but…

I guess we've all changed.

"It seems like you've become stronger yourself," I said.

"Hmm, I don't know about that," Wufei said, scratching his cheek. He seemed somehow embarrassed. "It was Sally who taught me that even if you are weak you should keep fighting for what you believe in. Without both her words and yours, I don't know where I'd be right now."

Trowa walked up to us just then. "You guys done talking yet? Dinner's waiting."

"Sorry," I said, walking back over to our table. When I got there, I saw that none of the food had been touched since I'd left. "Trowa…"

"I've learned that food is more enjoyable when you have others to share it with," Trowa said simply, seating himself.

Wufei smiled and sat down too. "I agree," he said.

As we quietly ate, I thought about how much better the food really did taste than normal. It was something I never really thought about before, but I found myself even more relaxed because Trowa and Wufei were there. We were all soldiers, warriors who had been through countless battles and had even fought each other. So to be sitting there quietly eating with no immediate threats seemed almost unreal. I felt like I didn't have to be on my guard with these guys around.

As I felt myself becoming relaxed, I couldn't help but smile.

While our dinner was mostly eaten in silence, towards the end, a conversation was struck up - one that focused on me.

"What do you think Wufei?" Trowa had asked, regarding the food. Wufei had seemed hesitant about the sushi at first, but he was eating thoughtfully now.

"It's good. This is my first time having it. I've never had raw fish before."

"Hmm?" Trowa said. He stopped eating and looked thoughtful. "I could have sworn I read something about sushi originating in China."

"It did," I said absentmindedly. "But it was different from what we're eating now. This is what the Japanese came up with." I continued to eat, but I noticed Trowa was staring at me.

"You're from the L1 colony cluster aren't you?"

I stopped eating. Images of what happened the last time I was on my home colony flashed through my mind, unbidden and unwanted. The explosions, the mobile suit crashing into the buildings as I looked on, utterly helpless to stop it. I felt a strange heat as something like anxiety and fear took hold of my body.

Not here, not now…

Wufei had stopped eating too and seemed to be staring at nothing.

"Uh," Trowa's voice sounded very far away. I was focused on calming my breathing. He was saying something about…

"...Relena lately?"

My head jerked up.

Relena? What about Relena?

I was alert now, but just hearing her name seemed to cause my previous fear to start receding somewhat.

"Huh?" I looked at Trowa, trying to focus.

Trowa smiled gently. "I was asking Wufei if he had heard anything about Relena lately. Preventer probably knows more about what she's doing than the public does."

I looked at Wufei who seemed a little dazed too. I had heard that Wufei was from a colony in the L5 cluster. Could he have been from the one that self destructed? I wondered if that was what he was thinking about now, but it was clear Trowa was trying to change the subject.

And he had chose Relena as the new one.

"I…" Wufei seemed to be struggling to pull away from his own thoughts. "Actually, yes. I heard Sally mention that there are some rumors that she's gone to Earth to rest because she's fallen ill."

What?!

My prior panic from before was all but forgotten and replaced with feeling of fear that was less powerful, but still very real.

"Are you sure about that Wufei? I'd...heard...she'd gone to meet with an ambassador to the Sanc Kingdom," I said.

Trowa looked confused. "The news is saying she's going to have some meetings with ESUN officials back on Earth."

We stared at each other.

"...The enemy could be making a move." Wufei said quietly.

We all sat quiet for a few moments. Then Trowa took a sip of his drink and began speaking.

"Did you guys know that Valentine's Day is this weekend?"

I stared at Trowa blankly. Trowa was usually more subtle about things, but he hadn't even tried to be this time. Wufei also looked surprised, then turned a little red.

"Things like that don't concern me," Wufei said, looking down.

"Are you sure?" Trowa said, apparently unconcerned himself as he drank.

Wufei looked even redder but didn't answer. Valentine's Day...I wondered what Relena would be doing on that day. If she was really was healthy, she was probably going to be working. She had even worked on her last birthday. A small, ridiculous thought in the back of my mind wondered if she had any special plans that day, but I shook my head to clear it.

"When you go check on Relena, make sure you bring something appropriate, Heero," Trowa said casually.

I tried to keep my face expressionless as I realized what he was getting at. The waiter came with the bill just then and Trowa took it and looked over it as he continued.

"I suggest sticking with something simple, like flowers and chocolates. I'm pretty sure they'll be happy just to get anything from you guys."

Wufei and I said nothing, but when our eyes met, we both looked away.

Trowa really is scary sometimes.