A/N: Alright, so let me just give a very important forewarning on this chapter. This chapter is meant to be a bridge, just to fill space to carry one important space in time to another. It's mostly flashbacks or memories, but the most important thing is that I was depressed when I started this. I needed to cry, but I couldn't and if any of you have ever seen X, let's just say I was watching an Arashi/Sorata video over and over again.


Year: After colony 231

December 14th

5:00 pm

Location: Colony Cluster L5

Ami sat in a chair inside the hospital room. She had tears in her eyes and kept staring intently at the bed and its occupant. She was only half watching, as her mind continued to roll over the bloody words she had found on the pillow earlier that morning. She couldn't even say she was glad her parents hadn't yelled at her for her "pre marital" actions the night before, as the circumstances were the worst in the world. Her fiancé had gone missing, and her best friend was lying in a bed, fighting for her life, hooked up to more machine's than Ami could count. Sure the most critical part of the day had passed, and the doctors predicted at ninety percent chance that she would live, but it was the other ten percent that worried her.

A light hand rested on the blonde's shoulder, and she looked up slowly, meeting Bren's eyes. Kat pressed a cup of coffee into her hand.

"How is she?" Bren asked. Ami brushed the tears from her eyes and tried to give her friends a hasty smile. They had come as soon as she called them. As soon as she recovered from what her mother told her. She shut her eyes and could have sworn she saw Tarak's bloody message again. Shuddering, she opened them again.

"The doctors say she should make it." Ami told them. Kat frowned, and walked over to the bed. She lifted Nikki's hand into her own and kissed the back of it, then let it gracefully drop as she knelt beside the bed. Ami and Bren followed her with their eyes.

"Your mom called all day looking for you." Bren told her, hinting that she wanted an explanation. "I know you were celebrating the engagement and all, but all day?"

"Tarak's gone, Bren. I came out of the shower and he had written me a message in blood." She chocked back tears as both of the other two conscious girls in the room turned and stared at her as if she had grown a second head. "Somehow, I don't think his disappearance and Nikki's wound are unrelated. She was with Haruko last night." Bren nodded and walked over to Nikki as Ami yawned.

"You should sleep." Bren told her. Ami shook her head.

"I'm going to wait for her." Ami told them. Kat glared at her but nodded and took Bren by the hand.

"We'll go find more coffee," Kat explained, before leading her friend out the door. Ami watched them go, before turning her attention back to the bed and letting her mind wander. She wanted to know where he was, if he was alive, and why he was gone. It just wasn't fair.


Year: After colony 221

August 13th

Dusk

Location: America

It wasn't fair. How many seven year olds had to deal with this? How many had to watch both of their parents die at the hands of a mobile suit? Not many. And she didn't want to be among their numbers. She ran. As fast as she could. If she ran enough, she could be past the pain. Her parents were dead; none of them would miss her. The tears fell into the grass as she darted into the forest. The coolness of the grass ran through her bare feet as she slummed on the ground, her black dress wrapping around her small, shivering frame. Her sobs echoed in the trees, making the silence around her even more noticeable. Footsteps padded up behind her. Softly a small hand came to rest on her shoulder and a young girl stepped in front of her. She squatted and lifted the crying girl's chin so they looked into each other's eyes.

"They're stupid if they think you can ever be ok again, Bren." Kat told her, using one hand to cup her chin and the other to hold her hand. The girl who hand her hand on her shoulder knelt behind her and wrapped her tiny arms around Bren's shoulders. "Ai shiteru." They young Japanese girl told her. Bren blinked. She didn't know all of Nikki's language, but that she did understand. She looked up and around for the fourth member of her boarding school mates. Ami was hanging upside down from the tree in front of her, staring into the distance. She understood Bren. She had been born and than orphaned. The parents she lived with had adopted her when she was a little baby. Ami jumped of the branch.

"Well kill them." She told Bren, no remorse in her voice. She looked at her wounded friend and gave a half smile. Bren just leaped forward, threw her arms around Ami's waist and sobbed, as hard as she could. Kat grabbed hold of her and drew her own arms around the two, as Ami had started crying as well. Nikki lingered behind, clutching the long sleeves of her shirt. She kicked the dirt of the ground, as she heard voices coming behind them.

"No! Don't let them! Don't let them take me!" Bren screamed, grasping the ends of Ami's dress tight in her small fists. She continued to sob. Ami looked at Kat and Nikki who shrugged. They knew they were powerless to stop what was about to happen. Nikki kicked the ground again, Kat squeezed her shoulder, and Ami knelt and whispered in her ear.

"Be strong. We'll see you again." Bren just cried harder. A pair of strong hands gripped her shoulders. The eight year old looked up into the soft eyes of her uncle. He pulled her off Ami, even though she clung with all her might.

"Come, Bren. It's time to go."

"No! I won't leave them." Bren protested crying, kicking, screaming. Her parents had been ripped away, why did her best friends have to be taken also. Nikki let a tear fall, leaving a wet stain on the dirt. Kat looked away, and Ami rubbed her arm as if she suddenly got a chill. Bren's uncle wasted no time. He just lifted her up and walked away. The other three listened in silence as Bren's sobs and pleads became more and more distant. Bren was going to live in the colonies and go to school there. Her new guardians couldn't afford the boarding school, and they couldn't even afford to stay any longer on earth. Kat dropped to her knees, and began to twirl the long blades of grass in her fingers. She had just lost her best friend, and she truthfully wondered if she'd ever see Bren again, as the last sobs were heard.


Year: After colony 224

April 4th

Midday

Location: France

"Katylina! Katylina!" She could hear the voices calling to her, but she couldn't call back. Her nurses were looking for her again. Not that she cared. She had been alone since Bren's aunt and uncle took her away. She had been alone since the boarding school closed and Ami and Nikki returned to the colonies. She had been alone since her parents decided to fly around the world and leave her in the "capable" hands of her nurses. She walked into her parent's bathroom and opened the cupboard. She looked at all the beautiful bottles. The ten year old studied them. They would be her tools, as long as she could keep her nurses searching for her. She only needed a little time.

She was more intelligent than most people gave her credit for. She knew what taking too many pills could do and her goal was to do just that. She pulled her step stool over to the sink and climbed up on top of it, her stocking covered knees slipping against her plaid skirt. She fell forward twice, banging her head on the sink, drawing a little blood. She licked it off her lips as it flowed over her face. Finally, she managed to grab her mother's sleeping pills off the top shelf. She studied the bottle as she climbed down, and began to slip into the rarely used parlor.

"Katylina!" She ignored her nurses' pleas as she turned the bottle's lid and emptied its contents onto the rug in front of her. A tall bottle of water already awaited her. She looked at the pills. There were at least twenty. The ten year old scooped up a handful, placed them in her mouth, raised the water bottle and swallowed. She blinked, and prepared to lift another handful, just as the phone rang. She happened to glance at the name on the video phone's screen. AMI. Kat dropped the pills and lunged for the receiver.

"Hello!" She asked enthusiastically.

"Kat! How are you?" Ami said coming into the screen.

"Ami?" Kat asked smiling at her blood friend

"Moshimoshi!" Nikki said, coming up behind the blood.

"Nikki, too!"

"Hai. How are you?"

Kat blinked and thought for a moment. Since when did Nikki have a twin? She shook her head to clear it for a moment.

"Kat?" Ami asked, her voice worried. Kat blinked again, finally realizing what she had just done.

"Ami… I've just done something stupid."

"What, Kat? Tell us." Nikki told her gently. Kat held up the bottle and showed them.

"How many?" Ami asked her.

"Seven."

"My god! Hold on Kat!" Ami shouted.

"I don't feel so good." Kat told them, tears in her eyes.

"HELP! SOMEONE!" Ami screamed as load as she could, hoping Kat had the volume on the receiving end turned up. The nurses came running at the yelling and saw Kat on the floor where she had fallen. One grabbed the child, while the other called 911. Nikki and Ami watched until the screen went blank. Kat's eyes rolled back and she slipped into the blackness, telling herself, if she could live, she would never ever do something so stupid again. Never ever again.
Three hours later, she lay in a hospital bed. She glared at her reflection in the hand mirror her nurse had given to her, thinking that's what she wanted. Could she have been any dumber? She sighed, thanking the world she was ok. She had too much to live for. For always and forever. She lifted the receiver and dialed Ami's number. She had to thank her.


Year: After colony 231

December 14

6:30 pm

Location: Colony Cluster L5

It was as if the sky new the torture and pain of the night before, because the rain seemed to continue just because she was hurt. She turned her head gently toward the window of the hospital room, having only gained consciousness an minutes before. She remembered everything. The pain, the screaming, the blood. But none of that really mattered. He had broken the promise he had made to her. He had promised never to hurt her, and now she lay on a hospital bed, bandaging around second worst wound that she had ever had. A tear ran down her cheek as she gazed out side. She wanted to melt into the rain. It came and then it was gone. Its existence was only momentary. It was beyond the good and evil in the world. Nothing and no one could touch it. The tears continued to fall down her cheeks, staining the white bed sheets. She let a sniffle loose.

"You're awake?" A hesitant voice asked from the shadows, love filling every corner. Nikki turned her head toward it, trying to get a better view of who was in her room. The figure remained in the shadows watching the tears that flowed as consistently as the rain outside. Thunder echoed overhead.

"Haru?" Nikki asked, hesitantly. If it was him, she would forgive him in a heart beat. She just wanted him back. Or to at least know what had happened to him. The figure shook it's head, and stepped into the light.

"I-I… I just can't believe you're awake. The doctors said you wouldn't come too. They said it was hopeless. They said you were as good as dead." Ami threw herself on the hospital bed, crying her eyes out. She had almost been left alone in world. Tarak had been taken from her, and Nikki had almost died. She would always have Bren and Kat, but there was something about a best friend that makes you feel like life is over. Nikki stared at her, her eyes hollow and lifeless. What was Ami talking about? She was dead. Nikki was dead. All that was left was a hollow shell. She looked at Ami's wrists. Crimson red glowed in the three even slashes on each. Ami noticed her eyes and pulled her hands back. She tried to smile and laugh, but Nikki glared at her.

Ami had no right. No right at all to take her own life. Nikki, who had been through so much, had never even tried to cause her own death. A fresh tear trickled from her eyes. Ami copied her. "He's gone Nikki. Tarak. He was stolen from me." Nikki hung her head, still refusing to speak. Ami knew then exactly what had happened the night before. So, Haru was gone too. And Nikki blamed him for her getting hurt, again. "I can't take it anymore, Nikki! I KNOW! I know what your father does to you. Bren and Kat do too. Haru didn't hurt you, so snap out of it. He didn't pull that trigger. He would never do anything, by accident or otherwise." Ami yelled at her, anger and sadness making her words intense.

"I-I-" Nikki stammered. "You knew?" Ami just nodded as a knock sounded on the other side of the door. Kat poked her head in, worry written all of her face. When she saw the two girls on the bed, she smiled.

"You're awake! Bren, she's up!" Kat bounded into the room, her face full of laughter, trying to hide how worried she had been the night before. She plopped into the seat Ami had been in. The blonde had refused to leave Nikki's side except for when she had gone in for surgery. Bren followed her and leaned against the door, the worry clear in her eyes. Not for the gun shot victim, but for both of her two friends. If she was right, not only was Tarak gone, but Haru was too. She glanced at Nikki's arm; a wide bruise from the last time she had been home was on it. Bren didn't want to give the girl the news that she had, but she had to.

"Nikki. You're dad says you can come home whenever you get out of the hospital."

"Like hell." Nikki said. Bren blinked. Since when did Nikki openly show that she hated her only living parent?

"She knows we know." Ami explained. Kat immediately drew her arms around Nikki's shoulders, holding her friend tightly.

"It's about time," Kat whispered, snuggling her face into Nikki's neck. Nikki just cried. Fresh tears spilling from her eyes. Bren and Ami put there arms around her as well. "It'll be ok. We promise. Haru mayn't be here to protect you, but that doesn't mean you're vulnerable. We'll be here forever and always. I promise." Kat told her. Nikki closed her eyes and fell into unconsciousness in the arms of her friends.


Year: After Colony 232

December 16

8:00 P.M.

Location: Colony Cluster L4; Colony 67JPR04

Ami walked out of the room. Kat was still slummed against the wall inside, and she, Nikki, and Bren had spent the last few hours trying to calm her down. Kat was about a second away from getting into Isoke and shooting him. Either that or she was determined to jump him, and get him naked before he had the chance to stop her. Ami shook her head. Kat was head over heels. The same way she felt about Tarak. She sighed and closed her eyes, imagining him on her lips. Suddenly that feeling became stronger and she opened her eyes to really find him in front of her.

"Tarak?"

"I was just coming to find you." He told her, releasing her. She laid her head on his chest, inhaling his scent. He wrapped his arms around her. "I missed you, sweets." He told her calmly. She nodded, sighing, unable to summon her voice. It was one thing to meet him in a crowded lobby, another to meet him in an empty hall. This was the man she would marry. The man who loved and protected her. And yet, he was the man she lied to. She knew what would happen when he found out she would be fighting alongside him. She began to let tears fall, slowly, quietly, but they didn't fool him. "Ami? Don't cry." He told her, kissing her forehead.

"I-I'm sorry," she replied, shaking. "I-it's just I hate..."

"I know you hate not seeing me. I hate not seeing you too." He replied, kissing her again. Ok, so that wasn't exactly it, but hey, he accepted it. She nodded and looked up at him. He brushed away her tears and kissed her nose. "Better?"

"Much." she replied with a small smile. And then she pounced, her lips crashing into his.

"Slow down, silly. Is Kat ok?" Tarak asked, pushing her away lightly. Ami pouted, remembering her friend. But Kat would want her to have fun, wouldn't she? She nodded.

"But- but?"

"You should ask first. Besides, there's always later."

If we're both still alive later. Ami thought, sighing. She nodded. She kissed him again. "Give me one minute?" He nodded as she stuck her head into the room. Kat was sitting on the bed, face down in the pillows beating her fists and kicking her legs. She looked like a two year old throwing a tantrum. "Uh… Kat?"

"Go."

"What?"

"Go. We all know Tarak's out there. Just go."

"Are you sure?"

"Someone might as well get some." Kat said sitting up and pouting. She looked at Nikki and Bren. "You two should go too. I want to be alone for a little." Bren glared at her. "Bren, you've been waiting as long as I have, and besides, Trevet has been good. Who am I to keep you from fulfilling a promise." Kat said, grinning. Bren fully glared at her, and Kat tossed her pillow.

"If you're sure." Nikki asked.

"I am. Now scat before I change my mind." Kat told them. Tarak poked his head in.

"May I just say thank you." He grabbed Ami's arm and pulled her out the door as another pillow slammed into the wall.

Ami followed him down the hall, barely watching anything. He pulled her into his private room, leaving the lights out. "Close your eyes." She frowned at him, but obeyed, closing her tightly. He left her in the doorway and moved about the room and placed a do not disturb sign on the door. A moment later, he stood beside her again. He placed his hands over her eyes and guided her forward.

"What are you doing?"

"You'll see." He told her, positioning her. "Alright, open." He told her moving his hand. Ami's mouth fell open as she rolled her eyes over the hotel room. The bed sheets were bright red silk and covered in rose petals. Red and gold candles were scattered around the room, lighting it brilliantly. There was no other light in the room. "I take it you approve?" He asked her. Ami nodded, speechless. She wrapped his arms around her. "But before we go." He went to the bed and picked up a long white box and handed it to her. Ami frowned at him, but he insisted, handing it to her with a long stemmed red rose. She carefully opened the box and pulled out a lacy red and black top, with a sheer covering over her stomach, and nearly invisible straps. It had a black and red thong to match. Set on top of it was a gold bracelet. Diamonds and rubies alternated in its settings, spaced a few millimeters apart, and set as the centers of golden roses. Ami blinked.

"How…"

"I was saving it all for our wedding night." He told her calmly. "But…" Ami just nodded. She knew it as well, as he did. They might get to see their wedding night. But she didn't want to think about that. She smiled, and kissed him tenderly. She grabbed the box and walked to the bathroom.

"I'll be right back." Tarak smiled as he watched her close the door. He pulled off his shirt and pants, revealing red silk boxers. Ami walked back out of the bathroom in her present. Tarak's smile widened, as she pushed him onto the petal covered bed. She leaned close to the nearest candle and blew it out, giggling before she began to smother his lips with her own.


Year: After Colony 232

December 16

8:00 P.M.

Location: Colony Cluster L4; Colony 67JPR04

Nikki wandered down the halls, having just visited the purser's desk in the lobby. She had found Haru's room, as he had listed her name in case of an emergency. She slowly slid her hands over the walls as she walked, stopping slowly outside the appointed room. She looked at the handle for a few moments before raising her hand and pressing it lightly against the wooden door. She heard movement inside the room, before footsteps came closer and Haru pulled the door open.

"Nikki?" He asked, seeming unpleasantly surprised.

"I- if… um, it's a bad time, I could always come back later." She told him, shyly.

"No. No. I was just on my way to get you. But this saves me the trip. Please, come in." Haru told her, placing a piece of paper on the handle. She followed him into the room. "I have a surprise for you." She titled her head as he pulled her over to the bathroom. The lights were off, but she could see little flickers. He opened the door to reveal a large room with a square shaped bathtub big enough for two in on corner. It was surrounded by mirrors on two sides. Haru had placed silver and lavender candles all along the sides. The tub was filled with hot water and lavender scented bubble bath, and he had scattered lily petals all over the edges. Nikki gasped, placing her hands over her mouth.

"You like?"

She nodded and threw her arms around him. There was no one she loved more. Before she knew it, she and Haru were resting comfortably in one another's arms in the warmth of the tub.

"I've missed you so much." He told her, kissing the top of her head. Nikki just nodded, slowly dozing off. Haru laughed and glanced at the clock on the counter. They had been in the water for nearly an hour and it was beginning to lose its heat. He gently shook his fiancé awake and stepped out of the tub. He wrapped at towel around his lower half and helped her stand up, then held a towel out for her to step into. He even dried her off as one would a child. She smiled and kissed him as he lifted her off her feet and placed her in the bed. He climbed in beside her and turned on the movie. They watched for only a few moments before passing out in one another's arms.


Year: After Colony 232

December 16

8:00 P.M.

Location: Colony Cluster L4; Colony 67JPR04

Bren smiled. It hadn't been too hard to find Trevet's room. She had just followed Ami and Tarak back, then proceeded to find the one room that had a view of the pool area. Besides, it had loud music blaring inside with a do not disturb sign on the door. She turned it around and banged her fist on the door.

"Hold on! Hold on!" His voice rang, deep inside the room as she continued to bang on the wooden door. "I'm coming! Keep your pants on!"

"I'm not wearing any pants!" Bren called into him. There were sounds of stumbling and Trevet rushing to the door. He pulled it opened and surveyed a fully clothed Bren. He glared at her.

"You shouldn't get my hopes up like that." Trevet told her. Bren shook her head, laughing and stepped inside the hotel room. She looked at the young man who was only wearing a pair of grey boxers and white socks.

"What were you doing?" She said, eyeing the karaoke machine in the corner. Trevet grinned and ran a hand through his hair. "Never mind. I don't think I want to know." She sat down on the bed and looked at him. "What do you want to do?"

He blinked several times. "You're asking me?"

"Well, it all depends. Did you keep your end of the deal?" Trevet nodded enthusiastically, his face entirely solemn.

"You can even ask Yul or Haru. I was entirely faithful."

Bren smiled. "I don't think I have to." She replied. "I believe you." He stared at her in shock, and all she did was laugh at him, as she kicked her shoes off. He just continued to watch, completely stunned. "And have you missed me?"

"M-more than you could know." Trevet told her, watching her fingers unbutton her pants and slip them off. His eyes were going as wide as dishes. She nodded and yawned, seating herself in the center of the bed.

"I'm cold. Join me?" She offered, smiling. Trevet obeyed immediately, wrapping his arms tightly around her. He kissed her forehead and then her lips. "Are you happy?"

"Way more than you could know." He told her, snuggling into her.

"I think I could." She kissed his lips again.

"How is that?"

"Because I've missed you, wanted to be with you, and I couldn't be happier than I am right now." She said, closing her eyes, and leaning on his chest.

"I might know a way." He suggested. She seemed to think it over for a moment, but then pulled herself over him, pulled the light cord and purred in his ear, before letting him start to unbutton her shirt.


Year: After Colony 232

December 16

8:00 P.M.

Location: Colony Cluster L4; Colony 67JPR04

Kat sat alone in the quiet of her room, tears in her eyes. She closed her eyes and listened to the quiet music playing on the television. A soft knock sounded on the door. She whipped her eyes on her arm and sat up, to prove to who ever came in that she was ok. "Come in." She called. The handle turned and Yul walked into the hotel room she shared with Bren. She frowned, confused and angry. "What do you want?"

"I- I don't usually do this, but…" He paused, watching her face. "I-I'm sorry. Really I am. I- I've never liked anyone as much as I like you, Kat. You mean so much to me. It's just that, the way I grew up, it's hard to think of women as strong." He told her. "Can you forgive me?"

"Can you treat me like an equal?"

"I can try." He told her, edging closer to the bed. All Kat wore was a silk night gown that went to her knees. He traced her body with his eyes, and his gaze didn't go unnoticed. Kat grinned evilly at him.

"Well, that would be a start." He snapped out of his trance. "I like you more than I've ever liked someone before as well. But I can't be treated as an inferior." She told him, sternly. He nodded and turned to leave. "But, maybe we could practice?" She said, grinning mischievously. Yul turned to her and raised an eyebrow. "Could you treat me like an equal in bed?" She said, smiling wider.

"B-but that would be dishonorable." He told her, stammering a little.

"I know!" Kat told him, wrinkling her nose and giggling. He raised his eyebrows to her.

"Are you kidding? You would? With me?" She nodded vigorously and he locked the door, slipping a do not disturb sign on the door.

"I want to know if you can at least treat me like an equal in bed." She told him, as he began to pull his shirt and pants off. He leapt onto the bed with her.

"How about this: HELL YES!" He lifted the covers, and pulled her underneath with him, kissing her entire face, and gluing his lips to hers. "I think I love you Kat."

"And I think I love you. Now kiss me!"


A/N: I gave you a warning. This was a bridge chapter. I needed to fill space before the next major events. Like what happens when Heero regains consciousness or when the boys found out who their backup really is? Anyway, I know three people who will enjoy this chapter, and whether you hated it or not, just keep in mind that nothing of importance was supposed to happen. Oh, and since I'm posting this at 90 minutes until midnight on June 15th, I suppose I should say Happy Birthday to me. Getting this done is my birthday present to myself.