'So here I am with my thoughts of you,

And this world I've left for me...'

Leave The Memories Alone, Fuel

Chapter Three

Our Yesterdays

It was two days before the wedding, and neighter bride nor groom felt like anything bad could happen. They were on top of the world.

Cara was set to see Sally privately as soon as the other doctor's shuttle set down, and then even more doubts could be put to rest before the wedding. Dorothy was happy as a clam with her self-given role as wedding planner, and Cara and Duo were more than happy to just sit back and appease Cara's sister in law and Duo's future sister in law. Trowa had even made an appearance, a rare sight indeed with Catherine right by his side. The two were fairly glowing, having only recently come to the conclusion that they indeed loved each other deeply. With Rashid in his usual role as nursemaid for Dorothy and Quatre's first born, Rashad, life at the Winner mansion was, well, far from normal and very far from peaceful... but it suited all of the occupants.

The soon to be wedded couple was taking advantage of a lull, a peaceful break in the hectic pace of life, to cuddle on the couch and exchange soft words and sweet kisses. In the past day or so, it seemed like Cara's morning sickness was dwindling down, and so everything was going great. Cara lay lightly atop her fiance' kissing every inch of skin she could reach with her lips, and caressing the rest with her fingertips.

Nothing more was needed. After so many years together, they'd fallen into this sweet 'cuddle' stage. They were past the "can't keep my hands off you" stage, past the phase where every single meeting of skin or lips turned into all out sex. Caresses and kisses were enough to communicate mutal love and devotion. Cara could remember all the evenings spent simply cuddling with her lover. A simple touch was enough to suffice them. No, their physical love did not dimish or lack any, but there were other aspects to their relationship, that were just as important.

The vid phone ringing interupted their cuddle time. Cara leaned back, sitting up, with a rueful smile as Duo went to the wall unit of their suite. He smoothed down a hand over a few wispy fly-aways that had escaped during their tender moment. Cara rose to stand beside him as the communication connected. The brown haired lady before them seemed out-of-sorts.

Duo frowned at the obviously upset Commander in Chief of the Preventers.

"Lady?" He questioned. It was rare for Lady Une to be less than perfectly composed. Even rarer to see her with tear tracts on her face, and eyes rimmed with red.

"Zero Two," she said, her voice thick, but clipped and forced into a professional tone.

"What's wrong, Commander?" Duo asked. He wasn't a Preventer anymore, and hadn't been for very long anyways, but he still held respect for the formidable woman.

"The Assembly's Conference on Peace this afternoon was bombed by an unknown source. We have several suspects in custody."

Duo nodded. "Alright. What does this have to do with me? Or were you trying for Quatre, because he's..."

"Any of you would suffice. Zero Two, I regret to inform you that Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian and Pilot Zero One are... among the casualties. I am sorry but..."

Duo didn't hear the rest of her words. 'Among the casualties' and 'Zero One' were the only things that stuck in his mind as the world tilted on it's axis and spun. A half thought that this was some kind of joke popped in his mind, but disappeared. Une didn't cry. Une wouldn't pull a sick joke like this. This was real.

Hiro.... was dead.