ORB

December 25th

"Can I ask just what the hell you're doing Murrue?" Erica asked with raised eyebrows, watching her friend flit around her room, tossing random objects into an open bag, muttering to herself as she did so. The woman had bolted out of the kid's cabin without saying much, running to her home and then went straight up into her room and began packing. The man who'd come to give her the news was still back at the cabin, explaining again what he knew about the commander. She hadn't stuck around to hear it again, she chased after her hyper friend.

"Packing, what does it look like?" Murrue answered hastily, checking over the clothes she had packed, tossing two books on top of the pile before pulling the zipper tight.

She pat herself down before bolting to the other end of the room and into her dresser, taking out a single envelope. She pocketed it and then grabbed her jacket, slinging her bag over her shoulder and making to leave her room, but her redheaded friend didn't budge from the door.

Impatient, Murrue shrugged into her jacket better and adjusted her bag's strap over her shoulder. "Can you get out of my way? I'm kind of hurrying for a reason Erica."

Erica raised one eyebrow, crossing her arms over her stomach. She still didn't move. She watched several emotions flit across her friend's face, impatience and annoyance topping the list before switching to exasperation.

"C'mon Erica!"

"Think about what you're doing." Erica answered calmly, still not moving, instead looking a bit more foreboding. The logic had worked quite well in her mind, but she knew that Murrue was probably too excited and overjoyed to even think past her next step. "You're going to fly off with someone you haven't seen in two years, just because he's got a locket and says the commander's alive. Aren't you the least bit suspicious? How do you know he isn't lying to you? You're not thinking things through, this is pretty risky."

"Justin wouldn't lie to me." Murrue answered with narrowed eyes, frowning at her friend's thinly veiled accusations. She couldn't imagine the man lying to her about something like this, and she had a hard time doubting his integrity considering who had been his older brother. "Besides, the locket–"

"I know it's yours but you have no idea if he got it from the commander's body." Erica sighed, watching her friend wince visibly at the words, and she felt horrible for even suggesting the idea. "The man's met you before, he's seen you wear it. He could easily make up the story to get you to come with him. You have to weigh the risks."

"Justin would not lie to me." Murrue repeated through grit teeth, hands curling into fists reflexively with her anger. She couldn't think of him in that light, though she could understand where Erica was coming from. But at the moment all she knew was that her friend was standing in the way of the one thing that had kept her sane for the past year, and she was growing more anxious with each passing second she wasted. "Erica please. I know he's not lying, I just know it!"

"I don't." Erica answered just as stubbornly, eyes flickering to fire as the protective mother she was reared up in her. "I want it to be true, I really do. I've hated seeing you so sad over him, I'd love to see you happy with La Flaga again. But you gotta see things form my perspective, I have a son I have to protect. If this guy exposes what's been happening in ORB... You do know what that means for all of us involved in this, don't you?"

"I... I know..." Murrue murmured, stopped flat in her tracks from her friend's soft pleading voice. She hung her head, feeling ashamed that she'd overlooked the most important thing in her friend's life. Excitement had played out her logic, and it was a bitter feeling knowing that. But at the same time, the light at the end of the tunnel was pulling hard, almost impossible to resist.

"I'm not going to ask you not to go. If you want to go, go. I won't stop you, and neither will anyone else. But just be careful."

"Thank you." Murrue sighed in relief, hugging her friend close. She was glad that the woman sighed in defeat and returned the embrace, and they stood there for a few minutes, knowing the risks and hoping for a good outcome despite the concerns. She let go and made to step out again but Erica caught her arm. "What!?"

"I know this is me being paranoid but just do it for me anyway, alright?" Erica sighed, sidestepping Murrue and walking into her room. She murmured to herself as she knelt beside her bed, "I know you have it here..." She felt under the bed and smiled wryly when she found it, stepping up holding a very familiar black object in her hand, a case in her other. Murrue stared in amazement and surprise, and Erica slid the gun into her limp hands. "If, god forbid, anything happens up there, at least you can protect yourself. Keep it on you."

Murrue swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. She nodded weakly, taking the holster from her friend and tying it around her ankle. She slid her gun into it, pocketing the ammunition and pulling out her jean pantleg to hide the weapon. "Alright..."

Her stomach felt suddenly empty as she felt the weapon's weight on her foot, reality hitting her shoulders hard. She remembered keeping her weapon, keeping it on her for the first month she had been free in ORB. After that period she had never wore it again, but kept it under her bed just in case. It was strange having it again, knowing that she really was stepping into dangerous territory. Territory she thought she would never enter ever again.

"Be safe."

"I will."

ORB

December 26th

Justin had been close to amazed when she had shown up at the cabin again, fully packed and looking quite eager to get going. The looks the redhead woman was giving him made him nervous, but he hadn't been able to help himself and cracked a few jokes in an attempt to lighten the mood. She hadn't laughed or cracked a smile even once.

Now it was well into the next morning and he and Murrue had booked the next shuttle to Copernicus, which luckily was scheduled to leave the very next day at five a.m. sharp. Neither of them had gotten any sleep, she was far too wound up to even consider the idea, and as exhausted as he was, the idea of sleep wasn't too appealing.

The wait seemed to take forever, and it passed mostly in silence because of the bustling port. They watched families, couples and the rare solitary passenger due their business and then vanish into a station, and the loud clicking of the clock above seemed to roar despite it in reality, being drowned out by the chaos of the crowds.

When it came to their shuttle, Justin gallantly took her bag for her and followed cheerfully behind her. He took the liberty of using forged passports that he had, much to Murrue's surprise, and playfully teased her through the registration and to their seats. He placed her bag in the shelf above them, letting her have the window seat as he took aisle without a single complaint.

Another hour had to pass before the shuttle was ready to take off, and by that time the man had already looked like he was going to fall asleep in his chair, much to her amusement. She however couldn't contain her excitement, which had begun to grow the moment the ship had started to purr from its engine. The idea of being so close, being able to touch him again, it sent thrills up and down her spine and only delighted her already vivid imagination.

They had been silent for almost a full hour before he spoke, his voice so low that only she would be able to hear it, "You know, I'm a bit insulted that you'd bring a gun along with you... Amazed too though, how you managed to sneak it by security."

Murrue squeaked, alarmed that he would have seen it. She had thought she'd been quite inconspicious with the weapon, and it hadn't been easy hiding it from detection either, she was glad for the fact that they were so outlandishly busy. She stared at him with wide eyes, not really sure how to say anything. He hadn't really sounded insulted, more amused than anything else. She finally whispered back, "Erica gave it to me..."

"Well with the looks she gave me, I'm not very surprised." Justin snorted, crossing his feet and entwining his fingers behind his head. His emerald eyes were twinkling in amusement though, and she knew he was too good-natured to ever be offended by such a trivial thing, especially when it had exceptionally good reasons for being that way. "I have that effect on women it seems."

"Erica's just being over-protective. It's not like I thought I was going to have to use it." Murrue muttered defensively, knowing her friend only had her best interests at heart. She considered that rather touching, but she knew Justin make jokes about pretty much everything to cover moods. "I never planned on using it either..."

"You're safe with me." Justin chuckled, reaching over and ruffling her hair in a brotherly gesture. His eyes were serious despite his warm and infectious smile, holding the truth of his promise. "No one's going to hurt you if you're with me. So relax and enjoy the ride."

Despite his comforting words, she really couldn't find herself relaxing, but not because of the fear she knew she should be feeling. She couldn't make herself worry, the denial and suspicion she knew she should feel just wasn't there, there was too much excitement.

She hadn't realized she'd begun to bounce in her seat until she noticed Justin watching her with a smirk of amusement across his face. Chagrined, she tried to halt herself, but after a few minutes passed and her mind had started to wander back to thoughts of her lover and their reunion, the bouncing had begun again with a new vengeance. 'Mu...'

"You really love this guy." Justin snorted, ruffling her hair and leaning back in his chair again. He found it both very amusing to see the woman he always respected for being a cool-headed and controlled captain acting as hyper as a schoolgirl, and quite enchanting to see her so hopelessly delighted over his news.

"Well... Yeah..." She mumbled sheepishly, blushing to her ears and ducking her head so he wouldn't see her blushing. She knew it was a hopeless attempt, he could tell just by looking at her, but it made her feel better to try and hide it anyway. She idly toyed with her hair, trying to calm her nerves but nothing seemed to be helping. Curiosity had gotten the best of her, and she turned to Justin and asked, "How is he?"

"Mu? Well he was pretty beat up when I found him..." Justin mused, remembering spotting the unconscious man simply floating around in space amidst debris of the mobile suit he'd been piloting. It had seemed like his shield had absorbed most of the blow and saved enough of the cockpit to spare the pilot. "I was surprised he made it, the man's got someone looking out for him... We kept him drugged up for a good while though, the injuries were pretty severe..."

"How long?"

"A good three months... We weaned him off of the drugs though, and it was the worst thing we could ever have done." Justin griped, rolling his eyes skyward as he remembered how much trouble the blond had caused, amongst the nurses especially. They had been taken with him at first, which was annoying, but as soon as he was up as trying to get around, they had taken it right back and their annoyance was intense. "He was stubborn about trying to walk. Three months is a good healing period sure, but he's not superman."

Murrue smiled wryly, knowing exactly why Justin looked the way he did about his patient. She knew from experience that Mu was not the best patient ever, he was too stubborn about getting out and doing things on his own, not waiting for his injuries to heal. He would push himself too far and too quickly, only to end up right back where he started with an even worse attitude. "But he's healing, right?"

"Oh yeah, at a very fast rate I might add. The guy's a machine. He was already trying to walk when I left. I wouldn't be surprised if he's mastered it already the dolt, he tries it so often..." Justin snorted, remembering how many times he could see the man trying out his legs. He had made himself a little schedule, he'd try every hour, trying to increase his time by only small fractions. But it was working, he had managed to walk the length of the room three times in ten hours. "He's stubborn, that helps him out with the physio..."

"I guess it would... Is he on medication?"

"Yeah, strong stuff too. But he just ignores it and tries to keep on going. I told you, he's a machine."

"How is he emotionally wise...?"

The questions continued long into the trip, and Justin answered each and every one patiently and calmly, though he couldn't resist adding his own little tidbits here and there. She really was enthralled with every word he spoke about the man, shooting questions at him every few minutes. He didn't mind it, he could understand that now that he was alive she wanted to know every single thing that she may have or may not have missed in their separation.

She would pause for a few minutes occasionally between questions, processing the information before sorting out her feelings. Then she would jump right back into the fray again, bouncing questions off him at a rapid speed.

A few times she worried that she was annoying him, but he'd answer with the biggest grin and most honest tone, encouraging her to continue as often as she liked. Feeling rather grateful for his seemingly endless patience, she would continue to ask him anything that came to her mind. She was a little overwhelmed, the information sent thousands of different emotions shooting from her brain and heart, but it only opened up so many other questions that were dying to be answered.

But he was alive. That was what really mattered to her, what really sent her blood pumping fast down her veins, the fact that he was alive was what made her feel like her life was back again. He was back, and she was whole.

On the ground with my world,

upside-down I got a vision of your face.

And I must get me out for so many memories we've yet to make.

God don't send to me your angels,

I just wanna hear you say again.

Forever love say you love, digame, digame.

Tell me so, I can hold you in my soul,

and if I go, I'll know.

AN

I wanted a song so I picked one that really made no sense or added to the plot, lol. Heheheh. Yeah I know I'm cheap, but I wanted to base a whole chapter on the reunion and Natarle's reaction to seeing Murrue again so soon... Because I roll that way, lol... I have no life XD. Anyway, the song "Forever Love" Anna Nalick... I've just realized I'm basically advertising music, I wanna get paid for this rofl. (Looks over shoulder at numerous lawyers for musicians) I don't own anything and it's just for entertainment purposes only... I'm broke, don't sue me...

Sky