There was a light tap at the office door, causing the woman within to look up in surprise. Brushing aside a lock of auburn hair, she called out softly. "Come in?" The door hissed open, revealing a young girl with a pale, pretty face, and candyfloss-pink hair. "Good evening, Murrue-san.." she said gently, and the older woman smiled, standing up. "Good evening, Lacus-san. Did Kira-kun bring you back from Government House?"

Lacus nodded, entering the small room. "The speech went better than we expected. I guessed that Chairman Dullindal might try something like he did, but luckily it didn't affect what I wanted to say." She smiled, moving to sit down opposite Murrue. "But that's not what I wanted to talk about. When I got back here, I saw someone I never expected to. Kira said that he'd found him.."

The young captain nodded with a small smile, focusing her attention on the papers littering her desk. Lacus didn't say anything at first, instead standing up to make herself a hot drink. Standing at the small table across the room, she eventually spoke, her tone light and conversational. "You must be very happy. To have him back, I mean.."

Murrue sighed, accepting the coffee that the young woman offered her. "It's not - he's not him, you know. He..." She looked down again, amber eyes troubled. "...I...don't know.."

"Kira says that it's him, the Commander. He said that he was able to sense him somehow, that he knew it was him. I know that it must be hard to come to terms with...but I saw him, and talked with him a little. And I believe it's the Commander, just as Kira does." said Lacus gently, sitting back down opposite her friend. "Have faith.."

"I want to." replied Murrue, sipping her coffee. "More than anything, I want to believe he's Mwu. That one day, he'll remember everything, and we can be together again." She looked up at Lacus helplessly. "I want to believe so badly that it hurts. But miracles don't happen. Not like that."

The young girl looked curious. "Kira said he came from the Alliance, from the Earth Forces, and Athrun told me that you let him go. But he didn't leave...why?"

"H-he said that...he wanted to stay here...with me.." said Murrue, clearly embarrassed, but pleased at the same time. "He says that part of him knows me.." Lacus clapped her hands in delight. "Then it must be him!" Her friend was about to answer, when a knock at the door broke her concentration. "Yes?"

The panel slid open to reveal a blonde man, handsome face criss-crossed with a livid scar. He nodded politely at Lacus, who nodded back, and then looked over at his captain, his expression melting into a gentle smile. "Sorry to disturb you," he said apologetically, "I was just wondering...is there anything you need me to do?"

Murrue smiled back. "No, Colonel, it's okay. But thank you for offering.." The blonde man beamed again, and left the room. As soon as he'd gone, Lacus giggled. "He was so disappointed.." she said, the laughter in her voice evident. The older woman frowned, confused. "He was?"

"Of course he was." replied the girl, sipping her tea. "Him asking if there was anything that needed doing...that was just an excuse. If I hadn't been here, I'm sure he'd have stayed in here with you. Just like he always did..he wants to be near you."

Murrue blushed at that, not sure how to answer.

"You like him too, don't you? Even if he wasn't the Commander.." Again, Murrue didn't answer. But her lips curved upwards just a fraction.

Lacus leaned back a little in her chair, staring at the ceiling. "His coming back, wanting to stay here...and you letting him, and being happy he's here - maybe it's fate." she said softly.

"Fate?"

The young girl nodded. "It's something I heard when I was younger. How fate binds people together...like an invisible thread." She glanced across at Murrue. "The invisible thread...it's tied around your little finger." She held up her own for emphasis. "And everyone's thread is connected to someone else's. The one..you're meant to be with. Once you've met that person, the connection becomes even stronger - and it never breaks. No matter how far apart you and that special person are, your hearts are connected forever."

Murrue had been listening in fascinated silence to this simple tale. She wasn't able to say anything, just stare at her younger friend. Lacus smiled. "It's just a story..but I've always believed it. And you and Commander La Fllaga - it's just how you were. You were always happiest together. And your sadness the last two years, your willingness to wait until you saw him again..it's that connection. You never found anyone else...because there could never be anyone else."

The older woman flushed scarlet, gazing into her cooling coffee. "It's nothing that complicated.." she argued. "I didn't find anyone else..because I was afraid to. Afraid that the same thing would happen again..that I'd lose them too.."

"I think that is part of it," replied Lacus quietly. "But think about it. Is it coincidence that you never forgot him - that your feelings stayed the same...and then you found him again? And now you've been given another chance?" She smiled, setting down the teacup. "The way he looked at you..he cares for you, perhaps even loves you, even though he has no real memory of you. Don't you think that means something?"

The older woman wouldn't meet her gaze. Lacus was right in a way, the coincidences were too many to really believe that...that was all they were. But all this talk about a 'thread'...it was just a child's story.

"Perhaps," she replied finally. "But it doesn't matter."

Later, she was standing on the deck, staring out at the night sky. The sea and sky were calm, the surface of the water smooth as glass, perfectly reflecting the moon and stars above. But her heart was anything but calm. Lacus' words kept replaying in her mind...her belief that Murrue and Mwu's hearts were connected, and that's how they had found each other again.

It would be nice to believe...but... She sighed, lacing her fingers together.

"Something bothering you?" She turned in surprise as he walked up to stand beside her, his gaze also focused on the starry sky. Murrue found herself blushing, and stared at the floor. "No, not really.." she hedged. He nodded, glancing down at her. He smiled, slipping an arm around her. Her blush deepened. "I.."

"It's okay." he said gently. "It's just that..you looked kinda down. Worried.."

Murrue didn't say anything. Why do you have to be so like Mwu? Is it because you are him? Is Lacus-san right?

"How did you know I was here?" she asked faintly, and the blonde man grinned sheepishly. "I...well, I'm not sure. I just saw how pretty it all was out here..and wondered if you were watching it too. Call it a lucky guess..."

I would...but I can't stop thinking about what Lacus-san said. Was he able to find me...because he and I are connected? Is that really how it is?

She smiled, unclasping her hands, and turned to look up at him. He noticed her gaze, and returned it, the light of the moon reflecting in his blue eyes. He smiled, the expression full of kindness and affection...the smile Mwu always gave her.

Is it really a fairy story...or could it possibly be true?

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( I'm not sure where this idea came from...but isn't it nice to believe? That Murrue-san and Mwu were always meant to be together, and were able to find each other again after so long?

Please read and review! )