"So this is where you've been hiding.."

Mwu turned around at the sound of the now-familiar voice, and smiled slightly when he saw who it was. Shrugging, he turned back to gaze out of the observation deck window, expression pensive, hands in his pockets. The one who had spoken sighed, and walked up to stand beside the blonde man. "Everyone's celebrating back up on the bridge..how come you're not there?"

Mwu didn't answer for a moment, then reached out to place the palm of his hand on the cool glass of the window. "I just..have a lot to think about, that's all. Things are still kinda fuzzy." The one beside him nodded, hands stuffed in the pockets of his blue coat. "I can imagine. It must be hard being hit by all those memories all at once.."

The blonde man chuckled softly. "It felt like..I was drowning. I didn't know what I was seeing, or why I was seeing it. I thought I was gonna be...lost, or something. It's still hard to sort through everything..there's too much there.." He sighed, leaning forward to press his forehead against the window. "I have a headache like you wouldn't believe.."

"Is that why you came here?" Andrew Bartfeld wanted to know, turning around to lean against the glass. Glancing across at the younger man, he could see the lost look in his blue eyes. "Things might be less confusing if you talked about it to someone, you know.." Andrew was able to understand a little. He had seen that lost and confused look in the eyes of another. In the early days after Jachin Due, those eyes had often been turned to the stars, amber orbs reflecting the twinkling heavens with tears. But that person had depended on her friends for support...she hadn't been alone.

"What is it?" Mwu asked curiously, and Andrew smiled, waving a hand. "I remember..seeing that same expression in someone else's eyes...after nightmares. She looked lost too...but she knew that it was better not to be alone with feelings like that.."

Mwu's lips quirked in a small smile, and he rubbed the scar that wound across his face. "You think I should talk to her, huh?" The older man nodded. "Who better? She knows what it's like to be lost..to be alone with feelings you're not sure how to cope with."

"And I was the one who caused that.." said Mwu with a short laugh. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Andrew. "How can I ask for her help?"

"Because at this point in time, she knows you better than you know yourself." was the reply. "And you know that she'd do anything she could to help you." But those words hadn't come from Andrew. Both men turned sharply to see the young captain standing there in the hallway, gentle smile playing on her lips. Mwu gazed at her for a few seconds, then looked away. Andrew nodded at the captain, then left her and Mwu alone together.

Murrue sighed, walking up to stand beside the blonde man. "You could have talked to me," she said quietly, her own gaze turned to the view outside. "I want to help you, but how can I...if you won't tell me what's wrong?" Mwu turned to her, surprised at the pain in her soft voice. "I..." He sighed. "It's nothing to worry about," he told her. "I didn't want to ask for your help...because I've taken enough from you. I left you alone for all that time, caused you pain, and..." He was cut off when Murrue placed a finger over his lips. "And that doesn't matter anymore." she said. "None of it. Because you're here now, and that's all I wanted..all I need.."

Mwu was unable to say anything to that, only to stare at her. How could someone be so strong? Moving closer, he took her into his arms, hugging her tightly. Murrue smiled, returning the embrace. "It's going to be okay," she said softly. "Your memories will settle down, and you'll remember everything soon."

Her own pain doesn't matter to her...but mine does? Even when all her pain was caused by me? Closing his eyes, he rested his chin on top of her head, hands gently skimming up and down her back. She was thin, thinner than he remembered her being. More...fragile, somehow. She had lived with her pain for the last two years, and the suppressing of those feelings had taken their toll on her. Bartfeld had mentioned nightmares...The guilt bit at him...this was all his fault.

"You kept it all in, didn't you?" he asked, causing her to glance up at him in surprise. "It's the same as before...you hide all the pain you feel.." Pulling away slightly, he leaned down to gaze right into her eyes. "You haven't changed.." He trailed a finger down her cheek, then cupped her chin in his hand. "But you know.." he told her, "no-one will think less of you if you let it all out. I certainly wouldn't. You don't have to be so strong all the time..because now you can depend on me, okay?" Murrue nodded, letting him pull her close. Mwu smiled, whispering in her ear. "I love you..."

For a reason she couldn't explain, she felt the tears well up in her throat at those words. Burying her face in his jacket, she began to cry, her shoulders shaking with the force of her sobs. He didn't say anything, just held her close and stroked her back as she cried out all the pain, grief and loneliness she had kept suppressed over the last two years. In front of anyone else, she would have kept it in...but because it was him, she was able to cry.

Mwu closed his eyes, knowing his jacket was being rapidly soaked through by her tears, but not caring. Murrue had held all this in for so long, preferring to help others with their pain rather than face her own. She had bottled everything up, her sadness only escaping through nightmares, when her defences were down. But now, with him, she was able to cry.

"It's okay, sweetheart," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "Cry all you want, and it'll be okay. You're not alone anymore..."

And neither am I...