Her hair smelled like flowers. What kind, he didn't know, or didn't remember, but it wasn't important. All that was important was how good it felt to hold her. He hadn't meant to, hadn't even been thinking about it...one minute he'd been asking her if she'd let him stay with her, then the next she'd been in his arms. He'd expected her to pull away but instead she'd hugged him back, thin shoulders shaking a little as though she were crying, though he hadn't felt any tears. It'd be alright if she wanted to cry, though. Reaching up a little hesitantly he stroked her hair, feeling the silky warmth beneath his fingers. The gesture felt familiar, comforting and he almost smiled. One more thing that felt right.

"Thank you."

"Hmm?"

He skimmed a hand lightly down her back. "For letting me stay."

"Why would I have said no?" She pulled away a little to look up at him, dark gold eyes softened with the first real smile he'd seen from her. Suddenly lightheaded he coughed, shuffling his feet.

"I was rude to you. Made you cry."

"It's all right. Really."

"How is it?" He'd regretted those words as soon as he'd said them. Glib, sarcastic...spiteful. I wanted a chance to talk to her like this, without any of those kids listening. I wanted to apologise.. "I'm sorry."

Another smile. "I know. It's okay."

He ran a hand through his hair, unsure of what to say. He hadn't expected to be forgiven so quickly - hadn't expected to be forgiven at all. For a long time now he'd used words to keep people at arm's length, had been so used to it he'd done it without thinking. But I didn't want to. Not this time. "Then I should thank you again."

"You don't need to. But you're welcome anyway."

"I was angry at first," he began, wanting to explain somehow. "At being taken prisoner, at everyone staring at me...at being called by someone else's name. You were the first person I saw, so you were the one I lashed out at."

"And I don't blame you for that. Anyone would feel the same."

"Would you?"

A little half-smile. "Maybe."

"I can't believe that."

"Everyone gets angry," she pointed out, tucking a lock of hair behind an ear. Moving away from him she walked to the deck railing and looked out to sea. "About all kinds of things."

And he thought he understood. That Mwu guy. The one she said 'doesn't exist anymore'. Someone took him away from her. "Though it didn't make much sense for me to be mad."

That small smile again. "It did to you."

"At the time it did, but not anymore. I was angry because I thought I was a prisoner, but never stopped to think that I'd been just as much of one back there."

The captain glanced back at him at that, but didn't say anything, which he was grateful for. The things he'd done and seen and his reasons for them were hard to talk about. If I told her, I'm sure she'd listen, but I've hurt her enough. Tipping his head back he gazed up at the sky, the stars just beginning to emerge from deep violet, and smiled.

"You like it here?"

"Hmm?"

She gestured to her lips. "I haven't seen you smile like that before. You like it here."

"I do." It was different from everywhere else he'd ever been...peaceful, quiet, despite the battle that had taken place just a few hours ago. The ships in the port looked burned, battered, but the people he could see on their decks were smiling. As though what had happened didn't matter. But it must. "No-one smiled like this back...well, anywhere. How can they? Nothing's changed. They'll come back."

She smiled again, a real smile. "Because this is their home."

"I see." He didn't, really. 'Home' was a concept he understood but didn't know. He was a soldier. 'Home' was whichever ship he was on, whichever base he was stationed at. And yet.. "And yours?"

"Yes."

But not always, his subconscious reminded him. He'd seen it, on his way back to the ship. She'd been there on what he supposed was the bridge, but not in the uniform she wore now. She was with the Alliance once. Why she'd left he didn't know, but she didn't seem like the type to make impulse decisions. It must have been for a good reason. "If I decided to fight for these guys, would you be okay with that?"

She shrugged. "That's not up to me."

"Sure it is. You agreed to let me stay here."

The captain crinkled her nose. The expression was unexpected, but cute, and Neo found himself trying hard to hide a grin. "If it were up to me," she said finally, "I might ask you to stay here in Orb. If you went with us you might end up fighting friends."

He laughed shortly. "No need to worry about that. I don't have any." Noting her saddened look he sighed, shaking his head. "Sorry. Didn't mean for it to sound like that."

"You do have friends, though."

"People who think I'm that other guy?"

"Give them time. Let them see you as you are, not who you look like. They'll come around."

"Have you?"

She perched on the railing. "Yes. For the reasons I mentioned, and for others."

"I appreciate that. So, where will you send me?"

"You don't have to fight for us."

"No, I don't," he admitted cheerfully, "but I want to. I hate bullies." That was only partly true, but she didn't need to hear the rest. It sounded dumb. Sentimental. How was he meant to tell her that it felt like he belonged here? Not in this country, nice though it was, but on this ship. With her.

"If you insist." she replied softly, the hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips as though she'd expected him to say something like that (and maybe she had?). "We'd better find you a new uniform."

"Lead the way."

He'd changed. Somewhere between that clifftop and here. Or had it been before then? When they'd first spoken there'd been arrogance, indifference, even amusement at people's reactions to him. Sure, he'd become a little friendlier in the weeks he'd been kept here, but still given the impression he couldn't wait to get away...until today. When they'd given him the uniform jacket back he'd shrugged easily into it, rolling up the sleeves and leaving the collar unzipped, pushing back the mop of blonde hair as though it annoyed him. Once outside sickbay he'd walked ahead of the two armed officers, looking all around with undisguised curiosity. And he'd even seemed mad that she was letting him go.

"You were angry."

"Hmm?"

She smiled, glancing back over her shoulder. "When I told you to take the Skygrasper. You were angry."

He shot her a lopsided grin. "Was I?"

"Weren't you?"

"Kinda, yeah. I know you were letting me go, but instead it felt like you were sending me away. I didn't know how to explain that or why I felt that way, so.."

"I'm glad you came back."

The Colonel blinked, then smiled again, the expression lighting his whole face. "Thank you." He walked a little quicker to catch up with her, and reached out as though he planned to take her hand but pulled away, hand instead going into his pocket. "What will I do here?" he asked nonchalantly, evidently hoping she hadn't noticed.

"What did you have in mind?"

"Piloting, hopefully. I was in command back there and I hated it. I could do it okay, sure, but I'd much rather have been out flying."

"You've always been a pilot, then?" It felt odd talking to him as though he were a stranger, but to all intents and purposes, he was. Though I hope that can change.

"I think so. Least, it feels that way. They told me I was in what was left of a mobile suit when they found me...but I don't remember.." He glanced at the deck, expression troubled for a moment then the smile was back, as though a cloud had just passed over the sun.

"Did they say what happened to your memories?"

He shook his head. "They said I'd get them back eventually, but I never did. I never remembered anything. Until I was brought here.."

Murrrue hid a smile. "You remember things?"

The blonde man chewed his bottom lip. "Maybe. I knew the code for the bridge, and when I was let out of sickbay I felt like I knew where I was going. And.." He broke off, then smiled a little. "This ship was part of the Alliance, wasn't it?"

She blinked. "You.."

"I saw it." he said simply. "On my way back here. I heard you telling the guys in the hangar to prepare for an emergency landing, and then I remembered it happening before. I saw you sitting there on the bridge in an Alliance uniform."

"What did you think?"

He reached out and tugged at the hem of her jacket. "That you must have had your reasons. And that this uniform suits you better."

She flushed slightly. "T-thank you.."

"Any time." And he tipped her a wink. The gesture was so like Mwu's that she had to suppress a shiver and he noticed, frowning slightly, but said nothing. Taking a deep breath she pressed the control to open the storeroom and stepped inside, grateful for the dim lighting. The Colonel followed a little way, leaning on the doorframe and watching her search through boxes and drawers. He seemed to understand what was wrong, hanging back to give her space to collect her thoughts, and she was grateful for that.

"I do remind you of him, don't I?"

"A little, sometimes."

"I thought so."

"I'm sorry."

He smiled. "It's not your fault." Crossing to her side he lifted down some more boxes from the higher shelves. "Some of this stuff's pretty dusty.."

"It's been here a while." Opening one of the boxes she poked through it's contents. Old Alliance uniforms, boots, socks, and, to her surprise, one of the paper cranes Allster-san and some of the Heliopolis refugees had made for the memorial at Junius Seven. The little figure brought back memories, so many it surprised her.

"Whatcha got there? Is that paper?"

"Origami. We must have missed this one."

He took the crane and held it in the palm of his hand, brows knitted as he studied it. "Lots of these," he said suddenly, an odd light in his eyes. "In space."

"Yes, there were. We couldn't make one for everyone, but we hoped that what we had would be enough."

"What were they for?"

Murrue smiled. "A memorial. We had to take some supplies from what was left of Junius Seven, but we wanted to leave something in return. To show them that we were sorry for what had happened. That we wouldn't forget."

He nodded thoughtfully, still gazing at the bird. "Can I keep this?"

"Of course you can." Opening another box she tugged out an assortment of boots. His own were white, a contrast to the grey-brown ones she remembered wearing, and didn't suit him. "I don't know what size shoe you are."

"I'll find something." Tucking the origami crane in a pocket he knelt down to sort through the jumbled collection. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Letting me stay. You didn't have to."

Halfway through brushing down a jacket that looked about his size she glanced down at him with a smile. "You asked to, though."

"Did you want me to?"

"Yes." she replied softly, folding up the jacket and placing it over her arm. She'd hoped he'd change his mind about leaving, hoped she'd find him there waiting once the battle was over. "Though I didn't expect you to come save us."

He grinned. "Didn't you? It wasn't exactly selfless - that ship annoys the hell out of me."

"I never thanked you for it, though."

"Sure you have. You've let me stay here. I'd say we were at least quits."

"Alright then." Standing on her tiptoes she lifted down another of the boxes. They'd packed the uniforms in a hurry as spares for the crew they had, not expecting to pick anyone else up, but Commander Bartfeld was about the same size as the Colonel, and she felt sure he wouldn't mind. At least, I hope he won't... The other man had never let on exactly how he felt, but Kira-kun and a few other friends had described his fond smile when he spoke of her, and Erica had actively encouraged her to at least consider him as a prospect. But something had always held her back. I told myself it was easier to stay alone. I'd been hurt twice. But maybe it was because deep down, I didn't believe that Mwu was dead. That one day he'd show up and ask what all the fuss was about.

"Something on your mind?"

"Hmm?" Glancing up she blinked in surprise to see him standing beside her, expression gentle.

"Something on your mind." he repeated. "Is everything okay?"

"Oh, yes. Sorry." Setting down the box she rummaged through it's contents. "Just thinking." Finding a couple of pairs of trousers that seemed about right she handed them over, embarrassed at being caught daydreaming. "There, that should be everything you need uniform-wise. I'll be outside if you need me."

It still makes her uncomfortable. It was bound to. She'd never once mentioned it, and he doubted she ever would, but he could easily tell that his similarity to that Mwu guy still bothered her. Shrugging out of the black jacket he poked through a collection of coloured undershirts, so deep in thought he never noticed she'd come back to check on him until he felt a gentle touch to his arm.

"Are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah." Not wanting to worry her he smiled. "Just wondering which colour would be best. Any suggestions?"

The captain tapped her chin as she studied the garments, lips slightly pursed. "The colour doesn't really matter," she admitted after a while. "Not to us. It was more about preference. Pick whichever you like."

"You pick one."

A smile, and she reached out to tap the purple shirt. "This one."

Neo grinned. Just the colour I'd have picked. "Alright then." He pulled on the shirt over the Alliance T-shirt he still wore, zipping it up to his collarbone as she picked up the black jacket and folded it neatly. The gesture surprised him - if he was joining this crew, why would he need to keep it? - but he didn't question it. She was probably just a very practical person.

"Have everything?"

He glanced down at the pile of material he held. Trousers, boots, various other items.. "Yeah, I think so. Where next?"

"We find you somewhere to stay."

He liked this uniform a lot better. Though he'd never asked, he'd always thought that his uniform and everything that had gone with it - the colour, the mask, the added flounce - had been more about theatrics than practicality. He'd been a symbol. But here.. Turning this way and that he viewed himself in the mirror of the room he'd been given, pleased at the change. Not only did it look better, it felt better. He felt better. Well, almost. There was one thing left, one remnant of his old life. Taking a lock of blonde hair between two fingers he examined it idly. Not very practical. It grows so fast it was easier to let it grow than keep cutting it. But it doesn't look right here. Crossing to the small desk Neo poked through the contents of the drawers, wrinkling his nose when he came across a pair of nail scissors. Not perfect, but better than nothing.

"Here goes.." With a deep breath he began snipping away at the hair, watching locks fall to the deck. There were parts he couldn't reach, of course, and it probably wasn't very even, but at least it was shorter.

He was almost done sweeping up the mass of hair when there was a soft knock at the door, she poking her head in when he opened it. "All settled in?"

"Mostly, yeah."

The captain smiled at that, then raised an eyebrow when she noticed his hair. "You.."

"I thought it'd be better if it were shorter."

She nodded slowly, moving around to examine the back. "Would you like me to tidy it up a bit?"

"Is it that bad?"

"No, it's not bad. Just so it's all the same length." She gestured to the chair behind the desk. "It'll only take a minute or two."

Finding no reason to disagree he sat down and let her work, closing his eyes with a smile when he felt fingers brushing the back of his neck. She hummed to herself as she worked, that scent of flowers surrounding him again, and he found it so comforting he blinked almost sleepily when she tapped his shoulder. "All done."

"Already?"

She laughed. "Most people don't like haircuts."

"S'not so bad.."

"What made you cut it, anyway? It'd have been all right if you wanted to keep it long."

He shrugged. "Didn't look right. Besides, I figured that if I was going to look different, I may as well go the whole hog. It look alright?"

"It does." Moving around to face him she measured the length of the hair at both sides. "Pretty straight, too."

He chuckled. "Good."

A smile, she brushing the scraps of hair from his jacket. "If you're staying, I should make a record of it. And I'll make us both some coffee."

"Sounds like fun." And it did. Actually, it all did. Reaching out he took her hand, grinning at her surprised expression. "Let's go."