So, so sorry for the delay in the story! It was a busy summer and has been a busy fall so far! This next chapter is inspired, if you will, by their early years portrayed in Frozen Teardrop. Thanks go to the people that have translated Frozen Teardrop! I will try to update more often!

I do not own Gundam Wing or its characters.

Day 180 – AC 186

After the mission at Mogadishu, things were different for Zechs and Noin. They would wake up knowing only that their day would be long, meals quick, and sleep lacking. What had started as a consistent, school-like schedule turned into what seemed like organized chaos. On top of normal subjects, they were thrown into more intense mobile suit training, target practice with guns, fencing, physical combat, engineering, tactical strategy training… At first it took an emotional toll on Noin. She was so overwhelmed that couldn't keep her emotions consistent. Some days she felt incredibly frustrated and other days she would feel nothing. Some days she was constantly on the verge of tears and other days all she wanted to do was destroy something.

Zechs was the only one to notice her constant mood changes, however. Despite it all, she was incredibly good at keeping things internal, but he could see it in her eyes.

But all Zechs had to do was look at Noin, and she knew what he was trying to tell her.

Focus only on your objective.

Eventually it worked. In fact, Noin's score soared to the top, just above Zech's score. This didn't bother Zechs, in fact he was impressed. But it certainly surprised Noin.

"I've been hearing whispers, Noin. I think we have another mission coming our way." Zechs had just joined her in a quiet corner of the library. Noin looked up from her book and studied Zechs' expression for a moment. He almost looked concerned.

"Where are we going this time?" she asked calmly, bringing her gaze back to her book.

"Space."

They arrived on the L-1 colony, near the moon, three days later. For Noin, it was an exhilarating trip. For a few hours, she forgot about training and fighting. She could just enjoy something. For Zechs, it felt uneasy. Not because he was also experiencing space for the first time, but because of a he wasn't sure he'd make it back to Earth.

They spent their first few days getting used to space and going over plans for the upcoming battle that was to quell a revolt involving a manufacturing plant on the moon. Noin was disappointed to find out that she would be battling separately from Zechs. They had both been appointed to lead separate groups.

On the day before the battle, Zechs and Noin separated themselves from Commander Treize and the other cadets and found a café at the spaceport in which they could see space from the windows.

"Isn't space beautiful, Zechs?" Noin gazed out in wonder while sipping a hot cup of coffee. Zechs sat across from her, but insisted on silently staring into his own cup.

"I would think even you, Zechs Merquise, would be impressed by this view. You can see so many stars and constellations, way better than on Earth." Zechs continued to be silent and Noin continued to stare out the window in protest.

"I'm keeping my focus on the upcoming battle; you should do the same, Lucrezia Noin," Zechs finally replied. Noin sighed and rolled her eyes at the sound of her first name.

"I wish you could see beyond the battle. See what's really important. What your future might hold once you quit being a soldier."

"There is no future for me after this, Noin."

His comment made Noin's stomach turn a bit. While she understood the importance of focusing on being a soldier, as it was her job, she also felt it important to have a plan for the future. To have a hope that one day she would be able to be a normal person and live a normal life.

She very much wished that for Zechs too.

That was the last conversation they had before the battle.