Battle has a way of creating individual internal conflicts. Making everyone a time bomb ready to explode the instant its fuse is lit. But the edginess seemed to fade along with the setting sun and harmony once again reigned over the Winner family property.

Chie sat on the moist grass staring up at the stars. Her shoulder was a wrapped tightly with a bandage that concealed a wound she had received while among the same stars she admired now. It was all so beautiful to her, and the pain was barely noticeable now. Besides, it was a wound she was proud of�the pain was a minor discomfort.

Wufei seemed to be sleeping, at a first glance. His mind, however, was alert and open to the world around him. He took in every sound, smell, and breeze. He relaxed every muscle he controlled in an effort to stop himself from shaking. Today death had nearly claimed him as a prize.

Duo had taken his hair out of its characteristic braid and it lay in an endless ocean behind him as he lay on his back on the grass. Tiny beads of water clung to its lengths but Duo didn't seem to notice or to care. His eyes settled on the largest star of the sky, Earth. It wasn't in Duo's nature to dream of being anywhere else than he was, daydreams always seemed to lead to heartache...and heartache always got in the way of what was important.

Quatre thoughtfully sat in a chair in a balcony that overlooked all of his comrades. His thoughts consisted of being pleased and grateful that they could all just relax together again. An effortless smile never left his face and his eyes sparkled with childlike enthusiasm.

Trowa leaned against a doorway a few feet from Wufei's resting form. His mind rendered him no sense of emotion as he thought of the day he'd faced. Wufei nearly faced his fate, but Chie miraculously saved him.

The previous conflict between them was vivid and strong, but now it seemed to have faded and Wufei appeared defeated. I guess that is what a proud man looks like after he's been humbled, Trowa thought. The recent events had forced Wufei to admit that he was wrong about Chie and that it took more than strength to fight.

Heero busied himself with a console, but Trowa had noticed that what he was working on was not related to Wing Zero or the recent mission. Heero was typing some sort of letter. Aside from that, the normally stoic pilot seemed pleased and even happy as the slightest trace of a satisfied smile materialized on his face.

"Trowa?" Chie called pulling Trowa from his thoughts.

"Hmmm....yes?"

"I was terrified up there today," she sighed looking superficially at Trowa's eyes.

"Why?"

Her eyes seemed to soften and she looked at him tenderly, "I always believed that soldiers weren't supposed to feel. I've spent my life trying to rid myself of emotion. We're supposed to be strong and never hindered by feelings or fears."

"That's not true, Chie," he said looking away.

"Why?"

"Because fear is wisdom and wisdom guides you. But it is a knife, you see? You can either use it to help yourself and others or you can let it control and eventually destroy you," he said using his hands as if they were knives.

Chie chuckled at the action.

"Mariah!" Heero suddenly exclaimed at the silhouette of a girl that lingered a few feet from him.

"Hi Sweetie!" She beamed extending her arms to him.

He jumped to his feet and ran to the girl. Reaching her he wrapped his arms around her and spun her around twice. When he set her down she noticed the slight gash on his forehead.

"Oh Heero..." she sighed tracing the wound with a concerned touch.

Heero feigned a wince and she made a face that said nothing more than a heartfelt apology.

"Ow..." he smiled.

"Lets go inside so I can take a look at it. Please? I'd feel much better."

"So would I," he chuckled wickedly.

Mariah and Heero headed inside and soon the light in his room was on. Trowa shook his head. Nothing else in the world could turn stoic and unfeeling Heero into that romantic gentleman that Mariah had complete control over. Nothing else could make him behave that way.

"That was adorable...so Heero does have a softer side after all," Chie laughed.

"So do you," Trowa said seriously. His eyes looked over the length of Chie a moment before he turned leaving her at the doorway alone.

Trowa decided to go inside to his room. He was tired, and even if the night was beautiful and worth being a part of, all he could want to do right now was rest. Once inside of his room, Trowa could hear Heero laughing in another room. Mariah always seemed to make him so happy. Happiness was not a word that was often used in reference to Heero, but when he was with her, he was a different person. When he was with Mariah, she chased all of the war away from him. She made him feel warm when he was cold, and she gave him a reason to fight when they were apart. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to protect her. She knew that, and had decided to stop fighting in the war. Heero had begged her, and she could not deny him his peace of mind. Now she worked at a hospital. Trowa couldn't imagine what it was like to work in an every day life and worry about someone dying that you love. Heero tempted death every day. Mariah knew that, and it plagued her when they were apart. For right now, he was safe by her side.

Trowa reached for his book and looked for a pen, when he wasn't able to find one, he settled for a pencil.

8.18.196

Today we almost lost one of our comrades. Wufei. He was outnumbered terribly when he accidentally wandered into a trap set for him. He would have been over powered if Chie had not saved him. She was the farthest away from him, but the first at his side when he needed help. She's a complex creature; she never mentioned anything about it to Wufei.

Wufei is sitting outside right now; he's been defeated in a way. Chie was an enemy...because she fights in this war. Wufei strongly believes that women are not to fight, they're too physically weak. But weakness, is someone everyone has. Wufei lost his wife a long time ago to this war we're fighting in. In a way, he tries to protect other women from that fate by demanding that they are weak. But today, Chie proved her strength and now Wufei no longer has a weapon to defend her with.

I think that this last mission was hard on us all. Every fight seems to take something from all of us. This time, Wufei lost a little of his pride. Chie walked away without a shadowing adversary. I'm not sure what I have lost right now, but as always, it will surface eventually.

My Gundam needs repairs so I'm going to have to take it to the Peacemillion. I've been hurt again, but the wound is minor. Heero is down the hall talking to Mariah. I can hear him laughing. The sound would normally be alien coming from him, but today...it seems natural. She's changed him in some way. She's given him back a part of himself that he lost in this war a long time ago. She has...

"Trowa?" Chie called appearing in Trowa's doorway.

"Yes?" Trowa wondered closing his book.

"I am afraid," she sighed.

"Of what?"

"Of what I have become capable of."

"You were always capable of everything you've done and have yet to do," he sighed motioning for her to sit beside him.

She complied. Her gray eyes seemed sad and full of emotion when Trowa looked into them. "You're right..." she nodded and two twin translucent tears streamed down her cheek.

Trowa didn't know what to do. Comforting someone was alien to him. Yet, what else could he do? He leaned over close to Chie and pulled her to him. He just held her close to him, and let her muffle sobs on his chest. He ran his hand through her hair until she'd fallen asleep. He admired her sleeping face for a moment before he reached again for his book.

He completed his last sentence.

She has given him hope.

Trowa smiled for a moment and soon fell asleep with Chie still in his arms. His last thought was a simple one...

She has given me hope.