Trowa watched Serene as she slept; his own eyes heavy with exhaustion. He wouldn't allow himself to fall asleep and risk her taking off again even though Thiana had told him that such a thing was unlikely. Serene had been fighting an internal battle with a sort of split personality. Apparently, the personality, known as Beta, was linked to her 'fight or flight' instinct and had perceived her presence at the hospital as a threat. When he recalled the things that had been done to her as a child to make her one of the perfect soldiers it was little wonder that Beta saw medical facilities as the enemy. The excursion, however, had set her recovery back. Her injuries were nowhere near healed when she had made her escape and many were reopened and bleeding again by the time he'd arrived.

Serene had slept all the way back to the airport on his shoulder until their return to the hospital. He had almost lost twice within the short span of a few days. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't prayed to whatever power would listen to save her. Dr. San Ju had to readmit her for an emergency surgery but said she would make a full recovery. Her little stunt had lengthened her recovery time, though, from two weeks to at least a month.

"Trowa…?" Her weak voice, dry and scratchy, cut through the silence. He smiled gently at her and took her hand.

"Hey." He leaned forward, weary green eyes meeting with her hazy ice-blue. Not for the first time, he noticed how pale the fluorescent lights made her look.

"How long have I been out?" She looked around as if to find a clock.

"Not long enough according to the doctor." Her gaze shifted to the ceiling. The skin around her eyes tightened as if in a silent cry of pain.

"Are you in any pain? Should I call a nurse?" She shook her head slowly.

"No. I'm fine." He didn't believe her, but wouldn't press the issue. "I'm sorry." This surprised him, unsure what she meant for a moment. He shook his head.

"It's okay. I'm just glad you rested." This time she shook her head.

"No." She locked eyes with him. "I'm sorry." Her eyes dropped to the bed. "I ran off. I worried everyone… I worried you…"

"It wasn't you; not really." The confusion that flashed through her eyes made him realize his possible mistake. Did she even know about her other personality? He offered her a reassuring smile. "What's important is that you're safe." She stared at him for a moment and he would have given anything to know exactly what she was thinking.

"There's so much to tell you…" Whatever she was going to say was stopped by a soft knock at the door.

"Come in." The door opened and Relena and Zechs made their way in.

"She's awake." A genuine smile lit up Relena's face. Trowa felt Serene tense and looked back and forth between the siblings. So close to the three, he wondered how he had never seen the resemblance..

"We were hoping we could speak with her. If she feels up to it, that is." Trowa looked at Serene who seemed to consider it for a moment before giving a small nod. Trowa stood and felt her reluctantly let go of his hand.

"We'll talk later." He reassured her before making his way to the door and allowing the three Peacecraft descendants some time alone.

When Relena received the call that they had recovered Serene and Thia and were on their way back from North America she had felt relief flood through her. Apparently, in her confusion, Serene had taken Thia to her childhood home. There was so much Relena didn't understand about what had happened and it all happened so fast. Apparently, Serene had reopened her injuries and Thia had been weakened once more from the excursion. Trowa, Quatre, Matthews and Heero had all gone and thankfully had ensured a successful recovery. Now, here she was, in the same room… and she had no clue what to expect.

The awkward silence was palpable as the three siblings sat together. Relena looked down at her hands, folded together, fingers laced in her lap. Serene, who was now sitting up with the aid of the hospital bed seeming just as nervous and had yet to meet their eyes. As if unable to take the silence any longer, Zechs cleared his throat. That one sound jarred them out of the awkwardness enough to get something said.

"You know now." Serene put forth in a mix of a question and statement, perhaps still feeling the residual confusion of the medication. Relena nodded.

"Yes." She heard the younger girl sigh in response.

"I guess I owe you an explanation." Zechs looked like he wanted to say something, but much like herself, Relena guessed he most likely didn't know what to say. He seemed to settle with just nodding his head.

"You know almost everything already. I told you the majority of it during the search for Kit-Kat, but I know you still have questions. So, ask as many as you want and I'll answer as best as I can."

"You can start by telling us how long you've known you-" Zechs began and Serene winced, a fact that did not escape Relena's notice. Relena glared at him. He looked back apologetically as if realizing how harsh his tone had been.

"Zechs, please." He sheepishly nodded in deference.

"No, it's ok… You both have the right to know. like I said, I know you have questions and I'm more than willing to answer, if you want…"

Relena considered this. She had read the file on Serene's mother. The findings had been horrendously conclusive. Her younger sister had witnessed her mother be brutalized and murdered before being dragged off to be trained as a soldier by the same men who made Heero what he was. It all seemed like a cruel joke that so many people close to her had had their lives destroyed by the same fundamental culprits. Looking at the younger woman's face, Relena's heart broke. It was clear Serene was nervous; almost as though she were afraid of their mere presence in the room. Relena suddenly felt like a playground bully that had cornered her next victim. Serene was weak, tired, and scared and clearly in no condition for an extended game of twenty questions.

"We don't want to tire you. There will be plenty of time for us to get better acquainted later and at that time we will ask you what we want to know."

"Relena..." Zechs began, his voice raised slightly as his own desire for understanding pushed him.

"She needs her rest." Relena quipped back at him. Serene was in no condition for a game of twenty questions. Her brother most likely meant no harm. There was a storm inside his pale blue eyes, one of pain and anger and… remorse…? She gently squeezed Serene's hand with a kind smile.

"You need to rest." Again, Zechs looked as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself before stepping forward.

"We just wanted to make sure you were alright." After he said this, Serene seemed to study them for a moment before blinking and lowering her gaze, nodding.

"Thank you." There was so much contained in those two simple words. Relena smiled at her younger sister.

"No need to thank us. We'll go now." Relena stood to leave but as they reached the door she couldn't stop herself from turning back. She did have one question that couldn't wait; one that needed answered to put her mind at ease.

"If I could ask you one question, only one though…?" She could feel her brother's glare behind her. Serene stared at her for a moment and the look of fear that flashed through those ice-blue orbs didn't escape her notice. The younger blonde nodded her permission.

"Why didn't you tell me who you were?" Serene paused for a moment, opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again and then sighed and looked away.

"I was afraid…" The younger girl began. Relena felt her heart ache.

"Afraid?" The knowledge that Serene had felt anything but comfortable around her hurt. Zech's hand quickly squeezed her shoulder in comfort making Relena realize she had taken a step back as if attacked by that simple statement.

"I was the byproduct of your father's indiscretion. I thought if you knew who I was, you'd hate me." Relena could almost hear tears in Serene's voice. "I wanted a chance to get to know you as a friend… I hoped it would make it easier when I finally told you." For the second time in the short visit Relena felt her heart break for this young woman. Relena couldn't believe that Serene had thought she would be hated merely for existing. All those years of abuse and neglect had left her baby sister hungry for approval and acceptance. Serene had denied herself the connection she'd always wanted with them due to her fear of being hated for something outside of her control.

Relena closed the distance between them and gently but quickly wrapped her arms around Serene. She felt her stiffen at the initial contact before relaxing and returning the hug. Zechs, too, had made his approach and stood beside them, placing a hand on Serene's shoulder. When Relena pulled back, she saw the tears in her sisters eyes and realized there were tears in her own as well.

"I understand why you didn't tell me and I wish I could have made you feel safe enough to overcome that fear. However, I am so glad you are my sister and I cannot wait to get to know you as your big sister instead of your boss." Relena stated with a smile, wiping the tears away. The younger girl let out a nervous giggle, sniffled and wiped a rebellious stray tear off of her own cheek as well. Zechs grunted in gently squeezed Serene's shoulder.

"It'll be interesting having two younger sisters now." Zechs' voice was low and Relena could tell it was full of restrained emotion.

"Thank you. Both of you." Relena nodded and hugged her again before standing up.

"I have to get back to work." Relena wiped some final stray tears away from her own face, feeling a sense of peace and joy fill her. "The press is having a field day but I won't make any comments about you or what has happened as of late. I figure if anyone should decide how and if further details are revealed it should be you." Serene nodded and watched as they made their way to the door. Relena looked back and to lighten the mood and added:

"Don't go running off again or I will get on the plane this time and bring you back myself!" This earned her a smile from Serene which lifted the overall mood and in that instant, Relena felt infinitely better about all that was to come.

Treize Khushrenada had always been calm under every stressful circumstance. Everything in his life he had approached with extreme forthought. Many had accused him of viewing life as if it were a giant chess board, and they would be correct. With the proper strategy and a well-executed process of events one could conquer any adversary or obstacle no matter the level of severity. All his years of plotting, planning, and fighting had prepared him for many of life's more brutal and unpleasant moments. He could never have known how grossly unprepared he had been for this.

Waiting in the hospital while the two girls he saw as his own fought for their lives tore at his calm reserve. When they had arrived the first time, the news of their conditions had terrified him. When they disappeared, he had been beside himself. When they had been successfully retrieved, his joy had been short-lived, hindered by his concern for Serene whose wounds had reopened.

Sitting in the waiting room, his mind filtered towards thoughts of his actual daughter. Finding out he had a biological daughter with Leia Barton had been enough of a shock those five years ago. Meeting the child and beginning to get to know her had been a process Serene and Thiana had unwittingly prepared him for. Sitting in that room with her had been one of the most harrowing experiences of his life. Not a single event in his public life could have prepared him for that meeting. However, as he sat across from her for the first time he was reminded of midnight talks with his Panther, and afternoons filled with questions from his little Fox Cub.

It was even more disconcerting though because he had never been involved in Mariemaia's life; hadn't known of her existence and yet Dekim had raised her with this inflated and backwards notion of who he had been and what he had been about. Once again, Thiana and Serene had prepared him for sorting through the lies of that horrible man. He had seen the twisted truths used before and-while he hadn't helped correct them perfectly-he did have a starting place. Mostly because Thia had once again done the hardest job in bringing Dekim truths to light and be much fairer about Treize's personal past than he greatly deserved.

All to help him in this moment if he ever chose to reveal himself. Thia had made her personal opinion felt as had Serene. He wished he had listened sooner for he hated the terrible feeling he had for having to leave her so soon after just making her acquaintance. Lady Une's look had been loud enough but Mariamaia had handled it all with poise beyond her years. They both needed a break but he still felt like the lowest of the lows.

In this hospital, however, a truth stood out regarding the two girls who had rescued him from death's door, and his actual daughter. Thiana had been the daughter of his heart ever since she snuck through that window ready to assassinate him. Her spirit had caught his attention and he still stood in amazement of it. Six years later Serene earned the same status through her mask of protection that slipped every once and a while to show the real girl beneath. Mariemaia was his actual blood and He knew she would become as dear to his heart if they worked on their relationship. An alarm from down the hall snapped him back to the present and the awful waiting that had taken place. It had gutted him.

Every moment that they clung to life by a thread had been unbearable for him. They were too young to be put in this situation, and yet they kept walking into the middle of the battle. It seemed putting themself in the path so others would be protected was something they would always do. Thiana was twenty-two now and Serene a mere eighteen. It seemed so strange to think that he'd watched them both grow and change into the young women they were and yet they still had so much life left to live. The moment Dr. San Ju gave them the 'all clear' he had been so relieved he felt his legs give out, forcing him to sit.

With their return and recovery fully ensured, a new fatherly challenge reared its ugly head. It had not escaped his notice how two young men lingered at their doors and spent more time than any other with his two girls. Quatre Raberba Winner and Trowa Barton seemed beside themselves as both Thiana and Serene struggled for life. For him, it was both reassuring and scary. As their father figure he only wanted what was best for them. Both girls had grown up into responsible young women that he couldn't be more proud of. The problem existed in the addition of these young men and their apparent interest in his foster children.

On their own, Quatre and Trowa seemed worthy enough men. It was beyond him to make any sharp judgments based on their pasts for he, himself, still had much to atone for. Thiana and Serene were more than capable of choosing appropriate partners and had good enough heads on their shoulders to do so with care. His objection stemmed merely from his knowledge that Thiana and Serene were different from most women. They had been through literal hell and had many ghosts of their pasts they still wrestled with. Serene's recent episode with her secret split personality spoke volumes to that.

Quatre had left before he'd had a chance to chat with the young man, but the Peacecraft siblings taking their moment with Serene left an opening for him to confront the young acrobat who had finally extricated himself from her side in lieu of the siblings having privacy for their reunion. It was now or never. Squaring his shoulders, Treize approached the younger man.

Trowa noticed Treize's approach and nodded his acknowledgement. It had been a long three days of worry and waiting and they all had been through quite the ordeal in regards to the two former wards of the Khushrenada name. Serene had told him of her recent history with the former OZ leader in that she saw the man as a make-shift father figure. He had a feeling he knew why the older man wanted to speak with him.

"Java?" Trowa offered him a hot cup of coffee. The older man took it and nodded his thanks.

"You are Trowa Barton." It was part question, part statement and Trowa nodded. "It was brave of you to take that name given the trouble that family caused."

"It was a necessary result of an unfortunate circumstance. HeavyArms was without a pilot and I was without a name. It seemed a logical combination at the time." His answer seemed to intrigue the former commander as he nodded slightly. "I have a feeling though that you did not come over here to talk about my choice in identity?"

"You are perceptive." It was another statement. "Walk with me?" Trowa looked in the direction of Serene's room. He had been hoping to return to her as soon as Relena and Zechs were through. "We won't be long." Trowa nodded and followed the older man out into the hall.

"You seem to have quite the attachment to my former ward." She was Thiana's former ward, but Trowa did not feel like mincing words. Treize was a man of calculated facts and study. Idle prattle would seem pointless to him.

"Serene has been my partner since my return to Preventer."

"I am aware." Trieze took a drink of the coffee and winced. It was clearly not the quality he was used to, but he did not complain. "And yet, few partners would do as you have done. Your feelings for her go far beyond such simplicity."

"Your point?"

"I will make my point brief and concise." Treize locked eyes with him, steely blue-grey as serious and hard as stone. "Serene is a remarkable girl. She has a strength and inner fire masked by genuine innocence and kindness. However, she is also what some would determine as 'damaged'." Trowa bristled at the usage of that word but he let Treize continue.

"I don't know how much about her past she has told you, but I'll be frank. Serene has been through hell more times than almost anyone I know. She watched her mother be raped and murdered, was starved, beaten and nearly killed by Dekim and was led to believe that her only friend in the world had abandoned her." Trowa knew this. Serene had told him of her training and her mother. He had been there with her, helping steady the gun as she confronted the man who had tortured and killed her mother. "I can see by the look on your face that this was not news to you, however, you must pay attention to this next part. Only four people know of what I am about to tell you, one of them killed the man responsible while the other watched. I saw the pictures myself. What was done to Serene at the behest of Dekim can be described as nothing short of unforgivably disgusting. The fourth that knows hasn't let herself remember."

"What do you mean?" Trowa felt his chest tighten with a combination of pain and fury. Pain at the thought of Serene being hurt and fury at the idea of why.

"Long ago, when Serene was about eight years old, Dekim wanted to set up one of his political rivals using a perverted vice the man was rumored to have." Trieze looked at his cup of coffee as if trying to contain his anger by the heat from the Styrofoam cup. "This man had a taste for a certain age group of females… Dekim selected Serene to go undercover as his hidden cameras caught the evidence. The things he did to her… the scars he left, both physical and mental nearly broke her."

"You're saying he…" Trowa felt his mind go blank.

"Yes. That monster fed her to an even bigger monster that molested and abused her… Thiana said that when she found Serene, she was in a waking coma."

Trowa felt his blood boil and his heart break at the same time. How could this have happened to Serene? HIS Serene. The gentle woman who watched movies and laughed with a mouthful of popcorn? The earnest woman who protected those she cared for with unrivaled ferocity? He had known her past was dark and full of pain, but this added a whole new level of depravity. He clenched his fists. The men who hurt her were lucky to be dead. He would do far worse to them than send them to their graves.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you need to know the extent of her pain. You need to understand all that she has been through so that you can decide if being with her is something you are truly capable of doing. I am trying to prepare you for the trauma to come should you choose to ignore the past."

"I would never hold her past against her!" Trowa almost growled, irate that this man would even dare suggest it. "We all have shit we regret; burdens we carry. I refuse to let her carry them alone any longer."

"I was not implying you would be so callous. If I thought that would be the case, I would throw you out now." Trieze's cool eyes studied him and Trowa felt as though the former Oz Commander was sizing him up. "I merely wanted to make you aware that any and all actions you take with her could have disastrous consequences if not approached with the correct level of caution." Trowa took in his words and relaxed, understanding Treize's meaning.

"I would never do anything to hurt her. I also understand you are concerned for her. She told me you have been her father in the only sense of the word she has ever known." Trowa locked eyes with him. "So, believe me when I say that I love her. I will help her carry the burden of her past and, if she will let me, I will stay by her side and protect her into her future."

"Then you have made up your mind." Another statement.

"I intend to marry her someday, Treize. What does that tell you?" His declaration half surprised him. He hadn't actually thought that far ahead and Serene hadn't given him any indication that her feelings for him were anything stronger than friendship. However, he knew it was true… If she would have him…

"Then, you might well be worthy of her after all." Teize finished his coffee and turned to leave. "I am going in to visit with her now. I will not tell her of what we discussed." He continued into the lobby, leaving Trowa alone to consider all that he'd been told and everything he'd realized about his love for her.

Serene heard the television but wasn't paying attention to anything going on in the show. After Zechs and Relena had left she continued to float in and out of sleep, hoping each time when she woke that Trowa would be back. It puzzled her how much seeing him there had pleased her and how much his absence bothered her. Trowa was her partner and trusted friend. He had gone with her on her quest for vengeance and given her a safe haven while she dealt with the painful aftermath of their unexpected excursion. The memory of how she'd felt in his trailer when her fingers touched his scar… she had wanted something to happen… but what…?

She had no time to think more on that because a short knock on the door alerted her to the presence of her next visitor. She hadn't known who she expected but Treize was a welcome surprise. Last she knew, he was spending time with his real daughter. She had known he would be concerned about her and Kit-Kat but the fact that he came meant more than she would say.

"Hello, Fox Cub." She smiled at him. Treize walked forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before sitting down in the chair next to her. "You had us worried."

"I know." She looked down, suddenly feeling like a child that had disappointed her father. "I'm sorry."

"Fox Cub, you have nothing to apologize for."

Treize proceeded to explain what had happened. Apparently she had a split personality named Beta. Suddenly a flash of her mental show-down with younger versions of herself came back to her. Beta had been her way of protecting herself from the horrors that Dekim forced her into. It seemed to her that perhaps Beta had inhibited more than just her memories. Since her return she felt lighter; more vulnerable than ever before and she wasn't sure how she felt about that.

"It was fortunate that they found you when they did. I am glad you and Thiana have many loyal friends." He smiled and paused, an ornery twinkle in his eyes. "That young man seemed particularly concerned." She felt her cheeks heat at his tone.

"Who?" Serene looked down at her hands, trying to shift focus.

"Trowa Barton is your partner, as I understand it?" She nodded. "He's a good soldier… a loyal friend?"

"Yes. Trowa is a good man. I… I am proud to call him my partner." She felt her father figure studying her.

"Fox Cub, you need not hide your thoughts from me." He leaned in. "I know you care for him. What I want to know is, how much?"

"Treize, I…" She paused, unsure how to answer him.

She cared for Trowa, perhaps more than she cared to admit. Trowa was a constant in her life. He was her partner and friend. She loved laughing with him over a good movie and sharing fresh popcorn while discussing the finer points of life. He had gone with her when he didn't have to and had been willing to help her when the time came. He had been willing to bear the burden with her; had seen what she truly was and hadn't run away. He had held her when she cried and given her a listening ear without asking anything in return.

"I don't know."

"Let me ask you another question then." He paused and she prepared herself for whatever it was. "How does being with him make you feel?" It was her time to pause as she considered his question. How did he make her feel?

"He makes me feel safe… he makes me feel like something I'm not."

"And what is that?"

"Normal." She smiled and laughed in spite of herself. "When I'm with him, I don't feel like a soldier or a freak. He helped me realize I was wrong about something I thought was a horrible truth about myself and… and makes me feel like I actually might be able to deserve happiness…"

"What horrible truth, Fox Cub?"

"I thought I was a monster. Trowa helped me see that I wasn't. Dekim was the monster. I was just a byproduct of his evil." Treize nodded.

"And so you respect him? You appreciate Trowa for being supportive and dependable." She nodded. "Well then." He stood and began to walk toward the door. "You should know, he is very fond of you too… You might consider allowing yourself to find out what you truly feel for him…" He smiled warmly. "Get some rest, Fox Cub." With that, he left her on her own to consider his words about Trowa and think long and hard about what caring for Trowa really meant…

The constant low beep was annoying as a gnat and a reassuring sound all at the same time. It told her that she still lived. Not that she was ever in doubt of that state of being but after the last three months it spoke to an end of her undercover work and the constant torture. A movement to her left drew her attention and she felt herself relax even more.

"Quatre…" Her voice sounded rough to her own ears and she instantly wanted water to try and sooth her vocal cords. As if he could hear her thoughts he came to her side lifting the cup of water allowing her access to the straw.

"Trieze told me you left…" She hated the slight hurt that entered her voice before she took a sip of the water.

"Thia…"

"No… forget that. It's ok, I understand." Silence settled between them and she felt herself starting to zone out as the medicine started to kick in again. She hated the stuff but for the moment it was needed. At least Dr. San Ju said it was needed.

"Are you back with me now?" She asked as she felt her eyes drift close.

"Always, now rest." He gently picked up her hand and she felt her eyes drop.

"Thiana?" Her eyes cracked open and even though she heard Treize's voice she still looked around for Quatre but he wasn't there. 'Had that been a dream or real?'

"There you are…" Treize smiled from his location at the side of her bed.

"Treize…" Her voice cracked, and she saw him quickly reach to bring her water towards her.

"Thank you" He just smiled and nodded, waiting patiently for her to finish.

"How are you feeling?" He asked gently.

"Like I'm ready to get out of here." She joked back and gave one more glance around the room even though she knew 'he' wasn't here.

"He's not here…" Treize responded giving a small knowing smile.

"I know...it's just...Never mind, I'm just being silly."

"Panther, you are not being silly." Treize sighed leaning back in his chair and just looked at her with a look she'd never seen before.

"What?" She felt like she had something on her face even though she knew she didn't.

"I remember when you first came to me. You were filled with this fire but you didn't believe you deserved any type of happiness. You always set yourself apart believing that if you got to close you'd hurt them or worse actually find peace. I thought, for a moment, you had let that self deprecation go when you and Zechs were an item." Her eyes flared at his statement and even though she was twenty-two she wished the floor would swallow her whole. She did not want this conversation.

"Calm down, I saw it from the first moment and thought it would be good but it wasn't and that's ok. You asked me once why you can never get it right." He watched her settle back and look down at her hands avoiding his eyes for the first time in her life.

"I didn't know how to answer you then and gave a pretty generic answer."

"So…?"

"So, here it is. Everyone messes up. Not a single person ever gets it right one hundred percent of the time. Even Fairytales are filled with mistakes. You need to stop being so hard on yourself. I understand that you were trained to be the best, and when it comes to strategy, battles, and manipulations you're on top. Yet, with matters of the heart, you're learning. Could you have worked with Zechs? Maybe; but that ended and you'd both probably agree for the better. Am I right?" Treize waited for her nod before continuing.

"Quatre messed up. I know about the ball, the meeting that followed, and Dorothy." He gave a small shake at that one for that was a large blunder. "I know you figured yourself out but shut it down because you were afraid you'd scare him off. I know that over the last four years you two have been dancing around each other waiting for a sign that it would work. You both made mistakes in waiting for the other to move. You settled for a friendship when you both deserve and could thrive in a beautiful romantic partnership."

He reached out and gently tilted her head up to catch his eye and smiled at her with his full understanding. "You deserve happiness Thiana. Quatre would be good for you if you want him. If you don't, well ok. However, whatever your choice, you do deserve more than you allow yourself." She moved to respond and glared when he shushed her.

"Dr. San Ju is going to give you one week on restricted activities. You'll be staying at the condo for that time while Serene works her way out of the hospital. Then I've arranged for Danial, Constance, and the kids to take you both out to the Villa for the following three weeks. I will be staying here to manage any reports now that I'm 'alive'. I'll also be using this time to get closer to Mariemaia." Thia just smiled listening at his plan, forcing herself to not start shaking her head and laugh. He was sounding more like the old Treize with every word.

"You'll have three weeks with Daniel and Constance to nourish you mentally and also work with you on physical therapy. Drizzy and Matthews have already agreed to still handle Alpha Corp for you. They have both done an amazing job...I would suggest promoting them but I feel you have plans in place for something, don't you?" She watched him pause and catch the gleam in her eye. "I knew it." He looked pleased with himself that she couldn't stop the laughter.

"Ok, all wise Treize, and what am I to do during all of this mental healing, physical therapy, and rest beyond losing my mind?"

"Find yourself again."

"I didn't know I was lost?"

"Oh really? Why are you not dancing more? Why have you not given Drizzy the CEO position at Alpha Corp? Why have you not allowed Matthews to become full time over the bodyguard division? Why have you not actually written that children's fairytale book you've been doodling over for the last five years? Why have you not claimed Quatre; instead letting Dorothy have her chance?" Silence fell as she didn't have an answer for any of those statements. He was right and she hated being caught off guard.

"Treize…Why can I never get it right?"

"I know…" he squeezed her hand. "It's going to be ok. From what I've seen you haven't gotten it wrong. I see people that love you. People that will fight for you. I also see people that will stand by your side. Take the next month and recoup. Don't over do, but take the time for you. Don't go running off and try to fix anything right now. Everything will still be there in a month." He stood up and leaned forward placing a fatherly kiss on her forehead. "I'm going to head out now. Dr. San Ju will be here shortly to sign your release papers. Matthews is going to take you to the Condo where Constance is waiting for you. Leila is also anxious to see you."

He had thrown so much at her, but as crazy as it seemed, she believed everything and knew she had needed to hear it. She had been her own worst enemy. Always getting in her own way. Just like now where she had to ask one last question.

"How do you know it's not too late? How do you know it will still be there in a month?" Treize smiled back at her from the door. A knowing look in his eyes.

"Because from the moment you went missing Quatre was a man on a mission. Once you were found both times he never left your side until he was forced to. That doesn't just disappear in a month. Trust me, I know." With that he winked and left the room.

He had been by her side? So was that memory real? That was a question for another day as she felt the drugs start to cause her eyes to droop.