Part 1: Gift Ideas
December 18 CE 75-Athha Estate, Cagalli's room: 0730 H
Cagalli Yula Athha, chief representative of ORB, awoke to the sounds of birds chirping outside her window. She groaned lightly as she slowly opened her eyes. She glanced at her blue-haired fiancé sleeping next to her and smiled.
"Sleeping peacefully as ever I see." She thought to herself and laughed quietly.
She lay in bed a few minutes longer and stared at the ceiling of her room. It has been tough on the young representative ever since the second war ended. Her life was full of meetings and endless paperwork. But lately, things have become a lot easier. Maybe Cagalli was slowly getting used to this busy life of hers or maybe she's had a little help over the last few months. Cagalli got out of bed quietly and looked at the sleeping Athrun. She smiled warmly at him. It was thanks to him that ORB was easier to handle. Ever since the public proposal in front of some ORB parliament and military officials, both Athrun and her were able to see each other more often. They have been working together more frequently and together, have been ruling over ORB. It seems everyone in ORB was happy with the proposed union of a Natural and a Coordinator. Both Cagalli and Athrun never felt happier. She bent over and gave Athrun a quick peck on the cheek before stepping out on her balcony.
Cagalli opened the doors to her balcony and was immediately welcomed with a bitterly cold, but refreshing breeze. It was winter in ORB and the entire Athha estate, as well as the nation itself, was covered in snow. She loved the scenery right now. It felt so serene and peaceful to her. Even though the cold winter breeze wasn't her favorite part of winter, it still felt refreshing to her. She jumped suddenly when she felt a blanket being draped over her shoulders and a pair of arms encircling around her. She turned around and met a pair of emerald green eyes. She smiled at the person standing behind her.
"You're up pretty early," Athrun said and he gave his princess a "good morning" kiss on her lips.
"Same to you," Cagalli replied after they broke their kiss.
Athrun laughed lightly and smiled.
"Well you and I both know that we have meetings to attend to in 2 hours," he said.
"Yeah, I know," Cagalli said and sighed, "just wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet we have now."
Athrun laughed again. "Yeah, I know what you mean."
They stood on her balcony for a few more minutes and continued looking at the scene before them. Cagalli shivered and sneezed. Athrun looked down at her with concerned eyes and then came up with an idea.
"Come on, let's head back in and warm each other up," Athrun said huskily and winked.
Cagalli raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you think about things like that?"
Athrun blushed lightly and said, "I'm a guy, it's not my fault."
Cagalli laughed and then whispered hotly in his ear, "Well then big boy, show me what you got."
Athrun smirked and immediately picked her up bridal-style. He laid her gently on the bed and went to close the doors to her balcony. After that, he went back to her bed and pulled the covers over them. They spent the next hour in each other's company.
December 18 CE 75-Athha Estate, Cagalli's office: 1200 H
Cagalli read and re-read the government policies that were drafted during the meeting 2.5 hours ago. She signed her name on the document and sighed.
"That was pointless…these policies are exactly the same!" she muttered.
Her office phone suddenly rang and she pushed the speaker button.
"Lady Cagalli, I have a video call from a Ms. Lacus Clyne for you," a voice said, "shall I transfer it to you?"
"Lacus…? Why is she calling me?" Cagalli thought and replied, "Yes, that's fine. Go ahead."
Cagalli waited for a short minute and then Lacus' face appeared on her video screen.
"Cagalli!" Lacus said happily, "I trust you are doing well?"
"I am fine," Cagalli simply replied, "same old, same old. What about you?"
"I'm doing very well, thank you for asking," Lacus replied politely, "I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" Cagalli asked, curiosity evident in her voice, "what's the occasion?"
Suddenly Kira appeared on the screen next to Lacus.
"Kira!" Cagalli exclaimed.
"Hey there little sis," Kira teased, "been keeping out of trouble?"
Cagalli raised her eyebrow, "Did you just call me ""little sis"?"
Kira laughed, "Still the same as ever. I'm glad ruling ORB hasn't changed you completely."
"And what do you mean by that?" Cagalli asked, her tone threatening.
Kira laughed uneasily, "Ha ha…oh I think I hear Yzak calling me. I-I'll see you later Cagalli!"
Kira disappeared off screen and Lacus laughed. Cagalli smiled. She missed her brother and Lacus.
"So what's the surprise, Lacus," Cagalli asked.
"Well," Lacus said and smiled, "Kira and I will be in ORB for the holidays."
Cagalli's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Both you and Kira?"
Lacus nodded. "Yeah, Kira and I have been planning it for months. It's been a while since we last seen each other."
Cagalli nodded and then her eyes widened again. "Oh no! Athrun!"
Lacus looked at Cagalli, confused and worried. "What about Athrun? Is he alright?"
"He's fine," Cagalli said and blushed lightly in embarrassment, "it's just…uh…"
Lacus looked at Cagalli and smiled.
"You forgot to get something for Athrun for Christmas, didn't you?" Lacus asked.
"Y-Yeah…" Cagalli said, embarrassed, "I completely forgot that Christmas is next week…and I still don't know what to get the guy…I don't want to get him just anything…"
"What did you have in mind?" Lacus asked.
Cagalli hesitated before continuing. This was so unlike her.
"I-I want to give him something from the heart…something special…something one of a kind…" Cagalli said and looked down, trying to hide her blush from Lacus.
Cagalli wasn't used to this romantic girly stuff, but for Athrun, she didn't mind. Lacus understood Cagalli's feelings.
"Why don't you try making him something," Lacus suggested, "like a sweater or a scarf?"
"Hey, that's a great idea," Cagalli said, "but…I don't have time to make him a sweater…Christmas is a week away…maybe a scarf? But I don't know how to make something like that…"
"I can teach you how to knit if you'd like, Cagalli," Lacus said and smiled.
"Would you really?" Cagalli asked, "thanks so much Lacus! When will you and Kira be arriving?"
"Tomorrow afternoon, I believe," Lacus said, "we can start your knitting project sometime tomorrow. All you need is some yarn and knitting needles."
"Guess I better go into town and look around…" Cagalli said and sighed, "it's going to be hell in the shops…"
Lacus laughed lightly, "Don't worry Cagalli, it'll be worth it."
"I sure hope so Lacus," Cagalli said with uncertainty, "I'll have your rooms set up tonight."
"Thanks Cagalli," Lacus said, "we'll see you and Athrun soon!"
The video screen went blank, leaving Cagalli alone with her thoughts.
"Knitting shouldn't be too hard…if I can pilot a mobile suit and run a nation, this task should be a piece of cake! Yeah, I can do this."
Cagalli smiled triumphantly at her resolution and left her office, heading to her room to gather her things for her excursion into town.
Author's note: Well what do you think? It's a perfect xmas fic =) I do wonder how Cagalli's scarf is gonna come out. Unfortunately...I came up with this idea now and finally wrote the first part of this short fic. I can't guarantee that I'll finish this story by Christmas Day. But it will be worth the wait!
