Hello everyone. It's been a while, but I decided to try something new. This is for Cagalli's birthday, though it's late. It's set some twenty years after Destiny. Everything is from Athrun's point of view; yes, he talks to himself. Anyway, it's supposed to be somewhat nastalgic, if I spelled that right.


"You have a knack for getting into trouble, you know?"

"That's life with you, Princess."

Athrun Zala, after all these years, who are you? No longer on the colonies, no longer in ZAFT, no longer a pilot even. Everything you thought you would be has changed. Yep. I guess that's just what I get, falling for her. Who am I? I am still hopeless.

"You didn't have to do that for me."

"I know, Cagalli."

She tightened a fresh bandage around my shoulder, causing me to wince in pain, again. But through my squint, I managed to see some of her old fire.

"It's been a long time."

"Huh? Since what?"

"Since everything."

She gave me a quizzical look, much like she had years before. It's been a long time since the war, since we met, since this adventure of a life began. She's slowed down a lot since then. We both have.

"What are you talking about? I think that bullet got to you."

She playfully slugged me in the offending shoulder sending another shot of pain through me. Unknowingly, I winced again, glaring at her a little.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you, I've done my share of that over the years"

"What ever happened to us?"

Again, she strained her eyes at me.

"We're right here. What are you talking about?"

"When did we slow down? When did we become old?"

"Athrun, we're only in our thirties. We're aren't old."

"Fifteen years ago, and I wouldn't even blink at a bullet wound."

I reached up to indicate the hole in my arm. We both fell silent.

"People grow up, Athrun; people grow old"

"When did you start talking like that?"

She gave me a small half-hearted smile.

"Where's your fire?"

"Life. It's like erosion on your spirit. Life happens."

"Such is life in the government, such is life for the rest of us too."

She sat with her hands tucked between her knees on a rolling desk chair by my bed. So many years clung to her, many more than were real. Time, stress, running a country, and yet, she's still here. God only knows how many bullets have been loosed at her, because of her, by her even. I bear the scars of many.

"Athrun,"

She tore my attention from my thoughts.

"Cagalli?"

"Have you ever thought th-that it's not worth it, being with me?"

What? Cagalli?

"I mean I've hurt you so much. The next bullet is likely to kill you."

I saw her fight back a tear. I reached a hand out, trying to place it gently on her cheek. She raised her gaze to meet mine.

"Who taught you how to cry?"

She shivered and threw her arms around herself. I could hear her tears. I hated to see her cry. Softly, I reached around her and pulled her close. I wanted her to feel some warmth; after all we all need someone.

"You are worth everything to me, Cagalli. No number of gunshots could keep me from protecting you."

She stayed there, unmoving for the longest time, content to held. I drank in her smell, her beauty. She was a true warrior princess, a demon on the battlefield, a goddess to her people, and as always the counter part of my life.

"Cagalli?"

She pulled away from me slightly so she could look at me. I saw the tear stains on her cheeks, but more than that, she was still beautiful. It was only her beauty that made my heart race.

I leaned in.

It was only her voice that made me sweat.

Closer.

It was only her kiss that made me who I was.

I caught her lips, telling her my love in a whirl of emotion. Our souls meet when we kiss. We connect in a way I can't explain. The world is peeled away, and only we remain. Sitting on the edge of infinity with her by my side, that is life. No matter how many years we are given and already after some innumerable moments, I can still say:

"Cagalli, I love you."


So, what do y'all think?