Disclaimer: Guilford and Cornelia belong to each other. Code Geass belongs to SUNRISE, CLAMP, and other creators.

Unforgotten

Chapter One: Plans

That one year without her wasn't going to stop him.

It can't. In fact, in all those years he had been by her side, he had always remembered the dates—all of them—that were related to her in some way. And the most important of them, he wasn't going to forget it. If he did, if he didn't notice what event was coming near a week before, if he didn't notice how much time had passed after all these years and months, if he didn't notice that he failed to make memories the year before, he was going to be disappointed. If he did not remember it, then he failed to accomplish the vow he had promised, the path he had chosen to take. It was all for her sake, and for him, too.

Those things were the only thoughts that filled Gilbert's mind ever since he woke up this morning. He couldn't take them all off his mind.

On the other hand, Cornelia was busy rummaging through the folder that contained Knightmare Frame blueprints; oblivious at all to Guilford's thoughts.

They were both in the office allotted for them. The place wasn't too grand, and it obviously was in a state lower than Cornelia's previous office when she was still Commander-in-Chief. Cornelia never really cared; all they needed was a place where they can do their work, and Guilford agreed.

It had been like this for a while. After the Black Rebellion, specifically, after Lelouch had died, people had settled themselves. Whether they like it or not, what Lelouch had done had brought great change to the empire's situation. And they're not going to deny it: it had brought peace, too, even if it's going to be momentary. History repeats itself, and that's why the both of them were working. With her vast experience in Knightmare Frames, Cornelia had collaborated with Rakshata in developing them, or maybe it was the other way around. Of course, Guilford had stayed with Cornelia. Although it was still quite 'peaceful' after the war, there will come a time when it was going to end; and maybe that was the reason why they were developing such weapons.

But then again, the time was yet to come, and Guilford and Cornelia had done their best in adjusting to lives that were considered as 'normal'. There was no other time for them to revel in the peace they had always wanted, and fought for, in the past.

And this was how they were going to start it. Perfect, it was January.

Cornelia was busy, or in Guilford's eyes at least. She wasn't particularly doing anything other than looking at those papers of blueprints. And yet, Cornelia wasn't a fool, and she knew that he had been looking at her.

"What?" she asked curiously. He had been like that for a while, looking at her.

Guilford had been doing it for years, hasn't she gotten used to it yet? Amused, Guilford smiled a little.

For a moment, Cornelia eyed him suspiciously, but she gradually turned back to her 'work'. Both of them were sitting on chairs not too far from each other; only a desk separated them. It was uncomforting, Cornelia concluded, when Guilford had been staring at her far too long. When she was about to speak again, he looked somewhere to her left, and the small smile left his face. Maybe he was thinking about something.

"Do you have plans for today?" Guilford asked out of a sudden.

Still quite confused (yet somehow relieved), Cornelia answered, "I'm planning to phone Schneizel to greet him a happy birthday."

Guilford looked at her again. His voice was hopeful. "Is that all?"

"Yes, unless something comes up." Cornelia put down the folder onto the table. There was an unsure silence before she added, pulling her eyes from the sight of the papers to his own, "Do you have plans for today?"

"I have," Guilford answered, and his words came quickly.

Cornelia wasn't sure if she should be disappointed. Or maybe it was her fault; she shouldn't rely too much on the idea that she deserved something like that. After the war, and remembering the reunion they had after a year of not seeing each other, she had been hopelessly clinging to the possibility that they would get to understand each other more. Without her knowing, she was also unconsciously clinging to the possibility that their relationship had improved; whatever it may be. Shrugging these thoughts away, she cleared her throat. "Do you have plans for the evening, specifically?"

"How about you, Cornelia?" Guilford threw the question back at her, but he clearly wasn't angry. They haven't had this conversation, and it was sending the both of them out of their comfort zones. Even with the discomfort, they were both willing to try; in this case, especially Guilford. He has to do it, even if prying is included.

"I have," Cornelia replied, raising an eyebrow. "But you didn't answer my question."

"I see," Guilford said in a rather unconfident tone. "I-I have plans as well."

The silence that followed said that Guilford felt nervous. Cornelia sighed, but she would be lying if she'd say that she didn't feel nervous, too. But she was also suspicious, Guilford was acting differently today. Speaking of plans, Guilford's plan wasn't going on the right track. It seems Cornelia has plans for the rest of the day. Speaking of plans, Cornelia's own share wasn't going on the right track, too, because Guilford seems to have his own set for the rest of the day. That's why Cornelia sighed, and at that exact moment, Guilford stood from his seat.

"Where are you going?"

Guilford stopped walking to face her. "I'm just going to get some tea." Then, he turned to leave.

It was unsettling. What exactly happened? That's what Cornelia was about to ask herself. There was underlying tension in their previous conversation. More than anything, it was confusing. There was obviously something different in the way Guilford was acting. At first, he was staring at her, and he even smiled when she asked him about it, and then after a while, they began talking about their plans for the day, and then his expression changed altogether.

In actuality, when Guilford has asked his question, there was only a small suspicion from Cornelia's part. But as the conversation went on, and Cornelia asked her question in turn, she sensed that both of them were feeling unconfident. It was understandable in Cornelia's part, since she did have plans for the evening, and apparently, Guilford was in it. But she felt somewhat disappointed when Guilford said he had his own plans for the evening, too.

Did he forget? she thought. Through all those years they had fought alongside each other, he never forgot. Guilford always remembered. It was one of those special times when Cornelia felt that she was particularly important to another person. She knew she was important for Guilford, but she was not really sure how much.

And then he just had to leave. Maybe it was his way of escaping. Maybe he did forget. And then it had occurred to her that she had left him, too, for a year. Maybe one year was enough to make him forget. She knew it was his choice, but Cornelia wasn't sure if she was going to allow it. When she heard the incoming footsteps that she believed were his, Cornelia had made up her mind. She wasn't going to let him.

She stood the moment he was visible in her sight. "Guilford," she said his name with the commanding tone she used to have two years ago.

Guilford was surprised, and he stopped in his tracks, lucky to not have the cups fall from his grasp. "Yes, Cornelia?" He could feel her gaze piercing through him, if that was possible.

"I want you to cancel your plans for the evening."

Author's Notes:

This is Cornelia's birthday fic. To those who don't know, Cornelia's birthday was January 13, 1990, so by now (2012), she is 22 years old. If we follow the anime series' timeline, however, maybe she'd be 29 by now. Also, I have another fic intentionally dedicated for her birthday published the same time as this one: Slurry Music. Please do check it out. The next chapter of this story will be published in a few days. This won't be a long story.