The war had finally ended. Kira woke up to find a certain pink head sleeping on a chair with her head resting on the bed. Kira was trying and rather failing to pull himself up but the previous battle had worn him out. His stirring caused lacus to wake up.

"Oh, are you hurt kira?"

" Sorry, didn't mean to wake you up. Just a bit, pretty worn out I guess." Kira finally able to get into an upright position with the help of lacus.

"So how's the situation outside lacus?"

" Some are tending to the wounded while others are clearing some of the wreck left by the war. All are pretty much in order. Cagalli's on board the Kusanagi trying to smoothen out the situation there and Athrun's helping out in some way he can here on the eternal. He should be making his way herein a moment."

Kira looked dazed trying to absorb the events that happened just a moment before. "many innocent lives were lost in the war. All for the sake of a simple misunderstanding. Why must people die mercilessly?" Kira asked himself rather loudly that Lacus could hear.

"We cannot change what has happened in the past but we can change the future. Kira… "

Kira looked up to face lacus's eyes. He could see care and concern in her eyes. " What is it Lacus?"

" I'm happy that you returned safely…. I was so worried for your safety…I was really afraid that you might die.. I was really happy that Cagalli and Athrun found you.." tears were welling up in lacus's eyes as she poured put her emotions.

"Lacus.. I returned.. to your side.." kira smiled " I'm sorry for making you worry over me.."

"Oh kira…" lacus smiled, tears flowing down her beautiful face. Kira her hand assuring her that its alright. Lacus returned his gesture and leaned and rested her head on his shoulders. Both of them enjoying each other's presence.

Athrun entered the infirmary to find kira and lacus leaned against each other. " oh! Maybe I should have came at a different time"

"no, no Athrun. Just stay will ya.." kira replied to him still leaning against lacus. Lacus just smiled at him. Both of kira and lacus having s faint blush on their cheeks but felt comfortable enough around Athrun.

"so how have you been kira? Hmm… I don't think I need an answer to that already" Athrun seeing the happy smile evident on the freedom pilot.

"so how's the situation out there Athrun" lacus asked

" pretty much hectic though… I still haven't get to see Cagalli ever since she went back to kusanagi"

"that's good to hear… I'm sure you'll take good care of my sister" kira grinned. "or should I say younger sister"

" Hehe.. be thankful she didn't hear this or else he might give u good whack to the head, she insist that she's the older one though I rather 'secretly' don't agree with her" Athrun laughed, grinning as he said da word 'secretly'." We will be entering Earth's atmosphere in two days, but I'm not too sure how we'll go from there" Athrun added.

"oh ok… Earth. What will Earth have in store for us now that the war is over..?" Kira asked to no one in particular.

Kira is finally able to get up and about after some rest. "lets go for a walk torii" Kira pat his robot bird. Lacus have been busy tending to ship's progress despite spending time with kira to his injuries. Kira didn't want to disturb anyone and find himself bored with just sitting around the infirmary doing nothing. Kira wander aimlessly through the hallways and found himself in the hangar. His freedom gundam is nowhere to be found considering the damage it has been in. he saw Athrun helping the maintenance crew in the repairs of some of the mobile suits that is not damaged badly. He watched Athrun at work and didn't want to disturb him.

"Oh! Where did that kira wander off to?" lacus finding the infirmary vacated and went off in search of kira.

Kira saw a small sized transport ship going to land in the hangar of the eternal. " Which ship is that transport ship from?" kira asked one of the maintenance crew

"Oh! That's a transport ship from the archangel sending some of the extra supplies and personnel over"

Kira watched as people glide down from the transport ship. He smiled as he saw familiar faces from the transport ship. Sai, miriallia, dearkka, and a silver hair guy with a scar across his face that was talking to dearkka. Sai and miriallia smiled as they saw kira standing in the hangar. He smiled in anticipation t welcome them.

Until he saw a familiar red head. Fllay. Kira was filled with mixed emotions. He was both happy yet guilty when he saw her. "Fllay!" "Kira!" fllay glided down to kira. She passed the rest with tears flowing down her face and a huge smile. Fllay fiercely hug kira the moment their bodies were in contact as kira helped to guide fllay down. Kira blush a light pink. "Uh, fllay…" kira turned around to see lacus with her head down and turning around to leave the hangar….

Kira's POV: OH! Fllay… it's been so long since I've met her. There are so many things I want to tell her, many things have happened since then. I'm glad that I was able to protect her and see that she's safe. But what am I feeling right now? Even though she's with me here there's something I feel that is missing. Maybe I some sort feel that her presence isn't as comforting,… as peaceful… I feel that something is missing… could it be.. 'Memories of a certain pink haired princess comes across his mind…' though I feel a bit hot in my cheeks… but I don't seem to be as peaceful as when I'm with… lacus… why do I feel like someone I care for hurting…

Kira turned around to see lacus turn around and leave with her head hanging low… But unknown to kira, tears seem to be flowing down a certain beautiful face as she leaves the hangar.

"Oh Kira! I've missed you so much! There's so many things I want to say to you but I what I want to really say is sorry for all the hurt that I've caused you in the past…" Fllay spoke in between sobs still hugging kira fiercely.

"Let bygones be bygones Fllay.. War makes a person act rather foolishly or without conscience. Many things happened, unfortunately many things that are better not worth remembering.. Fllay… people change and I changed as well… I'm sorry… but I may not return your feelings like in the past.." kira smiled. Kira blushed thinking about his pink haired princess but a frown knitted on his eyebrows knowing that she might be hurt after watching him and Fllay hugged. He sure has some explanation to do to Lacus.

" But kira…." Kira shushed her by placing a finger on her lips and smiled at her. Fllay kept quiet and both let go of the hug as the others finally made their way to kira.

"Hey there! What makes you guys come aboard the eternal?" Kira asked Sai, miri and Dearkka considering he didn't know Yzak or the silver haired guy to him.

"To visit you of course and maybe catch up some old times though old would be understatement since its only been a day since the war ended.." Miriallia replied, looking better since it has been months since Tolle passed away. Was it his imagination or did he just saw Dearkka smiling dreamily at miri? 'hmm… this is interesting ..' kira thought to himself not really paying attention to what Miriallia was saying.

" And also Fllay has been whining non stop that she really wants to see you kira.." Sai added on causing Fllay to blush and half-protest but came out as a squeaky reply.

"Hey Dearkka! Yzak…" Athrun joined the group after seeing them gather round kira and it has been a while since he last saw Dearkka, and maybe Yzak.

"Hey Athrun, been busy huh.." Dearkka replied in a happy tone, happy to see his former ZAFT elite team member. Unlike Dearkka, Yzak had a scowl plastered on his face and he was feeling like why the hell did he follow them to come here. Yzak still remembered the last occasion where he shook hands with the justice pilot and he didn't expected Athrun to be on the enemy's side like Dearkka.

"What makes you come here Yzak?" Athrun trying to strike a friendly gesture with Yzak.

"Pheh, why should I tell you the reason.." Yzak still feels uncomfortable around the justice pilot and didn't feel like having a decent conversation with him. In fact, as far as he remember, both of them didn't have much to say to each other except for the few rare occasion.

'Same old Yzak.. as cold as ever.. 'Athrun thought to himself smiling as he knew that things will get better in time. " So.. What makes you guys come aboard the eternal? Hmm… I don't think you guys share the same reason as them to visit our dear friend kira here.." Athrun asked Dearkka, considering Yzak wasn't interested in the conversation.

"Ah.. You-see-I-kind-of-but-eh-anyway-as-…" Dearkka mumbled out trying to give an explanation as to why he tagged along with them to board the eternal but obviously failing. The tomato color blush didn't help his cause either. Athrun grinned fully aware of why the buster pilot is here.

" Dearkka here wants to follow where that natural girl goes. I find it interesting to watch Dearkka making a fool of himself and becoming a jelly whenever he gets near that natural girl." Yzak scowled finally letting go some of the cold mask he puts on.

"YZAK!…" Dearkka glaring at Yzak ready to pummel this guy into oblivion and then glance over to miriallia who seem to be smiling with a faint blush on her cheeks. If the colour of tomato can be redder on Dearkka's face can get any redder, well it could have exploded the size of a bomb. Sai's face remained as

neutral as ever not exhibiting much expression.

Kira not really knowing of the situation just puts a smile on his face, while Fllay watch over her shoulders looking at kira with both sadness and guilt, and maybe fondness.

"Well… lets go find a place for u guys to rest from the mistress of this ship Lacus.. " Athrun said but was cut off by kira…

"Lacus!!" Kira remembering that Lacus is rather sad after watching Fllay hugged Kira and he immediately ran off in search of her. " Kira!… " Fllay tried to hold kira but to no avail and could only watch his retreating figure.

"Well then again might as well ask Capt. Bartfield for accommodations," Athrun added on after watching the situation.

"Well, we did wanna see how's the sick guy is doing, but now he's already up and running as well..," miriallia smiled as the group watch the retreating figure of Kira.

"It's so boring here on the Kusanagi! If only I could be with Athrun right now but no.. I have to take care of this ship!" Cagalli complained in an unlady-like manner to Kisaka, the loyal second in command of the Kusanagi.

"Miss Cagalli, you can always meet them after we have landed on Earth and there is an emergency meeting just before we enter the lading preparations. We need to sort out our duties and accommodations and even plans considering we are a renegade faction after all. Even though our actions may have ended the war and we seen as heroes, there are a number of people who don't agree with us or even envy our achievements, especially those in the higher ranks. We will be entering a period of uncertainty and that is why the people on board this ship needs you to rest physically and mentally so as you could lead them through this uncertain period. One thing for sure is the war has already ended and there may be a lot struggles after this, especially when we have landed on Earth." Kisaka explaining the situation the Cagalli, fully aware of her unlady- like manner.

"Well..." was all Cagalli could say not really having an opinion after what Kisaka had told her.

Kira searched for Lacus in her room but she wasn't in. He went to the Bridge but wasn't there either. Capt. Bartfield also did not know the location of the pink hair princess but Kira was determined not to give up until he has explaining to her. Then he heard quiet sobs and the all-familiar sound of her haro saying 'HARO! GENKI!" at the viewing deck. Kira approach the viewing deck as quietly as he could and saw the forlorn figure of Lacus. Lacus back was to him and she wasn't aware that Kira was watching her with sadness. Kira could see from the reflection of the glass panel that there were tears flowing down her face. It pains him to see his pink hair princess sad. Kira decided to be a man and make the first move.

'Well, I've been in many perplexing situations while piloting a Gundam and even though this is a completely different situation from piloting a Gundam, the rationale is the same. Put your heart and soul into it and express your feelings to her. Hmm… I hope I'm not wrong.. be a man.. be a man…'Kira thought to himself.

Kira approached Lacus slowly without her aware of him and placed a hand on her shoulder in a half hug. He could sense Lacus surprised and stiffened at his touch and immediately turned around to see whom it was. Kira immediately felt his cheeks going hot and causing him to rethink whether his idea was the correct one. Lacus was totally surprised and blinked twice before knowing of the situation and felt her cheeks go hot and red as well, considering there was an arm placed on her shoulders.

'Well not just any other arm, strong dependable arms of kira… he looks so cute when he smiles.." Lacus thought to herself and she mentally slapped herself before she go deeper into, especially when she slightly looked down…'Woah! there missy! You're straying too far..' Lacus mentally reprimanded herself.