Author's notes: Finally, I have a new story up!

Sorry I took so long. A month has lasped since the end of my school term. However, just look at the word count and you will know why it took so long for me to update! This is the longest single chapter/fic to date, even longer than Vow.

This would be a twoshot, a small deviation from my usual oneshots. For my multi-chaptered fics, I'm very sorry to all my readers who are waiting for updates. I want to finish this bunch of AsuCaga oneshots before I continue my other stories. So very sorry to all who are waiting for the updates!

This fic contains a very slight mature theme. Be warned!

Enjoy this fic and please review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/Destiny or any of its characters.

Melody of The Night

A relaxing tune wafted in the air, the crisp and melodious voice of the male singer, accompanied by his fellow band mates on the instruments, crafted a soothing song. Chatters could sometimes be heard above the music, but the noise levels were not excessive. Quiet yet lively, that was what this pub was all about.

The pub suited Athrun just fine. The jazz beats that engulfed it had no hint of the other noisy pubs which drowned their patrons in remixed popular music. It catered mainly to people on the higher class, and therefore tended to be more on the pricey side. In return, all employees abided by a strict confidentiality policy. Needless to say, security was tight to prevent the paparazzi from getting their scoop. Thus, it was not uncommon to see influential business people or famous artistes make their way here for an undisturbed drink or get together. Athrun, being the top Commander of ZAFT stationed in Orb, fell into this category. He frequented the pub, enjoying the company of no one and the luxury of not being mobbed by fangirls while enjoying an after-work alcohol boost. There was also no where he could go after work. Crowds did not top his list of favourites, plus he needed something to take his mind off the cold and lonely air at home.

Cold and lonely.

Athrun drank slowly from his old fashioned glass, containing a liquid which resembled water. Their contents however, were vastly different. It was his usual drink, vodka on the rocks, with an alcohol content of almost 40 percent. His orders always passed the twenty mark; he had no problems staying sober, pretty much unlike Yzak, his designated drinking partner.

Yzak, although stationed in Gibraltar, had to visit Orb often on work-related issues. And almost every time, he would be persuaded, or more often, tricked into having a drink with Athrun. Soon it became a habit, and the two, though not the best of friends, became drinking partners. Athrun never admitted it, but he always wanted someone to drink with him. Kira was totally out of the question; he was a teetotaller. Dearka could only make occasional visits to Orb and therefore the next best person left would be Yzak. Not that he had a choice anyway. One of the reasons the older male consented to drinking with him however, was due to the need to inflate his ego. He knew his silver-haired compatriot bore a grudge against him about never being able to win him in many areas. Athrun pretended to be drunk many a times which delighted Yzak. He thought he had finally achieved a victory against him. It worked just fine for Athrun as what he really needed was not a drinking partner but a person who would listen to him pour out his woes in a drunken stupor. It mattered not to him that all of it would not be remembered the very next day. In fact, he wanted it to be that way. Athrun was a very proud person and never wanted to betray any form of weakness. The drunken pretence was his only outlet and it was just as convenient. He could deny anything the next day and blame everything on the alcohol. Yzak however, never questioned Athrun about anything. It was also strange that he never noticed how he would end up in his apartment, a floor below Athrun's flat after being knocked out cold in the drinking session, with the blue-haired Coordinator supposedly drunk too.

Yzak had never been a good confidant, although he was definitely a good listener. He produced the sharpest jabs with his words and his temper was something else altogether. However he knew a lot, much more than Athrun could imagine. There were double meanings in his words, and he was left pondering many times not only on the hidden connotations, but also on how much he actually knew.

The heat travelling down Athrun's throat stopped at his abdomen, before gradually spreading to other areas of his body. He relished the fire, but knew it was a long way before it could numb his brain. He gestured for seconds which was promptly responded to by the bartender. It was at this time he felt warmth beside him.

"Am I going to be picked up again?" was the thought crossing Athrun's mind. His memory flew back to the days where he had recently discovered the pub, and was a new face around there. Women, attractive by a normal man's standard, approached him casually. It was for a one night stand or a lasting relationship, Athrun never knew, for he politely rejected every one of them who came swaying his way. That was a mistake, a terrible mistake, and it was only until Yzak came along that he realised he was nothing but an amateur.

Yzak snubbed the women by rudely ignoring them. They were of course, greatly offended and the pair was left in peace for a few days. After the few days however, women came flocking back, dazzled by their cold exterior. It was also around this time Athrun recognised Yzak as his comrade at the amateur levels when it came to the skill of not getting picked up. He thought he had risen up the ranks when he scared the ladies off, feigning as a homosexual couple, albeit to the disgust and horror of the sapphire-eyed Coordinator. The tactic worked, but only for a few days after which homosexual males came knocking on their doors. Even a few women, bedazzled by the sight of a handsome gay couple, lingered around them. The problem was finally solved by Yzak, who simply barked at them to get lost and that they were straight and everything. It worked perfectly and from then onwards, none of them were ever bothered by women, gay men, and straight men alike. Yzak chided Athrun of trying to be Mr. Nice Guy and he did not rebut his statement, for it was partly true. It was probably one of the times Athrun admitted Yzak to being superior, although he never betrayed his thoughts by even a single bit.

Athrun turned to his side where he felt the warmth was and opened his mouth to say something, but not a single sound was able to be emitted. Instead, his emerald eyes opened as wide as saucers and his mouth was left gaping.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

"Cagalli…" Athrun let out, the surprise and shock he felt evident on his features.

Cagalli cast a glance at Athrun, and as she did, light reflected off her amber eyes which made him certain he was not looking at a fragment of his imagination again.

"The surprise is greater on my side." Athrun regained his composure quickly, secretly grateful for his years in the military. He noticed Cagalli raising an eyebrow at him. "I'm a regular."

"I see." Cagalli gave a little laugh and which drowned the jazz music out of Athrun's ears. She then turned her attention towards the bartender, who stood politely in front of her, waiting for their conversation to end before taking down her order.

"An apple martini." She gave her order to the bartender who took care of it immediately. "So this is your favourite haunt then. I guess I got lucky."

"Haunt?" Athrun thought. "What a great word to use." He studied the blond woman next to him, quietly sipping her martini. Did she know she haunted his dreams every single night? Did she know he felt her ghosts everywhere in his empty apartment?

"What are you doing here?" Athrun asked, breaking the ice.

"To come for a drink. Isn't that pretty obvious?" Cagalli answered with some light sarcasm which Athrun knew and took as a joke. She smiled at him, seeing his furrowed brow, not realising it was an act put up by him. "I wanted to unwind a bit. It's not everyday I can have cocktails of my choice at my own freedom. The balls and everything, you can't just drink to your heart's content can you?"

"And seeing you here, I can be sure there's someone to send me home if I get drunk!" Cagalli added, her laughter tickling Athrun's senses.

Athrun managed a chuckle at her comment. All this while, his eyes could not help but dart towards the blonde, who was shining so vibrantly that it blinded him. She adorned a tube dress, dyed a dark royal purple and embroidered with sequins of a similar shade. Overpowering herself with perfume was not something she would do, but his sharp Coordinator nose quickly picked up the feminine scent of lily mixed with her own, which tickled his senses and somehow or other, made her more alluring to him than before. He watched silently as she sipped from her glass, her lips pink and full. The martini travelled down from her mouth to her throat, and he found himself interested in its path. It went down her throat, where any other movement became invisible as his eyes reached her exposed shoulders and collar bone. He did what any normal man would do when a pretty lady was in their sight: ogle. Athrun did it discreetly of course, and it was not difficult for him. Stealth was a useful and mandatory skill in the military, especially if you were a part of the elite.

The tube dress Cagalli wore accentuated her curves perfectly. It was flattering on her, and showed off all the femininity she possessed. The dress was slightly above her knee, but was pulled farther back as she sat down, revealing her soft, slender legs. Athrun knew she had no intention of baring any cleavage, but a little peeked out from under her dress and that hidden effect only made her more desirable. He became oblivious to the calming music and the heat of the alcohol as all of his senses were captured by her. It didn't stop him though, from noticing two attractive young men who were throwing admiring glances their way. He knew immediately who they targeted. As if to prove she was taken, he moved his seat nearer to hers and placed his glass next to hers. To strengthen his point, he sent a warning glance over to them with his eyes narrowed. Athrun could be rather intimidating when provoked or when the situation calls for it and this was one that proved this point. The looks on the faces of the two men were instantly modified and they backed away to somewhere, probably where they would not be noticeable by the man.

Athrun gave an inaudible sort. He was sure Cagalli had not noticed a thing; she was too dense when it came to certain matters. She finished the last of her drink and put the glass down, a contented smile plastered over her full lips. The bartender quickly came over to retrieve the empty glass.

"A Sex On The Beach." Cagalli ordered and crossed her legs, revealing even more of her slender thighs. All this of course, did not escape Athrun's sharp sight and hearing.

"Sex…On The Beach?" Athrun repeated in his mind. His eyes were still glued to the bottom of her dress, or rather, what was underneath it. He felt a sudden rush of blood to his head and he looked away, trying to calm himself down. He knew the ordered drink was now in Cagalli's hands, judging by the slight movement of the sound waves of her sipping.

"What's the matter Athrun?" Cagalli inquired. "You haven't touched your drink for some time."

"Huh? I…I was just thinking about…some…stuff…" Athrun answered hastily. Cagalli nodded meekly, an expression that she bought his answer, and continued to drink.

Athrun ran a hand through his hair. He was a tad, no, perhaps quite irritated by Cagalli's apparent lack of consciousness of the impact of her actions to the people around her. Ordering a Sex On The Beach while crossing her legs, did she know how provocative her actions were? They were enough to drive his hormones wild, and yet she didn't realise a single thing. He took a mouthful of the bitter liquid in his glass, hoping it would numb the rising sensations within him. He then gestured for a refill, which was promptly responded to.

"You can hold your liquor well don't you?" Cagalli asked. It was more of a statement than a question.

"It's probably better than normal people I guess?" Athrun replied, swirling his glass, studying the movements of the liquid and ice in his glass.

Cagalli laughed again, an open of pleasurable laugh. Athrun quirked an eyebrow at her, then joined in the laughter. After their laughter subsided, a comfortable silence reigned between the couple.

"So how's work?" Cagalli inquired casually. Her drink was now a quarter full and she held it to her lips, wanting more.

"Work is just work." Athrun shrugged. "It's quite a massive load but ZAFT isn't that bad. At least it gives me some time off to drink to my heart's content." He raised his glass to emphasize his point in which Cagalli laughed in response. "How about you?"

"Well, as you said, work is just work." Cagalli answered, bringing her glass to her lips, rendering Athrun to another hormonal torture. "However though, it seems that ZAFT is kinder than Orb in terms of employment benefits!" she joked. Her cheerful amber eyes then toned down a little. "Sometimes I wish I could be free from all this…" she added in a softer voice.

Athrun noticed her every action, and chose to keep silent on the matter. Cagalli's responsibilities were huge; they were heavier than his own responsibilities at ZAFT. He was a top Commander, but she was a leader. There was much more things she had to go through than him, that for a fact he acknowledged. He had observed her course of work when he was under the false identity of Alex Dino and up till now, he still hoped she could just put down the burden for once and live life not as the Princess of Orb, but as Cagalli Yula Attha. He was more than willing to carry that heavy load together with her, only to be slapped in his face time after time with her refusals. Athrun, when he was still known as Alex Dino in Orb, had even proposed a plan of her leaving everything behind while he took care of her. He was not chauvinistic; all he wanted was for her to be free from the stress and burden and allow him to care for her for life. However to Cagalli, her obligations far outweighed personal contentment and his plan was quickly disposed of into the recycle bin. He was angry, he was mad, he was outraged when she decided to marry Yuna Roma Seiran. Does that mean she would rather live the rest of her life with someone she didn't even harbour any slightest romantic feelings for than marry him? The pain and hurt probably drove him to the edge of sanity and reason, Athrun analysed years after the second war. Time had passed and healed certain wounds, but the scars, though faint, were still there.

"So, how are Kira and Lacus doing?" Athrun asked, hoping to change the mood.

Cagalli immediately brightened up upon the subject. "Kira always complains of the amount of workload he has, but he seems to be enjoying it nonetheless." She laughed. "He is after all the head of the Science and Technology Department! Lacus is playing with my little nephew the whole day long! She is now working as a music teacher though, and attends charity events now and then. The three of them are visiting the orphanage now, and will only be back in two weeks."

"I see…" Athrun replied with a thoughtful look on his face. "They are living the life they want huh?" he added a bit ruefully. "Compared to my pathetic self."

"It isn't that bad isn't it?" Cagalli said.

"It is that bad." Athrun thought as Cagalli polished off her drink, leaving a satisfied smile and flushed cheeks on her face. Inwardly, he sighed. He could have lived the way Kira was living now, if only she had agreed to give him her hand in marriage. Coming home to a beautiful wife and bouncing a cute child on his lap; that was all he wished for. He was rich, filthy rich in fact. His pay was probably a hundred or thousand times that of an average citizen, and with a huge inheritance under his name, he could live out the rest of his life in the lap of luxury. People like him are always under the impression that they are living the life they want, but to Athrun, nothing was more important to him than having a warm family. But now, he was returning to a cold and empty home everyday. It was not so bad during work, when he had so many things to immerse himself into, however once alone at home, his mind began to berate himself. It became so painful that alcohol became one of his outlets, besides bringing work home and quarrelling with Yzak.

"A margarita." Athrun heard Cagalli telling the bartender. She picked up her glass, staring into the liquid.

"You haven't changed a bit Athrun." Cagalli commented.

The question caught Athrun off-guard for a second. He turned to stare at Cagalli again. She didn't turn to meet his gaze, but continued to stare into her drink with a sullen smile. He allowed his eyes to travel back to his newly filled glass and kept his gaze there.

"You haven't changed either." He replied.

Both of them had matured over the years, but the headstrong characteristic in them was so deeply rooted that it would be humanly or superhumanly impossible to remove. Athrun, although he never admitted it, was still scarred by Cagalli's betrayal. A part of him wanted to punish her by letting her bask in the pain of lost love while he found happiness in another, however, the other part of him stubbornly refused to let go of her, for it told him he loved her so much that it was impossible for him throw away everything related to her. He spent the years after the second war immersing himself in his own complex web of emotions, finally succumbing to the fact that her place in his heart would and can never be replaced by another. Athrun knew very well the Hawke sisters, especially Meyrin felt something more for him than just friends, but he didn't lead them on nor refuse them flatly. He was ashamed of himself; he had treated Meyrin as a kind of insurance, someone he could run to if things didn't work out between Cagalli and him and probably to spite Cagalli too. Meyrin soon realised however, she could never reach the level of importance Cagalli commanded in Athrun. She stayed on beside him, hoping somehow he might just give her a larger part of his heart, probably less than Cagalli, but more than others. But it never happened. Try as he might, Athrun had never treated her more than just a friend. Meyrin was intelligent enough to know this, and she left his side, no matter how painful it was for her. Unfortunately for her, there was almost no pain on his part. All she did was to leave him a note and Athrun left it at that, for it was all for the best. An apology would only intensify the hurt. He decided his guilt would be the best apology for Meyrin.

A pregnant silence engulfed the couple, only interrupted by intermittent sounds of sipping, as all the thoughts and emotions of all the years played in their mind. The past, it held so much for them. An old sentimental tune, accompanied on the piano by request from a patron, gently encircled them and slowly engulfed the entire bar with its timeless melody.

Absent-mindedly, Cagalli traced the rim of her glass with her index finger. Her cheeks were pink under the influence of alcohol, and a subtle wistfulness graced her smile.

"It was bittersweet, wasn't it?" She began, her index finger stopping on the rim of the glass. "Our relationship, just like this margarita."

Athrun could feel the widening of his emerald eyes as he turned in surprise to stare at Cagalli who didn't return his gaze, but let herself to be enraptured by the said drink. This was the first time in many years she had spoken so openly to him about their relationship. She had always evaded it, and he knew better than to coerce something out of her. The delicate balance between them might be shattered in just and instant.

"Bittersweet…" Cagalli continued. "The taste of first love. It was always described like that… We were…just like that…weren't we?" Her tone was slightly melancholic and her bright amber eyes, dulled by forced maturity, shone with a sullen sparkle.

Cagalli's words seemed to strike a chord within Athrun and it resonated in him, playing the same tune over and over again. There was a faint but continuous jabbing at the area around his left chest. Was it painful or not? Was it hope or diminished hope? He couldn't tell.

"You must be drunk." Athrun didn't answer her question; or rather he avoided it completely by making a justifiable observation. Probably the alcohol was getting to him and numbing his senses. Somehow he wished she was not drunk, for her words had lit up something in him and ignited what had been dormant within him for so long.

Cagalli lifted her head and let out a light chuckle. "Perhaps I am." She replied. Her cheeks were stained a rosy pink and emitted heat; the obvious signs that the alcohol was already in her circulation. Another silence settled between the two, and Athrun took this chance to refill his glass a few more times.

Drinking his thoughts away was not Athrun's style of doing things; he hardly got drunk anyway. But somehow he wanted to experience the feeling of intoxication just for tonight. Just by staring at Cagalli, his heart began to throb violently. It throbbed with a mixture of hurt and excitement. The vodka was there to cure his ailment, be it to quell the pain or to increase the intensity of a certain emotion. He downed the drink with a fierce intensity, earning him a raised eyebrow from his partner tonight.

"I'm completely sober, albeit a little warm." Athrun answered Cagalli's unspoken question. He allowed his eyes to capture her entire form, and somewhere within, a fire began to burn.

"Do you want to continue at my place?" Athrun asked casually. "I have some more there, and it seems you would not be happy till you are completely knocked out."

"So you can tell!" Cagalli laughed. "So what do you have? Wine?"

"Beer." Athrun chuckled as he gave his reply. "Why wine?"

"Cause I thought you go for the more classy and expensive lifestyle?" Cagalli tried.

"I'm just a normal person after all." Athrun shrugged. In fact, consuming the cheap, canned beers gave him a certain rebellious thrill. He was born into a prestigious family, where he was given the best in everything, from education, clothes to food. He had everything he needed, and did not need as well. The Zalas after all, had a rich tradition in the political scene of PLANT as well as powerful representations in ZAFT, and along with it came wealth and fame. He was never allowed to have what his father classified as "lowly stuff", although military training, especially survival training, taught them to make do with whatever was available. He, along with his team of redcoats, was a privileged bunch and their meals were much more lavish compared to that of a normal soldier. Plus, rules in the military were strict on alcohol and drunken behaviour and there was no way Athrun was allowed to sabotage his position as well as his father's position in ZAFT. It was interesting to him when he bought a carton of beer after assuming the position of the top Commander of ZAFT and it soon became a habit, as it paid tribute to his lost teenage rebellion. It soon however, mutated into an outlet for him to forget the cold and lonely air in his luxurious apartment. The beer was cold and warm at the same time and many times he would only laugh at the irony.

"I don't see why not." Cagalli agreed to his earlier question. "Isn't this what normal people do: get together with some booze after work?" The ends of her lips twitched into a smile, apparently amused by her viewpoint.

Athrun gave his credit card to the bartender and said: "I'm paying for the lady too." The bartender was efficient and it wasn't long before Athrun led Cagalli by hand to his elegant, black Lamborghini. It sped off, blending into the dark night riddled with stars, its roaring engines but silent ride bragging its power and extravagance. A short while later and they were already at the door of his apartment.

Cagalli entered Athrun's spacious apartment and scanned her surroundings. The place was spick and span and everything was neatly kept in their own place. Just as she had thought.

"This is so like you Athrun." Cagalli commented before throwing herself onto his comfortable sofa. He watched her silently for a while, capturing her images onto his photographic memory before making a silent advance into the modern-looking kitchen, fitted with the latest technology from the realm of household appliances. He strode straight to a massive refrigerator, that was opened was surprisingly empty, and retrieved a carton of cold beer.

Athrun walked casually to where Cagalli currently was: lazily spread out on the sofa. He didn't mind it a bit; he almost never minded anything to do with her. For once, he felt the looming absence in his apartment gently dissolving away.

Warmth.

Athrun's apartment was screaming for a mistress, and he knew it very well. The deafening silence of his room at night only accentuated his need for a warm being beside him. Not any warmth, but her warmth. The one and only warmth in his life, greatly surpassing even the all-encompassing sunlight.

Athrun placed the beer on the table and smirked at Cagalli. "You ordered this miss." He joked.

Both of them then proceeded to have drinking contest in which Cagalli proclaimed herself to be winner.

"You lose Athrun! You lose!" Cagalli let out while flailing her arms wildly in the air. "I'm the winner! I'm the winner!" she proclaimed loudly before giggling hysterically.

"You win, you win." Athrun replied, helping himself to another can of beer. He was still clearly sober, and there wasn't any sign of him going down anytime soon. Cagalli and her drunken antics were amusing him, so he chose to quietly observe her and give in to whatever she said. Plus, it felt to him as the missing piece in his home was complete. He did not know if it was the alcohol or just him, but the feeling of warmth and happiness glided into him and passed through into his entire body.

Athrun silently finished another can of beer, then suddenly noticing everything had gone quiet. He glanced from his position on the floor, only to see a golden-hair princess asleep on the sofa. She lay on her side on the sofa, eyes closed in gentle slumber.

"Sleeping Beauty eh?" Athrun chuckled to himself as he stood up from his sitting position and neared the sofa. "She'll catch a cold like that." He thought, looking at her and her revealing dress and exposed skin. His train of thoughts lead Athrun to suddenly have a sharp intake of breath. He couldn't help it, but let his eyes wander around the sleeping figure in front of him. His hormones were acting up again, as his emerald eyes travelled from her exposed thighs that revealed even more skin due to her sleeping position, her feminine curves, then to her chest area, where a little cleavage was bared to him.

Athrun could feel a fire growing in the pit of his stomach and he looked away, in hopes of regaining some control over himself. Indecency was not something a soldier should possess, and he knew that if he was just a soldier in ZAFT, showing such disrespect to civilian women or the women of ZAFT was a heavy crime. He calmed himself down by inhaling large amounts of oxygen. It worked to a certain extent, but that fire within him was subdued, but still alive.

When he thought he was ready, Athrun returned his attention to Cagalli. Without thinking, he gently picked her off the sofa, and carried her bridal style into his room. She was soft and warm and fit perfectly into his hands and when he placed her down on his bed, it took almost all of him not to do anything else.

Athrun stared at Cagalli, sleeping peacefully. He tucked her into bed as gently as he could, trying not to rouse her. He took a last look at her, and willed himself to go away. He knew his control wouldn't last if he continued staring at her. He possessed amazing self-control as compared to the mass of the population, and training in the military strengthened it further. But it all came to naught when it concerned Cagalli. She broke all his boundaries and barriers, and everything was rendered illogical when it came to her.

Athrun could only give a snort as the notion of him possessing inhuman self-control filled his Coordinator-engineered brain. If it was any normal man, he would have not been able to resist the temptation of his beloved woman sleeping in his bed right under his nose. He knew for a fact, he was not the only one victimised under the charms of Cagalli Yula Attha. There were so many of them, politicians and influential men alike, whom she could have wed with just a nod of her golden head. Not all of her suitors were old geezers desiring to extend their political influence or to rise up the ranks in power, in fact, many of them were handsome young men which had enough power on their hands without needing the influence of the nation of Orb. Athrun was considered a potential candidate, because a Natural-Coordinator union might be just the right medicine for a world where the wounds of war were still fresh and in the midst of healing. However, human relationships were not that easy and even if the top brass of ZAFT had pushed for it, the hostilities between ZAFT and Orb as well as the Earth Alliance were only just beginning to fade. The union might be welcome in a sense, but the repercussions outweighed the benefits. Therefore, Athrun could only get wind of gossip surrounding the Princess of Orb without being a part of it. He could name, with some distaste, some of her more prolific suitors. The President of Britain was one of them, and was more outspoken as compared to the others. The well-built young man with deep brown eyes had openly expressed his admiration for Cagalli and did not seem to have any intention of giving up even after 5 years of his futile efforts. The leader of Chinese Eurasia, a tall, lanky man with dark hair and moss-green eyes expressed his affections in a considerably less open manner, but it was found out by the paparazzi all the same. Athrun held a slight pang of jealousy for the young leader, for their eyes were both green, albeit a different shade, and he held the fear that Cagalli may just succumb to the eyes which reflected his own as a replacement. However, Athrun was never really worried about those two or the rest of her suitors. The one who truly bothered him was the Prince of Scandinavia.

The Prince of Scandinavia was a lucky survivor of the blast, masterminded by Gilbert Durandal to wipe out the leaders of the Kingdom of Scandinavia who had rejected his Destiny Plan. After the war, he carried on the legacy of his deceased father and his faithful subjects and rebuilt the Kingdom of Scandinavia with their ideals. His plight was very similar to that of Cagalli's, and the nation of Orb and the Kingdom of Scandinavia had been long time allies, even harbouring the Archangel crew after their defection from Orb. Therefore, he got along very well with Cagalli. Athrun even found out, with some connections, that the both of them were childhood friends and the young prince had even asked if she could marry him.

Athrun's jealousy was not without a reason. The Prince was also a prince in every single way. Beautiful blonde hair and startling blue eyes, his eyes gentle yet too deep to truly comprehend. His princely features were further accentuated by his high nose and the megawatt smile. Adding on the regal air in which he carried himself in, women of all ages fell at his feet. His charms were on par with Athrun's, perhaps even greater. Athrun knew for a fact that the Prince had the same feelings he had for Cagalli; he saw it in his eyes. The way he looked at her silently and the way he treated her as if she was so precious and fragile; Athrun could never miss it. Many a time he pretended not to watch as he politely requested the Princess for a dance during balls, or their private conversations during dinner in which Cagalli would smile or giggle. However, overflowing jealousy always sought to control his bodily movements and before he could realise it, his green eyes had hardened like steel and had shot several bouts of murderous glances at the handsome prince. Athrun never explicitly admitted it, but he was a jealous and possessive man, a distinguishing trait of a Scorpio. There were times the Prince would be featured on the newspaper and he would accidentally spill his coffee over it, and then blame everything on his carelessness as the mess was cleared up, all the while having his lips in a slight upturned position.

"Just one kiss…" Athrun thought as he went close to Cagalli. He touched her hair softly, sweeping them away from her forehead where he leaned in to kiss her. He allowed his gaze to linger on her for a bit longer after the kiss before willing himself to go away.

"Athrun."

Before Athrun could react, a pair of soft arms was thrown around his neck, and he found himself staring into stunning amber eyes.

Cagalli was awake, and was looking straight at him. He could catch the faint lily fragrance mixed with alcohol on her, all blending in together with her rich feminine scent.

"Don't go."

Two simple words, and it was enough to let Athrun forget how to breathe. His hands had tightened to form a fist unknowingly in a bid for him to regain his self-control.

"You're drunk Cagalli." Athrun let out in one heavy breath. "Go to sleep." He said as he tried to push her away and back onto his bed.

"I'm not drunk Athrun." Cagalli replied, resisting his hands which tried to pry her hands off his neck. "I'm fully conscious. I'm never more awake." With that, she exerted some pressure on Athrun's neck and raised her upper body can kissed him softly.

The kiss sent an electric shock all over Athrun's body. The kiss was gentle and innocent, but to Athrun, it took a deeper and more dangerous meaning. Every single cell in his body had been excited just by the touch of her lips, on her own accord no less, and that little fire within him was now ignited to become a raging inferno. All the control he had prided himself on that night was now being ravaged into ashes.

"Cagalli…" Athrun let out in a deep, husky voice after their kiss had been broken. Their gazes met, emerald to amber, and he could tell she was indeed awake and not doing what she did in a drunken stupor. The new knowledge only spurned on the desire and lust for the woman in front of his eyes. Athrun placed her gently back on the bed. To him, it was as if she, who haunted his dreams every single night on his lonesome king-sized bed, was not just a fragment of created fantasy, but finally reality. He leaned in to capture her lips fully and she accepted and responded to his kiss.

The kiss, was burning hot, and it awakened every single flame in their bodies. Soon the passion spread as they were lost in heated kisses and lustful moans. Their desire for each other fully manifested themselves that night. Burning touches, passionate kisses and excited screams mingled together in the dark room, once so cold and lonely. They filled each other with whatever they needed, satisfied whatever they desired, and passed on whatever they wanted the other to know. Their forms melded together and merged into one, forming an unbreakable, eternal bond and an endless promise.

Morning came silently, like a master thief, crept in discreetly from the east. The rays of the morning sun slowly spread over the darkness of the room, overpowering the masters and snatching away everything in their possession.

Cagalli awoke as a faint ray of light stopped on her eyelids and eased them open, instilling a dim golden hue in her amber orbs. She moved slightly in her position, and was aware of her state of undress as well as the warm chest pressed to her back and the strong arms that encircled her in their embrace. She could see, in front of her on the floor, her purple dress that she had allowed Athrun to remove last night. The memories of last night, when they had so fiercely made love to each other played in her mind her cheeks coloured a deep red, just like they did after the effect of alcohol had kicked in.

Athrun's kisses were scalding hot, and they melted her wherever they went, rendering her unable to resist. She gave him everything he asked for, while fulfilling herself with the ecstasy of his demands. He was demanding yet gentle at the same time. He poured out his love for her in the most carnal and sensual way, but was careful with her all at the same time. He had screamed out her name in sheer pleasure as she did for him, then took her into his embrace, cuddling her and whispering the words "I love you." in her ear over and over again until fatigue overtook the reins of his physical self.

Cagalli nimbly removed Athrun's hands from her bare body and turned over silently. Athrun had not stirred; he was in peaceful slumber and was having a pretty dream she was sure, for a happy smile was etched on his lips. She half-knew the reason behind that joy, and her smile faded gradually. Athrun was so vulnerable now, just like a baby. Cagalli knew he never allowed himself to be this way, not even in rest. Carelessness is suicidal for a soldier and he had that fatal flaw only in rare circumstances. Even so, the habitual mechanism of awareness and self-protection never left him amidst the tight security which surrounded a high-ranking ZAFT commander. But now, he had succumbed to the Sandman totally; all his defences were relaxed. Trust and hope made Athrun lose the soldier within him and it only made her feel guiltier.

As quietly as she could, Cagalli got off the bed and gathered her clothes that had been strewn all over the room in the wild frenzy of the night. She put them on, shielding only partly the remnants of their night of passion. She glanced at her bared neck and chest in the mirror, only to see that they were not bare, but had irregular red markings plastered all over the area. She blushed again as the memories entered her consciousness once again. Athrun had possessively marked her as his by leaving his prints all over her while trying to earn her submission to him.

Cagalli picked up a dark jacket near her and acknowledged it to be part of Athrun's attire the night before. His masculine scent still lingered on it and warmth reminiscent of him wrapped around her as she put it on, concealing the evidence of their rendezvous. Her glance shifted towards his sleeping and she gingerly went towards the bed. Her eyes were not shining like they did before; they were downcast. She took a last look at Athrun and bent down, leaving a light kiss on his forehead. With that she left, leaving behind a trail of the scent of lilies, alcohol and a broken promise.

Author's notes: I took the trouble to research on the cocktails and alcoholic beverages used in this fic. I have only drank once or twice for the experience, otherwise I'm a teetotaller, and therefore has little or no idea on the issue. I searched on wiki for all the IBA official cocktails to find a few that are suitable for use in my fic. If the real thing doesn't match then well...errr...ok...whatever...

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