Chapter 1

A Forgettable Evening

"This is crazy, I refuse to wear a dress." An angered blonde voiced.

"Princess, you must dress appropriately for this event, this is very important. As you are now the new Head Representative of Orb, you must look decent for such functions." Her rather plum nursemaid stated intelligibly.

"Being Head Representative didn't say anything about wearing dresses, or did I miss that in the fine print!"

Cagalli was irritated and she was not in any mood to attend some ridiculously fancy dinner party for a bunch of arrogant and snotty politicians, and now she had to wear a dress on top of the whole ordeal.

"You must hurry Princess, your escort is waiting for you."

"Escort? What Escort?" Cagalli enquired, raising a golden brow in curiosity.

"Alex Dino, dear, who else did you think I was talking about, he's been waiting for you quite patiently for a while now."

At the mere mention of the name she stiffened, Alex, rather Athrun, he was going to see her in a dress, she thought, feeling her cheeks burn up. Athrun had never seen her in a dress.

"Out of the question I can't wear a dress, no way!" there was a stern finality in her voice, but her maid was more then accustomed to it and the newly instated Representative would in time give in.

"Princess Cagalli, you must. It is not proper for a young woman as yourself to sport such apparel," she gestured pointing at the pants and coat of the traditional political attire that Cagalli wore. "you are Lord Uzumi's daughter you must be presentable."

The princess's features soften at the mention of her deceased father, bowing her head she pondered for a few seconds until she had made up her mind.

"Fine, I'll wear it." She said in one breath, seemingly afraid that she would change her mind if not done quick enough.

Her nursemaid smiled cheerfully and opened the large closet panels and from it she brought out a beautiful lime green dress. Cagalli sighed rather loudly and undressed herself and was then helped into her dress.

After a long while of merciless touch ups and painful pins being jabbed into her scalp, she was finally ready, when she was left alone she slowly walked to her large mirror and stood staring at her reflection. The thought of Athrun crept in her mind and she blushed furiously, he was waiting for her downstairs, he was going to see her, like this…

Letting out a lungful of air, she placed a firm hand on the door handle and opened it slowly, she took a few strides until she faced the banister at the top of the large stairs. Her heels clicked irritably the minute she set foot on the first step, cringing, tightening her grip on the railing, she then hesitantly looked up, it seemed that there was no one around the premises and her spirits were lifted as she gained more confidence walking the stairs more fiercely. As she was about to set foot on the last step unto the marble floor she tripped over her dress, letting out a gasp she felt her self falling and as she expected her face to meet cold hard marble instead she fell onto a warm and strong build of what seemed to be soft fabric.

"Cagalli?" a soft familiar voice was heard, looking up she was met by tender green eyes staring down at her and holding her securely. Regaining some footing she withdrew herself from his strong hold on her.

"Thanks…for breaking my fall, Athrun." She looked up and found him staring intently at her.

"What?" She asked defensively.

He parted his lips but nothing came out.

"What is it? Out with it! Come on let's hear it!" her hands clenched in fists by her side, waiting to hear the worst.

"…You-You look—, he was rudely interrupted by a fuming blonde.

"What? I look stupid? Go ahead laugh it up!" She spat out irritably.

"…beautiful." He continued, as his gaze was set so intently on every detail, he had never seen Cagalli this way, she was stunning the dress caressed her curves perfectly, the strapless gown showed off her perfect shoulders and slim waist, her hair was put up revealing a more vibrant intensity in her amber eyes, he was in awe.

Cagalli felt he was going to burn a hole right through her if he kept staring that way, her cheeks were stained crimson as she blushed feverishly, as she directed her attention to the floor trying to avoid his gaze on her.

"…it's rude to keep staring you know." She stated softly still avoiding to lift her eyes to meet with his.

"I'm not staring…I'm admiring." He said, extending a hooked arm to her as a knight would to escort his princess, she felt a rush of heat reach her ears as her blush deepened, sheepishly she intertwined her arm with his, he walked with a fierce overbearing pride, but Cagalli was not blind he looked so handsome in his black tux, but she mentally noted there was rarely a time she didn't find him attractive. It was her turn to do the staring and she did so as she walked side by side with him, gripping his arm tightly.

"It's rude to stare." Athrun mimicked as he smiled gently at her.

She giggled at the often rare apparition of his sense of humour. The two made their way into the ball room, the strings and melody of a century old waltz and a massive buzzing sound emitting from the many guests over crowded the large hall, beautiful sights of dancing partners, skirts of many colors flowed at the sound of the ballad. Athrun detached himself from his partner bowing regally in front of her, he then extended a welcoming hand to Cagalli, she jovially placed her hand delicately in his as he pulled her into him, encircling her tiny waist with his arm, they hypnotically gazed into each others eyes and swayed gently to the music.

"I never knew you could dance this well." She pointed out to her dashing bodyguard, breaking the silence.

In return he let out a light hearted laugh, looking down at her amber eyes, mentally noting that she had the most beautiful eyes, for the simple fact that she was so easy to read, one look in her eyes and the mystery was revealed.

"I thought the same thing about you." Slightly looking down he saw her golden brows crease a look of shocked puzzlement, and at that very moment he could have wished that he could take back whatever he had just said, he then rethought, though her eyes we're lovely and honest he seemed to still struggle completely to understand her.

Cagalli abruptly stopped in the middle of the waltz and stared squarely at Athrun, detaching herself from him. She was about to part her lips and lash out some anger stricken words at the coordinator but she soon realized that people started to shoot glances towards them. Giving him one more glare that promised extreme physical pain later, she stormed off, leaving him baffled and confused.

Still trying to understand what he had done he ran after her, excusing himself trying to get by the never ending crowd. When he finally found a clearing he ceased his chase and looked around to see if he could spot his Princess. His emerald eyes searched for her but he couldn't see her anywhere, and suddenly his sight picked up a small opening in the direction of the sitting room, the large wooden door was slightly opened. He slowly walked to it, steeling a quick glance through the crack of the door; but he found nothing, opening the door a little more he walked into the room, looking around. His eyes roamed the room but to no avail, there was no one, no Cagalli. He felt a slight breeze and it quickly made him shiver, his mind clicked, she must have been on the balcony. He paced quickly and he was relieved to find that he was indeed correct she was there, standing regally letting her blond bangs be whipped back and forth with the passing of the wind, the fabric of her dress danced in the breeze dreamily, the moonlight glistening over her beautiful features, she hugged her shoulders as she shivered, staring up at nothing.

He slowly walked up behind her and removed his jacket and placed it on her bare shoulders, she stiffened. Without looking at him she spoke her voice low and unnerving.

"You're a jerk, you know that." Her eyes still fixated on the night sky.

He looked at her startled at first but then he began to fight back his increasing chuckle, she quickly glanced at him and bawled her fists, looking straight at him. "Hey! Why are you laughing at me!" she growled, her face screwed up in fury, in a fit of rage she grabbed his jacket and threw it over the balcony, and slowly it flapped in the wind until it landed with a flack into the pool below.

Shocked, Athrun immediately ceased his chuckle, he looked over the balcony and unbelievingly he stared back blankly at Cagalli.

"That was my favourite jacket…" he said gravely glaring once more down at the pool.

"That'll teach you never to make fun of me again, Athrun Zala."

"That's your reason for throwing my jacket into the pool! What is it you?" Cagalli's face softened when she sensed that he was now a little angry, trying to regain some self control she looked down pondering about what she could say and what he had said to her was refreshed in her mind and her anger shot up again.

"Well next time don't tell me that I can't dance!"

"You always take everything out of context, for once would you just take a pebble and leave it as it is instead of turning it into a mountain!"

Cagalli covered her mouth trying to smother her giggles. "You mean a 'mole hill' not a pebble." she blurted out in-between her laughter .

"Huh?" he stood intrigued at her complete turn around, "Mole hill? What are you talking about?"

Cagalli approached him and started to straighten out his dress shirt's collar affectionately, looking up at him, still amused. "You're cute when you're confused, and a little work up." She said letting a light blush tint her cheeks. She nuzzled his nose with hers, Athrun grinned at the loving gesture. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he in turn encircled her back with his arms pulling her into him.

"I'm sorry about the jacket, Athrun…I promise to buy you a new one first thing tomorrow." She said staring lovingly into his handsome face, he nodded his approval of the idea.

"I'm sorry for somehow making it sound like I didn't think you could dance, but you can. Dance I mean, you can dance, very nicely too." He said leaning in closer as he felt her fore arms softly tug at his neck, and soon his lips met hers in a tender kiss.

When they broke the kiss, he looked up at her and he smiled lovingly as peace was made between him and his lovely princess, at least for the time being or until he clumsily said something she would then misinterpreted and so it would begin again, but for now everything was pleasurable. It always humbled him greatly to know they were always like this they fought but they always got over it rather quickly and when they made up their quarrels were always worth it. He gently clasped his hand with hers. "We should get going, the guests will wonder where their Hostess has gone."

"Yeah you're right we should."

Hand in hand they walked off the balcony, suddenly stopping in mid track, Athrun thought for a second then eyed his companion, Cagalli was a little startled at his sudden reaction.

"I should of said a mole hill into a mountain not a pebble…Ah I get it now." He said rather triumphantly.

Cagalli stared at him blankly, "Athrun are you sure you're a coordinator?" she teased.

"Be nice…" he mused back, squeezing her hand gently, proceeding to lead her out of the sitting room, as they joined the festivities.

Author's Note: Do forgive me for the one shots lolz, I'm so lazy to commit to a chapter fic, and I rather get all the buzzing stories in my head exorcised in one shots. Please review, love to know what people think, I do hope the characters were not too OOC.