I'll never forget that day. My awakening, my birth. The two bright, green orbs that had infinite depth to them; those emerald lights that saved me from my dark abyss.

I sat there, mesmerized by these twinkling, green orbs. After a moment, my hearing senses were heightened as well when an angelic voice accompanied the green miracle.

"I'm Athrun. Who are you?"

My eyes finally adjusted to the bright lights and took in the rest of the angel's face. My eyes deeply went over his pale complexion, the midnight blue hair that framed his delicate face, the small mouth that rendered his godly voice. I finally registered his outstretched hand, directed at me. I stared at it for a long moment, temporarily not knowing what to do. Then I copied his action, placing my hand in his.

"Lilia," I said quietly. "Lilia Axelman."

The angel boy pulled me up to a standing position.

"Axelman? You mean like the name of this church?" He asked, pointing at the sign overhead the steps I had just been sitting on.

"Yes. The priest here told me to use the name," I murmured.

"So you live here?"

"I live on the steps here. Sometimes people give me money when they come for Sunday services."

I felt odd and uncomfortable; I had never conversed with anyone for this long.

He pondered for a moment. Then, "How old are you?" he asked.

"I don't know," I admitted. "The priest here said I'm probably seven".

"I'm seven too!" The boy exclaimed excitedly.

I stood silently, my hand still in the boy's. I looked down, not being able to gaze in the face of someone so bright and glorious compared to myself. Suddenly, I felt a tug at my hand and felt myself lurch forward a step. I looked up, confused, and saw the boy grinning; a sight so bright I felt the need to turn away.

"Come on!" he declared and pulled me away from the church.

As we ran to an unknown place, I stared in wonder at the back of my savior's head. My savior, who was pulling me away from the dark, giving me light.

My savior who finally gave me life.

I opened my eyes, waking myself from the glorious memory. Even now, I could remember close to nothing in my life prior to meeting Athrun Zala. On that fateful day, he had brought me to his home, where his goddess-like mother welcomed me with the most warmth I had ever experienced. I wondered many times since then if that emotion I felt strongly at the time was the so called "love" that everyone talked about.

"Lilia" called a voice, breaking my flow of thoughts.

"Coming, sir" I answered immediately.

I got myself off the couch I was sitting on and went to the door that connected to the office. As the automated door slid shut behind me, I walked up to the desk and saluted to the man sitting behind it.

"Do you need anything, Master Zala?"

The stern look on Patrick Zala's face dissolved as he smiled at me.

"It's that time of year again, Lilia. Your flight to Copernicus City leaves tonight. Go relax and have fun with Athrun and Lenore," he said, holding out a ticket towards me.

I reached for the ticket and said, "Thank you, Master Zala."

I gave him one of my rare smiles and one final salute before excusing myself out of his office.

I walked down the empty hallway, my boots clacking as it echoed off the gray walls. Ever since that day seven years ago, the Zala family had provided me with everything a person could ask for. I still didn't understand the reasoning behind their kindness in helping some worthless, street scum like me. But as it was, a few months after my intrusion in to the Zala life, Athrun's father, Patrick Zala, decided to take me to PLANTS with him to become his personal assistant as he worked in the PLANTS Supreme Council. I embraced this job. I would do anything to pay back even a little bit in return of what this family had given me. As I did my job faithfully, "Athrun's father" eventually became "Master Zala" and he became a savior figure in my eyes just as much as Athrun. Master Zala gave me a place in the world, he taught me the rules of society and he showed me that it was okay even for a person like me to have a standing in said society. He was a stern yet kind man, who always listened to what I had to say, and guided me as I stumbled in this new life of mine. I could tell, being near him, that Athrun's gentle spirit had come from Master Zala just as much as from Lady Zala. Being close to the Supreme Council also taught me many things I didn't know about before, such as "Naturals", or a place called "Earth". When I had first asked Master Zala the meaning of these words, he chuckled at my ignorance and went deep into explanation, additionally giving me the identity of a Coordinator. Although I stayed with Master Zala for the most part, every summer, Master Zala allowed me to take a break and visit Athrun and Lady Zala down in Copernicus City on the Moon.

I finally reached the door to my room, and punched in the code to unlock it. I went to my dresser to pull out normal clothes to change into; as a personal secretary for Master Zala, I was expected to wear the ZAFT uniform so as to differentiate myself from other carefree adolescents. As I slowly stripped myself of the many layered uniform, I looked at myself in the mirror. My emotionless face stared back at me. I had been berated many times by Athrun for my apparent unemotional personality. "You need to smile more!" he had said. But the same could be said for him. He was quiet, reserved. But for some reason he was a social butterfly around me; probably to make up for my rather non-talkative self. As I was fastening the buttons to the pants I had pulled on, a light flashed on my computer, signaling that a new email had come in. I walked over, knowing it was a message from Athrun. Athrun was the only person I emailed; rather, you could say he was my only friend as well. I was never social, and due to my job at an early age, I was surrounded by adults constantly, and even in education I was tutored individually by a ZAFT certified educator. Sighing, I opened the message:

Hi Lilia!

Hope you're doing well. Mother told me that Father is sending you here tonight, I'm really excited! Also, I want you to meet Kira while you're here this time. Yes. THE Kira that I've been telling you about for all these years. He's a pretty laid-back guy, so you guys will get along. See you soon!

-Athrun

Kira…Athrun constantly was telling me about this so called Kira over the years, usually complaining about Kira's dislike of micro-unit studies, or how he always procrastinated on big projects and in the end how Athrun had to bail him out by basically doing the project for him. It seemed like Kira was another person that Athrun wasn't reserved around.

I closed the message, and then proceeded to gather my few belongings into a small suitcase. Turning off the light, I quietly departed from my room to head to the main terminal.


I reclined in my chair, staring out the window of the spotless kitchen. Lady Zala walked in with a tea set on a tray, setting it down on the table as she situated the dainty cups on their respective saucers.

"Lilia, has Patrick said anything about us moving to you?" Lady Zala asked me as she poured some tea into a cup.

"He's told me of his fears of war, and that he'd like his family to be up in PLANTS with him, yes." I replied.

"Well…"she sighed, "He told me that he wants us to move up there by wintertime. I have no excuse this time, my job load is lessening."

"Athrun…" I said softly, "Does Athrun know?"

"Afraid not," Lady Zala said sadly, pushing the cup of tea towards me. "I'm planning on telling him when it's closer to winter."

I nodded, absentmindedly sipping my tea. It was warm in my hands, just like the presence of Lady Zala in my life. I had vaguely wondered numerous times if this is what having a mom felt like.

"Lilia! Kira's here! Come on!" a voice belonging to Athrun suddenly announced, as he popped out of nowhere at my side.

Lady Zala gasped softly in surprise as I subtly choked on my tea. As I coughed, Lady Zala scolded, "Athrun, mind your manners!"

"Sorry…" he muttered disappointedly.

"Goodness, Athrun" Lady Zala said, half-angry, half-amused as she handed me a handkerchief, "I hear that at school you're so quiet that the teachers worry over you, yet you become so childish when you're around Lilia."

"No, I don't" grumbled Athrun.

"See? Grumbling and complaining. Like a child", teased Lady Zala, breaking out one of her breathtaking smiles while gently tousling Athrun's hair.

Athrun simply frowned at his giggling mother before turning to tug at my sleeve.

My coughing fit finally subdued, I got up to follow Athrun, who's face already had a bright grin on it, no trace of the previous frown on it anywhere. His smile was one of the many mirror images he shared with his mother, and I was blinded every single time by it.

"Thank you for the tea, Lady Zala," I said politely.

Lady Zala waved her hand, "It's nothing. And Athrun," she added in a scolding undertone, "Make sure you and Kira act decently. I'll ask Lilia all about it later", she warned.

"Okay, mother", Athrun said rolling his eyes, then took off, motioning me to follow.

I turned toward Lady Zala one last time, who gave me a wink, before I followed after Athrun.

"Athrun", I asked, "were you listening to our conversation?"

"Uh, no?" Athrun responded as he looked back at me. "Why, what were you talking about?" he asked curiously.

"Nothing important…" I muttered.

"Hmm, okay then. Kira!" called Athrun as he went up the stairs, two at a time.

The door to Athrun's room creaked open, and a small brown-haired head poked out. "A-Athrun? Back so soon? Haha…" the boy, who I assumed to be Kira, laughed nervously as he cautiously kept the door semi-closed.

Athrun's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he advanced toward the cowering boy. He wrenched the door open, much to Kira's protests, and gasped as he beheld his room. I walked forward to see the cause of Athrun's distress and stared in surprise as I saw heaps of paper and clothes strewn all over the floor of his room, uncharacteristic of the always perfectionist Athrun.

"Kiiiiraaa", Athrun began dangerously, turning slowly to face the poor boy.

"I'm sorry, Athrun! Really!" Kira quickly pleaded in a high voice, "I was only looking for that game I let you borrow some time ago, and when I opened your closet, everything came…", Kira paused slightly at Athrun's glare, "tumbling…out…", he finished lamely, peering fearfully at Athrun.

Athrun gave a long sigh before responding resignedly, "Well I can't say I'm too surprised. I should be used to this by now."

Kira looked shocked, as if he was expecting to be yelled at, which, according to my guesses, probably happened very often.

Athrun turned toward me, sighing again, "Lilia…this is Kira Yamato. Kira, Lilia Axelman."

I gave Kira what I hoped was a smile, I still wasn't too used to the action, and Kira nodded at me bashfully in return.

"Kira's our same age," Athrun continued to me, "but he feels more to me like a younger brother."

"Hey, I'm four mon-," Kira's protests were abruptly cut short as he caught sight of Athrun's murderous glare.

The sight of Kira cowering before the usually good-natured Athrun was too much for me. I gave out a small giggle, in spite of myself. Athrun looked toward me in shock, I was positive he had never heard me laugh before. What could I say; I'd never heard myself laugh before either. The brief moment of silence was broken by Kira who joined in, laughing brightly. Athrun simply glared at Kira as he said tersely, "How about you clean up the mess you caused before laughing about it."

Kira sharply cut his laughter as he bent down to pick up the loose papers. I giggled once more at the sight of Athrun's totalitarian control over Kira, and knelt down to help him. Kira gave me a big smile, which caught me off guard for a moment. It was blinding, almost as much as Athrun or Lady Zala's. I smiled back uncertainly and gathered up the many papers strewn about the room. Athrun gave a sigh as he began picking up his clothes and putting them back on their respective hangers.

"Seriously Kira, I leave you for, like what, two minutes tops? Is this a talent you have?"

"I'm sorry…"

"Hey! By the way, have you started on your micro-unit independent project? It's due next week, you know. And you always procrastinate."

"Uh…um uh yeah I have. Of course!"

"Kiiira?"

"…"

"Kira! I'm not going to bail you out this time! Do your project!"

"Okay, okay! Sorry!"

I listened to the two friends' badgering, amused, as I stacked the papers I had picked up into a neat pile. Just then a fresh breeze came sailing in from the open window, brushing my bangs back. I closed my eyes and found myself feeling completely relaxed and, almost…happy. I peeked an eye open, peering at Athrun and Kira who were still pestering each other, and smiled sincerely. If only moments like this could continue into the future. If only we could stay together like this, with no threats, forever. If only this serene peace could last for eternity. Because if this peace was ever at jeopardy, it was worth fighting for.


Summer came and went, and talk of war between Earth and PLANTS became more and more realistic. I heard Master Zala frequently over the phone with Lady Zala, urging her to come to the PLANTS quicker than scheduled. Over time, Athrun and Lady Zala finally moved to Junius Seven, where I was able to meet with Athrun more frequently. However, every time I saw him, I felt that something was missing from the usual Athrun, and I gradually realized it was the absent presence of Kira in his life. I felt something almost like remorse in myself when I realized I couldn't alleviate that loneliness in Athrun's heart. During that time, even Lady Zala was tenser, as she watched the news constantly for more updates on the rumored breakout of war. The PLANTS Supreme Council was busy with discussion, and tension between the Naturals and us Coordinators became even stronger. However, even though I was constantly around the Supreme Council and listening to their meetings, the term "war" was still unregistered in my brain. It was alien. I was skeptical about it. Why would it happen? Earth and PLANTS can leave each other alone.

But then it happened. February 14th. My skepticism turned around to punch me in the face as I watched in horror on the news screen Junius Seven blowing up, shredding the colony into pieces, destroying any evidence of life that had been there. Athrun was safe. He had luckily come for a visit to see Master Zala and I. But one person was missing. Athrun was beside me as we mutely stared at the screen, watching our home being destroyed. Watching helplessly while Lenore Zala died in the explosions that engulfed the colony.

It was then on that Patrick Zala morphed into a completely different man. He no longer smiled, laughed, or showed any indication of positive feelings. His grief over Lady Zala turned his already existing bias against Naturals into a violent hatred, and his sole strive in life hardened into vengeance. He no longer used kind or soft words, and treated Athrun and I both like soldiers. Like strangers, with a built up barrier between us. During that time, I had felt a pang of emotion; probably sadness, at Master Zala's change. But I came to realize it was necessary to avenge the damned, ignorant Naturals, who destroyed the peace that we Coordinators had tried so hard to keep.

Following the Bloody Valentine tragedy, Master Zala immediately had me enlisted into the ZAFT military training. I entered training as the youngest and only female in my grade, gaining skepticism about my abilities and "female weaknesses" from the surrounding people. I emerged victorious, gaining the title of number one in every subject and training material existing in the school. Master Zala was pleased, even more pleased when Athrun came to him later asking permission to enlist as well. We both remembered how helpless we felt watching Junius Seven being destroyed, and we weren't going to let that happen anymore. We would protect PLANTS. For ZAFT. For Lenore Zala. For peace.


Note:

So I will be using plot elements from Gundam Seed but placing them on my own timeline...

This is my first seed fic and I lurvveeee Athrun so obviously the fic must contain Athrun mainly. haha.

Please review if you have time, I need constructive criticism!