Chapter one: The Encounter

It has been three years since the defeat of Chairman Gilbert Dullindal who perished along with Talia, Rey and so many others during the Requiem battle. After the world was saved yet again everyone yearned to return to the times of peace when the world was not at war. Kira followed Lacus to the Plants, and to no ones dismay, Murrue Ramius, Commander la Fllaga and Andy wafeld formally known as the desert tiger were once again living peacefully in Orb. Andy decided that he wanted to open a coffee shop promoting his own custom made blends. Of which one blend imparticular named ezelya had reached the hight of it's popularity. Athrun also decided to return to Orb to help Cagalli rebuild her country, as the military's top ranking admiral his primary duty was to ensure that Orbs military defenses were rebuilt. In addition to his new position he was one of Orbs top military advisors, therefore a great deal of his time was spent attending cabinet meetings.

On this particular day Athrun decided to go over to the mansion where he now spends 70% of his time discussing political, military as well as personal issues with cagalli. He couldn't be happier now that he has a power of his own. At least this way he can be with Cagalli and not feel useless, but still have a purpose that's not directly connected to her. It's now the weekend and he is having dinner with Cagalli.

"Two more weeks" Athrun says as he smiles at cagalli across the dinner table.

"Let's make one thing clear….We may be getting married, but I'M_ NOT CHANGING MY NAME!" said Cagalli with a serious expression on her face.

"Hum…..Maybe we could compromise…" Athrun smiled deeply before being overcome with flowing thoughts "I've spoken to Kira he said that both he and lacus will be coming down a few days before the wedding to visit with everyone, and do a little sight-seeing. He also wanted us to join them for dinner one night. I told him that sounds great."

"Really…That's Great!" said Cagalli "I can't wait to see him I was so afraid that I would rely upon him that I haven't seen him in the past three years."

"I know what your saying cagalli, but I really wish you wouldn't think that way, you're a lot stronger than that- after all you are the leader of the ORB union."

She stood up and walked onto the adjoining dinning room balcony. Athrun arose to follow her-

"It's ok Cagalli even if Kira isn't here- I'll still protect you. We did promise each other right? Remember when you said the hardest battle is to keep living. I guess we'll have to fight to the end together." At that moment Athrun embraced her as they kissed then stared onward into the moonlight.

The next day as Cagalli awoke she realized that is was noon. She became frantic as she was late for a lunch date with kira's adoptive mother and her natural aunt Caliday Yamato.

"Merna!" She screamed

"Ms. Cagalli! I already have your clothes set aside for you...",

"Thank you.. Merna." responded Cagalli as she raced to get dressed.

A short time later she arrived to meet Kira's mother at her home on the beach.

"Hello!" she yelled as she waved to her aunt Caliday who was gazing out at the vast ocean.

"Hello Cagalli!" replied Caliday enthusiastically "It's such a beautiful afternoon…I thought that perhaps we could have lunch outside. I hope that's OK?,"

Cagalli tilted her head to the side and smiled before sitting down on the sand. While eating lunch they engaged in lighthearted conversation.

"I love the waves" Cagalli exclaimed as if she had never seen them before "have you heard from Kira?"

Yes, he told me that he would be arriving in Orb a few days before your wedding. I really do wish that you would speak to him. I think that he would love to hear from you. After all, He is your brother.

"I know," Cagalli hung her head down stareing at the glistening sand.. It's just that I need to become stronger for me, my country, Athrun, and all the people who depend on me. I'm afraid that if I talk to Kira, that I may begin to rely upon him again and I want to see him happy without having to worry about me and my responsibilities. I don't want him to feel that he has to fight, because fighting doesn't always happen on the battlefield. Kira worried about protecting me before and I felt as If I took him from the one that he loves, because of my selfishness and inability to see what was going on around me. I can't let that happen again. Sorry I know this sounds bad, I hope that you don't hate me- for what I said"

"NO...I understand." Then at that precise moment there was a shift in the wind, as her aunt gently took out a letter from the pocket of her dress. "I'm sorry Cagalli, but there is another reason that I've called you here today. Cagalli looked at her in bewilderment. The other day while I was at the clothing store, I was admiring a dress for your wedding. Then someone whispered to me "please give this to lady cagalli" and when I turned around no one was there. I thought... I was imagining things, that is until I went to pay for my dress, that's when I reached inside my purse and pulled this out,….It was a letter addressed to you. I don't know it's contents and I hope it's nothing terrible. Perhaps it's from a crazed fan" They both chuckeld at the thought.

"Perhaps" said Cagalli as they could hardly contain their laughter.

"It's ok whatever the reason I am just happy to be able to spend this time with you today. You are the closest person to my brother; After all, you are my family. I can't be sad for that- They both laughed. You will be at the wedding won't you?"

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

Two hours later she waved good-bye to her Aunt and then collapsed with exhaustion in the back of her limo. After having such a wonderful day she couldn't wait for dinner. It was the only time of the day that she and Athrun could spend quality time together which seemed few and far between, eventhough, he still hadn't moved in yet, they often planned their evening meals together. As soon as she walked in the house she ran straight to her bedroom to change, and set the letter on her night stand as she prepared to meet with the man of her dreams. Overwhelmed with excitement she pulled out the ring that had been sitting in her top dresser drawer for so long. She decided that she would wear it tonight in addition to a beautiful purple island dress with a seashell necklace to reflect her mood. While waiting for athruns arrival she was about to open the letter, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Excuse me for the intrusion Lady Cagalli, but Master Athrun Zala has arrived."

Master Athrun she thought- no more Alex Dino he's finally accepted his destiny. She looked at the letter and thought I'll have to save it for later. She gently placed it on the nightstand and then turned to leave.

As she walked into the dinning room, Athrun stood up, as she gracefully walked to her chair at the elongated dinner table. He could hardly believe his eyes.

"Why are you staring at me like that" she said looking somewhat surprised.

"I'm sorry" Athrun said shockingly "it's just that you look amazing!"

"What are you trying to say?" Athrun was taken aback like a scared rabbit and cagalli laughed and said, "I'm joking thank you." At that moment he noticed the ring.

"You're…. wearing it!"

"Well yeah, what did you think! I mean- we are en...gaged"

"I know but its just- ahhh thanks", he smiled in deep admiration, "So what took you so long, I've been waiting for an hour?" said athrun as they both sat down to eat.

"I went to have lunch with Kira's mother and I kind of lost track of time- sorry about that-"

"It's alright your defiantly worth waiting for, but not for long the weekend after next you'll finally be my wife." They both grinned at the thought of that.

Towards the end of the evening before they kissed each other good night Athrun mentioned to Cagalli that he would be going to the plants next weekend. Ezak, Dearka, Kira and the others were going to throw him a bachelor party and asked if she would like to come along and spend some time with lacus and visit Kira.

"No" she said apprehensively, "I'll see him at the wedding"

"I really do wish you would reconsider- I guess I'll see you tomorrow"~ they embraced and then kissed each other goodnight.

For the rest of the week it was business as usual. One meeting after the next, and one project after the other, but as long as Athurn was by her side she didn't have to worry about the safety of her country. Only the state of the government, Even though, she had many supporters she still had a few enemies who would love to see her ousted or with little power if none at all. Then one morning she woke up and before she realized it- it was Friday. Not only was it A national day off from work It was also the day Athrun was leaving for the plants. This time next weekend she would be Mrs. Cagalli Yula Attha Zala- After all, she did say that she wasn't going to change her name-, but that didn't mean she couldn't add to it. As far as she was concerned what better way for her and Athrun to tie their destiny's together then with the same name.

Then while she was drinking her tea at the tea table in her room as she did every morning. She realized that she hadn't read the letter, and it had been a week. It was at least 3 more hours before she was to meet Athrun at the shuttle, so she thought she'd take an hour for herself. Well ...There's no time like the present, at least thats what whe was thinking as she opened the letter to read it.

Twenty-minutes later a loud sound of glass shattering could be heard from cagalli's room-

"Miss Cagalli is everything alright! Miss Cagalli!" I'm coming in – As soon as the butler entered the room he saw Cagalli as white as a ghost, and catatonic at that-

"Are you alright!" - The butler asked…

Cagalli couldn't find the words to speak…. but~When the butler said, "I'll contact master Zala"

Cagalli uttered "- No! - I'm alright, I was jusssttt Having premarital jitters-please don't worry Athrun, It's nothing really"

Inspite, of saying that- nothing could erase what she just read. She knew that letter was going to turn her entire life if not world upside down.

Cagalli could hardly contain herself after much assurance butler Ito left. "What do I do?" she thought "Who do I tell?"

First she wanted to run to Kira. Secondly she thought she should tell Athrun. Why not, after all they would soon share everything together and he is to be part of her life. There was only one hour until shuttle lift off, and no time to waste. She would have to drive herself to the launch pad. She Quickly jumped into Athrun's black convertible Lamborghini that he left in her care, and drove like a maniac racing to get to him. What seemed like hours to her were actually minutes. Once she arrived she ran like wildfire to reach his side.

"Athrun! Wait!" screamed Cagalli as she held her hand up running toward him trying to get his attention.

"I'm so glad you came" said Athrun with an elated look on his face. As he looked around he seemed a bit puzzled and then he noticed that something didn't seem quite right.

"No guards?...ah I see you've changed your mind about going to the plants-that's great! Kira and lacus will be so surprised no wonder you were racing to get to me….I noticed that you didn't bring any luggage. DON'T worry we'll buy everything you need when we get there."

"-but Athrun…..I…uh"

"Hum, what is it? Come on we've got to hurry, we'll talk about it after we take off" Just as he said that he grabbed her hand and started dragging her toward the shuttle. Cagalli saw the look of excitement on his face and realized that she didn't, no she couldn't burden him with what she had to tell him, and she must protect Kira, no she needed to protect all of them from what lies ahead.

After a moment or two of pulling her to the shuttle Athrun began to realize that she was exasperating. So he stopped and turned around.

"Cagalli?" said Athrun with this troubled look on his face, as he gazed deep into her golden eyes-something looked a miss, it's as if her soul had been tampered with, within a moments time he couldn't contain himself when he forcefully asked, "WHATS WRONG!?" as if he was demanding her very life.

Cagalli had never seen this look of seriousness, anger and despair all rolled up into one in his expressions before- even if it wasn't what she wanted- she had to say something.-

"Nothing! AHHH it's ju…st you go on ahead. I'll see you when you get back" Athrun looked disappointed, not knowing whether to believe her or not, but he didn't have time to ponder the thought as the shuttle needed to take off before the atmospheric window closed. However, he did manage to bring forth a smile as if to comfort her in some small way.

"I guess it's ok then, After all we'll soon have the rest of our lives together." Cagalli tilted her head to the side and forced a smile upon her face.

"Um.. hum Ath-"before she could edge another word out he embraced her passionately and kissed her moist lips as if it were the last time.

"I love you Athrun", Cagalli said as he boarded the shuttle for the plants.

As she watched his shuttle take off toward the orange blue sky all she could do was close her eyes and pray for strength. She promised herself that she would face this alone. She decided that from this point forward she no longer wanted to be protected without being able to protect. Now that Athrun was gone there was no going back, her decision had been made. As the last smoke stream disappeared in the now starry lit sky-thinking about the letter she whispered beneath her breath, "What am I?"