Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed or any of its characters.
Author's Notes: Hello, dear readers! I was surprised that I got feedback from my story and in fact, it made me happy! People were asking who is Daniel's father and if he's an OC. Yes, he is an original character to answer the latter, however for the former question, you have to keep reading. Well, here's a new chapter, a little longer now. Happy reading and enjoy!
After dropping Daniel to school and meeting his handsome new adviser, Cagalli found herself in the comfort of her spacious office with one hand holding her coffee mug and the other hand holding some pages of files she needed to sign. She looked normal with the coffee and the files, however, the pink tint on her cheeks is quite out of place. And that didn't escape her secretary's sharp eyes even though she was practically running to get inside her office.
Damn him, why did he have to be so attractive? Stupid blush. Stupid hormones. Stupid Athrun Zala.
A knock interrupted her thoughts and the door opened revealing a brown-haired, blue eyed woman. It is her secretary slash friend, Miriallia. "I've got some more papers for you to sign, my lady."
"Ah, yes. Please put them here." She pointed to a spot on her table in which a stack of papers was already growing. Miriallia placed the papers on the stack and she heard a quiet thank you from Cagalli, and then she faced her friend, their faces a few inches apart.
"You're blushing." Miriallia smiled with a weird glint in her blue eyes.
"NO I AM NOT!" Her face turned even redder, failing to suppress the blush.
"Yes, you are! Cagalli, you are putting ripe tomatoes to shame. Tell me, you met a handsome guy, didn't you?" Miriallia's smile never faded, it actually grew even wider. She knew Cagalli a bit too well.
Silence. Cagalli and Miriallia knew this game, and Cagalli also knew that she had to spill the beans already unless she wanted to be questioned further by her so called friend.
"Actually, yes."
"And where did you meet him?"
"At Daniel's new school. He was his adviser." Cagalli sighed.
"Hmm. Daniel's adviser, eh? I'm sure the little boy already has a plan up on his sleeves." Miriallia chuckled, Cagalli groaned.
Cagalli meeting new men was never a good sign, especially when little Daniel was around, he always tried to play matchmaker to Cagalli, and the pair knew that. For Miriallia, it was pure fun seeing the little boy's antics to get Cagalli hitched. For Cagalli, it was pure nightmare.
"I don't even want to go to his school again. Maybe I'll ask Kisaka to fetch him after his classes."
"You were always the killjoy, Cagalli." Miriallia smiled. "Maybe, you should give it a try."
"I know, Mir. But no thank you, I vowed to myself never to involve myself again to Daniel's matchmaking. It's a pain in the neck especially when the guy happens to be clingy and annoying." Both of them chuckled remembering the battered face of a certain purple-haired man.
"Oh well. Suit yourself, Cagalli." With that, Miriallia bade goodbye and left her office.
Cagalli sighed. Athrun seems to be a responsible and thoughtful guy, he looks handsome, his hair looks silky to touch, his face looks calming and what struck her the most is his eyes, they're beautiful. He is beautiful. Beautiful? What the hell. Cagalli needs to stop thinking of his son's adviser, Daniel's adviser for all people! What was she thinking?
Thankfully, Cagalli's unwanted train of thoughts is interrupted by her cellphone's ringing. She picked up her cellphone and looked at the screen: Overprotective Little Brother calling.
"Cagalli!! How are you?"
"I'm fine, Kira. What do you want?"
"You see, uh, Lacus and the kids want to have a little party of sorts to celebrate the first day of school and Lacus is hoping that you and Daniel can come?"
"Well, let me see," Cagalli opened her organizer and she was surprised that her schedule today wasn't that tight. "Oh. I'm free for dinner, I can be there by six, and can I ask a favor, Kira?"
"Yes, I will fetch Daniel at school, what time is his dismissal time?"
"Three in the afternoon, Kira." Cagalli smiled, her brother can be pretty reliable if he's not in overprotective mode. "Thank you, Kira! I owe you one! Love you!"
"We'll see you later, Cagalli! Bye!"
"Bye, Kira!" With that she closed her cellphone.
--
It was three in the afternoon and Kira was waiting patiently on one of the benches of Daniel's school, ORB International School. There is a wave after wave of students going out of the classrooms as the bell rung. Kira waited until the hallways aren't that clogged with many students anymore and decided to go in. Halfway through the corridors, Kira heard someone call his name.
"Kira?" Kira turned around to see the source of that unmistakable voice he hasn't heard for months.
In front of him stood a man a few inches taller than him and much paler than him. The distinctive midnight blue hair and green eyes adorned his flawless face.
"Athrun Zala." Kira smiled.
"Kira, it is you!" Athrun's grin grew wider and proceeded to hug Kira, his best friend who he hasn't seen in months.
"Well, how are you doing, Kira? Any plans on marrying Lacus yet?" Athrun threw a knowing grin at his friend.
Kira blushed a bit and cleared his throat. "Uh… Actually I already asked her and she said yes"
"Really?!" Athrun gave Kira a pat in the back. "Wow. When did that happen?"
"During her birthday that you unfortunately missed. Why'd you bury yourself on too much work in PLANTS anyways? And what are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be buried in paperwork in PLANTS? Oh no. Don't tell me, you're a pedophile now!"
"WHAT?! I'm not a pedophile, no, never! I'm teaching here."
"TEACHER?!" Kira looked at Athrun more intently. Sure, he carried some textbooks, but what the hell. Athrun and teaching doesn't seem right. "What are you thinking, Athrun? Did you eat anything funny?"
Athrun scratched his head smiled a bit before answering. "Well you see–"
"UNCLE KIRA!"
The two men looked at the source of the voice and saw a flash of blond hair quickly approaching them.
"Ugh. Uncle Kira! I thought you left me already!" The little blond boy pouted while he looked up to Kira.
Kira kneeled in front of Daniel and messed up his hair. "I'm sorry, Daniel. I was just caught up by the little discussion I'm having here with my friend."
Daniel didn't notice that Kira is with someone. He looked up to see his adviser. "Mr. Zala?..."
"Hello there, Daniel. You were gone in a flash when the bell rung." The little boy can run, and really fast.
"I needed to go to the comfort room." Daniel tried to stop the blush threatening to taint his cheeks.
"You know each other?" Kira asked the two of them, and they nodded.
Athrun supplied an explanation. "He's in my advisory class… and how about you two? Daniel's uncle, am I right?" Kira nodded. And then Athrun's eyes became wide as saucers and started pointing back and forth on the two of them.
"So you mean you're… you're Mrs. Attha's brother?! I thought you didn't have any siblings?!"
"Well, you never asked anyways."
--
The sun already set when Cagalli tiredly closed the last folder of the files she signed. She leaned comfortably in her cushioned office chair and closed her eyes briefly. She opened her eyes again to look at her wristwatch indicating the time, 5:45PM. "Oh God. I'm gonna be late!" With that, she got her bag, sped out of her office and said a quick goodbye to Miriallia.
--
"I wonder where Cagalli is, it is already past six." Lacus looked worriedly at Kira who is helping her prepare the dinner table.
"Should I call her now?" Kira looked at Lacus with the same concern in his eyes.
"Probably not. Maybe she just got stuck in traffic. I know she'll be here." Lacus gave Kira a reassuring smile, concern still evident in her eyes. "Go get the children, let's eat."
--
The dining room was packed with children along with a few adults namely Kira, Lacus and Kira's guest, and some of the workers from the orphanage. They were having a little feast because it was the first day of elementary school for most of the orphans, and the workers suggested a celebration. Of course, the children were all excited considering that they saw lots of sweets and pastries on the table, the adults then proceeded to distribute food around the table. While everybody was eating happily, Daniel looked up and asked Kira, "Uncle Kira, where's mom?"
"She's probably on th–" Kira was unintentionally cut by the melodic ringing of the doorbell. Before he can step one foot forward to answer the door, a voice piped up and said "I'm gonna get it."
--
It was thirty minutes past six when Cagalli parked her car in the orphanage's driveway and proceeded to ring the doorbell of the said place. She can hear the children's ecstatic voices from the outside, they were probably eating right now, she thought. She was about to ring the doorbell again when the door opened to reveal someone who made her hormones go haywire.
"…Mr. Zala?"
End of Chapter 2
