Hey guys! Happy belated Easter and God bless!

An update on life: My uncle passed away- he didn't get a liver in time. Thank you for all the prayers because they were a tremendous comfort :) But you know, while I stayed at the hospital till five in the morning, holding my Uncle's hand, crying, I realized. The worst part wasn't that his time was up- so much as I didn't take the time we had together to get to know him. And now I will always regret that- that I had a chance and I didn't take it- I waited till the last moment to get to know my Uncle. And in that moment I learned that my Uncle was afraid, but he had a lot of faith. He was afraid but strong, brave. Happy. At peace. So anyway, I just want to dedicate this story to him for reasons that will come clear in the end.

Going on-

NOTE: All military/war events spoken of by Cagalli are FICTIONAL and created for the SAKE of the story in ignorance of all military conduct. WORK WITH ME FOLKS. Same goes for the medical reference to PTSD. PLEASE NO ONE GET OFFENDED :(

REPLIES TO REVIEWERS:

ESP- Thanks for being the cherry ontop of the review sundae- I have to say, I love hearing from you because I always know I'm going to get some honest critique and I love that :D

Well, yeah, i feel like it was just yesterday I was going into highschool and college was whatever, and school was school and I had all this free time. Now I'm transitioning from highschool to college and it's like suddenly , BOOM, hell.

Whoever said "childhood is the happiest time of my life." needs a punch in the face. hahah, just kidding-

I wanted to give Cagalli a sad undercurrent- just because I wouldn't be me if there wasn't some sort of twist somewhere in the story ;) And I feel like Satan spawn demanding everyone to review...oh God... I used to hate when people would make those kind of ultimatums (still do O_O ) Someone, beat me with my own hypocrisy.

Well, my view of Athrun is that he is an introvert kind of dude and Cagalli is an extrovert. Which is fantastic if you want to write stories where they collide. But writing them together I actually find very difficult because, thanks to the lack of asucaga scenes (curse you GSD!) I am always guessing at how they interact. Literally, you can hear me when I write "Would Athrun say that? Athrun why must you be so difficult! GAH!" So you'll see in my writing that Athrun diverts between intro and extrovert personas... it's bothersome.

But I do like introvert Athrun best :) I'm just not good with writing him :/

Anyway, I wasted enough of your time :P hahaha, Hope this read continues the good read you left off in the first chapter and thanks!

Shuuta Hikaru -

I must ask, does your screen name mean anything? :)

Yes, well, as you'll see in this chapter, since this is only a three shot, I'm only highlighting important moments of their life . And thank you so much :) I miss making readers smile, gah, you guys are so amazing _

IVIoogle-

She's such a nice change from all the damsels in distress that clog the anime world! You can call me anything you want, hahaha, Reflected Shadows, Azetta, butthead, jerk who never updates- I answer to all sorts of things ;P

You are just a dear heart:) Seriously, how do you manage to reduce me to warm fuzzies with your reviews- is this like, some sorta secret power?

Idk why, but I do love writing Cagalli and Athrun bickering- like I feel like true romances between couples are alive. It's not all physical, it's not all lovey-dovey. It's alive and exciting and fresh and original, every day. But maybe that's just me :P haha.

Thank you so much:) for everything:) Yeah, I'm looking forward to when I fully come back too hahahaha

hardcoreGSfan-

hahahahah! You cracked me up "muse hunting" *clicks gun* it's on! They can run, but they can't hide! Thank you so much! I had to read your review twice cause it made me laugh so hard ^_^ thanks for the smiles :)

mrs. zala-

I miss my stories too.. If you see them tell them that it's past their curfew and to come in with muses at hand ;D Yeah, i know- it really drives me crazy. Just because I too am a reader and I just hate when a story I'm reading just randomly stops for whatever period of time. So I know the torment and it juts makes me want to handcuff myself to a computer and not be released until I have updated everything... Unfortunately I'm at the moment handcuffed to my school. ... Not sure what you meant by "interesting more interesting," etc- but I hope I nailed it O_o

Syalala-

Thanks! hahaha, I debated on that- and I wish now thanks to this chapter that I had gone with her as a foot soldier, but while writing the first chapter, all I could think was of when she flew the jet. smh.

ahahhah, something along those lines- it's a three shot, so short and sweet but yeah, you'll see ;) Thanks!

Cagszala -

when i first read your choses anon screen name I thought I had read 'godzilla' wrong ahahhaha. And thank you so much :) God bless!

lezala-

I know... have you ever been in a conversation where someone's talking and you hve no idea what the heck they are talking about, but they obviously realy care so you try to too for their sake? ...yeah. hahaha

Of course! Thanks for reviewing! :)

Yennefer - hey! it's the polish girl- run!

hahaha, just kidding- Hey, question, how do you feel about girls from Lithuania? My brother's dating one- her accent's thick, I don't understand her very well sometimes haha, but she's nice. she told me that every European country thinks they're the best of Europe. I asked her which country she thought was the best and she said her own of course hahaha. I'm sure there's some stereo type jokes on her country you could share ;)

Well, ya know, five brothers, I should have learned by now how to writing sibling relationships, hhaha.

for your thing about Cagalli's military past- wish granted. hahaha.

Well, I was so proud of myself with the last chapter- since I'm never good at making people seem their age when they are adults. This chapter dismantled all that. Cagalli and Athrun turn into teenagers again- boom!

Thanks! :) hope your studies are going well! :D And do you celebrate easter? and how? Like I ean, what do you do for Easter, etc?

Nelshafeena-

hahahha, I like to make up originial stories to some degree- so the military thing was unexpected to me too hahaha. Thank you for the review :)

THANKS EVERYONE FOR READING (and sorry for the grammar/spelling/writing mistakes... -_-,)

*I do not own GS or GSD

"It's a beautiful day isn't it, Athrun?"

"Not as beautiful as you,"

"Hah! Perhaps in my younger days. Or never."

"Always in my heart, Cagalli."

"Sap! …Are you done eating lunch?"

"Yes- would you like me to continue the story I began this morning."

"Do please-you were right it is a wonderful story! I have missed it for so long…"

"Begging me, Cagalli? A little out of character for you."

"Shut up you sap!"

"Is that anyway to ask someone to do something for you?"

"Alright, alright, please go on….Athrun the sap."

"Ha. Ha. Very well, you minx, here we go-

The Roses were Red

The Violets were blue

My life began

When I met you

Forty years ago

Sometimes we get a feeling deep inside. Often time's we don't notice it right away. It's a feeling that is rarer then a blue moon and we only feel it when we see that one special person. Our soulmates. Sent to open our eyes- sent to show us that the world with out them is dull- unfulfilling and sour. And when we have this feeling, delicate as a small flower- it's our duty to snatch it, cradle it to our hearts, protect it from every trial sent our way and never lose the person who gave it to us. For with out them, life is meaningless.

Ring! Ring!

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" a pajama-clad Cagalli shouted through the empty apartment, stumbling over the randomly placed furniture as she went. "Hah!" One mad tackle had her half splayed across her kitchen counter and she swiped the cordless phone from it's cradle. "H'lo!" she gasped into the phone. "Excuse me, hello?"

"Um hello?" issued an unfamiliar male voice into her ear.

Cradling the phone between her shoulder and ear, Cagalli scooted off the counter- her barefeet hitting the cool kitchen floor.

"This is Cagalli- who is this?" she asked.

"Oh, uh, hi!" The person half stammered. "This is Athrun-"

Except it sounded more like "Aaron."

"Who?" Cagalli asked again.

The person cleared his throat. "My name, it's Athrun. Athrun Zala."

A pair of blonde eyebrows went up. "Oh that's right, I remember you." She didn't sound thrilled. He sounds a lot less suave then I remembered… She giggled softly as Athrun cleared his throat.

"Soo, why ya calling?" Cagalli asked, glancing about for a place to sit. Since she had just moved into her three roomed apartment, she hadn't gotten around to placing all the furniture she had just boughten, so she settled for hopping up to sit on the edge of the counter, swinging her feet as she did.

"Uh, Well," Athrun sounded careful, timid maybe and Cagalli grinned to herself. "You suggested that we take a tour of the town together… or something like that." The last couple words were a mumble but cheekily Cagalli repeated.

"Or something like that."

A sigh. And then. "You're laughing at me aren't you?" Athrun accused.

"Now why would I do something like that?"

"Because you're a brat."

Amber eyes flared and the owner of them huffed. "Them are fighten' words partner!" she scowled. I can't believe it- did he just really call me a 'brat?!

"Can you prove to me that you're not and meet me for that date?" Athrun quipped.

"What date? I don't need a date." Cagalli stubbornly replied, glaring at the mess that arrayed her family room. Kira needs to get back from his honey moon so he can help me move this stuff!

"Well what do you need?"

"Muscles." Cagalli absentmindedly spoke. A moment later it occurred to her, her words, and her skin flushed. "I mean, I need someone to help me move my things around."

"Okay." Athrun replied.

Cagalli twirled a string of hair around her finger. Then froze. "Okay?"

"Okay, I'll meet you at your apartment and help you move things around." Athrun said calmly.

"Well, that's nice of you but-" Cagalli began but Athrun cut her off quickly.

"Look, it will just be as friends. I'll help you move things around and then maybe afterwood go out for something to eat."

"You buying?" she checked.

Athrun sighed. "Yes, you get a free meal out of this, what more do you want."

Cagalli grinned, kicking her feet in glee. "Alright! How soon will you be over?"

A knock sounded on her front door.

"Now."

The phone slipped from her fingers as her face went pale. "No way." Cagalli whispered. She scurried- hop, skip, jump over boxes- to the door and peered through the peep hole.

There stood the blunette, peering right back from the other side.

She yelped before grabbing the knob and twisting the door open. "How the hell did you get ere so fast." She paused. "How the hell did you know where I lived?! I just moved in!"

Hands jammed in the pockets of his leather coat, Athrun rocked on his heels- uncomfortable under the scrutiny of the blonde. "Um, I hacked into your accounts and stalked you on google satellite-"

"I knew it!" she breathed, clutching the door frame.

He frowned. "I'm kidding."

"Oh." She half looked disappointed.

Athrun rolled his eyes. "Kira gave me it- he gave me your phone number to. I stopped by to call."

"Oh- that bastard of a brother! He can't stay long enough to help me set up but he makes sure to give you my address and number. When I get my hands on him." The blonde fumed, make claw motions in the air.

"Um." Athrun shifted again uncomfortable and her fierce gaze switched to him.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

"Well can I come in?" he asked, feeling awkward as he shuffled his feet in the hall way of the complex.

"Oh." Cagalli blinked, flustered. "Um, yeah." She gestured to the entrance and he smiled slightly as he walked past her inside.

"By the way," he called over his shoulder. "Those are cute pajamas!"

Horrified, Cagalli checked her clothing and sure enough, she was wearing her footie pajamas.

Athun turned to face her. "I love the robots." He chuckled.

Cagalli sniffed, trying to regain her dignity. "I'll have you know that Gundam is all the rage amongst people our age."

"Oh I bet- that's why I hear about them so much- oh wait! I don't!" Athrun laughed at Cagalli's outraged expression.

"Bastard- get out!" she roared reaching for him.

"Ulp!" Athrun dodged and darted away, scampering through her living room. For the next two minutes a mad chase ensued of the blonde chasing the blunette through her tiny apartment. Which sounds easy but with the numerous obstacles placed- it was rather challenging.

But towards the end of it, the scowl had faded from Cagalli's face and they were both laughing.

"Oh, you are pain, hamsterbrain." Cagalli gasped through her giggles, she slid onto a empty seat on her couch.

"Hamster brain?" Athrun noted, making sure she wasn't faking her exhaustion as he exited the safety of the kitchen.

Cagalli nodded. "Hamster brain- I noticed it the other night and just now- you always look like you're thinking a thousand things at once at record breaking speed but never getting anywhere. Like a hamster in a wheel."

"Oh," said Athrun, taken aback. Surprised, but a little flattered that she had thought about him enough to give him a nick name… even if it was hamster brain. "Thanks."

She eyed him oddly. "It wasn't exactly a compliment."

He shrugged. "It's not the worst nickname I've received." He grinned. "Kinda like it."

She rolled her eyes.

"What about you?" he prodded her in the bicep.

Warily she poked back. "What about me?"

"Well got any nicknames?"

She scowled. "Sure I do."

"Like," he prodded.

Cagalli frowned, crossing her arms over her chest- which would look very stern if not for the colorful, full-body pajamas- and leaned her head back. "Well, Kira used to call me Cags. In highschool some of my friends called me Alli."

Athrun eyed her speculatively. "I don't see you as an Alli. Seems too put together."

"Hey!"

"Go on." He said quickly, smiling

She glared at him for a moment then sighed. "My Dad used to call me Ballsy." She admitted.

Athrun choked. "Ballsy?" he stuttered, trying not to laugh.

At first Cagalli tried to not laugh but then she giggled. "It was a long time ago, when I was little and didn't know what it meant. I used to get into some crazy shenanigans and my Dad would say serenely to my mother 'What can I say, she's Ballsy.'"

Athrun laughed.

"And then," Cagalli paused. Half frowning.

"Then?"

"Well, the platoon I was part of…" she half laughed, half sighed. "They would call me Matches."

Sensing a troubling story behind it, Athrun asked softly. "And why's that?"

Amber eyes met his, the turbulent golden shade darkening. "In my first year out- our base got swarmed before we could make it to the air, so until new jets came in, we were sent out as ground force. We would plan ambushes on enemy villages and to do that we need to chase them out. So we would create a crescent around the village with fire- herding them toward us… We would burn their villages to the ground." her voice was a soft hiss. "And I was the one in charge of making sure that the fires were lit and that nobody escaped through them." Cagalli closed her eyes- forgetting for a moment where she was. In her ears all she could hear was the ta-ta-ta-ta of bullets as they whipped through the night, matching the thudding of her heart. Screams and hoarse yells, the sounds of wood creaking groaning and splitting, and the fire. Burning in it's hunger as it reached out tendrils of heat, trying to suck you into it's depths, it's foul smoke breath smothering your voice as you succumb. She hated the fire, the heat that caused sweat to slide down her skin beneath her uniform, the smoke that billowed up like the picture on a cigarette add. She tried not to think about it, focus on her other senses. Below her she could feel the hard ground, coarse grass poking through the rips in her fabric like little pins. The arm that she had wrapped snuggly around her gun trembled from being stiff for so long.

She lied in wait here, for any brave soul that managed to survive a wild leap over the flames. It had happened before- and they had only lived long enough for one triumphant whoop before she shot them.

I shouldn't be here. Cagalli thought desperately. I left this world behind. I'm somewhere warm and safe in a clean apartment- ready to start my life over. Not here. And itching feeling tugged at her eyelids, demanding them to open but she quailed inwardly at the thought. She didn't want to see the carnage before her. The flashes of gun fire through the smoke. The hell blaze that was consuming a village, leaving nothing but smooth bones, wreckage and death.

It felt like tiny claws were curling around her eyelids, peeling them back. "No!" she cried. "No no no! No!"

"Cagalli!"

Her eyes flew open and she exhaled a shudder, her heart racing. Athrun was leaning over her, and she stared confusedly into his concerned green pools. Like a green forest- cool, safe, hidden. A haven from all the darkness in the world. "Where am I?" Cagalli whispered.

"You're in your apartment. Are you alright? Don't sit up right away." He warned as she tried to get her bearings.

"I'm fine." Cagalli broke her gaze away. "Just forgot myself for a moment." She mumbled, feeling her cheeks flush red. "Please let me up… please." She said softly, darkly.

Athrun held up his hands in surrender and Cagalli straightened up, sighing as she felt her tense muscles relax.

"You shouldn't have seen that." She whispered, glaring at her white hands that were clenched together in her lap.

There was a silence then. "Cagalli… were you having a flash back?" Athrun asked quietly.

"No!" Cagalli lied, her head whipping around to face him.

"Cagalli!" he grabbed her shoulders, shaking them gently and she glared at him furiously, her body tensing beneath her. "Do you have PTSD." Athrun asked seriously.

"No!"

"Cagalli!"

She clenched her teeth.

He sighed, releasing her. "Does Kira know?"

She bit her lip. A no.
He raised an eyebrow- not about to criticize her in her fierce defensive state. "Are you receiving treatment?"

She relaxed. "Yes." She hedged softly and Athrun too relaxed, half smiling.

"That's good then."

She nodded. It's not a complete lie. She thought guiltily of the unopened pill bottle in her suitcase that she hadn't touched and never would. I don't want to be medicated more!

She hated hospitals. Medicine. Doctors. And their damn predictions! They hardly come true half the time anyway! They can't tell me how to live!

Noticing the troubled state of the blonde, Athrun hesitantly put a hand on her clenched fists. In a heart beat, steel golden eyes were piercing him. Trying to loosen the atmosphere that hung heavy he said gently. "Easy there- Do you want to get started?"

"Started?" she repeated blankly.

"On your apartment." Athrun gestured around the living room. "I thought that was why you let me in."

She blinked before standing. Suddenly a vicious smile split her face.

Athrun shivered. If a lioness could grin. He thought dryly, amused as he took her proffered hand and stood. Her hand felt so small an cold within his and dismay flashed through him as she withdrew it from his grasp.

"You are my slave for the day." She cackled.

"I am a slave now are I?"

"If you want to take me out to lunch you are-" she snipped.

"I wasn't aware that you were buying lunch." He replied sarcastically and she smirked. "Alright- what do we move first?"

"The couch!"

The two delved into the chaos that was her apartment, shifting furniture, unpacking boxes and occasionally throwing a pillow back and forth at each other, laughing and joking. Any observer watching would have made the assumption that the two were younger then their appearance from the way they acted. The two grown ups who had danced on the beach at night had dissolved along with their barriers into two giggling teenagers, glowing with delight in each others presence as they pranced about like a doe and a buck in spring.

"Sooo let me get this straight." Cagalli laughed, bouncing on the cushions of her couch, watching as Athrun positioned a mirror on the opposite white wall. Seeing her ridiculous, pajama clad form bouncing in and out of view, hair flinging, made her only laugh harder and she made faces at herself until Athrun turned to look at her. "You are the son Patrick Zala?"

Athrun's eyes followed her as she made her course up and down. "Yup." Normally when people started in on his family and his rich heritage he would clam up and get grumpy- but watching Cagalli shed her burdens and laugh happily made his heart quicken it's pace, and his own smile spread. She is more then pretty, he amended his first impression of Kira's sister. She is beautiful.

"THE Patrick Zala."

"There's only one." His eyebrows raised. She pointed to the cushion next to her, a silent order.

If someone had told Athrun Zala earlier that morning that he would be asked to bounce on a couch while in conversation with a beautiful girl, simply conversing, Athrun would have laughed.

If that person had also added that Athrun Zala would take his prada shoes off, role up the sleeves of his blouse, take the beautiful girl's hands, hop on the couch,and while not bounce, help the girl leap higher, Athrun Zala would have kindly suggested they stop by a psychologist to make sure everything was mentally sound.

With any other person t would have been childish, silly, immature and a waste of time.

With any other dressed up girl with the perfect features- whether from make up or surgery- whose only interest was his looks and his wallet it would have also been childish, silly, immature, and a waste of time.

But with Cagalli- in her pajamas, her hair knotted and on it's way to becoming a rats nest- the prior nights mascara slightly smeared about her eyes- it was wonderful, adorable, new and golden.

"So you're this uber rich boy." Cagalli burst, in between bounces. "And you're planning to take me to fast food? Ruddy fast food!"

Athrun's serene face stuttered. "Well," he began but before he could say something the blond's next bounce propelled her to him and his arms flew around her to catch her.

In any movie he would have caught her and braced her fall onto the floor below.

But in their reality- and Athrun's sudden lack of coordination as he found himself flustered by Cagalli's startled face inches from his; Cagalli hit the ground with a thud.

"Are you alright?" Athrun yelped, stumbling down to kneel beside her. The shocked blonde stared up at him.

"How many fingers am I holding up?" he demanded as she dazedly sat up, rubbing her head.

She frowned and glared at him. "How many fingers am I holding up?" she sarcastically replied, holding up one particular finger.

Athrun sighed. "Well it looks like you survived that fall."

Cagalli pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "My skull is thick." She said loftily and Athrun chuckled.

The moment of childishness was over and while the moment of being young had faded, Athrun still felt the goldeness with him. He found himself beginning to notice little things about Cagalli.

The way she would try to tuck the shorter angles around her ears only for them to fall back into her face. The way she walked and moved like a new born foal, testing out her limbs. The way she smiled with her eyes, like it was a secret joke they shared. And even now as she examined a couple of freckles on the crease of her arm, shaking her elbow as if it would make them flake warm feeling in Athrun's chest was swiftly spreading and every time he glanced her way he felt a little more tongue tied, happier, his eyes softening with adoration. And he wanted to be good now. Before living life had been a mix of meeting the demands of work and fun- but Kira's wedding had cued twists in his life.

The realization that he wanted more.

And maybe that Cagalli was the more he wanted.

And in turn he wanted to be wanted by her- and as he considered the proud girl, no, woman, before him, he knew it would be harder then it looked.

"you know," Cagalli, crooked her head to side, peering at him. Athrun's heart leapt, as if electrified by her gaze. "I'm really glad that-"

A knock sounded on the door and Cagalli's head whipped around. Athrun felt like a deflated balloon and he cursed the knocker for interrupting Cagalli.

"Coooming." Cagalli called, unfolding from her position and darting to the door.

"Cagalli," Athrun hissed after her and she paused, glancing at him confusedly, "You're still in your pajamas!"

She glanced down, shrugged, and opened the door a slit.

"Hello?" her voice sounded. Athrun couldn't hear who ever stood at the door. "Yes, I'm Cagalli… Oh yeah, sure. Here ya go… Thanks, have a good day!" The door closed and she trotted back, holding a box.

"What's that?" Athrun asked curiously, standing and following her into her kitchen. Cagalli pulled a military issued knife from a drawer and began sawing away at the packages taping.

"Some pictures I ordered be printed." She explained. Athrun came to stand beside her at the counter, looking curiously over her shoulder.

"These are some pictures people took at the wedding." Cagalli explained, sorting the pictures out on to the counter. "That's Mom and Dad… Kira in boy scouts."

Athrun chuckled. "I knew it! I knew he had lied about not being in the boy scouts."

Cagalli glanced at him in a half smile. "Yeah, he doesn't like admitting to it because one time, on a trip in the mountains, he left the pack to pee and got lost and they had to send out search parties for a day to find him." She sighed and shook her head. "The poor child couldn't navigate his way out of a womb so my mom had to get a C section for the both of us. That's my mom with us right after we were born." She held up a picture of a pretty brunette woman, wearing a hospital gown and beaming down at the wrapped babies in both either arm.

"Is Kira the one that's super red and crying?" Athrun asked.

"Yup," Cagalli snickered before turning back to the pile.

"That's me at prom- I went stag. That's Kira when he graduated college- smart ass. That's me on graduation day from boot camp with my platoon." Her hand wavered as she picked up the next picture. "This is me with what's left of my first platoon."

"Who are they?" Athrun asked softly.

"Yzak's the silver haired one- thought he was gay the first year- then I realized he was just really pathetic at making his feelings known to Shiho- she's the girl next to him. Dearka's on my left with the blonde hair, and if it looks like he was making an attempt at grabbing my butt while I was focused on the camera, it's because he was. Lech. That's Shinn and Luna, they're my best friends, and I hear they are getting out soon and getting married! That's Meyrin, Luna's sister next to her. She dated Nicole, the green haired one…" Cagalli paused in her chatter. "He died right before I got back. I didn't get to say good bye…"

"I'm sorry." Athrun said softly, hesitantly placing a comforting hand no her shoulder.

She shrugged. "It's alright. No one lives forever. We knew that well."

"Why did you leave them?" Athrun asked softly, watching her steadily.

Her hair, a blonde curtain cut off his view of her face. "Oh just some…health concerns."

"Ah." Athrun recalled Cagalli's strange episode hours ago in the living room. "PTSD."

"Yeah." The blonde squared her shoulders, dumping the pictures back into the box and picking it up. She carried it into the living room, Athrun trailing behind slowly.

No wonder she doesn't like talking about PTSD, I'm sure for a soldier with a pride like hers, it's shameful.

Cagalli spun to face him. "Hey, do you want to go out for lunch and shopping."

"Shopping." Athrun repeated warily.

She nodded. "I would like to pick up some picture frames… ya know for the pictures. I thought that instead of painting the wall and making a mess I rather decorate it with memories." Her pale arms wrapped around herself. "Making it seem a little more like…home." Her voice seemed sad, and all youthfulness faded from her. Her eyes sharpened with the things she's seen, lines of weariness forming causing her to seem older and weighed down. Everything's changing. Cagalli thought. Except me and I'm afraid if I don't catch up, I'll be swept away and forgotten like a lost sail boat in a flood.

For a moment she shivered, as if cold and an arm suddenly wrapped around her snuggly, pulling her against someone's warm, hard chest. She crooked her head back, peering through her bangs at the intent Athrun.

"You're not as bad as I thought Cagalli." He whispered, his breath fanning across her face.

Cagalli's lips twitched and she wriggled out of his one arm embrace. "And here I had just started thinking you weren't quite the player I thought you were."

Athrun shrugged, not at all swayed by her negative reaction. "You got me." He raised his hands in surrender.

Cagalli chewed on her lip for a moment. "Well, I guess that's all to it, let's go."

She skipped to the door, only to realize Athrun hadn't followed. "Athrun?"

"Why don't you go get changed frist." Athrun said, eyebrows raising and Cagalli blushed.

"Riiiight."

What began as a morning and lunch first date, turned into a morning, lunch and dinner first date. After lunch they had walked around, Athrun giving Cagalli a tour of the small town as she shopped. Then she asked about his work and he showed her the building into which his father's company was in the process of expanding. the walk around town, thoroughly exhausted, the pair retired to a bar where they had dinner and a drink. There which after, a bubbly Cagalli insisted that they walk along the beach.

Walking behind her, watching the blonde dart over the wet sand, pausing to stoop over shells, Athrun thought.

And he thought of a lot of things- but all concerning the day and CAgalli.

When he had come by her apartment he hadn't expected an all day adventure- hardly a lunch. Most girls he had dated he couldn't stand being around for longer then a few hours. But with this particular one, he couldn't get enough. Her expressions, the sound of her laugh, the sarcastic snort that came from her throat; the way she would toss her head proudly as if her hair was a lions mane, and the way she would walk on the curb like a child, pretending it was a balancing beam when no one was looking. She was older beyond her years- old from the things she had seen and done. Burdened with all the dark secrets of the world. But at the same time he was freshly young, original, unique, and burning with life.

She was beautiful, clumsy, forgetful, competitive, blunt, eager to please and delighted by even the most childish of things.

From the recount of her past- it seemed to Athrun, she had left a child, and came back struggling to be a woman but not sure how.

But as she glanced over her shoulder at him, her eyes sparkling in the flickering embers of the dying sun, her loose pale pink blouse blown back, throwing her figure to light, Athrun simply knew.

But did she know? He had every intention to see her again after this, if not every day. He was ready, had been thinking about it all day, to persue this evasive thing called love.

But was she? Would she want to see him? Did her heart quicken when their eyes meet? Did she have any of the effect she had on him, simply because she felt it too?

Cagalli extended out a hand towards him, a grin spread across her face; an invataion.

One that Athrun was more then happy to accept.

"Athrun,"

He decidedly loved the way she called his name. Like he was a challenge that she had every intention of winning.

"Cagalli," Athrun returned, taking her hand. She held up her other which was clutching two shells.

"Do you have a marker?" she asked, sqauting like a frog in the sand.

Athrun bit his lip in amusement at her posture before kneeling beside her. "I have a highlighter." He reached in his pocket pulling out the purple marker.

"Exceeeelleent." She hissed, eyes glowing.

"What do you need it for?"

"Well, see, Kira and I used to, when we were little, go out to the beach and write wishes on shells and throw them into the ocean. Since he's not here tonight- maybe you would like to?" She didn't mention that she and Kira used to wish for their mom to come back every night.

Cagalli glanced up at Athrun, trying to guess the meaning to his raised eyebrows. Did he think it was childish and dumb? Her heart sank at the thought.

Then he smiled mischievously, took one of her proffered shells and began writing on the inside of it, blocking all of her attempts to see. Silently he handed her the marker when he was done, palming his shell over so that his inscription was hidden.

Burning with curiosity at both his expression and what he wrote, Cagalli tried not to take it to heart as she then turned to her shell.

She studied the worn, pink and orange shell for a moment, thinking. Her heart felt heavy, but feeling Athrun's studying gaze upon her, she forced a whimsical smile and wrote inn her messy script, hidden from his eyes.

Time.

A moment later, her pale hand fisted around it and she had lobbed it out as far as she could over the rasping sea. It lend yards out with a tiny splash. A moment later Athrun's shell joined hers and the two adults watched for a moment as they set their wishes asail.

"What did you wish for?" Cagalli asked, something stuck in her throat.

"What did you wish for?" Athrun countered, his voice right in her ear.

Startled, Cagalli spun to face him only to be snagged by his lithe arms and pulled into a deep kiss.

OHMYGOD. Her mind screamed as every synapse short fired and her body seemed to turn into jello.

It wasn't the first time Cagalli had been kissed, twice before by two boys in high school- but it was the first time that she kissed back.

Her heart hammered in chest and there sounded a roar in her ears like that of numerous helicopter blades slicing through the air. Electricity seemed to course through her, and she felt like she was being dangled off a clif. And the only thing that tethered her to the world was Athrun's warm, lips on hers.

For that was all she could think about. The feeling of his lips moving hers, his hands on her back and head as he held her close, tentative, curious, happy, and wonderful. The thrill! The warmth! The taste!

At last they broke apart, Cagalli gasping as she had forgotten to breathe, her eyes locked on Athrun, stunned.

"What in ruddy hell, Zala!" Because she didn't know what else to say other then 'Kiss me again!'

He smirked smugly before leaning forward to whisper in her ear. "Looks like my wish came true."

And far out in the ocean, dragged about by the fierce current, two shells spiraled about in a slowly sinking dance. On one said the word "Time." And on the other said "A kiss."

And whether Cagalli's vaugue wish would come true or not was yet unknown, it had been settled; Cagalli's and Athrun's fates were more then intersecting, but also intertwined. Intertwined like the shells formed by that special moment on the beach. Two secret wishes brought together.

A kiss in time.

A kiss which turned into kisses for as the dates turned into days, and the days turned into months, and they in to years, Athrun and Cagalli soon made a lot of wishes in time. Just in time.

Sure there was toils and tears, tribulations and fights, arguments that would last weeks, hurt ful words that would stain their hearts. But they prevailed, staying together and falling more desperately in love with eachother for also there was loving words, caresses, friendship, love, laughter, happiness and hope. Hope that turned into plans. Plans that turned into reality. A ring that turned into a promise.

A promise that turned into a life of happiness ever after.

Part 2 done! Alright guys- you know your mission! Scroll on down, click that magic button and let me know how bad this chapter was ;D LET's get that magic number 10!

Thanks again for reviewing :)

Lots of love,

Reflected Shadows