WOW! Thank you everyone that reviewed the first chapter! I didn't think many people would respond that quickly to one simple post. Hehehe, but I did read a translation of a article where they put Athrun and Cagalli as Lovers, I think in Newtype? (which by the way I don't own.)

Anyway, there is a hint after the dumb moment in episode 45, that towards the end Cagalli and Athrun might get back together. I don't know how in 5 episodes left of the series, so let us all keep our fingers crossed. However, if it was translated correctly it said something about Athrun and Cagalli being more mature in their relationship and they are more or less meant to be, and how Meyrin would react to that. If you know about this article and can get me a good translation, please do!

Once again thank you for the reviews and I was glad to make many of you happy. So on with the story!

Never Too Late…

Disclaimers: Right now I wish that I did own Gundam Seed Destiny, but I do not. This story will more than likely be AU due to the current events of episode 45. So if you haven't watched the episode yet, it's a major disappointment for Cagalli/Athrun fans.

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Chapter Two

Meyrin Hawke walked up to Athrun with her eyes focused on Cagalli, "She asked me to watch after you when we went up into space. She was going to let you go permanently…that is why she took off the ring, she was thinking you would return to PLANT and to ZAFT when this was all over."

"What," Athrun looked at Cagalli. Cagalli backed away but he wasn't going to let her go. "Is this true? Did you think I wouldn't return to you?"

"Can we talk about this later," Cagalli asked in a small whisper but Athrun heard it. He silently complied with her wishes, at least for now. He wanted answers and he wanted them fast. Athrun let Cagalli go but kept at least one arm around her waist as Cagalli began her small speech to the Archangel crew.

"Captain Ramius and crew, I welcome you back to Orb. I'm glad that you have all returned back safely and wish you all some time off from the battlefield. May you all enjoy your break from all kind of duties and obligations." Cagalli saluted and went to go to her limo but remembered Athrun was beside her. She grabbed his hand and he walked side by side with her.

"Do you think Cagalli will tell him," Kira asked as Kisaka began following after the couple.

"She has no choice now," Kisaka responded as he followed after the girl. He was after all her bodyguard once again, but he also wanted to make sure hurricane Cagalli didn't hit any time soon. Especially when she finds out what has been going on behind her back, but it was in her best interest.

"She is going to kill you," Murrue told Kira with a wink. "Is it worth it?"

Kira nodded, "She might be mad at first but she will thank us later."

"You will have to answer along with the rest of us," Lacus reminded everyone. "We were very involved in Athrun being more bold with his feelings."

"Oh do you mean all those talks you had with him," Neo Lorrnorke asked with an arched eyebrow. "I mean, I think you nailed it in him pretty hard not to forget the blonde girl."

"Well it was more of a way of speaking out loud for him," Kira told him. "Athrun tends to keep things inside like many of us do, sometimes it's better to hear it from someone else that someone special is waiting for you."

"Cagalli just needed someone to make the decision for her," Lacus said with a smile. "She needed some evidence that what she let go was a mistake."

"I wonder what those two are talking about right now," Neo said with a curious look on his face.

"You don't think I put her in any trouble do you?" Meyrin asked with innocence.

"No, but I think Athrun will probably be in trouble," Kira said with a shrug. "Even if he didn't really do anything to begin with it."

"He kissed her in public," Neo stated.

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"What were you thinking," Cagalli asked fuming. "I mean doing shome…"

The last word didn't get out as Athrun placed a soft kiss on her lips. Cagalli blushed and Kisaka chuckled; "Now I know what to use Athrun for in case of emergencies." Cagalli gave Kisaka a glare at his statement; she didn't really appreciate the comment. Kisaka continue to chuckle but began keeping his attention on the front of the limo.

"I think I should ask that question Cagalli, what were you thinking as I went up with the Archangel? Were you giving up on me?"

"Please, can we talk about that at another time," Cagalli whispered but Athrun would not let it go.

"I want to know now," Athrun said firmly causing Cagalli to look up at him with shocked eyes. He was never this rough in his speaking tone unless he was in battle; this was the first time with her. "I go up to space thinking you would be waiting for my return, not letting me go and giving up on me? What is going on through your head? Cagalli, do you even believe in me anymore? Did you ever lov…"

"Don't you dare," Cagalli had it. Athrun inwardly smiled, Cagalli had the fire back in her eyes and boy was he going to hear it now. "I did and still love you, but think about it! You were going off in space with Kira, what was I suppose to think? And besides I had to stay behind on earth this time, I am the head representative of Orb, what the hell was I suppose to do?"

"Well you could have spoken to me before we took off for space!" Athrun countered but Cagalli was already red in the face and what she said next would shoot him right through the chest.

"Last time we had a conversation you really didn't even give me the time of day," Cagalli shouted with tears brimming down. "All you seem to care about was Meyrin, granted she was not feeling all to well after being cooped up in a cockpit with you!"

"Cagalli…" Athrun had his eyes wide open. He recalled their conversation in the Med Bay, granted he wasn't really up to talking with her just yet but…still, was it enough to drive her heart away from him?

"So I thought I was doing you a favor, letting you go up with Meyrin without any ties to me, since your time on the Minerva you probably had other girls you could choose from?" Cagalli spitted out as her anger just grew, "I mean after all, it's only just been me and Lacus right? You needed to broaden your choices and make sure you knew what you wanted."

"Cagalli, that isn't fair," Athrun said with deep sorrow in his voice. He felt as if a ton of bricks were shoved through this heart to make him feel as if he was falling through a bottomless pit faster than most people.

"What isn't fair Athrun, I told you I was trying to do the best for Orb with the wedding…"

"Did you know how that crushed my HEART?" Athrun roared causing Cagalli to lean back. "To think that you would just go off and get married especially after I had proposed to you? And you accepted the ring but you threw it all away?"

"You didn't contact me when you got up to the PLANTs how I was suppose to know what was going on with you? You rejoined ZAFT and by that time the other members had signed the treaty as I was taken away by Kira!"

"I came down from PLANT to see you, but they said they wouldn't recognize my code because you were gone! How did you think I felt when I had to fly away from Orb without talking to you first? I wanted to see you, I even came for you!"

"Who walked away from me when we met at sunset? When you were with ZAFT? You didn't even get to talk to me, it seemed that your proposal was with some string attached to it wasn't it? I mean after all, I am your fiancée and you walked away from me! How was I supposed to feel? Oh and when I was in the whole wedding ceremony, all I could think about WAS YOU!"

Athrun sighed, all they were doing was arguing and getting nowhere in the process, "So are you saying that I didn't think about you once I got to the Minerva?"

"No, but it seems that you did forget about me," Cagalli said flatly still with anger in her voice. "I mean, wasn't it obvious that Lunamaria had affections for you when I was there with you last time?"

"Cagalli…"

"I mean, Meyrin holds a lot of feelings for you too. I guess you like girls that are younger and more innocent and no ties to politics. Or you just might like ZAFT girls much better than the rest of the world. Or maybe you like coordinator women better than natural women," Cagalli crossed her arms over her chest and Athrun sighed in defeat. Hell had no fury like a woman's scorn. They were suppose to talk about what was going on in the present and not what had happened in the past, but it did have an affect on she reacted to the whole situation.

Kisaka chuckled as he thought to himself, Lovers quarrel. He shook his head as the rest of the trip was in silence and the couple not paying attention to each other. Athrun sat on one side of the limo as Cagalli sat on the other, both staring out the window. Little did they know, they were going to be forced into an event neither one would not forget. It might not what they want right now, but it was going to be something that would help not only these two in probably making amends faster but also make the world see a new chapter in their history.

"We're here," Kisaka called out as the limo made a full stop at the Athha house. Cagalli looked curiously on what was going on. Little did she know was, that everyone had more or less beat them to the house. There was going to be a huge event and there were camera crews everywhere.

"What is going on," Athrun asked as he was pulled out of the car by Kira. "Kira!"

"Come on, don't want to be late…we have to make sure everything fits," Kira pulled his best friend into the Athha house. Athrun was stumbling on the way since everyone was taking pictures of him. Not only that they began asking him questions and calling out his name. Athrun was confused as he was rushed into the house.

Cagalli was being pushed by Kisaka, Cagalli was lost. Athrun was being pulled up to his former room and wondered how Kira knew where it was. Mana came rushing down and grabbed Cagalli, Lacus was also there with a huge smile.

"We need to get you ready!" Mana shouted in a rush as she pushed Cagalli up the stairs to her room.

"What is going on?" Cagalli asked in protest as Lacus just smiled at her.

"Nothing to worry about, just need to get you ready," Lacus said with her sweet smile plastered on her face but Cagalli knew better.

"I want to know what is going on, I DEMAND TO KNOW!" Cagalli was pushed into her room as everyone just stood around with smiles on their faces. Once they knew their plan was set in motion everyone began preparing the Athha house for a great big ceremony. They were rushing around to make sure everything was ready and knowing Cagalli she would be stubborn in her actions that she will stall herself long enough to make sure everything is ready.

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"Kira, what is going on?" Athrun asked as two of the butlers got rid of Athrun's Orb jacket and replaced it with another one. Athrun looked at it bewildered, it wasn't quite like the one Cagalli worn, but it was more…well, royal looking almost. He looked confused but it also had some medals that he earned during his time with ZAFT and the FAITH pin. Athrun looked at Kira with question in his eyes, "You better tell me what is going on."

"Just a ceremony for you and Cagalli," Kira said with a shrug.

"What kind of ceremony," Athrun asked dangerously in a low tone.

Kira was then given a small pin, it was one of the Athha house but also a one that recognized him as a hero of Orb. Kira pinned it on his friend with a smile, "Your wedding ceremony."

"WHAT!"

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"WHAT?" Cagalli shouted as she was standing in her underwear. "I am not going to marry him! He is a DAMN IDOIT! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PULL!"

"Calm down," Miriallia rolled her eyes. "It's not like you are going to die from getting married to the one man you are madly in love with and might I add almost let him go. We know about your dreams, and what you say while you were sleeping."

"What," Cagalli was stunned at the response she got from her friend.

"Cagalli, you love Athrun and that is all that matters," Lacus took a hold of her friend's hand. "Kisaka told Kira about your dreams, the tears that were in your eyes and everything you said. Most of it if not all dealing with Athrun and losing him forever."

"Lacus," Cagalli pulled away. "Is this what everything is about? To insure he and I are together?"

"Not that, but you two have been waiting for a moment like this, why not take the chance and be happy with each other?" Lacus asked as Mana brought in a beautiful gown; it was nothing like the one they gave her to wear for her marriage to Yuuna. "This is a gift from all of the council members of Orb. They wanted to make sure this would be something you both remember."

"It's….it's beautiful," Cagalli was speechless. The gown was of pure shimmering silk, it had the same cut where there were no straps or sleeves. It had shimmering lace covering the top layer of the dress, and the dress would more than likely cling to her figure and make her look like a princess due to some of the decorative rhinestones on the dress.

"So, you are going through with this?" Miriallia asked with hope in her eyes.

Cagalli then turned to anger, "Not until he apologizes!"

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"Not until she apologizes," Athrun said as he crossed his arms. "I don't care if the council all of the sudden approves of me marrying her, they are basically handing her to me as if she is some prize. I will only go through with this if this is what she wants and she apologizes."

"You have to be kidding me," Dearka walked into the room. He was dressed in his ZAFT military dress, "I came all the way down here for the wedding of the century and I'm hearing the 'oh so great' Athrun Zala demanding that his fiancé apologize before marrying her?"

Kira chuckled and Dearka joined in, but Athrun did not find amusement in all of this. He sat down in a chair as two of his friends found amusement in his request, correction demand.

"Oh the mighty has fallen," Dearka said as he sat down across from his raven hair friend. "Look, Athrun do you love this girl or not?"

Athrun looked at him, "You know I do."

"Then, why not just marry her and what better way to do it in front of the whole world and PLANT?" Dearka asked with a smirk. "I mean, this is going to send mix signals but at the same time a huge sign of peace as well."

"But I wanted to marry her on our own time and when we aren't at each other's throats."

"Did you two fight on the way here?" Kira asked with an arched eyebrow. Athrun nodded, "Well I guess this is going to take longer than I thought."

"Why don't I go over to Cagalli's room and see the progress the girls are making," Dearka stood up.

"You just want to see Miriallia," Kira said with a smirk.

"Hey, you never know they have Cagalli on their side, I bet they are having more trouble than we are going to have," Dearka said as he got up and walked out of the room.

"What is that suppose to mean," Athrun asked.

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Ok, here is the second chapter. I'll see everyone next time! Thanks for the reviews!