Sorry for the long delay guys, enjoy!

Chapter 9: Dessert or Disaster?

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Nothing, why?"

"My parents want to meet you." Cagalli dropped her pencil and stare at Athrun. "Are you serious?"

"Yep."

"It hasn't even been a week!" Cagalli grabbed her pencil and put it back on her desk.

"I know, but they have known about you for quite awhile."

"Oh."

"Don't worry, they'll love you." The bell rang signaling the end of chemistry.

"Athrun I'm not sure about this, wha...what if they don't like me?" Cagalli but her chemistry in her locker and taking out her Pre-Calculus book. She looked herself in the mirror and pushed back some of her bangs.

"You have nothing to worry about. They're gonna love you, I already do." Cagalli smiled shyly at his comment. She knew he didn't really he "loved" her, it only been a week. However, it was really nice of him.

"Hey I gotta run I can't be late for weight training again." He kissed her on the cheek before running down the hall and catching up with Kira. Cagalli leaned back against her locker watching him go. She didn't think it was possible to be this happy, but apparently there is.

"I still can't believe you're dating that dork," Meer put some on more lip gloss.

"He's not a dork," Cagalli pushed Meer away from her mirror and closed her locker.

"Yeah he is. Cagalli this guy is so not even your type."

"Well I'm done with those type of guys, I like him Meer. As my best friend you should be supportive." Meer sighed, she totally did approve but if Cagalli was happy that was all that matter.

"Fine, what you are two up to." Meer grabbed her and the two made their way down the hallway to Pre-Calculus.

"I'm have dinner with his parents tonight."

"Already! That was quick. He must really like you."

"What if they don't like me?"

"They will, so stop sweating." Cagalli and Meer entered the classroom and took the seats. During class all Cagalli could think about was if Athrun's parents would like her let alone approve of her. Before she knew it school was over and was standing at her locker again.

"Hey you ok?" Athrun placed his hand on her shoulder knocking Cagalli back to reality.

"Uh yeah, I'm just a little nervous."

"Don't be your going to be great. I've to go, but I'll see at 7." Athrun kissed her and left.

*5th Avenue*

Meyrin dragged her feet down the street looking down. So far this had been the worse week of her life and it was only Wednesday. She had seen Athrun and Cagalli everywhere and they were always together. She thought that her friends would be the perfect escape but she was dead wrong. Cagalli had eaten lunch with them for the past three days. Stupid Lacus and her kindness. She didn't know how long she could keep this up. And so far she had done nothing to get back at Cagalli for taking Athrun away from her.

"Meyrin, what are you doing here?" Meyrin looked up to see Mrs. Zala standing there holding bags of grocery.

"Uh, just on my way home, isn't it a little late to buy groceries?"

"Well, Athrun is bringing home his new girlfriend, so I'm making dinner." Meyrin both dropped. They had already moved to that level already. It had only been a week.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, her name is Cagalli do you know her?"

"Yeah, we have several classes together."

"You should come tonight, it might put her at ease." Meyrin smirked and suddenly this day didn't seem so terrible.

"That sounds like a great idea Mrs. Zala." Meyrin took a bag off her hand. Cagalli was going to go down and she didn't even know it.

*Zala Residence*

Cagalli stood in front of the door deciding whether or not to go in. She had even arrived five minutes early. Cagalli was so nervous that she bought a whole new outfit for this dinner. She had Asagi help her pick it out. All her clothes were inappropriate for a this kind of dinner. She even went to the trouble of baking a biscuits to soften the atmosphere.

"Come on Cagalli, you're in an Atha and were not scared of anything." Cagalli took a deep breath before pushing the doorbell. Her pulse quicken when she heard footsteps. Athrun opened the door, he stepped aside allowing her to inside. She handed him her coat.

"What are you wearing?" Athrun moved his eyes up and down.

"What? Is too much?"

"It's not you."

"Athrun my usual clothes are not appropriate for meeting you parents."

"Stop worrying, they are going to love you." Athrun lead her to the living room, where his mother was setting the table. "Mom, this is Cagalli." Cagalli smiled at her, she looked exactly like Athrun but a girl version. She had the same Midnight blue hair and stunning emerald eyes.

"Wow, Athrun she's beautiful!"

"Mom!"

"Hello I'm Lenore Zala, nice to meet you Cagalli"

"Nice to meet you." Cagalli tried not to mumble, she was so nervous.

"Patrick! She's here. Take a seat, he'll be out in a minute." Cagalli slowly down on the couch with Athrun besides her. He squeezed her arm to help her calm down but sadly it did nothing.

"Is that her?"

"Yes, dear."

"Hi I'm Patrick Zala, you must be Cagalli."

"Uh...yes nice to meet you sir."

"Athrun has told us so much about you."

"Hopefully there all good things," Mr. Zala smiled,

"You can all be seated," Mrs. Zala called from the dinning room. Cagalli took her seat across from Athrun.

"Mom, why is their a fifth plate?"

"Oh Meyrin said she stop by." The doorbell suddenly rang at that moment.

"That must be her." Mrs. Zala went to get the door. Cagalli gave Athrun a look and he just shrugged his shoulders. He didn't know she was coming.

"Oh! Cagalli you're here already,"Meyrin smiled as she took a seat right next to her.

"Uh...yes, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I thought you might be nervous so I'm here for support. I'm mean we are "close"," Meyrin smirked at her as she placed her napkin on her lap. Cagalli didn't know what to do, this dinner was stressful enough.

"Ah...thanks."

"Well let's say grace," Mrs. Zala said.

"Lenore, I think Cagalli should lead." Meyrin said smiling at Cagalli.

"That's a great idea, Cagalli?"

"Uh...I'd love too." Cagalli placed her hands together and closed her eyes. She had no idea what to say, her family never said grace. They food would be set on table and they dig in. She glance at Athrun who gave her encouraging smile. At time like this she really wished she listen to Asagi more and pick her bible once in a while. What was that pray she say before putting the food on the table? Bless us lord or something.

"Um... bless us oh lord and these thy gift we are about to receive from thy divine bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen."

"Amen, that's was lovely Cagalli." Cagalli glanced at Meyrin and she was not too happy. Cagalli one, Meyrin zero. Cagalli put some food on her plate and began to eat.

"So Cagalli tell us about yourself." Mr. Zala asked sipping his water.

"Well, I'm an only child. My father is the president and CEO of Orb Corp and my mother is President of the Atha Group."

"Wow, your life must be exciting."

"Uh...not really but the traveling is great."

"Do you go with them?"

"Not really, school and stuff."

"That's a shame leaving their only daughter alone in a big city without parent supervision. Must be hard." Meyrin said taking a bit of her salad. Cagalli wanted to slap right there, she had no right to talk about her family. She knew nothing.

"I'm not alone, Asagi takes care of me."

"Who's that?" Mrs. Zala asked.

"She's my guardian."

"Oh."

Mrs. Zala took a sip of her wine. Cagalli didn't know what that meant but she hadn't feeling it wasn't good.

"How did you know Athrun?"

"He must have met her when he spend the night at Cagalli's." Meyrin chimed in. Cagalli glared at her, this girl needed to keep her big mouth shut or she was going to shut it for her.

"What?"

"Me and Athrun were working on our life skills project and we fell asleep on my dinning room table." Cagalli quickly explain, she could feel the sweat falling down the back of her neck.

"You guys were in London visiting grandma," Athrun said. Cagalli let out the breath she was holding, she couldn't relax yet not with Meyrin here.

"What do like to do for fun Cagalli?" Mrs. Zala asked.

"Um...does shopping count?" Mr. and Mrs. Zala laughed and it put her at ease.

"Yes it does, what else?"

"I like to read, snowboard, swim, and some travel."

"Wow you extremely busy,"Mr. Zala said.

"Oh yeah, don't forgetting hitting the clubs every night and getting drunk in the back of Sting's limo." Meyrin answered feeling very content. This was so much fun, best night of her life.

"Excuse me?" Cagalli opened her mouth to explain herself but no words came out. How was she going to explain this, that is what she really did. Mr. and Mrs. Zala looked at each other and than glare at Athrun.

"Athrun would you help your father and I get dessert ready?" Before Athrun could answer he was pulled into the kitchen. Cagalli sat there looking at her unfinished dinner. She was steaming with anger right now.

"Aw, don't feel too bad Cagalli. You weren't really Athrun's type." Meyrin wiped her lips with a napkin and turned her body so she was facing Cagalli.

"What? No witty comeback? Wow you really wanted to make a good impression."

Meyrin started to laugh she put her hand over her mouth trying to control her laughter.

"You bitch, you're gonna to pay for this."

"Oh really? How? Athrun's parents will never let you two be together."

"That's not going to happen," Cagalli fixed her glare at Meyrin.

"Its you're own fault, if you hadn't been such a whore in the past than there would be skeletons in your closet." Cagalli lifted her hand to slap her but stopped herself. She didn't want to admit it but Meyrin was right and they smirk on her face knew it.

The kitchen door slide open and Athrun return with his parents. They all ate dessert in silence with a morbid atmosphere,except Meyrin she was eating with all smiles. After dessert Cagalli grabbed her coat and handed them the biscuits she baked earlier. She thanked the Zalas for the dinner and walked with Athrun to the door.

"I'm sorry Cagalli, I didn't know Meyrin would be here."

"Its fine, this is my fault. I'm the one with the bad reputation." Cagalli said goodnight and walked to the elevator. Cagalli pushed the lobby button and laid her back against the wall and sighed. This night had been a total disaster.

*Zala Residence*

Meyrin sat on the the dinner table eating chocolate cake as Athrun and his parents discussed Cagalli. He had been forced to tell them what Cagalli had been really like and all about her reputation.

"Athrun this girl is loose and wild, your only going to get hurt," Mrs. Zala said.

"Mom, she's not like that."

"Really? Her parents are never around and she just runs around New York, I can imagine what her grades look like."

"Mom, you got it wrong."

"Really? Then me what's right." Athrun opened his mouth but closed it. Cagalli was like that, he didn't even know if she stopped her partying. But he had do defend her somehow.

"Well? Nothing? I thought so you're done seeing her."

"Mom?!"

"End of discussion."

"You can't stop me from seeing her?"

"Watch me." Mrs. Zala left and went upstairs to her room. Athrun sunk back into the couch and sigh this was not fair. They didn't even give her a chance.

"Dad, come on."

"Sorry Athrun, I'm with your mother." His dad got up and went into his study leaving Athrun with his thoughts. Meyrin stood up and joined Athrun on the couch.

"Told you."

"Meyrin this is all your fault. Why couldn't you stay quiet?"

"Athrun your parents have been good to me, they deserve the truth."

"Whatever, I'll be in my room, you going home?"

"Yeah, after I finish my dessert." Meyrin smirked as she watched him leave, revenge never tasted so sweet.