When Kira and Lacus arrived, he could barely stand up. His entire face was drained of color, lips close to the shade of pale red, and his whole body was trembling uncontrollably. His face was a picture of horror and anxiety, an expression the couple never expected to see from such composed man.

"Calm down Athrun, it's ok. Erica's inside. I'm sure she'll take care of her. She always does." Lacus touched his forehead gingerly. She wanted to give comfort to him, but even she herself has nothing to say that would be consoling. Turning to her fiance, hoping he could give an assuring pat or something to the shaken man. But the blank look on Kira proved futile. How can she expect Kira to console him when it's his sister who's in danger.

"It'll be alright. I'm sure...she's strong like that. I know she'll be alright..." Minutes ticked by, turning to hours. The eerie silence has laid its nest amongst them, adding to the grim scent of the hospital corridors.

"When was the last time she had her medicine?" They didn't noticed Erica's presence in the waiting room. Tired circles adorned her eyes, as strands of hair lined her cheeks.

"I—I--I dont know. Yes--ter--day? I've--been at the University Hospital for--a week now." His lips were trembling so hard that he had to bite them just to make them stop. A faint trickle on blood lined his lower lip as he opened his mouth. "is she—alright?"

Lacus' trembling hands sought the frigid hands of her fiance. She knew Erica would say 'She's fine' or 'She's as lively as a horse' but somehow the feeling of dread filled her entire body.

"There's a reason why I gave her medications. They control the symptoms, suppressing them, making her able to function properly. They don't really have an effect on the hole, since we managed to keep it in a temporarily dormant state, but that's not a reason to miss a pill or two. Yeah, sure you can miss a day or two, heck even a week. The max would be two weeks, where all of the medication is finally out of her system. But once it's flushed out of her body, then that's it. You know her symptoms are potentially fatal. It's your duty to make sure she follows her routine!"

"Wait, are you saying she hasn't been taking her medication for more than 2 weeks?" Lacus was the only one who had the strength to ask. The rest were too frozen to utter a single word.

"Yes. A month to be exact. Or more. If it was just more than 2 weeks, it wouldn't be this bad. You should know, she coded on us. If you were a minute late in finding her, she would be dead by now."

The word 'dead' began ringing loudly inside his ears. Inside his mind, he began recounting the days of his absence, backtracking for any possible reason as to why she could have missed her medication.

His heart missed a bit when he realized what happened between them a month ago.

It was the day she said they should break up.


Why?

"I heard that you'll be leaving for ORB by the end of the month? What's up with the sudden change of plans? Do you really want to go back to ORB?" Heine discreetly eyed his friend as he poured more grape juice into her glass.

"Well, I realized that he's OK now. That now that he has that Stellar girl with him, he wont be lonely anymore." She knew he was watching her. But she didn't care. The luscious blueberry muffin demands her attention more.

"Now, now, isn't that a really cheesy and shallow line? I mean, I've known you since high school. You were the type who never gives up even if it means risking a limb or two."

"Say what you want. " Another bite and the blueberry muffin was completely wiped out from existence. Heine smiled at his friend's appetite. She sure looks fine now.

"Have you told him about it?" he went back to the fridge and took out two more boxes of blueberry muffins.

"Who?" She took one of the boxes and smiled impishly as she hid it under her chair, mumbling a 'to go', that made Heine chuckle.

"Athrun."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes. He's your employer."

"I'll tell him on the day I'll be leaving. That way he won't be making any fuss." She took another muffin and delivered a fatal bite to the poor muffin.

"That's really cruel. But...Are you satisfied now? I mean...are you happy?"

With a mouthful of crumbs, she cheerfully smiled and said yes. "Just who do you think you're talking to?"

"Cagalli the brat princess of ORB."

"Hell yeah!" She smiled again, as she gulped down her juice. "But..."

"Huh? You want another muffin?"

"But...every time I see him with Stellar, I could feel my insides being twisted." She bowed her head down, as her voice began to break down. Drops of water begin to trail down her cheeks, onto her pant legs. Her hands were visible shaking, so much that Heine had to take the glass from her hand, as a precaution.

" Every time I see Stellar, I see my face, I couldn't stop seeing myself holding his hand instead of her. I feel I'm about to burst every time they kiss. I can feel it eating me up. I shouldn't be hurting. I should be happy for him right? He's happy now, he found someone who could love him better than I could. So I shouldn't be hurting...right?"

He patted her head. "I should be happy now that you're finally going back to ORB. I know that ORB is much safer for you and that you'll be taken care there. But seeing you like this all fucked up over that guy makes me doubt that decision. So again, I'll ask you. Do you really want to go back to ORB?"

She didn't reply. Instead, she stood up, grabbed her muffin box and headed for the door.

Only to be stopped by Heine grabbing her hand, pulling her into a tight embrace. An embrace full of honest and unrequited feelings. She could hear his heart pounding, beating loudly with his chest, the soft caresses of his breath, the warmth of his steely arms. They all seemed familiar to her. But it wasn't the same. It wasn't him. And deep inside her heart, she knew Heine can never be him...

"I'm not expecting a reply now. I know it's hard to think about these kinds of things. But just so you know, he isn't the one who deserves to be happy. And he's not the only one who is capable of making you happy. I am here too, you know. I've always been. Patiently waiting for you, even though I know I would never have that kind of place in your heart. But just so you know, I'll continue to support you, even if it means lying to Kira and the others. Even if it means breaking my own heart too."


Ever since his wife learned about the news of his sister's return, she has been frequenting the old apartment more than she used to. She even canceled her maternity check-up yesterday just so she could go to the apartment. She always says that she's cleaning and preparing the apartment for Cagalli but he knew better. The apartment was left in a tiptop shape, and every Saturday he has someone come up and clean it. He even bought the entire apartment block just so nobody would come and try to buy that block. He kept the power, water and telephone lines on, just in case his sister pops out of nowhere. So there's really no reason for his wife to visit there.

No reason at all.

My words of farewell won't meet you
Our futures slowly move further apart
You light illuminated me
My dreams search for a destination in the corners of my heart

"Arent you suppose to be in the Clinic for your maternity check-up?" he knew he'd find her here. He called the clinic to check up on her, but they said she never showed up. It didn't really worry him, because he knew where to find her. And he was right. In the Athha-Zala apartment.

"What are you doing here? I'm quite sure you're not cleaning." He surveyed the entire lot. Clearly his wife has been doing some rummaging around. But what the heck is she looking for?

"Aren't you at least going to explain yourself?" He walked towards his wife, who was sitting on the floor, reading something. As he drew closer, he realized she was crying. With out thinking about his action, he grabbed her arm and pulled her up. A box and a sheet of paper fell from his wife's hands, and he immediately knew the reason for her tears.

Love for a day under the brilliant sun
And in the quiet, painful night
I can't hide the scars in my heart so I set them free
Love Today, my answer is forever in this scenery we saw
Love Today, Learn to love today

It was the old bronze music box his sister greatly treasured above anything else. He picked it up along with the sheet of paper. Winding the box, he quickly scanned the paper, and instantly he felt the knot wrap around his chest. He couldn't bear to finish reading what was written on it, and quickly embraced his wife.

"Do you remember, after Athrun left Orb, she got hospitalized? She was really sick, but she always kept that smile on her face. I could tell she was in pain, but she didn't ask for any pain meds. Instead, she wanted to have the music box winded up. And every time she hears the melody, she would fall asleep as if it was a lullaby to her."


On a moonless, windy night,
Unable to sleep, I embrace the dream of a sweet reality
There are no certainties
That cannot be caught by outstretched hands.

"And one time, when she was in so much unbearable pain, she asked me to keep the melody playing. She said if she was going to die, she wanted to die listening to the music box' melody. It really shocked me. I couldn't wind the music box because of that. So she asked the nurses to wind it for her. I got so frustrated with the music box, thinking that it's stealing her will to live, I hid it. The same night she found her music box was missing, she coded. The sound of the flat line beeping scared me. So I took out the music box and began praying that she'll be ok. That she won't die. She can't die..."

Love for a day under the brilliant sun
And in the quiet, painful night
I can't hide the scars in my heart so I set them free
Love Today, my answer is forever in this scenery we saw
With nothing but a single word that has shone until today

"Ever since then I promised I'll do whatever it takes to bring them back together. I was really happy when she told me that she'll be working with him as his assistant, that's why I supported her all the way through. But now that she's coming back, I feel like I failed her... I didn't fail her...right?"

He has no words of comfort to tell his wife. He too feels the guilt of forsaking his sister. If he only wasn't such a rebel back then, then Cagalli wouldn't have inherited the succession to the Athha name. If only he wasn't so selfish. He took advantaged of his sister's naiveté and her innocence, passing unto her already feeble hands the pressure of their lineage. If only he wasn't too scared to face his duty as the son of the most powerful man in ORB. If only...

If only he could turn back time...


Half of the entire crew had been on the edge ever since the taping of scene 46, also known as the 'Confession'. It was when Asuran's friend Arka pretends to be Asuran and publicly confesses to the entire school that he likes Akari. From then on, the crew had been on the edge, anticipating each conversation that occurs between Asuran and Akari. Some of the crew members have been swooning over the 'cute' tandem, wishing that the same thing, even by some sort of silver screen miracle, such sweet and innocent love would occur to them. Unbeknown to them, one such love did occur in real life. And both of the main players were in their presence, acting an entirely different role.

"Wah. I wish someone would confess to me like that! I must say, Mr. Westenfluss is such a genius! To come up with such a cute love heart warming story!" One of the extras Asagi exclaimed. Asagi was one of the new recruits from the Aprilius Talent center to fill in for the role of the students in the film.

"What do you think Ms. Cagalli? Isn't this movie the best? I mean, I know it has a tragic ending, but the story is just so cute! This will definitely top the charts!"

Cagalli smiled. "Yes. I'm sure it will."

"I'm going to watch it as soon as it gets out. Do you wanna come with me?"

"I don't know. If I'm still alive around that time." Another smile masked the building pain inside her.

"Of course you are! What kind of joke is that? It's so off!"

"Is it? Hahahah. Maybe it's because I'm getting rusty?"

"Naah. You're too young to get rusty, Ms. Cagalli! Ah by the way, have you seen the fake blood I left in the RVs? I'm really sure I left it there, but for some reasons, I can't find it."

A brief flash of last week's incident came in to her mind, followed by a brewing pain inside her chest. "I'm sorry. I accidentally broke the bottle and spilled the blood. I'm sorry."

"Oh, gosh. It's OK. We got some spare in the van. But did you get hurt? That bottle's one heck of a glass . I don't wanna get cut by that."

"Yeah. I'm cool. Say, Can you fill in for me for a while? I haven't had breakfast or lunch, and I'm getting dizzy. So if it's ok with you--" She wasn't lying. She hasn't eaten a thing since morning. And she is feeling a little bit light headed. Only it wasn't brought about by the lack of food. She knows this familiar daze all too well.

"Sure. Anytime. Give me a holler when you're done. "

"Thanks."

As fast as her wobbling feet could take her, she went straight to the nearest RV she could find. Locking the door behind her, she rushed to the bathroom, and began throwing up whatever her stomach could belt out. With trembling hands, she braced herself for each wave of vomit that came. Cold beads of sweat begin to line her forehead as color drained from her face. Minutes ticking like hours, she held her composure every time her body regurgitated. Finally, the seemingly endless series of retching subsided with a cough. A trail of crimson traced her lips as she watched the former contents of her stomach flush down the drain, along with spots of crimson adorning their color.

"So this is it?" Sarcasm as sharp as the glass that cut her that night pierced through the acrid taste on her tongue. Splashing handfuls of water on her face, she watched as the water made mocking trails of tears around her eyes. As she was reaching for a sheet of paper towel to dry her face, a familiar surge of pain in her chest caused her to collapse, along with well-known inability to breath. Curled in a fetal position, huddled against the cold tiled wall, clutching her chest tightly, as if it could somehow lessen the pain raking her body. Gasping for what seems to be scant amount of air, she struggled to keep her eyes open. She can't possibly lose consciousness here.

What if somebody finds her?

What if she doesn't open her eyes anymore?

She's not afraid of dying anymore. It's just that she doesn't want to die here, yet. Not right now.

She doesn't want to cause a scene.

So please. She mustn't lose consciousness. She can't.

Please?

Tears began to line her eyes, as her vision slowly blurred, with only the ragged rhythm of her breathing echoing within the corners of the bathroom.


"Mr. Zala, somebody is looking for you." Pulling away from his 'beloved' reluctantly, he turned to face his visitor.

"Meer?" His jaw literally dropped as the vivacious and coquettish former girlfriend greeted him casually with her usual wink. "How's the great Athrun Zala?"

"As you can see, I'm currently in the middle of work." He can't remember things from their past, but something tells him it wasn't pleasant. And it's telling him to distance from her.

"Aww. That's not nice. Is that how you treat your ex? I mean seriously? I'm surprised she's able to keep this facade up." Meer purposely lowered her voice with her last sentence. She wanted to test if he'll be reacting to what she said.

"What did you say?" An impish smile touched Meer's lips. "Curious?" With her usual array of nipple sparing clothes, and pants akin to leotards, she casually approached him.

"Hell no. Just tell me what you want."

"My, My. Little hasty there. What's the rush? It's not like your 'Amber Princess' is going anywhere."

"What Amber Princess are you talking about?"

"Oh my! You used to call her by that name. But I guess you've forgotten. Whatta pity!"

"I don't have time for this crap."

"Is it because you're dating that cute blond over there?"

"Stellar has nothing to do with this. If you're just going to fuck around, then I'm sorry, I have no time for you." The overwhelming irritation raging within his veins reminded him of why he broke up with her.

"Aren't you at least a bit curious about what really happened between us? Or whattabout this?" A faint nostalgic pain begins to brew inside his chest as his attention fell dazed at the red glimmer of the red amulet necklace dangling from Meer's hand.

"Now. Do I have your attention?"


A faint moaning woke her from her stupor. A splitting headache greeted her, as she struggled to sit up. With not much strength to stand, she decided to just sit for a while until her headache disappears. But the moaning just added to the pressure building inside her head. Ignoring her pain and vulnerability, mustering what's left of her strength, she stood up to investigate the source.

Using the sink and the door knob as leverage, she managed to get out of the bathroom. The moaning seems to be coming from the back window of the RV, opposite the bathroom. Again, she used whatever furniture is in reach to help her walk around, occasionally tripping along the way.

Finally, she was able to reach her destination. And what she saw made her heart skip a beat.

"Stellar..."


A/N: I apologize for the late upload. I accidentally deleted all the documents in my old computer while I was tranferring them to my new one. So I had to start all over again. I dont have the other copies for the other stories and chapters. Dont complain. I lost my projects and research papers too. Soemt of those are A papers you know. Anyways, this story is nearing it's end. And I'll have you people decide how it should end. I'll base Cagalli's survival on your reviews. I wont say how much will be the quotas. But I'm sure you have an idea.

RIght now, I'm working on 2 chapters. I'm almost done with the next 2 installments, they'll be up sooner than what you guys expect.