hey...

Lacus had been in the dance studio for well over two hours just trying to work on her technique, let alone trying to choreograph a routine. Her frustration was building and her stamina was very low, but this was only proof that she needed to work. She still hadn't even tried pointe. It was her specialty when she was in her prime but now her body was so unfamiliar to it. She was a twenty six year-old dancer, and for anyone, that was a difficult thing to do.
Her body was sore but she knew that stopping wouldn't help her. Finally after doing so much conditioning and warm-up, she attempted to try out her pointe shoes.

She was not wearing proper ballet attire, so she did not feel, let alone look, the part. After placing the gel pouches in the toes she slid her bare foot into the satin casing. Before standing she wriggled her toes around, getting used to the old familiar shoes.
Lacus smiled slightly as a sudden burst of energy surged through her, and she couldn't help rushing to get up.

Quickly she ran to the barre and pushed through demi-pointe so she was fully en pointe. At first she could feel the pain surging through her feet like hot scewers and buckled down. After taking a moment to catch her breath and allow her toes to adjust from the pain she did it again, only this time she gradually applied pressure, as she held onto the barre.

It wasn't an easy process. By the end of her day's work she had barely been able to complete a simple floor pattern. When she had finished she was completely drained, both emotinally and physically. However, just to prevent the pain from being too immense the next day, she decided to do a quick cool-down.

Once she was done stretching, she went to the mirror to check her allignment and technique, but as she was doing so, she noticed something she never had before.

Her body had not changed all that much since she was nineteen, but one thing that had was her stomach. She had never noticed, but the evidence of her pregnancy lingered slightly, and it was only when she really looked could she see it.

Gently she touched a hand to her stomach and after a brief moment of sadness, her thoughts brightened; her daughter was still alive. Then she thought about Kira, and how he wasn't aware of any of it. Although, judging by what her father had told her, she began to seriously question it.

--

Once she got back to her room, she set down her dance bag and stripped to have a shower. Just when she was about to get in, her phone rang.

Quickly she ran to the phone, muttering how everyone always called her at the most inconvenient times, "hello?"

"Lacus!" Stellar yelled.

"Stellar, how did you find me?" Lacus asked without thinking.

"I found out from Charla," Stellar told her.

"Charla?" Lacus asked, " Charla Argyle?"

"Yes," Stellar confirmed.

"How would she know?" Lacus questioned.

"Charla said that her teacher had gone to New York, she didn't say why, but I filled in the blanks," Stellar informed.

"Oh... anyway, what's wrong Stellar?" Lacus asked.

"Nothing really, I've got some good news for you," Stellar said.

"That would be wonderful right now," Lacus sighed in appreciation.

"Vitus is alive, and she's one of my dance students!" Stellar exclaimed.

That was when Lacus dropped the phone.

Cagalli hadn't spoken to Kira since their conversation the previous day, and she was sitting with her son, Cyris, trying to get him to breast feed. Unfortunately, sleeping was more important to the child than eating, so of course his mother was left unsatisfied.

Cagalli let out a soft sigh of frustration as the child's eyes remained closed, and soft snores came from his nose. Silently Athrun entered the room.

"Cagalli," Athrun whispered as he sat in front of her, "have you two talked?"

Cagalli shook her head.

"He's coming to talk to you, he's leaving today, it's not because of anything you said he just can't stay," Athrun explained.

Cagalli stared at him with wide eyes.

"Don't get mad at him, he's finally dealing with things that should have been done with years ago, he doesn't need more on his plate," Athrun told her.

Cagalli let out a little grunt.

"It'll be fine," he assured her, kissing her forehead as he got up to leave.

It was true, within seconds of Athrun's departure, Kira appeared in the doorway.

"Hey..." he said softly.

Cagalli just looked at him.

"Look, I'm sorry for how I acted yesterday," he confessed, " and I'm not mad at you for anythign, but I need to leave."

Cagalli looked away from him for a second, " what are you going to do?"

"Find her," he said.

"How?" Cagalli asked.

Kira smiled and held up a piece of paper with something scribbled down on it.

"What's that?" Cagalli asked trying to make out the characters.

"It's a dance convention, she's one of the featured dancers at the gala," Kira explained.

"I don't understand, how do you know that?" Cagalli said.

"I saw a TV commercial advertising it last night, found the adress and everything," Kira said, his smile getting bigger.

Cagalli wasn't sure of what to say, all she could do was smile and wish him well.

"Mommy!" Vitus yelled flapping a brochure around, as she ran into the kitchen where her mother stood.

"What is it?" the woman asked, bending down so she was at eye level with Vitus.

"Look!" Vitus ordered, shoving the brochure into her hands, "it's a dance convention! Can we go, can we go, can we go?"

Nina had never seen her daughter so excited about anything so she took the paper and began reading it. Immediately she saw the name Lacus Clyne and concluded no.

"Honey, it's all the way in New York, we can't go all the way there for a little dance show," Nina lied.

Vitus frowned, "please! Miss Loussier is going!"

Nina shook her head, "that's nice, but just because she's going doesn't mean that we are too."

Vitus was adament about going, but decided not to make her mother angry and just sulked away.

Stellar had informed her that the show would be taking place in a few weeks and Vitus was desperate to go and was determined to whether or not her parents took her. Only she had no idea if she would be able to make it there by herself. Her best bet was to ask either Merideth or Lacey. Except she had the dilemma of whether or not to tell them she heard their conversation.

In the end she decided if they asked, she would tell them, but otherwise she owuld not start off that way. Once she had planned out her approach, she went to Merideth's room.

Merideth was sitting at her laptopdoing homework, or so it appeared to Vitus. Once Merideth was aware of her intruder she gestured for Vitus to come over.

"Hey, whatcha up to?" Merideth asked closing her computer.

"I wanted to ask you something," Vitus said.

"Okay, what is it?" Merideth asked.

"Can you take me to New York?"

Merideth widened her eyes only due to the randomness of the question, "why do you want to go to New York?"

"This," Vitus said, handing Merideth the brochure.

Merideth took it and scanned it quickly, "why do you want to go all the way to New York, there are dance shows here."

"It has some of the best dancers attending!" Vitus explained.

"What did mom say?" Merideth asked.

"No..."

Merideth tilted her head, "well then, there's your answer."

"But--"

"Now go on, there will be more shows," Merideth said trying to avoid Vitus' eyes.

Vitus was angry, she didn't like the way they were trying to shelter her. In a failed attempt she huffed out of the room to find Lacey.

Lacey was out on the balcony smoking a cigarette. Normally Vitus wouldn't go out if someone was smoking but in this particular case she needed to get things resolved as soon as possible.

"Lacey," Vitus called.

Lacey jumped a little and once she registered that it was Vitus she threw her butt over the railing.

"Hey, why are you out here?" Lacey asked.

"I need to ask you a favour," Vitus told her.

Lacey looked at her skeptically, "...proceed..."

"I want you to take me to New York," Vitus said.

Lacey's expression never faltered, "why is that?"

"This," Vitus answered, showing her the brochure.

Lacey looked at it for a moment then looked back at Vitus, "you've already asked mom and Merideth, I assume?"

Vitus smiled shyly and nodded.

"I'll take you," Lacey said confidently.

Vitus smiled brightly, "thank you Lacey."

"You're welcome," Lacey said calmly and watched as Vitus disappeared into the house.

That'll do...