Purple1: Thanks so much!
Michiyo Hikari: Thanks for the review and I am glad you are enjoying the story.
Gseedlover: THANKS!
Taijiya-sango88: hehehe, sorry if you got confused. But I'm glad you enjoyed the whole thing!
ZGMF X-19A Infinite Justice: I'm glad you liked the chapter.
Gundamjunkierx780 (ch. 1): I'm glad you liked the beginning of the story. Take your time when it comes to reading.
B4k4 ch4n: not gullible just that's how the story is meant for you to think. But I'm glad that you liked the story. Well no cold for her, but Athrun probably kept her nice and warm for the rest of the week.
Asga: Thanks!
PAISITA: any hot guy like those four would be NICE! Why are the guys from like anime are always so much better looking than real guys? No fair!
Thousandbirds: Thanks I'm glad you liked it. Heheheh, well yeah…KL stayed pretty strong through the show and well AC was like put on hold and blah blah. DM didn't happen, YS didn't happen and Shiho didn't even talk in the whole series! GAH!
Reviewer: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed.
HimeHikari: Good luck on your exams, I hope they all went well. I'm glad that you are enjoying the story and maybe there is still hope for GS whatever the last letter will be. Hehehe, good luck once again for your exams!
Animeluver (ch. 4): thanks! I try to make my stories long…I think a lot of my earlier ones were way too short now tha ti think about it.
Ochibi-san: thanks, you are too kind. I try to writ to the best of my ability. I hope you continue to read the story!
Lamu: I'm glad you like how I intertwine the story with events from the show. Well it can't be totally AU what fun would that be? Hehehe, well Yzak has to have a scary side too…heheheh.
Cloudy mind: thanks! Yuuna goes to HECK! Well I think I will do something nasty to him later.
Unbesiegbar Kriegsmaschine: Thanks!
Hibiscus8: hahahah…yeah sex. Thanks for the review!
Cathrun: Yeah I heard about the rumor, just have to wait and see. I'm glad you liked the chapter!
Personne du monde (ch. 4) : Thanks for the review and I'll look into that section of the story.
Stuntsheep: I'm glad you are happy about the past update.
Animeluver (ch. 7): hehehe, thanks!
(ch 10): yeah, poor Athrun….well not really, but I will say it anyway.
(ch 11): hehehe…I see you are getting into the story.
(ch 12): well, it's just one of those things, that's all I can say. They are going to stay married, just changing the date that it is official. Just for public eye mainly…
(ch 13): Kira and Lacus had gotten married but no ceremony…
(ch 14): hehehe…kill jona…I'll make sure to do something with him later.
(ch. 16): I'm not too sure about the spelling…but we'll keep it the way it is for now. Hehehe…no need to stress too much.
(ch. 17): you'll just have to wait and see how their shots came out.
(ch. 18): You know, I wish I knew someone who was a really good artist that could draw up some of these memorable moments in this story for me. It would be so COOL! But oh well, thanks for reviewing!
Kagome1316: thanks!
IYGU: Thanks!
Matt: thanks! I'm glad that you liked the flashback…I know many people were asking for me to write it in or to make a side story for this one. So I decided what the heck, I was going to anyway…and timing just fit right there.
Gundamjunkierx780: I'm glad that you took the time to read the story. I know I do have a tendency to speed read…I'm honored that you are enjoying the story. The best use of Meer? Oh really?
Mahha55: Thanks!
Animemistress419: THANKS!
Kintora: I'm glad, I try not to keep the focus too much on Cagalli and Athrun and let all the other couples have some shine of the spot light on them. After all they are part of the story.
Cottongreentea: I'm glad you are liking the story, so how are you out of school again?
Lil rinny: thanks!
Sleeping forest: it's alright that you may not have time to submit reviews, but as long as you can still enjoy the story I'll be happy. So keep on reading and don't forget about school too much now!
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Not All Pretend
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed or Gundam Seed Destiny. This story idea is based off the idea of "matchmaking" and when the two that are put together don't really like each other. This is an Alternative Universe but granted their personalities will still be there.
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Chapter Nineteen
"HEY LOOK!"
Everyone quickly came down from their respective rooms as Miriallia was jumping around with joy as she held two magazines in her hands. Cagalli and Athrun's face paled as Miriallia winked at the couple as she handed them over to Shiho and Lacus. Yzak just sat back as he looked over his wife's shoulder and being a little more intimate with her since last night. Shiho seemed to be welcoming his touches with a bright smile, Dearka was smiling like a villain and held it up for Cagalli and Athrun to see. Behind them were the Waltfelds and Yamatos. Lacus rushed down to see the nude pictures of Athrun and Cagalli, although they were covered in the right areas not to show anything off. Murrue all the sudden interested ran down the stairs as Andy chuckled after his wife.
"What's going on," Kira asked and Cagalli and Athrun both gave him dirty looks. "Sorry I asked you…I'll go join my wife before our twins wake up." Kira rushed down the stairs to join his wife and friends. Cagalli and Athrun slowly descended the stairs as all of their friends were passing the magazine around in delight of what they were seeing.
"Do you want to play hookie now," Athrun asked as he squeezed Cagalli's hand.
"On the count of three," Cagalli whispered back but there would be no such luck.
"You two, get down here!" Miriallia shouted and Cagalli groaned as Athrun sighed. The two made their way down to see the pictures that everyone was gawking at. "You two are very photogenic! I mean look at this, you two look good naked with each other!"
"Yeah, you two are very naughty even with the cameras," Shiho teased and Cagalli blushed. "Especially these pictures with the two of you almost kissing and Cagalli being on top."
"Can we talk about the other magazine!" Cagalli shouted and everyone laughed at the girl turning even redder.
"But this one only has you two in single poses and this article on how the whole Orb society looks forward to seeing you two married," Dearka teased. "And this other one shows mostly pictures of you two together and guessing how wonderful your sex lives are together!"
"It does not say that," Athrun said as he leaned over and took the magazine out of the Elsman couple's hands. He opened it up to show Cagalli as they were reading well more like seeing pictures of them together. "You were lying!"
"Of course I was," Dearka said with a smirk. "It is so much more fun to see you two flustered about a stupid magazine. Especially since you are almost on every page."
"GAH!" Cagalli stood up and waked out the room as the other couples laughed at the blonde's behavior. She stormed out to the balcony area with Athrun behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and placed a kiss on her cheek. Cagalli rested into his embrace as his hands went under her shirt to touch her stomach's skin. "I can't believe we agreed to do that."
"I know," Athrun kissed her neck softly. "But we did, so now we have to live with it."
"I guess," Cagalli said turning around to wrap her arms around his neck. "But why do we have to be the pawns in everything? Why not the others?"
Athrun chuckled, "I wish things were that simple. But it isn't…we agreed to be the center of attention in hopes that we can find out who is behind everything and to take down who wants to end all peace."
"Why couldn't it be just you," Cagalli teased tapping his nose. "I could deal with them all teasing just you."
"Now where would the fun be in that?"
"Party pooper," Cagalli pouted and got a kiss on her lips. "So what is the plan for today?"
"I think Kisaka said something about public appearances, you know…charity balls, grand openings, board meetings," Athrun titled his head to see what else could have been on the agenda.
"Sounds like a boring day if you ask me."
"Well technically we should get use to it," Athrun said with a smirk. "After we take your father's place we will be doing more than that."
"I hate it when you're right," Cagalli said as she rested her head on his shoulder. Cagalli sighed, "So what are we going to do about us?"
"What do you mean," Athrun asked as he played with her hair between his fingers. "We just go out there and kick some ass; we get married and have as many kids running around the mansion as possible."
"You'll be stuck with diaper changing," Cagalli teased.
"Oh, I don't think so Miss Athha…it will be you with the diaper duty as I go out and kick some political ass…"
"I don't think so! You better help or I'll kick your ass to the couch!"
"So you would deprive me of sex…but then who would make you scream?"
"I could always find some dummy who would…"
"You better be joking."
"And if I'm not?"
"I'll beat the first bastard that tries to touch you!"
"Oh," Cagalli pressed her lips against his in a passionate kiss. Athrun of course didn't bother to fight back as he accepted the kiss and held her closely to his body. "So Mister Zala…do you still want to go through with today, or should we lock the door to our bedroom?"
Cagalli didn't even have to get a verbal answer from Athrun as he lifted her into his arms and carried her quickly up the stairs. The others watched in amusement as the couple faded from sight as they continued to pull out some early editions of the magazines with Cagalli and Athrun in them. There were several nice pictures of the couple together and single shots of them. Athrun portraying the suave man in his twenties as Cagalli portrayed a woman that refused to be beaten down by anyone. All of them held their personalities even when Cagalli was dressed in an elegant she had that fierce look in her eyes what were sincere about her. Athrun looked calm and collected as always…even in casual wear.
"You know they could just become models and forget the whole political side," Shiho said with a smirk on her lips.
"Yes and Athrun looks quite handsome," Miriallia said getting a grunt out of Dearka.
"Hey, what about your dashingly handsome husband," Dearka pouted and received a kiss from his wife.
"You made me pregnant," Miriallia pointed out and went back to looking at the magazine.
"Yeah, men have a way of doing that," Shiho said and let out a yelp as her husband pulled her into his lap.
"I didn't hear you complaining about the way the baby was conceived," Yzak teased and Shiho growled. "I happen to be an excellent in the area of getting you to scream…"
"YZAK!" Shiho sneered at him, "You egotistical PIG!"
"Now, now…" Dearka smirked, "We don't need to see any blood on the floor today. You should be happy Yzak was here this morning instead of that meeting, I am sure he could be doing other things."
"Shut up," Shiho grumbled and tried to stand up but was held captive by her husband's arms.
"I don't think so…"
"Hmph!"
"They look cute," Miriallia said with a laugh.
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"Who are we meeting again," Cagalli asked irritated about having to go to a charity ball in an extremely formal gown that came out of the ninetieth century. She looked stunning in the eyes of Athrun, but she didn't quite feel comfortable with it since it was for a magazine they had posed nude in. Athrun wore the tuxedo of the times and looked just as dashing as he were to wear a normal tuxedo of present day. Cagalli clung to his arm as he just smiled at his beautiful company. Athrun placed a kiss at her temple and smiled.
"We are meeting the editor and chief of the magazine," Athrun told her as they entered the Victorian decorated ballroom.
"Isn't he the one that made us do that whole bedroom and shower spread," Cagalli gritted her teeth and Athrun chuckled. "I take that as a yes."
"Cagalli, it won't be so bad," Athrun kissed her temple again. "Besides the night is still young and we are here to enjoy ourselves. Hopefully problem free tonight, so why don't you smile that gorgeous smile of yours so we can at least poke some fun at the idiots who actually looked at those pictures."
"You mean like our friends," Cagalli arched her eyebrow.
"We'll get them at a later time…but right now, lets get those that we don't know…I mean they have to be nuts in wanting to see what the future Mrs. Zala would look like without any clothing," Athrun teased and Cagalli tried to stomp on his foot. Athrun quickly got his foot out of the way as they made their way to the dance floor where there were already busy couples dancing the night away. Athrun placed his hand on her hip, at least as low as he could go her waist before the dress became the hoop portion of it. He took her right hand and placed it in his left as he began to lead his princess in a waltz.
"You don't seemed phased at all that someone gets to see almost all of you naked," Cagalli huffed and Athrun kissed her lips in a chaste moment.
"Why should I be, the only one that gets access to this god like body of mine is you…"
"God like body my ass…don't get too full of yourself now Zala."
"Don't worry beautiful, this ass is only for you and I hope that yours is mine always."
"Jerk," Cagalli kissed his lips as they kept in the beat of the music. "But you're my jerk…"
"Couldn't we just drop the name calling," Athrun slumped his shoulders a bit and pretended to pout as Cagalli laughed at his antics.
"You know you love me," Cagalli leaned her head against his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"That I do," Athrun smiled as he closed his eyes and the cameras began flashing at the couple but neither seemed to care as they were lost in their own little world. The conversation around them seemed irrelevant as they were in each other's arms. Usually Cagalli would punch someone for saying things about her but they were actually saying pleasant things about the dancing couple.
"Look at them!"
"They are so perfect for each other."
"They dance so well together…"
"I wish I could have a love like that!"
"I wish I could have a guy like period, to hold me the way he does her."
"That Princess is one lucky woman…"
"Hey that Zala is one lucky man to have our princess in his arms like that, I guess he was the only one that could tame her."
"They look so in love…"
"Who would have imagined that love would truly blossom so purely like what those two have. It was a shame about that miscarriage she had."
"Yes indeed, a child between a coordinator and natural would have settled things a long time ago."
"Yes, it would have but it would appear they aren't stopping in trying for another one."
"Yes, I could imagine so many little ones running around our country in good time."
"How wonderful that would be to see children from those two."
"It really is a shame that the rest of the world can't be more like them, don't you think?"
Yzak had arrived at the ball with his wife on his arm, but as they were walking around they had heard all the comments spoken about his friend and lady. Shiho just smiled at the scene before her as the couple danced the night away unknown that the dance floor was solely theirs to have for the rest of the evening. Yzak then not wanting to be shown up took his wife to the dance floor and led her in the soft waltz that was playing, "I don't want them to show us up, besides I believe I have the most beautiful woman of the evening."
"Yzak," Shiho said with a bright smile. Soon the attention was put on the young political couple and Athrun turned to see his friend with a smile. Yzak smiled back at him and Cagalli waved at Shiho. Shiho waved back, "How are you enjoying the evening?"
Cagalli smiled, "It was more eventful than I thought it would be."
"Heard the things being said about the picture perfect couple," Shiho teased and Cagalli stuck her tongue out.
"I see that you two are quite cozy lately," Cagalli responded back and Shiho then stuck her tongue at her. "See, payback is so much more fun…"
"Har, har, har…" Shiho said as Yzak dipped her and Shiho let out a school girl giggle as he brought her back up to standing position. Athrun twirled Cagalli around as the two were now in their own dance competition.
"How about the Jules versus the future Zala couple, eh," Yzak challenged as the orchestra began to play a Spanish tune that required a little more life from the dancing couple.
"I accept, but I would be careful with your pregnant wife," Athrun warned as he pulled Cagalli into a tango like position. "I wouldn't want you two to get over passionate with the dance." Athrun then began moving along the dance floor with Cagalli
Yzak then twirled Shiho around as her back was pressed against his chest and held her hand at one side of her waist. While he then held her other hand with his own as they began moving to the sound of the music. Cameras were flashing everywhere at the dancing couples as they both were doing a dance of a passion. Both were doing their own version of a passionate tango to the Spanish waltz like tango and everyone watching with deep envy.
"You can't out dance a married couple Zala…"
"Well, Jule our passion is new every day and we don't have to be married, at least not yet!"
"What are you trying to say…I've lost my touch?"
"No, just saying you're expecting and well we're not…so we get to keep the romance alive a little longer."
"YZAK!"
"ATHRUN!"
"What?"
"UGH MEN!"
"What did we do?"
"Cagalli want something to drink," Shiho asked as the music came to an end.
"I would love to," Cagalli said as the two women walked over to the table with all of the drinks and snacks piled up for them. Well for the guests but it would appear they would over take the land of beverages.
Athrun patted Yzak on the back as the two followed after the women of their hearts, "You and Shiho seem to be doing much better."
"Well, after having a scare from your fiancée it was good to make sure everything was ok between us, besides I ruined a uniform by jumping into that pool," Yzak groaned. "I have to get another one made thanks to her."
"Hey, my future wife is quite crafty when she wants to be," Athrun said with a smile. "Maybe you and Shiho should consider doing the magazine thing…"
"No, but not just no but HELL no," Yzak said crossing his arms over his chest. "I do not think that would be a very wise decision for us to make at this moment in time, or EVER!"
"Oh come on, it wasn't so bad except your friends mocking you," Athrun told him with a sly grin.
"Shut it Zala," Yzak warned and Athrun smiled.
"What, it's not fair you get to make fun of Cagalli and I but we can't do the same to you guys, that is so not fair."
"Stop sounding like a girl."
"Who are you calling a girl," Cagalli asked looking at the two when with curious eyes.
"Nothing, baby," Athrun said placing a kiss on her lips. "Where's Shiho?"
"Oh some guy is flirting with her," Cagalli said casually as Yzak marched…pardon, stomped over to the area Shiho was at. Sure enough there was a man hitting on Yzak's wife. "How long do you think before he punches that guy's lights out?"
"You're an evil woman," Athrun said as he wrapped his arms around her.
"So," Cagalli batted her eyelashes at him when they heard the people gasp at the sight. Cagalli quickly turned her attention to see not Yzak that had punched the guy but Shiho. She was fuming but what she said could be clearly heard half way across the world.
"DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN!" Shiho shouted and marched off with Yzak gaping at the guy who was bleeding from his nose on the ground. Yzak then smiled proudly chasing after his wife.
"Well, now that was interesting," Athrun said receiving a punch from Cagalli. "What was that for?"
"For sounding like they were some kind of entertainment," Cagalli said with a smile on her lips. "Besides, aren't I interesting enough?"
"You are always interesting," Athrun said in a low seductive voice that Cagalli loved to hear. "Just nice to see some funny entertainment and a reminder never to get you angry especially when you get pregnant again."
"Athrun," Cagalli narrowed her eyes at him and he just laughed. "I was NOT that bad."
"You wanna bet," Athrun winked and began walking away from Cagalli who was slowly chasing after him.
"Athrun Zala!"
"Yes princess?"
"Get your ASS BACK HERE?"
Yzak and Shiho were watching from a balcony above the bickering couple, but it was more like a lovers playful quarrel. "Do you think they finally have a chance at happiness?"
Yzak placed a kiss on his wife's cheek, "We're happy aren't we…and we had just as difficult time as they did and are going through. We still have our own hurdles to jump, but we are happy future parents."
Shiho smiled up at him, "Sometimes I wonder how things turned out this way?"
"They just do," Yzak said softly. "They just do…"
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A few months later and a very difficult delivery, Shiho and Yzak Jule were proud parents of a baby boy. Shiho sat in her bed in the hospital holding onto her newborn son as Yzak sat next to her with his arm wrapped around her shoulders, if it wasn't for Cagalli helping the process she wouldn't have this miracle in her arms. Cagalli was sitting in a nearby chair but in Athrun's lap, both were sleeping soundly. The new parents were wide awake looking at their son, Darien Jule.
"Can you believe this little guy came out of my body," Shiho asked with her forehead still sweating from the labor. Yzak kissed her forehead, "I so don't want to go through that again, but it was worth it."
"You're beautiful," Yzak whispered into her ear and Shiho looked up at him. She was a mess, her hair was disarray but she was still beautiful in his eyes and their son. "He's going to be just as beautiful as his mother."
"No, he'll be handsome like his father," Shiho said as she handed their son to him. "I'm tired…"
Yzak nodded in understanding taking his newborn son into his arms, "Hey there little guy." Yzak gently rocked his newborn in his arms, it had been some time since Cagalli and Athrun had taken those pictures and caused some media flare but the media had been chasing him all day when they found out Shiho went into labor. The chairman's first born was much more interesting news for the rest of the world to see and watch.
Athrun and Cagalli opened their eyes to Yzak sitting in a chair with his son while his wife had finally gotten the well deserved rest. Cagalli cuddled into Athrun's arms as they watched the new father swelling with pride. He was in love with being a father and looked at his son with indescribable amount of joy. They had heard him call his wife beautiful even after the hours of labor she had to endure before the child was born. It had been a wonderful sight to see such a miracle, soon Miriallia would be in labor and there would be an Elsman running around in a short amount of time. There was already a Waltfeld, Yamato twins, now a Jule with a Elsman on the way. All there was left was a Zala child to be born, but wedding would be occurring soon…they had to change the date due to some political reasons but the wedding was still in the same month they had planned it…it would still be a spring wedding as planned. The unexpected early birth of the Jule newborn had brought joy to everyone's eyes and lips. Smiles adorned their friends who arrived to see Yzak beaming with pride as he showed off his new son to their friends and his mother who just had arrived from the PLANTs to see her grandson.
"Don't worry," Athrun whispered into Cagalli's ear. "We'll have our on in good time."
"After I have my time with you," Cagalli smiled.
"Is that so," Athrun said with a smile.
"Yes, that it is…but we have a wedding to prepare for…"
"Don't remind me…"
"What you don't want to marry me?"
"Not that, I just don't want to hear lectures from your father again."
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Sorry for taking so long but I hope you enjoy this but next chapter is the long awaited wedding ceremony promised! So I will see you all next chapter!