Author's Note: This particular plot will expand even more on Milly and Lelouch's relationship. Not just romantically either. There is a lot of room for relationship building between them because canon didn't do a lot with it. Of course that isn't to say there won't be a little bit about Shirley or Kallen. Just not a lot. Canon shows the build up of their relationship with Lelouch well enough for me to not focus on it 100%.
Inspiration: This story is the first fanfiction I've written that was inspired by a different one. Late Night Rebellion with Zero by nanoman79. Check it out if you want to see it the story that gave me an idea. Though it does get kind of nuts.
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass to any extent. At all.
Turn 12.5
Of Memories and Romance
Milly had absolutely no idea what to wear and she hated it. "Lelouch didn't even say if we were going somewhere formal!" Frustrated she flopped down onto her bed before staring up at the ceiling in contemplation. "This is the night I've been looking forward to for the last four years. I've imagined this date more times than I can count, but I can't think of what to wear?!"
"I've known him for so long . . ." That was when she realized what her problem was and, with the perfect outfit in mind, she quickly went back to her closet. Milly left it on its hanger and stood in front of a mirror as she held it against herself. "Yes. I've known him for so long that it doesn't matter what I wear." The blonde could feel her anxiousness fade away as she stared at the outfit. "And this is perfect."
She let her mind wander as she imagined how it would look. A faint smile graced her face as she remembered the first time she met him. Back when he was Lelouch vi Britannia and she was Millicent Ashford.
The blue-eyed seven-year old was hiding from her mother and breathed a sigh of relief when her voice grew quieter. Giggling mischievously Millicent stuck her tongue out in the direction the voice went. "That room was boring." She giggled again as she began exploring Aries Villa.
The little girl was overwhelmed by the size of this place and was staring wide-eyed at everything. "This is bigger than my house!" Unfortunately her adventure was short lived as she heard her mother again and this time from just behind her.
"There you are Millicent Ashford!" Immediately Millicent took off into a run only to hear the woman shout again, "You come back here this instant!"
Much like her adventure her escape didn't last long as when she turned the very next corner she ran into someone. "Ow." If the person she ran into hadn't been a child she would have just been knocked down, but Millicent found herself tangled up with a boy with violet eyes. She began to laugh and when the boy just glared at her she laughed harder. Her attention was diverted when she heard giggling and she looked up to find a tiny girl hiding behind a woman's legs.
"Don't laugh at me, Nunnally." The seven-year old heard the boy's voice for the first time and something about it interested her. Much to her amusement the little girl, likely his sister, peeked out at her and was indeed the one giggling. Carefully, though still smiling, she worked to get off the boy.
Once they were both standing again, and after she dusted off her light yellow dress, she smiled wider, "Sorry about that. My name is Millicent Ashford . . . but I like Milly better!"
The woman kneeled down and, to her surprise, smiled back, "I see. You're Ruben's granddaughter aren't you?"
That surprised her even more, but the blue-eyed girl nodded. "Uh-huh. How do you know grandpa?" This woman seemed very familiar to Milly, but she couldn't place it.
"I've known your grandpa for several years. Seems you managed to escape your mother too. Ruben is always telling me you are quite an explorer."
Before she could answer her name was yelled out just down the hall, "Millicent!"
The woman laughed, "Seems your luck has run out, Milly." The blonde's eyes widened when she was actually called by her favored nickname and smiled. With a small sigh she let her mother catch up to her this time. What surprised her is what she did once she did so.
Her mother sounded awed, "Empress Marianne! I apologize if Millicent got in your way." The girl hadn't realized this woman, who had stood when her mother appeared, was royalty. That was when she remembered why she was familiar. Her grandfather had show her pictures of this woman. Telling her that she would meet her, and her children, one day soon.
"It was no problem at all Lady Ashford. Your father-in-law had told me many things about her and I've wanted to meet her for quite awhile." While the adults talked the children were left to their own devices. Milly wasn't sure if the boy, now acknowledged as a prince, would want to talk to her after she ran him over. So instead she turned towards the princess and waved.
The seven-year old's overall cheerfulness seemed to embolden her and she stepped out from behind the empress. Smiling lightly, though clearly very shy, as she waved back, "I Nully."
Milly returned her smile, "Hello Nunnally. How old are you?"
The tiny princess awkwardly held up three fingers, "Tree."
Her smile widened at the sheer adorableness of the little girl, "I'm seven."
Nunnally's eyes sparkled, "Near same as Lelou! He six." Milly held back her laughter when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the boy frown. Clearly he didn't like that his sister told her that without another thought.
"Really? Then maybe the three of us can be friends." It was clear the princess had taken an immediate shine to the blonde as she nodded excitedly in response. She was still amused when the prince stepped up besides Nunnally as if to protect her from some dangerous beast.
He stared her down, perhaps judging her, when his own mother spoke up. "Go on now. Introduce yourself." He adopted the look of a deer in the headlights, "I thought I taught you to never keep a lady waiting. Especially one as cute as this one. The raven-haired boy clearly didn't want to when he saw his sister looking at him pleadingly and he caved.
Mumbling he did as the empress asked, "I'm Lelouch vi Britannia."
They all heard him, but Milly couldn't help teasing him. "What did you say? You talk so quietly." He introduced himself once more only a little bit louder. "Lelouch vi . . . what was that again." Her mother was exasperated, but Empress Marianne was very amused.
"I SAID LELOUCH VI BRITANNIA!"
Milly grinned widely and laughed, "I know. I heard you the first time, prince. No need to yell." He stared at her in obvious frustration.
"That's enough, Millicent. We have things to do." With a sigh she agreed and started walking away when she got an idea.
"One last thing though." The blonde turned around and dashed back in front of Lelouch. "You are kind of cute Lulu." She was smiling before leaning in and kissing his cheek. Laughing at his blush she turned back around and caught up with her mother. "I hope we can be good friends!"
It was only once she was out of sight that he realized what she called him. "Don't call me Lulu!" Somehow he felt like that nickname would follow him for the rest of his life.
Lelouch's mouth went dry as Milly came down the stairs. He was surprised how simple her dress choice was. It was a winter green, v-cut cardigan with a black skirt that ran down to her ankles. The skirt had a long split on one side that ran up to her thigh. He got the feeling she wasn't trying to blow his mind, but it looked good on her. Very good.
The blond teen smiled at him with ruby lips as she slowly walked down the stair, "Hi."
Tongue-tied as he was it took him a minute to respond, "Hi." Both of them were noticeably blushing, but couldn't take their eyes off the other. So much so that they didn't pay attention to the person entering the room.
"You should be off." The teens jolt a little out of surprise as they only now noticed Ruben. "I trust you to take care of her Lelouch. You know what's proper."
Coughing awkwardly Lelouch nodded and held out his arm to his girlfriend. Her smile widening enough to show white told him all he needed to as she placed her arm around his. "Ah . . . thank you sir. Please don't wait up for us."
The kind old man nodded gruffly before leaving them alone. Silently walking out the door and down the path towards a black and gold Volvo. Lelouch smirked when Milly rolled her eyes. "You know you don't have to use the color scheme for the Black Knights for everything, right?
"True, but the colors do go well together," he responded cheekily.
"I suppose I can't deny that."
Lelouch didn't let the smirk become obvious because he felt this wasn't the time for it. Besides. He was well aware she almost certainly knew what was on his mind and saying it aloud was unnecessary. So instead he turned it into a smile as he started the car. The prince didn't say anything else until he was driving, "It was surprisingly hard to come up with a date for you."
The buxom blonde giggled, "I can imagine."
"We've known each other for so long that I know what kinds of things you do and don't like, but at the same time I felt I needed to have some kind of first date feel to this." He chuckled as he remembered his dilemma, "At the end of the day I gave up in that respect."
That got her intrigued on what he had planned, but knew he would remain tight lipped. After all he loves theatrics even more than she does. So he most certainly wouldn't ruin the surprise. She grinned widely as she ignored her curiosity, "So will this be a second date affair? That's the holding hands stage isn't it?"
The joke was so sudden, and so Milly, that he was caught off guard. He well and truly laughed before grinning back at her. "Considering what happened on the roof of the school we are way past this being a second date affair." He was pleased to note that his comment tripped her up as her eyes went wide. The girl's face burned vibrant red at his reminder and she absentmindedly touched her lips at the memory.
Lelouch smirked victoriously as they pulled into, not a restaurant, but a driveway. She noticed and blinked as she looked at a small home, "Isn't this . . ."
"One of the safe houses I bought for Nunnally and I in case we were discovered? Yes." He smiled, "I decided I didn't want to be gawked at all night. Dinner is already cooking and should be ready soon if my timing is right."
Milly's eyes lit up at the mention of his cooking. She didn't get to have it often, but it was a common wish of hers. Though she had never told Lelouch that. "You should have told me you were cooking!"
"And ruin the surprise? Never!" He went around to Milly's side and opened her door. "Here you are Lady Ashford." Lelouch teased with an exaggerated bow.
Grinning she stepped out and slipped her arm through his, "Why thank you Jeeves." Giving him a taunting wink as they walked up the path and into the house. They shared a chuckle as they slipped inside. Milly let Lelouch leave her side so he could work his magic in the kitchen. Then, because she knew it had been several years, she gave herself a tour.
The blonde remembered Lelouch showing her this place shortly after he purchased it, but back then it was mostly empty. Her eyes sparkled as she drank in what it looked like now. She always admired her friend's impeccable sense of design. It was clear it had been a few years since he had added new photos though. There was a more recent picture of the student council that included Kallen and Suzaku, but most of them were from before.
Milly smiled as she gazed at a picture of the three of them taken shortly after Lelouch recovered from his depression. She was carrying Nunnally out towards Lelouch as he sat in the shade of a tree. The same tree where he caught her as she fell the very next day after this picture was taken. It captured one of his first real smiles she had seen since Marianne's death.
"Found that one huh?" She jumped when his voice came from behind her.
"Gah!" The teen turned around while melodramatically held a hand over her heart, "Don't scare me like that Lulu. You'll give me a heart attack!" Her heart raced as he looked at her with a raise of an eyebrow and he leaned towards her. "L-Lelouch?"
He stopped several inches away and lightly caressed her face. Making her blush despite herself. Smirking, "I've told you not to call me Lulu." The playful light in his eyes was telling as he stood straight and walked past her. "Dinner is ready by the way."
She could her his laughter floating from the kitchen and yet she hadn't moved. Milly was in the middle of trying to kick start her brain into doing more than gaping at where he had been. Finally shaking it off she marched after him with the intent to give him a piece of her mind. A plan that derailed after she smelled the food.
Milly only barely managed to hide the shudder his smile sent through her body. Lelouch was the only one who could do this. The boy, on purpose or not, often made her feel like they were the only two people in the world. Ignoring the urge to kiss him she smiled back, "Need any help?"
The prince shook his head, "Not at all. Go ahead and sit down."
She bit her lip, unsure, but in the end decided to do as he suggested. The blonde blinked when moments later he had set down a plate of salad for both of them. Then she got a good look at the salad itself. "Is this what I think it is?"
He grinned as he sat down across from her, "Fresh lettuce mixed with radishes and tomatoes."
Milly's eyes were sparkling, "Topped with orange vinaigrette and garlic croutons?"
"Of course. It is your favorite after all. I know much you have missed it since your favorite restaurant closed." Lelouch grinned teasingly, "You did complain to me often enough about it. How could I forget?"
The president didn't care and just rolled her eyes, "Just so you know if the main course involves roast duck cooked in sauteed onions I will totally rock your world tonight. Sayoko will just have to stay away." She giggled, "At least after I figure out where you got the orange vinaigrette. I couldn't find anything like it anywhere."
Lelouch gulped nervously as he thought of what he had prepared for dinner tonight. Which was exactly what she had just named. "I actually made it myself. Being Zero has its advantages. It was pretty easy to get the recipe for it."
"Just when I thought it wasn't possible for me to love you more than I already did."
He just stared at her in surprise before, clearly unsure about what to say, reached over and placed his hand over hers. "I fall in love with you more every day Milly. All three of you." Lelouch began to worry that he said the wrong thing when she suddenly began to cry.
She smiled after slowly wiping her tears away, "I have wanted to hear those words from you for so long. Sometimes . . . I still have trouble believing this isn't a dream."
"I don't blame you. I was content to sacrifice everything I am, even my life, for my goal. So long as I succeeded in the end." Lelouch chuckled lightly, "Now I have to make sure that we live through this. You would never forgive me after all."
The blonde laughed and her smile widened, "That's true. I've waited four years for this date after all. Ever since the night of the party . . ."
Lelouch didn't want to be here. Coming to this party could have disastrous consequences for himself and Nunnally. From a distance he glared daggers at the reason he was here at all. Milly's parents. The greedy parasites had threatened to reveal their survival to the royal family if he didn't attend. A smug smirk spread across his face because he had found a loophole.
They wanted him to go to the party and get found out that way in the hope that it would allow the Ashford Family to regain their noble status. Unfortunately for them they didn't say he couldn't wear a disguise and so here he was. With blonde hair and green eyes he looked next to nothing like Prince Lelouch. Of course, much to his annoyance, this couldn't hide his good looks. Though he was only thirteen he was already becoming a lady killer.
Which is why he was hiding away in a corner for the moment. "Tch," His eyes wondered over to his childhood friend as she was drinking some punch across the room. "You are the only girl here worth anything at this party." He blushed lightly when she somehow saw him looking her way and smiled at him. Returning the smile he began to wander the ballroom once more.
Milly on the other hand wasn't having any better of a time. She was well aware she had started to mature a little earlier than some and now two years later she looked closer to sixteen or seventeen. Thanks to this a few of the older noble boys would wink at her. She usually doesn't mind having bloomed so early because it gives her more to embarrass Lelouch with. What's disturbing is some of the creepier men don't care she is only fourteen once they find out.
Then, almost worse in a sense, her parents had also taken notice of her beauty. She had caught them discussing arranging a marriage for her when she was a bit older. Several times at that! The teen didn't know how to broach the subject with her grandfather or Lelouch. She had seen even her parents pointing her out several times as they talked to the nobles here.
Milly sighed as her mother called for her. It was embarrassing because the woman refused to call her by her nickname even though they aren't nobility anymore. The blossoming blonde almost groaned aloud when she saw the frustrating woman standing next to an older gentleman who clearly had his son with him. Before this moment she had been sure tonight could not get any worse.
Putting on a fake smile she went to greet them, "Hello mother." She politely curtsied as is proper.
"Millicent dear. Meet Lord Abysel and his son, Edward. They own the very well-known Ahab Exports."
Inwardly, though the smile never fell, she felt disgusted as she let Edward kiss the back of her hand. She was aware of the company as were most people in this case. The family was very wealthy, but the company had been subject to many criticisms by the population at large because their main export was whale meat. The company was created around a hundred years ago when the founder discovered, and quickly killed, the only known white whale. The company kills so many whales a year that it is estimated the species will go extinct within ten years if something isn't done about it. Unfortunately due to their high standing in Britannia no charges have stuck.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both. As my mother has no doubt told you my name is Millicent Ashford. She almost smirked when her mother narrowed her eyes because of what she was doing. She wasn't even going to give this scum the option to call her by her nickname. With no way to escape Milly was forced to make conversation with them.
Unbeknownst to her Lelouch had been watching the whole thing. He had even heard her parents not-so-subtly suggest a potential marriage in the future for Milly throughout the night. The prince took immense pleasure in executing his plan as he slipped between his friend and Edward. Smiling at her in a way that she knew what he was doing. "May I have this dance?" He almost laughed at the frown on the boy's face as she placed her hand in his. The icing on the cake was the look of anger in her mother's eyes.
They had only got a few steps away when Lelouch spoke again. Not turning around, "I would watch my step if I were you Madame Ashford. You and your husband. One would hate for certain . . . unsavory secrets from mysteriously leaking." With a twirl they were in the center of the room after his thinly veiled threat. True to his word they began to dance.
Milly couldn't believe what he had just done, but smiled the brightest she had tonight. Instead of saying anything she opted to enjoy being in his arms as they waltzed. It was a lucky thing that he recently had that growth spurt. He was going to be quite tall she was sure. The girl couldn't quite describe what she was feeling as they danced. She didn't need to tell him thanks for what he did because he already knew.
Without even asking they continued to dance even after the first, second, and third song had stopped playing. At some point he had somehow taken out his contacts so she could stare into warm violet. She wasn't really fully aware of how much time was passing. All she knew was, to her, they were the only people who mattered at this moment. No one else existed here and now. Just her and Lelouch. She could feel their hearts beating as one.
The spell between them broke when three simple words entered the blonde's head unbidden. Causing her to misstep in the middle of another dance. She absentmindedly nodded as Lelouch, who also only now seemed to realize how long they danced, offered to go get them something to drink.
She didn't question the idea because she knew it was true. She loved him. The whirlwind known as Milly Ashford was hopelessly in love with Lelouch vi Britannia.
"You have, since then, got in the way of my parents plans several times. I only gave in to Lloyd because there were worse options I could end up with."
Lelouch smiled, "I remember that night. You were beautiful." Chuckling as she blushed, "Even more so now really." He finally managed to finish his own salad as Milly had long ate hers. Kind of amazing how she was able talk normally with food in her mouth. "Strangely enough it was that very same night I convinced myself that I saw you like a sister. Because it was the best explanation I had for my feelings."
She quirked an eyebrow, "Honestly I knew I liked you from the day you came to me when your nightmares came back." Giggling softly, "I remember not thinking anything of it until you were laying down beside me. I was hugging you and though you fell asleep quickly . . ."
"It was probably pretty weird huh?"
Milly nodded, "I remember how my heart sped up as I looked at you in your sleep. It wasn't the first time that had happened as I looked at you, but usually it was after we were running around or something. So I never noticed that you were the cause of it until that moment." Smiling, "It was kind of awkward being in bed with someone you had known for years only to realize you liked them as they slept."
She looked at him curiously as he blushed lightly and got up, "Lelouch?" Wordlessly he picked up the main course and carried it over to the table.
"As it happens . . . I wasn't fully asleep. Just mostly."
Her blue eyes widened, "You mean you were awake when I . . ."
The raven-haired teen nodded, "I thought I had dreamed that kiss you gave me." He gave her a lop-sided grin, "It wasn't bad at all from what I remember. Which isn't much." Pausing he looked back at the main course, "Good luck in convincing Sayoko to stay away a while." Lelouch pulled the lid off of the roast duck.
She grinned right back when she saw why, "You know this means I'll totally be jumping your bones right?"
"Not tonight. If only because your grandfather would kill me."
Scoffing, "He knows as well as you do that if I get something in my head that very little will stop me. It'll be all on me in the morning."
"I still have to take you home tonight and I would rather not have to get up after that."
The look in her eyes made him blush brightly, "Like I said. I'll take the blame . . . in the morning."
Not trusting his voice he took what he wanted of the duck and began eating. As did Milly though she had a satisfied smirk on her face. Several minutes passed in silence while Lelouch refrained from looking at her. Because the first time he did she was looking at him with what could only be described as bedroom eyes. He could still feel her eyes on him even now.
In some hope to delay what she had planned he brought up the first thing that popped into his head. "How were you able to get yourself to push Shirley and I together for so long?"
She saw what he was doing, but indulged him. "How funny. Shirley asked me something similar the night your father woke up." Laughing at the look he had on his face, "It's true. Though she was much more emotional about it and your question isn't exactly the same. After all you already understand why I did it."
He nodded, "Of course. You were protecting my sister and I the best you could. Dating you would have put too much attention on me. Our discovery would have been all but ensured."
"I won't pretend in didn't hurt, but I chose Shirley because I could see her feelings went deeper than just your looks. She reminds me of your sisters actually. Though she didn't know what happened to you in the past she was willing to accept it all and move forward. Didn't matter what it was she would have to forgive."
"You knew, if I would just stop being stubborn, that we could find happiness. You didn't like it, but so long as I was happy you knew you could be as well."
She nodded slightly, "What about Kallen? You two have hit it off, but are clearly holding back."
Lelouch contemplated what he wanted to say, "We ARE attracted to one another if that is what you mean. We even have stronger feelings than that, but for us . . . we don't know if it will work out. Being in a harem is not something Kallen would likely have imagined for herself a year ago. Nor would I really. She is too fierce to want to share her man with anyone."
"At least under regular circumstances you mean."
The prince smiled, "Yes. We are both aware that right now she is more so seeing if she could stand it. The fact you and Shirley are the other women helps. Though I think we are past where her breaking off is likely. Before she only knew Zero and the student known as Lelouch Lamperouge."
"And you had to wear the mask of an uncaring student to keep attention away you. With your secret announced it was no longer needed."
"Of course. She had gotten to know me over the last ten months and now knows which parts of each mask was an act and which ones weren't. I don't doubt that she would prefer to have me to herself, as would you and Shirley, but somehow you managed to convince them to go through with your idea."
She smiled knowingly at him, "It was to make you happy. Hatred and sorrow have defined who you are since Lady Marianne died. Your time at Ashford is a bright spot in the darkness, but can't compare to your desire for revenge. Can't compare to your wish make the world a better place for Nunnally. You deserve someplace where you can be happy when you aren't out wearing your literal mask."
"Milly . . ."
"Lulu . . . The three of us will not let you bear these burdens alone. I know Nunnally and Sayoko won't either. Facing what you do on your own will only cause you more pain, but together? Together there is nothing that can break us and when we have finally reached tomorrow you will be right there with us."
He stared in stunned silence when he began to laugh. Lelouch looked at her with a rare light in his eyes and a simple smile, "I see." He blinked in confusion as she stood up and held out her hand to him. Unsure what she had planned, but took put his hand in hers and stood up. Immediately she was pulling him away from the table and he noticed where they were heading.
"Hey! We still have dessert!"
She turned her head back to him and winked. "It isn't in the oven from what I could tell. So it can wait." Lelouch knew he should to try to convince her otherwise, but he didn't really want to as she pulled him towards the bedroom. He was undecided on if he was glad that Sayoko was to check on them at nine. She was probably on her way right now.
"Lelouch . . . I refuse to lose you. Not now when I can finally hold you in my arms. We will be here to save you from Britannia . . . and yourself." Milly looked back at him as she steeled her resolve. Keeping her thoughts to herself with a content smile as she wondered how far they might go before Sayoko appeared. Probably not as far as she might like to.
Author's Note 2: I tried hard to make whole thing grow their relationship even further. It kind of transformed into their attraction to the each other finally exploding, but not out of lust. I like her insinuations of having sex, but I think it would be best if Sayoko stopped them. Though I imagine some foreplay will happen before she can get there. Lelouch is definitely the kind of person to ease into it slowly.
With luck Milly, Lelouch, and Nunnally as children are convincing enough for you as that is another thing I tried to do. Make them seem like real children. Even Lelouch and Milly used simple language. As nobility they would have been given a tutor pretty young I imagine. So they are refined in their speech, but don't say large words or have complicated sentences. Nunnally is only three so her speech is broken.
Hopefully you enjoyed this attempt at a chapter filled almost entirely with fluff and romance. With a bit of humor and character building of course. I actually contemplated writing more for this chapter, but at almost 5,500 words I felt it wasn't needed. It felt right to start wrapping it up after that conversation at the end. This is the longest special chapter after all. The first one that is in the normal chapter range in length. The next one should follow suit.
Next is the true final chapter after I got this idea as I worked on Special 06. Lelouch of the Talk Show should be finished within two weeks if my writing goes according to plan. Depends on if something comes up.