Second Love : Final Chapter
The party was just as boring as Athrun had predicted it would be (though the amount of guests was twice as many as he had supposed) but his date being stolen by various parsonage he had not even thought to predict.
Glancing at his watch, Athrun let out a silent sigh of relief upon realizing that they were far beyond the time when it would be considered rude to leave and they could finally make their escape.
At least they could when he got Meyrin back from whoever had sneaked her away this time.
Handing his empty glass to one of the many waiters wandering around the party with food and drinks, Athrun began to scope out the room in search of Meyrin.
When not even a glimmer of her radiant red locks caught his eye, he carefully maneuvered his way out of the room wondering if she had gone outside to get some fresh air.
Getting their coats from the large hidden panel wardrobe they had been instructed to place them in Athrun, continued with his search eager to find his date and finally have a bit more time alone with her.
They were finally together properly after all and to his own personal amusement this party had shown him that at this moment in time he really wasn't in the mood to share her.
As he exited the house having seen no sign of Meyrin within the none party related part of the house and having his suspicion confirmed by a passing servant that 'yes, a lovely red haired woman had exited the house accompanied by an older woman.' Athrun was surprised and angered to hear a voice that he had hoped not to hear for many days yet to come.
"Honestly Meyrin, it's like you want to have a miserable life. After everything your father and I have done for you despite your disgraceful behavior in the past, you insist on following after that... that man as if you are no better thatn a cat in heat. As if he hadn't ruined your life already."
His hands clenched in tight fists and his eyes holding an unmistakable warning to all you saw him, Athrun headed towards that carrying voices intent on saving Meyrin from her vile mother.
But as he turned the corner and came upon them, his eyes met Meyrin's and as she looked at him, her down trodden look faded away and a look of determination that he recognized from long ago stormy night over took her and he realized with pride that this time she just might save herself.
Staring into the eyes of the man she loved, seeing his anger on her behalf, Meyrin felt herself flooded with the strength that usually fled in the face of her mother's wrathfully judgement.
Straightening her slumped shoulders, Meyrin met her mother's eyes and stated in a voice that wavered only slightly.
"Athrun has never ruined anything in my life. If you do not approve of him or me, than it seems to me; Mother that there is a simple solution to your problems.- here Meyrin paused to stare her mother down as the older woman opened her mouth to cut her off.- Stay out of my life."
Then without waiting for the shocked woman to recover her senses, Meyrin walked past her to join Athrun on the curb just a little ways away from her.
His beaming smile warmed her from head to toe and shaking off any misgivings that wanted to torment her, said. " Shall we go?"
Holding out her coat, Athrun helped her into it, then lacing her arm through his they walked to the parking area paying no heed to Mrs Hawke sputtering and fuming behind them.
To each other they said not another word until they were safely in the car and on their way back to Meyrin's apartment.
As they waited for a red light to turn green Athrun finally felt like it was the right time to speak and turning to Meyrin he tucked an escaped piece of hair behind her ear, his fingers caressing her cheek as he said with a grin. "See you didn't need me after all."
With a laugh Meyrin captured his wandering fingers in her own and taking a quick glance at the still red light pulled him to her whispering against his lips. "Oh, I most certainly did."
The sound of several car horns pulled them from their moment and parting lips with her very reluctantly, Athrun continued on towards her apartment. But now the car was filled with plans of her coming to ORB and what they would do when they got there and how soon she would be able to square her business here away so that their time together could truly start.
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Slipping into her car after seeing Athrun off at the spaceport, Meyrin called her assistant and for the hour long drive began making the preparations to move at least part of the business to ORB once she found a place there. To say her assistant was shocked was putting it mildly but Meyrin had a plan and she was going to see it put in motion before she took time off to go to ORB and be with Athrun and his children. (Who she hoped would like her more this time around.)
But as she pulled up to the drive of her house her uplifted mood plummeted upon seeing that her parents were standing in her doorway.
Taking a deep breath she parked her car in the lane and after giving her assistant a few more instructions, hung up the call and straightening her shoulders, exited her car to walk up her drive and stop just a few steps away from her parents.
"Mother, Father what are you doing here?"
Mrs. Hawke opened her mouth to say something, what one would never know because Mr. Hawke having taken one look at his youngest daughter's unrelenting expression knew that anything they may have to say against her current life choices would be ignored.
Still he desired to have at least a few things confirmed. Including whether or not the bridge between them was completely burned.
Taking his wife's hand in his own he gave her a look to insure her silence and turning to their daughter said." Your mother informs me that you are involved with Athrun Zala again."
Meyrin cocked her head ever so slightly to the side studying them before she answered crisply. "Yes, I am."
Nodding to himself, he squeezed his wife's hand as it looked like her mouth was about to run away with her yet again and replied."That's good, yes...that's good. Will you be inviting us to the wedding if you get to that stage in your relationship?"
Meyrin stared at her parents for a long moment before finally her expression soften and taking a step forward she clasped their joined hands in both of her own.
"Of course you will be invited to my wedding."
And with a small smile she stepped away letting them no without words that the conversation was over.
Moving aside to let them pass, Meyrin waved goodbye as their car pulled out into the street wishing as she did so often that her relationship with her parents had been easier but alas somethings just were not meant to be.
But then again she thought as she opened the door of her home, sometimes the things you most hoped for just happen a little later than you expected.
Thus with this happy thought and a spring in her step, Meyrin pulled her luggage out of her hall closet in preparation for the next part of her life.
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Upon arriving back home in ORB the first thing Athrun did was hug his children during which Devlin brought tears to his eyes by whispering in his ear, "I really do want you to be happy, Dad."
Then after that he got all his work stuff done and then, then he called a family meeting.
Kira's family included of course.
As they all gathered back in the family room (minus Jimmy of course, he was asleep like all good toddlers should be) where everything had first started, Athrun reflected on how different he felt now after meeting Meyrin again and falling in love with her.
He was sure with her by his side he would be able to do what he had been unable to even think of doing after his beloved Cagalli died.
Move forward in happiness.
Sitting down in a chair facing Kilmeny and Devlin, Athrun gave his eldest children a loving smile but said nothing until Kira and his family had all been seated.
Then with a soft laugh he began, "So I am guessing you guys would like to know what has happened between Meyrin and I?"
Alice and Kilmeny as one shouted, "Yes!" while Kira and Lacus laughed at his teasing. Devlin said nothing but scooted to the edge of his seat eagerness in every line of his body.
"I met up with Meyrin and we've come to an agreement."
"What kinda of agreement?"
"Are you engaged?!"
The first question was calmly posed by Devlin, the second eagerly shouted by his sister.
Alice on the other hand just curled up in her chair watching her uncle with happy eyes. Far to much like her parents that one. Athrun never could keep them in suspense.
"We are not engaged...yet but she is planning to find a place to live here in ORB so we can see each other more often. We are hoping if we are in the right place in both our relationship and with everything else that we will get married in a year or so. Of course during this time she is also looking forward to getting to know the both of you and Jimmy better as well."
Kilmeny let out a little cry of delight, her left hand punching the air in triumph.
Devlin did not look as excited but his smile was warm and encouraging when Athrun met his eyes.
Alice clapped her hands together crying joyfully. "That's wonderful, Uncle Athrun!"
Kira and Lacus seconded their daughter's statement, Kira leaning forward to clap Athrun on the shoulder affectionately.
After that the family spent a happy evening catching up with all the other goings on of their lives, laughter and chatter ringing through out the house as it had not in many a month.
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Meyrin always remembered the second time she arrived in ORB while Athrun.
When she got off the shuttle she had expected to find Athrun waiting for her or perhaps Lacus if his work had kept him busy.
Instead to her delight there waiting for her just inside the passenger exit was Athrun and all three of his children.
Devlin was smiling a shy smile at her, Kilmeny was grinning widely and waving, little Jimmy was bouncing up and down while holding his father's hand and shouting excitedly. "You came back!"
And Athrun, oh the look Athrun gave her heated her blood and warmed her heart all at the same time.
Giving him a flirtatious glance from beneath her lases, Meyrin turned to the children with a wide smile and after shaking hands with the twins excepted Jimmy's hug with a happy giggle.
From there they dropped her off at her hotel with an invitation to dinner.
All of which set the tone for a wonderful two month visit that ended with the promised trip to Cagalli's grave.
Meyrin had during her two months in ORB found both a house and a place to run her business but she still had to head back to PLANTS to take care of all the little details that always have to be done when one makes a big change in ones life.
Athrun knowing that she would be leaving soon and not wanting to put off the visit to Cagalli's grave for her return asked her quietly three days before her departure if she would still like to accompany him on his visit there.
Meyrin had wrapped her arms around his waist and tilting her head upwards so that she could met his eyes, had replied that she would be honored before placing a chaste kiss on his lips.
That had been the evening before and now as Athrun stood before Cagalli's grave, his hand wrapped tightly around Meyrin's he could not help but feel a tad odd.
The familiar grief had wrapped around his throat catching both his words and breath but at the same time, Meyrin's warmth reminded him that he could breath and that this time, this time the words would come.
Studying his face, Meyrin gave him as small smile then without warning began to speak.
"Hello Miss Cagalli, I do not know if you would remember me but you once asked me to look after Athrun for you. When you made your request to him, I doubt that you imagined me as the one he would choose but I just wanted to assure you that I am still looking out for him and he has kindly given me the gift of also looking after the children as well. "
Taking a deep breath she continued squeezing Athrun's hand as she observed the tears dropping from his lashes.
"It is a task I take great pleasure and honor in doing so if I may have one request it is that you do not worry. Your family is loved."
Athrun could feel the tears falling heavy and freely down his face but he did not bother to wipe them away as he croaked.
"I hated you for just a second when you made that request of me, Cagalli. It felt like you were saying that my love for you was weaker that your love for me in a way. But now I see that it was just that you knew what I would need, what our children would need better than I did. Like usual, you were two steps ahead of me even then."
Swallowing hard, Athrun scrubbed some of the tears off his face with the hand not clinging to Meyrin's and continued. "Well as you always loved to hear, you were right. We had a bit of a rough start of it but Meyrin makes us all very happy so you can rest easy now. I love you, my lioness. Goodbye."
Tears shone in Meyrin's eyes when they exited the graveyard and she dashed them away quickly so that she could dry the ones that fell from his eyes instead.
Pulling her close, Athrun buried his face in her neck and whispered. "I love you, Meyrin."
Holding his close, Meyrin placed a gentle kiss in his hair and while stroking his back whispered in return. "And I love you, Athrun."
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Exactly five years and three months after he made an unwilling promise to his wife, Athrun Zala finally fulfilled it.
He married Meyrin in a flower covered field with only their family and dearest friends in attendance.
It was to everyone present one of the most beautiful and touching weddings they had ever seen.
And just like Cagalli had wished Athrun lived with his second love and ( soon to be four ) children happily ever after.
The End.
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Author's Notes: For the longest time I thought this story would never get an ending. But finally my brain thought of something. LOL
I hope you all enjoy it and thank you, thank you so much for the reviews, the encouragement, the faves and most of all for reading my little story.
I hope you all are well and that the Lord may bless you with His love and peace.
Thank you again,
JLGuyer