I am supposed to update 'Found You' but I ended up writing this instead, but I promise I'll update that soon! I'll try to, at least. This is actually something I'd written long back, I just edited it. Kinda short, but hope you like it. Happy reading!

He had made so many preparations for her birthday, the balloons and streamers all hanging from the ceiling, occupying the space on walls, or simply rolling about languidly on the floor. A dozen boxes of pizza, all of twelve different flavors, one even with pineapple toppings- in case she was feeling especially experimental. Twelve more had been ordered, making it 24 in all- the very age she'd be turning today. An entire collection of Cheese-kun goods were laid in an orderly fashion, and the entire ambience had been made as cozy as possible, for a certain someone absolutely enjoyed lounging amidst slothfully disorganized clutters. How strange she was. And how he'd fallen so hard for those peculiar traits of her, only God knows.

She had been talking to him for the entirety of the two hours for which she had been travelling to the airport. Cera's job as an air hostess could be tedious at times, and she would have taken a leave today if it weren't for the flight to Pendragon coinciding perfectly with the date and timings- Pendragon being where her boyfriend happened to stay as well, though for a short while. It was not rare for Lelouch to get transferred regularly on account of his business, and their locations barely ever matched. Therefore, she just could not let this opportunity slip through her fingers, birthday or not. And C.C. was one stubborn woman.

"You did not need to work even today, Cera.", Lelouch spoke over the phone apologetically.

"It's killing two birds with one stone, idiot."

"I could have travelled to Camelot instead.", his constant attempts to convince her proved to be futile.

"You have been relocating continuously for the past few weeks, Lelouch. Besides, what's my gift?", she probed inquisitively. "Me. Is that good enough?", he teased, feeling around inside his pocket cautiously.

"You are growing to be quite the bold flirt, aren't you, Mister Lamperouge?"

"Well, I learnt from the best."

"Why, thank you. Gotta go now, Shirley's here too. Bye, love you!"

"Love you too.", he replied, but C.C. had already cut the call. Setting the phone aside, he fished out the pink (a strange color choice, but it was C.C.'s favorite color after all) box, and opening it carefully with his warm fingers, he felt his heartbeat go up at one single glimpse of the sparkling glint of the ring, as the anticipation tied a knot in his stomach while butterflies fluttered about their wings frantically as well. It was a queer feeling. Proposing on a birthday could either make it a wonderful memory, or a ghastly disaster. He chose to take the risk, though he increasingly worried about her rejecting him, which would make it rather awkward and spoil her special day. Under no circumstances, did he want to ruin it for her. For once, Lelouch understood the gravity of all that cheesy romantic proposing rubbish, when he would usually be quite dense if he happened to be caught in the midst of such situations. His instinct told him C.C. would have a positive reaction; in the six years for which they'd been dating, he could predict the unpredictable woman well. It could be a kind of superpower, and he did not hesitate to proudly flaunt it in front of everyone. But Lelouch was a calculated man. He did not believe in keeping faith in instincts or feelings or such. Then again, how else would he do it? Mathematical formulae or plans could not help in turning the proposal into a success. Oh, damn it. He would do it. It could be a possibly bad decision, but he was firmly set on it, not ready to budge. If she thought it was too soon, they would forget it and continue like usual, and he would propose again when he was 100% sure she was ready too. What would be done would be done. Heaving a sigh, the lean man plopped down on the sofa, letting the doubts wash away bit by bit, surveying the contents of the room and wondering if it would be a pleasant surprise to his lover. Oh, of course it would. He sincerely hoped so. The hours of waiting stretched out too long, and he resorted to ending his boredom and overflowing thoughts by watching television. He could not pay attention, anyhow. His eyes kept on falling on the ring- the glittering gem adorning the golden band; the very hue of her eyes. Three hours had passed. Lelouch kept flicking channels, till the news came on, and it was a routine for him to update himself with the daily happenings.

And what appeared immediately caught his attention.

The image of.. a greenhead. His greenhead. With blood pooling out beneath. An orange-haired woman bent over her body, resisting the people who pulled her away. As it floated on the television screen, under the bold headlines 'One air hostess found dead; confirmed to be Cera Cacace, four injured.', the running commentary continued, "201 passengers survived the plane crash, 13 passed away..".

It could not be true. It just couldn't. Lelouch tried his best to convince himself it was only a terrible nightmare, yet failed. There was no denying it. He stared blankly, mouth ajar- his body frozen with the shock. Tears kept on spilling out without an end. Kept on.. kept on spilling, falling onto the diamond ring.

I secretly enjoy writing tragic fics about these two.. I really love it. At the end, it only gives me pain, but I can't help it. Something about sad endings.. ugh, I hate myself for this. Anyhow, do leave a review, please! Thank you 3