Author's Note: The story's ending faster than I thought it might be…snap…I loved writing this story. Thanks for the reviews and please keep reviewing!

Chapter 20

Erika's Wish

Fllay sat in bed. Lonely. Cold. She tossed and turned and felt to the side. She frowned. Kira was not there. She stared toward the clock. It was six. She'd have to leave for the party but Kira was not there. His tux hung on the back of the door and underneath was her silk and glittery red dress. They had planned the party for months. Why was he not there? She reached for the phone and called his cell. There was no answer.

She stared around, hoping he was hiding somewhere to surprise her and make her smile like he always did. But his 'boo' wasn't there.

Regretfully and painfully, she looked at her calendar: February 12.

Valentine's Day was on Monday.

She had planned to move away with Kira the next day, but he hadn't been home enough to talk about it. She was so caught up in having him again that she felt like she had to do anything to make him stay. But instead he only left again to return to the Clyne vicinity.

Stroking her hair in the mirror, she saw that she had changed immensely in the past few years. She hadn't been receiving as much sleep as before by the slight shade of black under her eyes. Her hair had grown much longer and she had lost a lot of weight. She sighed into the mirror and stared at her arms. Her doctors told her to eat more due to her unusual paleness and her overly speedy metabolism. It was ruining her and if it didn't stop, she'd receive an eating disorder.

Fllay groaned.

Her life was slowly shortening because she refused to eat. She would only eat when Kira would be there.

But …

He wasn't.

It was nearly time to go the party.

"I guess he's not coming," Fllay spoke softly as she stood up from her chair and headed to the living room.

-

The next day, Kira had forced Lacus to come to the park and leave Erika to Athrun and Cagalli again. He wanted to be able to enjoy her time with her as during their trip, he would take slight glances to her right hand's middle finger which had the silver ring he had given her.

He forced himself not to giggle stupidly. He was too high on just being with her.

"Kira…I promised Erika I would help her school with their Valentine's Day events…I can't be here!" Lacus yelled to him as he climbed up the tall tree in one of the far corners of the park as Lacus stood at the bottom. She crossed her arms and sighed. What could possibly be more important?

She looked around the deserted park. It was a beautiful day, where could everyone possibly be? Lacus suddenly heard a rush of leaves as she looked back at the tree and saw her pink Haro leaping at her.

"LACUS!" it shrilled happily as it bounced around her and she stepped back a little surprised by its sudden appearance. She was at a loss for words. Wasn't it supposed to be in her closet locked away forever?

Then from the other side of the park, Lacus heard a loud familiar flapping. Her eyes widened slowly. Tori.

"TORIII!" it chirped circling her head as Lacus heard a snap of a camera and from behind her, Athrun, Cagalli, Tsubasa, and Erika stood with presents in hand. Lacus gaped at them. Three surprises at once were a bit overwhelming.

"W-What is this?" Lacus blinked at them as they approached and Haro leaped into her hands. Athrun pulled a large book out of the large bag Cagalli was carrying and handed it to her. She cocked her head to the side, confused.

"Open it," Cagalli laughed as she picked up Tsubasa in her arms.

Lacus slowly open and her eyes slowly formed with tears. She gritted her teeth and dropped the book, rushing forward to the hug the two. They were a little surprised but only replied with a softened gesture and a slight hug back. Lacus pulled away and suddenly bowed to the two.

"Th-Thank you …" Lacus hiccupped as she picked up the book and she wiped her away tears. "B-but I still don't get it. What's the occasion?"

"Well…Kira was upset that he missed your birthday … sooo…" Cagalli paused as she eyed the dark brown haired man sliding down the tall tree. "He decided the day before Valentine's Day was the best to make up for it."

"Oh, and don't tell him we told you. But he also has something planned for you tomorrow," Athrun chuckled. "It was a little sudden…but…"

"Kira…did…all this?" Lacus turned around as he approached clutching the book to her chest. He rushed toward them and waved quietly as Erika grabbed his legs.

"Carry me, Daddy!" Erika laughed happily.

Kira stepped back. Daddy?

Lacus smiled at him as he stared back at her surprised. "I told her last night … she was happy that it wasn't Lan."

"Oh, yeah … that reminds me…" Kira pulled out his cell phone and dialed three numbers and then hung up and put it back in his pocket. "That should take care of him…" he whistled as he picked up Erika and motioned them to come over to the tree which was now playing soft traditional Japanese music.

Athrun and Cagalli placed the blanket down as they settled the picnic basket on top. As all of them sat down, the plates were handed out and Tsubasa nearly dived for the food as his mother picked it up. Athrun snatched the back of his shirt and picked him like he was nothing at all and stared at him straight in the eye as he hung from his hand. But Tsubasa only continued to claw for the food.

"What did I say about that, Tsubasa?" Athrun growled.

"But mommy cooked my favorite!" Tsubasa whined reaching for it.

"Wait your turn. It's Auntie Lacus' day today, remember?" Athrun raised an eyebrow and he slowly nodded as Athrun placed him back next to him. Tsubasa pouted as he stared longingly at the food. He wanted it so bad.

His cousin plopped next to him with a plate full of food and handed it to him. "You can have mine. I can wait."

Tsubasa goggled happily as he grabbed it from her. He sighed at the two and turned to look at Lacus. "Your daughter spoils him too much."

Lacus shrugged. "There's nothing much I can do about that."

"It only means she'll make a good girlfriend when she grows up," Cagalli added as she handed Athrun his plastic utensils.

Kira gagged on his foot and nearly spat everything out. So with a full mouth of noodles and rice, he said, "Girlfriend!"

"Kira, don't tell me you're going to take the role of an overprotective father. It suppresses the girl too much in my opinion," Cagalli shook her head as Lacus cleaned his face with a napkin. Lacus looked toward Cagalli with a smile.

"I'm sure Kira will support her … right?" Lacus turned to face him with a sweet smile and he gulped down his food.

"Not until she's graduated," Kira said as he grabbed another piece of food.

"Kira!" Cagalli and Lacus chorused.

"She'll need to concentrate on her education first," Kira said as he nibbled on a piece of teriyaki.

"You're starting to sound like Athrun," Cagalli growled. Athrun gaped at her.

"Leave me out of this," he implied as he pinched Tsubasa's ear for trying to steal the whole plate of tempura. "You can't finish it."

"But dad!"

"Tsubasa, no," Cagalli glared as she lightly hit his head with the ketchup bottle. "Listen to your father."

"Fine," Tsubasa puffed his cheeks.

"Here, Tsubasa," Erika motioned her plate to him that had a piece of untouched tempura but he only shook his head.

"It's okay," he mumbled.

The four adults laughed at the two cousins as Cagalli stared fondly at Kira and Lacus as Kira tried to force Lacus to eat another plate of hot sauce. She kept pushing it away until Kira dripped a whole tempura into hot sauce and as she opened her mouth to eat her own share of food, Kira stuffed it in. She gagged again as she swallowed.

"KIRA!" Lacus said after all the food was out of her mouth. "What did I say about that?"

"I couldn't resist!" Kira laughed along with Athrun and Cagalli.

"So cute…" Cagalli whispered into Athrun's ear. He looked toward her with a shrug of his shoulders and she crossed her arms. "How is it not?"

"But I didn't even say anything!" Athrun blinked.

"That's the point! You're supposed to!"

"…What?" Athrun scratched his head as he placed his plate down, scared of what was to come next as she dropped her food on the picnic blanket. Lacus and Kira stared at them in amusement as Cagalli knocked him to the ground and glared at him.

"You're supposed to agree with me in these sort of things!"

"But I don't get what I'm supposed to agree with you about! All you said was so cute, it doesn't make sense!"

"That's the point! SO JUST SAY OKAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT!"

"Why are we fighting anyhow? It's pointless!"

Cagalli blinked downward at him as her blonde hair sagged downward. "You're getting good at this."

"Of course," Athrun smiled as Cagalli slowly got off of him.

Kira and Lacus muffled their laughter as they continued to eat.

"Have you talked to Fllay yet, Kira?" Athrun asked as he picked up a piece of rice and stuffed it into his mouth. Knowing Cagalli, she would've hit Athrun in the ribs, but also interested in the subject, she allowed it to continue.

Kira continued to eat quietly as he thought about it. How was he going to tell her? He didn't even show up for the dinner.

Lacus dropped her plate and then remembered Rau.

"Lacus?" Kira blinked. "Something wrong?"

Cagalli's eyes slowly widened. "Don't tell me you didn't …" Lacus silenced her own scream as she hurriedly stood up and Cagalli followed. She ran away with not saying anything and Cagalli chased after her. "We'll be right back!"

"WAIT! CAGALLI! Where are you going!" Athrun called out as he attempted to stand up when he noticed that Kira was about to follow. Athrun looked at him and sighed. "They'll be back, Kira. Don't worry, Cagalli's with her. They should be fine."

"But still…shouldn't we…"

"We can't just leave Tsubasa and Erika here…" Athrun looked at the two still poking fun at each other.

"Alright," Kira sat back down.

-

Fllay walked into her car angrily as she slammed the door. Kira hadn't showed up! He didn't show at all! Lacus didn't even! She swerved her car around as she road off to who knows where! Growling angrily, she gripped the steering wheel and turned another corner running any at all red lights. She didn't care if her reckless driving would be the top story of tomorrow. She needed to get out, out!

"Damn that KIRA!" she screamed as she turned again and screams and honking were heard. "ASSHOLE!"

Fllay, angry, she opened her window, and spat in the car's direction and then turned another corner as she rolled up her window.

Swerving again, Fllay nearly lost control of her car until she found herself parallel parking in front of the park. There was Lacus Clyne.

"That bitch!" Fllay took the key out of her car and slammed it shut as she locked it. With her heels clacking against the concrete sidewalk, she approached her and made her turn around. "NOW YOU LISTEN TO ME!"

"Fllay!" Lacus' eyes widened.

-

"Tsk. Tsk. Poor Clyne," Rau stared from a tree in the park as he watched the scene slowly creating.

"Anything we can do?" his companion said next to him in a tree nearby as he watched by with binoculars.

"Not without blowing our cover."

"It'll be all over the news tomorrow."

"Well, that we can stop. But I doubt anything of the reckless driving we can."

"You don't say?"

"Would I lie to you, Andrew?" Rau laughed as the two men slapped hands and heard a sudden fist to face sound.

"Woo! Looks like Clyne has some muscle after all!"

-

"How dare you!" Fllay said instantly recovering by the sudden movement. Lacus only stood in front of her, panting. She had never felt like this in her life. She had just punched Fllay Allster! And it felt good!

"Come on, Lacus! Let me at her! Let me at her!" Cagalli said rolling up her sleeves.

Lacus stared at her fists and then her arms. She was surprised at her sudden aggressiveness. Shaking her head and immediately noticing the scene she had created, she grabbed Fllay by the arm and dragged her behind the park wall. Cagalli stood there, completely confused and found herself following them. But only ran in to Fllay yanking at Lacus' hair.

"LET GO!" Lacus shrilled quietly trying to pull her way out of Fllay' grip. But she wouldn't listen and only pulled harder. Cagalli looked left and right, she had never felt so helpless before when she felt an unusual hug to her leg.

"Mommy, they're scaring me!" Tsubasa cried out as he pointed a shaky finger at Fllay's violent movements.

"You're not the only one…" Athrun began as he stood next to Cagalli. Kira was right behind him and when he noticed the scene, he nearly fell faint.

"F-Fllay…L-Lacus…what in God's name…" Kira felt all the blood escape from his face and Erika's small hand escape his own. She rushed forward and bit Fllay right in the leg. Fllay instantly let go of her hold on Lacus as she stumbled backward to caress her now swollen leg. She glared furiously at the four year old.

"RAU! Get your ass out here!" Fllay cried out.

Lacus froze.

-

"I believe the lady's calling you."

"She can work it out herself."

"But what would Zala say?"

"I don't have to listen to her all the time you know."

-

"RAU!" Fllay yelled again. But the blonde assassin never appeared. Lacus sighed in relief until she felt another yank at her hair. She groaned in agony.

"MOMMY!" Erika leaped forward but was only held back by her father. Kira picked her up and handed her to Cagalli who simply nodded at him as he slowly approached the two. Fllay seemed to brighten up with a magical smile as she let go of Lacus and rushed into Kira's arms. Kira only stood silently.

"Come on, Kira. You haven't been home in ages."

"Yes, I have," Kira said barely above a whisper.

"But not nearly as long…won't you come home? Staying with Lacus can't be as nearly as fun with you staying with me," Fllay said too sweetly. Lacus lay on the grass as Erika jumped from Cagalli's arms and ran forward to her mother who lay on the floor.

"Get away, Fllay," Kira said controlling his anger.

Fllay's soft sweet tone dissipated as her eyes widened in shock. "What?"

"I said get away."

Fllay looked up at him and released her hold around him. Her eyes pained with sorrow and her fists clenched with anger. "W-Why?"

Kira pushed away at all thoughts that made him regret his decision because he knew if he hesitated once more about Lacus, he'd regret it for the rest of his life. "I have to let go."

Fllay felt her world shatter to pieces as she slowly stepped back. "What!"

"I'm … sorry."

"KIRAAA!" Fllay reached out for him again but he only stepped back as she fell to her knees. Kira turned away from her and yelled out words he should've yelled long ago.

"We can never be together!"

"And why not! Because of her!" Fllay turned around as she shakily pointed a finger to the rising Lacus who finally reached to her feet.

"Yes," Kira responded as Erika made her away toward Kira.

"So that's how it has to be?" Fllay began, her eyes shadowed by her hair hovering over.

"Go back to Ssigh," Kira paused. "I mean…it's not like … you weren't with him in the first place."

Pain.

Fllay's nerves suddenly got the best of her and her arm launched for Erika, holding her by the neck.

Suffering.

"Fllay, no!" Kira stepped forward but then she pulled out a silver gun which Kira had no idea that Fllay even had.

Sorrow.

"You told me…you'd protect me," Fllay began as she pressed the gun harder to little Erika's head as she whimpered in fear.

"Erika, no!" Lacus tried to move from behind but Fllay only turned around to show her that she was no longer playing silly games. This was reality. This was what Fllay wanted and if no one would listen, she'd make them.

To mourn in the night …

When others do not see…

"Fllay, let her go! Please!" Lacus begged as Athrun and Cagalli only stared on knowing them being helpless in the situation receiving glances from the red-haired woman from time to time.

"Let go of my cousin! LET GO OF HER!" Tsubasa cried out until he saw the gun being pointed at him.

"Shut up, brat!" Fllay cackled.

"Tsubasa!" Athrun grabbed him from the floor and stopped him from fidgeting. "Stop it!"

"But Erika!"

"Don't worry…she'll be out of there soon!" Kira smiled at his nephew half-heartedly. The question was …how was he going to get her out of there?

Tears soon began streaming from the little five year old's eyes. He wanted his cousin back! He wanted her now!

To scream and shout…

In one's own agony…

"You broke our deal, Lacus!" Fllay returned to stare angrily at the pink-haired woman behind her. "You said he would loathe you by the end of one week! But you lied! LIED!"

Lacus stared at her horrified. All her nightmares were soon coming back to haunt her and she screamed.

"Lacus!" Kira stepped forward but the sound of the cocking of a gun made him stop in his tracks again.

"Don't you dare move, Kira."

"Fllay, you're being reckless!"

"Aren't we all?" Fllay began sinisterly.

Hatred and love…

They hurt with more hatred and love…

They put us into more agony..

More than before …

So why must we hurt …

When all of it …

Is the unexpected?

"I told you I would kill at least one of you, Lacus…" Fllay stared at Lacus maniacally as the gun shakily pointed at Erika's head. "And if I can't kill you … then at least your daughter here will be something I won't have to worry about."

"She's only a child!" Lacus yelled.

"So what! As long as she lives…everyone will pain! It must've hurt, didn't it? To look at her everyday and see that she looked so much like Kira! To see her writing … and smiling just like her father! It must've pained to see him with me and not with you! It must've hurt …didn't it!" she pressed the gun harder to Erika's head. "Didn't it!" and harder as Erika shrieked.

"MOMMY!"

"That's enough, Fllay!"

Fllay's grip on the gun suddenly dropped.

The finale…

The death …

No…it can't end that soon…can it?

"Rau…" Fllay whispered as she dropped to the floor, her eyes widened and her hold on Erika disappeared as she rushed forward to her mother.

"Thank God…" Lacus sniffed. She was more than glad. She was overjoyed.

"Erika!" Athrun placed his son on the floor and let him run toward his cousin with tears still in his eyes.

Kira sighed heavily.

It was … the end.

"I'm terribly sorry, Ms. Allster…I never meant for it to end this way," Creuset said as he slowly got up from his position. He held a blood-dripping knife in one hand as Fllay lied on the ground with the absolute look of disgust.

"I never meant for it to end this way either," Fllay smirked as she somehow managed to find her gun in the blood soaked grass.

A loud piercing gunshot was heard.

"Creuset!" Lacus leaped up but it was too late. He was shot … and there was no way an ambulance could come in time.

"Heh … heh…" Fllay coughed as Kira silently approached her dying form. She stared at him with longing eyes. "I would've given you my life…I would've given you the world…wasn't that enough?"

Kira stared at her painfully. Four years slowly flashed through his mind, but … he knew …it wasn't love. It was only his longing to be with Lacus …

"I'm sorry, Fllay," Kira felt his whole body shiver as he felt her body temperature slowly dropping.

"I'll always …. Love you…"

"Fllay…" Kira felt a sting and her palm dropped lazily to the floor as Lacus bent down next to him with his head hanging low. She stared at Creuset's near to death form. She gave him a small smile as he gave her a small salute.

"I'm sorry I couldn't stay alive for the wedding."

Lacus laughed at his sudden humor. "It would've been very comical to have the world's biggest assassin at the world's biggest wedding."

"I doubt that I can make it…"

"Don't say things like that," Lacus laughed.

Kira looked at him and sighed. "So … the guy I thought to be our stalker was our savior? That's a shock."

"I tried my best, Mr. Yamato."

"Call me Kira."

"Well, we can't let out own private savior die to the grass," Lacus shrugged.

"What?" Creuset blinked through his mask.

"You'll have your medical attention in a couple of seconds, don't worry," Lacus pulled out a pink mechanism out of her pocket and shook it in the air. "Wonderful thing technology is. Get anything you want anytime you want."

"It's a bit late for Ms. Allster though…" Creuset sighed regretfully.

"Unfortunately it is…" Lacus stared at Kira who only gave her a reassuring smile.

"So…when's the wedding?" Athrun asked as he had Tsubasa on his shoulders.

"Wedding?" Lacus and Kira chorused.

"You didn't think we were going to let you go that easily, were you?" Cagalli laughed as she led in a very happy Erika.

"YAY! I get to be a real flowergirl now!" Erika giggled.

Kira stared at Lacus and Lacus stared at Kira. Marriage…they never really thought of it before. At the slight thought they turned dark red.

-

Author's Note: I can't believe it…I'm already on the last chapter…sniff It's too sad! I'll make the last chapter worthwhile! That I can promise! Also accompanied with the last chapter will be a preview to my new story…teeheee….