Sorry for taking so long with this chapter people. I don't have time to use the computer during the week, too many practices, and rehearsals, and exams..... cries

Anyway.... thanks for all the reviews. I hope you guys enjoy this bit.

"...Oh damn..."

"Athrun!Come on! You're so slow for a soldier." Kira teased, giving him a small push. Athrun tumbled out the door, catching his balance easily. "Bother you." he retorted weakly, trying to swallow the blush that had crept over his features while talking with Cagalli.

Kira smirked and shoved him out again into the back porch. The pool deck stood towards the shifting hills of the sands beyond the gates. The deck was made of an odd red-rough stone, circling around the large pool. The water was clear and white, glittering by the light of the morning sun streaming down heavily towards the earth.

Lacus gave a soft sigh as the warm air tickled around her face and hair, the soft scent of some kind of flower drifiting with the breeze.

"Oh wow..." she sighed softly, pushing a lock of pink hair behind her ear. Kira watched her out of the corner of his eye, a shy smile playing on his lips. "It's so pretty." she sighed again, smile widening until her eyes glittered with merriment.

Cagalli stood behind her, cocking her head at the fleeling of the breeze. The northern winds had grown weaker the last few days... She looked up to the bright sky. This would be a good day to take an aircraft out for test flights...

"You coming Cagalli?" Lacus called, pulling her dress over her head to reveal the purple bathing suit under it.

Haro zoomed towards her and bounced around her ankles playfully, echoing his master's words. "Coming, Cagalli! Coming?!"

The young natural looked down at the machine, shifting her weight idly to stare at it. "...yeah." she mumbled.

Kira ignored his sister, turning to the pool thoughtfully, wondering if swiming was a good idea. Mu La Flaga had been the one to shove him out the door into the foyer to face Athrun and Lacus and explain that swimming was what they had planned. It had been the most random thing to do, from his point of view. He wasn't even sure if he had ever learned to swim... or used the pool, actually...

A tug on his hand janked him forcefully out of his thoughts. Lacus stood before him, still holding his hand, though her own fingers were mainly wrapped around his wrist. "Come on, Kira, you're the one that suggested we go swimming!" She accused playfully, smiling.

Kira dragged his gaze from her toned, delicate body and focused on her face, blushing furiously. "Right..." he mumbled.

Cagalli shoved him from behind, nearly ending with him tumbling over Lacus. "Yeah, brother. You suggested this." she muttered hotly, though she was smirking playfully.

Suddenly, Kira wasn't so keen to go swimming... not that he had been in the first place. "Uh... you guys go ahead, I think I'll just..." he began, then stopped. Cagalli and Lacus glanced at each other, both girls cocking eyebrows thoughtfully. It didn't happen often that the same thought stream crossed both their minds.

This was going to be interesting.

Lacus grabbed his wrist and pulled towards the pool deck, making him stumble again and nearly fall in. He cried out loudly in surprise, turning to side step out of the way, trying not to hurt either of the girls while doing so. Cagalli was in the way though. She grinned evilly at him and twiddled her fingers in a more lady like manner than he had ever seen.

"See ya'" she smirked, throwing all her weight into one heartfelt shove. Kira cried out again and tumbled backwards, grabbing Lacus' wrist in the process. She gave one half hearted scream of laughter and they both tumbled into the pool, giving off a huge splash that left Cagalli dripping wet but grinning.

Athrun had tumbled to the ground in laughter long before Kira had fallen into the pool, but once inside he just couldn't stop.

Kira gasped as he broke the surface, tugging his shirt over his head. "Cagalli! I'll get you for that!" he called half heartedly, laughing despite himself. Lacus came up beside him, soaked and giggling like a merry brook. "Oh that was brilliant, Cagalli!" she called, waving an arm at the girl still on the deck before sinking under the water and away.

Kira shook his fist playfully towards Athrun, who was just dragging himself up from laughing. "Some friend you are!" he taunted.

Athrun chuckled and kicked the water towards him. "Beaten by two girls. That must really ache." he retorted, smirking.

Cagalli's eyes flickered to him thoughtfully, another evil glint coming over her face. She went to stand beside him, as if leering at Kira as well. "Yeah, Kira. Being beaten by two girls must really suck." She agreed, nodding with deep thought.

Kira blinked at her. Then Athrun turned to look at her too, cocking an eyebrow. "What are you-"

"Bye." Cagalli cut in, shoving him forcefully. With a cry of his own and laughter from Lacus and Kira Athrun tumbled headfirst into the water. That being the very first ungraceful thing he had done the entire time of his visit.

Cagalli sat and laughed as he kicked his way back to the surface, coughing slightly. "I really should have seen that coming." he grumbled, but there was certainly something on his face... Cagalli couldn't read it well.

"Are you not coming in, then?" Kira asked, splashing his sister. Cagalli turned her face away quickly, still crouching by the side of the pool. "Um... no, I don't really-"

Athrun and Kira both started towards the side of the pool, determination on their faces. "What do you mean you don't want to?" Kira asked sarcastically, pulling himself up on the deck.

Cagalli fell on her behind and scrambled up in surprise. "No you don't..." She started, backing up quickly. Kira and Athrun were smirking now. "You wish, little sister." Kira told her bluntly.

Young Athha took a startled step back and found herself backed up against a wall. She gasped.

"Oh... damn." she sighed, listening with annoyance at Lacus' giggles.

Athrun just smirked calmly at her, eyes glittering. "Yes indeed."