Another part in this 'would be' one shot. Thank you for the reviews, sorry for taking forever. (Btw, I had a pen name change, look at my profile for explanations...)

Kura52: I'm working, i'm working. And yeah... Athrun's a bit down, but Cagalli will make it up to him eventually...mwuahaha

MyouseiSeed:...right, I'm guessing that's your favorite parings?

Kaurama-kasuki: hehe, sorry... I knew someone feel the hit if i stopped right there, but i was babysitting when i updated that bit and i had to leave right in the middle of a sentence. It hurt me as much as you.

Akira Asakura: P.Oed Fllay is a bit frustrating to write, cuz I really really want Cagalli to kick her snobby butt, but that'd be going to fast... I'm actually speeding through all of it right now. (forgive me everyone) I know I'm going too fast, doing things without giving reasons, but hey, i never said this was a LOGICAL thing... i suppose.

Anywho, thanks for the reviews.

Emily: grins Random snicker... someoen gave ya sugar. Say thanks to your dad for fixing the compy.

Battle of the Queens

Kira let out a little gasp at the touch, feeling as though several bolts of lightning had decided to run through his body.

"you're too pale." Lacus insisted, unaware of causing such a reaction. She pushed his hair out of his eyes and froze, suddeing noticing not only what she was doing but also the way he seemed to be looking at her.

"I... did interupt something with Fllay, didn't I?" she stuttered, wantint got take a step back but unable to.

Kira had to work hard to come up with an answer that was in a language she could understand and consisted of less than three 'ums'

"What? Lacus, no... she was arguing with me..."

"I didn't know you two were together again, really I-"

"Together...?"

"...I can't believe...I broke off the engagement today and then-"

Kira finally took her shoulders and forced her to stop. "-you did what?" he whispered, looking into her face with slight shock.

Lacus looked down, concentrating on not looking at him. Somehow she felt odd, there wasn't a person i the whole universe who had that efect on her, that made her feel like she needed to watch what she said and did...

"I broke off the engagement with Athrun..." she forced out softly, finding that it wasn't humiliating, but hurtful.

Kira gasped. "What? But why? I thought you-"

"Maybe it was a bad idea... I might have made a mistake." Lacus cut in, searching for an explanation.

Kira took her chin gently and forced her to look at him. His eyes softened at the tears welling in her own gaze.

"Do you think It was a mistake?" he whispered. She stared at hiim a long moment, feeling a tear roll down her cheek.

"...no."

Kira nodded slowly, wiping the tear away. "Then, it's not."

His whole body wanted to hold her, make her tears disappear where she would enver think of them again, but... he didn't know if he could.

"i did it because of you."

The words brought him back to reality and away from the gorgeous beuaty of her fface. The air seemed to have decided to abandon his lungs...

"...Lacus, I..." he began, struggling to phrase things. Though what exactly he wanted to say, he wasnt' sure.

She put a finger to his lips and shook her head. "Shss, don't try to explain it, okay?"

she pulled back slightly, her eyes sad.

Kira felt as though hit by a brick wall, she thought taht he was with Fllay again...

He took her chin again. "No... Lacus. No." and with that, he kissed her.

((Mwuahahaha, this is amusing))

It seemed as though hours passed, maybe they had, she wasn't sure. Her throat felt tight, because it had strained with her contained sobs...

However the rest of her was comfortable. She was warm and she could feel heat, running up and down her back as if soothing her tense muscles.

There was a feeling of safety hovering all around her... She hadn't felt that since Tull had...

Suddenly, she forced her eyes open and blinked.

She was still in the hanger... but..

Oh God...

She was in Dearka's arms, cradled like a child in his lap. He was slowly rubbing her back and shoulders over and over. Obviously, he didn't know she was awake yet.

Mir closed her eyes again, a bit panicked... but more so confused.

His hand hovered over the nape of her neck for a moment, and she felt him gently stroke her skin, the warmth and softness of his fingers having a monumental effect on Mir's whole body.

She felt vevery single muscle relax and a dizzying wave of pleasure wash over her, making her whole being tingle slightly.

Tull had once had that effect on her...

Slowly, she turned in his arms, looking up at him steadily.

He let out a slightly surprised breath.

"Why're you doing this for me?" she whispered, her voice small and tired, before the awkward silence could take over.

Dearka's eyes softened slightly and he looked away for a moment, as if thinking, gathering himself together.

"Because... you need it." he stated. Mir closed her eyes for a moment, usnure of what to feel at such a reply.

"And... maybeI need it too." he added after a moment. She looked back at him sharply.

"I think it's a bit late for me to tell you that I care about you..." he continued weakly, stroking her cheek.

Slowly, Mir sat up, pushing herself up to his level. Dearkalooked away, expecting her to leave.

I can't do this... No! Don't... you'll loose him... just like Tull... just like everyone else-

Mir felt tears falling, rolling down her cheeks steadily as her thoughts flew through her head at a hundred miles an hour.

But if I don't it's like I lost him anyway..

"Dearka?" she murmured.

He turned to look at her, instintively rubbing her tears away.

"Thank you..."

He gasped slightly in surprsie, but had hardly enough time to realize what she'd said before her lips were against his and he was strugling with his sanity.

He dind't want to hurt her, didn't want to scare her, but his whole bodywas aching as if addicted to her skin. To his surprise she was the one that pushed harder, shocking him with the confidence in her movements, slowly feeding his addiction.

He wrapped his arms around her, struggling to breathe as her shivering body pressed against him. She pulled back after a moment, breaking the kiss, leaving him hungry but too dazed to care. She nuzzled his neck, curling once more in his arms, listening to the heartbeat under her palm.

She was safe...

He was so quiet... so still, a little like how Kira was. Cagalli watched him out of the corner ner of her eye, as they walkted towards the deck of the ship. he had an odd expression on his face, like he was trying to figure something out.

Sighing Cagalli forced herself to look away.

He's engaged, get that through your head!

Forcing herself to contain all fieelings she walked up tot he reailing, feeling very different than the last time she had been on deck.

"so... when's the wedding anyway?"

She would have jumped off the deck into the sea if she had known before hand that her big mouth would say something like that that.

Athrun started, blinking at her, as if bringing himself back from his thoughts.

"Uh... wedding... um...that-right..." he stuttered a moment, looking out to the sea, his expression changing to pained.

Cagalli felt like kicking herself. He obviously didn't want to talk about it..

"Oh, never mind it. I's okay, if you don't want to talk about it..." she murmured, feelnig her neck and cheeks grow hot.

""Oh no... it's not that. It's just... I don't think there is going to be a wedding." he mumbled, leaning over the railing slightly, head bowed.

Cagalli let out a small with held breath. "Oh... I'm sorry... Could I ask why- no never mind. It's none of my buisness..." she stumbled, blushing harder.

Ahtrun laughed humourlessly. "It's okay. I don't mind telling you. Lacus was the one to cut it off." he shrugged. The pricness felt very much like she had been punched. All hope was gone again.

"Oh... I I'm so sorry." she managed. He still loved Lacus. If it had been his will the wedding would still be-

"Don't say that. Why should you be sorry. I'm pretty sure if she hadn't done it, I would have." He murmured, turning to face her.

Cagalli looked back at him solemnly, through her whole boyd was tingling. She wanted to laugh or cry...

Instead she smiled weakly at him and looked down, watching her dress move along to the rhythm of the wind.

"I'm not sure why I should be sorry, but somehow I am." she shrugged her pale delicate shoulders while playing with a ring in her hand, her eyes concentrated on the gold band as if it were the entire universe.

There was a stillness for a moment, then Athrun said, his voice hesitating.

"Perhaps... becuase that means that Kira and Lacus... might..." he drifted off and shrugged.

Cagalli looked up sharply. He'd known about them? Oh lord... he was so sad. He looked so sad. She must've been right the first time. he still loved lacus...

Little did she know, he was sad becuase he thought she loved Kira and her expression was confusing enough to make him believe it more.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to pry..." he began.

This confused her greatly for a moment. "What? No... it's okay. I didn't know you knew about Kira and Lacus..." she stuttered. Athrun shrugged. " I didn't know you knew about it. either. I'm surprised you're so calm." he admitted.

Cagalli blinked. "Uh... I sort of thought that you'd be the one panicking..." she admitted, going to lean on the railing beside him again.

Athrun looked up at her sharply.

"Me? Why me..?" he stuttered.

Cagalli studied him carefully, wearing a rather confused expression.

"Well... I thought you really cared about Lacus..." she began, hesitating. He stared. No way... I can't believe this.

"No!" he cried out. "I...well, I do care, but not like that...not anymore anyway..." He explaiend... or tried to.

"Oh." she managed, staring with wide eyes. Then she cocked an eyebrow. "Why would I be the one to panic?"

Ahturn turned a bit red and looked away.

Cagalli's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Athrun... blushing...?

"Well... I thought you and Kira..." he began. But Cagalli wasn't listneing.

"Are you blushing...?" she gasped, staring. He turned sharply to look at her, forcing himself to stay calm. "Of course not!" he snapped... (well... maybe not totally calm.)

He noted the pink tinge of her own cheeks, though at that moment, she looked more amused/shocked than anything.

"Are you?"

She blinked, and looked away arrogantly, though she only grew warmer. "Of course not." however there was a sarcastic lilt to her voice.

nervousness won out, and Athrun couldn't help but laugh, making her smile as well, despite herself.

"COme on, Princess or we'll be late for dinner." he managed, taking her hand and pulling her along.

Cagalli's whole arm tingled, but she didn't pull back. "Fine..." she forced out softly.

Athrun glanced back at her quickly and smiled slightly, his eyes softer than usual. Cagalli smiled back and still didn't pull her hand out of his grip.