Hello again, it's been a while since I updated. I wonder if there is some kind of jinx, like I-promise-to-update-soon-then-I-don't-update-for-an-even-longer-time-than-before-jinx. I don't know but I'm kind of scared to promise that the next update will come really soon, even if I know that it is practically finished. No, I won't promise, it's better that way.

Actually I have gone through some kind of crises, I really started to doubt this fanfic. I really started to think that it sucked, and wondered if I was going to continue writing it at all. The language is a problem, I feel really limited by my English vocabulary and I really not very good to express myself in English. And there are tons of other problems with this fic that I don't want to get into, it's too bothersome. But then I thought, "Screw it, I will just do the best I can with the limited time I can afford to put into this!"

Enough with the lamenting.

Just as a side note I decided that it would be easier not to have the orphanage on a separate island just so you know.

Thanks for all the reviews everybody, as always I really appreciate it.

I guess that is it, here is the new chapter:

A Rough Awakening

Cagalli didn't answer and he took her hand and started to lead her towards her room. He didn't care if she was drunk he wanted her. He wanted to know what she felt like. He wanted to sleep with her. Cagalli was irresistible to him but even so he had held himself back for over six months. He didn't know how but somehow he had managed to live so near her without being allowed to touch her. When it felt there was nothing else he rather do.

She just followed and let him lead the way. She was a little unsteady though and it was difficult for her to keep up with his pace and suddenly she tripped on her own feet and Athrun who felt that she had lost her balance quickly turned around and caught her.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I think so." He gave her a concerned look and they started to walk again. He looked over his shoulder and saw that she had started to limp, "Cagalli you're limping. Why didn't you tell me you hurt yourself?"

"I am? I didn't notice."

"You might have sprained your ankle, we'll have to take a look at that."

He sighed and bent down, "Here, climb up on my back, I'll carry you."

"No! I can walk perfectly fine on my own thank you!"

"Obviously not"

"What did you say!"

"Take it easy, just accept this favour. I won't do it every time you sprain an ankle. If you don't I will just have to carry you bridal-style."

"Ok, ok I'll do it, I'll do it."

The mood was gone.

He started to carry her, it wasn't difficult, she was so light! Was she eating right? Come to think about it he was sure that she had lost weight since she had come back to Orb. But she was warm, and he could feel something familiar against his back… He tried to think of something else.

"You shouldn't be drinking so much, your still under aged too."

"So what? So are you. I'm the head representative of Orb I can do what I want!"

"Well yeah but I don't drink as much as you do and because you are Orb's princess all the more reason you shouldn't."

"Don't call me that, you know I hate it."

"No, I had no idea." He said innocently.

"Grrr, you're mocking me!"

"Ah we're here." Athrun changed the subject. They had reached Cagalli's room and he gently let her down on the bed.

"Wait here I'll go find something for that foot of yours."

Cagalli threw herself on the bed, she felt dizzy. As she lay there and stared up at the ceiling she stared to feel like she was sinking down into the bed. "Creepy."

"What's creepy?" Athrun had returned with elastic bandage.

"I feel like I'm sinking into the bed." She said with wide eyes.

Athrun just stared at her and decided he was going to ignore that comment.

"Here, I brought the bandage." He lifted her leg and started to bind up the ankle real hard.

"It's too tight." She said grumpily.

"You're just going to have to put with it if you don't want your foot to look like a football tomorrow"

"But it hurts."

"You should have thought about that before you decided to get drunk." He waited for an angry reply but surprisingly he didn't get any. There was a simple reason for it, it seemed like she had managed to pass out despite the bandage. Rather than changed her personality.

"I wonder how much she had before we started drinking" he thought with disbelief.

Anyway it was relief that she had gone to sleep, Cagalli could be a handful when normal but when drunk her intensive personality obviously was taken to new heights. But when he looked at her now she looked totally peaceful with her hair a little tousled though. She was so incredibly cute! His felt his chest filling up with warm affection. For this little girl who now looked quite innocent. Actually she really was kind of innocent when awake too in a strange kind of way. Therefore he had been quite chocked when she had taken the initiative and kissed him earlier in the kitchen but he guessed that is what alcohol does to you.

To keep her foot high he had placed on his shoulder, half an hour should be enough he reckoned then he could take off the bandage and go to bed. He didn't mind spending time with a quiet and somewhat peaceful Cagalli but he didn't look forward to the morning, he would probably be sleep-deprived.

She was wearing a dress due to the date with he-who-must-not-be-named, it had slid down revealing her legs. He found himself staring suddenly remembering the reason why they were going here in the first place. After all in some senses he was just like a normal 16 soon to turn 17 year old boy, of course he was thinking about having sex with Cagalli all the time and what it would feel like. He hadn't done it yet and he was absolutely sure that Cagalli hadn't either judging from her prudeness. She made him exited and she was probably totally unaware of it and what made it worse was that she was a physical person. Without any thought she would put a hand on his thigh if they sat beside each other on a sofa, put a hand on his shoulder and move really close to him if they were standing beside each other. Or without any hesitation rush up and hug him if he came into a room. Sorry to say she did that with other people than him, especially Kira. He knew Kira and Cagalli were twins but he couldn't help feeling a little sting when he saw Cagalli attack Kira with a hug. He felt a bit strange sitting there thinking these things with Cagalli out cold in front of him. But tonight nothing would happen. In a way it was just as well because he wanted them to be sober, at least the first time. Not to mention he would rather have this whole engagement business over and done with.

But as was sitting there thinking he realized he hadn't even confessed his feelings yet because when he had tried the first time he had been most cruelly intercepted. Yes, confessing had to come first. He nearly had ruined that, so in a way he was sort of happy that she had tripped although he didn't want her to get hurt of course. He wanted to be loved by Cagalli that's why.

Suddenly Cagalli woke up, put a hand against her mouth and tried get up. This proved very difficult due to the fact her leg was still on Athrun shoulder. Still very much drunk she couldn't figure out any better way than throw herself on the floor arms first. Then she tried to stand up in order to rush to the bathroom.

"Cagalli wait…" but it was too late she immediately fell down again, she had tried to run on her still bandaged leg.

Athrun muffled a laugh but he understood there was no time to loose so hurried forward to help her into the bathroom.

Then he fell on the floor roaring with laughter, he felt a little sorry for Cagalli who was sick but it had looked too funny!

When Cagalli came out from the bathroom he was still chuckling and wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Someone is enjoying this." Cagalli said with an irritated voice. The incident had sobered her up little.

"I'm sorry Cagalli but I couldn't help myself."

"Well I guess I had that one coming. It is nice to see you so glad anyway."

It was true, he hadn't laughed like that in who knows how long and he was again reminded of the situation they were in.

"I think we can take off the bandage now." He said in his usual tone of voice.

She sat on the bed and he started to take the bandage off.

"I think it will be ok now, it would have been better if you hadn't been forced to rush away like that but it can't be helped"

"Thanks, Eh Athrun…" she didn't know where to begin.

"Well then I will go to bed. I suggest you do too, you'll probably have a hangover tomorrow."

"Good night." he said and stroked some hair out of her cheek, "See you tomorrow." He really didn't want to kiss her good night, even if it was Cagalli she had just thrown up.

He was exhausted so he went out cold as soon as he touched his bed.

When Cagalli woke up she wished she hadn't. Argh, the headache, if someone had asked her to describe the feeling she would probably take a baseball bat and strike him/her in the head with it, firstly to explain how she felt and secondly to punish the person for pestering her with such questions. In fact she was ready to attack anyone of dared to come into the vicinity of her, Athrun knew that and he so wanted to keep out of her sight but unfortunately that wasn't an option. Cagalli had a rare day off and he was going to make sure it wasn't wasted.

He took a deep breath and knocked on her door. "Cagalli, its time to get up."

"Grrr"

"Are you dressed? I'm coming in."

He opened the door stuck in his head first then entered. There was Cagalli and she was awake alright and she looked lethal. More over she was still wearing the same dress as last night, her make up was smeared out and her hear looked like bird nest. Again she looked highly amusing, he knew it would be dangerous to laugh at this point so he did his best to stop the urge. He did his best, but it wasn't good enough.

"What are you smirking about?" she asked in a dangerous tone.

"Eh, nothing. It seems you fell asleep right were I left you. You're still wearing the same dress and you still have make-up on."

She remembered last night and her cheeks turned red, embarrassing was the right word for it. Though somehow it felt like it didn't even begin to describe what she felt. She had made a fool out of herself and what's more she had tried to seduce him. And now she was standing here in front of him looking like what? This couldn't be happening.

"Eh, yeah I must have. But what are you doing here? Get out of my room!"

"Take it easy I just wanted to make sure you were up. We were going to see Kira and Lacus today, remember?"

"I know but for now get out of here!" she didn't want too look like this in front of anyone but especially not Athrun.

"Ok, ok I'm going. I'll wait downstairs, ok?"

She followed Athrun with her eyes as he left the room. It was another beautiful day and she felt like she didn't belong in it. "Shit, I don't know how to face him now after last night. I guess I'll just have to try to act as if nothing happened. That's right, it's the only thing I can do."

She went in to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, "Shit." And with that she took an aspirin and washed away the make up. After she had taken a shower she started to feel a bit better, or at least not disgusted. What was it they were supposed to do today? Oh yeah they were supposed to go to the beach, great, go to the beach and be exposed to the sun when you had a hangover. Life couldn't be better.

She stuffed a bag with the necessary things, "I'm such an idiot!" Why had things turned out like this? Why was she engaged to someone she didn't love, didn't respect absolutely didn't want to marry? And then there was Athrun, he hadn't said anything but he must despise her now. She was engaged and she had thrown herself all over him. Before she had thought that he liked her, he had said that he would protect her and kissed her. Now she wasn't sure, he hadn't shown any signs in the six months and she guessed he had lost any interest that he might have had before since he found out that she was engaged. Was he hanging out here because he had nowhere else to go? Did he pity her, was that it? Did he see her as a friend? The questions were spinning round in her head but she couldn't come up with any answers. She felt like she wanted to cry but she held it in somehow. She had become rather good at not crying for these six months. She finally decided that she'd better hurry or he would be on her case again so she pulled herself together, took the bag and left for downstairs.

"I really, really like you Athrun." He remembered Cagalli's words and the following kiss. Just the thought of it made him happy, and it had helped make up his mind: He had decided confess his feelings to Cagalli and get rid of that bastard. Honestly he was a little disappointed that she didn't seem to have enough strength to do it herself but he loved her too much to let her slip away just because of that.

Well, decide to confess is easier than actually do it, when and how he should do it? He wanted it to be romantic but then again not cheesy. Maybe he should ask Kira? No, he was useless with these matters. But Dearka might have some idea…

His train of thoughts were interrupted by a freshened up Cagalli.

She walked into the dining room where Athrun sat and waited for her, "Act natural, act natural." She repeated like a mantra in her head.

"Morning."

"Morning, feel better now?"

"Um, sorry I yelled." She avoided his eyes, and sat down at her seat.

"Uh? Ok." He had completely forgotten and since when did Cagalli apologise for something like that? He shook off the thought, it was probably nothing. "How's the foot by the way?"

"It's fine. Thanks for treating it."

"It was the obvious thing to do."

"Think of something to say, anything! Now he will think that something is wrong." She thought as they had their breakfast in silence.

"Good thing the weather is nice." As soon as she had said it she regretted it, "Lame Cagalli. That was lame." She thought.

Athrun didn't seem to notice though, "Yeah, were going to the beach after all. We should get going soon we don't wanna let Kira and Lacus wait."

"I'm ready to go."

"You are? But you've barely eaten anything." Athrun looked at her with concerned eyes.

"I'm not very hungry"

"But…"

"I'm ok honestly. We have to go, right? You said so yourself."

"Yeah but even so you have to take care of yourself."

"I'll have something when we get there, I'm usually not very hungry in the morning anyway."

"In that case it's alright I guess…"

Cagalli got up from her chair, "What are you waiting for? Let's go!"

He raised a brow, "Who was it I had to wait for half the morning?"

He was waiting for retaliation but it never came, instead Cagalli looked a little ashamed.

"I'm sorry."

Now he seriously began to think that something was wrong, was it something he had said or done?

"Cagalli what's wrong? These times you're supposed to get angry and try to hit me in the stomach or something."

"Oh, shut up and come on!" she hurried to say, "Shit, is that how I usually am? He gets concerned if I don't get provoked and start to yell or something?" she thought.

He did look a little relieved and he got up and followed suit.

They headed out, Athrun was wearing shorts, t-shirt and sandals, she thought he looked good like that. He would look good in anything and she had a little inferiority complex because she thought he looked better than her even if he was a guy. But the casual getup made him look more relaxed which made him more attractive in her eyes.

"By the way Cagalli, are you going to wear that at the beach?" he was hinting at her trousers and shirt.

"What's wrong with this?"

"Nothing but don't you think it will be a bit warm?"

"No, I intend to wear a bikini so I don't think so. Who are you, my mom?" She put out her tongue at him.

The thought of Cagalli in bikini made him blush a little and he felt a bit stupid, of course she would wear a bikini.

They walked to the car and went to pick up Kira and Lacus. Cagalli sat on the passenger seat in the front and looked out the window watching the scenery passing by. They were quiet again.