A/N: Yes, this is the final chapter of Influence of the Fates. This story was really fun to write, and I loved how it ended up. But, just to warn you all, this is an extremely sad Epilogue, so listen to some type of sad music when you read it. I was listening to 'My Last Breath' by Evanescence over and over when I was writing it, and I ended up making it really angsty. Sorry!

Well, I have to give my normal summary. After the fight between Meer and Cagalli, a five month period has elapsed and Athrun is still feeling horrible about the tragedy. Kira as well is suffering from something, yet I will not tell you what. But do expect a little joy, because Kira and Lacus have something special and Athrun soon finds some things out. Hehe. Enjoy!

Epilogue
All That Time Allows

He placed a single white rose down on the soft grass and knelt, head bent, in silence as the sun set. Glancing at it, he couldn't help but smile. A soft hand touched his shoulder and he stood, eyes lingering on the writing of the gravestone.

"She thought she could help," she whispered to him. Athrun nodded and placed a hand over hers, still staring at the gravestone.

"Five months have passed," he said softly, hand tightening. "Five long months, and all I have accomplished is giving Yzak the title of Chairman."

"Come. We should go to the hospital now."

Athrun nodded, eyes going back to the memorial before turning. He followed her out of the graveyard, keeping back only slightly. He thought back to the few minutes they had had left, until the shot was fired. He could still hear her voice.

-Flashback-Meer pulled the trigger and Athrun threw Cagalli to the side. The bullet whizzed by the two of them, barely missing Athrun. Cagalli rolled to the ground and then to her feet, facing Meer with a death glare on her face and a hand on the back of her pants, where her gun was stored.

Cagalli turned to her, eyes wide. "What the hell are you doing, Meer? You stupid clone!"

"You think it's easy being a Lacus clone? You think it's easy being told how to act, how to feel? All I ever wanted was one thing that would actually make my life worth living! That was you, Athrun, but you ignored me! You ignored me for a Natural!"

Meer raised the gun and pointed it, shaking, at Cagalli. She froze, eyes going wide. Shinn cast a glance at the two and quickly pointed his gun, keeping the aim tight on Meer. Athrun stepped between them all.

"Stop this, please! All I wanted was to live with someone I love! Is that so much to ask for?"

"It is when it isn't me!" screamed Meer, eyes streaming with tears.

"You were the bitch that killed Stellar. You were the one that told Yuuna to marry Cagalli. You set us all up!" shouted Shinn suddenly, eyes narrowed with rage. Thunder rumbled and the rain came down, dampening the ground with its beauty. Shinn was shaking, his eyes raging with emotions he couldn't control.

Meer let out a soft chuckle, which turned slowly into an all out laugh. She wiped her rain sodden hair from her eyes and glowered at Cagalli.

"I wanted her dead. I wanted her to feel the pain I felt whenever I saw her with Athrun, whenever I saw her touch his shoulder, or his hand. Yes, I feel pain even though I am told not to. You all think I'm perfect?" Meer lifted the gun again, pointing past Athrun to Cagalli. "I would never harm you, Athrun, but I always get what I want, I always win. So I told that fool Yuuna that he could have the Natural bitch. He ate it up like that! He even hired men to carry out my plan. I did this all for you, Athrun. For the love of you!"

"You have no idea what you have done, Meer," hissed Cagalli, pushing Athrun away. "You tried to make Yuuna marry me; yet did you not think that I was beaten? You killed this Stellar woman so Shinn would try and kill us; yet you did not think he was heartbroken? You say you always get what you want, that you always win, but will you win if all those around you hate you? Athrun will hate you too," Meer's eyes widened. Cagalli grinned slightly and continued, voice savage, "Oh yes, he'll hate you because you will have killed me. He will no longer have the heart to love, or the soul to love. Did you not hear? We are to be married! Yet you still think you can win."

Cagalli laughed softly as she played with the ring on her left hand, signalling her new status to Athrun. Her eyes did not narrow, nor did they show remorse. Yet they showed disgust, and pity, as they stared into Meer's.

"You think you can win. You'll never win. Not as long as my heart belongs to Athrun, and his belongs to me," stated Cagalli, eyes cold.

"No!" Meer screamed.

A trigger was pulled.

Lightning flashed.

Cagalli stood stunned as Meer's eyes widened.

Shinn held the gun at eye level, eyes burning with tears and rage.

Athrun gaped at the two and then both Cagalli and Meer fell to the ground.

Meer dropped the gun and put her hands to her chest, where blood began to seep into the white exterior of her clothing. She opened her mouth, eyes slowly glazing, then fell forward.

Cagalli looked down at her stomach, where Meer's bullet had gone through. She held the wound tightly; looking up at Athrun as he knelt, mud splashing around him. He pulled her to his arms and whispered her name, over and over, frantic as his eyes searched her slowly clouding ones. She smiled and touched his face softly, relishing the last few moments she had left.

"Got her," whispered Cagalli and let the darkness take her.

-End of Flashback-

Athrun clenched his fists as he ripped open the door to his Lamborghini. He hopped in and waited for her to follow. She buckled in with a sigh, hand absently touching her stomach. He glanced at her before starting the engine and in minutes they were on the way to the hospital.

"Five months. Five months is a long time," she whispered, not turning her gaze from the window. He nodded slightly and pulled into the hospital area, eyes lingering on the Emergency building. Everything that night came back to him every time he saw that Emergency sign.

-Flashback-

"Cagalli! Oh God, no, Cagalli!" he screamed, clutching her to his chest as her eyes closed softly. The smile on her face was soft and the rain splattered lightly on her warm skin.

"Shit," muttered Shinn, pulling out his phone. He quickly dialled Emergency and an ambulance could already be heard.

A single tear fell and splashed across Cagalli's forehead, and the illusion was shattered. Shinn looked now to Athrun, as if seeing him for the first time, and he had dropped all his barriers. The person he looked at now was no longer the Chairman, or one of the strongest Coordinators in the world. This man was simply a young adult who had lost the one thing he held most dear in the world. There was nothing there, nothing to tell him how he was feeling or what had happened…there was only surrender and pain.

The ambulance pulled closer to the park and Shinn walked over to Athrun. Two paramedics jumped out of the vehicle, a stretcher following them. They quickly placed Cagalli on the stretcher and carried her back to the Ambulance. Athrun followed quickly, eyes never leaving her face. Another paramedic went to Meer and shook his head after not finding a pulse.

Shinn stood in the park, alone except for the whispers of the rain, of the voices of the paramedics as they talked about the situation. He did not follow, yet he stood still, wondering how long it would be until he felt the type of love he had seen in Athrun's eyes as he gazed at Cagalli, the type of heartbreak Athrun had felt when she had been taken down.

Maybe it wasn't so bad to die

He knew he would never find love again.

He knew the love that he saw would never occur for him again.

He knew that his heart had died in those feeble moments when he had looked into Stellar's cold eyes.

"Maybe I'll just try," he whispered and walked away. Athrun watched him disappear into the shadows through clouded eyes. All emotion had been void from his mind the minute he felt Cagalli breathe out. Nothing seemed to matter now.

The ambulance sped down the highway, making cars careen out of their way. Athrun stayed by Cagalli, still watching her face. When the paramedics voiced an opinion, it was as if Athrun couldn't hear, see or speak. He was just blank; eyes clouded and foreboding as he stared down at his would be wife.

"Gone," he said softly and the paramedic looked up. Athrun whirled, and slammed his fist against the wall, all anger in that one punch. "She's gone! She said she wouldn't leave me, that she would protect me like I would protect her. Damn it!" Again and again he hit the wall, until he felt a restraining hand on his arm, and looked at the paramedic. His knuckles bruised and bloodied, he pulled them away from the wall and looked back at his love.

They pulled into the Emergency spot where ten nurses and doctors awaited them. Taking Cagalli out, they immediately brought her into the room, rushing through the doors and talking in low tones. Athrun stepped out lightly and stared at the sign, eyes blank. And then they filled with tears. For this was an emergency, and there was no time left.

-End of Flashback-

Athrun stepped out, opening the door for her. She followed him into the hospital and the nurse directed them up three floors. He nodded and went to the elevator, where he patiently waited. Ever since that day, he had always been patient. Ever since awaiting the results of whether Cagalli would be with him…or had moved on without him, he had become the most patient man he knew. For in those long hours, one had to be patient.

The door opened and a brunette haired boy stepped out. He smiled weakly at Athrun and swallowed.

"How is…?" began Athrun, but choked on the third word.

"Good. Better than yesterday," replied Kira.

"Already seen…?"

"No. Lacus wanted something. I'll meet you up there."

Athrun stepped in and she followed, eyes not looking at Athrun. She had watched Kira through hollowed eyes and had felt a twinge of sadness when he hadn't turned to her, when he hadn't greeted her. He seemed hollowed out as well, remembering the night with little heart.

The elevator door opened and she followed Athrun down the hallway. They reached the room and he carefully pulled open the door. Glancing in, he grinned slightly at the sight that reached him.

The room was decorated with balloons and bears. A small red Haro bounced on the bed, and the person that held it smiled as the two entered.

Kira soon followed and the person looked up, eyes twinkling with happiness.

"Hello!"

"Hi, Shinn."

-Flashback-

Kira opened the door at the sound of a shot and rushed out when he saw a figure fall to the ground, gun dropping to the dew clung grass.

The figure had black hair and was struggling to stay standing. He fell backwards and Kira caught him.

"Lacus!" screamed Kira, holding up the young man.

"I'm coming…Stellar…" said the young man, grasping Kira's sleeve. He then looked up at him, red eyes curious.

"Why do I see you? Why…do I not see…Stellar?" he asked, voice choking. Kira felt his hand become wet and looked down at the man's chest. A bullet wound was just below his diaphragm and the blood poured freely from it, soaking his hand. Kira wanted to retch, but he kept his hold firmly on the young man, over the bullet wound to stop the flow.

"Please tell me your not going to die," whispered Kira. He didn't want anyone to die, especially a stranger.

"You seem familiar…Kira Yamato…that's your name…needed to tell you something," he said, his fist tightening on Kira's sleeve as he drew a rattling breath. "Cagalli almost dead…Athrun almost dead…everyone is dieing…except me…" He tried to laugh, but it came out as a dried heave.

Kira turned when he heard Lacus running down the stairs. She rushed over and took one look at Shinn before pulling off his shirt and taking out the first aid kit. Her white gown was soon covered in red blotches as she unscrewed bottles and wrapped gauze around the young man's wound.

"No! Stop!" he tried to shout, but his voice was wheezing. "I need to meet Stellar. I don't want to live without love. Please, let me die!"

Lacus pursued her lips as she tied off the knot and put her shoulder under his arm. Trekking back to the house, she let Kira lie him down on the couch while she went to get a phone. Calling the Emergency, she went back into the living room. On her way there, she heard a yelp, a scream and a moan of pain. Hurrying the last few meters, she rounded the corner and found Kira on the ground and Shinn to the right of him.

Kira groaned as he tried to stand up, and then looked over at Shinn. They're white carpet was becoming crimson as Shinn had knocked his head on the coffee table in their struggle. Lacus heard the ambulance outside and rushed out, screaming at them to hurry.

Kira had never wanted to see that Emergency sign again. But he had been brought back, for one last time and he would keep coming back, if only to visit Shinn.

The doctors came out with news five hours later. Shinn would live, but his memory had vanished. His brain had not been damaged severely, but he had lost his speech. Five months it had taken for them to regain it and slowly he was becoming like his old self, though he had no recollection of the incident between Meer and Cagalli.

-End of Flashback-

Lacus pulled out her pink Haro and let it bounce around with the red one, watching as Shinn laughed and tried to catch them. She almost smiled, yet it seemed like one too many deaths for her. She stroked her stomach absently, where Kira and her future child was growing. On that unfortunate night, she had told Kira she was pregnant. Kira had been thrilled, but the moment had been shattered when they heard the gunshot and the scream of pain. They had thought the deaths to be over, yet two more had awaited them.

Athrun watched Shinn with a slight pang in his heart. Shinn had helped take down Meer, though the consequences of that action had been dire. With his memory gone, no one had been able to recollect Meer's death: whether it be homicide or self-defence. They had ruled it self-defence when they had heard Athrun's story, and pitied him when he had had to go to the hospital once more.

She looked down at Shinn as he played with the Haro, his speech slightly slurred. She had watched him from that day forward, wondering if anything stirred in his memory whenever he looked at her, if he remembered what he had done for her. If not for him…if he had not shot like he had… She shook her head and looked up at Athrun. She had seen the pained expression in his eyes and had touched his arm, hoping to see a flicker of emotion, but it was as if the wall had been resurrected.

"We should be heading home, Kira. I need to cook dinner. Are you two coming tonight?" asked Lacus, her voice unusually high. Athrun looked to Kira and saw him smile so he nodded.

Lacus stood and walked by the two, Kira in tow. She first needed a check-up, and then she would go home and prepare dinner. Though she was only five months pregnant, she had not once yet experienced a mood swing, like so many other mothers. She had been kind and considerate like she had always been whenever Kira did something wrong. She just wished sometimes he would try to look more alive.

Athrun glanced at her and saw the tears in her eyes. He silently wiped them from her cheeks and leaned his forehead against hers. She didn't meet his emerald gaze, afraid of what she might find there.

He then smiled, a genuine warm smile that brought a flitter of hope to her heart. Maybe they could start over, or from where they left off. Maybe the ring did mean something now.

"We will start over," he said softly, stroking her hair. "If not for ourselves, than for the love we both share. Let us start over."

"We will protect each other, as long as need be," she said, and her eyes lit up with the joy of finding, once again, the love she had lost.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, pushing him away. Athrun glanced at her, eyes worried. Her eyes swelled with tears again, and she clenched her stomach.

"Hush. Why are you sorry?" he asked, stroking her cheek.

"It was my fault. I didn't tell you, and then the bullet…" She broke down into tears, holding her stomach as sobs racked her body. Shinn looked up curiously at this new sound and walked over, eyes studying her. Athrun knelt and pulled her to him.

"No need to cry. We'll try again, and this time we won't let anything stop us," soothed Athrun, coaxing her to let go of her stomach.

She buried her face in his chest, and sobbed, head throbbing at the sheer force of her sorrow. She had bottled it up for the five months that she had been with him, occasionally coming to the hospital for a check up. They had removed the bullet and had let her go free. Athrun had been there for her, helping her along, yet he never had the same look in his eyes. No light filtered into his gaze when he looked at her. She felt used, as if she were in another body and he couldn't see the true her.

"Can we start over? Will you love me again for not telling you?" she asked softly, feeling his protective arms wrapping around her.

"I have always loved you. Always. Never forget that. No matter how many times you think I have left you, that I have lost my love for you, remember this look," he tilted her head up to meet his gaze and she saw the light there, saw the beautiful light as it filled her with its warmth.

That same look, the same placid look she had longed for in the past. It hit her like a bolt of lightning. The light had never faded from his eyes, only once, when he had found out. But it had not once wavered; it had not once faded into the darkness. It shone on, with the brilliance of how much he loved her, cherished her.

She felt tears fill her eyes again. She had been blind, fearing to look into his emerald gaze. She had feared it so much, that when she did force herself to touch his gaze with her own, she had seen only what she had thought she would see, a blind barrier, once again erected because of his disappointment. His disappointment played inside her head, ever since he had found out on that fateful night, on the night she thought all hope had shattered. For on that night, she had not only lost a part of herself, she had lost their child.

-Flashback-

"Please say she's all right!" Came a voice from behind the curtain. She winced at the loud noises that greeted her ears, at the sound of shoes squeaking, carts moving, machines whirling. She tried to open her eyes but she couldn't. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't see anything but darkness.

"She will be all right. However…" the voice paused and she strained to hear.

"However?" The voice was eager and she couldn't quite place it. Someone she knew…someone she cared for…

"The shot punctured the womb. The child is dead."

Deathly silence greeted her ears and she wanted to wail. It all came back her. The rain, the gun, the woman in white, Meer, and Shinn, and then the most important person ever, the one person she had given her heart to and had let him father a child. Athrun.

"…Child?"

"Yes. She was pregnant. Did you not know?" asked the doctor, confusion in his voice.

"We've…only known each other for a little while. How long had she been…?" his voice choked.

"A week and a half. Hardly a development, yet long enough." The doctor pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I have never had a chance to study what may happen if a Coordinator and a Natural reproduced, yet I have found that the child development rate increases. Originally, the child would have been barely there, thus not endangering the mother's life. But this child; it seemed to have grown quite quickly, almost the same age as a one month child would have been." The doctor shook his head. "The child could not sustain the shock. I'm sorry, Chairman Zala, but if the child had lived, the mother would have died for sure." The doctor placed a hand on his shoulder. "But we have repaired the womb, so she may bare future children."

Another awkward silence reached her ears and she opened her mouth to scream his name, to call for him to save her from the darkness. The darkness that closed in on her, suffocated her, brought her heart to a wild gallop. She needed him; he was her light! She needed the light!

"…Athrun…" she managed to croak; yet it was barely above a whisper. The heart monitor beside her, however, began to beep wildly.

She heard the curtain rustle and tried to open her eyes again, but darkness greeted her and she wanted to howl in rage, in pain, in confusion. Never had she been in the darkness before, never. She tried to lift her hand and found that she could. Lifting her hand slightly, she felt warm fingers encircle hers, felt a calmness restore her galloping heart to its calmed rate. She opened her mouth again, trying to speak, but the dryness was too much.

"Bring her some water," said Athrun, stroking her cheek. She closed her mouth and squeezed his hand, trying to get him to bring her the light. Yet nothing showed through the haziness. Nothing but ever ending darkness.

Cold liquid touched her lips and she swallowed greedily, savouring the liquid as it squelched the thirst that had begun in her stomach. Slowly, she tried to open her eyes again. A glimmer of light approached at lightning speed and she winced, trying to shy from it. Then, she remembered the fear of being left alone and forced her eyes wider.

She focused on the one lone figure beside her, and lifted her hand from his to stroke his face.

"…Athrun…I'm so sorry."

And that was when the light had died from his eyes.

-End of Flashback-

But it was not so, it had never been so. She felt her heart swell, her worries ease, as she looked into his soul. The light was back; it had never left him and neither had she.

"Thank you Athrun," she whispered, touching his face.

"We will protect each other. After all, Fate always has its known way of getting what it wants," he said softly, tracing her lips. And she smiled, knowing it would be all right, that everything would be all right. For she had the light, and he had her love. Nothing could stop them now, not even death.

"Forever together," she said and smiled.

"Yes, Cagalli. Forever together."

The End...
Or is it?
Will be stationing previews
of Sequel in Author's note.
Look forward to it in the coming two days.

A/N: Thus I end, Influence of the Fates. But I have not ended the tale of their lives. No, it will continue, with a new path and many new characters. First of all, I want to thank all the reviewers that have stuck with me throughout the whole story: Digital-Dragon-Master, Susan, RobinAmon, koali alolao, ZGMF X-19A Infinite Justice, Crazy Destiny, asga TotalAnimeGirl and Sorelliena. There were a lot of you that came about half-way through my story, and they stuck with it as well: IYGU, anon, HimeHikari, animemistress419, and The Angels' Princess. So for all of you, I shall make you a special sequel.

Now, since the details of the sequel are a little sketchy (even though I have written most of it) I'll just give you some hints on what is to come, all right? But don't expect a full detailed summary until tomorrow or the next day, all righty?

The title of the story is called 'Time's Given Stream'. I thought it to be a sutable title because my story happens over a certain period of time. Now, here are some facts.

-The main characters are: Athrun, Cagalli, Syiria and a seventeen year old boy (name I will not disclose).
-The island that Cagalli and Athrun first met on is now their home.
-Cagalli has successfully given birth to two children.
-Another war occurs.
-Will be around 18 - 22 chapters.
-The prologue is the second saddest part in my story.

Thus is all the information I shall give you until I post the 'Author's Notes' which will be aired in two days time. Now, I must work on the sequel and my unforgiving homework! ((scurries off with pen and paper)) Adios!