She tapped her foot as she waited for Lacus to decide. When that did not work, she sighed real loud. But still, Lacus ignored her as she looked at the two dresses in her hands. "Lacus. Will you EVER decide?" she asked, exasperated. Lacus turned her head slightly and chuckled. She saw Lacus signaling for a sales lady and giving her one of the dress. The other she placed back on its rack.

"Finally," she said, making a move to leave.

"Hold on. It's your turn now," she heard Lacus said. She froze and slowly turned.

"What did you just said?" she slowly made out the words. Lacus calmly looked at her and smiled.

"Your. Turn. To. Find. A. Dress," she spelled out.

"WHAT! NO WAY AM I WEARING A DRESS! WHAT KIND OF IDIOT DO YOU THINK I AM! I WILL NEVER WEAR A DRESS! YOU HEAR ME! NEVER!"she exploded. Suddenly, her ranting was cut off as a hand clamped onto her shoulder. She turned slowly and saw a smiling face framed by golden brown hair. Another hand clamped her other shoulder. Again, she turned. This time, it was a young woman whose smile did not exactly reached her eyes as her dark brown hair framed her face. Her face showed fear.

"Hi Cagalli," the two ladies greeted. Cagalli struggled to get free but was in vain.

"Hey Mirillia. Shiho," she heard Lacus greeted the ladies.

"NO!" she cried out as she was dragged by Shiho and Mirillia.

"Don't you look stunning?" all three of her friends squealed. Her cheeks turned red as she walked out of the changing room. She looked at the full length mirror and had to admit that the dress was really flattering. Not too much cleavage was shown but enough to suggest. The skirt swished against her legs as she turned.

"Do I really have to wear this?" she asked. All nodded. "Can't I just wear my uniform dress?" she asked. As one, her sister-in-law and friends shook their heads. She sighed as she threw her hands up in the air. With that, she entered the changing room.

"All right! Are we done yet?" Cagalli asked once she stepped out of the changing room.

"Yup. Just as soon as the sales lady rings us up," Lacus said. While her friends were busy inside, Cagalli wore her dark glasses and walked out of the store to take some fresh air. Once outside, she leaned back against the glass pane and observed the scene. Though she was loved by all in Orb, one must never be too careful with these much fans.

"So will you?" she heard a man said, Turning her head slightly, she saw a man knelt down in front of a young woman with a small black box in his hands.

"Yes!" she heard the woman squealed and hugged her lover. Despite herself, she smiled as a small pang of longing shot through her heart. She remembered how he slid a ring through her fourth finger of her left hand. She also remembered how he looked away blushing while she giggled. Again unconsciously, she fingered her necklace.

She snapped out of her nostalgic trance when she heard the door to the store opened. Turning her head, she saw Lacus, Shiho and Mirillia chatting as they walked up to her.

Somewhere in ORB

"So he is coming back here?" Mirillia asked, her blue eyes shone with interest. Lacus nodded while Cagalli played with her food absent-mindedly.

"Yeah. For the Peace Ball," Cagalli replied without looking up. She missed the concerned look that her friends gave to Lacus who shook her head sadly.

"Since he is here, this means that Dearka and Yzak are back too," Cagalli wickedly said, looking up at her two now blushing friends.

Peace Ball

The place was already when he arrived at the Athha residence. Giving his coat to the servant stationed there, he looked around searching.

"Who are you looking for?" Yzak asked him, stepping beside him. He did not reply. Suddenly, he heard his name being called.

"Athrun!" a lovely pink-haired woman called out, walking quickly to his side.

"Meyrin," he greeted, linking his arm with hers. She smiled. He turned and saw Kira and Lacus near the entrance of the mansion.

"Come on," he said, walking up to his best friend and his wife. But the reaction that he received from them was unexpected.

Lacus smiled graciously at the guests. Suddenly, she felt her husband stiffened at her side. Following his gaze, she saw that Athrun, Meyrin, Yzak and Dearka were coming towards their direction. "Kira -" she said in a warning tone.

"Don't worry," he assured her, smiling at her. "I'm not going to do anything to him….yet."

He smiled at his best friend but his smile faltered .An unreadable expression was plastered on Kira's face while Lacus looked worried.

"Athrun," Kira began in a low tone. "What in hell are you doing back here?"

"What? I was invited for the Peace Ball, so here I am. What else?" he answered back with a question. Behind him Yzak and Dearka exchanged uneasy glances.

"Is that so? Well, that better be the only reason you are here. Or else," Kira warned him. Lifting his head slightly, he plastered a fake smile. "Welcome Chairman Zala. It is nice to see you again. I hope that you enjoy the ball," he greeted, his amethyst eyes narrowed while Athrun blinked at him.

Accepting a glass of wine from a waiter, he stared at the room. It had been a long time he stepped inside the mansion again.

"Hey Athrun," Dearka called out as he walked towards his friend with a golden brown-haired woman at his side. "Where's Meyrin?"

"Dearka, Mirillia. Not too sure. She went off when she saw some friends of hers," he replied. When the couple got closer, he saw that Mirillia had taken a cool look instead of the pleasant one she had earlier on.

"I got to go. Yzak is in trouble again," Dearka said, pointing at a flustered Yzak and a red-faced Shiho.

Athrun nodded while Mirillia returned the gesture coolly.

"Wonder what is wrong with everyone? First it was Kira and now Mirillia. What next?" he thought. Suddenly, the whole room grew quiet while the media readied their cameras.

Lacus came forward, playing the hostess. "Ladies and gentlemen. We welcome you to the annual Peace Ball. I thank you for taking time from your busy and tight schedules to come to our humble nation, Orb. And now, I present to you our very own Princess, Ms Cagalli Yula Athha and her escort and our very own Commander, Mr Shinn Asuka, " Lacus introduced.

The media started clicking away their cameras at the very top of the stairs where Cagalli stood with Shinn. His mouth turned dry when he saw her in a stunning dress which he had never thought that she would ever wear. Just as he remembered, her golden amber eyes lit up and shone as she smiled while walking down the stairs with Shinn. His grip tightened around the wine glass.