A/N Not quite as long as the first one, Gosh I 'm so tired. 3rd day of school and I'm already up until one writing an essay. I made sure to get my homework done, go running and sit down and finish this chapter tonight... at 10:30. So, yeah, goodnight.
"Where is my freaking paperwork!" A blond streak flashed down the hallways of the Attha mansion, startling maids and knocking over one vase.
Cagalli stomped on the plush wine red carpet for good affect and waited to hear the shuffling of footsteps coming up the stairs.
With an all too innocent look on his face, Athrun paved his way past the last stair and to come to a stop in front of the steaming girl.
"I know you had something to do with it." She accused.
He blinked his eyes, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"My paperwork, this is the second time in a month you've taken it from me," she put up her fingers in little quotation marks, "… 'for my own good'."
He opened his mouth in protest, but instantly closed it when she fixed a glare on him that could've burned the devil himself. "Well, I did take it away." Athrun sighed as he gave in, "…but it wasn't for your own good this time, I swear, not that it doesn't hurt for you to put it all away."
"So, what is it then?" She hissed at him, Cagalli was very sensitive when it came to paperwork.
"I think we need to take a vacation."
"Liar!" she yelled, pointing her finger at him (we won't say what finger), "This is a trick to get me away from paperwork."
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Athrun appealed to her pride, "No, I was thinking about what you said earlier and you're right, we should tell him. Estranged father or not he does have the right."
Her eyes sparkled in glee when she realized she was on the verge of getting her own way, 'I'm spoiled, so sue me.'
"It's not that I think he really has the right, but If we're going to do this we should do it right and that involves getting permission from both parties." Cagalli explained.
"You sound like you're writing up a contract," he grinned and then frowned, "the reason I was against it is because we already know what he's going to say."
"Yeah, but years from now he can't argue that we didn't ask." Cagalli put a finger to her chin, in a thinking position. "So, does he prefer diet coke or regular?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been almost two years since their first visit to the now former chairman and it would be a new experience this time.
Athrun sighed, looking out the window of the shuttle, towards space. He was nominally depressed at the thought of having to break the news to his father.
"Stop sighing like that."
He turned towards her and sighed "Like what?"
She elbowed him in the stomach and he bent over, "Like that, stupid. You were like this last time too. Man, you are way too depressing to keep around."
At that statement he laughed and replied, "But you'll be keeping me anyway."
"I suppose I will." She sighed and turned away, the heat rising in her face. Two years of this and she would had yet to stop blushing at his teasing.
Space traveled by, stars glowing brightly on the planet that floated beneath them, until they finally arrived in Plant.
--------------------------------------------------------
The clinic hadn't really changed much; it was still a pale lime green on the outside, and an awful hot pink on the inside. They had installed carpet, a dark forest green shag that they sunk ankle deep in, and had to trudge through to reach the main desk.
Additions in rooms were not included in the refurbishing, and they made their way down the one hallway into the only hospital room.
There was no hesitation in their step this time and they opened the doors, watching the nurse leave after announcing their arrival. After two years of being there, the older Zala had not added one personal touch. All in all it was still the same cold, embarrassing hot pink room, with a sad, old, gray haired man in bed.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why don't you at least say h-" Athrun was interrupted by a small foot stamping on his toes, and Cagalli stepped forward ahead of him.
She laughed nervously and then coughed, "Sir…"
'Probably the only time she's ever been polite and it's to this guy.' Athrun sighed.
"… we have come to announce some-" the younger Zala interrupted this time, at the expense of a tense Cagalli.
"We're getting married."
Patrick Zala exploded. He of course exploded calmly, because he is Patrick Zala and Patrick Zala only gets worked up about blowing up the Earth.
"I will never approve."
Cagalli turned red, whether in embarrassment or anger he wasn't sure. This had been all her idea and to be turned down so flatly had to hurt her pride at least a little bit. Her pride was big though and a little bit added up to a lot.
"Listen, Mr. Zala! I am going to… I am going to do something… something very, very drastic," Her face at this point was turning to a mottled maroon that Athrun was sure he had never seen appear on anyone else's face before – even Yzak's. "… you need to stop being so damn stubborn and just accept that we don't hate each other like you expect Naturals and Coordinators too." Cagalli then proceeded to turn towards him and reach up to grab him behind the head. She brough this head down and stood there on her tiptoes, touching her lips to his. He responded quickly pressing harder and grabbin her waste to push her against him. Cagalli taking action in this way was rare, but Athrun loved it when she did. When they came up for air she was read to the top of her ears and then began to mumble, so low that Athrun almost missed what she said, "It's the opposite."
For the second time the ex-Chairman watched his son walk away from him with a Natural.
-----------------------------
The church was decorated with white flowers, sashes, and people. Small benches filled only slightly with friends, who were dressed in white and all eyes turned to watch the groom stand at the alter - waiting for the bride to appear. Bridesmaids wore dresses of a green familiar to anyone who knew the girl getting married; they, the woodworkings of the benches, and the stained glass that filtered shimmering light through were the only color inside the chapel.
It was a small wedding, with the help of certain people the couple had managed to keep media out and close friends in.
Reporters might have been hurt if they had been allowed to appear, the bride had a very short temper with them.
"I will never approve" These words echoed in his ears as Athrun stepped up to the priest at the end of the aisle. Kisaka, Kira, Sahib, Dearka and Yzak stood off to the side as the groomsmen – Dearka had been snickering for the past fifteen minutes at Athrun's nervous twitching.
"I will never approve." Athrun heard it again.
And he felt that was all the permission he needed to finally slip the ring on Cagalli's finger and kiss her.