He stared out of the window and watched as a plane rolled past by. He felt a soft tug on his sleeve. Pulling his gaze away from the window, he looked down and saw a pair of deep green eyes staring up at him with worry.
"Can I go and sit with Mummy?" a soft voice asked. He smiled and nodded. He watched as his daughter made her way to Cagalli who was seated behind him. Seeing that she was safe with her mother, he turned back to face the window. Suddenly, he felt another two soft tugs on his sleeve. He turned and saw two pairs of bright red eyes staring at him with interest. Startled, he was surprised at the sheer striking resemblance between Shinn and his sons.
"Mummy told us to sit with you," one of the twins said while the other just nodded. He smiled and nodded while patting the seat beside him. Both quickly scrambled up to the seats beside him. As soon as the boys had settled down, he could hear his daughter murmuring to Cagalli. Pretty soon, he could hear the boys whispering to themselves and elbowing each other.
"You ask him."
"No, you. You're older."
He turned towards them when the stewardess appeared before them. He listened while she spoke about the instructions and the necessary information required. Before long, they were airborne.
She watched as people walked past her, talking to one another. Feeling restless, she looked down and gazed fondly at her two sons who leaned heavily against her as they slept. A sharp pang went through her heart and she fought hard not to cry. The pain was still fresh, being only a couple of months since his untimely death now. Determined not to cry, she looked up and found both her daughter and Athrun coming towards her.
"The car is already waiting outside," he informed her. She nodded and watched he picked Seki who was asleep on her right. She watched on as he gently laid her son's black head on his shoulder. Her eyes were moist when she saw him doing that. Even that gesture reminded her of Shinn. Mentally shaking her head, she carried Seki's younger brother and stood up. She felt her youngest son stirred but he went back to sleep. With her free hand, she grasped hold of Rosalynn and nodded at Athrun. He nodded and led the way outside of the airport.
It was her first time being in Plant, despite being the Princess and all. Her people had voted against her going to Plant as a representative. They had told her that it was just too dangerous as peace treaties had just been signed between the Earth Alliance, aft and Orb. Instead, her brother and Lacus opted to go in her place. She watched in awe as she took in the scenery. Plant was just so different from Orb.
"So what do you intend to do now?" she heard a soft deep voice beside her. She pulled her gaze away from the window and gazed into the deep green eyes that were staring at her intently. Between them, her children were fast asleep.
"Well, I haven't really decided on what to do yet. I just wanted to get away from Orb," she said softly, not wanting to wake her children up. "Or maybe I want to see the places he had been to while he lived here," she said under her breath. She knew that Athrun had heard her, he being a Coordinator and all.
"...he had been to while he lived here," he heard her whisper. He said nothing as he turned to face the window beside him. Silence filled the car as each pondered on their own thoughts. Only the soft sounds made from the children could be heard. It was a very long time before Athrun spoke.
"You could apply for work at the office," he said softly, not turning to look at her. He could feel her whipped her head around and her golden-brown eyes boring at the back of his head. "I mean I know how you would get so bored without doing anything for so long," he continued. He could hear her sputter and secretly grinned. At this point, he turned and faced her. He nearly snickered out loud when he saw her face.
Her eyes were wide open with clear anger and shock while her mouth kept moving like a fish; unable to make coherent sentences. It was the first time he had seen her like this and it somehow amused him. At the very least, she was showing other emotions rather than feeling sad. His deep green gaze softened. "At least that will keep you occupied and regain yourself," he softly said. At his words, the anger disappeared from her eyes. Her whole face softened, her golden-brown eyes looking down at her children.
He watched as she raised a hand to one of the twins, Shinji, and brushed aside his sable hair from his sleeping face. He continued to look on as her hand went to his brother who was snuggled beside his sister. He saw her eyes tear up again, though they did not spill over. The sheer resemblance and coloring between the boys and their father were unremarkably striking. He did not blame her for the tears. So he did the only thing that he could think of at that moment.
"What did you tell Kira about your sudden journey to Plant?" he asked, changing the subject abruptly. He was right when he saw her hand stiffened in its track and her cheeks were tainted with pink. He watched as she shyly raised her golden-brown eyes up to meet his amused green ones.
"I didn't exactly tell him," she softly replied meekly.
A certain brown-haired man sighed as he looked up from the letter that was addressed to him and his wife. He looked down again at the letter and then at his wife who smiled at him and shrugged. Again, he let out a sigh. "What are you thinking Cagalli?" he asked, particularly to no one. He felt his wife gently tugging the letter out of his hand. Willingly, he let go and watched as she took the letter and began to read.
Brother,
By the time you read this, I'll already be across the ocean and on Plant grounds. Before you can start shouting orders, this is MY decision. Please don't try to come and get me. Please. I need to do this. I've decided to bring the children along with me. I know that being in Plant will only be more painful for me, but-. Please, I just need to do this. I need to be strong, just like I used to be.
I'm not going to say where I will be staying or who I am with. I know you. The moment I mention his name or where I am, you'll come flying here. Just know that I'm in safe hands. Don't worry about me.
Forever your sister,
Cagalli
Amethyst eyes watched the pink-haired woman slowly closed the letter. She raised her head and gazed at her husband who sighed again.
"Athrun?" the pinked-haired woman asked. Just this word made her husband sighed again.
"Athrun."
So how do you like the short letter that Cagalli left for her dear, dear brother?