A few notes to read:

My knowledge of Gundam SEED DESTINY was limited to the 43 episode at the time of writing this. I don't know anything beyond that ep so I'll writing as if the war ended without incident. And you have to have seen at least some of this series and all of Gundam SEED to truly understand the characters and the pairing I'm working with. It doesn't make the story any less enjoyable but it adds more ground to it.

This story takes pace 10 years after C.E. 73 and was based on if the previous happened. It was based on my knowledge of interpersonal character relationships at the time. So if a particular paring doesn't function in the actually series don't shoot me.

And without further ado …

Gross Reconnection

Chapter I

Disclaimer: These characters belong to SUNRISE studios and are not mine. Just having them over when they're off the clock.

October 23rd, C.E. 83

1400 GMT

Straight of Gibraltar

ZAFT Military Re-entry Aircraft C/S "Transport 2843"

A Small ball of fire danced across the African sky. Back in the past, I would have been considered a lucky omen. But its cause was a fire clad metal bird which at times was considered to be the opposite.

The roar of reentry and the feeling of helplessness that accompanied it was all to normal for the occupants of the transport. Most of them spent their enlistments and commissions bouncing between Earth and the hourglass-shaped colonies known on earth as PLANT's.

It had been long overdue for one of the officers onboard. The G's kept him glued to his seat as decent began to slow. Being upfront he could hear the radio chatter from the cockpit.

"Gibraltar Comm … this is transport two-eight-four-three. We are final approach from direction two-six-two orange alpha. Requesting clearance."

Clearance granted two-eight-four-three. Taxi to hanger B-3 upon landing.

The Radio squelched, confirming radio darkness. The officer unbuckled himself and stuck his head in the cockpit.

"That was a rough reenter. I could have done better!" he rasped still catching his breath and received a roar of laugher from the pilot and co-pilot.

"Seems to me like a certain commander has his whites in a twist." Shot off the co-pilot looking right at said commander behind him."

"Ah, let him go. He's a mobile suit pilot. Personally, I think they're all assholes and bitches who think there so much better then everyone else. I think why there so mean is because their thongs ride up their asses during battles and give them hemorrhoids" the pilot said looking right into the man's eyes.

"Real cute you guys. And FYI I don't wear thongs." He said pulling his shoulder length hair back behind his shoulders. Athrun Zala looked at the sprawling base beneath him from his little window. It had been ten years since he had been to earth last. After the end of the war in '73 he had returned to PLANT disgraced still by his father's specter and at himself. He looked up Yzak and had his help in burying him so far in the military that no one who he cared about knew where he went and had seemingly disappeared. He needed the time to figure it all out. Besides, he would have only served as a distraction to his friends on earth. He also figured that she could use the time too. He kept his location from the latter as well.

The plane touched down and taxied to the front of a nearby hanger and halted. Athrun stepped out and saw two familiar figures at the foot of the staircase. One of them was in a commanders uniform like he was but wore a unique short skirt and the other was wearing an XO's uniform and had tell-tall pigtails. The other commander began to walk brusquely towards him and the other woman had to jog to keep up.

"How are you Athrun-san?" Lunamaria Hawke heartily roared over the jet engines.

"Ok … I guess" he said aware of her sister, Meyrin's ground ward gaze. She hadn't made eye contact with him since coming to a stop in front of him. It was understandable to say the least.

"Commander Jule told me you were en route. But he wasn't clear on why." Luna said slanting her eyes and cocking her head inquisitively. He knew that Lunamaria Hawke had a hand in every gossip chain through out all of ZAFT. If she didn't know all ready he wasn't going to tell her. He had told Yzak why he wanted to go back after he basically beat Athrun into submission literally. "Having been war buddies …" Yzak said so proudly while brawling with Athrun "…meant that he wouldn't tell a soul." So He managed to keep Yzak quiet witch was no easy task but at the same time decimated his office which earned him the ire of major Heinhenfuss. He felt sorry for Shiho though. She had to clean up his mess which by all means was a clusterfuck. She also had to deal with Yzak everyday wich made the load even worse.

"Hello Athrun-kun, you look well." Came the soft voice of Meyrin Hawke. Luna's sour expression dated her time as a red coat on Minerva. Apparently, she was still just a bit sore that Athrun had chosen Meyrin over her.

"You're still as beautiful as when I last saw you. Mey-chan" he said softening his voice. His nervousness and apparent discomfort caused Meyrin to stifle a giggle and Luna to roll her eyes and let out an annoyed sigh. Meyrin had been seeing Athrun on and off over the last five years previously. They had gotten very close and were considering marriage. But Meyrin heard who he called out for in his sleep and it was not her. But she didn't mind because Athrun had been very kind to her during their time together and that was enough for her.

Luna cleared her throat and suggested they stop by housing and pick up Athrun's housing orders. With that complete, they arrived at one of the many complexes on base. When they got there Luna received a page and ran off to go deal with whatever issue leaving Athrun with Meyrin. The elevator ride was quiet until she broke the silence.

"You came for her, didn't you?" she spoke with concern in her voice. The color drained from Athrun's face at the mention. She giggled and took out her pigtails and placed on her officer's cap.

"Athrun, you can be so … indecisive at times. Look at me." She said. Athrun raised his head and looked at her. A soft smile came over her features.

"Stop making yourself suffer. Go to her, I am certin she will forgive you if she loves you. And if not, you know where to find me. Either way I'm content that you will find what you're looking for. I have no qualms about the time we spent together." She said stepping out and leaving Athrun to his thoughts.

The air just hung over him and made him think it all through once more. He had left so long ago and it still felt as it id back then. As if nothing had changed.

The elevator arrived on the proper floor and he left it. After a long walk and a lot of saluting, he arrived at his quarters. After a burst of button pushing, the door whooshed open. The room was dark and save for a large window in the corner. Athrun tapped a switch on the wall and the room lit up. After discarding the jacket on the desks chair he crashed on his bed. It was 1800 already? He thought it had only been four hours from touchdown.

He looked over and saw the phone in its cradle and picked it up and quickly put it back when the doorbell chimed. He walked over and answered the door and was surprised about who was on the other side.

The man on the other side wore a red coat's uniform although the top buttons were unfastened. His red eyes made contact with Athrun's as if making the statement "What the fuck are you doing here?".

"Luna to me you were here …" he trailed off.

"Well it's nice to see you too, Shinn" Athrun said sardonically

"Why are you here 'taichou'?" Shinn said not trying to block his annoyance.

"I thought Luna told you everything." Athrun responded not trying to hide the smirk on his face.

Shinn Asuka had been known for his temper and his lack of foresight since his days on Minerva. So it didn't surprise Athrun when he saw him bristle at the comment. In all reality Shinn was a good and loyal person. Loyal to PLANT and ZAFT in every respect. He had made the military his life as did Athrun. But, Shinn had Luna to keep him warm at night. Athrun had no one at the moment. But then that's why he was here wasn't it?

"She doesn't tell me everything!" he exclaimed at Athrun who could not help but chuckle.

"What! What's so funny!" Shinn asked getting more agitated by the second.

"You haven't changed." Athrun said walking over to the desk.

"You didn't come back for that Attha wench did you?" Shinn asked.

Athrun froze in step. Was it that obvious? Fat Chance. Athrun thought. Shinn was probably playing "Hot or Cold" with no realization of how smoldering close he actually was. Being stupid or not his light of Cagalli was a less the trusting one. Athrun could feel his left fist balling up. Even now he felt as if he was the only one defending her.

"So what if I am … It's no business of yours!" he said slamming his fist into the desk. Why? Why does he still blame her? Athrun thought clearly shaking. Looking over his shoulder he glared in Shinn's direction. He caught a half surprised half confused look from the bumbling ace. No wonder he has been passed up for a better assignment. I wonder how Luna deals with him. Athrun thought sardonically.

"I'm sorry …" came out of Shinn's mouth. Sorry? Shinn was sorry! The thought dumbfounded Athrun.

"It's alright … is that all you came for?" he asked.

"Well, that and to see that you were really here. I didn't think you'd ever come back to earth. Least of all for a crazy woman." Shinn said standing in the doorway.

Athrun passed a glance of displeasure at part of the statement. The other part he was in partial agreement. She was crazy, but in a good way. One of the things he loved about her is she never let anyone much less a man back her into a corner.

"If that's all, you can leave instead of standing in my doorway like some scared rookie." Athrun said seeing hues of red returning to Shinn's face.

"What did you call me -" he never got to finish.

"Dismissed!" Athrun barked witch caused Shinn's posture to straighten and him to snap his arm almost whacking himself in the forehead and execute probably one of the best pivots that Athrun had ever seen him do. Then he realized that it was Athrun giving him the order. He shuffled off grumbling and Athrun locked the door behind him.

Seeing as he didn't want anymore surprise visits. Athrun slammed the call button on his wall box. The screen opened up with the face of a pretty girl sitting at a dispatch hutch.

"Sir?" she asked

"I do not wish to be disturbed for anything short of a base attack. My door is locked and I will not answer it for anyone." He said with the dryness of an officer.

"Yes, sir, I will inform command that you are not to be disturbed." she said and the screen blacked out.

Athrun walked over and sat on the bed. He grabbed the phone again and dialed the only earth number in memory. The line rand and the call connected. A soft familiar female voice answered.

"Yes?'

"Hello, it's Athrun"

"Athrun?" the voice asked in surprise. "Where are you?"

"Gibraltar Base"

"You're back on earth? For how long?" she asked.

"I landed about six hours ago" he said realizing the time and that it was quite late.

"This is a surprise. Kira and I were just talking about you earlier." Lacus said

"Where is Kira?"

"Right next to me." She said with a chuckle. Athrun heard the phone switch hands.

"Kira?"

"Athrun." The groggy voice said.

"Why did you come back Athrun? I thought you were going to stay on PLANT for the rest of your days?"

"You know why I came back."

"You sure you're ready for it? I mean it's not like she's going to welcome you back. You did leave her holding the stick." Kira said.

"I have to own up for it … I still love her."

"Okay, just making sure. So what do you want from me?" he asked.

"You think we can get together this weekend. I have a lot to talk about. And, I'm sorry for waking you."

"It's alright and I think I can manage that" Kira said realizing this was the first time he had spoken with his friend in ten years.

"And Athrun?"

"Yeah?"

"She's gonna be pissed."