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 II

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

October 24th C.E. 83

0900 GMT

Onogoro Island

ORB (AUBE) Administration Offices: Executive Wing

The upper level of the admin offices were a bustle as they were most mornings. The moderate silence was broken by an all too familiar phrase

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SHIT!" The voice boomed from the corner office. The representative emir was less then thrilled. She stood at the entrance to her office gawking at many stacks of paper. She thought that at one time, it may have been all the same tree.

Putting her utter shock behind her whilst trying to comprehend how so much paper needed to be dealt with after a time period of about ten hours. Cagalli Yula Attha hung her burgundy blazer on the coat rack. It fell witch cause her to ball it up and throw it at the large expensive looking couch in the corner of her large office. She noticed that the couch still had the blanket on it from her sleeping on it till the wee hours of the morning.

Frowning, she sat behind her desk and found the little blue box that was supposed to be a phone. She punched a speed dial button that connected her to her secretary somewhere out in the sea of cubicles beyond her office.

Someone was gonna pay … dearly.

"Yes, Cagalli-sama?" the little box squeaked

"Get me some tea … and a gun." Cagalli said the latter part a joke to herself.

"Cagalli-sama?"

"Tea is fine." She said slapping the switch.

It had been ten years since the last war and there hadn't been one since. ORB kept hold of its neutral ways and had sided with no one over the years. It's true that Montegrote was still headquartered in ORB and was sill supplying MS technology to the EA military and that alone was accounting for 90 of ORB's exports. Still, the country held onto its ideals and would continue to do so while Cagalli was still emitting a pulse. Ever since LOGOs had been brought into the light of day peace was the word. But all three super powers were still locked in a cold war.

Cagalli brushed her long hair behind her shoulders. She kept her bangs as she allways had but allowed the rest to grow out to the small of her back. She no longer felt the need to get it cut and had only been getting it trimmed for the last decade. Cagalli was 27 now and was constantly getting hounded for not having found a suitable mate. She had devoted herself to ORB and forgot about her personal needs. Or more accurately ignored them. The people needed her more then she needed someone, or that was the bull she fed herself for a while now.

Truth was, she wanted to forget and being such an important person she was able to dodge her heart. But even as strong willed as she was there would be times when she would be laying in bed and all the memories came back. From the end of the final battle at Yachin due till the onset of the last war had been the best time in her life. Taking the first steps to rebuild ORB and mend fences with the EA nations and PLANT had been difficult, but she had never felt more challenged and that made it that much more worthwhile. Because at every state meeting, and at the end of the day he was there. They would go back to the Attha estate and he would show her how much he loved her. Even now she found herself dazing off from time to time trying so hard to remember that time. She could just crumble and her soul would melt in his arms and she could confess everything to him. Her fears and her hopes for the future.

But, he was gone now and had been for along time. Chased by his own demons and all he wanted was to prevent conflict. But allways he would be on the wrong side or rather the side that Cagalli wasn't on. She knew that he held a duty to his homeland as did she and that much she could understand. But why did he have to leave? Why did he have to go without at least telling her that he was leaving or where he was going? After the war he left her to wake alone, in her quarters. He didn't even go back with her to earth. A note on his pillow that said:

My dearest Princess,

Even now I am still tormented by the past. I cannot allow my father's ghost to bring carnage again. So, I have gone where no one can find me. So, that I can be forgotten. I know that I must leave you to be alone and I think its better this way. I want you to be strong for ORB and I know that you can become a great ruler. You will allways be in my heart and I will never forget you. If fate allows it I will return to you.

-Athrun

She could still remember curling up in her bed and crying until she began to hate him. He disappeared and left her to pick up the pieces. So typically Athrun she reflected. After the anger had passed she realized that he was doing it for her too. But she wanted him to come to her for so long. But now she had become numb to such pangs of the heart. Even so she still got flashes of anger over it.

"Damn you, Athrun! You selfish bastard!" she rasped. Even now she still wore his ring. When she went on diplomatic trips she switched it to a different finger even though it was getting more and more difficult to get it off her ring finger. It had become part of her, such a tiny piece of metal to remind her of who she was bound to. Everyone in the upper levels of ORB knew the story but did not dare speak it.

Every once and a while she would let the past overwhelm her in hopes of trying to come to terms with it. But it never worked so she tried to make herself accept the fact that he was alive and take solace in it..

"Come on Cagalli … get a grip. He's off goddess knows where" she whispered. Just then there was a rapping at the door.

Regaing her composure she put on her glasses and began to start scrawling her name. After the second knock she acknowledged.

"Enter" she snapped not trying to hide her feelings. Maybe it would scare whoever it was. The door opened and a younger woman entered. A quick scan of her lapels showed her to be enlisted personnel. The girl walked into the office and she was obviously nervous because Cagalli could hear the cup clinking on the shaking plate.

"My tea!… Set it on my desk. I promise I won't bite you." She said digging deeper into her paperwork. Trying to look busy; Cagalli focused. So she could forget about the morning's thoughts. The assistant did as she was told and set the cup and saucer down gently and then made haste for the door. She quickly opened the door and closed it as softly as she could behind her.

"Smart girl" Cagalli remarked to herself with a facious smirk. She took a little pleasure in the girl's terror. She's probably chatting with her office mates right now about evading Cagalli-sama's mooring mean streak. Cagalli thought and chuckled at the notion. It was true she had a big mouth and could have easily made a good drill instructor. But in reality she would never verbally assault someone unless she has a damn good reason.

Just then, the phone emitted a noise that would wake the dead and offend them too.

"What!" she snapped. How dare they disturb her.

"Clyne-sama is here to see you"

"Lacus? Send her in." Cagalli said. This was suspicious because Lacus was usually far too busy to see anyone. Ever sence she took up the concert circuit again after the war she was allways on tour and never had time to do anything that wasn't on the schedule. After the clear up on the fact that she was Lacus, she did a lot of benefits too for reconstruction of war torn areas. Lacus enjoyed doing it so Kira didn't seem to mind when she was gone. Infact he was usually pestering Cagalli which explains why he didn't show up at the estate for dinner last night.

The door opened slowly and a pink covered head stuck in.

"Cagalli-san?" She asked walking in and closing the door. She was certain she was somewhere behind that large amount of paperwork. Lacus had never been to Cagalli's official office and found it somewhat majestic. Even though she found it unfitting and expected a military supply room with weapons hanging on the walls and crates for furniture.

"I'm here, Lacus." Said a voice from behind the papers. Lacus still hadn't located Cagalli.

"Have a seat; I'll give you my attention in a moment."

Lacus looked around and found the couch and sat at the left end gingerly. Even though she wasn't wearing a dress she still sat properly without realizing she was doing it.

Cagalli walked from the other side of the desk and found Lacus. Who, to her surprise, was dressed casually in a button down shirt and Capri pants.

"Lacus, this is a surprise. I thought you were on tour. Well, this explains why Kira didn't show up for dinner last night." Cagalli said

"I'm sorry for encroaching on the ritual between you and Kira. In fact I'm very thankful that he eats a good meal at least once a week. I worry about his eating habits while I'm away. He doesn't seem to gain any weight. But, I find junk food all around his workstation in our apartment." Lacus replied admiring the sun glinting off of Cagalli's head it was if her hair was made from the sun. Lacus allways envied that effect a little.

"But, I had a gap in the schedule and decided to come home for a few weeks. Though, I have to go in front of the supreme council next week being a peace envoy after all. But, it's good to spend sometime with you and Kira." she said smiling softly. She sat with arms folded witch really stood out compared to Cagalli's interrogation style way of sitting which made Lacus shift her posture still remaining proper but a degree more passive.

"What brings you here? It's Kira that usually comes to pester me this time a day." Cagalli said.

Lacus, not getting the joke, started to get up. Cagalli motioned for her to sit and she did and let out a giggle realizing it was a joke.

"Kira had some things to take care of and suggested I should come see you." She said. This puzzled Cagalli because she couldn't remember a time when Kira was 'busy'. Lacus cocked her head and looked around the office more.

"That's very odd." Cagalli replied

"Odd? Yes, it is a bit different. But, I enjoyed coming to see you." She said looking at the paper sky scrapers and frowning.

"You appear to have tasks to complete Cagalli-san. So I probably shouldn't keep you." Lacus said standing and turning towards the door.

"Lacus! Wait! Let's go somewhere for breakfast." Cagalli blurted. She felt like her duties to country had kept her from friends for far too long. She was loyal to ORB but the paperwork could wait. Spending a meal with Lacus would calm her and give her a chance to find out what Lacus was hiding from her.

"Breakfast?" Lacus turned.

"Hai…"

"Cagalli-san, don't feel that you have change things around for me." Lacus said informatively.

"Change my routine? A diversion is welcome every once and a while. And this is … such an occasion." Cagalli said trying to hide her true intentions.

"Well so long as it doesn't hamper your duties." Lacus said in a motherly tone. She smiled on the inside. Baiting Cagalli was a lot like baiting Kira but different in the way she didn't have to wear a pretty dress to get Cagalli to notice a change. She loved Kira with all her heart. But he was so absent minded once he got into his coding binges. She felt guilty about using such a thing on Cagalli but knew it had to be done or Cagalli would never follow if she knew the true goings on.

"Good! I'll finish this set of papers and I'll be along!" Cagalli said nearly jumping into her chair.

Lacus walked out of the room and shut the door quietly behind her. Delaying until she realized that Pink-chan was locked in the car. No one seemed to miss him or the messes he liked to make. The simple shoes she wore made blunt sound as she made her way out of the offices. This just might work she thought with a happy expression on her face.