Tsubame: This story is longer than I first expected. Over vacation my imagination DID go on overdrive…OH well! I'm so happy with my reviews and I can't believe so many people like this story…

Disclaimer: The usual…I don't own Gundam Seed or Gundam Seed Destiny series or characters…

Chapter 5: Angelic Misfit

They arrived at the party on the nick of time.

7:00 on the dot!

It was sort of fashioned like those of the time of the old English. There was somebody at the front door, he took their coats and asked for their names. He was holding a thick list of the names of guests.

"Alex Dino and Princess Cagalli Yula Attha…" Athrun replied.

The man bowed down to show his respect to the Princess then he took his staff and pounded it on the floor to get the other guests attention. "Her Highness, Cagalli Yula Attha of Orb and her escort, Mr. Alex Dino."

Cagalli never did feel comfortable when all eyes were on her. She looked ahead and did not meet anybody's eye. She dug her fingers into Athrun's sleeve but the perfect smile on her face never wavered and neither did his. If it were possible it became bigger, trying to assure her that the worst was almost over…

They made their bows when they reached the bottom of the stairs and the guests returned to their talking and chatting as before… but some…well…lets just say that they don't know how to mind their own business…

Cagalli breathed a sigh of relief. She managed to make her entrance and she didn't trip. Not…that she ever tripped before. It's that she's a firm believer of there's a first time for everything. She's a princess…practically since birth she's been trained for things like these…

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Athrun teased, whispering into her ear. His breath tickled and made her giggle. Some spectators instantly assumed that the couple was sharing a private joke.

"Aren't they sweet?" One said.

"How wonderful it is to be young and in love," another sighed.

But there were also comments like…

"What is the princess doing with a bum like him?"

"She's not that pretty. He could do so much better…"

"Don't tell me they're dating…"

Cagalli and Athrun ignored remarks like these. How are they supposed to help them, right? It never really mattered to them what people think. They've been worrying about what people think since they were very young being children of such famous politicians.

They don't want that anymore…

"We've got quite an audience in our hands…"

She sighed. "Don't remind me…I've noticed." She was feeling nervous…and this is what she hated about these parties… why couldn't they just make an appearance and leave? That's what she usually does…

But then…this is not another one of her usual parties…

She was here with Athrun and she was showing her respects to her the memory of her soon-to-be mother-in-law. Even if it will kill her…she will make Athrun proud of her…

"Ms. Attha! You're here!"

Cagalli turned towards the familiar voice, then her eyes met a familiar pair of eyes. "Afhmed?" she whispered, but only Athrun heard.

He was not happy…not at all…

It wasn't Afhmed. It was Andy and he was smiling and waving at them like he was just a family friend. "Ms. Attha, you have arrived. I'm glad."

Cagalli shook her head to regain from her shock. She tried telling herself over and over again that this…is Andy not Ahfmed…

Ahfemed was gone…but she knew his memory remained.

"Cagalli, you alright?" Athrun asked. He was worried that she became too silent. "Is this guy bothering you? Because believe me I'll only be too happy to redesign his face for you."

She shook her head. "No it's nothing."

Andy couldn't hear their conversation at all because their voices are so low. "Good evening, I'm sorry. Did I interrupt anything?"

"No, not at all." She assured him. She still felt nervous about being around him. Just this morinng she slapped him and here he was talking to her.

Andy smiled genuinely to her. It was a sign that told her not to worry that he held no hard feelings for what happened that morning. "I just wanted to say hi and introduce you to my sister, Annie?"

"You have a sister?"

He nodded. "Annie, come here, Sweetheart."

From behind him, a little girl peeked at her and hid again. Cagalli guessed that she had to be about twelve but very shy. Her blonde hair in two braids, rosy white cheeks and her shining blue eyes staring at the floor shyly, she looked adorable with her blue dress.

"That's odd," Athrun said. "You don't look anything alike."

Andy laughed a hearty laugh and shook his head. "I got my looks from my mother's side of the family and Annie got hers from my dad's." He gave his little sister a soft pat on the head. "My mother's from Saudi Arabia…and that's where I got my dark good looks…"

Athrun gnawed his teeth. He really wants to clobber this guy.

Cagalli gave a small laugh and extended her palm to her. "Come on, Annie. I promise I won't bite."

Annie looked to her brother and back to Cagalli. She stepped forward from her brother's shadow and gave a polite bow. "Good Evening to you, Dear Princess."

She won Cagalli's heart. "What a polite and sweet little girl!" she thought.

Andy gave a light chuckle. "This little angel saw you this morning and told me she liked you."

"This morning? I don't remember meeting her this morning."

"She saw you coming in," he explained. "She liked you right away. She even talked me into buying you a present!" he chuckled. "She's a little brownnoser."

"A present?" Cagalli was shocked. "Afhme….I mean…Andy. You really don't have too…"

Annie gave a sweet little blush. "It's nothing really, Your Highness." She turned towards her brother and made a slight coughing sound.

"Oh," Andy then began digging into his back pocket. "Just consider it a little thank you gift for welcoming me into your beautiful country."

He produced a rather large velvet case. "I hope you like it," his eyes were twinkling. "Annie chose it herself."

She opened the case. Inside was a small fortune in jewels, it was a complete set of jewels of diamonds, a pair of earrings, ring, bracelets and choker. They glistened like stars and so beautiful that the people around them nearly trip themselves trying to get a closer look. Others never bothered to hide their envious looks from them.

"They're beautiful, Andy…Annie," she said politely. "But I can't possibly accept them." She touched Athrun's tear necklace around her neck lightly. It was an unconscious act and she did it protectively as…if she couldn't bear to part with it.

Andy shook his head. "Please do us the honor of accepting this humble gift. Please don't say no. I'm sure it will hurt dear Annie if you do…"

Cagalli was about to speak but then her gaze met Annie's. She really did look like she was about to burst into tears.

She sighed and relented. "Okay, I accept." She smiled at the little girl. "Thank you for the lovely gift, Annie."

Annie smiled proudly but her smile faded when Cagalli just tucked the case into her handbag. "Don't you like it your Highness?"

"Of course I do, Annie."

"Why won't you wear it?"

"Because this necklace…" she replied, fingering the tear. "…means a lot to me…" she turned to Athrun. "And…Mr. Dino…"

Athrun's eyes who were only seconds ago shooting daggers at Andy softened when he heard this. He admitted that he didn't like it that the present Mr. Collins gave Cagalli was times two the size of his present and if he wasn't mistaken, double in price too.

Cagalli knew she had to say that. She knew the look Athrun wore earlier. His eyes turned to the same color as the necklace he gave her and that was definitely a bad sign. She had to say something before he does something he'd regret later…like wrestle a senator.

Athrun already had a history of jealousy fits. He took down a guy just asking for her autograph, a guy trying to steal a kiss lost a couple of his teeth and the list goes on. She really has no idea what HER coordinator was capable of but she wasn't really in the mood to find out.

She might have to bail him from prison or something…

Annie looked disappointed but then the look of disappointment transformed to a cheerful one. "That's okay! You look lovely in anything, Your Highness."

"Call me Cagalli please," she insisted.

"Ms. Cagalli then," she made a bow and began pulling her brother to the dance floor. "See you later, Ms. Cagalli."

"See you," she chuckled. "Sweet, isn't she, Athrun?"

"Mmmmm.."

Athrun's instincts tell him that he should keep an eye on that girl…and his instincts are hardly ever wrong….

Cagalli was now busy mingling with the other guests. As the princess of Orb, she represented her country and all her people so she didn't want to give the world ideas that she's a snob.

For two hours, Athrun stayed calmly and patiently by her side. But after two hours of nonstop talking, Atrhun knew Cagalli had to be thirsty. Of course, she didn't show it…

He bowed respectfully. "Cagalli, I'm going to go get something to drink. Would you like one?"

She smiled gratefully and nodded. She then returned to her heated debate with the Prime Minister of China about the "One child" policy…

No winner has been decided yet.

On his way to the refreshments table, he heard crying. He walked towards the sound. It seems that it is coming from the hallway. "Is anybody here?"

"Mr. Dino? Is that you?"

It was Annie. She was holding a pristine white handkerchief and daintily wiping her tears.

"Yes, it's me," he had that worried look on his face again. He didn't like it when women cry. This is one of his weakness. "What's with the tears? Did somebody make you cry?"

She shook her head and looked at him pitifully. She pointed to her ear and sobbed. "I lost my precious earring."

"Your earring?"

She nodded. "It is very precious to me. It was given to me by my big brother for my twelfth birthday."

Athrun being Athrun, couldn't help feeling sorry for her. "Let me help you. Where did you lose it?"

She pointed to the garden outside the terrace. "Over there! My big brother gave me permission to play outside. He knows how bored I feel with these functions."

Athrun didn't like Andy that much…well…maybe he DIDN'T like that Andy at all but he respects that way he cared for his younger sister. "I'll find it for you, Annie. Don't worry."

Little Annie perked up. "Really? Thank you, Mr. Dino!"

"No problem."

He ran towards the direction she pointed. Determined to find the earring…

"Annie, is everything going as you planned?"

Annie wiped the last trace of tears from her eyes and nodded. "Sometimes it pays to take acting lessons, right, Natsumi?"

A girl about Annie's age came out from behind the curtains. She brushed off the dust from her pink party dress and patted her long brown hair into place. She was giggling furiously. "It is a good thing he doesn't know that you are an actress in the States, huh?"

Annie Collins is one of the most wanted child stars in the US but Atrhun and Cagalli don't know that, since they are too busy all the time. To watch any of her movies. Natsumi was her bestfriend and co-star in many of her movies. when her brother said they were going to Orb for a while, she begged to let Natsumi come. These two are hardly EVER apart.

Don't get it wrong. Annie is a very, truly, sweet, little girl and (Natsumi is too) but she couldn't stand her brother being alone anymore…he saw instantly that her brother was taken by this lovely blonde princess and didn't want the chance to pass.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Dino," she thought. "I hope you forgive me someday but I just can't stand my brother being alone anymore."

She had watched her brother go in and out of relationships and falling more and more into darkness. Actually, this was the first party her brother had come to in over a year. All because of this intriguing princess.

She saw the first sparks of life in her brother's life in years, since their parents died in the war.

Natsumi folded her arms and stared at the terrace doors. "How long do you think it will take him to realize that it was a trick?"

"Hmmm…I don't know. I estimate about two hours but I hope long enough for my brother and Ms. Cagalli to fall in love."

Tsubame: I really hurried writing this…since I'm a bit late updating. Don't hate Annie, okay? She's a kid and doesn't understand that you can't just make people fall in love like that. What would you have done?

Anyway, watch out for the other troubles these dynamic duo will think of next…hehehehe…

Poor Athrun…what will these two do next? This is only the beginning…