Chapter 6
Athrun Zala had never believed in coincidences or fate, he refused to believe that certain things were purposely made to happen. Executing a chain of events leading to one's happiness or demise. However on this day he was a true believer. There he stood staring at the very woman that had been invading his thoughts for the most torturing time. As he stood there, his eyes glimpsing at this goddess like creature that stood before him, he could think of nothing to say. He noticed her lips parting, but no words escaped them.
Her eyes so intently on him in a disbelieving stare, as if he was surreal almost dreamlike and should disappeared if she would simply blink.
"Cagalli." He said her name once more a little calmer the second time around. He didn't really know why he said her name again. Perhaps he too was afraid she was this beautiful dream that would slip away from him if he didn't voice himself. His heart was beating so fast, not even getting ready for his own wedding had him feel so anxious.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know. I-I thought, I mean I-I was told that this should be the Lady's room. I'm sorry I'll leave, I'm sorry." Her words stumbled out of her mouth so rapidly she herself wasn't sure what on earth she said. She only felt this overwhelming feeling to simply get the hell out of there. She reached for the handle.
"Wait!" Athrun yelled out. Her body stood still, her face facing the door. She stood there staring and waiting for what he would say next.
"I mean…you look …I mean you look nice." He let out miserably.
She hesitated to turn around but she could not be so rude to deny the groom, slowly she turned around to look at him. She smiled genuinely. "Thank you. You look nice, too." She said looking at his tuxedo, he always looked utterly charming when he wore those things, she mused to herself.
"Thanks." He said his gaze on her never ceasing; he didn't know where to look. She was stunning, the midnight blue giving her skin the appearance of perfect porcelain. Her hair put in such a way that she looked so serene and lovely. The dress was out of this world, it fitted her like it was part of her skin, hugged every curve caressingly. Before he knew it he was playing around with his undone collar and tugging at his Papillion aimlessly.
"Anyways I should—" She was about to continue until she realized he was pulling at his collar miserably.
"This thing is really impossible…" he said still trying to understand the complicated folding of his Papillion.
As if a higher power was at play she advanced slowly towards him, until she was merely inches below his chin.
"Maybe I can help…" she said shyly as she gently started arranging the fabric around his neck appropriately.
Athrun was still and didn't speak a word. He simply gazed at this woman before him. Her fingers softly running against his neck as she fixed his neckwear. He shivered inwardly at the smallest touch made his heart halt. She never once looked up at him but the closeness between them was too much for him to bare.
Gently he placed his hands on her moving ones and stopped them in the gesture. She looked up athim withconfusion and fearfulness that he could not explain. His eyes caught hers and he slowly and tantalizingly lessened the distance between them. Unfortunately it was cut short.
"No!" Cagalli cried out as she ripped her hands out of his loose grasp.
Athrun stood back and looked at her trying to understand what was transpiring in that head of hers.
"We can't…this is wrong." She said, her tears building up.
"Sorry…"
"No I'm the one who's sorry," Cagalli began to sob slightly, shoulders shaking. She buried her face in her hands trying to black out everything. "I'm really sorry…because I wrecked everything…I'm sorry."
He simply stared. "Wrecked what?"
"Our relationship…" she said between snivels, revealing her secrets.
More from old habit then anything else he approached her and placed a fore finger underneath her chin and lifted it up, urging her to look at him.
"Nothing is wrecked. Look at me. Cagalli look at me." She looked up at him hesitantly, "You didn't wreck anything."
"I did if I didn't I wouldn't be standing here crying like a fool and you wouldn't be getting married to Meyrin. I should have never done what I did. I-I'm such an idiot—"
"You're not an idiot. If anyone can be seen as foolish is me. That day I left you for plants is a day I wish I could take back."
"But you didn't know that that would happen." She explained reassuringly.
"I thought about it for a long time. Even after all these past few years my mind can't help but retrace everything that had happen. I was being selfish. I know that now. I felt weak and useless, powerless to stop what was happening. I didn't think about what you needed, I just thought of what I should do to fix this. Never did it occur to me that had I stayed by your side I would have done more good then not. I thought I needed to find my own pillar of strength but in reality I had been leaning on it all that time and never realized it." He looked at her, and she knew what he was implying.
Cagalli looked at him scornfully. "That's not true. You went because you felt that your country needed you. Besides I shouldn't have been so reckless to marry Jona like that behind your back. Even if you said you have forgiven me. I haven't forgiven myself."
"You did it for Orb didn't you? So then. Stop torturing yourself." He said softly releasing his grip on her chin.
She stood in awe. All these revelations would have meant so much more if she didn't know that this was his wedding day. Athrun noticed almost immediately her shift in demeanour. Ignoring her discomfort his conscious pressed him to ask the question that had been circling up in his head.
"I need to ask you something…" he started.
"Don't. Please don't." She said a little defensively as shedistanced herself from him.
He took a hold of her arm. "Why not? You feel the same way." he pleaded.
She snatched her arm away from him and glared at him fiercely. "No you're just imagining things…"
"Cagalli. If I wasn't to be married would you answer differently?"
The slight light he noticedflickered inher amber eyes vibrantly, and in a flash it was gone, her walls building up once more. She stared at him and she knew this moment was that final moment, what she would say would change everything.
"Congratulations General Zala. I wish you the most heartfelt happiness." She said coldly. And before he could understand what had taken place she was out of his sight. Feeling as if his heart was breaking once more, he reached up and put a hand on his now straightened out Papillion, his hand lingering there for a long moment as he stared at the door.
When she shut the door, her throat constricted painfully as she simply wanted to scream until her vocal chords would give out on her. She ran as fast as she could until she ran past her bodyguards. She hollered for them not to follow her.They complied without protest.She ran out the chapel door and ran to the empty gazebo a few strides down. She plopped down on bench inside and fell apart. She bawled her eyes out, tears streaming down her face as she spilled her misery to nothingness. She simply wanted to lie down and die from the pain thatdiseased her heart. Though it hurt her tremendously she knew it was the right thing to do. Every good memory she had of Athrun and herself she wanted obliterated from her life. She had to after all this, pick up the pieces and finally move on.
"Take this."
In mere shock, Cagalli jolted up and came face to face with some one enveloped in the most luscious white velvets, the cream coloured veils caressing her red hair. Her violet eyes staring intently at Cagalli's amber ones. She held out a handkerchief. Smiling sweetly she gestured for Cagalli to take it.
Cagalli took it without a word of refusal. And bowed her head in thanks.
Meyrin sat down beside Cagalli, and stared up at the chapel.
"If Athrun wasn't going to get married to me…would you have answered differently?"
Cagalli's eyes widened in shock, she stared disbelieving at the younger woman.
Meyrin nodded in agreement at Cagalli's silent assumption.
"I was on my way to slip Athrun a little note, a silly 'I love you', and then I heard talking. I didn't want to listen until I heard Athrun talking like that. He never talks like that to me. He never really talks to me. Like his equal, like a partner, like he does with you." Meyrin smiled sadly and then in turn looked at Cagalli with such a heartbreaking look on her face.
"I wish I could hate you, but I know you're a good person. I guess that's what makes it so much harder. I kind of always knew that he never stopped loving you. I guess I simply wanted to ignore it. Foolish of me isn't it." She tried to remain strong but the silent tears streamed down her face. Cagalli could only feel like a wretched person for knowing she was the reason for this person's sorrow.
"Meyrin I won't interfere I told Athrun that I—"
"I know what you said Miss Cagalli, but you didn't answer my question. Would you have answered differently if he wasn't about to marry me?" she asked once more.
Cagalli gave no response but her eyes betrayed her and Meyrin more then understood. "I see." Came her calm answer.
"Miss Cagalli can I ask you something?" Meyrin started sadly. "Is it normal for it to hurt this much?" And with the last words escaping her mouth she placed her head on Cagalli's shoulder and sobbed lightly. Cagalli comforted the younger girl.
"You're wrong Meyrin…I'm not a good person…I think you beat me at that." Cagalli said sombrely. Meyrin let out a genuine bubble of laughter escape through her tears.
"Cagalli! Meyrin! What are you two doing here?"
Both women looked up and watched as Lacus ran up to them. When Lacus arrived at the gazebo she almost instinctively knew what had happened. Both women puffy eyed and looking horribly tormented.
"Is there a wedding this afternoon?" Lacus asked kindly, slightly looking at Meyrin.
Meyrin nodded in dismay, wiping the falling tears from her flushed cheeks.
"I understand." Lacus was about to turn around until Meyrin called out to her. Lacus stopped in mid-track.
"Would you please, Miss Lacus bring Athrun outside."
"Of course." She smiled sweetly and walked away to do as she was told.
Cagalli stood up and looked at the younger woman. "Meyrin you don't have to do this."
"Miss Cagalli you did the right thing, now it's my turn to do the right thing."
"Meyrin…" Cagalli said sadly seating herself next to Meyrin once more.
A few moments later footsteps could be heard on the gravel.
Athrun walked up slowly to the gazebo, his heart beating faster and faster as he approached both women. If there was anything lower then the way he felt he wouldn't want to know about it. He stepped into the gazebo and stood there speechless. It was still for a mere moment, but to them is seemed like the longest pause.
Cagalli and Athrun did not make a gesture or sound awaiting what this scorned bride would do. Meyrin stood up slowly and walked towards Athrun. She took his hand and then looked at Cagalli and smiled. Meyrin reached out her hand to Cagalli. Cagalli took it. Meyrin intertwined Athrun's hand with Cagalli's. Both Athrun and Cagalli looked at each other. Words unimportant at that very moment. It wasatthat very moment thatMeyrin Hawke felt she had done the absolute right thing.
Athrun and Cagalli stared back at Meyrin, eyes searching.
"I want neither of you to resent me. This is the right thing for everyone. Please be happy." Meyrin smiled gently trying to ignore her unhappiness.
"Meyrin…" Athrun finally spoke.
"I know what you're thinking. But I know that I would never have made you happy. I wouldn't want to force you into something like that. I care about you far too much to let such a thing happen. Besides I know Miss Cagalli is more then capable of making you happy." She winked, "But you guys owe me big time, you better call your kid, Meyrin, or then I'll be really steamed." She joked but both Cagalli and Athrun knew she was simply trying to make them feel better. Meyrin hugged them both tightly and wished them farewell and left.
"She's an amazing person." Cagalli said.
"She really is..." Athrun said looking off in the direction Meyrin had left by, his eyes filled with pure gratefulness. He squeezed Cagalli's hand and stared back at her as if it was the first time in a long time.
"I'm an idiot Cagalli, forgive me." He said.
Cagalli smiled slightly a little stunned at the complete randomness. "Even after these past few years you're still as much of an idiot as always. I'll forgive you on one condition," Athrun urged her to tell him what, "if you forgive me first…" she said modestly.
"For what?" Athrun asked curiously.
She smiled at him for the first time, not just any smile, the smile she only reserved for him. "For being an idiot, too."
He grinned at her and leaned down and dreamily finally pressed his lips against hers. Holding her tight, not wanting this moment to ever end.
Without the couple knowing they were being watched, by two caring amethyst eyes.
"Strange how things work out in the end. Even when things are gone unspoken."
Lacus stared at Kira as she saw the look of complete relief spread across his features. She was glad it all was right in the end.
The End
Author's Note: Okay….its over. Please tell me what you think. I tried to be fair to all characters. And still trying really hard to keep them within character. I didn't want Meyrin being this spiteful old cat. Anyways this story is done. Enjoy! Bye
