I planned from the start to have Athrun develop a black eye, never experiencing one myself. Continently right after I posted the very first chapter I ran into someone's elbow and received a black eye. Not only that but later at a softball game the ball bounced up different than I anticipated and gave me a worse black eyes. So I really pitied Athrun, poor bloke, I've had enough of icing, my freaking eyeball has a popped blood vessel so it looks like its bleeding. Therefore I gave Athrun some slack, plus he should be able to heal fast anyway… Well happy readings, don't get a black eye if you know what's best for you.

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Broken Vase

Chapter Two: Is it brunch of breakfast?

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She couldn't believe it! Athrun Zala had dodged every single one of her attacks except her very first punch. She managed to break and shatter about everything that survived her previous temper, but she only got one good punch out of the whole thing. It was pointless, she wreaked and broke Athha family treasures, and all for what? A vase? An arranged marriage? Her father's death? All she did was throw a stupid childish tantrum.

Like hell I'll admit it, she thought to herself bitterly, maybe I'll try and to something about it in the morning. Walking over to her bed, she collapsed, snuggling deep into the covers forgetting momentarily all about a certain man who now had a temporary stay downstairs.

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Athrun felt a sort of pride that he managed to stop Cagalli from murdering him. However that didn't make his black eye stop swelling. He was actually quite lucky that he found several icepacks in the freezer, suspecting they were used for the same reasons as he was using them. It became exhausting to ice his face for two and a half hours, but in the long run it would pay off if it would help rid him of the black eye.

Athrun stiffened as he yawned loudly stretching his arms. Tired of icing and staring at the broken pieces of the violet vase that started the whole incident, Athrun picked himself up off the couch and wandered to Kira's room.

He didn't expect me to sleep on the couch for two weeks, Athrun chuckled slightly opening his best friend's bedroom door. Finding the bed, Athrun tiredly collapsed on it and fell instantly asleep before he could even snuggle under the covers.

If only his sleep would have continued uninterrupted. The first time Athrun woke up he heard a small "eep" and the door creak shut. He suspected it was a maid of the household that was checking in to clean Kira's room. The second time he heard a faint alarm clock ring in the room next to his. It probably wouldn't have woken him up if he hadn't heard the fluent curses from a certain blond and then a very loud smash. The third time he heard a giggle in the room, and looked over to see three maids staring over him. They squealed and ran out buzzing with the news that Athrun Zala was sleeping where they worked. It took him a while to sleep after that, but it was interrupted for the fourth time.

"Cagalli get up!" A maid screamed banging on the door.

Athrun's eyes painfully snapped open. Can't a man get a decent night's sleep around here?

"Cagalli you have your meeting them in one hour get up!" Five loud bangs followed the maid's protests.

Groaning and sitting up, Athrun began to understand why Kira always wanted to sleep over at his house when they were kids. No one could sleep in this household! Rubbing his eyes, Athrun felt a small pain to his left eye. He forgot that Cagalli punched it yesterday. He stumbled slightly walking to the bathroom to check up on his eye. It wasn't that bad anymore, it was a little black but not too noticeable.

"I'M NOT GOING!" Cagalli hollered through the walls. Athrun raised an eyebrow at the horrible sounds coming from her room as he brushed his teeth.

"Miss Cagalli they're going to be your step parents," the maid cried out exasperated, "you must at least meet them!"

"NEVER!"

Crashing sounds, and a couple struggles later Athrun poked his head outside the bedroom cautiously. He witnessed Cagalli in a lose white tank top and only her underwear wresting with a maid who was trying to stuff her into a cute yellow dress.

"I WONT WEAR IT BECAUSE I'M NOT GO- Athrun?" Cagalli paused looking at the man who popped his head out of Kira's room. The maid took advantage of Cagalli's absence in the fight and quickly put the dress over her head forcing it on the petite girl.

"WHAT IS YOU-AH!" Cagalli yelled, but the damage was done, she was in a cute yellow dress with a frilly bottom and all this happened in front of her brother's best friend's eyes. She started to grow red with embarrassment, however she managed to scold him and the surprised look on his face

"There Miss Cagalli, the meeting is in one hour we must get going soon," the maid sighed, rubbing the sweat from her forehead from wresting with the princess of ORB.

"I'm not seeing that asshole or his parents," Cagalli growled venomously avoiding Athrun's curious look he was giving her.

"But Miss…" the old woman sighed, "It is your duty to your father, and to ORB."

Cagalli froze. Something insider her seemed to crumple under the weight of the thought of her father. She sank to her knees, fighting off the urge to cry. It wasn't fair her father had to die, it wasn't fair she had to take care of ORB. It wasn't fair that she had to marry someone she truly disliked. She was only nineteen, her teenage years were stolen from her because of war, and now her life was taken from her.

"It's just no fair," Cagalli whispered, wiping the tears forming in her eyes before they would have trailed down her face.

"Where are they meeting?" Athrun spoke for the first time all morning. The maid looked up slightly surprised, she had forgotten what master Yamato said to her before she left. Athrun Zala staying here for two whole weeks. Who knew what sort of troubles awaited them.

"It's at the Singing Fish Café Mr. Zala," She replied politely.

"That's expensive," Athrun remarked, for the morning's breakfast menu the cheapest item was at least over seventy dollars.

"Yes Mr. Zala, and Cagalli has to be there by 11:00am," She informed him, "Shinn hasn't arrived yet today so no one can take her at the moment, I was going to call a cab."

"I'll take her," Athrun blurted, Cagalli looked up surprised, but not as surprised as he was for suggesting it.

"Y-You will Mr. Zala?" The maid stuttered, glancing at Cagalli who looked just as confused as she did.

"Kira trusted his sister with me so I'll be going with her to make sure that everything goes alright with the breakfast," Athrun replied casually making up an excuse to go with her.

"Athrun?" Cagalli said above a whisper, tears were now breaking their way down her cheek.

"Come on lets go Cagalli," Athrun said in a tense voice, grabbing her roughly and dragged her to the red convertible that Kira was so fond of. He practically threw her in the passenger seat and quickly hopped into the driver's seat starting the engine.

"Athrun what are you doing?" Cagalli asked softly feeling slightly scared by Athrun's attitude change. She sniffled loudly, wiping her face from the tears that constantly seemed to stream down her face.

"Pull yourself together!" Athrun yelled frustrated. Cagalli looked at him in shock, she'd never seen Athrun this angry, nor had she ever heard him raise his voice to her.

"We all have to do things at times that we don't want to do." He continued, "But you're a princess of ORB how long do you think you can keep acting like this? Throwing these childish tantrums, Cagalli you've got get a hold of yourself if not for your sanity then for ORB. Kira's worried about you, that's why I'm here, I am supposed to look after you. From what I hear you only have three months till the wedding, and till you fully take the responsibilities of ORB's leader."

"I know that," Cagalli replied angrily, "I know that this is childish, but when in my life have I had the opportunity to be a kid? Or to be free? During the war? When my father died? Since when have I had any time to be a teenager! To act nineteen? Tell me that!" She was practically yelling forgetting about hiding the tears. She was tempted to hit him again, or anything for that matter, just something to let the anger out.

Athrun pulled over and faced her, "I'm sorry," he said softly looking her straight in the eyes, "The war and the death of your father must have been horrible, and you've been given no time to grieve or recover from them. But you must be strong and pull it together for ORB and your father."

Cagalli sniffled and wiped her face again. Athrun offered her a handkerchief he carried with him. She thanked him as she used it on her golden eyes.

"Your right," She whispered quietly, "I just wanted some time before I had to commit myself to ORB."

"You still have three months," Athrun offered, "it's not a lot but you have time."

Cagalli snorted and smiled, "What the hell do I do in three months?"

Athrun felt something in his heart lift by seeing her smile, as long as she could be free for a little while longer it was ok. If he could spend just a little bit more time with her, it would be ok.

"Athrun? We have to go, I have a breakfast, brunch, whatever it is to go to," She groaned for mentioning it but she would have to face Yuuna eventually, it might as well be with Athrun there to stop her from murdering him with her own hands.

"Oh right," He laughed nervously starting the car. The rest of the trip was silent between them. Once and a while they would glance at each other, their eyes meeting for a fraction of a second, each time it caused something in their hearts to flutter.

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"Are you sure about this Yuuna?"

"Yes father. We'll have control over ORB with this marriage."

"From what I hear she's just as wild as before."

"I have it under control," Yuuna hissed over the phone, clutching it tightly.

"Fine, do as you please."

A quiet click followed the man's voice. Yuuna sighed. It took enough persuasion to have his father allow the marriage. Now Cagalli was making matters worse with her violent temper tantrums. She was like a wild horse, only needing a little bit of domestication. He could do that. His handsome charm and love would conquer Cagalli's wild and slightly wounded heart. Or so he thought, however a blue haired man seemed to be in his way. Yuuna looked suspiciously at the man who accompanied his beautiful horse as she strolled over to the table where he sat. Millions of questions ran through his mind as he saw the man, especially the one question as to why he looked so familiar.

"Where's your father?" Cagalli asked peeved that she had to face Yuuna instead of his parents. She would have eaten all the frozen peas Athrun had purchased instead of meeting the purple intoxicating ball of rich spoiled puss in front of her.

"He had an urgent meeting to attend and sends his regards." Yuuna smiled, it made Athrun's eye twitch with frustration.

Then why the hell did you drag her out here? He growled, Cagalli raised an eyebrow at him.

"Please take a seat," Yuuna motioned to the chair in front of him. There was only one. Athrun, however, didn't mind standing beside the young blonde who chose to sit in it while Yuuna glared at him.

"Who is your guest?" Yuuna finally spat the main question running through his pea sized brain. Athrun's eyes narrowed.

"He's-" Cagalli began, she wasn't to sure how to explain anything without giving too much information away about the famous Athrun Zala.

"I'm her bodyguard," Athrun cut in harshly, "The name is Alex Dino."

Cagalli turned to look at him surprise and anger written all over her face. Athrun smiled faintly giving her an I'll-explain-later look and hoped that she wouldn't call out his bluff.

"Bodyguard?" Yuuna asked suspiciously, "Why do you need a bodyguard?"

"Because-" Cagalli started, but she was again rudely cut off.

"Because I was hired by her brother to look after her while he is away," Athrun explained slightly impatient, ignoring the glare coming from Cagalli.

"So Kira left to the PLANT's did he?" Yuuna asking the obvious.

"Yes." Athrun replied curtly.

An awkward silence followed their conversation. Cagalli looked from Athrun to Yuuna, she sensed a certain tension that was beyond the regular one she usually endured with him. The princess sighed internally, why do I have to deal with people like them? A soft grumble followed her complaint, her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. Athrun chuckled, Yuuna smiled fondly.

"Here you go princess," Yuuna said handing Cagalli a menu, "I wouldn't want to starve my fiancé to death." Cagalli scowled attempting to swipe the menu from him, but he caught her wrist, "What do you say princess?" He asked with a look of amusement written all over his face as she struggled to release her wrist from his grip.

"Please," she spat viciously ripping her hand from him and snatched the menu quickly. Cagalli quickly buried her head in the menu trying not to look at Yuuna's grin, and to stop her from punching him.

"That a girl," Yuuna nodded approvingly. Cagalli glared at him. Athrun clenched his fists behind his back quelling the anger rising in him.

"Bastard," Cagalli muttered to herself.

"What was that?" Yuuna asked daringly. Athrun simply frowned.

"I said custard since I was looking at what sort of custard desserts they had." Cagalli lied quickly, refusing to look at Yuuna.

"Do you like custard?" Yuuna questioned not waiting for her to answer, "I like custard too. We have so much in common Cagalli!" He cried out excited grabbing her hand and brought it up to his lips. But before Cagalli could react Athrun coughed loudly interrupting the two of them which gave Cagalli time to wrench her hand from his grasp. Yuuna muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like 'stupid bodyguard'. Cagalli's eyes narrowed. Athrun merely smiled welcoming his comments for a full fledged war. The ORB princess sighed, this is going to be a long, long brunch or breakfast, whatever it was called.

Three Hours Later…

After a few more attempts of flirting with Cagalli, twice as many cough interruptions from a certain bodyguard, frequent trips to the bathroom made by one pissed off blonde, a near food fight, custard malfunctions, choking, and a fork bent so badly it didn't even resemble its old function, the brunch trailed to a finish.

Thank God! Two out of the three silently prayed.

"I shall miss you my fiancée don't fret I shall come back for you," Yuuna called out dramatically, he made an attempt to grab her hand for the nth time that day. A cough interjected, Yuuna glared, Cagalli rolled her eyes. Boys can be such idiots, she thought to herself leaving Yuuna and Athrun to stare each other down, and here I thought I was the childish one…

"Athrun let's go already," Cagalli yelled impatiently to the blue haired man still in a glaring death match with Yuuna. A couple second later Athrun followed Cagalli's leave, meeting the angered blonde at the car.

"What took you so long?" She demanded.

"This," Athrun replied coolly lifting his hand to reveal the misshapen fork that suffered Cagalli's rage. She blushed, and looked down slightly ashamed.

"What about it?"

"They wanted me to pay for the damage,"

Cagalli snorted, "Tell them to go to Yuuna." She opened the door to the car and sat down in the passenger seat folding her arms defensively. Athrun soon followed in the driver seat, he started the car.

"So why-" he began.

"Why do you think?" Cagalli shot back, agitated he even bothered to ask, "How many children I want? What sort of question is that to ask? The idea of marrying him is repulsive enough I don't want to even to think about having…" She stopped herself from continuing, the idea made her shiver. Athrun started to chuckle, but it erupted into a full hearty laugh. Cagalli sat there flabbergasted as his reaction.

"S-stop laughing!" She stuttered going red from embarrassment, "What the hell is so damn funny?" Cagalli demanded.

"You," he replied casually glancing over at her, "Anyway what I was asking is why didn't you eat anything you ordered?"

"Oh," Cagalli mumbled, she could feel her face burning a brighter shade of red, "I don't really like the Singing Fish's food, it's just too healthy I need some fat in my diet. Plus all the food tasted like something rotten." Athrun chuckled.

"Well I'm sure you're tired of sitting in a restaurant so why don't we go pick up some food at a market and make dinner?" Athrun suggested, he was quite hungry since he was forced to stand for the last three hours watching Cagalli wordlessly pick at her food, bringing none of it to her mouth.

"Alright that sounds like a good idea," Cagalli replied, "but no peas!"

"Why not?"

"What do you mean why not? They're nasty!"

"That is a matter of opinion," Athrun pointed out.

"It is a fact in the Athha household!" Cagalli shot back.

"That applies for all the members of the Athha house hold?"

"Yes!" She replied stubbornly.

"Should I call Kira to clarify this statement?" Athrun asked, a grin on his face as Cagalli frowned. A long pause followed. Kira adored peas, regardless to whether Cagalli liked them or not.

"Smart ass," Cagalli growled, folding her arms refusing to look at him. Instead she gazed out the window of the car to the houses and shops of ORB. She was too tired to fight him but too stubborn to give him the satisfaction that he had won the argument.

"Peas it is then," Athrun chuckled.

"Be warned Zala," Cagalli muttered, "I am not eating peas."

"Are you so sure?"

She refused to answer, still looking outside the window.

So stubborn, Athrun thought as he drove closer to the supermarket he had been too the other night, well if she wasn't then she wouldn't be as amusing to be around.

"Ugh," Cagalli groaned, "I need something strong to drink."

"I think we can arrange that princess," Athrun smiled.

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Eating dinner with the pink haired beauty, Lacus, Kira had a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Are you alright Kira?" Lacus asked concerned at the expression on Kira's face.

"I'm ok Lacus," Kira smiled shaking the feeling off , but he had a strange twin brother sense that he should be throttling Athrun right now.

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"Well you could have told me you didn't have any alcohol tolerance!" Athrun yelled at a very drunk Cagalli. Her eyes were barely open as she stumbled her way towards a place to sit down, Athrun was being so noisy today…

"W-what was –hic- that?" Cagalli stammered plugging her ears, "I can –hic- handle some wine fust I-I mean just fine because…" she trailed off before even finish her sentence as she instantly fell asleep when she sat down on the couch to stop herself from falling over.

"Cagalli," Athrun said poking her, no response. He sighed, so much for a peaceful night. Dragging her tired body up the stairs Athrun nearly collapsed when he reached her bed inside her bed room. For a drunk girl she certainly wouldn't stop hitting and kicking him in her sleep. Tucking her in safely in yellow goldenrod sheets, Athrun planted a small kiss on her forehead, hoping that it would help ease the headache she would have tomorrow morning.

"Night Cagalli…" Athrun whispered in her ear before he left the room, hearing a slight murmured 'g'nit Athsern' in response. Athrun felt his heart nearly cartwheel at her words, must be the alcohol, he told himself shaking his head slightly walking to his own comforting bed for some long overdue sleep.

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Wow another chapter over with…

So please review.