Mixed Feelings

I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I know this took a long time and I know a lot of you won't be satisfied with this chapter because I wasn't but I promise to make up for it in the next one! Please forgive me for the delay and keep reading!

Kira sat in the living rooms flipping through channels and gazing toward the stairway every other minute anxious to see if Lacus was descending. He had pondered what to do about Cagalli and himself for a long time until he had come upon a solution. Lacus.

When he heard footsteps on the stairs he immediately switched off the television, threw aside the remote, and stood his eyes not leaving the staircase, however, to his disappointment it was Athrun, not Lacus who came down.

"Kira, Daijobu?" Athrun came to a stop in front of his friend and gazed at him worriedly.

"Hmm? Oh.. hai, I'm fine." Athrun, not convinced, didn't move from his spot in front of his friend.

"Actually there is something I wanted to talk to you about."

"That's fine, you know you can tell me anything."

"Yeah… do you wanna sit outside? If that's okay?"

"Yeah, sure." Not a moment later the two sat under a large tree in the backyard. The sun shined brightly yet the shade kept them cool.

Kira fidgeted under Athrun's intense gaze. Finally after several minutes he blurted, "Do you love Lacus?" Athrun's eyes widened in surprise at Kira's question yet he answered still.

"Of course I do, she's my fiancé."

"Although not by your choice."

"But we still grew very close despite the reasons for our engagement… why are you asking me this Kira?"

Kira stared at his hands intently and mumbled the barely intelligible words, "It seemed as if you loved my sister."

Athrun stayed quiet then. There was no surprise in his gaze then, just sympathy, and knowledge.

"I agree there was something between your sister and I, but it isn't something I would pursue… after all, how can I steal the woman my best friend is in love with?"

Shock roiled through him and with it nervousness that led to rage. "How dare you imply something so disgusting! I can't believe that you would say that Athrun."

"Why not? Isn't it true? I have to say at first I thought it was Lacus you loved but know one who knows you two can deny the feelings between you."

"It's not like that!"

"Kira… you don't have to feel guilty… it could have happened to anyone."

They didn't talk for a long time after that. They just sat watching the day fade away. Kira after calming down a vast amount looked towards Athrun. "I need a favor."

"You want me to go out with Cagalli… and you want permission to go out with Lacus, am I right?"

Kira's silence said it all.

"You realize you'll be hurting her even more don't you?"

"We can't do this Athrun… it's not normal."

Athrun's eyes narrowed as he looked at his friend. "If this is what you want then fine… after all if it were I that asked you would do the same but the Kira I once knew didn't care what others thought, only for what he knew was right."

"But I know this is wrong!"

"Are you sure? You know… me and Lacus couldn't help but notice… you and Cagalli are nothing alike… not in physical features and not in personality… think about that too before you make a decision."

"There were pictures of us as babies Athrun. There was proof!"

"And pictures can't be altered?"

"I thought about all the possibilities already… she's my sister and that's all there is to it… her own father told her that! Why would he lie?"

"Perhaps he didn't know the truth either?"

Kira gritted his teeth in frustration and his knuckles turned white with the pressure.

Athrun looked at his friend again and spoke softly. "No one has to know you two are related… the only proof is the picture and what you were told but even that is uncertain… all we'd have to do is say there was a mistake."

Kira closed his eyes, fighting with himself before gritting out the words it killed him to say, "I can't do that."

Athrun haven given up, stood and walked toward the door leading inside but paused for a moment without turning, "I hope you know what you're doing Kira."

As he walked into the kitchen leaving Kira to dwell in his misery he found Lacus sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee. She looked up smiling at him.

"Want some? It's still hot."

He shook his head no and came to sit next to her quietly.

"Any luck with Kira?"

"No… I don't really blame him though seeing what they'd be risking…" he gazed at her curiously, " Lacus… why do you want them together so badly?"

She smiled at him gently, "Because they love each other."

"And your feelings for Kira?"

"I love him enough that I want him to be happy, as I love you enough to know that we will be happy."

Athrun sighed leaning into the crook of her neck and resting his head there. Lacus slowly brought her hand up to stroke his hair fondly.

"He wants me to go out with Cagalli while you go out with him."

Lacus leaned back to gaze at him before giving him a sneaky glance that only he had ever seen before. "Maybe that's exactly what they need."

Athrun's brow lifted and before he could ask what she had in mind she shushed him and pulled him up by the arm dragging him up the stairs.

After getting to her room they sat awake long into the night, Lacus explaining her ideas to employ over the next few days. It only some time past midnight that exhaustion finally claimed them and they, unknowingly fell asleep as they were cradled in each others arms.

Okay people! As you can see I'm going for a Lacus and Athrun pairing. Again, Sorry about it being so late! I would appreciate any comments or suggestions you have so please review! Thank you!