With all the chaos on the Minerva surrounding the newly discovered Earth Forces Lab and the extended girl that was on-board attacking people, it was all too easy for Athrun to sneak away. He stood with his back against the outside of the ship, in his civilian clothes with his collar propped up to his chin and a hat that he had found. He scouted the area for a second, making sure everyone was preoccupied before turning into the shadows and walking away from the military area. He had told everyone he was turning in for the evening so they wouldn't come looking for him. With everyone busy between the ship and the lab, collecting evidence and doing clean up; leaving the ship without the captain's permission wasn't a problem.

He had spent the first part of the night waiting for things to calm down and sitting in his room kicking himself about how horrid the meeting with Kira and Cagalli had gone. "Dammit," he cursed again for like the seventh time that night, as he walked.

He decided to leave the Saviour behind as it would be a very eye catching ride. He eventually, after pulling a lot of strings and doing a lot of walking, made his way up onto the cliff that he had left only a few hours ago. He noticed her already sitting there on one of the rocks, wearing the same green clothes she wore earlier; staring at her ring in the moonlight. It would have obviously been a lot easier for to get back there than for him.

Cagalli swung around at the sound of footsteps behind her, and just about launched off the rock and almost through the man's chest.

"I'm so sorry," Athrun whispered into her hair.

"That fight felt too real," Cagalli whispered saddened into his chest.

"It's wasn't," he defended as his grip on her body tightened.

"I think some of it was to an extent," she said realistically as she lifted her head to look into his eyes. "We're all under a lot of pressure and don't always have to agree with the decisions the other has made, especially when we aren't included in the decision making process."

Athrun looked away saddened, he was truly hurt by her even contemplating marrying Yuna and by Heine's death. The important thing to remember was that she didn't go through with it and that Kira didn't intended for Heine to get killed.

"I know I hurt you and I'm sorry," Cagalli started again, after a few minutes of silence. "My intention was to just get it out of the way, get the Seirens and the ministers on my side, and then figure a way out of it later," she explained and then looked down while a tear escaped her eyes. "I will never love anyone the way I love you. You were always going to be my LAST husband."

"It did hurt, and it might take me some time to get over it; but me saying it was unforgivable and making it seem like I don't want to be with you anymore, was definitely part of the fake fight."

Cagalli looked up at him slightly more hopeful.

"I just think it will be safer for all of us right now, if everyone thinks we're enemies again. I have no idea who sent Luna to follow me, but luckily I saw her before I landed."

"Yeah, and luckily you gestured in her direction with your eyes when we got there; so that we could keep the private talk to a minimal. Kira agrees with you, by the way. That we shouldn't be seen as allies right now and that it's better to have you as our inside to ZAFT. But I'm still not happy about it," Cagalli huffed and crossed her arms.

"I'm sorry, Cagalli. It was a last minute opportunity I was given and I had to take it to give us the upper hand. I tried to call you to give you a heads up, but couldn't reach you because you had moved out of the mansion and I didn't know where to." He looked at his still pouting fiance and then pulled her waist against his. "But I remember you saying something about finding me attractive in my red uniform," he teased with a sideways smirk.

Cagalli began to blush and tried her best to hide her growing smile, "Shut up."

"Say where is Kira?"

"I asked him to stay under the cliff in the Freedom. It's Valentine's day you know…" she nudged him with her upper half as her arms were still folded. "My brother can't be around for EVERYTHING we do," she stated with a naughty smirk.

Athrun blushed and hoped Kira wasn't listening to them on his radio.

The two didn't have much time together before Athrun had to leave, but they made sure to enjoy the little bit of time that they did have together. They sat under the stars enjoying a small picnic Cagalli had packed them and spoke about everything but the war and their reasons to be angry with each other. Those issues could be addressed another day. This would be their only time to spend alone together for months to come and they would enjoy it to every extent possible. EVERY extent possible; even on the cold, hard ground.

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The End

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