Chapter 1: Engaged

A few days later, Orb was hosting a victory party. People of prominent statuses were invited and of course, the pilots who have fought day and night were also invited.

It was Christmas Eve. A lot of people were there, having a good time.

Kira and Mu were playing billiards; Kira was winning.

Murrue was a bartender for the night.

Meyrin and Lunamaria were having a drinking game; Meyrin lost.

Lacus and Cagalli were talking while enjoying their margaritas.

After his game, Kira went to talk with Athrun.

"Have you talked to her yet?" Kira asked Athrun.

"No. Not sure what to talk about."

"You don't have to talk about anything important. Just talk." Kira suggested.

Athrun looks at [Cagalli] from the balcony. She was beautiful. Her well-groomed blonde hair, her gorgeous amber eyes, her beautiful teal dress. She was perfect.

"To be honest I'm a little scared." Athrun tried to play it as a joke but didn't quite work.

"Really? I never thought that I'd hear you say that." Kira jokingly said. "Come on. What's the worst that can happen?"

*Sigh. "Ok, I'll go talk to her. But if I die of embarrassment tonight, please make it a closed casket." Athrun said as he walked down the stairs and went in front of the bar. Over the other side, he sees Cagalli and Lacus.

Lacus sees him and figures out what's going on.

"I'll be going now, Cagalli. We'll talk again later." Lacus said while getting up from her seat. She looked at Athrun and nodded at him.

"Ah. Ok then." Cagalli was a bit confused as to why Lacus suddenly left. Cagalli continued to drink.

Athrun gulped hard and channeled his courage to his legs; he approached Cagalli from the side.

"So how'd a nice girl like you end up in a dump like this?"

Cagalli smiles and plays along. "I don't know but people have told me in the past that I have poor taste in men."

"Ouch. Well at least you're not stuck in a cave with one." Athrun sarcastically said.

"We should try it sometime." Cagalli gleefully responded.

The two laugh together and decided to drop the act. Athrun broke the short silence first.

"Hi." Athrun said as he smiled with all his heart.

"Hi." Cagalli replied too, with a smile.

The party goes on around them but somehow the two former lovers were in their own little world.

They move away from the crowd so that they can hear each other better (and get a bit of privacy). The place they chose was on the balcony on other side of the building. There were some tables but practically no one was there. They look over the gorgeous view. This time Cagalli broke the silence.

"So, I heard that you and Meyrin were dating." Athrun can see a glimpse of sadness in Cagalli's eyes as she asked the question.

"Ah. Yeah. Well we only went on a couple of dates but we, for the lack of a better term, didn't really click." Athrun was a little embarrassed in answering the question.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's ok, you don't have to. It's not a big deal, really." Athrun assured her. But he still had something else in mind.

"How about you? You uh- you seeing anyone lately?" Athrun asked as if he was preparing for a knife in the heart.

"Athrun, I'm- actually, I'm engaged." Cagalli replied like she took a huge burden off of her shoulders. But Athrun just stared at her. A thousand yard stare of sadness. He's in shock. It's a miracle that he hasn't dropped the glass he's holding.

"Athrun, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you earlier. It's just we've been so busy and-"

"It's ok." Athrun was using all his emotional might to suppress all his mixed feelings about the bombshell announcement that was just dropped on him.

"Hey! I'm happy to hear that. How long have you guys been... engaged?" Again Athrun tries to hide his honest emotions but Cagalli can obviously feel that Athrun was disappointed at least.

"3 months. We've been engaged for 3 months."

Athurn felt a sting in his heart 'She's been engaged for 3 months and she didn't bother to tell me?' he thought. But he kept calm and said:

"Well don't keep me in the dark, tell me all about him."

"Only if you promise not to beat him up." Cagalli said jokingly.

"Hahahahaha. I promise not to beat up your fiancé." Athrun said while holding his right hand over his chest.

"Well, his name is Richard MacMillan and we met at a bar about a year ago, and we talked and that's pretty much where it started."

"MacMillan? Like the son of Orb Prime Minister Anton MacMillan?" Athrun asked with a surprised panic tone.

"Yeah. Don't worry this isn't like the Seirans. I know what I'm doing." Cagalli reassured him.

"I'm not worried. I trust you." After Athrun said that, there was another silence. They were staring at their drinks while not knowing what to say. But after it got a little awkward, Athrun asked an unexpected question.

"Do you love him?" Athrun asked seriously.

"Athrun, if I didn't love him then why would I agree to marry him?" Cagalli defended.

"You didn't answer the question." Athrun faced Cagalli.

Cagalli also faced Athrun with confidence and resolve.

"Ok Athrun, if it will satisfy you, then yes, I do love-" before Cagalli can finish her answer, Athrun grabs her by the waist and kissed her. Cagalli kissed her back. Their lips interlocked, like before. Full of love, passion, and lust. After a few seconds they both pulled away.

Cagalli turned around and held her chest. She held back her tears. "Athrun, I'm sorry. We can't do this anymore."

Athrun held his tears back and asked: "I have no doubt that marrying him would be a huge step forward for Orb. He may even be a better husband to you than I ever will be politically or romantically. But I ask you this: Do you really love him? With all your heart?"

Cagalli breathed deeply. She held back her tears as much as she can; she turned around and flatly said: "Yes. I do love him. With all my heart."

"I see." Athrun said in sadness. He held back his tears. He clenched his fists.

The two stood in silence for a few seconds.

"Miss Cagalli!" someone shouted. "It's time for your speech."

"Alright. Just give me second." She answered.

"Good night Athrun." Cagalli started walking away from him. Athrun just stood there. Still trying not to cry, trying not to show how affected he was.

Cagalli turned around one last time and said: "I need you to understand. Athrun, there will never be a time where I will choose you over Orb." And with that said, Cagalli left.

Athrun finally let out his tears. He fell on his knees and punched the ground. He was thinking of all the times they were together. How could he let that go? How could he have been so stupid?

An hour passed by. Athrun was still on the other balcony, sitting, drinking, and thinking. Kira and Lacus went there to check on him but only Kira approached him. He sat beside him and waited. After a few seconds, Athrun finally asked it.

"How long have you known?" Athrun asked softly.

"Athrun, I-" Kira tried to say something but Athrun asserted his question.

"How long?" his tone now changed from soft to angry.

"2 months." Kira said with shame.

"And you didn't bother to tell me? You didn't think I needed to know?" Athrun angrily asked.

"I thought Cagalli told you too. Or at least she would tell you when she was ready. I was surprised myself when I found out that she hasn't told you yet. I'm sorry." Kira defended.

Athrun held his hands together, like he was praying. He bent down, and started crying.

"Goddamn it. I know it's not your fault Kira. I get it. But, it's so hard not to be disappointed. At her, at myself."

Kira put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Athrun, I know it's hard, but you have to be strong, and accept Cagalli's decision. If you really love her, then you love her regardless of who she ends up with, right?"

Lacus also sat beside Athrun and placed a hand on his other shoulder.

"It's Ok Athrun, we'll be here for you. We'll stay as long as you want." Lacus' words made Athrun cry a bit more, but at least now, he shares his pain with people who care about people who care about him.

A/N: And now it starts. Next chapter we'll learn a little more about Cagalli's fiance.

fiancé fiancé fiancé