A/N: I don't think I mentioned it before but, this story is more like a side project of mine, so sorry if it takes some time to update.

Chapter 2: The First Day We Met.

C.E. 76. 2 months after the victory party, the South African Union invaded the Orb controlled Nara Islands in the Indian Ocean, a few days after Orb decided to decrease its defenses there. Orb has declared this an act of war and decide to send the 2nd fleet to reclaim the islands.

A day before they deploy, Athrun decided to meet with Richard MacMillan. They met on the flight deck of Orb's newest Mobile Suit carrier, the Uzumi. When Richard arrived, Athrun was already sitting at the edge of the flight deck, looking at the setting sun.

"You know when people want to meet politicians they usually opt for a hotel or a school." Richard jokingly states as he approached the man sitting on the edge. Athrun stood up and shook Richard's hand.

"Prime Minister MacMillan." Athrun shook his hand.

"Admiral Zala." He too shook his hand.

"Alright enough with the formalities." Richard cheerfully said. "Call me Richard. Can I call you Athrun?"

"Of course. I'd prefer it if you do." Athrun grabs something from the cooler beside him. "Want a beer?" He hands Richard a chilled bottle of beer.

"Sure. Why not?" Richard takes the beer and Athrun pops the cap off both bottles.

The two sat near the edge and drank their beers while waiting for the sunset.

"Let's cut through the bullshit Athrun, I know you want to talk about Cagalli. You two had... history, and I guess I want to talk about that too."

"I just- I just want to know that I'm leaving her in good hands. God, that sounds bad. What I wanted to say is that um-." Athrun said sadly.

Richard thinks deeply for a second then he asked: "Did Cagalli ever tell you how we first met?"

"Not to me."

"Well that makes sense, it's nothing exciting really." Richard takes another gulp of beer before continuing.

"About a year ago, I just passed my BAR exam. I was excited to be a lawyer. My father wanted me to succeed him as Prime Minister. But I didn't want to be involved in politics and all that shit. I always thought that entering politics would mean that I'd have to do bad choices to get things done. So I pursued other fields. And I really found law interesting. Anyway, my buddies and I said that we were going to celebrate our achievement in a bar and drink till we pass out.

When I got in the bar, I waited. I thought I was early, but minutes turned to hours and one drink turned to five. After 3 hours, I thought that my buddies pranked me. Then I saw her. Sitting in the bar, alone. She looked sad."

Athrun felt a sting in the heart. He felt like he was the cause of that sadness.

"So since I was having a relatively good day, I decided to talk to the one girl in the bar who looked sad. We talked for a few hours but soon enough, she was drunk. She tried to hide the fact, but it didn't really work.

And her bodyguards decided to call it a night. That's when I realized, I was talking to the Chief Representative of Orb. But before she left she asked for my number so I gave it, and she gave hers too. I didn't plan on calling her but it was the biggest surprise of my life when she called me instead. She wanted to apologize for the previous night and told me not to tell anyone that she was drunk."

Athrun chuckled. "Yeah. I remember that one time she was drunk. She tried whiskey for the first time. She was adorably cute." Athrun was smiling while reminiscing about the past.

Richard also chuckled. "Yeah. I know what you mean. She is a different person when she's drunk."

The two each opened another bottle of beer.

Richard continued his story. "The next time we met was inside the Parliament building. I visited my father to tell him that I passed the BAR exam but as expected from him, he didn't care. Then as I was leaving I saw her, and she saw me. It was an awkward moment to be sure but I don't know what I ate that morning because the only thing I remember vividly at that moment was that II actually asked her out. And you won't believe the look on my face when she said yes.

So we went on a date, and then another, then another. Over the weeks, and over the months, I slowly fell in love with her. And on one random day, I proposed to her. And she said yes. It was the happiest day of my life. But my father saw it as an opportunity to get back at me. He said that I'm not allowed to marry the Chief Representative if I'm not the successor to the Prime Minister-."

Athrun knew what the next part was. He knew the feeling; sacrificing everything you have and want for someone else.

"So I had no choice. I wanted to marry Cagalli. I said to myself: if I had to be the Prime Minister of Orb just to be with her, then I will. I did, and now I am." Richard had finished his second bottle.

Athrun was speechless, he didn't know what to say. But what Richard said next confused him.

"Don't die, Athrun. Cagalli will be sad if you did." He said in a serious tone.

"She said that?" Athrun asked.

"Nope." Richard stands up. "She has this picture by her bedside. It's a picture of her, her brother, Chairwoman Clyne, and you. Every night. She looks at that picture every single night before going to bed. One night I asked her why she always looked at that photo. She said that it reminds her of the good old days. What she didn't say, and she didn't need to, was that the good old days she was referring to were the ones with you."

Athrun was shocked to hear what he was hearing. But he knew it was too late. 'Maybe that's where our relationship is, in the good old days.' he thought.

"She still cares about you Athrun, whether she admits it or not. So please, come back alive."

Athrun slowly nods. He gets up and shakes hands with Richard. "Thank you, Richard. I promise I'll come back in one piece."

"Good. Then that means you can attend out wedding. We'll wait till this conflict is over. I hope you can come." Richard tells him with a smile.

Athrun was surprised but also smiles. "I'll do my best." Athrun assures him.

Cagalli arrives on the flight deck and sees the two men talking. She walks towards them. They see her and Richard decides to go.

"Well then Athrun, I'll be going now. See you soon." He said while shaking his hand.

"Ah. OK." Athrun looked a little uneasy.

Richard and Cagalli walked past each other not saying anything to each other. Their eyes met and Richard smiled, but the smile hid his pain. Cagalli was surprised.

'Does he know?' she thought.

But Richard kept walking until he was off the ship. Athrun was still standing on the edge of the flight deck, looking at the sunset, deep in thought. Cagalli slowly walked towards Athrun.

"Athrun-." Cagalli tried to say something but before she can, Athrun hugged her tight.

"Athrun." Cagalli's loving voice filled them both with sadness. But for Athrun, there was no more need for conversations, or arguments. He held Cagalli on both shoulders and said

"Don't worry, he'll be a good husband. I'm sure of it." Athrun didn't wait for a response. He walked away behind her, going back to the bridge of the ship. There were no tears. Athrun was sad, but at least he said what he needed to say. He wanted to move on, and a war is a perfect excuse to take his mind off Cagalli.

Cagalli was stunned. She stood still for about a minute. And then she turned around, she looked at Athrun's back and screamed:

"WHAT?!"

A/N #2: Well I tried to make Richard a nice guy, I mean, in my mind he is a nice guy who genuinely fell in love with Cagalli.

A/N #3: The next chapter is either the longest or I might split it into two.