"How was work today, Sai love?" Vanai asked as he walked in the door. She was wearing panties and nothing else as she lounged casually on the leather couch in the main room of the estate. Sai blinked, like he usually did whenever he found her doing something he thought a bit much, but then he reflected that since it was a private island that you didn't have a prayer of getting to without at least warning the inhabitants, or in this case inhabitant, she would probably have time to get dressed in time for guests. And he had seen her in a lot less before.
"It was great, Vanai, my love. Your father seems to value my work highly. I'm really enjoying my job. I feel like I'm really making a lasting difference. Leaving a legacy, you might say." Sai replied, taking off his sports jacket and tie and loosening the collar of his shirt. "Your dad is a visionary."
"I know. I'm so glad you and daddy get along so well." Vanai told him as he sat down next to her. She wriggled to put her head in his lap. "Sai love, there's something I just found out that you should know."
"What's that?"
"You know how you were talking about how you felt you were making a difference and leaving a legacy…" Vanai said. Sai nodded. His work at Cosmos Weapons Manufacturer's was intense. Bleeding edge technology. Everyone there seemed to think he was some sort of whiz kid, just because he had always held himself to really high standards his entire life. Just because he had judged himself as doing badly if he didn't perform as well as a Coordinator at all times. "Well… it's not only at work that you're leaving a legacy." Vanai continued.
"Huh?" Sai asked.
She pulled his head down closer to her. "I'm going to have a baby." She whispered. Sai coughed and nearly fell over, even though he was sitting down.
"What?" he gasped.
"I'm going to have a baby. Yours. I've been pregnant for about two weeks now, I found out this morning. It probably happened during that night when you managed to go ten times in four hours. I'm still impressed." Vanai explained.
"Baby? Pregnant? Mine?" Sai stuttered.
"Isn't it wonderful?" Vanai gushed.
"Your dad is going to have me skinned alive. I knew we should have used protection." Sai whispered, tears in his eyes.
"No, no, no. You don't understand. You talked with my dad today, right?" Vanai asked.
"Yes. We talked for several hours right before I left to come home. We were discussing the new Interference System I programmed. It cuts down on enemy sensor range by 78."
"I told my daddy as soon as I found out. He's known all day. If he were angry with you, you'd already be aware of it. You know how bad he is at concealing his emotions." Vanai informed him. Sai wanted to swoon. Cervantes wasn't going to come after him. The future seemed shining bright again. "Daddy is ecstatic. I mean, he insisted we get married at once, but I told him that wouldn't be a problem. Is it?"
"No, never. I'll go out and get you a ring tonight." Sai replied.
"You don't need to get me a ring. I have so many rings I could never wear them all. You can express your love for me in another manner." Vanai said, pulling him down on top of her.
"Umm… should we…" Sai asked as she took off his shirt.
"It won't hurt the baby. I did some research online. Sex should stop at about six months or so… but even that is optional and only really recommended if you are in poor health. I can only get pregnant once every nine months, no matter what we do. So you get in there and show your child what a man his or her father really is." Vanai ordered him.
Several hours later, when Sai had regained his ability to talk more than two syllables at a time, he asked Vanai to marry him. She accepted without even pausing an instant. Vanai soon drifted off into her pleased sleep, which was her custom after a few goes. She'd be up again in a couple hours, ready for more, if he was. Sai didn't understand how she could manage to keep going at that sort of pace. She never seemed to get enough. Maybe it was just a girl thing. Sai seemed to remember Flay being the same way. Of course, he barely remembered Flay any more, except when he was angry. The same for Kira. Everyone else of his friends too. It wasn't that he didn't like them… it was just that he was moving on. To a new life, without them. He figured they probably wouldn't understand very well. That was why he had never contacted them. Best to make a clean break.
For once, Sai wasn't worn out by lovemaking, so he wandered into the common room and switched on the TV. The news channel, which he hadn't seen since yesterday, had its critical news update icon displayed. Sai perked up. "…unrest in Orb today, in wake of the shocking morning discoveries concerning the heritage of Cagalli Yula Attha, former ruler of Orb. The sixteen year old girl, long thought to be the daughter of Lord Uzumi Yula Attha, was conclusively proved this morning to be from a different family entirely. Genetic tests have upheld extreme scrutiny all day long. She is actually the daughter of Dr. Ulen Hibiki, the man who had a great hand in making Coordinators what they are today. This afternoon, Cagalli Yula Attha was convicted in absentia of international fraud and impersonation and was officially removed from office. The man who was in charge of her government in her absence, Colonel Ledonir Kisaka of the Orb Armed Forces has been thrown into jail as an accomplice pending investigation."
Sai was floored. "How the hell did they figure that out?" he wondered out loud. "The only ones that knew were those of us who had seen that picture she had." A sudden thought came to him. He was hesitant at first, but he had to know. He had nothing personal against Cagalli, unlike her boyfriend Athrun, who had killed Tolle, one of Sai's friends, during the war. He picked up a phone and called Vanai's father.
"Cervantes speaking." Cervantes said sleepily. "Who is this?"
"This is Sai Argyle, sir!" Sai replied.
"Sai! What're you calling for?"
"Well, I proposed to your daughter this evening. She accepted. We're going to get married."
"Excellent my boy, excellent. She called and told me about the baby earlier, but made me promise not to let on. You're a welcome addition to our family." Cervantes said, actually meaning it. Sai was a certifiable genius. By his efforts alone, Cosmos Weapons Manufacturers had increased this quarter's profits by 12.
"Thank you sir. But the actual reason why I called is the news, sir." There was a long pause and then Cervantes sighed.
"A bad bit of business. Very bad. You have my deepest apologies. I know she was an acquaintance of yours. Someone recognized her and followed them home and broke in when they were gone. The culprit also included some independent blood tests he stole from somewhere. He then shot himself in the head with a shotgun. By the time people figured out what happened… the cat was out of the bag, so to speak."
"Thank you for being so frank, sir. I just had to know."
"Your guilty feelings do you credit, my boy. But you needn't have them. The fault is not yours. However, you should continue watching the news. It gets worse."
"Okay." Sai said, going back to where he could see the TV. The news rambled on for a few more minutes.
"Viewers below the age of consent are advised to leave the room. The following footage may be inappropriate for children under age seventeen." The news disclaimer suddenly said. A minute later, they replayed the video of Cagalli and Athrun in a variety of interesting but VERY compromising positions on the Twister mat. Sai let a whistle escape him.
"Yes, you see what I meant. I almost expected a porn studio to step forward and try to buy the rights to that little display. One would think they would make sure they were in a private place before undergoing that sort of activity. Jokes aside though, the world's confidence has been shaken in Orb. The peace talks have broken down. Both sides are suspicious of the other." Cervantes commented.
"I just wish it could have been only Athrun that went down." Sai said, surprising himself with his own hatred of the guy. "Cagalli was a Natural at least." Am I really thinking that? I guess most of the bad things that have ever happened to me have come about as a result of actions taken by Coordinators. Also every bad thing that has befallen my friends. Tolle was killed, Mir heartbroken, Flay seduced, Kuzzy… well he was just a coward, but Heliopolis was destroyed, my family ruined, my life warped… all because of Coordinators.
"Yes. But it was her fault. He wasn't exactly raping her. She was a consenting member of the relationship. If a person sleeps with a Coordinator, they risk acquiring their taint." Cervantes said viciously, sounding out his son in law.
"You know what…?" Sai said slowly.
"What?"
"You're right. You really are. Blue Cosmos really has something. I just realized it. It's all so clear now." Sai half whispered, awed at the revelation. "The cause of all my problems… all the world's problems… really can be traced back to Coordinators. If they didn't exist, there would be no problems. My life wouldn't have been trashed, my friends would still be alive, and my family would still be viable. Everything. Coordinators. Damn them. All of them."
"Would you like revenge?"
"Yes. I want to make them pay for destroying my life. Don't get me wrong sir, I love your daughter and wouldn't have wished to have not met her… but still… they ruined my life. My life was good. I was HAPPY." Sai decided.
"What would you say… if I told you I could help you take your revenge?" Cervantes asked, taking the final step.
"I'd ask what you want in return sir. Then I'd accept. Cause I'd do anything, anything at all, to get some payback." Sai replied.
"Even join Blue Cosmos?"
"Instantly."
"Even point a gun at your own former friends and shoot them?"
"Yes."
"Even the Naturals? Cagalli and Miriallia have become tainted by their relationships. They cannot be allowed to further the problem by bearing Half breeds."
"I would try to cure them of the taint first, but if necessary, yes."
"My son… welcome to Blue Cosmos. You'll go far, I perceive." Cervantes said, smiling hugely.
"Thank you sir. I hear your daughter waking up. I'm going to go celebrate." Sai said, feeling as though he could lift a mobile suit using his bare hands.
"You have my blessings my boy. I'll talk more with you tomorrow. We'll discuss your new position in the hierarchy. I need an heir, you see." Cervantes said leadingly before hanging up. Victory is within our grasp. With this latest recruit we'll have a direct conduit into the hearts of our most bitter enemies. I'll have Hibiki's son on the rack before me yet. I'll make the son pay for the debts of the father. It's only fitting that way.
"For the preservation of our blue and pure world." Sai let the mantra roll off his tongue. "That needs to be updated. The preservation has already been lost. We need to restore the world, not preserve it. For the restoration of our blue and pure world… yes that's much better." Sai decided, resolved to bring up that little idea with Cervantes tomorrow. Then, his body stirring again, he went to go give the good news to Vanai.
--------------------------------------------------------
"This place is a ruin." Ysak commented, looking at Alkire's isolated safe house. The airport van had dropped all of them off with their bags at the end of the lonely peninsula about five minutes ago. They had then walked down the short incline, through a strand of palm trees to the house itself. There wasn't another house for ten miles, or any sign of civilization barring the gravel road. Everyone had been tired, irritable and angry, because of the whole situation. The fourteen hour flight from Switzerland didn't help matters any.
Added to all of that, Alkire's so called safe house wasn't much of a house. The place looked like it had been abandoned before the war, used as a location for several drunken parties, bombed by the military and then trampled by a horde of crazed cattle. Vines grew all over the walls, parts of the roof had collapsed in and the whole house leaned awkwardly to the left by about fifteen degrees. "Explain to me how you can afford a custom jet and Ferrari, but can't pay someone to maintain your houses, however many of them there are." Ysak demanded. "We can't stay here. It'd be no better than lying down on the ground in this strand of trees. And I don't see what's so "safe" about this place." Ysak continued venting. Alkire just smiled at him.
"I told you so." He said to Victor, who scowled.
"What can I say; I had high hopes for the boy. Guess he needs to go back to secret agent school." Victor replied.
"What are you talking about?" Ysak asked, trying to remain calm.
"This place is a dump, as you've pointed out. However, it isn't the house we're actually staying at." Alkire responded, slowly walking over to the side of the house. He ran his hands softly along the wall. It wasn't until Ysak detected a faint clicking noise when Alkire's hands stopped moving that he realized that the whole house was actually camouflage for the actual safe house. "Sorry, it's been about two years since I was last here. I almost didn't remember where the access panel was." Alkire informed everyone. He placed his hand on a part of the wall that looked completely identical to the rest of the wall. The only hints that it wasn't were the small clicking noise, barely detectable even to a Coordinator, and the slight grimace on Alkire's face. He held up his palm, which had a very tiny spot of blood on it.
"DNA test." Vlad noted.
"The securest form of lock out there. The testing needle is camouflaged as a slight splinter in the wood. Even if someone else ran their hand along the wood in the same place I did, they'd only catch their hand if they pressed down hard. And even then, they'd only think of it as a splinter poke. The safe house won't open unless it gets my DNA from the needle scan." Alkire lectured. The ground about ten feet away suddenly levered up into the air and slid to the side. The plug of ground was ten feet square and a good two feet thick. A metal spiral staircase led down into the ground. "Everybody inside, on the double. I don't like holding the door open longer than need be."
Everyone quickly hauled his or her bags and body down the metal staircase. The people in front were still going down when the door closed overhead, momentarily blotting out all the light before electric illumination strips came on. The staircase descended a good fifty feet before the stairs ended at a metal door of solid construction. Alkire pushed his way to the front and tapped in a code on the metal keypad. "Somebody's a little paranoid." Dearka commented sarcastically.
"In our profession, being called paranoid is a compliment, not an insult." Vladimir said. "It shows professional concern for your wellbeing, and in this case, the well being of those you care about. I feel much safer when Alkire is paranoid."
"Besides… lest you forget, there really are people out to get us." Alkire added. He finished with the key code and then submitted to an ocular scan and another DNA test. "People who won't hesitate to kill us should they find us." The door finally slid to the side with a loud hydraulic hiss. "Welcome to my little bungalow, everyone. You could say that this is my "real" home." Alkire said warmly, beckoning everyone inside. The room looked to be a common room type place. The ceiling was ten feet tall or so, and the room formed a square forty feet on a side. There were two doors in each wall they could see, but only one door, the one they were walking out of, in the final wall. The carpet was a pristine white color and looked freshly cleaned. Several couches of green, brown and gold fabric were scattered about the room, as were several glass tables, lots of wooden chairs and a sound system.
"The red doors in the left hand wall lead to the kitchen and supply storage area, respectively. The blue doors in the right hand wall lead to the garage/submarine pen and armory, respectively. Finally, the green doors in the wall across from us lead to the master bedroom and the guest bedrooms. I'm afraid that there are only five guest bedrooms. I never expected to have so many guests here. Luckily the three couches in this room fold out into beds, there's a cot in the garage and plenty of floor space. The general supply area has sleeping bags and there are plenty of pillows around. The Master bedroom is for Raine and me. Everyone else… first come… first serve." Alkire explained the layout of the bunker-house.
"You really are rich, aren't you?" Lacus exclaimed.
"I used to be, yes." Alkire replied, with a somewhat bitter smile. "Upkeep on this and all my other safe houses, equipment costs, insurance, medical bills, bribes, training costs… it all adds up to a sizable amount. Then of course there is the cost of living… food, water, paying for high school costs for two girls. My fortune isn't nearly as big as it used to be." Alkire continued. What he didn't add was that though his costs were considerable, he could easily continue with his current level of expenditure for the conceivable future without actually losing any money. His monthly banked interest recoup was more than enough to off set his monthly expenses. Buying all the properties, vehicles and other things in the first place had actually reduced his fortune, but it would be back up to its former level in… twenty-three years and four months, at the current rate of accumulation.
Kira and Athrun raced for the door to the guest bedroom wing, getting through the door side by side. Dearka and Ysak weren't far behind them, with Chanel and Katie belatedly bringing up the rear. Alkire smiled when the door to the guest hallway closed again, leaving only adults in the room. "You crafty bastard." James said. "With three couples each taking up a single room, that leaves one room for the girls and one for Ysak. The rest of us can sleep either on the couch-beds or in the garage. You made it sound like we were going to have people sleeping all over the floor. The couples were all giving each other real nervous glances for a while."
"Speaking of couples… what's with putting me and you in the same bed?" Raine asked. "Last time I checked, I wasn't your girl."
"Err… well, you see… umm." Alkire said nervously. "I'll sleep on the recliner chair in the master bedroom then." He was well aware that Raine wasn't his girl. She was no ones girl. In fact, most of the time, he wasn't even really aware of her being feminine in origin. It was part of the trade off of being a hard assed commando sniper. She lost a lot of her feminine appeal among her coworkers, unless they really thought about it.
"I didn't say I minded." Raine cut him off with a saucy smile. "I think it may be time for the girls to have a real father, not just four uncles and an older sister." Alkire's jaw nearly hit the floor, as did those of Victor and James. Vlad just chuckled morosely.
"Erg." Alkire commented, speechless.
"It's this whole mess from earlier today that got me thinking about it. Given what's happened, another war seems all too likely. And the nuclear cat is already out of the bag. GENESIS may have been destroyed, but it wouldn't take very long for the PLANTS to churn out some nuke tipped missiles. With both sides so armed, we're looking at potential Armageddon here. Such a fearful climate for teenagers to be growing up in. They need a familial bond to cling to. Their feelings for Ysak are a step in the right direction, bless him, but they also need a father and a mother." Raine extrapolated.
"Why Alkire?" Victor asked, a little strained. He had attempted to ask her out several times, only to be rebuffed gently each time.
"He's their favorite. And to tell the full, unabashed truth… he's mine too. Sorry James… Victor… Vlad." Raine said softly.
"No problem." James said, looking a hair relieved. "Fatherhood is too big a switch for me. I'm not ready yet."
"It doesn't make me happy… but for the girls… I can accept it." Victor replied slowly.
"Doesn't bother me any. I'm not exactly a father figure or a good role model. And the arms… well, I just wish you both well." Vlad said last.
"Um… wow. Uh… jeez." Alkire said. "That's one hell of a thing to spring on a guy."
"You don't want to?" Raine asked, eyebrow raised.
"Oh, I do. I'm just a little flat footed here. You've snuck up on me and have got your knifepoint at my kidneys, so to speak. Ah… hell, yes. Come, Mrs. Majesty. Let's get ourselves settled." Alkire said, leading Raine into the master bedroom.
"Where is all this romance coming from? And why can't I get any?" Victor whined when the three men were alone. "I mean, since the end of the war, I've met three teen-aged couples, one of whom is already engaged and the other two of which soon will be engaged. Then our little liebchens, Chanel and Katie, have found themselves a good man to love. Now Raine and Alkire are going to get married. It's all getting so complex."
"Post-war trauma syndrome." Vlad said shortly. "After coming back from a war, emotions run high. People start celebrating not having to worry any more… not having to be concerned about the possibility of horrible death every moment of the day. All those positive emotions you sealed up inside yourself during the war to avoid distractions that could get you or your friends killed come tumbling out all at once. It's a rush, like the headiest of drugs. Teen parenthood rates will skyrocket, as will the number of babies being born in the next year." Vlad explained in a wise voice. He smiled darkly. "As for why you can't find love… have you ever considered it might be because you're just plain… ugly?" Vlad laughed.
"Don't make me kill you." Victor threatened, clenching his fists for a moment. James was laughing uproariously. "Oh, hah hah, Mr. Ramsgoth. I don't notice any girlfriends for you either!" Victor sneered. James stopped laughing for a moment, considering that.
"I know why though. I also know why for you and Vlad." He replied.
"Why?" Victor asked, curious in spite of himself.
"Women look for maturity and sensitivity. I'm neither. You're too prim and proper and traditional for the current class of young women. And Vlad… Vlad's too gloomy." James answered. "Vlad also doesn't seek female company out."
"I'm older than you two. I've already experienced the rush of youth." Vlad said. "Besides… what sort of intimate encounter would last past the unveiling of my arms? They aren't exactly the most visually pleasing things to have wrapped around you. That would go triple while making love, I would bet."
"It's still mostly that you're gloomy. You could get covers for your arms." James protested.
"Bah. It's a closed book as far as I care. I'm going to go get set up in the garage."
"I guess that means you and I get to share the common room." James said to Victor. Victor sighed and nodded.
"I get the bigger couch." He said, tossing his bag onto it and slowly starting to unpack.
----------------------------------------
Kira paced around the small guest room he was sharing with Lacus. The room was about the size of his quarters aboard the Archangel, which translated into about sixteen feet long, twelve feet wide and eight feet tall. Kira was agitated. He kept replaying the news bulletins over and over in his head. His heart ached in sympathy for Cagalli. She had been deposed from her own country, branded an international criminal and been publicly humiliated the world over, all within a few hours. Kira reflected that the little picture of him and Cagalli as babies had never seemed to cause anything but pain and trouble for her. First she had been confused because she had had romantic feelings for him that were inappropriate for siblings. But Athrun had been there to help her with that. Now, all because of that little picture and a few blood tests… she had gone from the top of the world to the very bottom.
Worse still were the pictures of her and Athrun making love, projected all over the world and even out to the PLANTS. Kira couldn't imagine a more personal and private humiliation than to have such intimate moments ostracized and carefully evaluated by an entire world. He'd have died of embarrassment. Kira glanced at his current object of irritation, reminded of it by the train of his thoughts, before continuing to pace. Beyond even the humiliation though, having Orb's motives for proposing peace conferences called into question just because Cagalli was engaged to Athrun, and because they loved each other in a physical manner… that was the real killing blow. Cagalli hadn't said more than a few words the entire flight, and then only to Athrun. They had heard Kisaka had been thrown into jail as an accomplice, which hadn't helped matters any.
"Would you stop pacing? You're making me nervous." Lacus requested, sitting at the desk. Kira stopped and once again glared at the object that was really making him irritated. Their room had minimal furnishings… a desk and chair shoved into one corner, a single dresser with six drawers, a small closet, a small table with two armchairs, a small refrigerator and microwave… and Kira's problem… a single bed. A single twin sized bed. It looked barely big enough for Kira himself.
"This is going to be a problem." Kira stated, staring at the bed.
"Why?"
"Why? Because it's a tiny bed, that's why! And there are two of us. We can't both sleep in the bed." Kira explained.
"Why not?" Lacus asked.
"Why… Why not?" Kira sputtered.
"Yes. Why can't we both just sleep in the bed?" Lacus asked more clearly, looking at him with a smile. Kira blushed deeply.
"Be-because… it's obvious why we both can't sleep in the bed." He hedged.
"It's big enough for two. If we snuggle close." Lacus replied. Kira was forced to look away and began pacing again.
"We can't sleep in the same bed together, Lacus… it… it wouldn't… be… right." Kira said, sounding a bit lame, even to him.
"Are you saying we can't both sleep in the bed… because you don't want to sleep in the same bed I'm in?" Lacus asked.
"Yes… NO… yes… ur… damn." Kira oscillated. He looked at Lacus helplessly, noting that she looked like she was going to start crying.
"It's okay… Kira." Lacus said, a hitch in her voice. "I can understand if you… aren't… don't…" she trailed off and started crying. Kira really hated himself right then. Smooth move, prude. Everyone is emotionally unstable because of everything that's happened today and you have to go and be a total moron to Lacus. Is sleeping together really so hard for you? It's not like you'd be nude or anything. Nothing implied. It's just two close friends, sharing what little available space there is. Right… sure… I believe that. No… I don't. Help me, someone! Aw, hell. Lacus has always been there for me. How can I deny her this one little step? Though it's not all that little of a step. It's literally a step that can never be untaken. Like killing someone. Why can't I just decide? No one would think less of me if I slept with Lacus. Hell, likely everyone would think more of me. Why can't I do it? I can't stand her crying like this. It's breaking my heart.
Kira stepped over to Lacus and lifted her out of the chair. She really didn't weigh anything much at all. She was still crying, in mixed anger at Kira, shame that he didn't consider her beautiful enough to sleep with, and anger at herself for thinking so little of him. How can I expect him to be calm about this? The last girl in his bed was trying to manipulate him into killing Coordinators for revenge. Am I really so petty as to believe he will just drop all his past, forget about it, just because I'm here right now? He doesn't ask me to forget about my father or how I used to feel about Athrun. How is it right of me to expect him to forget Flay? But I can't help it. I want him to forget about everyone else but me. I want him to hold me close. I… I want him… to… to… do what I saw Athrun and Cagalli doing on that video tape. With me. Lacus admitted to herself, surprised at how good it felt to have gotten that out in the open with herself. That must make me a bad person. Though how can it? Athrun and Cagalli are wonderful people… and they were doing those things. I'm so confused. Lacus belatedly realized that Kira had laid her on the bed and had then walked over to the door of their room.
"What are you… doing?" She asked, a sob breaking up her sentence.
"Locking the door so we don't get any unexpected visitors." He replied, heading back towards her.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want any eyes on me other than yours. Not for the next few hours." Kira said, standing at the side of the bed and looking down at her.
"Kira?" she asked him, daring to hope.
"I was being stupid. Please forgive me, Lacus. I can't go any further until you do." Kira said.
"Of course I forgive you. I always forgive you. For anything. Your failings are not your own." Lacus replied.
"I wish I could believe that. Thanks though, Lacus." Kira whispered. He started to unbutton his shirt.
"What are you doing?" she asked, shocked into stillness.
"Something I probably should have done a while ago, but was too caught up in my own problems to do so."
"You… don't…" Lacus began, unwilling to guilt him into anything.
"I do, actually. I really do. Sorry for the tardiness." Kira shushed her. He cast his shirt onto the floor. "Move over a bit, would you? I'd hate to have one of us fall off the bed in the middle of something important."
"Oh…" Lacus mouthed, her eyes wide. This had to be a dream. There was no way that Kira was saying the thing she thought he was saying.
"Don't "Oh…" me. You want this, I'm pretty sure. I'm still not totally sure of it, myself, but then, I get the feeling people rarely are. I'm doing this for two reasons. One is to pay you back for being there for me all those times, for taking the time out of your life to heal mine." Kira said, shucking out of his belt. He slid onto the bed and lifted Lacus into the air with a slight grunt. He wormed his way directly under her and then lowered her, giggling, back onto him. He kissed her as he started to undo the complicated fastenings of her dress. When they broke the kiss, Lacus started to undo his pants.
"What's… the other reason?" She asked him breathlessly, her hands roaming freely.
"I really, truly, totally love you." He answered, slipping the dress gently over her head and then going to work on her undergarments. Anybody listening outside the door would have soon heard a series of small shrieks, groans and finally laughter.