A/N: YAY!! This chapter Athrun and Cagalli FINALLY get married. Ok, so it is a vain attempt to make the chapter sound happier than it is, I think the title makes it obvious that it is hardly heart warming like the previous chapters, this is where things spiral down and out of control. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 6 – LAMENT

Athrun exhaled, trying to calm down. He loved Cagalli more than anything and he felt unbelievably happy that he would be able to spend the rest of his life with her as his wife but he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. Suddenly he felt a brotherly arm go around his shoulder, "Kira."

The brunette smiled, his violet eyes glimmering with a pleased light, "Ready?"

Athrun nodded, "Hey, Kira? Did you feel nervous during your wedding?

Kira nodded, "Yeah, once the reality comes to you, everything naturally falls into place so don't worry."

Athrun swallowed, still pretty nervous which is what puzzled him. He love Cagalli more than anything, the way he had always felt for Cagalli was nothing like the fond friendship that he had once shared with Lacus when he had been her fiancé. So he didn't understand why he was this jittery, "Right."

Athrun thought back to Cagalli and immediately felt slightly ashamed, he could only guess how she was feeling. Kira was his best man, while a furious Yzak and a cool minded Dearkka were in charge of his and Cagalli's safety while on PLANT. Almost as if summoned by the mere though of him Yzak said, "Come, bastard. We aren't going to wait all day for you to daydream. Do that after you get married and leave PLANT so I don't have to deal with it."

Dearkka gave Athrun and Kira an apologetic look before urging Yzak back out. Kira, laughed and said, "You're comrade is getting impatient, we better get going before your bride does as well."

"Right."

Cagalli sat down, fully dressed in a beautiful gown (A/N: the same one as GSD except the weird veil doesn't have the weird fluffy material as part of it) for once she had not had everyone fight with her to get her into a dress, this was her big day. She would finally be able to call herself Athrun's wife. She looked at herself in the mirror; gently she smiled, and took the veil drawing it over her face. She exhaled, slightly afraid, though she had no clue why.

"Cagalli?"

She turned to meet the understanding eyes of her Maid of Honor. Lacus came forward, dressed in a beautiful light sky blue dress and said, "Nervous?"

"Yeah, I don't know why."

"It is because today you are gaining something that you will always cherish and always be afraid of losing."

"Yeah," Cagalli smiled, "I take it you are an expert on this just by the fact you are married."

"I was terrified the day I got married, I knew Kira loved me and I loved him but I was still scared, it took me a long time to figure out why but once you are walking down the aisle at Athrun, the sight of him will calm you and you will be like a bird that is spreading its wings and taking flight."

Cagalli smiled and said, "Thanks, Lacus," she hugged the girl surprising her before Lacus returned it.

Cagalli suddenly looked up and finally saw Eileen Kanaba and immediately she got a scare, thinking that they were late. Eileen smiled and said, "I came on behalf of the council to give you our deepest wishes of happiness for you on this day. Are you ready, Lady Cagalli?"

"Yes," and with that Cagalli calmly walked out, Lacus trailing gracefully behind her. The music started as she walked down the aisle. She saw Athrun and Kira waiting at the end, Kira with his innocent smile, Athrun with his own nervous smile. Cagalli despite not being adept at walking in heels managed to make it down the aisle without tripping. Once she reached the altar she felt Athrun extend his hand to her, and the moment she took a hold of his hand, they both knew their fears and anxiety had been useless. Cagalli and Athrun faced the priest who said, "Are the names of the two gathered here on this altar, Athrun Zala and Cagalli Yula Athha?"

They answered together, "Yes."

"And are the other two who are gathered here to bear witness and to confirm their vows, Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne Yamato?"

Kira and Lacus answer together, "Yes."

The priest turned to Athrun, "Do you take this woman, Cagalli Yula Athha, to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold for richer or poor, in sickness and health, for as long as you both live and until death do you part?"

"Yes, I do."

The priest turned to Cagalli, "Do you take this man, Athrun Zala, to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold for richer or poor, in sickness and health, for as long as you both live and until death do you part?"

"Of course, I do."

She saw Kira and realized that instead of being reserved she had actually stated her emotions openly. She saw Athrun smiling and he kissed her before the priest had even spoken the words 'you may kiss the bride'. The priest quickly recovered and said, "I pronounce you husband and wife."

Kira and Lacus simply smiled.

Immediately following the wedding Athrun and Cagalli immediately signed the treaty between ORB and PLANT officially marking the first agreement and hand of friendship between and nation of Naturals and Coordinators. Micol watched the spectacle and gave a smile as all the Representatives and guests clapped their hands. She though to herself, they are already pleased even though that treaty is almost nothing more than ink upon paper. It will take a long time for those fools to align their wishes for peace and understanding between Naturals and Coordinators. In which time I intend to have begun the Second Bloody Valentine War."

She drank her wine, celebrating with everybody present trying to see if she could find fools with loose enough tongues to be useful to her.

Kira smiled as he watched Athrun and Cagalli dancing on the floor before she felt his wife put a hand on his shoulder, "Already?"

Lacus nodded, "The Earth Alliance has been kept waiting long enough, and they want to be able to announce to the people of Earth the similar tidings of joy Cagalli will be announcing to the people of OBR. We must get going."

Lacus slipped a small disk into Kira's hand and he walked towards Cagalli. Kira said, "Excuse me, can I borrow my sister's attention for a moment. Lacus, Keir, and I have to leave in a bit."

Athrun nodded, "Of course, Kira."

Kira walked outside and stood on the deserted balcony gazing at the night sky. Cagalli looked at Kira, "Do you really have to go so soon?"

"Yes, I am afraid so."

Kira slipped her the chip and said, "The new OS I have developed for the defenders of ORB's ideals."

Cagalli instantly took a hold of it and Kira turned to face her, "Cagalli, you must not allow that to fall into anybody's hands, I used the OS of the Freedom as its template, if the wrong person gets a hold of that they can make something that could cause a lot of trouble, enough trouble that even the Freedom wouldn't be able to subdue it without punishment. This OS is hardly the type one would normally create in a time of peace."

"Thank you; I won't let anybody have it."

"I would take it back myself but if the Earth Alliance were to find it on me they would doubt whether Lacus was really sincere and as I am sure you know she has to maintain a good appearance and reputation if she wants to continue to have the same influence over the Earth Alliance as she does here in PLANT."

"Right."

"I made some compensation routines that make a natural able the pilot something close to the power of Freedom but understand that the only reason I developed it for ORB is because you will use it to defend ORB's ideals, so please remember that."

"Of course I wouldn't use it for anything else. Don't you remember what I told you the first time Erica showed you our mobile armors and suits? They are the defenders of a country that does not plunder others and does not allow anybody else, a country of neutrality, and a country that wouldn't give in to any powers that try to divert it from its ideals. Our ideals is what makes ORB what it is, I thank you for what you have done, Kira," she hugged him, "so do not worry and we'll see each other again soon."

Kira smiled and said, "I put my trust in you, Sister."

"Ok, Little Brother."

"Little? How do you know that, for all we know you could be wrong?"

"There is no way you are the older one."

A laugh could be here and Cagalli and Kira turned to see it was Athrun, his emerald eyes held an amused glint, "Can I have my wife back now, Kira?"

"Yes," Kira nodded and left, leaving Athrun and Cagalli. Unfortunately no one noticed a shadow creeping away into the darkness.

Micol hurried away, and narrowed her eyes, if she could get those designs from the Queen of ORB she would really be able to make a lot of trouble but the concern was how the Queen would handle them, would she hold onto them until she returned to Earth. She shook her head, thinking probably not. She wouldn't be so stupid as to keep such designs on her person in foreign territory. She quickly left; she had to report this to her superior.
Athrun and Cagalli managed to assure themselves almost three weeks before Cagalli would have to return to ORB and Athrun would have to begin to learn his duties as a Representative. The scary thing was that as he was rising up, Eileen Kanaba was stepping down and surrendering her place to him, he couldn't believe he was sitting on the Council at such a young age though he recalled that Representative Sayaka was only twenty-three her self and already a promising politician.

Athrun, though he remained busy, managed to find plenty of time to enjoy the company of his wife and daughter. Today was no different than any other day; he came home and greeted Cagalli and Kora. It wasn't until dinner that Cagalli said, "Athrun, Mana thinks she should take Kora back with her to ORB and leave the last week for us alone."

Athrun was a little taken off by this statement and looked at Mana, "That is unnecessary."

Athrun realized this made him sound selfish and controlling but he didn't want Kora to return to ORB he was enjoying being a Father and he didn't want to have to let his daughter go any sooner than she had to. Suddenly he noticed Cagalli looked slightly depressed and suddenly he realized that she just wanted him to herself for a little bit. Athrun revised his earlier statement, "I am sure ZAFT wouldn't be averse to providing a shuttle and escort. I'll talk to them tomorrow."

Cagalli brightened up a bit and said, "I am sorry to be selfish, Athrun, but…"

Athrun said, "Either way we go about things it was either me or you being selfish. I think it would be good to have some time alone before you leave."

"Yeah."

Micol saluted and said, "Sir, I have got information on a promising item with which we could use to incriminate the new Queen of ORB. The Queen ordered her Coordinator brother to develop a new brand of OS, one that sounds like it could be very useful if acquired by our forces. Her very own brother, the creator, confesses that its power is hardly suited for an age of peace. If anybody found out about it, it would be very hard for her to explain why she wanted such a thing for ORB."

The man gave a smile, Micol was ruthless but sadly predictable, "We cannot simply accuse her blindly even if we do acquire them, she can backfire that we broke several international laws that protect the privacy of one's states and sovereign power and if she did that we would be the one in trouble. However, it would not hurt to have this new technology for ourselves. I trust you and the renegade crew of the Hokage can arrange for a seizure of these plans."

"Of course, Father."

"Very well. I have heard that the infant Princess of ORB is being sent home early while her parents remain in ZAFT. What do you make of that?"

Micol said, "I think she is using her maid as her secret courier. I will engage and do what is asked of me and make it look like an accident."

Athrun kissed the forehead of his daughter before handing her back to Mana. He placed Kora's Haro, Haru, on top of her blankets. It flapped it ears, haru haru, causing Kora to give a delighted laugh. Cagalli gave a small smile, she had put Kira's OS chip in the little Haro's storage compartment and once Kira and Lacus picked up Mana and Kora they had agreed to take care of their daughter until Cagalli returned. She herself knew she should get something like that OS immediately to ORB, to Kira and Erica, but she kept quiet about what was inside the haro. Kora gave a small yawn, and fell asleep, clutching the haro close to her.

Mana said, "Well, we shall get going. Take care of yourselves, Lord Athrun, Lady Cagalli."

"You too, Mana," Athrun replied, and with that Mana boarded the civilian transport Aurora and they looked up into the sky as they watched it leave.

Micol boarded the ship and immediately she noticed her second was there. "Ma'am, we have located and are observing the craft, just give the word and I will launch the squads. Micol thought to herself as if I am going to trust something this important to anybody but myself, but said, "Put my mobile suit on the launcher, and give me an escort of two mobiles suits to help me mop up the escort suits."

The woman looked shocked but saluted, "Yes, ma'am."

With the Micol made it towards her machine ready to start his offensive, this age of peace just pissed her off. Life was nothing if it was just handed to you; it was the wars that made humanity truly feel alive. She though to her self with a smile, Humans fight because they like to, I truly believe that since I am proof of it.

She waited impatiently when suddenly she saw the CIC come on her unit's comm system, "Commander, you are free to launch."

Micol smiled, now the real fun begins, "Understood. Micol Sayaka, Bane, launching."

Shortly after she launch two other suits joined her on her right and left flank, the escort wouldn't know what hit them.

Jacen (A/N: pilot of one of the escort suits for Aurora) looked at the darkness of space, warily as he could have sworn his unit picked up something, but as soon as it had appeared, it had vanished. He simply shook his head, attributing that he was simply being paranoid, and that who on Earth would during an era of peace attack an innocent infant simply going home.

Micol smiled, "The Mirage Colloid technology was working. She knew as long as they simply drift and didn't use too much power they could simply sneak up and murder the escort, which was only four mobile suits, she wanted to laugh. This was going to be excruciatingly easy. She snuck up behind the furthest unit and drew her sword. Jacen suddenly gave an exclamation of surprise as his unit picked up a contact behind him. Micol smiled and simply cut his unit in half. She turned and saw two explosions. The other two suits when and engaged the last one while she uploaded the schematics and sliced her way through the hold into the docking bay of the ship. She exited her unit and entered the contained atmosphere room before taking off her pilot's helmet and drawing her firearm, she thought to herself, No onto Phase II.

It didn't take long to realize what was going on once the ship was under attack and Mana locked the door and instantly scooped up Kora in her arms and hit the little girl away. A few shots where heard, along with screams of pain, before she heard a shot and the door opened. She was shocked to see whom she said, "Representative…."

Mana never got to finish as the shot rang out instantly killing the maid. Micol smiled and looked around the room, the child she had heard on this ship wasn't to be found anywhere else which meant it had to be in this room. Suddenly she heard muffled cries and moved towards the sound opening a closet and seeing her cause of all this trouble, bawling its lungs out as if in mourning. She searched the bodies of everyone and everything on board, giving a yell of frustration as they corpse of the maid yielded nothing after the third check. Suddenly her eyes locked on the kid, she thought, No way, the child?

She stepped forward and searched the blankets, nothing. Suddenly she noticed a little ball clutched in the child's hand. She grabbed it and it came to life she looked to see if there was any compartment and was excited when she found one. She opened it up and out floated a disk. She laughed, grasping the disk and securing it before getting up. She pointed a gun at the child, "You've been a real help, Princess."

She was about the pull the trigger when she heard, "No!"

She was surprised to hear him on the com, "Father?"

"I will not condone the butchery of a mere infant."

"So what do you want me to do with it?"

"What else can we do? Bring it with you. We can hardly reverse what we have done but we can save the child so it can fight another day, for us of course."

"Understood," she took the child and left the carnage, wondering how long it would take for ORB and PLANT to realize what had happened to their precious hope for the future.

Kira frowned, the Aurora, the ship carrying his niece hadn't arrived yet. He felt a hand gently come to rest on his shoulder and he said, "Lacus, I have to go, I'll go in Freedom, I have to know what is going on, the Aurora should have been here seven hours ago."

Lacus exhaled and said, "Very well, take care though."

Kira smiled, and ran quickly to the hanger where the Freedom was kept under sharp guard. He got inside and after receiving permission to launch, he started up the Freedom. A feeling of dread forming in his stomach, he silently said, "Kira Yamato, Freedom, launching."

Once in space Kira decided to follow the known planned trajectory the Aurora was known to be taking. It wasn't until he reach the outskirts of Earth Alliance territory that he found what he had been looking for, a haunted look on his face. He managed to swallow, his hand shook as he tried to make communications with PLANT, and doing his best to hide the horror in his own voice, and he informed them of the fate of the Aurora.

Athrun teasingly kissed her on her neck; something which Cagalli said infuriated her even though she was in fact laughing through her protests, "Stop it, Athrun."

Athrun did and Cagalli looked in the direction where he was looking and instantly blushed. Had Representative Kanaba seen them doing that just now?

She came forward and instantly Cagalli noticed she had an almost mournful look on her face. "Lord Athrun, Lady Cagalli, there is something you should know, we just received word hours ago that the Freedom launched from ORB because the Aurora did not reach its destination. We have sent crews to retrieve the ship; they are bringing it in now."

After being retrieved by the Hokage she immediately went to see her Father on Copernicus. She carried the child which was innocently asleep; as if nothing of great significance had happened in its life just hours ago. She looked at him, "Here it is, alive as you asked for but just answer me one thing, why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you ask me to spare it?"

The man simply smiled and said, "I think it is fairly obvious it is a girl and a human."

Micol narrowed her eyes and said, "Yes, and she is a half blooded abomination."

The man gave a small frown, "That is a rather harsh judgment."

Micol ignored him, persisting with her original question, "Why? What are you going to do with her?"

The man smiled, "I am going to raise her and give her a chance to deny the side that was cursed to her at birth. I am going to give her a chance and raise her, just as I did for you, Micol."

Athrun and Cagalli both were shocked, something read so easily in their eyes as they came down to examine it and prayed that their daughter and Mana was still safely inside though they knew it was almost a vain hope, they didn't' want to surrender it that easily. The search of the ship revealed this to them: everyone was dead including Mana, and Kora, the Princess of ORB, had simply vanished. Cagalli pushed herself to move out of the ship after they had searched it for hours. As she left it she saw Kira coming out of the Freedom which had helped bring in the Aurora, Cagalli ran and embraced him before finally releasing the lament of a distraught mother.
A/N: Wow, can't believe how much I have done at my computer this week and somehow I made it through 2 Power Point Presentation, wrote 3 five-page papers, 1 three page paper, and this 9 page chapter (though this was tons more fun than anything of the things mentioned beforehand.) So, tons happened in this chapter and I will understand if there might be questions so if you have any confusion just ask via the review and I will reply and answer to the best of my ability. I really thank all who have reviewed so much thus far, blessed are they who review, for they are the ones who make thee want to write. Lol, anyways next chapter, new character : P

COMING UP: CHAPTER 7 - SHINJU