Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass.

Summary: C.C. is a lazy and gluttonous girl who only cares for pizza. And Lelouch is the man that may fall for her, ahem, charms.


Green Silk and Golden Orbs

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Chapter 6

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The news of the impending marriage between Lelouch and C.C. spread like wildfire. Within the next hour, everyone knew - well everyone at the party. Then after the party, the news continued to spread until the day as over. Surely, it had to be a new record - after eight hours, the entire city new of their plans. People were already speaking about the date, which wasn't set yet, the location, which none of them thought about, the cake, which they didn't consult with a baker yet and the dress, the dress that C.C. never expected herself to wear any time soon. The news spreading around convinced Lelouch's family, mostly Marianne, that it was time for wedding planning. She thought she was an amazing wedding planner, she planned her own marriage with Charles. Planing for his son and future daughter-in-law would be a piece of cake. If only her two clients were the most stubborn couple on the face of the planet.

Marianne sat the two of them one day for brunch, lunch and eventually dinner. What started out as a beautiful, calm and relaxing morning turned into a playful bantering conversation between the two. At first, Marianne thought it was absolutely adorable, her inner-self was squealing with delight. But when the bantering didn't die down and their tempers rose, Marianne had no idea she was settled in the middle of a battlefield - a raging storm. She tried to calm them down and it worked after a while. But two couldn't keep their witty remarks to themselves. Eventually, C.C. and Lelouch just began Marianne's lame attempts of getting them to shut up. She also excused herself, eventually, and walked away from the table - to lock herself in her bathroom to yell out her frustrations.

This was when she decided to take things into her own accord. The first thing she did was try to book a place for the venue. Lelouch and C.C. were both classy teenagers, which was maybe one of the few things they had in common, besides being addicted to annoying one another. So, Marianne had an inkling on what venue would suit them the most. Marianne was pleasantly surprised when the venue said they were free mostly during the month of October. Autumn was Lelouch's favourite season, so, it was fitting. But that only meant a short span of time to get prepared for the actual event. It was July now. That meant they had three months to prefect everything. It will be a daunting journey nonetheless. Euphemia did want to marry in Spring. If Lelouch married in Autumn, they will plenty of time to plan Euphemia's wedding. Marianne booked the wedding to be on the Friday of the last week of October.

October 31st.

Okay, so, it wasn't the best date since it was the night of Halloween but the date, for some reason, fit the couple. Clapping her hands together, Marianne did the next thing. Cake planning and designing always took a while. During wedding planning for her own wedding, Marianne made an almost crucial mistake by planning her cake only one month before the wedding. She called the best baker she knew - who lived out of town. He said he was excited that a member of her family was getting married; Marianne tipped the baker generously when he had her cake completed and gorgeous by the time of her wedding. He also said he had an available time slot for a cake consultation for the next day. Marianne booked immediately.

With two things done, Marianne went back to the deck.

"You're such a girl, Lelouch."

Lelouch snorted, which was very un-lady-like of him...

"Well, somebody needs to be in this relationship."

"What kind of relationship is it that we have between one another?" Both her eyebrows raised, awaiting for his answer. If Lelouch had one.

"How should I know?" No, he didn't. The question assaulted Lelouch too quickly. He couldn't pick himself up from his feet to answer.

"Well, you're the one that asked me to marry you."

"We're marrying not because I lo-"

With bantering testing the last bit of patience she had, Marianne interrupted the two. "Hey, you two love-birds. I've booked you a venue just now. You'll be marrying at the wine gardens just near the edge of the city."

She was expected to be thanked with bright eyes. But, oh wait, Marianne wasn't handling Euphemia and Suzaku, the 'white' couple; she was handling Lelouch and C.C., the 'black' couple.

"Wine gardens? Will there be drinking then?" He was curious honestly.

"I never knew you were a heavy drinker, Lulu..." Typical C.C., a tease like always.

Lelouch scowled.

"How many times have I told you to stop calling me that?"

"A lot." And another typical smart-aleck answer.

"So, why don't you listen to me for once?"

C.C. smirked.

"I'm playing hard to get."

"Shut-"

Marianne interrupted them once again. "I've also set you up for a cake consultation for tomorrow afternoon. The wine gardens are on the way to the bakery, you two should stop by before or after your consultation."

C.C. hummed to herself, the idea of cake flooding her mind.

"I think we should have red velvet," she suggested simply.

"What if I want vanilla?" Lelouch didn't mean to have a challenging tone but it accidentally slipped out.

"The wedding is supposed to be the Bride's special day. Don't be selfish." In response, her tone was just as challenging.

"That doesn't make any sense. It's not like the Bride is marrying herself; she's marrying her Groom. And last time I checked, I'm the Groom at this wedding. It's my day as well," Lelouch argued, voice growing lower as within the seconds.

"You're such a girl."

"And you're such a selfish Witch," Lelouch grunted.

"Do you want to wear the wedding gown then? You seem to be the female of this relationship - whatever kind of relationship this is." C.C. pointed between the two, trying to gesture to the 'relationship' they had or lacked.

Marianne stepped away from the couple. When she and Charles first met, Charles was an awkward nerd that Marianne never really noticed when they went to school together. She started to notice him more during the parties she and his family attended. He was clumsy on his feet during their first real meeting. Charles spilled punch on her silver dress. While they cleaned the dress, the two bonded and Marianne fell in love. Her relationship with Charles was like Euphemia's relationship with Suzaku - adorable, innocent, happy and loving, unlike the relationship Lelouch had with C.C.

She's never seen a relationship like the one they had. It was endearing; it gave Marianne chills the way they bickered, argued and glared into one another's eyes. She saw a spark in their eyes every time their orbs met. It could be just their anger blazing or it could be something else, something romantic even.

Marianne wasn't sure but she hoped it was.

"I think a black wedding gown will suffice better than a white wedding gown. It wouldn't suit you." Lelouch made a point. But it was supposed to offend C.C.

"What do you know about dresses, Lelouch?" Well, it didn't.

"I bet I know a lot more than you."

"So, you wear dresses now?" And C.C. won at getting on Lelouch's nerves first - again.

"I didn't mean it like - Oh, just shut up!"

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"Ne, I think we're lost, Lelouch."

They were in farm country now. No, they were still within the boundaries of their city but none of them had an inkling on wear they were. Lelouch was driving beneath the bright sun. It was nearly noon. If things went according to plan, to Lelouch's plan, they should have been at the winery already. Sadly, Lelouch was not good with directions. C.C. wasn't paying enough attentions to the street signs to be a good person to rely on.

He grumbled. That was the fifth time she's said that. The fifth time she said that without bothering to help him.

"Why don't you pull over and ask for directions?" C.C. suggested, forgetting the fact that there was no-one else around.

"And ask who, those trees over there?"

"I don't know but maybe somebody would stop over when they see us on the side of the road."

"Not everyone here has chivalry."

"I know."

"Are you implying something?" Lelouch retorted, darting his narrowed eyes towards his only passenger.

"Nope." C.C. popped the last syllable, much to Lelouch's annoyance. "Hey, there's an old man picking rice stalks over there. Pull over and let me ask him for directions."

Lelouch swerved to stop right beside the elderly gentleman. The old man looked up at the dark sedan before C.C. rolled down her window, revealing her fresh and youthful face. The man seemed to be in awe by her timeless, classic and city beauty.

"Excuse me, sir, but do you mind giving us directions?"

Lelouch scoffed. It was the first time he's heard C.C. being so polite. It was spine shivering.

"Do you know where Millennium Winery is?"

The old man began to point further up the road while he spoke.

"Just go straight for a couple more minutes and turn at the first right. Drive straight for a couple more minutes until you get to the third left. That road will lead you straight to the winery."

C.C. bid the man a kind smile.

"Thank you."

Lelouch pulled his car back into the main road. He followed the man's orders and before they knew it, before C.C. could say anything witty and diminutive, they finally arrived. When Marianne explained to Lelouch that they were to wed at a winery, Lelouch doubted his mother's decision. But since Lelouch and C.C. didn't have a bone in them to actually get off their butts to plan their own wedding, Lelouch didn't have the right to complain. Once laying his eyes onto the place, Lelouch found no reason to complain. The outer of the building was beyond his wildest dreams. It was a mini mansion - it was like one of the those grand ballroom houses back in the days. The building was made with coffee coloured bricks. The windows were detailed with white trimmings that gave it a warm, family home type of feeling. There were two doors, oak, with golden door knobs. It was breathtaking. A place fit for royalty.

"The place suits you," C.C. commented briskly.

Lelouch looked at her, eyebrow raising.

"A castle for the princess."

"Shut it." Just when Lelouch thought C.C. was capable of saying something nice, he was proved wrong.

It always amused C.C. when Lelouch got all worked up. The intensity in his violet eyes always made her smile or smirk. He had a cuteness about him, especially when he was pouting. Even his scowls were kind of good looking.

The owner of the winery came out, wiping hands on her apron. She was a middle-aged woman with strawberry blonde hair tied into a messy blonde. Her blue eyes were striking. The pair could tell that when the woman was young, she was definitely a sight to behold. If she was pretty now, she must have been gorgeous back then.

"You must be Mr. Lamperouge and Miss Celeste." She shook both of their hands with a friendly grip. "I'm Marie, the owner of this winery."

Initially the two were caught off guard by the handshake. They were just so used to bowing and curtsying. They looked a little bit out of place.

"Please, come with me. I'll show you around the area were the ceremony will take place and where the reception dinner will take place."

The two followed Marie with her waddling steps.

"How far along are you?" C.C. asked, making small talk.

She turned around, eyes twinkling.

"Five months. This is my sixth child."

"Impressive." Truly, it was.

Marie laughed at C.C.'s comment. "You two will have fine children. You're both extremely gorgeous."

"Thank you." After thanking the woman C.C. nudged Lelouch's elbow. "See, even she thinks you're gorgeous, like feminine gorgeous."

"Shut up."

"Temper temper. You're a guest here, Lulu." It was if C.C. was a mother chastising her son.

"Stop calling me that-" Lelouch locked eyes with C.C., amethyst eyes twinkling. "Cecilia."

C.C. froze at the recitation of her name - her real name. When was the last time somebody called her that? Oh yeah, a few weeks ago when Lelouch learned that C.C. stood for Cecilia. She scolded him immediately when he called her that with such an awful tone. Lelouch's tone was cold, harsh and menacing.

"Why must you say it like that?"

Lelouch blinked a couple of times.

"What are you talking about? I said 'Cecilia' just fine." He had no idea what C.C. was talking about.

"You say it without any kind feelings, as if you're mocking me, Lulu." Who was mocking who now?

"If you stop calling me that pathetic nickname, I'll refrain myself from calling you Cecilia," he smirked devilishly at her, "Cecilia."

"I'll let you keep calling me Cecilia if you say it like how a lover would." C.C.'s smirked.

He made a face.

"Gross."

"Then stop calling me that."

Why C.C. wanted Lelouch to say her name like a lover, he never understood. He had the feeling the words just left her mouth without her thinking them through.

He gave in because Lelouch was Lelouch; he was a gentleman no matter how much she continued to irk him - to pick on his patience over and over again. Even Lelouch's remarks to C.C. weren't rude. C.C. was used to much harsher comments.

They walked into a ballroom, an extravagant ballroom if I may add. The ceilings were high. White pillars separated the stain glass windows from another other. Each pillar reached up until the highest point of the room. Certain panels on the walls were decorated with intricate paintings and cravings of angels and flowers, as well as the dome ceiling. It was if Michaelangelo painted the entire room. At the highest point of the ceiling hung the chandelier that sparked like the clearest cut diamonds in the sun. It blinded them if they looked up at it for much too long. There was a skylight that will either give a mysterious romantic view of the stars or a fresh view of the sun. It was what most girls dreamed of. If C.C. dreamed of her wedding ever, this was probably what her dreams would conjure up.

"This is where the reception will take place." Marie looked at them with hopeful eyes. "What do you think?"

"It's beautiful." Lelouch returned her smile.

Marie looked around the room, one hand gripping the other.

"I know a woman that sells and rents out beautiful decorations and centrepieces that match perfectly with this reception hall. I can give you her number afterwards. She works within the city."

"That'll be nice of you. Thank you."

Marie blushed at Lelouch's warm smile. He was really handsome.

"Now, if we head out this way, we can see the area the ceremony will take place in." Her voice was fading, in the world of Lelouch and C.C.

C.C. chuckled into her hand.

"Amazing, Lelouch, you make middle-aged woman flush. You're basically jail-bait."

"You're the only one that doesn't find me a slight bit good-looking. I think there's something wrong with you, not them or me."

C.C. raised an eyebrow.

"Do you want me to tell you you're handsome?"

"No." He was deadpan serious.

"Beautiful, then?"

"Go away." Still just as serious but a little bit more irritated.

"You're really cute when you get pissed off." And she smiled up at him, her eyes turning into crescents.

Lelouch didn't know what was happening but he just found his face awfully close to C.C.'s. They haven't been this close since she forcefully kissed him, which was harassment as well. He didn't want to admit it but Lelouch knew he was the one who drew closer towards C.C. Her smile was just so enchanting and breathtaking not that he never noticed before. Lelouch had but he never paid much attention to C.C.'s beauty. Her snide remarks always stole his entire attention span. Whenever his mind would start telling him that C.C. was pretty, her clever words would get in the way. Lelouch would push those thoughts to the very depths of his mind. However, they managed to resurface every now and then. Like now for example.

The more Lelouch inched closer the more C.C. felt her face instantly heat up. Since when was she capable of blushing? Wait, she blushed at him a couple of times already. But she won't admit that, ever. C.C. also won't admit that Lelouch was the only male that ever made her turn into a pastel colour of pink. Just as her cheeks were flushing a shade of light pink, her heartbeat was increasing, rapidly increasing. And since when did his face make her heart beat irregularly? Was this a heart-attack? C.C.'s beating heart was bouncing within her left ribcage. She pushed away against Lelouch's chest, fearing that he may hear it if he came any closer.

Lelouch shook his head, confused.

"C'mon, before we lose Marie."

C.C. remained frozen in place. Her mind was desperately processing, well, trying to, what just happened. First of all, she just smiled, like smiled - not the regular smirk she through at people, especially Lelouch. A true smile but made her eyes glisten - a smile that tugged on her facial muscles. Her hands came to cup over her cheeks. Yes, they were still warm just like her heart. Warm and fuzzy. Was she feeling this way because of Lelouch: the boy that claims she is the bane of his existence, the boy that she rattles almost every single day and the boy that plays along with her bantering... But Lelouch was the same boy always seem to take a huge space up in her mind, the boy that send her a princely smile even if by accident, the boy that was caring towards his two sisters and the same boy that brightens her day.

Suddenly, C.C. froze at her own thoughts. The only thing moving was her erratic heart beating. Clutching a hand over her heart, C.C. felt the feeling to be slightly painful. Where the pain came from, C.C. had no idea. It just happened. It came with the rapidly beating heart. Then it hit her...

"No... That's not possible." She was speaking to herself, collecting her thoughts.

"C.C.!" Lelouch's hissing brought her back to reality. But it didn't help her heart - it felt like she was about to have a heart attack. "Hurry up!"

C.C. looked at him, hands still cupping her own cheeks. Her fingertips felt them heat up once again. Blushing was truly a nuisance.

Lelouch's eyes narrowed.

"What's wrong?"

"Huh?" She feigned some ignorance.

"What's wrong? Are you okay? Why are standing there with your face in your hands?" Lelouch was garnering closer towards her; her posture faltered.

"I'm fine." Liar.

He neared her, reaching out a hand, checking to see if her temperature was high. That only caused her heart to start jumping around in her chest even more.

"I'm fine!" C.C. insisted, taking a step back. "I-I'm just hungry. Can we stop by for pizza later?"

"We're going to a bakery later and you want pizza?"

She nodded.

"Okay." He smiled, a smile that was beyond charming.

And C.C. felt like her face was now the colour of the red sauce famously topped onto her favourite meal...

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