Authors Note: So here it is, Chapter 3. Thanks for all the reviews! I really appreciate it guys. So I know that most of you wanted to finally get to see things from Athrun's point of view in order to answer some questions. This chapter is mainly from Miriallia's point of view, but has some brief point of view from Athrun towards the end. It's even longer than the last chapter so beware! I hope that you enjoy it! Again please review, I love the feedback!

~Gonturan

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed or anything related to it. Wish I did!

Chapter Three

Their were several screens being set up in a rotunda like room. It then had two big openings. One was a large hallway that was dark, and lit only with a few lights along the way. The other hallway at the other end was brighter, having more lights set up along the way. In the middle of the room stood a average sized woman with brunette hair that reached just above the middle of her back, and ended in pretty cork screws. She had a look of an artist eyeing her masterpiece.

She raised her hands to sort of frame what she was seeing before saying, "Hey Joe, shift it to the right about two feet!" She was definitely running the show.

"-Kay, Ms. Haw", replied Joe. If he could have tipped his ball cap to her without dropping the screen in question, he would have. Plus he knew this little lady well enough to know better than to do so.

"Joe," Ms. Haw sounded exasperated, "How many times do I have to tell me you can call me Miriallia?"

"About one more time I think" he replied. Joe was an older man edging to his fifties, still in great shape, and one of her heads of construction for her exhibit.

Never in her wildest dreams would Miriallia Haw have thought that all of the documentary photos she took during the wars, would be used in a special worldwide, PLANTwide exhibit. She had designed the set up herself, and was constructing it in different museums that would house it.

The opening for this one would be in a week, and several of the high ranking military officials that were stationed here were supposed to attend. She didn't know if she was as anxious and nervous as she first was, but their was now an underlying excitement and pride that mixed together in the pit of her belly.

She had thrown herself into this project after the war. Miriallia had first gone home to visit her parents, then she was off taking more pictures for the documentary. Besides after the war, she really wasn't a kid, and didn't belong at home anymore. She had grown up.

This meant that with her all consuming nature of work, work, and more work she had little time to socialize. Sure the crew invited her out for drinks, but she abstained saying she had too much paperwork for the next exhibit. In that sense the redhead was cut off. Only going out with a few old friends occasionally like Kira or Lacus if they had the time. God only knows when she'd last seen Cagalli, or anyone from the Archangel for that matter.

She was also a bit famous from that too. Her tour as a member of the Archangel was apparently well known, and that in some cases allowed more people to visit her exhibits. All funds that came from it contributed to the rebuilding of all damage from the war on both sides, so she didn't complain.

Throughout the week she finished her exhibit, and at the end of it she was so tired. This was her last exhibit that she would personally set up, after this they could be set-up without her. In a way that was a relief. But what would she do now? Go on tour as a speaker? No that didn't fit her personality. Enlist in the military again? Uh… Only as a last resort. She had had enough of weaponry.

Supposedly she would get to take a really long vacation, and then do whatever she wanted after that. The governments were compensating her for her work, and it wasn't like she'd go to the poorhouse. She'd think about that later.

She was tired, she was tired more mentally than physically. Physically she was still in great shape, but she kept on cutting herself off from people. She had gone to a therapist who had said she was afraid to get attached to people because she didn't want to lose them. That was informative, she knew what it stemmed from: Tolle. Her dead boyfriend, she had accepted what had happened. It was the whole gone but not forgotten thing. In many ways Tolle had inspired part of her exhibit, but so had another guy.

The day of the opening Miriallia had the whole morning and afternoon to pamper herself. The sets were done, and all that was left to do was mingle and give a speech over the exhibit. Shouldn't be too bad she mused. If their was one thing Miriallia was not it was naïve. She knew that she looked good and that an exhibit where she had to make conversation with mostly well, men that she'd be fine.

She treated herself to a very luxurious day. Starting with a very long luxurious bubble bath, and a massage provided by the hotel masseuse. She was in heaven. As it drew closer towards the evening she picked her dress with great care, ultimately deciding upon her little black dress.

She just wore her hair down, it always seemed to do enough all by itself. She just worked some styling crème into her hair in order to make sure it wouldn't frizz. She considered herself pretty self sufficient. She could do her make-up by herself, and therefore made it to the exhibit with plenty of time to go over the final minute details once more.

Once everyone began arriving Miriallia was met with a sea of white, red, and green of the ZAFT uniforms. There were the occasional suits, but as this was an exhibit for the military, they were obligated to wear their dress uniforms to the event. She was eventually introduced to one of the officers by a curator, and began mingling through the crowd.

Eventually she found herself repeatedly looking at a man with dark navy blue hair. It seemed so familiar. Then it hit her: Athrun Zala. She had heard rumors that he was now the Commander of the ZAFT military, she guessed they were true. She had gotten to know Athrun when he joined them on the Archangel, he had been a nice guy, if a little confused some times.

"Athrun?" Miriallia questioned, "Athrun Zala?"

The figure turned at the sound of her voice, it was familiar. Athrun knew that the exhibit had been designed by Miriallia Haw whom he had gotten to know from his time on the Archangel, and who had been responsible for setting up a meeting between him and his friends during the war. He hadn't seen her since the end of the war. The only people whom he had really seen since going off the grid for a while was Kira, Lacus, Dearka, and Yzak. He felt guilty about how many people he had kept out of his life, but that was over and he was trying to make amends. That was one of the reasons he took the position offered by Lacus.

He smiled when he recognized Miriallia, she smiled tentatively in return. "Athrun its so good to see you again! Or is it Commander Zala now?"

"Miriallia! Yes, I guess it is, but you can still just call me Athrun. It's been a while hasn't it?"

"I'll say" she replied wryly. Athrun hadn't lost any points in the look department. He had gotten taller, maybe was around 6'2" or 6'3" by her guess. He had filled out some as well. He was such a string bean when he was younger, but now he had broader shoulders that complemented his muscled thin figure.

"Yeah, it seems as though you've been busy. I remember when you were taking all of these photos, it's amazing, really."

"Thank you-" she began before she was cut off by a loud voice.

"Athrun! Hey Athrun!" the voice interjected from a red uniformed officer.

"Would you just shut up Dearka? He heard you besides, it's COMMANDER ZALA now," a imperious voice reprimanded him.

"What's it to you Yzak? Loosen up, it's a party, and besides it's Athrun! We'recomrades for petes sake! You don't make me address you as Councilor Joule or Commander Joule."

Miriallia had stiffened at the sound of the voice, and was almost in shock when the other familiar voice confirmed the identity of the speaker. Dearka Elsman was one person whom she had not seen for a long long time, and when that relationship ended she moved on. At least that's what she told herself.

The two men moved towards them, the tall blonde man with blue eyes was Dearka, and the silver-haired man with the slightly irritated look was definitely Yzak. Dearka had been in a green ZAFT uniform last time she had seen him, she wondered how he moved back up the ranks. Yzak was in a white commander uniform, and seemed slightly out of place at this event.

"Hey Athrun, who's the dame. She looks too gorgeous for your company."

Yup that is definitely Dearka, thought Miriallia.

Athrun wasn't sure if he was glad to see his two friends or not. He knew there was some history between Miriallia and Dearka. Something that involved her trying to kill him, and then Dearka deciding Naturals weren't so bad after all. Dearka had always been a little vague on the details. He was pretty sure Yzak had the whole story though.

"Ha ha. Very funny Dearka, but I think she's too good for both of us. Besides I thought you knew Miriallia," said Athrun.

Dearka was for once speechless, and began to blush slightly, an odd sight to be seen on his tan features. He hadn't seen Miriallia since the end of the war, and he had heard that she was doing a tour for her photo exhibits but had forgotten that this was hers.

Yzak broke the silence. "Well I haven't met her. You said her name was Miriallia? As in Miriallia Haw the creator of this exhibit?" He said it in his usual brook no nonsense manner. Besides if this was the girl that Dearka had talked about, (which he thought it was judging from both of their now red faces), that had ended up changing both of their opinions, he'd like to know. Plus needling Dearka about her would exact a nice little bit of revenge from his best friends sometimes annoying attitude.

Miriallia was able to regain her composure in that space of time. "Yes I am Miriallia Haw, and I created this exhibit. I suspect that you are Commander Yzak Joule, right? Of the Joule Team? And also are currently the youngest member of the Supreme Council?"

She had heard about the Joule Team and how they helped them in the last battle against the now dead Chairman Durandal. He seemed like he was a poster child for the perfect soldier, except for the whole anger management thing. She also knew that they were Athrun's comrades from both the first and second war.

Yzak hid how pleased he was to be recognized. "You are correct. I also believe that you know my idiotic friend here who usually can't shut his trap, but seems to have nothing to say when in your presence. If there's a trick to that I'd love to learn it."

This brought laughter from Athrun and Miriallia, and a "Hey!" from the now not silent Dearka.

Miriallia just smiled and said, "Trick of the trade I guess. Yeah I met Dearka. We got to know each other pretty well during the first war aboard the Archangel. And you can just call me Miriallia. Miss Haw just sounds too formal."

"Miss Haw" interjected a curator, "We're ready for your introduction." This curator was one of the few suits. Miriallia gave a small smile and excused herself to follow the curator through the crowd to the small stage they had set-up just for this night. Dearka's eyes never left her.

He was slightly embarrassed of his reaction. It wasn't like him to have nothing to say, and he knew that Yzak had needled him to try and get him into the conversation because he didn't like having to be the one talking all the time unless it was giving commands or sharing his displeasure about the enemy. Miriallia was stunning. She had always been a looker, and that was what first got him. But now she was older and just stunning.

He hoped she didn't think he was a fool, or an arrogant jerk.

Athrun, Yzak, and a very enthralled Dearka watched as a very poised Miriallia gained everyone's attention and began introductions, and her speech to much applause. She had gained away with crowds, and being the center of attention for these functions if not so much in her personal life. Soon she got into her favorite part of the speech and was gesturing to the screens and hallways. Very elegantly she would raise an arm this way or that to point out the essential importance of it.

"This exhibit photographs were taken by me, yes. The layout designed by me. But what brought it all to life were people from both sides. Both Naturals and Coordinators. The hallway that you entered to get to this rotunda were all shots that I took during the war of the conflicts, and how they affected the people. You all understand the pain of that more than anyone. The hallway that you will leave shows a different side."

She paused and surveyed the crowd of military men. Her blue eyes taking in every detail. Eventually her gaze was caught by another pair of blue eyes in a tan face framed by blonde hair. She had to pull her gaze from his face, gave a small smile and continued.

"That hallway has pictures that I had taken while on leave from active duty, and after the war of the rebuilding progress. You'll notice that there is some pain in those photos it is not from violence occurring, but from the impact of it. But those people in the pictures have hope. Hope for their future to live in peace. Naturals and Coordinators working together for a common goal. We are no different from each other. And so ladies and gentlemen you entered here through a darker tunnel, and exit through a brighter one. I hope you enjoy the presentation, and remember it's message."

There was a huge round of applause at the end of her speech. She had done well. Athrun approved of her choice of words, and knew where part of it had come from. It was no wonder that Kira had made sure he attended this. He couldn't wait to see his best friend again in a few weeks.

"So how did I do?" asked Miriallia to Athrun after she had made her way back through the crowd.

"Very well. I believe that all those photos you took started out as a cover for when you were an agent of the Three Ships Alliance, but they really came to mean something to you," he replied.

"They did," she agreed. "Where did your friends go?"

"Oh, no offense to you is meant. Yzak received a rather touchy phone call from his mother and stole Dearka away to go grab a drink. He looked mad, and he didn't want to cause a scene at your exhibit. He really does mean well sometimes. Dearka told me to tell you sorry he had to leave early, but that he approved of your exhibit."

"Ah, he 'approves'?"

"Yes, Dearka Elsman, slightly arrogant, but well-meant. That just meant that he really like the message that your conveying, and I have to agree. Not everyone can learn it the way that we did-the hard way, but need to be shown through other's eyes."

"Hmmm…Thanks. It seems like an apt response from him."

Miriallia brushed her hair back behind one ear. "How's he been? Dearka?" She tried to ask nonchalantly. "Last time I heard because he defected during the first war he had been demoted back to a green uniform."

"Oh, yeah, Dearka's been fine. You know hard to keep his ego down." Slight grin as he teased his friend. "His fighting skills and training were better than everyone else's so it wasn't hard for Yzak to get him a promotion. It was let's just say a way to repay Dearka for being there for him and so forth. But he did earn it. What is there between you and him? Sorry to be nosy, but you both were, uh, blushing."

Athrun couldn't help himself. Mirallia was a friend, and so was Dearka. If there was something going on he didn't want either of them to be hurt.

Miriallia felt her cheeks warm again. Well if Athrun noticed I might as well tell him, she thought.

"After the first war, Dearka and I dated for a while. I'm the one that ended it."

"Oh." was all Athrun could say. That would explain it. It would also explain why they might still have feelings for each other.

They made polite conversation with each other for the rest of the evening, each telling the other of their current lives. It was more of a formality than curiosity, but both were sincere in their feelings of wanting to remain friends.

Athrun acted like he had something to fix, in Miriallia's opinion. He was very polite, and sincere, but he acted as though his mind was devoted elsewhere to a very complex problem that was giving him a headache. Or was it heartache?

As Athrun was driving back to his quarters he mulled over the entire evening. Running his hands through his dark blue hair, closing his emerald green eyes, and taking one hand to unbutton the first few buttons of his jacket he breathed a sigh of relief. It was over, and in the next few weeks he'd be dealing with things he knew how to deal with , and be able to spend time with Kira, and Lacus.

Seeing Miriallia again had made him wonder about all the others whom he hadn't kept in contact with also. She had been good, Miriallia. But there was something missing there. She had always been able to connect with people, but tonight in her speech she had been flawless, but she when he talked to her personally it was like she kept him at an arms distance from her life. She gave him distinct honest answers, but nothing about how she was really doing. It wasn't his problem to fix, though. He wondered if he knew who could.

Enough of that though. Athrun Zala knew that he had enough issues to fill his plate. There was one thing he wanted to fix and it mattered more to him than practically anything. It all centered around a specific blonde haired woman who gave him the red necklace he wore around his neck under his clothes.
_

Anonymous Reviews:

Survivor18: Thanks for another review! Wow! You are perceptive one. I don't know if I'm going to share what was said between Cagalli and Kira. I probably will later when they come to her home for the gala, so sorry you'll have to wait. : ) As for the rest of your questions, just wait and see. I'm not sure if I'll include Shinn and Luna in this, but it will just depend on whether or not they decide to show up… Thanks again, I'll try to update soon!

SJ: Awwww, thanks! That's what I was trying to do, I wanted to make sure that it would be a believable account of what may have happened after the story ended. Glad you like it! Hope you continue to read, and review!

July: Thanks! I appreciate the feedback, hope you have time to read some more!

Thanks to all who have reviewed! I really love getting feedback! I hope you continue to like my story!