Author's Note: So here it is, I'm sorry for taking forever to update this story. I know I said that I would update sooner, but life doesn't always go the way we plan it. I've been extremely busy with school and other stuff. Thank you to those of you who have stuck with me so far. I promise that I won't abandon this story. I might be uploading soon another fanfic soon about Ouran High School Host Club potentially called, Going Against the Grain. (This title could totally change.) So no worries, we're moving along in the story. Let me know your thoughts. I'm much happier with this second portion of the Gala than the first portion. Please review, it inspires me to write more! Enjoy!

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

Chapter Nine

The music was being played by a string quartet in one corner of the room. Everyone was talking, and having a good time. Couples were dancing, swaying to the music. People from different countries and backgrounds were getting along perfectly. The gala was a great success. She was exhausted, and tired of the event already. Cagalli looked around her to make sure no one was watching as she downed the rest of her champagne, effectively draining the glass.

"That was very lady like."

She nearly choked up her last swallow at the unexpected remark. She couldn't believe someone had just seen her down her drink like that. She turned to see who it was with cheeks slightly pink. There leaning against a pillar in a dashing tuxedo was one of the last people she expected to see.

He chuckled, at her blushing face even though it disappeared quick enough after her politician's mask came back on. That was disappointing, while he had always been shocked by her often outbursts, he really missed that passionate Cagalli.

"Normally at this point you'd be giving me a glare, or come back with a haughty remark about how downing one drink isn't a big deal. You've really matured Cagalli."

She was stuck. She may have been able to calm her emotions, hide them behind a façade, but because of this one person that all threatened to strip away. Why? In a way she was ticked off just at the sight of him standing there, so easy going. Not a care in the world, while she had an entire country's riding on hers. This guy, this man!

"Thank you for your opinion, Athrun Zala. It's been a while hasn't it? Where's Meyrin? Well I'd love to stay and reminisce but I must go and take care of my duties as host."

There it was. Athrun mused to himself. A slight spark, just a spark of the fire Cagalli would have in her eyes, but a spark nonetheless. She wasn't completely gone, changed into a listless workaholic politician from a passionate woman.

"Really? No kidding. I have something I'm supposed to take care of as well." He wasn't trying to get on her bad side, but- his mind went blank. Where's Meyrin? Meyrin Hawke? Why did she expect Meyrin to be with him? "Meyrin Hawke? I haven't seen her in over a year since she quit as my secretary."

Damn! Athrun thought. So it had been misunderstood. He had been right when he assumed that his situation of defecting from ZAFT with her had only increased the rift between them after their previous argument.

Cagalli didn't know how to process the information she was hearing. It was too much for her to deal with. She had had the idea that the two of them had bonded. That Athrun had gone back on that promise he had made to her before he left, and had found someone he liked more. Her hands clenched into fists in the folds of her skirt, but she kept her face expressionless.

"Really, well, like I said before: I'd love to be able to stay and chat, but I must go attend to my guests. I'm supposed to go greet the ZAFT Head soon, and I haven't even the slightest clue of whom it is. No one outside of the PLANTS seems to know, and they're not telling."

Athrun smiled inside; trust Lacus to be able to keep it a secret somehow that one of the most notable war veterans had become the Head of the ZAFT military. Seriously, Athrun was impressed with his former-fiancé's skills. He let Cagalli go for now. He would be giving her a surprise soon.

"Tsk. This coffee is terrible."

"You're complaining about the coffee? I really don't understand you Andrew. I mean who drinks coffee at a gala?"

"Ha-ha! Mu you're really asking that?" Murrue commented, laughing at the two men. During the time between the wars when she believed Mu La Flaga to be dead she had gotten to know the former Desert Tiger very well and that if it was about his coffee he could drink anywhere, anytime. "You'd think that after spending so much time with him on this project you'd have realized that."

"Well sure I know that, but you'd think this guy would still think about the occasion.-"

"-Hey!" Andrew interrupted, "It doesn't matter the occasion coffee is coffee. A respectable drink anywhere and everywhere except for the health center. And please, I wore a suit for god's sake! If THAT'S not formal I don't know what is."

Mu expressed his agreement. Dressing for formal evens was always tiresome, and uncomfortable. The only plus Mu found in the evening was seeing his beloved in a jaw-dropping dress. The downside being that now he wanted to leave so he could keep her all to himself.

Andrew was looking out at the crowd gathered for the gala. Taking a sip of his coffee he almost spewed it all out because of how hard he started laughing. His two colleagues looked at him questioningly.

"Is the coffee that bad here, Andrew?" Murrue asked Andrew in disbelief.

Still chuckling, Andrew picked up his coffee and gestured towards the bar. Following his gaze, the pair noticed a sullen looking Captain John Harrington sitting at the bar with a superbly broken jaw.

Athrun had continued to wander around occasionally stopping to talk to acquaintances of his, people asking where he had been for the last two years. He only smiled and said that he'd been around, just taking his time to get back on his feet.

Thinking about it, he mused, there was no reason why Kira couldn't have held the position he held now except for the exception that Kira had never served in the ZAFT military. Kira had fought for the Earth Alliance, and then Orb. He had earned himself quite a reputation as being capable, and was respected on both sides of the war. However, after talking to Kira about it, Athrun realized his friend had had enough of the military and would rather deal with mechanics and the world's problems with that genius brain of his. He glanced and saw the said friend dancing with the Pink Princess stealing many jealous glances on both sides.

"Athrun? Athrun!" called an energetic voice. "Look! I told you it was him."

He recognized this voice. Lunamaria Hawke, wearing a shimmery, slinky dark purple dress standing next to a familiar figure dressed in a tuxedo.

"So it is," said a calmer voice. A deeper voice than Athrun last remembered. "Hello, Commander Zala" said Shin Asuka.

"Cut the crap. You're a friend just call me Athrun, please."

"Oh no, last time I tried such a familiarity I got put in my place" replied Shinn with a grin remembering a heated immature fight.

Athrun was grinning as well. Such things had long been put to the past. "So how have you two been?"

"Just fine," Lunamaria said happily. They began chatting, talking about things that had happened since they had last seen each other.

Luna and Shinn had begun dating officially about half a year after the end of the war. They both had felt quite raw after the war, and while they had held romantic feelings for each other towards the end of the war it wasn't easy for them to forget the loss of comrades and loved ones. Looking at them together now, Athrun was happy to see them doing so well. They were really a good match for each other.

"So, just to let you know," Lunamaria began. "Meyrin is doing fine. She's actually much happier than she was when she was your secretary, and harboring a secret love for you."

"Glad to hear it." Athrun replied, and honestly he was. Meyrin had been a competent Secretary, but he felt nothing beyond friendship for her.

She was a little shocked to hear him reply so readily, and that he wasn't shocked to know that her little sister had had feelings for him. "So you knew?"

"Of course he knew," said Shinn. "I told you she was just clinging to him. It was a girlish infatuation on her part that was enhanced when he saved her, and he was the only one she knew on board the Archangel."

Based upon Shinn's remark, Athrun had assumed that they had discussed this topic before. He shrugged, it was pointless feeling irritated because another pair was also doing the same thing. It was a shame that he was almost getting used to it. However, that did not mean that he wanted to listen to everyone's musings on his love life. Shinn and Luna were talking back in forth about the matter, almost completely forgetting they had one person involved in their discussion in front of them.

"Thanks for your input guys." Athrun interrupted, reminding them of his presence. "Sorry that I couldn't reciprocate your sister's feelings Luna. Last I heard Meyrin was very happy with her new boyfriend. You know that when she resigned from being my Secretary she did so apologizing that she didn't feel anything for me except for friendship, and that she had someone else whom she loved now. If I hadn't been aware before I certainly was after that."

"Oh," was all Lunamaria replied with. Suddenly all three of them grinned it was ridiculous to make such a big deal about a past event that was completely resolved.

The speeches had begun. Introductions had already been taken care of. Functions and events like this Cagalli had grown accustomed to. Lacus had taken to the stage with a pleasant calm air. It made Cagalli wonder if people thought she was dull in comparison. Probably, she thought.

At the moment though, she was currently anxiously awaiting along with everyone else the introduction of the new ZAFT military head. The person who had taken over the position had been under wraps for so long, it made her really wonder why the big secret. She had had her suspicions that it might have been her brother, Kira, but he didn't want to have much to do with the military anymore. He held a rank in the military, but was primarily a mechanic/engineering executive doing work internationally.

ZAFT had currently submitted a proposal to Orb to have an exchange program between the two military sides. Since Orb had a past for tolerance for Coordinators they felt that by implementing or testing this program in the Orb nation first would have the best results. The catch was that to oversee the process better, and for a sign of trust the Head of the ZAFT military would be moving here for 5 years. In exchange the Orb Head would go to space. An equal trade and balance in the work between the two sides.

Man! She really wanted to know who this person was. She thought the plan was ingenious, had worked hard to convince the Representatives that it was a good plan, and had held numerous conferences with Lacus poring over every minute detail of what such an operation would entail. They had concluded then that an exchange just between the military was not the only available option; they opted to offer a similar program for the citizenry/ the open population. Families could be a part of a cultural exchange to encourage better relations between the people.

The idea was met with success and opposition. After the mainstream voting of the citizenry they had found that it had miraculously passed. Now all that remained was for Lacus to unveil her new Head so she could know who she'd be dealing with for the next freaking five years.

"Ladies and Gentleman," Lacus began, "Let me introduce to you the new ZAFT Head…. Athrun Zala!"

The crowd was silent in shock for a moment. Then there was a murmur of conversation, and ultimately applause. Athrun had joined Lacus out on the stage area, and waved a greeting to everyone. Lacus looked extremely pleased with the reaction of the crowd. With a quick glance over to where the twins were sitting she saw Cagalli, with her head in her hands like she was suffering from a migraine, which she figured she probably was at this point. She had just signed a contract that would bring Athrun Zala into her life for the next 5 years.

Lacus couldn't help but chuckle at how things were finally moving forward.

Speeches were continuing at this point from various other ministers and representatives. The crowd was not completely silent as there was the occasional whispering between groups of tables. Cagalli had after hearing the shocking news joined the two on the stage to shake hands with Lacus and Athrun to cordially welcome the new ZAFT head. She hadn't wanted to touch his hand, or make eye contact with him. Smile cordially as a picture or two was probably taken. No she had wanted to greet him with a slap to the face and maybe a fist fight along with a string of curses attached to it.

Not that she could show it. She had to maintain her nice calm political face. No emotion other than maybe a little surprise, but anything else at this moment would be a big fat N.O. Kira who was currently seated next to her was chuckling.

"You knew didn't you?" she accused him.

"Ah, I live in the PLANTS, my girlfriend is the Chairwoman of PLANTS, and my best friend is Athrun Zala. It was impossible for me not to know. Just as it was impossible for me to say anything as it has been a secret for the last year and a half."

What he said made sense, but she really wasn't in a mood to be forgiving. Treating him with the same chillingly graceful attitude she reserved for dealing with the annoying representatives or other political figures she smiled in a way that if you were aware meant that she wanted to seriously hurt or maim you.

"Darling brother," she began with the sly grin a cat has when it's caught its prey. "I hope you know that while you didn't have any choice I still hold the right to my revenge. And you know that you are not allowed to hack into my mainframe without suffering the consequences."

Kira was blushing, and he would admit that at the moment he was a little intimidated. Who wouldn't at this point when you had the leader of one of the most formidable countries threatening you and they just happened to be your twin sister. The results were scary.

Her hands were now shaking as she walked out to her garden to an enclosed gazebo. Damn it! First he had her shaken up just by being there tonight, and looking damn good too. Now he was the head of military she had just agreed days before to work with for the next five years. She was so incredibly pissed off right now.

"Damn it. Damn it!"

This wasn't how things were supposed to be. He had disappeared after the war. He had left without arguing, without anything, and with Meyrin too! She had seen the look in the young girl's eyes. She had figured that after the war had ended and the whole mess had been resolved Athrun would too. That they would at this point be starting their happy lives while she struggled to bring peace and prosperity to her responsibility filled one.

So why was that damned pilot here?

She stood there and forced herself to breathe deeply. In. Out. In. Out. It had been awhile since she had felt so shaken up. So frustrated, so grrrrrrrr! She couldn't let this upset her. She just couldn't. It didn't matter. She would treat him just as she treated any other foreign dignitary. (She had a feeling this plan might fail.)

"So this is where you were," an unwelcome voice intruded into her solitary thoughts.

The crowd had silenced to a soft murmur as they had moved from the formal opening of the gala to the now more relaxed part of the evening that involved more of the dancing and frivolities that would continue late into the evening. Shiho Hahnenfuss found that despite having a friend to commiserate with, Miriallia, she still hated functions like these, and especially the uncomfortable clothing.. Shiho had been forced to attend several such functions when she still lived with her parents who had thought they were raising a debutante daughter. Instead she had joined the military like her father, and spent more time in grease stained coveralls than anything resembling a skirt. She decided that since she had shown her face, if she wished to escape now, it probably wouldn't kill her or anyone else.

Leaning over to whisper in her friends' ear, "Hey I'm ducking out. Sorry this just is so not my kind of scene. I'll talk to you later. We should hang out before I go back to the PLANT's I've never had much of an opportunity to vacation on earth/Orb before."

"Definitely, I'll talk to you later then," Mir replied understanding that Shiho wasn't one for this kind of event.

Shiho drifted towards the back of the group and used all the stealth skills she possessed to slip out unnoticed to the outdoor veranda. Breathing a sigh of relief, she quickly took off her high heels that were killing her feet whispering that they were a torture device. Hearing a bark of muffled laughter, Shiho looked sharply behind her, and saw the silver-haired Yzak Joule. She couldn't help but grimace at the sight of an idiotic dolt like him.

Seeing her face, Yzak knew right away he was not wanted. That look of hers alone made his temper flare, which was already on its edge after forcing himself to act cordial at such an event, and not leave sooner. He had laughed because it was just so like her to hate those high heels, and think that they were a modern instrument of torture.

"Seems like your escaping. Aren't you supposed to be back in there with everyone else?"

"What about you? Shouldn't you as the Commander of the Joule Team be in there?"

"That's beside the point. I just have to show my face-"

"-And I'm different how? We're off duty Commander."

They glared at each other. Both stuck because neither had expected to meet up at this point in the evening. Shiho had seen him with Dearka. He could really pull off a suit, but that arrogant look of his was just too much for any outfit. The silence was growing between the two of them. Shiho broke it first.

"Why is it I have to be engaged to an arrogant bastard like you?"

"Ha! Why do I have to be engaged to such an unfeminine female?"

Their glares deepened.

"So what should we do about it?" asked Shiho. Damn! she thought, This is not what I wanted to happen, but every single time! When he wasn't the commanding officer she held a deep respect for, he was that arrogant prig that she somehow had developed a crush on. What was she doing?

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"We clearly are incompatible. How should we convince our parents to get rid of this ridiculous engagement? Let me tell you, my mother is already setting up a meeting with a wedding planner and picking colors for bridesmaid dresses and picking out flowers. We have to act fast before it's too late."

Yzak began to understand what she was getting at. "You mean, like pretend to go along with it for a while, and then turn the tables around. Show them just how bad this marriage would be." He wasn't fond of the forced engagement and this was a chance to get around his mother.

Shiho smiled maliciously, "Exactly."

Somewhere the Hahnenfuss's and Ezalia Joule shuddered like a cold draft had just passed through.

"What are you doing here?" Cagalli asked the intruder resignedly.

"The host of the party disappeared after greeting her new guest for the next 5 years. I wanted to talk to you more, than just that brief exchange we had earlier."

"Yeah well you know what," she said suddenly feeling irritated, "You've had two years to come talk to me so why should I listen now?"

"What about you?"

"What about me Athrun? Do you think that I've had much free time recently? I've been rebuilding a country. Their trust in me and their peace oriented traditions I've had to work hard to maintain. Or did you think that I've been pining away for you? Waiting for you to come back, especially when I thought you would be with Meyrin?"

"I think there are certain things that got misinterpreted-"

"Like what Athrun?" She was on a roll now. Athrun noted that the spark he had seen earlier had just about erupted. She had been unable to hide it and control it, she was angry. Her amber eyes glinted, more steel than passion, but Athrun reassured that Cagalli was still there. Now if only she would let him explain.

"How Meyrin was all over you after you defected for the second time from ZAFT? What was I supposed to think? The last time you and I had spoken we ha-"

She was interrupted by his sudden lips on hers. Unprepared for such a passionate attack she was momentarily drunk on the feeling of his soft lips on hers. She brought her arms around his neck, and he hugged her close, enjoying the feeling of her body against his. It was when she found herself running her fingers through his navy blue hair, and his plastering her to him that she realized what she was doing.

It ended as soon as it had begun. The impact of Cagalli's fist against his cheek made him realize that he had probably jumped the gun. Instead of acting sorry though, he let a smile show on his features.

"You bastard!" Cagalli shouted at him. Tears were running down her cheeks. "How dare you-"

"You seemed to be enjoying it."

"Irrelevant."

"No it's perfectly relevant. Cagalli I'm here to get you back."

End of the Gala part 2

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed my chapters. Special thanks to Survivor18, Meyrin-x-Zaftgirl, and Purplebaby. I'm sorry for taking so long to update! Hope you guys continue to read and review my story.