CHAPTER 8: A Night to Remember
Lacus POV
Melody: But Mummy! I want to go! Please, please, please, please!
Lacus: Melody dear, I'm sorry but you can't. The ball goes very late into the night and you will be too sleepy. When you're older your Father and I promise to take you.
Melody: -tears in her eyes-
Lacus: -lowers herself to level with melody and wipes tear from her eye- Dear, we'll be back very soon, it's just for a couple of hours. Tomorrow the your Father and I will take you down to the beach for a swim but you have to be a good girls and get enough sleep in order to do that.
Melody: -sniffles- You promise?
Lacus: Promise. Now do you want to help Mummy get dressed for tonight?
Melody: -grins- YES!
Lacus smiled as her daughter practically skipped towards her wardrobe. She followed in suit as her daughter examined all the formal wear she owned. After half an hour of debate, she finally decided to go back to choice number one. When she finished changing her daughter was rummaging through her jewelry box to find a matching pair of earrings and necklace. Melody looked like Lacus but her personality was more similar to Kira's then hers.
She carried Melody back into the room she was staying in and kissed her goodnight on her sweet little pink cheeks. She hummed Melody's lullaby to her as her daughter listened intently to the angelic song. She hugged her daughter once more and left the room to see how Cagalli was coming along with her dress. The babysitter had already arrived and was waiting in the lobby but she could wait, Cagalli couldn't.
Lacus gave a big sigh when she thought of Cagalli. She had seen Athrun a few hours earlier as he dropped Kira back to the mansion in order to get ready for the ball.
Flashback
Kira: Would you like to come in for some tea?
Athrun: No, I should really be going. I have to get ready for tonight. I'm presenting a speech. I take it you are too Lacus?
Lacus: That is right. I'm also performing a song.
Athrun: -smiles warmly- Good luck with that.
Kira: We'll see you tonight then, don't be late.
Athrun: When am I ever?
Both Lacus and Kira: -chuckle lightly-
Athrun drove off with a storm of dust flying out from behind his car.
Lacus: You know too don't you?
Kira: Of course I do. They're just too stubborn. One day...maybe…in the future.
Lacus: In the near future?
Kira: I don't know Lacus…I don't know.
Athrun had always been a by the book person. Rules were made to be followed and Cagalli always acted tough when Lacus knew, on the inside, the both of them were soft at heart.
Cagalli POV
Stupid dress! Cagalli had been trying to zip up the side of her dress but to no avail. The zipper was stuck and now she looked even more disheveled then when she began. She simply didn't understand girly things. Why did she even have to wear a dress this evening? Her face became red with frustration and she screamed just as someone knocked on the door.
Cagalli: Come in!
The door creaked open slowly and from the side of the door, a head popped past.
Lacus: How are you doing with your dress?
Cagalli: Do you need to ask? This. Stupid. Dress. Should. Not. Be. Allowed. To. Exist. –grits through her teeth-
Lacus: Here, let me help you with it.
Lacus walked into her room and told Cagalli to put her arms up so she could fix the zip. After a while of pulling the zip finally unstuck itself and got pulled up.
Lacus: There we are! Finally! What kind of dress are you wearing? That zip needs to be checked out and soon.
Cagalli: Yeah, because I'll totally take it to the dress shop.
Lacus: -laughs lightly- Come on, I'll help you with your makeup. You obviously need help.
Cagalli: No I don't.
Lacus: -raises eyebrow-
Cagalli: Okay…maybe I do.
Kira POV
Kira was getting anxious. The girls still hadn't come down and the ball started in half an hour. They would need at least 20 minutes driving time to reach the ORB Government base where the ball was being held. He paced nervously up and down the main foyer looking up the stairs to check if they were done. Kira tugged at his bow tie and straightened his tuxedo up a few times as well. It was driving him crazy waiting for the two of them. Girls, he thought. Finally after another couple of minutes passed they came down the stairs. Kira stared for what seemed like a long time.
Lacus was beautiful. Her long pink hair had been brushed to one side but she was still wearing her golden clip. Lacus wore baby pink shoes which accentuated her legs glittering pink dress she wore split down the side of her leg in the middle of where her thighs were dragging on the ground ever so slightly and the V-neck with baby pink frills made her look absolutely stunning. There was a light touch of makeup on her eyes, nothing that made it look unnatural and her lips looked luscious with a hint of strawberry pink lip-gloss. He was 100% lost for words until she smiled at him and he gave her a wide grin back.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, he gave her a passionate kiss unaware that his sister was just behind her. Cagalli cleared her throat and when he pulled away from the kiss he saw Lacus avoiding his eyes and blushing. He slid his arm around her waist and looked away from his sister embarrassed.
Cagalli: We should get going now, we don't want to be late.
Kira: Uhh, yeah. –still embarrassed-
Cagalli stalked off to the limousine waiting out the front of the mansion for them and Lacus and he walked behind her holding hands. The driver helped Cagalli and Lacus into the car and he followed, ducking his head in order to get inside.
Athrun POV
Athrun waited for Kira and Lacus at the refreshment table. This was probably his 3rd drink. About seven girls had come up to him and asked him for a dance but he politely refused each of their requests. Most of the girls had tried very unoriginal ways of asking. Getting their father to come up and talk to him and introducing their daughters in the process. His bow tie was really starting to annoy him but he didn't let others notice he was feeling uncomfortable. He just smiled and kept about his business.
A finger tapped him on the back and he turned around quickly in surprise.
Miriallia: Hey Athrun!
Athrun: Miriallia! I didn't know you were coming tonight and… -looks down at her tummy-
Miriallia: -laughs- I'm getting big aren't I? Only two more months to go and the doctors say I'm in great shape!
Athrun: Dearka?
Miriallia: He's over there. –points to a blonde and grey haired man both wearing ZAFT commander uniforms- With Yzak. Can't say Yzak's too happy at the moment though.
Athrun: Why?
Miriallia: Oh, something about an argument with his Mother. You know how it is. I haven't seen you for a couple of years now! Where's Kira and Lacus? Are they coming?
Athrun: Yeah, they're just a little late.
Miriallia: Ooo, the little guy just kicked me! He's an angel.
Dearka: Athrun! You're here!
Yzak: -grudgingly- Athrun.
Dearka: Aww, don't be a spoilsport, we're not enemies anymore! –winks then slide his arm over the shoulders of his wife-
Yzak: I'm not being a spoilsport. I just don't want to be here in general at the moment. I'll have to see my Mother.
Dearka: -whispers to Athrun- They haven't spoken in a week.
Yzak: -eyes become slits-I can hear you.
Dearka: Calm down, calm down.
Miriallia: Be quiet you two! –smiles at Athrun- I swear I'm already a Mother for these two children.
Athrun: -laughs- It was good to see you Miriallia. –shakes hands with Miriallia, Yzak and Dearka-
The three of them left him to keep drinking by himself at the refreshment table. Just then, the doors of the ballroom where the commemoration was being held opened with a large whoosh. Inside stepped Kira and Lacus with their arms linked with each other. He smiled and walked towards them but he stopped in his tracks when he saw who was behind them.
It was Cagalli, only it wasn't her. She was stunning. Her hair had been tied up into a sleek blonde bun with two strands hanging loosely at the side of her head and her milky white skin looked as soft as a baby's. She was wearing a pale green shoulder-less floor gown that was tight on her body and showed her curves nicely. The silky white gloves she wore contrasted against her skin. He was drunk at the sight of her beauty. He swallowed and regained composure before he kept walking.
Athrun forced himself to look anywhere but Cagalli. He knew he would melt if he met her eyes. He greeted Kira and Lacus warmly and he looked down all the time when he shook hands with Cagalli. From the corner of his eyes, he swore that Kira and Lacus had smug looks on their faces but he refused to acknowledge it. This was going to be a long night.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/Destiny or any of the characters.
Author's note* sorreeeeeeeee that I didn't update yesterday but I was busy with piano so I hope today's looooooong chapter makes up for it!