Hey everyone I'm back. Just so you know, Part one is actually pretty short. Just wait soon for the start of Part two. I promise it'll come soon! That's when the good stuff starts!

Part I (Post Gundam Seed): Ch 2

Miriallia looked out at the beach from her room's window. She watched the waves crash into the shore.

Downstairs, she could the happy cries of children. Their laughter made her smile as she realized there was still such a thing as innocent joy in the world.

The orphans that Lacus had been taking care off decided they'd rather move in here, to this grand mansion, instead of staying in that humble hut they called home. Who could blame them? This house rocked. Kira of course, happily agreed. Not only was this house too big for just four people anyway, it was also his chance to be close to Lacus. Of course he said 'Yes' in a heartbeat, literally.

Four months. They had been home for four months. The war has been over for four months and everything has been peaceful.

Milly heard the doorbell ring and them Kira's voice when he answered it.

She laughed.

Kira was having a good time watching a n unusually pale Dearka stutter at his front door.

"I…uh…I was wondering if Miriallia was there."

Kira scoffed. "You know she's here, Dearka. She lives here." He raised an eyebrow at the tan coordinator. Honestly, He thought the guy looked like he was about to pee on himself.

'Damn. This should not be this hard.'

Dearka silently cursed. Usually, his mouth was a wizard. He used it to get through everything and even if he shouldn't. More than once it almost got him killed.

Now though, it was failing him altogether.

Pitying his friend, Kira took the lead.

"Come in, I'll call her." He offered.

The blonde looked relieved as he accepted and settled himself on the couch.

He saw a grinning Lacus by the kitchen door, apparently enjoying his misery as much as Kira was.

Kira gave Lacus a hidden wink before heading up the stairs to call Milly. What could never understand was: Dearka came over almost everyday for the same reason yet every single time he acted like a dog at the vet, completely apprehensive and sweating like hell.

Soon Milly came down. The sight of her calmed Dearka down a bit, seeing her walk properly again. She had been on crutches since the—uh—beach incident. He or Kira had to guide her by the arm wherever she went, which was, come to think of it, not the worst thing in the world.

She greeted him with a smile as came up to him.

He stood up in gentlemanly fashion.

She watched him fumble to sit down then toy with his fingers. And this was the cocky air headed boy who's with a sharp tongue she almost impaled. Right now she was glad she missed. Since the war was over he seemed calmer, better tempered and toned down.

Or maybe that was just when he was around.

Very likely.

"Is there any specific reason why you came over today?" She started.

A rhetorical question. Of course there wasn't. There never was.

Miriallia started to feel bad always second guessing him in her head while he stuttered and tried to stop but there was just so much to be said! Besides, to her, it wasn't a form of insult anyway.

"I—well, no. Not really. Nothing." He shakily finished.

She smiled, realizing she'd have to be the one to find a subject for them to talk about.

"Do you want to take a stroll by the beach?" She offered.

The blonde looked at her and blinked.

"I think Lacus took the children out today. It should be quiet."

That wasn't true. She was well aware that Lacus was home and so were the kids but she was sure they'd clear out when they saw 'big sister Milly' and 'the funny guy' coming. They probably as giddy as she was.

He nodded and they headed out.

True enough, before they even set foot on the sand, they heard muffled children's giggles hurrying away in the other direction.

The beach was all to them.

They sand on the fine white sand, letting their feet feel the waves.

Both were quiet but this time, with no tension between them. It was just a calm moment.

Suddenly they heard loud whooshing sound. They looked up and spotted a sky grasper pass them, headed out to sea.

"Now, what on earth is a fighter plane doing out now?" Dearka remarked, oblivious of the grim memories the sight of the sky grasper had given Milly.

She tore her eyes away from the plane when a sharp pain came to her chest.

Realizing his mistake, he reached out to touch her shoulder but she veered, waving her hand.

"No, no, I'm alright." She said, looking up at him after wiping away some stray tears. "I'm fine, really."

He didn't believe a word that came out of her mouth. Dearka bit his lip at a loss of words and looked back at the sea.

Finally he held the courage to say something.

"Milly," He began. "I never knew him. Tolle, I mean."

Miriallia looked at him with a puzzled expression. He didn't meat her eyes. He just kept talking.

"I don't know what he was like but I want you to know… I'm no Tolle." He took a deep breath. "…but I'm going to do my best to try and fill his shoes, if I can." Dearka finished with a tired huff.

Milly just starred at him and he didn't look at her, fearing the effect of his words.

"You don't have to take his place." She finally said.

The redhead moved closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"You just have to be Dearka, no one else."

He closed his eyes and smiled, satisfied.

Less than a month later

Dearka returned to the modest, two bedroom hotel he shared with his best friend. He found that certain silver haired coordinator on the couch starring at what looked like a formal letter, when he came in. Yzak look distraught.

The Duel pilot gave the new arrival a grim look.

"A trial." He said darkly.

"What?" the blonde said, confused.

"They're giving us a trial! Up in the PLANT! We're being treated like common criminals!"

Dearka snatched the letter from Yzak's hands and read it for himself. What he was told was indeed right. The letter requested their presence in less than two weeks for a hearing in front of the PLANT supreme council.

"What the hell?! Our parents are a part of that council! How can they try us?!"

"There's no such thing as family in politics, Elthman. We're not being let off the hook."

"What do we do?"

"We'll go, of course."

"Are you insane?! They'll hound us like dogs!"

"If we don't go, they'll come after us and then they won't so kind as to offer us a fair trial. We have to go." He said darkly.

Dearka looked hesitant. Truth be told, he didn't want to go back to space. He was far happier down here than he ever was in the PLANT. He bit his lip. But Yzak was right. If they didn't willingly show their face to the council, they'll be hunted down.

"What about Athrun?" He asked about his other friend, who he was well aware intended to stay on earth.

"we'll ask him to come back with us. If he refuses, that's his choice." Yzak declared.

Though Dearka wasn't exactly sold on the idea, he agreed. Now only one thing troubled his mind: How would he tell Miriallia?

Some days later

Two young boys stood in front of the massive front door one chilly morning. One was platinum while the other was golden blonde. They rang the doorbell and Kira Yamato answered the door.

"Hey, guys." He greeted warmly through the weather. "You two are early. Come in. I'll get Milly."

"We'd rather not." Yzak said crisply.

"We won't be long. Could we just speak to her at the door?" Dearka said in a kinder tone than his friend.

Dearka put his hands behind his head to appear calm but ended up fiddling with his hair instead. This was the most frightening he'd ever had to do, worse that stealing, attacking or killing anything.

He was about to kill a relationship.

Miriallia appeared at the door in a good mood. Little did she know what stood before her.

"Hello." She smiled at the blonde and nodded at the silver haired boy.

"Hey." Dearka greeted casually.

She noticed the stoned expressions on their faces and became concerned.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"We can't chat very long, Milly." He started.

"Why? Am I keeping you from something?"

"No. We came early. I just wanted to stop by here first…" His voice began to break. "…to say goodbye. Our shuttle leaves in a few hours." He rushed through his words in hopes that if they entered her head faster, the impact won't be as painful.

Like a gun's…

And like a gun, it still hurt.

"What? You're leaving?"

He nodded. "to go to the PLANT." He explained.

"Why?" She said meekly.

"We're being tired in less than a week." Yzak, who was silent until now, took the liberty to inform her, seeing that his friend was starting to break down.

They both noticed Milly's lip start to quiver.

"A—and Athrun? Will he leave Cagalli too?" She dared ask.

"No. He was given asylum in Orb. He's staying." Dearka found his voice.

"Then why can't you?" She pleaded.

"We…just…can't…"

The redhead looked like she was on the verge of tears. "That's not fair, Dearka. That's not fair."

He nodded weakly, as if he understood. Right now, he just felt numb, either form the cold or the pain.

Suddenly Yzak interrupted.

"You know, you don't have to be apart."

The two looked at him as if he'd grown another head.

"Come with us." He finished.

Miriallia gawked at him. 'How could he even suggest that?'

"I have a life here. I can't just leave!"

"And that's exactly why we can't stay."

"Why not?!" She was almost wailing. "Athrun's staying! His situation's no different from yours!"

"Yes it is." The blonde said grimly. "He—he has a life here. He has Cagalli. I don't have anything for me here."

"AND ME? AM I NOTHING???"

The boy couldn't answer anymore.

"I'm not a house you can buy and then just leave behind, expecting it'll still be there when you come back! I'm not a doll you can drag around wherever you go either! If anything, you should at least have the gratitude to stay! I could have killed you if I wanted!"

She made no effort at all to control her tone or volume.

"So could he." Yzak scoffed, making no effort to control his mouth either.

Remarkably, Dearka didn't talk.

"DEARKA ELTHMAN, YOU ARE JUST THE SELFISH, AROGANT, JERK I THOUGHT YOU TO BE IN THE FIRST PLACE! HOW STUPID I WAS TO ACTUALLY THINK ANY DIFFERENT!"

With that, Miriallia Haww slammed the door in his face.

When the two boys heard her angry footsteps fade away, The blonde turned to his companion.

"That went…."

"…Exactly according to plan."

"Now there's no way she's going to miss me."

END OF PART ONE

The next chapter's coming really soon!