Heyas everyone! I'm finally back with an update! Lol...I apologize for my long absence...many things have delayed me this time, but on the plus side, the chapter is a lot longer than expected...so I hope you all like it. This chapter is packed with romance and action...plus...some secrets will be revealed about Auel's past and Luna's past too. giggles Well...that's all for my opening monologue this time...I'll let you get to the story now. Lol I hope everyone enjoys since this was a very exciting chapter to write.

Disclaimer: I do not own GS, GSD, or any of the AsuCaga and Auel hotness you are about to witness...but it would be nice if I did ne? Lol

-The Zala Files- Chapter 18 : Swingers Night Club Part 4 -

-December City. March 8th,CE 75. Location: The Swingers Night Club. Time: 7p.m. -

Athrun and Cagalli now sat out in the main room of the club as Miguel and Rusty were busying themselves by getting stuff arranged for their grand re-opening the next day. They watched Dearkka, too depressed to even flirt; sit on a bar stool stirring his drink, a horribly melancholy look on his face. Heine had turned some soft music on and was dancing with Miri to try and cheer her up. Shinn, much to everyone's surprise; walked up to Stellar and offered his hand in a shy gesture to dance...to which she smiled and accepted. Yzak, who sat next to Athrun let out a huff: "Would you look at that display. It makes me sick."... "Who would wanna dance anyway?!"

Athrun rolled his eyes as he could see right through the silver-haired boy. It was apparent by the look on the frustrated Duel pilot's face that he wished Shiho was there and not stationed in July city for the next three months. The blue-haired detective briefly placed a supportive hand on Yzak's shoulder and replied: "Yeah...I know what you mean Yzak...I know what you mean." He glanced over his shoulder and noticed Auel slip back into the main room through the side entrance and give him a smirk and a wink before sitting back down at the bar. Athrun nodded in response and thought to himself: "Looks like everything's been set up. All that's left to do is wait and make sure the bait gets taken." He felt Cagalli gently nudge his arm, her amber eyes dancing with curiosity. He nodded and smiled at her, indicating silently that everything was going according to plan.

Cagalli whispered in his ear: "You're sure this is going to work?"

Athrun nodded and whispered back: "If he's as crooked as I think he is then...yes. We should be expecting a reply to our phone call by early tomorrow morning...and then..." Athrun took the empty soda can that rested next to him and crushed it in his hand with a smirk on his face: "We crush him."

Cagalli nodded and began eying the couples out on the dance floor briefly before quietly sipping her soda once again.

Athrun chuckled, stood up, and walked around the table to where he could offer her his hand as he declared with a smile on his face: "Dance with me."

The goddess of victory's face turned a slight red before she stammered frustratedly: "W-Why would you ask that?!"... "I never said that I...!"

Before she could finish her sentence, Athrun had pulled her to her feet and gracefully spun her into his arms, amber eyes meeting sparkling emerald ones as he smiled coyly and coolly replied: "I wasn't asking."

A slight blush touched Cagalli's face as she, speechless for about the third time that day; wrapped her arms around the back of his neck as he placed his on her waist. He drew her closer, so close that she could hear his heart beat. The gentle, soft beats of his heart matched the delicate tempo of the music as they glided across the dance floor. He let his hand slide down Cagalli's leg, causing a slight tingle to run down her spine. He smirked devilishly at her reaction and whispered next to her ear: "My dancing has improved...hasn't it?"... "I'm better at a lot more than waltzing these days."

Cagalli blushed slightly and raised a curious eyebrow: "Yeah...you have gotten better...but...you practiced on your own?"

Athrun shook his head and pointed to his blue-haired companion sitting by the bar: "Nope. You got me there. It was all him. I gotta tell you...he's really something. When I first saw him being brought in the ZAFT prison, I noticed something in him...and that something made me curious about him and want to help him." They both glanced again over at Auel, who was laughing with Rusty who had made a joke as he was passing by with another chair. Athrun chuckled and continued speaking: "He's smart, and he can be a wise ass sometimes, but not as much as Shinn. His hand eye coordination is amazing...sometimes I think his speed outmatches both Kira's and mine...and... to be able to dance the way he does, it takes skills to do that. He worked his ass off to help me learn how to dance better. I wanted to get better at it because...someday..." Athrun's face turned a slight red, a bashful look on his face: "...I wanted to dance with you the way I saw him dance with Stellar this one time...or with any other girl that asked him for that matter, and that was with happiness in his eyes...like...maybe...on our wedding day."

Cagalli instantly felt her heart skip a beat and her face grow red hot as she stammered nervously: "I...Athrun...w-why do you say things like that?!"

Athrun tilted her chin up so he could look into her beautiful amber eyes: "No matter what I have to do...no matter what obstacles I have to overcome...I will marry you. I love you and I want nobody else but you."

Cagalli, her face still bright red; placed a sweet, soft kiss upon her red knight's lips, which he all too willingly received.

Meanwhile, over by the bar; Auel was sipping his his fifth shot of skyy vodka and heaved a heavy sigh as he chuckled to himself: "I swear...those two...they should just get a room." His thoughts were interrupted by a slight tap on his shoulder and a flirtatious voice asking: "You mind if I join you for a drink?" He turned around to come face to face with Meyrin's older sister LunaMaria, now clad in a knee length pink mini skirt and white button down dress top, a cheerful smile on her slightly flushed face. He shrugged and replied coolly: "Sure...it's fine with me." He then flashed her a small smirk: "However...it looks to me like you started the party already."... "Are you sure you can handle any more?" He watched her smirk as she gingerly took the shot glass from his hand, downed it in one gulp, and smirked as she placed the empty glass back in his hand. Auel's eyes slightly widened in surprise, then his mouth turned up in a small smile: "I'm impressed."

Luna took her seat next to Auel and poured herself another drink : "So..." She glanced over at Shinn and Stellar dancing and heaved a heavy sigh: "They're still dancing huh?"... "How long have they been at it...an hour?"

Luna then glanced back over at her blue-haired drinking companion who, with a tired look in his eyes; shook his head and replied: "One hour, forty minutes, and fifteen seconds." She raised a magenta eyebrow: "Wow...you've been keeping track right down to the very second?"

Auel took another sip of his drink, shook his head, and flashed a small smile: "Nah...not really. I'm just guessing."... "Besides...after about six of these...you don't notice anything."

Luna nodded in agreement: "Yeah...I understand. This is about my seventh."

Auel casually brushed his bangs out of his eyes and stirred his drink around with his finger: "You're gonna think this sounds lame...and maybe wonder why I'm even bringing it up at all...but...I've only kissed Stellar twice, and the second time was yesterday. We never got any further than that." He held his glass up and glanced at Shinn and Stellar happily dancing in its reflection: "Before I could tell her how I felt...he came into the picture. I guess it's my own fault."... "You wanna know something even lamer?"... "My first time...I was kinda a little blitzed...so I barely remember what happened."

Luna shook her head: "No...it's not lame...it happens to a lot of people. It's happened to me before too...only...well...it was my second time, not my first."

Auel raised a blue eyebrow in curiosity and replied: "Really?"... "Well...I can still top that."... "Mine was with a woman I met at a club and it was the same night Stellar told me she was in love with Shinn."... "I can remember a few things that happened before I started to really drink, and that was me dancing with this woman, having drinks, then some more dancing, then another drink, then more dancing...and I'm talking about the kind of dancing like in all those dirty dancing movies..."

Luna was on the edge of her seat, anxious to hear more: "Yeah...and then what?"

Auel chuckled as he'd thought this kind of talk would disturb the girl, but she really seemed interested. Just like Meyrin, she wanted an explanation...only...she actually wanted to hear the low down dirty details. Auel smiled and scratched his head as he tried to remember a little more about what happened: "It was really hazy after that. All I can remember is some back room making out...then she took me someplace. To her apartment most likely since I was aware enough to know that I wasn't in my room...and then...ummm..." His face turned a slight red as he finished: "Well...let's just say...the things she did to my body still give me chills to this day."

Luna raised a magenta eyebrow: "How do you know it was any good if you were trashed?"

Auel nodded matter of factly: "Believe me...drunk or sober...a guy never forgets his first time." He noticed Luna chuckle a little bit, then smile as she stared sadly at Shinn and Stellar once again and for a moment...he felt a pang in his heart. The look on her face reminded him of how he felt and he couldn't stand to see a woman looking this way. He stood up, offered her a hand; and with a small smile on his face, he asked: "You wanna dance?"... "No point in us sitting here brooding and watching them all night."

Luna turned a slight red, her violet eyes widening slightly as he took her hand and gingerly spun her into his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder as she draped her arms about his neck.

Auel felt his face redden a bit, but brushed it off by reminding himself how much they had both had to drink.

- Further out on the dance floor-

Athrun and Cagalli were watching this whole scene from where they were dancing. Athrun chuckled: "Looks like he's trying your idea out now."

Cagalli raised a golden eyebrow: "Hmmm?"... "What idea?"... "Oh...you mean the one about making Stellar jealous?"

Athrun nodded in agreement: "Yup...that would be the one." His smile suddenly disappeared as he muttered under his breath: "Uh-oh..."

Cagalli gave him a worried look: "What?"... "What is it?"

Athrun pointed to an angry Shinn who was fast approaching Auel and Luna: "Looks like your plan worked...but on the wrong person."... "I should get over there and do some damage control."

As Athrun turned to walk over to his friend, the emerald eyed Coordinator felt Cagalli yank him back and shake her head: "Let him deal with this on his own. This is his problem...you can't protect him all the time."

Athrun heaved a heavy sigh and reluctantly backed down: "Alright...I'll stay out of it. Actually...I'm anxious to see how he handles this."

-Meanwhile...on the other side of the dance floor -

Shinn, his ruby eyes flashing angrily; stalked over to where Auel and Luna were dancing, Stellar at his heels as he hissed: "What do you think you're doing?!"

Auel replied sarcastically: "It's pretty obvious what we're doing...any idiot can see that we're just dancing...but then...you're not just any idiot...are you?"

Shinn glared at the blue haired boy, who still had his arms around Luna, then he shifted his glare to

Luna herself: "Y-you can't dance with him!"... "He's only taking advantage of you because you're drunk!"... "That's why he's dancing with you!"

Before Auel could say anything in a sarcastic retort, a loud slap resounded and echoed throughout the dance floor, even causing Athrun and Cagalli to turn their heads once again. Shinn's eyes widened as he quietly mumbled: "You...you...slapped me."

Luna growled: "You think that's the only reason he's dancing with me?!"... "Am I so horrible a person that nobody would wanna dance with me?!" Tears welled in her eyes as she hissed: "Did you think that about me when we were going out?!"... "That I'm just some drunken whore...good for a one night stand and that's it?!" She took a deep breath and cooled down a bit as she walked over to where she and Auel had been sitting and took another small swig of his drink, making sure to not empty the cup. She then sauntered back over to Shinn, Stellar, and Auel again and replied to Shinn in a sarcastic tone similar to Auel's: "Might as well live up to my reputation then...and for your information...I'm not drunk...I'm just buzzed." She lifted up the rest of the drink, threw it and the paper cup in his face, and smirked in satisfaction: "If I were drunk...I wouldn't have done that."

Auel chuckled and thought to himself: "Whoa...she's got some guts this one." He turned to Shinn as he took Luna's hand, spun her back into his arms, and smirked: "Looks like you can't win all the time." He leaned down and whispered in Luna's ear: "Hey...that was hot."

Luna's violet eyes widened and her face reddened: "H-Huh?!"... "What do you mean?!"

Auel chuckled and whispered again: "What you just did back there...the way you threw that drink in his face. That was hot."

Luna felt her face heat up slightly as she stammered with a giggle: "O-Oh...thanks...but it really wasn't all that..."

Auel smirked again and whispered: "I'm a little buzzed too."

Luna giggled slightly, which caused Auel to laugh a bit...then they both turned to glance at the vodka soaked, surprised Shinn and laughed even louder until Shinn shouted angrily: "I don't know what you're planning you bastard, but I warn you...stay away from her!"

Auel raised a blue eyebrow: "You're still talking?"... "I believe the lady has already told you how she feels." His uninterested look then turned into an icy glare: "So just step off."

Shinn shook his head and hissed: "She's had too much to drink and I'd rather she be with nobody then here with you!"

Auel was beginning to grow even more irritated and then suddenly, an idea came to him and he decided to carry out the only option he had left besides punching or shooting the ruby eyed boy.

Luna growled, she couldn't take the personal attack on her anymore. While she was trying to figure out something cunning to shout back at him, she felt her chin being tilted up and a warm pair of lips on hers in a deep, passionate kiss. Her violet eyes widened in shock...Auel was kissing her...and better than any guy she had ever been with!

His hands roamed up and down the curves of her body as he took the kiss deeper, his tongue wrapping sensually around hers in the same kind of deadly kiss he had seen Athrun give Cagalli earlier. Auel broke the kiss first, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and smirked at Shinn as Luna stared into his eyes, a starry-eyed look on her face: "Like I said...you can't win all the time." He chuckled to himself as he watched Shinn stomp away, as Stellar gave Auel a quick worried glance, and then trailed after the angry ruby-eyed boy. Auel heaved a heavy sigh and turned back to Luna, only to find the girl staring awestruck and surprised at him as she murmured: "That...that was..."

Auel's face turned a slight pink as he remembered what he'd just done: "L-Look...before you say anything...I'm sorry. It was a rash thing to do but I..."

Luna placed a finger over his lips and flashed one of her flirtatious smiles as she whispered in his ear: "That was hot." The two continued their dancing, Auel in silence at first until he noticed Shinn still boiling over in the corner and chuckled, which caused Luna to glance back and giggle, then a mischievous smile formed on her lips as she pulled Auel close enough so she could hear his heart beat, and whispered: "Let's give him a real show."

Auel smirked and nodded, continuing dancing until that slow song ended and another one started. One hour went by and, combined with a few more drinks; the pair's dancing began to start to look like the dirty dancing seen in R-rated movies. From the other side of the room, even Athrun's eyes widened at some of those dance moves and muttered under his breath: "Auel...I hope you know what you're doing."

-An hour and a half after that whole scene -

Heine shut the music for the night and everyone was heading to their rooms. Athrun pulled Auel aside as he stood in the middle of the hall: "That was quite a show out there." He chuckled at Auel's red-faced embarrassed reaction and asked: "So...did you do everything on that post it I gave you?"

Auel nodded and smirked: "The phone call has been made...all that's left is to wait...he should be calling back early tomorrow with my answer." He then let out a yawn, causing Athrun to laugh a bit: "Okay...Okay Auel-san...that's good. I won't keep you any longer...go sleep it off." He linked arms with Cagalli and escorted her back to her room, while in the meantime; poor Auel now stood alone out in the hallway. He silently cursed himself out:"Damn it!"... "I forgot...there's no place for me to sleep here." He heaved a heavy sigh: "Ehh...maybe I'll go sleep by the bar." Just as he was about to head out to the main room, he felt himself being yanked into another, and the door locking behind him. The one who had pulled him into that dark bedroom was none other than LunaMaria, with a very flushed look on her face. He scratched his head awkwardly and glanced around the room. This was the first time he'd been in a woman's room since... "that night"... and it made him feel a bit anxious. He casually ran his fingers through his hair, walked over to the windowsill, and leaned on the edge of it. He then turned to Luna with a curious look in his blue eyes: "Is something wrong?"... "He didn't say anything else to you did he?" He noticed her slowly starting to walk towards him; a flirtatious look in her eyes: "Ummm...yeah...okay..."... "I'm just gonna get going now...to...to..." He gulped as she began to undo her shirt buttons and finished his sentence in a stammer as he stood up and started to edge towards the door: "To sleep by the bar!..."

Her shirt was now unbuttoned all the way, she stood directly in front of him looking like a schoolgirl gone bad. Without warning, she shoved the unsuspecting Auel up against the wall and placed a devastatingly ravenous kiss upon his lips as she reached over and locked the door. It felt as if minutes had gone by, she broke the kiss and smirked at his flushed and shocked face as she purred, vodka still on her breath: "Why sleep by the bar when you can sleep right here with me." She grabbed him by the shirt and shoved him onto the bed where she now hovered over him gazing into his gorgeous blue eyes.

Auel, in the meantime; kept mentally slapping himself to keep him from doing anything that would come back to incriminate him later on as he grabbed her shoulders before she could plant another kiss on him: "You know you don't wanna do this. Not after all those drinks...you shouldn't trust me so much you know...I'm not normally a person somebody comes to when they have problems...in fact; I'm the last person anyone would come to. You shouldn't waste this on me...even if you weren't so buzzed...you shouldn't waste your time with me." He noticed tears start to well in her eyes as she replied with a slight hiccup in between each word: "You...hic...just think...hic that I'm a drunken whore too...just like...hic...Shinn."

Auel shook his head furiously and exclaimed frustratedly as he brushed a tear from her eye: "No!"... "But I...!" Before he could finish, she placed her hands on each side of his face and whispered as she pulled him closer: "Just kiss me...kiss me until I forget..." She kissed him quickly and sweetly, her lips barely brushing his as Auel's eyes widened in surprise at first...then suddenly softened as he gave in and reciprocated the soft kiss she had given him with an even deeper one. He never could resist the lure of a beautiful woman...especially a beautiful woman in tears...and if that was to be his downfall tonight, then...well...he would just have to make up for it some other time.

-Just Down the Hall in Cagalli's Room -

Athrun and Cagalli lay snuggled close in her small bed. He had given her one of his shirts to wear as pajamas, which he had concluded looked absolutely adorable and sexy on her as it cut off just above her knees. He wasn't the only one rejoicing in this bedtime happiness though...Cagalli looked for any opportunity to have Athrun shirtless...it was obvious to see why...and the fact that they were sleeping together also sweetened the deal to her utmost desires. She mumbled into his shoulder as he gently stroked her hair: "About tomorrow...aren't you nervous?"... "What if it doesn't work?"

Athrun laughed lightly and placed a soft kiss on her forehead: "It's going to work...trust me. As I said before...I've been around enough shady people like him to know." He smirked playfully and teased: "You're not nervous are you...goddess of victory?"

Cagalli glared slightly at him at first, then returned his playful smirk along with this reply: "Not me...I'm just worried about you...always concerned about everyone but yourself." She tilted up his chin so she could look deep into his beautiful emerald orbs: "Don't worry...I'll protect you."

Athrun's face tinted a slight red, and his heart skipped a beat at that comment as she placed a soft, quick kiss upon his parted lips. He smiled warmly down at her and nodded: "Yeah...I know you will."... "You wouldn't be you if you didn't say that."

Cagalli smirked and replied: "And you wouldn't be you if you didn't worry all the time...so that makes us even."

Athrun chuckled as she snuggled closer to him while he was reaching over to turn out the lights, and replied as he watched her fall asleep in his arms: "So it does...so it does."

-Hours Later: 8am- March 9th. Location: Down The Hall In Luna's Room -

The magenta-haired songstress eased open her eyes to the blinding sunlight that leaked through the folds in the blinds. She couldn't quite place her finger on it, but something about today felt different...and all night she felt warm, as if someone were holding her. It was the first good night sleep she had gotten in years and she was grateful for it, but there was something that was still troubling her...1. She had a massive headache...and 2. She was just now getting a feeling that she wasn't alone. She turned over in bed to face the window only to come face to face with an innocent, angelic looking, sleeping, and shirtless Auel. Her violet eyes widened in shock as she finally absorbed what was happening right now, plus the fact that his arm was draped over her half naked body. She held her head and cursed herself out under her breath: "Oh...my...god."... "I knew I shouldn't have had those last two drinks!"... "Did I?!"... "Did we?!"... "Oh my god." She slowly began to edge herself out of his embrace by sitting up, only to be dragged back down by the sleeping Auel, who whispered in her ear in an almost desperate tone: "Kiss...me...until I...forget her..." Luna's face turned a bright red as she thought: "Huh?!"... "Why did that just make my heart skip a beat?!"... "Seeing him like this...he just looks so..." She suddenly felt a wave of emotions flood over her and a mysterious force beginning to draw her closer to his mouth as he slept.

When she was inches away from kissing him, his eyes opened and his mouth turned up in a playful smirk: "Good morning. I take it this means you slept well?"

Luna turned beet red and quickly sat up, wrapping the sheets around her body and exclaimed: "W-What the hell are you doing here?!"

Auel replied calmly, the smile still on his face: "I was dragged in here against my will if I recall correctly."

Luna took a deep breath to calm herself as she asked curiously: "But nothing happened...right?"... "Right?!"

Auel, still shirtless and clad in his black pants from the night before; sat up and slid next to her on the bed. He then tilted her chin up to meet his enchanting eyes and replied with a mischievous smirk on his face: "You can believe whatever youwant...and I'll believe whatever I want."

Luna blushed briefly, pulled away from him, and then growled at his smug expression: "That wasn't a real answer!"... "I want a real answer damn it!"

Auel heaved a heavy sigh, slid off the bed, and did a few arm stretches to loosen up as he replied calmly: "Lots of stuff happened...so your guess is as good as mine."

Luna sighed heavily in frustration: "Geez...fine...It doesn't matter anymore!"... "I give up...but...I still have a question."

Auel raised a blue eyebrow in curiosity: "So...go ahead...ask."

Luna thought to herself as she tried her hardest not to look at his gorgeous body: "Damn...look at that delicious body...and that ass...It just makes a girl wanna..." She shook her head:"No!"... "No!"... "Don't think like that...but...lord...how can anyone tell he looks this good by the way he dresses?!"

Auel chuckled and approached her, waving a hand in front of her face: "Hey there...you okay?"

Luna mentally slapped herself back into reality: "O-Oh yeah...I mean...yes. I'm fine, but I gotta say..." She eyed him curiously: "I feel like I've seen you someplace before...I mean...like we've met somewhere before. Have we?"

Auel chuckled: "Ummm...yeah...you always used to show up at Athrun-san's place to talk to him all the time. We've...we've bumped into each other a few times in the house...we...ummm...let's just say...we don't normally get along so well." He glanced at the sheet she had wrapped around her as she sat in the bed.

Luna's face tinted a slight red as she nervously stammered: "I...I know that!"... "I...that's not what I mean!"... "I mean...I feel like I've known you for awhile." She fiddled with something silver around her neck that looked like a pendant of some kind as she waited for a reply.

Before he could come up with another witty remark to make about their situation, his eyes widened as they came to rest on that necklace in her hand. It had a Chinese character on it of some kind and he could make it out good enough to know what it meant, so he asked curiously: "Ummm...that necklace...it's nice...where did you get it?"

Luna continued fingering the necklace in her hand as she explained the best she could: "I...ummm...you know...I don't remember. All I can remember is that I woke up after I spent the night with that mystery guy from that club...and I found it resting around my neck. I haven't taken it off since...well...except to take a shower...I wouldn't want something so pretty and delicate to get all rusted."

Auel nodded and softly smiled: Ahh...yeah...I see."

The magenta-haired girl eyed him curiously: "So...you changed the subject...when are you gonna answer my question?"... "Have we met before this...or am I just paranoid?"

A sad look quickly crossed his face before it changed back to that small, mysterious smile as he shook his head: "No...I'm sorry. I'm afraid you're just paranoid."

Just as she stood up to read him the riot act about giving better answers, Athrun passed by the room, Cagalli not far behind, fully dressed in a green dress shirt, black pants, and his shiny black Italian loafers...looking as strikingly handsome as always: "Auel-san...I have to ask you..." He cut off his question as his eyes rested on the sight in front of them...clothes on the floor, and Auel throwing on his black dress shirt. Athrun scratched his head and glanced at Cagalli for support, only getting the same shocked look from her in response: "Ummm...I'm not interrupting something am I?" He glanced back and forth between Auel and Luna and asked worriedly: "Luna...when did you get that scar on your leg?"

Luna's face turned beet red in embarrassment: "A-Athrun-san!"... "This isn't...!"... "I mean...nothing ha...!"

Athrun chuckled and replied: "It's...It's okay. No need to explain anything. I'll speak to Auel-san when he's finished." Without another word, Athrun dashed quickly past the room, Cagalli close behind him.

Luna leapt off the bed, an embarrassed blush still visible on her face as she exclaimed: "Athrun-san!"... "Wait!"... "I can explain!"... "Nothing...!" Before she could finish her sentence, she felt herself trip on the covers wrapped around her and prepared for a sharp collision with the floor, but that never came. Instead of feeling herself being slammed into the wooden floor by gravity, she felt the slim, yet strong arms of Auel catch her and hold her up before she hit the ground. She now hovered over him in a suggestive position on the floor as as he winced in pain as she finally finished her sentence in almost a whisper: "...happened."

Auel eyed her worriedly and heaved a heavy sigh: "You okay?"... "For god's sakes you've gotta..." He looked up at her and finally realized why she stopped talking...they were in a suggestive position on the ground and their lips were now inches apart. He didn't know why, but he felt himself drawn to those lips as he finished his sentence: "...more careful..." They were both inching closer to each other, when they heard a familiar voice coughing behind them as he passed by the room and they both looked up to meet the disappointed gaze of Shinn and Stellar's embarrassed one as she grabbed his arm: "Shinn." She dragged the boy away before he could say anything.

Auel took a deep breath to control himself and asked coolly: "Are we going to stay in this position all day?"... "You know...cause I don't care...whatever you wanna do."

Luna turned a slight red, jumped off of him, and hissed: "Get out...now!!"... "Geez...you're just like all the rest of them!" She grabbed her shirt off the floor and gasped as she felt him come up behind her and throw one of his tee shirts over her head as he smiled his usual mysterious smile as he walked out the door. As the large oak door closed behind him, he thought: "Just like all the rest of them?" A brief image of her necklace came into his head and he smiled: "Something tells me...I'm not." He walked down the hall and out into the main room.

Athrun waved him over to the table he and Cagalli were sitting at. The emerald-eyed Coordinator smirked as Auel dragged a chair over: "So...you take care of everything back there?"

Cagalli tried hard to stifle a snicker as Auel's face tinted a slight pink. He heaved a heavy sigh: "Please...I've had a rough night...no wisecracks would be appreciated."

Athrun chuckled: "Okay...Okay...fine...but now you know how I feel when you make comments...so now we're even." Athrun then lowered his voice to a whisper: "So...you hear from our guy yet?"

Auel smiled mischievously and nodded: "My phone rang at about six this morning and he confirmed with me that he'd do the job I wanted tonight."

Athrun played with the straw in his glass of orange juice and smirked as the ice clinked in the glass: "Perfect...that's just what I wanted to hear." He looked directly at Cagalli, placed his warm hand over hers, and asked with the devilish smirk still on his face: "You're ready for this right...my desert rose?"

The golden haired lioness of Orb nodded and smirked back: "When am I not ready?"... "I was born ready."

Athrun let out a soft laugh and nodded: "Of course. I know you'd never miss out on an opportunity like this." He turned back to Auel: "Lady Cagalli has agreed to be our bait. The one you told him you want the hit on...and when he shows up to do it...you grab him."

Auel raised a blue eyebrow: "What about the assassin?"... "What if he gets someone else to help him?"

Athrun took a quick sip of his juice and replied seriously: "I'll take care of the assassin. You leave that to me." I need you to be out here so no harm comes to Lady Cagalli."

Auel nodded and replied coolly: "Understood."

Cagalli raised a golden eyebrow and asked curiously: "When is our guy supposed to show up?"

Auel shrugged: "He said sometime tonight. He wasn't specific on times...he just said he'd be there and get the job done."

The blue-haired red knight nodded: "Okay...so we have time to help them set up here so that things don't look too suspicious...and if we need to buy more time..." He glanced at Auel and smirked: "...I'm sure you and Luna can take care of that."

Auel turned candy apple red and stood up: "I-If we're all done here...I'm going to use your room to take a two hour nap. I barely got any sleep last night."

Cagalli grinned and snickered: "Gee...I wonder why?"

Athrun chuckled along with his goddess of victory as Auel turned even redder at that and sighed as he left them to their breakfast: "I walked right into that one."

-Later on That Evening-

The two hour nap that Auel decided to take lasted a little longer than he planned as Athrun was now frustrated and waiting in the main room about nine hours later. The navy blue haired Coordinator glanced at his watch again and heaved a heavy sigh: "I guess he really was tired after all...but damn...this is cutting it close." He noticed Luna in a black gothic lolita outfit finishing seating some customers and motioned for to come over: "Hey...can you do me a huge favor?"

He asked this with a smile on his face as he was sure he'd get the response he wanted from that. As expected, Luna took the bait as she smiled back, her violet eyes sparkling: "Sure...whatever you need."

Athrun smiled and pointed to the back room: "If it's not too much trouble, could you please go wake up Auel-san. Miss Yula let him take a nap in her room and I guess he lost track of the time."

Luna was about to name, a few reasons why she flashing his gorgeous smile at her...how could she say no to that sweet smile? She smiled back and nodded, her tone a bit reluctant: "S-Sure...okay...I'll go get him for ya."

With that, she made for the back room as Cagalli came up behind Athrun, placed an arm on his shoulder, and whispered with a small smirk on her face: "You should use that smile for good sometimes too you know."

Athrun simply continued smiling that same sweet smile. Everything was going the way he wanted it to and so far no trace of the assassin. No sooner than that thought crossed his mind, he noticed a slight bit of pink hair go flashing by. That was his cue to move, he whispered to Cagalli: "They're here...time to get to work." He placed a quick kiss on her lips and whispered: "Be careful okay?"

Cagalli let out a little pout and huff: "I'm always careful...don't you worry about me...you just do what you have to do...and I'll do what I have to do." She pointed down to the bottom of long red spaghetti strapped dress where there was a slit up the leg. There he noticed a lacy black garter with her gun strapped to it.

Athrun looked her up and down and smirked devilishly: "Clever place for a gun. If it's still there later...I'll take it off for you."

Cagalli shook her head and slapped his wandering hands away from her leg: "C-Cut it out!"... "Just get going already!"... "I'll be fine!"

Athrun chuckled and nodded as he made a mad dash for the club's side entrance where he had seen the pink flash go by.

In the meantime, Luna had just entered Cagalli's room and come across the sleeping Auel. She shook her head and sat down on the end of the bed as she muttered to herself: "Why do I feel like I've known him for so long?"... "What is it that's bugging me so much about him?"... "Lord...this is pissing me off!" She shook her head and turned bright red: "No...that can't be it...it just can't be."... "Geez...he'd probably laugh at me if he knew that my second time that I told him about...was the hottest and best damn sex I ever had...and I can't even remember the guy's name or where to find him." She heaved a heavy sigh, walked over to the clock radio, hit the snooze alarm to wake him up, and quickly dashed out of the room so he wouldn't see her. Meanwhile, the sleeping Auel's eyes were wide open as he was facing the opposite direction. What poor Luna didn't know was that he'd been awake the whole time and he'd heard every word she'd said. A smirk crossed his face as he sat up: "Well...this is an interesting turn of events now isn't it?" It was at this time he heard footsteps approaching the room. Thinking quickly, he hid himself in a nearby closet and peered out the keyhole. He noticed a bit of green spiky hair poking around going through at the unmade bed, then the bathroom, and finally behind the door.

The green-haired gentleman let out a frustrated huff: "Damn. She's not here. Oh well...I guess I'll have to get the money off her after the "Pink Butterfly" gets the job done." He closed the door behind him and Auel quietly slipped out of the closet, slowly eased open the door, and peeked out the crack in it to see if the guy was long gone...which he was. Auel took a deep breath and stopped to think for a minute as he fingered the gun he'd been carrying strapped to his waist. He heaved a heavy sigh: "It's been awhile since I've used this...but I guess there's no avoiding it." Just as he turned to go out the door, he ran straight into Luna who was doing her voice exercises in preparation for her number. She eyed him, a slightly agitated look on her face: "Would you mind getting outta my way?"... "I don't like people staring at me while I'm practicing."

Auel heaved a frustrated sigh and explained hurriedly: "Look...there's not much time."... "Where's Miss Yula?"... "I need to talk to her."

Luna pointed on stage: "She's up next after Stellar. It's her second number." She raised a magenta eyebrow: "Why?"... "You interested in her too?"... "One number and she's already got guys practically eating out of the palm of her hand."... "So...you interested in her too?"

Auel, not really up for small talk at this present moment, flashed a small smirk at her and brought his face close to hers as he rested his hands on each side of her on the brick wall she was leaning against: "Why?"... "Would it bother you if I was?"

Luna's face turned bright red and hissed: "N-No!"... "Of course not!"... "There's only one man's attention that I want...and that man..." She heaved a frustrated sigh as she finished: "...likes her too."

Auel shook his head and backed away from her, chuckling as he did so. Luna hissed: "Hey...what're you laughing at?!"

Auel stopped walking away and replied calmly and coolly with his back to her: "You shouldn't care so much what other people think of you. Just be yourself...and remember..." He causally brushed his bangs from his eyes as he turned to glance over his shoulder and smile mysteriously: "You have a lot more admirers than you think."

With that comment, he was gone, and Luna was left in a state of awe, her face flushed and her heart fluttering. She ran her fingers through her hair frustratedly as she thought to herself: "Get it together Luna. Don't let him get to you. He's not that guy. There's no way in hell he could be that guy."

While Luna was still standing backstage pondering, Auel was dashing down the hallway when he ran into Cagalli, pulled her aside, and replied in between breaths: "Hey...you...can't... go out there."

Cagalli raised a golden eyebrow: "Why?"... "Is he here?"

Auel nodded and replied hurriedly: "Yeah...but..."

Cagalli cut him off: "He's not alone then."... "Look...Athrun just went after the accomplis." ... "So...it's up to us to stop the other bastard." She pointed to the gun strapped to her leg and then cleverly hid it behind the fabric again: "I've been professionally trained in gun fighting. I can handle this."... "My six months with Desert Dawn will prove very useful here."

Auel, feeling a little more reassured explained to Cagalli what he'd heard in the back room. She nodded, a serious look in her amber eyes: "So...they're planning on knocking me off princess or not huh?" A small smirk suddenly appeared on her face: "Well...I've got a surprise for them."... "Hey...come with me for a sec...we'll go to my room together. I need to rig my gun so I get this just right. You seem like you know a lot about this kind of mechanical stuff."

Auel nodded and smiled: "Sure...I'll help. I'll do whatever you need me to do." That said, he and Cagalli then took off down the hall and into her room, closing the door behind them.

As Auel and Cagalli were working on her gun, our blue-haired red knight had managed to keep good tabs on the pink flash he'd seen go by. He'd noticed her duck into the alleyway right near Cagalli's back window, so he'd hid perfectly behind a large dumpster. He'd been watching her mix something up with the contents of her purse, place the liquid in a small capsule, placed that in a small vial, and slid it carefully into the hidden pocket of her small purse. She dumped out all the evidence and tossed away the rubber gloves she was wearing. Athrun took a deep breath as he noticed her make for the back door...and as soon as her freshly manicured nails touched the doorknob, he, in a blinding flash; ran over to her and cornered her up against the brick wall, his gun poised against her side: "It's over Meer...or should I say... "Pink Butterfly."

In the meantime, Cagalli and Auel had finished setting up her gun in her room and were making their way to the stage. Cagalli strapped the firearm back to her leg, quickly adjusted the lacy garter, and turned to Auel: "Okay...it's all set. I'm on next. You stand where I can see you okay?"

Auel nodded in response: "Can do."... "Shall I inform Elsman-san, Joule-san, and the others about this so they can stand by all the exits and entrances?"

Cagalli thought for a minute and then nodded as she adjusted a falling spaghetti strap on her dress: "I've already informed Heine...but I haven't gotten to speak to Dearkka and Yzak yet, so yeah...go tell them quickly. Just mentioning something like this to Yzak makes him all giddy for some reason...he just loves to slap the cuffs on people." She then heard her name being announced by Heine on stage and gave Auel a small smirk, a wink, and mouthed to him just as she walked on stage: "Let's kick some ass."

Auel smirked and nodded as he made his way out into the audience to inform Dearkka and Yzak of the upcoming event.

-Back out in the alleyway-

Athrun had cornered Meer up against the wall as he pressed her for answers: "Times up Meer. Tell me...why are you doing this?"... "Who sent you?"

The surprised songstress jumped a little at his brash tone, then she calmed down and took a deep breath: "To carry out the mission you were supposed to years ago."

Athrun's emerald orbs widened in disbelief: "N-No...No way..."... "He sent you?"

She placed a gentle hand on his face, tears in her blue eyes: "Athrun love...this isn't where you belong."... "Can you honestly tell me you're happy here?"... "You're father wants you back...he misses you...I miss you."

Athrun swatted her hand away, anger flashing in his emerald eyes: "Tell that man...I don't follow orders. I give them...and there's no way in hell I'll ever go back there!"

Meer, tears forming in her eyes, exclaimed: "You can't be happy here!"... "She can't make you happy!"... "She's still getting married...doesn't that say something to you?!"

Athrun slammed his free hand against the brick wall behind her:"I don't care!"... "I know she doesn't love him!"... He calmed down and spoke in an eerily calm tone:"As long as I know that...I know we'll always be together." He casually pulled his hand back and replied seriously: "This is the happiest I have ever been and I won't let anyone take that away from me...not anymore."... "I've had too many things taken away from me...I'm not a little boy anymore...I won't just sit idly by and let this happen."... "If father, you, or anyone else tries to hurt her...if you hurt her..." He looked up at her with an icy murderous stare: "I'll kill you myself."

Meer felt a shiver of fear run down her spine at those cold eyes. She couldn't bear to look into them anymore...she had to get away.

Athrun continued speaking in that same serious tone: "If that man gives you orders now...then that means you're my enemy. I'd expect this from him...but for some reason, I thought you'd be smart enough not to become his puppet." He noticed the pink haired Lacus clone starting to inch away...he did his best to block her escape, but she managed, with her slim frame; to duck under his arms and take off out of the alleyway and down the street just as Luna had opened the door to check where all the noise was coming from: "Athrun-san?"... "What happened!?"... "Is everything alright?!"... "Who was that girl?"

The blue haired detective clenched his fists in frustration at the fact that he'd been so distracted he wasn't quick enough to grab her: "That was an assassin. She was one of the ones who killed Tolle."

Luna's violet eyes widened in shock: "Oh my god!"... "C'mon...let's go after her!"

Athrun shook his head: "She's too fast. We'd never catch up...but...at least now I know how to get to her in the future." He gently took Luna's arm: "C'mon...let's go inside. We can still stop the other one."

Luna nodded and dashed through the hall and down the long hallway with Athrun. They stopped right when they got backstage as they saw Cagalli out there singing. Athrun heaved a heavy sigh of relief: "Thank god...nothing's happened yet." She was halfway through her song when, out of the corner of his keen eye; Athrun noticed a green-haired figure appear directly across from him on the other side of the stage...gun and small vial in hand. Athrun darted out from behind the curtains and onto the stage as he shouted: Cagalli!"... "Look out!" He shot the vial out of the guy's hand and pushed Cagalli down to the ground just as the man was about to draw his gun. Luna darted out and stood in front of Athrun, blocking both him and the green-haired assailant. Athrun exclaimed in shock: "Luna!"... "What are you...?!"

Luna grabbed the gun from Athrun's hand and exclaimed, her bright violet eyes flashing: "I'll take care of this for you!"... "Just get her outta here!" Just as soon as she said that, she heard the man's gun click and closed her eyes in preparation for a gunshot wound, but the painful graze never came, instead, she felt herself being pushed down. She slowly eased open her eyes and noticed Auel had pushed her to the ground, his shoulder slightly bleeding:"A-Auel-san!"... "Why did you?!..."

Auel smiled slightly as he whispered: "I just felt like it...that's all." He turned to Cagalli and Athrun as he noticed Sting heading for them and shouted: "Lady Cagalli!"..."Now!"

Cagalli nodded and with no hesitation whatsoever, pulled her gun from her garter as Luna quickly tossed Athrun back his gun. Thinking fast, the emerald eyed Coordinator shot the gun out of his hand just as he was about to fire another shot. He then turned to Cagalli and shouted as he noticed Sting starting to make for the door: "Now Cagalli!"... "Do it!"

The golden haired Lioness pulled the trigger just as he made it to one of the doors. The shot grazed the lawyer, but he still kept on moving...however, his balance was a little wobbly. In a desperate act of escape, he ran to another side exit... but Heine was blocking that...the second exit... at the back door... stood Miguel and Rusty. Third exit..another side one...Shinn had placed himself there, and both stage exits were blocked by Athrun and Cagalli on the left...Auel and Luna on the right. There seemed to be no way out...except...Sting's sharp eyes darted to the unblocked front door and he went dashing down the aisle towards it, only to be blocked by Miri, her blue eyes flashing in anger: "You're not going anywhere. You'll pay for what you did to Tolle!" Sting scoffed: "Please...I don't have time for this...outta my way!" He shoved Miri aside, and just as he opened the door, another shot rang out from Cagalli's gun...she'd nailed him right in the arm just as Dearkka and Yzak were coming through the front door.

Dearkka smiled as he cracked his knuckles: "Hey there."... "You heard the lady."... "You're not going anywhere." Before Sting could do anything more, the tanned lieutenant's fist came flying out and knocked him to the floor with a loud thud.

Yzak nodded: "Nice work in here people...you too Athrun bastard...and you also Dearkka...now..." The silver-haired Duel pilot smiled evilly as he twirled the handcuffs around on his finger: "It's time to take this bastard downtown."... "Screw all that crap about reading him his rights...he's a murderer..so he automatically now has none."

Athrun chuckled at Yzak's sadistic smile, then turned to Cagalli with widened eyes: "What was in those bullets that made him fumble around like that?"... "Normally, you shoot a guy and he just falls down."

Cagalli glanced at Auel, who was busy being tended to by Luna, smirked, and winked, to which the blue haired boy did in return. She then turned back to Athrun and answered matter-of-factly: "I wanted him to suffer the same way Tolle did...so...Auel-san and I put some lidocaine on a few of the bullets...numb him up nice and good so that if I hit him on the leg or arm..." She finished her statement by slapping her hand on the ground and making a splat sound.

Athrun laughed lightly: "Wow...you had everything planned out huh?"... "You do know that lidocaine also numbs the pain a person's in right?"

Cagalli grinned: "Of course I do...but it doesn't do that when you're firing a bullet at someone point blank."

Athrun smirk and placed a gentle hand on her face: "You know...this is why I love you so much."

The golden-haired goddess of victory turned a slight red and eyed him with a playful smirk: "Why?"... "Because I like to make my victims suffer?"

Athrun chuckled: "Well...that's one reason. The other is...you've always got my back when things don't go exactly as planned."

Cagalli smiled, placed her hand over his, and whispered: "Thanks for coming to my rescue too...even though I would've totally had a clean shot at that guy if you hadn't."

Athrun laughed as he placed a quick kiss on her honey colored lips: "Anytime...Hime-sama."

As Yzak and Dearkka were taking Sting to their car in cuffs, Auel, his shoulder bandaged up by Luna; sauntered over and smirked: "I'm surprised you didn't remember me...partner...that really hurt my feelings ya know?"

Cagalli's eyes widened as she and Athrun ran over: "What?!"... "Partner?!"... "Auel-san!"... "You mean...you knew him the whole time?!"

Athrun nodded as he interjected: "Auel and Sting used to do this kind of work together."... "Auel was caught by a ZAFT officer one day when they were on a job, while Sting here escaped without looking back."

The green-haired lawyer scoffed: "Well...what did you expect me to do?!"... "Go to prison with him?"

Cagalli got right up in the boy's face and hissed with a murderous glare in her amber eyes: "Yes...because that's what a good partner would do!"... "Instead of going back and helping him, you took off to save your own ass. You're neither a good partner...or a good friend...you're just a selfish coward."

Auel smirked: "And a bastard...let's not forget bastard."... "You didn't think I'd remember you huh?"... "Well...I'm sure you'd love to know that I was the one who made the phone call and set you up. I knew you'd bite when I mentioned that the hit was on Lady Cagalli...you figured this would up your rank at your job. Well...I know you'll never forget me now since you'll have plenty of time to think about me while you're in prison. Since you're most likely going to have to retire now...maybe you should think about changing your name to...Stung." Athrun, Cagalli, and everyone else groaned at that bad joke while Dearkka was the only one who laughed out loud. Yzak flashed him a glare which caused the tan lieutenant to respond with a confused: "What?"... "It was funny."

Athrun shook his head and continued where Auel had left off: "You weren't here to just collect money from Mr. Koenig, you were going to knock him off from the very beginning...money or not...because he knew too much about you and who you work for."... "He was getting ready to go to the authorities with everything he knew, so you panicked and asked you're new boss to send you one of his best assassins to do the job for you...which she did. Also...I'm sure you'll be happy to know that the "Pink Butterfly" has flown away and left you solely responsible for all of this."... "It's kind of ironic huh?"... "She's left you to rot in prison while she took off."

Auel smiled in Athrun's direction and mouthed a soft: "Thank you."

Yzak and Dearkka dragged the grumbling "lawyer" out of the building as Luna turned to Auel and asked curiously: "So...Miss Yula is really Lady Cagalli...as in...the Lioness of Orb...CagalliYula Athha?"

Auel nodded and smiled: "The very same."

Luna nodded and then raised another curious magenta eyebrow: "And...you used to be an assassin huh?"

Auel smirked mysteriously: "Used to be?" ... "Maybe I still am."

Luna's violet eyes widened: "Really?!"... "Are you serious?!"

Auel, the mysterious smile still plastered on his face; shook his head: "I'm afraid you'll never know."

Luna heaved a heavy frustrated sigh and threw up her hands: "I give up. I'll never get a decent answer outta you." She glanced at his shoulder briefly: "Is your shoulder feeling any better?"

Auel smiled and nodded as he glanced down at the pink handkerchief she'd carefully wrapped around his left shoulder: "It's just a graze...I think I'll live...but...thanks...for everything." He turned his back to her and started walking out the door with Athrun and Cagalli, who were busy saying their goodbyes to everyone. He then paused right before he got out the door and said softly: "Abyss."

Luna raised a magenta eyebrow: "Huh?"... "What are you talking about?"

Auel turned to her, that ever mysterious smile still on his face as he casually brushed his blue bangs from his eyes: "The character on your necklace."... "It means "Abyss."

Luna still eyed him curiously as she replied with a small smile: "Ummm...okay...thanks...but I already knew..." She then suddenly exclaimed: "H-Hey!"... "Wait!"... "How did you know that?!"... "I never...!"

Auel smirked as he left her with this final answer: "Drunk or sober...a man never forgets...his first time."

Okies everyone..that's all for this chappie! Lol..I told you it was going to be long. Lol... Finally!...Sting was caught!...but Meer seems to have slipped away again. Well...we found out a lot of stuff about Auel in this chapter. I like making him a little naughty too...he's trying to be more like Athrun, so you're going to see a lot more of that smug attitude of his in later chapters. I found out all about what lidocaine does from my dad since I work for him and he's a registered pharmacist...he helps me out by telling me about different poisons so I can use them in this fic. lol We also found out that Meer was sent to finish the job Athrun was supposed to finish years ago...which was killing Cagalli. When Athrun says "that man", he's referring to his father...just thought that some of you might wanna know that. Lol...What is probably the most shocking for all of you is Auel and Luna's situation...she claims she's met him before...even before she started visiting Athrun. Auel's final statement should be the clincher in all of that...and if anyone still can't get it, I'd be happy to explain. -giggles- Auel is going to tease her about this for quite a few more chapters. Lol...Anyways..that's all for now...I'll see you all in the next chapter...the new mystery I have planned is going to be so much fun...! It's going to take place where Stellar works...in a dance studio...I'm getting excited just thinking about it. Lol Anyways...please...please review and I'll never be this late with an update ever again. Lol...Athrun, Cagalli, and this busy little author would greatly appreciate all the wonderful reviews and comments we can get. -lol- Till next chapter then...see ya everyone! -waves and smiles-