Never alone

Freyris

A/n: Finally, I thought I wasn't going to be able to finish this chapter after a week filled with exams. Since it's a weekend I guess I was able to type everything out. This is probably like one of the longest chapters I've written for this story. Everyone's expecting this mother and daughter bonding... so I hope you guys like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own GUNDAM SEED/DESTINY, Sunrise, Bandai

One thing Cagalli was grateful for was Lacus...because of her, she found a new hobby to do whenever she feels stressed. Baking. Having a sister-in-law who by coincidence was a great cook and had a lot of patience to teach her (no matter how many times she ended up nearly blowing the kitchen) had it perks.

She was practically clueless in the kitchen when she was younger. Sure she knew a thing or two but the only things she could do without burning the whole kitchen down was porridge and sunny side up eggs. Basically, having Aiden made her push herself to learn how to cook. She wanted to make foods for her little baby and now the kitchen was one of the places she could actually ease her mind.

Cagalli clipped her fringes up on her head and put her hands on her waist. She was thinking of making apple pies and cookies with Aiden today...of course with a little bit of company.

Namely, Cathleen and Meyrin.

She pulled back her blonde hair, grabbed her scrunchie and tied it to a messy bun. She pulled out the baking book up in the living roof shelf and wore her reading glasses. She fingered the pages of the book as she read the recipes. She needed to jog her memory a bit.

"Mommy?"

She looked up and smiled at the center of her world. Aiden skipped hop towards her while he tied his little chef apron around his body "I'm almost ready!" He beamed at her.

Cagalli giggled and nodded her head. She loved how Aiden would get excited over baking and cooking. One time he actually said he wanted to be a chef someday and cook Cagalli all her favorite dishes. "So, what time did you say Cathleen and Meyrin would come?"

Aiden shook his head "I didn't know we had a time."He looked at her apologetically 'But I said they can come in the morning!"He chirped.

DING!DONG!

She sighed "Speaking of..." Time to meet them and get things over with. Cagalli stood up from her seat and walked towards the entrance of the door, Aiden was silently trailing behind her. She twisted the door open and popped her head out to greet Meyrin and Cathleen but as soon as she saw the two people on their gate she frowned.

"Hello Miss Cagalli" Cathleen waved by the gate. Her daughter looked so pretty with her twin tails all bunned up together like a mouse ears. She was wearing a simple orange summer dress and sandals. She looked adorable. Cagalli would have appreciated Cathleen and ran out to hug her but she kept her foot on the ground and rolled her eyes at the older companion Cathleen was with.

"Good Morning" He greeted.

Cagalli wanted to turn her heel around shut the door close and shoo them away but Aiden was looking forward with his little baking session with Cathleen and she wanted to see her daughter. She begrudgingly looked up to meet familiar forest green eyes. "G-Good Morning...Mr. Zala"

She opened the gate for them and turned around quickly.

"I just dropped her off" He said "I'll pick you up at 5 then Cathleen" Athrun said looking down on his princess and back to Cagalli who had her back at them.

Cathleen glared at Athrun. "Daddy! You can't go now. Let's make pies together with Miss Cagalli and Aiden!" She pouted.

Immediately, Cagalli's head turned back at them shocked. She met with Athrun's eyes widened as well.

"C-Cathleen I can't..."

"Why noooot?!"Cathleen cried and puffed her cheeks. "Let's make pies together so that it will be extra special" She said "A-and If Daddy's here then Daddy can remember all the stuffs and we can make pies with Mama Meyrin!"

Cagalli's heart clenched. She didn't want to get jealous. She didn't want to show any feelings to anyone...not right now.

"Cathleen"

"Daddy pleaseeeee!"She sniffed. Uh-oh. Here comes the waterworks. He silently swore that Cathleen had a talent for acting. Sooner or later she's going to use this against him. He sighed and finally resigned to his daugthers plea.

"Alright, we'll make pies...if its okay with.. Miss..."Athrun looked at Cagalli and thought for a second what to call her "Cagalli"

"You're hereeee!" Aiden waved at Cathleen from their front door and ushered her to come in, leaving Athrun and Cagalli at the entrance alone.

"You don't mind do you?" He asked sounding a little more casual than he was earlier.

Cagalli frowned and sighed. "It's not like I have a choice...Mr. Zala" She said before she walked back in her house.

Athrun slightly smiled and thanked his daughter. Originally, it was Meyrin who was going but Cathleen realized that if Meyrin was coming then the pie wouldn't be a surprise anylonger so she decided to drag Athrun instead. Athrun on the other hand knew nothing of the child's plan. All along he thought he was just to bring her to Cagalli's house then he can work and pick her up by night time.

Seems like fate was turning in his favor at the moment. He would at least like to see how Cagalli would treat Cathleen now that she knew who she really was. He wanted to see them all together. A part of him yearns to see his family complete.

"Alright now that we have all our ingredients in the table, what do you kids want to make first? The pie or the cookies?"

The two children look at each other as if exchanging a telephatic message and grinned. "COOKIES" They both screamed. Cagalli smiled and watch how much both of them get along so well.

Athrun leaned on the counter and chuckled as he watch Cagalli and the two kids read the book together. He could hear Cagalli explaining a few things to Cathleen and Aiden listened attentively at her as if he was absorbing all of it in his mind. Everything looked normal and perfect. If time could just stay still and stay like this forever...Athrun closed his eyes and tried burning the image down into his head. Cagalli with their children together.

He honestly had to keep his mouth shut but he had the urge to compliment on how she looked as well. With the "Don't mess the chef" apron wrapped around her thin frame, glasses and her fringes pulled up with a few strands falling and hair all tied up in a messy bun. She looked really attractive. More beautiful than she was when he last saw her 7 years ago. She looked hot. He didn't want to push his luck at the moment. He knew Cagalli was still mad at him for everything he did and he was still testing waters. Maybe Cagalli has a safe ground where he can actually stand on and talk to her casually.

"Alright, let's get the dough ready then?" Cagalli smiled as she put her hands on her waist.

"Yeeey!" The two children yelled and they scrambled to grab their own utensils.

The first 10 minutes in the kitchen were uneventful. Cagalli would run around the table and observe how the children were mixing their own batters. Since it was still a little early, the children could at least try and make their own cookies by themselves before she made the real batches.

"Daddy, don't just stand there!" Cathleen scolded him and she hopped off her seat. She grabbed his hand and pulled him to their working area. She gave him a whisk and gave him a bowl and an egg.

"Uhm..."Athrun blinked several times and looked at the foreign utensils he had in his hands. He looked clueless as a puppy.

"You whisk the egg...Mr. Zala" Cagalli said softly as she started flicking the whisk on the bowl she was holding. Aiden watched her intently as she mixed the yolk with the whites evenly.

He watched her. She knew what she was doing. She really did know how to cook. This was new to him. Silently, he mimic Cagalli's actions and whisked away. As soon as he was done he watched Cathleen mix the egg with the rest of the dry ingredients and collected the mixing bowl to her chest.

"Woah, where are you taking that princess?" Athrun asked looking at her curiously.

Cathleen smiled "To the mixer!" She said pointing at the electronic appliance with metal scraps that looked like whisks attached to it.

Cagalli looked back and offered to help her. This is the least she can do for her daughter for now. Cathleen nodded her head happily and held the bowl as Cagalli guided the mixer round and round the bowl. Slowly mixing all the contents altogether.

For the first time in 7 years, Athrun had seen a great amount of resemblance in Cagalli and Cathleen. She may have his hair color but most of Cathleens features where hers.

"Oops!" Cagalli gasp as Cathleen's little hands had trouble holding the bowl.

"Here..." Athrun offered as he held the bowl, standing behind Cathleen and beside Cagalli. The blonde immediately looked at him shocked and accidentally pressed the wrong button causing some of the batters to fly at them.

"Woah!" Athrun jerked but his hands remained on the sides of the bowl. Aiden and Cathleen suddenly burst out laughing and Cagalli sheepishly looked at Athrun

"Sorry" She mumbled. Athrun shook his head and motioned her to continue.

Suddenly, Cathleen squeezed herself out from his daddy "Daddy can help Miss Cagalli. I'm going to see what Aiden is doing" she chirped as she saw Aiden bring out cookie cutters of different shapes.

"Ah..." Cagalli was about to speak but she gave up on it.

"Sorry, Cathleen's going to mess up your kitchen. I'm sure of it" Athrun whispered.

Cagalli snorted and smiled a little "It's alright."

Athrun smiled and looked at her. He noticed there was a batter on her cheeks and he reached out for her face and wiped it with his thumb immediately startling her. Cagalli moved back slightly and Athrun softly apologized.

As soon as the dough was ready they rolled it out on the cookie sheet. The two kids started pressing the cutter on their doughs. Aiden had chosen the car cookie cutters and Cathleen choose the bear and woman cookie cutter. Athrun and Aiden were talking animately about cars and laughed. Athrun grinned at Aiden and ruffle his silky midnight blue hair as Aiden pouted. The perfect Father-son scene nearly break Cagalli's heart.

"Can I ride your car again Mr. Athrun?" Aiden pleaded

Cagalli gave Athrun a look and Athrun smiled "of course, sport. We can ride now if you want" he joked and Cagalli cleared her throat. "But you need permission from your commander though" He kidded.

Aiden laughed and faked a salute towards Cagalli.

The blonde rolled her eyes and ignored Athruns remark. She observed her son as he pressed the cutter on the dough and peel the excess off. "Aiden, don't forget to dip your cutter on the flour before you cut" Cagalli reminded him as Athrun messed Aiden's hair again and occupied himself on the sink before Cagalli kicks him out of her house.

"Okay!" The young boy nodded

Cagalli kissed Aiden's head and watch him enjoy what his doing before she approached Cathleen across Aiden who had a hard time with her cutters.

"sweetheart, pull the excess gently" She said bending over a little and assisting her. Suddenly, Aiden giggled. "What's so funny, baby?" Cagali asked looking at Aiden across the table

Aiden shook his head "Mommy suddenly looks like Cathleen." He grinned

Athrun nearly dropped the dish he was silently washing by the sink and looked back to see Cagalli's reaction.

Cagalli lips tugged a weak smile on her lips and reached for Aiden's head. She messed his hair a little "Maybe I was sitting too much with Cathleen that we suddenly looked alike" She gave a strained laugh.

"But of course I look like mommy the most" He exclaimed proudly.

Cagalli nodded and kissed the top of his forehead. "Of course you do baby." She said. "L-Let me get the laundry outside . Aiden you're in charge here for a few minutes okay?" She excused herself and hurriedly walked out of the kitchen.

Who was she fooling? Athrun heard her voice crack as she excused herself from the kitchen. He wiped his hands dry on the apron, Cathleen insisted him on wearing and untie it from his back. "Uh, Kids I need to go the bathroom for sec. don't burn the kitchen alright!" He reminded them and searched for Cagalli in the house.

He found her in the living room leaning on the wall. She had a hand on her mouth as if she was supressing herself not to sob loudly. Wordlessly, he reached for her and pulled her into a hug.

Cagalli buried her face on his chest and cried. She didn't even bother to fight. Not when the kids were just across the room.

"I..I can't do this anymore Athrun...I can't" She sobbed. As much as she was happy about what Aiden said she couldn't. Cathleen doesn't know the truth neither does Aiden but the weight of the words Aiden made her heart twist and clench. It was already hard to think that Cathleen was gone together with Athrun 7 years ago and now that they were here, baking like a real family it was hard to accept that Cathleen sees someone else as her sees Meyrin as her Mother and not her. She was only "Miss Cagalli" to her.

"Hush..."Athrun soothed her back and kissed the top of her head gently. Athrun new how she felt. Aiden never even once paid attention to him even if he tries to. He had attempted to be a good father a lot of times to him. Offered Aiden a ride home whenever he picks up Cathleen from school, praised him for the stars he received and tried to be friendly with him. He longed to hear Aiden call him daddy as much as Cagalli wanted to hear Cathleen call her mommy.

He brushed her hair lightly and rested his chin on top of her head. Cagalli kept her face buried on his chest with her hands squeezed in between her face and his chest while she sobbed. He knew deep down this was all his fault. If he was the root of all these miseries in their life.

When she calmed down, Athrun tilt her chin up and wiped the traces of tears on her cheek. "Cathleen's enjoying your company. I can guarantee you that" He whispered as he held her face on his hands. He looked at her with the same looks he had when they were still together and tried hard not to kiss her on the spot.

Cagalli looked up at Athrun, staring at the same eyes Aiden had. Suddenly, She was lost. Athrun Zala still had an effect on her despite all her hate towards him. Realizing their proximity with each other. She gently pushed herself away and looked away. "You better go back to the children...Athrun. Before they do something wrong. I'll follow" She managed to say.

Athrun sighed and dropped his hands on his side and nodded. "Just...enjoy the day Cagalli" he said before he left.

When Athrun left, Cagalli sighed heavily and leaned on the wall again. All her feelings were crashing to one another. Her long lost feelings for the man she once loved, her feelings for family, her feelings of hate towards him for breaking her.

The mind cannot take over the heart nor the heart cannot take over the heart.

"Yeeey! We're done!" Aiden exclaimed as Athrun pulled out the last tray of cookies they made.

Cagalli smiled proudly at the two kids. "I'm proud of you two. You guys did a good job!" She said as she took a bite of the cookies Cathleen and Aiden made.

"Miss Cagali! I can't wait for the pie to finish!" Cathleen grinned as she glanced at the pie in the oven "I can't wait to give it to Mama Meyrin tomorrow on her birthday!"

The blonde squatted infront of Cathleen and patted her cheeks lightly."Well, I'm sure Meyrin will like your pie" She gave her a sad smile.

Cathleen's eyes glowled in delight "Really?!"

"Yes! I'm sure" Cagalli confirmed. Suddenly, Cathleen threw her arms around Cagalli's neck and thanked her. She kissed her on the cheek that nearly made Cagalli cry.

"That's for teaching me to make pies. Thank youu!"she giggled.

"Anytime...sweetheart" Cagalli managed to squeak before she stood up and turned around to wipe her tears.

As soon as the pies and cookies were all done. All four of them were gathered around the table to do some taste check test. The aroma was sweet the mixture of the apple and Cinnamon filled their nosestrils.

"Well, it's good to go. grab a slice, baby" Cagalli offered as she handed the two children their plates.

Athrun was the first to dig in and grab a slice. "This is good Cagalli!"

While eating their pies, Aiden looked at how Athrun stared at Cagalli while she ate and talked to Cathleen. He had this satisfied smile on his face. Feeling the same emerald eyes boring on him, Athrun looked at his son "What's wrong Aiden?"

"Mister Athrun, do you like my mommy?" He asked causing Cagalli to chock her pie and looked at Aiden slightly mortified at the question.

Athrun chuckled. He forgot how observant and blunt Aiden was sometimes. Totally a mixture of both Athrun and Cagalli's personality "Your Mommy...is a very pretty girl. Everyone likes her" He replied and smirked at Cagalli.

Cathleen stared at Cagalli and giggled "Daddy's right. Miss Cagalli is pretty and I like her" She agreed.

"Here you go. I put your special pie in a box and ribbon."Cagalli handed Cathleen her packed pie and smiled.

The young girl smiles grew wide and hugged Cagalli and kissed her on the cheek again. "Thank You Miss Cagalli!" She squealed and giggled.

Caglli chuckled and kissed her forehead before Cathleen jumped in the car with the box of pie in her arms. She turned around and faced Athrun who was standing behind her watching everything unfold.

"Thanks...for today Athrun" Cagalli mumbled and handed him a bag of cookies "I made a few extras...just incase Cathleen wants one...and the recipe is inside the bag as well" She said

Athrun nodded and reached for the bag in her hand in the process he was able to tug her and pull her into a hug.

"Ath-"

"Shh, don't cry..."Athrun rested his chin on top of her head and his hands rested on her waist. "Cagalli..."

"I'm not" She mumbled on his chest and pushed him away gently. "Go away now...before the children sees us and gets any weird ideas. "

Athrun sighed in defeat and nodded his head. "Just tell me if you want to spend time with her."

The blonde gently nodded her head and bit her lip unsure of what would happen if she spent more time with Cathleen.

Not that she didn't want to but... she might not be able to contain herself and tell them everything. How will the children react about that. What about Meyrin? If the secret gets out it's not only the two of them who will be greatly affected.

Done!~ ...for this chapter. LOL okay this fic isn't under the genre of hurt and comfort for nothing. I kinda felt sad while writing the part when Cagalli runs out and cries.I hope you guys liked this chapter. Btw, has anyone of you watched the GS Remaster? LOL I just saw Shiho, Shinn, Meyrin, Luna and Rey in the latest episode. LOL OKAY THAT WAS RANDOM but.. I thought you guys might just want to know.

Anyway, would you guys like another family bonding chapter? Just tell me maybe I could try and squeeze in another one.

Tell me what do you think of today's chapter guys. So please do drop a comment just below this note.I'll be waiting.

Freyris