Never Alone

Freyris

A/n: Hi! updating because I cannot update on Friday. which I originally planned on. I'm have some stuffs to do so I might not be able to update it that time so.. tadaaaa~ Here's the next installment! Yeeey! I hope you guys like this one. There's a lot more hurting going to happen. /sobs

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS /heartspams everyone

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

Little Aiden curiously stared at his mother who was wiping her eyes dry as they continued to watch the television. "Mommy is crying?"He asked.

His mother looked down at him and laughed. Cagalli shook her head and sniffed a little. Gently, she hugged his three year old son seated on her lap tightly. "No baby. Mommy's not crying" She replied softly.

The young boy hopped off his mother's lap and ran towards their room a few seconds later he returned to her with his favorite face towel on hand. He reached for Cagalli's face and wiped her tears with it. "Mommy is crying because she has a boo-boo?" He asked again.

Cagalli giggled and couldn't help but smile at his adorable question. His eyes peering at her curiously. "No, boo-boo either baby. Mommy's just..." She sighed and looked at the movie they were watching. "Mommy's just sad because the main character is sad" She said pointing at the television.

A pair of curious emerald green eyes stared at the television. "Oh" Aiden nodded his head and sat on Cagalli lap again. As soon as the movie they were watching ended Aiden looked up to his mother "The girl stopped crying when she wore a white dress... Will mommy stop crying too when she wears a white dress?"Indicating that the heroin got married and had her happy ever after, after a series of breakups she had gone throughout the story.

Aiden's words kinda hit a spot and Cagalli swallowed hard. "Maybe baby. Maybe..."

But it's impossible.

Cagalli sighed heavily and looked down at the silent young boy walking beside her. Normally, Aiden was talkative and would tell her everything he did at school but instead he was rather silent allowing herself to think about her past. They continued to walk in silent. She was hoping to hear him talk but he didn't.

"Why are you so quiet today?"

Aiden shook his head and looked down on his shoes. The blonde sensed Aiden's distress and she knelt in front of him. She lifted his chin up to meet with his emerald orbs with her golden brown ones and felt uneasy. "Hey, Did something happen at school today?"

He opened his mouth to say something but realized it and closed his mouth again. He was hesitating to ask her a question.

"Aiden, tell me. Did anything happen at school?"

"Do I have a Daddy?"

Okay. That was a question that threw her offhand for a few seconds. Cagalli felt the color drain from her face the moment she took in what Aiden had asked her. It was a question she had always feared for. A question that she wasn't ready to hear from her sons mouth. A question she wasn't mentally and emotionally prepared to answer yet.

"A-Aiden..."

"At school.."He started and paused for a few seconds"..Everyone was talking about Parent's day " He said as his face became sullen. "Everyone is excited to bring their parents at school because we're going to present something and Teacher said we need to bring our Mommy and Daddy."

Cagalli swallowed hard and stared at her son.

"I have mommy and everyone in class has their mommy and daddy. Cathleen has her mommy and daddy too." He sniffed as a few tears escape his eyes and roll down his cheeks."But I don't"

The blonde automatically reached for him and pulled him to a tight hug. Her heart was already breaking again. "Baby, you have a daddy-" She replied softly as she brushed the back of his head gently. "But h-he can't be with us..."

The young boy sobbed "W-why? He doesn't like me? He doesn't like Mommy?" He asked again. "Mommy and Daddy and their kids should be together right? They said it at school...but why can't Daddy be with me and Mommy? Why Mommy?"

"Aiden...it's still complicated."Cagalli voice crack."He-"

"Cagalli?"

Her explanation was cut short when she heard a familiar female voice from behind them. Cagalli turned to find the least people she wanted to see at the moment. Meyrin ...and Athrun and her daughter. The perfect family.

Kinda.

"H-hey"She stood up and pursed her lips.

Meyrin slightly jogged towards Aiden and gasp "Are you guys alright? Why is Aiden crying? Did something happen?" She asked worriedly.

The blonde took a deep breath and shook her. "N-no, it's alright. He just had a dirt in his eye" Cagalli lied and took a deep breath. While Meyrin was busy worrying for her son she took that chance to immediately wipe her tears with the back of her sleeves and tried to put on her best facade.

The young boy lowered his head and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. He saw a small hand outstretched to him and found his best friend Cathleen grinning at him. "Let's play?"

and like magic Aiden was smiling with Cathleen.

The three adults entered the park across the street and let the two children play at the parks playground while they sat on the benches. Meyrin and Cagalli engaged into another conversation while Athrun was left looking after the children from afar.

Time to time he would glanced at the two women...well at Cagalli more specifically and he was worried. Cagalli would giggle and laugh at Meyrin who was sharing a story he couldn't really understand.

Yet, whatever had transpired earlier looked like it was long gone when she and Meyrin giggled like gossiping women. He hasn't seen Cagalli smile and laugh like how Meyrin makes her. It was pure and childlike. Just like she was before.

"Athrun!"

"Athrun, stop it!"She screamed playfully. "Stop, stop it!"

"Why won't you let me see what you've written down" Athrun chuckled as he reached for the piece of paper Cagalli was hiding from him as they sat on the floor.

Cagalli laughed and waved her hand at her sides "No! Haha"

"Let me see!" Athrun chuckled and tried to reach it only to slip and cause Cagalli to lie with her back on the floor and him on top of her with his elbows supporting and preventing him from squishing Cagalli and their child.

Suddenly, he felt something against his stomach and his eyes grew wide and he stared at Cagalli in shock.

"The baby says get off me you, idiot" Cagalli said and held her growing 5 months old tummy. "ow..ow"

Immediately, Athrun helped Cagalli sit up on the couch and kiss her on the cheeks. "Are you alright?! I'm so sorry"

His girlfriend nodded and leaned on the sofa for a few seconds. "Idiot, you nearly crushed the three of us!" she frowned.

"Was that really our little critters?"

"If I was the one who kicked you right now. You wouldn't be amused" She half kidded "Of course it is. Look!" Cagalli grabbed Athruns hand and placed it on her stomach, letting him feel their growing children who were rather jumpy and excited.

Ring!

Meyrin's ring tone popped Athrun's bubble, dragging him back to reality wherein he was with Meyrin and no longer with Cagalli. Inwardly, he mentally cursed and sighed.

"Oh, excuse me for one moment" Meyrin exclaimed and pulled out her phone. "Hello? ehh!? What? Right now?! Honestly, you have the worst timing..."She frowned and glanced at her wrist watch "Alright. See you" And she hung up.

"Who was that?" Athrun asked turning to Meyrin who had a deep frown on her face.

"My sister"She replied flatly.

Athrun sighed and turned to look for Cathleen "Shall we go and meet her?"

"No!..No. I can handle it. Just stay with Cathleen." She said and turned a heel to face Cagalli "I wish I could stay longer Cagalli but I'm really sorry I have to leave for now. My older sister's nagging me again." She smiled apologetically at her. "Let's talk again sometime soon!"

"N-No it's okay. Me and Aiden are about to go too anyway" Cagalli replied smiling at her.

Meyrin glanced at her watch again and pouted."I'll call you later, Athrun." She said kissing Athrun on the cheek, in front of Cagalli before she left. "Take care on the way home alright?"

Both adults stood awkwardly beside each other as soon as Meyrin was out of their sight. Their growing silence only made it more awkward and uncomfortable so Cagalli opted to move first and tried to walk away from him but Athrun caught her wrist just in time.

"Don't..."

Cagalli looked back and saw Athrun looking at her with pleading eyes, asking her not to leave...yet.

"5 minutes."She finally said and sat on the bench again, understanding his silent pleas.

"Why was Aiden crying earlier?"Athrun asked sitting beside her.

She scoffed and crossed her arms on her chest. "You have 5 minutes to talk to me and you ask about something that doesn't really concern you?"

"It does concern me, Cagalli" He said looking at the blonde. "He is my son" He said stating the fact.

"You don't have to act like a father, Athrun. I can manage this own my own. For the past 7 years we lived without you and I was able to pull through it, so you don't have to worry!" Cagalli frowned.

Athrun sighed tiredly and glanced at their children who were both happily playing with each other at the see-saw. "Can we just drop the act already Cagalli. You know I care about Aiden as much as you care for Cathleen!"

Cagalli bit her lower lip and listened to Athrun. "We both know that we can't hide the truth from them for long. They are both smart kids. They'll figure something out. One way or another."

"Aiden's...already wondering...why he doesn't have a father" Cagalli said admitted softly. "Athrun do you know how much it hurts me to hear him ask about you? I can't properly tell him everything. I can't tell him that his father left us with his sister 7 years back for something I don't know and 7 years later they both appear in our lives like magic! Do you think the child could understand that right away!?"

Tears started brimming at the corner of Cagalli's eyes as she let out all her caged up feelings at Athrun. "Do you know-"

"I was engaged"Athrun eyes shut and pursed his lips.

"What?!"

"You know that I was forced into taking up a degree I didn't really like right? My whole life has been running on the palms of my father. 3 weeks before our graduation" He stopped and lowered his head a little before he started narrating the truth again. "He said that I was to be engaged to a girl of some family I haven't even heard of. I was supposed to meet the girl..." He turned to face Cagalli and stare at her eyes. "when we went to that trip"

"So you used me?"She mumbled "You used me so that you can run away from your supposed to be engagement?! Is that what you're telling me? You got me pregnant purposely for that sake?!"She asked her voice breaking and tears falling down her cheeks.

"Cagalli listen to me!" He tried to grip Cagalli by her shoulders but a hand slapped across his face creating a snappy sound as her palm met his cheeks.

"You're a bastard. A coward. An asshole. A stinking cheater. a-"

Cagalli's eyes widened as Athrun crushed his lips on hers. She tried to struggle from him and pull away but Athrun was stronger than her. She felt him rub her nape with his thumb. It was something that Athrun found out years back to calm Cagalli and it still worked throughout the years.

She closed her eyes and let herself get lost to her senses. His lips molded into her and she succumbed to him immediately. She slowly returned her feelings back to him as their kiss deepened. Her arms slowly planted on his chest and Athruns held her face. The broke away from their sudden abrupt make out, slightly gasping for air as he leaned his forehead on hers.

"...I didn't do anything on purpose. I didn't want to get engaged with someone I don't love. I was in love with you that time Cagalli...and I still am." He cupped her cheeks and wiped the tears with his thumb. "I didn't get you pregnant because I wanted to run away from my engagement either. We may had done something wrong that time but...having those two...made me complete." He whispered as he looked at the two kids who were too engross with playing tag to even notice their parents. "You gave me something that made me realize a lot of things. Things that I should have fought for...seven years back."

Lenore stared at the photo on her hands. There were several photos of his son with the same girl hidden in a small box under his bed. A few days back, she found a photo a blonde girl and her son hidden under her sons bed. It was rather unusual for Athrun to have photos with his girlfriend. In fact she haven't met any of his girlfriends aside from Meyrin. He didn't have photos of himself with any of his previous girlfriends either yet Athrun had a lot with this particular blonde.

As a mother, Lenore was always curious with Athrun and decided to do a little treasure hunting in his room. She knew her son very well and he wasn't really the type of person who was good at hiding important things. She discovered the box stuffed under his bed and there she saw all the photos.

A picnic photo, a print sticker photo, a beach and hot spring photos and a lot more. All of them contained the same girl and of her son, Athrun.

She glanced at Cathleen, her grand daughter's photo and back at the blonde girl with Athrun and gasped. She swiftly stood up from her seat and grabbed the photo of Cathleen from the shelf and placed the blonde's photo beside Cathleen's.

It was a perfect match.

"Oh my!"

To Lenore everything was clear. For seven years she had been curious about her grand daughters biological mother and now she was able to put the pieces together ...Cathleen's long lost mother was none other that the blonde.

No doubt.

Cagalli sighed and leaned at the window frame of her room. What happened earlier at the park still bothered her. She didn't know what to believe in any longer. Her feelings were already betraying her but her mind was still as crystal clear as it was before. Both her feelings and her idea of protecting Aiden from the truth were clashing and throwing everything in her head in turmoil.

"Y-You really should stop doing that..."

"Doing what?"

"Kissing someone when they're talking"

"You were starting to ramble, Cagalli. It's the only way to stop you besides old habits die hard."a small smile tugged on Athrun's lips

"Shut up" She looked away and tried to avoid eye contact with him.

"We need to tell them as early as now" Athrun suggested immediately changing the topic. He gently squeezed her hand and looked at her, pleading.

"I can't do it"

"Cagalli we have to. If not...they may hate the both of us for hiding everything" He insisted.

"No"

"Arghh!" She messed her hair up and pushed herself away from the window as her thoughts and feelings continued to clash against each other. Both of them weighing the pros and cons of what may happen. She sat on her desk and stared at the brown envelop she had recently discovered.

She pulled out the contents and stared at the papers which contained two birth certificate and an unfiled wedding contract.

Seven years ago, just a few months before Cagalli's due date they had their own private wedding and exchanged vows in front of each other. Swearing to share their burdens together for better or for worse. They had their life planned out already. Get married properly as soon as Cagalli is out of the hospital and live a happy life with their children and possibly have more. It was her ideal life in their supposedly near future.

But then again all those dreams were shattered when Athrun suddenly disappeared, leaving her and Aiden. She pursed her lips and returned the contents back in the envelop and slumped on her desk. The thought of revealing the truth was bothering her and making her feel uneasy.

If Aiden and Cathleen finds out everything, what will the children think about each other? how will they react? what will Aiden think of Athrun? That young child was protective of his mother and even if he and Athrun do get along right now, Cagalli could see how he tries not to let Athrun come close to her when he's around.

He was like a miniature Kira when it comes to Cagalli. He was overly over protective.

"Mommy?"

Her eyes immediately landed on the little bluenette who was wearing his pajamas, standing at her door. She smiled at him warmly and welcomed him into her arms. "Why are you still awake?"

"I wanted to say good night...and" Aiden looked down and fiddled with his fingers. "Sorry. I'm not going to ask Mommy about who my Daddy is anymore" he said.

"What? Why?"

"Mommy makes this scary sad face when I mention daddy so.."He imitated Cagalli's frown and let his sentence trail off "And if I had a Daddy but he's not here maybe he went away to a very far place. Maybe Daddy didn't like me so he went away." He sniffed and swallowed hard. "But...it's okay! I have Mommy, Mama Lacus, Papa Kira and my soon to be baby cousin!"

"Aiden...I"

Immediately, Aiden wiped his tears and looked up to her mother. "Mommy can stop crying for Daddy. Mommy and me are going to be okay without daddy! I'm gonna hurry up and be a big boy already so that I can protect mommy like Papa Kira does." He forced a cheerful grin at her.

Cagalli felt a dip on her stomach as she listened to Aiden. Her son had been aware of the reason why she had been crying. Although, he didn't have an idea of who his father was, he was able to figure out why his mother cried. He was a smart kid to figure things out and he was trying hard to pull himself together despite the lack of paternal care.

Aiden was strong.

"Aiden..." Cagali bit her lip and forced herself not to cry as Aiden kissed her good night and leave her room for bed. She felt her breathing become jagged and she put her hand on her chest. As much as it hurt her she had to make a choice. To tell or not to tell? She chocked down her tears and made up her mind.

"I'm sorry, mom"

"Don't be sorry, sweetheart. It isn't your fault that you didn't tell anyone about it."

Athrun pinched the bridge of his nose as he talked to his mother on the phone.

"You were protecting her weren't you?"

"Mom...please can we not talk about this?"

Lenore sighed and stared at the photo of him and Cagalli and Cathleen's photo. "She is...Cathleen's mother isn't she?"she said as she deduced everything earlier and made her statement be a fact.

The young man shut his eyes tight and leaned on the wall of his room. "Yes" Athrun admitted softly. He glanced at his room to see Meyrin still motionless on their bed meaning she wasn't awake.

"I want to meet her."

Hmm, now partially Athrun revealed the truth. Everyone's getting smart except for the two of them LOL It was really hard to bring out feelings between Aiden and Cagalli... and Lenore wants to meet Cagalli. DUNDUNDUUUUUN. What about Cagalli's choice. Yes or no? What do you guys think?

I hope everyone liked this chapter! and sorry for all the mistakes T_T

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