category: Gundam SEED

disclaimer: I don't own it.

FORTY-FOUR.

Neither of them was the sentimental romantic type, but when Athrun suggested one day unexpectedly that they flake out on two days of military meetings and go on a spontaneous vacation instead, Cagalli relished the opportunity and agreed without thinking twice. She'd just made it through a rough week of the annual budget planning and the trip was more than welcome.

They stood in the middle of the airport very early in the morning, staring up at the departures board.

"Where to?" Athrun asked her, scanning the hundreds of locations.

Cagalli chewed the side of her finger contemplatively. "Athens."

"Junius Seven," Athrun cautioned. "The monuments are in terrible shape."

She smiled faintly at him. "I know. That's why."

x

Cagalli insisted at the ticket counter that they sit in economy class. "This is the first time I've ever been on a public plane, Athrun!" she wailed in front of the salesperson. "I want to have the real experience!"

"Keep your voice down," he shushed, apprehensively watching the line of curious flyers behind them. Wearing civilian clothes and a pair of sunglasses, Cagalli was unrecognizable at first glance, but he was hesitant to take any big chances. "If that's what you want," he conceded, and handed over his credit card and their passports through the window.

The problems continued. The security officers had a field day about Athrun's revolver, and even after he flashed them his military ID, they told him off about having a concealed weapon on a civilian flight. Then Cagalli had another tantrum when she discovered that none of the terminal's shops had her favorite snack. She could only be placated with the prospect of free on-flight nuts.

"Next time we are definitely taking your jet," Athrun huffed when they were properly seated on the plane. "You cause way too much trouble."

Cagalli hummed brightly to herself, blissfully disregarding of his jab. "Don't be angry, be happy! We're going on holiday! We don't have to do any work for two whole days!"

Athrun opened his mouth to tell her that, in fact, they were going to have to pay dearly for skipping their meetings, but he saw the carefree look on her face and settled for squeezing her hand warmly instead.

x

Cagalli had three full glasses of wine over the course of the flight.

"Stop nagging," she mumbled distractedly after finishing her second glass and motioning for another. "I finally get to drink and you're being so worrisome about it. I can hold my alcohol, Athrun."

"No, you can't," he laughed twenty minutes later, when she passed out onto his shoulder. He prodded her head experimentally. "You are such a lightweight."

x

Their first full day in Athens, Cagalli had a headache from the past night's cheap airplane wine, so they lounged around in the suite all morning and afternoon, eating room service and watching the sea from their balcony. In the evening they tried to find the restaurant the concierge had sworn was the one of the best in the city, but got lost and ended up eating souvlaki and tzatziki from a streetside stand.

"Are you sure this is all right?" Athrun looked at his skewer warily. "This place looks slightly unclean."

"Man up, pretty boy!" Cagalli said. "What's life without taking chances?"

"Safe," Athrun grimaced, and took a bite.

x

"Monastiraki is the most authentic shopping experience you'll have in the city," the tour guide raved. "The specialty stalls are very interesting."

Cagalli stopped briefly to study a display of bright scarves and then leaned in to whisper in Athrun's ear. "Very interesting, my foot. This is boring, and it's been hours since we had lunch."

"It's not all bad. This is a new experience for us both. Besides, you liked the Acropolis well enough."

Her smile vanished. "I really had only wanted to see how bad the damage to the Parthenon had been. I should have come years ago." She paused. "It's demolished. Just like that, thousands of years of history. And no one can do anything about it."

Athrun didn't like her pensive frown, so he jabbed her in the side and whispered back to her in an effort to cheer her up, "Let's play hooky and get as far away from this miserable tour as we can."

She brightened instantly. "Let's go swimming!"

x

By the time they got changed and made their way to the isolated beach behind the hotel, the ocean was tinted pink and orange with the colors of the sunset. After splashing in waist-deep water for a while, Athrun sat down on a towel and Cagalli got to work building a sand castle.

"Aren't you a little too old to be doing that?"

"Nope!" She dug deeper into the sand with her foot. "Making this is the most fun I've had since we got here."

Athrun accepted her answer easily and watched Cagalli lean over to pat down the far side of her castle. He couldn't complain, really, with a view like that.

There was an excited shriek from nearby, and suddenly a young girl came barreling down from the direction of the hotel. "That's such a cool sand castle!" she shouted, coming to an abrupt stop next to Cagalli.

Cagalli beamed at her. "Thanks! You want to help me finish it?" She looked around. "Where are your parents?"

"My dad is coming," the girl said unconcernedly, pointing behind her. There was a figure in the distance. "How did you get the towers so straight without a bucket?"

"Practice," replied Cagalli proudly. "Let me show you."

Athrun stood up and began walking in the direction of the approaching man. He shaded his eyes against the sun as they got closer together.

"Is that your daughter?" Athrun asked.

"Yes. Lila's not bothering you, I hope?"

"Not at all. I just wanted to be sure."

The man extended his hand. "I'm Ren."

"Athrun."

They made their way back to Cagalli and Lila. Noticing that the girl's father had arrived, Cagalli had her finish the moat they were working on, and brought her to where the men were standing.

"Hi," Cagalli smiled openly.

Athrun stepped in. "Cagalli, this is Lila's father, Ren. Ren, this is my wife Cagalli."

There was a flash across Ren's face, and he straightened into a salute. "Representative Athha." His eyes trailed over Athrun. "And Athrun…Zala. Admiral Zala."

Cagalli let Lila, who was sitting on her shoulders, down. "I'm sorry, have we met?"

Ren held Lila close to his side. "No, I don't believe so. I used to be part of the Fourth Space Fleet, but I took my formal leave two years after the second war ended. Colonel Ren Hoshi." He shook his head ruefully. "I'm sorry I didn't recognize either of you earlier by name or by sight. It's getting dark out here, if it's an excuse."

Cagalli laughed brightly. "It's all right! It's nice enough to meet someone from home in a foreign country, let alone a person with such a charming daughter." She winked at Lila, and the girl grinned back widely.

x

After Lila and her father excused themselves to return to the hotel, Cagalli turned to Athrun cheerfully. "You introduced me as your wife."

He put his arm around her as they started the long trek up the beach. "Well, you are."

She leaned into his hold. It was just a word, but it felt so right. "I think it's the first time you've ever had to introduce me to anyone. I don't know, it clicked really nicely." She lowered her voice in what she thought passed as an impression of him. "My wife Cagalli. This is my wife. Cagalli, my wife."

She smiled cheekily. "You should say it more often."

Athrun rolled his eyes. "Don't get a big head or anything."

"Too late!"

notes: This is double the length of usual chapters, but I have to say I'm not that pleased with it. Whenever something doesn't turn out how I originally planned I am either super happy about it, or I get really dissatisfied. This is just…I don't even know. Bizarre. Not my customary writing style. Unforgivably out-of-character. Deadlines are deadlines, however, and I make a point to update every two days on the dot, so here's something I hope fills the gap at least halfway. It's ten minutes to midnight!

Thank you all for reading and leaving reviews! I cherish all of them. (Back to regular programming in two days.)

NEXT PHASE: Kisaka isn't that old, really. It's just chasing after disobedient princesses that's aged him before his time.