category: Gundam SEED

disclaimer: I don't own it.

FORTY-SIX.

The call for the last dance was made as the string quartet slowed itself into a grand waltz. Kira pushed away his still-full drink and extended his arm to Lacus across the table. She delicately slipped her hand into his, and together they danced.

"Murrue was glowing today during the reception," Lacus said quietly. She tightened her grip on Kira's shoulder. "I'm so very happy for her and Mu."

Kira studied her carefully. Lacus always cried at weddings, whether they were of lifelong friends or near-strangers. It wasn't for the ordinary reasons – the bitterness of change, the fear of being left behind, the splendor of the pure joy of two people who loved each other greatly. She found little things, beautiful things that no one noticed, to weep about: the pride of a father, radiant bridesmaids, the orchestra tuning its instruments. Earlier in the day she caught sight of Andy alone with an entire bottle of whiskey during the first dance, so she forced back the prickling sensation behind her eyes and pulled him into the quickstep herself.

They swept through a wide turn. "So am I," Kira answered finally, observing the tears streaking down her cheeks, silvery and fleeting on a pale face.

"They've been through so much," she sniffed. "I know it was never of my concern, but I worried for them for the first few years after the last war. They were both unsure and broken and people drift apart all the time, don't they?"

"Not those who truly care for each other," he reassured, and Lacus smiled up at him tremblingly. They dodged a passing Yzak, who was so absorbed in trying to keep from stepping on his partner's feet that he couldn't lead properly.

Kira drew Lacus slightly closer. "Let's go home, Lacus."

She breathed in deeply. "Do you think it's for the best?"

"It's been six years," he continued seamlessly, even as they both knew she didn't mean their country. "Cyril Nikos has announced his candidacy for the next elections. If you run again he won't win, but he's the one we've been waiting for, isn't he?"

"Yes, he would indeed be an ideal chairman." Lacus faltered. "And I believe our presence has not been necessary to the welfare of the PLANTs for a long time now." She looked at her shoes. "But what about us, Kira?"

"We'll buy a house on the coast, in Orb," he offered hastily. "By the ocean, which you've always wanted. The children have gone off to school, but we can visit them in the orphanage whenever they're on vacation."

The waltz crescendoed to its peak, phrases long and open and soaring.

"We'll be right next to everyone here on Earth, and we can still meet everyone from the PLANTs on Sundays." Kira let Lacus rest her head on his shoulder. "It'll be just us. No council, no media, no obligations to anyone except ourselves. Me, and you." He stumbled over his words, and the end of his sentence came out sounding like a question. "You, er, my wife?"

Lacus stopped moving abruptly in the middle of the gliding pairs and drew her head away. "Kira?"

Kira continued to stammer, his usual composure slipping away in the face of a hurried proposal. "Well, ah, if it would suit you. I mean, I assumed it would, because, you know, we've been doing this for eight years." He frowned deeply, visibly upset. "I'm doing this wrong, aren't I? And I haven't a ring, because I know you've always wanted to wear your mother's diamond." His eyebrows knitted together as she met his eyes steadily. "It's fine, right? You agree?"

Lacus glanced around at their surroundings, hesitated momentarily, decided no one was paying any attention to them, and then kissed Kira on the mouth briefly. When he pulled away, he noticed that she was crying once more, and the music was fading into long, dying notes.

"Aren't you happy?" he asked, uncertain of her feelings for the first time in a long time.

"That's why," she replied, and fell into his arms.

notes: I realize I haven't written much about Kira and Lacus in SPTW. That's not because I dislike them as characters; I'm rather fond of Kira especially. But there isn't much to say when they behave as if they've been married for decades. They seem old, and wise, and perfect, and there isn't a lot you can do with that. That said, I like them together, even if I did wish Lacus was portrayed less as an eternal being and more as a girl. We've honestly never seen her do any wrong.

Thank you for reading! As always, feedback is highly appreciated.

NEXT PHASE: They are beautiful – their children, who laugh freely in the meadow and who truly believe that the purple streaks in the night sky are shooting stars.