Cherished Bonds

Chapter 2: Unexpected Bonds

As the days passed, Athrun found himself increasingly drawn to Cagalli's company outside of the confines of the preschool. What started as occasional conversations about Mia's progress in school blossomed into deeper discussions about their own lives and interests.

As the conversation between Athrun and Cagalli deepened, Athrun found himself opening up about a deeply personal aspect of his life.

Athrun shared with Cagalli the bittersweet story of his late wife, revealing that they had been childhood friends along with Kira and Lacus. They had drifted apart but reconnected after university, eventually falling in love and getting married. Mia came into their lives a year later, but tragically, his wife passed away due to complications during childbirth.

Cagalli listened attentively, her expression filled with empathy as Athrun spoke about the pain of losing his wife and the challenges of raising Mia without a mother. His worries for Mia's well-being weighed heavily on him, especially as she grew older and became more aware of her circumstances.

"I can't help but worry about Mia," Athrun admitted, his voice tinged with sadness. "She's never had the chance to meet her mother, and as she grows older, I'm afraid she'll feel the absence even more."

Cagalli reached out, her hand squeezing Athrun's reassuringly. "I understand your concerns, Athrun," she said softly. "But from what I've seen, Mia is surrounded by love and care. And while she may not have her mother here with her, she has you. And your love is more than enough to guide her through life."

"I hope so, I really do." Athrun whispered.

"We all have our moments of doubt and struggle but that doesn't dimmish the love and care you show to Mia every day." Cagalli paused and then revealed that she, too, had been raised by a single father. Her mother had passed away when she was just four years old, succumbing to a long battle with illness.

Cagalli hesitated for a moment before continuing, her voice softening as she spoke. "I understand how you feel, Athrun. I was raised by my father after my mother passed away when I was young. He worked tirelessly to provide for me, juggling his job and parenting duties. He tried his best to fill the void left by my mother's absence, just as you're doing now, Athrun. It wasn't easy for him, and I am sure that it is not easy for you too. But I am sure that you will be fine. You are stronger than you think you are."

"Thank you, Cagalli," Athrun said sincerely, his voice filled with appreciation. "It must have been tough for you, losing your mother at such a young age."

Cagalli nodded, her expression reflective. "It was difficult, but my father was always there for me," she replied, her voice filled with warmth. "He is one of the reasons that I have choose to pursue a career in early childhood education, as I realized the importance of positive role models in a child's life.

" Well, we have your father to thank for having such a good teacher." Athrun chuckled and joked while looking at Cagalli.

Athrun's ability to joke signaled that he is feeling better. His comment brought a smile to her face, easing some of the tension she had felt earlier. She nodded in agreement.

As Athrun and Cagalli locked eyes, a subtle shift occurred between them. In that fleeting moment of connection, they felt something stirring deep within their hearts, a spark of emotion that left them both feeling unsettled yet intrigued.

Soon after, Cagalli felt a rush of embarrassment when she realized her hand was resting on Athrun's, and she quickly pulled away, cheeks flushing with color as she glanced away shyly. Athrun's gaze lingered on the blushed Cagalli, his thoughts racing as he tried to make sense of the unfamiliar feelings swirling inside him.

The tensed moment was break by Mia running towards them after she is done playing at the park. "Papa, Miss Cagalli, Mia is hungry! Let's go eat"

Mia's enthusiasms brought laughter to both Athrun and Cagalli. Athrun extended his hand towards Mia, a warm smile gracing his lips as he stood up from the bench. "Alright sweetheart, let's go to your favorite family restaurant place for dinner." Athrun turned to Cagalli, "Shall we?"

Cagalli rose from her seat, a smile spreading across her face as she agreed to join them for dinner.


As Athrun dialed Cagalli's number, his mind raced with the urgency of the situation. He knew he had to inform her about the unexpected turn of events and ask for her help with Mia.

When Cagalli answered the phone, Athrun's voice was filled with a mixture of frustration and concern. "Cagalli, I'm sorry to bother you, but there's been a complication with our project," he explained quickly. "And I have to stay back with my team to re-do everything for the presentation tomorrow." Athrun paused, and continue "Kira and Lacus are not available today to look after Mia." Athrun paused again.

"Of course, Athrun. I understand," she replied sympathetically. "Do what you need to do, and I'll take care of Mia for you."

Athrun is shocked that Cagalli knew what was he going to ask. He let out a sigh of relief, grateful for Cagalli's understanding and support. "Thank you, Cagalli. I really appreciate it," he said sincerely. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

As they ended the call, Cagalli approached Mia with a gentle smile, trying to find the right words to break the news to her. "Mia, sweetheart," she began softly, "Your Papa called. He's going to be a little late tonight. There's some important work he needs to finish up."

Mia's face fell slightly at the news, but she nodded understandingly. "Okay, Miss Cagalli," she replied, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Cagalli knelt down to Mia's eye level, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know it's not what we planned, but how about we make the best of it?" she suggested with an encouraging smile. "What would you like to do tonight? We can do anything you want."

Mia's eyes lit up at the offer, her disappointment fading away as she thought about the possibilities. After a moment of consideration, she grinned up at Cagalli. "Miss Cagalli you are looking after me? Can we have a movie night?" she asked eagerly. "With popcorn and everything?"

Cagalli couldn't help but smile back at Mia's enthusiasm. "Yes! I have the honor tonight to look after you, little princess. Your wish is granted. Movie night it is," she replied, ruffling Mia's hair affectionately. "Let's go pick out a movie together, and I'll get the popcorn ready."

Cagalli quickly typed out a message to Athrun, wanting to ease his worries and let him know that everything was under control.

"Hey Athrun," she began, "just wanted to let you know that Mia and I are going to have a movie night at my place tonight. Don't worry about a thing – we've got it covered. Focus on your work, and we'll see you when you get here. Take care!"

With a sense of reassurance, Cagalli hit send, knowing that her message would reach Athrun soon. She hoped that her words would help alleviate some of his stress and allow him to concentrate on the task at hand.

As Athrun read Cagalli's message, a sense of relief washed over him. Her reassuring words eased the weight of guilt that had been weighing on his shoulders, allowing him to focus fully on his work.

With renewed determination, Athrun dove back into the task at hand, pouring all of his energy and concentration into the project. Every keystroke and decision were made with precision and purpose as he worked tirelessly to make up for lost time.

As Athrun arrived at Cagalli's place, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. Stepping out of his car, he quickly made his way to the front door, eager to reunite with Mia and thank Cagalli for looking after her.

However, when Cagalli opened the door, she gestured for Athrun to be quiet as she whispered, "Mia fell asleep a little while ago. She's resting in my room."

Athrun nodded understandingly, his heart swelling with gratitude for Cagalli's kindness. "Thank you, Cagalli," he whispered back, his voice filled with appreciation.

Cagalli smiled warmly, stepping aside to let Athrun into the cozy apartment. "Come in, Athrun. I reheated some food for you. Nothing fancy though. I figured you might be hungry after such a long day," she said softly, leading him to the kitchen. Athrun felt a surge of gratitude as he followed Cagalli inside. The aroma of the warm meal filled the air, and he couldn't help but feel touched by her thoughtfulness.

As they sat down at the table, Athrun thanked Cagalli again for taking care of Mia and for preparing the meal for him. Athrun felt a gentle squeeze on his hand, "You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, Athrun," she whispered, " Don't feel guilty for not being able to pick up Mia today. We had a great time together, and she understands your situation. I made sure of that"

Athrun saw a softness in her eyes that eased the weight on his heart. Her touch was comforting, her voice a soothing melody amidst the turmoil of his thoughts. He is amazed on how Cagalli is able to read his mind.

As Mia sleepily walked out from Cagalli's room, her eyes blinked in the soft light of the apartment. She saw her father and Cagalli sitting at the table, chatting and laughing together, and a warm feeling spread through her chest.

With a sleepy smile, Mia padded over to where her father sat and wrapped her arms around his waist in a sleepy hug. "Papa," she murmured, nuzzling against him.

Athrun's heart swelled with love as he looked down at his daughter. He gently returned her hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Hey there, sleepyhead," he whispered affectionately.

Cagalli watched the tender moment between father and daughter with a soft smile, her heart warmed by the love they shared. "Did you have a good nap, Mia?" she asked gently.

Mia nodded, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Yeah, Miss Cagalli," she replied with a yawn. "I dreamed about unicorns."

Athrun chuckled softly, exchanging a knowing glance with Cagalli. "Sounds like a magical dream," he remarked, ruffling Mia's hair affectionately.

When the time is getting late, Mia reluctantly let go of her father's hand and turned to face Cagalli, her eyes filled with gratitude and affection. "Thank you for taking care of me, Miss Cagalli," she said softly, her voice tinged with warmth.

Cagalli smiled warmly at Mia, feeling a surge of fondness for the sweet little girl. "You're welcome, Mia. Anytime," she replied gently, reaching out to ruffle Mia's hair affectionately.

Athrun placed a comforting hand on Mia's shoulder, his gaze meeting Cagalli's with a sense of appreciation. "Thank you for everything, Cagalli," he said sincerely, his voice filled with gratitude. "We really appreciate it."

Cagalli returned Athrun's gaze with a warm smile, her amber eyes reflecting the flickering light of the candles. "You're welcome, Athrun. Anytime," she replied softly, her words carrying a sense of warmth and sincerity.

As Mia and Athrun prepared to leave, Cagalli stepped forward to give Mia a gentle hug. "Take care, Mia. Have a good night's sleep, I will see you tomorrow" she murmured, her voice filled with tenderness.

Mia hugged Cagalli back tightly, feeling a sense of comfort in her embrace. "Goodnight, Miss Cagalli, see you tomorrow" she whispered, her voice muffled against Cagalli's shoulder.


As Cagalli scanned the playground, her eyes fell upon Mia sitting alone in the corner, her usual bright demeanor replaced by a sense of melancholy. Concern etched across her features, Cagalli made her way over to the young girl, kneeling down beside her with a gentle smile.

"Hey there, Mia," she began softly, her voice warm and reassuring. "Is everything okay? You seem a little quiet today."

Mia glanced up at Cagalli, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and uncertainty. "Damien was teasing me," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "He said it's weird that I don't have a mother."

Cagalli's heart twinged with sympathy at Mia's words, a pang of sadness echoing within her own chest. But she pushed aside her own emotions, focusing instead on comforting the young girl before her.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that, Mia," she said gently, reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from the girl's face. "But you know, not having a mom doesn't make you any less special or loved. You have your papa who cares about you more than anything in the world."

Mia nodded slowly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "But is it a bad thing?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Cagalli's heart ached at the question, her own memories of loss and longing resurfacing in that moment. But she pushed aside her own pain, focusing instead on offering comfort to Mia.

"No, sweetheart, it's not a bad thing at all," she replied softly, her voice filled with warmth and reassurance. "Sometimes, things happen in life that we can't control. Always remember this Mia, your mama might not be here to love you, but she gave you your life, and I think this is the best proof that she loves you more than anybody in this world."

Mia's expression softened at Cagalli's words, a sense of understanding dawning in her eyes. "Yes, I have Papa who loves me, Mama in heaven who loves me, Aunt Lacus who loves me, Uncle Kira who love me, and Miss Cagalli who loves me, Mia has a lot of people who love me," she announced, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thanks, Miss Cagalli. I feel better now."

Cagalli nodded thoughtfully and smiled as she listened to Mia's words, a sense of understanding dawning in her eyes. "Yes Mia. We all loves you because you are special to us. Thank you for being you, little princess." Mia smiled and hug Cagalli.

"You know, Mia, I think it's important to share what happened with your papa," she said gently, her voice soft but firm. "He cares about you a lot, and he deserves to know what's going on in your life."

Mia looked up at Cagalli, her eyes wide with uncertainty. "But what if he gets mad?" she asked quietly, her voice tinged with worry.

Cagalli reached out to gently brush a stray strand of hair from Mia's face, her touch gentle and reassuring. "Your papa loves you more than anything, Mia," she said softly. "And part of loving someone is being there for them, no matter what. I'm sure he'll want to know what happened so he can help you feel better."

Mia nodded slowly; her expression thoughtful as she considered Cagalli's words. "Okay," she said finally, a small smile spreading across her face. "I'll tell him when we get home."

Cagalli returned the smile, her heart swelling with pride for the brave young girl before her. "That's the spirit, Mia," she said warmly, giving the girl's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I'll be here to support you every step of the way."

Later that night

Cagalli's heart swelled with relief as she listened to Athrun's words, a sense of gratitude washing over her. "Thank you for letting me know, Athrun," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth and appreciation. "I'm glad Mia took my advice and opened up to you. It sounds like she's handling things really well."

Athrun chuckled softly on the other end of the line, the sound comforting to Cagalli's ears. "Yeah, she's a resilient one, that's for sure," he said warmly. "And I have you to thank for that. Your advice really helped her see things in a different light."

Cagalli smiled at Athrun's words, "I'm just glad I could help," she replied sincerely. "Mia's such a special girl, and she deserves all the love and support in the world."

There was a brief pause on the line as Athrun processed her words and feeling a subtle shift in Cagalli's demeanor, his voice soft when he spoke again. "Hey, want to try out the new ice cream shop at downtown this weekend? I did promise to make up to you for taking care of Mia that day."

Cagalli was taken back but couldn't resist her curiosity, "Matcha Eight?" Athrun chuckled and said yes. "How did you know I wanted to try that out? Are you a mind reader, Athrun?"

Athrun grinned mischievously, "Maybe I am, or maybe I just know you really well." Athrun paused and said, "we will pick you up at 10am this Saturday?"

"Yes! I can't wait. Have a good night Athrun." Cagalli said excitedly.

"Have a good night too Cagalli". Athrun said softly.


As Athrun's car pulled up outside Cagalli's apartment, Mia eagerly leaned over from the backseat, her face pressed against the window, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Athrun smiled at her infectious excitement before turning his gaze to Cagalli, who was waiting outside.

"Ready for some Matcha Eight?" Athrun called out cheerfully as Cagalli approached the car. Cagalli couldn't help but smile at the sight of Mia's enthusiasm, nodding in agreement.

"Definitely! Let's go," she replied, sliding into the passenger seat beside Athrun. Mia giggled with delight as they drove off towards the ice cream shop, her excitement palpable throughout the car ride.

Cagalli glanced over at Mia, who was bouncing in her seat with excitement. "So, Mia, what flavor are you thinking of trying today?" she asked with a grin.

Mia's eyes widened as she pondered the options. "Everything?" she suggested, her voice filled with anticipation.

Cagalli laughed at Mia's enthusiasm. "Everything it is then!" she said, amused by Mia's adventurous spirit.

Athrun chuckled and nodded. "Alright, let's go all out and try a little bit of everything," he agreed, glancing at Cagalli with a smile.

After indulging in an array of delightful flavors at Matcha Eight, Cagalli, Athrun, and Mia left the ice cream shop with satisfied smiles on their faces, especially Cagalli.

Cagalli turned to Athrun with a grateful smile, her eyes reflecting the joy of the day. "Thank you, Athrun, for bringing us here. This ice cream was definitely one of the best I've ever had," she said, sincerity lacing her words. "I had such a wonderful time with both of you." Cagalli looked at Mia.

Mia chimed in, her voice filled with delight, "I had so much fun too, Miss Cagalli! Thank you for taking us to Matcha Eight, Papa!" Her eyes were bright with happiness, reflecting the joy of the day spent with her father and Cagalli.

As Athrun glanced at Cagalli, he couldn't help but notice the sparkle in her eyes and the genuine excitement on her face can be on par with his four-year-old daughter. Both of their infectious energy brought a smile to his lips, and he found himself caught up in the moment, "You are welcome, both of you! I'm glad that both of you like it."

-End of Chapter 2-


Disclaimer: The characters mentioned in the story do not belong to me. They are the property of their respective creators, and this story is a work of fiction inspired by those characters.