In the middle of the night, an almost inaudible beeping from the next room woke a person deep in sleep. Almost like calling him to wake up. He rubbed his eyes and tried to blink several times to wake up. He looked over to the sound of the beeping. A faint glow flashed on an off. He could hear the whirring of the printer, taking in paper, and printing upon it. He kept blinking trying to wake himself up. He looked over to the side of the bed. The person next to him was still asleep.

Athrun slinked out of bed, trying not to wake Cagalli. He kept his footsteps as quiet as he could while still trying to concentrate on fully of getting awake. He was more awake when he closed the door. He flicked a lamp on, as he opened the laptop. He had it set to automatically print when he received files from certain contacts.

Athrun picked up the papers that fell on the floor. He was still trying to keep his eyes open. He didn't notice the photo he held in his hand until he brought it to the light. He was about to place it down and move on, but something told him to look at the photo again. He stared with droopy eyelids. His brain processed the image slower as it was still trying to wake up. When he finally realized what he was starting at, he almost let out a sound. Athrun's jaw dropped instead. He couldn't believe it. He was now wide awake. In his hand was the picture of Selena looking with adoration and love to the clone of Al da Flaga. He picked up the other photos that had just printed. All of them contained Selena with clones or relating to the clones.

This was the evidence he needed to show the others that Selena was not on their side. Kira and Lacus had felt it firsthand but this were now hard proof, Selena was not fighting the same fight they are, she was fighting against them. He looked over to the printer that kept continuing. Athrun logged into his laptop. The images were from Miriallia. She didn't say much except that the AI system 8 had archived pictures of Selena throughout the years.

Those in Terminal needed to see this, but the first person who needed to see these was Kira. Athrun forwarded the messages to him. Athrun organized the images in order as the printer kept up. He didn't hear the door open up.

"What's going on?" Cagalli had heard the printer, waking her up. She had noticed the bed was empty. They may not have always cuddled while they slept together, but feeling their presence in bed was just as nice. After the therapy and counseling sessions, the two had gotten over the obstacles that had kept them emotionally distant, which had led to them be physically closer.

"It's nothing we need to delve into tonight," Athrun looked at the clock. It was still late in the night. "You can go back to bed; I'll be right behind you. I'm just organizing this for now." He didn't glance at her. He kept looking through the pictures, placing them in order as best he could.

Cagalli was still sleepy. She picked up a photo from the floor. She narrowed her eyes trying to figure it out. She let out a gasp when she figured out what it was. "Is that Her Highness?"

"Yes," Athrun let out a sigh. "All of these are her. We can look more into tomorrow. Let's go back to bed."

"I didn't think she would go for a blonde," Cagalli let out a yawn while speaking.

Athrun paused. He turned around to see Cagalli, however his mind blanked when he saw her in a t-shirt that barely covered her underwear. "Ah, uh." The glow from the lamp and her drowsiness had emptied all the thoughts out of his head. Where the fabrics met on her body, the thoughts that bubbled into his mind, were thoughts he couldn't really say out loud.

"Hm?" Cagalli looked over to him, confused on to why he was just staring at her. She looked back to the photos. "If this is true, then we would receive the royal invitation."

"Ro-royal invitation?" Athrun had to keep his eyes from lingering.

"As a Princess of Orb," Cagalli picked up the rest on the floor. Athrun didn't turn away. "My family has always been invited to other royal events such as theirs. If it is true that she is engaged to him from the looks of these images, I will be receiving a royal invitation from them." She glanced over to Athrun who couldn't stop staring.

"Huh?" Athrun looked away. "Yeah. If it was true then. We shall wait and see. I already sent these off to Kira." Athrun logged out of the laptop. He stood up, grabbing the photos from Cagalli's hand. "This can wait until morning. He placed down the photos on keyboard. Athrun clicked off the lamp. The faint glow from the printer shined on their skin. Athrun leaned down to kiss Cagalli. As she met his kiss, his hand slinked around her body and picked her up. The door was open thanks to Cagalli entering earlier, making it easier for him to head back to the bedroom with her in his arms.

The images were forwarded to Kira. He had a similar setup. Except it was Lacus the one who had noticed first. Kira was fast asleep in their bed. Lacus had been staying up, working late as usual. Mr. Pink had gotten her attention, flapping, and rolling around. Lacus left her work, following Mr. Pink to the printer. She saw the photos printing out, one after the other. Lacus frowned. She looked through the small pile that was starting to accumulate. She left the photos on the floor, still scattered while more photos slid off the printer. Lacus headed to the room where the chess set was placed at.

Mr. Pink followed behind her. The chess set was still in the same room even after the incident. She would still check on it periodically. It used to be occasionally, but now after seeing the printed photos, Lacus might have to check it every day. The pieces were still in the same place. She didn't know if it would make her comfortable if a piece had moved or not moved. Lacus sat down on her side. She picked up the white queen chess piece. She flipped the piece to gaze at the bottom. Etched on the bottom was her name in cursive. She placed the chess piece back down. It didn't matter where she placed it, the piece would move back to its spot. Lacus reached over to pick up the black queen chess piece. On the bottom side, was Selena's name etched in cursive. Lacus put the piece back down. It moved back to its spot. Lacus let out a sigh. She asked the pieces to show any new movements. No pieces moved. Lacus felt the same.

Lacus left the chess set. She couldn't concentrate on her work anymore, after looking at the newest photos. She headed back to her bedroom. She made sure not to wake Kira as she changed into her nightgown. She lifted up the blankets, trying to sneak in, but Kira had woken up to her.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Lacus whispered. "I didn't mean to wake you."

Kira wrapped his arms around her. "Don't be." He didn't open his eyes but had a faint smile. "Done with work?"

"For now," Lacus snuggled into him, putting the covers over herself. She was sorry she had woken him up, but it was nice to be held. "Can I ask you something?"

"Always," Kira brought her closer into him.

"How did you feel when you found out you were fighting against Athrun during the First War?" Lacus had asked him this question before.

"Hm?" Kira half heard her question. He felt it was a familiar question. "Oh. It was hard. Athrun was my childhood friend from Copernicus City. We did so many things together, solidifying our friendship for a lifetime it seemed like. When I found out it was him, I was fighting against, it felt a bit like betrayal. I know we didn't choose to fight one another on purpose, but it almost felt like it. Even though we knew our reasons of why we had to fight, it was then on purpose. Betraying those years as friends all for war. It hurt a lot. Looking back, I kept those emotions in. I channeled them through unhealthy avenues. I sought after things trying to fill a void, not knowing that's what it was. I'm glad I can fight alongside him now, but looking back, those feelings still sting." His answer had woken himself up some more. He could see Lacus trying to figure things out. He stared at her trying to think it over.

Kira kept waiting for a response, but he couldn't stay awake any longer. He fell back to sleep. Lacus was glad he fell asleep. She felt bad that she couldn't explain to him what she was feeling at the moment, but she did like hearing that she was not alone with that feeling. It did feel like betrayal.

The next day, Athrun and Kira were talking to each other through video. Lacus was not there, as she had work still. Cagalli was by Athrun, sifting through the photos.

"Then what we have come to fear, is true," Kira had looked through all of the photos. "I don't think Lacus saw them yet, but I will show her."

"We have to tread very carefully from now on," Athrun warned. "Andrew has kept harping on us to treat Princess Selena with care, but now that this has come, we can't make anymore mistakes. She already has Yzak. Cagalli said that if this was a royal engagement, she would get an invitation."

"That would be worse for us, right?" Kira remembered. "She would then gain control for all of the Kingdom."

"Right," Athrun agreed. "Not only does this clone have control of some of Earth Alliance territory, but could gain control all of it."

"But if he shot down her vessel, I don't see how she could have forgiven him?" Kira brought up.

"I don't know that either," Athrun hadn't figured out that part. "If we don't hear anything about Yzak's return, I think it is upon us to be proactive and send someone instead."

"Send someone?" Kira balked. "There is a chance that she would keep them too."

"Yes, but it's the only way we will know if Princess Selena is hindering ZAFT as well," Athrun had multiple plans made. "I'm laying out plans now that we can bring up to everyone. We can decide on which one is well suited."

"What does Cagalli think?" Kira wanted to hear her thoughts too.

Cagalli came into the frame after hearing his question. "I think that it's a good idea. We know she's capable. I think its better to gage her reaction. We also don't know how Yzak is doing. We can try to put our plan into action before this is made public. I say we should try it. If we don't receive an invitation, then this is Selena doing what she wants."

"Wait, so if you don't receive a royal invitation, this means that the Kingdom doesn't approve of it?" Kira was trying to wrap his head around it.

Cagalli nodded. "Right. Princess Selena is in the same situation I was in. She is betrothed. However, no one knows who she is betrothed to. But that may not be the case. Everyone knew except for me that I was betrothed to Yuna until it was time."

"Alright," Kira nodded. "Hopefully this won't turn out for the worse, and its just the Princess doing what she wants. I'll show Lacus the photos and tell her about our plan. Let me know about the next course of action."

"Will do," Athrun nodded.

The screen went black. Kira let out a sigh. He didn't want to go against Princess Selena, but it is now inevitable. He had to start thinking that he may even battle against her. Kira picked up the photos. He put them back into a folder. He walked to find her since she was not in her work room. Kira ventured to the chess room. He remembered that night where Selena had surprised him. The chess set that was still in play. He looked around the room. It was another room with ornate furnishings. There was cabinet with glass all around to display trinkets and glassware. Inside were two porcelain swans, one black, one white, pared up with one another. Kira hadn't really noticed them before. Lacus was not there. Kira headed to another room. It wasn't odd for Lacus to not be found. Sometimes she would take a walk or play with the Haros to get her mind off things. Sometimes she would be tending to the flowers or in the kitchen helping out with baking or cooking.

Kira headed to a few more rooms. He came across a drawing room that held photo albums and portraits. There was a family portrait in the middle. A lovely woman with long brow hair and blue eyes holding Lacus who was a toddler in a frilly pink dress with white and purple bows. Siegel was standing next to them. It was one of the few photos of the three of them Lacus had. There were a few photo albums out on the table. Kira went over to see them. Lacus must have been here recently. Sometimes she would reminisce.

Kira looked at the pictures displayed. It was when Lacus was a young girl. She had her pink hair in a bun on top of her head. She was dressed in a light pink leotard and a white tutu. She was poised and graceful. Other photos were her smiling and showing off. It was a side of Lacus he didn't know about. He flipped the page to see her posing next to a mirror. Kira flipped the page to see she was still next to a mirror but the mirror image was doing a different pose then she was. Kira looked back to that photo only to realize it was another person. Kira flipped the page back. Lacus wasn't next to a mirror, she was next to Selena.

Maybe this was the first time they had met. He flipped through seeing the two had gotten along well. The two were smiling together, hanging on one another. It looked like they were close friends. Kira kept flipping through. One picture he wouldn't have recognized Selena. She didn't have her bangs. Her hair was as long as Lacus'. The two were dressed up in formal attire standing before a famous ballet theater.

Kira flipped through to see how their relationship continued. He stopped on a page where Selena had her bangs and her hair reached her mid back. Kira could tell the young Selena had a slight harshness to her. Kira kept flipping through until there were no more photos. He stopped himself. He flipped back to where he could find them again. The last photos of the two together, Lacus was dressed in white tutu adorned with white feathers and rhinestones. She had tulle around her arms, and white feathers around her head. Kira tried to find Selena. He found her on the page before it. Selena was in a similar ballet costume but hers was in all black. It wasn't a photo of the two purposely together like earlier. The photos of them together were action shots. Her maliciousness looked sincere and not acting.

Kira flipped the album back to where it was. He kept thinking to himself that something must have happened that the two were no longer on the same side. He thought about what Lacus had asked him late last night. He almost thought it was a dream but now it makes more sense. Lacus is going through what him and Athrun went through. However, Athrun finally saw he was in the wrong, and the two worked together to bring peace to the Cosmic Era. He hoped the same could be done with Lacus and Selena but he also thought it might be too late. Kira shook his head. Its never too late to change. He headed out to find Lacus to show her the photos.

At the secret compound, Ra had been back and forth with Earth Alliance and the extremists. He was getting exhausted. They were demanding to see that Selena was actually on their side. He promised he wouldn't let them down. Ra walked away when he was finished. He headed down to Selena's room where she was kept.

"How was the pilot suit fitting?" He asked one of his subordinates close to the area.

"It fit her well," one answered. "Cockpits are identical so it should be no problem for her to use. Configuration between her cockpit and yours has had majority of the bugs fixed."

"Why not all?" Ra watched Selena exercise.

"We won't know all the bugs until the two of you are in combat," he answered.

"I see," Ra started to smile. "Well then, let's get ready for combat."

The subordinate froze. "But Sir! I thought you wanted the ceremony first!"

Ra waved him off. "I have idiots breathing down my neck since they cannot see the immense power I wield, so let's show them a bit of the power I wield. We still have the stand in while Selena gets back onto her feet if something should happen. Get the Morningstar ready to head back out. The Minerva has been sitting long enough to replenish what its lost, let's strike it down this time."