More Than Anything

[AU] [Athrun x Cagalli] Eight years have passed since the incident that would change their futures, and she gave up love for his happiness. Now he comes back into her life, seemingly going against everything she has fought so hard for.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED or Gundam SEED Destiny.

Chapter One

'Darn, I hope I'm not too late…' Shooting her wristwatch a quick glance, she wondered why on Earth they decided to choose a place so far away from her office. 'The food better be good. And I better not be paying.'

To her relief, the café was not that much further. She brushed a few strands of her blonde hair out of her eyes and straightened up.

To her misfortune, however, she caught sight of a brunette sitting alone at one of the patio tables, calmly gazing off into the distant skies.

She sighed, disappointed with herself. This was not the first time she had kept him waiting. How he had the patience to deal with her at all completely astounded her, considering it has already been almost 25 years.

'But then again,' she thought, 'siblings have to deal with this kind of thing. It's like, a sibling thing…' "Kira!"

The brunette, her brother, turned his head towards her at the sound of her voice, at the calling of his name. "Cagalli."

She loved this man, she knew. Always, without fail, he greeted her with that same ol' smile she's always known, always lived with, and always cherished. Never mind the fact that he was older now, more mature, and having suffered pains Cagalli wish he never had to go through.

"I'm sorry I'm late, office things, as usual…" she gave him a meek smile, and her heart nearly soared at the chuckle he offered in return.

"Come here, it's been too long." They closed the distance between them, and she clung to him, taking in the familiar scent, so similar to her own, of her twin.

She wished that she could see him more often. It was difficult enough, having to live on her own after he got engaged to her best friend. It was difficult enough even before that, her working schedule making it nearly impossible to eat a single meal with him.

She wished she could say things have changed, but she knew she was lying to herself.

And once again, being his considerate and sweet self, he did not pull away from her, even after several minutes had elapsed.

Things weren't easy for him either, Cagalli knew. She wasn't the only busy one, and she knew he didn't want her to blame herself.

In times like these, they cherished the sibling bond between them like a lifeline, clinging on for safely and reassurance.

Finally, Cagalli was the one to pull away. "How's Lacus?"

He offered her a chair. "She's fine. She's trying to keep Meer from totally wreaking havoc on her name and company, and goodness knows that's a tiring job." Cagalli laughed, recalling her best friend's cousin.

"I envy Lacus for her unlimited patience," she said as she picked up the menu, "I probably would have punched Meer by now and told her to get her own look."

Giving her that 'oh you' smile of his that he usually reserved for his sister, he shook his head amusedly. "There's a reason you don't have a cousin, or anyone for that matter, impersonating you."

"Hey!" She stuck his tongue out at him, and shifted her attention back to the menu.

After they ordered, they chatted for a bit. Kira inquired after Miriallia, their close childhood friend who lived close to Cagalli, and laughed appropriately when she told him about their friend's troubled relationship. Cagalli asked about his own company, and he jokingly said he was considering turning it into a funeral home instead because of all the work he had to deal with.

When their food arrived, Cagalli dug in immediately (how could anyone say no to cake? And coffee?), while Kira dug out a couple of folders.

She immediately zeroed in the manila folders. "Oh no."

"Now, Cagalli…" there was no remorse or regret in his voice or expression as he handed them to her. Grudgingly, she accepted them while wondering if she could get away with spilling her coffee on them.

And of course, Kira would take her coffee away from her and steal a sip. Or a gulp. That evil twerp.

Ignoring the steely glint in her eyes, he said, "Look, I actually took the time to look through them this time, give one or two of them a chance, will you?"

"Kira, for the last time, I am not interested in another matchmaking session. Why are you even setting me up on dates?" She gave him a heated glare, sudden anger slowly making its way into her voice.

"You're 25, almost 30, Cagalli, with no love life whatsoever. I wouldn't interfere, you know that." He ignored her disapproving gaze and continued, "I know you're not happy right now. I just want to help."

His twin rolled her eyes. "Doesn't change the fact that you, my brother plus setting me up for matchmaking sessions equals Weird with a capital w."

"Are you actually interested in girls? I wouldn't mind, you know that. Have I been setting you up with the wrong gender?"

"For the love of— Kira, I swear, if you do not stop sending your own sister to meet potential marriage partners, I will show Lacus your stash of fanboyism."

"You would not."

"Try me."

Kira sighed. "At least give them a look over, please?"

She responded with a sigh of her own, and opened one of the folders bitterly. Her eyes fell upon light blue hair, a boy-ish face, and huge teal eyes. "Kira, I'm not a pedophile."

He sent her a 'are you kidding me' look. "Mr. Neider's 22, he's not that much younger than you are. He's the heir to an engineering company, and quite a popular basketball player."

"He's too young," she insisted. "Too innocent." Flipping over to the next page, she nearly fell off her chair laughing. "Really, Kira? Shinn? Isn't he dating Lunamaria?"

This time, it was a 'who do you think I am' look. "They broke up two months ago. He's single and already beginning to mingle."

"I am not dating this jerk with anger management issues."

"Next one, then."

"Kira, I told you Shiho has dibs on Yzak!"

"They're still not together? Next one."

She shot him another glare before opening the next one.

- an hour later –

"Remember, try not to be late for the meeting, alright?" Kira held his arms out for a hug, one that Cagalli reluctantly gave him. "Shinn may have anger management issues but you don't need to poke the sleeping dragon, alright?

"Fine, fine. But you're paying next time," she warned him.

To her dismay, it seemed that the only one she was even remotely okay with having an arranged meeting with was Shinn, who worked at Kira's security company. Knowing that Kira would not let her go without choosing one of them, she decided she might as well choose one she actually knew and could even have some fun with.

Unfortunately, that left her with the only option of Shinn Asuka.

And she had to pay for the meal.

Hearing her brother call Shinn up to settle things was even more embarrassing.

"Saturday, 8 pm, at Butterfly, alright?" She nodded glumly in response. "I'll see you soon, Cagalli, alright? And try not to kill poor Shinn, he's actually a valuable worker."

"You better!" She threw him a playful pout. "Don't worry, I'll just send you one of my own."

And just like that, with one last hug, each left the café, back to their individual lives that left hardly any time for their own siblings.

"Ms. Hibiki, can you check this before we proceed with testing?" "They said they were unwilling to sign, what should I do?" "Can I have an early leave? My wife…"

Every day, it was like this. Managing a hospital was exhausting, and she wondered why she even bothered. She was unsuited for the job.

Her employees, doctors and nurses and researchers alike, always sought her out when really, they could just report to the head of their respective operations. Kira had said she always had charisma, and that they just wanted to be closer to their CEO, but Cagalli felt like she was being tested constantly.

It made sense, though, and she understood completely. She was only 25, didn't even have a medical degree, and she was running this establishment that her parents had left behind.

Although one would think that after 8 years of smooth sailings, they would have learned to trust the hospital CEO by now.

"Send a copy of that document to me, I'll review it later. Call them again, inform them that this is their last chance and if they don't take it, they can forget having any relations with Hibiki Hospital in the future. Yes, you may have an early leave, say hello to your wife for me." She wasn't even able to reach her own office yet, and here she was, being bombarded by people who didn't trust her.

Of course, a lot of the smooth sailings were thanks to Uzumi and Kisaka, family friends and second in command and third command, respectively, of the hospital.

Cagalli knew she could trust them; not once did they question her judgement or decisions, and only offered possible alternatives when possible. They left the decision making to her and advised her when she first began the job after her parents died in the accident.

"Kisaka, update me on my schedule for this week?" Finally reaching her office, she spared the older man a quick nod and slipped inside. "I know I have that news conference about the diabetic treatment on Friday…"

"That, and just a few meetings throughout the week. I'll send it to your phone," replied Kisaka, his fingers dashing about his tablet. "Uzumi said he would be willing to go over some brief points in preparation for the news conference, if you wish to."

Cagalli nodded absently, already focused on the documents lying on her desk. "Will do… can you call Shiho here for me?"

"As you wish." With that, Kisaka left the office.

After scribbling her messy signature on some documents, there was a light knock on the door. "Shiho? Is that you?"

"Can I come in, Ms. Hibiki?" There was the soft sound of snickering from the other side of the door and Cagalli resisted the urge to throw her stapler at the door.

"Yes you may, Ms. Hahnenfuss, and try not to let the door hit you," she replied sarcastically. "On second thought, please do let the door hit you on your way in."

Shiho rolled her eyes as she came in. "No need to be mean, Cagalli, I was only being polite."

"Try being any more polite and I might just politely demote you."

"Hey, that's not fair! Abuse of power!" Shiho cried dramatically, pointing accusingly to her friend. "I demand a trial for wrongful termination!"

"Oh, get out, will you? I'm not even firing you! Stop watching so much TV!" Unable to contain her laughter, the blonde CEO almost collapsed out of her chair.

The brunette stuck her tongue out childishly, before sitting in the chair in front of the CEO's desk. "So, president, why am I here?"

Clearing her throat, Cagalli stared at her close friend very seriously. "I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, Shiho…" she watched her friend tense up suddenly in worry and anxiety, "but… you need to make a move on Yzak, and fast."

"Say what?" The amber-eyed blonde had to keep herself from bursting out in hysterics at her friend's look of disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"I had lunch with Kira earlier, and you know how he is…"

"Insists on being his sister's matchmaker?"

"And y'know, giving me a list of awful men as usual… can you believe it? I have a date on Saturday with Shinn! Shinn Asuka!"

"Wait, that little knob? Wasn't he dating Lunamaria? WAIT, is that why she came crying to me like two months ago?"

"I didn't even know," Cagalli replied faintly. Lunamaria Hawke and Shinn Asuka had been dating all throughout high school, Shiho and Cagalli having met them when the couple were two grades below them. "Out of all the couples from high school, aside from Kira and Lacus, I thought they were definitely going to last."

Shiho gave her a pitying look, one that Cagalli refused to acknowledge. "I guess that explains why she didn't tell me why she moped – and is probably still moping – then, it's pretty hard news to tell everyone…" Staring thoughtfully out the window, she asked, "Wait, then why are you going on a date with him? You know Luna will probably take offense to that…"

"Shiho, of course I'm not interested in Shinn, I just needed to choose the least offensive person on the list – and that brings me to why I called you in; Yzak was on that list of candidates Kira offered me."

"Say that again?" Shiho snapped, her mouth dropping wide open. "Yzak was on the list?"

"Of course I said absolutely not, but Shiho, I thought you were going to ask him out like, last month?"

"Oh man, I tried, you have no idea…"

After half an hour whining about their unsettling lack of love lives, Shiho stood up, shaking her head.

"He's just way too dense, I'm beginning to wonder if he's gay for Dearka or something."

"No way," Cagalli disagreed, "and anyways, Dearka's totally taken by Miriallia."

"Well, then, he must be really, really, thick-headed," Shiho responded glumly. "I'm so tempted to just show up at his house naked, maybe then he'll actually notice me. Anyways, I've got to get back to work. Drinking sometime soon?"

Chortling to herself quietly, Cagalli made a sound of consent and watched her high school friend walk out. 'Poor Shiho', she thought to herself, 'she's practically throwing herself at the man and he remains the brick wall he's always been.' Shaking her head, she returned to the documents that begged for her attention.

"How was Cagalli?" Kira turned away from the outside view of his office, to the pink-haired owner of the melodious voice.

"It was nice." A small smile graced his lips as he walked towards his girlfriend of nearly 9 years. "Just the usual shenanigans, matchmaking, you know."

Lacus suppressed a small giggle, snuggling into his chest as he embraced her. "Why you still insist on finding your sister's love for her is still lost on me."

"Not you too!" Kira exclaimed, pouting at her. "At this rate, she'll be single for life!"

"She – and we – are only 25, Kira," replied the pink-haired princess. "She's still young, and you know how busy she gets with running Hibiki Hospital. Let her find love on her own."

Kira's lips settled into a grim line. "She won't. You know she won't."

Lacus knew. It had not been a good time for anyone. That tragic day Via and Ulen Hibiki were killed in the car accident when they were in high school still marked the saddest Lacus had ever seen her love.

Both Cagalli and Kira were in school, and upon being called to the office, didn't return back to classes until nearly two weeks later. Lacus didn't even find out from either of the twins; the tragedy was covered in the news.

It also marked the time Kira and Cagalli they got into a serious fight that left both sides unsatisfied. Eventually, they had grown apart, each sibling too caught up in their own thoughts. Lacus never found out what they had fought over, but she knew that Kira never really forgiven himself for it.

"It's been nearly 8 years," she murmured, "of course she wouldn't get over it so soon…"

Her violet-eyed partner sighed, looking away. "She's too stubborn."

Laughing softly, Lacus leaned her head on his shoulder. "Sounds like a certain twin of hers I know…"

He was about to retort when there was suddenly a knock on the door. "Come in."

Meyrin Hawke suddenly came in, holding a bunch of documents in her arms. "Hi Kira, hi Lacus! Sorry for interrupting," she added, blushing as she saw her boss and Lacus in a rather sweet and cuddly position, "I just wanted to drop these off before I left for the day…"

Kira chuckled at his secretary's red face, almost matching her red hair. "It's alright, Meyrin. You can leave them on the desk," he said, nodding at the desk beside him.

"There's also a letter for the two of you," the secretary eyes' were downcast, a slight blush on her cheeks.

Curious, Lacus took the offered letter, glancing at the sender. Silent shock echoed on Kira's and Lacus' faces as they took in the highly decorative envelope and the name of the sender.

"Wha- Meyrin, ho—" Kira's stammering was swiftly interrupted by Lacus.

"Congratulations, Meyrin! I didn't even realize he had proposed!" The red-head was suddenly engulfed with a hug from the singer. "I'm so happy for you!"

"Thank you," she whispered softly, "I-I didn't know… if you two would have been willing to receive this invitation or not," she continued, "but you two are my friends, and his as well, I know, so… I snuck this out to you two without him noticing."

Lacus' eyes quickly found her boyfriend's. There was still shock, and bitterness, and other feelings she couldn't quite discern at the moment. "No, thank you, Meyrin," responded Lacus, her expression open and practically radiant with joy for her friend. "I'll check the date, but I will definitely let you know as soon as possible."

Grateful light blue eyes sought Lacus' own. "Thank you! I'll be going now," she said, turning around to leave.

However, she stopped suddenly, looking down at something else she held in her hand, and faced the couple again. "Um… if possible, if it wouldn't be too much trouble… could you give this invitation to Cagalli as well?"

Lacus could feel her boyfriend freezing, and the room freezing right along with it. "I'll take that, thank you." She didn't dare look back at the brunette, whose fists she was sure were clenched.

"H-he said that he wanted to give her one, even when I said she wouldn't want to come…" There was visible anxiety in the younger girl's expression, and Lacus wished she could comfort her, but in front of Kira…

"Don't worry about it," she soothed the red-head gently, "I'll definitely pass it onto her, although I make no guarantees her decision…"

"That's all I ask for," replied Meyrin, bowing slightly. "I'll see you later, Kira. Have a good evening, you two!"

And with that, she left the room, leaving a seething Kira and a rather worried Lacus. "We are not going."

Lacus shot him a disapproving look. "I know you may not be happy about their marriage, but you can't let your own biases ruin your friendship with him." Her eyes softened as she saw how frustrated he was. "He's your best friend, Kira, even if that friendship has become nothing more than a few letters and phone calls."

"I can't, okay? My sister's happiness means more to me than his happiness, and currently my sister's happiness is at a fat level of 0; non-existent." His usually warm and welcoming violet eyes went dark, his face contorted into an expression of anger. "He's the one getting married, he's found his happiness. My sister probably never will. How can I go?"

She had nothing to say. She didn't know how to comfort him in times like these, and thankfully they were few. Dropping the invitation on the table, she just hugged him, rubbing his back and whispering soft, comforting words in his ear.

The card sat on the table, abandoned, but the name of the senders filled the room with a mixed atmosphere.

Athrun Zala and Meyrin Hawke
request the honour of your presence at the celebration of their union.

I've been a huge fan of Athrun and Cagalli (as characters and as a couple) and pretty much the series itself. It's been like, 8 years since I first watched Gundam SEED and even though I've found new fandoms and fallen in love with new characters, Athrun and Cagalli and the other characters will always have a special place in my heart. I don't know how I found myself in the fandom again (maybe news of the remasterings) but here is a story!

Let me know what you think? 8D

Lavellia.