Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed

Well, don't suppose anyone thought I would update this (considering its finished lol)

This is a treat for fans of a particular pairing I noticed, an alternate ending to the series.

Gundam Seed Purpose

Alternate Ending: Two souls

Orb-Cosmic Era 71

They had been through the war, lost their friends, and now sat in the hut of Reverend Malchio, the children whom had also lost around them. Food had been laid out, John and Andy made their coffee and Natarle and Murrue poured one another drinks. Lacus looked at Cagalli and Athrun, Flay and Kira and smiled, grateful for the happiness they were able to share. On the radio, the signing of the Junius Seven treaty was announced, marking the end of the Bloody Valentine war. The fighting was over and they could finally move on from the long conflict that had consumed their lives. Kira and Athrun could heal, and Murrue and Andy could live their lives in peace. But still, to Lacus it felt as if something was missing. Her father was gone, that she had accepted, but there was a lingering feeling in her heart that someone should be here. Someone whom had been an outsider at first, but had touched their hearts in many ways.

He had taught Cagalli temperance, to embrace an opinion other than her own.

He had taught Natarle defiance, to cast aside the rule book in favour of what was right.

He had taught Canard individuality, to accept whom he was and to embrace his family.

He had taught Flay compassion, to see others as simple human beings and not labels.

He had taught Kira strength, to fight with confidence and certainty and to live with confidence and certainty too.

Lacus touched her heart and blushed, remembering not just what he had taught her, but what he had given her too. She turned to Flay and Cagalli as they approached.

"Flay was just telling me about the inheritance she got from her father, she had an idea about a non-profit foundation," Cagalli said.

"I could really use your help in extending it to the Plants," Flay said.

"What is the foundation for?" Lacus asked.

"Who says it has to be for anyone? Veterans, war orphans, or just whoever could use help. My father spent so long just making money, carrying out politics that kept the poor, poor and the rich, rich, I want to give back," Flay explained.

"That sounds wonderful Miss Alster," Lacus said.

Flay shook her head, frowning mockingly at Lacus. She then smiled warmly as she offered Lacus her hand.

"My name is Flay, it's nice to meet you," she said.

The way she stood, the way she offered her hand, it reminded Lacus and Kira of a time on the Archangel. A time that Flay revealed her ignorance of others, a time Lacus tried to befriend her. Lacus smiled at Flay, and shook her hand.

"It is nice to finally meet you Flay," she said.

Kira smiled proudly at his girlfriend, he looked at her and realised that he had a crush on a different person back on the Archangel. But slowly Flay had grown into someone she could love. Because of the influence of Gekido Jaeger and Kyusai Thanos, she had grown into a stronger person.

"I was thinking we could form our first office here in Orb, then branch out to the Desert Dawn, Miriallia's getting into journalism so she might be able to help us open some eyes," Flay explained.

"I don't know about the desert dawn idea Flay, there are still people in South Africa who may see them as a terrorist organisation," Cagalli said.

John and Andy spat their coffee out, shocked that Cagalli criticised an organisation she once passionately fought for. For Athrun it was a far cry from the opinionated woman he had met on a beach. He nodded in approval over Cagalli's open mindedness, and her willingness to accept an ideology that opposed hers.

'Everyone can now have time to heal,' Lacus thought. 'Including me!'

She thought of her father, murdered by the organisation that manipulated both sides of the conflict. A victim, just like the many innocent people whose lives had been ruined. Homes destroyed, trauma inflicted on family's whose loved ones never came back from the war, or returned broken parodies of what they once were. And looking around her, Lacus saw the evidence of orphans made by the conflict. Children who would grow up without parents. Deep inside, Lacus clung not to the home and family she had lost, but someone she had come to care for dearly.

"The doctor did a DNA test, turns out, we are related," Canard said to Cagalli and Kira.

"But Cagalli was born naturally and I grew in an artificial womb, or is she a coordinator? Didn't you use the seed?"

"Don't get me started on the seed Kira," Canard snarled.

"You used it!"

"Yeah but it felt like a cheat code."

"Have you been talking to that Extended who plays all those games?" Cagalli asked.

"Maybe," Canard muttered.

"How are those guys?" Athrun asked.

"I've taken them in, we're working with Orb scientists to try and help them. Their bodies unfortunately have become dependent on the drugs they were enhanced with," Flay stated.

"Is it possible to rehabilitate them?" Kira asked.

"It isn't the mind Kira, they have to have a fix or their organs begin to shut down," Murrue said.

"But the doctors do have a treatment plan arranged, by reducing the dosages gradually and some gene therapy, we may be able to make them less dependent on the drugs and to not suffer the withdrawal systems...the only question is what are they going to do after?" Flay lowered her head, something a few of the others did.

Lacus saw it in them, they were all wondering what they were going to do. Cagalli had a certainty, lead her country. But Kira, Athrun and the others from the Archangel had no purpose. Murrue was considered a traitor for defecting to Orb, she couldn't go back to her old life as a teacher. Andrew and John were considered dead by ZAFT. Canard was also a traitor to the Eurasian federation and Athrun to ZAFT, plus he was the son of Patrick Zala, people would look at him differently in the Plants. Kira too didn't have the heart to finish his college education, nor did he want to go back to being a soldier. In fact out of all the people present, Lacus wondered just what Kira was going to do?

Kira took up a chair and sat on the porch, looking up at the sky.

"The stars are nice aren't they?" Lacus asked.

"Yeah!"

A day later

"The clouds are nice, aren't they?"

"Yeah!"

A week later

"Are you okay Kira?" Lacus asked.

"Fine, why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason."

A month later

"FOR GODS SAKE KIRA GO OUT AND GET A JOB!" Lacus yelled, her scream throwing Kira off of his rocking chair.

"Lazy bum, Lazy bum, lazy bum!" Mr Pink chanted.

Lacus shook the fantasy out of her head. That couldn't possibly happen, Kira had to get a job, right? When the cake came out, Lacus saw everyone sat together. Flay rested her head on Kira's shoulder. Cagalli and Athrun laughed at the cake across Canard's mouth. Andrew, Murrue and John clapped their cups together and the children played. Everyone had someone with them. She thought of joining them, but decided against it. Walking to the door, she opened it and walked out. Walking bare foot on the sand, Lacus ran a hand through her hair, feeling the wind and the hiss of the sea.

'They never found him,' Lacus thought.

A pictured appeared in front of her, of Gekido floating around in space. The young man's helmet cracked, his body still.

'No, he's still alive, they never found him, they never...never...found him,' Lacus thought, gripping her arms tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

But she fought, fought as she had been taught to. There was a time to cry, and this was not it. She stopped holding her hands, looked up at the sky and smiled. Then, she stood what she knew best. She sang.

"Beneath a veil so cold,
You deeply sleep, all alone
The melody of prayer; on the lonely fields,
a little light shined

Flay opened the door of the house, seeing a brown haired girl with glasses. Canard looked over her shoulder, and the girl's eyes brightened. She pushed through Flay and leapt at Canard, wrapping her arms around him with tears. He held her gently, sheepishly introducing her as a friend he had made, Meriol Pistis.

"I watched as you dreamed
You laughed like a child
So dear, and yet so far -
That is the promise of our future

The children of the orphanage ran away from Mr Rage, the new Haro that Lacus had. Meriol widened her eyes in shock as Canard introduced Cagalli and Kira as his little sister and brother. She eagerly shook their hands. Reverend Malchio sat on his chair and smiled as he heard everyone laugh.

"That one day, on a green morning,
One day, we will make it there
Because in this wintered sky
We still believe
Fields of Hope

He stepped off of the bus, carrying his duffel bag over his shoulder. Just a quick check, he told himself, walking on the path to the beach. Lacus span as she sang, moving her hands gracefully in time to her lyrics and the music playing in her heart.

"On the day we were born, we were embraced
And now we search for those gentle hands again
The melody of prayer; one vanishes,
And all begins again; a powerless, painful continuation

In another part of Orb, Vincent stood with Sai and Kuzzey, discussing with a few ZAFT and Earth Alliance soldiers forming Sensou. Lacus walked along the beach, continuing to sing. He walked by the hut and sat the lights within, saw that blind priest sitting on the porch and heard the people laughing outside. Everything was right. Then he was drawn to a beautiful voice.

"One day, to that green morning,
We'll cross through all these nights
Because that is the place each one of us searches for

Casvall sat by the grave of Sakon, his eyes drawn to the stars. In space, Thanos stood with his surviving soldiers. He raised a cup of sake to wreaths with pictures of his dead comrades on them.

"Now, within my own heart,
I want to keep you warm
So dear, and yet so far -
In the name of peace
Fields of Hope

He watched her sing on the beach, seeing her beautiful form illuminated by the moonlight.

"So dear, and yet so far -
The fields of promise
Fields of Hope
Fields of Hope."

Lacus turned as she finished her song. Seeing a stranger in a blue hoodie. But she widened her eyes, seeing through the gap in his hood that he wasn't a stranger. Rushing towards him, she threw off his hood, exposing his grey hair and bandaged eye.

"GEKIDO!" she screamed.

Gekido brought his hand over her mouth, putting another finger to his lips.

"Trying to remain anonymous here princess," he said.

"Bmm whmm mmwld myoo droo..." Gekido sighed and shook his head, taking his mouth away from Lacus's mouth. "But why would you do that?" she asked.

Gekido took a few steps back, surprising Lacus with his unwillingness to get close.

"I just came to check on the others, and imagine my surprise when I find you here," Gekido huffed.

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you here Lacus? Why aren't you at the Plants, doing everything you can to keep things running smoothly?" Gekido demanded. "It should be you running the Plants, nobody else, before you know it the wrong person could be in charge and..."

"I'm sixteen," Gekido blinked at Lacus's interruption.

"Come again?"

"You see you can't take political office when you're a minor, I'm not a legal adult according to the system in the Plants," Lacus explained.

"Yet, people as young as fifteen can join the military...seems legit," Gekido grinned and Lacus giggled.

Gekido looked at her in shock as she smiled at him.

"I knew you were alive, everyone misses you, I miss you!" Lacus said, touching Gekido's chest.

"You shouldn't," was Gekido's cold response before he walked past Lacus.

"Where are you going?" Lacus asked.

"Away from here," Gekido huffed.

"Why won't you stay with us? Did I do something wrong?"

"I'm a mercenary Lacus, battle calls to me, not peace. You shouldn't love me!" Gekido shook his head as he increased his pace.

"I know that there is more to you than that, you are a good person Gekido," Lacus said.

"You don't get it," Gekido seethed, turning to face Lacus.

"What, you feel like you don't deserve this, everyone deserves a chance to live in peace!"

"Not true, but that issue is academic, I can't stay here," Gekido said.

"Why because it's Orb, Cagalli will have no problem getting you citizenship, and we can always fabricate some papers," Lacus explained.

"That isn't it!"

"What is it then?"

"I'M DYING LACUS!"

Lacus's eyes grew wide in horror, and she clutched her heart, stepping back. Gekido closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Dr Coast told me that it was some kind of technorganic virus, a result of whatever the organisation used to make me. My body will become more and more dependent on cybernetics, until one day I just shut down, I'll be like a cancer patient, fading away, so the last thing I want to do is waste time here when I could be out there, looking for the answers to questions that need answering. 'What else is the organisation planning? Am I a machine? Or a clone? How did they really make me? Just how much have they influenced the world?"

"Well don't go on your own Gekido, we'll gladly help you, you aren't alone. We can find some way to treat you, to beat this thing, don't just give up when you were the one to teach us all to never give up," Lacus explained.

"Damn it Lacus, you still don't get it, I DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE ME LIKE THAT!" Gekido yelled.

Lacus gasped, seeing a tear coming out of Gekido's eyes, and then a tear of metallic fluid soaking through his eye patch.

"I'm the only person at risk, the only life at stake. I don't want people I care about to go through the trauma of seeing me wither away. I don't want them to waste their time, their lives trying to find a way to save someone who isn't worth saving," he was trying to be strong, but his shoulders sunk and the tears just kept flowing. "I don't...I don't want...you to see me like that, I...I, I care about you too much to let that happen."

"Oh Gekido," she whispered, fighting her own tears.

Then her eyes became still and she placed a hand over her heart.

"If you truly feel that way, then go, find what you're looking for and find peace, you've always known what was right...but please Gekido, don't give up on people," she explained.

Gekido nodded his head, wiping his eyes and turning to leave.

"But," Lacus smiled, stopping Gekido.

He looked over his shoulder and saw her with the same naively optimistic expression she had since the day they met.

"If you want to spend what time you have left fighting this, what time you have left living your life, then we will be here. Because you have friends in that house over there, a best friend, Canard misses you even though he tries not to show it, everyone in there loves you Gekido and they're willing to help. That's what it means to share your life with someone, to love someone, to be family. Being there for one another, loving one another, that is our Purpose!"

Then he saw it, the strength in her eyes that he remembered seeing so many times.

"We will be waiting," she whispered.

"Don't wait," Gekido huffed and walked away.

Gekido made his way across the beaches and cliffs, trying to clear his head. He changed the bandages over his gouged out eye. Just as he tightened the bandage, he came upon a grave site. Casvall was gone, but there was someone else there. He had grey hair like his, and surprisingly some of his features too. Although as well as an eye, he was missing an arm too. Standing up, he brushed the dirt off of his trousers and turned to the grave, shaking his head at it.

"A lonely place to be," the man said.

He walked towards Gekido, stopping at his side.

"It's better to be with people," he said, punching Gekido's arm.

Gekido stood for a moment, then grit his teeth together. Who the hell was that man to try and give him advice. He turned to yell at him, but saw he was gone. Though Gekido wondered, if the man had really been there at all?

Lacus stood within the fields, wearing a grey dress. Behind her, her friends stood in their own casual gear. Athrun threw a Frisbee for the kids and Kira and Flay sat with a picnic basket. Andy and John both screamed as Cagalli poured out the results of their portable coffee lab, no coffee today. Meriol and Murrue sat with the reverend, talking to him whilst Birdy rested on his shoulder. Haros bounced through the grass with the other children. Canard leant against a tree with his arms crossed. The weather was perfect, the day was perfect. A smile crossed Lacus's face as she spotted a figure walking through the grass. He was wearing the same turtle neck and jacket he wore when he first entered the Archangel. A glass eye had been put into his socket, and his hair was cleaner. Athrun shielded his eyes from the sun and looked towards the slowly approaching arrival.

"It can't be," he whispered.

(Walk the Moon-Surrender)

Kira and Flay looked up from where they stood and immediately stood up.

"Son of a bitch," Canard muttered.

"GEKIDO!" Cagalli yelled.

They rushed past Lacus. Flay threw her arms around Gekido, hugging him.

"Okay, didn't realise we were that OW! WHAT THE HELL BITCH!" Gekido yelled as Cagalli punched his arm.

"That is for leaving us, and this," she kissed his cheek, blushing but still frowning. "That's to tell you, how glad I am that you're alive."

"Gekido, is it really you?" Kira asked, slowly raising his arms up.

"Hug me and I'll punch you," Gekido growled.

"IT IS YOU!" Kira yelled, tackling Gekido to the ground.

"Damn it Kira, I don't swing that way, and I think Flay's going to get jealous," Gekido muttered and Kira blushed, causing Flay to giggle.

Just as Gekido got off of the floor, a gloved fist slammed into his cheek.

"You bastard, you could've let us know you were alive, I can't believe how selfish you are," Canard explained, raising his fist to Gekido again.

They slammed their fists together, the closest thing to a hug either would manage.

"No, that's not right, you should hug each other," Meriol said, pushing Canard towards Gekido.

Grudgingly, Gekido and Canard wrapped their arms around one another. They patted their backs briefly, but long enough for Cagalli to take a picture.

"Delete that!" they both said.

Cagalli shook her head and grinned. Murrue walked to Gekido and silently hugged him. Gekido hugged her too, tempted to tell her that Mu's body hadn't been found either. But seeing the peace in her eyes, he knew that would be the wrong to say. Hope was good, but false hope could be crushing. Andy and John nodded to the man who they had fought with and alongside. It left only one more reunion, and the group smirked as Gekido walked to Lacus. She had her hands together, smiling as if she had achieved some kind of victory. He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

"I decided, I would rather spend what time I have left...living," he said.

"I would like that very much," Lacus smiled.

He turned to the other members of the group and they shook their heads.

"Come on Gekido, Lacus," Flay said, stomping her foot in frustration.

"I suppose they'll have one of those, hold hands all day relationships," John said.

"Not how the story ends, not how the story ends!" Mr Pink said.

"JUST MOUNT EACH OTHER!" Mr Rage yelled.

Suddenly the ground shook. The group looked up in shock and awe. Brilliant wings shining behind it, eyes glowing white, stood the Gundam Purpose. It grabbed Lacus and Gekido, bringing its hands together, causing them to stumbled into each other. Lacus's hands came to Gekido's chest and he gripped her waist. They looked at one another and then to the Purpose. It looked at them both, and nodded its head.

"Gekido, it's okay, we don't have to..." Lacus's voice was muffled when Gekido's lips pressed against hers.

The group gasped in anticipation, but Gekido brought his lips away from Lacus's.

"I'm sorry, like you said we don't have to..." it was Gekido's turn to be silenced.

Lacus threw her arms around Gekido's neck and slammed her lips to his. He pushed the back of her head and the small of her back, both their eyes closed as they gave in to passion and love. Lacus's legs dangled off of the ground as Gekido swung her around, deepening the kiss. Cagalli and Meriol wiped their eyes, whilst Flay threw her fist into the air.

"YEAH!" she yelled.

Andy and John nodded their heads in approval. The Purpose placed the lovers on the ground and took off to the skies. Lacus and Gekido seperated their lips, still holding each other's hands. They looked up at the Purpose with their friends, watching it fly away.

"Where is it going?" Kira asked.

"Off on its own adventure," Gekido said.

"And I suppose your adventures are over huh Gekido?" Murrue asked.

Gekido squeezed Lacus's hand and smiled.

"No, to quote my favourite film, and my favourite actor, 'to live, to live would be an awfully big adventure!'"

An End

Well hope everyone enjoyed the alternate 'happy' ending. I'm not one for romance scenes, so I wouldn't call this an artistic ending, but maybe you'll have another opinion. I can't really write bad endings either, so don't expect an 'kill everyone off' alternate ending in the classic Gundam fashion.