Chapter 1: No way, no kids

There was a time where Cagalli managed to squeeze out three days and Athrun managed to clear leave, and the two of them were on the verge of spending the most romantic holiday together before Valentines' day when Gilbert the grouchy, a jaded sorcerer stood squarely in their path and casted an evil spell on Athrun. So, the context of the story in the grand scheme of Gundam Seed destiny is almost totally ridiculous. But I guess if one is fine with that, you can continue reading.

Ooo

Cagalli wrinkled her nose in distaste as she resisted the urge to kick the kid into outer orbit.

She was on her way home to the little house that she and Athrun now shared-bless Kisaka and his idea of giving her a housemate – when she me a mother and child standing in the middle of the path.

The kid was screaming at the top of her lungs over an un-bought item from a toy store earlier. Then threatened to disown the mother, Cagalli rolled her eyes irately and walked on, she wanted to be out of range when the kid started crying violently. It was easier said than done, she cringed as the high-pitched wail seemed to pierce her eardrums.

"Brat…!" she muttered crossly as she turned a corner.

Athrun is an unusually efficient and fast worker and had never taken a day of medical leave and had so much annual leave to clear that Kisaka practically shooed him out of the office last night. He was already up and about when Cagalli left for the office to deposit something, and now as she opened the door, he was changed and ready for a day of peace.

Cagalli found her heart a little lighter than usual, just standing there gazing at his back view…

This young man had pretty much stolen her heart, she could not find it in herself to take it back.

Athrun Zala, now working under the alias Alex Dino; is her bodyguard. For him, there was a lot more than meets the eye. He is the son of the late Chairman of the governing body of PLANTs, he enlisted in Zaft when he was 16, and graduated as a red-coat. He is the best of the best, an ace pilot and soldier extraordinaire. Dearka had told her stories of how Athrun had surpassed his army instructor in terms of skill, Athrun challenged and actually won in a one-on-one knife duel. Even Kisaka was impressed with his skills and tried to make him an instructor.

Cagalli would have been willing to pay to see the duel with her own two eyes.

She felt a pang of heartache, stopping suddenly. She shook herself and resumed walking.

She recalled that somewhere last year at around this time. Athrun was lying in hospital, unconscious and mortally wounded, fighting for his life after biting a bullet for her. She remembered the dreadful waiting; her sitting at his bedside crying her eyes out and waiting for him to awaken- or die. She remembered gazing at him, heartbroken at the needles that pierced his skin, the tubes that were inserted into his body. Obviously, he survived. But something had changed between them ever since, she was not sure it was for good or bad…

Cagalli loves him, so much so that the emotions threatened to burst forth from her heart. Some part of her hated Athrun for giving so much of himself to her, it feels as if she could never give back enough. She owes him a debt that can never be repaid, one that tied them so explicitly to each other…

When he awoke, she had demanded he stepped down, change jobs, whatever. She would do anything to get him out of harm's way, she knew she cannot live with herself if anything had happened to him. But he had insisted adamantly he will do the same if he was given the same choice all over again. Whether or not he was her bodyguard…

Cagalli simply cannot bear to see him wounded again for her sake again, but he was as stubborn as she was…

At present, a few quick steps closed up the distance between herself and her knight, she grasped his hand. He paused at whatever he was doing, slightly startled. "Cagalli?" She then wrapped herself around his waist, resting her head in between his shoulder blades.

"Nothing." She said smoothly, enjoying the warmth on her cheek, she nuzzled his neck.

"Everything okay…?" He turned slightly.

"Yep…" She released him slowly, he turned to face her. He pursed his lips shyly, a little unused to this lack of physical distance between the two of them. She forced a smile. "Let's go."

She had not felt so relaxed in so long and found her steps light as feathers. When he was off-duty, he was a civilian; like her, he will be protected by whoever following behind Cagalli from a distance. That protection is what sets Cagalli's heart at ease, touch wood if anything happens, she will not be left behind to wallow in guilt for the rest of her life

He looks very different in casual clothing, for one, much more approachable than his uniform. He was in a button-down checked shirt and dark jeans that showed off his lengthy legs. Cagalli was sure he will attract the gazes of more than a few ladies on the streets.

Their itinerary today was an amusement park, it is a typical place for a date and to their eternal shame; they have never been to one. Cagalli is a governor in hiding who needs about 48 hours a day to do what she needs to do, so it was a little of a virgin experience.

They went out of the house. It was a beautiful day, the breeze that wafted past carried the scent of freshly mowed grass and lilies. The sun hung low and sunlight filtered through the canopy of the trees, casting an enchanting shadow on the sidewalk.

Quietly, Athrun took her hand, she squeezed his fingers back.

They were finally alone, only with each other. For some reason, Cagalli was glad and nervous, she had never quite been able to spend time with him guiltlessly. But now that it was so quiet and he was so close. She suddenly did not know what to do or say…

A dark whirl of hornets suddenly congregated in the middle of their path, ten meters from the apartment, Athrun pulled Cagalli to a halt and moved to stand in front of her, his hands now gripping hers tightly. There was a sinister laughter sounding like it came from everywhere at once. Then a flash of light.

Cagalli gasped in alarm as he felt Athrun's hand releasing hers. In fact, Athrun's form seemed to vaporize in an instant. She watched in horror as he disappeared. At the same time, the dark figure in the whirlwind materialized.

"I am Gilbert the grouchy! Fear me!"

"Athrun!" Cagalli cried as she knelt down and grabbed the pile of clothes that landed where he had been standing just a few seconds ago "Oh my goodness, what have you done to him?"

Gilbert the grouchy laughed wickedly, "Nothing!" All will be fine and resolved, with three rising suns in the thrall. "

"The hell?" Cagalli protested as she felt something warm, and she withdrew her hand in shock. Something was moving beneath the pile of clothing, something alive.

She watched in utter disbelief as the wicked wizard disappeared and the clothing shuffled sporadically, then out popped a small blue head.

"Ah!" She cried.

"Ow ow ow, what happened?" An equally small and doubly soft hand rubbed the blue head, "Cagalli, you alright?!" He demanded harshly as he caught sight of her slumped on the ground.

It was hard to sound serious when your voice is an octave higher. Athrun then asked, "Why are you holding my...?"

Those same intelligent forest green eyes, it is definitely him. For a moment Cagalli considered cheering, it was him, but not quite him.

Athrun the five-year-old boy did not finish his statement, he looked down and realized he was naked and nestled among his clothing which had fit effortlessly before, then yelped and pulled his shirt collar down over his head, leaving nothing but a cute, reddened face. "I...! What…what happened?"

"Erm...I don't know, one moment you were gone and the next you are here..." She muttered. "Are you alright? Does it hurt anywhere?"

He regarding himself uncertainly for a while, as if checking whether his arms and legs are all still intact. "Yes, I guess I'm okay."

"Good." She heaved a sigh of relief, then as it dawned on her about how preposterous the whole situation is, she began to laugh. And she wanted to pinch Athrun's fat cheeks as he glowered at her, he sounded like a lion cub.

"It's not funny." He said through gritted teeth, but looked like he might die from embarrassment. "Where's the bad guy?!"

"Gone..." She replied, trying to stop laughing and empathize with his predicament, if it could be called that. He's perfectly fine, just a little smaller.

That being said, she reached to pulled down the shirt collar to his small shoulders, and buttoned up to the third button, that way he could use the shirt as a cape and walk around still.

"Stretch out your arms."

He obeyed, literally swallowing his pride as he allowed her to pull his short, chubby arms through the now-too-long sleeves. She almost laughed, but did not, seeing that Athrun appeared so miserable.

As if on cue, he sneezed, that action sent Cagalli into a second laughing fit. He is so cute!

"Hmph." He only protested weakly this time, knowing that she will stop when she is ready.

"Don't worry...he says the spell will wear off in three days." Cagalli attempted to comfort him.

"Three days...!?" Athrun asked incredulously, then said in a low voice. "Please just kill me now..."

"No...Kira will have my head for it..." She joked, and pretended to consider the prospects. "You go home first, I'll run down to the kids department to get you some clothes."

Athrun opened his mouth, looking as if he want to protest, but the moment passed and he could not find anything intelligent to say. He then turned and stalked back to the door. He stood and stared at the doorknob for a little, then tiptoed and grunted, but despite all his efforts-and height- could not reach the damn handle. Cagalli laughed again, then literally skipped up to the door and gallantly opened it for Athrun little, teasing "In you go, my liege."

"Thank...thank you..." Athrun only muttered darkly under his breath. Cagalli decided to cut him some slack, he looked like he might cry.

Ooo

Athrun's left eye twitched as Cagalli dropped the clothing on the bed.

"You did not tell me you were getting costumes..." He said sarcastically.

"When I went to the store, I couldn't resist. " She muttered apologetically, then grinned. "And this is pretty much all they have for kids..."

"Put me in your mercies, Cagalli." He almost begged as he buried his face in his palms.

"It's not that bad, at least it's only for three days and I didn't break the bank for it..." She fished out one that she thought looks the cutest. "Sailor uniform, Athrun?"

He looked up as she tossed the clothing around. "Looks like your Zaft uniform. "

"It does not." He replied flatly.

She sighed. "Look, I know you are upset. It is temporary. But if you insist on being difficult and/or staying naked there is nothing else I can do."

With that, she offered the clothing to Athrun. "Take it or leave it."

He relented a little, and snatched the fabric from her. He gathered the set of clothing wordlessly in his -small-embrace then hopped off the bed, proceeding towards the bathroom.

"Wait, Athrun." She cried as she rummaged through the paper bag.

"What?"

Cagalli suppressed a giggle.

"I got you pokemon undies."

Ooo

They stood outside the theme park for some time, with Cagalli chewing her lip and wondering whether she should change the itinerary.

"Do you think we should still go?" She asked Athrun gingerly.

"You'll be playing by yourself, there're height restrictions…" He muttered in a low, clearly disappointed voice.

"So I play the ones with none." She smiled at him, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair. "And we already bought the tickets."

"What's the point...we can't be intimate…" He uttered dejectedly.

"Well, Nothing wrong with having some harmless fun. Come on." She encouraged as she stretched out her hand, offering it gallantly to Athrun. "Let's go have fun, my prince."

Athrun studied her uncertainly, then gingerly took her two fingers. His hand were not large enough to take her hand.

And they had fun.

Cagalli was surprised, and theorize that it really was not the place, but the company that mattered. Because Athrun was so very short, they could only do the kiddy things like bumper card, tea cups and carousel. Athrun seemed crossed and unhappy at first, and when he frowns, it came out more as a pout as his cheeks bloat. Cagalli stared at him for a few moments before she started laughing, the more Athrun frowned, the more she laughed. After a while, even Athrun Zala-the-grumpy had to stop being grumpy. The crease between his brow smoothened out and he smiled along with her.

Unused to it, Cagalli stared at him, hoping he would not notice, the proportions of his face is so different. His eyes, large and soulful before, is now even larger in contrast to the rest of his face. His face, angular and manly before, was now smooth and short, and emitted the irresistible charm of a child. She found that her hands itched to pinch his cheeks.

They went shopping after a while, the shop was filled with nonsense touting to enhance the experience of the Fun fun wonderland. Cagalli saw a set of dinosaur costume which she thought will look good on Athrun, but was sadly refused. He ridiculed the outfit, then added in a small protest, "I'm not really a kid, Cagalli! You know I won't wear that!"

She placed her palms together in a contrite manner, "But you look like one now, I just thought it would be cute."

"No way!" He folded his arms across his chest resolutely.

"How about this." She offered. "Let's play scissors, paper, stone. If I win, you will wear it for a day."

He grimaced, not convinced he should play. "And if I win?"

"I'll extend my holiday by one day to accompany you."

His jaw loosened, and he asked, "Really…? You'd do that for me?"

"Yep, and on the fourth day you won't be a kid anymore. It doesn't seem quite fair at the moment…"

He allowed his arms to fall to his sides, gazing into her eyes. Then nodded.

"Scissors, paper, stone!" Both of them echoed. Cagalli stared at the results, quite unable to believe her luck, hers was paper, quite uttering consuming Athrun's little fist.

Athrun cursed his luck quietly as he withdrew his hand.

Ooo

"Oh, come on." Cagalli encouraged, "You look right suited for this place now~!"

The little boy could not have looked unhappier, he was dragging his feet along, even though his feet were wrapped up by fluffy green cotton. He looked like a prisoner on death march, solemnly praying that with every step the ground will do him some mercy and swallow him whole. He trotted along behind Cagalli, not quite as enthusiastic about the dinosaur costume even though it had a tail that wagged left and right as he walked, it was the miniature of the park mascot.

"Hey, an ice-cream stall!" Cagalli pointed out, then turned to Athrun, "What flavour do you want?"

Athrun did not feel like eating ice-cream, he just wanted to find a place and hide out for three more days so he did not have to endure the humiliation of being seen by his co-workers.

He only shook his head when Cagalli prompted him further. She then smiled and patted his head. Irritated and utterly embarrassed, Athrun tried to swat her hand off, but the arms of the costume are too short and he could not reach to the top of his head. Cagalli laughed at that, and Athrun glowered at her, feeling as if her amusement was at his expense, but he was too tired to be angry at her. After all, he lost.

"I'll buy you choco-mint then. Stay here." She declared cheerily, Athrun kept quiet so as to end his agony as quickly as possible. He knew Cagalli will refuse to take him seriously today, and he had no right to blame her for it. His own carelessness was part of the reason why he was in this mess. On top of that, Cagalli always seemed to have thought of him as someone who needs protection, now she is treating him like a kid.

Athrun sighed.

When will she treat me like a man?

Despondent and distracted, Athrun did not notice a man in clown costume trying to tout balloons standing right beside him, holding out a balloon in his face. Athrun shook his head, annoyed and wishing the whole world would not treat him like a kid. He wanted to scream, 'Look, buster! I am already seventeen this year and I got forced into this preposterous-looking dino suit by my girlfriend, godammnit! Leave me alone to or I will kill you!'

He shook his head, scooting away a little, but the man came ever closer. The clown then gave an eerie smile as he leered down at Athrun, and gazed to the left and right, "Where's your mother, little girl?"

Athrun flushed indignantly.

He knew he took after his mother a lot and had sometimes been mistaken as a girl as a child. Yet because he loved his mother dearly, he refused to complain about his appearance. Even Kira thought he was girl when they first met in elementary school…

Clenching his teeth, Athrun hissed defiantly at the man, "She's not here. Leave me alone."

"Is that so?" The man seemed pleased, and smiled a smile that revealed his tobacco-stained teeth.

Athrun was alert by now, something was wrong. He reached into his jacket for his gun before realizing it was not there. But before he could call out the man seized him by the waist and clamped a hand over his jaw, preventing him from making a single sound. For a moment he trashed, fighting and pushing away the mass of balloons that suddenly obstructed his vision, then a hard, painful strike to the back of his head left him dizzy and disoriented.

He was vaguely aware that he was being carted off, and that the ground spinning beneath him indicated that they were moving very quickly. He caught sight of Cagalli between the masses of people, she was back at the bench looking confused, calling his name and apparently searching for him.

Cagalli…

Athrun chanced a glance at the man, who caught him looking and gazed back. In his eyes there was wild, unmistakable lust. Athrun felt a chill ride up his spine, and in a last ditch effort to escape his kidnapper Athrun sent out a kick. It connected squarely with soft space below the man's sternum and he dropped Athrun instantly. By virtue of the costume being so heavily padded and soft, Athrun felt himself bounce slightly off the ground and landed at a distance entirely unharmed. With all the strength he could still muster, he called out at the top of his lungs in the general direction of where he last saw Cagalli.

"CAGA…!"

Then a kick to Athrun's stomach sent him sprawling, and when he came to a stop a few meters away, he tried to get up but there was a sharp pain in his gut. "Crap…!" The man came over him, clutching his neck once again in a vice-like hold.

"Hush, don't shout! I'll bring you to a place where no one can find us…"

Athrun thrashed hard, the hold tightened till Athrun felt his neck cricking dangerously and was starting to feel light-headed, it seemed inevitable the pervert will strangle him barehanded.

"Don't test my patience, my love." The man sneered, leering down at him. "I don't even mind if you are dead."

Athrun kicked him again in desperation, then scuttled away from his arms that released him momentarily.

The scuffle had attracted the attention of the people around by now, with effort, Athrun stood up and tried to run, but the man grabbed his ankle and dragged him back. He cursed.

If Athrun had been his normal height and age, he would have pulverized this paedophile ten times over already. But no, he was stuck in a body of a five-year-old and took the part of the victim. The disadvantages of being a kid were becoming too acute for his liking, and for an instant he panicked. If Cagalli did not notice, he would be left to the mercies of this creepy man.

"Let go of him!"

With that, she came out of nowhere, rushing towards the assailant. She yelled an Amazonian's battle cry and swept Athrun away from the ground, then gave a vicious kick to the man's family jewels as he charged towards her. The creep crumpled from the attack, a hand sandwiched pathetically between his legs.

Security guards were running towards them now, from their uniforms, they look like they were from the park. Suddenly Athrun felt embarrassed to be nestled in Cagalli's arms, though it was a fresh feeling that the whole of him could actually be enveloped within Cagalli's embrace.

"Let me down, Cagalli." He demanded thought gulps of air, then added doggedly, "I'm okay…"

"Wait. We need to finish the show or my bodyguards will never let me out of the house for the next five years." She uttered out of the corner of her mouth, then gave an dramatic, exasperated cry. "Oh, my brother! Are you alright?!"

It took Athrun a while to realize that she was referring to him, "Cagalli?! Wha…?"

She then added a dramatic flair by hugging him unnecessarily tightly, he felt himself being smothered by her softness, blood rushed to his face and other places. The situation was incredibly awkward as Cagalli explained tearfully that the clown was trying to abduct her brother and she needed to get him back to their mother.

Athrun was afraid his acting skills may not be good enough to match up to Cagalli's, so he simply stayed still. The people crowded around out of curiosity, listening to Cagalli's story and muttering at the paedophile in disdain.

"I have to go! Our mother will be worried sick!" Cagalli exclaimed as she started running, and Athrun clung on to her till they were beyond the view of the crowd. Athrun kept an eye out to see if anyone will follow them, Cagalli stopped near some crates where they were hidden, panting slightly.

"You can put me down now, you know." Athrun bit his lip and requested when Cagalli does not seem to realize she was still carrying -actually carrying!-him.

She gazed at him for an infuriatingly long period of time, so long it made Athrun wonder whether she heard him. Just as he opened his mouth to repeat himself, she pressed her mouth over his and kissed him deeply. Athrun was caught by surprise and did not know how to react for a time, she set him down on the ground gently as she dusted him off.

"Thank goodness you are safe." She declared so softly Athrun almost did not hear and he blushed. He looked away quickly, unwilling for her to see his hot face and cheeks.

"So this is what it feels like…" She muttered.

"What feels like…?" he asked curiously.

"To be someone's knight in shining armour." She gave a whimsical smile, he felt as if he was being insulted.

"I didn't need your help, okay!" With that, Athrun felt the pain in his side again, and he winced.

She widened her eyes, "But you shouted my name…that's how I found you." Then she laughed and ruffled his hair, his ears flared red-hot at that comment.

"Don't treat me like a kid just because I look like one, I still…!" He muttered crossly, then stopped, recalling the sensation of being nestled in Cagalli's embrace just a moment ago. Then he continued in a low voice, "I'm a guy, alright? There's no joy in being called 'cute'…I will get angry…"

She sighed, then peck him on the forehead. "Don't be angry, okay? I promise not to call you 'cute' anymore."

Athrun nodded.

"Don't be angry."

"Okay..." He consented stiffly.

Cagalli gazed to her left at the setting sun, then held out her hand. "Let's go back? I think we have enough of this place for the day."

Athrun stared at her hand for a while, wondering how he can still take it in a manly manner. Eventually he gave up and just place his hand in hers, "…Alright."

"Hah!~" She suddenly exclaimed at she took hold of his torso bodily and swung him up kungfu style.

"Cagalli…?!" He yelled in alarm as she released him in mid-air at the highest part of the swinging motion, he flew another 40 centimetres or so into the air before he started to fall ground-ward. Cagalli was giggling as she caught him and swung another half circle before she stopped.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Athrun cried out, half alarmed, half embarrassed and very much in pain.

"My dad always do that with me!" She declared brightly, "Was it fun?"

"No, it's not." He hissed.

"Athrun?" She asked, she bit her lip and set him down on the ground, then paused and stared for a couple of moments. "You're hurting…?"

He did not reply, he was holding his side panting, praying for the pain to subside.

"Did you break anything…?" She knelt down and examined his face.

"I don't think so…A broken rib should hurt way worse than this…maybe a bruise or something. Don't worry…I'm okay."

She gave him a look that told him she did not believe him.

"Can you walk?"

"In a bit…" He replied.

"Oh, come on." Cagalli stepped in front of him and scooped him off the ground, piggyback style.

"Hey~!" He cried in alarm.

"This is so much faster."

"What are you doing?! I'm very heavy…"

"No you're not." She replied gleefully, "Not now anyway. Stop squirming around, we have to make it back early enough as promised or they won't let me out tomorrow. It's not as if I can do this every day, so give me a chance, please Athrun?"

With that, Athrun finally conceded and stopped struggling. The amusement park was not far from the house anyways...

Ooo

Cagalli maintained a slow, steady gait while walking home to avoid hurting the little boy on her back by accident, he's a little smashed up by the assault. Slowly, she felt Athrun relaxing, then slinging his arms across her neck; those arms were so short they cannot even reach the front of her collarbones. She stored her laugh for another time, afraid that if she did laugh Athrun will be angry again.

Oooooh, but he is just so cute.

His slow steady breathing on her neck a few minutes later told her than he was fast asleep. She looked over her shoulder to find his little round face at rest, he is so adorable that Cagalli could not help but smiled to herself, she wanted to poke his soft cheeks.

It was another first...

Obviously, Athrun is usually not given to afternoon naps, so maybe kids have a shorter attention span compared to adults or maybe he's at the biological age when they are transiting to nocturnal rest only. Either ways, Cagalli was contented to be piggy-backing the love of her life, it was almost regrettable that he will stay this state for only three days. Almost...

"Goodnight, Athrun…" She whispered as she giggled. She was just thinking that if her kid or kids is like that-like him-she probably would not mind having a few…

Ooo

This is chapter one, which I refer to as a 'so cute until the heart can burst' chapter. The effects x2 on Gundam fans. X3 on asucaga fans. This is written as a valentine challenge on an FB group, it is doomed to be a short story as it MUST be COMPLETED by Valentines'. I hope you enjoy it. For more Asucaga goodness, please go to my other stories. =D Keep calm and love Asucaga.

Till chapter next.