Venus And Mars

"This is nice. I've missed little things like this. How we used to just come here and sit."

They were in the park. Their park. On their bench. Leaves rustled in the spring breeze. Several flowers were in full bloom.

"It is nice. Will it be okay?" Athrun turned to look at her.

Her curly pink locks fluttered about her shoulders. "It's fine with me, so it's fine with Kira."

He unnecessarily pointed out, "We haven't talked in a long time. Really talked, I mean."

"I thought that was how you wanted it, so I tried to stay out of your way." Lacus bit her lip, "But I couldn't help checking on you occasionally. I was so worried."

"I know. It's alright now."

The next few moments of silence were golden. Somehow, their hands found each other. Neither noticed how easily their fingers still laced together.

"We haven't really had the chance to sort things out either," Athrun sighed.

Lacus continued the thought for him, "We only speak to each other because Kira and Cagalli expect us to."

"But how do we really feel? About each other. About being in the same family."

"I care for you as much now as I always have, just not in the same way." Her mesmerizing blue eyes sought his shining emerald ones.

Athrun smiled. "Same here. But I had to bury those feelings deep down just to move on. Seeing you with Kira used to be so painful."

At that, she was unable to maintain eye contact. "Do you still think about it? I do from time to time."

He immediately knew what she was talking about. Their minds always seemed to be on the same wavelength. "Yes, though not as often as I used to. 'Could I have done this' or 'should I have done that.' We made so many promises to each other that we'll never be able to keep. So many regrets," he sighed.

"It all worked out in the end," Lacus reminded him. "I think we're both better off for having everything turn out the way it has."

"Agreed. I wouldn't take any of it back. Meyrin and Cagalli make it all worth it."

"How is your friend?"

Again, Athrun knew exactly what she was talking about. Lacus never addressed her by name. "Meer is fine. I saw her just the other day. She and Nicol are still hitting it off. She's helped in overcoming his shyness a bit. Nicol finally got around to playing the piano for her and I think she's completely fallen for him."

"It's seems so weird, though I guess I can't blame you for liking her." Lacus's opinion of Meer Campbel was very similar to that of Meyrin's.

"She was no substitute for the real thing. I'm afraid that's how I would have always treated her if we had stayed together."

"I know," Lacus still felt that she knew him better than anyone else. "But I am also guilty. Kira reminded me so much of you in the beginning. It took a long time to come to terms with him being someone else and loving him for that."

"I did not know that," he blinked in amazement.

Lacus could only smile at him. "You know, there are still things that I can tell only to you."

"So Kira doesn't know?"

She shook her head. Her cotton candy pink hair tossed with the movement before settling again behind her shoulders. "I never told him any of that. So how long were you and that girl together?"

"We only went out a few times."

Lacus knew there was more to the story than that. Otherwise, Athrun wouldn't have carried that guilt for so long. "That's all there was to it?"

"Not exactly." Athrun leaned close to whisper, "It was physical."

Lacus's cheeks turned a shade of pink that almost matched her hair. "You did that?"

"On the first date," he admitted. "We were pretty drunk that night."

Needless to say, she was quite taken aback by that revelation. "How was it?"

"Are you sure you want to know?" Athrun wasn't uncomfortable talking about these things with Meyrin, but he had yet to figure out just where he stood with Lacus.

"I guess." She didn't sound too sure about it, though.

Leaning close again, he whispered the gory details.

Now Lacus was beet red. "Oh my."

"Every time. Are you telling me that you and Kira haven't gone for the more advanced stuff?" Athrun knew quite well that they had just by the look on her face. They were married, after all. And quite happily so.

Lacus tried to deflect the question back at him, "Have you and Cagalli?"

"She's kind of new to that sort of thing, so no. We'll get there eventually. Small steps." Athrun decided to change the subject. "Is Cagalli excited? It's only two more months."

The abnormal coloration began to recede from her face. "Very. It's all she talks about. June?"

"June," Athrun confirmed. "It's coming up fast. Dresses and caterers and God knows what else have to be perfect. She said she'd kill me if anything went wrong."

Giggling, Lacus responded. "I'll bet she did say something like that. But you know . . ." Leaning close, she whispered, "She said that the wedding has to be perfect to match her perfect husband."

"Sounds like her," he laughed.

"And what of Meyrin?" Lacus had always viewed her kindly.

"She's finally started dating again."

"Really?" Lacus knew something bad had happened, but Athrun's tone indicated that she shouldn't pry.

"Yeah. I keep a good track of what she does and who she's seeing, though. She'll be alright."

"She's been a good friend to you. That's something I'm very grateful for," Lacus commented. "I like her a lot."

"She means a lot to me. I want to look out for her the best I can. Sometimes she fights with me like a rebellious little sister," he chuckled.

"Is she a better friend than I was?" Lacus had always wondered, always hoped that her memory would still rank highly with him.

"I don't know," he shook his head. "I've never thought about it like that. She's the only one that kept me from killing myself. She was the only one that cared enough to come by."

His words stabbed at her like knives. And speaking of knives, Lacus was one of the few to see his hidden scar, though only just recently. "I . . ."

"Don't worry about it. If you had tried to do anything it would have only made matters worse." Athrun only smiled at her, "We both had it rough and we've both forgiven each other, right?"

"Yes," she affirmed with a nod.

For the first time, they noticed that their hands were clasped. "Sorry," Athrun whispered. He tried to let go, but she wouldn't have it.

"It's alright as long as we remember proper boundaries. It might be hard," Lacus let a single tear fall. "At times like this, it seems as if the past five years could just be erased. But . . ."

"But it wouldn't be real. And if we tried to back, then we'd only hurt each other again," Athrun sighed. "I want to try and be close again. Can we still have that?"

"Yes. It's not too late. I've missed that more than you'll ever know." Fearing he would try to take his hand away again, she added a second to pin it down. "Promise me . . . swear to me that we will always be close friends. That no matter what, we won't be separated again."

"It's a promise." He stood and gave her a tight hug. "Hey, want to go to our favorite restaurant?"

"Yes. I'd like that very much." Lacus sighed, "But I have to meet Kira. We'll do it soon, alright? Tomorrow?"

"Think Cagalli and Kira will mind? About our little promise, I mean. You know how jealous Cagalli can get."

"Kira knows my heart belongs only to him. And I spoke with Cagalli about it some time ago. As her best friend, I can state with confidence that she won't mind." Still locked in their hug, she kissed his cheek much the same way Meer always did. "Sorry. I haven't done that in years."

"I think it'll be alright. Cagalli doesn't mind when Meer does it, and that's a regular event."

"Oh, before I forget." Lacus finally pushed off his chest and out of the hug. Though she was a tad reluctant, it was necessary if she wanted to have full eye contact. "I think . . ." She shook her head, "I know that I'll like being family."

"Same here."

"At least we can keep one promise. We will grow old together, only not as husband and wife."

"Say hi to Kira," he waved.

"And you to Cagalli," she waved back.

"Bye."

"As if the past five years could just be erased . . ." Her words rang in his mind as he watched her go.

No, those old feelings just aren't there anymore. Not in either of us, he thought to himself. Moments will come and go when we remember what we once had, but that's all it will ever be. Cagalli means too much to me, and Kira to you. You were so right. We're both better off like this. We're all better off.

"Cagalli," her whispered name faded into the sound of rustling leaves.

A quiet car ride brought him home.

"Hi. How did it go?" Cagalli greeted her fiancée with a kiss.

"I think we both found some closure."

That's it for now. Might do a sequel, might not. Let me know what you think.

End A/N