Standard disclaimers apply.

Combinations

kira and lacus, that is, phase

At the end of the second war, the two of you return to the house by the sea. Everyday, you are bombarded with news about how there is talk of change, now, improvements in relationships, diplomatic ties, exchanges and communication.

(he continues staring at the sea)

Change was the first word, but it is the lack thereof which bothers you.

athrun and kira, that is, horses

He was drunk and you were drunk and you don't remember a thing and you hope he doesn't either. He has always been a heavy sleeper, and you slip out of the hotel room easily. You don't leave a note.

kira and cagalli, that is, sunflower

You lead her down the aisle. At the end, your best friend is waiting, and you will give her away into his waiting arms.

You are her brother, and you try to smile, for her, for him, for them.

athrun and lacus, that is, submerge

You meet her at a diplomatic conference, and that comes as a surprise to you. It's been 10 years since the two of you last met, but time has been kind to her. You mentally correct yourself: Time has been very good to her. Beneath the surface of the woman is a hint of the girl you once knew, and could have known better, and even though you know, know, know that she is not the woman for you, you can't help but wonder.

cagalli and lacus, that is, mirror

You don't see her anymore, because you're too busy and she's not, but when you look at a picture of your husband, you're reminded of her. On some days, you think about her, and the distance to the sea.

athrun and cagalli, that is, blindfolded

The weddings were picture-perfect, and it was weddings with an 's' because there was one in Orb and another on Plant. Your honeymoon never really happened, but there were plans, and you constantly tell yourself that plans count too. You were in Orb and he was on Plant, and he visited you once a year, but the two of you were in love, you thought, and that was all that should have mattered.

(but there is love, and then there is love)

If you could do it all over again, you wouldn't change a thing, and that should mean the world, but you are seventy, and it doesn't.

-end-

Notes: There is actually a strange kind of chronological order to this thing. And yes, this is called Combinations because it is about combinations, mathematically speaking.