Where can I find you again...

I felt the limo come to a halt. I heard the door open as Kira and Lacus exited from the limo. I remained where I was, my eyes stoned. The door beside me was opened and I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I didn't look at Kira; I didn't bother about Lacus when she opened the other door and took my children out of the limo; I didn't notice the soft patter of the rain as it fell from the heavens and drenched the mourning earth.

"Cagalli…"

I turned to look at him for a moment. His amethyst orbs were downcast, his eyes swollen from crying, his face sallow… I remained silent.

"Cagalli, we're here…"

I knew we were there. I knew we had arrived… but I wanted to see him…

"Kira…"

"Yes?"

"I want to see Athrun…"

He looked startled. Then, he replied grimly, "I know… We're all here to see him…"

"No!" I screamed, "I don't want to see a slab of stone! I want to see Athrun! I want Athrun; I want to touch him; I want to see his eyes; I want to feel his hair!" I twisted and writhed in the limo seat, pounding the leather chair in anger.

I felt Kira's hands grab me.

"Cagalli," He stroked my hair gently as I grabbed his clothes, sobbing and wailing, "We know he's still there; you know that he's still watching us; we know that his love for you is undying… He may be gone, but he'll never want to see you like this… Do you remember his attempts to hide his pain from us? He wants us to be happy; he wants you to exist in joy forever…" Kira pulled me away for a moment and tilted my chin towards him.

I stared into his lavender pools. In them, I saw regret and grief but I saw the will to live, to survive, to please Athrun, to fulfill Athrun's hopes… Then, I saw myself; a huge difference from Kira. I was giving up; pitying myself and Athrun… It didn't seem like what he wanted… not at all…

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

It was a beautiful grave, one of the prettiest I had ever seen. It was in the open field we had enjoyed our first picnic together, overlooking the beautiful sea rushing towards the shore… I shifted my gaze to the pretty flowers that surrounded it. They were Lacus's idea; the lilies, the roses, the tulips, the daisies… But I felt the haunted feeling when I saw the slab of stone.

Athrun Zala. A brave soldier, a wonderful husband, a dedicated father who etches love in the hearts of those he knew…

But he was gone. He left the hearts of those he knew flooded with grief, sorrow, misery…

It seemed like everyone he knew was there… Kira and Lacus were guiding the children from the orphanage to the tomb. Behind them, trailed my children. My gaze shifted and I saw many others. Murrue and Mu were huddled together, his arm around her as they stared at his tomb silently. Then, there was Yzak and Shiho, Dearka and Miriallia, Shinn and Lunamaria, Meyrin, Andrew Waltfield, Caridad and Haruma… Kisaka, Kojiro, Arnold, Dalida… Everyone who respected him and remembered him… were there to mourn his loss…

Kira was the first to spot me and he guided me gently to his grave. Silence engulfed the crowd and everyone turned to the cold, slab of stone…

The children of the orphanage had each made origami flowers and they cupped handfuls of it before his grave, letting the breeze pick them up from their little hands. Then, everyone paid their respects, leaving roses and bouquets. My children and I were the last… I watched as my pair of twins approached his grave slowly.

"Dad, I drew this…" My son muttered, revealing a kite, "I drew us all, a huge family and friends in a land of peace. Uncle Kira helped me make it into a kite so I could send it to you… Here…" He released the string less kite into the sky. I watched it flutter in the wind, blowing it out to the open sea.

"Papa, I will miss you… always…" I cast my glance back to the ground and stared as my daughter bent down, placing a single crimson rose on his grave, "I wanted to give this to you but you… left… before I had the chance to…" She stooped and placed a beautiful snow globe by his grave.

They retreated, leaving a path for me… but I stood where I was, my hands clenching tightly to the bouquet of roses I held. "Cagalli…" I ignored the brunette standing beside me. "Cagalli… It's your turn…" He took my arm and led me forward before retreating.

I stared for a while, letting the words carved on the stone run through my mind for an instant, like a tape on film, a broken tape repeating scene after scene… "We knew this would happen, didn't we?" I muttered quietly, unable to hide the bitterness from my voice, "That's why you always tried to deceive me with that silly smile of yours, misleading me to think that you were alright…" I paused as a light breeze whipped my blonde hair. Through the sweeping wind came a soft whisper, "Yes, Cagalli… And because I love you…" I smiled, "And I love you too, Athrun…" A soft chuckle strained through the breeze.

"Will we meet again, Athrun?"

"No…"

"Why?"

"Because I will never leave you so there is no need for us to meet again…"

"I hate that eloquent tongue of yours…"

"I know… But it charms you, does it not?"

"I will choose not to answer that question, Athrun… It's personal..."

There was the familiar sound of his chuckling, so sweet and young, like the twinkling of the wind chimes...

"So… isn't it time for you to give me the lovely flowers you hold?"

"Of course…" I bent down to place the bouquet by his grave.

"I love you, Cagalli…"

"Are you going somewhere? Where will I find you?"

"In our home… In your heart…"

"Home? Heart?"

"Of course, Cagalli… Our home… A place which we both created…"

"Yes, Athrun…"

"And your heart where you bring me with you everywhere you go…"

"Of course, Athrun…" Gentle laughter drifted through the wind.

I turned and headed to the limo, a peaceful, gentle smile playing across my lips. Of course, Athrun… Our home and my heart… That is where you will always be and that is where I will find you again…

Author's note: How do you find my story? Does it meet your expectations? I swear that it wasn't intentional on my part to make Athrun suffer but somehow, as I typed, the story plot turned out this way! Please review! Your reviews are really needed and appreciated for me to either continue writing other stories or do changes to "Where can I find you again..." So, please review!!!