Part 4: Always Have Faith-Reunited At Last

Cagalli couldn't believe what she was seeing. Athrun was on that plane, the same Athrun Zala that's been on her mind since he left for PLANTS with Kira. She pinched her cheek to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

"Ow!" Cagalli yelled as she rubbed her sore cheek, "well...it looks like I'm not dreaming...at least...I don't think I am...but...why is he..."

There was no time for questions; Cagalli immediately ran out of her room and headed towards the main courtyard. She passed by many questioning eyes as she ran down the stairs, many of them wondering why their representative was in such a hurry. When Cagalli arrived at the entrance to the courtyard, there were already other spectators present in front of her (most of them from ORB parliment and a few from the ORB military). Like her, they were all wondering why a plane would land there of all places. Unlike them, Cagalli was there just to see one person and that was Athrun.

"Excuse me," Cagalli said as she rushed by the people in front of her.

Cagalli shoved her way past everyone and finally got a good look at the person leaving the plane; tears fell from her eyes again as she saw the person she was wishing to see again walk out of the plane. Athrun stepped down the stairs and was welcomed by many wondering and questioning eyes, but he only wanted to see one pair of eyes: Cagalli's. He glanced around and found Cagalli standing a few feet away from where he stood; he smiled and waved warmly at Cagalli. Cagalli couldn't take it anymore; she ran towards Athrun, not caring what the parliament officials and the military thought; all she wanted was to see Athrun again.

"Athrun!" Cagalli cried as she ran towards him and hugged him.

Athrun blinked in surprise; he didn't expect Cagalli to be so forward, especially in front of all those ORB parliament and military officials. He looked around and saw a lot of surprised faces. But he didn't care, he was just glad to see Cagalli again. He hugged her back.

"Athrun..I.." Cagalli said as she let Athrun go.

She was lost for words; she didn't know what words to say to let him how much she loves him. She looked up at Athrun, her eyes still wet from her recent crying. Athrun noticed her eyes were teary again and his eyes softened.

"You've...you've been crying again haven't you?" Athrun asked as he reached forward and wiped Cagalli's tears away.

Cagalli blushed lightly and looked down at the ground. Athrun pulled her into another heartwarming embrace.

"Cagalli...I'm so...I'm so sorry...for all that's happened to ORB," Athrun said, "and...for what happened between us."

Cagalli looked up and shook her head. "It's...it's alright...it couldn't be helped...we...we were both at fault...we both wanted the same thing so badly...that we lost our way trying to get it back again."
"Cagalli..." Athrun said.

"But...I want to know something," Cagalli said, as she slowly pushed away from Athrun, "why...why'd you come back?"

Athrun looked at Cagalli. But before he could reply, Cagalli cut him off.

"All that time while you were gone, you were on my mind the whole time, 24/7! You don't know what it was like Athrun! You don't know how painful and hard it was for me..." Cagalli said quickly as more tears threatened to fall.

"You don't know how much you hurt me Athrun..." Cagalli added sadly as her tears fell from her eyes again.

Athrun looked at Cagalli sadly. He knew what Cagalli meant; the way he treated her back then was something he couldn't forgive himself for doing. He was just so frustrated with what had happened that he wound up blaming Kira, Cagalli and ORB for what had happened. If Kira hadn't brought Athrun back to his senses, he wouldn't be here right now, in front of Cagalli.

"I knew...I knew that it was my fault...it was all my fault that everything had to happen that way," Cagalli said as she fell to her knees, "I was so weak back then..."

Athrun knelt down. He didn't know what else to do. He didn't want to interrupt Cagalli; he knew she had a lot to say and he wanted her to let it all out. He hugged her again as Cagalli continued crying on his shoulder.

"I...I didn't realize how weak I had become," Cagalli continued, "but...I realized that...I was missing something...I was missing the most important person to me…you."

Cagalli looked up at Athrun as she said the three words she's been wanting to say the whole time.

"I...I love you..." she managed to say in between sobs.

Athrun looked at Cagalli, speechless at Cagalli's sudden confession. He was so happy to finally hear those three words, but he couldn't bring himself to reply back just yet. Cagalli looked at Athrun and she slowly got up.

"Look...it's...it's okay if you don't feel the same way for me anymore," Cagalli said sadly as Athrun looked up at her in surprise, "I understand if you've...you've fallen for someone else..."

By "someone else", Cagalli meant Meyrin. Athrun knew who she was talking about. Athrun got up and quickly grabbed Cagalli's arm before she turned around to leave.

"What is it Athrun?" Cagalli asked angrily, "weren't you here to tell me that you've decided to go back to the PLANTS to be with Meyrin? That you want your ring back to give to that girl? Or is it...something else?"

"Look..." Athrun said slowly, "I don't know how you got that idea, but nothing happened. We're only friends. I fought for ORB, I fought for you. There's only one person that I truly love, and it is that person that I'm here in ORB for."

Cagalli watched in surprise as Athrun knelt down on one knee. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red velvet box. He lifted the lid and Cagalli's eyes widened in surprise. There, inside that box, was a silver diamond ring. Cagalli's eyes were filled with tears. She looked down at Athrun, who was smiling at her.

"I love you. You're the only woman for me Cagalli. You always have been and you always will. My love for you is still the same and will never change," Athrun said and smiled again.

He took a deep breath. It was now or never.

"Cagalli Yula Athha," Athrun said as confidently as he could, "will you...marry me?"

Cagalli was speechless. She was so happy that all she did was manage to nod. Athrun was really happy that Cagalli agreed. He smiled as he slipped the engagement ring on her left ring finger, right next to the one he had given to her previously. He got up and pulled her into a loving embrace. Cagalli wrapped her arms around Athrun and returned his hug.

"Was thatthe proper way of giving someone a ring?" he asked teasingly as they let each other go.

Cagalli gave him one of her glares, but her eyes softened as she smiled.

"Yes...yes it was," Cagalli said as she leaned forward to kiss Athrun.

The two shared a long heartwarming kiss. Applause resounded all over the Athha mansion.

Athrun and Cagalli broke their kiss and looked around to see everyone applauding. The couple looked at each other and smiled.

"Well...it looks like everything is going to be okay now," Cagalli said.

"Yeah, you're right," Athrun replied as he kissed Cagalli again.

Meanwhile, back on the PLANTS, five people were eavesdropping on the event that was taking place in ORB. Lunamaria and Shinn watched in surprise, while Kira, Lacus and Meyrin smiled.

"Well, it looks like they'll have a happy ending," Lacus said as she looked at Kira.

Kira nodded as he watched his best friend and sister hug each other again on television.

Lunamaria put her hands on her hips and frowned.

"So that's why Athrun wasn't interested in me...he was already in love with someone else," Lunamaria said, "no wonder...no one can ever resist the Luna charm."

Shinn muffled a laugh, only to be hit on the head by Lunamaria.

"It's too bad we couldn't hear anything though..." Lacus said sadly.

"Hey, we're dealing with Cagalli here remember? If she found out that someone was recording this, she'll kill Miriallia, not to mention me..." Kira said.

Lacus laughed, "But we don't need to hear what's happening. Actions speak much clearer than words after all."

"Yeah...you're right, Lacus," Kira said as he wrapped an arm around Lacus' waist.

Everyone continued watching, each enjoying the heartwarming reunion between the blue-haired Coodinator and a blonde-haired Natural. Even Shinn was happy for the couple.

That night, after a nice quiet dinner, Athrun and Cagalli took a moonlit stroll just outside the Athha estate. The night was absolutely perfect; the sky was clear and dotted with many shining stars, with the moon smiling down on the happy couple.

"So...you surethat nothing happened between you and Meyrin?" Cagalli asked.

"What? You still think that-" Athrun started to say, but instead he just hugged Cagalli.

"A-Athrun?" What are you-" Cagalli said as she tried to get Athrun to give her a straight answer.

"Nothing happened, really," Athrun replied as he looked at Cagalli, "you can ask Kira and Lacus for yourself, even Meyrin if you'd like. They'll all give you the same answer."

Cagalli smiled; just by looking in his eyes, she can tell he was telling the truth. She believed him.

"Besides, the only person I want to be with is..." Athrun said as he kissed Cagalli's hand, "...you...my princess…"

"Hey," Cagalli said annoyed, "didn't I tell you to nevercall me that?"

Athrun chuckled lightly as he held Cagalli in his arms.

"Hey Athrun," Cagalli said, looking at Athrun. There was a light blush spreading on her cheeks.

"Hm?" Athrun looked at Cagalli curiously.

"I'm...I'm really glad that you came back," Cagalli said and smiled.

"Me too, Cagalli," Athrun replied as he and Cagalli shared another kiss.

"Come on, we better get back," Cagalli said after they broke their kiss, "I've got a massive amount of paperwork to do..."

"Alright," Athrun said, "I'll help you with some of it."

"Good, you better get used to doing some paperwork," Cagalli said, "my soon-to-be assistant Representative Zala."

"Assistant Representative Zala?" Athrun asked, "don't you mean RepresentativeZala?"

Cagalli laughed lightly, "Hey, who's the official heir to ORB here?"

Athrun laughed, "Fine...but I liked Representative Zala better."

Cagalli gave Athrun a quick peck on the cheek. "Don't worry, we can both rule ORB...together...as Representatives Athha and Zala or in a few months...as Representatives Zala times two."

Athrun smiled as he held Cagalli's hand. "Shall we, princess?"

"Athrun..." Cagalli said sternly, "you're this close to being kicked out of ORB..."

"Hey! You know I was just playing," Athrun said and laughed.

"Yeah, I know," Cagalli replied and smiled, "you know I'll never kick you out of ORB. Besides, I...I actually enjoy being called 'princess'..well only if you're the one saying it..."

"Great," Athrun said and smiled, "because you'll always be my princess…"

"And you'll always be my knight in shining armour.." Cagalli replied.

The couple shared one last kiss before heading back to the Athha mansion. They walked back together, with Athrun's arm wrapped around Cagalli's waist and Cagalli's head on Athrun's shoulder. They were both content to be back by each other's side once again.

Author's note: And that's the end! I must say that I liked this ending a lot better than the series. I hope you like it as well =D I'll let you guys figure out how their wedding goes. Don't forget to leave a comment (if you have one that is). Let's hope Athrun and Cagalli will have a real happy ending someday