Author's Note: It seems my brain is on overload on Code Geass things. This is something a bit different though.

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass. If I did I wouldn't be writing this.

To the Future

Milly Ashford could only stare in shock at the letter she just received. She knew she had to open it, but was hesitating. After all you don't receive a letter from a person who died a week prior and not hesitate. So she came to a decision. She called together the remaining Student Council. Nunnally would be unable to make it, but that will happen when you are in the middle of being prepared to take over an entire country.

It was a few days later before they could come together in private. "What was so important, Milly?" Kallen urged her on, "It has been a . . . hectic week."

"I-I got a letter a few days ago. I haven't read it, but it is addressed to me. I wanted you all here when I do. It just feels right. I just wish Nunnally could be here too."

Everyone immediately understood that this wasn't just Milly wanting to hang out with them. It actually was urgent. She was showing her nerves for once. Rivalz eyebrows furrowed questioningly, "Who is the letter from then? Someone important?"

Milly's next words stunned them, "Lelouch." She looked at them with tears in her eyes, "It's from Lulu." She was trying hard to not cry so she laughed it off as she rubbed her eyes, "It's sender put down Lulu Lamperouge. Only one person would send a letter with that name." She pulled out the letter and showed them, "I just . . . I just needed you all here for this."

Kallen looked ready to break down herself and was having a much harder time holding it back. She muttered softly, "One last trick up his sleeve it seems."

Both Nina and Rivalz were quite pale themselves as the nickname brought back so many great memories.

Milly smiled nervously as their presence gave her the courage to open the letter. A photo fell out and she looked at it. Milly smiled softly, "It's Lelouch." She passed the photo to the others. It was of Lelouch with a real smile on his face. It had clearly been taken just for this letter as on the back it said, "To help you remember who I really was." She began to read the tear-stained letter from their friend.

"To the Student Council," she couldn't help, but laugh softly. "It seems Lelouch knew what I would do. As always." Her tears threatened to start falling again as she continued to read. "I shouldn't send this letter, but . . . I'm going to allow myself one final moment of selfishness. Before my ultimate act of selflessness. I want-No I need you all to know. You all know me far too well to have ever completely fallen for my facade as Demon Lelouch after all." The tears had spilled over and it was all she could do to not get the letter wet, "All I ask is that you don't tell anyone. I'll make sure Nunnally knows so d-don't worry. I couldn't bear if you all hated me for the rest of your life. Even if it would be for the best."

Milly voice trembled, "I write this the day before I die." She looked up from the letter abruptly, "He knew!" After taking a few moments to let that realization settle she began to read again, "This cycle of hatred will never stop if I don't do this. This is for all of you as much as it is for Nunnally. Look forward. Look into the future that my death will cause. Into a more gentle world." Kallen had long stopped preventing her tears and at those words she choked out a sob.

"H-how can I do that so easily Lelouch? I . . . I loved you." She choked out as Milly smiled at her tearfully before setting the letter down. She pulled Kallen into a hug as Rivalz cried into his hands and Nina found it harder and harder to hold onto her resentment. The resentment for the death of Euphemia was slowly turning into tears for the killer himself.

It took several minutes for them to get a hold of themselves enough for Milly to pick the letter back up. "T-there's still more." Her puffy red eyes looked down at the letter, "Don't blame Zero. He and I planned all of this. The symbol of justice had to slay the Demon Emperor." She held her hand to her mouth in horror as the tears threatened to come back once again, "L-Lelouch planned his own murder..."

"The life of the most hated man on earth is a small price to pay after all to end war. To bring true peace to the world. To open the way to the future I would die a hundred more times if I had to." Milly could almost hear his bitter laughter as her hands trembled at the realization the depth of Lelouch's selflessness. She couldn't stop her own bitter laugh from escaping, "Oh Lulu. You are going to make it hard for any man fulfill the expectations you have set. Truly only the good die young." She let a small tear escape her red eyes before she continued on.

"He certainly won't like that I told you, but Zero will need all of you just as much as he will need Nunnally. Keep Suzaku sane for me will you? He will need you to keep him out of his pit of self-pity. For the sake the world he is to protect as Zero." Milly outright dropped the letter, "H-he isn't dead!" Her eyes widened, "Oh god. Suzaku had to kill his best friend."

Kallen laid her head back as she processed this fact, "I knew that speed was familiar, but I had convinced myself there was no way he escaped the Albion . . ." She laughed softly even as more tears slid down her face, "I don't mind anymore. I-I'm actually glad it's Suzaku who became the second Zero."

Rivalz was shaking his head, "I don't think I could have done that. W-what Suzaku did. How he must be feeling even now . . ." He stared at his shaking hands in disbelief. Nina for her part was looking more than a little overwhelmed and horrified.

After a few moments of digesting this new information Milly began reading again. "There isn't much left now," she smiled half-heartedly. "I'm so sorry. I'm not going to be able to go back to Ashford with all of you," another choked sob flew from Kallen as a few of Milly's tears hit the letter. "Nor will I be able to see th-the fireworks with you again, but . . . I will try to fulfill at least part of that promise. Even if I'm not there to see it." Milly smiled sadly as she finished off the letter. "Love, Vice President Lelouch Lamperouge." She looked down after seeing a little bit more, "P.S. Tell Nunnally I will never stop loving her." She wilted in sadness before she saw a second message. She looked at Kallen with a teasing smile despite her puffy eyes, "P.S.S. Sorry that I couldn't make you my real Q1, Kallen. As happy as that would have made me. Not much point in marrying a man with a death sentence is there? I'm so sorry."

Kallen had to fight down a blush as she began to cry again, "Idiot! You could have told me . . ." A small smile lit up her face even through the tears though she knew he was gone. At least she knew he had felt the same.

It was six months later when they found themselves in front of Ashford Academy once again. While Milly had long graduated they wanted to return to there to celebrate those who couldn't do it with them. Milly, Rivalz, Nina, Gino, Nunnally, and Zero all looked at this building that held such dear memories for them. "My grandfather wanted it to look exactly the same as it did while rebuilding. Kind of amazing it all came together as well as it did." Milly smiled brightly before nodding as if to herself.

"To Shirley and Lelouch, " Nunnally smiled gently as she looked at the endless blue of the sky. "May you both finally be at peace." They all flinched in surprise when fireworks began to fill the sky around Ashford.

Kallen blinked and laughed as tears pricked her eyes. "He kept his promise after all . . ."

Author's Note 2: That last part is largely based on one of the Code Geass Picture Drama's. I think it is the only one set after Lelouch dies. I found it fitting to include here. Though I didn't mention, though the Picture Drama did, that it was Jeremiah and Anya setting the fireworks off. This was an...emotional one-shot.