Gundam SEED Fan Fiction ❯ Preternatural Fate ❯ Chapter 3

"Preternatural Fate" -- A Kira-Cagalli fiction

written May 18, 2006

by Andrea Readwolf <andrea_readwolf @hotmail.com>

 

--Part 3--

 

 

Cagalli was grateful when the honeymoon was called to a halt two months into the supposedly grand world tour. If she was allowed to be truthful, she would have been happier for it to have ended over a month ago, but pretenses must be upheld, and it wasn't until the illness of her condition had caught the attention of her husband that Masaharu insisted she visit a doctor.

 

The kindly gentlemen hadn't told her anything she didn't already know, but she still played the part of a surprised patient, wide-eyed and nervous.

 

"But," she protested, voice shallow and weak as she shot her husband a quick glance. He looked as surprised by the news as anyone could be. "We only just got married. A month ago."

 

The doctor nodded. "That's about right, then. Congratulations," he continued, grinning broadly at them both. "Not many couples this day and age are able to make a baby so early in their relationship. You must really have some compatible chemistry. Now, just let me get you some reading materials--you'll want to contact your own practitioner as soon as possible, of course. There're things like your diet and activities that you must discuss with him or her, but these pamphlets will at least get you started..."

 

She let Masaharu take the pamphlets--she'd already done plenty of reading in the last sixth months. They were silent in the car ride home, and when they reached the suite they currently claimed as theirs, Cagalli went immediately for the bed and laid down, throwing an arm over her eyes to block out the light of day. She couldn't block the weight of her husband's gaze, however.

 

She knew he desired her. It irritated her. She hadn't married him for sex, and he knew that.

 

"I didn't think it would happen so soon," he said into the silence.

 

She didn't bother to move to look at him, comfortable where she was, stretched out and relaxed. "Are you disappointed?" she couldn't help but ask.

 

"I expected there to be more time," he confessed, and now she thought to look at him. "I know you asked to include that clause in the wedding contract, but--I'd hoped that maybe..."

 

He fell silent as she sat up. "Maybe what?" she asked coldly.

 

"I could change your mind," he admitted.

 

She rose and moved to stand in front of this man, wondering if she really had read him so wrongly. "Did I misjudge you, Masaharu?" she asked gently. "Did I lead you to believe there was a possibility for anything more than what I offered you? A political marriage, Masaharu, one made to unite our countries. Did you honestly think love would have any position in our relationship?"

 

He reached for her hand; she allowed him to take it. His lips were wet and cold as he pressed a kiss to her palm. "I had hoped, maybe, if not love, then at least affection."

 

"I'm sorry," she said, and was a little surprised that she honestly meant it. She took her hand back and returned to the bed. "The first clause of our contract has been met," she said into the pained silence. "An heir has been conceived. You must still maintain residence within the Athha Estate Home for the next year--a wing will be made available for your private use. After a year's time, however..."

 

"You are my wife," he tried, reaching out for her. "It's unseemly for a wife and husband to live apart. Even in this day and age. Cagalli--?"

 

"Whether you choose to remain at my home estate or not is your right as my husband," she continued calmly. "All I ask is that if you remain in residence, then please be discreet with your mistresses or lovers. Especially if they are members of the staff."

 

"Dammit, Cagalli, don't do this," her husband pleaded. "At least give us a chance."

 

She had no encouragement for him.

 

She was anxious to return home. This farce of a honeymoon couldn't end soon enough. She missed her country, missed her office, missed the calm and steady presence of Kira.

 

He was first to greet her with his shy smile as she stepped clear from the car. She slipped easily into his arms, hugging him tight--long enough to feel the slight tenseness of his limbs before pulling away.

 

"Cagalli, welcome home. I trust your trip was enjoyable?"

 

"About as much as could be expected," she returned, linking her arm through his and strolling towards the waiting front doors. "Ah, but I'm glad to be home. Tell me everything that has been happening."

 

"Not so much," he answered, shooting a quick glance over his shoulder to the car where her husband was exiting. "It's been relatively quiet since you've left. It actually makes me a little nervous," he confessed.

 

"Why? Do you think the Alliance or another might be planning trouble?" she asked, a small frown marring her features as she led him towards her home office, her private domain.

 

"It's possible," he conceded but didn't sound sure. "But let's not invite trouble," he suggested as the door closed behind him. "Now it's your turn to tell me--why did you return so soon? All your message said was that you would be arriving today."

 

"There ceased to be a reason to continue the pretense," she answered, throwing the lock and turning to press him back against the solid surface of the door. "Missed you," she breathed against his lips as his hands slid up to grip her waist.

 

"Cagalli..."

 

His lips were on hers, moving hungrily as he pulled her against him, a thigh slipping between her thighs for her to ride, and she did willing, crying out sharply as her over-sensitive bits became engorged with arousal. He jerked away instinctively, eyeing her worriedly.

 

"What's wrong?" he asked pulling away from her.

 

"Nothing," she insisted, pressing against him again. "How can anything be wrong when you're with me?" she asked lightly, brushing her fingers along his cheek and gently drawing him down for sweet teasing kisses.

 

But Kira wanted no distraction. "Cagalli, please," he quieted her teasing with one solid press of lips. "Tell me. What's wrong? Does it have to do with why you returned sooner than planned?" he queried, running his hand along her side.

 

It was when his hand grazed against her breast that he noticed her reaction and frowned deeper. "Did he hurt you?" he asked, barely above a whisper.

 

"No, Kira," she quickly quieted his darkening expression. "Masaharu didn't harm me in any fashion. If anything, I feel like I'm the one who hurt him. I'm just sensitive is all."

 

She huffed when she saw he wasn't fully satisfied. "We returned home," Cagalli answered finally, "because it was too troubling for me to continue traveling comfortably."

 

"Are you ill?" he asked, surveying her again, and she rolled her eyes.

 

"No, not ill, per see," she corrected, weaving their fingers together and bringing his hand to rest against her belly. Leaning into him, she brushed his lips against his again when she told him. "I'm pregnant."

 

She knew to expect it, the surprised 'oh' he would breath out, and she used that knowledge, expertly pressing forward, sweeping her tongue into the warm, sweet cavern of his mouth to tease and coax him into a more elicit game.

 

For a sweet moment, victory was hers.

 

And then Kira pulled back, ducking away from her and swallowing nervously. "A... child," he whispered, swallowing again. "A baby. I see. So, you were able to make a baby with him already. That's... that's great, Cagalli. Congratulations."

 

"Kira--"

 

She reached out for him, but he flinched away from her touched, and her resolve not to tell him the truth wavered threateningly. "Kira, I--"

 

A quick-fired rap on the door cut off whatever she might have said as her husband attempted to intrude. "Cagalli? Are you in there?" Masaharu called.

 

Shooting Kira a look as he withdrew further into the room, moving to look out the window, Cagalli turned and opened the door, allowing her husband to enter her private office. He paused, half a step into the room, when he saw Kira there, and he shifted indecisively as their gazes met and held, before Kira looked away again.

 

"Are you coming in?" Cagalli asked, hardly able to keep the testiness she felt free from her voice, and Masaharu started again, fully entering the room so she could close the door again.

 

"I hear," Kira spoke first, not turning away from the window, "that congratulations are in order."

 

Masaharu grayed, but Cagalli paid him no mind as she by-passed him to survey the condition of her desk.

 

"I see," her husband responded, licking his lips. "So your sister's already told you." He nodded. "Of course, I expected as much. That's why, Cagalli, I wanted to speak with you. I don't think we should tell many people about the pregnancy just yet. The doctor said you should be careful, this being our first pregnancy, and it's still so early--"

 

"Is there a danger of losing the baby?" Kira asked, turning towards the room worriedly.

 

"No," Cagalli answered shortly, glaring at her husband before softening her expression for her brother. "The doctor said I'm perfectly healthy. What he meant is that I should be careful not to overwork myself or fall victim to any accidents."

 

She stared at her nearly paperless desk and fought off the urge to frown again. "Kira? Where are the monthly reports from last month?"

 

"In the monthly report file," he answered easily, unable to help adding, "Where they belong."

 

She shot him a suspicious look, but it was hard to be annoyed with him when he smiled at her like that. Much easier to maintain the emotion when she turned to her husband instead.

 

"My Parliament will want to know why I've returned early," she told her husband. "I have no intention of lying to them about my condition, however, I will concede to withholding the complete truth. I'll schedule a meeting with my press secretaries for tomorrow morning. We'll release the statement that the excessive traveling proved too trying and I've returned home to rest and relax. That will present you with ample time to set up your rooms and offices to your liking before we make any formal statement to the press."

 

"Gabrielle, won't you reconsider?"

 

"For the next few months, possibly the next couple of years, I will not be able to leave Orb freely, so I will have to rely on you as my representative," she continued as if she hadn't heard him. "We'll need to ensure your understand of Orb's laws and customs are up to par of a native..."

 

 

 

 

 

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