Disclaimer: I own neither Final Fantasy XII nor its characters.

"Penelo wait!" Larsa Solidor's tenor voice rang out as he raised a white gloved hand to stop her from retreating into the airship.

Penelo stopped and turned to look at the young boy curiously. His face looked so sad it almost made her heart break.

"What is it Larsa?" She asked kindly as Vaan stood waiting behind her impatiently.

"I was thinking perhaps you would like to stay." The raven haired boy gushed and ran up to her leaving Basch waiting by the arch of the hanger.

"In Archades?" Penelo asked with a tiny smile.

"Yes, to keep Basch company. I do not wish him to be lonely." He said, his blue eyes looking up at her as he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt sleeve.

"To keep Basch company." She repeated slowly as struggled to keep her smile from growing.

"Yes." He affirmed seriously with a nod of his head.

Vaan snorted and Penelo stepped back and elbowed him. He glared in return as he rubbed his side, but kept his mouth shut. Basch simply raised an eyebrow in her direction.

"Larsa if I stay with you, who's going to take care of Vaan and keep him out of trouble?" Penelo reasoned gently as she smiled at him.

Larsa blinked and then put on a look of intense concentration. After a moment his shoulders slumped as he sighed and gazed back at her.

"I suppose you are right." He resigned as Vaan gave an indignant squawk. "But he will still miss you, Basch that is."

"Well, how about I promise to write to him as often as I can?" Penelo asked with a smile and winked at Basch who was now grinning.

"I think he would like that and you could write to me as well, I wouldn't mind." Larsa said starting to smile.

"Of course Larsa, but only if you promise to write back." She said with mock seriousness.

"Yes, I shall. I promise." He nodded solemnly.

"Hey Larsa, do you think I could have one more hug? After all I won't be seeing either of you for a long time." Penelo said affectionately.

"You'll hug Basch too, right?" The twelve year old asked nervously.

"Yes, Basch too." She nodded and motioned to the older man to come over.

She wrapped her arms around Basch who returned the embrace warmly.

"Try not to get too lonely Basch." She teased looking up at him.

"For you I shall try Penelo." He coughed trying to hide his mirth as he released her.

Penelo then wrapped her arms around Larsa who hugged her tightly around the neck.

"I'm really going to miss you Larsa." She whispered fondly.

"I'll miss you too Penelo." Larsa's voice waivered softly.

He let go after a moment longer and then allowed Basch to start escorting him out of the hanger. Larsa turned his head to look back at Penelo wistfully. She stood there watching them leave with Vaan shadowing behind her. Basch leaned his head in and said something to the young emperor which made the boy's face burst into a smile as he began to push ahead until finally out of sight.

It would be exactly four days later that Penelo would receive her first letter from Larsa and 'Gabranth.'