My first Lufia fic, yay~ I've wanted to write something for Lufia 2 for a while now (just as for Secret of Mana) and I finally got the idea for a short, rather pointless drabble-esque fic. Hopefully this marks some kind of Lufia 2 writing wave or something.

This happens shortly before you get Guy.

Tia pulled the bread away from the fire before the golden brown crust could turn black. She squeaked under her breath when the heat burned her fingertips; she quickly threw it on a cloth and waved her hand to let the wind dispel her pain.

"Dinner is ready," she said cheerfully, unpacked the cheese and then flopped down next to Maxim, leaning close. He had been watching the sky but now took the bread and broke it. Tia noted that he didn't even flinch at the heat.

"Here." He offered her one half.

"Could you open it?" He raised one confused eyebrow but did as he was told. Steam rose up when the white, soft flesh was exposed.

"Hmm." He took a deep breath; Tia smiled when he smiled. With happiness bubbling inside of her, she cut the cheese in slices – Maxim ripped open the other half of the bread – and orderly placed them on the still steaming bread.

When Maxim finally took the first bite, the cheese hang down his chin in long strings. Tia giggled and dug in as well. After dinner, Maxim leaned back, lying down, and crossed his arms behind his head. Tia tucked her legs underneath her and looked at him over her shoulder. She loved his smile, but she also loved the more serious expression that was on his face now.

"Isn't it nice?" she asked after a while. "Travelling with someone you like."

"Yes, it's definitely more fun than being alone." He shifted a bit to the side and sighed. "And fighting is easier when you have a partner to rely on." Tia´s heart flared up at him calling her "his partner" and quickly battled it down, because it was obvious that he hadn't meant it that way.

"It's not only nice to have a partner in a fight. It's also nice to have a partner for life." She threw an especially pretty smile over her shoulder; Maxim, however, was staring at the sky. A frown flashed over her face.

"Sure."

"And wouldn't it be nice to settle down sometime and have a family and your own house." She folded her hands in her lap and closed her eyes, often dreamt dreams ghosting over her eyes. "Have you never dreamt of having a family and a home?"

"I've always dreamt to cross the sea."

Tia startled, her eyes flew open and the dreams were ripped apart. "What?"

"I've always wanted to know what lies behind the sea." He pushed himself up and crossed his legs. "Fighting monsters, getting stronger, finding new weapons, meeting other warriors and spar with them. I've always wanted to see more than Elcid, but I've never..." He shook his head. "Somehow I could never leave. I'm not sure why, but I couldn't." He turned to her, a lopsided smile on his face. "I'm very thankful that Iris appeared. It's only thanks to her that I have the courage to finally make my dream true."

Tia turned away from him, huffed and stuck her chin out. "I see. This mysterious woman seems to mean much to you." Maxim blinked confused, eyes wide.

"Tia?"

She exhaled an angry sigh through her nose. "It's nothing. I'm sorry for sounding mean." He nodded, frowning. "Do you want some fruits as dessert?"

"Definitely!"

With a tumbling stomach, she fetched the apples from their satchels. Someday he would love her, she was sure of that. She was not willing to give up yet.