A/N: This is a short story with four chapters planned, plus an epilogue. Penelo decides to leave Vaan after he can't be the man she needs. Vaan can't live without her, so how exactly will he prove himself to her? Enjoy!
Thanks For The Memories
Chapter 1
"Would you like to order, ma'am?" the waiter asked me for the third time. He was tall and impossibly thin with hair as white as snow and ice blue eyes. The first time I saw him, I had the notion that he had been conceived in the middle of a blizzard.
I looked down at the small gold watch Vaan bought for me the day he bought his first airship, The Dancer. It was 9:26, approximately two and half hours after the time Vaan had given me to meet him at our favorite restaurant, Dalma's. He told me that he might be a little late as he had a lot of business to take care of today, but he'd be there. Today was our two-year anniversary.
"Has Vaan sent word as to what's going on?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
The waiter, Joso, shook his head. "I'm sorry, Miss Penelo, Mr. Vaan has not."
"Thank you, Joso," I said, trying not to snap at him. It wasn't his fault my husband had the inability to tell time. I took a big swallow of my wine, draining it and slamming it down. I grabbed my purse and walked to the cashier. "Charge everything to my husband's account," I hissed, storming out to the restaurant.
I was dressed in a knee length little black dress and black velvet pumps. Not exactly the best attire to be walking the four miles to our apartment in. I had hailed a carriage earlier, but right now, I was just too angry to deal with one, instead, just slipping off my shoes and walking.
Roughly three minutes into my trek home, I realized that I really, really didn't want to go home. I knew what was going to happen because it did everytime. I'd walk home and put on my longest, ugliest nightgown, the one that screamed not sex for you tonight. I'd grab whatever book I was reading at the time and sit on the couch, never making it past the first couple of sentences. I'd slam the book shut and stare at the door until he came home, usually around two in the morning. He'd make all kinds of excuses and I'd try hard to stay mad at him, but I rarely could. I knew he'd always be married to the sky before he was married to me. Either way, we'd always end up making love, with him promising never to put business first again. And I'd lap it up everytime.
It was so routine, almost set in stone because it quite literally happened everytime. But it wouldn't tonight.
I remembered the note I'd found earlier shoved under the front door early this morning. It had been from Balthier and Fran, stating that they were in town and Vaan and I should pay them a visit.
The airfield was much closer than the apartment, about only a half-mile away. I changed course, turning down a well-lit street. You can never be too careful walking the streets at night, especially if you're a young woman. Which is precisely why I kept a dagger in my purse, along with a can of pepper spray, and a dagger strapped to my leg with a garter and one tucked between my breasts in a loop. Actually, it was Vaan's brother, Reks, that had given me the idea. He once said that it was unfair that men had so much more strength in their bodies than women. I told him that was why women had to be prepared, and he said that women had an excellent location to hid small weapons, a place men didn't have, but sure liked to look at. I've been sewing these makeshift sheaths into my bras ever since.
Usually I liked to carry more weapons on my person than just daggers, but belts for swords and guns tended to look a little tacky when wearing such a nice dress. Normally I would have worn them anyway, but it was my anniversary and I thought my husband, who usually carries enough weapons for three allies, was going to be there. And being the wife of an up-and-coming skypirate was almost asking to get attacked. I wanted everyone to know that I could and would strike back if the attacked me.
Five minutes later, after a bit of brisk walking, I arrived at the airfield, stopping in awe as I always did. When trying to describe it, the first word that always came to mind was huge. It went on nearly as far as I could see, growing larger every year as Dalmasca prospered under our new queen. Airships were everywhere, littering the entire airfield with overpaid mechanics and parts salesmen.
The Strahl's owners had a reserved parking space for their baby, thankfully not far from where I stood. I made my way over, to find the space occupied by the familiar ship.
"Penelo!" I heard Balthier yell. I looked up to find him and Fran standing on the very top deck of the airship.
I waved. "Hey!"
"Come on up!" he said from far above me. I climbed the ramp and made my way through the halls of level 1 until I came across the lift. I punched the button that would take me to the deck, and a few seconds later, I was there.
"It's good to see you," Balthier said, striding up to me, giving me a hug that I returned. "It really has been too long."
"Indeed it has," I said, smiling up at him. I was in much better spirits now than I had been five minutes ago. Reuniting with old friends will do that to you.
"This last year hasn't treated you well," Fran said, also giving me a hug. It had been nearly a year since we were all together last.
"But it has you," I said with a smile. She now wore her hair a little bit shorter and down so her long white wave cascaded down her back.
"So where's the strapping young skypirate?" Balthier asked.
"Who knows?" I asked, the frustration returning.
"Where in Ivalice could he be? Today he should be with his exquisite wife on your anniversary. He's a fool." He shook his head solemnly.
"You remembered," I said. Don't get me wrong, they are great friends, but are very busy. I could forgive them if they didn't remember my anniversary. "That's more than I can say for Vaan."
"Of course we remembered! It's hard to forget the wedding of two of the heroes that saved Dalmasca."
"I hope so."
A few hours later while Balthier was inside mixing drinks for us, Fran said, "Tell me what is really the matter Penelo. Forgetting one date doesn't usually warrant too much anger. Especially from you."
She was right. I always used to feel so light and carefree, never angry with anyone or anything except injustice. Now I felt angry most of the time, mad at the world because my husband hardly remembers he made such a big commitment most of the time.
So I told her. I told her everything. I told her how Vaan would suddenly leave, sometimes for weeks at a time with nothing more than a note saying, "Went to Archades. See you when I get back."
It had occurred to me once that he might be having an affair, but I dismissed it. With so much business to attend to, he didn't have time for me, let alone another woman.
Balthier must have known not to interrupt as neither he nor the drinks made an appearance.
Fran sighed heavily. "That is the way it is with men, especially skypirates. I didn't want this to be true for you, but it seems that it is. Their first love is the sky, their ships. We come second."
"How do you and Balthier continue to stay so close?" I asked.
"I never married him."
Confused, I said, "I don't understand."
"Let me put it this way," she said, leaning forward. "You are Vaan's wife. You made a lifetime commitment to him when you said your vows. He knows you are there, that you are constant. People always tend to take the things in their lives that are permanent for granted. That is, until they are no longer there."
I was nineteen the night Vaan proposed to me. We were on the top deck of the Dancer, somewhere over the Estersand, just watching the sunset when he got down on one knee. He put the most beautiful diamond ring on my finger, telling me how much he'd always loved me. I said yes in an instant, all his faults completely blinded to me by love. We made love for the first time that night and I thought my life was perfect. And it was, for a while at least.
We were engaged for two years, traveling the world and seeing the sights, making a boatload of money transporting goods for weapon makers.
Vaan and I married when I was twenty-one in a huge ceremony in the Dalmascan palace, courtesy of Queen Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca. It was a beautiful ceremony with all sorts of important people there, including a few royals. All of our friends came: Balthier and Fran, Emperor Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, Captain Basch, Reddas, the Marquis Halim Ondore IV, and even Al-Cid Margrace. It seemed people wanted to congratulate all those who helped put Dalmasca back on track.
Afterwards, we spent a leisurely honeymoon, for once just traveling for fun, not tied down by any responsibility. I didn't mind all the traveling, just as long as I was with Vaan.
The first six months of our marriage were amazing. It was as if it was only us, no one else in the world. We were selfish like all newlyweds, putting pleasure before responsibility. We lost a lot of business that way and it showed in our pocketbooks, especially when Vaan bought an old airship to fix up and sell. We didn't have enough money to fuel the Dancer and to buy parts for the old airship. That dilapidated thing still sits in it's parking space to this day.
I didn't mind living with less, just as long as Vaan and I were together and happy. He, however, didn't see it that way. We'd both grown up dirt poor and on the streets but I had the 'you can't miss what you never had' attitude, while he wanted everything. Soon business began coming before all else. Sometimes he'd be gone for days trying to gain more customers that we didn't need.
After a while, we surpassed our previous income with much gil to spare. I told Vaan many times that I didn't need gil to make me happy. He never listened to a word I said, only replying that he did this all for me.
I really wished he'd do less.
Balthier rejoined us a little later, drinks in hand. We chatted for a while, catching up, before I grew very tired, drowsiness hitting me like a bullet.
"Would you like to stay here tonight?" Fran asked. "You should not walk the streets alone this time of night."
"Yes, Penelo," Balthier said. "Our guest bedrooms have not seen use for quite some time."
I thought it over, making my decision quickly. By the off chance that Vaan was home, I didn't want to see him.
"Okay," I said, grateful.
Please review with any questions/comments/concerns, as I'd appreciate it! Thanks!
