I hold no rights or ownership to the Final Fantasy franchise, to FFXII, or any of it's characters. This is applied to all chapters.

Ashe turned in her bed for what felt like the hundredth time that night. She didn't know what time it was but she knew it was late. She just couldn't get to sleep.

The cause of her insomnia was the heat. It was unusually humid in Rabanastre tonight, and the Queen was suffering from it. She had already opened all the windows and, instead of her usual nightgown, was wearing the smallest pair of shorts she owned and a vest in an effort to let as much air get to her skin as possible. It wasn't working though, and as she lay underneath her thin cotton sheet, (she would not allow a duvet tonight) she curses the skies, wishing for rain to come and clear the air.

Frustrated, Ashe turned once again, but before she could settle into a comfortable position, an arm reached out from behind her and pulled her back, flush against a warm body.

"You're fidgeting, Princess." A deep and warm male voice murmured, half-asleep into her ear. Ashe was more uncomfortable then she had been all night. Not that she minded his arm, or being held, but the heat from the body she had been brought up against felt like a fire pit upon her back. Ashe groaned, loudly.

"And you're hot, Balthier!" She heard his deep chuckling resonate through his chest and she realised her folly.

"Glad to finally have some acknowledgement on the subject." He said, and Ashe could hear the grin in his voice. She had to fight the urge to roll her eyes, even in the dark. After all, she had invited such a comment.

"Balthier, I can't sleep." She sighed. "It's far too hot in here and you,-" She lightly swatted his arm around her waist, "- are not helping."

She tried to roll away from him but, as stubborn as ever, he simply pulled her tighter. She sighed again. Before they started their relationship, she would have never assumed that Balthier Bunansa, the infamous lady-killer, would be a cuddler.

"Balthier." She said, warningly. Balthier buried his face into her hair.

"Open a window." Came his muffled voice. This time Ashe did roll her eyes.

"They are open." She stated. "They're all open!" She felt his head lift off the pillow to see for himself, then flop back down, heavily. With a reluctant grunt, he loosened his hold on her waist and she wiggled away, though only far enough so their bodies were not immediately touching.

"Thank you." She said, and he grunted again, this time in recognition. Ashe tried to settle down again but before long she felt a tickle on her stomach.

"You know…" His voice had become clearer, indicating that he properly awake now. "If you can't sleep I may know of one or two natural remedies that may be able to help you with that." His voice had taken on a suggestive tone, and his hand had slipped beneath her shirt to caress her bare skin. Ashe couldn't fight the grin that was now spreading across her face.

"You're getting predictable in your old age, Pirate." She teased but then squealed as he pinched her skin in retaliation.

"Fine. If you don't want my help." He proclaimed, but made no effort to remove his hand. Instead he decided to play dirty by teasing her skin just below her breasts and above her shorts. He didn't advance though. That was one of the many, many reasons she loved Balthier. He was an awful tease but he wouldn't go any further unless she picked up the baton first. ('Always leave them wanting.' He had once told her with a wink). As usual though, Ashe was more then willing to pick it up and run.

"Well, hang on, I am prepared to, at least, listen to your proposal." She said with a smirk, as she shifted around to face him. This interesting turn of events and made her forget all about the humid atmosphere, and she could see him grinning back at her in the dark.

"Well, it's very simple." He had already propped himself up on his elbow, ready to make his move. "I merely find a way to exhaust you, both physically and mentally, until you just can't keep your eyes open. I guarantee, you give me at least half an hour, we'll see if I can't get you to sleep."

"Guarantee?" She repeated, eyebrows raised. "That's awfully strong term to use, Pirate." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her.

"Prove it."

Thirty minutes later, Ashe was sound asleep.