I wake up preparing for a new day, attending to my normal rituals- since your absence I've had a double workload to carry; I guess that's how life is when you are Queen. As I take about doing my duties, I notice there is a different aura around the castle, everyone is so happy- not that they weren't happy before, it's a different sort of happy.
I make my way down to the throne room, I can hear hurried footsteps, "Rosa! Rosa!" the voice shouts. I turn around and see Cid running towards me, the usual dirt and grime smothered all over his face and clothes.
"Good morning Cid" I reply.
Cid places a hand over his chest to catch his breath, "It's a great morning indeed"
"Is that so?"
"He's back!" Cid exclaims.
"Who is?"
"Cecil! He's back!"
I can feel myself freeze on the spot, being at a complete loss for words. "What?!" my response an audible whisper, "Cecil's back?"
Cid nods in response, "he is outside in the front courtyard"
I can feel my heart start to race faster now than it has ever been in my life. I rush past the other mages and military men. Somehow the front courtyard seems like forever to get to. I can hear the fanfare, the cheers and the cries of laughter- it seems as though all of Baron has come to celebrate. I finally reach the courtyard and for a moment I feel as if everything around me is a blur, and time has come to a standstill…and then I see him.
I stand in silence just staring at him, just taking it all in. I start to pinch my arm hoping that this isn't just a beautiful dream. He is crouched down talking to some children from the village just outside the castle. I don't want to disturb him, so I continue my watch. One of the girls who were talking to him turns around and spots me, "It's Queen Rosa!" she exclaims.
He looks up and he has spotted me too. "Rosa!" I hear him exclaim as he stands up.
"Cecil!" I reply back, tears tremble down my eyes just like a waterfall and they are unable to stop falling. I suddenly break into a run, even with my hands hitching up the bottom of my gown, I still manage to trip over myself, but in this moment I don't care. He stands there with a big smile on his face, with his arms outstretched and I collapse in his embrace.
"Is this real?" I ask him.
He puts his hands on my shoulders and I lift my head so that I can see his, taking in all those beautiful features. Your eyes seem much more vivid then I remember. I can see my reflection in his deep watery pupils. I watch as you smile at me, I know you are taking me in just like I am with you. He nods at me, "this is real"
I wrap my arms around his neck, apologizing to him silently if I was strangling him. I feel his warm arms tighten their grip around my waste, neither one of us wanting to let go.
"I've missed you so much" I say to him between tears. It sounds so good to hear his gentle and kind voice again.
"As have I" I hear him reply.
He removes his hands away from my waste and places one hand under my chin lifting my head up, "I love you so much Rosa" he says and then places his lips to mine. What once felt so foreign, feels just as good now as it ever did.
Both of us fighting the urge to pull apart, but knowing that we had an audience watching us. Then from behind us, a little voice pipes up, "Dada!"
We turn around and it's our son, clutching onto the plush Chocobo toy that Cecil had gotten him before he left. I watch the joy in Cecil's face as he sees his son after so long.
"Ceodore!" he shouts running up to the little boy and picking him up with such ease. "Oh how I've missed you so much"
I wipe away the tears from my cheeks, still in disbelief that my family is finally together again.
"Please don't leave again Daddy" said the young boy hugging his father.
"Don't worry, I won't be leaving you, the both of you ever again"
"You're home, where you belong"
