Sammy: So, this is my first fan fiction! Well, not exactly I just haven't written anything in about 5 or so years, so bear with me. I just wanted to show Ben some love, because I couldn't in-game.. ): Also FYI this has spoilers, so if you haven't finished Fable III (and I don't know why you'd be reading if you haven't) don't read!

This was inspired by Taylor Swift's song "Back to December" (if you couldn't tell by the title) when I listen to it, I just think of Ben leaving to explore Albion without the Princess. It seriously plays like a music video in my head. XD; The song is a key element to me, so I did use some of the lines from it, hehe, when it's done please listen to the song! I hope it plays out somewhat like a music video like I wanted. :)

I do not own Fable III or any of it's characters, they are all owned by the amazing Lionhead studios.

Note: Oh, and just so everyone knows italicized parts are flashbacks! Enjoy~!

Pride. It had always gotten the better of him.

Ben was quite surprised that she had made the time to see him. After a year of almost no communication he half expected her to not even show, but there she was. The Queen of Albion, sitting there quietly. She had come dressed in casual wear, but she still glowed. Regardless of what she was wearing or how she wore her long auburn hair, she always looked like royalty to the ex-captain. Her green eyes were fixated on the pint of ale placed in front of her, it looked untouched, and by the look on her face he could tell that she was nervous. He wasn't quite sure if it was because of all the unwanted attention she was receiving from the villagers who gathered at the pub or if it was because of him... On second thought, he knew it was because of him.

"How've you been, Quinn?" He asked, unsure of how to break the awkwardness of the situation, she looked up at him with an unsure look on her face.

"I've been good, keeping myself busy." She answered, looking away halfway through the reply, her guard was up and it wasn't hard to tell. Most of the replies she had given him were all one word answers, "Mister Finn if all you have done is brought me here for small talk then I do believe you are wasting my time." Quinn was clearly becoming upset, they had been sitting in the pub for over an hour, and she had yet to hear what she came to hear.

"Then what pre-tell would you like to talk about, your highness." The blonde said, sarcasm dripping off his tongue like a leaky faucet. And there it was, his pride getting the better of him once again. He in-fact knew exactly what she wanted to talk about, the night he had left Albion supposedly for good. She looked back at him, her green orbs meeting his icy blue ones, and with that look he knew that cold winter day was still burned in the back of her mind.

"Ben, please..." The young queen pleaded, grabbing his hand in an attempt to stop the rugged soldier from pressing on, "Stay with me.." She was fighting desperately to keep the tears back. He had made it to the Bowerstone docks before she had caught wind of his departure. Which was a few hours earlier than anticipated, the plan being to disappear for good without saying any goodbyes. Oh how he hated goodbyes.

"Qu, I just can't." He whispered just loud enough for her to hear, he had stopped but didn't bother to turn around to look at her, instead looking up at the cloudy sky, "I can't pretend to be some noble general anymore, I'm just a scoundrel, I was never cut out for this.."

Thunder boomed, as the sky became darker, it rained quite frequently during the winter in Bowerstone, never being quite cold enough to snow unfortunately. Quinn squeezed the hand she had grabbed a hold of at the sound of the thunder, looking down at it feeling the need to look at something.

"I never wanted you to pretend to be someone you're not, It doesn't matter to me if you're a noblemen or a beggar." She moved closer, placing her head against his back, tears beginning to fall freely from her eyes as she grabbed a hold of his shirt with both hands, "All I ever wanted from you was to be the smart-mouthed, playful, caring man I fell in love with." Her voice was shaking as she cried into his shirt.

It began to rain at this point, if he didn't leave now, he would lose his chance because of the oncoming storm. Slowly the captain turned around, feeling the grip on his shirt lessen as he did so. Quinn was now the one not wanting to return his gaze, she kept her head low, tears still falling down her face, all though it was hard to tell with the rain pouring down.

"I'm sorry, your majesty." Ben placed his hand under her chin, moving it up, forcing her to look him in the eyes. He needed her to look him in the eyes as he spoke, "This is goodbye."

"Why does she have to be so bloody stubborn!" Ben screamed to no one in particular, getting a strange look or two from random townsfolk. He stuck his hands in his pockets in frustration, he was walking down the road that led to the castle, playing back the previous day in his head. Quinn was right to leave when she did, he was the one after all who asked her to meet him, and he had no right to treat her the way he had. He knew that, but never would admit it out loud and he would for sure never admit it to her. "Why can't things just go back to the way they were?"

"Ben?" the princess questioned, brining her legs up to her chest hugging them tightly. He sat next to her at the water's edge of Bowerlake, she had asked him to sneak her away for the night, needing a break from all the revolution business. It had been a hot summer day and the lake seemed like the perfect getaway.

"Hm?" He looked at her, becoming a little disappointed when he found her still staring at the lake. "Why Princess, it is quite rude to ignore your date." the rebel teased, waiting for her blush, he loved that she did so easily.

"This isn't a date!" She turned a light shade of pink not wanting to look him in the eyes at this point.

"And how could you ignore such a devilishly handsome bloke such as myself?" He continued on, moving a bit forward in an attempt to have a better view of her face. "I, for one, can't fathom how anyone could resist me." he winked just as her eyes met his.

"Oh shut up, Ben." She laughed, her face turning a deep crimson now, "I never would have guessed, with confidence such as yours, that any respectable woman could not fall head over heals for you." she teased back, in an attempt to regain her composure.

"Is that a confession?" His tone wasn't quite joking but not quite serious either, "Because I will say, if it was, I honestly expected better from you." He smirked, knowing she would look away in embarrassment. To his surprise she didn't, she looked him in the eyes for a moment, without saying a word she began to move her face closer to his, lips parting ever so slightly.

Ben was taken aback at first, though he was never the type to turn down a kiss from a beautiful woman. Closing his eyes instinctively, he waited in anticipation for their lips to meet, but there was nothing. The next thing he knew he felt his gravity shift in the direction of the lake, caught off guard he tried to regain his balance but it was to no avail.

There was a loud splash, and then sounds of laughter coming from the princess. Now he was the one blushing, sitting in the shallow water soaked to the bone. He half wanted to pick her up and throw her in too, but resisted the urge. Instead he watched her laugh, giving her this small victory.

"Oh, laugh it up girly." The young soldier smiled, the sound of her laughter always brought a smile to his face. "I'll get that kiss one day."

Ben smiled to himself, the memory coming back to him like it happened yesterday, she was so innocent and full of life back then. Nothing like how she was in the pub, but who was he to blame her? He mentally kicked himself, knowing damn well that he was the one who had betrayed her. Back then, she had done nothing but given him her love and affection.

When Major Swift was executed, she gave him a shoulder to cry on. When he was injured in battle, she was the who treated his wounds. When ever he needed help, she was always the first to volunteer. It was always her, she never complained, never asked for anything in return. She gave him everything with a smile and all he gave her was goodbye.

"You can't go..!" Quinn cried out as she watched him walk away, her mind screamed at her legs to move but the shock from the situation prevented her from doing so, "You're all that's left.. You're the only one, you can't leave me too!" her legs gave out and she fell to her knees, making a small splash in the puddle that had formed from the heavy rain. "When Walter died y-you promised me! You said you'd never leave, Ben..!"

He looked back at her as he stepped onto the boat, watching as she cried into her hands. It took almost every fiber of his being to stay on the boat. It pained him to see her this way, but the thought of being stuck in one place, for his freedom to roam the world being taken away from him. He couldn't bear the thought, the fear in his heart was more painful than the scars that would remain on his conscience from this day on.

Ben had betrayed her, her trust, her friendship… and her love. He wasn't sure if he would be able to live with himself after that day, but he had to try.

Sammy: Sorry guys! I really didn't want to make this into a multi chapter fic, but it was getting really long, and I can't decide how I want to end this. Seriously, I've re-written the ending like.. probably five times now this past week. XD

Oh and I know the name Quinn probably isn't the best name for a Queen (Queen Quinn hurpaderp lol) But I'm so in love with the name, I couldn't help it. D: Plus if you're anything like me you probably just replace the Queen/Princess' name with your Hero's name if you don't like it, hehe. xP

Anyway enough of my rambling, thank you so much for reading, please review if you can, criticism is always welcome as long as you're nice about it? ): The ending is somewhat finished so, hopefully it'll be up soon.