Cold Feet

She was happy, Freya had to keep reminding herself that as she messed with her wedding gown. Time had passed since their defeat of Necron, it had been two years since they all had saved Gaia from distruction. Two years that she had spent rebuilding her birth place, her home in Burmecia. Her fellow Dragon Knight had been there, waiting. They had both greatly helped with the restoration of their broken kingdom. Now civilians were actually living a somewhat normal life within Burmecia's walls, an accomplishment she was very grateful for.

Now, with everyone else happy and going on with their lives, it was finally Freya's turn. Her attempt for that happy ending she had been robbed so many years ago. Fratley had asked her to marry him, a request her heart had yearned for on countless occasions. Now that it was finally the big day, the battle worn, relentless fighter...was having cold feet.

She knew, this was something she had always wanted, but for some reason, her heart was feeling torn. Did she love Fratley? Yes, ...then why wasn't she as excited as she should be? It wasn't just nerves, it was something else deep within her.

Guests were waiting already out in the Bell Room where the ceromony would take place. People, her friends even, expected her arrival any minute now, to take that giant leap and become the wife of the man she had loved since she was a teenager.

"You look angry." A gruff, male voice interrupted Freya's deep thoughts. No one attended her, she was alone in a private room getting her white gown on. The voice was familiar, a companion she trusted and had relied on in many battles throughout her trip with Zidane and the others. Amarant was standing, leaned against the closed door, looking at her with an unreadable expression.

"I'm not." Freya denied it, her clawed hands messing with the back of her dress, attempting to tie up the corset like styled gown. He watched her struggle, moving forward only when she let her hand drop, giving out a frustrated sigh.

Big, thick fingers found the ties, the ally pulling and tugging to make sure it was tight against her body before lacing it with with impressive speed.

"You're all nerves, Crescent. What's the matter? Someone cast a blizzard on your feet?" He insulted her, finishing the task and backing away. Freya turned around to yell at him, to at least insult him right back, when she noticed his face looked off. His expression held an honest to goodness concerned look, something she'd never witness before with the blue hued loner.

"Amarant, do you have something to say?" Freya asked, wondering if something was wrong with him.

Quickly his expression changed to disinterest, his shoulders relaxing as he leaned back against the door. "Nope."

Freya rolled her eyes, he was a strange man, but she knew when he was blocking away his feelings. "Amarant, I'm getting married in a few minutes. If there's something you need to say, speak now or wait till after the wedding."

Silence, then he looked directly at her, instead of the stone walls, "You don't have to do it if you don't want to." He spoke levelly.

Freya was taken aback, her mouth agape as she tried to regain her wits. Could he really see her internal struggle, her indecision? Was Amarant that intuitive?

"We've been together for years, it's what I've always wanted."

"Is it what you want now?" He quickly asked back. Stepping away from the door and walking towards her. Freya felt her feet slowly stepping back as he neared, was she afraid of him, or afraid of her undecided feelings?

"Your eyes show it, you look like a woman walking to her hanging. He's been an obsession of yours, now that you've got the prize, you don't know if you really want it. It's written all over your face, Crescent." He had her backed against a wall now, his arm reached out to brace himself against it as he stared her down.

"I love him!" Freya argued back, knowing she really did love him, but internally knowing that Amarant was close to the truth of how she was currently feeling.

"Love, passion, obsession, they're all just words. Your eyes don't lie, you're frightened. Do yourself a favor, and admit that much, Crescent." He was pissing her off now, undecided sure, but that didn't mean she was afraid!

"Step off, Amarant. Pre wedding jitters happen, it's perfectly normal." She took one clawed hand and touched his chest, attempting to push him out of the way.

"Jitters my ass." He huffed before pushing her arm aside and swiftly bending down his head, kissing her before she could stop him.

Her claws angrily yanked his red dreads, pulling as if to yank him away, but he kept his lips right where they were, her tugs not effecting him.

'Damn him!' She cursed as her body let go, her tugs went from pulling away to pulling forward, deciding if she was going to be kissed by the bastard, it might as well be a good one. She used her teeth, nipping his fat lower lip as they kissed aggressively. She could taste his blood in her mouth, meaning her teeth had pierced his lips, satisfying the dragon knight. His free hand had reached up to pull her body closer to him, his heat radiating against her, making the bride sweat from the powerful body heat they were generating.

Before she knew it, it was over. He had pulled back and situated himself back against the door, a look of pure satisfaction on his smug face. "Make up your mind already, Crescent. You've got people waiting out there." He sassed her before turning to leave.

"Hey." Freya called, causing Amarant to pause, turning to look at her once more. She had her back turned to him, her hand gesturing for him to assist.

"Mind untying me?" She had an unclouded look on her face, her eyes stared patiently at him.

Amarant smirked, striding up and taking his powerful hands, ripping the material instead of politely unlacing the garment. "About damn time." He commented, stepping back as the dragon knight stepped out of her torn gown and picked up her normal attire.

"I think there's a back door, it will take us to a cliff with a nice view and some Grand Dragons like to roam around there. Interested in sneaking off?" She pulled on her trousers and shirt, slipping into her coat and turning to playfully smile at the other.

"Sounds better than a wedding." He chuckled, following the dragon knight out, leaving everyone to wonder where the two had disappeared to...

-0-0-

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 9 belongs to

Square Enix.